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December 4, 2025

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US deputy Middle East envoy Morgan Ortagus speaks during a United Nations Security Council meeting on the situation in Gaza, at UN headquarters in New York, on Sept. 18, 2025.

US pressure prompted Israel-Lebanon talks to avert war with Hezbollah

According to an Israeli security source, US envoy Morgan Ortagus’ visit was perceived in Israel as a warning that President Donald Trump will not accept Israel launching a large military campaign in southern Lebanon.

TEL AVIV, ISRAEL - OCTOBER 13: U.S. President Donald Trump (2R) is welcomed by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (L) at Ben Gurion International Airport on October 13, 2025 in Tel Aviv, Israel. President Trump is visiting the country hours after Hamas released the remaining Israeli hostages captured on Oct. 7, 2023, part of a US-brokered ceasefire deal to end the war in Gaza. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Analysis

A Trump bargain: Pardon Netanyahu in exchange for Israel-Syria security deal?

President Trump is less concerned with the outcome of Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu’s graft trial than with pressuring him to finalize a security deal with Syria.

In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense

Royal Bahraini Air Force F-16s perform air maneuvers during the 2018 Bahrain International Airshow at the Sakhir Airbase on Nov. 14 2018.

US approves $1.4B in military sales to Saudi Arabia, Bahrain: What to know

An estimated $1 billion in foreign military sales will go to Saudi Arabia, and $445 million will go to Bahrain.

Bakr ALkasem / AFP via Getty Images

Trump warns Israel not to 'interfere' in Syria after deadly raid

Trump’s post came days after the Israeli military raided the village of Beit Jinn in southern Syria overnight Thursday to capture two members of Lebanese Islamist group Jama’a Islamiya.

Latest News

Analysis

Trump’s Muslim Brotherhood move reignites Israel’s battle over Raam

Mansour Abbas, head of Israel's conservative Islamic Raam party, speaks to the press before casting his ballot at a polling station in the northern Israeli village of Maghar on November 1, 2022. - Israelis began voting in their fifth election in less than four years, with veteran leader Benjamin Netanyahu campaigning for a comeback alongside far-right allies. (Photo by AHMAD GHARABLI / AFP) (Photo by AHMAD GHARABLI/AFP via Getty Images)

Rina Bassist

By Rina Bassist

In Paris, reporting on Israeli politics and European affairs

Analysis

Why Netanyahu seeks to remove Israel’s military chief Eyal Zamir

In this handout by the Israeli Government Press Office, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (L) looks on as military chief of staff Lt.-Gen. Benny Gantz (R) adjusts the epaulettes of Brig. Gen. Eyal Zamir for his swearing in as military secretary, Tel Aviv, Nov. 26, 2012.

In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense

Analysis

As he stalls Gaza plan, will Netanyahu pick his far-right coalition over Trump?

JERUSALEM - OCTOBER 13: U.S. President Donald Trump shakes hands and speaks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the Knesset, Israel's parliament, on the day of Trump's address on October 13, 2025 in Jerusalem. President Trump is visiting the country hours after Hamas released the remaining Israeli hostages captured on Oct. 7, 2023, part of a US-brokered ceasefire deal to end the war in Gaza. (Photo by Evelyn Hockstein - Pool/Getty Images)

Rina Bassist

By Rina Bassist

In Paris, reporting on Israeli politics and European affairs

Analysis

Trump’s Muslim Brotherhood move rekindles US debate over Islamist movement

Supporters of Jordan's Muslim Brotherhood take part in a protest in the village of Sweimeh, near the Jordanian border with the occupied West Bank, on May 21, 2021.

Elizabeth Hagedorn

By Elizabeth Hagedorn

In Washington, DC, reporting on diplomacy, regional politics, human rights

Adam Lucente

News and Business Correspondent

In New York City, reporting on regional news, militancy, climate change

Elizabeth Hagedorn

Diplomatic Correspondent

In Washington, DC, reporting on diplomacy, regional politics, human rights

Jared Szuba

Pentagon Correspondent

In Washington, DC, reporting on defense, national security, military

Joyce Karam

Senior News Editor

In Washington, DC, reporting on regional geopolitics, China in the Middle East

Andrew Parasiliti

President and Chief Content Officer

In Washington, DC, reporting on diplomacy, regional politics, national security

Megan Mineiro

In Washington, DC, reporting on US Congress

US President Joe Biden (L) sits with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, at the start of the Israeli war cabinet meeting, in Tel Aviv on Oct. 18, 2023.

As leverage wanes, what can lame-duck Biden accomplish in Middle East?

As it seeks end-of-term wins in the Gaza Strip and Lebanon, the Biden administration must contend with an Israeli leader accused of waiting out the clock.

