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
Will next US president shift Washington's Yemen policy? To be seen as a legitimate peace broker, the United States must urge all sides in the Yemeni civil war to make necessary compromises. Saudi Arabia
Trump, Clinton up partisan politics in debate lead-up With less than seven weeks to go in the campaign, Clinton and Trump look for partisan advantage. United States
US elections 2016: Debating the value of presidential debates Here's what happened on the campaign trail the week of Sept. 19. United States
Senate tacitly endorses US role in Yemen war The upper chamber overwhelmingly defeated a bill to block US arms sales to Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia
US aid to Israel takes a partisan turn Senate Republicans push for $1.5 billion boost days after signing off on a record $38 billion package. Israel
Iran looms large over Senate fight to block arms sales for Saudi war in Yemen Resolution sponsors insist: It’s a civil war, not a proxy war. Saudi Arabia
Riyadh's bold gamble King Salman's costly foreign adventures and high-risk interventions are a significant departure from past Saudi foreign policy. Saudi Arabia
Race tightens between Clinton, Trump With seven weeks left until the US presidential election, the race is essentially a statistical tie. United States
US election 2016: So Hillary Clinton has a cough. Who cares? Here's what happened on the campaign trail the week of Sept. 12. United States
Meet the likely successor of Islamic State’s Baghdadi After IS spokesman and second-in-command Abu Mohamed al-Adnani was killed in an airstrike last month, there are indications that Bahraini citizen Turki al-Binali may replace him. Saudi Arabia
Rise of Iran-backed militias jeopardizes US aid to Iraq US law prohibits military assistance unless Baghdad reins in PMU. Iraq
Syrian cease-fire reflects US, Russian interests It’s a long shot and certainly not altruistic, but the effort by Russia and the United States to develop a viable plan for Syria might just work in everyone’s favor. Syria
