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The Gulf states want to keep the feud with Qatar in the family, Turkey and Iran consider what to do about Idlib, and Saudi Arabia cracks down at home but reaches out to Shiites in Iraq.
The Trump administration has backed Russia’s latest plan for Syria, Iraq turns to rebuilding and reconciliation, Erdogan faces new opposition a year after the coup attempt, and Saudi Arabia will continue to receive British weapons after High Court decision.
Qatar looks for ways to circumvent the Saudi blockade, the Syrian Democratic Forces approach Raqqa’s Old City, and the Islamic State hits two targets in Tehran.
Saudi Arabia escalates its renewed spat with Qatar, the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces coalition is pushing into the Islamic State’s de facto capital, and Germany and Turkey can’t resolve their diplomatic feud.
Russia proposes “de-escalation zones” to reduce fighting in Syria, the UAE and Yemeni governments are feuding within the Saudi-led coalition to fight the Houthis, and Iran’s election highlights criticisms of the intervention in Syria.
Turkey arrests more political opponents and bombs Kurds in Iraq and Syria, the transnational drama of an Iraqi hostage crisis, and will or won’t the Saudis try to capture Hodeida?
Erdogan finally gets his constitutional reforms, Tillerson can’t convince Russia to give up Assad, and State Department officials are wary of the Pentagon’s plan for Yemen.
The Trump administration makes clear how little they clear about human rights, U.S. officials continue to plan for the Raqqa offensive, and the United States’ shadiest mercenary may have been an intermediary for Trump and Russia.
The United States and other coalition partners need to find a way to work with Kurdish forces inside Syria while mitigating Turkish objections to the plan.
Turkey and Iran may have some shared interests in Syria now, but still have competing interests in the long run. U.S. policy will have to consider both regional powers.