U.S. Pentagon officials said Thursday that Iran fired upon a U.S. surveillance drone over the Persian Gulf on November 1. According to U.S. officials, the unmanned and unarmed drone was conducting classified but routine surveillance over international waters. It was fired upon by two Russian-made Su-25 jets but was not hit, in an unprecedented instance of Iranian warplanes firing on a U.S. surveillance drone. The Defense Department said it did not release information about the incident earlier due to its classified nature, however its timing five days before the U.S. presidential election raising questions for the Obama administration. The chief spokesman for the Pentagon, George Little, said that they sent a message to Iran that the U.S. will continue to conduct such surveillance flights "consistent with longstanding practice and our commitment to the security of the region." He added that the U.S. would use diplomatic and military options to "protect our military assets and our forces in the region" if necessary. On Friday, Iranian member of parliament Mohammad Saleh Jokar told a state owned website, "Violation of the airspace of Iran was the reason for shooting at the American drone." Iran's Fars news agency released remarks from Revolutionary Guard Major General Seyed Masoud Jazaeria saying Iran has the right to "confront" incursions on its territory, but did not confirm or deny the November 1 shooting. The United States has resisted calls, primarily from Israel, for military action against Iran, but has applied multiple rounds of severe sanctions, a new round of which was imposed Thursday. The new sanctions targeted Iran's communications minister and ministry of culture and Islamic Guidance, for its international and opposition media censorship.

Syria

Turkey has reported a surge of about 8,000 refugees fleeing from Syria in the past 24 hours as well as 26 military official defectors. The dramatic flood of refugees came after an opposition offensive along the border. Opposition fighters reportedly overtook the Arab and Kurdish town of Ras al-Ain, a border crossing point into Turkey important for resupply. Adrian Edwards, from the U.N. Refuge Agency, said there had been a "large movement" in the last 24 hours of Syrian refugees into Turkey's Urfa province, which borders Ras al-Ain. This latest influx will bring Turkey's total refugee count up to over 120,000. Additionally, 26 Syrian military officials, including two generals defected, bringing their families into Turkey overnight, in the most massive defection in months. Turkish officials also reported six Turks in the border town of Ceyalanpinar were injured from stray Syrian fire. Israeli officials have reported recent mortar fire into the Israeli-held disputed territory of the Golan Heights. Israeli Vice Prime Minister Moshe Ya'alon warned Syria that it will defend itself if the conflict begins spilling over. Meanwhile, the Syrian National Council is set to elect a new executive and president on Friday, before deciding whether to support the proposed unity Syrian National Initiative, being negotiated in Doha, Qatar this week. 

Headlines  

• A Palestinian boy was killed by Israeli helicopter gunfire during clashes Thursday in Gaza between Israeli forces and Palestinian militants.
• The United Nations International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said it will hold a new round of talks with Iran on its disputed nuclear program in Tehran on December 13.
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Bahrain has revoked the citizenship of 31 opposition activists for "undermining state security." The interior ministry cited Article 10 of the Citizenship Law saying it permits the "re-evaluation of nationality." Of the 31 activists named, two were former members of parliament representing the Shiite al-Wefaq party -- Jawad and Jalal Fairuz. Others were London based activists Said al-Shehabi, head of the Freemen of Bahrain movement, and Ali Mushaima, son of Hassan Musaima, the imprisoned leader of the opposition al-Haq group who is serving a life sentence for allegedly plotting against the Al-Khalifah regime. The Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights and Bahrain Center for Human Rights said they had "grave concern over the systematic targeting of prominent political activists, former members of parliament, clerics and others." They continued claiming the government did not provide sufficient evidence for revoking the citizenships of these individuals. The move comes after Bahrain's government banned public gatherings and rallies last week drawing criticism from human rights groups and the United Nations. There has been widespread unrest in Bahrain since pro-democracy protesters took to the streets of the capital of Manama in February 2011. At least 60 people have been killed and thousands wounded and detained.

Syria

The Syrian opposition struck government strongholds in Damascus with four mortar attacks showing a growing boldness and an increased sectarian nature of the conflict. The Houran Freemen Brigade of the Syrian opposition claimed responsibility for attacks on the predominantly Alawite Damascus neighborhood of Mezze, hitting a military airfield and an intelligence headquarters. Fighters fired upon the palace that houses President Bashar al-Assad's offices, but missed. Bombings also hit the districts of Hai al-Wuroud, al-Qadam, and Ibn al-Nafis. Syrian state television reported that Judge Abad Nadwa was killed by a car bomb on Wednesday. Additionally in Damascus, clashes have continued between opposition fighters and pro-government Palestinian forces in the Palestinian refugee camp of Yarmouk and in the southern neighborhood of Hajar al-Aswad. Meanwhile, opposition representatives have continued negotiations in Qatar where they are set to elect a new leader and executive committee on Wednesday. British Prime Minister David Cameron called for the removal of Assad saying he should face international law and justice, but suggested he be allowed safe passage if he agrees to step down. Cameron is in the midst of a regional tour, visiting the Zatari Syrian refugee camp in Jordan as well as the Gulf countries of the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia.

