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December 6, 2025

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Smoke rises as fire burns, in an alleged site of IRGC's missile launch targeted by Israel on the mountains of Shiraz, Iran on June 21, 2025. Israel attacked Iran in early hours of June 13, and the exchange of fire between the two countries continues ever since. (Photo by Hiroon / Middle East Images via AFP) (Photo by HIROON/Middle East Images/AFP via Getty Images)

Analysis

Israel likely to strike Iran in 2026, European diplomats say

Israel might opt to strike Iran again next year if it assesses that the Tehran-based government is resuming high-level uranium enrichment.

Rina Bassist

By Rina Bassist

In Paris, reporting on Israeli politics and European affairs

The US National flag flies at half staff on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, DC on December 4, 2025, in honor of Sarah Beckstrom, the National Guard member who was fatally shot the week before. An Afghan man accused of shooting two members of the National Guard near the White House, killing one, pleaded not guilty on December 2, 2025 to murder charges. Lakanwal is charged with first-degree murder for the death of Sarah Beckstrom, 20, a National Guard member from West Virginia, as well as ass

US strategy document names Iran 'chief' destabilizer, calls Syria 'potential problem'

The document frames US engagement as shifting away from energy and conflict and toward broader economic and defense partnerships.

An Israeli military tank patrols along the border fence separating northern Israel from southern Lebanon on November 24, 2025. Hezbollah held the funeral on November 24 for its top military chief and other members of the militant group a day after Israel killed them in a strike on Beirut's southern suburbs. (Photo by Jalaa MAREY / AFP via Getty Images)

Analysis

Lebanon-Israel direct talks pause operation against Hezbollah — but for how long?

The US blocked Israel from widening its strikes on Hezbollah this week, yet another flare-up in their enduring conflict seems likely despite first direct talks between Lebanon and Israel.

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

Latest News

US pressure prompted Israel-Lebanon talks to avert war with Hezbollah

US deputy Middle East envoy Morgan Ortagus speaks during a United Nations Security Council meeting on the situation in Gaza, at UN headquarters in New York, on Sept. 18, 2025.

Analysis

A Trump bargain: Pardon Netanyahu in exchange for Israel-Syria security deal?

TEL AVIV, ISRAEL - OCTOBER 13: U.S. President Donald Trump (2R) is welcomed by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (L) at Ben Gurion International Airport on October 13, 2025 in Tel Aviv, Israel. President Trump is visiting the country hours after Hamas released the remaining Israeli hostages captured on Oct. 7, 2023, part of a US-brokered ceasefire deal to end the war in Gaza. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

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

US approves $1.4B in military sales to Saudi Arabia, Bahrain: What to know

Royal Bahraini Air Force F-16s perform air maneuvers during the 2018 Bahrain International Airshow at the Sakhir Airbase on Nov. 14 2018.

Trump warns Israel not to 'interfere' in Syria after deadly raid

Bakr ALkasem / AFP via Getty Images

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

Jared Szuba

Pentagon Correspondent

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

Joyce Karam

Senior News Editor

In Washington, DC, reporting on regional geopolitics, China in the Middle East

Andrew Parasiliti

President and Chief Content Officer

In Washington, DC, reporting on diplomacy, regional politics, national security

Megan Mineiro

In Washington, DC, reporting on US Congress

US President-elect Donald Trump speaks to members of the media during a press conference at the Mar-a-Lago Club on Jan. 07, 2025, in Palm Beach, Florida.

Trump, Biden vie for credit as Gaza ceasefire awaits Israel’s approval

The president-elect’s nominees for top positions are talking tough as the ceasefire with Israel hangs in the balance.

Rep. Michael Waltz (R-FL) displays a map with the 2021 bases/facilities with reported U.S. access agreements during a House Armed Services Committee hearing on the conclusion of military operations in Afghanistan at the Rayburn House Office building on Capitol Hill on September 29, 2021 in Washington, DC. The committee held the hearing “to receive testimony on the conclusion of military operations in Afghanistan and plans for future counterterrorism operations.” (Photo by Olivier Douliery-Pool/Getty Images)

After Gaza deal, Trump's top adviser says Saudi-Israel normalization 'huge priority'

Trump’s next national security adviser, Mike Waltz, emphasized on Wednesday that the incoming administration will place Saudi-Israel normalization atop its agenda now that a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas seems imminent.

