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August 26, 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

Helios Ray

Attack on 3rd Israeli-owned ship reported in Gulf of Oman

News reports from Lebanon and Arab media say an Israeli-owned car carrier was damaged off Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates.

Knesset

Diplomatic gridlock only sure bet for Israel’s next government

Whatever it ends up looking like, it's clear that the next Israeli government won’t pursue negotiations with the Palestinians.

GIL COHEN-MAGEN/AFP via Getty Images

Israel on high alert after Natanz blast

Israel is in a state of alert after the explosion at Iran's Natanz nuclear facility.

Retired Israeli Gen. Benny Gantz, one of the leaders of the Blue and White (Kahol Lavan) political alliance, speaks at the Jordan Valley site of Naharayim, also known as Baqura in Jordan, east of the Jordan River and which has been leased to Israel as part of the Israel-Jordan peace treaty, on Oct. 18, 2019.

Israel’s Gantz battles to preserve ties with Jordan

Defense Minister Benny Gantz labors to repair damages caused by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to Israel-Jordan relations.

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin (L) speaks with Franciscan monks outside the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, traditionally believed to be the burial site of Jesus Christ, in Jerusalem's Old City, April 11, 2021.

Despite Austin’s visit, Israel not reassured on Iran

Israel welcomes US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin on a first official visit to Israel, though it is not at all sure whether the visit would calm down Israeli concerns over a US deal with Iran.

Gaza building damaged in 2014 war

Israel tells international court it has no jurisdiction for probe

Shortly before the deadline for responding, Jerusalem tells the International Criminal Court it has no jurisdiction to open a probe against Israeli soldiers or Israeli decision-makers.

Israeli politician Yair Lapid (L), leader of the Yesh Atid party, speaks to Naftali Bennett, head of the Israeli hard-line national religious party the Jewish Home, during a reception marking the opening of the 19th Knesset, Jerusalem, Feb. 5, 2013.

Bloc for toppling Netanyahu now crumbling

With Yesh Atid leader Yair Lapid on vacation in the United States, and Yamina leader Naftali Bennett changing course, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has the upper hand against the "bloc for change."

Israeli sailors stand on board the first of four new German-built Saar 6 naval vessels purchased by the navy, in the northern Haifa city naval base, Israel, Dec. 2, 2020.

Israel adopts 'controlled escalation' policy for Iran

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu desperately sees how the tough stance of the Trump administration against the nuclear deal with Iran has now morphed and changed into the Americans feeling their way back to the deal.

Amir Levy/Getty Images

Israeli construction plan to encircle Jerusalem

The Jerusalem municipality has moved forward on 540 new housing units in the controversial Har Homa neighborhood across the Green Line, a plan that will encircle Jerusalem on three sides.

Sudanese businessman Abu al-Qassem Bortoum

Sudan’s Cabinet votes to repeal 1958 Israel boycott

Once approved, the move could further open economic ties with Israel.

Netanyahu speaks on Holocaust day

Netanyahu slams Iran nuclear deal on Holocaust day

Netanyahu's warns "closest friends" that Iran nuclear deal will "not obligate us."

ABIR SULTAN/AFP via Getty Images

Israel's president openly reluctant on Netanyahu forming government

President Reuven Rivlin made sure everyone knew he would have preferred to task someone other than Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with forming Israel’s next government.