Headlines  

• Turkey's government said it will propose legislation to allow the Kurdish language to be used in courts in efforts to bring an end to an eight week hunger strike by an estimated 700 Kurdish prisoners.
• For the first time, women will join Saudi Arabia's Shura Council advising King Abdullah, but will be separated from men with a screen. 
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Five homemade bombs exploded on Monday in the Qudaibiya and Adliya districts of Manama, Bahrain's capital, killing two foreign workers and severely wounding a third. Police have been targeted on several occasions over the past year, but this was a rare attack on civilians, in what appeared to be coordinated explosions. The Bahrain News Agency called the blasts an "act of terrorism," and said an investigation is underway. A representative from the opposition Shiite party al-Wefaq, Matar Matar, said that he doubted opposition activists were responsible for the attack, mentioning that Shiite clerics have come out against escalating the conflict. Bahrain has been plagued by unrest since demonstrations broke out in February 2011, during which at least 60 people were killed and thousands were arrested. Bahrain's government announced a ban on rallies and public gatherings last week, a move that was condemned by human rights groups and U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon. Foreign ministers from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) are scheduled to meet on Wednesday to discuss regional issues, including unrest in Bahrain and Kuwait, which also banned public gatherings and rallies last week.

Syria

Amid heavy weekend violence, Syria's fractious opposition began meetings in the Qatari capital of Doha in efforts to form a new unity leadership for a possible transitional government. The talks between over 20 opposition leaders are set to take place over four days and are aimed at overhauling the structure of the opposition after the Syrian National Council (SNC) lost support, specifically from the United States. Abdulbaset Sieda, the current head for the SNC said, "The main aim is to expand the council to include more of the social and political components." The United States is pushing for the group to create stronger ties between commanders in the field and Syrian leaders in exile. To allay fears that the meeting would precede talks with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, the group released a statement saying that the Assad regime leaving power is a precondition of any political dialogue. Meanwhile, opposition fighters reportedly seized an oilfield for the first time on Sunday, over taking al-Ward oilfield in Deir el-Zour province after three days of clashes. Also, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported heavy clashes near a Damascus security building. Syrian television reported a large explosion near the Dama Rose hotel in Damascus, which wounded several people. Additionally, the Syrian army reportedly shelled the Yarmouk Palestinian refugee camp in the southern outskirts of Damascus killing at least 20 people. Opposition fighters reportedly pulled back from an attack that began on Saturday on the large Taftanaz military airport in the northern Idlib province due to a shortage of ammunition. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights estimates that nearly 200 people died in weekend violence.

Headlines  

• For the first time in 40 years, Egypt's Coptic church has chosen a new pope, Bishop Tawadros, who said he will reverse the political role of the church espoused by the late Pope Shenouda.
• Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas sparked controversy and protests after a remark interpreted as a concession over the Palestinian "right to return."
• A Yemeni man and ten Saudi Arabians recently released from prison, who had been held on terrorism charges, were caught after two Saudi border guards were killed in an ambush.
• Kuwait's emir met with opposition representatives as thousands of Kuwaitis gathered Sunday to protest a new electoral law days after demonstrations were banned.
• An Israeli news channel reported Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had ordered an attack on Iran in 2010, but the effort was blocked.
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The United States is withdrawing support for the Syrian National Council (SNC) and helping form a more representative opposition group. U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said "There has to be representation of those who are on the front lines, fighting and dying today to obtain their freedom." The SNC is largely comprised of exiles. The Obama administration has been working behind the scenes for several months in negotiations to build a new Syrian opposition leadership. Clinton said she has been heavily involved in planning an Arab League supported meeting for next week in Doha, Qatar, where opposition figures will work to form a new opposition body. U.S. ambassador to Syria Robert Ford, pulled form Syria last year due to safety concerns, has also been working to assemble a new group. It is expected to have between 35 and 50 representatives, up to one third of which will likely go to members of the SNC. Former Syrian Prime Minister Riyad Hijab, who defected in August, is one of the people proposed for the new council. Addressing increasing reports of Islamist extremist involvement in fighting in Syria, Clinton also warned the opposition should "strongly resist the efforts by the extremists to hijack the Syrian revolution." Meeting with U.N. and Arab League envoy on Syria Lakdar Brahimi, China proposed a plan to end violence in Syria including a regionally phased ceasefire and establishment of a transitional government. Meanwhile, violence continued Wednesday with street fights in Aleppo and a bombing in Atarib, 12 miles west of the city, which hit a breadline and killed at least 15 people. Additionally, a bomb exploded at a Shiite shrine in Damascus near a government checkpoint.

