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
Palestinian women earn sweet money as pastry chefs Once considered taboo, women take over pastry-making in West Bank sweets factory. Palestine
Sinai initiative targets tribal weddings with push for official documents Egypt’s National Council for Women is taking steps to replace tribal weddings with civil marriage in the Sinai Peninsula by helping women get the proper birth and marriage certificates. Egypt
Pentagon: Rebel forces taking heavy casualties in Raqqa fight The United States confirmed today that the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces are taking heavy casualties in an effort to push the Islamic State out of its stronghold in Raqqa. Syria
Exhibition in Cairo casts a look at 1980s art Five artists of the 1980s came together in Cairo’s Soma Art Gallery to showcase their work from 30 years ago. Egypt
450-year-old home restored in traditional style in Gaza A Gaza resident has turned his centuries-old house into a Damascene-type home with an inner courtyard, using old cut stones, stained glass and iron. Palestine
Syrian cease-fire a delicate balance of vastly different goals Iran welcomes the Russian/US truce initiative in southern Syria, but will Russia be able to keep juggling the broad, and often conflicting, interests of the various players? Syria
Saudi Arabia's dependent fees leave Egyptian expats in dire straits Dependents of expat workers in Saudi Arabia will be charged a dependent fee starting in 2017, which is a further strain on the salaries of foreign workers and will likely result in large numbers of families going back home. Saudi Arabia
Envoy to US says Turkey was ready to provide ‘tens of thousands of troops’ for Raqqa offensive Ambassador Serdar Kilic tells Al-Monitor that Turkey was willing to offer broad military support to the US-led operation to liberate the Islamic State's Syrian stronghold. Syria
Israel frets over Congress push to slash Palestinian aid over terror payments US lawmakers' efforts to further condition assistance to the Palestinian Authority is complicated by Israel's reluctance to undermine a key security partner. Palestine
Incessant scandals threaten US-Russia progress on Syria Moscow and Washington will need to safeguard any progress in their relations against fresh controversies and those opposed to cooperation. Syria
US expected to recertify Iran compliance with nuclear deal The secretaries of state and defense appear to have overruled Iran hawks in the White House and Congress. United States
Pentagon wants to build new US facilities in Iraq, Syria The Trump administration has asked Congress for the authority to build new “small-scale,” “temporary facilities” to help defeat the Islamic State. Iraq
