All Middle East
First LookInsurgents advance in Syria: Army Withdraws, Assad Denies FleeingSyrian insurgents advance near Damascus as the army retreats, seizing key areas. sparking rumors of Assad's flight.聽Rumors of President Bashar Assad聽fleeing the country circulate amid largest opposition gains in years.
As Syrian rebels advance, what can Iran and its tired allies do for Assad?What can Iran do to help Syrian President Bashar al-Assad defeat newly energized rebel forces? Its anti-Israel 鈥淎xis of Resistance鈥� has been overworked and diminished. Yet even as Iran searches for solutions, there are some suggestions it is not panicking.
Syrian civil war: What rebels鈥� lightning gains say about Assad regimeSyria鈥檚 devastating civil war, responsible for more than 300,000 deaths, was never officially resolved. Lightning gains by rebels opposed to President Bashar al-Assad were opportunistic, but also indicated years of patient preparations.
Trump鈥檚 Mideast team: A familiar look for a transformed regionDonald Trump has put together a Mideast team charged with building on his first term鈥檚 successes. But in a region shaken by the war in Gaza, can the deal-making president achieve a historic peace agreement with a pro-Israel team?
Israel enjoys upper hand as ceasefire signals Hezbollah鈥檚 limitsHezbollah has emerged from its war with Israel leaderless and weak, no longer the force that Iran has depended on. Will Israel seek to take advantage of Tehran鈥檚 vulnerability?
First LookAfter months of war, officials say Israel has agreed to a ceasefire with LebanonIsrael has dealt massive blows against Hezbollah since going on the offensive in September. Now, a ceasefire appears to be on the table, as fighting still rages in Lebanon and Gaza.
Israeli settlers see Trump鈥檚 win as aiding goal of annexing West BankThe pro-settlement movement in Israel is exulting at what it perceives as a possible green light from the incoming Trump Middle East team to pursue annexation of the West Bank.
First LookIsrael-Hezbollah conflict widens after Israeli strike kills Lebanese soldierIsrael's attacks are aimed at Hezbollah militants, but a fatal weekend strike hit Lebanon's army center, igniting a heavy barrage in the ongoing war.
Amid Gaza food shortages, ICC issues arrest warrant for NetanyahuICC issues arrest warrant for Benjamin Netanyahu and Yoav Gallant for allegedly depriving Gazans of essential items. Local merchants and gangs worsen the shortages.
Facing Trump 2.0, Palestinians voice rising concern: What鈥檚 our plan?U.S.-Palestinian relations under the first Trump administration ran aground over the relocation of the U.S. Embassy in Israel to Jerusalem, among other issues. A flurry of diplomacy is not dispelling the notion of postelection Palestinian disarray.
In wartime Gaza, turning meager olive harvest into oil is an act of defianceFarming by its nature puts people in touch with their land and their traditions. In besieged Gaza, after more than a year of war, the olive harvest and production of its oil are a source of resilience.
When Hezbollah rockets are incoming, and you can鈥檛 reach the shelterHezbollah鈥檚 intensified rocket barrages against northern Israeli communities have created conflicting impulses among residents: supporting war, yet eager to end it.
In Lebanon, Hezbollah pays high political cost for its war with IsraelIn peace, Lebanon鈥檚 stability depends on a frail political balance. Now for many Lebanese enduring war with Israel, Hezbollah鈥檚 unique status as a heavily armed state-within-a-state is increasingly a problem.
First LookQatar halts its Israel-Hamas mediation efforts, citing lack of 鈥榞ood faith鈥�The announcement comes after growing frustration with the lack of progress on a cease-fire deal. But one official said Saturday that Qatar is highly likely to return to the efforts if both sides show 鈥渟erious political willingness鈥� to reach a deal on the war in Gaza.
First Look鈥楢n act of madness鈥�: Protests erupt after Netanyahu fires defense minister Yoav GallantYoav Gallant was a moderating force in the Netanyahu government and had a strong relationship with U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin.聽His firing comes as Israel wages war in Gaza, Lebanon, and on multiple other fronts.聽
Amid costly war with Israel, Hezbollah faces fire from its own supportersHezbollah has long assured its Shiite Lebanese base that when the time came, it would robustly defend Lebanon and punish Israel. Now, amid another destructive war, many supporters are losing faith. Can it win them back?
UN schools in Gaza shaped our reporter鈥檚 childhood. She worries for the future.The Israeli parliament鈥檚 ban on U.N. Relief and Works Agency operations in Israel threatens humanitarian aid to Gaza and its schools.
In Israel-Hezbollah war, a rising cry from Lebanese: Why were we bombed?Lebanon is all too familiar with the heavy cost civilians bear in war. Now, as Israel pursues Hezbollah, people are dying or displaced from their homes, caught in the crossfire of a war that is not theirs.
Israeli strikes inside Iran cross a threshold. How will Iran respond?In over a year of conflict between Israel and Iran鈥檚 militia allies, a key brake on a regional war has been each side鈥檚 fear of what the other could do. Does Israel鈥檚 latest strike mean that brake is failing?
First LookIsrael conducts airstrikes against Iranian military targetsIsrael launched missile strikes against Iranian targets in retaliation for Iran鈥檚 attack on Tel Aviv earlier this month. Iran said the strikes caused only 鈥渓imited damage.鈥�
