Explainer SDF chief Kobane’s Damascus visit a high wire act for Syria’s Kurds The SDF says its integration with Damascus is complete, but major questions remain over its fighters, weapons and the future of Kurdish self-rule. Syria
Houthis claim strike on Saudi oil tanker off Yanbu: What to know The incident is the latest in a string of Houthi attacks targeting Saudi oil and military assets. Yemen
Ex-defense minister: Israel in ‘worst possible’ Gaza situation as Hamas gains strength Former Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant criticized the Israeli government for allowing Hamas to retain control over half of the Gaza Strip. Israel
Wreck of ship sunk by Israeli military in Irgun clash found after 78 years The wreck of the Irgun underground's Altalena ship, bombed by the Israeli military in 1948 and deliberately sunk in 1949, was located off Israel's coast at a depth of 1,650 feet. Israel
Analysis Israel fears Turkey’s Syria ambitions and doubts Trump will stop them By Ben Caspit In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense
Pentagon warns Iran, Hezbollah to stay out of Hamas war with Israel The Biden administration deployed an aircraft carrier strike group in a bid to deter a multi-front war against Israel, but lack of a formal defense treaty with Israel and Congressional authorities could inhibit Washington's ability to respond. Iran
Day 3 of Hamas-Israel war blog: Monday, Oct. 9 On the third day of our live coverage, Israel called up reservists and was preparing for a ground offensive into the Gaza Strip. Israel
US works to confirm reports 'several Americans' killed, missing in Israel Secretary of State Antony Blinken said US citizens could be among the more than 100 people the Israeli government said were held hostage by Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Israel
Israel-Saudi normalization falls casualty of Hamas attack The US-brokered talks were making progress; that’s probably why Iran gave Hamas the green light. Israel
Day 1 of Hamas-Israel war blog: Saturday, Oct. 7 In our first day of live coverage, Hamas militants invaded southern Israel. Israel
Turkey escalates airstrikes in Syria, but will it cross US, Russia red lines? The likelihood of a fresh Turkish ground offensive in northern Syria appears to weaken after the unprecedented shooting down of a Turkish drone by the United States. Turkey
Turkey's Fidan declares all PKK, YPG facilities in Syria, Iraq 'legitimate targets' High-level and open threats by Turkey have ramped up fears of a fresh escalation in northern Syria between Turkish forces and Syrian Kurdish groups that Ankara deems terrorists. Turkey
US sells Oman $70 million worth of TOW antitank missiles The Biden administration advanced the sale proposal even as Yemen's Houthis have engaged in peace talks in Saudi Arabia last month. Legacy: Gulf
PKK claims bomb attack in Turkey’s capital that injured 2 police officers The attack happened just as the parliament returned from recess and was expected to take on Sweden’s NATO bid. Turkey
Analysis Wagner fractures in Syria, Libya amid conflict with Russia's Defense Ministry A month after Wagner head Yevgeny Prigozhin's death in a plane crash, Russian authorities are attempting to assert control over the parallel military structure. By Anton Mardasov
Houthi attack on Bahrain's soldiers tests Yemen's fragile cease-fire, US defense pact An alleged Houthi drone strike that killed three Bahraini soldiers in Saudi Arabia this week has underscored the limits of Washington's commitment to Gulf states' defense. Legacy: Gulf
![Smoke billows from the Babasi oil facility in the countryside of al-Qahtaniya in Syria's Kurdish-controlled northeastern Hasakeh province on October 6, 2023 following a Turkish strike. (Photo by Delil souleiman / AFP) / "The erroneous mention[s] appearing in the metadata of this photo by Delil souleiman has been modified in AFP systems in the following manner: [BABASI] instead of [BASBASI]. Please immediately remove the erroneous mention[s] from all your online services and delete it (them) from your serve](/sites/default/files/styles/article_header/public/2023-10/GettyImages-1709016702.jpg?h=8f404aa9&itok=3DbBgJnW)