Headlines  

• A Saudi fuel truck crashed and exploded killing 22 people and injuring over 100 others.
• Libya's General National Congress has approved a cabinet proposed by Prime Minister Ali Zidan, who took office when the former prime minister was dismissed after his cabinet was rejected.
• After an unverified report that Palestinian Prime Minister Salaam Fayyad resigned, the PLO refuted the report and said Fayyad had presented a plan for a more inclusive factional government.
• Kuwait has extended the detention of former opposition Member of Parliament Mussallam al-Barrak on charges of challenging the emir in a speech at an October 15 protest. 
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The Eid al-Adha truce has largely fallen in Syria with both sides violating the ceasefire brokered by U.N. and Arab League envoy Lakhdar Brahimi. According to the opposition activist Local Coordination Committees, Syrian government air raids have killed 14 civilians in the northern Idlib province town of Bara. Opposition activists and residents have reported government air raids over the Damascus suburbs of Zamalka, Irbin, Harasta, and Barzah. Syrian warplanes also attacked opposition held areas in the eastern province of Deir al-Zour, and the northern province of Aleppo. Meanwhile, Free Syrian Army fighters reportedly attacked Syrian military roadblocks in the Damascus suburb of Douma and in Aleppo. Fighting was also reported between opposition fighters and Kurdish militiamen in the mainly Christian and Kurdish Aleppo neighborhood of Ashrafieh killing at least 22 people. According to the British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, at least 110 people were killed across Syria on Sunday. On Monday, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon expressed deep disappointment over the collapse of the ceasefire and called for greater assistance from the United Nations and the international community to end the violence in Syria, which has now spanned over 19 months.

Headlines  

• Dozens of people have been killed in a wave of attacks across Iraq over the weekend's Eid al-Adha holiday.
• The Egyptian brokered unofficial truce between Israel and Gaza has broken down with rocket fire from the Gaza Strip and Israeli airstrikes on several suspected militant targets.
• An Iranian member of parliament has announced that Iran has pictures of "sensitive bases" in Israel transmitted from a Hezbollah drone shot down in Israel earlier this month.
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After two days of fighting, Egypt has brokered a tentative ceasefire between Israel and Palestinians in Gaza. According to Israel, no rockets have been fired since Wednesday night and the unofficial truce is appearing to hold. Fighting began on Tuesday after a landmark visit from Qatar's emir to Gaza, when Hamas militants fired rockets into Israel drawing retaliatory Israeli airstrikes, which killed four Palestinians including three militants. Israeli officials said around 80 rockets and mortar shells were fired into Israel injuring six people, including two Thai workers who were critically wounded. Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak said he hoped the truce would stand, but said over 600 rockets had been fired into Israel since the beginning of 2012 and that the struggle was far from over. Meanwhile, EU foreign policy head Catherine Ashton is visiting with Israelis and Palestinians in attempts to revive stalled peace talks. 

Syria

The Syrian government is expected to give its decision Thursday on a ceasefire for the Eid al-Adha holiday brokered by U.N. and Arab League envoy Lakdar Brahimi. Brahimi announced Wednesday that President Bashar al-Assad agreed to the temporary truce beginning Friday, but that was immediately thrown into question when Syria's foreign ministry said the military was still studying the proposal. In a meeting with the U.N. Security Council, Russia said it had "indications" that the Syrian government would approve the plan, and the Security Council members expressed their support for Brahimi's proposal. The opposition Free Syrian Army said it would adhere to a ceasefire if the government does, but expressed doubts. Other groups within the opposition said that no one is taking the ceasefire proposal seriously. Meanwhile, a day ahead of the truce deadline, violent clashes have broken out in the Sunni dominated Damascus suburb of Harasta. Fighting began when opposition fighters overran a roadblock on a highway connecting Damascus to the north. Syrian forces have retaliated with fierce tank and rocket fire, killing five people. Fighting also continued in the Damascus suburb of Douma, the town of Maarat al-Numan, along the highway between Damascus and Aleppo, and in the city of Homs near the Lebanese border with over 100 people reported killed across the country on Wednesday.

