EU, UK slap new sanctions on Iran's IRGC leadership

Shortly after the British Foreign Ministry announced more sanctions against Iranian officials, the European Union added its own new sanctions on Iranian individuals and entities.

Iran

US-Israeli citizen injured in West Bank as parties meet in Egypt to de-escalate

A second Israeli-Palestinian-American-Egyptian-Jordanian meeting took place on Sunday, with all parties pledging to take measures to de-escalate tensions in Jerusalem and the West Bank, ahead of Ramadan and Passover.

Israel

In Paris, Israel’s Smotrich says Palestinian people don't exist, calls them 'fictitious'

Addressing far-right French Jews at a conference, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich dismissed the existence of the Palestinian people, claiming he and his forefathers were the “real Palestinians.”

Israel

Russia's Wagner activities expanding in Libya despite growing Western scrutiny 

The Wagner Group has sought to use Libya as a forward base for its activities in the Sahel region, particularly Chad and Niger, while building spheres of influence with local communities and smuggling networks in the southern border regions of Libya.

North Africa

Explainer: How Iraq planted the seeds for China's Saudi-Iran deal

Iran and Saudi Arabia finalized their negotiations in Beijing after five sessions of mediation in Baghdad since 2019.

Legacy: Gulf

Why has the Kremlin upped its protocol for Syria's Assad in Russia?

Public ceremonies for the Syrian leader, in contrast to his previous secret meetings, suggest that Assad is in a stronger position to negotiate with Moscow.

Syria

Questions linger as US-backed Kurd forces say Iraq chopper crash victims were theirs

The Syrian Democratic Forces said two helicopters carrying its elite forces had crashed en route to Sulaiymaniyah.

Iraq

Turkey will ratify Finland’s NATO bid, Erdogan says

Finland’s NATO membership is now pending Hungary’s ratification.

Turkey

Hezbollah, Hamas seek to exploit Israel's internal weakness to attack

The security incident last Monday near the border with Lebanon worries the IDF, as Hezbollah tries to exploit the ongoing crisis in Israel.

Israel

Turkey's FM to visit Egypt as Erdogan mends relations with Sisi

The visit will be the first of its kind in more than a decade, following diplomatic deep freeze between the two East-Med countries.

Turkey

Interview

'You don’t solve issues by running away,' says Iraq's KRG PM

Masrour Barzani, in an exclusive interview with Al-Monitor, discusses the dispute with the rival PUK party; relations with the US and Iraq; China; and the KRG’s ambitious economic reform and climate policies. 

Masrour Barzani

Prime Minister of Iraq's Kurdistan Regional Government

China’s global brokerage may reshape Middle East relations

The endless war in Yemen, which has devastated one of the poorest countries on the planet, should be the first litmus test for China's mediating capacity between Iran and Saudi Arabia.

Legacy: Gulf