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Politics & Security

Iraqi Prime Minister-designate Ali al-Zaidi attends a meeting of the Coordination Framework political bloc in Baghdad on April 27, 2026.

Breaking | Last Updated: May 14, 2026, 2:05 pm

Iraq parliament approves government of Prime Minister Zaidi

Ali al-Zaidi, a prominent businessman with limited political experience, has backing from both the US and Iran.

Mazloum Kobane, commander-in-chief of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), speaks during the pan-Kurdish "Unity and Consensus" conference in Qamishli in northeastern Syria on April 26, 2025.

Interview

Syrian Kurdish commander Kobane says Turkey visit ‘in the making,’ Ocalan meeting possible

The SDF commander-in-chief reflected on a fragile integration deal with Damascus, growing Kurdish backlash and ongoing talks with Turkey as questions mount over Rojava’s political future.

Mazloum Kobane

Mazloum Kobane

SDF commander in chief

Latest News

Iran's IRGC holds anti-helicopter drills in Tehran: What to know

ATTA KENARE / AFP via Getty Images

Turkey, Armenia to launch direct trade in normalization push: What to know

Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, right, and Armenia’s Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan shake hands before a meeting at Prague Castle in Prague, Czech Republic, Thursday, Oct. 6, 2022.

In first, Lebanon files formal UN complaint against Iran: What to know

FADEL Itani / AFP via 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

Israeli policemen detain a Palestinian man at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound following clashes that erupted during the Islamic holy fasting month of Ramadan in Jerusalem on April 5, 2023.

Israel holds over 1,200 mostly Palestinian detainees without charge, highest in 3 decades

A report published on Wednesday by a nongovernmental group says the number of people in Israeli administrative detention is the highest in the last three decades.

MEHDI MARIZAD/FARS NEWS/AFP via Getty Images

Iran's IRGC holds military drills at disputed UAE islands

Iran held war games as a top oil official said the Islamic Republic will not give up “one iota” of its rights to the disputed Durra gas field in a potential sign of tension with Arab Gulf states.

Kais Saied Hashani

Tunisia’s president appoints new prime minister amid deepening crisis

The country is facing growing economic woes amid pressure to approve an IMF rescue program.

A man rinses his face with water from a bottle to cool off during a heat wave in Tehran on July 11, 2023.

Iran: Unprecedented heat wave triggers emergency holidays

The high temperatures have widely been linked to the overall impacts of climate change, which is hitting Iran twice harder than global averages, according to official data.

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko (L) meets Iranian President Ibrahim Raisi in Tehran on March 13, 2023.

Iran, Belarus sign defense MOU as they explore cooperation on drones

Belarus may start playing a bigger role in Russia’s use of Iranian drones in the war on Ukraine.

ZAID AL-OBEIDI/AFP via Getty Images

UK formally recognizes genocide against Yazidis by Islamic State

The United Kingdom is the latest country to recognize the 2014 mass slaughter of Yazidis by the Islamic State as genocide.

ZAID AL-OBEIDI/AFP via Getty Images

Islamic State attack in Syria targets oil convoy, kills 5 soldiers: Monitor

Islamic State sleeper cells have regularly attacked government forces in central and eastern Syria despite losing the last of their territory in 2019.

A picture shows a electoral banner for Israel's National Unity bloc, which includes the Blue and White (Kahol Lavan) led by Defence Minister Benny Gantz (R), and a portrait of Likud party leader Benjamin Netanyahu (L), in Tel Aviv on October 27, 2022, ahead of the November general elections. (Photo by AHMAD GHARABLI / AFP) (Photo by AHMAD GHARABLI/AFP via Getty Images)

Analysis

For Israeli normalization with Saudi Arabia, Netanyahu needs new coalition

Israeli and US officials assess that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will have to get on board opposition leaders Yair Lapid and Benny Gantz, if he wants to neutralize his coalition’s extreme members and reach a normalization deal with Saudi Arabia.

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

A picture taken on July 21, 2021, shows a center-pivot irrigation system spraying water in agricultural fields near the border with Jordan (background), south of the Sea of Galilee, or Lake Tiberias, one of the main water sources in Israel. As scientific warnings of dire climate change-induced drought grow, many in Israel and Jordan cast worried eyes at the river running between them and the critical but limited resources they share. (Photo by MENAHEM KAHANA / AFP) (Photo by MENAHEM KAHANA/AFP via Getty Ima

Israel’s efforts at water diplomacy make slow progress

Israel is keen on leveraging its water technology and achievements in exploiting limited water resources to build ties with the Arab world.

David Rosenberg

David Rosenberg

In Tel Aviv, reporting on business and tech

Members of the Amhara militia ride in the back of a pickup truck in the city of Gondar, Ethiopia.

Israeli kidnapped in Ethiopia released after 3 weeks in captivity

Three weeks after he was reported kidnapped, Israeli-Ethiopian citizen Francis Adbabayi was released and united with his sons.

A picture taken during a guided tour organized by Egypt's State Information Service on Feb. 11, 2020.

Why Senate Democrats are urging Biden to withhold part of Egypt's military aid

The letter led by Sen. Chris Murphy called for the Biden administration to withhold $320 million from Egypt's annual military assistance package.

Relatives mourn over the caskets of 11 people killed in Turkish airstrikes.

US, Russia mum as Turkey escalates attacks against Kurdish groups in Syria, Iraq

Both the White House and the State Department remain silent as Turkey's military campaign against the PKK continues "full blast."