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Politics & Security

A demonstrator carries a CHP flag during a protest in Izmir, Turkey, on May 24, 2026.

Explainer

What’s behind Turkey’s latest wave of arrests against opposition mayors?

The operations come as Ozgur Ozel’s newly formed party gains momentum.

A woman stands next to Iranian-made Zolfaghar missiles displayed at Azadi Square in Tehran on July 24, 2026.

Iran’s new calculus: Strike first, talk later

An increasingly emboldened Tehran has put President Donald Trump in a bind.

A Saudi navy ship is pictured docked at King Faisal navy base in Jeddah before the departure of a team to Port Sudan to help with the evacuation efforts of people fleeing Sudan, on April 29, 2023.

Turkey, Pakistan among 14 countries backing Saudi Arabia's anti-Houthi Red Sea alliance

Riyadh won political backing from 14 countries for its proposed maritime defense coalition, but members have yet to commit to joining as Washington weighs its position.

Erdogan and Aoun

Turkey ready to participate in post-UNIFIL force in Lebanon, Erdogan tells Aoun

Aoun paid a one-day visit to Ankara amid Lebanon's push to secure an Israeli withdrawal and end the fighting between Israel and Hezbollah.

Latest News

Houthis deny responsibility for drone attack hitting Egypt's Damietta Port

A ship transits the Suez Canal towards the Red Sea on Jan. 10, 2024 in Ismailia, Egypt.

US carries out strikes in southern Iran after IRGC attack on Jordan airbase

In this handout photo provided by the US Navy, Two F/A-18 Super Hornets launch from the flight deck of Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) in support of Operation Epic Fury on March 3, 2026 in the Mediterranean Sea.

Exclusive

Saudi Arabia to announce Red Sea coalition to counter Houthi threats

Houthi soldiers stand guard on a missile carrier during an official military parade marking the ninth anniversary of the Houthi takeover of the capital, Sanaa, on Sept. 21, 2023.

Amberin Zaman

Jared Szuba

By Amberin Zaman , Jared Szuba

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

Suleiman

Iraqi militia power plays bring back outcast Sunni leader

Iran-linked parties in Iraq are playing on perceived and actual support for once-ostracized Sunni leaders to divide their political opponents despite inherent risks.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog (L) and his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan give a joint press conference, Ankara, Turkey, March 9, 2022.

Turkish foreign minister to visit Israel

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu's visit to Israel May 24 could finally open the way for both countries to reinstate their ambassadors.

Internally displaced Syrians arriving with their belongings in a convoy of trucks, at a new housing complex.

Syrian opposition wary of Erdogan’s plan to return 1 million refugees

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan declared that his country is preparing to return 1 million Syrian refugees to the northern Syria areas controlled by the Turkish-backed opposition, but he fell short of announcing the mechanism by which such numbers would return.

Egypt inflation

Egypt arrests TikTokers over satirical videos on high food prices

The three real estate guards' TikTok channel published two satirical videos about rising inflation rates, amid official concerns about public unrest over deteriorating economic conditions.

Turkey TV

Can Ankara-Riyadh rapprochement help improve Turkey-Egypt ties?

Although Ankara has secured several diplomatic strides by normalizing its relations with Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, rapprochement with Egypt still seems a challenging prospect.

PKK

Analysis

Sinjar becomes latest flashpoint for Iran-Turkey tensions in Iraq

New Pentagon IG report says that the Turkey-PKK conflict and Iranian militias are contributing to instability in Iraq.

Week in Review

By Week in Review

Kamalmaz

Family of American missing in Syria feels 'left behind' by White House

The family of Majd Kamalmaz, a US citizen who disappeared in Syria in 2017, question whether President Joe Biden is prioritizing his case.

Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett (C) and his wife, Galit.

Israeli government rocked by bereaved parents' protests

Prime Minister Naftali Bennett knew that bereaved parents would protest against him on Memorial Day and chose to remain silent, respecting their pain.

The Ibrahimi Mosque, also known as the Tomb of the Patriarchs, is decorated with Israeli national flags ahead of Israel's 74th Independence Day, Hebron, West Bank, May 3, 2022,

Independence Day terror attack could force Israel to act in Gaza

The especially gruesome terror attack on Independence Day in which assailants attacked passers-by with axes might force Prime Minister Naftali Bennett to end Israel’s restraint in the Gaza Strip.

MAARTEN WEYNANTS/AFP via Getty Images

Iranian decision to execute Swedish dual national sparks backlash

Reports that the Islamic Republic is set to execute the scientist came as a Swedish court prepares to sentence a former Iranian official in connection to the killing of thousands of political prisoners in his country in 1988.

RINGO CHIU/AFP via Getty Images

More niceties, zero progress in third round of Turkey-Armenia peace talks

Turkey and Armenia's third round of rapprochement talks have produced little of substance as Armenians protested by in the thousands and called for Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan to resign.

A demonstrator clad in a mask colored with the Lebanese flag.

Lebanese hope for change in May 15 parliamentary elections

Despite furstration with Lebanon's established political leaders and parties, opposition groups have yet to present a strong, unified alternative.