All Middle East
First LookU.S. troops abandon northern Syria as Turkey preps for invasionMajor U.S. policy shift: Syrian Kurdish fighters accuse Washington of failing to abide by its commitments to its key allies in the fight against ISIS.
First LookIraqi government desperate to quell street protestsIraq's prime minister announced a 17-point plan Saturday to appease the protesters, including paying out unemployment benefits. Will it work?
Dictator: deposed. Democracy: check. But what about jobs?The Tunisian freedom fighters who delivered democracy cannot rest on their laurels in the current elections. The people want jobs, too.
Taste of Tunisia: Cafe culture is democratic, and upliftingCafes are聽Tunisia鈥檚 鈥済reat equalizer鈥� 鈥� both a crossroads and a haven where all, even the unemployed, can afford a seat and a cup of coffee.
First LookMore Iranians buy homes in Turkey as a 'plan B' under sanctionsIt's now easier to get a Turkish passport when buying a home in the country. This increasingly draws Iranian buyers who want to avoid U.S. sanctions.
As a generation of Syrian refugees comes of age, what future awaits?What happens when primary and secondary school are the focus of aid for refugees, but not college? Syrian students search for ways to keep learning.
First LookYemen rebels free 290 detainees, reviving hopes for talksHouthi rebels released several hundred prisoners Monday. The country has been in civil war since 2014 when the rebels overran the capital.
At stake in Afghan vote: presidential vision, and legitimacyTo confront an advancing Taliban, the next Afghan president will need to be seen as legitimate. Voter turnout and the appearance of fairness are key.
What the Taliban are telling themselves about war and peaceInternal Taliban messaging raises serious questions about whether the negotiations about a U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan can be successful.
First LookUN envoy: Constitutional committee first step to peace in SyriaSyria鈥檚 U.N. envoy called the agreement to establish a committee to draft a new constitution for Syria 鈥渁 door opener鈥� to U.N.-supervised elections.
After attack on refinery, Saudis souring on go-it-alone postureMultilateralism may be out of vogue, but after the refinery attack the Saudis are contemplating the downside of an overreliance on individual allies.
First LookHistoric first: Arab parties endorse Gantz for prime ministerIsrael's Arab parties reluctantly broke with tradition and backed a candidate for prime minster, former Israeli military chief Benny Gantz.聽
Attack on Saudi oil fields: Mapping a broader viewThe Saudi oil fields strike claimed by Shiite Houthis is best understood as part of a conflict with Iran involving actors across the region.
First LookIsraeli vote leans centrist; Netanyahu's future in doubtWith left-right divide largely preserved, a secular party opposed to an ultra-Orthodox role in government is poised to play the role of kingmaker.
Who will win in Israel Tuesday? Meet the unlikely kingmaker.The separation of religion and state has never been sorted out in Israel. Now a born-again secularist champion could swing a tight election.
First LookTensions, and oil prices, rise after attack on Saudi oil fieldsU.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo blamed Iran for the attack on Saudi Arabia and released satellite photos of 19 impact points at oil聽 facilities.
Amid rubble in Kabul, fatigue with 鈥榯alking while fighting鈥�In Afghanistan, with U.S.-Taliban talks halted, there鈥檚 a consensus among Afghans: 鈥淭he first law of peace is a cease-fire.鈥�
The Islamist who would be presidentProfile in contradictions: In Tunisia, a nation with a strong secular tradition, an Islamist is a leading candidate for president.
Tired of TV debates? In Arab world, they鈥檙e historic, and inspiring.A three-day series of TV debates between Tunisian presidential candidates made history in the Arab world. A Monitor correspondent was present.
First LookIran urges US to 'put warmongers aside'Iranian news coverage of John Bolton's dismissal suggests the former national security adviser could be a scapegoat for tensions with the U.S.