The Turkish president announces plans for another invasion of Syria, while digging in on rejecting admitting Sweden and Finland to NATO. 

The Turkish president senses an opportunity to finally settle scores regarding perceived previous slights by NATO powers. 

The confrontations at Jerusalem’s holy sites, recent terror attacks inside Israel, the killing of Al Jazeera Palestinian-American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh, a dire Palestnian economy and a more assertive Hamas have put the Palestinian question back at the core of the region’s many issues. 

New Pentagon IG report says that the Turkey-PKK conflict and Iranian militias are contributing to instability in Iraq.  

In an exclusive interview with Al-Monitor, Tim Lenderking, US special envoy for Yemen, says the United States can be counted on to continue its strong diplomatic effort in Yemen, but the core responsibilities for peace lie with the parties themselves. 

Egyptian mediation again in spotlight to prevent a repeat of Israel-Hamas war. 

Israel's ambassador to the United States also addresses Palestinian political process; violence escalates at Jerusalem holy sites; Hamas focuses on West Bank and resistance dramas; Christian population of Jerusalem dwindles further. 

Russia is the common thread in Syria and Ukraine; Syrians feel ‘abandoned by the world;' Turkey seizes an opening; UN process stymied; and US stresses ‘accountability.'

Also:​ Upcoming religious holidays heighten concerns of more violence, including by the Islamic State operating within Israel.

Fuad Hussein, in an exclusive interview with Al-Monitor, says Iraq continues to play a role in helping to facilitate dialogue, and de-escalating conflict, between Washington and Tehran.