TRUMP'S GULF TRIP AND THE IMPLICATIONS FOR THE REGION

HEADLINE 1: President Trump’s whirlwind Middle East tour was rife with record-breaking deals.

HEADLINE 2: Congressional Republicans have reiterated their support for full Iranian nuclear dismantlement.

HEADLINE 3: Trump’s sharp policy reversal on U.S. sanctions against Syria during his Gulf tour was coupled with a major request: that Syria join the Abraham Accords with Israel.

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FDD Research Fellow Hussain Abdul-Hussain fills in for Jonathan Schanzer, providing timely situational updates and analysis ahead of a conversation with Nadim Koteich, a Lebanese journalist and political analyst who serves as the general manager of Sky News Arabia.

Learn more at: https://www.fdd.org/fddmorningbrief

THE REGIONAL RAMIFICATIONS OF U.S.-SAUDI NUCLEAR COOPERATION

HEADLINE 1: Tehran’s oil-for-missiles pipeline to Beijing just got sanctioned.

HEADLINE 2: Israel targeted Muhammad Sinwar in a strike yesterday

HEADLINE 3: Yesterday, President Trump announced that he’s lifting sanctions on Syria to — quote — “give them a chance at greatness” — end quote.

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FDD Senior Research Analyst Natalie Ecanow provides timely updates and analysis, followed by a conversation between Jonathan Schanzer and Andrea Stricker, deputy director of FDD's Nonproliferation and Biodefense Program.

Learn more at: fdd.org/fddmorningbrief

NUCLEAR TALKS, CONGRESS, AND MAXIMUM SUPPORT FOR THE IRANIAN PEOPLE

HEADLINE 1: The IDF is closing in on victory in the Hamas stronghold of Rafah in southern Gaza, with heavy fighting now focused on the neighborhood of Janina.

HEADLINE 2: After 43 years, Israel brought home the body of a fallen soldier—Sgt. First Class Zvi Feldman—from deep inside Syria.

HEADLINE 3: The IDF almost attacked Yemen.

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FDD Executive Director Jon Schanzer delivers timely situational updates and analysis, followed by a conversation with Andrew Ghalili, senior policy analyst at the National Union for Democracy in Iran (NUFDI).

Learn more at: https://www.fdd.org/fddmorningbrief/

IRAN, SYRIA, THE HOUTHIS ... AND MORE

HEADLINE 1: The United States dropped the demand for normalization with Israel as a condition for advancing civil nuclear cooperation discussions with Saudi Arabia.

HEADLINE 2: A mob at Columbia University disseminated pamphlets praising a Palestinian terrorist. There’s a reason people call this school Birzeit on the Hudson.

HEADLINE 3: Israel’s ‘Qatargate’ scandal has gotten even messier.

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FDD Executive Director Jon Schanzer delivers timely situational updates and analysis, followed by a conversation with Behnam Ben Taleblu, senior director of FDD's Iran Program.

Learn more at: https://www.fdd.org/fddmorningbrief/

HOUTHIS, HAMAS, AND THE HOSTAGES

HEADLINE 1: Israel prepares for “Operation Gideon’s Chariots” — a new, expanded ground offensive in Gaza.

HEADLINE 2: The United States and Iran are set to resume nuclear talks.

HEADLINE 3: Things are heating up a little in Lebanon.

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FDD Executive Director Jon Schanzer delivers timely situational updates and analysis, followed by a conversation with FDD Senior Fellow and former IDF International Spokesperson Lt. Col. (Ret.) Jonathan Conricus.

Learn more at: https://www.fdd.org/fddmorningbrief

DOCUMENTING THE TRUTH ABOUT THE OCTOBER 7 MASSACRE

HEADLINE 1: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called on Qatar to stop playing games.

HEADLINE 2: The UK arrested 8 men on suspected terror offenses.

HEADLINE 3: Israel carried out a strike near the presidential palace in Damascus, Syria.

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FDD Executive Director Jon Schanzer provides timely updates and analysis, followed by a conversation with British historian and author Lord Andrew Roberts, who chaired the United Kingdom's October 7 Parliamentary Commission Report.

Learn more at: https://fdd.org/fddmorningbrief

THE IMPACT OF FOREIGN FUNDING TO AMERICAN UNIVERSITIES

HEADLINE 1: On Wednesday, two Israeli reservists were wounded in a roadside bomb attack in the northern West Bank.

HEADLINE 2: Seven Iranian entities were slapped with U.S. sanctions on Wednesday.

HEADLINE 3: Reuters published details from a 33-page document its reporters found in Damascus after the Assad regime was toppled.

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FDD Executive Director Jon Schanzer delivers timely situational updates and analysis, followed by a conversation with Frannie Block, a reporter for The Free Press.

Learn more at: https://www.fdd.org/fddmorningbrief

ABRAHAM ACCORDS, TWO-STATE PARADIGM, AND U.S.-IRAN NUCLEAR TALKS

HEADLINE 1: The Navy lost a $60 million fighter jet because of a Houthi missile attack.

HEADLINE 2: An Israeli district court sentenced an Israeli citizen to 10 years in prison for treason.

HEADLINE 3: Sectarian clashes broke out near Damascus in what people are still calling the new Syria.

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FDD Executive Director Jon Schanzer provides timely updates and analysis, followed by a conversation with former U.S. Ambassador to Israel David Friedman.

Learn more at: https://www.fdd.org/fddmorningbrief

TARIFFS, TRUMP DOCTRINE, AND WHITE HOUSE DIVISIONS

HEADLINE 1: The Palestinian Liberation Organization has a new vice president.

HEADLINE 2: The Houthis launched yet another ballistic missile at Israel on Saturday morning.

HEADLINE 3: Qatar and Saudi Arabia are settling Syria’s debt to the World Bank.

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FDD Executive Director Jon Schanzer delivers timely situational updates and analysis, followed by a conversation with author and Free Press columnist Batya Ungar-Sargon.

Learn more at: https://www.fdd.org/fddmorningbrief/

SOCIOECONOMIC AND POLITICAL REALITIES IN ISRAEL POST-OCTOBER 7

HEADLINE 1: The Palestinian Liberation Organization Central Council held a two-day meeting this week.

HEADLINE 2: Iran may be operating a new, deeply buried tunnel and an expanded security perimeter near the Natanz nuclear site.

HEADLINE 3: Interim Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa says he is open to normalizing ties with Israel.

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FDD Executive Director Jon Schanzer provides timely updates and analysis, followed by a conversation with Reichman University lecturer Rachel Gur, who formerly served as deputy CEO of Lobby 99.

Learn more at: https://www.fdd.org/fddmorningbrief