Former Assad official sentenced to 60 years in US for torture Samir Ousman Alsheikh was convicted by a jury in March of three counts of torture, one count of conspiracy to commit torture, visa fraud and attempted naturalization fraud. Syria
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
Idlib farmers harvest figs amid shelling, landmines Farmers in the Jabal al-Zawiya area that has recently witnessed escalating bombardment by Syrian government and Russian forces, are braving dangers to harvest their fig crops. Syria
Cairo evicts Nile island residents for development project Egyptian security forces and residents of the Nile River's Warraq Island are clashing as the government tries to evict them as part of a development plan. Egypt
Hamas condemns Turkey-Israel normalization Hamas has condemned Turkish-Israeli normalization, which raises questions on its impact on the good Turkey-Hamas relations and the residency of some of its leaders in its territory. Palestine
Egypt hosts five-state Arab summit The recent summit hosted by Egypt between the leaders of five Arab countries may serve as a prelude to more joint action on security and economic development. Egypt
Egypt rethinks water strategy, starting with new irrigation minister Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has appointed a new irrigation minister with wide experience in water resources in the context of the Nile crisis. Egypt
Analysis Islamic Jihad looks to Hezbollah after disastrous Gaza war Also: three dates to watch for in Iran nuclear talks. By Week in Review
Iran-linked attacks on US forces in Syria rekindle Iraq border concerns Tit-for-tat attacks by US and Iran-linked forces in eastern Syria have raised regional tension levels and questions about Iraq’s control of its western border and an area long controlled by Kataib Hezbollah in the center of the country. Iraq
KRG responds to Baghad's threat of legal action over oil dispute The federal Iraqi government argues that the autonomous region’s independent oil deals are unconstitutional. Iraq
Israel raises concerns over Iran probe as deal looms The Biden administration told Israel that it won’t pressure the International Atomic Energy Agency to drop its investigation into Iran’s unexplained nuclear material. Iran
Israel pours energy into media blitz against looming Iran nuclear deal Israel’s political and security leadership is giving its all in a final media campaign against a renewed nuclear deal with Iran. Israel
Israel’s Mossad chief promotes women at top The appointment of two women to very senior positions within the Mossad sends a strong signal to the rest of Israel’s security system that things are changing. Israel
Iraqi PM warns security forces to stay out of political conflicts The Iraqi judiciary resumed its work the day after powerful Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr ordered his supporters to withdraw from the Supreme Judicial Council. Iraq