Headlines  

• A man suspected of involvement in the September 11 attack on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi has been killed in Cairo. Meanwhile, Tunisia has arrested a Tunisian man linked to the attack.
• Sudan has blamed Israel for carrying out air strikes on an arms factory in Khartoum that was hit by several explosions late Tuesday and said it reserves the right to retaliate.

Arguments and Analysis

Meet the Israelis (Gideon Levy, Haaretz)

"Nice to make your acquaintance, we're racist and pro-apartheid. The poll whose results were published in Haaretz on Tuesday, conducted by Dialog and commissioned by the Yisraela Goldblum Fund, proved what we always knew, if not so bluntly. It's important to recognize the truth that has been thrown in our faces and those of the world (where the survey is making waves ). But it's even more important to draw the necessary conclusions from it.

Given the current reality, making peace would be an almost anti-democratic act: Most Israelis don't want it. A just, egalitarian society would also violate the wishes of most Israelis: That, too, is something they don't want. They're satisfied with the racism, comfortable with the occupation, pleased with the apartheid; things are very good for them in this country. That's what they told the pollsters."

Hezbollah uses its military power in a contradictory manner (David Hirst, The Daily Star)

"Nobody, neither its friends nor its foes, ever questions Hezbollah's military prowess. During its last major engagement, the July war of 2006, an Israeli general ruefully called it "the greatest guerilla organization in the world today," and the entire Arab world thrilled at its exploits, not only in classical guerilla warfare, but in higher-tech forms of combat, such as the sea-borne missile which very nearly sank the Israeli navy's flagship.

The really contentious question is: What does it use its prowess, and its weapons, for? In the past two weeks, it has given two dramatic, and profoundly contradictory, answers.

One came in the shape of the drone that Hezbollah launched over Israel on Oct. 6. In a subsequent speech, Hezbollah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah called it an "Iranian-built," "Hezbollah-assembled" device which, during its three-hour, 300 km mission, conducted reconnaissance of sensitive sites, including that "holy of holies," the ultra-secret nuclear facility at Dimona."

--By Jennifer Parker and Mary Casey 

As gunfights have continued to flare, primarily in Beirut and Tripoli, the Lebanese Army is working to restore order. At least six people have been killed, 27 wounded, and 50 arrested since clashes rooted in the Syrian crisis began on Sunday. Most of the people reported dead were killed in the northern city of Tripoli in fighting between the Sunni neighborhood of Bab al-Tabbaneh and the Alawite district of Jebel Mohsen. Additionally a resident of a Palestinian refugee camp in Beirut was killed after he reportedly fired at Lebanese forces. Violence was sparked on Sunday after a funeral for slain intelligence chief Wissam al-Hassan. The U.S. State Department confirmed that it is sending a team from the F.B.I. to assist in investigating the bombing that killed Hassan Friday. Jordan is also working to contain spillover from Syria; authorities reported they have seized a group of Jordanian extremists who obtained arms from Syria. The Jordanian military saw its first casualty in related violence when a corporal was killed in clashes with suspected Islamist militants traveling along the Syrian and Jordanian border. Meanwhile, the U.N. Refugee agency has reported that Lebanon has registered over 100,000 Syrian refugees, joining Jordan and Turkey.

Syria

The United Nations is putting together a peacekeeping force for Syria, hoping the regime and opposition fighters will implement a proposed ceasefire for the holiday Eid al-Adha beginning Friday. U.N. peacekeeping head Herve Ladsous stated, "We are getting ourselves ready to act if it is necessary and a mandate is approved." However, the prospects for a temporary truce appear slim as deadly clashes continue across Syria. According to the British-based Syrian Observatory of Human Rights, over 115 people were killed across Syria on Monday. Aleppo saw fighting in several districts with warplanes bombing the Katergi quarter. Clashes were also reported in Damascus, Daraa, and Deir el-Zour. Government forces and opposition fighter have continued the battle over the strategic town of Maaret al-Numan, which is on a strategic supply route between Damascus and Aleppo. On Tuesday, Syrian warplanes reportedly bombed the town as fighters clashed over a nearby Syrian military camp.

