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Politics & Security

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US sets expectations for Iraq’s next PM to confront Iranian militias

The Trump administration is cautiously sizing up Iraq’s new prime minister-designate, Ali al-Zaidi, as a potential partner in pushing back on Iranian influence.

An Iranian woman holds up an image of Iran's new supreme leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei.

Iran president says he held official meeting with Mojtaba Khamenei: What to know

The president’s announcement marks the first public confirmation of a meeting between a senior official and Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, who has not been seen publicly since the start of the war.

People look at a drone on display at the Baykar exhibit at the SAHA International Defence and Aerospace Expo on May 06, 2026 in Istanbul, Turkey.

Turkey, Japan launch defense industry partnership with eye on drones

The initiative could eventually lead to joint UAV development and production as Japan looks to expand drone capabilities amid regional tensions.

Latest News

Israel strikes Beirut in breach of Lebanon ceasefire

People gather at the site of an Israeli airstrike that targeted Beirut's southern suburbs neighborhood of Haret Hreik on May 6, 2026.

Saudi FM in Turkey as Ankara, Riyadh step up coordination amid Iran war

Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud and Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan in Ankara, May 6, 2026.

Iran, China discuss Hormuz reopening amid potential US-Iran talks

In this photo released by Xinhua News Agency, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, second right, talks to his Iranian Counterpart Abbas Araghchi, left, during the bilateral meeting in Beijing, Wednesday, May 6, 2026.

Lebanon, Israel eye third round of talks, but no Netanyahu-Aoun meeting in sight

Andrew Harnik/Getty Images

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

DANIEL DORKO/Hans Lucas/AFP via Getty Images

Lebanon's military chief heads to US amid rising Israel-Hezbollah tension

The visit coincides with escalating hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah on the border and a foiled attack on the US Embassy in Lebanon.

TOPSHOT - A picture shows a Israel's Iron Dome missile defence system launching to intercept rockets being fired from Lebanon, next to the northern Israel city of Kiryat Shmona, near the near the Lebanon border on May 10, 2024, amid ongoing cross-border clashes between Israeli troops and Hezbollah fighters. (Photo by Jalaa MAREY / AFP) (Photo by JALAA MAREY/AFP via Getty Images)

Analysis

Israel mulls 3 options against Lebanon's Hezbollah, including full-scale war

The Biden administration is pressuring Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to avoid war with Hezbollah and strive for an agreement.

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

MOHAMMED HUWAIS/AFP via Getty Images

Yemen’s Houthis arrest UN, rights workers in Sanaa

The Iran-backed Houthis have responded to dissent in Yemen with repeated arrest campaigns since the war erupted in 2014.

Amir Levy/Getty Images

Analysis

Why Gantz's possible exit from Israeli government is not end for Netanyahu

Benny Gantz walking out of Israel's war cabinet would shake things up but not force Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu into early elections.

Mazal Mualem

By Mazal Mualem

In Tel Aviv, reporting on politics

A child waves the flag of Hamas as others wave the Fatah emblem during a solidarity march with the Palestinians of the Gaza Strip in the occupied West Bank city of Hebron on Oct. 27, 2023.

Fatah wants Hamas to join PLO: Official

Fatah and Hamas will resume their reconciliation talks in China soon, but disagreements remain between the two groups.

Smoke billows following an Israeli airstrike on the southren Lebanese village of Siddiqin on June 1, 2024, amid ongoing cross-border clashes between Israeli troops and Hezbollah fighters.

Could Gaza cease-fire prevent wider regional war?

As the United States rallies international pressure on Hamas to accept a cease-fire proposal in hopes of ending the Gaza war, Israel and Hezbollah are launching increasingly provocative strikes across Lebanon’s border.

The Soloturk aerobatic demonstration team of the Turkish Air Force flies an F-16 aircraft over Anitkabir, the mausoleum of Turkish Republic's Founder Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, during celebrations to mark the 100th anniversary of the Republic of Turkey in Ankara, on October 29, 2023. Turkey marked its centenary as a post-Ottoman republic on October 29, 2023, with somewhat muted celebrations held in the shadow of Israel's escalating war with Hamas militants in Gaza. (Photo by Adem ALTAN / AFP) (Photo by ADEM ALT

US welcomes Turkey’s signing $23 billion F-16 jets deal

Turkey's inking of the deal indicates that Ankara and Washington have agreed on the terms of the purchase and see an opportunity in exploring other avenues.

Syrian Kurdish women walk past an election campaign banner in the northeastern Syrian city of Qamishli on June 6, 2024.

Syrian Kurds postpone local elections amid US disapproval, Turkish threats

The prevailing consensus is that the Biden administration’s opposition was the main driver of the postponement.

Israeli soldiers mount a weapon atop a tank as troops gather at a position in the upper Galilee region of northern Israel near the border with Lebanon on November 7, 2023, amid increasing cross-border tensions between Hezbollah and Israel as fighting continues in the south with Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip. (Photo by Jalaa MAREY / AFP) (Photo by JALAA MAREY/AFP via Getty Images)

Israeli military 'set and ready' if attack ordered against Lebanon's Hezbollah

The Israeli military has finished preparations for the government's orders to respond to Hezbollah's drone and rocket fire with an all-out attack.

Palestinians Hamas militants wearing headbands reading in Arabic "the Lion's Den", in reference to the Nablus based Lion's Den armed group, march in support of the group in Gaza City on Dec. 10, 2022.

US sanctions Palestinian Lion's Den armed group in West Bank

The group emerged in 2022 amid an uptick of violence between Palestinians and settlers in Nablus

AFP via Getty Images

Outrage in Sudan as more than 100 feared dead in RSF attack

One local rights group says that Rapid Support Forces fighters invaded a village and killed up to 100 people, displacing large numbers of others.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan is on a visit to Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region in northwest China Photo Credit: @HakanFidan on X

Analysis

Have Turkey, China hit reset button on Uyghurs as Fidan visits Xinjiang?

Experts say Beijing and Ankara skillfully managed the contentious Uyghur issue during the Turkish diplomat's China visit, but Fidan's messages might raise eyebrows in the West.

Ezgi Akin

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