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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

ATTA KENARE/AFP via Getty Images

Iran's Raisi links regional dust storms to Western hegemony

Tehran recently hosted a regional summit on addressing the dust storms that have ravaged the area over the past two years.

A picture shows the site where a US drone targeted Maher al-Agal, a leader in the Islamic State militant group, near the village of Khaltan, near Jindires in northern Syria, on July 12, 2022.

US kills top Islamic State leader in Syria, Pentagon says

Syria's Kurdish-led forces alleged Maher al-Aghal was also affiliated with Turkey-backed opposition group Ahrar al-Sharqiya.

JACK GUEZ/AFP via Getty Images

Gantz makes play for Israeli premiership with party merger

The merger between Blue and White and New Hope might offer Benny Gantz a shot at becoming prime minister after the Nov. 1 elections.

US Vice President Joe Biden (L) holds a joint press conference with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas after their meeting at the presidential compound, Ramallah, West Bank, March 10, 2010.

Palestinians have low expectations for Biden trip to region

Although US President Joe Biden will meet with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah, Palestinians expect little to come from the meeting.

US flag ironed

Israel puts finishing touches on preparations for Biden visit

Jerusalem has been decorated with 1,000 American and Israeli flags ahead of US President Joe Biden's arrival tomorrow.

Members of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly visit the Knesset, Jerusalem, July 7, 2022.

Israel redefines ties with NATO as security provider

During a visit of a NATO parliamentary delegation, Israel showcased high tech capabilities.

OMAR HAJ KADOUR/AFP via Getty Images

UN Security Council extends Syria cross-border aid for six months

Aid agencies say the short-term extension puts more than 4 million Syrian lives on the line.

Iraqi Aqeel Hassan, one of the owners of private electric generators, is pictured on July 17, 2021, at his business in Baghdad's Sadr City.

Iraq diversifies, expands sources of energy and electricty

Iraq is looking to Arab partners to help expand energy production and imports to meet summer demand.

Israeli Minister of Transportation Merav Michaeli arrives to attend the first weekly cabinet meeting of the new government in Jerusalem, on June 20, 2021.

Israeli leftist parties enter elections with weak hand

The way things look now, joining the coalition didn’t do any good for Meretz and the Labor parties, who have so far failed to enlarge their electoral support.

Sudan's President of the Transitional Sovereignty Council Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan.

Opposition skeptical of concession by Sudan military leader

The country’s military leader proposed a change in the structures created after the coup, but his plans have been widely rejected as it maintains the army’s power and privileges.

Debris from a destroyed car litter the street at the scene of an explosion near a grocery store, following bombardment at in Ukraine's second city Kharkiv on April 18, 2022.

US: Iran aims to send drones to Russia for use in Ukraine

White House releases intel linking Iran to Russia's war on Ukraine just days before President Joe Biden is set to meet Israeli, Arab leaders.

A picture taken on February 18, 2017, shows a general view of a bridge in the Iranian city of Ahvaz during a sandstorm.

UAE, Iran to cooperate to fight dust storms

Dust storms in the region have been severe.