On an October day in 1765, Thomas Jefferson made an unusual purchase. He bought a leather-bound 2-volume set of the Quran. Why?
Award-winning journalist Roya Hakakian delves into the all-but-forgotten story of Thomas Jefferson’s Quran and how it traveled with him throughout his life. This little-known history of how Jefferson used several key texts, including the Quran, to help shape the most important ideas of religious freedom in the founding of America is a reminder that the encounter between the Middle East and America, so dramatically playing out in the news today, goes back centuries.
MBN is launching Hakakian’s eight-part series called Founding Encounters, beginning with this story and podcast, to celebrate the 4th of July and the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. You can read Hakakian’s article here and listen to the podcast here. And please tell us what you think at thebriefing@mbn-news.com.
This week, five MBN stories address the same recurring question: Who will shape the Middle East’s next evolution? MBN examines Israel’s security doctrine in Lebanon, Turkey’s growing regional role, Iraq’s unprecedented corruption crackdown, Syria’s evolving power struggle and Lebanon’s fight to reclaim the state. Together, these stories capture a region moving beyond old assumptions and into a new contest over power, sovereignty and influence.
This weekly roundup of our best reporting on the Middle East and Washington is also published in Arabic. If you were forwarded this newsletter, subscribe here. We’d love to hear from you at thebriefing@mbn-news.com.
This Week on MBN
No Hezbollah, Then Exit
Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations Danny Danon during an interview with MBN’s Washington Bureau Chief Joe Kawly at the United Nations Headquarters, New York. June 29, 2026.
MBN Washington Bureau Chief Joe Kawly interviewed Danny Danon, Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations, on “The Diplomat.” Danon said Israel has no long-term claim to Lebanese territory and doesn’t want to remain in the south. But he made clear that withdrawal depends on the Lebanese Armed Forces proving they can keep Hezbollah from returning. For Israel, the most important part of the framework is not the timetable itself, but who controls the border after Israeli troops leave. If Beirut cannot secure the south, Israel will reserve the right to act, warned Danon.
Watch the interview here
Israel, Turkey on Edge
Israeli MPs react after a vote to dissolve the Knesset before the end of its term, Jerusalem, May 20, 2026. REUTERS/Ronen Zvulun.
Israel’s recognition of the Armenian genocide at the hands of Ottoman Turkey comes at a tense moment with Ankara, writes MBN’s Yehia Qasim. The story goes beyond history and points to Gaza, Syria, energy, and the Eastern Mediterranean. Israel supports Greek Cyprus’ exploration of gas deposits in the Eastern Mediterranean, which Turkey considers a violation of its own maritime rights. Turkey’s growing naval power and Israel’s ties with Greece and Cyprus are adding pressure to the situation. Israel is now looking at Turkey not just as a political rival, but as a possible military challenge at sea, as Turkey expands its naval patrols in the Mediterranean.
Read the article here
Iraq Raids Political Elite
Iraqi security forces take part in a military parade marking the 104th anniversary of the founding of the Iraqi Army at Taji military base on the outskirts of Baghdad, Iraq, January 6, 2025. Reuters/Ahmed Saad
Iraqi security forces swept into Baghdad’s Green Zone before dawn after courts issued corruption-related arrest warrants. MBN’s Mustafa Saadoon reports that the raids targeted lawmakers, former officials and others named in investigations tied to public funds and influence-peddling. Tanks and military vehicles sealed off parts of the fortified district, startling residents and raising fears of a major political crisis. Security forces searched homes, cataloged assets, and arrested several individuals. The operation shows Iraq’s anti-corruption campaign reaching unusually high into the political class.
Read the article here
The New Contest for Syria
A worker removes posters at a gas station in the town of Nubl, in rural Aleppo.
Syria has become a new arena for Turkish-Iranian rivalry after Assad’s fall, says MBN’s Dalshad Hussein. Turkey is trying to strengthen the new government in Damascus, while Iran is accused of relying on Hezbollah-linked networks to peddle influence. Hussein notes that both Damascus and Ankara appear cautious, avoiding any direct clash that could destabilize Syria. The big question: How far will Iran go to defend its remaining leverage in Syria and Lebanon?
Read the article here
Lebanon Needs a State, Not Another Guardian
A member of Syrian forces walks near a military vehicle as they head towards the Syrian-Lebanese border following clashes with Lebanese soldiers and armed groups, in Qusayr, Syria, March 17, 2025. REUTERS/Karam al-Masri
After President Donald Trump suggested Syria could help solve Lebanon’s Hezbollah problem, MBN’s Magazine contributor Joumana Haddad says the idea sent a chill through many Lebanese people. She argues that Hezbollah’s weapons are a real threat to Lebanon’s sovereignty. But putting Syria in charge of the solution risks reviving an old idea of foreign control. For Haddad, Lebanon cannot replace Iranian influence with another outside guardian. Her message is simple: Lebanon must become a state that makes its own decisions.
Read the article here
Syria’s Syriacs Seek Recognition
Syrian Syriacs staging a sit-in to demand recognition of their language, Hasakah, Syria, June 2026
Syria’s Syriac community is one of the country’s oldest Christian minorities, with roots in the northeast, especially Hasakah and Qamishli. Exact numbers are hard to verify after years of war and migration, but Christians overall have sharply declined since 2011. Syriac, a form of Aramaic, is still used in churches, homes, and community life. At a sit-in outside the Hasakah Governorate building, protesters demanded constitutional recognition and official status for the language. For them, Syria’s transition is a rare chance to protect both political rights and a living ancient language.
Watch the video here
Quote of the Week: Oil is Flowing
The strait is open in the sense that we’re seeing more oil come out of the strait — and some days even more oil than came out before the war even started.
–U.S. Vice President JD Vance, July 1, 2026
