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Politics & Security

Members of Iran's Basij paramilitary force march

Analysis

As Iran regime marks 200 days of war, is it also preparing for dissent?

Seven months into the war with the US, Iranian authorities staged a pro-government mobilization in Tehran, combining patriotic spectacle with a carefully calibrated demonstration aimed for domestic internal security capacity.

A correspondent in Tehran

By A correspondent in Tehran

In Tehran, reporting on politics

Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani visits Latakia airport on Sept. 18, 2026.

Syria’s Shibani visits Latakia airport to review Russia deal progress: What to know

Syria is seeking to ensure that the August deal to turn Russian facilities in the country into joint training centers is implemented.

Hibatullah Barakat / Middle East Images / AFP via Getty Images

Lebanon charges 5 in alleged Hezbollah operation to train Assad loyalists

A Lebanese military court has charged the five, including an Assad-era Syrian officer and Hezbollah members, with running a cross-border security network planning attacks in Syria’s coastal region.

Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman looks on as he attends a trade agreement signature ceremony at the Elysee Palace in Paris on August 24, 2026. (Photo by LOU BENOIST / POOL / AFP via Getty Images)

Analysis

How Netanyahu is leveraging Houthi threat in secret Saudi normalization push

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is trying to capitalize on Riyadh's need for intelligence assistance to make normalization headway ahead of the October elections.

In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense

Latest News

Former Assad official sentenced to 60 years in US for torture

Mario Tama/Getty Images

Interview

Yemen separatists urge US not to let Saudi Arabia ‘call the shots’

Yemenis gather during a rally to show their support for the UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council (STC) in the coastal port city of Aden, on December 14, 2025. (Saleh Al-OBEIDI / AFP via Getty Images)

Trump administration approves $24B sale of F-35 jets to Saudi Arabia

A US Air Force F-35 fifth-generation jet fighter takes off during the NATO's Ramsteign Flag 2025 exercise at Leeuwarden Air Base on April 8, 2025.

US sanctions Iranian crypto exchange BitBank over Hormuz payments

A pedestrian passes by the Treasury Building in Washington, DC on Jan. 18, 2023.

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

Female soldiers from the Israeli army's Caracal battalion take a break in their Hummer between patrols on June 12, 2007.

IDF to integrate women into elite air force unit

In another victory in the principle of gender equality, the Israel Defense Forces will now open its air force elite Rescue Unit 669 to women.

Mufti Allam

Egyptian Mufti warns Britain on threat from Muslim Brotherhood

Grand Mufti of Egypt Shawki Allam, in a visit to London, made the government's case about the ongoing threat from the Brotherhood..

A boat sails along the Setit river bordering Ethiopia.

Sudan, Ethiopia blame each other for border violations amid Nile Dam dispute

The border dispute between Sudan and Ethiopia may affect the crisis over Ethiopia’s controversial Nile Dam, amid fears of the situation turning into an armed conflict.

Israeli flags flutter at the military cemetery on the Mount of Olives.

Hamas warns Israel against flag march in Al-Aqsa

Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh warned Israel against holding its annual Jerusalem Day flag march in Al-Aqsa, threatening to confront it with “all means.”

tanker

Iran seizes two Greek tankers after US, Greece seize Iranian fuel

The tanker wars between the US and Iran appear to be heating up once again as Vienna talks remain on the rocks.

Erdogan

Analysis

Biden didn’t go to Turkey, and things aren’t okay with Erdogan

The Turkish president announces plans for another invasion of Syria, while digging in on rejecting admitting Sweden and Finland to NATO.

Week in Review

By Week in Review

iraq parliament

US disturbed by Iraqi law criminalizing Israel ties

The State Department said the new Iraqi law promotes “an environment of antisemitism.”

Turkey women

Turkish women's rights activists decry racism in their name

Dozens of Turkey’s grassroots women rights groups issued a statement against racism and anti-immigrant sentiment, only to face angry reaction from many parts of the political spectrum.

RONEN ZVULUN/AFP via Getty Images

Israeli leadership divided on Iran deal

Israel’s top security and intelligence officials can’t agree on whether Israel is better off with or without an Iran nuclear deal.

Israeli protesters wave national flags as they march toward Tzahal Square during the Flag March organized by nationalist parties, Jerusalem, April 20, 2022.

Israel on high alert ahead of Sunday’s Jerusalem march

Prime Minister Naftali Bennett took a final decision that the flag march in Jerusalem’s Old City will take place as decided beforehand, with police at maximum alert across the country.

An aerial view shows Syrians sitting amidst the damaged buildings to break fast during an iftar gathering in Tadef.

Syrians reject trench dug by Turkish army near Aleppo

The residents of Tadef in the Aleppo countryside are rejecting a military trench being dug by the Turkish army that would cross through their city, calling on changing its course and retaking control of the areas held by the Syrian government forces inside the city.

Masafer Yatta

US lawmakers urge Blinken to press Israel on Masafer Yatta evictions

The lawmakers called for the administration to pressure Israel on the evictions before President Joe Biden travels to Israel this summer.