UPDATE: Sharaa to meet Trump 11 am ET, 7 pm Damascus • First Syrian Prez in White House • First ex-designated terrorist • Second Jihadist in after Taliban • First Syria-US Prez Bilat since 2000 • Closed to press • Turkey's Fidan also in Washington www.al-monitor.com/originals/20...

NEW: Asked about airbase south of Syria's capital, US military official denied to @jmszuba.bsky.social there are any current plans to deploy American troops near Damascus just yet. Details: www.al-monitor.com/originals/20...

NEW: Meet Rama Duwaji, Mamdani's spouse of Syrian descent & now NYC's new first lady. @beatricefarhat.bsky.social writes www.al-monitor.com/originals/20...

🔥NEW @al-monitor.bsky.social event: Join us on Thursday to discuss Sharaa's visit to Washington, the first for a Syrian President. • From Damascus: Danny Makki • From Paris: Amberin Zaman • From Washington: Elizabeth Hagedorn and yours truly Register here: us02web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...

👋🏽 UPDATE: Middle East • Turkey: Hamas agreed to transfer power in Gaza • Israeli strikes in Lebanon • Turkey, Iraq sign oil for water deal • Famine, fighting in Sudan • Iran rejects cooperation with US • Microsoft to investment $15B in UAE www.al-monitor.com/originals/20...

Hi all! I will be off Bluesky / news platforms during maternity leave, but may periodically sneak back on during nap time 🤫. Follow @al-monitor.bsky.social and my great colleagues there as they bring you full, independent Middle East coverage. 🙏🏼 🌸

💥NEWS: Trump admin. is lobbying to remove #Syria's Sharaa + HTS from UNSC terror-related sanctions...main obstacle: China. Interesting details @al-monitor.bsky.social www.al-monitor.com/originals/20...

UPDATE: • >600 Fmr Israeli officials ask Trump to end Gaza war • Greece warns Turkey on EU loans • Egypt holds Senate🗳️: Pro-Sisi • Iran: No IAEA inspectors • China to continue to buy Iranian oil • Bibi-Putin 📞 • Tension in Suwayda, Syria www.al-monitor.com/originals/20...

UPDATE: #Syria FM ✈️ Russia • First visit tomorrow • Putin interested in keeping bases • Shibani to stop in Baku to meet Israel's Dermer: AFP • Week after France meeting www.al-monitor.com/originals/20...

🚨NEW: Israeli delegation in Washington is discussing 3 Gaza proposals with White House: 1- Annexation 2- Siege 3- Population transfers Netanyahu increasingly feeling bogged down 'desperate' to change situation vs Hamas. Details www.al-monitor.com/originals/20...

BEIRUT: Feyrouz, the legend, makes appearance at her son’s funeral, Ziad Rahbani. Something heart-wrenching, yet also healing about seeing Feyrouz (90) whose life and hardship is intertwined with Lebanon’s… www.al-monitor.com/originals/20...

Ziad Rahbani, enfant terrible of Lebanese stage and song, dies at 69 www.al-monitor.com/originals/20...

🚨 JUST IN: FRANCE to recognize Palestine as a state, major break with US, most powerful EU country to do so. www.al-monitor.com/originals/20...

I talk to @joycekaram.bsky.social about the U.S., China and @unesco.org. www.al-monitor.com/newsletter/2...

🗞️NEW: How #China benefits from Trump’s pullout of UNESCO • Expand footprint inside UN • Push agenda on BRI, Heritage sites • Use org in Global South • Partner with Mideast, EU inside 🇺🇳 • Expert: A blow to counter-China bipartisan wing www.al-monitor.com/newsletter/2...

NEW: How US exit from UNESCO helps China @joycekaram.bsky.social & @roscarroll.bsky.social explore this in the latest dispatch for Al-Monitor China. www.al-monitor.com/newsletter/2...

