Middle East crises loom in background as NATO leaders gather in Washington While this year's summit is expected to focus largely on the ongoing war in Ukraine, Iran's military support for Russia and Turkey's strategic balancing act with Moscow are expected to weigh on NATO leaders gathered in Washington. Washington Pulse
US, Israel hold second virtual meeting on Rafah Biden administration officials have denied offering to green-light an Israeli invasion of Rafah if Israel holds off on retaliating against Iran. Washington Pulse
One year on Sudan’s war: 14,700 killed, 8.6M displaced, 4.9M face starvation As the war in Sudan enters its second year, the humanitarian situation is worsening by the day with no prospects of an imminent end of the hostilities. North Africa Pulse
State Department staffer resigns over Biden's handling of Gaza Annelle Sheline is the second State Department official to publicly resign since Oct. 7, citing the erosion of US credibility on human rights in the Middle East as a result of the war. Washington Pulse
Saudi King Salman hospitalized in Riyadh The 84-year-old monarch suffered from gallbladder inflammation, according to a statement from the royal court. Saudi Arabia
Engel is out — will the new foreign affairs chairman upend his Mideast policies? Three House Democrats are vying to replace Eliot Engel as the party’s new foreign affairs leader — will they actually change his Middle East policies? United States
Coronavirus likely to delay Pentagon war games in Mideast to 2021 Mideast war exercises planned for this year are likely to be delayed until 2021, and other war games scheduled for next year may be delayed until 2022. Egypt
Intel: Pro-Palestinian progressive insurgent ousts House Foreign Affairs chairman Pro-Palestinian progressive insurgent Jamaal Bowman ousted House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Eliot Engel in the New York Democratic primary, according to an Associated Press call of the today. While Engel has been trailing behind Bowman since the election was held last month, the counting of mail-in ballots has delayed the final results. United States
Russia considers Saudi Arabia as trial site for COVID-19 vaccine The two countries are also discussing having Saudi Arabia manufacture the drug. Saudi Arabia
UN Yemen envoy calls for investigation after strikes kill civilians The United Nations said 11 civilians were killed in airstrikes Wednesday in al-Jawf province in northern Yemen. Yemen
Intel: Pompeo thanks Qatar for facilitating Afghanistan peace talks Secretary of State Mike Pompeo thanked Qatari Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani for agreeing to host peace talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban. Qatar
Intel: White House sympathizes with France in Libya row with Turkey White House National Security adviser Robert O’Brien on Wednesday expressed sympathy for France’s account of events in a Mediterranean naval standoff with Turkey last month over a Libyan arms smuggling allegation. Turkey
Tunisia PM's resignation sparks new political crisis Prior to stepping down, Elyes Fakhfakh was under investigation for conflict of interest violations. Tunisia
Intel: Democrats seek path for Biden to close Guantanamo Bay after obstructing Obama After years of obstructing Barack Obama’s efforts to close Guantanamo Bay when he was president, House Democrats have reversed course and are quietly trying to clear the way for Joe Biden to close the notorious detention facility should he win the presidential election in November. Congress
Saudi Arabia permanently cancels license of Qatar's beIN Sports The popular Doha-based sports network had been officially blocked in Saudi Arabia since the 2017 diplomatic row between the two Gulf countries. Saudi Arabia
Putin, Mohamed bin Zayed seek to reclaim common ground on Libya The Russian and UAE leaders spoke Wednesday about the path ahead in Libya, seeking to minimize differences and recharge the political process. Libya