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Politics & Security

Members and supporters of the Nafas movement take part in an anti-government protest against Tunisian President Kais Saied, chanting "Degage" and calling for political change, in Tunis,Tunisia on August 20,2026. (Photo by Imen Ben Youssef / Hans Lucas / AFP via Getty Images)

Tunisia’s water, power crisis fuels growing protests against Saied: What to know

A utility crisis is giving momentum to opposition forces challenging Saied’s grip on power.

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

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

Samarkand

Erdogan meets Azerbaijan’s Aliyev as Baku, Yerevan reach ceasefire

Azerbaijan-Armenia tensions and the grain corridor are expected to top Erdogan’s meeting with Putin on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit, where Turkey is attending at the presidential level for the first time.

Kobi Gideon/GPO

Emirati foreign minister visits Israel

Celebrating two years since the normalization of diplomatic ties, Emirati Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan has met in Israel with President Isaac Herzog and Prime Minister Yair Lapid.

Interim Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid arrives to meet with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz at the Chancellery, Berlin, Germany, Sept. 12, 2022.

Israel’s Lapid soars in polls but has no camp behind him

Recent polls show growing electoral support for Prime Minister Yair Lapid, even though parties within the center-left camp might chose to back his rival Defense Minister Benny Gantz.

A picture taken on July 26, 2018 shows Egyptian policemen stand guarding a checkpoint on a road leading to the North Sinai provincial capital of El-Arish.

US releases some military aid to Egypt amid human rights concerns

The administration is providing Egypt with $170 million in military assistance that Congress had made contingent on the country improving its rights record.

Syrians gather to protest against a proposal from the Turkish foreign minister for reconciliation between the Syrian government and the opposition, in the border town of Azaz in the rebel-held north of Aleppo province, Syria, Aug. 12, 2022.

Small jihadist group in Idlib accuses HTS of defending Turkey

Hayat Tahrir al-Sham in Idlib has recently arrested several members of Hizb ut-Tahrir, in what the group says is a crackdown against those criticizing HTS’ position on the Turkish plan to normalize relations with the Assad government.

Iraqi protester waving the Iraqi flag in Al Tahrir Square on May 25, 2021 in Baghdad, Iraq.

Analysis

The Takeaway: US sees role for 'all parties' in inclusive Iraqi national dialogue

US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Jennifer Gavito says that "we’ll take our cues from Iraq" regarding government formation.

Andrew Parasiliti

Elizabeth Hagedorn

By Andrew Parasiliti , Elizabeth Hagedorn

A police officer stands guard outside the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Tirana on Sept. 7, 2022.

US sanctions group of Iran-linked 'malicious' cyber actors

The Justice Department announced charges against three Iranian nationals for their alleged role in a global computer hacking scheme.

NATO

Turkey renews veto threat on Sweden, Finland NATO bids

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is seeking a meeting with US President Joe Biden on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly next week.

Armenia Azerbaijan

Turkey backs Azerbaijan in deadly attacks against Armenia

While Turkey has prided itself for mediating between Russia and Ukraine, Ankara has shown no such impartiality in the recent fighting between Azerbaijan and Armenia, with Turkish leaders airing their support for Baku.

Turkey Fidan

Turkish intel chief pursues multiple goals in Baghdad

In landmark talks in Baghdad, Hakan Fidan sought to ease bilateral tensions over a deadly attack in July, assert Turkey’s resolve to continue military operations on Iraqi soil and sway the political impasse in Iraq.

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian (L) meets with head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Rafael Grossi (R).

Iran says IAEA statement won’t produce results

Iran has dismissed the IAEA statement about its nuclear program.

ANWAR AMRO/AFP via Getty Images

Two Lebanese banks held up in one day as customers demand own funds

Many Lebanese watchers praised the woman who held up the bank to get her own money as most Lebanese cannot access their funds due to systemic financial mismanagement and corruption.