UPDATE: #Syria • Clashes inside Suwayda city between Bedouin tribes & Druze fighters • Ceasefire (third) not holding • Videos of looting, bodies in streets • Gov security deploys outside Suwayda • Sharaa thanks US, rejects partition • Attempts to stop fighting in Suwayda

NEWS: Senior Trump official voiced US displeasure to Israel over #Syria - Druze events: 'You can’t embark on a new war every few days', official said as Washington tries to protect its interests with Sharaa. Details: www.al-monitor.com/originals/20...

🧵#Syria: Lessons from Suwayda • Sharaa overreached, miscalculated, had to retreat • Sharaa still has no control over rogue Jihadist elements in new Syrian army • Sharaa had to cede control to Druze, local leaders. Pragmatic • Only way forward is political concessions 1/3

LATEST #Syria • Gov: army withdrawing from Suwayda after understanding w Druze elders • Druze group asks for full withdrawal • Rubio hopeful for end ‘tonight’ • Tens of bodies found at hospital • Israel watching • Turkey warns against partition www.al-monitor.com/originals/20...

UPDATE: #Syria, Druze Clashes • Israel hits Damascus, Army HQ • Sharaa calls for restraint • Death toll >260 in Suwayda • Druze crossing border into Syria • Efforts at ceasefire • Katz ✈️ US • Qatari PM to meet Trump www.al-monitor.com/originals/20...

🧵 SYRIA: Some disturbing videos emerging from Suwayda of Sharaa security forces humiliating Druze men by shaving their mustaches, calling them pigs, & shouting sectarian slogans. This is recipe for civil war in post-Assad Syria.

This is Latte. He does not know how many books you have read. But knows for a fact that he has read more. 12/10 (IG: coton_latte_is)

NEW: UAE’s Mohammed bin Zayed heads to Turkey amid heightened regional diplomacy www.al-monitor.com/originals/20...

UPDATE: • Syria: Truce reached w Druze in Suwayda • Lebanon bans banking w 4 #Hezbollah orgs • EU mulls sanctions on Israel • MBZ ✈️ Turkey • Fidan ✈️ NY • Araghchi in China • Gaza talks stuck • Ultraorthodox leave Bibi gov www.al-monitor.com/originals/20...

NEW: At least 50 killed in Druze-Sunni tribes clashes in Syria as army deploys: What we know www.al-monitor.com/originals/20...

Is China rearming #Iran missile program? • Iranian reports suggest so • MEE: “missile batteries” • Beijing denies • Timing tricky w US trade talks • in past China provided chemicals shipments but not missiles • North Korea a better option More ➡️ www.al-monitor.com/newsletter/2...

Why rearming Iran is risky gambit for China — for now? @joycekaram.bsky.social breaks it down in her latest dispatch for Al-Monitor China. www.al-monitor.com/newsletter/2...

Interesting #Saudi diplomacy on Iran in last few days: • Iran FM met MBS, KBS, Farhan today • KBS met Trump Thursday (FOX) • Farhan met Lavrov Thursday www.al-monitor.com/originals/20...

In ~2 hours, SOZCU TV in #Turkey will be forced off air. Move is seen as one of Erdogan's many in recent months to silence opposition. Details: www.al-monitor.com/originals/20...

UPDATE: • Iran: Missile arsenal intact • Houthis attack ship, Israel bombs • Sharaa in UAE • Netanyahu in Washington • Witkoff to Doha • Barrack in Lebanon • Fidan at BRICS • Iran-US talks expected in Oslo www.al-monitor.com/originals/20...

As Sisi avoids Washington visit, Egypt courts China's tech giant Huawei Via @joycekaram.bsky.social & @roscarroll.bsky.social

🚨 BREAKING: Trump signs EO removing decades-old sanctions on #Syria. Details: www.al-monitor.com/originals/20...

UPDATE: • Iran Rial ↘️ • IAEA: Iran can enrich in months • Saudi PIF: 60% profit ↘️ • Pressure in Lebanon to disarm Hezbollah • Israel strikes in Gaza, Dermer in US • Turkey wildfires • Jordan refuses to play Israel 🏀 • Egypt-Huawei talks www.al-monitor.com/originals/20...

Commentators have framed the Israel-Iran war as a loss for China as it watched its partner Tehran absorb losses. But that interpretation overlooks the transactional nature of China-Iran ties. @joycekaram.bsky.social writes www.al-monitor.com/newsletter/2...

