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
Archive Upfront from Mar 26, 2020 Turkey appears to want more than Syria’s oil Like Moscow and Washington, Ankara seems to be coveting the oilfields of Deir ez-Zor in Syrian Kurdistan, which Kurds fear would give Turkey an opening to take over the entire Rojava area. Syria
Intel: Pompeo calls on Syria to release US prisoners amid coronavirus fears Secretary of State Mike Pompeo today urged President Bashar al-Assad to release all “arbitrarily detained” Syrians and US citizens amid fears that the coronavirus pandemic is primed to rapidly take hold and spread throughout the war-torn country. Originals
Is Syria unable, or unwilling, to fend off Iran coronavirus contagion? While close links between Damascus and Tehran put the former at great risk of an influx of COVID-19 cases, Syria's reliance on Iran for political and military support may make stemming the spread more difficult. Lebanon
Intel: Pompeo urges Europe to join Iran pressure campaign in G-7 teleconference Secretary of State Mike Pompeo used a teleconference of leading industrialized nations' foreign ministers to urge tougher international action on Iran and its regional proxies in line with the US maximum pressure campaign. United States
Intel: Why Moscow is dispatching its military to fight coronavirus in Syria, Italy On March 25, the first Russian navy cargo ship transited Turkey’s Bosporus strait en route to Syria. The ship was reportedly carrying three ambulances and a shipping container on its deck — equipment to be used to help fight the outbreak of the novel coronavirus in Syria. Syria
Sex offenders may walk as lawmakers mull releasing one in three Turkish prisoners Turkish women's rights groups have denounced a bill that would reduce sentences for sex offenders and other convicts to stem the spread of the novel coronavirus in prisons. Turkey
Mossad, Netanyahu’s secret weapon against the coronavirus Israel’s Mossad received instructions to get ventilators and coronavirus test kits from wherever it can, at whatever price and by whatever means. Israel
Intel: US provides aid to help Iraq fight coronavirus The US Embassy in Baghdad announced today that is providing $670,000 to help Iraq fight the novel coronavirus pandemic. Iraq
Israel’s synagogues close doors for first time over coronavirus Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had avoided a complete nationwide lockdown, but with new COVID-19 cases continuing to rise, new directives have closed the nation's places of prayer. Israel
Turkey and COVID-19: Is another Italy in the making? Experts warn that Turkey may soon face a calamity similar to what befell Italy and Spain if the government fails to take stronger measures to fight the coronavirus. Turkey
Syrian Kurds still fight for rights on unrecognizable battlefield Nine years into the Syrian war, much has changed for the Kurds, but conditions seem riper today than ever for them to obtain their rights. Syria
SDF calls for humanitarian truce in Syria amid coronavirus crisis Following the lead of UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces call for a cease-fire in order for all warring parties to combat COVID-19 instead. Syria
