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Politics & Security

Members of Iran's Basij paramilitary force march

Analysis

As Iran regime marks 200 days of war, is it also preparing for dissent?

Seven months into the war with the US, Iranian authorities staged a pro-government mobilization in Tehran, combining patriotic spectacle with a carefully calibrated demonstration aimed for domestic internal security capacity.

A correspondent in Tehran

By A correspondent in Tehran

In Tehran, reporting on politics

Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani visits Latakia airport on Sept. 18, 2026.

Syria’s Shibani visits Latakia airport to review Russia deal progress: What to know

Syria is seeking to ensure that the August deal to turn Russian facilities in the country into joint training centers is implemented.

Hibatullah Barakat / Middle East Images / AFP via Getty Images

Lebanon charges 5 in alleged Hezbollah operation to train Assad loyalists

A Lebanese military court has charged the five, including an Assad-era Syrian officer and Hezbollah members, with running a cross-border security network planning attacks in Syria’s coastal region.

Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman looks on as he attends a trade agreement signature ceremony at the Elysee Palace in Paris on August 24, 2026. (Photo by LOU BENOIST / POOL / AFP via Getty Images)

Analysis

How Netanyahu is leveraging Houthi threat in secret Saudi normalization push

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is trying to capitalize on Riyadh's need for intelligence assistance to make normalization headway ahead of the October elections.

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

Latest News

Former Assad official sentenced to 60 years in US for torture

Mario Tama/Getty Images

Interview

Yemen separatists urge US not to let Saudi Arabia ‘call the shots’

Yemenis gather during a rally to show their support for the UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council (STC) in the coastal port city of Aden, on December 14, 2025. (Saleh Al-OBEIDI / AFP via Getty Images)

Trump administration approves $24B sale of F-35 jets to Saudi Arabia

A US Air Force F-35 fifth-generation jet fighter takes off during the NATO's Ramsteign Flag 2025 exercise at Leeuwarden Air Base on April 8, 2025.

US sanctions Iranian crypto exchange BitBank over Hormuz payments

A pedestrian passes by the Treasury Building in Washington, DC on Jan. 18, 2023.

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

Ukraine grain 2732

Ukraine, Russia grain talks in Turkey stir optimism as UN voices caution

Turkey’s defense chief has announced Russia and Ukraine are set to sign an understanding over a series of “fundamental technical” issues that the warring parties agreed on during today’s talk in Istanbul.

US President Joe Biden disembarks from his plane upon landing at Ben Gurion Airport,

Analysis

The Takeaway: Biden opens ‘new chapter’ with Middle East trip

Energy company touts oil for food for Syria; Ukraine’s ambassador in Turkey talks Russia; Iran’s unprecedented inflation; oil stoves make comeback in Lebanon; Sudanese civilians skeptical of moves by military leaders; and more.

Elizabeth Hagedorn

Andrew Parasiliti

By Elizabeth Hagedorn , Andrew Parasiliti

Turkish President and leader of the Justice and Development Party Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Turkey’s ruling party members stick with Erdogan

Despite growing public discontent, senior members of Turkey's ruling party stick with President Erdogan.

Kadhimi

Iraqi prime minister sets objectives for regional summit

Amid longstanding political deadlock and economic and environmental challenges, Iraqi prime minister Mustafa Kadhimi is attending the GCC +3 Summit in Saudi Arabia.

Health care workers protest, calling on the government to improve working conditions in Ankara, on May 29, 2022.

Murder of Turkish doctor spurs rage against Turkey’s beleaguered health sector

The brutal shooting of a cardiologist in a conservative central Anatolian city has pitted the health sector not only against the government but also the General Directorate of Religious Affairs.

Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi.

Raisi says Iran will not retreat on demands in nuclear talks

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi says that his country will not back down on its positions in the nuclear deal negotiations.

Kobi Gideon/GPO

Biden visit offers Israel's Lapid secure platform to address Palestinian issue

The American pressure on Israel to make goodwill gestures to the Palestinians before President Joe Biden arrived empowered Prime Minister Yair Lapid to advance steps that would otherwise have been difficult for him to take.

Biden lands in Tel Aviv

Biden arrives in Israel

Israeli official sources said yesterday the centerpiece of President Joe Biden’s visit to Israel would be an unprecedented Jerusalem Declaration, outlining the strategic partnership between the two countries.

Palestinians celebrate the release of hundreds of prisoners following a swap with captured Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit on October 18, 2011, in Gaza City.

Israeli activist in Gaza to revive prisoners file

In a rare move, Hamas allowed an Israeli activist to enter Gaza for talks with the movement’s leaders on the possibility of reaching a prisoner swap deal after Hamas’ military wing posted a video clip of one of its Israeli prisoners lying sick in a hospital bed.

A large screen shows a news program featuring Chinese President Xi Jinping speaking at the opening of the virtual BRICS Summit.

Iran weighs benefits of BRICS membership

While joining the bloc has its upsides, it will be extremely difficult for Tehran to get full benefits from BRICS without the complete lifting of Western sanctions.

Erdogan Putin

Erdogan, Putin set to meet in Tehran

The Turkish, Iranian and Russian leaders are set to meet in Tehran next week amid lingering Turkish threats against Syrian Kurdish groups. Putin and Erdogan will separately discuss the Ukrainian grain crisis.

This picture taken on July 6, 2022, shows a mural depicting slain Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh.

Senators seek answers on US review of Shireen Abu Akleh's death

Senators Van Hollen, Leahy, Murphy and Durbin said the US review “hardly constitutes an independent investigation into the overall circumstances of her killing.”