★ISRAEL

1. Vance Leads U.S. Team Overseeing Gaza Transition Efforts

Vice President Vance conducted direct messaging to the Israeli public and oversaw the international task force set to administer Gaza’s next transition touring the new U.S.-led coordination headquarters near Kiryat Gat where he met with Adm. Brad Cooper, CENTCOM Commander. Vance  also received briefings from regional commanders and chaired a session with Israeli Southern Command and UN officials to finalize the deployment schedule for the 200-member multinational task force. Israel’s Ynet reports that Hamas has secretly influenced the formation of a proposed technocratic government for postwar Gaza, reportedly selecting half of the cabinet nominees in coordination with Arab mediators and the Palestinian Authority. Vance’s trip concludes Thursday after a series of meetings with Israeli and Arab officials. The next 48–72 hours are viewed as critical to either solidifying or undoing the deal. 

2. Israel Identifies Deceased Hostage as Sergeant Major Tal Haimi

Israel confirmed that the body of a deceased hostage returned via the Red Cross from Gaza has been identified as Sergeant Major Tal Haimi. Haimi, a mechanical engineer and emergency responder from Kibbutz Nir Yitzhak, was killed defending his community on October 7. His repatriation follows the return of other hostages’ remains, as Israel continues efforts to recover all abductees.

3. Israel Allows Gaza Exit for Haniyeh Relatives After Turkish Appeal

Israel permitted 66 individuals from Gaza, including 16 relatives of the late Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, to leave the Strip earlier this month at Türkiye’s request. The group included 14 Turkish citizens and 40 family members. The move follows October’s Gaza ceasefire, with Turkey acting as mediator, marking a surprising step during ongoing tensions and past targeted strikes against Haniyeh’s family.

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★IRAQ

4. Trump Appoints Michigan Cannabis Entrepreneur as Iraq Envoy

President  Trump named Detroit businessman Mark Savaya as his new special envoy to Iraq, citing the Iraqi‑born entrepreneur’s “deep understanding of the Iraq–U.S. relationship” and his success mobilizing Muslim American  voters in Michigan during 2024.  Savaya, a Chaldean Christian  and founder of the Leaf & Bud cannabis dispensary chain, gained local notoriety for provocative advertising including  billboards reading “Come get it. Free weed.”  The appointment—made without Senate confirmation—extends the White House’s direct diplomatic reach under Trump’s post‑Gaza “peace in the  Middle East” initiative. Baghdad and Erbil leaders welcomed the move, seeing Savaya as a potential bridge to U.S. Arab and Christian diaspora networks. 

5. Baghdad Seeks to Broker Damascus‑SDF Oil and Security Deal

Iraq has stepped in as mediator between Syria’s transitional government and the Kurdish‑led SDF to broker agreements on oil management and the integration of SDF combat units into the national army. The move, led by Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al‑Sudani and Iraq’s intelligence service, draws on Baghdad’s recent success in bringing the Kurdistan Region’s oil under federal control. For Iraq, stabilizing Syria is a national‑security necessity—reducing Kurdish unrest along the border, limiting ISIS reactivation, and reviving Baghdad’s regional diplomacy after two years of diminished influence.

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★EGYPT

6. Europe Turns to Cairo as Key Gatekeeper for Regional Stability

El‑Sisi’s Brussels visit cements Egypt’s rise as Europe’s anchor in migration control, energy transit, and Red Sea security. The €7.4 billion EU partnership elevates Cairo within Europe’s southern strategy, securing gas and transit routes while containing instability from Gaza to Sudan. Egypt and Cyprus signed agreements to transport gas from Cyprus’s Kronos field to Egypt for processing and export via Egyptian infrastructure. The deal, witnessed by Egyptian Oil Minister Karim Badawi and Cypriot Energy Minister George Papanastasiou, strengthens Cairo’s role as a regional gas hub and supports Nicosia’s efforts to monetize its natural resources. For Brussels, Egypt now stands as both a stabilizing power and a counterweight in its wider rivalry with Moscow and Beijing.

