US airstrikes target Iran's Bandar Abbas, Qeshm Island American military forces launched their first strikes on the Iranian mainland in more than a month just days after the top US commander for the region said Iranian mines have been cleared from Hormuz shipping lanes. Iran
Analysis Israel favors status quo as tensions in Iran's leadership fuel escalation risk Israel would prefer to preserve the current balance of pressure — with US naval blockades and economic measures continuing without a return to active fighting — per a senior Israeli security source. By Ben Caspit In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense
Pentagon inks 7-year missile-production deal amid Iran war shortage The Defense Department has been hammering out new agreements with top defense manufacturers as the Iran war has rapidly depleted Washington's interceptor stockpiles. United States
Analysis Israel’s Lebanon dilemma: Confront Hezbollah without angering Trump, triggering Iran Israeli sources point out that the pilot project for Israel's withdrawal and the Lebanese military taking control over the area is not working because of the government's reluctance to search for Hezbollah's weapons in private homes. By Ben Caspit In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense
Analysis How Iran is readying for economic protests as Trump escalates pressure By A correspondent in Tehran In Tehran, reporting on politics
Newsletter: FutureVerse Economic D-day’s tech risks By Samuel Wendel In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech
Intel: Morocco signs 10-year military cooperation agreement with Pentagon The United States is building up its alliances in North Africa amid tensions with Russia and China. Morocco
Iranians call COVID-19 diagnosis 'lesson' for Trump To many Iranians, the news that US President Donald Trump has the novel coronavirus is poetic justice. United States
Intel: Pentagon eyes partnership with Algeria amid competition with Russia, China The United States is looking to bolster military ties with North Africa. Algeria
Two Iranian fuel tankers reach Venezuelan territory The Associated Press reported that two Iran-flagged ships reached Venezuela and a third is on its way without US interference. Together they are carrying 815,000 barrels of fuel. United States
Twitter says it closed Iranian government accounts focused on US election The social media company said it received the information on Tehran's purported activity during the first US presidential debate from the FBI. United States
Trump administration again slashes refugee admissions to new low The announcement followed Trump's attack on refugees during a campaign rally in Minnesota. United States
US sanctions Syria’s central bank chief, intel head The Trump administration sanctioned more than a dozen Syrian officials and entities in its latest push to choke off the regime's financial network. Syria
Iraqi foreign minister warns US Embassy pullout would be 'dangerous' for region Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein warned an American withdrawal could cause other members of the anti-IS coalition to pull their diplomatic staff. Iraq
Intel: First Israeli Iron Dome battery arrives in US A second Iron Dome battery is expected to arrive by the end of the year. Israel
Biden criticizes Turkish role in Azerbaijan-Armenia conflict The Democratic presidential nominee also said Trump should work to de-escalate the war in the Caucus. Turkey has come up in the US presidential race before. Turkey
Trump mum on refugee admissions despite pleas from Congress The administration has drastically reduced the number of refugees resettled annually in the United States. United States
Why rejoining Iran nuclear deal isn’t so easy, even if Biden wins A new Iran deal should consider the “gold standard” energy pact by the UAE and include a regional dialogue on the peaceful use of nuclear power. United Arab Emirates