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
Russia sees Saudi Arabia as 'gatekeeper' to Mideast Russian officials say Saudi Arabian King Salman bin Abdul-Aziz Al Saud is coming to Moscow for a visit, but the kingdom has been playing coy, perhaps as a bargaining tactic. Saudi Arabia
How Russia views OPEC The fate of Moscow’s participation in an agreement by OPEC and non-OPEC members to limit production is still unclear and, in spite of existing predictions, Russia may pull out of the deal after March 2018. Saudi Arabia
Iraqi Kurdistan's young sportsmen put on gloves Fighters from all over Iraq and Lebanon compete in the first mixed martial arts tournament in Erbil. Iraq
Much ado in the Mideast: 3 theories on Russia’s Syria trips Russia’s calendar has been packed with official trips to and from the Middle East, raising speculation about new military developments in Syria. Syria
NY meeting golden opportunity for Iran-US de-escalation While Iran and the United States are presenting clashing narratives of who organized the meeting in New York on Sept. 20, the session presents a golden opportunity for de-escalation between the two sides. United States
Congress fuels Christian rivalries with bid to arm Iraqi militias A House effort to arm Iraqi Christian militias risks making an already tense standoff in the Ninevah Plains even worse. Iraq
US waives Iran sanctions, but says no final decision made on nuclear deal The United States waived nuclear-related Iran sanctions, but President Donald Trump has not yet made a decision on the nuclear deal or Iran policy more broadly. United States
US faces WWII-scale explosives cleanup in Iraq after Islamic State fight Cleaning up the booby traps that IS fighters have left all over the country will take many years and millions of dollars. Iraq
Iran, US align against Iraqi Kurdistan referendum Iran and the United States jointly but separately are putting the screws on Massoud Barzani to halt his drive for Iraqi Kurdistan to hold its upcoming independence referendum. Iraqi-Kurdistan
Turkey nominates Korean War story for Oscar "Ayla: The Daughter of War," the story of a Turkish soldier who saves a Korean orphan during the Korean War, is Turkey’s candidate for the Academy Awards' Best Foreign Language Film. Turkey
Europe urges Trump to keep Iran deal while exploring other pressure points European allies are urging the Trump administration to stick with the JCPOA even as they discuss other ways to address Iranian threats. United States
Congress rejects growing effort to replace 2001 war authorization The US Senate today took up the post-9/11 military mandate for the first time since its enactment 16 years ago. United States
