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Politics & Security

Syrian security forces patrol near France's President's hotel during his visit in Damascus on July 7, 2026. (Photo by Ludovic MARIN / POOL / AFP via Getty Images)

Breaking | Last Updated: July 7, 2026, 4:58 am

Two explosions rock Damascus, while Macron in town

Two explosions were heard in Damascus on Tuesday morning, while French President Emmanuel Macron is in the city for a meeting with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa.

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Analysis

As it hosts NATO, Turkey eyes France's SAMP/T system, F-35 progress with Trump

Turkey is set to host NATO leaders as doubts over US commitment linger prompting Ankara to seeks its own defense deals with Paris and Washington.

Ezgi Akin

In Ankara, reporting on diplomacy, EU-Turkey ties, NATO

Government Media Office Director Ismail Thawabteh (R) and Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem (L) speak at a press conference.

Explainer

What does Hamas' move to dissolve its Gaza government mean?

Hamas has agreed to hand civilian administration over to the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza, but the committee is not yet in Gaza and may not deploy until Hamas’ disarmament is resolved.

A picture taken on Nov. 10, 2019, shows workers on the construction site of a second reactor in Iran's Bushehr nuclear power plant, during an official ceremony to kick-start the works at the facility.

Russia’s Rosatom says staff to return to Iran’s Bushehr nuclear plant: What to know

Russia evacuated hundreds of personnel from Bushehr after the start of the US-Israel-Iran war, but it has pledged to continue helping Iran develop its nuclear capabilities.

Latest News

Israel, Greece conduct military drills ahead of NATO summit in Turkey

ABIR SULTAN / AFP via Getty Images

Iran’s hard-line judicial chief Mohseni Ejei gets second term: What to know

Gholam Hossein Mohseni Ejei

Analysis

Why Kuwait is turning to Ukraine for its next air-defense lessons

An employee of the Ukrainian SkyFall company checks a P1-Sun interceptor drone before a test flight at an undisclosed location in Ukraine on March 19, 2026,

Francesco Schiavi

By Francesco Schiavi

In Bologna, reporting on security, defense, economy, governance

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

Ambulances are surrounded by people at the entrance of the American University of Beirut Medical Center, on September 17, 2024, after explosions hit locations in several Hezbollah strongholds around Lebanon amid ongoing cross-border tensions between Israel and Hezbollah fighters.

Pentagon denies role in suspected Israeli pager attacks in Lebanon

Phone pagers exploded across Lebanon and in Syria, injuring thousands in a suspected Israeli attack targeting Hezbollah just a day after top Washington officials urged Israeli leaders not to escalate the conflict.

Jared Szuba

Rina Bassist

By Jared Szuba , Rina Bassist

EYAD BABA/AFP via Getty Images

Palestinian poll finds majority of Gazans say Hamas' Oct. 7 attack was wrong

A September public opinion poll from the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research shows that Palestinian support for Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack has dropped and a majority of Palestinians in Gaza say the attack was not the right move.

An ambulance rushes wounded people to the American University of Beirut Medical Center, on Sept. 17, 2024.

Lebanon: At least 11 killed, 4,000 injured in suspected Israeli pager attack against Hezbollah

The blasts, which reportedly killed several and injured thousands, came amid rising tensions between Israel and Hezbollah.

Iran's former President Hassan Rouhani (L) waves to the media as India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi looks on before a meeting at Hyderabad house, New Delhi, India, Feb. 17, 2018.

India tells Iran’s Khamenei to 'look at own record' over comments on Muslims suffering

India’s Ministry of External Affairs condemned Iran's Supreme Leader Khamenei’s remarks on the treatment of Muslims.

Israeli Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant meets soldiers on the Israeli border with the Gaza Strip, Sderot, Israel, Oct. 19, 2023.

Analysis

Can Netanyahu both fire Gallant and go to war in Lebanon?

The Biden administration clearly finds it hard to believe Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will go through with firing Defense Minister Yoav Gallant while warning that war with Hezbollah could break out soon.

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

Chris McGrath/Getty Images

Israel’s Shin Bet foils Hezbollah plot to kill former senior security official

Israel's Shin Bet has announced it thwarted an attempted Hezbollah attack on a former senior Israeli security figure.

Mayssa (C), 15, and Yara (R), 10, from Khan Younis, on board the UAE evacuation flight that arrived from Eilat to Abu Dhabi on Sept. 9, 2025.

UAE evacuates nearly 100 Gaza patients as 10,000+ await transfer

Abu Dhabi has pledged to bring in 1,000 injured children and 1,000 cancer patients from the Gaza Strip to be treated in the its hospitals.

United Arab Emirates

Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian holds a press conference in Tehran on Sept. 16, 2024.

Iran's Pezeshkian says 'no place for hostility' with Saudi Arabia, ready to visit Riyadh

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian spoke to the press about Iran-Saudi relations, recent allegations of missile transfers both to Russia and Yemen, and Iran-US relations.

ISIS kills five Hezbollah-linked fighters in Syria: war monitor

The clashes come amid reports of an ISIS resurgence in Syria as well as an increase in activity in Europe.

RABIH DAHER/AFP via Getty Images

Amos Hochstein arrives in Israel in latest US effort to avert Lebanon war

A renewed feud between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his defense minister could throw a wrench into the mission of Biden's envoy Amos Hochstein as he arrives in Israel to avert a full-blown Israel-Hezbollah war.

The flags of United Arab Emirates and Iran are flown during a national event at the Iranian Pavilion of Expo 2020, Dubai, Feb. 7, 2022.

Analysis

Despite lingering suspicions, UAE-Iran relations stable

Improved bilateral ties benefit Abu Dhabi and Tehran economically and provide security benefits despite some outstanding disputes.

Giorgio Cafiero

By Giorgio Cafiero

Israeli border guards stand alert as anti-government demonstrators rally with national and pride rainbow flags at Ben Gurion Airport, near Lod, during a protest hours after parliament adopted a key clause of the government's judicial overhaul package at the first reading, July 11, 2023.

Analysis

How far will Israel's justice minister go in reviving polarizing judicial overhaul?

Justice Minister Yariv Levin is gearing up for another attempt to legislate the government's controversial judicial overhaul plan suspended after the Oct. 7 attack.

Mazal Mualem

By Mazal Mualem

In Tel Aviv, reporting on politics