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
New Iran-Contra book shows how US-Iran ties were scuttled Malcolm Byrne, deputy director of the National Security Archive, presents new details about how US officials convinced themselves they were aiding “moderates” who planned to overthrow the Iranian government but who could also engineer the release of US hostages in Lebanon. Congress
Alawites prepare as IS, Jabhat al-Nusra close in on regime areas Supporters of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad long dismissed the threat from the Islamic State, but that threat has become real as jihadists move into the Homs countryside, approaching Alawite and Christian areas. Syria
Syrian refugees in Gaza suffer second war Palestinian refugees from Syria and Syrian refugees who came to the Gaza Strip to escape the war in Syria are caught in Israel’s war on Gaza. Palestine
Clashes between Druze, Bedouins rattle Syria’s south Violent clashes erupted last week between Druze residents of Suwayda province and Bedouins backed by Jabhat al-Nusra, threatening to drag this relatively quiet area into Syria’s civil war. Syria
Iran interior minister says advisers sent to Iraqi Kurdistan Interior Minister Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli has admitted that Iran sent advisers to Iraqi Kurdistan at the request of Kurdish officials. Iraq
Israelis near Gaza again feel abandoned by their government Despite evacuation plans elaborated two years ago, Israel has not decided to evacuate the residents near Gaza, who have come to feel that no one in the government assumes responsibility for their safety, while the government allocated huge resources for the West Bank settlers. Israel
Baghdad welcomes Lebanese, but they don't see eye to eye The Lebanese delegation to Baghdad offers diplomatic help to confront the Islamic State (IS), but it seems both parties have different priorities. Iraq
IS withdrawal strategy calls for creation of local defense forces To fight the Islamic State, the Iraqi government should create Sunni local defense forces, similar to the Kurdish peshmerga forces, even though this might be at the expense of the government’s unity. Iraq
Despite reconciliation, Abbas in no position to negotiate for Hamas With Israel ignoring his efforts and Hamas trying to topple him, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas may issue a desperate ultimatum for Israel to withdraw from the West Bank. Palestine
Islamic State calls for revenge against Syria’s rebels The Islamic State alleges Syrian rebels raped and abused female relatives of IS militants when rebels ousted IS from Aleppo earlier this year, and is using that as a rallying cry for its militants as it pushes into rebel-held territory. Syria
War of attrition pointless in Gaza When Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu threatened Hamas with a war of attrition, he ignored that in such a war the winner is not the strongest army, but the side that has the least to lose. Palestine
Hamas wary of international push for PA return to Gaza Hamas is concerned that Egypt’s proposal facilitating the Palestinian Authority’s return to the Gaza Strip will be at the expense of the Islamist group. Palestine
