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Politics & Security

Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman looks on upon his arrival during a welcome ceremony as part of his two-day official visit to France, at the Hotel des Invalides, Paris, France, Aug. 24, 2026.

Saudi Arabia’s MBS visits Egypt as Red Sea crisis with Houthis escalates

Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman visits Egypt at a time the kingdom faces repeated Houthi attacks, while the Iranian-backed rebels close in on the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, threatening maritime security.

Mecca

In first, Saudi Arabia activates Mecca warning system amid Houthi threat

Saudi Arabia activated emergency alerts in the holy city for the first time since Yemen's Houthi group intensified its drone and missile attacks on the kingdom.

Milak border crossing near the town of Zabol, Iran

Third Sunni cleric killed in Iran’s Sistan and Baluchistan Province: What to know

Iran says it is stepping up its crackdown on armed groups in the impoverished province as Sunni clerics have been reported killed there and in the predominantly Kurdish northwest.

Win McNamee/Getty Images

CENTCOM chief meets Saudi Arabia's MBS amid Houthi gains in Yemen

The low-profile meeting between the Pentagon's commander in the Middle East and Saudi crown prince comes as Yemen's Houthis seized the high ground overlooking a vital economic waterway.

Latest News

Why Turkey has few options to protect Black Sea shipping

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.

Analysis

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

Erik Marmor

Mazal Mualem

By Mazal Mualem

In Tel Aviv, reporting on politics

Analysis

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

Yemeni separatists

Adam Lucente

By Adam Lucente

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

Analysis

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

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

Francesco Schiavi

By Francesco Schiavi

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

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

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, right, meets with US Ambassador to Turkey and Special Envoy to Syria Tom Barrack, in Baabda, east of Beirut, July 7, 2025.

Analysis

Lebanon key to Trump plan for turnaround in Middle East

The final "This Week" column reflects on US policy toward Lebanon, Syria, Iraq and Gaza.

Andrew Parasiliti

By Andrew Parasiliti

Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Sharren Haskel meets with South Sudanese President Salva Kiir in Juba on Aug. 13, 2025.

Israeli envoy meets South Sudan president as Juba denies Gaza resettlement report

Israel’s deputy foreign minister, Sharren Haskel, visited South Sudan amid reports that the two countries are discussing resettling Gazans there.

Sudan's army chief Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan.

Sudan’s army chief meets Trump adviser amid US peace push: Reports

The meeting is just the latest in a series of international attempts at mediating an end to the Sudanese civil war, all of which have failed to yield a lasting agreement.

Iran's Supreme National Security Council chief Ali Larijani (C) speaks to reporters after meeting with Lebanon's parliament speaker in Beirut on Aug. 13, 2025.

Iran’s Larijani in Lebanon as Beirut, Tehran spar over Hezbollah disarmament

The visit of Iran’s top security chief Ali Larijani to Beirut comes amid tensions between Lebanon and Iran following the approval of a plan to disarm the Iranian-backed Hezbollah, which also rejected the move and vowed not to give up its weapons.

turkey syria pact

Turkey, Syria ink defense cooperation deal as Ankara ups pressure on Kurdish-led SDF

The military agreement comes amid Ankara’s warnings to the Pentagon-allied and Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces over their refusal to integrate into Syria’s army.

Demonstrators gather during an anti-government protest calling for action to secure the release of Israeli hostages held captive in the Gaza Strip.

Israeli universities, tech firms, cities to join strike over Netanyahu’s Gaza takeover plan

An increasing number of institutions and businesses are allowing their employees to join the general strike planned for Sunday, in protest of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s plan to take control of Gaza City.

South Africa and Iranian military officials.

Iran hosts South Africa military chief, eyes stronger defense ties

Iran is seeking closer relations with South Africa as part of its African outreach efforts, though trade and defense ties between the two countries are not particularly strong.

Turkish Defense Minister Yasar Guler met with Saddam Hifter, commander of the Libyan National Army’s ground forces, on the sidelines of IDEF25 defense fair in Ankara, on July 23, 2025.

Libya’s Khalifa Hifter names son Saddam second-in-command: What to know

Saddam Hifter’s appointment as deputy general commander of the Libyan National Army positions him as a key power player in eastern Libya amid ongoing political division.

YASIN AKGUL/AFP via Getty Images

Opposition slams Erdogan after 9 killed in deadly week for Turkish women

Activists say the government’s rollback of legal protections and state-backed religious sermons are fueling gender-based violence and restricting women’s freedom.

Wadani party presidential candidate Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi, also known as Irro, speaks during a press conference on Nov. 10, 2024, ahead of the 2024 Somaliland presidential election.

Somaliland leader to visit Washington as US weighs recognition: What to know

Somaliland, whose independence from Somalia remains unrecognized internationally, is reaching out to the Trump administration with strategic offers — including discussions about hosting displaced Gazans — to secure US recognition.

Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi, Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Al-Shaibani, and US Special Envoy for Syria Thomas Barrack meet in Amman on July 19, 2025.

Kurds, Damascus resume talks as Syria, Jordan FMs meet US envoy in Amman

The meeting aims to address growing unrest and political demands amid Syria’s fragile efforts to rebuild.

A protestor holds a placard of Istanbul's detained Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu as they listen to the leader of Turkey's main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) Ozgur Ozel during a rally protesting the 100th day of his detention at Sarachane Square in Istanbul on July 1, 2025. (Photo by Yasin AKGUL / AFP) (Photo by YASIN AKGUL/AFP via Getty Images)

Turkey detains 30 as government crackdown on opposition deepens: What to know

Detainees include officials from Istanbul and Antalya municipalities and their family members as part of an ongoing corruption investigation into the Republican People’s Party (CHP) that critics say is politically motivated.