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Politics & Security

Milak border crossing near the town of Zabol, Iran

Third Sunni cleric killed in Iran’s Sistan and Baluchistan Province: What to know

Iran says it is stepping up its crackdown on armed groups in the impoverished province as Sunni clerics have been reported killed there and in the predominantly Kurdish northwest.

Win McNamee/Getty Images

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

Latest News

Analysis

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

Yemeni separatists

Adam Lucente

By Adam Lucente

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

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.

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

Incoming Syrian refugees who were suddenly deported from Turkey await to register with officials.

Half a million Syrians return from Turkey, but were they forced?

Some 560,000 Syrian refugees in Turkey have returned to their country as part of deportation projects, many fleeing the harassment they were facing in the country.

China's President Xi Jinping attends the 29th APEC Economic Leaders Meeting (AELM) during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Bangkok on Nov. 19, 2022.

China’s Xi heads to Saudi Arabia, adding strain to US ties

Xi's visit to Saudi, the first in six years, will include two summits with Arab and GCC leaders and could see an agreement on nuclear technology

Staff members sit under a portrait of the Islamic Republic's late revolutionary leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini.

How Iran squandered social capital

While the Islamic Republic of Iran in its early days focused on lifting its people out of poverty and improving access to services, the current regime has failed to maintain this social capital.

BIM discount stores

Senior Turkish retail executive forced out after criticizing government economic policy

The chief operator of Turkey’s largest discount chain resigned from a retail association post after threats from Erdogan's ally Nationalist Movement Party.

Israeli settlers walk with batons and axes.

Israeli security agencies concerned over rise in settler violence in West Bank

The number of Israeli settlers attacking Palestinians is on the rise, and the severity of the attacks is also increasing.

Herzog

Israel’s president in UAE after historic visit to Bahrain

Israel's President Isaac Herzog is in Bahrain, the next stop on his historic tour.

Sudan

Sudan's transition deal seen as significant, but doubts remain

Protesters and some observers are skeptical the agreement will end the political crisis in the east African country, but the United States and Gulf states have praised the deal.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Foreign Affairs Minister of the United Arab Emirates Abdullah bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan and Foreign Affairs Minister of Bahrain Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani participate in the signing ceremony of the Abraham Accords on the South Lawn of the White House, Washington, Sept. 15, 2020.

Netanyahu to visit UAE

Already before assembling his government, Prime Minister-designate Benjamin Netanyahu prepares his first visit abroad — to Abu Dhabi.

Israelis outraged over Netflix film showing IDF murdering Palestinians

Israeli actress Nataly Dadon canceled her Netflix subscription, protesting against the streaming giant adding the anti-Israeli/anti-IDF film "Farha" to the platform.

JAAFAR ASHTIYEH/AFP via Getty Images

New Palestinian armed groups emerge in West Bank

As armed factions in the West Bank struggle under Israeli pursuit, new groups are springing up.

A woman holds a sign during a protest over the death of Iranian Mahsa Amini outside the Iranian Consulate on Oct. 7, 2022 in Istanbul, Turkey.

Confusion grows over future of Iran's hijab patrols

Comments by Iran’s top prosecutor suggesting that the so-called morality police has been disbanded were rejected by state media.

ARMEND NIMANI/AFP via Getty Images

Egypt reaches out to Serbian Muslims

Cairo is making overtures toward Muslims in Serbia amid the Muslim Brotherhood's growing influence in neighboring Kosovo.