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
Intel: US to withdraw Patriot missile systems from Saudi Arabia The Pentagon is set to pull Patriot missile defense systems from Saudi Arabia amid internal pressure to transfer military assets to counter China. Saudi Arabia
Trump blasts Republicans who voted for Iran war powers bill as Senate fails to override veto President Donald Trump laid into some of his close Senate allies for siding with Democrats on an Iran war powers bill even as Congress failed to override his veto. Saudi Arabia
British-Australian academic held in Iranian prison reportedly attempts suicide Kylie Moore-Gilbert is among the many foreigners held in Iran's notorious Evin prison on espionage charges. Iran
Turkey throttles water as pandemic looms over northeast Syria Western nongovernmental organizations confirm that the water supply from the Alok pumping station has been repeatedly interrupted since the Turkish offensive. Syria
New police unit to enforce Saudi Arabia’s latest virus restrictions The country's Interior Ministry also announced a new round of hefty fines for quarantine violators. Saudi Arabia
Intel: US renews waiver for Iraq to import Iranian electricity after Kadhimi forms government The Donald Trump administration on Wednesday announced that the United States will renew a sanctions waiver for Iraq to continue importing Iranian electricity shortly after Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi managed to form a new government following months of political gridlock. Iraq
Pentagon report: US military killed 132 civilians in conflicts in 2019 While the number is lower than independent monitors claim, some have still recognized the report as a step forward in accountability. United States
Israel demands UN expand peacekeeping mission in Lebanon Ahead of the renewal for the UNIFIL mandate this summer, and with tensions at the border increasing, Israel wants rules in place so that UN peacekeepers can be more effective. Israel
Turkey's occupation of northern Syria includes population transfers Turkey’s transfer of Syrian families to Tell Abyad from Afrin has reignited worries of demographic engineering in northern Syria. Syria
Turkey's relative coronavirus success may turn sour amid looming economic crisis Turkey’s COVID-19 balance sheet: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has had relative success in combat against the outbreak, but a financial collapse could be on the horizon. Turkey
Yemen’s Houthis announce first coronavirus case While 21 previous cases had been reported in areas controlled by the internationally recognized government, the real figure in the war-wracked country is likely far higher. Yemen
IRGC soldiers killed in Kurdish area of Iran Iranian media reported that unknown gunmen killed three IRGC soldiers in Iran's Kurdistan province. Iraq
