The execution of nine French jihadists on death row in Iraq would be a disgrace for France and leave an "indelible stain" on the mandate of President Emmanuel Macron, a group of prominent French lawyers said Monday.

Saudi Arabia criticized Qatar on Monday for rejecting the outcome of recent Mecca talks on regional tensions with Iran, while the UAE accused Doha of "backtracking" on the summits' conclusions.

The Kremlin insisted Monday that the Russian army was targeting "terrorists" in Syria's last jihadist stronghold of Idlib, accusing them of firing at civilians and Moscow's troops.

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is worried the Trump administration's soon-to-be-released Middle East peace plan will be considered "unworkable," and might not gain traction, U.S. media outlets have reported.

Israel launched a second round of strikes against Syria in 24 hours overnight Sunday, state media reported, as U.S. President Donald Trump called on Russia and Iran to "stop bombing the hell" out of the war-torn country. 

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu fired two prominent ministers Sunday ahead of general elections set for September, the second time the country will go to the polls this year, an official said.

The days and nights of Alaa Abdel Fattah, Egypt's leading dissident, follow a disorienting rhythm where he is freed every morning from a filthy police cell and then jailed again at sunset.

Syria denounced Sunday the Organization of Islamic Cooperation's endorsement of a longstanding U.N.-backed proposal for a transitional governing body integrating opposition elements in the conflict hit country, state media said.

It will be "impossible" to organize Algeria's presidential elections on July 4 as planned, the country's constitutional council said Sunday after the only two candidates were rejected.

The Kurdish administration in Syria on Sunday said it plans to hand 800 local women and children, including relatives of jihadists, to their families tomorrow in the first such transfer from an overcrowded camp.