Why Hamas stayed out of Gaza battle

This is not the first time that the Hamas movement leaves Islamic Jihad alone in a military confrontation with Israel.

Palestine

Power outage adds to 'unbearable' hardships for Palestinians in Gaza

For a week, Gazans have been braving the scorching heat with only a few hours of electricity a day, following the closure of all border crossings with Israel and the suspension of the only power plant.

Palestine

Kurdish leaders meet as Iraqi political deadlock continues

Iraq’s two major Kurdish parties have been trying to reach a compromise between the two, but to no avail.

Iraqi-Kurdistan

Netanyahu loyalists victorious in Israel party primaries

All those Likud seniors who might have fiddled with the idea of challenging the leadership of Benjamin Netanyahu were pushed to unelectable spots on the party’s new Knesset list.

Israel

Iran rejects ‘ridiculous’ US accusation of plot to kill John Bolton

The Islamic Republic said the claim was politically motivated and part of an "Iranophobia" campaign advanced by the United States.  

Iran

Turkish official says slow pace of Armenia normalization designed to avert disappointment

Ankara has said both sides are focused on confidence-building steps to be taken “one at a time.”

Turkey

Israel demolishes one West Bank outpost, stalls on another

The Ramat Migron outpost was demolished this morning and now Israeli settlers and right-wing politicians are focusing on preserving the iconic Homesh settlement.

Israel

Reports: armed man who held bank hostage in Lebanon now in custody

Lebanese cannot access most of their savings amid the worsening economic meltdown.

Lebanon

Turkey makes peace bid with Chechen leader

As Ankara finesses relations with Moscow, top Turkish officials have quietly met with Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov after years of chill marked by a string of murders of Chechen exiles in Turkey.

Turkey

Despite killings, violations, Gazans eager to work inside Israel

Gaza Strip workers embark on a perilous journey inside Israel as they are killed or assaulted by Israeli soldiers and settlers while traveling through Israeli checkpoints.

Palestine

Suicide attack thwarted as Iraqi Shiites celebrate Ashura

While the history of al-Qaeda in Iraq and the Islamic State continue to haunt Iraq, the start of the annual Shiite religious mourning celebration was largely uneventful — though Diyala province remains problematic.

Iraq

Analysis

The Takeaway: Iran deal’s fate could again hinge on IAEA probe

Hamas sits out Gaza war; Israel pursues Islamic Jihad in West Bank; Gaza’s eroding beaches; Turkey’s Alevis fear attacks; Iran trains Russians on drones.

By Elizabeth Hagedorn , Andrew Parasiliti