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
Who is involved in killing of Baghdad demonstrators? The political crisis has escalated significantly in Iraq after security forces grew violent against protesters. Iraq
Erdogan banks on motley crew of Syrian armed groups Turkey’s Syria partners seen as "ill-disciplined, untrained and inexperienced"; Erodgan links opposition to referendum to coup plotters; Mattis rules out US-Russia military cooperation "for now." Syria
Will Saudi Arabia allow Pakistani general to command military alliance? It remains unclear whether Pakistan's Gen. Raheel Sharif will be offered, or take up, the position of supreme commander of the Saudi-led "Islamic military alliance." Saudi Arabia
How Trump is already shifting domestic politics in Iran US President Donald Trump’s threats against Iran are quickly morphing from a foreign policy issue to a domestic political football in Tehran. United States
Has the military wing tightened its grip over Hamas? The election of military leader Yahya Sanwar as the head of Hamas’ political bureau in Gaza has raised questions on the movement’s policy at home and abroad and the military wing’s grip over the movement. Palestine
Is Erdogan promising a ghost army in Syria? Erdogan promises to set up a “national army” in the area to be cleansed from the Islamic State in northern Syria, but with the combat assets available to him, never mind a national army, even a force to secure the cleansed area will not be easy. Syria
Interview Will Mosul witness a political battle post-IS? In an interview with Al-Monitor, former governor of Ninevah province Atheel al-Nujaifi discussed post-Islamic State Ninevah, the motives behind the arrest warrants against him and the need for international assistance in the aftermath of the battle of Mosul. Atheel al-Nujaifi Former governor of Iraq's Ninevah province
Who benefits from the appointment of Abbas’ deputy? Following the choice of Mahmoud al-Aloul as Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' deputy, a disappointed Jibril Rajoub might reunite forces with Abbas’ rival Mohammed Dahlan. Palestine
Washington quietly rebuffs Turkish delegation’s anti-YPG efforts A high-level delegation of Turkish Foreign Ministry, military and intelligence officials has failed to persuade the United States to exclude the Syrian Kurdish People’s Protection Units from a planned offensive to liberate Raqqa. Syria
Why Arab leaders cannot replace legitimate Palestinian ones The Trump-Netanyahu love fest that was broadcast around the world doesn’t bode well for Palestinians or for any possible peaceful breakthrough. Legacy: Gulf
Will major opposition groups face off in Syria? The new formation of Tahrir al-Sham, which is comprised of several Syrian opposition factions including Jabhat Fatah al-Sham, raises questions about the goals of this new group. Syria
New Tunisian electoral law raises issue of military’s role in politics The Tunisian parliament approved a new law on municipal elections, which granted military and security members the right to vote and raised concerns that the decision threatens the institutions' neutrality. Tunisia
