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Politics & Security

Zaidi

Iraq’s Zaidi doubles down on militia disarmament, boosting oil exports

Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi made the comments amid Hormuz-related export struggles and a nearing deadline for armed groups to disarm.

ANKARA, TURKEY - JULY 7: U.S. President Donald Trump (L)shakes hands with with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (R) during a formal arrival at the Bestepe Presidential Palace during the NATO summit on July 7, 2026 in Ankara, Turkey. Leaders from NATO's 32 countries, plus NATO allies like Ukraine, gathered in the Turkish capital to discuss a range of issues involving spending targets, defense industrial production, and support for Ukraine, among other topics. (Photo by Emrah Gurel - Pool/Getty Images)

Analysis

Israel fears Turkey’s Syria ambitions and doubts Trump will stop them

Israeli officials remain skeptical of Turkish and Syrian denials over Ankara’s military ambitions in Syria, warning that a deeper Turkish foothold could threaten Israel’s security and strain its ties with Washington.

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

LUDOVIC MARIN/AFP via Getty Images

Saudi crown prince heads to France as ties deepen: What to expect

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman will start a visit to Paris this weekend, his fourth to France since his appointment in 2017.

Latest News

Caught in the middle, Oman shrugs off Trump's latest Iran threat

Win McNamee/Getty Images

Houthis claim new strikes on Saudi Arabia after IRGC warning: What to know

MOHAMMED HUWAIS/AFP via Getty Images)

Turkey signals restraint as war of words with Israel escalates over Syria

Burhaanettin Duran

Syria’s FM pays Pakistan first visit in 19 years amid new regional alignments

Islamabad

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

A picture obtained by AFP outside Iran on Sept. 21, 2022, shows Iranian demonstrators taking to the streets of the capital Tehran during a protest for Mahsa Amini, days after she died in police custody.

Iran’s Raisi heckled by female students as more protesters killed

Several deaths were reported in yet another day of turmoil in Iran, with women and men taking to the streets to confront armed riot police.

A girl walks while holding water containers in her hands and mouth at the Washukanni camp for the internally displaced near the town of Tuwaynah, near the city of Hasakah, Syria, Oct. 8, 2020.

Turkish-backed Syrian group cuts off water to Hasakah

Hasakah residents in northeast Syria have relied on buying water from private suppliers as their underground wells have dried up, while the Turkish-backed factions suspended pumping operations from the only water station supplying the city.

OPEC

Analysis

US should balance response to OPEC+ oil cuts with other needs

Yet again, Iran lurks in background.

Week in Review

By Week in Review

Israeli Minister of Defense Benny Gantz speaks at the start of a Blue and White party meeting, Jerusalem, June 27, 2022.

Settlers blame Israeli defense minister for growing West Bank insecurity

Defense Minister Benny Gantz is caught between his efforts to establish good relations with the Palestinian leadership, and the wrath of the settlers following insecurity escalation.

Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid makes an opening statement as he chairs the weekly Cabinet meeting, Jerusalem, Oct. 2, 2022.

After collapse of Lebanon maritime deal, Israel fears Hezbollah attack

Pressured by opposition leader Benjamin Netanyahu, and concerned over Hezbollah attacking, Prime Minister Yair Lapid announced Israel will not negotiate its maritime border with Lebanon under threats.

Members of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham attend a graduation for a new batch of fighters in the countryside near the rebel-held northwestern city of Idlib, Syria, Sept. 13, 2022.

Rare clashes erupt between jihadist group, Turkey-backed faction in Syria's Idlib

Clashes erupted between Hayat Tahrir al-Sham and Faylaq al-Sham, affiliated with the Turkish-backed FSA, due to differences over the alleged opening of a commercial crossing with the Syrian government-held areas in the eastern Idlib countryside.

A member of the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), made up of an alliance of Arab and Kurdish fighters, removes an Islamic State group flag in the town of Tabqa, about 55 kilometres (35 miles) west of Raqa city, on April 30, 2017, as they advance in their battle for the group's de facto capital.

US military kills three senior Islamic State leaders in Syria strikes

US strikes knocked off the jihadist group's second-highest Syrian commander and a smuggler believed to have helped kidnap and behead Kurdish officials.

OPEC

Analysis

Democrats tear into Saudi Arabia over OPEC+ cut

The State Department on Thursday dismissed calls from some Democrats to withdraw US troops and missile systems from Saudi Arabia.

Elizabeth Hagedorn

By Elizabeth Hagedorn

In Washington, DC, reporting on diplomacy, regional politics, human rights

AFP via Getty Images

Yemenis tremble as cease-fire extension fails

With the truce expired in Yemen, a return to full-blown war has horrified humanitarian organizations and Yemeni civilians alike.

Iran protest

Teen deaths mark new episode in Iran's crackdown on protests

While the case of Mahsa Amini's death in custody is still far from being settled, Iranian officials have been embroiled by one report after another on the killing of teenage protesters.

The Turkish (R) and Israeli flags.

Turkey taps career diplomat as new ambassador to Israel

Turkey has named a veteran career diplomat as the new Turkish ambassador to Israel — a move that also reflects Ankara’s sensitivities to the Palestinian cause.

Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev (C) speaks with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (R).

Turkish, Armenian, Azeri leaders hold landmark talks

Informal talks among Turkish, Armenian and Azeri leaders mark the first of their kind.