Newsletter: Turkey Erdogan’s new rival The week’s biggest bombshell came from Ozgur Ozel, the ousted opposition CHP leader, who said he will probably form a new party. By Amberin Zaman Reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture
Yemen's Houthis raise Red Sea stakes for Trump With President Donald Trump ratcheting up his threats, will Iran play its Houthi card? Iran
Analysis Trump's ‘180-degree reversal’ on Lebanon, Syria leaves Netanyahu with few options before elections Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hopes an Israeli withdrawal from two pilot zones in southern Lebanon will help ease tensions with President Donald Trump. By Ben Caspit In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense
Iran strike damages Kuwait power, desalination plant: What to know Kuwait, the world’s most water-stressed country, urged residents to reduce electricity and water use following the attack. Kuwait
Newsletter: Daily Briefing US extends Iran strikes to bridges, airport By Ezgi Akin In Ankara, reporting on diplomacy, EU-Turkey ties, NATO
Trump taps Russia-born investor to oversee $200M+ fund backing Armenia-Azerbaijan corridor United States
Tunisia’s president appoints new prime minister amid deepening crisis The country is facing growing economic woes amid pressure to approve an IMF rescue program. Tunisia
Iran: Unprecedented heat wave triggers emergency holidays The high temperatures have widely been linked to the overall impacts of climate change, which is hitting Iran twice harder than global averages, according to official data. Iran
Iran, Belarus sign defense MOU as they explore cooperation on drones Belarus may start playing a bigger role in Russia’s use of Iranian drones in the war on Ukraine. Iran
UK formally recognizes genocide against Yazidis by Islamic State The United Kingdom is the latest country to recognize the 2014 mass slaughter of Yazidis by the Islamic State as genocide. Iraq
Islamic State attack in Syria targets oil convoy, kills 5 soldiers: Monitor Islamic State sleeper cells have regularly attacked government forces in central and eastern Syria despite losing the last of their territory in 2019. Syria
Analysis For Israeli normalization with Saudi Arabia, Netanyahu needs new coalition Israeli and US officials assess that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will have to get on board opposition leaders Yair Lapid and Benny Gantz, if he wants to neutralize his coalition’s extreme members and reach a normalization deal with Saudi Arabia. By Ben Caspit In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense
Israel’s efforts at water diplomacy make slow progress Israel is keen on leveraging its water technology and achievements in exploiting limited water resources to build ties with the Arab world. David Rosenberg In Tel Aviv, reporting on business and tech
Israeli kidnapped in Ethiopia released after 3 weeks in captivity Three weeks after he was reported kidnapped, Israeli-Ethiopian citizen Francis Adbabayi was released and united with his sons. Israel
Why Senate Democrats are urging Biden to withhold part of Egypt's military aid The letter led by Sen. Chris Murphy called for the Biden administration to withhold $320 million from Egypt's annual military assistance package. Egypt
US, Russia mum as Turkey escalates attacks against Kurdish groups in Syria, Iraq Both the White House and the State Department remain silent as Turkey's military campaign against the PKK continues "full blast." Turkey
Analysis Top Israeli official says country won't block Saudi civil nuclear program Amid reports that Saudi Arabia is conditioning normalization with Israel on Washington's approval to start a civil nuclear program, a top Israeli official says Israeli support is not out of the question. By Rina Bassist In Paris, reporting on Israeli politics and European affairs
Israel’s north-south rail project will link to Saudi Arabia, Netanyahu says Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is optimistic about the possibility of connecting Israel to the Saudi and wider Gulf rail network. Israel