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
Israeli demolitions force Palestinians to live in caves The demolitions carried out by Israel since 2005 in the small village of Khirbet Tana, near Nablus, have forced hundreds of Palestinians to live in caves, lacking basic necessities. Palestine
Senior US commander sounds alarm over Syria’s Islamic State prison camps Michael 'Erik' Kurilla, the Army four-star general overseeing all American troops in the Middle East, went inside Syria's al-Hol Islamic State detainment camp Friday and spoke with residents. He says many can be sent home. Syria
Analysis Israel capitalizes on deadlock in Iran nuclear talks Hezbollah and the Lebanon-Israel gas talks; US-Israel friction over report on killing of Shireen Abu Akleh; Al-Monitor Pro webinar to feature UAE Minister of the Future Al-Roumi By Week in Review
US sanctions Iran over cyberattack on Albania The sanctions come after Albania severed diplomatic ties with Iran following a July cyberattack ahead of a conference held by the Mujahedeen e-Khalq. Washington Connection
Iran shuts borders with Iraq as millions of Shiite pilgrims arrive for Arbaeen Iraq is struggling with the large number of Shiite pilgrims, at least 5 million — mostly from Iran — who entered Iraq over the last few days to attend the Arbaeen ceremony. Iraq
Greece’s growing influence frustrates Erdogan Though Erdogan’s outbursts at Greece are widely seen as an attempt to lure nationalist voters ahead of elections next year, his anger is fueled by some very real frustrations in the region. Turkey
Israel, US at odds over rules of engagement The Israeli leadership has shut down a US demand to review its policies on soldiers opening fire. Israel
Why Hezbollah won't torpedo Lebanon's maritime border talks with Israel Israeli sources believe that Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah realizes how important it is for economically failing Lebanon to reach an agreement with Jerusalem on its maritime border and the extraction of natural gas. Israel
NATO gaffe sign of bigger strife between Turkey, Greece The recent Turkish-Greek row over Twitter might be a taste of things to come Turkey
Egypt determined to disrupt Ethiopia's ties with Uganda Cairo is to help Kampala achieve food security in a bid to deal a blow to the Ugandan-Ethiopian alliance, especially in the Nile dam issue. Egypt
Iran dismisses 'baseless' IAEA report, claims full transparency Iran reasserted its defiance of the IAEA's additional safeguards checks and said the agency's latest assessment was void of new content. Iran
Turkey, Greece escalate war of words as they drag in EU, NATO The Turkish and Greek foreign ministers write dueling letters to key international actors as leaders exchange barbs after Erdogan’s one-liner that Turkey “can come suddenly one night.” Turkey