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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

MENAHEM KAHANA/AFP via Getty Images

Lapid, not Bennett, to be strongman of Israel’s next government

Naftali Bennett might be the first to serve as prime minister, but alternate Yair Lapid will be the strongman of Israel’s new cabinet.

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

Will Netanyahu fan flames or accept public’s verdict?

Will Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accept the verdict of the Israeli public, or will he try to ignite the flames one last time, before the new government is sworn in?

Ilan Mengistu (L), brother of Avera Mengistu (C), one of two Israelis held by Hamas in Gaza since 2014, attends a press conference organized by the captives' families calling for their release, in Jerusalem on Sept. 6, 2018.

Hamas releases audio of alleged Israeli soldier

The militant group also released old footage of former Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit.

An artillery unit soldier walks near an artillery unit near the border with the Gaza Strip, in Sderot, Israel, May 20, 2021.

Nine lessons for Israel following Gaza operation

Two former Israeli national security officials reflect on lessons learned from the Israel-Hamas conflict.

MENAHEM KAHANA/AFP via Getty Images

Knesset speaker refuses to set inauguration date

Members of the new coalition are furious with Knesset speaker Yariv Levin for not setting a date for the government to be sworn in.

Palestinian activist Mona el-Kurd talks on the phone at her home in the neighborhood of Sheikh Jarrah after being released from an Israeli police station, East Jerusalem, June 6, 2021.

Tensions high again in east Jerusalem

With a new government about to be sworn in in just a few days and with the Supreme Court to discuss Sheikh Jarrah eviction in the very near future, tensions are high in Jerusalem.

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, Jerusalem, April 5, 2021.

Mixed views among Israeli-Arabs over Ra'am party joining coalition

Some Israeli Arabs congratulate Ra'am party head Mansour Abbas for joining the coalition, while others warn he is setting a dangerous precedent in focusing on civil demands only.

DEBBIE HILL/AFP via Getty Images

Honduras to open Israel embassy in Jerusalem

Honduras follows the United States, Guatemala and Kosovo in opening an embassy in the contested holy city.

RONEN ZVULUN/AFP via Getty Images

Netanyahu hunts for defectors from change bloc

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is combing Yamina for defectors to kill the incoming coalition government.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attends a special session of the Knesset, in which Knesset members elected Isaac Herzog as the new president, Jerusalem, June 2, 2021.

Expect dirty tricks in Netanyahu's last battle for survival

Most experts believe Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will not open a new military front just to avoid his downfall, but will use every dirty political trick in the book to stay in power.

Iran's Minister of Foreign Affairs Mohammad Javad Zarif poses for a photograph in Madrid on May 13, 2021.

Iran's Zarif: Netanyahu headed for 'dustbin of history'

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif weighed in after Israel's opposition formed a "change bloc" to unseat the longtime prime minister.

Mansour Abbas on June 2

Palestinian citizens of Israel divided over new government

After Ra'am became the first Arab party join an Israeli government in decades, some Palestinian citizens of Israel see the move as "historic" while others remain skeptical.