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Politics & Security

People swim next to the Russian-flagged cargo ship OMSKIY-107, which was attacked off the Black Sea coast and eventually ran aground off the shore of the Sile district, Istanbul, Sept. 3, 2026.

Why Turkey has few options to protect Black Sea shipping

The Russia-Ukraine drone war is hitting Turkish commercial interests, exposing the limits of Ankara’s ability to protect shipping while remaining outside the conflict.

Erik Marmor

Analysis

Once Netanyahu’s top challenger, Bennett loses ground to Eisenkot: What to know

Facing the popular Gadi Eisenkot, the Together party of former premiers Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid is sinking in Israeli opinion polls.

Mazal Mualem

By Mazal Mualem

In Tel Aviv, reporting on politics

Yemeni separatists

Analysis

What does Houthi advance mean for Yemen’s southern separatists?

The Southern Transitional Council remains somewhat active in southern Yemen after its territorial defeat by the Saudi-backed government, and the Houthis are not interested in fighting the group at present.

Adam Lucente

By Adam Lucente

In New York City, reporting on regional news, militancy, climate change

boats and a container ship near the Strait of Bab al-Mandeb

Analysis

Houthi gains in Yemen are testing Saudi Arabia’s security strategy

The advance toward Bab al-Mandeb threatens a vital Saudi oil route and risks drawing Riyadh back into a Yemen war it has spent years trying to leave.

Francesco Schiavi

By Francesco Schiavi

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

Latest News

Iran, misreading Trump’s resolve, escalates conflict in Yemen ahead of US midterms

Supporters of the Iran-backed Houthi movement, arrive with their weapons to rally in solidarity with Iran and Lebanon, in Sanaa on April 8, 2026, following the announcement of a ceasefire in the Middle East war.

Analysis

As Houthis seize Bab el-Mandeb, Iran appraises value of new Red Sea card

Fighters loyal to the Houthi authorities gather in Sanaa on Sept. 10, 2026.

A correspondent in Tehran

By A correspondent in Tehran

In Tehran, reporting on politics

Claude AI used for missile, influence projects in UAE, Iran, Yemen: Anthropic

member of the Saudi-backed Yemeni government forces firing a heavy machine gun

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

A couple walks past billboards with the portrait of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (L) and with the portrait of Republican People's Party (CHP) leader and presidential candidate, Kemal Kilicdaroglu (R) in Sanliurfa, south-eastern Turkey on April 28, 2023. (Photo by OZAN KOSE / AFP) (Photo by OZAN KOSE/AFP via Getty Images)

Turkey's 3.5 million expats vote in high numbers as HDP endorses Kilicdaroglu

The millions of Turkish nationals residing abroad have begun heading to the ballot boxes, and their absentee ballots could sway the outcome of the crucial May 14 polls.

Children offer flowers to Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahianin during his visit to the southern Lebanese village of Maroun al-Ras near the border with Israel, on April 28, 2023. - Abdollahian called on Lebanon on April 27 to overcome political deadlock and elect a president, urging foreign governments not to interfere in the choice. (Photo by Mahmoud ZAYYAT / AFP) (Photo by MAHMOUD ZAYYAT/AFP via Getty Images)

Explosion in Beirut suburb as Iran FM tours Lebanon's border with Israel

The explosion occurred at an apartment belonging to a man previously arrested for manufacturing explosive devices and working with foreign agents.

KHALED ZIAD/AFP via Getty Images

Australian-flagged yacht shoots at Yemen coast guard it 'mistook for pirates'

Personnel aboard the yacht reportedly mistook the Yemeni coast guard for pirates, while the British navy said the incident was the result of "government activity" without elaborating further.

Plumes of smoke rise on the horizon in an area east of Khartoum as fighting continues between Sudan's army and the paramilitary forces, on April 28, 2023. - Fighting raged in Sudan, despite rival forces agreeing to extend a truce aimed to stem nearly two weeks of warfare that has killed hundreds and caused widespread destruction. (Photo by AFP) (Photo by -/AFP via Getty Images)

Turkey's evacuation plane comes under fire in Sudan

Fighting continues in Sudan despite several cease-fires efforts and mediation by Turkey and others.

A man gestures towards the media as people arrive at Stansted Airport from Sudan on April 27, 2023 in Stansted, Essex. The British government has coordinated a series of evacuation flights of British nationals from Khartoum, during a short ceasefire between rival military factions. (Photo by Leon Neal/Getty Images)

US to evacuate citizens in Sudan via overland convoy

An email to US citizens in Sudan said the government would assist their travel from Khartoum to Port Sudan in the coming days via an overland convoy.

Cherry blossoms bloom on the grounds of the U.S. Capitol on March 27, 2023 in Washington, DC.

Senate panel advances US ambassador nominees to UAE, Kuwait

The Foreign Relations Committee cleared the nominations for Karen Sasahara and Martina Anna Tkadlec Strong as US ambassadors to Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates, respectively.

Washington Pulse

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis attends a press conference at the Museum of Tolerance on April 27, 2023 in Jerusalem, Israel. Ron DeSantis, the Republican governor of Florida and an anticipated US presidential candidate, has been visiting several countries as part of a trade delegation. (Photo by Amir Levy/Getty Images)

In Israel, DeSantis slams Biden’s MidEast policies 'alienating the Saudis'

Visiting Israel, Ron DeSantis is set to meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has yet to be invited to the White House under President Joe Biden.

A soldier mans a machine gun mounted on an army vehicle during a Turkish and Russian military patrol in the countryside of Rumaylan (Rmeilan), in Syria's northeastern Hasakeh province bordering Turkey, on April 27, 2023. (Photo by Delil souleiman / AFP) (Photo by DELIL SOULEIMAN/AFP via Getty Images)

Syrian refugees abused, shot at by Turkey's border guards: HRW report

Syrian refugees are under mounting pressure in Turkey as the president seeks to mend ties with the Syrian government.

Families of wrongfully detained Americans hold a demonstration on May 4, 2022, in Washington, DC.

Iran IRGC unit hit with US sanctions for hostage-taking

The sanctions on Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Intelligence Organization come as several Americans remained unlawfully jailed in the country.

Lebanon Prime Minister Najib Mikati (R) and Iran's Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian meet in Beirut on October 7, 2021. (Photo by anwar amro / AFP) (Photo by ANWAR AMRO/AFP via Getty Images)

Iran FM in Lebanon, urges vote on president without 'foreign interference'

Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian held talks with Lebanese officials as the country faces a deepening political and economic crisis.

This photograph taken on Feb. 8, 2023, shows a large banner with a portrait of Belgian aid worker Olivier Vandecasteele.

Belgium looking into Iran's request for prisoner swap

Belgium and Iran seemingly advance toward a prisoner exchange deal, though Brussels is warning that contrary to Tehran’s statements this could take time.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan speaks via a video link at the opening of Turkey’s first nuclear power plant in Turkey’s Mediterranean port city of Mersin, April 27, 2023.

Turkey's Erdogan makes video appearance following health scare

After canceling a series of campaign events and travel over the past two days due to a health issue, Turkey's president seemed to be recovered but fatigued in a video appearance.