Al-Monitor Daily Briefing: Trump, Democrats face off over Yemen war

[logo]( [fb_icon]( [twitter_icon]( EDITOR'S PICKS Friday, August 17 | Daily Briefing [By: Bryant Harris on Thursday, Aug. 16, 2018]( Washington 1 [Trump, Democrats face off over Yemen war]( President Donald Trump is spurning Congress’ bipartisan bid to exert more control over the war in Yemen despite signing key oversight provisions into law. Turkey 2 [Four years after genocide, thousands of Yazidis languish in Turkey]( Displaced Yazidis who fled from IS' brutality to Turkey have been languishing in camps and tenements for years, hoping to reach the West. Their departure threatens the survival of one of the Middle East’s oldest religions. Iraq 3 [Iran-US conflict leaves Abadi in a dilemma]( By rectifying his statement on supporting US sanctions against Iran, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi is balancing between the United States and Iran in Iraq to keep both sides as his supportive allies. Iran 4 [Reformism weakens as factional interests reign supreme in Iran]( The lack of broad embrace of former Reformist President Mohammad Khatami’s call for change signifies not just continued conservative refusal to enter "national dialogue," but also the Iranian public’s increasing disregard for the pro-Reform camp. Israel 5 [Who is afraid of Arab Israelis?]( The absence of the Zionist Camp from the rally against the Nationality Law constitutes a failure of the opposition and strengthens Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Russia / Mideast 6 [Russian, Turkish officials meet, keep low profile on Idlib ideas]( Moscow and Ankara seem to share some common goals regarding Syria, but don't necessarily agree on how to reach them. Palestine 7 [Nablus volunteers clean up city's Roman hippodrome]( As Palestinian Ministry of Tourism prepares its file on Nablus for the UNESCO World Heritage List, volunteers take revamping of a Roman site into their own hands. Palestine 8 [Nationality Law leads some Druze to re-evaluate identity]( While Druze soldiers and generals in the Israel Defense Forces have taken the lead in protesting against the discriminatory aspects of the law defining Israel as the nation-state of the Jewish people, many Israeli Druze are saying the controversial legislation came as no surprise. Iran 9 [Sanctions, profiteering put Iranian newspapers in a bind]( A paper crisis exacerbated by US sanctions is weighing down Iranian daily newspapers, which are resorting to everything from closures to online paywalls. Syria 10 [Hezbollah's role evolving in Syria as Assad nears victory]( As the forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad move in on the last major rebel stronghold, speculation is turning to what the future might hold for Hezbollah in Syria. 11 [Iran prosecutor warns ministers: no one is immune in anti-corruption probe]( Iran’s judiciary and the Rouhani administration appear to be heading for a clash over prosecutors' approach to an effort to tackle corruption. Palestine 12 [Traffic policewomen, a first for Bethlehem]( Women participated for the first time in organizing traffic in Bethlehem, as part of a police program aimed at promoting women’s role in the force. Egypt 13 [Is Egypt doing enough to fight drug addiction?]( Egypt’s Ministry of Social Solidarity recently launched a drug abuse-awareness initiative in Port Said in an attempt to reach families and youths on summer holidays at the beach. STAY CONNECTED [fb_icon_footer]( [twitter_icon_footer]( [instagram_icon_footer]( [rss_icon_footer]( CONTACT US [Support & Contact]( [Advertise](mailto:advertise@al-monitor.com) NEWSLETTERS [Subscribe]( TERMS OF USE [Visitor Agreement]( [Privacy Policy]( © 2018 Al-Monitor. All Rights Reserved. If you no longer wish to receive these emails you may [unsubscribe or manage your preferences]( at any time. Al-Monitor · 1850 K St NW · Suite 1225 · Washington, DC 20006 · USA