How Syria's border opening with Iraq redefines Turkey-Kurd balance After years of closure, the reopening of al-Yaaroubiya crossing is redrawing Kurdish economic leverage and reinforcing Turkey’s regional strategy. Syria
Syria sustains drone attack from Iraq, tackles smuggling tunnels on Lebanon border The incidents on Syria's borders follow threats against the transitional government by Iran and its proxies in Iraq. Syria
Here is what to know about Kuwait-Iraq maritime dispute Arab Gulf countries expressed support for Kuwait’s sovereignty after Iraq sent a revised map of its maritime borders that reignited a decades-old dispute over sea boundaries between the two neighbors. Kuwait
Exclusive Direct Turkey-Armenia land trade to begin amid US-led Caucasus peace push New transit arrangement via Georgia cuts re-export costs, marking accelerating normalization between Ankara and Yerevan amid broader US-led peace efforts. By Ezgi Akin In Ankara, reporting on diplomacy, EU-Turkey ties, NATO
Analysis What Syria and Israel’s new communications cell really signals By Rosaleen Carroll , Rina Bassist
Analysis Lebanon-Israel direct talks pause operation against Hezbollah — but for how long? By Ben Caspit In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense
KRG doubles down on independence vote after Baghdad meeting A visit by a Kurdish delegation to Baghdad amid strong regional and international objections to a Kurdish independence referendum failed to convince the Iraqi government of the merits of the vote. Iraq
Residents of Israeli-Arab town anxious about proposed land swap Residents of the Israeli-Arab town Umm al-Fahm fear that Israel will swap them for West Bank settlement bloc. Palestine
Golan residents renounce Israeli plan to hold local elections Israel is proposing to hold elections in the Golan Heights for the first time in its 50-year occupation, but since almost none of the locals are eligible to run for office, they want nothing to do with the idea. Palestine
The occupation at 50: No end in sight for Palestinians The Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories will not end until world powers convince Israel that their is an economic and political price to pay for sustaining it. Palestine
3 reasons why partitioning Libya is a bad idea While the Trump administration so far has failed to present a well-defined policy on Libya, the administration seems to be sending mixed signals. Libya
Anger in Ankara over Iraqi Kurdish independence moves Given its close ties with the Kurdistan Regional Government, which it needs for economic, political and security interests, Turkey’s objections to Iraqi Kurdish plans remain low key, but a crisis between the sides may nevertheless be looming. Iraq
What federalism would mean for northern Syria In an interview with Al-Monitor, the new co-chairman of the Syrian Democratic Council, Riad Darar, said that Syrians need to fully understand their interests in this international game to prevent the partition of the country and to build a new system that is more flexible in responding to change. Syria
What role will Crimean Tatars play in Russian-Turkish relations? Observers wonder just how far Turkey is willing to stick out its neck to support Crimean Tatars during its quest to further reconcile with Russia. Turkey
Polisario seeks to keep Sahara dispute in spotlight By withdrawing from a Western Sahara neutral area, Morocco is courting the new UN secretary-general while getting rid of the attention the tense situation has brought to the Western Sahara plight. Mauritania
Why Netanyahu won't abandon two-state solution Although Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has done nothing to advance a two-state solution, his repeated assertions in support of it have nonetheless shifted thinking in the Likud Party. Israel
