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Politics & Security

An Israeli rescue team arrives in Venezuela after the earthquake in June 2026. Israeli Foreign Ministry

Analysis

Why Venezuela is moving closer to Israel but stopping short of full ties

Israel and Venezuela have practical and strategic reasons for advancing their relations after years of hostility, but establishing full ties faces challenges.

Rina Bassist

Adam Lucente

By Rina Bassist , Adam Lucente

An oil refinery located in the desert

As Saudi Arabia rallies against Yemen's Houthis, US stays focused on Iran

Jared Szuba

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

Israeli army vehicles move to a position in southern Lebanon, March 27, 2026.

Analysis

Israel defies Trump on Lebanon as Netanyahu, Katz prioritize elections

Both Benjamin Netanyahu and Donald Trump face fateful elections this fall, but one needs progress in Lebanon while the other wants more of the same.

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

Latest News

Yemen’s Houthis claim new attack on Aramco refinery in Saudi Arabia: What to know

military projectile are embedded in the ground

Iraq intel and security officials visit Saudi Arabia after drone attacks

A man inspects the damage at the site of a strike in Bartalla, in the northern Iraq's Nineveh province, after US-Saudi attacks on militias, July 29, 2026.

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

Supporters of Nigerien President Mohamed Bazoum gather to show their support for him in Niamey on July 26, 2023.

Saudi Arabia, UAE, Turkey, Algeria and Egypt express ‘concern’ over Niger coup

The coup in the West African country could be a victory for Russia. The Gulf has economic interests in the region.

SAFIN HAMID/AFP via Getty Images

Iraq’s Yazidis appeal to Baghdad for funds to rebuild their native Sinjar

Iraq's Yazidi groups are pleading for more financial assistance to rebuild Sinjar, which was decimated by the Islamic State.

Itamar Ben-Gvir, Israel's new Minister of National Security and leader of the far-right Jewish Power party, greets supporters during a visit to Mahane Yehuda market, Jerusalem, Dec. 30, 2022.

Jordan, Palestinians condemn visit by Israel’s Ben-Gvir to Temple Mount

After two largely-criticized visits since the beginning of the year to the site, Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir visited the Temple Mount compound again, on the Jewish holy day of Tisha B’Av.

People demonstrate outside the US Embassy in Tel Aviv.

Biden walks tightrope as Israel’s democracy tested

The judicial overhaul pursued by Benjamin Netanyahu and his right-wing coalition has bitterly divided Israeli society and cast further strain on US-Israel ties.

Turkish Foreign Minister, Hakan Fidan (R) meets with his Chinese counterpart and Director of the Office of the Central Foreign Affairs Commission, Wang Yi (L) in Ankara, on July 26, 2023. Wang Yi this week returns as China's foreign minister, stepping into a job he held for almost a decade in the face of the month-long absence of deposed diplomat Qin Gang. (Photo by POOL / AFP) (Photo by -/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Turkey's Erdogan, Fidan talk economic ties with China's foreign minister

Despite the growing rapprochement between Ankara and Beijing, conflicts, long mistrust and economic rivalry will likely limit the extent of cooperation between Turkey and China, analysts believe.

This image grab taken from AFPTV video footage shows smoke clouds covering the sky during wildfires in the forests of Bejaia in northern Algeria.

Wildfires kill dozens as extreme heat sweeps across Algeria, Turkey, Europe

Scientists say the wildfires have become more intense in the past years due to climate change.

Gen. Michael Kurilla meets with Israel's Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, Defense Ministry headquarters in Tel Aviv, July 26 2023 Credit: Nicole Laskevi/Defense Ministry

CENTCOM chief arrives in Israel, discusses Iran, Hezbollah with military brass

High-level visits and conversations between US and Israeli military leaders suggest that military cooperation continues despite the deepening rift.

Abbas, Erdogan, Haniyeh

Turkey's Erdogan brings rival Palestinian leaders together in rare meeting

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Hamas political chief Ismail Haniyeh met face-to-face in Ankara ahead of reconciliation talks in Cairo.

Israeli Minister of Defence Yoav Gallant (R) and US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin shake hands after delivering a statement to the press at the Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) headquarters near the Ben Gurion airport in Tel Aviv, on March 9, 2023. - Austin, on a visit to Israel, expressed concerns on March 9 about Jewish settler violence against Palestinians and warned against acts that could trigger more insecurity. (Photo by GIL COHEN-MAGEN / AFP) (Photo by GIL COHEN-MAGEN/AFP via Getty Images)

Pentagon seeks to deepen military ties with Israel despite judicial overhaul

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin urged his Israeli counterpart to "address extremist settler violence against Palestinian civilians," but said Washington's support was unwavering.

China Yi

China’s newly appointed FM Wang Yi heads to Turkey, will meet Erdogan

The meeting with Erdogan and Turkish FM Fidan will mark the first high-level visit from a Chinese official since 2021.

Journalists shout slogans and hold placards on Jan. 10, 2016.

Turkey arrests journalist over social media post, sparking outcry from civic groups

International and local rights watchdogs lambasted Firat Can Arslan’s and four other journalists’ detention.

A Shiite Muslim man raises a Koran as he takes part in a mourning ritual in the city of Nasiriyah in Iraq's southern Dhi Qar province eraly on July 22, 2023, during the Muslim month of Muharram in the lead-up to Ashura. Ashura is a 10-day mourning period commemorating the seventh century killing of Prophet Mohammed's grandson Imam Hussein. (Photo by Asaad NIAZI / AFP) (Photo by ASAAD NIAZI/AFP via Getty Images)

Quran burning in Denmark as Egypt, Bahrain summon Sweden diplomats

The Middle East is fuming following a series of Quran burnings in Denmark and Sweden.