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
Qatar resets its Syria policy Doha tilts away from regime change in Syria and opens up a channel to Hezbollah. Qatar
Yemen’s harrowing transition External influences are threatening to further weaken an already fragile transition in Yemen. Yemen
Turkey, Saudi ties less than meet the eye Despite a shared interest in supporting opposition groups against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, Riyadh and Ankara are unlikely to become allies. Saudi Arabia
Netanyahu, Kerry put security first in peace talks with Palestinians Did the Israeli prime minister promise the US president that he would go for a peace deal with Palestinians under certain conditions? Palestine
Hezbollah contemplates next move Israel’s president extends a hand to Iran, putting the ball in Hezbollah and Tehran's court. Saudi Arabia
Michel Aoun: Lebanon 'paralyzed' by Syria war In an exclusive interview with Al-Monitor, Gen. Michel Aoun, leader of Lebanon’s Free Patriotic Movement, blames Saudi Arabia for the deadlock in Lebanese politics. Saudi Arabia
Nasrallah, Assad ties stronger than ever Hassan Nasrallah's defense of Hezbollah’s role in the Syrian conflict sheds light on the nature of his relationship with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s regime. Lebanon
Suicide bombings on the rise among Shiites While suicide attacks were once the preserve of Sunni extremist groups, there have been reports of recent attacks in Syria carried out by Shiite militants fighting alongside the Assad regime. Iraq
Israeli criminals make their way to Morocco Lacking an extradition treaty with Israel, Morocco has become an unlikely sanctuary for Israeli mobsters looking to make money or avoid police investigations. Israel
Allen security plan stuck in start Will Gen. John Allen’s ideas about the US role in addressing Israel’s security concerns help or hinder the Israeli-Palestinian talks? Palestine
Lebanon’s Tripoli microcosm for Syria conflict While Lebanon has struggled to remain neutral and uninvolved in Syria’s conflict, Tripoli has come to mirror the volatile dynamics of its larger neighbor. Lebanon
Samy Gemayel: Hezbollah intervention helped bring Syria war to Lebanon In an exclusive interview with Al-Monitor, Samy Gemayel, member of parliament and a senior leader of Lebanon’s Kataeb Party, said, “When you decide to go fight a war in another country, you have to expect that these people will go fight you in your own country.” Lebanon
