GCC to build military command center in Kuwait as region simmers: What to know GCC countries have stepped up their joint defense efforts with the announcement of a new forward command center to be headquartered in Kuwait, as tensions between Iran and the US continue to escalate. Saudi Arabia
Hegseth strikes defiant tone, calls House impeachment process 'farce' Pentagon's top official called Rep. Thomas Massie's charges a 'farce,' arguing other defense secretaries trespassed on the War Powers Act without being impeached. By Jared Szuba In Washington, DC, reporting on defense, national security, military
Explainer From Oct. 7 inquiry to blocking Netanyahu: Eisenkot's bloc maps out Knesset agenda Israel's opposition to advance anti-Netanyahu government measures as soon as Knesset convenes Tuesday, without waiting for a new cabinet to take shape. Israel
Slotkin, Van Hollen emerge as potential challengers to Schumer’s Senate leadership A growing number of Democrats are calling for new leadership in the Senate to replace Schumer, arguing that the party needs a leader who better reflects its generational and ideological shift to the left. United States
Israel braces for election interference from Russia, elsewhere With diplomatic ties deteriorating, Israel fears that Russian or other hackers could try tampering with the Nov. 1 election results. Israel
Is Turkey using HTS to strengthen its hand in Syria? Amid Ankara’s overtures to Damascus, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham — the radical group controlling Idlib — has seized Afrin and is seeking a deal to expand its control further into territories held by factions allied with Turkey. Turkey
US-Saudi military ties remain on course despite OPEC dispute The White House is signaling it could hold up further arms sales to Saudi Arabia, but so far the rare public dispute has not impacted direct military cooperation between Washington and Riyadh. Legacy: Gulf
Putin’s 'gas hub’ plan aims to bolster Erdogan's image Erdogan has accepted Putin’s offer to create a “gas hub” in northwest Turkey. But what is a gas hub? Is it workable? If realized, what impact would it have? Turkey
Archive Upfront from Oct 17, 2022 Are Syria’s HTS jihadis Turkey’s new friends? After Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the jihadi faction that runs the northwestern province of Idlib, moved into Afrin, the question of where Turkey stands in this power grab is of critical importance. Turkey
IRGC warns Saudi Arabia over Iran protest coverage The head of the IRGC has issued a warning to Saudi Arabia over coverage by Persian-language news outlets. Iran
Ultra-Orthodox campaigning goes digital as Israeli election nears In a dramatic shift from past elections, ultra-Orthodox parties have gone digital to keep up with their own constituencies. Israel
Israel revokes work permits of 164 Palestinian militants' relatives In addition to pressuring the Nablus-based Lion’s Den group, Defense Minister Benny Gantz revoked the permits of group members' relatives to work in Israel. Israel
Islamic State claims over 125 people killed in Syrian operations in 2 months The Islamic State announced the largest number of operations it has so far carried out in the span of two months in the countryside of Deir ez-Zor, which is under the control of Kurdish forces in northeast Syria. Syria
Egypt, Sudan joint committee resume talks on Nile waters The Permanent Joint Technical Commission for Nile Waters between Egypt and Sudan has convened after a four-year hiatus amid the stalled negotiations over Ethiopia’s controversial Nile dam. Egypt
Russian warplanes hit targets in northwest Syria Russian warplanes escalated their shelling of Idlib amid field clashes between Hayat Tahrir al-Sham and the Syrian government forces in the countryside of Aleppo. Syria