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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)

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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

ABIR SULTAN/AFP via Getty Images

Bennett styles himself as Israel’s new Mr. Security

On the backdrop of the fatal drone attack against the oil tanker off Oman and of growing tensions on Israel’s northern border, Prime Minister Naftali Bennett is positioning himself as Israel’s new Mr. Security.

Mansour Abbas (L), head of Israel's conservative Islamic Raam party, attends a Knesset (Parliament) meeting in Jerusalem on July 7, 2021, during which Israeli President-elect Yitzhak Herzog will swear allegiance.

Will only Arab party in Israel’s ruling coalition provide blueprint for others?

If Ra’am’s experiment as a partner in the government is successful, it could have lasting impact on Israel's political system.

Zachary Weiss #44 of Team Israel pitches in the ninth inning against Team Dominican Republic during the knockout stage of men's baseball on day eleven of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Yokohama Baseball Stadium on Aug. 3, 2021 in Yokohama, Japan.

Despite loss, Israel’s Olympic baseball team wins big in Tokyo

The Israeli baseball team brought home no medals, but still made history by qualifying for the Olympic games and gaining visibility.

A picture taken on Aug. 3, 2021 shows the Israeli-linked Japanese-owned tanker MT Mercer Street, off the port of the Gulf Emirate of Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates.

Israel considers options after drone attack on ship blamed on Iran

The drone attack against an Israeli-managed oil tanker last week revealed Israel’s soft underbelly at sea, and forces its leadership to consider how to retaliate.

Israeli Arab politician, leader of the United Arab list, Mansour Abbas attends consultations with Israeli President Reuven Rivlin (unseen) on who might form the next coalition government, at the President's residence in Jerusalem, on April 5, 2021.

Israeli budget approved in victory for Arab coalition party

The big winner of the approval of Israel’s 2021 state budget is the leader of the Arab coalition party Ra’am, Mansour Abbas.

LOUAI BESHARA/AFP via Getty Images

Russia recalibrates coordination with new Israeli government in Syria

There are indications the Kremlin is about to revise its approach to Israel in order to force the Israel Defense Forces into accepting new rules of the regional game.

Palestinian residents of the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood attend a hearing at Israel's Supreme Court in Jerusalem on Aug. 2, 2021.

Israeli court gives protected status to Sheikh Jarrah residents facing eviction

The Supreme Court adjourned without ruling on the planned eviction of four Palestinian families who reside in the East Jerusalem neighborhood.

Ahmed Tibi (C), Israeli member of Knesset for the Joint List, speaks during a demonstration by Israeli Arabs.

War of words rages between Israeli-Arab coalition, opposition legislators

The Joint List, which is part of the opposition, is apparently unhappy with the Ra’am Party, which is part of the coalition, getting so much media attention.

Palestinian laborers working in Israel cross the Mitar checkpoint in Hebron, West Bank, May 3, 2020.

Israel grants 15,000 more work permits to Palestinians

The move comes amid other steps by the government of Prime Minister Naftali Bennett to prevent the collapse of the Palestinian economy.

A ship is pictured off the coast of Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates, where an Israeli-operated ship was attacked opposite the Iranian coast, April 14, 2021.

Israel says Iran behind drone attack on ship

Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said there is clear evidence that Iran was involved in the July 29 drone attack on an Israeli-managed ship.

An undated image of Liberian flagged tanker MT Mercer Street.

Two reported dead in attack on Israeli-operated ship near Oman

Iran was suspected in the attack on the UAE-bound Mercer Street, which is connected to an Israeli billionaire businessman.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks during a Health Ministry-organized appreciation ceremony for health system personnel and partner agencies for their contribution during the coronavirus pandemic, Jerusalem. June 6, 2021.

Netanyahu lays out plan to regain power

Despite his defeat two months ago, former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu refuses to leave the stage to Prime Minister Naftali Bennett.