Canada's New Blasphemy Laws - Khadija Khan (Gatestone Institute) see also last week's "The West Submits to Blasphemy Laws" by Judith Bergman, Gatestone Institute.

Warming relations between Egypt and Hamas - Elior Levy and Roi Kais (YNet News)

Iran Is Expanding Its Reach - Donna Abu-Nasr (Bloomberg) In Nigeria's predominantly Muslim north, Iran is successfully building enclaves of fervent support way beyond the Middle East, an example that Iran wields growing influence in unexpected places. Saudi cables released in 2015 by WikiLeaks reveal concern about Iran-driven Shiite expansion from Mali, Mauritania, Burkina Faso and Nigeria in West Africa to India and China in Asia.

The Defeat of Islamic State in Mosul Advances the Iranian Takeover of Iraq - Zalman Shoval  (Israel Hayom)

Iran Poses the Most Significant Threat to U.S. Central Command - Lisa Ferdinando  (U.S. Defense Department)

Iraqi Shiite Militia Establishes Brigade to Liberate Golan Heights (Tasnim-Iran)

Kurdish Factions Turn Guns on Each Other in Yazidi Homeland - John Rossomando (IPT)

ISIS Tells Supporters to ‘Dress Up Like Jews,’ Carry Out Attacks (CAMERA)

Israel Develops Vest to Shield Astronauts from Radiation - Ori Lewis and Rinat Harash (Reuters)

What Is Israel Doing about the Gaza Tunnels? - Alex Fishman (Ynet News) In reaction to the tunnel threat, Israel is constructing an underground wall dozens of meters deep, to be completed in about a year and a half.

The Internal Collapse Facing Lebanon's Shiites - Hala Nasrallah (Fikra Forum-Washington Institute for Near East Policy)

New Armed Faction Muscling Into Tripoli Reflects Chaos in Libya - Francesco Semprini (La Stampa/WorldCrunch)

Former Palestinian Foreign Minister Nabil Shaath: Saudi King Abdullah Financed the Second Intifada  (MEMRI TV)

U.S. Troops Play New Role in Syria - Shawn Snow (Military Times)

Syrian Government Forces Take Over Positions from U.S.-Backed Militia in Northern Syria (Reuters) Syrian government forces have taken over positions from a U.S.-backed militia in the northern city of Manbij in line with a deal brokered by Russia. 

Assad's Control Erodes as Warlords Gain Upper Hand - Fritz Schaap (Der Spiegel-Germany) For months, Assad's army has been on the advance across Syria. But its military success has only been possible due to significant assistance from Iran and Russia - and from local Syrian militias. Now, these fighters are taking over control in many areas, committing murder, looting and harassing civilians. And nobody can stop them. Indeed, the militias are now more powerful than Assad and have become the real holders of power in Syria.

Another UN figure in Gaza reportedly in senior Hamas position (The Meir Amit Terrorism Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center) Muhammad al-Jamassi, senior engineer in UNRWA's engineering department in the Gaza Strip, was also identified as a newly elected member of Hamas' political bureau