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Politics & Security

People gather at the site of an Israeli airstrike that targeted Beirut's southern suburbs neighborhood of Haret Hreik on May 6, 2026.

Israel strikes Beirut in breach of Lebanon ceasefire

Israel has continued to carry out strikes in southern Lebanon but had not targeted Beirut since the ceasefire took effect.

Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud and Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan in Ankara, May 6, 2026.

Saudi FM in Turkey as Ankara, Riyadh step up coordination amid Iran war

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan’s visit to Ankara comes amid rapidly expanding Turkish-Saudi coordination as the fallout from the Iran war reshapes Gulf security dynamics.

In this photo released by Xinhua News Agency, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, second right, talks to his Iranian Counterpart Abbas Araghchi, left, during the bilateral meeting in Beijing, Wednesday, May 6, 2026.

Iran, China discuss Hormuz reopening amid potential US-Iran talks

China’s foreign minister told his Iranian counterpart that “persisting in negotiations is particularly important.”

Latest News

Lebanon, Israel eye third round of talks, but no Netanyahu-Aoun meeting in sight

Andrew Harnik/Getty Images

Analysis

Iran's Gulf gambit: Attacking the UAE to shift US calculations

A billboard with the image of the late Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei wraps the front of a building in Tehran on May 5, 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

Turkey's president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, arrives to attend a session meeting during the 10th BRICS summit on July 27, 2018 in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Erdogan to attend BRICS summit in Russia as Turkey seeks to join bloc

Turkey eyes BRICS membership amid stalled EU accession bid, as Erdogan prepares to meet bloc’s leaders at the upcoming summit in Russia.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stands before a map of the Gaza Strip during a news conference in Jerusalem on September 2, 2024.

Netanyahu snubs critics, says Israel holding Philadelphi key to free hostages

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu indicated that the parties are far away from reaching a deal, reiterating that Israel will not agree to fully withdraw its forces from the Philadelphi Corridor during the first phase of a truce with Hamas.

Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday hosts Abdel Fattah al-Sisi during the Egyptian leader's first-ever Turkey visit, in Ankara, on Sept. 4, 2024.

Turkey, Egypt ink 17 deals as Erdogan hosts Sisi on first visit to Ankara

The Turkish and Egyptian leaders reaffirmed their commitment to improving bilateral ties as well as increasing coordination on regional issues.

Turkey’s President Tayyip Erdogan is welcomed by Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi at the airport in Cairo, Egypt February 14, 2024. Murat Cetinmuhurdar/Turkish Presidential Press Office

Analysis

Once sworn enemies, Egypt’s Sisi and Turkey’s Erdogan to meet in Ankara

Despite more than a decade of hostility between Turkey and Egypt, ties appear to be on an upward trajectory.

Amberin Zaman

By Amberin Zaman

Reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture

This picture taken from the Egyptian side of the border with the Gaza Strip, shows the war-ravaged city of Rafah on July 4, 2024, as the conflict between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas continues.

Saudi Arabia condemns Netanyahu's Philadelphi Corridor statements

Saudi Arabia strongly condemned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's recent comments regarding the Israeli military presence in the Philadelphi Corridor.

Kurt Reiniger, Swiss diplomat in charge of humanitarian affairs (L), arrives at the Swiss Embassy in Baghdad, on February 2, 2001.

After 33 years, what’s behind Switzerland reopening embassy in Iraq?

Switzerland closed its embassy in Baghdad in 1991 amid the Gulf War and is seeking cooperation with Iraq on migration amid an influx into Europe.

Protesters gather to demand a Gaza hostages deal on Sept. 1, 2024, in Tel Aviv, Israel.

With Netanyahu standing firm, US to present new Gaza cease-fire proposal

The cease-fire negotiations gained renewed urgency following Hamas’ killing of six hostages, including an American citizen who was expected to be released in the cease-fire deal’s first stage.

DELIL SOULEIMAN/AFP via Getty Images

Analysis

Russia ups mediation efforts between Turkey, Syria as Assad drags feet

While Turkey is embracing Russia's role in attempting to mediate between Ankara and Damascus, the Syrian government wants a timetable for Turkey withdrawing its troops from the country.

Amberin Zaman

By Amberin Zaman

Reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture

A group of protesters hold placards reading "Yankee go Home - No way to USA," in Istanbul, on April 14, 2021.

Turkish ultranationalists arrested after accosting US Marines in Izmir

A mob of provocateurs of the Turkish Youth Union assaulted two US Marines while they visited the port city, shouting "Yankee go home" and thrusting a bag over the head of one of the Marines.

This pool image distributed by Sputnik agency on September 4, 2023, shows Russian President Vladimir Putin seeing off his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan after their talks in Sochi. (Photo by Sergei KARPUKHIN / POOL / AFP) (Photo by SERGEI KARPUKHIN/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Turkey, NATO member, in process of joining BRICS

Turkey’s bid to join the bloc is welcome news to both Russia and China.

Protesters attend a rally on the second day of demonstrations demanding a Gaza deal on September 2, 2024 in Tel Aviv, Israel. After the bodies of six Israeli kidnap victims were recovered from tunnels beneath Gaza at the weekend, the Hostages and Missing Families Forum supported protests in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv demanding that Netanyahu justies the delay in signing the ceasefire deal due to the addition of new conditions. (Photo by Amir Levy/Getty Images)

Analysis

With defiant statement, has Israel's Netanyahu sealed Gaza hostages' fate?

Like hundreds of thousands of Israelis, the Biden administration is getting desperate to convince Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to accept a deal with Hamas.

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

JOSEPH EID/AFP via Getty Images

Lebanon arrests ex-Central Bank chief Riad Salameh on embezzlement charges

The former governor was placed under arrest after lengthy interrogation over his alleged involvement in the embezzlement of more than $40 million.