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Politics & Security

Oman's Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr Albusaidi (L) and US President Donald Trump pose during a summit on Gaza in Sharm el-Sheikh on October 13, 2025.

Trump threatens to 'blow up' Oman as US-Iran talks stall

“Oman will behave just like everybody else, or we will have to blow them up,” Trump said in surprising comments on Wednesday.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, (R) shakes hands with Viktor Orban, Hungary's prime minister, during a news conference on April 3, 2025 in Budapest, Hungary.

With Hungary’s ICC U-turn, Israel loses a key European ally

Hungary’s parliament voted to remain in the International Criminal Court, reversing a planned withdrawal and marking a shift in Budapest’s approach to Israel and the EU.

Iraqis walk past portraits of Iraqi Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, including one on a banner calling for a boycott of the upcoming parliamentary elections in Sadr City, east of Baghdad on October 29, 2025. Parliamentary elections are scheduled to be held in Iraq on 11 November 2025, which will determine the 329 members of Iraq's Council of Representatives, who are responsible for electing the country's president and approving the appointment of the prime minister. (Photo by AHMAD AL-RUBAYE / AFP) (Photo by

Iraq’s Sadr moves to place his militia under state control: What to know

Muqtada al-Sadr is the first militia leader to heed new Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi’s call to place weapons in the hands of the state as US pressure continues.

Omar AL-QATTAA / AFP via Getty Images

Who was Mohammed Odeh, Hamas military commander killed by Israel in Gaza?

Odeh was killed in a Tuesday strike in the Palestinian enclave just days after he assumed his leadership position.

Latest News

White House calls Iranian report on Hormuz, MOU 'complete fabrication'

Vessels are seen anchored in the Strait of Hormuz, off the port city of Khasab on Oman's northern Musandam Peninsula on May 17, 2026.

Jared Szuba

In Washington, DC, reporting on defense, national security, military

Analysis

'Very bad news’: Israel alarmed as Trump pushes ahead toward Iran deal

Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

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

Israel strikes near Lebanon’s Qaraoun dam as war intensifies: What to know

A partial view shows a drainage vacuum hole on the lake of Qaraoun in Lebanon's southern Beqaa Valley on April 5, 2019.

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

Syria’s interim Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani meets with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara on Jan. 15, 2025.

Turkey urges Syria's new leaders to take action against SDF

Turkey’s top diplomat called for strengthened counterterrorism cooperation following a landmark meeting with his Syrian counterpart.

Ahmed al-Mansour

Syria arrests Egyptian Islamist who threatened to overthrow Sisi

Wanted Egyptian Ahmed al-Mansour was arrested by Syria’s transitional authorities.

The Iranian Navy has taken delivery of Zagros, a domestically-developed destroyer

Iran’s navy unveils Zagros, its first intel-monitoring vessel: What we know

The vessel delivered to Iran's navy on Wednesday is the latest addition to country's domestic military capabilities.

Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) commander-in-chief Mazloum Kobane waves after giving a press conference in Syria's northeastern city of Hasakeh on Dec. 6, 2024.

Exclusive

Iraqi Kurdish leader Barzani to meet Syria SDF commander Kobane in historic step

Iraqi Kurdish leader Masoud Barzani will meet SDF commander Mazlum Kobane in a major step toward easing regional tensions and advancing US-backed reconciliation efforts.

Amberin Zaman

By Amberin Zaman

Reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture

US President-elect Donald Trump's nominee for secretary of defense, Pete Hegseth, speaks during a Senate Armed Services confirmation hearing on Capitol Hill on Jan. 14, 2025, in Washington, DC.

Hegseth stresses support for Israel as Senate Dems grill Trump’s Pentagon pick

In a contentious hearing, the former Fox News host signaled a loosening of rules of engagement for troops abroad and stressed his "robust" support for Israel, yet offered few specifics on how he would tackle the Pentagon’s biggest challenges.

Russian President Vladimir Putin meets with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on the sidelines of the BRICS summit in Kazan on Oct. 23, 2024.

Iran, Russia set to sign partnership deal: What we know

While the deal has been drafted with the stated goal of reshaping the trajectory of bilateral ties, questions remain over its regional implications, fueled by concerns in Iran over national interests being compromised.

DAMASCUS, SYRIA - DECEMBER 30: Syria's newly appointed Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shibani during a press conference after a meeting between the Syrian leadership and a Ukrainian delegation to help strengthen ties between the two countries on December 30, 2024 in Damascus, Syria. Syria is transitioning after the fall of the Baath regime and the Assad family's rule, with a temporary administration now in place in Damascus and Aleppo. (Photo by Ali Haj Suleiman/Getty Images)

Syria's top diplomat set to pay first visit to Turkey on Wednesday: What we know

Experts believe that Turkey’s and other regional countries’ security concerns will be key agenda items during the visit.

A member of Syria's transitional government security forces calls the names of persons queueing up at a center for handing over small arms and security registration with the new authorities, in Damascus, on Dec. 24, 2024.

Pro-Assad militias clash with Syria security in Latakia: What we know

The incident, which left two members of the transitional security forces dead, marks the latest violent challenge to the new rulers' grip on power in Syria.

ICJ

Who is Julia Sebutinde, pro-Israel judge in line for ICJ presidency?

The International Court of Justice’s vice president, Julia Sebutinde, seems likely to fill the shoes of outgoing head Nawaf Salam.

An Israeli soldier looks at a memorial wall for Israeli people and soldiers who were killed since the Oct. 7 deadly Hamas attack.

Here are main Netanyahu and Hamas compromises in proposed Gaza deal

Details are beginning to surface about a potential deal between Israel and Hamas for the release of hostages and a ceasefire in Gaza.

Trump and Netanyahu

Analysis

As Gaza deal looms, will Netanyahu choose Trump or Israel’s far right?

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu seems to be finding it difficult to play the same stalling game with President-elect Donald Trump he has been playing for months with President Joe Biden.

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

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan gestures as he speaks during the presentation of the Justice and Development Party's (AK Party) election manifesto at the AKP Congress Center in Ankara, on Jan. 30, 2024.

Turkey’s ruling party hits out at Israel’s support for Kurdish-led SDF

Ankara breaks its silence as Erdogan’s ruling party delivers the first official response to Israel’s support for the Kurdish-led SDF.