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Politics & Security

US President Donald Trump meets with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa at the White House, Nov. 10, 2025.

Trump demands end to clashes with Kurds in call with Syria's Sharaa

US President Donald Trump called Syria’s interim president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, and secured a pledge from the leader to not enter al-Hasakeh as Syrian forces clashed with the Kurdish-led SDF.

DAMASCUS, SYRIA - JANUARY 18: Syrian President Ahmed Al-Sharaa signs a ceasefire agreement with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) on January 18, 2026 in Damascus, Syria. According to Syrian state media, the deal includes a handover of Deir ez-Zor and Raqqa governates into government control, and the full integration of SDF fighters into state institutions. It follows the government's recent push towards the key city of Raqqa, after SDF fighters withdrew from Aleppo amid deadly clashes over the

Erdogan welcomes Syria-SDF agreement, urges full implementation

Turkey has welcomed the agreement as key to domestic peace efforts with the outlawed Kurdish militants.

Pedestrians make their way along a path at Tehran Grand Bazaar, on Jan. 18, 2026 in Tehran, Iran.

Iran blackout enters 12th day as filtered internet reveals crackdown

Nearly 4,000 people have been killed in the protests in Iran, as videos emerging amid limited access to internet show the scale of the crackdown launched by security forces.

Syrian government troops stand guard next to a burning tyre along a street of Tabqa, in Raqa province, on the southwestern banks of the Euphrates on Jan. 18, 2026.

Bowing to US pressure, Syrian military advances, Kurdish-led SDF agrees to Sharaa's terms

Syrian government forces rapidly retook Raqqa and key eastern territories from the US-backed SDF, prompting a ceasefire agreement that effectively restores Damascus’ control over much of Syria’s oil-rich northeast.

Latest News

Analysis

Turkey braces for Iran fallout: Trade disruptions, refugees and shifting geopolitics

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi (R) speaks with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan (L) during the 51st session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation in Istanbul, on June 21, 2025.

Barin Kayaoglu

By Barin Kayaoglu

In Ankara, reporting on geopolitics and national security

Feature

Bodies for ransom: Iranians fleeing to Turkey recount regime crackdown, retribution

TEHRAN, IRAN - JANUARY 12: Security forces are seen during a pro-government rally on January 12, 2026 in Tehran, Iran. Tens of thousands of demonstrators gathered in Tehran's Enqelab Square on Monday, as Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, speaker of the Iranian parliament, made a speech denouncing western intervention in Iran, following ongoing anti-government protests. In recent days, US President Donald Trump has repeatedly threatened military action if Iranian security forces kill protesters. (Photo by Stringer/G

Ezgi Akin

In Ankara, reporting on diplomacy, EU-Turkey ties, NATO

Trump tempers threats, 'thanks' Iran for halting protester executions

US President Donald Trump departs Air Force One after arriving at Palm Beach International Airport on Jan. 16, 2026.

Trump's Venezuela buildup delays US aircraft carrier, raising stakes of Iran strike

A US Navy officer walks past fighter jets parked on the flight deck of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham, Kuala Lumpur, Nov. 26, 2024

Jared Szuba

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

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

DELIL SOULEIMAN/AFP via Getty Images

Analysis

Russia ups mediation efforts between Turkey, Syria as Assad drags feet

While Turkey is embracing Russia's role in attempting to mediate between Ankara and Damascus, the Syrian government wants a timetable for Turkey withdrawing its troops from the country.

Amberin Zaman

By Amberin Zaman

Reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture

A group of protesters hold placards reading "Yankee go Home - No way to USA," in Istanbul, on April 14, 2021.

Turkish ultranationalists arrested after accosting US Marines in Izmir

A mob of provocateurs of the Turkish Youth Union assaulted two US Marines while they visited the port city, shouting "Yankee go home" and thrusting a bag over the head of one of the Marines.

This pool image distributed by Sputnik agency on September 4, 2023, shows Russian President Vladimir Putin seeing off his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan after their talks in Sochi. (Photo by Sergei KARPUKHIN / POOL / AFP) (Photo by SERGEI KARPUKHIN/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Turkey, NATO member, in process of joining BRICS

Turkey’s bid to join the bloc is welcome news to both Russia and China.

Protesters attend a rally on the second day of demonstrations demanding a Gaza deal on September 2, 2024 in Tel Aviv, Israel. After the bodies of six Israeli kidnap victims were recovered from tunnels beneath Gaza at the weekend, the Hostages and Missing Families Forum supported protests in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv demanding that Netanyahu justies the delay in signing the ceasefire deal due to the addition of new conditions. (Photo by Amir Levy/Getty Images)

Analysis

With defiant statement, has Israel's Netanyahu sealed Gaza hostages' fate?

Like hundreds of thousands of Israelis, the Biden administration is getting desperate to convince Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to accept a deal with Hamas.

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

JOSEPH EID/AFP via Getty Images

Lebanon arrests ex-Central Bank chief Riad Salameh on embezzlement charges

The former governor was placed under arrest after lengthy interrogation over his alleged involvement in the embezzlement of more than $40 million.

Benjamin Netanyahu Congress

Netanyahu calls UK decision to halt arms export licenses to Israel 'shameful'

After the announcement by the British government of suspending 30 arms export licenses to Israel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accuses London of bolstering Hamas.

Turkish police special forces take position near the police headquarters in Istanbul, Turkey, April 1, 2015.

Turkey arrests alleged Mossad operative running money network

Turkey has detained an individual accused of funding the Israeli intelligence service Mossad’s activities in Syria.

Pro-Israel demonstrators stage a counterprotest around an Oxfam installation.

UK halts 30 arms export licenses to Israel, citing Gaza concerns

After reviewing all the licenses issued or extended in recent months for arms exports to Israel, the British government decided to suspend 30 of them.

Rina Bassist

By Rina Bassist , Jack Dutton

US President Joe Biden steps off Marine One in Washington, on Sept. 2, 2024.

Biden takes jab at Netanyahu over handling of hostage deal talks

US President Joe Biden believes Netanyahu is not doing enough to secure a hostage deal, amid growing frustration inside Israel following the recovery of six hostages killed inside Gaza.

Passengers wait for flights at Ben-Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv during a nationwide strike, Sept. 2, 2024.

General strike in Israel as thousands protest for Gaza hostage deal

Labor unions across Israel announced a general strike Monday, to enable their people to demonstrate against the government, in calls to conclude a deal to bring back the hostages.

China's foreign minister, Wang Yi (R), shakes hands with Saudi Arabia's foreign minister, Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al-Saud, before a family photo for the attendees of a meeting of foreign ministers from Arab and Muslim-majority nations at the Diaoyutai State Guest House in Beijing on November 20, 2023.

How significant is PIF's $50B China investment for Saudi ties?

Though Riyadh continues its efforts toward economic integration with Beijing, it still seeks to balance relations with both Beijing and Washington.

MBS Erdogan

Saudi, Turkish leaders call for pressure on Israel to end Gaza war

The two countries have repeatedly called for an end of the war in the Gaza Strip since it erupted last October.