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Politics & Security

ilia YEFIMOVICH / AFP via Getty Images

Israel tightens election safeguards as public distrust surges: What to know

Israelis have lost trust in the government and in its ability or willingness to conduct free and fair elections.

A Turkish soldier from the 1st Border Regiment Command looks out over the border wall to Syria during alert drills at a military outpost on the Turkey/Syria border on March 2, 2017 in Kilis, Turkey.

Analysis

Why Turkey sees Israeli strikes in Syria as warning over its military role, Mecca Pact

Ankara views Israel’s latest strikes in Syria as part of a broader effort to curb Turkey’s military influence in Damascus and a challenge to its regional defense partnerships.

Barin Kayaoglu

By Barin Kayaoglu

In Ankara, reporting on geopolitics and national security

Turkey/Syria border

Analysis

Turkey bets on US deconfliction as Israel widens Syria red lines

As Washington pushes a new deconfliction mechanism between Turkey and Israel, the Jewish state shows little incentive to accept tighter constraints on its freedom of action in Syria, experts say.

Ezgi Akin

Rina Bassist

By Ezgi Akin , Rina Bassist

People shop at a store in the Grand Reza Bazaar near the shrine of Imam Reza following the funeral of slain Iranian leader Ali Khamenei and his family members in Mashhad on July 10, 2026.

Analysis

Can Trump's economic war ultimately force Iran to compromise?

President Trump's new economic offensive comes as Iran is grappling with war damage, tighter oil restrictions and a shrinking ability to absorb another major shock.

A correspondent in Tehran

By A correspondent in Tehran

In Tehran, reporting on politics

Latest News

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

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)

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

Zaidi

Analysis

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

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)

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

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

SVEN NACKSTRAND/AFP via Getty Images

US drops 5 groups from foreign terror blacklist

The Biden administration rescinded the foreign terrorist organization designations of the Gaza-based Mujahidin Shura Council in the Environs of Jerusalem, Jewish extremist group Kahane Chai and Egyptian militant group Gama’a al-Islamiyya.

ABIR SULTAN/AFP via Getty Images

Leftist lawmaker's resignation offers Israel's Bennett staying power

Now that Meretz Knesset member Ghaida Rinawie Zoabi has quit the coalition, the interim balance of power has shifted to the right.

US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin (R) and Israeli Minister of Defense Benny Gantz (L) stand at attention during the playing of the Israeli national anthem at an arrival ceremony at the Pentagon, Arlington, Virginia, June 3, 2021.

In Washington, Israeli defense minister reiterates warnings on Iran

The Iranian nuclear program and its support of regional and global terror were the focus of the meeting in Washington May 19 between Israel’s Defense Minister Benny Gantz and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin.

ALEXANDER NEMENOV/AFP via Getty Images

In Moscow, Hamas sees opportunity to win international support

The recent Hamas delegation to Moscow and plans for more meetings between the two sides seem to be a message to Tel Aviv and Washington.

This aerial view shows tents covered in snow at a camp for internally displaced Syrians, near the town of Kafr Lusin, as a snow storm hit the region, at the border with Turkey in the rebel-held northwestern province of Idlib, March 13, 2022.

Climate change makes life harder for displaced Syrians

The extreme weather conditions caused by climate change have been particularly felt by the displaced living in camps across northwestern Syria, where NGOs are struggling to meet all of their needs.

An Iranian shops at a food store in Tehran on May 13, 2021.

Iran vows harsh crackdown on economic protests

Despite a massive security presence, many Iranian cities continue to witness rallies triggered by soaring prices, with protesters chanting slogans against the country's top leadership.

An exterior view of the building of the US Department of the Treasury is seen on March 27, 2020, in Washington, DC.

US sanctions network of Hezbollah businessman in Lebanon

The Treasury Department designated Ahmad Jalal Reda Abdallah and several of his associates and companies based in Lebanon and Iraq.

A picture shows the Kurdish-run al-Hol camp, which holds relatives of suspected Islamic State (IS) group fighters in the northeastern Hasakeh governorate, on Dec. 6, 2021.

Iraqis murdered in Syria’s al-Hol camp

Tens of thousands of Iraqi nationals, mostly women and children, are “stuck in limbo” in a camp in northeastern Syria as violence against them and regional risks increase.

JACQUELYN MARTIN/AFP via Getty Images

Israel’s defense minister restores Iran to internal political agenda

Bracing for possible new elections, Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz is making the most of his public statements on the Iranian nuclear threat.

MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty Images

NATO allies read Turkey’s wish list as Ankara holds up membership bids

Ankara has listed the presence of what it calls terrorists in Sweden and Finland as its main objection to their accession but other factors could feature.

Ghaida Rinawie Zoabi

In surprise move, legislator on Israeli left quits coalition

By quitting the coalition, Meretz Knesset member Ghaida Rinawie Zoabi has changed the balance of power in the Israeli parliament and given the opposition a majority.

Israeli government ministers look on as Prime Minister Naftali Bennett chairs the weekly Cabinet meeting at Chagall State Hall in the Knesset building, Jerusalem, July 19, 2021.

Killing of Palestinian journalist won’t push Arab party to quit Israeli coalition

Clashes between police and mourners at the funeral procession of Palestinian-American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh add to the public pressure on Muslim coalition party Ra’am.