Oman's sultan meets Macron in first France visit since 1989: What to know French President Emmanuel Macron has been pushing against any form of toll for the Strait of Hormuz. Iran
Analysis Why Turkey and Egypt are deepening military ties amid regional turmoil Turkey and Egypt are expanding military cooperation as overlapping security challenges, from Libya and Sudan to Gaza and the Red Sea, bring the former rivals closer together. By Barin Kayaoglu In Ankara, reporting on geopolitics and national security
Analysis Vance turning us into 'punching bag': Israel fumes over alleged IRGC-CENTCOM channel in Doha The US-Iran decision to launch direct talks between the IRGC and CENTCOM in Qatar deepens the rift between President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, while heightening Israeli fears that Washington is shifting toward Doha and Tehran. By Ben Caspit In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense
Iran attacks cargo ship off Oman, testing Trump’s Hormuz Strait deal The first Iranian attack on a cargo vessel since the ceasefire comes as top US diplomat Marco Rubio huddled with Gulf Cooperation Council ministers in Manama to reject Iran's claims to control the Strait of Hormuz. By Jared Szuba In Washington, DC, reporting on defense, national security, military
CENTCOM commander heads to Israel, Gulf as Lebanon talks stall By Jared Szuba In Washington, DC, reporting on defense, national security, military
Analysis As US reshapes Lebanon strategy, Israel finds itself sidelined By Rina Bassist In Paris, reporting on Israeli politics and European affairs
Analysis Why Gulf defense firms are betting on Europe in wake of Iran war By Francesco Schiavi In Bologna, reporting on security, defense, economy, governance
Israel calls on US not to delist IRGC as terror group Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and Foreign Minister Yair Lapid appealed directly to Washington in a statement, listing the connections between Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and terrorism. Israel
Analysis Lawmakers call for probe as arms purchasers target US-based dissidents Democratic lawmakers are seeking a congressional watchdog study on how the State Department is tracking extraterritorial harassment by countries that benefit from US security assistance or arms, including Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Turkey. By Elizabeth Hagedorn In Washington, DC, reporting on diplomacy, regional politics, human rights
Israel, Egypt launch new flight route ahead of Passover Following up on the September meeting between Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, Jerusalem and Cairo announced the opening of a flight route between Tel Aviv and Sharm el-Sheikh. Israel
Biden administration plans to sell F-15 fighter jets to Egypt The proposed sale has been in the works for years and is bound to raise opposition on Capitol Hill. United States
Israel, Emirates coordinate positions against Iran nuke talks The issue of the Vienna talks are sure to be discussed in today's Washington meetings between IDF senior commanders and their American counterparts. Israel
Israel-Iran conflict escalates to drone war Tehran blames Israel for attacking last month one of its bases in the west of Iran, allegedly destroying hundreds of drones. Israel
Libya turns on Russia over Ukraine war, but does it matter? Libya’s incoming prime minister initially avoided commenting on Russia’s war in Ukraine. But after Russia welcomed his new government, he turned against Moscow. North Africa
Saudi-US business forum to focus on defense, artificial intelligence Saudi Arabia is looking to diversify its economy, but some in the United States want less cooperation with the Gulf state due to human rights concerns. By AL-MONITOR Staff
F-35 stealth fighter jets intercepted Iranian drones last year, Israel reveals Israel estimates that Iran operates drones from its territory and also from other countries. Israel
Israel's president exchanges friendly gestures in Turkey After years of cold, even hostile relations between the two countries, Israel's President Isaac Herzog was warmly welcomed today in Ankara by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Israel
Ukraine calls on Egypt to support it, abandon neutrality Ruslan Nechai, charge d'affairs of Kyiv's embassy in Cairo, calls on Egypt and countries in the region to support it with weapons, fuel and financial and humanitarian aid, and abandon the position of "neutrality" regarding the Russian invasion. Egypt
Sudan remains open to naval base deal with Russia A top Sudanese general's weeklong visit to Moscow has raised the stakes for US officials pushing for democracy in Khartoum. North Africa
