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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

A religious Jewish yeshiva (seminary) student stands outside the local army draft office May 11, 2006 at Tel Hashomer near Tel Aviv in central Israel.

Bennett’s government advances ultra-Orthodox public school system

The new Israeli government focuses efforts on pushing forward and expanding an ultra-Orthodox public school system.

Head of Israel's Shin Bet domestic security service, Nadav Argaman, visits the International Conference and Exhibition on Unmanned Systems at the Avenue Conventions and Events center in Israel's Airport City, near Tel Aviv, Nov. 7, 2019.

Undercover police unit to target crime in Arab-Israeli society

The establishment of a special police undercover unit targeting crime in the Arab society comes on the backdrop of increasing calls to involve the Shin Bet in this yearslong battle.

Palestinians ride a horse cart carrying rubble past the ruins of buildings destroyed in the lasted round of Israeli-Hamas fighting, in Gaza City, on Aug. 25, 2021.

Israel announces 'civil steps' to alleviate conditions in Gaza

Israel says the measures are dependent on "preservation of security" and follow the announcement of $155 million to the Palestinian Authority.

This picture taken on April 26, 2021, shows a view of fishing boats moored at the fishing port of Gaza City.

Israel expands Gaza fishing zone after demonstrations

Along with several other humanitarian gestures, Israel announced it would expand the offshore fishing zone by 15 nautical miles.

Algerian prime minister

Africa emerges as next scene of confrontation between Israel, Iran

The decision by Algeria to sever diplomatic ties with Morocco could actually signal future confrontation between Israel and Iran over influence in Africa.

A picture taken on Oct. 18, 2018 shows the US Consulate in Jerusalem.

Israel calls US plan to reopen consulate for Palestinians 'bad idea'

In an effort to repair ties with the Palestinians, the Biden administration plans to reopen the US Consulate in Jerusalem that had served as a de facto embassy for the Palestinians.

RONEN ZVULUN/POOL/AFP via Getty Images

Bahraini ambassador arrives in Israel

Khaled Al Jalahma met with an Israeli diplomat in Jerusalem and tweeted in Hebrew about his new position.

Israeli Minister of Defense Benny Gantz arrives for a photo at the president's residence during a ceremony for the new coalition government in Jerusalem, on June 14, 2021.

Israel’s Gantz meets with Palestine's Abbas

Defense Minister Benny Gantz' rare meeting in Ramallah with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is making headlines.

US President Joe Biden meets with Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett in the Oval Office at the White House, Washington, Aug. 27, 2021.

Shapiro's appointment as Iran liaison good news for Bennett-Biden relations

Ambassador Dan Shapiro is a trusted and respected interlocutor for upper echelons in both Washington and Jerusalem.

ALEXEY NIKOLSKY/SPUTNIK/AFP via Getty Images

Netanyahu asked to return state gifts he received as Israeli PM

The prime minister's office has reportedly requested that Benjamin Netanyahu return 42 gifts from President Barack Obama, President Vladimir Putin and other foreign leaders that he received during his 12-year tenure.

Israeli Alternate Prime Minister and Defense Minister Benny Gantz attends a Cabinet meeting of the new government at Chagall State Hall in the Knesset, Jerusalem, May 24, 2020.

Gantz announces $155M loan for PA following Abbas meeting

Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz and PA President Mahmoud Abbas held rare face-to-face talks in Ramallah on Aug. 29.

US President Joe Biden meets with Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett in the Oval Office at the White House on Aug. 27, 2021 in Washington, DC.

Biden-Bennett talks covered Iran, Palestinian economy, evictions

President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Naftali Bennett went beyond Iran to ways to support Palestinian economy.