Analysis Playing for time: Despite US pressure, Israel stalls Lebanon talks until after election Ahead of the eighth round of talks in Rome, the Israeli military reported clearing Hezbollah's underground stronghold at Ali al-Taher after besieging the ridge for months. By Ben Caspit In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense
Why Ali al-Taher ridge is emerging as Israel-Hezbollah flashpoint Israel has intensified its strikes and ground operations around the strategic hill in a bid to force Hezbollah out. Lebanon
Israel to release 5 Lebanese prisoners ahead of next talks: What to know Israel said the detainees are "civilians who are not members of a terrorist organization" and "were not involved in terrorism," concluding, "There is no reason to continue holding them in Israel." Israel
Israel, Greece sign $3.5 billion air-defense deal: What to know Against the backdrop of growing tensions with Turkey, Israel signed one of its largest-ever defense industry deals to supply Greece with advanced air defense systems. Israel
Analysis UAE gauges new Lebanon deals amid Levant economic stabilization push By Samuel Wendel In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech
Analysis Israel’s Lebanon dilemma: Confront Hezbollah without angering Trump, triggering Iran By Ben Caspit In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense
Newsletter: Daily Briefing Iran sets conditions for reopening Strait of Hormuz By Ezgi Akin In Ankara, reporting on diplomacy, EU-Turkey ties, NATO
Is Iran Genuinely Troubled By Sunni-Shiite Conflict? With the latest bombing in Lebanon, the sectarian overtones of the region's conflicts have crystallized. Lebanon
Are Tripoli Bombings Aimed At Sparking Sectarian War in Lebanon? Leading Lebanese figures claim that Friday's bombings, which targeted Sunni mosques in the northern city of Tripoli and resulted in more than 40 deaths, were aimed at polarizing the country and sparking a sectarian war. Lebanon
Israel's New Adversary: Global Jihad Rockets fired by global jihad cells from the Lebanese border will force Israel to adjust its military strategy. Israel
Hezbollah-Hamas Relationship Strained News reports suggest that Hezbollah's relationship with Hamas is under more pressure than ever, which is good news for Israel. Israel
Lebanon Caught in Middle Of Iranian-Saudi 'Cold War' Lebanon’s unique position in the Arab Levant means it has been inevitably caught up in the back and forth of Iran and Saudi Arabia’s proxy war in the region. Saudi Arabia
Turkey Takes Sides, Pays a Price The kidnappings in Lebanon are only one of the prices of Turkey’s ill-conceived, sectarian-nature foreign policy — which is nothing new. Lebanon
Lebanon Risks Becoming More Like Iraq Than Syria The nature of back-and-forth Shiite-Sunni fighting in Lebanon more closely resembles the conflict raging in Iraq than the one in neighboring Syria. Iraq
Egypt's Paradox Egyptians are grappling with unprecedented violence rooted in a divide over the military-led government. Egypt
Islamist Phase of Arab Awakening Failed The failure of Islamism in power and the key challenges facing the new rulers in Arab societies that saw uprisings and regime changes are now emerging. Lebanon
Nasrallah Threatens to Double Hezbollah Forces in Syria Responding to the Aug. 15. bombing of a Hezbollah neighborhood in Beirut, which killed 22 people, Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah threatened to escalate the war with the "takfiris" in Syria. Lebanon
Will Lebanon’s Second Airport Begin Operation? Sectarian controversy prevented a planned Aug. 16 flight from arriving at what could be Lebanon's first regional airport. Lebanon
Lebanese Officials Speculate On Israeli Role in Beirut Bombing After the blast that killed more than 20 people in Beirut’s southern suburbs on Aug. 15, several Lebanese politicians have accused Israel of being involved. Israel
