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Politics & Security

This aerial view shows residents waving Somaliland flags as they gather to celebrate Israel's announcement recognizing Somaliland's statehood in downtown Hargeisa, on Dec. 26, 2025.

Somalia’s president heads to Turkey as Israel’s Somaliland recognition rattles region

The Somali leader’s visit comes amid a heightened Turkish-Israeli rivalry, fueled by Israel’s recognition of Somaliland, in the region and beyond.

Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images

At Mar-a-Lago, Netanyahu seeks Iran strike approval while Trump presses Gaza plan

US President Donald Trump is expected to push Israel to enter the second phase of his Gaza peace plan, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will focus on securing Trump’s approval for a potential strike on Iran’s ballistic missile program.

Turkish naval forces patrol vessel TCG F 500 and an unidentified submarine (back) sail during a military naval parade on the Bosphorus in Istanbul on Oct. 29, 2023.

Analysis

Turkey's defense sector enters 2026 with naval progress — and unresolved vulnerabilities

A year marked by regional wars, drone incursions and major arms exports has left Turkey confronting a familiar dilemma: how to turn ambition and prototypes into real deterrence without the budget to fully sustain them.

Barin Kayaoglu

By Barin Kayaoglu

In Ankara, reporting on geopolitics and national security

Latest News

Analysis

From looming war to currency crash: Iran ends 2025 on edge

Bahram / Middle East Images / AFP via Getty Images

A correspondent in Tehran

By A correspondent in Tehran

In Tehran, reporting on politics

Analysis

2025: Why Gulf defense megadeals finally met reality

Saudi Air Force advanced F-15SA fighter jets perform during a ceremony in Riyadh on Jan. 25, 2017.

Francesco Schiavi

By Francesco Schiavi

In Bologna, reporting on security, defense, economy, governance

Analysis

In 2025, Hezbollah was weakened in Lebanon, but unlikely to disarm in 2026

Supporters of Lebanon's Shiite militant group Hezbollah carry the coffins of militants killed in recent Israeli attacks during their funeral in the southern city of Nabatiyeh on November 2, 2025. Hundreds of people gathered in south Lebanon's Nabatiyeh on November 2, 2025 to mourn five Hezbollah members killed in recent Israeli attacks, an AFP correspondent said, as Israel warned of intensifying attacks against the Iran-backed group. On November 1, an Israeli strike killed four people in Kfar Rumman, Nabati

Beatrice Farhat

By Beatrice Farhat

In Beirut, reporting on regional news, culture, conflict

Analysis

Gaza realities test Trump’s 2025 Middle East ambitions

Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images

Elizabeth Hagedorn

By Elizabeth Hagedorn

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

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

Kurdish youths holds a poster of jailed PKK militant group leader Abdullah Ocalan during Newroz celebrations, Diyarbakir, Turkey, March 21, 2025.

Turkey: PKK disarmament could begin within days, Erdogan’s party says

The ruling party’s spokesperson said the disarmament process is imminent amid reports of a looming “goodwill” ceremony expected from the Kurdish militant group in early July.

Aviation Ordnancemen assigned to "The Swordsmen" of Fighter Squadron Thirty Two (VF-32) transfer 2,000-pound Joint Directional Attack Munition (JDAMs).

US approves over $500M arms sale to Israel ahead of Netanyahu visit

The State Department has greenlit $500 million worth of JDAM guidance kits for Israeli bombs, as at least 80 people were reportedly killed by Israeli military gunfire and airstrikes across the Gaza Strip on Monday.

Israeli ambassador to the US Ron Dermer speaks at the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) policy conference in Washington, DC on March 4, 2018.

Israel weighs Gaza ceasefire, Abraham Accords expansion as Dermer heads to Washington

Israel's Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer's trip comes amid a US push for a broader regional deal linking Gaza, Iran and normalization with Arab states.

President Donald Trump, joined by Sen. John Barrasso (R-WY), Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-LA) and other lawmakers, holds up an executive order after signing a series of bills related to California’s vehicle emissions standards during an event in the East Room of the White House on June 12, 2025 in Washington, DC.

Trump signs executive order ending decades-old Syria sanctions

The sweeping directive unwinds layers of sanctions but maintains Syria's designation as a state sponsor of terrorism.

Debris is scattered across the floor at Al-Baqa cafeteria which was devastated in an Israeli strike on the Gaza City seafront on June 30, 2025.

Israeli strike on cafe in Gaza kills at least 33, medics say: What to know

The Israeli military on Monday stepped up its operations in Gaza, calling for Palestinians to evacuate large areas of the north and carrying out fresh strikes, including one on a beachfront cafe.

Pictures of Lebanese Hezbollah's slain leader Hashem Safieddine (L) and Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) commander Qassem Soleimani (2nd-L) and others during a memorial vigil mourning slain members of the IRGC and scientists killed in recent Israeli airstrikes, outside the Iranian embassy headquarters in Baghdad on June 28, 2025. Iran held a state funeral service on June 28 for around 60 people, including its military commanders, killed in its war with Israel, after Tehran's top diplomat cond

Israel strikes Lebanon as pressure mounts in Beirut to disarm Hezbollah

The US demands that the Lebanese cabinet approve a plan on the disarmament of Hezbollah as Israeli attacks in south Lebanon continue despite a ceasefire.

Jordanian fans cheer for their team during the FIBA Basketball World Cup group C match between Jordan and New Zealand at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City, suburban Manila on August 28, 2023. (Photo by Ted ALJIBE / AFP) (Photo by TED ALJIBE/AFP via Getty Images)

Jordan refuses to play Israel in FIBA Basketball World Cup: What to know

Amid Israel’s military campaign in Gaza, an international backlash is affecting the country’s participation in global sports competitions.

US Air Force F-35A performs during an exhibition flight demonstration as part of the 55th edition of the International Paris Air Show (Salon international de l'aeronautique et de l'espace - SIAE) at the ParisLe Bourget Airport, in Le Bourget, north of Paris on June 19, 2025. (Photo by Roy ISSA / AFP) (Photo by ROY ISSA/AFP via Getty Images)

US ambassador to Turkey says F-35 issue to be resolved 'by year-end'

The new US ambassador to Ankara says that Congress is open to taking a fresh look at the F-35 issue.

Firefighters spray water to extinguish flames in a forest in Izmir, Turkey, Aug. 16, 2024.

Wildfires spread across Turkey’s tourism hub Izmir amid regionwide heat wave

Wildfires rage in Turkey’s tourist heartland, forcing airport closures and evacuations amid fierce winds.

The sun sets behind overhead power lines in Kuwait City as the Kuwaiti Ministry of Electricity requested that citizens ration their electricity usage at peak times due to outages, on June 19, 2024.

Analysis

Kuwait's heatwaves, high demand strain fragile power grid: What to know

Amid rising temperatures and increasing demand, Kuwait's energy crisis is forcing authorities to seek alternatives and consider reforms.

Sebastian Castelier

By Sebastian Castelier

In Dubai, reporting on regional business