Lebanon detains Hezbollah members as PM pledges end to impunity Concerns about internal strife are growing amid tensions between Lebanese authorities and Hezbollah. Lebanon
Turkey’s banking watchdog chief submits resignation amid fund scandal Turkey’s government is facing growing criticism over regulators’ failure to prevent a fund scandal involving more than $20 billion. Turkey
Explainer Iran war pushes up coal use, complicating Turkey’s COP31 pledge Turkey is asking world leaders at COP31 to back a global push to use more electricity, even as the Iran war has driven up natural gas prices and pushed some power producers back to coal. Turkey
Ex-Iraqi MP Ahmed Alwani found dead in Lebanon: What to know Ahmed al-Alwani was a prominent leader of anti-government protests by Iraqi Sunnis in 2013, and was released from prison last year. Iraq
Hegseth strikes defiant tone, calls House impeachment process 'farce' By Jared Szuba In Washington, DC, reporting on defense, national security, military
With world attention on Ukraine, Nile dam conflict escalates Egypt and Sudan have condemned Ethiopia's decision to partially start electricity production via the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam. Egypt
Family ties fuel Islamic State to rebel pipeline in northern Syria The stories of fighters who turned from the Islamic State to Syria's rebel opposition forces show the how kinship ties, regionalism, and material concerns often trump ideology in the Syrian war. Syria
Iran's supreme leader blames US for Russia war on Ukraine Iran's supreme leader said the United States was the "root cause" of the Ukraine war as he refrained from condemning Russia for the invasion. Iran
Turkey's opposition unites in advance of 2023 elections The jury’s out on whether a pledge by Turkey’s six opposition parties to bring back the parliamentary system is an agreement on the lowest common denominator or a historical pact that would unseat Erdogan. Turkey
White Helmets chief reflects on Syria’s lessons for Ukraine Raed al-Saleh, who leads the volunteer rescue group in Syria, offered advice to Ukrainians seeking to document Russia's potential war crimes in real time. Syria
Analysis Israel torn over ties with Russian oligarchs Formulating its policy on the Ukraine crisis, Israel must take into account its coordination with Russia in Syria, its special relations with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, its super important alliance with the United States and its large Russian-Ukraine-born population. By Ben Caspit In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense
Egypt-Kuwait talks address bilateral ties, Arab summit, challenges Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi recently visited Kuwait where he met with the emir and crown prince to discuss the upcoming Arab League summit in Algeria, as Egypt regains its pivotal regional role. Egypt
Bedouins skirt Israeli law against polygamy Arab residents of the Negev in southern Israel are bypassing the Israeli law that prohibits polygamy through a practice known as a “cohabitation marriage” that is registered outside the Sharia courts. Palestine
Iraqi officer arrested for 2019 killing of protesters An interior ministry officer accused of serious human rights abuses during the war against the Islamic State has been arrested after documents emerged allegedly showing his direct involvement in the 2019 killing of protesters. Iraq
Infighting between Islamist, Turkish-backed armed groups continues in north Syria Infighting between Turkish-backed factions in north Syria continues despite pleas by civilians, with most recently dozens of members of the civilian police resigning in response to a shootout with the military police that left two of its members wounded. Syria
Israeli agricultural Sabbath offers Gazan farmers hope Although Israel imposed economic restrictions on agricultural exports from the Gaza Strip in 2007, Shmita offers Gazan farmers an opportunity to export vegetables to Israel, as the Israeli land is left to rest. Palestine