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★IRAN

7. Iran Rebuilding Site Once Tied to Nuclear Weapons Program

New satellite imagery shows Iran rebuilding at the Taleghan 2 site within the Parchin military complex, destroyed in an Israeli airstrike in October 2024, the Institute for Science and International Security said. Construction began before and continued after Iran’s June war with Israel. The think tank warned the activity at a former AMAD nuclear weapons site raises serious concerns despite no proof of current weapons work.

8. Iran, Poland Clash over Display of Iranian Drone in UK Parliament

A diplomatic spat erupted after Poland’s Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski and his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi traded barbs on X over the exhibition of an Iranian “Shahed-136” drone in the UK Parliament, linked to Russia’s war in Ukraine. Tehran summoned Poland’s ambassador in protest, while both ministers exchanged accusations and calls for dialogue.

9. Iran-Russia Trade Falls Despite Deepening Security Cooperation

Iran–Russia trade has dropped sharply despite closer security ties, with Russia falling from Iran’s top trading partners. Customs data show trade below $1.1 billion in the first five months—just 4.5% of Iran’s non-oil trade—far short of the $40 billion goal set in 2023. Critics say Moscow favors security ties over investment, leaving Tehran reliant on China and regional partners.

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★SYRIA

10. Syria’s New Government Turns To China After Russian Alignment

President Ahmed al-Sharaa hosted Chinese Ambassador Shi Hongwei in Damascus, signaling Syria’s shift toward Beijing following restored ties with Moscow. China emphasized sovereignty, territorial integrity, and reducing Uyghur militant presence, framing engagement as economic risk management and early normalization with Syria’s new rulers. Damascus seeks Chinese reconstruction aid and global legitimacy as it rebuilds post-Assad governance. Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani will visit Beijing in November to formalize cooperation and secure investment pledges.

11. World Bank Estimates Syria Reconstruction Costs Exceed $216 Billion

A World Bank report estimates Syria’s post-conflict reconstruction will cost around $216 billion, covering infrastructure, residential, and non-residential buildings damaged over 13 years of war. Infrastructure suffered most, at $82 billion. The cost is roughly ten times Syria’s projected 2024 GDP, highlighting massive economic and development challenges and calling for coordinated international support.

12. Syria Seizes 12 Million Captagon Pills Near Damascus

Syria’s Interior Ministry said security forces seized about 12 million Captagon pills in rural Damascus, one of the country’s largest drug busts. Authorities arrested the network’s leader and continue to track others involved. The drugs were confiscated for destruction as part of ongoing efforts to curb trafficking and dismantle smuggling networks across the country.

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★LEBANON

13. Israel Says It Conducted Ground Operation Inside Lebanon

The Israeli army announced Tuesday that it carried out a nighttime ground operation inside Lebanon on Sunday to destroy several Hezbollah positions near Mount Dov. The mission, involving reservists and combat engineers from the 810th Regional Brigade, aimed to prevent Hezbollah from reestablishing posts in the area. Israel continues frequent airstrikes across southern Lebanon, targeting what it calls Hezbollah infrastructure.

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★THE GULF

14. Saudi Arabia Ranks 13th Globally, Leads Arabs in Air Power

Saudi Arabia topped the Arab world and ranked 13th globally in the 2025 Air Power Index by CEOWORLD Magazine, scoring 57.24 points. Egypt and Algeria followed, ranking 17th and 18th worldwide. The U.S., Russia, and India led the global list, while global defense spending hit a record $2.44 trillion during rising digital warfare and AI advances.

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★ Disclaimer: This publication is a digest of various news sources compiled by the Early Phoenix team and edited by Rania Kisar. The items are curated, concise summaries of news items hyperlinked within each story. The items and summaries presented do not necessarily represent the views of the American Center for Levant Studies.