Analysis RSF turns to drones, new fronts as Sudan battlefield pressure grows A wave of RSF drone attacks reflects the group fighting back, but it also points to limited supply lines and difficulty mounting ground offensives beyond its territorial strongholds. By Rosaleen Carroll In Washington, DC, US, reporting on the Middle East
Analysis Israel defies Trump on Lebanon as Netanyahu, Katz prioritize elections Both Benjamin Netanyahu and Donald Trump face fateful elections this fall, but one needs progress in Lebanon while the other wants more of the same. By Ben Caspit In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense
Yemen’s Houthis claim new attack on Aramco refinery in Saudi Arabia: What to know The strike follows a deadly Houthi attack on a ship in the Red Sea as the renewed conflict take its toll on shipping. Yemen
Iraq intel and security officials visit Saudi Arabia after drone attacks Iraqi authorities are cracking down on drone attacks after US and Saudi airstrikes targeted Iran-backed militias in the country. Iraq
Analysis What Qaani's Baghdad visit reveals about Iran's post-war dilemma By A correspondent in Tehran In Tehran, reporting on politics
Attack in Istanbul, Turkey's second in week, leaves 3 dead Authorities blame a far-left militant group for the attack, which claimed several bombings in Turkey over the past decades including a 2013 suicide bombing attack on the US Embassy in Ankara. Turkey
Why Iraq's dinar is trading below official dollar rate amid new restrictions A top US official visited Iraqi officials last week to discuss countering illicit finance and strengthening Iraq’s financial system. Iraq
Analysis Why did Kataib Hezbollah suspend attacks on US forces in Iraq? The Iraqi militia’s announcement was the result of Iranian influence and Iraqi political developments, analysts say, ahead of a looming US military response to the killing of American soldiers in Jordan. By Adam Lucente In New York City, reporting on regional news, militancy, climate change
Pentagon: US retaliation coming despite Kataib Hezbollah vow to suspend attacks President Joe Biden on Tuesday said he had already decided how to respond to Sunday's drone attack at the Tower 22 base in Jordan, the deadliest attack on US forces since the 2021 Abbey Gate bombing in Kabul. Iran
Iraq's Kataib Hezbollah announces suspension of attacks against US forces The decision follows a deadly strike on US forces in Jordan and ahead of anticipated retaliation by Washington. Iraq
After Jordan drone attack, US has few options to de-escalate with Iran The Biden White House faces increasing pressure to respond to the deadliest attack on the US military since 2021 as Israel's war in Gaza thrusts some 30,000 troops in the Middle East closer toward war with Iran and its proxies. Iran
What does ISIS' church attack in Turkey say about rise of Tajikistani militants? The shooting at a church in Istanbul marks the first Islamic State attack in Turkey since 2017 as the extremist offshoot ISIS-K seeks to expand. Turkey
Israel carries out strikes in Syria targeting south Damascus: government A number of Iranian IRGC members have been killed in strikes in Syria attributed to Israel in recent weeks. Syria
Two US Navy SEALs presumed dead after anti-Houthi raid: Pentagon The two special operators are presumed dead after attempting to board a stateless boat off Somalia earlier this month. Legacy: Gulf
What's behind Turkey's muted response to Iran-Pakistan escalation? Two considerations stand out in Turkey’s muted response to recent Iranian strikes in Iraq and Pakistan. Turkey
India secures trade, power with new naval role in Middle East Without aligning directly with the US-led mission against the Houthis in Yemen, the Indian navy's independent operations set a precedent for India's evolving military posture in West Asia and mark a departure from its traditional strategic restraint. By Mohammed Soliman In Washington, DC, reporting on Gulf politics
How Iran miscalculated its gamble in the Pakistan strike With its brief attack on Pakistani territory, Iran appears to have shot itself in the foot, inadvertently playing into the Western argument that Tehran is a destabilizing state in an already volatile region. Iran
