Newsletter: Daily Briefing Syria, Israel hold US-mediated talks Pakistan’s Munir arrives in Tehran; major UAE economic delegation to visit Beirut; and more. By Ezgi Akin In Ankara, reporting on diplomacy, EU-Turkey ties, NATO
Israel tightens election safeguards as public distrust surges: What to know Israelis have lost trust in the government and in its ability or willingness to conduct free and fair elections. Israel
Analysis Why Turkey sees Israeli strikes in Syria as warning over its military role, Mecca Pact Ankara views Israel’s latest strikes in Syria as part of a broader effort to curb Turkey’s military influence in Damascus and a challenge to its regional defense partnerships. By Barin Kayaoglu In Ankara, reporting on geopolitics and national security
Analysis Turkey bets on US deconfliction as Israel widens Syria red lines As Washington pushes a new deconfliction mechanism between Turkey and Israel, the Jewish state shows little incentive to accept tighter constraints on its freedom of action in Syria, experts say. By Ezgi Akin , Rina Bassist
Analysis Can Trump's economic war ultimately force Iran to compromise? By A correspondent in Tehran In Tehran, reporting on politics
Newsletter: Turkey Turkey's Mecca Pact strategy By Amberin Zaman Reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture
Hamas fears warming in Turkey-Israel ties Turkey has asked some Hamas members to leave Turkey and prevented others from entering the country. Palestine
Iraqi Kurdistan hit by multiple missile attacks as threats rise Attacks have increased against the Kurdistan Region of Iraq in recent months, targeting energy infrastructure while warning against continuing collaboration with Turkey. Iraq
Pentagon: Iran-backed militias, PKK coordinated vs. Turkish troops in Iraq Turkey’s targeting of veteran PKK cadres in Iraq has pushed the Kurdish guerrillas to collaborate with an unlikely partner, a new Pentagon report suggests. Iraq
Iran denies impasse in nuclear deal diplomacy Even as a break from Vienna talks over the revival of the Iran nuclear deal continues to linger, Tehran said communication was still in progress with the American side. Iran
Russian-Israeli tensions escalate over Ukraine, Holocaust Jerusalem and Moscow continue to exchange accusations following the Sunday statement by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov that Hitler was of Jewish descent. Israel
Ethiopia’s next move on Nile dam may hinder negotiations Ethiopia started concrete construction on the body of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam ahead of the third filling of the dam’s reservoir, amid continued stalled negotiations with Egypt and Sudan. Egypt
Istanbul mayor challenges AKP government on visit to Erdogan’s home province Ekrem Imamoglu of the Republican People’s Party took his campaign to Rize on the Black Sea coast during the Eid al-Fitr holiday. Turkey
Israeli intel shares story of Iranian spy plot The Shin Bet and the Mossad have tightened their cooperation on Tehran in recent months, uncovering hostile actions by Iranian agents on social media. Israel
Is Turkey behind border wall, Iraqi deployment in Sinjar? Baghdad’s military moves in Sinjar, coinciding with a Turkish military operation in northern Iraq, and the construction of a wall along the border with Syria have rekindled fears among the local Yazidi population. Iraqi-Kurdistan
Cairo releases dozens of activists, calls for dialogue with political opposition Egyptian President Abdul Fattah Al-Sisi has called for a national dialogue with opposition groups. Egypt
Egypt braces for third-stage filling of Nile dam Egypt continues to implement projects for water management, although some say the third filling of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam will not affect Cairo’s water supply this year. Egypt
Iran’s president meets with political activists In a rare move, Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi met with a group of activists to discuss their political and economic concerns. Iran