Interview Trump's Africa adviser denies Libya plan would entrench rival families The reported unification plan for Libya has been met with pushback in a country torn apart by rival factions and foreign interference.
Analysis Can Netanyahu turn Israel's UN isolation into strength at home? The absence of a Trump meeting would have been awkward for Netanyahu, who has long portrayed himself to Israeli voters as uniquely close to the US president. By Ben Caspit In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense
Sudan pushes back after US calls army-led government illegitimate Washington appears to be turning up the pressure on the leader of the Sudanese Armed Forces to accept a US ceasefire proposal he rejected in July. Sudan
Rubio: US-Iran talks 'positive,' no breakthrough yet The top US diplomat said it was "significant" the two warring sides spoke at all. Iran
Analysis Why Netanyahu is distancing himself from Trump ahead of Israeli election By Ben Caspit In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense
Millions of Palestinians no longer eligible for Saudi visas A Saudi decision to deny visas to people holding temporary passports but without national identification numbers means that millions of Palestinian Muslims in Israel, Jordan and Lebanon will not be able to perform religious rites at Islamic holy sites in the kingdom. Saudi Arabia
Is Russia full-on supporting Hamas? The Russian ambassador to Israel refused to label Hamas as a terrorist organization, calling on Israel to deal with the group to reach a political solution. Palestine
Bahrain ducks congressional scrutiny over Yemen war Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., had hoped to send a message to the Saudi coalition in Yemen by holding an arms sale to Bahrain hostage. It didn’t work. Saudi Arabia
Riyadh seeks death penalties in Khashoggi killing as US sanctions Saudis Saudi Arabia's public prosecutor has announced that he will seek the death penalty for five Saudi officials arrested in the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia faces mounting calls to end war in Yemen The recent killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi has cast a shadow over Saudi Arabia's standing with Western countries, which are now pressuring the kingdom to bring an end to the suffering in Yemen. Saudi Arabia
Trump taps unconventional US general with history of engagement with Iran for Saudi posting Retired US Central Command chief John Abizaid will take the helm of the US Embassy in Saudi Arabia after a career of seeking engagement with Iran. Saudi Arabia
Republicans quash Democrats’ bid to force the US out of Yemen war House Republicans have temporarily stopped a vote instructing President Donald Trump to end “hostilities” against the Houthi rebels. Saudi Arabia
Is Putin getting serious on Libya? As Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev led the Russian delegation to the Palermo conference on Libya, Moscow spoke of its economic interests in the country but, most importantly, was sending a strong political message to warring factions. Libya
Iranian civil aviation hit again as US sanctions return The reimposition of US sanctions is directly hitting civil aviation in Iran, dashing the nuclear deal’s promises of safer skies for Iranian passengers. United States