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Politics & Security

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US sets expectations for Iraq’s next PM to confront Iranian militias

The Trump administration is cautiously sizing up Iraq’s new prime minister-designate, Ali al-Zaidi, as a potential partner in pushing back on Iranian influence.

An Iranian woman holds up an image of Iran's new supreme leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei.

Iran president says he held official meeting with Mojtaba Khamenei: What to know

The president’s announcement marks the first public confirmation of a meeting between a senior official and Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, who has not been seen publicly since the start of the war.

People look at a drone on display at the Baykar exhibit at the SAHA International Defence and Aerospace Expo on May 06, 2026 in Istanbul, Turkey.

Turkey, Japan launch defense industry partnership with eye on drones

The initiative could eventually lead to joint UAV development and production as Japan looks to expand drone capabilities amid regional tensions.

Latest News

Israel strikes Beirut in breach of Lebanon ceasefire

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

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

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

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

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.

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

Andrew Harnik/Getty Images

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

US Vice President and Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris speaks during a campaign event at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona, on Aug. 9, 2024.

Interview

Harris replacing Biden on ticket gave Democrats expected bump from Arab Americans

Abed Ayoub, Arab American ADC grassroots leader, discusses why the Harris bump was expected, whether Jill Stein could be a spoiler in Michigan, why Tim Walz was a positive VP pick, and more.

Abed Ayoub

Abed Ayoub

National Executive Director of the American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee

Saudi security officers stand guard onboard a Saudi vessel docked off the seaport of Port Sudan on April 30, 2023, during evacuations efforts from Sudan. - Heavy fighting again rocked Sudan's capital as tens of thousands have fled the bloody turmoil and a former prime minister warned of the "nightmare" risk of a descent into full-scale civil war. Foreign nations have scrambled to evacuate thousands of their citizens by air, road and sea since the fighting plunged the poverty-stricken country into deadly tur

Sudan, US delegations head to Saudi Arabia for consultations on peace talks

Sudanese and US delegations will meet in Jeddah ahead of upcoming talks aimed at ending the war in Sudan as Washington pushes the military leadership to join the latest round of negotiations.

A F18 Hornet fighter jet pilot takes off from the deck of the US navy aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman in the eastern Mediterranean Sea on May 8, 2018.

Analysis

'A chance to stand down': Can US pressure lead to Gaza deal, curb Iran attack on Israel?

The Biden administration and Gaza war mediators hope a cease-fire can entice leaders in Israel and Iran to halt the march to all-out war.

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

Somali and Turkish foreign ministers

Ethiopia-Somalia set for second round of talks in Turkey next week

Turkey’s framework proposal for the two countries aims to secure Ethiopian access to the Red Sea while ensuring Somalia's territorial integrity.

Iranians lift up a flag and the mock up of a missile during a celebration following Iran's missiles and drones attack on Israel, on April 15 2024, at Palestine square in central Tehran.

Iran’s threat to Israel adds uncertainty over Gaza cease-fire

The looming attack from Iran and its allies, coupled with Hamas’ elevation of Yahya Sinwar, casts fresh doubt on a cease-fire deal.

People take part in a march called by Palestinian and Lebanese youth organizations in the southern Lebanese city of Saida on August 5, 2024, to protest against the assassination of Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh (portrait) and a Hezbollah military commander.

Iran defiant as world powers work to avert retaliation against Israel

Unlike in April when Tehran telegraphed its attack in advance, Iran has this time kept details of its expected attack against Israel close to its chest.

Erdogan and Thani

Qatar's emir visits Turkey amid push for de-escalation, Gaza talks

The Qatari emir's visit to Turkey comes as regional countries are ramping up efforts to prevent a broader conflict in the region after the Hamas political chief’s killing.

Fighters of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) gather near a US Bradley Fighting Vehicle (BFV) during a joint military exercise with forces of the US-led "Combined Joint Task Force-Operation Inherent Resolve" coalition against the Islamic State (IS) group in the countryside of the town of al-Malikiya (Derik in Kurdish) in Syria's northeastern Hasakah province on Sept. 7, 2022.

Clashes between Arab tribes, SDF forces in Syria pose challenge to US

The clashes between Iranian-backed Arab tribes and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces, supported by the United States, come at a time of heightened tensions in the region ahead of an imminent Iranian response to the killing of Hamas’ leader.

TOPSHOT - (L-R) Mahmoud al-Aloul, Vice Chairman of the Central Committee of Palestinian organisation and political party Fatah, China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi, and Mussa Abu Marzuk, senior member of the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas, attend an event at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing on July 23, 2024. China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi on July 23 hailed an agreement by 14 Palestinian factions to set up an "interim national reconciliation government" to govern Gaza after the war. (Photo by Pe

Analysis

Hamas reshuffle constrains China as Yahya Sinwar consolidates power

Ismail Haniyeh was no ally of Beijing, but he and Hamas' political wing emerged in recent years as a bridge to expand China's diplomatic influence in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.

Joyce Karam

Egyptian army vehicles are deployed along the border with the Gaza Strip on July 4, 2024 in el-Arish, in the north Sinai Peninsula, amid continuing battles between Hamas and Israel in Palestinian besieged territory. (Photo by AFP) (Photo by -/AFP via Getty Images)

Netanyahu says arms smuggling from Egypt's Sinai, not Qatar, fueled Hamas

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told Time magazine that his approval of Qatari financial assistance to Hamas over the years was not the reason the group became powerful enough to attack Israel.

Permanent Representative of Iran to the United Nations, Amir Saeid Iravani addresses the United Nations Security Council during an emergency meeting on April 14, 2024 at U.N. Headquarters in New York City. The U.N. Security Council convened for the meeting at the request of Israel's Ambassador to the United Nations Gilad Erdan after Iran's attack on Israel. (Photo by David Dee Delgado/Getty Images)

Iran says cease-fire in Gaza 'priority' as US sees deal 'closer than ever'

Iran's statement on a cease-fire comes as Washington intensifies its efforts to reach a deal that could avert Iranian retaliation against Israel and a potential regional war.

Turkey's president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan (R), and his Venezuelan counterpart Nicolas Maduro (L) attend a joint press conference after their meeting in Ankara on June 8, 2022.

Turkey’s Erdogan calls Venezuela's Maduro after contested elections, urges dialogue

The Turkish president stopped short of extending congratulations to Nicolas Maduro but expressed his well-wishes for the South American nation after the contested election results, according to a Turkish readout.