Middle east news

The Turkey trap: Israel has air superiority over Ankara, but no reason to fight - opinion

Israel’s strike in Syria risks turning tensions with Turkey into a confrontation that serves neither country

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan holds a press conference during NATO leaders' summit in Ankara, Turkey, July 8. Relations between Israel and Turkey have repeatedly deteriorated and recovered, but their competing interests in post-Assad Syria have introduced a new source of strategic friction.Premium
TURKISH PRESIDENT Recep Tayyip Erdogan shakes hands with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, next to Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, after signing a joint defense agreement in Mecca, on August 7, 2026.

Mecca pact unites Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan - but what does it mean? - opinion

Atef Najib, a brigadier general and former head of the Political Security Department in Daraa during Syria's ousted President Bashar al-Assad's rule, who is accused of committing war crimes, attends a trial session at the Palace of Justice, in Damascus, Syria, April 26, 2026.

Assad brothers summoned in absentia as Syria opens landmark trial of former security chief

US first lady Melania Trump presides over a United Nations Security Council meeting, at UN headquarters in New York City, US, March 2, 2026.

Trump, Netanyahu and the irony of Responsibility to Protect in Iran - opinion


'Any sane country would do this': Bennett denies IDF advance on Damascus, outlines defensive needs

"Time will tell, but Al-Qaeda and Al-Nusra alumni don’t strike me as reasonable,” Bennett said.

IDF soldiers gather near the ceasefire line between Syria and Israel, in the Golan Heights, December 9, 2024

Syrian mission to UN to continue work after regime exit, calls for Israel's withdrawal

The UN has called Israel's role in taking over the buffer zone a violation of a 1974 ceasefire agreement between Israel and Syria.

 Permanent Representative of the Syrian Arab Republic to the United Nations, Koussay Aldahhak

IDF dismantles Hamas underground terror tunnel in northern Gaza

The operation is believed to have significantly disrupted Hamas's terror capabilities in the region.

A northern Gaza tunnel uncovered and dismantled by the IDF.

Will Iranian-backed militias in Iraq march to Syria? Orders awaited - analysis

Moving Iraqi militias into Syria would be Iran’s way of both preventing spillover and adding fuel to the fire.

 A member of Iraq's Kataib Hezbollah attends the funeral of a commander who was killed in a strike in the Syrian capital Damascus on Friday, September 22, 2024.

Saudi Arabia abandons pursuit of US defense treaty over Israel stalemate

Riyadh wants Israel to first commit to Palestinian statehood

 SAUDI CROWN PRINCE Mohammed bin Salman attends a cabinet meeting in May. Only Saudi Arabia and the Arab world can convert, circumvent, or disempower rejectionist organizations like Hamas, the writer maintains.

Iran-Russia cooperation reaches new levels - analysis

Russia is now focused on the region of the Middle East. Iran is backing proxies to attack Israel.

 Russian President Vladimir Putin shakes hands with Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi during a meeting on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Samarkand

Airstrikes conducted across smuggling routes in Syria's Homs province, IDF confirms

The military confirmed Monday evening that IAF pilots conducted a series of strikes along the Syria-Lebanon border

 Smoke rises from Syria's Kurdish-controlled northeast city of Qamishli, Syria October 5, 2023.

UAE arrests three suspects in killing of Israeli-Moldovan rabbi

The body of Rabbi Zvi Kogan is expected to be brought back to Israel on Monday.

 Dubai police deploys emergency response drones to boost security

Why did Israel's new foreign minister embrace the Kurdish people? - analysis

Israel has long enjoyed positive relations with Kurdish people in the Middle East. It is part of a partnership between Jews and Kurds and also shared interests in the region 

IRAQI KURDS people celebrate Nowruz Day last month, a festival marking the first day of spring and the new year, in the town of Akra.

Iran’s invisible empire: Khamenei’s global network, jihad, and the hope for Iranian democracy

How can Khamenei's "shadow empire" deteriorate?

  Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khameini seen over an AI image of the Iranian octopus (illustrative)