Explainer Tankers keep sailing Red Sea despite Houthi threats as Saudi oil lifeline faces strains Roughly a dozen oil tankers were sailing in the vicinity of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait as of Tuesday evening, following an uptick in traffic the day before as shippers bet on new US-Iran diplomacy. Yemen
Aramco turns to Egypt as Houthis disrupt Saudi oil exports: What to know Riyadh is now looking to use the Mediterranean route more extensively after the Houthis on July 20 threatened to target oil exports passing through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. Saudi Arabia
Explainer As Turkey rivalry heats up, Greece to acquire $4B Israeli air defense system The Greek defense minister said that the air defense system will be operational within 35 months. Israel
Turkey to begin surveys for planned northern Cyprus gas pipeline The planned 63-mile link is intended to supply gas for electricity generation but has drawn condemnation from the Republic of Cyprus amid rising rivalries in the eastern Mediterranean. Turkey
Analysis As Turkey eyes US naval revival, here is why big warship deals are unlikely By Barin Kayaoglu In Ankara, reporting on geopolitics and national security
Analysis As US ties fray, top Oman official visits China: What to know By Joyce Karam , Rosaleen Carroll
Interview Why Strait of Hormuz no longer rattles oil markets as much: IMF Jihad Azour Director of the Middle East and Central Asia Department at the International Monetary Fund
Egypt's Sisi approves plan to widen, deepen Suez Canal after stuck ship The plan includes widening and deepening the area where Ever Given got stuck in March. News Brief
Iran denies US Navy’s account of run-in in Persian Gulf Iran has accused the US Navy of “false narratives” and “unprofessional behavior” in the latest run-in with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Iran
Libyan conflict stands out as key to Turkey-Egypt normalization Turkey appears reluctant to back down from its military posture in Libya, even as its normalization bid with Egypt depends greatly on whether the two sides find common ground in the Libyan conflict. Turkey
Russian ship gets stuck near Caspian en route to Iran The cargo vessel got stuck in a canal north of the Caspian Sea while bringing goods to Iran. Russia and Iran have lobbied for an alternative to the Suez Canal through their countries recently. News Brief
US Navy seizes massive shipment of weapons in Arabian Sea A video released by the Navy onboard the USS Monterey showed a massive cache of arms seized from a stateless vessel in the Arabian Sea. Legacy: Gulf
Turkey sees turning point in failed Cyprus summit Turkey hopes for British support as it takes on a more hawkish posture on the Cyprus conflict, risking fresh tensions with the European Union. Turkey
US Navy fires warning shots in encounter with Iranian patrol boats A US Navy patrol ship fired warning shots to ward off Iranian boats in the Persian Gulf on Monday, marking the second run-in between the two countries’ naval forces this month. Iran
Erdogan furious as his Islamic ambitions stumble in Turkish Cyprus A Turkish Cypriot court ruling that reins back on Quranic courses comes as a poignant message to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan that Cypriot Turks are unwilling to sign up to his quest to raise “devout generations.” Turkey
Egypt joins Gulf region’s Combined Maritime Forces led by US Egypt's participation in the task force comes as Russia seeks closer defense ties with Cairo and Sudan. Legacy: Gulf
Turkey's efforts to woo rivals yield mixed results Diplomatically isolated and economically weak, Turkey is seeking to repair relations with its regional foes. But it's no easy task. Turkey
Turkish court releases detained admirals The 10 admirals were arrested last week after criticizing the possible Turkish withdrawal from the Montreux Convention, which regulates maritime traffic through the strategic Bosporus Strait. News Brief
Lebanon expands maritime territorial claim amid dispute with Israel Last year's talks between Israel and Lebanon on their gas-rich Mediterranean Sea border failed to yield an agreement. News Brief
