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
Turkey reverses course as mediation efforts flop in Gulf Turkey’s immediate support of Qatar has exposed its lack of leverage with Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states and left it scrambling for a way out of an intractable situation. Qatar
The geopolitics behind race for eastern Syria Fast-paced developments between the various players of the Syrian war raise questions about the geopolitical importance of the northeastern region. Syria
Qatari crisis risks sparking new Israeli-Hamas confrontation The Qatar crisis might lead to a showdown between Israel and Hamas, with key Arab states dismissing the Islamist movement as a terrorist organization, leaving it vulnerable to Israeli attack and pressuring Qatar to drop support for it. Legacy: Gulf
Qatar-GCC crisis unsettles Sudan The government in Khartoum is caught in the middle of the bitter dispute between Qatar and the Gulf Cooperation Council. Legacy: Gulf
US struggles to calm new Syria flashpoints Even as the Trump administration says it wants to avoid clashing with Assad and his allies, experts say a lack of a clear US strategy in Syria makes confrontation more likely. Syria
US attack on Syrian jet puts Putin under pressure Russia’s response to the US downing of a Syrian plane Sunday was more measured than some observers seem to realize, but the Kremlin’s patience does have its limits. Syria
Turkey aims to cripple, not contain, PKK Turkish security forces are taking a much more aggressive approach against the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), but how will Turkey transform operational military success into a sustainable and peaceful political resolution? Syria
Iran's missile strikes in Syria send 'message' to region According to Iranian officials, Tehran's strikes on Islamic State fighters inside Syria carried a wider message. Iran
Recapture of Iraq-Syria border point heralds new regional reality The move by the Iraqi and Syrian governments to link the forces under their command along their border is a new reality on the ground. Iraq
IDF prepares for future of war in region After conducting military exercises in Cyprus, the Israel Defense Forces are trying to anticipate all possibilities of warfare on Israel's borders, including a ground confrontation in Lebanon with Hezbollah. Israel
Iran seizes high ground in Saudi-Qatar dispute Iran probably can’t believe its luck; is it time for a second look at the Aleppo “narrative”? Legacy: Gulf
Gaza's ticking sewage bomb Israeli expert and professor Eilon Adar warns that the electricity crisis in Gaza could provoke an ecological disaster both in the Strip and in Israel. Palestine
