Armed Militias and Extremist Groups

A destroyed Syrian army battle tank lies abandoned near the ancient ruins of Palmyra in central Syria on Feb. 7, 2025.

Breaking | Last Updated: December 19, 2025, 6:36 pm

US bombs ISIS targets in Syria in retaliation for Palmyra insider attack

The Islamic State has not claimed direct credit for the ambush by a member of the Syria's domestic security forces that killed three American personnel in Palmyra last week.

Rabih DAHER / AFP via Getty Images

Second Lebanon-Israel meeting agrees to strengthen Lebanese army: What to know

The second round of civilian-led talks between Israel and Lebanon focused on the economic track while also addressing the removal of Hezbollah's weapons.

SHARM EL-SHEIKH, EGYPT - OCTOBER 13: U.S. President Donald Trump and President of Egypt Abdel Fattah El-Sisi clasp hands as they speak to the press before their meeting on October 13, 2025 in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt. President Trump is in Egypt to meet with European and Middle Eastern leaders in what’s being billed as an international peace summit, following the start of a US-brokered ceasefire deal to end the war in the Gaza Strip. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Analysis

How Netanyahu ceded to Trump, agreed to Egypt's $35B gas deal

The Israeli prime minister's frustration with Trump administration strong-arming continues, with pressure to sign Egypt gas deal and now a reported push for Sisi meeting.

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

This photograph taken during a press tour organised by the Lebanese army shows Lebanese soldiers standing atop a military vehicle in Alma Al-Shaab, near the border with Israel in southern Lebanon, on November 28, 2025. It was the first guided tour the army gave journalists since a November 2024 ceasefire sought to end over a year of hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel. (Photo by Anwar AMRO / AFP via Getty Images)

US, France and Saudi Arabia agree to conference to bolster Lebanon’s army

France is looking for more support for a committee monitoring the ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon.

Latest News

Qatar’s prime minister meets US officials as Gaza plan stalls

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio (R) shakes hands with Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani at the State Department in Washington, on Dec. 17, 2025.

Over 600 Israeli ex-security chiefs urge Trump to disarm Hamas, back PA in Gaza

President Donald Trump speaks with Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the Knesset, Israel's parliament, on Oct. 13, 2025 in Jerusalem.

Syria foils major arms smuggling attempt to Lebanon: What we know

The Internal Security Directorate in the Zabadani area of rural Damascus thwarted an attempt to smuggle a shipment of weapons and seized large quantities of RPG shells that were hidden in an organized manner and prepared for smuggling towards Lebanon, on Dec. 17, 2025.

Analysis

Trump's Syria envoy Barrack tests Israel's patience as Netanyahu pushes back

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (R) meets with US special envoy Tom Barrack, Jerusalem, Dec. 15 2

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

People check the damage following a reported Israeli strike in the Mazzeh district of Damascus, on Nov. 14, 2024.

Israeli strikes in Syria kill 17 as Iranian adviser set to visit

Israel has allegedly escalated its attacks on Syria amid an international push for de-escalation and continued fighting in Gaza and Lebanon.

Adam Lucente

By Adam Lucente

In New York City, reporting on regional news, militancy, climate change

YASUYOSHI CHIBA/AFP via Getty Images

French-made military technology used in Sudan war, Amnesty reports

The report is the latest sign of growing foreign interference in Sudan, where the brutal civil war has created the world’s worst humanitarian crisis, according to the United Nations.

US President Donald Trump delivers remarks at a Keep America Great rally in Phoenix, Arizona, Feb. 19, 2020, and Russian President Vladimir Putin delivers a speech during a ceremony in Jerusalem, commemorating the people of Leningrad during the World War II Nazi siege on the city, Jan. 23, 2020, combination of pictures created on Feb. 21, 2020.

Analysis

With Trump back, Putin works through Netanyahu to strike Israel-Lebanon deal

Russia's President Vladimir Putin indicated in recent days that Moscow is in contact with all parties in the Middle East to push for an end to the fighting.

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

France's Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Noel Barrot (2-R) speaks to members of his delegation as he visits the Mount of Olives, overlooking Jerusalem's Old City and Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, Nov. 7, 2024.

Can France help address Israel's conditions for Lebanon cease-fire deal?

During a visit to Israel, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel met with Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer and Foreign Affairs Minister Israel Katz to discuss advancing an agreement with Lebanon and the security guarantees Israel is demanding.

A view of Zahedan from ShirAbad neighbourhood in Sistan and Baluchestan, Iran, on Dec. 3, 2018.

As IRGC begins offensive, Iran links Sunni militant attacks to 'Israeli plot'

The Revolutionary Guards said it was successfully advancing on a Sunni insurgency in the country's restive southeastern Sistan-Baluchistan province, claiming the militants had launched their most recent attack as part of an Israeli conspiracy to destabilize Iran.

French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Noel Barrot (C) visits the Nova festival memorial.

French FM to visit Israel as Paris, Washington work on Lebanon deal

In another push to end the war in Lebanon, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot will travel on Wednesday to Israel.

US Vice President Kamala Harris meets with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the Vice President's ceremonial office at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building in Washington, DC, on July 25, 2024. (Photo by ROBERTO SCHMIDT / AFP) (Photo by ROBERTO SCHMIDT/AFP via Getty Images)

Analysis

Kamala Harris, Donald Trump sent messages to Israel to end Lebanon war by Jan. 20

Both US presidential candidates push Israel to end its war against Hezbollah as quickly as possible, yet Prime Minister Netanyahu might have other considerations in mind.

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

Destroyed and damaged buildings after an Israeli airstrike on the Ruwais neighborhood in Beirut's southern suburbs, Oct. 23, 2024.

Analysis

With cease-fire elusive, Israel security brass push for unilateral halt in Lebanon

Biden administration envoys persist in trying to broker a deal to end Israel's escalation in Lebanon, but Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has his own ideas.

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

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu meets in Jerusalem with US Presidential Special Envoy Amos Hochstein and US Presidential Special Envoy Brett McGurk, on Oct. 31, 2024.

Netanyahu says Israel's 'ability to enforce' key to any Lebanon deal

American envoys Amos Hochstein and Brett McGurk met Thursday with Israeli leaders in yet another effort to clinch a deal for a cease-fire in southern Lebanon.

A damaged ambulance lies amid the fire following an Israeli airstrike that targeted the industrial zone in the southern Lebanese village of Abbasiyah on Oct. 30, 2024.

Leaked document outlines Lebanon-Israel cease-fire, might be reached in 'hours or days'

A document published by Israeli public broadcaster Kan on Wednesday purports to contain the details of a US-backed cease-fire proposal between Israel and Hezbollah.

The deputy chief of Lebanon's Shiite militant group Hezbollah, Sheikh Naim Qassem, delivers a speech during a rally in Beirut on Oct. 13, 2023.

Hezbollah’s new leader says group to fight 'for months' as US proposes 60-day Lebanon cease-fire

Naim Qassem’s speech coincides with escalating Israeli airstrikes across Lebanon, as the US scrambles to secure a cease-fire deal.

Drew Angerer/Getty Images

CIA chief returns to Egypt in last-ditch effort for Gaza deal: What we know

The Israeli press reports that CIA chief William Burns will head to Cairo Thursday for more talks on a possible deal between Israel and Hamas.