Feature Gazans show cautious hope ahead of first local elections in 20 years The city of Deir al-Balah in central Gaza is set to hold municipal elections for the first time in nearly two decades. By Rasha Abou Jalal In Gaza City, reporting on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict
In Lebanon, Saudi Arabia pursues quiet diplomacy as Trump pushes Israel normalization Saudi Arabia has been engaged in intense diplomacy in Lebanon in recent days, leading up to the extension of a ceasefire with Israel. Lebanon
Syria arrests Amjad Youssef, Tadamoun massacre perpetrator: What to know Amjad Youssef appeared on video, allegedly killing dozens of civilians in 2013; he is the latest member of the Assad regime to be captured by the new Syrian government. Syria
Turkey’s Baykar tests K2 swarm kamikaze drones for first time: What to know Baykar tested its K2 and new loitering drones, featuring AI-driven swarm capabilities and the ability to operate under GPS jamming. Turkey
Analysis Israel fears Trump angling for Lebanon deal to offset Iran missteps By Ben Caspit In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense
Analysis On eve of Palestinian local elections, competition in short supply By Daoud Kuttab In Amman, reporting on Palestinian politics
Erdogan rules out postponing Turkey's elections after earthquakes Analysts maintain that postposing elections would have higher costs for Erdogan at the ballot box as rage grows. Turkey
With over 100 victims, who is poisoning Iran's schoolgirls? Hundreds of Iranian schoolgirls have been mysteriously poisoned over the past few months and the government was forced to open an investigation when the problem reached Tehran on Wednesday. Iran
Turkey and Greece maintain post-disaster diplomacy after train crash As Ankara condoles Athens over the fatal train crash, Turks praise the Greek transport minister's resignation and lament at Turkish government officials for not taking responsibility over quake failures. Turkey
Israel should 'wipe out' Palestinian village of Huwara, says far-right minister Smotrich After inflammatory comments by far-right legislator Zvika Fogel last Monday, far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said he'd like to see the Palestinian village of Huwara "wiped out." Israel
Iran expels German diplomats as row continues over death sentence Iran has sentenced another dual European citizen, a German-Iranian man, to death in relation to a 2008 attack on a mosque. Iran
Turkey arrests senior Islamic State figure, police say The arrest came after a series of security warnings by several foreign diplomatic missions in Turkey about potential attacks on Westerners last month. Turkey
Iran enriched uranium at 83.7%, close to weapons grade: UN watchdog The news is alarming for Israel, but Iran denied other recent reports that asserted they enriched uranium close to the 90% threshold for a nuclear weapon. Iran
Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin to visit Middle East as Iran threat builds Lloyd Austin's visit to the region as Biden's defense secretary is intended as a signal of reassurance as Iran continues to arm and fund proxy militias throughout the region. By Jared Szuba In Washington, DC, reporting on defense, national security, military
Taliban releases Iran border guard, moves into Afghanistan's Embassy in Tehran Iran has had a complicated relationship with the Taliban since the group resumed control over Afghanistan. Iran
Israel's FM urges Germany to add Iran's IRGC to terror list, but hurdles remain Though German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said recently that Berlin had no grounds to add the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps to the country’s list of terror groups, Israeli sources insist she is committed to pursuing this option. Israel
Analysis Israel's Netanyahu loses control as far-right ministers feed West Bank fires Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is scrambling to rein in his far-right ministers as the violence in the region worsens by the day. By Ben Caspit In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense
In Lebanon, police join 'robbers', storm bank to get their own money The Lebanese currency hit another record low on Tuesday, as judicial investigation into central bank chief Riad Salameh moves forward. Lebanon