GIORGIA VALENTE/THE MEDIA LINE

Giorgia Valente is a recent graduate of Ca’ Foscari University of Venice and an intern in The Media Line’s Press and Policy Student Program.

Tourists and visitors observe and pay respects at a makeshift memorial set in Pariser Platz in front of the Brandenburg gate, one week after the Christopher Street Day pride parade attack on August 2, 2026 in Berlin, Germany.

Berlin attack highlights Europe’s shift to individualized, multi-layered terror threats - analysis

A Yemeni protester carries a mock missile during a protest staged against the continued Saudi-led blockade on Yemen on July 31, 2026 in Sana'a, Yemen.

Saudi Arabia prepares military operations as Houthis resume strikes on territory, shipping

Israeli soldiers operate in the village of Tell, near the West Bank city of Nablus, July 25, 2026.

Deadly Tell clash between settlers, Palestinians may mark West Bank turning point - analysis


How war with Iran brought Israel closer to its Middle East neighbors - analysis

Israel-Lebanon negotiations, a possible Syrian security arrangement, and renewed Bahrain-Israel engagement point to diplomatic movement - but analysts disagree over the durability of potential deals.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu meets US President Donald Trump in the White House, July 28, 2026.

Hezbollah disarmament remains key test of US-backed Lebanon-Israel security framework - feature

“You need a third entity, and I think the US Army is the partner of the Lebanese armed forces and, of course, is the partner of the Israelis,” says Mawan Abdallah, head of Kataeb's foreign affairs.

Lebanese army officers hold position in Zawtar al-Gharbiyeh, a village in southern Lebanon, as Lebanese soldiers deploy in one of three pilot zones following the withdrawal of Israeli forces under a US-brokered plan, July 26, 2026.

Could Iran invade Kuwait? New threats raise fears of wider Middle East war

“The central danger is miscalculation. The conflict could become region-wide with very little warning,” founder of Q Advisory John Keith King said.

CCTV footage shows fire and smoke rising following a strike on Kuwait International Airport, in Kuwait City, Kuwait June 3, 2026, in this screengrab from a video.

Herzog, Saudi official interviews revive Saudi-Israel ties amid Iran strikes on Gulf - analysis

The crisis could strengthen the case for regional defense cooperation, including quiet coordination with Israel, without necessarily bringing the kingdom closer to formal diplomatic relations.

President Isaac Herzog speaks at a conference in Herzliya, June 30, 2026.

US pushes Mediterranean oil pipelines to bypass Strait of Hormuz despite proxy security risks

Middle East correspondent Battaglia said that, in her view, if it were up to al-Zaidi, Baghdad would already have decided to chart its future with the United States rather than with Iran.

US President Donald Trump shakes hands with Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi as they participate in a bilateral meeting in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington.

Horn of Africa growing increasingly important in Middle East power plays - analysis

Military agreements, port investments, and competing positions on Somalia, Somaliland, and Sudan are drawing the African and Arabian shores of the Red Sea into a single geopolitical arena.

The Horn of Africa is seen on a map (illustrative)

Jordan, Bahrain drawn deeper into Iran's regional storm as ceasefire collapse puts pressure on Gulf

Missile attacks, maritime tensions, and the collapse of the June ceasefire are increasing pressure on Gulf governments to balance security with diplomacy.

(FILE PHOTO) Smoke rises in the sky after blasts were heard in Manama, Bahrain, February 28, 2026.

Iraq PM's anti-corruption raids test resolve against Iran-backed power networks - analysis

That gap between optics and substance could become decisive ahead of Al-Zaidi’s expected Washington visit.

Iraqi Prime Minister-designate Ali al-Zaidi speaks during a parliamentary session to vote in a new government headed by Ali al-Zaidi as prime minister, at the parliament headquarters in Baghdad, Iraq, May 14, 2026.

Israel-Lebanon framework faces first test as Hezbollah rejects disarmament deal - analysis

Lebanon’s ability to enforce state authority in the south remains the central question as Israel, Lebanon, and the US move from diplomacy to implementation.

Lebanon, Israel and the United States on Friday signed a trilateral framework agreement aimed at paving the way for a peace deal between the two long-time Middle East adversaries. Washington, DC, on June 26, 2026.

Moving past a ceasefire: Recognizing Israel is a big step, but 'normal,' says Lebanese diplomat

Lebanon’s Washington framework with Israel puts Hezbollah’s disarmament, state sovereignty, and Iran’s regional role at the center of a fragile test for both Beirut and Jerusalem.

A flower at the Al‑Bass Roman ruins, a UNESCO World Heritage site hit by an Israeli airstrike in Tyre, southern Lebanon June 25, 2026.