US seeks to train Lebanon army units to disarm Hezbollah: What to know Funding for such a program remains unclear, though the Pentagon has requested $36 million for fiscal year 2027 to support Lebanon’s army. Lebanon
Analysis Despite Trump pressure to limit Israel's Lebanon attacks, Aoun-Netanyahu meeting still unlikely As President Donald Trump pressures Israel to limit its strikes in Lebanon, Hezbollah is taking advantage of the situation. By Ben Caspit In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense
Why US, Israel are freezing France out of Lebanon talks With talks between Israel and Lebanon being held in Washington, Paris still insists that it must be involved to balance possible American bias and to protect Beirut’s interests. Israel
Why did the Met Opera lose its Saudi funding deal? The deal, announced as a nonbinding memorandum of understanding last September, would have seen the PIF inject up to $200 million into the opera institution over the next eight years. Saudi Arabia
Analysis Israel fears Trump angling for Lebanon deal to offset Iran missteps By Ben Caspit In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense
Analysis Israel sees chance of US-Iran deal as almost 'non-existent,' readies for war By Ben Caspit In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense
Multiple US troops dead in Iraq after rocket strike A rocket attack on a US base in Iraq killed two US service members and prompted questions of whether it was a retaliatory act by Iran. Iraq
Arabic Sesame Street helps children explore emotions Sesame Workshop, the non-governmental organization behind series like "Sesame Street," teamed up with the International Rescue Committee to produce a new show for Middle Eastern children affected by war and displacement. Jordan
How Iran’s next parliament will affect foreign policy Though Iran’s conservatives will rule the upcoming parliament, they might not rule with an iron fist as some expect. United States
Turkish envoy calls for more international support for Syria refugees, cease-fire deal Turkish Ambassador Serdar Kilic said Ankara is not receiving enough support from the international community as President Recep Tayyip Erdogan arrived in Brussels for meetings with the European Council and NATO. Syria
UAE offers regional road map to deal with Iran Policies on coronavirus, nuclear issues may help recast regional security discussions, complement US policies. Saudi Arabia
Intel: Suicide bombing strikes near US Embassy in Tunisia Two suicide bombers on a motorcycle blow themselves up near the US Embassy in Tunis, killing a police officer. Tunisia
In Moscow, Hamas offers 4 plans for Palestinian unity Russia once again is working with Palestinian factions to unite them and help them defy Washington's plan for peace with Israel. Palestine
Palestinians insist that there is no back channel with Washington Is there or isn’t there a back channel of talks between the Palestinians and the US administration? Palestine
What the US-Afghan agreement means for Iran The US agreement with the Taliban could prove to be an added burden to Iran, which has serious concerns about the deal creating instability in neighboring Afghanistan. United States
AIPAC gets Democrats to help Trump chip away at nuclear deal AIPAC is marshaling significant bipartisan backing for a bid to extend the Iran nuclear deal’s first sunset provision as hawks push for snapback sanctions at the United Nations. United States
Pentagon says Patriot sale to Turkey still on table The United States is reportedly still considering supplying Patriot missile systems to Turkey in what the administration may see as an opportunity to convince Ankara to walk back from the Russian system it acquired last year. Syria
US not planning to send new weapons to Turkey for Syria campaign The State Department clarifies its special envoy's remarks that the United States would be supplying ammunition to Turkey — which has been engaged in battle in Idlib, Syria — saying only that the United States is considering Turkish requests for assistance. Syria