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Politics & Security

Vehicles drive beneath a large screen displaying portraits of Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi (R) and his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, in Cairo on Aug. 31, 2026.

Xi makes first Egypt visit in decade as Cairo gets caught in US-China AI row

China's Huawei last month submitted a bid to build advanced AI data centers and supply more than 2,000 AI chips for Egyptian government systems.

Tribal and Bedouin fighters deploy in the western neighborhood of southern Syria's predominantly Druze city of Suwayda amid clashes with Druze gunmen on July 19, 2025.

Fresh fighting in Syria's Suwayda leaves one dead: What to know

Renewed clashes in Suwayda highlight the fragile security situation in the Druze-majority province.

ISNA / AFP via Getty Images

US airstrikes target Iran's Bandar Abbas, Qeshm Island

American military forces launched their first strikes on the Iranian mainland in more than a month just days after the top US commander for the region said Iranian mines have been cleared from Hormuz shipping lanes.

missile

Analysis

Israel favors status quo as tensions in Iran's leadership fuel escalation risk

Israel would prefer to preserve the current balance of pressure — with US naval blockades and economic measures continuing without a return to active fighting — per a senior Israeli security source.

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

Latest News

India, Iran hold sidebar as SCO summit opens amid US strikes

Modi and Pezeshkian

Israel, Greece sign $3.5 billion air-defense deal: What to know

Mecca Alliance

Pentagon inks 7-year missile-production deal amid Iran war shortage

CHARLY TRIBALLEAU/AFP via Getty Images

Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Pakistan set Mecca Alliance into motion

Mecca Alliance

Amberin Zaman

Chief Correspondent

Reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture

Adam Lucente

News and Business Correspondent

In New York City, reporting on regional news, militancy, climate change

Elizabeth Hagedorn

Diplomatic Correspondent

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

Ezgi Akin

Associate Editor (Turkey)

In Ankara, reporting on diplomacy, EU-Turkey ties, NATO

Ben Caspit

Israel Columnist

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

Jared Szuba

Defense and Security Correspondent

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

Special envoy Steve Witkoff speaks as President Donald Trump holds a cabinet meeting with members of his administration in the White House on Aug. 26, 2025, in Washington, DC.

Snapback ‘too late’ to reverse despite quiet US-Iran talks

Months after US and Israeli strikes derailed the nuclear talks, Steve Witkoff confirmed his talks with the Iranians are ongoing.

President Donald Trump (R) shakes hands with President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan during a meeting in the Oval Office at the White House on Sept. 25, 2025 in Washington, DC.

Trump says Turkey sanctions could end 'very soon' at White House meeting with Erdogan

During the meeting, Trump suggested the dispute over Turkey’s F-35 fighter jets could be resolved quickly as sanctions discussions continue.

This frame grab taken from an AFPTV footage shows smoke billowing after explosions in Qatar's capital Doha on Sept. 9, 2025.

Pentagon had no warning Israel planned to strike Qatar, US general says

The top US Air Force commander for the Middle East said early warning systems did not determine that Israeli warplanes had launched ballistic missiles towards Qatar, a US ally, until it was too late, following fresh concerns about the Pentagon's ambitions to build an air defense umbrella for the region.

MAXIM SHEMETOV/AFP via Getty Images

Sudan, Russia sign trade deals as Khartoum seeks funds, Moscow eyes Red Sea port

The meeting in Moscow produced two agreements and an economic and trade cooperation protocol.

A delegation from the Naval Forces of the Ministry of Defense, led by Brigadier General Mohammed Al-Saud, visited the Commander of the Turkish Fleet, Admiral Kadir Yıldız, where discussions were held on ways to cooperate and strengthen bilateral relations. The visit also included a tour aboard the Turkish frigate TCG KEMALREİS in Kocaeli Province, during which the

Syria navy delegation visits Turkey: What to know

Turkey is seeking to help Syria build its new military, and the neighbors are also cooperating on counter-narcotics and intelligence matters.

Sudanese army soldiers parade in the streets of eastern Sudan's city of Gedaref on Aug. 14, 2025 to mark the 71st anniversary of the formation of the Sudanese army.

US working to broker talks between Sudan factions, Trump envoy says

Massad Boulos also said an agreement was nearly finalized with the Rapid Support Forces to bring humanitarian aid to El Fasher.

Residents of the village of Shatha watch as a wildfire rages on the nearby hills, in the western Hama countryside in west-central Syria on Aug. 15, 2025.

Wildfires ravage Syria’s Latakia for 4th day in row: What to know

A Syrian official recently said that 2025 has been the driest year in decades, as wildfires persist along the coast, and the response is being hindered by the effects of the war.

Saudi's Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdulaziz al-Sheikh (C) leads prayer at the funeral on Feb. 6, 2008, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Arabia, Muslim world mourn passing of grand mufti

Leaders from Muslim nations and other countries across the world offered their condolences to Saudi Arabia on the death of Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdulaziz bin Abdullah al-Sheikh, who served for more than 20 years during a period of major political and social change in the kingdom.

A soldier of a UAS (Unmanned Aircraft System) platoon of the U.S. Army 3rd Brigade, 10th Mountain Division, readies a Anduril Ghost-X helicopter surveillance drone for take-off during the Combined Resolve 25-1 military exercises at the Hohenfels Training Area in Bavaria on Feb. 3, 2025 near Hohenfels, Germany.

CENTCOM launches task force to drive Pentagon’s drone race

New unit aims to put "combat-credible" drone systems into the hands of US troops in the Middle East within 60 days, part of an ambitious new push by the Pentagon to leapfrog advances made by Washington's adversaries in fielding cheaply made but lethal armed drones.

MOSAB SHAWER/Middle East Images/AFP via Getty Images

Israeli settlers blamed for attack on Palestinian mayor as West Bank roils

The Israeli military recently laid siege to Tulkarm, a center of militant activity, as Palestinian officials report daily attacks by settlers.

Thomas Kronsteiner/Getty Images

Russia, Iran sign deal to build small nuclear power plants: What to know

As Iran grapples with energy shortages and renewed sanctions pressure, Tehran and Moscow signed a memorandum Wednesday to expand nuclear cooperation through the construction of small nuclear power plants.