Headlines  

• Qatari Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani has arrived in Gaza as the first head of state to visit since Hamas came to power in 2007 set to launch a $254 million assistant program.
• After clashes at demonstrations over election law, Kuwait has banned gatherings of over 20 people ahead of the December 1 election.
• Egypt's Administrative Court has referred to the Supreme Constitutional Court the decision of whether to disband the Constituent Assembly, which is tasked with drafting the constitution.
• A man has released an audio message claiming to be Saeed al-Shihri, al Qaeda's number 2 in Yemen, countering accounts that he was killed in a drone strike.
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Syrian government airstrikes hit the opposition controlled town of Maaret al-Numan in Idlib province killing at least 44 people and leaving massive destruction on Thursday. The opposition secured the town last week after intense fighting, and had begun providing basic services for residents. Maaret al-Numan is located on a strategic highway and supply route connecting Damascus and Aleppo. A missile hit a residential area, damaging four buildings, four homes, and a mosque. Over 20 children were reported to have been killed in the attack. The strike on Maaret al-Numan signals a shift of government tactics according to some analysts. Rather than trying to win back territory gained by the opposition and the "hearts of the people," the regime is merely destroying and abandoning towns so that the population will resent the opposition. Over 200 people were reported killed across Syria on Thursday. Meanwhile, after a regional tour seeking international support for implementing a ceasefire over the Muslim holiday Eid al-Adha, U.N. and Arab League envoy, Lakhdar Brahimi is scheduled to arrive in Damascus on Saturday. Turkey and Germany have backed the ceasefire. The BBC has reported several of its channels have been deliberately jammed in Syria in what the network has described as a "blatant violation of international TV regulations."

Headlines  

• A car bomb has exploded in the eastern Ashrafeah district of Beirut, Lebanon during rush-hour Friday killing several people.
• Libyan militia commander, Ahmed Abu Khattala, implicated in the September U.S. consulate attack, said he was at the scene, but didn't lead the attack. He added that he hasn't gone into hiding.
• U.S. officials have said that the C.I.A. station chief in Libya reported within 24 hours of the U.S. Benghazi consulate attack that there was evidence of a militant attack, and not a spontaneous mob.
• At least 14 soldiers and 12 al Qaeda militants have died in clashes at a military base in Yemen's southern Abyan province.
• The U.S. TV series "Homeland" has generated anger amongst Lebanese and Israelis. Lebanon's tourism minister is considering a lawsuit.
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The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia has overturned the conviction of Osama bin Laden's driver, Salim Hamdan. Hamdan had been held on charges of "material support for terrorism." He was captured in Afghanistan in 2001, sentenced to seven years in prison, and held at a contested U.S. detention facility at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba. He was returned to Yemen in November 2008 and released in January 2009, given credit for time served. The appeals court found that providing support for terrorism was not a war crime at the time when Hamdan worked for bin Laden from 1996 to 2001, and could not be charged retroactively. The Military Commissions Act of 2006 was passed by Congress delineating various acts as war crimes, including providing support for terrorism. Judge Brett Kavanaugh wrote, "If the government wanted to charge Hamdan with aiding and abetting terrorism or some other war crime that was sufficiently rooted in international law at the time of Hamdan's conduct, it should have done so." Despite that Hamdan has already been released, the decision sets an important precedent as many others detainees at Guantanamo are held on similar charges, and were captured prior to 2006.

Syria

The Syrian government and opposition are considering a ceasefire for the Eid al-Adha holiday, beginning on October 26, that has been proposed by U.N. and Arab League envoy to Syria, Lakhdar Brahimi. However, on Wednesday the government said a ceasefire would likely fail because there is no unified opposition leadership with which to negotiate. The opposition is divided among various brigades fighting under the Free Syrian Army (FSA) brand. But, in practice, the brigades compete for power and operate independently. On Tuesday, two rebel sources said groups have agreed to set up a united opposition leadership, after much international pressure. The leadership will include FSA leaders Riad al-Asaad, Mustafa Sheikh, and General Mohammad Haj Ali, as well as heads of provincial military councils inside Syria such as Qassem Saadeddine in Homs province. A main opposition group, the Syrian National Council has scheduled a unity conference in Qatar for November 4. Meanwhile, Syrian forces bombarded several areas in the north. Warplanes hit an opposition blockade on the strategic highway that connects Damascus with Aleppo, which has cut off government reinforces into the embattled city. Additionally, Syrian forces targeted the opposition controlled town of Maaret al-Numan in Idlib province. After traveling to Iran and Iraq seeking regional help to broker a Syrian truce, Brahimi arrived in Lebanon to speak with President Michel Suleiman, and is expected to stop in Damascus later on Wednesday.

