Trump speaks with Netanyahu, Putin as Iran pressure campaign escalates President Donald Trump spoke by phone separately with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Russian President Vladimir Putin, discussing the situation in Iran and the possibility of extending the ceasefire. United States
US seeks to train Lebanon army units to disarm Hezbollah: What to know Funding for such a program remains unclear, though the Pentagon has requested $36 million for fiscal year 2027 to support Lebanon’s army. Lebanon
Analysis Despite Trump pressure to limit Israel's Lebanon attacks, Aoun-Netanyahu meeting still unlikely As President Donald Trump pressures Israel to limit its strikes in Lebanon, Hezbollah is taking advantage of the situation. By Ben Caspit In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense
Why US, Israel are freezing France out of Lebanon talks With talks between Israel and Lebanon being held in Washington, Paris still insists that it must be involved to balance possible American bias and to protect Beirut’s interests. Israel
Analysis Israel fears Trump angling for Lebanon deal to offset Iran missteps By Ben Caspit In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense
Analysis Israel sees chance of US-Iran deal as almost 'non-existent,' readies for war By Ben Caspit In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense
US sanctions smuggling network backing Yemen's Houthis The latest Houthi-related sanctions come as the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia push the Biden administration to designate the Iran-supported group as a terrorist organization. Yemen
US talks directly with Syria on missing American but White House a ‘holdup,’ family says The family of Majd Kamalmaz is pleading with the White House to build on previous engagement with Damascus, saying the Syrians have demanded to speak with a high-level US official. Syria
US F-22 squadron arrives to help UAE ward off Houthi attacks France is also lending military support while it remains unclear how proactively US fighter pilots will allowed to engage Houthi targets. Yemen
Analysis The Takeaway: Republicans vow to hinder Biden on Iran Netanyahu and Pegasus; Ukraine and Turkey; Idlib; Gaza’s Sufis; Egypt’s pickled mummy fetus; and more…in less than 1,100 words. By Elizabeth Hagedorn , Andrew Parasiliti , Joe Snell
Iran nuclear deal will be a tough sell in Congress Unless the US and Iran reach an agreement that imposes meaningful, long-term restrictions on Tehran's nuclear activities, any deal reached in Vienna is unlikely to prove politically durable. United States
US approves $4.2 billion F-16 sale to Jordan, air defense systems to Gulf Lockheed Martin's THAAD air defense system marked its first successful combat shoot-downs during ballistic missile attacks on the UAE in recent weeks. Legacy: Gulf
US to deploy fighter jets, Navy destroyer to UAE after missile attacks Houthi barrages on the UAE are stress-testing Biden’s commitment to end US involvement in Yemen’s civil war. Yemen
FBI admits to obtaining Israeli-made Pegasus spyware The FBI said it bought the controversial spyware tool for “product testing and evaluation only” and never deployed it. Israel
Biden eyes Qatar as major non-NATO ally The upgrade in ties comes as the United States is seeking Doha's help in supplying natural gas to Europe. Qatar
Iran on the agenda as Qatar emir meets Biden There is potential Doha could play a role in brokering a US-Iran prisoner exchanging following press reports of Iran-Qatar talks on the topic. Qatar
Intel: Pentagon chief orders reform to civilian harm policies Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin's initiative follows pressure from lawmakers and fruitless attempts at reform under the prior administration. Washington Pulse
House Democrats press Blinken on military aid to Egypt In a letter to the US secretary of state, lawmakers described Egypt's "pervasive and systemic violations of human rights." Egypt