Egypt sentences activist Sanaa Seif to 18 months in prison Seif, who had been in pretrial detention since June, was convicted Wednesday of spreading false news and misusing social media. Egypt
Ukraine rejects Iran's final report on downed passenger plane The Iranian government said last year's shooting down of Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752 was the result of a human error. Iran
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
UN says Libya arms embargo 'totally ineffective' A United Nations panel of experts accused several member states, including Turkey and Russia, of fueling the Libyan conflict. Libya
US withdrawal from Iraq is Israel’s worst-case scenario The leaked letter published this week about the United States considering withdrawing from Iraq and Syria generated great concern within the Israeli security establishment. Iraq
Region watches for sparks as Palestinian factions mourn Soleimani The assassination of Iran's Qasem Soleimani has prompted many sad reactions among the various Palestinian factions, but so far all are resisting the urge to avenge him. Palestine
How Israel is feeding fire of US-Iran escalation Instead of stoking the fire and congratulating US President Donald Trump over the killing of Iran’s Qasem Soleimani, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu should look at the larger picture. Palestine
How Soleimani’s assassination could affect Iran’s Syria strategy Iran could use its position in Syria to strike against the United States and Israel as part of Tehran's retaliation for last week's killing of Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Maj. Gen. Qasem Soleimani. Iraq
Anti-war groups gain new traction with Democratic leaders after Soleimani strike House Democrats are considering a three-pronged offensive to limit President Donald Trump’s ability to wage war with Iran after abandoning the effort last year. Congress
US set to reposition forces in Iraq after strike on Soleimani The US-led coalition fighting the Islamic State in Iraq is set to reposition forces throughout the country after the Iraqi parliament urged international troops to leave over the weekend. Iraq
Erdogan treads carefully on Soleimani killing Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was cautious in his first comments on the US killing of Iran’s Qasem Soleimani, criticizing the move but being careful not to align Ankara with Tehran. Turkey
Pentagon pushed back internally on strike against Iranian military leader In the days preceding President Donald Trump's order for the drone strike that took out Qasem Soleimani, Pentagon officials were split over whether to carry out the strike. Iraq
Is Israel dangling economic carrot to lead Hamas to a truce? Israel has allowed Gaza to import and export previously banned goods for the first time in 13 years, and some have interpreted the move as part of an effort to entice Hamas into a truce. Palestine
US expresses hope troops will stay in Iraq after parliament vote Iraq's parliament votes for a nonbinding resolution to expel US troops as the United States pauses operations against the Islamic State. Iraq
Iraqi armed factions vow revenge for Shiite commanders’ killings Iraqi politicians and leaders of Shiite armed groups now incorporated into government forces have vowed to get revenge for the US drone attack that killed IRGC commander Qasem Soleimani and Kataib Hezbollah militia chief Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis. Iraq
White House defiant as Iraq threatens to expel US troops over Soleimani strike Iraq’s potential vote to expel US forces for assassinating Maj, Gen. Qasem Soleimani could spell trouble for the campaign against the Islamic State. Iraq
