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
Intel: Trump joins chorus of Iranians urging halt to imminent political executions President Donald Trump today joined the online chorus of Iranians warning the government against the imminent execution of three young men sentenced to death after participating in last year’s mass protests against rising gasoline prices. Iran
UN high court sides with Qatar in aviation dispute The aviation row centers on a years-long air boycott imposed by Qatar's regional rivals. Qatar
Intel: Democrats advance legislation to restrict Trump’s Middle East war powers House Democrats advanced three provisions today that would broadly curtail President Donald Trump’s ability to conduct offensive military action across the Middle East — and the world — should they become law as part of the annual defense spending bill. Congress
Intel: Trump, Erdogan chat as Libya heats up US President Donald Trump and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan chatted by phone today as regional tensions threaten to escalate the already volatile situation in Libya. Libya
Oman to allow residents to take international flights Oman's government also announced it would extend a lockdown on the Dhofar and Masirah regions. Oman
CENTCOM: No sign of coronavirus in Syria’s IS prisons as riots raise concern Gen. Kenneth “Frank” McKenzie, the top commander of American forces in the Middle East, said today that his command is concerned about recurring uprisings in prisons holding thousands of Islamic State detainees in northeast Syria. Syria
The long road to post-COVID economic recovery in the Middle East Indicators show that economic recovery across the Middle East, North Africa and the Gulf following the coronavirus pandemic may take longer and more effort than initially thought. Gulf
UAE’s historic mission to Mars postponed over poor weather The orbiter is now scheduled to launch from the Japanese island of Tanegashima on Thursday. Originals
Intel: Eastern Libya invites Egypt to intervene against Turkey-backed offensive Eastern Libya’s parliament passed a motion approving a possible military intervention by neighboring Egypt to stop an offensive by Libya’s Tripoli-based government in the west. Turkey
New UAE budget airline makes its first flight Air Arabia Abu Dhabi flew to Alexandria today and is now offering low-cost flights to Egypt as airlines in the Gulf country show signs of recovery. Originals
How Tunisia's impoverished southeast remained COVID-19 free While the isolation and lack of resources may have played a part in keeping cases of the coronavirus from appearing, they've also kept the region's economy in a state of crisis. Originals
Saudi Arabia announces steep fines for hajj trespassers Fines of 10,000 riyals will be issued to anyone entering the holy sites without a permit. Saudi Arabia