Next phase of US airstrike campaign in Iran to target missile manufacturing US Central Command (CENTCOM) has devised plans to prevent Iran’s remaining enriched uranium from being weaponized by remnants of the Iranian regime, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth suggested. Iran
Iran’s communications blackout limits assessment of war’s humanitarian toll Aid groups struggle to assess humanitarian toll in Iran as blackout hampers efforts to identify needs. Iran
Middle East evacuations gather pace as explosions rattle Abu Dhabi airport Dozens of Emirati flights were forced to hold or diver after the country's Defense Ministry said it had intercepted six ballistic missiles and 125 drones. United Arab Emirates
Newsletter: China-Middle East China seeks deconfliction in Iran war regardless of regime future China’s leverage remains limited, with little influence over the US, Israel and Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, so it’s left adapting to Iran’s uncertain future through economic adjustments and deconfliction. By Joyce Karam , Rosaleen Carroll
Exclusive US-backed Kurdish forces poised to enter Iran from Iraqi Kurdistan 'within days' By Amberin Zaman Reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture
Iran says plane crash investigation will be made public Iran’s defense minister said the investigation into the Ukraine plane shooting is ongoing but will be made public. Iraq
Erdogan's Libya strategy: Jump first, think later By openly taking sides in Libya, Turkey could end up undermining the clout it believes it has gained in that country. Syria
Pentagon steers away from brain trauma diagnoses after Iranian strike Donald Trump downplayed the injuries of US troops stemming from an Iranian missile strike. Iraq
Intel: Iraq bank set to halt Iran gas transfers as US sanctions waiver expires The Trade Bank of Iraq is expected to stop processing payments to Iran if US sanction exemptions expire next month. Iraq
Iraq president calls for restraint after meeting Trump in Davos Stressing the need for reforms to address youth unemployment and security, Iraqi President Barham Salih said "this is not time for another conflict" after meeting with his US counterpart in Davos. Iraq
Will Russia provide missiles to 'close the entire sky' over Iran? Given the recent escalation in tension between Tehran and Washington, Moscow is examining ways to possibly beef up Iranian military capabilities. Russia
‘Pro bono’ lobbyists bet on regime change payday Unpaid lobbying contracts can lead to lucrative connections by helping the right people get into power. Lebanon
IRGC officer gunned down in Iran's southwest Unknown gunmen have shot dead the commander of a local branch of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in the country's southwest. Iran
Gaza developments portend military escalation with Israel Israel's political impasse is expected to affect the Palestinians' situation in the Gaza Strip, and Israeli intelligence believes new military confrontations will erupt as the security and humanitarian situation there continues to deteriorate. Palestine
Donald Trump, the 'divine gift' to Iranian hard-liners Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, who had advocated diplomacy with the West, has lost public support after the United States' assassination of Gen. Qasem Soleimani, giving hard-liners an opening they can easily exploit. United States
The Reformist push for Rouhani's resignation Iran's Reformists have proposed that President Hassan Rouhani step down, but, surprisingly, hard-liners have opposed the idea. Iran
Are we seeing the calm before the storm in the Gulf? The Gulf states need calm for economic growth and security, but it all depends on what the United States and Iran do next. Saudi Arabia
