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Politics & Security

People swim next to the Russian-flagged cargo ship OMSKIY-107, which was attacked off the Black Sea coast and eventually ran aground off the shore of the Sile district, Istanbul, Sept. 3, 2026.

Why Turkey has few options to protect Black Sea shipping

The Russia-Ukraine drone war is hitting Turkish commercial interests, exposing the limits of Ankara’s ability to protect shipping while remaining outside the conflict.

Erik Marmor

Analysis

Once Netanyahu’s top challenger, Bennett loses ground to Eisenkot: What to know

Facing the popular Gadi Eisenkot, the Together party of former premiers Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid is sinking in Israeli opinion polls.

Mazal Mualem

By Mazal Mualem

In Tel Aviv, reporting on politics

Yemeni separatists

Analysis

What does Houthi advance mean for Yemen’s southern separatists?

The Southern Transitional Council remains somewhat active in southern Yemen after its territorial defeat by the Saudi-backed government, and the Houthis are not interested in fighting the group at present.

Adam Lucente

By Adam Lucente

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

boats and a container ship near the Strait of Bab al-Mandeb

Analysis

Houthi gains in Yemen are testing Saudi Arabia’s security strategy

The advance toward Bab al-Mandeb threatens a vital Saudi oil route and risks drawing Riyadh back into a Yemen war it has spent years trying to leave.

Francesco Schiavi

By Francesco Schiavi

In Bologna, reporting on security, defense, economy, governance

Latest News

Iran, misreading Trump’s resolve, escalates conflict in Yemen ahead of US midterms

Supporters of the Iran-backed Houthi movement, arrive with their weapons to rally in solidarity with Iran and Lebanon, in Sanaa on April 8, 2026, following the announcement of a ceasefire in the Middle East war.

Analysis

As Houthis seize Bab el-Mandeb, Iran appraises value of new Red Sea card

Fighters loyal to the Houthi authorities gather in Sanaa on Sept. 10, 2026.

A correspondent in Tehran

By A correspondent in Tehran

In Tehran, reporting on politics

Claude AI used for missile, influence projects in UAE, Iran, Yemen: Anthropic

member of the Saudi-backed Yemeni government forces firing a heavy machine gun

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

ADEM ALTAN/AFP via Getty Images

Turkey postpones NATO talks on Sweden, Finland bids

Ankara has thrown its hands up in response to Stockholm's permission for a Quran-burning protest as Helsinki hints that Finland could join the alliance without Sweden.

LUDOVIC MARIN/AFP via Getty Images

Netanyahu meets with Jordanian king in Amman, attempts to mend rift

For the first time since 2018, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is meeting with Jordan's King Abdullah in Amman.

An exterior view of the building of US Department of the Treasury is seen on March 27, 2020 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Olivier DOULIERY / AFP) (Photo by OLIVIER DOULIERY/AFP via Getty Images)

US sanctions Hezbollah financial adviser in Lebanon

The US Treasury has imposed sanctions on Lebanese economist Hassan Moukalled, his two sons and his money-exchange business.

Smoke plume rising after the new collapse of the northern section of the grain silos at the port of Lebanon's capital Beirut, which were previously partly destroyed by the 2020 port explosion. (Photo by DYLAN COLLINS/AFPTV/AFP via Getty Images)

Lebanon's blast investigator charges former PM Diab, senior security officials

Among those charged are Prosecutor General Ghassan Oweidat, the head of Lebanon's domestic intelligence agency Major General Abbas Ibrahim, former army commander Jean Kahwaji, and other current and former security and judicial officials.

MAYA ALLERUZZO/AFP via Getty Images

Ousted Israeli minister still holds sway in Netanyahu's coalition

Until Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu finds a way to reinstate Shas leader Aryeh Deri to his ministerial positions, the ousted minister will wield much of his influence from outside the government.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi (C) and head of Egypt's General Intelligence Service Abbas Kamel (R) with CIA Director William Burns (L) during their meeting, Cairo, Egypt, Jan. 23, 2023.

CIA director in Egypt after Libya and Ukraine, meets Sisi

The Egyptian president met on Monday with the CIA director as the two held talks discussing various bilateral, regional and international issues.

Kuwaiti parliament members attend a session of the National Assembly at its headquarters in Kuwait City on Jan. 10, 2023.

Kuwait's government resigns in latest parliament standoff

This is the fifth Kuwaiti government that has resigned in the past two years, highlighting growing tension between the country’s authorities.

US army officers stands in front a US Patriot missile defence system during a joint Israeli-US military exercise "Juniper Cobra" at the Hatzor Airforce Base on March 8, 2018.

US, Israel kick off largest ever military exercise as Iran nuclear talks falter

As Iran turns to Russia for advanced fighter jets, the race is on to ensure the United States can actually stop Tehran from obtaining a nuclear weapon — and to dissuade the new Israeli government from acting unilaterally.

Namazi

'Bring us home': American held in Iran ends weeklong hunger strike

“Don't let President Biden leave us in this abyss of misery,” Siamak Namazi said in a letter penned from prison.

HUSSEIN FALEH/AFP via Getty Images

Iraq's soccer team celebrates with militia leaders after Gulf Cup victory

The team held up a photo of militia leader Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, who was killed by a US drone strike in 2020.

YASIN AKGUL/AFP via Getty Images

Erdogan says Sweden lost NATO bid support as Turkey fumes at Quran burning

Three days of protests followed a demonstration in Stockholm as President Erdogan says Sweden lost Turkey's support for its NATO accession

A picture taken from the northern Israeli town of Metula near the border with Lebanon shows a member of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon talking with Israeli soldiers through the border fence, on the outskirts of the southern village of Kfarkila, Lebanon, Jan. 19, 2023.

Lebanon's army 'on alert' following border tension with Israel

The Lebanese army is on alert following rising tensions with Israeli forces at the border.