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Politics & Security

Kurdish security forces patrol the street on Jan. 23, 2026 in Qamishli, Syria.

Analysis

Kurds, Damascus step back from brink as SDF signs fresh deal with Syrian government

After intense US-led diplomacy, Syria’s interim government and the Kurdish-led SDF agreed to a ceasefire and phased integration, averting all-out conflict.

Amberin Zaman

By Amberin Zaman

Reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture

Saudi Arabian Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio pose for a photo opportunity ahead of a meeting in the US State Department Building on Feb. 25, 2025, in Washington, DC.

Saudi defense chief visits White House as Riyadh pushes against Iran strike

The visit is occurring as the Pentagon amasses an armada off Iran and the United States continues to threaten to strike the Islamic Republic militarily.

A view of the guided missile destroyer USS Delbert D. Black in the Mediterranean Sea, on Dec. 31, 2023.

Navy destroyer, aircraft join US armada amassing near Iran

The US is rapidly massing warships and strike aircraft around Iran as President Donald Trump openly threatens military action in an apparent bid to coerce its leaders to surrender their nuclear program.

Jared Szuba

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

MAXIM SHIPENKOV / AFP via Getty Images

UAE President meets Putin in Russia to discuss nuclear energy, trade, Iran

The visit of Emirati President Sheikh Mohammed comes a day after the Kremlin hosted President Ahmed al-Sharaa to discuss the future of Russian military bases in Syria.

Latest News

Analysis

Why Trump’s Venezuela playbook could face hard reality in Iran

In this handout provided by the US Navy, The USS Gerald R. Ford, and Italian navy offshore Patrol Vessel ITS Paolo Thaon di Revel operate in the Mediterranean Sea, Oct. 2, 2025.

By Rosaleen Carroll

In Washington, DC, US, reporting on the Middle East

Lebanon army chief to visit US Tuesday to shore up support: What to know

This photograph taken during a press tour organised by the Lebanese army shows Lebanese soldiers standing atop military vehicles in Alma Al-Shaab, near the border with Israel in southern Lebanon, on November 28, 2025. It was the first guided tour the army gave journalists since a November 2024 ceasefire sought to end over a year of hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel. (Photo by Anwar AMRO / AFP via Getty Images)

Iran FM heads to Turkey in last-ditch effort to avoid US escalation

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi attends a joint press conference with his Russian counterpart following their talks in Moscow on December 17, 2025. (Photo by Ramil Sitdikov / POOL / AFP via Getty Images)

European Union adds IRGC to terror list, expands sanctions

SIMON WOHLFAHRT / AFP via 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

Defense and Security Correspondent

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

YASIN AKGUL/AFP via Getty Images

Turkey accused of double standard as Armenian journalist's killer walks free

Armenian-Turkish journalist Hrant Dink's murderer walked free in Turkey Wednesday while the government's critics pointed aghast to political prisoners held years beyond the court's authority to keep them.

KENZO TRIBOUILLARD/AFP via Getty Images

Day 41 of Hamas-Israel war blog: Thursday, Nov. 16

A police car sits in front of the Islamic Center Hamburg (Islamisches Zentrum Hamburg) in Hamburg, Germany, Nov. 9, 2022.

Germany raids Islamic center allegedly linked to Hezbollah

The nationwide operation comes as Hezbollah and Israel continue to exchange fire along the Lebanese border.

TOPSHOT - Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas (R) arrives to lay a wreath of flowers by the graves of Palestinians killed in recent Israeli military raids on the Jenin camp for Palestinian refugees, north of the occupied West Bank on July 12, 2023. (Photo by Zain JAAFAR / AFP) (Photo by ZAIN JAAFAR/AFP via Getty Images)

Can Abbas lead Palestinian Authority into Gaza after Israel-Hamas war?

As the humanitarian situation in Gaza grows more dire by the day, some Palestinians are frustrated at the slow pace of the leadership in Ramallah.

US navy destroyer

US Navy intercepts drone fired from Yemen amid Gaza war

The Biden administration's restrained approach to deterrence hasn't fully halted attacks by Iran-backed militias across the Middle East in response to Israel's war in Gaza.

(COMBO) This combination of pictures created on June 2, 2021 shows Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the city of Lod early on May 12, 2021 and Israel's centrist opposition leader Yair Lapid at the Knesset (Israeli parliament) in Jerusalem on May 31, 2021. - Israel's opposition leader Yair Lapid said he had succeeded in forming a coalition to end the rule of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the country's longest serving leader.Lapid's announcement came in the final hour before a midnight deadlin

Israel's Netanyahu 'must go now,' says opposition leader Lapid

For the first time since the Oct. 7 Hamas attack, opposition leader Yair Lapid said Netanyahu can no longer head the government, arguing that the Israeli public does not trust him.

ZAIN JAAFAR/AFP via Getty Images

Israeli settler attacks force 963 Palestinians out of West Bank homes since Gaza war started

The Israeli human rights organization B'Tselem says hundreds of Palestinians have fled their homes due to settler violence, and the United States is pressuring Israel on the issue.

Peacekeepers of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) attend the repatriation ceremony for Irish soldier Sean Rooney who was killed on a UN patrol, at Beirut international airport on December 18, 2022. - The United Nations peacekeeping force in south Lebanon urged Beirut to ensure a "speedy" investigation into the fatal shooting of an Irish soldier this week. The convoy of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) came under fire near the village of Al-Aqbiya late on December 14, a

Lebanon releases suspected Hezbollah member accused of killing Irish UNIFIL peacekeeper

Mohamad Ayyad, who is believed to be linked to the paramilitary Hezbollah movement, was charged with the killing of an Irish UNIFIL soldier in southern Lebanon last year.

JACK GUEZ/AFP via Getty Images

Day 40 of Hamas-Israel war blog: Wednesday, Nov. 15

UN trucks Gaza

First fuel truck since Oct. 7 enters Gaza via Egypt

The fuel shortages have added to the desperation of more than 2 million people trapped inside the enclave, which the Israel offensive has ravaged for more than a month.

Iran Manoto

Iran hardliners celebrate imminent shutdown of UK-based Manoto TV

The independent Persian-language channel Manoto said it was about to shut down due to financial strains, as official Iranian media celebrated the news.

MAHMOUD ZAYYAT/AFP via Getty Images

Analysis

France's defense chief heads to Israel, Egypt, Gulf as Gaza war enters month 2

French Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu is departing Tuesday for a visit to five countries in the region and the first by a French defense minister to Israel since 2000.

Rina Bassist

By Rina Bassist

In Paris, reporting on Israeli politics and European affairs