The next couple of weeks, the newsletter will be shorter due to the holidays assuming there is no major breaking news
Around the Region
North Africa:
Heavy winter storms hit the Moroccan coastal city of Safi causing flooding on Sunday that killed 37 people and badly damaging local infrastructure. In response the Moroccan government launched a massive relief effort.
Egypt and Israel agreed to a large commercial deal in which the US company Chevron in cooperation with Israeli partners will provide natural gas to Egypt. According to Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu it is the largest gas deal in Israel’s history.
The Gulf:
The UAE-backed STC militia continued its military campaign in the Hadramawt region of Yemen. In light of the STC’s recent advances and the threat of returning the country to civil war, the IMF announced plans to cease operations in Yemen.
The Levant:
Israeli strikes in Gaza City killed at least six people on Friday as international mediators were in talks to extend the ceasefire. According to local reporting, the strikes hit a school where families had gathered for a wedding. The UN also appealed to Israel to allow more aid into Gaza given the needs in the occupied territory.
On Saturday, a Syrian soldier shot and killed two US soldiers and a civilian US translator. It was later revealed that the Syrian soldier had been suspected of holding ties to the so call Islamic State. Following the attack, US and Syrian officials reaffirmed its commitment to cooperation in combating the Islamic State. On Friday, the US carried out several strikes targeting IS across Syria.
