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
Gulf investment woes, COVID economic crisis converge in Egypt Gulf state support to Egypt — whether through official aid, central bank deposits or capital investment flows — has not been consistent in the past, so will investments and aid help Egypt through a coronavirus-induced recession? Legacy: Gulf
US military delivers humanitarian aid to Lebanon in wake of Beirut explosion The US military is sending three aircraft loads of food, water and medical supplies to Beirut. Lebanon
Etihad Airways reports massive decrease in passenger flights The number of passengers served and passenger flight revenues went down for the Abu Dhabi-based airline in the second quarter of 2020. Originals
Al-Madaq: A new virtual archive documenting Cairo’s history An Egyptian historian created a website that reviews the history of Cairo through several historical maps, texts and photographs. Egypt
Moscow boosts ties with Tehran as US-Iran tensions escalate While Iran and Russia are trying to limit US influence in the Middle East, the United States lacks the leverage to counter China’s and Russia’s growing influence in the region. Russia
Pentagon contradicts Trump’s claim on Beirut ‘attack’ US Defense Secretary Mark Esper contradicted Donald Trump's suggestion that the explosion in Beirut was an "attack," saying instead that it was likely caused by an accident. Lebanon
To you A poem reflecting on Beirut's latest tragedy, and the evergreen resilience of its people. Lebanon
Intel: US says there’s no ‘winning side’ in Libya The US is amplifying calls to restore oil sharing in Libya in hopes of stabilizing the conflict and likely reducing Hifter's dependence on Russia Libya
Cairo denounces Hagia Sophia move, develops Egypt's Christian sites Days after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan declared Istanbul’s historic Hagia Sophia a mosque, Egypt announced ambitious restoration plans for South Sinai's Saint Catherine area. Egypt
Israel’s Iron Dome will soon be manufactured in the United States American firm Raytheon Technologies and Israeli-based Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd. will partner to produce the Iron Dome missile defense system. Originals
Congress wants to see the Pentagon’s hidden costs of deterring Iran Congress wants the Defense Department to regularly report on the costs required to deter Tehran's ambitions in the Middle East. Originals
Six years after Yazidi massacre, US urged to take 'bolder action' Iraq's Yazidis say the threat from the Islamic State and other extremist groups is preventing them from returning home. Iraq
