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Politics & Security

YASSER AL-ZAYYAT/AFP via Getty Images

Meet Kuwait’s newest ministers in latest government shake-up

Kuwait’s latest cabinet reshuffle brings on several new ministers with professional experience in their respective fields.

Turkey's Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan (R) and his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi (L) give a statement at the Ritz Hotel as they meet on Jan. 30, 2026 in Istanbul, Turkey.

Turkey emerges as possible host for US-Iran talks: What to know

Turkey is moving to host potential US-Iran talks as Ankara intensifies mediation efforts amid mounting concerns over the fallout of a possible US strike on Iran.

Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, vice president and prime minister of the UAE and ruler of Dubai, meets with Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari at Za’abeel Palace in Dubai on Jan. 28, 2026.

Analysis

Caught in the Gulf crossfire: Pakistan navigates Saudi-UAE rivalry

Pakistan has to walk a fine line to ensure that it maintains vital economic relations with the United Arab Emirates while sustaining long-standing defense cooperation with Saudi Arabia.

Sabena Siddiqui

By Sabena Siddiqui

In Karachi, reporting on South Asia, Middle East, Iran

Latest News

Analysis

Syria’s Kurdish pullback hands Damascus a win — and new ISIS risks

Syrian government troops patrol the streets of Tabqa, in Raqqa province, on the southwestern banks of the Euphrates, Jan. 18, 2026.

Cagatay Cebe

By Cagatay Cebe

In Istanbul, reporting on security and counterterrorism

Analysis

As envoys recalled, what's driving Israel-South Africa rupture?

PHILL MAGAKOE/AFP via Getty Images

Rina Bassist

By Rina Bassist

In Paris, reporting on Israeli politics and European affairs

Analysis

Will EU’s terror listing of besieged Iran's IRGC backfire?

A person holds up a placard which reads "IRGC Terrorist" as they take part in a rally in solidarity with protesters in Iran on Jan. 11, 2026, in London, England.

A correspondent in Tehran

By A correspondent in Tehran

In Tehran, reporting on politics

Putin meets Iran’s top security official as Trump says Tehran wants deal

Ali Larijani, Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, arrives in Beirut, Lebanon, on Sept. 27, 2025, to attend a memorial service for Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah.

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

Iraq's Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein (R) poses with Turkey's Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan in Baghdad on Aug. 22, 2023.

Turkey’s FM tackles long-held disputes with Iraq in first official visit

Hakan Fidan chose Iraq for his first official visit as Turkey's new foreign minister, but the visit appeared to yield little progress on long-standing disputes between Ankara and Baghdad.

Huthi forces take part in funeral ceremony for Yahya Al-Shami, assistant supreme commander of the Houthi forces, a day after his death due to Covid-19 pandemic, in Yemen's capital Sanaa on April 27, 2021.

US urges Houthis to negotiate with Yemen’s government

US Special Envoy for Yemen Tim Lenderking called on the Iran-backed rebels to "seize this unprecedented opportunity" to sit down with the Yemeni government.

AFP via Getty Images

Iran sentences 7 men, 1 woman to prison as protest anniversary nears

Eight people were convicted of killing a paramilitary force member during Iran's nationwide protests that erupted following the death in custody of Mahsa Amini.

Yevgeny Prigozhin, the leader of the Wagner mercenary group.

Wagner chief Prigozhin among passengers in fatal plane crash: Russian state media

Russia’s grey-zone influence in the Middle East and Africa enters uncharted territory amid reports of the Wagner chief’s death.

Russia / Mideast

SABAH ARAR/AFP via Getty Images

Iraq strikes Islamic State hideouts

The US military said in a recent report that IS’ capabilities are “degraded” in Iraq and Syria.

This photograph taken on July 13, 2022, shows a firefighting helicopter carrying water over a wildfire.

Wildfire in Turkey’s northwest injures dozens, halts maritime traffic

Dozens of people have been injured and more than 80 livestock have perished as more than a thousand residents flee the wildfire engulfing the country’s northwest.

JALAA MAREY / AFP

Israel's Druze community on strike after quadruple homicide

Israel's Druze community is shocked by the killing of four men in broad daylight, including a former soldier who was running for local office.

Syria Israel

Syrian soldier injured by suspected Israeli airstrikes near Damascus

Israel is regularly accused of striking Syrian and Iranian military targets in the country. The latest attack comes amid especially high tensions between Israel and Iran.

Arab Israeli citizens and activists lift placards at a rally in the mostly Arab northern city of Umm al-Fahm.

Arab Israelis protest as crime soars, development funds stay frozen

Israeli Arab localities warn that if they do not receive much-needed funds for development, education and city cleaning, they will not open schools once the summer vacation is over.

Byron Smith/Getty Images

Ukrainian ambassador threatens to block Israeli pilgrims from Uman

Ukraine's ambassador to Israel has warned Israel that if it does not stop turning away Ukrainians, Kyiv will close its doors to Israeli pilgrims to the city of Uman.

President Ebrahim Raisi, second right, at a ceremony to unveil the Mohajer-10 drone, Aug. 22, 2023.

Iran unveils new armed drone, defying pressure over shipments to Russia

With a range of over 1,200 miles, Mohajer 10 is the latest from a family of drones that Russia is believed to have imported from Iran to use in its war on Ukraine.

Iraq's Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein (R) poses with Turkey's Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan in Baghdad on Aug. 22, 2023.

Kurds suffer as Iraq, Turkey fail to restart oil flow ahead of Turkish FM's Baghdad visit

As Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan is set to meet in Baghdad with Iraqi leaders, disrupted oil flows, water and cooperation against the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party are expected to top the agenda.