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Politics & Security

Security personnel and first responders prepare to cordon off an area near the Four Seasons Hotel following two blasts nearby in Damascus on July 7, 2026. Syrian authorities said 18 people were wounded by two blasts in central Damascus on July 7 near the hotel where France's president spent the night, with the Elysee Palace saying his visit is ongoing. (Photo by LOUAI BESHARA / AFP via Getty Images)

Breaking | Last Updated: July 7, 2026, 8:04 am

Two explosions hit Damascus as Macron visits Syria

Two explosions hit Damascus on Tuesday morning as French President Emmanuel Macron made the first visit to Syria by a Western leader.

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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

Members of Palestinian security forces carry the body of slain Turkish-American International Solidarity Movement activist Aysenur Ezgi Eygi.

Erdogan: Turkey plans 'legal steps' for Israel's killing of US-Turkish activist

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan vows legal action against Israel in response to the killing of US-Turkish activist Aysenur Ezgi Eygi during a protest in the West Bank.

In this picture taken on April 25, 2023, mountains overlook the village of Hiror near the Turkish border in northern Iraq's autonomous Kurdish region, where firefights occur between the Turkish army and fighters from the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).

Turkish soldier killed in PKK clash in Iraqi Kurdistan as Baghdad presses Ankara to withdraw

Recent civilian deaths have reignited calls from Iraqi officials for the withdrawal of thousands of Turkish troops deployed across Iraqi Kurdistan.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov (C) and Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman (2L) attend the first session of the G20 Leaders' Summit at the Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi on Sept. 9, 2023.

Saudi crown prince meets Russia's Lavrov at GCC meetings in Riyadh

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov met with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan on the sidelines of GCC ministerial meetings in Riyadh.

US CENTCOM chief Michael Kurilla (center right) meets with Israeli military chief Herzi Halevi (center left) on Sept. 9, 2024.

CENTCOM chief in Israel again as tensions on Lebanon border increase

CENTCOM chief Michael Kurilla arrived to Israel, as Hezbollah continues to fire rockets and drones towards the north of the country.

US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin welcomes Saudi Defense Minister Khalid bin Salman to the Pentagon in Washington, DC, on November 1, 2023. (Photo by Mandel NGAN / AFP) (Photo by MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty Images)

Analysis

In military reshuffle, Saudi Arabia seeks efficiency, closing gap with regional rivals

Saudi Arabia has recently undertaken a significant reorganization of its top military leadership, with new senior appointments to the kingdom’s joint, land and naval forces — a step that could mark a pivotal shift in the country's defense strategy and domestic balance.

Francesco Schiavi

By Francesco Schiavi

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

A Sudanese girl who have fled from the war in Sudan with her family carry a box with some of her belongings after arriving at a Transit Centre for refugees in Renk, on February 13, 2024.More than 550,000 people have now fled from the war in Sudan to South Sudan since the conflict exploded in April 2023, according to the United Nations. South Sudan, that has itself recently come out of decades of war, was facing a dire humanitarian situation before the war in Sudan erupted and it is feared to not have the re

Over 20,000 killed in Sudan's war, says UN health chief

The World Health Organization's director-general said Sudan is suffering through of a "perfect storm of crises," including conflict, famine conditions and a recent cholera outbreak.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (R) and Chinese President Xi Jinping (L) inspect Chinese honour guards during a welcome ceremony outside the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on July 2, 2019. (Photo by WANG ZHAO / AFP) (Photo by WANG ZHAO/AFP via Getty Images)

Analysis

Turkey's BRICS ambitions hinge on India, China accepting Ankara's bid

Geopolitical equations might pave the way for BRICS members to welcome Turkey in the bloc but such outcome is both complicated and not imminent.

Barin Kayaoglu

By Barin Kayaoglu

In Ankara, reporting on geopolitics and national security

Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei (R), meets with Bahraini king Hamad bin Issa al-Khalifa (L) August 18, 2002 at Tehran.

Analysis

Will Iran and Bahrain open new chapter in bilateral ties?

Iran and Bahrain are signalling rapprochement, which could be significant for the regional dynamics; yet amid deep-seated tensions and clashing interests, any genuine thaw will need trust-building and a willingness to navigate a complex web of regional rivalries.

A correspondent in Tehran

By A correspondent in Tehran

In Tehran, reporting on politics

Iran-Pakistan pipeline

Analysis

As Iran warns Islamabad, what are Pakistan’s options on gas pipeline?

Tehran finally served a final notice to Islamabad, saying that since Pakistan had failed to meet its commitments Iran had no option left but to resort to an arbitration court this month.

Sabena Siddiqui

By Sabena Siddiqui

In Karachi, reporting on South Asia, Middle East, Iran

Displaced Palestinians walk next to the border fence between Gaza and Egypt, on February 16, 2024 in Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Hamas militant group. Nearly 1.5 million displaced Palestinians are trapped in Rafah -- more than half of Gaza's populations -- seeking shelter in a sprawling makeshift encampment near the Egyptian border. (Photo by MOHAMMED ABED / AFP) (Photo by MOHAMMED ABED/AFP via Getty Images)

Analysis

Egypt fed up with Netanyahu, but crisis with Israel deeper than Philadelphi

Bilateral relations between Israel and Egypt have been extremely tense, mostly due to disagreement over the Philadelphi Corridor, but not only that.

Rina Bassist

By Rina Bassist

In Paris, reporting on Israeli politics and European affairs

US President Joe Biden walks across the South Lawn while returning to the White House from Delaware on September 2, 2024, in Washington, DC.

Analysis

Does Biden have any leverage left for Gaza cease-fire before US elections?

Netanyahu has more options than pressure in dealing with Hezbollah.

Andrew Parasiliti

By Andrew Parasiliti

In Washington, DC, reporting on diplomacy, regional politics, national security

An Israeli soldier fires teargas at Palestinians during a protest in the village of Beita against a march by settlers to the nearby Israeli outpost of Eviatar, the occupied West Bank, April 10, 2023.

US-Turkish dual citizen shot dead in Israeli-occupied West Bank

Aysenur Ezgi Eygi, 26, was killed while taking part in a march against the expansion of settlements in the West Bank.