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
Hezbollah's tunnels distract Israel from real dangers Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's focus on Hezbollah and its tunnels in the north is enabling Iran and Hamas to increase their grip on Gaza and inch closer to the West Bank. Palestine
How does Turkey's threatened Syria invasion play elsewhere? As Turkey prepares for a possible offensive against Kurdish militias in Syria, Moscow is watching for any mistakes that multiple players, including the Unites States and the United Arab Emirates, might make in their efforts to deter the operation. Syria
Trump’s pick for top general could expand Mideast advising role The Pentagon’s incoming Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman has a long track record of training foreign military forces. Syria
Sinjar road reconnects estranged Yazidis and Kurds with Baghdad The opening of a strategic road in Iraq's Kurdistan Region — closed since the Kurds' ill-fated independence referendum in September 2017 — could be a prelude to a reset in ties between Erbil and Baghdad. Iraq
Turkey's defense industry still striving for self-sufficiency Turkey has made significant strides in developing its defense industry during the past four years, but it is still being held back by its dependence on other countries' goods and technologies. Qatar
Erdogan says Trump responded 'positively' to Turkey’s threats on Syria According to Ankara, the US president expressed support both for its stance against US-allied Kurdish militants in Syria and its efforts to extradite Fethullah Gulen as its chief suspect in the 2016 Turkish coup attempt. Syria
Fatah shows rare support for Hamas The Palestinian presidency worked hard to ensure a US-drafted resolution against Hamas failed at the United Nations, which has raised modest hopes of bringing Hamas and Fatah closer together. Palestine
Netanyahu threatens to withdraw from Hamas arrangement Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is paying the price for not demanding the arrangement with Hamas include a comprehensive cease-fire that includes the West Bank. Palestine
Hamas goes on offense in West Bank Palestinian protests continue in Ramallah over Israeli incursions. Saudi Arabia
Despite talks, Russia, Israel hold firm to their interests In a meeting in Moscow, Russian officials seek more information from Israel before it attacks targets in Syria as part of an ongoing "deconfliction" process. Originals
Opposition group in Idlib orders extreme punishments One of two opposition governments in rebel-controlled Idlib, Syria, has implemented a form of Islamic Sharia punishment that calls for criminals to be executed, exiled or have their hands cut off. Syria
IDF races to contain Ramallah violence Israeli security agencies have been warning about Hamas increasing its West Bank activities, but Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has refused to change his policies. Palestine
