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Politics & Security

Israeli soldiers react after taking cover near the Israel-Lebanon border following a Hezbollah drone attack that hit the northern border on May 19, 2026. The Israeli military on May 19 warned residents of 12 towns and villages in southern Lebanon to immediately evacuate ahead of expected attacks against Hezbollah, the latest despite a ceasefire. (Photo by Jalaa MAREY / AFP via Getty Images)

In first, US sanctions Lebanon military, intel officials for aiding Hezbollah

New tranche of sanctions marks a warning shot from Washington as Senate Republicans threaten to freeze funding to the Lebanese Armed Forces if it does not move more aggressively to disarm Hezbollah.

Iranians drive next to a billboard displaying pictures of nuclear scientists, centrifuges and a sentence reading in Farsi " Science is the power," at the Enqelab Square in Tehran, on Aug. 29, 2025.

US, Iran trade mixed signals on enriched uranium as Tehran weighs response

Speaking on Wednesday, President Donald Trump said he would be willing to wait "a couple of days" for Tehran's response to the latest US proposal to end the war.

TOPSHOT - US Secretary of State Marco Rubio (R) meets with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa at the Lotte New York Palace Hotel on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly meeting in New York City on September 22, 2025. (Photo by Bing Guan / POOL / AFP via Getty Images)

Feature

With sanctions off, what’s keeping Syria on US terror blacklist?

Despite President Donald Trump’s pledge to lift all sanctions on Syria, the country's designation as a State Sponsor of Terrorism continues to discourage investment.

Elizabeth Hagedorn

By Elizabeth Hagedorn

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

Omar AL-QATTAA / AFP via Getty Images

Israel targets Turkey charity amid Gaza flotilla tensions

The request, published in Israeli media, marks a further escalation in tensions with Turkey amid disputes over Gaza aid operations.

Latest News

Iran’s Hormuz authority declares control over ports in UAE, Oman: What to know

AFP via Getty Images

Ethiopia accuses Egypt of obstructing Red Sea access bid: What to know

TO GO WITH STORY by Peter Martell: "Eritrea-economy-port": A couple of boats and two tug boats can be seen in Eritrea's Red Sea port of Massawa on November 18, 2007. Once one of East Africa's busiest ports, the town is still recovering after being badly bombed in 1990 during Eritrea's war of liberation from Ethiopia. The government is trying to revitalize the port, but efforts are hampered by a sluggish economy and threat of a renewed conflict with Ethiopia. AFP PHOTO/Peter MARTELL (Photo credit should read

Turkish court ousts CHP leadership amid opposition crackdown

Leader of Turkey's main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) Ozgur Ozel addresses the audience during a rally in Istanbul on April 9, 2025.

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

BAY ISMOYO/AFP via Getty Images

Erdogan says Turkey's strikes in Syria, Iraq may lead to ground offensive

As the dust settles from airstrikes on Kurdish militants in Syria and Iraq, Turkey is threatening a wider operation in the region.

A Kurdish peshmerga fighter affiliated with the Iranian Kurdistan Democratic Party inspects the damage following an Iranian cross-border attack in the town of Koye (Koysinjaq), Iraqi Kurdistan, Oct. 1, 2022.

Analysis

Iran strikes Iraqi Kurdistan again, warns of possible ground operation

Several areas of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq were targeted overnight after an IRGC commander warned of possible ground invasion and the Iranian ambassador set out demands.

Shelly Kittleson

By Shelly Kittleson

In Baghdad, reporting on Iraqi politics

ZAIN JAAFAR/AFP via Getty Images

More armed Palestinian groups emerge in West Bank

The new militant groups are expanding their activities against Israeli soldiers and settlers.

Global inventory of greenhouse gas emissions, at the UNFCCC COP27 climate conference,

Egypt, US, Germany launch plan to reduce methane emissions

The COP27 initiative seeks to accelerate Egypt's green energy transition.

Turkish troops are pictured on the outskirts of the Syrian town of Afrin on October 19, 2022 as the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) jihadist group advances towards Syrian opposition-held areas in the northern Syria. - Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, Al-Qaeda's former Syria affiliate, is gaining ground from rival rebels in Syria's Turkish-held north on the heels of some of the deadliest inter-rebel fighting in the region in years.

Turkey bombs Syria, Iraq in response to Istanbul terror attack

Fears are rising in Syria's Kurdish-controlled northeast over a potential military incursion by Turkey.

Police officers escort suspects linked to the Istanbul bombing in a court in Sofia on November 19, 2022. - Bulgaria has charged five people with helping one of the suspects in last weekend's bombing in central Istanbul which killed six people, prosecutors said on November 19, 2022.

The Turkey Briefing: investigation into Istanbul bombing continues

In this weekly newsletter, Ezgi Akin rounds up the biggest Turkey stories from the region.

AHMAD GHARABLI/AFP via Getty Images

Human rights activists condemn Hamas’ increasing death penalties

The Hamas movement continues to violate Palestinian law in carrying out death penalties in the Gaza Strip.

MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty Images

US partners in Middle East avoid taking sides against China

Also: cryptocurrency takes spotlight in Abu Dhabi and Gargash outlines UAE approach to foreign policy.

Speaker of Libyan House of Representatives Aguila Saleh, United Nations Special Adviser on Libya Stephanie Williams.

Ban on military personnel running for office in Libya leads to standoff

Libya’s High State of Council approved a ban on military personnel from running in the presidential elections in a move seemingly targeting eastern-based military strongman Khalifa Hifter.

Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz (R) and his Greek counterpart, Nikos Panagiotopoulos.

Israeli Defense Ministry reassures Greece, Cyprus over trilateral alliance

Three weeks after his official visit to Turkey, Defense Minister Benny Gantz visits Greece in an effort to reassure his counterparts that rapprochement with Ankara won’t come at the expense of the trilateral Hellenic partnership.

A photo of slain US-Palestinian correspondent Shireen Abu Akleh, with a caption in Arabic reading "Shireen Abu Akleh, the voice of Palestine", is placed amongst reporters ahead of a joint press conference between the US and Palestinian Presidents after their meeting at the Muqataa pesidential compound in the city of Bethlehem in the occupied West Bank on July 15, 2022.

The Israel Briefing: Israel rejects US plan to investigate death of Palestinian journalist

In this weekly newsletter, Ben Caspit and Rina Bassist round up the biggest stories from Israel.

MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty Images

US says Saudi Arabia's MBS has immunity in Khashoggi lawsuit

The Biden administration says Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman should be immune from a US lawsuit holding him responsible for Jamal Khashoggi's murder.