Chronicle | Middle East
Team coverage of Middle Eastern affairs at Middle East Chronicle.
Jordan at a Crossroads: Politics, Economy, and Regional Role
Jordan occupies a pivotal position in the Middle East, balancing domestic reform pressures with a complex web of regional alliances and economic challenges. This overview examines the key forces shaping the Hashemite Kingdom's present and near-term future.
Syria: All Syrians Must Shape Their Country's Future
The UN Security Council stressed that inclusive state institutions and the rule of law must underpin Syria's political transition, as speakers warned against replicating old power structures under new leadership. Humanitarian progress is emerging, but millions still lack access to basic services, and a newly launched UN fund seeks to address underfunded needs.
UN Chief Calls for Stronger Protection of Humanitarian Workers on Anniversary of 2003 Baghdad Bombing
UN Secretary-General António Guterres marked the twenty-third anniversary of the bombing of the UN's Baghdad headquarters by honouring the 22 colleagues killed in the attack and urging renewed commitment to protecting humanitarian workers worldwide. Speaking on World Humanitarian Day, Guterres warned that rules designed to safeguard civilians and aid personnel are being violated with alarming frequency and impunity.
Only 3 Percent of Gaza's Cropland Remains Accessible and Undamaged, UN Assessment Finds
A new geospatial assessment by the FAO and UNOSAT finds that just 448 hectares of Gaza's cropland are both accessible and undamaged, as restricted access to farmland and critical shortages of agricultural inputs continue to undermine local food production. The findings underscore the deepening deterioration of an agricultural sector that once supported the livelihoods of more than 560,000 people.
World Off Track on Nearly Every Food System Goal, Latest Assessment Reveals
The 2026 Food Systems Countdown analysis finds that progress toward 2030 food system goals is too slow and insufficient, though the report suggests 2050 targets could still be achievable if actions are accelerated and sustained.
Yemen on the Edge: How Houthi Escalation Threatens to Ignite a Wider Regional War
The UN's senior envoy for Yemen has warned the Security Council that the country faces its gravest risk of returning to large-scale conflict since a landmark 2022 truce, as Houthi attacks on Red Sea shipping pull Yemen deeper into the region's broader confrontation. With 6 million people at emergency levels of deprivation and a humanitarian appeal barely 20 per cent funded, the stakes for inaction could not be higher.
Kuwait's Governance Model Draws Regional Attention
Kuwait's political institutions have long occupied a distinctive place in the Gulf landscape, combining a hereditary ruling system with one of the region's most active and historically rooted parliamentary cultures. In recent years, renewed efforts to strengthen institutional frameworks, civic participation, and public administration have drawn fresh attention from regional observers and governance analysts alike.
Israel's Civic Tech Revolution Reshapes Governance
Across Israel, a quiet but consequential transformation is reshaping the relationship between citizens and the institutions that serve them. Driven by a culture of technological entrepreneurship and a deeply engaged civil society, the country is pioneering new models of digital governance that are drawing international attention and inspiring comparable efforts across the democratic world.
Gulf States Forge New Era of Regional Cooperation
Across the Arabian Peninsula and broader Middle East, a quiet but consequential transformation is taking shape. Nations that once operated in relative economic isolation are increasingly pooling resources, aligning infrastructure ambitions, and cultivating cultural bridges that promise lasting regional cohesion. This shift reflects a maturing political will among Gulf Cooperation Council members and their neighbors to build interconnected systems that benefit populations across borders.
Why new Houthi threats in the Red Sea could spell trouble for global oil prices and inflation
Each year, about 10–12% of global shipping trade passes through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait – whose name means ‘Gate of Tears’.
Backed into a corner by Iran over the Strait of Hormuz, Trump may resort to even more reckless escalation
The reality is there is no military pathway to opening the Strait of Hormuz. Trump may attempt to find one anyway.