On eighth visit, Israel’s Netanyahu seeks to repair ties with Trump Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to focus on Iran in his Tuesday meeting with President Donald Trump, while the US leader is more likely to want to discuss Lebanon and Syria. United States
Newsletter: Daily Briefing Iran says it doesn’t seek to resume negotiations with Washington Sharaa says Syria seeks security deal with Israel; Red Sea shipping slows after Houthi attack on Saudi Arabia; and more. By Ezgi Akin In Ankara, reporting on diplomacy, EU-Turkey ties, NATO
Syria arrivals surge 111% as government bets on tourism revival The country welcomed 3.52 million visitors during the first half of 2026, more than double the figure recorded a year earlier, as the government pushes to reconnect to the world and promote tourism as a pillar of economic recovery. Syria
Syria seizes arms shipment on Iraq border destined for Hezbollah The operation comes as part of the Syrian authorities' efforts to curb illicit arms smuggling through its territory, namely intended for Hezbollah. Lebanon
Newsletter: Daily Briefing Iran declares 'existential war' as US strikes reach near Tehran By Ezgi Akin In Ankara, reporting on diplomacy, EU-Turkey ties, NATO
Newsletter: Daily Briefing Kremlin confirms S-400 talks with Turkey By Ezgi Akin In Ankara, reporting on diplomacy, EU-Turkey ties, NATO
The battle at Qalamoun Hezbollah and the Syrian regime army have been fighting militants for control of the Qalamoun area near the border. Lebanon
How IS uses water as weapon of war The Islamic State's expanding control over the water resources of the Middle East will only compound the region's water crisis. Egypt
Iran’s Kurds rise up as their leaders remain divided Various Iranian Kurdish groups have split further apart instead of uniting in their struggle to obtain their rights. Syria
Carter: Syria 'safe zones' would be 'major combat mission' US secretary of defense tells Congress no-fly zone would be "difficult thing to contemplate"; state institutions collapse as result of war in Yemen; Obama administration rejects direct arms to Iraqi Kurdistan. Saudi Arabia
Turks fear Saudi alliance will drag country into Syria Opposition politicians in Turkey have charged President Recep Tayyip Erdogan with leading Turkey to war in Syria. Legacy: Gulf
Morocco battles Islamic State cells After attacks in neighboring Tunisia, Morocco is doing all it can to crack down on Islamic State sympathizers. United Arab Emirates
Price impact of Iranian oil uncertain, says US official In an interview with Al-Monitor, Amos Hochstein, special envoy and coordinator for International Energy Affairs at the US State Department, says Middle Eastern countries are increasingly investing in renewables, international oil companies are returning to Egypt and Israel needs get its regulatory house in order if it wants foreign investments in offshore natural gas. Legacy: Gulf
Turkish military puts brakes on Syrian intervention While a Turkish military operation against Syria is unlikely, Mosul is another story. Legacy: Gulf
Saudi shake-up underscores stakes in Yemen Saudi credibility on the line in Yemen; al-Qaeda’s “free rein” in Yemen; Iraq seeks balance, distance from Saudi-Iranian rivalry; Iran’s Reformists still waiting for Rouhani to deliver; Syrian government intensifies attacks on rebel-held areas of Aleppo. Saudi Arabia
Iranian doc follows Afghan fighters in Syria The film, which was broadcast on an unofficial government channel, shows why Afghans living in Iran are fighting in Syria in support of President Bashar al-Assad. Syria
Iraqi Kurds struggle to avoid regional conflicts Iraqi Kurds have performed a balancing act to remain largely impartial in the conflicts swirling around them. Iraq
Saudi Arabia’s Islamist-liberal divide The Saudi regime needs to tend to internal divisions in the kingdom and scale back its interventionism in the region to improve its prospects for long-term stability. Legacy: Gulf
