The Media Line

Voices from the Arab press: Turkey’s strategic bet on energy

A weekly selection of opinions and analyses from the Arab media around the world.

A TURKISH petroleum engineer poses on the helipad of Turkish drilling vessel ‘Yavuz’ in the eastern Mediterranean Sea off Cyprus.
The aftermath of an Iranian missile strike in Bat Yam, central Israel, June 15, 2025

WATCH: Bat Yam residents reflect on another Iran conflict after devastating missile impact in 2025

PAKISTAN FINANCE Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb and US GSA Administrator Edward C. Forst sign a Memorandum of Understanding between Pakistan and the US, February 19, 2026.

Pakistan, US launch partnership to redevelop Roosevelt Hotel in New York

A Turkish police officer and armored vehicle outside Istanbul Courthouse, March 26, 2019; illustrative.

Turkey detains 88 in nationwide raids over alleged links to group accused of 2016 coup attempt


Tzrifin base exhibition reveals Hamas and Hezbollah arms, showing structure behind attacks

The IDF’s Tzrifin exhibition offers a rare look at weapons seized from Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon, highlighting their organized, state-backed operations.

An Israeli soldier displays combat equipment seized by the Israeli military during the recent war in Gaza, Lebanon, and Syria at the Tzrifin military base near Rishon LeZion, December 30, 2025.

After failed truces in Syria, will the newest ceasefire in Aleppo last? - analysis

Amid ongoing clashes with the SDF, Syrian government forces announced a suspension of military operations in Aleppo's Sheikh Maqsood, though tensions remain high.

Entrance to the Ashrafieh neighborhood in Aleppo.

Lebanon moves forward with disarmament plan, despite ongoing Israeli strikes

Lebanese President Aoun insists on continuing disarmament efforts, despite Israeli airstrikes. The Lebanese army has gained control south of the Litani River, but challenges remain.

 Lebanese President Joseph Aoun attends a joint press conference with French President Emmanuel Macron, at the Elysee Palace in Paris, France, March 28, 2025.

US, Pakistan deepen military ties with ‘Inspired Gambit 2026’ exercise

Senior military officials from both sides attended the opening ceremony, according to Pakistan’s military media wing. 

Pakistan Air Force's JF-17 Thunder jets fly past during the sea phase of Pakistan Navy's Multinational Exercise AMAN-23, in the North Arabian Sea near Karachi, Pakistan, February 13, 2023.

Pakistan sentences journalists, YouTubers in absentia, but enforcement remains uncertain

Legal experts say extradition hurdles and due-process concerns make enforcing the verdict against journalists living in the US and Europe highly unlikely.

Pakistan Sentences Journalists and YouTubers in Absentia, but Enforcement Remains Uncertain

Violent Aleppo clashes risk spilling over into rest of Syria if not contained - analysis

Dozens of civilians were forced to temporarily leave their homes amid shelling and gunfire, amid partial outages of electricity and water, and disruptions to some basic services.

A member of the Syrian army walks with a weapon in the street as civilians flee following renewed clashes between the Syrian army and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), in Aleppo, Syria, January 7, 2026

Venezuela’s Jewish community cautiously resumes daily life after US operation to arrest Maduro

Truzman pointed to the community’s relations with its surroundings, living in harmony with other religious groups and maintains routine coordination with state authorities on security matters.

A woman gathers with others in front of the Venezuelan consulate to show solidarity with the Venezuelan Jewish community after a recent attack on a Caracas synagogue on February 13, 2009.

Post-October 7, coalition more concerned with controlling the systems than addressing recovery

More than two years after October 7, the governing coalition continues to advance sweeping institutional reforms, while legislation addressing recovery, reserve burdens, and accountability lags.

A PLENUM session at the Knesset.

Iran's Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi to address Jerusalem Prayer Breakfast's Mar-a-Lago event

Veksler said Pahlavi’s presence “creates hope that there will be regime change. … Wouldn’t it be something of a relief, not just for us, but for the Iranian people?”

Okotch Mondoh, Robert Weinger, Sarah Boulos, Rory Kaye, and Stephanie Bahn Poteet, with a red, white and blue shofar, at the Jerusalem Prayer Breakfast, Mar-a-Lago, Palm Beach, Florida, January 14, 2025.

Global power struggle: Why Maduro's fall is a 'red line' warning for China, Iran

Pressure applied in Latin America, the Middle East, and East Asia reflects a coordinated effort to influence rivals without full-scale escalation.

A burning US flag is pictured during a protest against the US intervention in Venezuela, in Buenos Aires on January 5, 2026.