Defense/Security cooperation

Chinese President Xi Jinping (R) shakes hands with King of Jordan Abdullah II during a signing ceremony at The Great Hall Of The People on Sept. 9, 2015, in Beijing, China.

Jordan's King Abdullah heads to China in first visit since 2015: What to know

Ahead of the visit, King Abdullah said that Jordan hopes to expand cooperation with China in green energy, tourism and aviation.

AFP via Getty Images

US general meets Lebanon’s army chief as ceasefire with Israel teeters

Control over a strategic ridge overlooking Nabatieh is emerging as a flashpoint between the Israeli military and Lebanon ahead of the next expected round of negotiations in September.

Jared Szuba

In Washington, DC, reporting on defense, national security, military

SPA

Explainer

Three ways China benefits from Saudi-Turkey-Pakistan pact: What to know

The pact points to a more multipolar Middle Eastern security order, one in which Washington is no longer the unquestioned center of Gulf security.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan attends a press conference in Moscow on June 16, 2026.

Analysis

Fidan heads to Egypt amid questions over Saudi Arabia-Turkey-Pakistan pact

Conflicting accounts of why Egypt stayed out of the agreement have exposed the competing interests shaping the region’s emerging defense architecture.

Amberin Zaman

By Amberin Zaman

Reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture

Latest News

New deal reduces Russia’s military presence in Syria: What to know

A Syrian rebel fighter looks on as he stands at an inspection checkpoint for incoming vehicles before a Russian flag and Russian soldiers behind manning the entrance of the Russian-leased Syrian military base of Hmeimim in Latakia province in western Syria on Dec. 29, 2024.

Analysis

As US rethinks regional presence, Israel shifts focus to destabilizing Iran

Hussein FALEH / AFP via Getty Images

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

Turkey’s defense exports reach record $5.79B in first 7 months of 2026

People look at a drone on display at the Baykar exhibit at the SAHA International Defense and Aerospace Expo on May 6, 2026 in Istanbul, Turkey.

Analysis

Katz riles Iran, US as Netanyahu-Trump meeting raises questions

Win McNamee/Getty Images

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

Israeli security forces deploy in the Deir Sharaf area, near the Israeli settlement of Shavei Shomron, west of Nablus, following a reported attack, West Bank, Oct. 11, 2022.

Israel destroys Lion’s Den explosive factory in Nablus

A week before the Nov. 1 elections, Israel Defense Forces raided an explosive factory of the Palestinian Lion’s Den terrorist group and killed one of its founders.

Hannibal Hanschke/Getty Images

Ukraine's Zelenskyy calls on Israel to act against Russia-Iran alliance

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has called on Israel to take action against the emerging Russia-Iran alliance and supply his country with missile defense systems.

Israeli settlers walk with batons as they cross a street during clashes in which Israeli settlers attacked Palestinian residents and shops in the town of Huwara, West Bank, Oct. 13, 2022.

Settler violence ramps up as Israeli elections near

Alongside growing tensions in the West Bank and clashes between Palestinians and Israeli security forces, the number of violent clashes between settlers and Palestinians keeps growing rapidly.

RONNY HARTMANN/AFP via Getty Images

Israel agrees to PA helicopter purchase

With West Bank tensions calming somewhat, Israel has agreed for the Palestinian Authority to acquire helicopters for Palestinian officials to travel to Jordan and within the West Bank.

Kyiv

Ukraine pressures Israel to supply weapons, cites Iranian threat

With reports of Iran supplying Russia with attack drones, Israel is finding it increasingly difficult to reject Ukraine’s pleas for defensive weaponry.

drone attack

US military eyes counter-drone experimentation in Saudi Arabia

US Central Command is moving ahead with plans to help enable shared air and missile defense across the Middle East.

Iron Dome

Israel won’t supply Ukraine with missile-defense systems

Defense Minister Benny Gantz continues to refuse requests by Kyiv to supply Ukraine with the Israel-US-developed Iron Dome or other anti-missile systems.

US President Joe Biden boards Air Force One before departing from King Abdulaziz International Airport at the end of his first tour in the Middle East as president, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, July 16, 2022.

US-Saudi military ties remain on course despite OPEC dispute

The White House is signaling it could hold up further arms sales to Saudi Arabia, but so far the rare public dispute has not impacted direct military cooperation between Washington and Riyadh.

Jewish men, wearing traditional Jewish prayer shawls, gather to perform the annual Cohanim prayer during the holiday of Sukkot at the Western Wall (R), while above are seen the Muslim Dome of the Rock mosque (2nd-L) and its minaret (L), in the Old City of Jerusalem, Oct. 12, 2022.

Israel challenged by West Bank 'Lion’s Den' assailants

Prime Minister Yair Lapid struggles now with Palestinian unrest in the West Bank and east Jerusalem, fueled by provocations on the part of ultranationalist legislator Itamar Ben-Gvir and opposition head Benjamin Netanyahu.

U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez.

Turkey bullish about F-16 deal with Washington, despite Menendez's vow to block it

The New Jersey senator has vowed to block any deal until the Turkish president "halts his campaign of aggression against the region."

People look at the crater left by a missile strike on a playground in Taras Shevchenko Park the day before, Kyiv, Ukraine, Oct. 11, 2022.

Israel’s Lapid condemns Russian attack on Kyiv

Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid has joined condemnation from across the globe against the Russian attack on Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities.

Israeli Minister of Defense Benny Gantz speaks at the start of a Blue and White party meeting, Jerusalem, June 27, 2022.

Settlers blame Israeli defense minister for growing West Bank insecurity

Defense Minister Benny Gantz is caught between his efforts to establish good relations with the Palestinian leadership, and the wrath of the settlers following insecurity escalation.