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Politics & Security

Fires are lit as protesters rally on Jan. 8, 2026 in Tehran, Iran.

Analysis

Bruised, not broken: Iran’s regime shows no deep structural cracks — yet

One of the clearest indicators of regime vulnerability — namely defections among the elite or military positions — has not materialized yet.

A correspondent in Tehran

By A correspondent in Tehran

In Tehran, reporting on politics

Turkey's Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan listens to Iran's foreign minister during a joint press conference, in Tehran on Nov. 30, 2025.

Turkey's Fidan to visit UAE as Iran unrest, Gulf tensions intensify

The top Turkish diplomat’s UAE visit coincides with heightened Gaza diplomacy, growing tensions between Riyadh and Abu Dhabi, and escalating unrest in Iran.

Algerian Foreign Minister Ramtane Lamamra speaks to the press with US Secretary of State John Kerry (unseen) during a press conference as part of the US/ Algeria Strategic Dialogue at the State Department in Washington, on April 8, 2015.

UN envoy in Cairo for talks as Sudan war tops 1,000 days: What to know

UN-led efforts to end Sudan’s war have stalled, with fighting continuing and negotiations making little headway.

Members of the Kurdish forces hold a portrait of Turkish Defense Minister Yasar Guler which reads "Shame on the killers of innocents in the Sheikh Maqsoud neighborhood" during a protest by Syrian Kurds against violence they say was committed by Syrian government forces during recent clashes in Aleppo's Kurdish neighbourhoods, in the Kurdish-controlled northeastern city of Qamishli on Jan. 13, 2026.

Syria declares 'closed military zone' east of Aleppo as Kurds protest

The Syrian government accused the Kurdish-led SDF of mobilizing in the area, reflecting ongoing turmoil following a ceasefire.

Latest News

CENTCOM opens air defense cell at Qatar's Al Udeid base: What to know

A Patriot missile battery is seen near Prince Sultan air base at al-Kharj on Feb. 20, 2020.

Syria’s Sharaa heads to Davos, ending years of global isolation

President of Syria Ahmed al-Shara arrives for the 80th session of the UN’s General Assembly (UNGA) at UN Headquarters on Sept. 23, 2025 in New York City. — Alexi J. Rosenfeld/Getty Images

US designates Muslim Brotherhood chapters as terrorist organizations: What to know

Egyptians hold a plaque of the Muslim Brotherhood emblem which was removed from the party's burnt headquarters in the Moqattam district of Cairo on July 1, 2013 after it was set ablaze by opposition demonstrators overnight. Egypt's opposition gave Islamist Mohamed Morsi a day to quit or face civil disobedience after deadly protests demanded the country's first democratically elected president step down after just a year in office. AFP PHOTO / KHALED DESOUKI (Photo credit should read KHALED DESOUKI/AFP via G

IRGC to Majlis: Who are central players in Iran's regime?

People cross a street next to a billboard bearing the portrait of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and a quote that reads "Sing Oh Iran" in Tehran on July, 9, 2025.

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

OMAR HAJ KADOUR/AFP via Getty Images

Syrian al-Qaeda affiliate, HTS offshoot Hurras al-Din dissolves: What we know

Hurras al-Din, which split from Hayat Tahrir al-Sham after the latter distanced itself from al-Qaeda, had led attacks against Syrian government forces and Russian interests in Syria.

khamenei

Iran's Khamenei cautiously leaves door open for diplomacy with Trump

In his latest statements, Ali Khamenei did not rule out talks with the United States, marking a shift from his uncompromising anti-US approach in recent years.

US President Donald Trump greets Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as he arrives for meeting on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, DC, Jan. 27, 2020.

Trump invites Netanyahu to White House as envoy visits Saudi Arabia, Israel

President Donald Trump has invited Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to visit the White House on Feb. 4, making the Israeli premier the first foreign leader to be invited to the White House in Trump’s second term.

An Israeli soldier stands guard at the Hermon ski resort, bordering Syria and Lebanon, during a media tour organized by the spokesman of the Israeli army, in the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights on Jan. 8, 2025.

Israeli defense minister: Troops could stay in Syria buffer zone 'indefinitely'

The Israeli military is gearing up to stay on the Syrian side of Mount Hermon and in the buffer zone on the Israel-Syria border at least throughout the winter.

LAURENS VAN PUTTEN/ANP/AFP via Getty Images

Senate blocks ICC sanctions bill after Israel arrest warrants

Democrats in the Senate voted on Tuesday to block a bill to place US sanctions on the International Criminal Court, which in November issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.

Ayse Barim

Turkey arrests prominent talent agent over 2013 Gezi protests

Ayse Barim’s arrest reflects a broader campaign to silence dissent, government critics say.

SAEED JARAS/Middle East Images/AFP via Getty Images

Analysis

Netanyahu teeters between Trump’s demand to end war, coalition threats

The Israeli right says Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu caved to Hamas by allowing hundreds of thousands of Gazans to return to the north.

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

A Russian ship is pictured in front of fleet replenishment oiler Ivan Bubnov (L) at the Russian naval base in the port of Tartus, Syria, Sept. 26, 2019.

Russian delegation in Syria as Moscow scrambles to secure military presence

The visit marks the first since the fall of President Bashar al-Assad, who had been Moscow's key ally in Syria.

Lebanon

Lebanon says 26 killed as Israeli forces fire on residents returning to south

Clashes that began on Sunday between Israeli forces and Lebanese civilians attempting to return to their towns in southern Lebanon continued into Monday, killing at least 26 people.

US Navy via Getty Images

Iran confirms purchase of Russia’s Sukhoi-35 fighter jets: What we know

Iran and Russia have grown closer since the start of the Ukraine war as the two countries face international sanctions.

Turkey's Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan gives a joint press conference with his Iraqi counterpart after their meeting in Baghdad on Jan. 26, 2025.

Defense ties, Syria top Turkey's Fidan visit to Saudi Arabia

The visit by Turkey's top diplomat aimed to strengthen regional cooperation on Syria and enhance defense ties between Ankara and Riyadh.

Residents walk through the rubble in the streets, in Al-Balad, Rafah, on January 20, 2025.

Analysis

As it eyes reconstruction role in Gaza, will Turkey remedy ties with Israel?

Turkey wants to increase its role in Gaza during the post-ceasefire process despite uncertainties and geopolitical complexities.

Barin Kayaoglu

By Barin Kayaoglu

In Ankara, reporting on geopolitics and national security