Middle East


Are Iraqi militias and Afghan fighters suppressing protests in Iran? - analysis

 People gather during protest on January 8, 2026 in Tehran, Iran.

'Muslim NATO': Turkey in advanced talks to join Saudi-Pakistan mutual defense pact

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan talks with Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al-Saud as Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar looks on, before their meeting on Gaza, in Istanbul, Turkey, November 3, 2025.

Syria's power struggle: Who controls what, and why fighting continues - analysis

A group of civilians carry bags and belongings as they flee following renewed clashes between the Syrian army and the Syrian Democratic Forces, in Aleppo, Syria, January 7, 2026