Armed Militias and Extremist Groups

WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 25: U.S. ambassador to Turkey Thomas Barrack attends a meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump and President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan in the Oval Office at the White House on September 25, 2025 in Washington, DC. Trump has signaled that the U.S. might lift a ban on F-35 sales to Turkey during Erdogan's first visit to the White House since 2019. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

US moving away from Middle East security guarantor role, Barrack says

The US envoy said that direct US military intervention on the ground against the Houthis would be "fruitless."

By Rosaleen Carroll

In Washington, DC, US, reporting on the Middle East

Yemenis line up to refill gas bottles at a refilling station in Taiz, on Oct. 19, 2026.

Yemen displacement tops 250K as Houthis tighten siege on Taiz: What to know

The Houthis are looking to completely seize Taiz city, with clashes escalating in other parts of the south as well.

Internally displaced Yemenis queue at a water tank dispenser

Feature

US aid runs dry as new fighting razes Yemen

Sweeping funding cuts and the Houthis' targeting of aid workers have hobbled relief efforts in war-torn Yemen.

Elizabeth Hagedorn

By Elizabeth Hagedorn

In Washington, DC, reporting on diplomacy, regional politics, human rights

tunnel

Lebanon uncovers new tunnel amid tensions with Hezbollah: What to know

A tunnel was discovered near Beirut as tensions between Lebanese authorities and Hezbollah have been running high over the seizure of weapons shipments destined for the Iran-backed group.

Latest News

Analysis

'The problem and the solution': Netanyahu-Sharaa call exposes Israel's Syria dilemma

Israeli troops stand guard on the dividing line between the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights and Syrian, near Majdal Shams, July 16, 2025.

In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense

Qatar PM in Beirut as Lebanon seeks economic relief: What to know

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun met with Qatar’s Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani

Houthis strike Yemeni government’s presidential palace in Aden: What to know

Fighters loyal to Yemen's exiled President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi pose for a picture near the presidential palace (unseen R) following clashes in Aden's Maashiq neighborhood on July 22, 2015.

Female commander in Iran's Basij units assassinated: What to know

People attend the funeral ceremony of Mahan Setareh, a member of the paramilitary Basij force who was killed in the recent Israeli attacks on June 26, 2025 in Tehran, Iran. A cease-fire between Israel and Iran has brought an end to 12 days of daily aerial attacks that started with Israel's strikes on Iranian military and nuclear sites on June 13. (Photo by Majid Saeedi/Getty Images)

A man snaps a picture of the beleaguered Yemen-flagged FSO Safer oil tanker in the Red Sea off the coast of Yemen's contested western province of Hodeida on July 15, 2023.

After saving Yemen from oil tanker spill, can diplomacy end its war?

Work begins to transfer oil off the decrepit FSO Safer, but US Special Envoy for Yemen Tim Lenderking says further progress toward peace will require Yemenis talking to one another.

A young boy carries home a battery-powered fan amid a heatwave and electricity shortage in Gaza City, Gaza Strip, July 19, 2023.

In Gaza, pressure builds on Hamas to solve power crisis amid heat wave

Palestinian activists in the Gaza Strip are launching campaigns to pressure Hamas into resolving the power crisis, which has worsened this past month due to a severe heat wave.

Supporters of Nigerien President Mohamed Bazoum gather to show their support for him in Niamey on July 26, 2023.

Saudi Arabia, UAE, Turkey, Algeria and Egypt express ‘concern’ over Niger coup

The coup in the West African country could be a victory for Russia. The Gulf has economic interests in the region.

A man holds the Russian national flag in front of a Wagner group military vehicle with the sign read as "Rostov" in Rostov-on-Don late on June 24, 2023. Rebel mercenary leader Yevgeny Prigozhin who sent his fighters to topple the military leaders in Moscow will leave for Belarus and a criminal case against him will be dropped as part of a deal to avoid "bloodshed," the Kremlin said on June 24. (Photo by STRINGER / AFP) (Photo by STRINGER/AFP via Getty Images)

UK sanctions 13 Wagner-linked firms and officials in Sudan, CAR, Mali

The mercenary group has been operating across Africa for many years, exploiting the continent's natural resources and providing military support for its own financial gain.

The Horn of Africa

Lebanese army soldiers and peacekeepers (blue helmets) of the United Nations Interim Forces in Lebanon (UNIFIL).

Lebanon builds road on Israeli border, as tensions with Hezbollah escalate

The incident followed Lebanese construction in the area and is the latest in a series of escalations between Israel and Hezbollah in recent weeks.

Israeli soldiers take position along the border with Lebanon, in the town of Metulla in northern Israel, July 12, 2023.

Analysis

Israel’s Hezbollah deterrence is eroding as Lebanon border heats up

IDF seniors warn that Hezbollah is becoming bolder and bolder, increasingly attempting to infiltrate Israeli territories and to provoke incidents with Israel.

In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense

An Israeli soldier extinguishes a bush fire caused by a Molotov cocktail.

Hezbollah threatens to ‘act’ if Israel attacks Lebanon after border shooting

Tensions are particularly high between Israel and Lebanon in large part due to the conflict over the Ghajjar border town.

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian (L) meets with International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) chief Rafael Grossi in Tehran on March 4, 2023.

Analysis

Iran’s new nuclear normal gets boost from oil exports

Also: The Islamic Republic cracks down on the hijab "conspiracy" while suffering brain drain; researcher Elizabeth Tsurkov abducted by Iraqi militia.

Week in Review

Andrew Parasiliti

By Week in Review , Andrew Parasiliti

Elizabeth Tsurkov

Elizabeth Tsurkov’s sister says she took 'precautions' in Iraq before abduction

Emma Tsurkov said she immediately contacted Israeli authorities after not hearing back from her sister in March, and she confirmed that the Russian government is involved in the negotiations to free the Israeli-Russian researcher.

Iraqi children gather at a playground in the old city of Mosul on June 30, 2023 during the Muslim feast of Eid al-Adha. (Photo by Zaid AL-OBEIDI / AFP) (Photo by ZAID AL-OBEIDI/AFP via Getty Images)

Culture

Iraq's Mosul rises from Islamic State ashes to rebuild minarets, museum

As Mosul makes a slow revival from the remnants of war, a host of challenges remain, including corrupt officials and institutional weaknesses in Iraq.

A US soldier guides the MQ-9 Reaper drone as it lands at Subic Bay Freeport Zone on April 23, 2023, as part of the US-Philippines joint military exercise 'Balikatan'. (Photo by JAM STA ROSA / AFP) (Photo by JAM STA ROSA/AFP via Getty Images)

Russian fighter jets harass US drones over Syria twice in 24 hours

A Russian Su-35 forced two French Rafales to take evasive maneuvers over the Iraq-Syria border on Thursday as the Pentagon warned of increasing harassment.

An Israeli soldier uses a binoculars during a patrol in the town of Ghajar in the annexed Golan Heights bordering Lebanon on July 6, 2023. The Israeli army said it was conducting strikes on southern Lebanon after a mortar launched from its northern neighbour exploded in the border area between the two foes. The latest military action was launched three months after the two countries saw their worst cross-border fire in years. (Photo by jalaa marey / AFP) (Photo by JALAA MAREY/AFP via Getty Images)

Israel strikes targets in Lebanon after rocket fire from border

The cross-border escalation follows weeks of tensions building up in a contested area on the Lebanese-Israeli border.