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Politics & Security

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CENTCOM chief meets Saudi Arabia's MBS amid Houthi gains in Yemen

The low-profile meeting between the Pentagon's commander in the Middle East and Saudi crown prince comes as Yemen's Houthis seized the high ground overlooking a vital economic waterway.

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

Latest News

Analysis

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

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

Francesco Schiavi

By Francesco Schiavi

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

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

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

Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

Israel's president to visit Brussels, address EU parliament

The upcoming visit of President Isaac Herzog to Brussels at the end of January could help establish a dialogue between the far-right Israeli government and European leadership.

A banner depicting Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and Russian President Vladimir Putin reading "Justice Prevails" is displayed along a highway, Damascus, Syria, March 8, 2022.

Syria's Assad hosts Russian envoy, discusses rapprochement with Turkey

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad met with Russian special envoy Alexander Lavrentiev to discuss ending the occupation of Syrian land, highlighting the potential rapprochement with Turkey.

cav

Iran's top diplomat to visit Turkey amid Erdogan-Assad thaw

The foreign ministers of the two nations will hold talks next week amid ongoing Ankara-Damascus rapprochement.

ANDERS WIKLUND/TT News Agency/AFP via Getty Images

Iran releases taped 'confessions' by dual British citizen sentenced to death

Iran's state media outlets have released a video of Alireza Akbari allegedly confessing to his crimes a day after his death sentence was upheld by the country's Supreme Court.

The Tunisian Court of First Instance is shown with barriers erected, Tunis, Tunisia, Feb. 20, 2022.

Tunisia jails all-women jihadist group

Tunisian authorities jailed a group of women believed to have plotted to assassinate a former minister.

Stock Market Exchange on a skyscraper in dubai background - Getty / stock photo

UAE announces new guidance to control money laundering

The United Arab Emirates has been working to counter money laundering since being added to the Financial Action Task Force’s “grey list” in 2022.

Turkish Defence Minister Hulusi Akar attends a ceremony to honor fallen soldiers at the Brother's Cemetery in Riga city, on July 28, 2022 in Riga, Latvia. (Photo by GINTS IVUSKANS/AFP via Getty Images)

Middle East military rankings: Turkey highest, Lebanon lowest per global index

Turkey stands out as the most powerful country in terms of its military capacities in its region while Lebanon is the weakest, a global military strength index finds.

Drew Angerer/Getty Images

CIA director Bill Burns arrives in Libya on surprise visit

Burns visit is most senior for a US official to Libya since President Joe Biden took office in January 2021.

JACK GUEZ/AFP via Getty Images

Netanyahu’s judicial reform push bolsters opposition

Dormant since the Nov. 1 electoral defeat, Israel’s opposition is now rallying against the new government's judicial reform plans.

A Palestinian demonstrator waves a national flag during confrontations with Israeli troops, following a protest against the expropriation of Palestinian land by Israel in the occupied West Bank, in the village of Kfar Qaddum, near the Jewish settlement of Kedumim, Jan. 6, 2023.

Two Palestinians killed by Israeli army in West Bank

Palestinians clash with Israeli forces almost on a daily basis resulting in an increasing number of deaths.

The northern collapsed section of the grain silos in the Port of Beirut, Lebanon, Aug. 23, 2022.

Explainer: Why Lebanon port blast families keep clashing with police

Families of the Beirut port explosion victims continue to protest, asking for justice.

Netanyahu

The Takeaway: As Israel veers right, US tries to reason with Netanyahu

Plus, a grim milestone for an American prisoner in Iran, prospects for peace in Yemen and Arab-Israeli cooperation highlighted at Negev Forum.