George Helmy becomes first Coptic Christian sworn into US Senate Helmy fills the New Jersey seat left vacant after Sen. Bob Menendez was convicted of federal crimes and resigned. United States
In first under Biden, Egypt to receive full military aid tied to human rights For each of the last three years, the administration withheld a portion of Egypt’s military assistance over continued human rights abuses. Egypt
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. United States
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
Analysis Can US broker Israel-Hezbollah deal in Lebanon absent a Gaza cease-fire? 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
Intel: US leans on Turkey despite tensions The top US military commander in Europe told Congress today that Turkey remains a key ally despite the Donald Trump administration’s decision to boot the NATO partner from the F-35 program after it took delivery of the Russian S-400 air defense system last summer. Syria
Intel: Washington eyes Lebanon sanctions over jailed US citizen Lebanon is finding itself staring down the prospect of US sanctions after jailing an American citizen for six months. Lebanon
Can Ankara’s sudden change of heart on NATO save the day in Idlib? Ankara’s abrupt U-turn to reembrace NATO appears driven by conjunctural necessity to balance Russia in Idlib and Libya rather than a new realization of structural dependency between Turkey and NATO. Syria
Idlib exposes Erdogan's untenable policies Turkey’s predicament in Idlib has laid bare its weaknesses and the longstanding inconsistencies in its foreign and security policy as never before, boding adverse repercussions for the government, both at home and abroad. Syria
PA seeks Israeli left's support to challenge US peace plan Despite the public's ire, the Palestinian Authority has been meeting with members of the Israeli media and the sympathetic left to boost Israeli opposition to the US peace plan ahead of the March 2 Knesset elections. Palestine
Al-Azhar’s imam faces hostile media campaign Al-Azhar Grand Imam Sheikh Ahmed el-Tayeb is facing a campaign of persecution and media blockade in an attempt by the state to push him to renege on his positions. Egypt
The urgent conversation Trump, Putin need to have about Syria As Idlib refugee crisis grows, US risks superpower confrontation over missiles. Syria
How Turkey’s anti-Gulen lobbyist risks Washington’s ire with Venezuela contract Amsterdam and Partners has picked up the Maduro government account after Foley & Lardner dropped it amid political blowback. Turkey
Turkey asks US for missile defense amid Syria standoff Turkey has asked the United States to deploy Patriot batteries to its southern border, a US official told Al-Monitor. Syria
US sanctions Iranian Guardian Council members, holds off on UN snapback penalties The Trump administration is coming under pressure from anti-Iran deal advocates to find a way to trigger the "snapback" of UN sanctions this year. United States
Is Russia cozying up to Syria's Kurds amid rift with Turkey? The United States has reportedly cautioned the Kurds not to fight Turkey in any potential escalation in Syria, but Russia appears to have moved closer to the Kurds, as suggested by Kurdish collaboration with the Syrian army in areas along Idlib’s boundaries with Afrin. Syria
Hamas, Fatah trade blame for holdup on Gaza meeting Fatah and Hamas are accusing each other of delaying the PLO delegation visit to Gaza aimed at countering the US Mideast peace plan. Palestine