Headlines  

• An Israeli court has forced the government to release a study commissioned after it tightened the blockade on Gaza in 2007. The study details the minimum number of calories Palestinians need in order to prevent malnutrition.
• Protesters clashed with police outside Kuwait's parliament building on Monday evening, during which former MP Mussallam al-Barrak criticized the emir.
• A British man arrested at Heathrow airport last week has been charged with kidnapping a British photographer and Dutch journalist in Syria.
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The European Union is set to increase sanctions on Iran on Monday after failed negotiations over Iran's contested nuclear development program. British Foreign Secretary William Hague said they will continue to increase pressure on Iran until negotiations succeed. EU Foreign Policy head Catherine Ashton said sanctions that were imposed in July are "quite clearly having an effect" and the heightened sanctions are "to persuade Iran to come to the table." Riots broke out earlier this month due to the dramatic fall of Iran's currency, the rial, which is down by about 80 percent since the beginning of the year. The new sanctions are expected to target Iran's banks, as well as trade and gas imports. Additionally, 30 more companies will be subject to an EU assets freeze. Meanwhile, the United States and EU are working to close loopholes in sanctions on Iran after discovering that Tehran has been covertly using offshore tax havens in order to maintain crude oil shipments. The National Iranian Tanker Co. (NITC), Iran's largest oil-vessel operator, has reportedly registered ownership of some of its tankers in Central America. The NITC claims it is privatized but the United States classifies it as a government entity. Despite severe sanctions, U.S. exports to Iran have risen by 32 percent this year up to $199.5 million. Exports were comprised primarily of wheat and other grains, dairy products, and medical, dental, and surgical products. However, some humanitarian goods have declined including medicinal and pharmaceutical products.

Syria

Tensions between Turkey and Syria have increased with both banning all respective aircraft from their air space. The escalation was prompted by Turkey's forcing down a Syrian jet last week that Syria maintained was a passenger aircraft headed to Russia, while Turkey said there was illegal cargo on the plane. Armenia agreed to land a cargo plane carrying humanitarian aid to Syria for investigation in Turkey. Meanwhile, according to the Turkish disaster management agency (AFAD), the number of Syrians taking refuge in camps in southern Turkey has exceeded 100,000. Turkey has said it would struggle to accommodate over 100,000 refugees, and has been calling for the United Nations to build camps in a "safe zone" within Syria's borders. Over 348,000 people have been registered as refugees in Syria's neighboring countries, and many more have fled and remained unregistered. Human Rights Watch has accused Syrian government air forces of dropping cluster bombs in the past week, primarily in fighting over a highly contested highway running from Aleppo to Damascus, and the strategic town of Maarat al-Numan, which was recently captured by opposition forces. Cluster bombs, indiscriminate scattershot munitions, have been banned by most countries because of the severe threat they pose on civilians. As the conflict in Syria rages on, U.N. and Arab League envoy Lakhdar Brahimi met with Iranian officials appealing for help to implement a ceasefire for the upcoming Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha. Brahimi hopes a ceasefire would open up space for a political settlement to the conflict.

Headlines  

• Libya's national congress has elected Ali Zidan, a human rights lawyer formerly living in exile, as the country's new prime minister tasked with naming a new cabinet within two weeks.
• Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi has reversed the decision to remove Mubarak era chief prosecutor, Abel Maguid Mahmoud, after Friday protests in Tahrir turned violent.
• Bahrain's king has said the "door for dialogue is open" while opposition groups are calling for a representative parliament and after protesters clashed with police on Friday.
• Attacks targeting Iraqi security forces north of Baghdad have killed at least six people on Monday.
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Two former heads of U.S. diplomatic security in Libya said that requests for additional security were denied as a hearing over the September attack on the Benghazi consulate became political. Speaking in front of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform on Wednesday, former head of embassy security in Libya, Lieutenant Colonel Andrew Wood, said that diplomatic security remained weak in Benghazi and claimed that, "The RSO (regional security officer) struggled to obtain additional personnel there, but was never able to attain the numbers he felt comfortable with." The RSO, Eric A. Nordstrom, said he was told in July during a phone call that a 16-member U.S. military unit based in Tripoli would not be extended, despite security concerns. The State Department's Patrick Kennedy, under secretary for management, countered the claims, asserting that fulfilling the security requests would not have changed the outcome of the September 11 attack which was perpetrated by "dozens of heavily armed men," and resulted in the deaths of Ambassador Christopher Stevens, and three other diplomatic staff. The State Department's Charlene Lamb, who was responsible for handling the request for additional security personnel, said such measures wouldn't have helped as they would have been placed in Tripoli, rather than Benghazi. Weeks ahead of the U.S. presidential election, the hearing was dominated by partisan politics with the Republicans pushing to frame the attack as the fault of an irresponsible state department under the Obama administration. 

