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Politics & Security

Iraqi Prime Minister-designate Ali al-Zaidi attends a meeting of the Coordination Framework political bloc in Baghdad on April 27, 2026.

Breaking | Last Updated: May 14, 2026, 2:05 pm

Iraq parliament approves government of Prime Minister Zaidi

Ali al-Zaidi, a prominent businessman with limited political experience, has backing from both the US and Iran.

Mazloum Kobane, commander-in-chief of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), speaks during the pan-Kurdish "Unity and Consensus" conference in Qamishli in northeastern Syria on April 26, 2025.

Interview

Syrian Kurdish commander Kobane says Turkey visit ‘in the making,’ Ocalan meeting possible

The SDF commander-in-chief reflected on a fragile integration deal with Damascus, growing Kurdish backlash and ongoing talks with Turkey as questions mount over Rojava’s political future.

Mazloum Kobane

Mazloum Kobane

SDF commander in chief

Latest News

Iran's IRGC holds anti-helicopter drills in Tehran: What to know

ATTA KENARE / AFP via Getty Images

Turkey, Armenia to launch direct trade in normalization push: What to know

Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, right, and Armenia’s Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan shake hands before a meeting at Prague Castle in Prague, Czech Republic, Thursday, Oct. 6, 2022.

In first, Lebanon files formal UN complaint against Iran: What to know

FADEL Itani / AFP via 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

Siamak Namazi

'The nightmare is over' as Americans freed from Iran reunite with families

Seven Americans released from Iran as part of a prisoner swap held tearful reunions with family members early Tuesday.

Bashar Al Assad

Syria’s Assad to visit China in first trip since 2004

The Syrian President and first lady will travel to China on the official invitation of President Xi Jinping, marking Beijing's increasing influence in the Middle East.

Red Sands

Pentagon expands counter-drone exercise with Saudi Arabia, eyeing Iran threat

US and Saudi forces teamed up to shoot down simulated complex drone attacks in the Saudi desert last week as Pentagon officials warn Iran is likely learning from Russia's use of one-way attack drones in Ukraine.

HUSSAM AHMED/AFP via Getty Images

In Libya, protesters hold Derna authorities responsible for deadly flood

Derna residents are blaming authorities for the massive torrent that devastated the city after two dams collapsed during a storm last week.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken attends breakfast with the foreign ministers of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) on September 18, 2023 in New York.

Blinken defends Iran prisoner swap at meeting with Gulf counterparts

The US secretary of state also touted the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor, seen as competition to China’s Belt and Road Initiative, ahead of the discussion with Gulf Cooperation Council member states.

Avi Ohaion/GPO

Hundreds protest as Netanyahu meets Elon Musk in San Francisco

Protests greeted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in California and many more are planned for New York City.

RAMI AL SAYED/AFP via Getty Images

Kurdish forces kill 14 pro-Turkey fighters in north Syria attack

The attack comes amid infighting between rebel factions loyal to Ankara in north Syria.

DANIEL SLIM/AFP via Getty Images

From Iran to Israel, 5 Middle East stories to watch at UNGA summit

The US agenda includes a long-sought meeting between President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Released American citizens landed in Qatar today.

Breaking | Last Updated: July 10, 2024, 12:33 pm

Iran frees 5 Americans in prisoner swap with US

A US-bound flight carrying a group of American detainees including Siamak Namazi, Morad Tahbaz and Emad Shargi left Iran on Monday.

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi delivers remarks at the 77th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) at U.N. headquarters on Sept. 21, 2022 in New York City.

Analysis

Will US-Iran prisoner exchange jumpstart diplomacy at UNGA?

Iran rejects IAEA inspectors; One year after the death of Mahsa Amini; Al-Monitor/Semafor "Middle East Global Summit" features King Abdullah of Jordan and Prime Minister Sudani of Iraq.

Week in Review

Andrew Parasiliti

By Week in Review , Andrew Parasiliti

SPENCER PLATT/AFP via Getty Images

Analysis

Erdogan's UNGA visit strained by Sweden's NATO delay, Turkey’s F-16s sale

President Erdogan’s visit to the United States is unlikely to overcome the current deadlock in the bilateral Turkey-US ties, but the Turkish leader is set to meet his Israeli and Greek counterparts in New York.

Ezgi Akin

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

Demonstrators hold placards reading "Women, Life, Freedom" as they demonstrate against the persecution of women in Iran, on Whitehall in central London on March 8, 2023.

Analysis

Mahsa Amini protests hardened Europe's view on Iran, but nuclear strategy unchanged

Experts believe that Iran's export of drones to Russia for the Ukraine war more fundamentally shifted European policy toward the Islamic Republic than the protests.

In Bristol, reporting on regional business, climate change, AI, tech