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
Why Netanyahu's so quiet on US-Iran conflict Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is being cautious about engaging Israel in the US-Iran tensions, though he would surely not object to an American attack on Iran. Israel
Could Iraq play a role in easing US-Iran tensions? Iraqi political leaders, alarmed by the escalating proxy war between Iran and the United States taking place in their country, are trying to serve as mediators between the two. Iraq
'Neither talks nor war,' Khamenei says of US-Iran tensions Despite recent heightened tensions between Tehran and Washington, Iran's supreme leader said a war will not erupt between the two sides. United States
Turkey steps up efforts to stop all-out assault on Syria’s Idlib Turkey hopes a working group with Russia will ease attacks on Syria’s last rebel-controlled territory, but will convincing Russia require concessions in other foreign policy objectives? Syria
Can Putin, Trump reboot ties over Syria? US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo came to Moscow with a message of reconciliation from President Donald Trump that the Kremlin happily embraced, yet the old disagreements are all still there. Russia
Will the Trump administration abort Iran’s land bridge to the Mediterranean? As tensions between the United States and Iran are at their height in the Gulf region, there are talks about Iran pushing for the opening of al-Bukamal crossing between Syria and Iraq. Iraq
Turkey denies it's building wall around Afrin Turkish-backed factions denied reports that Turkey is building a wall to separate Afrin from the northern Aleppo countryside, saying Ankara is actually boosting its security against potential Kurdish attacks. Syria
Why global and regional powers aren't standing up against Hifter's Libya offensive If major international players could find a common interest in a stable Libya, they might see a simple way out of the seemingly endless wars of post-Gadhafi succession, yet they continue to back opposing factions in Libya. Saudi Arabia
Intel: Why Turkey, Russia are not about to fall out over Idlib Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is accusing the Syrian government of seeking to “sabotage” Turkey’s relations with Russia with its assault on rebel-held Idlib. Syria
How will Israel protect its vehicles on Gaza border? Three days after Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades fired a guided missile at an Israeli vehicle, the Israeli army embarked on setting up a new concrete barrier to protect its vehicles in the border areas. Palestine
Congressional appropriators move to tie up F-35 deliveries to Turkey The new House foreign aid bill would prohibit spending federal dollars to transfer the jets unless Ankara abandons its plans to buy missile defenses from Moscow. Turkey
Frustrated European allies warn Pompeo against US-Iran escalation European foreign ministers did little to hide their distress that Secretary of State Pompeo abruptly decided to consult them on rising Iran tensions, which they had warned would be a consequence of quitting the nuclear deal. United States
