Trump speaks with Netanyahu, Putin as Iran pressure campaign escalates President Donald Trump spoke by phone separately with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Russian President Vladimir Putin, discussing the situation in Iran and the possibility of extending the ceasefire. United States
Israel rejects Ukraine's claim that Russian shadow fleet vessel docked in Haifa Ukraine alleges the vessel unloaded wheat taken from occupied territories in Haifa, while Israel says ship had not entered the port. Israel
Iran FM meets Putin, Russia’s military intel chief as talks stall: What to know Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi headed to Russia following visits to Pakistan and Oman over the weekend as talks with Washington are at a standstill. Iran
Russia evacuates 160 staff from Iran's Bushehr plant: What to know The Kremlin says it is committed to maintaining energy cooperation with Iran amid strikes near the Bushehr nuclear power plant. Iran
Obama: no safe haven for al-Qaeda in Syria The United States to continue "intense fire efforts" against terrorist group as US-Russia talks appear stalled; Is Muqtada al-Sadr losing the Iraqi street? Nouri al-Maliki plots his return. Iraq
Obama chides Russia, but will 'test' cooperation to curb Syria war US President Barack Obama on Aug. 4 criticized Russia for backing the Syrian regime’s advances on Aleppo, as US-Russian negotiations on possible deeper cooperation on Syria drag on without agreement. Syria
Iranian wrestlers go for the gold in Rio Iranian official says Iranian wrestlers’ “biggest challenge” at the Olympics will come from Russians and Americans. Russia
Can Turkey really turn to Russia? Despite anger at the West after the recent failed coup, the strategic ties some desire with Russia do not appear realistic. Syria
Al-Qaeda affiliate’s desperate 'switch' validates US Syria policy Fear of US and Russian airstrikes on eve of Syrian offensive a sign that Jabhat al-Nusra may be feeling the heat; Turkey’s de-Gulenification campaign in context; retired Saudi general probes Israeli commitment to peace settlement. Saudi Arabia
Why de-escalation of Ankara-PKK clashes doesn’t mean path to peace The Turkish government has lowered the temperature of the war against the PKK because of the prevailing chaos in the army, police and intelligence services, but this is not a step toward peace. Syria
US rebukes Russia Aleppo plan as 'demand for surrender' The United States criticized a Russian Defense Ministry announcement of “humanitarian corridors” for civilians to leave rebel-held eastern Aleppo, but US-Russian negotiations on deeper cooperation continue as the city is steadily falling to the regime. Syria
Is new strategy needed for fighting IS in Syria? In an interview with Al-Monitor, a senior member of the New Syrian Army, Abdulsalam Muzil, talks about his force’s achievements and what's to come in the battle against the Islamic State. Syria
Will Turkey be expelled from NATO? Suggestions that Ankara is endangering its membership in the Western alliance ring hollow given what is transpiring around Turkey today. Turkey
Who sent mystery drone into Israeli airspace? Israel's air force is investigating a triple failure to bring down a drone that flew over the Golan Heights and is still unidentified. Israel
One year after nuclear deal, Iran receives S-300 missiles Iran is now receiving the missile parts of the S-300 surface-to-air missile defense system from Russia. Russia
Kerry, Putin meet to salvage Syria peace talks US Secretary of State John Kerry met with Russian President Vladimir Putin July 14 to see if they could reach an agreement on a US plan to deepen US-Russian coordination on Syria. Syria
