Interview Yemen separatists urge US not to let Saudi Arabia ‘call the shots’ As Houthi fighters steamroll Yemen’s Red Sea coast, the country's southern separatists say an independent South Yemen is the best check on the group’s expansion.
Trump administration approves $24B sale of F-35 jets to Saudi Arabia Trump first announced the planned sale in November 2025, ahead of hosting Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at the White House. Saudi Arabia
Israel, Morocco agree to exchange ambassadors, open embassies The move will mark the first time Morocco and Israel have exchanged ambassadors. Morocco
Analysis Why Saudi Arabia's balancing act with US, Iran, Houthis risks collapse Houthi rebels escalated their attacks on Tuesday, triggering alerts around the holy city of Mecca, Taif and the Red Sea port city of Jeddah. By Amberin Zaman Reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture
Analysis Israel braces for Iran attack as Trump’s economic squeeze on Tehran intensifies By Ben Caspit In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense
Analysis Could Trump’s oil push in Venezuela upend OPEC’s energy order? By Samuel Wendel In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech
Russia, Turkey seek greater engagement amid US sanctions Russia plans to lift visa requirements for some Turks and to begin delivery of the S-400 missile-defense system to Turkey next year in an attempt to further sway Ankara away from the United States. Turkey
How 'America First' could jump start Iran-Pakistan pipeline project While there are important obstacles in the way of the realization of the Iran-Pakistan pipeline, the Trump administration’s policies amid the rise of Imran Khan could tip the scales in the project's favor. Russia
No opposition to West Bank settlement boom West Bank settlements are enjoying a new era of well-being and calm on all fronts, including the Israeli left who gave up as no one cares to listen. Palestine
Congress ratchets up pressure on Trump, Russia over Syria President Donald Trump wants to work with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin to remove Iran from Syria, but Congress remains skeptical. Syria
US outsources Syria aid to Gulf In an apparent win for the Donald Trump administration, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have agreed to pick up the tab to stabilize Syria. Saudi Arabia
Sanctions, profiteering put Iranian newspapers in a bind A paper crisis exacerbated by US sanctions is weighing down Iranian daily newspapers, which are resorting to everything from closures to online paywalls. Iran
Is Turkey’s 'strategic partnership' with America coming to an end? An expert maintains that if solutions to the structural factors poisoning ties cannot be found, Turkish-American relations will continue to deteriorate. Turkey
Pentagon budget leaves uncertain future for Middle East President Donald Trump authorized on Monday the Pentagon’s 2019 budget, which will underwrite big upgrades for US weapons systems and troop numbers but leaves an uncertain future for the Pentagon’s operations in the Middle East. Iraq
Khamenei says no talks with current US administration Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said Iran would not negotiate with the Trump administration. United States
Iran readjusts its Syria strategy amid Russia’s changing role Having achieved military victory in the key southwestern region of Syria, Iran is actively maneuvering to redefine its approach to securing its aims in the war-torn country. Israel
Iran-Iraq tensions rise as Tehran demands war compensation Tensions between Baghdad and Tehran grow after Iraq's prime minister said his country would abide by US sanctions against Iran, while the latter demands compensation for damages in the 1980-88 Iran-Iraq War. Iraq
Did Trump’s double-speak ‘blow’ chances of Rouhani meeting? The Iranian and US presidents are slated to address the UN General Assembly on the same day next month — but the prospect of direct talks between the two leaders remains dim given the harsh rhetoric and contradictory stances of the US administration. United States
