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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)

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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

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

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (R) and alternate Prime Minister and Defence Minister Benny Gantz (L) issue a statement at the Israeli Defence Ministry in Tel Aviv on July 27, 2020 following the high tensions with the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah at the Israeli-Lebanon border. (Photo by Tal SHAHAR / POOL / AFP) (Photo by TAL SHAHAR/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Gantz calls Netanyahu’s bluff on budget showdown

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s partner and rival Benny Gantz has called his bluff, forcing him to compromise on extending the budget deadline that would have forced new elections.

Exiled former senior Fatah member Mohammed Dahlan attends a Palestinian legislative Council meeting in Gaza City through video conference from the United Arab Emirates on July 27, 2017 following developments at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound.

Palestinians were set to return to pray at a sensitive Jerusalem holy site after Israeli authorities removed controversial new security measures, potentially ending a nearly two-week crisis that sparked deadly unrest. Dahlan, Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas's exiled r

Turkey tries to settle scores with Palestinian leader backed by the UAE

Interpol recently rejected Turkey’s request to arrest dismissed Fatah leader Mohammed Dahlan, who is currently in the United Arab Emirates, but analysts believe this will not stop Ankara from pursuing Dahlan through other means.

United Arab Emirates

Israeli Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi speaks during a news conference with German Foreign Minister at the Wannsee lake in Berlin, Germany on August 27, 2020. (Photo by MICHELE TANTUSSI / POOL / AFP) (Photo by MICHELE TANTUSSI/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Israeli foreign minister in Berlin pushes arms embargo on Iran

After meeting with his German counterpart in Berlin, Israeli Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi said that Germany supports Israel on arms embargo on Iran.

Yossi Cohen, the head of the Israeli Mossad attends a Fourth of July Independence Day celebration at the residence of the US Ambassador to Israel in Herzilya Pituah on July 3, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / POOL / Heidi Levine (Photo credit should read HEIDI LEVINE/AFP via Getty Images)

Agreement with UAE reveals Mossad chief's ambitions

As the world learns more of Israel’s agreement with the United Arab Emirates and other contacts with Gulf states, the central role and lofty ambitions of Mossad chief Yossi Cohen are also emerging.

Harris says Biden presidency will not condition aid to Israel

The Democrats' vice presidential pick, Sen. Kamala Harris, sought to distance the Biden campaign from emerging party criticism of Israel in recent years.

Pompeo makes final stop in Oman amid Israel deal push

Oman has been floated as a possible next country to normalize ties with Israel.

United Arab Emirates

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attends a cabinet meeting of the new government at Chagall State Hall in the Knesset (Israeli parliament) in Jerusalem on May 24, 2020. (Photo by ABIR SULTAN / POOL / AFP) (Photo by ABIR SULTAN/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Netanyahu facing settlers' anger over UAE agreement

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is dealing with blowback from settlers over both the agreement reached with the United Arab Emirates and the suspension of the annexation plan.

The Takeaway: Dermer on Iran nuclear deal: ‘We have been the guinea pigs in this failed experiment'

Israel’s ambassador to the US Ron Dermer describes a different approach to nuclear diplomacy with Iran; will Israel oppose US F-35 sale to UAE?; Turkey shuts off water to Syrian Kurds again; increased risks of escalation in Syria; two cool things from Gaza!

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo speaks to reporters following a meeting with members of the UN Security Council about Iran's alleged non-compliance with a nuclear deal and calling for the restoration of sanctions against Iran at United Nations headquarters in New York, August 20, 2020. (Photo by MIKE SEGAR / POOL / AFP) (Photo by MIKE SEGAR/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Pompeo floats ending Sudan's terror designation amid push for Israel ties

Sudan's leaders have urged the United States to remove their country from a list of state sponsors of terrorism that also includes North Korea, Iran and Syria.

Pompeo praises killing of Iranian commander at Republican convention

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Qasem Soleimani was responsible for killing US soldiers and other rogue actions in the Middle East.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo speaks to reporters following a meeting with members of the UN Security Council about Iran's alleged non-compliance with a nuclear deal and calling for the restoration of sanctions against Iran at United Nations headquarters in New York, August 20, 2020. (Photo by MIKE SEGAR / POOL / AFP) (Photo by MIKE SEGAR/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

As Pompeo pushes for Israel deal, Bahrain reaffirms support for two-state solution

Pompeo is trying to persuade Bahrain and other countries in the region to join the United Arab Emirates in recognizing Israel.

United Arab Emirates

A picture taken from the northern Israeli kibbutz of Manara on August 26, 2020 shows United Nations peacekeeping force (UNIFIL) patrolling along the border with Israel in the southern Lebanese village of Houla. - Israel said it had launched air strikes against Hezbollah observation posts in Lebanon after shots were fired from across the border towards its troops the previous evening. (Photo by JALAA MAREY / AFP) (Photo by JALAA MAREY/AFP via Getty Images)

Israel retaliates after Hezbollah shoots at IDF from Lebanon

Israel is worried that a security incident late Aug. 25 on the border fence with Lebanon means that Hezbollah intends to escalate tensions.