Interview Yemen separatists urge US not to let Saudi Arabia ‘call the shots’ As Houthi fighters steamroll Yemen’s Red Sea coast, the country's southern separatists say an independent South Yemen is the best check on the group’s expansion.
Trump administration approves $24B sale of F-35 jets to Saudi Arabia Trump first announced the planned sale in November 2025, ahead of hosting Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at the White House. Saudi Arabia
US sanctions Iranian crypto exchange BitBank over Hormuz payments The US government says the exchange was used to channel payments from an Iranian maritime-insurance scheme to the regime. Iran
Turkey's Erdogan to run for 'final' third term in 2028, adviser says If Turkey's parliament votes to move the next election up during President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s second term, he could constitutionally run for third. Turkey
Sisi advances Egypt's bid for BRICS membership President of the BRICS International Forum Purnima Anand revealed Egypt's interest in joining the group along with Saudi Arabia and Turkey, and the position is to be discussed at the BRICS summit scheduled for next year in South Africa. Egypt
Coordination Framework establishes committee to select next Iraqi prime minister The Coordination Framework, which became the largest Shiite bloc in the parliament after the withdrawal of Sadrists, have set up a committee to nominate the prime minister as a part of forming the next government. Iraq
Iranian women under pressure as Raisi stiffens hijab mandate The Iranian government is cracking down on hijab violations in what many say is a bid to divert attention from the nation’s economic hardships. Iran
Analysis The important counternarrative on Biden’s Middle East trip Symbolism matters, but progress matters more — and there was progress. By Week in Review
US commends Turkey, UN for Ukraine-Russia grain deal The US welcomed the grain agreement signed in Istanbul but cautioned the devil is in the details. Turkey
Israel assesses Nasrallah's next move amid escalation on northern border Jerusalem is concerned that internal pressures in Lebanon on Hezbollah’s Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah could be translated into more violence against Israel. Israel
Ukraine, Russia agree to sign deal in Istanbul to end grain crisis US cautiously welcomes potential breakthrough, thanks to Turkish mediation, to allow safe export of Ukrainian grain through the Black Sea. Turkey
Erdogan returns empty-handed from talks with Putin, Raisi Erdogan fails to enlist Russian and Iranian support for a fresh Turkish military operation in Syria, but he remains bent on maintaining the pressure. Turkey
Massacre of nine Iraqi tourists blamed on Turkey sparks protests, diplomatic fallout Turkey's shelling of a tourist resort in Iraqi Kurdistan’s Dahuk region leaves Iraqis mourning and angry. Turkey
Iran threatens Sweden as ex-official sentenced to life A Swedish-Iranian row is deepening after a Swedish court sentenced an ex-Iranian official to life in prison and Tehran accused Stockholm of harboring "terrorist groups." Iran
Israeli settlers, security forces clash over West Bank outposts Despite their dismantling by Israeli security forces, hundreds of Jewish settlers are determined to stay at seven makeshift outposts across the West Bank. Israel
Assyrian family properties in Syria threatened by illegal seizures The numerous parties to the Syrian war are ignoring the theft and forgeries of properties of minorities in the country, including the properties of Syriac Assyrians who have fled the war. Syria