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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

This picture shows a view of the predominantly Arab neighbourhood of Silwan, just outside the Old City in Israeli-annexed east Jerusalem, on Nov. 9, 2020.

Israeli court postpones ruling on East Jerusalem evictions

The Jerusalem court delayed ruling on whether two Palestinians families must vacate their homes in favor of Israeli settlers in the Silwan neighborhood.

Palestinians scuffle with Israeli security forces outside the court in Jerusalem on May 26, 2021 during a protest over Israel's planned evictions of Palestinian families from homes in the eastern sector's Silwan district.

In Israel, Jewish-Arab tensions remain high

The cease-fire between Israel and Hamas is in place and working for the moment, but tensions within Jewish-Arab mixed cities inside Israel have not disappeared yet.

Blinken in Jerusalem

Blinken announces US aid to Gaza, says Hamas won't benefit

Secretary of State Antony Blinken also said the US will move to reopen the US Consulate in Jerusalem, which served as a de facto American embassy for the Palestinians before it was shuttered by the prior administration.

AMIT SHABI/AFP via Getty Images

Gaza war puts Netanyahu, Gantz back on same team

During Operation Guardian of the Walls, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Benny Gantz put aside their differences and bitterness.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken (L), Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (C) and Israeli Ambassador to the United States Gilad Erdan (R), Jerusalem, May 25, 2021.

Netanyahu, Blinken discuss Israel’s security, Gaza reconstruction

Meeting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken reiterated US commitment for Israel’s security, and said the United States is committed also to the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip.

An Israeli farmer tries to extinguish a fire caused by inflammable material attached to a helium balloon flown by Palestinian protesters from across the border, in a wheat field near the Nahal Oz kibbutz, along the border with the Gaza Strip, Israel, May 15, 2019.

After cease-fire, Israel prepares for next round of Gaza conflict

Seniors in the political and security echelons are convinced that the current cease-fire with Hamas does not mean quiet for a very long time.

Egypt's Minister of Foreign Affairs Sameh Shoukry speaks during a joint press conference following a meeting on the Middle East Peace process, at the quai d'Orsay, in Paris, on March 11, 2021.

Israeli-Egyptian cooperation grows following end of Gaza conflict

Israel has been quiet on its contacts with Egypt throughout the latest security crisis, but the agreement on the cease-fire with Hamas, Friday's phone call between the two foreign ministers and the reopening yesterday of two Gaza crossing points for humanitarian aid reflect growing cooperation between Jerusalem and Cairo.

Barnea, Netanyahu and Cohen of Israel's Mossad.

David Barnea to be nominated as next Mossad head

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced today that current Deputy Mossad Chief David Barnea will replace head of the espionage agency Yossi Cohen, who finishes his mandate at the beginning of June.

AHMAD GHARABLI/AFP via Getty Images

Israeli soldier, civilian stabbed in east Jerusalem

Israeli police shot and killed a Palestinian man after he allegedly stabbed a soldier and civilian in east Jerusalem Monday.

Stefani Reynolds/Getty Images

Blinken visits Middle East to bolster Israel-Hamas cease-fire

Secretary of State Antony Blinken will visit Jerusalem, Ramallah, Cairo and Amman this week for discussions on maintaining the fragile cease-fire between Israel and Hamas.

US President Joe Biden delivers remarks on the conflict in the Middle East from the White House on May 20, 2021 in Washington, DC.

Israeli-Palestinian conflict forces Biden to put Mideast on agenda

Egyptian and Palestinian Authority leaders are back at center stage of US regional diplomacy.

Netanyahu briefing

A ‘new level of force’: Netanyahu warns against further Hamas attacks

“If Hamas thinks we will tolerate a drizzle of rockets, it is wrong,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said after the cease-fire took effect.