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Politics & Security

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan greets Iraq Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi upon his arrival in Ankara, July 28, 2026.

Explainer

Erdogan hosts Zaidi, touts ‘historic step’ in Turkey-Iraq energy ties

The Turkish president outlined Ankara’s priorities with the new Iraqi government during the Iraqi leader’s first visit to Turkey: security, energy cooperation and the Development Road.

Israel PM office

Netanyahu lauds 'excellent' Trump meeting as Israel pushes harder Iran line

Hours before the meeting, President Donald Trump signaled impatience with the Israeli leader.

A giant billboard depicts late Iranian leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei (2nd L), and his son Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, with Arabic writing that reads: "Thank you Iran," in Dahiyeh, Beirut's southern suburbs, on June 15, 2026.

Khamenei says Hezbollah's agenda 'strategic mandate' for Iran

Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei’s comments come as Lebanon and Israel move forward with a US-backed plan to disarm Hezbollah in the south, though the Iran-backed group is resisting calls to turn over its weapons.

Latest News

On eighth visit, Israel’s Netanyahu seeks to repair ties with Trump

Trump Netanyahu

Zaidi to meet Erdogan as Turkey-Iraq ties take off, Kurds feel sidelined

Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi speaks during a meeting with US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth (not pictured) at the Pentagon on July 14, 2026 in Arlington, Virginia.

Trump says Iran seeks talks after strikes halted

US President Donald Trump takes questions from the media during a bilateral meeting with President of Lebanon Joseph Aoun in the Oval Office of the White House on July 21, 2026 in Washington, DC.

Iran summons French ambassador after detaining 2 diplomats: What to know

Iranian security forces stand guard in front of the French Embassy in Tehran in this undated image.

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

Former national security adviser John Bolton.

US charges Iranian over alleged plot to kill John Bolton

This is the second high-profile case in two years where Iranian operatives allegedly sought to harm a US citizen.

An Iraqi supporter of Iraqi Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr in Baghdad's high-security Green Zone on Aug. 4, 2022.

Iraq's Sadr calls on judiciary to dissolve parliament

Populist Shiite cleric Muqtada Sadr presses on the Judiciary to dissolve the parliament as a preparation for early elections.

Israeli Prime Minister and Yesh Atid party leader Yair Lapid speaks during the party's opening election campaign rally ahead of Israel's general elections, Tel Aviv, Israel, Aug. 3, 2022.

Comparing Ukraine with Gaza, Russia accuses Israel of hypocrisy

Moscow argues that Prime Minister Yair Lapid cannot condemn Russia for alleged war crimes while attacking the Gaza Strip.

A handout picture provided by the Iranian army's official website on Sept. 11, 2020, shows an Iranian Simorgh drone carrying a weapon.

Iran trained Russians on using armed drones, US intel says

The Pentagon has warned Iran not to provide armed drones to Russia for use in Ukraine.

Russia / Mideast

Pervin Chakar

Kurdish diva brokenhearted but resolute in face of language discrimination in Turkey

The "brutal" quashing of Kurdishness in Turkey continues to be state policy — even in entertainment.

Russian President Vladimir Putin meets with Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Tehran on July 19, 2022.

Russia offers Erdogan economic lifeline

Gas payments in rubles will help Turkey reduce its foreign-currency demand.

Russia's Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergey Lavrov addresses the public during a press conference at the Russian Embassy, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Aug. 02, 2022.

Lavrov sidesteps Nile dam dispute in meetings in Egypt, Ethiopia

Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov seems to have avoided the GERD issue, instead focusing on his country’s relations with Egypt, Ethiopia and other African countries.

A picture taken during a tour organized by the Syrian Ministry of Information shows a Syrian national flag and cars in the district of Daraa al-Balad, Daraa, Syria, Sept. 12, 2021.

Who's to blame for ongoing assassinations in Syria's Daraa province?

Assassinations of opposition and government officials and loyalists alike are proliferating in Syria’s southern province of Daraa, with the rival parties trading blame as to who is responsible for the spike in killings.

JAAFAR ASHTIYEH/AFP via Getty Images

Israel hunts Islamic Jihad operatives in West Bank

Despite the cease-fire in the Gaza Strip between Palestinian Islamic Jihad and the Israeli army, the West Bank remains volatile.

US President Joe Biden signs the agreement for Finland and Sweden to be included in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

US approves Sweden, Finland NATO bid as Turkey warns of conditions

Turkey's President Erdogan warned again this week that his government would block the two Nordic countries' bid to join NATO unless they take action against Kurdish leftist groups.

Washington Pulse

Supporters of Iraqi cleric Muqtada al-Sadr.

Iraqi rival parties can't agree on path to new elections

Although Iraq's two rival Shiite groups, the Sadrists and the Coordination Framework, both agreed on early elections, they can't agree on the details.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Erdogan asks Turkish diplomats to fight Islamaphobia

Turkey’s president, long criticized for sidelining and politicizing Turkey’s foreign service, is urging ambassadors to do their best to ensure that Turks abroad can participate in upcoming elections.