Lebanon, Israel to hold second round of direct talks: What we know While Israel and Lebanon continue talks, Israeli airstrikes have persisted and Hezbollah shows no sign of complying with disarmament requirements. Lebanon
Yemen's STC separatists advance in Hadramout as UAE-Saudi rift grows The fighting between the UAE-backed southern separatists and Saudi-aligned tribal forces, nominal allies against the Houthis, has raised concerns about the division of Yemen. Yemen
Who is Simon Karam, head of Lebanon’s delegation to talks with Israel? Karam is a veteran diplomat and a legal scholar who served as Lebanon’s ambassador to the United States from 1992 to 1993. Lebanon
US pressure prompted Israel-Lebanon talks to avert war with Hezbollah According to an Israeli security source, US envoy Morgan Ortagus’ visit was perceived in Israel as a warning that President Donald Trump will not accept Israel launching a large military campaign in southern Lebanon. Israel
Analysis A Trump bargain: Pardon Netanyahu in exchange for Israel-Syria security deal? By Ben Caspit In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense
Analysis Trump’s Muslim Brotherhood move reignites Israel’s battle over Raam By Rina Bassist In Paris, reporting on Israeli politics and European affairs
US strike in Syria kills al-Qaeda-linked planner, hints at changing militant networks Members of Syria’s al-Qaeda branch, Huras ad-Din, have been joining Ansar al-Islam as US drone strikes have continued to pick off Huras ad-Din's leaders, a report to the UN Security Council noted in July. Syria
RSF hits Darfur hospital as cholera, dengue fever spread in war-torn Sudan A Sudanese medical organization said a dozen people were killed after the RSF shelled one of the last operating hospitals in El Fasher, as Sudan’s collapsing health system battles cholera and dengue fever. Sudan
Egypt's Sisi says Gaza deal in sight as Witkoff, Kushner, Qatari PM join talks As chief negotiators gather in Egypt, negotiations between Israel and Hamas are expected to accelerate. Israel
Grenade attack on IRGC kills 2 in Iran’s Kurdistan province: What to know The deadly assault comes amid recurring tensions and clashes in Iran’s Kurdish-majority western region. Iran
Damascus declares truce with Syria’s Kurdish forces after Aleppo skirmishes US military helicopters delivered Syrian Kurdish commander Mazlum Kobane to Damascus in push to halt a burst of fighting overnight in Aleppo that risked unravelling the fragile rapprochement between Syria's two largest post-Assad forces. Syria
Analysis Israel adapts, Turkey rises, Iran ruined: How 2 years of Gaza war reshaped Middle East Turkey’s involvement worries Israel in Syria but also raises hopes for pressuring Hamas to agree to President Donald Trump's ceasefire proposal. By Ben Caspit In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense
In a first, ICC convicts Sudanese militia leader of Darfur war crimes Ali Muhammad Ali Abd-Al-Rahman was found guilty of 27 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in Darfur between 2003 and 2004. Sudan
CENTCOM chief meets Syrian Kurdish leader in push for postwar unity A senior US Navy admiral joined Trump envoy Tom Barrack in efforts to break the impasse between Syria’s Kurdish-led forces and Damascus on postwar unification. Syria
US approves $230M for Lebanon’s push to disarm Hezbollah New US funds for Beirut signal rare bipartisan approval for progress by Lebanon's security forces as they dismantle Hezbollah weapons caches, but significant risks remain as the militant faction resists full disarmament. United States
Sudan army steps up airstrikes as Darfur siege tightens: What to know In September, a top Sudanese general announced an offensive to take back the Darfur region from the RSF, and the army is following through. Sudan
Analysis Netanyahu hamstrung by far right, Trump as Hamas drags feet on Gaza plan The Hamas commanders in Gaza remain the main obstacle to advancement of the Trump plan and are expected to seek amendments even as Israel’s military steps up its offensive on Gaza City. By Ben Caspit In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense
US troop drawdown in Syria on hold over regime stability concerns While American troops in Iraq hand over operations against the Islamic State to Baghdad's forces, the parallel drawdown in neighboring Syria has been halted amid concerns about the abilities of the new Islamist-led government in Damascus. By Jared Szuba In Washington, DC, reporting on defense, national security, military
