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
Fethullah Gulen stirs fresh tensions between Ankara, Washington Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is clamoring for the head of Fethullah Gulen, but Washington says adhering to legal procedures is paramount before Gulen can be extradited to stand trial for masterminding the coup attempt in Turkey. Turkey
What is the real challenge for Yemen's Hadrami Elite forces? After Yemeni government forces took over Hadramaut governorate, which was under the AQAP’s control, the Hadrami Elite’s main challenge is to keep the Islamic State away from the governorate. Saudi Arabia
Iraqi forces in Ninevah eye the ultimate prize: Mosul Iraqi forces are currently battling the Islamic State on the western side of the Tigris River with the aim of liberating Qayyarah after having taken the air base there in their march to Mosul. Iraq
Should Gulen face trial for Turkish coup attempt? With Erdogan blaming Pennsylvania-based cleric Fethullah Gulen for masterminding the recent coup attempt, there have been increasing calls for his extradition from the US to Turkey. Turkey
One year after nuclear deal, Iran receives S-300 missiles Iran is now receiving the missile parts of the S-300 surface-to-air missile defense system from Russia. Russia
The cultural war brewing inside the IDF Statements by leading Zionist-Orthodox rabbis against gays and in support of the exclusion of women from the army reflect the growing war of culture waged in Israel, between liberals and those who aspire for a more Jewish-religious state. Israel
The real reason the EU can't stop human smuggling from Libya The EU’s Operation Sophia has so far failed to stop the smuggling of people from Africa to Europe, as the problem lies in Libya's tenuous government. Libya
Mapping the road to the liberation of Mosul Mosul has become surrounded from the north and east by peshmerga forces, from the west by peshmerga and some Yazidi forces, and from the south in the Qayyarah base. Iraq
Kerry: Critics of Obama administration's Syria policy 'completely screwed up' US secretary of state says the terrorist attack in Nice “could just as well have come from [Jabhat al-] Nusra”; Erdogan refers to coup attempt as a "gift from God" to "cleanse" army. Syria
Why Turkey's coup didn't stand a chance Turkey did not fail its test of democracy on July 15, but what about the inevitable aftershocks? Turkey
US election 2016: Global chaos upends US election Here's what happened on the campaign trail the week of July 11. United States
Sinai tribal leader says military curfew harms residents, helps terrorists Sheikh Naeem Gabr, the general coordinator for the Tribes of North Sinai Coalition, speaks to Al-Monitor about the impact the protracted battle between the army and extremist groups has had on Sinai residents. Egypt
