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Politics & Security

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi addresses foreign ambassadors to Iran, in Tehran on Oct. 5, 2025.

Iranian officials vow 'harsh' response as Trump threatens action: What to know

Iranian officials signaled openness to a nuclear deal but warned they would retaliate against any US military strike.

(L to R) Iraqi President Abdul Latif Rashid; Qais al-Khazali, head of the "Asaib Ahl al-Haq"; one of the member factions of the Hashd al-Shaabi (Popular Mobilization Forces) paramilitaries; Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani; and former Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki attend an event commemorating the 21st anniversary of the group's creation at a hotel in Baghdad on May 3, 2024.

Analysis

After Trump’s rebuke, can Maliki rebound in Iraq, or does Sudani become favorite?

President Donald Trump’s criticism of Nouri al-Maliki could either hurt or help his chances to return to office, depending on how Iraq’s political leaders respond, experts said.

Adam Lucente

By Adam Lucente

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

HOSSEIN BERIS/Middle East Images/AFP via Getty Images

EU nears terror listing of Iran’s IRGC as France, Spain flip: What to know

France and Spain had previously opposed the designation of the IRGC, arguing that the move could curtail any chance of dialogue with Tehran.

HASSAN ALI ELMI/AFP via Getty Images

Turkey declares Somalia unity a priority after Israel's Somaliland recognition

Ankara has designated Somalia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity as a national security priority in its latest expression of support.

Latest News

Rubio says 'thousands' killed in Iran, US prepping for threats against personnel

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio testifies during a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing to examine US policy towards Venezuela on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, Jan. 28, 2026.

Sharaa, Putin meet in Moscow after Russia's abrupt pullout from Syria base

MAXIM SHIPENKOV / AFP via Getty Images

Turkey arrests 6 in alleged Iran IRGC spy plot involving armed drones

A B model of Bayraktar AKINCI TİHA (Assault Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) in the sky on March 2, 2022 in Corlu, Turkey.

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

Turkey's parliamentary committee approves Sweden’s NATO bid, paving way for full vote

After passing an initial hurdle, the Nordic nation’s accession to NATO will now be debated and voted on by the full Turkish Parliament.

Day 81 of Hamas-Israel war blog: Tuesday, Dec. 26

Smoke plumes billow from a fire at a lumber warehouse in southern Khartoum amidst ongoing fighting on June 7, 2023. Eight weeks of fighting have pitted Sudan's army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan against his former deputy Mohamed Hamdan Daglo -- commonly known as Hemeti -- who commands the powerful paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). A number of broken ceasefires have offered brief lulls but no respite for residents of Khartoum, where witnesses again reported "the sound of heavy artillery fire" in the ca

2023 in review: From Sudan to Syria, here are Mideast's forgotten conflicts

More than 12,000 people were killed in the war in Sudan this year, while violence persisted in parts of Syria, Iraq and other countries across the Middle East and North Africa.

Jared Kushner (R), adviser to former US president Donald Trump, and Italy's former prime minister Matteo Renzi (L) participate in a panel at the annual Future Investment Initiative (FII) conference in Riyadh on Oct. 25, 2023.

2023 in review: Gaza war tests Gulf economic overhauls at pivotal moment

Amid a year of headlines and hype in Gulf dealmaking, the eruption of the Israel-Hamas war on Oct. 7 complicates the GCC's economic overhauls.

Day 80 of Hamas-Israel war blog: Monday, Dec. 25

Visitors inspect sniper rifles during the opening day of Egypt Defence Expo (EDEX-2023) at the Cairo International Exhibition Center, Dec. 4, 2023.

Is Turkey-Egypt rapprochement turning into a long-term defense partnership?

Rapidly improving defense cooperation between Cario and Ankara falls in line with Turkey's multidimensional strategic outlook, observes believe.

A woman walks by a wall with photos of hostages taken to the Gaza Strip during the deadly Oct 7 Hamas attack on Dec. 20, 2023, in Tel Aviv, Israel.

Analysis

2023 in review: The year that shook Israel to the core, exposed vulnerabilities

With the judicial overhaul pushed by the government and then the Oct. 7 attack that shook the country to its core, Israelis no longer trust their leaders.

Rina Bassist

By Rina Bassist

In Paris, reporting on Israeli politics and European affairs

A protester plants a flag bearing a Lebanese cedar across the fence from an Israeli tank at the Blue Line near the southern Lebanese village of Kfar Shuba, in the Israel-Lebanon border region, June 9, 2023.

2023 in review: Lebanon reels from void, threat of Hezbollah-Israel front

As the country struggled with political and economic crises, border skirmishes between Israel and Hezbollah raised the specter of war.

A picture taken from southern Israel near the border with the Gaza Strip on Dec. 10, 2023, shows smoke rising above the northern part of the Palestinian enclave amid ongoing battles between Israel and the Palestinian Hamas movement.

Day 79 of Hamas-Israel war blog: Sunday, Dec. 24

Israeli singer Achinoam Nini, professionally known as Noa, is seen during a performance.

Israeli singer and peace activist Noa: 'There must be another way'

The singer Noa, one of Israel’s most prominent peace and democracy activists, wants Israelis to change the government and choose dialogue with the Palestinians.

Palestinian Issa Kassissieh, dressed as Santa Claus.

In shadow of Gaza, Christmas is canceled in Israel this year

Against the backdrop of the war in Gaza, Arab Israeli municipalities — including in Nazareth, Jerusalem and Haifa — canceled all grand Christmas celebrations.

Can Turkey and Algeria be strategic partners despite differences in Africa?

Mutual interests are bringing Turkey and Algeria closer, even though Erdogan’s policies in Africa have often irritated Algiers.