Syria

Turkey intercepted a passenger plane flying from Moscow to Damascus over suspicions it was carrying military equipment. Russian and Syrian officials accused Turkey of "air piracy" and claimed it endangered the passengers and crew on the plane which was comprised of 17 Russians. Conversely, Turkey's Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said there was "objectionable" cargo found on the plane that should have been reported. It is unclear whether any arms were discovered, but Turkish media said there were boxes of military communication equipment, according to unverified reports. After confiscating materials, Turkey allowed the flight to depart. Davutoglu has warned that Turkey will prevent any weapons transfer to Syria through its airspace. Tensions have recently increased between the neighbors over cross border attacks that spurred Turkish retaliation last week, as well as a Turkish plane that was shot down in June. Additionally, Turkish Energy Minister Taner Yildiz told reporters that last week Syria had stopped purchasing power from Turkey, which had supplied 20 percent of its electricity. Meanwhile, 70 people died across Syria on Wednesday according to the London based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. Most of the casualties were in fighting in Idlib Province, including the strategic town of Maaret al-Numan along the highway linking Damascus to Aleppo.

Headlines  

• Egypt acquitted 24 former Mubarak regime officials accused of organizing an attack on protesters in Cairo 2011. The incident is now known as the "Battle of the Camels."
• A U.S. embassy security official, Qassem Aqlani, was killed in a drive-by shooting in Sanaa, Yemen's capital, on Thursday.
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According to the activist group Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, two simultaneous suicide bombs killed dozens of people at a Syrian military base -- the air force intelligence complex in Harasta, northeast of Damascus. One of the suicide bombers was driving an ambulance laced with bombs. Al-Nusra Front, an affiliate of al-Qaeda, claimed responsibility for the attacks. It is unclear what has happened to the hundreds of prisoners help captive in the basement of the base. Meanwhile, the Syrian army has continued to aggressively bombard rebel neighborhoods of Homs. "The army is in the midst of trying to cleanse the last rebel districts of the city of Homs," said a Syrian army commander to the AFP. The Syrian National Council fears the entire city is on the verge of falling to the regime.

Regional Spillover

Members of the Syrian opposition have threatened to attack southern suburbs of Beirut if Hezbollah continues to support the Syrian regime's efforts. An associate of the FSA Joint Command, Fahd al-Masri, said that opposition fighters have "13 Hezbollah hostages" near Homs. Meanwhile, a defector from the Syrian army claims that Assad is supported by at least 1,500 Hezbollah fighters. According to documents obtained by the Financial Times, Iraq has been secretly supplying fuel oil to Syria. As part of a one-year contract, Nouri al-Maliki agreed to send Syria 720,000 tons of fuel oil in monthly installments. The fuel, sold at a heavy discount, is not permitted to be used in tanks. Meanwhile, Turkey has reinforced its air base in southeast Turkey, sending at least 25 additional F-16 fighter jets. The move comes amid sustained clashes between Syria and Turkey, but is also seen as a way for Turkey to bolster its forces along the Iraq border near PKK installations. Meanwhile, three crates of weapons addressed to the Saudi military were apparently diverted to opposition fighters. The crates were discovered by the BBC in an opposition base in Aleppo. Saudi Arabia has declined to comment.  

Headlines

• Iraq signed contracts to purchase $4.2 billion dollars worth of weapons from Russia, making Baghdad one of Russia's biggest weapons buyers.
• President Morsi issued a pardon for people charged with or convicted of supporting the revolution. This could affect more than 1,000 protesters on trial and also those already convicted.
• The International Criminal court held its first public hearing in the case against Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, a son of former Libyan leader Colonel Gaddafi. The younger Gaddafi is accused of war crimes against rebels during last year's uprising in Libya.
• According to Israeli defense sources, Iran has diverted its enriched uranium to scientific purposes, slowing progress on its nuclear program by eight months.
• Jordan has appointed an Ambassador to Israel. The position has been vacant for two years.
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Thousands of Jordanians have gathered in the capital city of Amman for a pro-reform rally organized by the Islamic Action Front, the Jordanian branch of the Muslim Brotherhood. The rally is expected to be the country's biggest demonstration since the start of the Arab Uprisings. Unions and professional associations, however, have not joined the rally. Many members of the opposition feel the pace of reform in Jordan is too slow, and are particularly incensed at an electoral law passed last July which discriminates against Jordanians of Palestinian heritage. Zaki Bani Arshid, the leader of the Brotherhood's political wing in Amman said "In particular we demand certain amendments to the constitution which lead to the formation of a parliamentary government." Opposition members have also called for anti-corruption measures. King Abdullah has made concessions, including dissolving the Parliament and calling for early elections in hopes that the moves would staunch the protest. No date has been set for the election, and a demonstration in support of the King was called off over security fears.

