AW

Iraq

Security issues. A member of Iraqi federal police forces stands guard at a checkpoint in Baghdad, May 20. (AFP)

Iraq caught in US-Iran showdown amid concerns over ‘rogue militias’

Mamoon Alabbasi

Palestine

Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh gestures as he arrives for a cabinet meeting in Ramallah, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, April 15. (Reuters)

‘Deal of the century’ gets off to rough start

Manuel Langendorf

Iran

A show of force. Iranian soldiers make their way to the Gulf through the Strait of Hormuz, April 30. (AFP)

Iran threatens war with ‘all its means,’ US stresses ‘deterrence’

Libya

“The Beast.” An armed militiaman poses in front of an armoured vehicle delivered by Turkey to Libya’s Tripoli government. (Facebook)

Libya’s Islamic militants brag about receiving new Turkish weapons

Yemen

New level of sophistication. Remains of a UAV-X drone flown by Yemen’s Houthi rebels on display in Hodeidah. (AP)

Houthi attacks signal new chapter in drone warfare

Alessandro Arduino

Lebanon

Critical test. Lebanese Finance Minister Ali Hassan Khalil listens during a news conference at the Government House in Beirut, May 24. (AP)

Lingering economic woes cast huge uncertainties over Lebanon’s future

Simon Speakman Cordall

Latest Issue

Issue: 207 | Sun, May 26, 2019

Top Stories

Libya’s Islamic militants brag about receiving new Turkish weapons

Houthi attacks signal new chapter in drone warfare

Alessandro Arduino

Lingering economic woes cast huge uncertainties over Lebanon’s future

Simon Speakman Cordall

‘Deal of the century’ gets off to rough start

Manuel Langendorf

Iraq caught in US-Iran showdown amid concerns over ‘rogue militias’

Mamoon Alabbasi

Iran threatens war with ‘all its means,’ US stresses ‘deterrence’

Opinion

Arab states exercise restraint as US-Iran tensions simmer

Why deradicalisation programmes are needed for the far right

An ‘international’ tribunal for ISIS fighters?

Rashmee Roshan Lall

Algeria’s crisis raises questions about role of the army

UN envoy to Libya pessimistic as LNA promises quick takeover

Trump’s Middle East peace plan would be brilliant — for post-WWII Europe

S-400 purchase could redefine Turkey’s geostrategic role

Editorial

Saudi Arabia

A file photo shows Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud ahead of the 29th Arab League Summit in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, 2018. (Saudi Royal Palace via AFP)

The Mecca summits

Iran

US Marines prepare to land an MV-22B Osprey aboard the USS Lewis B. Puller in the Arabian Gulf, May 11, 2019. (Reuters)

Dangerous escalation in the Gulf region

Iran

An Iranian clergyman looks at domestically built surface to surface missiles displayed by the Revolutionary Guard in Tehran, February 3. (AP)

Iran’s ‘asymmetric capabilities’ likely to determine military strategy

Palestine

Noura Erakat (L) and Khaled Elgindy talk about their new books about the Palestinian peace process during an event at the Middle East Institute in Washington. (Middle East Institute)

The problem with the US administration’s approach towards Palestinian issue

Syria

Intricate context. Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem speaks during a news conference in Damascus. (AP)

Syria’s position on Iran-US standoff signals change of course

Maghreb

Old men work as street cleaners in the Moroccan city of Assilah. (Saad Guerraoui)

Despite drop in poverty, Morocco struggles with social inequalities

Egypt

On the alert. Egyptian Army soldiers stand guard on their armoured personnel carrier in Cairo. (Reuters)

Turkish involvement in Libya raises regional security concerns in Egypt

Hassan Abdel Zaher

Tunisia

Tunisia’s Central Bank Governor Marouane El Abassi speaks during a news conference in Tunis, last February. (Reuters)

Bad political timing for Tunisia’s economic slump

Media

A 2017 file picture shows a video journalist running for cover behind a wall amid fighting in the region of Altun Kupri, about 50km from Erbil. (AFP)

Journalists in Iraq shackled by arbitrary laws and insecurity

Iran

Senator Lindsey Graham speaks to reporters after a classified members-only briefing on Iran on Capitol Hill in Washington, May 21. (AP)

Washington tamps down Iran showdown but flashpoints still likely

Economy

A mechanical engineering student from Helwan University checks a solar-powered vehicle in Cairo. (Reuters)

Unemployment down in Egypt but maintaining trend is a challenge

Maghreb

A Moroccan farmer checks an olive tree at a field in Meknes (AFP)

Morocco works on ‘digital transformation’ of agriculture

Egypt

A new opportunity. Executive Director of the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations Mohamed Fadl (3rd R) and a delegation of the African Football Confederation inspect the Stadium of Alexandria, last February. (AFP)

For Egypt, the Africa Cup of Nations is about more than just football

Turkey

People at the “Dinner on the Ground” in Istanbul’s Uskudar district. (Thomas Seibert)

Turkey’s Ramadan ‘Dinners on the Ground’ ruffle government feathers

Society

A Jewish pilgrim lights a candle on the second day of the annual pilgrimage to El Ghriba synagogue in Djerba, May 22. (AFP)

Jews flock to Tunisia’s Djerba in another illustration of religious tolerance

Interview

Ahwazi writer Yousef Azizi. (Al Arab)

The Ahwazis’ struggle is also cultural

Mohamed Hemamsi

Culture

A view of Citerne Beirut space for performing arts. (Citerne Beirut)

Citerne Beirut injects new life into performing arts

Travel

Hikers in Um Bogma. (Antoine Naggar)

Um Bugma’s mysterious charm on Sinai Trail

Culture

Moroccan actress Lubna Azabal (L), Moroccan film director Maryam Touzani (C) and Moroccan actress Nisrin Erradi pose during a photocall for the film “Adam” at the 72nd edition of the Cannes Film Festival, May 20. (AFP)

Moroccan film tackles taboo of unmarried mothers

Fiachra Gibbons

Interview

A different take. Tunisian director Nacer Khemir. (Al Arab)

Tunisian film director Nacer Khemir finds inspiration in heritage

Mokhlis al-Saghir