Middle East Experience

Turkey’s bid to join the bloc is welcome news to both Russia and China.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Turkey, NATO member, submits formal application to join BRICS

Members of the opposition and family members of hostages accused Netanyahu of being responsible for the death of the six hostages.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Gantz, Eisenkot to 'refute Netanyahu's claims' on Philadelphi corridor in press conference

As Philadelphi looms, those sent to patrol it will need to learn lessons from what has worked and not worked in the past.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Israel’s challenges in long-term control of Philadelphi corridor

An operation to tow away a burning oil tanker attacked by Yemeni rebels in the Red Sea is too hazardous to proceed, a European Union naval mission said on Tuesday, warning of severe environmental risks.The Greek-flagged oil tanker, Sounion, was hit by Yemen's Iran-backed Huthis off the coast of Hodeida on August 21 while carrying 150,000 tonnes of crude oil."The private companies responsible for the salvage operation have concluded that the conditions were not met to conduct the towing operation and that it was not safe to proceed," the mission said in a statement on X.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: 'Not safe' to tow burning Red Sea oil tanker: EU mission

The backlash to Britain's suspension of some arms exports to Israel shows the fine line the Labour government has to tread in its relations with its Middle Eastern ally.While suggesting it will be tougher towards Israel than Conservative predecessors, the suspension also highlights Labour's difficulty in pleasing both Jewish groups with which it has worked hard to repair relations and its left-wing, largely pro-Palestinian base.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: UK walks tightrope with hardened stance on Israel

He addresses PM Benjamin Netanyahu and the war cabinet saying "you failed us on October 7."
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Hamas release video of slain Ori Danino saying 'People of Israel: Do not neglect us'

The statement comes less than two weeks after Ankara and Baghdad signed security cooperation deal, and as Turkish officials are preparing to host Iraqi, Emirati and Qatari officials for a major trade corridor project that will connect Iraq and Turkey.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Iraq downs Turkish drone over airspace violation, army says

Wearing a sticker on her shirt that read "328" -- the number of days her son has been held hostage -- Rachel Goldberg-Polin went near the Israel-Gaza border on Thursday to deliver a message."Hersh! It's Mom... I pray to God he brings you back. Right now. I love you, stay strong, survive," she yelled into a microphone in hopes the 23-year-old Israeli-American might hear her.She was joined by dozens of other relatives of hostages who are still held in the Gaza Strip nearly 11 months since Hamas's unprecedented attack on southern Israel triggered the ongoing war.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Near Gaza border, loved ones shout messages to Hamas-held hostages

Should the IDF change open fire rules in cases of large-scale Jewish terror like Jit?
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Why is the IDF catching Jewish terrorists less than Palestinian ones?

Four historic souks in northern Syria's Aleppo, heavily damaged during some of the most intense fighting of the 13-year civil war, reopened this week following their restoration."After I reopened my old shop, following the renovation of the market, I felt my spirit return with it," said merchant Omar al-Rawwas, 45, who inherited his family's carpet business at the revived Saqtiya 2 souk.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: War-damaged souks reopen in Syria's Aleppo