Newsletter: Daily Briefing US strikes Iran's Qeshm Island The US military struck Iran’s Qeshm Island on Monday, just hours after President Donald Trump said he was not considering attacking Iran after the midterm elections. By Gabrielle Debinski In New York City, reporting on the Middle East
Newsletter: FutureVerse US elections spotlight Gulf tech risks A sweeping victory by Democrats could put the White House’s recent Gulf dealings under greater scrutiny. By Samuel Wendel In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech
Analysis 'All we can do is wait': Netanyahu's push for Iran strikes hangs on Trump’s post-midterm call Amid the political deadlock following Israel's elections, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's leverage on Washington to resume Iran strikes will depend on the US' own vote. By Ben Caspit In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense
Iran gives 2-day window for Hormuz deal as US mulls strikes: What to know An Iranian spokesperson said on Monday that a revised proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz could take effect within two days if Washington meets its demands. Iran
Analysis How Netanyahu is trying to discredit Arab parties in bid to block Eisenkot By Ben Caspit In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense
Analysis Israel’s deadlock: Could Trump broker Netanyahu-Eisenkot deal? By Ben Caspit In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense
What China-Iran deal means for Washington China's reported multibillion economic and security deal with Iran could be a double-edged sword. United States
Intel: Trump, MBZ talk ridding Libya of proxy fighters During a phone call Tuesday, the US president and Abu Dhabi’s crown prince discussed diffusing the Libyan crisis as a new battle looms in the strategic city of Sirte. United Arab Emirates
Intel: House passes bill forcing Trump to sanction Turkey over Russian missiles The House passed legislation today that would force President Donald Trump to slap sanctions on Turkey over its purchase of the Russian S-400 missile defense system. Turkey
Will Azeri-Armenian flare-up change energy game in South Caucasus? Azeri-Armenian clashes in the strategically significant Tavush area could be the harbinger of tectonic changes in the energy politics in the South Caucasus, Turkey and Iran. Turkey
Major US energy deal could shake up Israeli gas fields Chevron acquisition of the American company Noble Energy could affect gas drilling in the Israeli Tamar and Leviathan fields. Israel
Engel is out — will the new foreign affairs chairman upend his Mideast policies? Three House Democrats are vying to replace Eliot Engel as the party’s new foreign affairs leader — will they actually change his Middle East policies? United States
Is diplomacy running out on Egypt-Ethiopia dispute over Nile dam? The African Union, the UN Security Council and the Trump administration may be last best bets to stave off an Egypt-Ethiopia war. Egypt
Coronavirus likely to delay Pentagon war games in Mideast to 2021 Mideast war exercises planned for this year are likely to be delayed until 2021, and other war games scheduled for next year may be delayed until 2022. Egypt
Intel: Pro-Palestinian progressive insurgent ousts House Foreign Affairs chairman Pro-Palestinian progressive insurgent Jamaal Bowman ousted House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Eliot Engel in the New York Democratic primary, according to an Associated Press call of the today. While Engel has been trailing behind Bowman since the election was held last month, the counting of mail-in ballots has delayed the final results. United States
Intel: Pompeo thanks Qatar for facilitating Afghanistan peace talks Secretary of State Mike Pompeo thanked Qatari Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani for agreeing to host peace talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban. Qatar
Intel: White House sympathizes with France in Libya row with Turkey White House National Security adviser Robert O’Brien on Wednesday expressed sympathy for France’s account of events in a Mediterranean naval standoff with Turkey last month over a Libyan arms smuggling allegation. Turkey
Intel: Democrats advance legislation to restrict Trump’s Middle East war powers House Democrats advanced three provisions today that would broadly curtail President Donald Trump’s ability to conduct offensive military action across the Middle East — and the world — should they become law as part of the annual defense spending bill. Congress