Al-Monitor Daily Briefing: Iran hunkers down in Syria after Caesar Act sanctions

If you have trouble reading this email, [view it in a browser](. [logo]( [fb_icon]( [twitter_icon]( EDITOR'S PICKS Friday, June 26 | Daily Briefing [By: Ali Hashem on Thursday, Jun. 25, 2020]( Iran 1 [Iran hunkers down in Syria after Caesar Act sanctions]( Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps says it has no backup plan and is not leaving Syria. Culture 2 [Gender dysphoria during war: A transgender Yemeni man speaks out]( After fleeing Yemen to escape the civil war, Yahyia al-Zandani, a 23-year-old Yemeni transgender male, has faced challenges due to prejudices from family and society. 3 [UN Security Council to meet on Egypt-Ethiopia dam dispute]( The meeting will discuss Egypt's and Sudan's objections to the Ethiopian dam. Israel 4 [Netanyahu’s damage control strategy ahead of annexation vote]( Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is facing contradictory estimates from security agency chiefs on whether annexation will generate massive uprisings in the West Bank and Arab retaliation. Iraq 5 [Iraqi security forces raid militia headquarters]( A group of Iraqi counterterrorism forces raided a headquarter of a militia in southern Baghdad, arresting some of its personnel and confiscating rocket launchers allegedly prepared for attacks against US bases. Turkey 6 [Erdogan’s most loyal supporters want to know where the money is]( The battle between the haves and the have-nots within the ruling party base is intensifying. Iran 7 [Iran passes 10,000 COVID-19 deaths]( Iran's president says citizens must wear masks as part of a “new phase” of dealing with the coronavirus pandemic. Washington 8 [Al-Qaeda is using Iran as safe haven, says State Department report]( Nathan Sales, ambassador-at-large and the US coordinator for counterterrorism, describes Iran's connections to al-Qaeda as "no surprise." Iraq 9 [General Electric helps increase electricity generation in Iraq]( Power stations that General Electric helped develop and improved exploitation of natural gas boost Iraq's energy infrastructure as the country seeks alternatives to imported energy from Iran. 10 [State Department concerned by reports Egypt is harassing American activist’s family]( After spending nearly two years in a Cairo prison, Mohamed Soltan filed a lawsuit in a US court against Egypt's former prime minister. 11 [Intel: Al-Qaeda branch confirms US drone killed Zarqawi relative in Syria]( An al-Qaeda branch in northwest Syria has confirmed that a US drone strike earlier this month killed one of the group’s most senior leaders, a veteran Jordanian jihadi who had been close to Abu Musab al-Zarqawi. North Africa 12 [Intel: Russian mercenaries enter key oil field, Libya oil company says]( A convoy of Russian mercenaries entered Libya’s Sharara oil field and met with the facility’s security forces yesterday, the country’s National Oil Corporation said. 13 [Intel: US pushes warring Libya factions to disband militias]( US officials pushed Libya’s UN-recognized Government of National Accord (GNA) to demobilize its militias in virtual meeting this week, the State Department announced today. 14 [Netherlands isn’t required to repatriate Islamic State families in Syria, court rules]( The Netherlands isn't required to bring home from northern Syria a group of 23 Dutch women suspected of joining the Islamic State or their 56 children. Israel 15 [Mossad chief meets with Jordanian king, relates message from Netanyahu]( According to reports, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sent Mossad Chief Yossi Cohen to Jordan, in an attempt to appease King Abdullah over the annexation plan. North Africa 16 [Young Libyan atheists seeking refuge online]( Since the 2011 revolution and the expansion of the Islamic State, more Libyan young people have reneged on their Muslim beliefs and are now part of a secret community on Facebook with fellow atheists. Iraq 17 [Sunni figures in exile return to Iraq as part of national reconciliation]( Rafi Isawi has returned to Iraq to face trial for accusations related to terrorism; other Sunni figures with similar cases have expressed readiness to return to Iraq. Gulf 18 [Emirates suspends passenger flights from Pakistan following virus cases]( The Dubai-based airline said a number of passengers were found to have COVID-19 on a recent flight. 19 [Lebanon protests rage as currency plunges]( Protesters set fire to tires and waste containers to cut major roads throughout Lebanon. 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