Trump says Kamala Harris 'hates' Israel as she calls for end to Gaza war In their first and perhaps only debate, neither Harris nor Trump offered a substantive plan to secure a cease-fire and hostage release deal between Israel and Hamas. Washington Connection
USS Georgia guided missile submarine arrives in Middle East The Georgia's arsenal multiplies the US Navy's precision-strike capabilities near Iranian shores as Israel awaits retaliation for the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh at an IRGC guest house in Tehran last month. United States
US-Turkish dual citizen shot dead in Israeli-occupied West Bank Aysenur Ezgi Eygi, 26, was killed while taking part in a march against the expansion of settlements in the West Bank. Palestine
Analysis Can US broker Israel-Hezbollah deal in Lebanon absent a Gaza cease-fire? With talks between Israel and Hamas stalled, the Biden administration hopes to delink the Gaza war from the Lebanese border escalation, but the Israeli prime minister may be more focused on the US presidential election. By Ben Caspit In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense
Analysis Philadelphi Corridor: Hamas lifeline or Netanyahu’s cease-fire poison pill? By Elizabeth Hagedorn In Washington, DC, reporting on diplomacy, regional politics, human rights
Will Iran back UN-Saudi initiative for cease-fire in Yemen? For Saudi Arabia and the Gulf, Yemen is too big to fail; for Iran, it’s a penny stock investment to keep the kingdom bogged down in a quagmire. Yemen
Khamenei blames Western culture, atheism for coronavirus response failings In a rare speech, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei criticized the West for its poor response to the outbreak of the novel coronavirus, as cases continue to grow in Iran. United States
Intel: Pompeo, Netanyahu talk coronavirus on Passover Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu chatted by phone on Wednesday, the first day of Passover. Israel
COVID-19 pandemic intensifies Iran sanctions debate Iran hawks are doubling down on sanctions amid the COVID-19 pandemic, and Democrats can’t agree on how much relief the United States should give Iran. United States
Intel: State Department backs up watchdog report on Syria chemical weapons use The United States agrees with the recent assessment of a global chemical weapons watchdog that found the Syrian regime used banned weapons against its own people, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Wednesday. Syria
Amid Saudi-Russia price war, US on track to become net oil importer: Report The coronavirus and the Saudi-Russia oil price war are contributing to a fall in US oil production and the United States is expected to become a net oil importer again in the fall. Saudi Arabia
Iran's Rouhani pushes for IMF loan, slams US 'medical terrorism' US points to medical and humanitarian exceptions to sanctions policies, blames Iran's mismanagement of economy. United States
Intel: Saudis to discuss oil price war with new Republican detractors Saudi officials will hold a phone call to discuss the kingdom’s record high oil output with two Republican senators that have become the ringleaders in conservative efforts to pressure Riyadh into ending the price war. Saudi Arabia
Islamic State seeks comeback under cover of coronavirus Iraqi authorities are worried the Islamic State will rear its head again now that the US-led coalition's anti-terror efforts have been put on hold, in part due to the coronavirus pandemic. Iraq
‘All hands on deck:’ Middle East embassies inundated with citizens stranded in US Middle East embassies are overwhelmed with calls from citizens trying to return home as COVID-19 spreads in the United States. Oman
Intel: Key Democrat says Yemen war restrictions 'on the table' in major defense bill House Armed Services Chairman Adam Smith, D-Wash., told Al-Monitor today that Democrats are considering renewing last year’s push to cut off US support to the Saudi-led coalition that is fighting Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels as part of Congress’ annual defense authorization bill. Saudi Arabia
Intel: US comes out against emergency COVID-19 IMF loan for Iran The United States opposes Iran’s request for a $5 billion emergency loan request from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to help it cope with the coronavirus pandemic, Al-Monitor has learned. United States
