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
Republicans prepare for next round on Iran A look at the Middle East issues Congress will be addressing the week of Sept. 14. Palestine
Russia not backing down on Assad Moscow considers the Syrian government as the best bet to defeat the Islamic State; US leaders rally to support Pope Francis’ call to offer “concrete hope” to refugees; Netanyahu’s words don’t match deeds on refugees. Israel
Will Iran reach truce with the Islamic State? Some members of Iran’s foreign policy elite are suggesting that Iran reduce regional military intervention — a policy that could help US President Barack Obama's administration sell the Iran deal to skeptical traditional allies and their US supporters. Saudi Arabia
Is Turkey heading toward civil war? Following the deaths of 30 soldiers and police in PKK operations, a nationwide wave of attacks on Kurds has increased the risk of deepening ethnic strife and stoking renewed separatist sentiment. Turkey
Can Turkey pull back from brink of civil conflict? HDP Co-Chair Selahattin Demirtas' "civil war" warning may not be entirely overblown. Turkey
PKK's IED attacks catch Turkish military off guard The majority of Turkish security forces killed fighting the Kurdistan Workers Party since early July have died in attacks using improvised explosive devices, a tactic the Turkish military had not anticipated. Turkey
Yemen's African connection Amid the withholding of the details of the Emirati death toll in Yemen, African soldiers are set to step up their role in Operation Restoring Hope. Legacy: Gulf
What exactly is Russia doing in Syria? Moscow's stance on the Syrian conflict reveals an ever-complicated web of alliances, armament and regional plays, widening the diplomacy gap between the United States and Russia on Middle East policy. Syria
Russia's expanding military presence in Syria Russia is apparently establishing its first air base in the Middle East, at Jableh, Syria, a move that would change the rules of the game in the region. Syria
Protesters destroy Hafez al-Assad statue in Suwayda The residents of the Syrian city of Suwayda took to the street in peaceful demonstrations in early September to voice their opposition to the rampant corruption and bad living conditions in the city. Syria
Israel, the fortress When Israel completes the construction of its eastern fence, it could finally declare itself a well-fortified stronghold in the heart of the Middle Eastern jungle. Israel
Struggling to keep up, conflict causes major economic setback in Turkey's poorest region After several years of revival, the struggling economy of Turkey’s Kurdish-majority southeastern region faces collapse. Turkey
