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
Does Cairo need to rethink its Sinai strategy? Despite the government’s measures to eliminate terrorists from the Sinai Peninsula, the groups are thriving. Egypt
Why Israeli Arabs prefer studying in the West Bank Israeli-Arab students find it difficult to pass the entry exams of universities in Israel that favor Hebrew-speaking Israeli Jews, and prefer enrolling in West Bank universities. Palestine
A look at battle for Raqqa from a Kurdish perspective A YPG commander told Al-Monitor in an interview that Kurdish militias will help the Syrian Democratic Forces liberate Raqqa but won’t remain in the city after the Islamic State is expelled. Syria
The Russian-Iranian alliance that wasn't Collaboration between Iran and Russia on regional matters is growing, but there are still major obstacles to a true Russian-Iranian alliance. Russia
New study explores Tunisia’s jihadi movement in numbers Gleaning information from court cases, researchers have made significant discoveries about Tunisia’s jihadi movement. Syria
Russia emerges as a center of gravity for Israel Given that Russia’s influence in the Middle East excluding Syria remains limited, Moscow is looking for other entry points — but can Israel offer such an opportunity? Palestine
US promises Turkey role in Raqqa in surprise Ankara meeting The United States has reached out to Turkey, which is fuming over US support for Kurdish-led forces in Syria, by sending its chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff to meet with his Turkish counterpart in Ankara and discuss Raqqa. Syria
What minefields await Lebanon's new president? Michel Aoun was sworn in just a week ago, and he already faces a full agenda of crucial issues as Lebanon's president. Saudi Arabia
Black smoke, suspicion hang heavy over Iraq's Qayyarah More than two months after the liberation of Qayyarah from the Islamic State, the oil wells the militants set ablaze continue to blacken the town with toxic smoke. Iraq
Meet the IDF’s new deputy chief of staff Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman decided to act quickly by appointing Maj. Gen. Aviv Kochavi as the IDF’s deputy chief of staff, before the State Comptroller published his report of Operation Protective Edge. Israel
Saudi Arabia losing ground to Iran Saudi influence in the region has been on the decline for a number of reasons, and the kingdom has now suffered another setback in Lebanon with the election of President Michel Aoun, an ally of Hezbollah. Saudi Arabia
Iraqi journalists join hands under National Media Alliance To provide better coverage of the Mosul operation and fight the Islamic State propaganda, several Iraqi media outlets have joined a media alliance. Iraq
