After Jordan, Emirates also furious with Netanyahu Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu not only managed to get into a diplomatic row with Jordan, he also succeeded in angering the Emiratis. Israel
Iran operating new advanced centrifuges, nuclear watchdog finds According to an International Atomic Energy Agency report, Iran is now using IR-4 centrifuges to enrich uranium in violation of the nuclear accord. Iran
Lawsuit filed to close pro-Kurdish party after lawmaker stripped of parliamentary seat Omer Faruk Gergerlioglu, a pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party deputy known to focus on human rights abuses, was stripped of his parliament seat and a lawsuit was filed to close the party March 17. Turkey
Netanyahu courts Arab voters as 'Abu Yair' Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has adopted a new strategy for the Arab public: cynically rebranding himself as "Abu Yair." Israel
Land dispute continues to threaten Egypt-Sudan ties Sudan recently announced the formation of a committee to consider the expulsion of Egyptians from the disputed Halayeb and Shalateen region, an area that has long been at the forefront of strained relations between Cairo and Khartoum. Egypt
Displaced Raqqa teachers prepare for rebuilding education post-IS On April 2, a group of teachers from Raqqa held a meeting in southern Turkey to discuss how to proceed with restoring schooling and education once their city is liberated from the Islamic State. Syria
Interview Hezbollah’s No. 2: US strike on Syria mere ‘muscle flexing' In an exclusive interview with Al-Monitor, Sheikh Naim Qassem, the deputy secretary-general of Hezbollah in Lebanon, spoke about the US military strikes on a Syrian air base and Israel and its potential moves in the region among other things. Naim Qassem Deputy secretary-general of Hezbollah
Morocco finally gets new government, but at what cost? The announcement of a new Cabinet in Morocco after months of difficulty revealed that the Islamist Justice and Development Party (PJD) may have had to pay a heavy price for compromise. Morocco
How Turkey's 'hasty' support for US missile strike could backfire Turkey's rash decisions about Syria could make it appear fickle to both Russia and the United States. Syria
After US missile strikes, can Tillerson find common ground with Russia in Syria? US strategy to defeat Islamic State in play as secretary of state heads to Moscow and UN secretary-general calls for restraint. Saudi Arabia
Saudis have high hopes for Trump following Syria airstrike After failing in efforts to push Obama toward further involvement against Damascus in the Syrian conflict, Saudi Arabia is hoping the airstrike launched by Trump against a Syrian air base early this morning is not a one-off. Saudi Arabia
Archive Upfront from Apr 7, 2017 What US airstrike means for Washington’s Syria policy As allies express cautious approval of the US airstrike in Syria, the United States says its targeted action does not signal a broader shift to military regime change. Syria
Washington sees Iraq as front for Iran pushback Prime Minister Hader al-Abadi is facing a very problematic challenge as the United States wants to use Iraq as a place to confront Iran. Iraq
Is Iraq poised for large-scale military involvement in Syria? As the battle against IS approaches its end in Iraq, Syria and Iraq have stepped up their security and military cooperation with the aim of preserving Iraqi territories against the activities of terrorist groups operating from the Iraq-Syria border area. Iraq
Will Kurds finally vote for an independent Kurdistan? Two major Kurdistan parties have agreed to hold a referendum for independence. Are the region and the world ready for an independent Kurdistan? Iraqi-Kurdistan
Eyes roll in Tel Aviv at Netanyahu's one-man band Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is quick to appropriate the achievements of his ministers, and the habit has become a running joke in political circles. Israel
