Damascus said Sunday it strongly opposes joint patrols in northeast Syria by the United States and Turkey, calling it a flagrant "aggression" that seeks to prolong the country's eight-year conflict.

Libya's U.N.-recognized government Sunday slammed the UAE for hosting an officer of forces loyal to strongman Khalifa Haftar, who has waged a months-long offensive to take the capital Tripoli. 

Libyan strongman Khalifa Haftar's forces have ruled out a U.N. call to return to the negotiating table, with his spokesman saying a military solution is the best way to resolve the conflict.

The Israeli army has targeted Hamas positions in the Gaza Strip in response to a drone attack from the Palestinian enclave, the military said.

Days before the first round of Tunisia's presidential election, the fledgling democracy on Saturday began three nights of televised debates between the candidates, a rare event in the Arab world.

Chastened by its early experiences of holding power in post-revolution Tunisia, Islamist-inspired party Ennahdha has moderated its image and selected lawyer Abdelfattah Mourou as its candidate for next Sunday's presidential election.

The United States and Turkey on Sunday began joint patrols in northeastern Syria aimed at easing tensions between Ankara and U.S.-backed Kurdish forces. 

Israeli forces attacked Hamas positions in Gaza after rockets fired from the Palestinian enclave hit the Jewish state, the military said early Saturday.

A once-detained Iranian oil tanker pursued by the U.S. appears to be off the coast of Syria, where Tehran reportedly promised the vessel would not go when authorities in Gibraltar agreed to release it several weeks ago, according to satellite images obtained Saturday by The Associated Press.

The appearance of the Adrian Darya-1 in waters near Tartus comes as Iran was prepared to Saturday to announce what further steps it had taken to move away from its 2015 nuclear deal with world powers, more than a year after President Donald Trump withdrew the U.S. from the accord.

Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates are trying to repair the damage to their coalition in Yemen after heavy fighting between their allies for control of the country's south.

Yemen's Saudi-backed president accuses the UAE of fomenting a coup by its allies, the separatist Yemeni militias. The dispute risks opening up a new spiral of violence and fragmenting the country even further.