Middle East
Syria’s Assad to visit China as Beijing boosts reach in Mideast
September 20, 2023 — Trip will be Syrian leader’s first to Beijing since outbreak of his country’s civil war 12 years ago; China could play major role in future reconstruction
Netanyahu Erdogan discuss possible Saudi-Israeli ties
September 20, 2023 — Turkish president’s office says leaders discussed bi-lateral cooperation, regional matters, Israel-Palestinian conflict in hour-long meeting; Rabbi with ties to Erdogan says Netanyahu visit to Ankara to be announced soon
Israel, US deny Saudi Arabia suspended normalization talks
September 19, 2023 — Riyadh reportedly asked Washington to freeze negotiations over the Netanyahu government’s stance on concessions to the Palestinians.
Syria accuses Israel of second air attack within hours
September 14, 2023 — Two Syria soldiers were killed; Opposition source: The target was ‘warehouses with Iranian equipment’
Syria says 2 soldiers killed, 6 wounded in Israeli air strike over Tartus
September 14, 2023 — Damascus says rare daylight attack in western Tartus region originated from Golan Heights; Syrian opposition watchdog claims casualties were Hezbollah
GOP leaders push Trump to back Biden’s Saudi deal
September 14, 2023 — Democratic antipathy to the Saudi regime could prove the biggest obstacle to normalization with Israel.
EXPLAINER: The India-Middle East-Europe Corridor
September 13, 2023 — Who is involved, how it will be built and “The Winners” and “The Losers”
Israeli officials make first public appearance in Riyadh
September 12, 2023 — The delegation is in the kingdom for a UNESCO meeting.
First-ever official Israeli delegation arrives in Saudi Arabia
September 11, 2023 — The development comes amid a U.S.-led effort to persuade Riyadh to join the Abraham Accords.
VIDEO: Netanyahu lauds transport project linking India to Europe via Mideast
September 11, 2023 — “Israel is at the focus of an unprecedented international project that will link infrastructure from Asia to Europe.” Much depends on the hoped for normalization in Saudi-Israel ties.
Top Biden aide: There’s still work to do on Israel-Saudi Arabia normalization deal
September 8, 2023 — Jake Sullivan says sides have come to ‘broad understanding of many of the key elements’ of an agreement, but that there’s no framework in place or terms ready to be signed
US, Saudi Arabia, UAE and India said aiming to ink joint railway deal at G20
September 8, 2023 — Agreement, which could include Israel if it normalizes ties with Saudi Arabia, is one of several initiatives Biden is deploying to coax countries away from dealings with China