The Times has reported that the United States is looking at plans to send 14,000 troops to the Middle East in a reversal of President Trump’s promise to reduce America’s military presence abroad. The deployment to counter the threat from Iran would double the number of US troops in the region, boosted by a dozen ships and military equipment. The Daily Mail also reports the redeployment plan would double the number of troops added to the US force in the region, suggesting President Donald Trump could make a decision on the troop boost as early as this month.

The Telegraph reports that Turkey has backed down on its threat to block NATO defence plans for the Baltics, but remains deeply at odds with the rest of the alliance over its attack on Kurdish forces in Syria and its purchase of a Russian missile system.

The Jewish Chronicle reports that boycotts of Israel are opposed by nearly half of the British public, according to polling undertaken by Populus, on behalf of the Britain Israel Communications and Research Centre (BICOM). BICOM’s survey reveals almost a fifth feels ‘warm attitudes’ towards the Jewish state.

The Times reports that Jewish graves were desecrated in Westhoffen yesterday, as France faces a surge of anti-Semitic attacks following the French Assembly’s adoption of the IHRA definition of antisemitism.

Reuters reports that The United States has completed its military pullback in northeastern Syria, settling into a more stable posture of about 600 troops in the rest of the country after repositioning and reducing forces, Defence Secretary Mark Esper said.

Reuters reports that senior Pentagon officials said on Wednesday there were indications that Iran could potentially carry out aggressive actions in the future, amid simmering tensions between Tehran and Washington.

Reuters reports that a US Navy warship seized advanced missile parts believed to be linked to Iran from a boat it had stopped in the Arabian Sea, U.S. officials said on Wednesday, as Trump’s administration pressures Tehran to curb its activities in the region.

The Associated Press reports that France, Germany and the United Kingdom say “Iran’s developments of nuclear-capable ballistic missiles” go against a U.N. Security Council resolution calling on Tehran not to undertake activity related to such missiles.

The Financial Times reports that Saudi Arabia is pushing OPEC and its allies to announce a deeper oil production cut as the group meets in Vienna, in a bid to prop up prices ahead of a potential glut in supplies next year.

The Financial Times reports that Lebanon’s central bank has cut interest rates in its latest emergency measure to tackle the country’s worst economic crisis for decades.

Reuters reports that Sunni businessman Samir Khatib looks set to be nominated as Lebanon’s next prime minister when consultations with lawmakers to name a premier are held on Monday, political sources said on Wednesday.

The Financial Times reports that Iraq faces familiar impasse in hunt for new prime minister, as continuing protests and fractured sectarian politics complicate selection of Abdul Mahdi’s successor.

The Independent reports that Yazidi women have been rescued from ISIS captivity nine months after fall of caliphate, raising hopes of finding thousands of missing Yazidi women captured five years ago.

The Independent reports that Oman seems to be trying, once again, to play the role of mediator in the Middle East and reduce regional tensions, as Omani foreign minister, Yusuf bin Alawi, travelled to Iran this week and held meetings with senior Iranian officials .

The Associated Press reports that officials in Libya’s U.N.-supported government say they plan to confront Moscow over the alleged deployment of Russian mercenaries fighting alongside their opponents in the country’s civil war.

Gantz furious with Netanyahu: All the Israeli media report the political deadlock, expected to lead to new elections. Both Maariv and Haaretz tell the same story from behind the scenes following Blue and White leader Benny Gantz’s meeting with Prime Minister Netanyahu on Tuesday evening. Following the meeting Gantz asked his spokesperson to coordinate a statement to the media with Netanyahu’s spokespeople. That was the norm that they had established in all of their previous meetings and, even though the meeting hadn’t been particularly successful, Gantz saw no reason to depart from that custom and to keep things dignified.  But as he was making his way to his car, the Likud issued a statement (blaming Blue and White for refusing to form a unity government) in what appeared to be a pre-planned move. The papers suggest this was a watershed moment and Gantz was furious.  According to Maariv, “It is going to take a miracle to avert a third election.” Channel 12 News reports on a plan to pardon Prime Minister Netanyahu in all his criminal cases on condition that he withdraws from public life. This is another attempt to avoid a repeat election, ahead of next Wednesday’s deadline.

Lieberman rules out narrow government: Yisrael Beteinu leader Avigdor Lieberman has given an interview to Yediot Ahronot saying he has no intention of joining a narrow government either with the left or the right. Lieberman was facing pressure from his own party to return to the right wing bloc and avert elections.  Asked why he decided not to join a narrow government Lieberman said the combination of a narrow government with dramatic security and economic decisions was liable to create a real rift within Israeli society. He said: ‘A narrow government is a government of absolute failure. It’s a government of perpetual friction.’  Lieberman had tried to apply real pressure to reach a unity deal, but said both Likud and Blue and White made a strategic decision not to go for unity.

Egypt pushing 5 year ceasefire between Israel and Hamas: The Israel media are covering a report in Al-Quds newspaper that Egypt is pushing both Hamas’s military wing, and Islamic Jihad to reach a 5 year ceasefire with Israel. Sources in the Arabic media said that military officials were part of a Hamas and Islamic Jihad delegation that took part in strategic talks in Cairo yesterday to discuss new coordination plans following the latest round of fighting. According to those same sources, there is also international pressure being exerted on the heads of the organisations to restore stability and reach a deal. Egypt reportedly presented a range of measures Israel was prepared to implement to improve living conditions in the Gaza Strip. According to Kan Radio News, the Hamas official responsible for prisoner affairs, Musa Dodin, said that five Arab and Western countries had recently tried to broker a prisoner exchange deal between Hamas and Israel. Dodin said that the countries that tried to mediate were Egypt, Turkey, Qatar, Sweden and Germany. However, no progress was made.