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Turkey: Ruling on Whether Hagia Sophia Can Serve as Mosque Expected Within 2 Weeks

Israel

SITUATION REPORTJul 2, 2020 | 17:46 GMT

Turkey's Council of State, the country's most powerful administrative institution, said in a short hearing July 2 that it would rule whether to convert Hagia Sophia back into a mosque within two weeks, the BBC reported.

SITUATION REPORTJun 12, 2020 | 17:36 GMT

U.K., EU: London Officially Rejects Option to Extend EU Single Market Membership

The U.K. government has officially rejected the option to extend its membership in the EU single market beyond the Dec. 31 deadline, leaving less than six months for the European Union and the United Kingdom to reach and ratify a free trade agreement, the BBC reported June 12.

Reflections on the Life and Death of an Iraqi Militant

Contributor PerspectivesJan 20, 2020 | 09:45 GMT

A picture taken on Jan. 11, 2020, shows portraits of Iraq's slain Popular Mobilization Unit deputy chief Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, the late founder of Kataib Hezbollah, on the southern exit of the Lebanese capital Beirut.

Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis fought Saddam Hussein, engineered attacks on Western embassies and took on the Islamic State. His death in the same strike that killed Iran's Qassem Soleimani increased local hostility to the U.S. presence in Iraq.

Yemen: Government, STC Forces Reportedly Withdraw From Abyan

SITUATION REPORTJan 15, 2020 | 19:03 GMT

Forces loyal to the Aden-based Yemeni government of President Abd Rabboh Mansour Hadi and Southern Transitional Council (STC) troops have both reportedly withdrawn from some positions in Abyan, according to eyewitness reports, the BBC reported Jan. 14.

Yemen

The Yemen Civil War

SITUATION REPORTJan 8, 2020 | 20:01 GMT

Iraq, U.S.: Shiite Militia Threatens Retaliation Over al-Muhandis Killing

The Iraqi Shiite militia Asaib Ahl al-Haq has threatened retaliation over the U.S. killing of Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, the head of the Iraqi Kataib Hezbollah militia, the BBC reported Jan. 8.

United States

Iraq

Iran's Arc of Influence

Broken Contracts in the Middle East

SITUATION REPORTJan 6, 2020 | 19:37 GMT

Libya: LNA Reportedly Takes Control Over Sirte

The Libyan National Army (LNA) announced Jan. 6 that it had taken control of Sirte following the defection of one of the key militias that had been protecting the city, the BBC reported.

Libya

The Libyan Civil War

SITUATION REPORTJan 2, 2020 | 21:49 GMT

Turkey: Parliament Approves Libya Deployment Bill

Upon the request of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Turkey’s parliament passed a bill to formally bolster its military support of Libya's internationally recognized Government of National Accord, including the deployment of combat troops, BBC reported Jan. 2.

SITUATION REPORTDec 27, 2019 | 20:52 GMT

Nigeria: Local Islamic State Affiliate Beheads 11 Hostages

The Islamic State West African Province released a video Dec. 26 in which militants beheaded 11 hostages kidnapped in Borno state, the BBC reported Dec. 27.

Nigeria

The Fight Against the Islamic State

Nigeria: Obstacles to Prosperity

The Jihadist Wars

SITUATION REPORTDec 27, 2019 | 17:07 GMT

Iran: Internet Access Reduced Again in Face of New, More Limited, Protests

Dec. 26 commemorations planned by protesters to honor those killed during unrest in November yielded some demonstrations in a few Iranian cities, but government preparations to stymie the opposition largely proved effective at limiting their scope, the BBC reported.

U.K.: House of Commons Backs Johnson's Withdrawal Agreement Bill

Technology

Iran's Arc of Influence

SITUATION REPORTDec 20, 2019 | 15:00 GMT

The British House of Commons has voted to support Prime Minister Boris Johnson's withdrawal agreement bill with the European Union by a final tally of 358 to 234 votes at a second reading, the BBC reported Dec. 20.

U.S.: Boeing Launches Starliner Capsule, but Reaches Wrong Orbit

SITUATION REPORTDec 20, 2019 | 14:08 GMT

Boeing has launched its unmanned Starliner capsule toward the International Space Station, although the craft failed to reach the correct orbit, the BBC reported Dec. 20.

United States

The Second Space Race

SITUATION REPORTDec 19, 2019 | 13:58 GMT

U.K.: SNP Leader Seeks New Scottish Independence Referendum

Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has called on the British government to allow the Scottish Parliament to hold a new referendum on Scotland's independence in the second half of 2020, the BBC reported Dec. 19.

U.K.: Exit Poll Suggests a Dominant Tory Majority in Parliament

SITUATION REPORTDec 12, 2019 | 22:11 GMT

Voting has ended the United Kingdom's general election, and a BBC exit poll suggests that the Conservative Party will secure a dominant majority in Parliament, making Brexit more likely.

Niger: Militant Attack on Army Base Kills at Least 71 Soldiers

SITUATION REPORTDec 12, 2019 | 13:54 GMT

Militants have attacked an army base in western Niger, killing at least 71 soldiers and injuring dozens more, the BBC reported Dec. 12.

Niger

Security

The Suitors of Sub-Saharan Africa

SITUATION REPORTDec 11, 2019 | 14:02 GMT

Papua New Guinea: Voters in Bougainville Region Back Independence in Referendum

Voters in Papua New Guinea's region of Bougainville in the Solomon Island chain voted overwhelmingly in favor of independence from the country in a non-binding referendum between Nov. 23 and Dec. 7, according to an official Dec. 11 announcement, the BBC reported.

Papua New Guinea

Asia-Pacific: Among Great Powers

SITUATION REPORTDec 9, 2019 | 15:39 GMT

North Korea: State Media Reports Unspecified Test at Satellite-Launching Site

North Korea has conducted an unspecified but "very important" test at its Sohae Satellite Launching Station, the BBC reported Dec. 8, citing the state-run news agency KCNA.

North Korea

Coping With a Nuclear North Korea

SITUATION REPORTDec 5, 2019 | 13:05 GMT

Iran: Khamenei Supports Plan To Declare Victims of Protests as Martyrs

Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has backed a plan to declare the victims of November's violent riots as "martyrs" and provide compensation to their families, the BBC reported Dec. 4.

U.K.: Johnson Promises Brexit Vote in Parliament Immediately After Dec. 12 Election

Iran's Arc of Influence

SITUATION REPORTNov 25, 2019 | 12:56 GMT

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has unveiled the Conservative Party's manifesto for the Dec. 12 general election, vowing to hold a vote in the House of Commons on the withdrawal agreement bill immediately after the election to ensure an orderly Brexit on Jan. 31, 2020, the BBC reported Nov. 24.