BIG if it happens: Trump admin. may help Iran access $30 billion to build a civilian-energy nuclear program by easing sanctions + access to $6B in frozen Iranian funds. Witkoff coordinating closely with Arab Gulf states. CNN: www.cnn.com/2025/06/26/p...

NEW: Five reasons China stands to gain from #Israel-#Iran war 1- Regime intact 2- US distracted 3- Trump concedes on oil 4- Khamenei >dependent on🇨🇳 5- Role in upcoming negotiations www.al-monitor.com/newsletter/2...

NEW: What China stands to gain from Israel-Iran war @joycekaram.bsky.social examines China's overlooked interests, including Trump’s Tuesday concession allowing Chinese purchases of Iranian oil to continue. Subscribe for more China-Middle East news & analysis: www.al-monitor.com/newsletter/2...

LATEST: Trump says Cease-fire reached between Iran & Israel • 'Complete' cease-fire in 24 hrs • 6 pm ET Tue., 1:02 a.m. Tel Aviv; 1:32 a.m. Tehran • To end 11 days of war • US joined Sunday • US base in Qatar targeted today • Gulf airspace re-opens www.al-monitor.com/originals/20...

LATEST: Iran Retaliation against US • Targeted bases in Qatar, Iraq • Started 12:33 ET, wrapped ~1:23 ET • At least 10 missiles • Videos show interceptions • NO CASUALTIES so far • Trump meeting NSC • Gulf solidarity w Qatar www.al-monitor.com/originals/20...

BREAKING: Iran retaliates, fires missiles at US bases in Qatar www.al-monitor.com/originals/20...

US precautions ahead of Iran response • Citizens in Qatar to shelter in place • Qatar suspends ✈️ traffic • Level 4 alert for Israel • Departure of personnel from Lebanon, Iraq • Maintain low profile in Turkey • Voluntary evacuations from Israel, WB www.al-monitor.com/originals/20...

UPDATE: Iran - US - Israel • Iran retaliation could be in 48 hrs (Reuters) • US tells citizens in Qatar to shelter • Iran arrests >500 • Iran FM in Russia • Gulf on alert • Israel expands strikes but could be wrapping up (WSJ) www.al-monitor.com/originals/20...

🧵 IRAN: Iran’s rulers priority is preservation of regime and US strikes don’t threaten that goal. In fact, can be argued, that continued animosity with West and Israel, are better for regime than a serious nuclear deal.

UPDATE: • US bombs Iran • Trump announced 7:46 pm ET • Hit Natanz, Fordow, Isfahan☢️ • US bombers in & out • US official: No more expected • No indication of ground troops • Coordinated w Israel • Did not target Khamenei • 4:14 am in Iran www.al-monitor.com/originals/20...

🚨 Breaking: US HAS bombed Iran nuclear sites… www.al-monitor.com/originals/20...

UPDATE: Iran- US- Israel • B-2 bombers from Missouri to Guam • Israel hits Asfahan • Iran attacks continue • >400 Iranians, 24 Israelis killed • Khamenei names successors: NYT • Israel kills another IRGC cmmdr • Iran FM in 🇹🇷then Russia • Evacuations, ✈️ cancelations

Faint Diplomacy Signals on #Iran • Iranians willing to meet (NYT) • No US strikes yet • Vance, Rubio less inclined to bomb • Russia-Oman, Russia-UAE 📞 • WSJ: Trump wants to see if Iran abandons nuclear program (unlikely) • Pressure campaign building, Israel hitting hard

UPDATE: Iran - US - Israel • Trump threatens to blow up nuclear sites • Third US aircraft 🚢 closer to MidEast • Khamenei threatens US if it joins • Attacks continue • MBZ-Putin 📞 • US embassy in Israel offers evacuations www.al-monitor.com/originals/20...

LATEST: Iran-Israel • Trump 📞 Netanyahu • Israel hitting Tehran • US closes Jerusalem emb till Fri • Khamenei says “battle begins” • High anticipation for Trump decision • US attack could come as soon as tonight