Islamic State takes border station in Iraqi desert with 'drug smuggling wali' A recent incident along Iraq’s western border and alleged connections between drug smuggling and Islamic State cells in the area have raised concern. Shelly Kittleson | Iraq | May 8, 2021 An Iraqi Shiite fighter from a Popular Mobilization Units rides his motorbike in Qaim on the Iraqi side of the border with Syria on Nov. 12, 2018.
Erdogan’s reset with Egypt and the Gulf won’t be smooth The Turkish president wants a change in relations, but his efforts are seen as the result of a failed regional strategy and poor ties with the Biden administration. Week in Review | Turkey | May 8, 2021
Member of Boogaloo movement expresses 'regret' for attempting to help Hamas Two members of the anti-US government Boogaloo movement have pleaded guilty to attempting to support the Palestinian military organization Hamas. Adam Lucente | News Brief | May 6, 2021
Iraqi authorities nab Islamic State 'governor' of Fallujah Abu Ali al-Jumaili's arrest comes as Kurdish-led forces captured another IS official across the border in Syria. Al-Monitor Staff | Iraq | May 3, 2021
US soldier faces criminal charges over firefight with Syrian regime Sgt. 1st Class Robert Nicoson is accused of recklessly endangering his own men by allegedly bringing them into close contact with Syrian pro-regime forces. Al-Monitor Staff | Syria | May 3, 2021
Turkey broadens pay phone probes to nab Gulenist soldiers A fresh judicial probe targeting hundreds of suspected Gulenist soldiers shows that purges in the Turkish military are far from drawing to an end. Metin Gurcan | Turkey | May 1, 2021
What killing of Chadian president means for Egypt The killing of Chadian President Idriss Deby causes Egyptian security concerns. Muhammed Magdy | Egypt | Apr 25, 2021
Baghdad airport hit in latest Iraq rocket strike, no injuries The strike follows a drone attack on a coalition site at Erbil Air Base last week. Al-Monitor Staff | Iraq | Apr 23, 2021
Kataib Hezbollah controls access points to key Iraqi border city Iran-linked armed groups have over the past year tightened and consolidated their grip on a key border area between Iraq and Syria, preventing journalists from entering and local residents from farming their land. Shelly Kittleson | Iraq | Apr 17, 2021
Israel, Greece, Cyprus, Emirates hold strategic meeting Top foreign affairs officials of Israel, Greece, Cyprus and the United Arab Emirates meet in Cyprus. Rina Bassist | Israel | Apr 16, 2021
US, Turkish forces in Iraq targeted in separate attacks A Turkish soldier was killed northeast of Mosul shortly after NATO and US officials announced they will withdraw from Afghanistan this year. Jared Szuba | Turkey | Apr 15, 2021
Tunisia courts Egypt amid presidential dispute with Islamist Ennahda party Tunisian President Saied Kais recently paid his first visit to Egypt since assuming power in 2019, in what analysts say is a move aimed at cementing relations in the face of the Muslim Brotherhood. Ahmed Nadhif | Tunisia | Apr 13, 2021
What's next for Russia’s relations with Hezbollah? A Hezbollah delegation visits Moscow, with Lebanese politics and stability and Syria's political future atop the agenda. Anton Mardasov | Russia | Mar 18, 2021
UN says Libya arms embargo 'totally ineffective' A United Nations panel of experts accused several member states, including Turkey and Russia, of fueling the Libyan conflict. Al-Monitor Staff | Libya | Mar 17, 2021
'Scores' of migrants burned to death from Houthi projectiles in Yemen: HRW Human Rights Watch accused Houthi security forces of firing "unidentified projectiles" into a migrant detention center earlier this month. Al-Monitor Staff | Yemen | Mar 16, 2021
Turkey’s reaction to Biden’s recognition of Armenian genocide more bark than bite for now Al-Monitor Staff | Turkey | Apr 24, 2021
Fighting between Syria's Kurdish forces, pro-Assad militia enters fourth day Jared Szuba | Syria | Apr 23, 2021
Erdogan furious as his Islamic ambitions stumble in Turkish Cyprus Fehim Tastekin | Turkey | Apr 23, 2021
Middle East Scholar Arzu Yilmaz says limits of Turkish military activity in Iraq are mostly set by Iran
Political correspondent Tal Schneider: Israel unlikely to see Capitol-style violence if anti-Netanyahu government forms
An Iraqi Shiite fighter from a Popular Mobilization Units rides his motorbike in Qaim on the Iraqi side of the border with Syria on Nov. 12, 2018.
