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Politics & Security

Ludovic MARIN / AFP via Getty Images

Macron's Syria visit eyes to boost France's economic role: What to know

The two leaders discussed ways to strengthen cooperation and various regional developments during the first visit by a Western head of state to Syria since the civil war ended.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (L) welcomes US President Donald Trump (R) upon his arrival on Air Force One at Etimesgut Air Base near Ankara, on July 7, 2026, before attending the 36th NATO Heads of State and Government Summit. (Photo by SAUL LOEB / AFP via Getty Images)

Analysis

Trump's F-35 push for Turkey runs into CAATSA — and Israel

Israel fears that Washington may be shifting its strategic options toward Turkey as the two rivals push for regional hegemony.

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

Trump Erdogan

Breaking | Last Updated: July 7, 2026, 12:39 pm

Trump says US will lift CAATSA sanctions on Turkey, consider F-35 sale

The US president has announced that sanctions on Turkey over its purchase of Russian missile batteries will be lifted.

Latest News

Two explosions hit Damascus as Macron visits Syria

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)

Analysis

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

sampt-t

Ezgi Akin

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

Explainer

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

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

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

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.

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

TEHRAN, IRAN - JULY 5: Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei speaks after casting his vote for the presidential runoff election on July 5, 2024 in Tehran, Iran. The second round of Iran's presidential elections was held while no candidate won the majority of votes in the first round of elections last month. In the second round, Saeed Jalili, who is known as a radical candidate, faced Masoud Pezeshkian, a reformist candidate. (Photo by Majid Saeedi/Getty Images)

Analysis

Is Khamenei opening door for nuclear talks as Iran FM floats revisions?

The Iranian leader signaled willingness to talk to the West about the country's nuclear program less than a week after new Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said there is room to revise the agreement.

A correspondent in Tehran

By A correspondent in Tehran

In Tehran, reporting on politics

Israeli Minister of National Security Itamar Ben Gvir takes part in the Jerusalem Day Flag March in the Old City on June 5, 2024 in Jerusalem.

Saudi Arabia, UAE speak out against Israeli far right's moves on Al-Aqsa

Riyadh and Abu Dhabi have called for an end to provocations at one of Islam's holiest sites amid comments by Israel's national security minister about building a synagogue on the site.

Turkey blocks multiple X accounts, cites 'terrorist crackdown'

Turkey has mounted repeated attacks on the Kurdish-led region on the grounds that it is governed by terrorists.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (R) and Libyan government of national unity prime minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah (L) pose for a photo during the official ceremony prior to their meeting in Ankara on April 12, 2021. (Photo by Adem ALTAN / AFP) (Photo by ADEM ALTAN/AFP via Getty Images)

Analysis

Libya upheaval: Why Turkey is mum over heightened tensions in Tripoli

Turkey, one of the two foreign powers with the largest military presence in Libya, conspicuously maintains its silence over the escalating tensions in the country, which experts link to several reasons.

Ezgi Akin

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

Israeli hostage

Bedouin Israeli hostage freed in Gaza in military operation

The Israeli military and the Shin Bet confirmed Tuesday that they rescued Qaid Farhan Alkadi from southern Gaza in a military operation.

A missile monument erected after the 2006 war, is seen on the roadside on August 26, 2024 Borj Kalawai, Lebanon. The recent assassination of a Hezbollah military commander in Lebanon, as well as the killing of the political leader of Hamas in Iran, has heightened concerns of a wider regional war between Israel and Iran-backed enemies like Hezbollah. Israel and Hezbollah have traded regular cross-border fire since Oct. 7, although both sides have seemed to calculate their attacks to avoid all-out war. (Photo

Pentagon shared intel with Israel to thwart Hezbollah attack

Israel's air force and navy overwhelmingly thwarted the attack without need for the US military to shoot down any of Hezbollah's projectiles, Pentagon officials said.

US-Jordan joint chiefs shake hands

Top US general to visit Lebanon as Hezbollah, Israel avoid full-blown war

Hezbollah launched an attack against Israel Sunday in response to the killing of commander Fuad Shukr in Beirut last month, prompting officials to initiate contacts with foreign diplomats to contain the escalation and avoid an all-out war.

Iran's new foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi (L), meets with Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani (R) in Tehran, on Aug. 26, 2024.

Qatari FM meets Araghchi, Pezeshkian in Iran amid Gaza cease-fire talks

The visit is the Qatari premier’s first to Iran since 2022, and it coincides with renewed efforts to reach a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.

TOPSHOT - This photo taken from a position in northern Israel shows a Hezbollah UAV intercepted by Israeli air forces over north Israel on August 25, 2024. The Israeli military announced early August 25, 2024 that it was conducting pre-emptive strikes in Lebanon after detecting preparations for "large-scale" attacks by the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah. Hezbollah said it had launched more than 320 rockets at Israel overnight, targeting a string of military positions, even as Israel's military said it

Analysis

Hezbollah's attack disappoints Hamas but averts all-out war with Israel

Both Israel and Hezbollah have signaled that Sunday’s exchange of fire is over, at least for the moment.

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

Hezbollah's Nasrallah says group reserves 'right to respond' in future after cross-border fire with Israel

Hezbollah struck Israel in retaliation for last's month death of senior military official Fuad Shukr as a new round of cease-fire talks is set to begin in Cairo.

Ambassador Fu Cong, permanent representative of China to the UN.

Analysis

Israel’s prolonged Gaza war offers China strategic opportunity in Mideast

Israel’s continuous military operations in Gaza have likely offered China unexpected help in its rivalry against the US.

Andrea Ghiselli

By Andrea Ghiselli

In Shanghai, reporting on China in the Middle East

A Russian Sukhoi Su-35 fighter takes off during an air show at the Teknofest festival at Ataturk Airport in Istanbul on September 17, 2019.

Analysis

What Turkey's latest cruise missile means for defense industry, regional posture

Turkey’s cruise missile, which passed a new test this week, comes as a part of Turkish efforts to obtain a force multiplier in an increasingly unstable neighborhood.

Barin Kayaoglu

By Barin Kayaoglu

In Ankara, reporting on geopolitics and national security