Yazidis have 'protectors' in Iraq, but question safety

Iraq's Yazidi ethno-religious minority is safe from the Islamic State, but now faces infighting among protective forces seeking dominance in Sinjar.

Iraq

Turkey sticks to its guns on Russian missile-defense deal

Despite the efforts of NATO heavy-hitter Jens Stoltenberg, Turkey seems to be moving closer to Russia and its S-400 air-defense system.

Turkey

Long-expected battle for Idlib may have begun

Backed by massive Russian air power, the Syrian regime has launched what may be the start of a long-feared offensive to retake opposition-held northern Hama and Idlib, in which an estimated 3 million inhabitants and civilians displaced from other areas are trapped.

Syria

Campaign for Istanbul do-over election underway

Opposition candidate Ekrem Imamoglu, who narrowly won election as the city’s mayor in March, begins his campaign anew after electoral officials revoked his mandate this week. The ruling party says a rerun election will provide clarity after a bitterly disputed vote.

Turkey

US condemnation of Muslim Brotherhood would cost Turkey dearly

If the Donald Trump administration brands the Muslim Brotherhood a terror organization to please its Gulf allies and Egypt, it will create a major headache for Turkey.

Turkey

Istanbul election rerun brings Turkey fresh economic turmoil

The cancellation of the opposition victory in the mayoral race in Istanbul has raised the specter of more trouble for the Turkish economy, which is already grappling with recession and currency-related tumult.

Turkey

Syrian opposition says it won’t accept Russian soldiers in demilitarized area

A few days after the 12th round of Astana peace talks on Syria, the Syrian government and Russia resume heavy shelling in Idlib.

Syria

Turkey and Palestine maintain strong ties despite US pressures

Turkey is proving to be a strong ally to Palestine despite being a member of NATO and having a long-standing military relationship with Israel, and Palestinian officials are trying to use this relationship to counterpressure the Trump administration and Israel.

Palestine

Turkey's opposition protests, plans as date set for Istanbul re-vote

The announcement that the Istanbul mayoral election was going to be held again was greeted with the discordant sounds of clanging pots and pans, and supporters of opposition candidate Ekrem Imamoglu now face the difficult task of finding the recipe that can bring him victory again June 23.

Turkey

Erdogan could lose more than Istanbul in high-stakes electoral gamble

With many Turks outraged over the nullification of Istanbul's election results, the oppression of dissent and violence expected going into the rerun could backfire on the increasingly authoritarian president.

Turkey

Can assault on Idlib facilitate Russia-Turkey deal?

As the Russian Khmeimim base has come under militant shelling, the Russian military boosted the Syrian army assault on Idlib amid speculation over a back-channel Russian deal with Turkey.

Syria

Saudis’ troubled ties in region threaten Trump's anti-Iran agenda

The Trump administration is tightening the screws on Iran, but Saudi Arabia, Iran's archnemesis, may not be of help drumming up support for the US policy given the state of its current relations in the Arab world.

Legacy: Gulf