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August 25, 2026

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Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani (C) watches as US special envoy for Syria Tom Barrack prepares to sign an agreement in Damascus on September 16, 2025. Shaibani announced on September 16 a plan backed by Jordan and the United States to restore calm to Druze-majority Sweida province, which witnessed deadly violence in July. (Photo by LOUAI BESHARA / AFP) (Photo by LOUAI BESHARA/AFP via Getty Images)

Exclusive

Israel recalibrates Syria policy, explores path to security deal

Israel is rethinking its hard-line Syria policy and seeking to repair ties with US envoy and Donald Trump's confidant Tom Barrack amid a push for a security agreement with Damascus.

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

Palestinian militant group Hamas police officers stand guard as people attend the opening of the Fatah party's eighth general conference at Al-Azhar University in Gaza City on May 14, 2026.

Ex-defense minister: Israel in ‘worst possible’ Gaza situation as Hamas gains strength

Former Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant criticized the Israeli government for allowing Hamas to retain control over half of the Gaza Strip.

A merchant ship "Jabotinsky" (former "Altalena"), chartered by Jewish military group Irgun Zvaei Leumi to carry weapons for Israeli fighters, burns near Tel Aviv beach, after being shelled by the Haganah, Israel, June 27, 1948.

Wreck of ship sunk by Israeli military in Irgun clash found after 78 years

The wreck of the Irgun underground's Altalena ship, bombed by the Israeli military in 1948 and deliberately sunk in 1949, was located off Israel's coast at a depth of 1,650 feet.

Latest News

Israel tightens election safeguards as public distrust surges: What to know

ilia YEFIMOVICH / AFP via Getty Images

Analysis

Why Turkey sees Israeli strikes in Syria as warning over its military role, Mecca Pact

A Turkish soldier from the 1st Border Regiment Command looks out over the border wall to Syria during alert drills at a military outpost on the Turkey/Syria border on March 2, 2017 in Kilis, Turkey.

Barin Kayaoglu

By Barin Kayaoglu

In Ankara, reporting on geopolitics and national security

Analysis

Turkey bets on US deconfliction as Israel widens Syria red lines

Turkey/Syria border

Ezgi Akin

Rina Bassist

By Ezgi Akin , Rina Bassist

Analysis

Israel fears Turkey’s Syria ambitions and doubts Trump will stop them

ANKARA, TURKEY - JULY 7: U.S. President Donald Trump (L)shakes hands with with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (R) during a formal arrival at the Bestepe Presidential Palace during the NATO summit on July 7, 2026 in Ankara, Turkey. Leaders from NATO's 32 countries, plus NATO allies like Ukraine, gathered in the Turkish capital to discuss a range of issues involving spending targets, defense industrial production, and support for Ukraine, among other topics. (Photo by Emrah Gurel - Pool/Getty Images)

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

Samuel Wendel

Senior Analyst, Middle East Business & Tech

In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech

Adam Lucente

News and Business Correspondent

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

Jack Dutton

Chief Business Correspondent

In Bristol, reporting on regional business, climate change, AI, tech

Ben Caspit

Israel Columnist

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

Francesco Schiavi

In Bologna, reporting on security, defense, economy, governance

Rina Bassist

Associate Editor (Israel)

In Paris, reporting on Israeli politics and European affairs

Mansour Abbas, the head of the United Arab Party (Ra'am), meets with King Abdullah of Jordan in Amman, Nov. 9, 2021.

Arab-Israeli legislator meets king of Jordan

Having previously alerted Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, Ra’am party chair Mansour Abbas met today in the royal palace in Amman with Jordanian King Abdullah II.

Ultra orthodox

Ultra-Orthodox parties stick with Netanyahu in opposition

The Bennett-Lapid government's commitment to advancing progressive Judaism projects is pushing the ultra-Orthodox into an even tighter alliance with the former prime minister.

KHALED DESOUKI/AFP via Getty Images

Israel agrees to more Egyptian troops in Sinai

Israel has agreed for Egypt to reinforce its military presence in the Sinai Peninsula.

A woman checks the website of Israel-made Pegasus spyware at an office in Nicosia, Cyprus, July 21, 2021.

Is Iran behind cyberattacks on Israeli hospitals?

Iran's gas stations have also been the target of cyberattacks, increasing fears of an escalation in the Israel-Iran cyberwar.

MARIO GOLDMAN/AFP via Getty Images

Palestinian rights defenders hacked with NSO's Pegasus, report finds

The investigation found one of the hacked devices belonged to an American citizen.

This picture shows operators working at the Joint Rescue Coordination Center during the multinational exercise "NEMESIS 2021," in the coastal city of Larnaca, Cyprus, Nov. 3, 2021.

Israel to export border surveillance technology to Cyprus

Israel’s military has extensive experience with border security surveillance in the West Bank.

AHMAD GHARABLI/AFP via Getty Images

Arab-Israeli party celebrates budget passage

For Ra’am Chair Mansour Abbas, the approval of the 2021-2022 state budget is a political and personal achievement.

JACK GUEZ/AFP via Getty Images

Israel drills for possible war with Hezbollah

Despite Lebanon's economic crisis and Hezbollah being unlikely to launch a war amid such a dire situation, defense analysts warn that war is still possible.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sits in the Knesset before parliament votes to approve the new government, Jerusalem, June 13, 2021.

Despite failure to block new budget, Netanyahu not ready to retire

After the failure to block the new budget, opposition head Benjamin Netanyahu embarks on a campaign to preserve his political alliance and his status as head of the Likud.

Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett speaks to reporters following a session at the Knesset, Jerusalem, Nov. 4, 2021.

Budget approval marks great achievement for Israeli leadership

Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and Foreign Minister Yair Lapid succeeded in approving the state budget and must now turn to a series of other challenges inside Israel and abroad.

This picture shows a High Availability Aerostat System (HAAS) in northern Israel, on Nov. 4, 2021.

Israel floats trial for new balloon-based drone, missile-detecting radar

The early-detection balloon and radar are the latest in Israel's rapidly growing arsenal of missile defense systems.

AHMAD GHARABLI/AFP via Getty Images

Israeli coalition celebrates approval of state budget

Most of the elements Israel’s state budget were approved this morning after an all-night Knesset session.