Middle East crises loom in background as NATO leaders gather in Washington While this year's summit is expected to focus largely on the ongoing war in Ukraine, Iran's military support for Russia and Turkey's strategic balancing act with Moscow are expected to weigh on NATO leaders gathered in Washington. Washington Pulse
US, Israel hold second virtual meeting on Rafah Biden administration officials have denied offering to green-light an Israeli invasion of Rafah if Israel holds off on retaliating against Iran. Washington Pulse
One year on Sudan’s war: 14,700 killed, 8.6M displaced, 4.9M face starvation As the war in Sudan enters its second year, the humanitarian situation is worsening by the day with no prospects of an imminent end of the hostilities. North Africa Pulse
State Department staffer resigns over Biden's handling of Gaza Annelle Sheline is the second State Department official to publicly resign since Oct. 7, citing the erosion of US credibility on human rights in the Middle East as a result of the war. Washington Pulse
Shooting attack in Tunisia synagogue kills at least four Tunisian authorities are now investigating the attack on the ancient El-Ghriba synagogue on the island of Djerba, where two guards and two Jewish visitors were shot and killed. North Africa Pulse
Turkey's Erdogan treads cautiously on Sudan, wary of betting on wrong horse Having avoided a crisis in its ties with Sudan after Bashir’s ouster, Ankara is now refraining from taking sides in an escalating conflict between the country’s military leaders. Turkey
Senate panel advances US ambassador nominees to UAE, Kuwait The Foreign Relations Committee cleared the nominations for Karen Sasahara and Martina Anna Tkadlec Strong as US ambassadors to Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates, respectively. Washington Pulse
Yacht carrying Russians, Egyptians goes missing off Yemen coast The yacht’s owner says the crew sent a distress call about a pirate attack. DONT USE - Gulf Pulse
US repatriates Algerian prisoner from Guantanamo Said bin Brahim bin Umran Bakush was first detained in Pakistan in 2002. Washington Pulse
CENTCOM hires first-ever AI adviser as it fields new tech in Middle East US CENTCOM became the first combatant command to appoint an AI, machine learning and robotics adviser this week as the Pentagon looks to keep ahead of China’s technological advances. Washington Pulse
Iran is seeking billions in arms deals from Russia, White House says Moscow may send Iran fighter aircraft as Pentagon officials warn the tactical relationship could evolve into strategic cooperation. Russia / Mideast
US transfers Pakistani brothers from Guantanamo Bay Abdul Rahim Ghulam Rabbani and Mohammed Ahmed Ghulam Rabbani are being repatriated after nearly two decades in the US military prison. Their departure brings the remaining number of detainees at Guantanamo Bay to 32. Washington Pulse
US bolsters human rights criteria for arms sales The arms transfer policy takes into account how US weapons sales could be used to commit rights abuses. Washington Pulse
Four US troops, working dog wounded in Syria raid against Islamic State A senior IS official was killed in a raid in northeast Syria that injured US troops and a working dog, who were transported to Iraq for medical treatment. Syria In Crisis
In a shift, Gulf media outlets broadcast Syria's Assad speech on earthquake Saudi, Emirati and other TV stations in the region typically do not broadcast the Syrian president’s speeches, but relations have slightly improved and Gulf states have sent aid to Syria following the earthquake. Syria In Crisis
US pushes UN vote on aid routes into earthquake-ravaged Syria Six days after Syria's earthquake, the United States called on the UN Security Council to greenlight the use of additional aid corridors through a new resolution. Syria In Crisis