JERUSALEM, UNSPECIFIED - NOVEMBER 6: Supporters of Republican presidential nominee, former President Donald Trump during an election night watch party on November 6, 2024 in Jerusalem, Unspecified. Americans cast their ballots today in the presidential race between Republican nominee former President Donald Trump and Democratic nominee Vice President Kamala Harris, as well as multiple state elections that will determine the balance of power in Congress. (Photo by Amir Levy/Getty Images)

Israeli settlers, ultra-Orthodox celebrate Donald Trump’s victory

Believing that newly elected Donald Trump will support their political agenda, leaders of the Israeli settler movement prayed and thanked god for the former president's election victory.

An Iranian holds a local newspapers with frontpage news on the US presidential vote outside a kiost in Tehran on Nov. 6, 2024.

'Unpredictable consequences:' How Iran reacted to Trump's victory

An Iranian government spokesperson was dismissive of Donald Trump’s victory in the US presidential election.

WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 15: U.S. President Donald Trump and Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu participate in a meeting in the Oval Office of the White House on September 15, 2020 in Washington, DC. Netanyahu is in Washington to participate in the signing ceremony of the Abraham Accords. (Photo by Doug Mills/Pool/Getty Images)

Netanyahu is first as Middle East leaders rush to congratulate Trump

Several leaders of Arab and Muslim countries in the region have congratulated Donald Trump on his election as US president, while others have expressed indifference.

Former US President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks during an election night event at the West Palm Beach Convention Center in West Palm Beach, Florida, on November 6, 2024. Donald Trump claimed victory and pledged to "heal" the country on November 6, 2024 as results put him on the verge of beating Kamala Harris in a stunning White House comeback. (Photo by Jim WATSON / AFP) (Photo by JIM WATSON/AFP via Getty Images)

Middle East markets rally after Donald Trump's election victory

Saudi Arabia’s benchmark index, the TASI, gained 0.9%, while Dubai's main share index gained 0.5%. The Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange, a key player in the region’s stock markets, gained 0.4%.

WEST PALM BEACH, FLORIDA - NOVEMBER 06: Republican presidential nominee, former U.S. President Donald Trump waves to supporters with former first lady Melania Trump and Barron Trump during an election night event at the Palm Beach Convention Center on November 06, 2024 in West Palm Beach, Florida. Americans cast their ballots today in the presidential race between Republican nominee former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris, as well as multiple state elections that will determine the ba

Donald Trump wins US presidency, signaling major shifts for Middle East

Donald Trump on Wednesday won the race by securing key swing states of Pennsylvania, Georgia and North Carolina.

Armenian protesters hold a flag of Armenia as they gather to rally against land transfer to Azerbaijan, on Yerevan's Republic Square on May 10, 2024. Armenia has agreed to hand over territory it has controlled since the 1990s and started border delimitation efforts in a bid to secure an elusive peace deal with Baku and avoid another bloody conflict. (Photo by KAREN MINASYAN / AFP) (Photo by KAREN MINASYAN/AFP via Getty Images)

Feature

How US policy on Azerbaijan could sway Armenian vote in Pennsylvania

The Armenian National Committee of America has not endorsed a candidate in the US presidential election, with its supporters saying neither the vice president nor former president show sufficient support for Armenian causes.

Adam Lucente

By Adam Lucente

In New York City, reporting on regional news, militancy, climate change

US Vice President Kamala Harris meets with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the Vice President's ceremonial office at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building in Washington, DC, on July 25, 2024. (Photo by ROBERTO SCHMIDT / AFP) (Photo by ROBERTO SCHMIDT/AFP via Getty Images)

Analysis

Kamala Harris, Donald Trump sent messages to Israel to end Lebanon war by Jan. 20

Both US presidential candidates push Israel to end its war against Hezbollah as quickly as possible, yet Prime Minister Netanyahu might have other considerations in mind.

In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense

Former US President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump

From Iran to Turkey, how the Middle East is bracing for US elections

With the US presidential election just one day away, how is the Middle East anticipating the result?

Vice President Kamala Harris speaks during a campaign event at the Asian and Pacific Islander American Vote Presidential Town Hall at the Pennsylvania Convention Center on July 13, 2024, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Feature

Pennsylvania’s Jewish voters weigh Israel, domestic concerns as Trump and Harris vie for support

Vice President Harris is leading with Jewish voters in the battleground state, according to polls, while others in the community are backing former President Trump amid concerns about US policy toward Israel.

Adam Lucente

By Adam Lucente

In New York City, reporting on regional news, militancy, climate change

EVELYN HOCKSTEIN/AFP via Getty Images

Despite deteriorating human rights record, Egypt hopes for US support under Harris or Trump

Cairo hopes that whichever form it takes, the new US administration will continue backing its positions and policies in the Middle East and Horn of Africa.

GIUSEPPE CACACE/AFP via Getty Images

Analysis

How US election could impact UAE’s clean energy ambitions, $100B investment pact

US-UAE clean energy cooperation grew considerably during President Joe Biden, becoming a bright spot in relations as both countries played key roles in the global energy transition.

Samuel Wendel

By Samuel Wendel

In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech