All Middle East
First LookBehind glitz of Saudi Crown Prince's reforms, a record of human rights abusesAs the disappearance of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi strains US-Saudi relations, the record of ambitious Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is getting a closer look, from his involvement in a bloody war in Yemen to the silencing of critics in his kingdom.
First LookIslamic State returning to insurgency as caliphate disappearsThe loss of territory and propaganda networks have severely cut into the effectiveness of ISIS military campaigns. But recent massacres in Syria and its history of survival during the Iraq War point to it continuing in a new form utilizing ambush surprise attacks.
Iran: As economy stumbles, tension grows between rich and poorHow does one assess a society's resilience? One measure might be social cohesion. With Iran bracing for tougher US sanctions, resentment is growing against the well-connected who flaunt their wealth.
First LookCorruption indictment looms for Israel's Netanyahu in lead up to electionsEarly elections look likely in Israel as the Netanyahu government splits over ultra-Orthodox military conscription, the Israeli attorney general considers corruption indictments, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu seeks to solidify his position and international alliances.
First LookIran and UAE complicit in illegal charcoal trade with Somali militantsThe Somali extremist group Al Shabaab generates millions of dollars in revenue off exports of charcoal to Iran and then the United Arab Emirates, according to the United Nations, in violation of UN sanctions.
First LookYemeni craftsman create ceremonial knives from missile shrapnelAs the civil war in Yemen has continued, imported steel has become too expensive for many craftsmen. But missile shrapnel is plentiful for artisans to transform into something beautiful.
First LookPalestine's Abbas asserts himself as Gaza worsens and Hamas stays in powerThe leader of the Palestinian Authority Mahmoud Abbas, side-lined by the Trump White House and Hamas in the Gaza Strip, is flexing his control as he insists the PA holds responsibility over all Palestinian territories.
First LookSaudi journalist disappears, raising concerns over political meaningA prominent Saudi journalist and a contributor to The Washington Post who is critical of the country's policies on Yemen and women's rights has disappeared in Istanbul. Advocates are concerned he has become a pawn between Ankara and Riyadh.
Breaking a taboo: Jerusalem elections and the Palestinian voteIf one accepts a principle of democracy, that voting gives power to the people, then not voting means the opposite. In East Jerusalem, some Palestinians question the price paid for boycotting elections.
First LookDespite enormous reconstruction costs, Syria vows to rebuildWith the Syrian government holding just over 60 percent of Syria's territory, President Bashar Assad hopes to begin reconstruction efforts despite few Western countries willing to help, international sanctions, and a seven-year-old conflict that continues to rage on.
First LookRights groups push for better prison treatment of Muslim Brotherhood MorsiThe harsh prison conditions of former Egyptian president Mohamed Morsi are calling attention to the country's crackdown against democracy since Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi came to power four years ago.
In Iran, artist ‘survivors’ navigate obstacles, foreign and domesticIn Iran as in other countries, art serves as a window into the state of the country’s culture and psyche. Today the art scene is thriving, even as artists, like other Iranians, grapple with sanctions.
Why Rouhani, facing political storm in Iran, is secure in face of US threatsReimposed US sanctions on Iran have, in the short term, led to hardship. But economic sanctions are an imprecise tool. Whether they can effect the desired change is a question of political resilience.
Solar panels? Rooftop prayers? Still, renovated Jordan mosque is a throwback.In science, research accidents can lead to breakthroughs. And in the life of a mosque in northern Jordan, a setback in a small renovation project led to no less than a reinventing of its place in society.
First LookFamine in Yemen reaches a crisis tipping pointAfter an Associated Press report highlighted that food aid wasn't reaching target beneficiaries in remote parts of Yemen, the United Nations and donors are rushing to deliver supplies to avert famine conditions from spreading out across the country.
First LookWith final assault nearing Idlib, foreign powers assess interests in SyriaMajor world powers are meeting at the United Nations this week and the future of the Syrian conflict will be on the table. As rebels stage their last holdout against President Bashar Assad in Idlib, here is a look at what could come next after the seven-year civil war winds down.
Netanyahu support for Trump on UNRWA exposes political-military divide.Israelis love to disparage the UN refugee agency for Palestinians as a political arm of the Palestinians. But the Israeli government’s support of President Trump’s new policy flies in the face of the view of its own security establishment.
Cover StoryCan Islamist moderates remake the politics of the Muslim world?The era of political Islam appears to be waning in some regions. But as some Islamists broaden their appeal, there's an opportunity to increase our understanding of the nuances of Islam in politics.
First LookPutin calls downing of Russian plane off Syria a chain of tragic eventsIn the crowded skies over Syria, a Russian reconnaissance aircraft was shot down by Syrian forces. Russians have accused the Israeli military of deliberately using the Russian plane as a cover to dodge the Syrian defenses, straining diplomatic ties between the nations.
With nowhere to run, Idlib residents reach for life, but prepare to fight‘Live today to fight tomorrow’ has been the motto of Syrian rebels and their families who, with each successive battlefield loss, have flocked to Idlib for months. An existential moment has arrived.
