Al-Monitor Daily Briefing: Turkey’s intervention in Libya turns tide to Erdogan’s advantage, for now

If you have trouble reading this email, [view it in a browser](. [logo]( [fb_icon]( [twitter_icon]( EDITOR'S PICKS Monday, May 18 | Daily Briefing [By: Semih Idiz on Friday, May. 15, 2020]( North Africa 1 [Turkey’s intervention in Libya turns tide to Erdogan’s advantage, for now]( Ankara has thrown in its lot with the Government of National Accord for reasons that have more to do with its own interests than Libya’s. Gulf 2 [Gulf’s megaprojects face delays, reassessment]( Saudi Arabia has cut capital expenditure for a number of Vision 2030 projects amid a drop in oil prices and Chinese investment. Will other Gulf states follow suit? 3 [Jordan's King Abdullah warns of 'massive conflict' if Israel annexes West Bank]( The king stopped short of saying he would cancel Jordan's peace treaty with Israel in an interview with German media. 4 [Intel: Saudi arms sale probe factored in Trump's firing of watchdog]( President Donald Trump fired State Department Inspector General Steve Linick last week in part because of an investigation into an $8 billion emergency arms sales for Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, a source on Capitol Hill told Al-Monitor. Israel 5 [Israel’s 'annexation government' sworn in]( The new Netanyahu-Gantz unity government, which was sworn in May 17, is already facing controversy over Prime Minister Netanyahu's focus on rushing annexation of parts of the West Bank. 6 [Turkey continues to oust Kurdish mayors, replace with trustees]( Four mayors have been detained in Turkey's Kurdish-majority southeast, the latest in ongoing efforts by the government to suppress Kurdish political participation in the country. Gulf 7 ['Double disaster' in Yemen as funding runs dry during COVID-19 outbreak]( In Yemen, where the health care system is dangerously overstretched and aid cuts threaten what remains, health care workers warn the country's battle against the novel coronavirus is only beginning. Culture 8 [Turks celebrate Ramadan under shadow of pandemic]( From masked drummers to online pide contests, Turks are bringing new twists to Ramadan in the coronavirus era. Gulf 9 [Qatar to dole out $55,000 fines, jail time for not wearing face masks]( Masks are mandatory for all Qataris who leave their homes, except when driving alone. Turkey 10 [The not-so-sacred profit bonanza of Syria's jihadi groups]( Economic gains have been at the core of clashes between rebel groups in Syria’s Idlib and Turkish-controlled regions that Syrian rebels describe as “liberated” areas. 11 [Intel: Trump’s religious freedom envoy 'pleased' with Yemen Houthi release of Baha’is]( President Donald Trump’s envoy for international religious freedom welcomed the release of some Baha’i political prisoners by Iran and by Yemen’s Houthi rebels while also noting concerns about Iran's treatment of the religious group. 12 [Lebanese bank official arrested for alleged currency manipulation]( Lebanon's central bank denied the allegations; the Lebanese pound's value has decreased significantly amid the ongoing economic crisis. Egypt 13 [Sisi grants army more powers under state of emergency]( Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi approved new amendments to the emergency law, granting the army the right to arrest and prosecute civilians in clear violation of the constitution and the law, according to human rights activists. 14 [FBI finds al-Qaeda link in Pensacola naval base shooter’s iPhone]( Recently unlocked phones show the man who killed three people at a Florida naval base had likely been in contact with al-Qaeda. Iraq 15 [Iraq reopens 2 border crossings to help boost battered Iranian economy]( Two of five Iranian-Iraqi border crossings reopen for both goods and individuals, to the benefit of Iran's sanctions- and coronavirus-hit economy, and of Iraqis in the south and in the KRG-run north. Egypt 16 [Pandemic won't halt construction on Egypt’s first nuclear power plant]( Although a series of mega projects have been postponed in Egypt due to the coronavirus outbreak, work on the country’s first nuclear power plant continues. 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]( © 2020 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