After year away, France returns ambassador to Algeria: What to know France and Algeria have made efforts to improve ties recently, with the strain resulting from disagreements over Western Sahara and their shared colonial past. Algeria
Turkey's border reopening unlocks new sphere of influence in Syria Turkey reopened the Akcakale-Tell Abyad crossing on Monday, ending an 11-year closure along the Syria border. Turkey
Trump calls Iran response 'piece of garbage,' set to meet military advisers A US Navy nuclear submarine reached port in Gibraltar on Sunday in an unsubtle signal from the Pentagon. United States
EU ministers agree to sanction violent West Bank settlers: What to know European foreign ministers have agreed to sanction extremist West Bank settlers, but are still discussing the list of names. Israel
Newsletter: Daily Briefing Trump rejects Iran's latest proposal By Ezgi Akin In Ankara, reporting on diplomacy, EU-Turkey ties, NATO
Upcoming Lebanon-Israel talks will see higher-level participation, discuss security ‘framework’ Lebanon
Analysis From drones to deterrence: Turkey's ICBM missile signals bigger ambitions By Barin Kayaoglu In Ankara, reporting on geopolitics and national security
Iranian journalist Sara Massoumi sentenced to prison over tweet: lawyer Sara Massoumi criticized the Islamic Republic over the death of teenage girl Armita Geravand, who some allege was beaten for not wearing the hijab. Iran
Pentagon chief visits aircraft carrier based off Israel amid Gaza war Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said during a visit to the USS Gerald R. Ford that if Israel were to shift to more precise tactics in Gaza, it would reduce the threat of attack by Iran's proxies in the region. Palestine
In Cyprus, Israel's FM says Gaza maritime corridor deal is imminent A plan for a humanitarian maritime corridor from Cyprus to Gaza could take shape in a matter of weeks. Israel
The Israel-Hamas war: Live Q&A with Pentagon Correspondent Jared Szuba Become a Pro member today to attend this webinar on Thursday, Dec. 21 at 12 pm ET. Israel
Why is Hamas chief Haniyeh visiting Egypt after Iran meeting in Qatar? Pressure is building on Israel to halt the fighting to allow access to humanitarian aid and the release of hostages. Palestine
As US rallies new Red Sea task force, Arab states remain silent The US is opting for a collective defensive approach after Yemen's Houthi rebels targeted a dozen commercial ships with drones and missiles in the Red Sea during recent weeks in response to Israel's war in Gaza. Legacy: Gulf
What failure of Nile dam talks means for Egypt and Ethiopia Years of negotiations on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam have failed to yield an agreement, leading to tensions between Egypt and Ethiopia amid water issues related to climate change. Egypt
Assyrian Christmas message raises tensions in Turkey’s parliament The tensions are a snippet of the larger conflict regarding citizens’ rights to speak their mother tongues in the public and official sphere in multiethnic Turkey. Turkey
Iran launches new naval unit as Red Sea attacks intensify Equipped with rocket-launching vessels, the additional force is introduced amid increasing encounters between Iranian and American vessels in the Persian Gulf. Iran
What does Israel's killing of Hamas financier Subhi Ferwana mean? The Israeli military said Subhi Ferwana transferred millions of dollars to Hamas. Israel