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Politics & Security

Syrian Kurds lift placards and flags during a rally calling for an autonomous administration and Kurdish rights in Syria's predominantly Kurdish northeastern city of Qamishli, on Sept. 17, 2025.

Ankara: Jailed PKK chief favors unitary Syria, no separate Kurdish defense force

The militant leader called for “police-like” security units in Syrian Democratic Forces areas during his landmark meeting with a Turkish parliamentary delegation, according to a transcript summary.

Lebanon's President Joseph Aoun delivers a speech during a meeting of Pope Leo XIV with authorities, civil society and diplomatic corps at the presidential palace in Baabda, east of the capital Beirut, on November 30, 2025. (Photo by Andreas SOLARO / AFP via Getty Images)

Lebanon, Israel to hold second round of direct talks: What we know

While Israel and Lebanon continue talks, Israeli airstrikes have persisted and Hezbollah shows no sign of complying with disarmament requirements.

Fighters affiliated with Yemen's separatist Southern Transitional Council (STC) man a position as they deploy amid tensions in the southern port city of Aden, on February 3, 2022, after Washington announced sending a warship and fighter jets to help defend its Gulf allies as conflict with Yemeni rebels intensifies. (Photo by Saleh Al-OBEIDI / AFP) (Photo by SALEH AL-OBEIDI/AFP via Getty Images)

Yemen's STC separatists advance in Hadramout as UAE-Saudi rift grows

The fighting between the UAE-backed southern separatists and Saudi-aligned tribal forces, nominal allies against the Houthis, has raised concerns about the division of Yemen.

Simon Karam

Who is Simon Karam, head of Lebanon’s delegation to talks with Israel?

Karam is a veteran diplomat and a legal scholar who served as Lebanon’s ambassador to the United States from 1992 to 1993.

Latest News

US pressure prompted Israel-Lebanon talks to avert war with Hezbollah

US deputy Middle East envoy Morgan Ortagus speaks during a United Nations Security Council meeting on the situation in Gaza, at UN headquarters in New York, on Sept. 18, 2025.

Lebanon and Israel hold first direct talks in decades: What to know

A view of a concrete wall built by Israel near the Blue Line in southwest Yaroun, Lebanon, on Nov. 13, 2025.

Iran currency dips to new low of 1.2M per dollar as sanctions bite: What to know

currency exchange in Tehran

Turkey defense firms break record with $10B in revenues: SIPRI

Chris McGrath/Getty Images

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

Pentagon Correspondent

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

An undated image of Saad Ibrahim Almadi.

Saudi Arabia lifts travel ban on US citizen Saad Almadi

Almadi's release comes during Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's visit to Washington.

Israeli soldiers patrol in Hebron, West Bank, on Nov. 8, 2025.

Israeli military struggles to retain career soldiers amid Gaza strain, low pay

Two years after the 2023 Hamas attack and the beginning of the Gaza war, a Knesset report reveals that over 600 career soldiers are trying to resign or to retire early.

NICOLAS TUCAT/AFP via Getty Images

Fidan's confidant Nuh Yilmaz appointed ambassador to Syria, first in 13 years: What to know

Yilmaz’s formal appointment follows the UN’s lifting of sanctions on Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa as Ankara pushes for coordination with Washington and Damascus on the Syrian dossier.

Burak Kara/Getty Images

Erdogan’s top ally Bahceli slams foot-dragging on meeting with PKK leader

The nationalist leader criticized the parliamentary committee for dragging its feet on a meeting with the jailed PKK leader, as Turkey’s president and his ruling party remain silent.

WASHINGTON, DC - NOVEMBER 18: Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia (L) and U.S. President Donald Trump watch a military flyover as bin Salman arrives at the White House on November 18, 2025 in Washington, DC. Trump is hosting the crown prince for meetings aimed at strengthening economic and defense ties, including the U.S. sale of F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)

Saudi Arabia to receive F-35 jets ‘pretty similar’ to Israel’s, Trump says

The US president says he would like to provide both Saudi Arabia and Israel "top-of-the-line" stealth-capable F-35 Joint Strike Fighters, risking potential blowback from Israeli leaders intent to maintain their country's military supremacy in the region.

an waves as they walk down the Colonnade on the way to the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC on Nov. 18, 2025.

Live Updates

Trump gives MBS red-carpet welcome, touts F-35 deal, $1T Saudi investment

Trump is hosting Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at the White House in a high-profile visit aimed at resetting US-Saudi ties and securing major defense, nuclear and investment deals.

An Israel Air Force F-35 fighter lands during the "Blue Flag" multinational air defence exercise at the Ovda air force base, north of Eilat, Israel, Oct. 24, 2021.

Analysis

Trump’s Saudi F-35 deal jolts Israel’s security elite, weakens Netanyahu

The expected sale to Saudi Arabia of American stealth F-35 jets, as well as their sale to Turkey, deeply worries Israel’s security apparatus.

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

Lebanese army chief Rodolphe Haykal (L) with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, March 2025.

US cancels Lebanon army chief visit amid frustration over Hezbollah: What to know

Washington canceled a planned visit by Lebanon’s army commander Gen. Rodolphe Haykal, signaling growing US frustration over Lebanon’s delay in disarming Hezbollah.

A delivery person rides a motorcycle past election billboards for candidates and blocs competing in Iraq's upcoming November parliamentary election, including incumbent Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, displayed along a street in Baghdad on Oct. 3, 2025.

Iraq’s Shiite alliance meets to chart strategy after Sudani comes first in election

The final results of last week’s election showed Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani’s list winning 46 seats in parliament, the most of any party, though he is not guaranteed to remain in his current role.

UN Security Council votes for US resolution on the Gaza peace plan

UN Security Council endorses US plan for Gaza security force

The US-drafted resolution also endorses the Trump-led Board of Peace and references possible statehood for the Palestinians.

This photograph shows a pilot disembarking a Belgium's newly purchased Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II fighter jet for the first time, after arriving at the Florennes military airbase, southern Belgium on October 13, 2025. (Photo by JOHN THYS / AFP) (Photo by JOHN THYS/AFP via Getty Images)

Trump says US will sell F-35s to Saudi Arabia, first Arab country to acquire jets

The deal could rattle Washington's ties with Israel and is not likely to be approved by Congress unless conditioned on Saudi normalization of ties with Israel.