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Politics & Security

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Explainer

Three ways China benefits from Saudi-Turkey-Pakistan pact: What to know

The pact points to a more multipolar Middle Eastern security order, one in which Washington is no longer the unquestioned center of Gulf security.

Children swimming in the Strait of Hormuz

Iran’s Hormuz authority denies Trump claims of control over strait: What to know

Trump administration officials have said oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz are rising, but maritime traffic remains diminished.

Latest News

Explainer

Who benefits from Lebanon’s amnesty law and why it is controversial

FADEL itani / AFP via Getty Images

Analysis

Fidan heads to Egypt amid questions over Saudi Arabia-Turkey-Pakistan pact

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan attends a press conference in Moscow on June 16, 2026.

Amberin Zaman

By Amberin Zaman

Reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture

Syria lodges UN complaint against Colombia’s recognition of Israeli sovereignty over Golan

Colombia's new president, Abelardo de la Espriella, delivers a speech at the Pichincha Battalion after being sworn in, in Cali, Colombia, on Aug. 7, 2026.

Hormuz traffic sinks to one-week low as ships attacked, talks stagnate

port attack

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

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

Iraqi Parliament Speaker Muhammad al-Halbousi addresses France's President Emmanuel Macron (unseen) during a meeting at the parliament in the capital Baghdad, on August 28, 2021. (Photo by Ludovic MARIN / AFP) (Photo by LUDOVIC MARIN/AFP via Getty Images)

Resignations at Iraq's parliament after supreme court ends Halbusi’s term

The powerful Sunni politician has been mired in controversy amid political tensions in Iraq.

Palestinians injured in Israeli raids arrive at Nasser Medical Hospital on Nov. 14, 2023, in Khan Yunis, Gaza.

Israel raids al-Shifa hospital after US says Hamas command center inside

The IDF infiltrated Gaza Strip's largest hospital after the White House endorsed the Israeli military's allegation that Hamas maintained a command center at the facility, though Washington has not revealed any supporting evidence.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan addresses the parliament.

Turkey’s parliament to debate Sweden’s NATO bid as Erdogan eyes Biden invite

The move, which comes as Turkish President Erdogan seeks a meeting with the US president, signals potential progress on the pending Turkish bid to buy new F-16 jets from the American side.

TOPSHOT - Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attends the budget session at the parliament in Jerusalem on May 23, 2023. (Photo by GIL COHEN-MAGEN / AFP) (Photo by GIL COHEN-MAGEN/AFP via Getty Images)

Analysis

Poll: Only 4% of Israeli Jews find Netanyahu reliable source on Gaza war

According to a recent survey, only 4% of Israeli Jews see Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as a reliable source of information for the Israel-Hamas war.

Rina Bassist

By Rina Bassist

In Paris, reporting on Israeli politics and European affairs

Palestinians injured in Israeli raids arrive at Nasser Medical Hospital on Nov. 14, 2023 in Khan Yunis, Gaza.

Israel’s attacks on Gaza hospitals could amount to war crimes, says HRW

Human Rights Watch says the ongoing Israeli targeting of hospitals across Gaza “should be investigated as war crimes.”

Elizabeth Tsurkov

Proof of life video of Russian-Israeli scholar suggests Iraqi captors want to negotiate

The first video appearance of kidnapped Russian-Israeli scholar Elizabeth Tsurkov could mean her Shiite militia captors are seeking a deal for her release.