US President Joe Biden (C) delivers remarks on the recently announced ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas.

How the Gaza ceasefire deal came together

At the last minute, negotiators in Doha managed to seal the Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal that had eluded the Biden administration for more than 15 months.

Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan, president of Sudan, delivers a national statement during the high level segment on day two of the UNFCCC COP29 Climate Conference at Baku Stadium on Nov. 12, 2024 in Baku, Azerbaijan.

US unveils sanctions on Sudan's army chief Burhan

The move comes over a week after the Biden administration imposed sanctions on Rapid Support Forces leader Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo.

US Army Gen. Erik Kurilla arrives to testify before the Senate Armed Services Committee on his nomination to the next commander of the US Central Command, on Capitol Hill, in Washington, DC, Feb. 8, 2022.

CENTCOM chief in Israel as Biden, Trump clinch Gaza ceasefire deal

Army Gen. Erik Kurilla's latest trip to Israel came in the final days of Biden's presidency, as White House officials sought to capitalize on the broad defeat of the IRGC's multinational bulwark of armed militias.

President-elect Donald Trump's nominee for CIA director, John Ratcliffe, appears for a Senate Intelligence confirmation hearing on Capitol Hill on Jan. 15, 2025, in Washington, DC.

Trump's CIA pick warns of Iran nuclear advancements in confirmation hearing

In his confirmation hearing, John Ratcliffe spoke about Iran's development of nuclear weapons, evidence of Syria's Bashar al-Assad's use of chemical weapons and the FISA.

US President-elect Donald Trump's nominee for secretary of defense, Pete Hegseth, speaks during a Senate Armed Services confirmation hearing on Capitol Hill on Jan. 14, 2025, in Washington, DC.

Hegseth stresses support for Israel as Senate Dems grill Trump’s Pentagon pick

In a contentious hearing, the former Fox News host signaled a loosening of rules of engagement for troops abroad and stressed his "robust" support for Israel, yet offered few specifics on how he would tackle the Pentagon’s biggest challenges.

An Israeli soldier looks at a memorial wall for Israeli people and soldiers who were killed since the Oct. 7 deadly Hamas attack.

Here are main Netanyahu and Hamas compromises in proposed Gaza deal

Details are beginning to surface about a potential deal between Israel and Hamas for the release of hostages and a ceasefire in Gaza.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks at the Atlantic Council in Washington, DC, on Jan. 14, 2025.

Blinken offers blueprint for post-war Gaza in final speech

The outgoing chief US diplomat laid out his vision for Gaza’s future as negotiators appeared on the brink of a cease-fire.

President Joe Biden speaks during an event at the Roosevelt Room of the White House on Jan. 10, 2025 in Washington, DC.

Biden defends foreign policy legacy as Gaza ceasefire deal 'on the brink'

President Joe Biden's final foreign policy speech came as negotiators rush to secure a Gaza ceasefire deal before he leaves office.

Newly elected Lebanese president Joseph Aoun delivers a speech at the parliament building in Beirut on Jan. 9, 2025.

Top US general in Mideast meets Lebanon's Aoun in bid to shore up ceasefire with Israel

CENTCOM commander Gen. Erik Kurilla's final diplomatic tour of the region under President Joe Biden came as the outgoing president defended his foreign policy legacy in a speech from Foggy Bottom.

People walk past a guard tower outside the fencing of Camp 5 at the US Military's Prison in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, on Jan, 26, 2017.

Analysis

After 23 years, 15 detainees left, will US close Guantanamo detention camp?

Only 15 detainees remain in Guantanamo. With so few inmates left, could the infamous prison close?

By Rosaleen Carroll

In Washington, DC, US, reporting on the Middle East