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
Israeli, Russian, US interests converge on Iran in Syria At a trilateral meeting in Jerusalem, the national security advisers of Israel, Russia and the United States confirmed their common interest in limiting the presence of Iranian forces in Syria when peace finally comes. Israel
Congress advances bill sidelining Turkey on Mediterranean gas dispute The Senate advanced a bill rebuking Turkish attempts to drill for gas near Cyprus. Turkey
Pentagon sees Islamic State resurgence in Libya amid Tripoli fighting The Donald Trump administration has reported an uptick in the Islamic State’s power in Libya as strongman Khalifa Hifter has continued to march on the capital of Tripoli. Libya
Moscow seeks Iran-Israel compromise at Jerusalem security chiefs meeting During the trilateral meeting of national security advisers from Russia, Israel and the United States, Moscow stressed Israeli security concerns but also called for acknowledging Iranian interests. Israel
Can Egypt help end Tripoli offensive? The Libyan National Forces Alliance aligned with military commander Khalifa Hifter met with officials in Cairo to gather support for Hifter’s offensive in Tripoli. Egypt
Eastern Mediterranean heats up as gas rivalry stakes grow higher Turkey’s launch of a second ship to drill in disputed areas off Cyprus is the harbinger of further escalation in the eastern Mediterranean and tough choices for Ankara. Turkey
Hamas silent on Saudi Arabia arrests of Saudi nationals supporting the movement Lebanon’s Al-Akhbar reported that the Saudi authorities have been arresting Saudi nationals and Palestinian expats who support Hamas, over the movement’s declared position in support of Iran. Legacy: Gulf
How Netanyahu exploits US-Iran tensions For Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the low-level US-Iran tensions are a great opportunity to bolster his security image and to divert public attention from his legal imbroglio. Palestine
Russian diplomats sweep through Lebanon, Iraq, Syria Russia's Syria envoy Alexander Lavrentiev and others recently paid important visits to the Middle East to present Russia’s refugee plan and discuss the latest regional developments. Iraq
Turkey mulls permanent military presence in northern Iraq Turkey is considering setting up additional military infrastructure in Iraqi Kurdistan as its operations against militants there continue. Iraq
Battle for Tripoli appears destined to grind on in Libya Since Libya’s eastern military commander Khalifa Hifter launched his April offensive against the capital Tripoli in the west, little progress has been made, while continuing attempts at peace have failed. Libya
As Idlib fighting intensifies, Syrians abroad suffer mentally As the Russian-backed Syrian regime steps up the offensive against the country’s last rebel stronghold, displaced Syrians with relatives in Idlib are suffering mentally — not to mention the monumental health issues faced by the Idlib residents themselves. Syria
