Middle Orient

However, experts say the Islamist movement may take steps to avoid an aid boycott, including by nominating more pragmatic candidates PA President and PLO Chairman Mahmoud Abbas of Fatah, with the agreement of the opposition Hamas movement, has scheduled the first Palestinian elections in 15 years and experts say that …

Another Israeli priority is “anywhere, anytime inspections” of Iran nuclear sites, as opposed to Tehran being forewarned as the deal currently requires.

A Syrian opposition member has criticized the lack of agreement over the Constitutional Committee writes North Press. Member of the Syrian opposition National Coordination Committee (NCC), Munther Esper, said that the Constitutional Committee is one of the achievements of the Astana talks, which was accepted by the US, and given …

Turkey claims to have arrested 12 ISIS members on the border from Russia, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan reports Al-Masdar. On Wednesday, the Turkish Ministry of Defense announced the arrest of 12 terrorists belonging to the Islamic State (ISIS), including five Russians, on the border with Syria.

The Syrian Army has said that it has eliminated the terrorists who recently attacked civilian and military buses in Deir ez-Zor writes SANA. Syrian Arab Army units operating in Deir ez-Zor have killed eight terrorists that attacked public transport a few days ago in Kabajib area in Deir ez-Zor’s countryside …

Militants from the Syrian Democratic Forces have kidnapped the head of al-Jawadyia town council from his home and taken him to an unknown location writes SANA.

A drone strike has hit the oil smuggling sites used by the Turkish-backed forces, with Russia suspected of being responsible writes Al-Masdar.

Ilham Ahmed of the Syrian Democratic Council has not ruled out discussion with the Syrian regime or Turkey, during a symposium in Aleppo reports North Press.

Sergey Lavrov and Mohammad Javad Zarif have met to discuss the crisis in Syria, the need for diplomatic efforts and plans for another meeting of the Astana countries writes The Syria Times.

Using Yanbu, as well as air bases at Tabuk and Taif along the Red Sea, would give the American military more options along a crucial waterway that has come under increased attack from Yemen’s Iranian-backed Houthi militias.