Syria

Tensions between Syria and Turkey continue to increase after five Turkish citizens died from a mortar attack, which Turkey has retaliated against. In a closed-door session, the Turkish parliament authorized its military to carry out cross-border raids. Ankara has also reinforced its naval presence in the Mediterranean. The United Nations Security Council has unanimously approved a statement which condemns Syria's attack on Turkey. Meanwhile, Syrian warplanes and artillery have been aggressively bombarding Homs. Opposition activists claim this is the heaviest bombardment of Homs in five months. Opposition fighters have allegedly captured an air defense base with a cache of surface-to-air missiles near Damascus. Meanwhile, the New York Times has reported that members of the opposition, anxious for soldiers to defect from the Syrian army, have relied on more desperate tactics, including cajoling, duping, threatening, drugging, and kidnapping Syrian army soldiers.

Headlines

• Tehran's merchants have re-opened their shops in the grand bazaar, but police officers are stationed nearby, preparing for more protests.
• F.B.I. agents have reached the site of the attack on the U.S. embassy in Libya after being deterred by security concerns. The agents are looking for clues to determine how the attack that killed Ambassador Chris Stevens three weeks ago occurred.
• Staffers at Haaretz, the liberal Israeli newspaper, went on strike yesterday to protest the upcoming layoff of many of its employees. Maariv, a mainstream newspaper, is also on the verge of collapse.
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The United States is tracking the people responsible for the attack on the Benghazi consulate in Libya as the administration faces new questions about the compound's security. U.S. President Barack Obama has vowed to bring the perpetrators of the attack to justice, but an F.B.I team sent to Libya to investigate has not been able to access the crime scene. Ahead of U.S. presidential elections, Republicans have requested that Secretary of State Hillary Clinton clarify reports on the attack which killed Ambassador Christopher Stevens and three other Americans, and that she investigate whether requests from the consulate for increased security had been denied. Other questions that remain are what happened in the attack, whether it was a spontaneous or pre-planned assault, and who conducted the raid. However, it is also believed that Obama's administration had intelligence that the attack was not a spontaneous protest but that organized militant groups were involved. At the same, however, the Libyan government has opposed unilateral military action by the United States against the attackers. Meanwhile, Libyan authorities are being criticized for the failure to go after the group believed to be the main force behind the assault, the militant group Ansar al-Sharia. U.S. intelligence officials are gathering information on members of Ansar al-Sharia as well as other militants with ties to al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb.

Syria

Up to five explosions killed around 31 to 40 people in central Aleppo Wednesday morning. Four of the bombings, within minutes of each other, occured near a military officers' club and a hotel in Saadallah al-Jabari Square. According to state and pro-government media, three of those were suicide car bombings, but conflicting reports have been released. The fifth blast was reportedly nearby, close to the Chamber of Commerce, at the edge of the Old City. According to State TV, two or three "terrorists" appeared after the explosions in explosive-packed belts seemingly to carryout further attacks, but were shot dead before they could. Aleppo is now split with government forces primarily in the west and the opposition in the east. Hezbollah's al-Manar TV and Lebanese newspaper al-Diyar, both pro-regime, reported that President Bashar al-Assad has traveled to Aleppo and will remain there to direct the military campaign after ordering up to 30,000 additional troops. These accounts have not been verified. Meanwhile, Hezbollah commander Ali Hussein Nassif (also known as Abu Abbas) and several fighters were killed in Syria on Tuesday, according to a Lebanese security official.  Hezbollah's newspaper, al-Intiqad, said he was killed "while performing his jihadi duties," but where and when he died is unknown. While Hezbollah support for the Syrian regime remains strong, relations between the government and the Palestinian militant group Hamas are unraveling. On Monday, Syria's state TV attacked Hamas leader Khaled Mashall, who pulled the organization's headquarters out of Damascus earlier this year, saying he is ungrateful and traitorous and accused him of abandoning the resistance movement against Israel and the United States. The comments came after Mashaal decided to participate in a conference with Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's ruling party and is likely, in part, due to Mashaal's settling in Qatar, an alleged funder of the opposition.

Headlines  

• Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad for the first time acknowledged the impact of sanctions and blamed black market speculators as well for the 25 percent drop in Iran's currency this week. Meanwhile he insisted the nuclear program will continue.
• Protesters and police clashed in Bahrain after a funeral for a 23-year old man who died while imprisoned for participating in pro-democracy demonstrations.
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