Middle East

Israel Strikes Latakia in Syria, Wounding Two
Israel Strikes Latakia in Syria, Wounding Two

Syrian state media said a rare Israeli air strike on Thursday on the city of Latakia, a stronghold of President Bashar al-Assad, wounded two civilians. "At around 2:50 am (2350 GMT), the Israeli enemy carried out an air attack... targeting one of the points near the southeast entrance of the city of Latakia," state news agency SANA said, citing a ...

US Conducts B-2 Bomber Strikes Against the Houthis
US Conducts B-2 Bomber Strikes Against the Houthis

The United States on Wednesday conducted multiple B-2 bomber strikes on weapons storage facilities in areas of Yemen controlled by the Iran-backed Houthi rebels, according to the US military and defense department. "US forces targeted several of the Houthis' underground facilities housing various weapons components of types that the Houthis have ...

Israeli-Iranian Conflict: The Strait of Hormuz as a Pressure Tactic
Israeli-Iranian Conflict: The Strait of Hormuz as a Pressure Tactic

Iran may have to resort to a strategic tool: control of the Strait of Hormuz. According to several analyses, this tactic could be as devastating as a nuclear weapon. However, unlike a nuclear weapon, whose use would bring catastrophic consequences for Iran itself, the threat of closing the Strait of Hormuz serves as a form of "asymmetric ...

The Future of Iran: A Regime Change?
AnalysisThe Future of Iran: A Regime Change?

As the Middle East war intensifies, Iran’s future seems precarious, especially with the mounting international pressure and Israel’s aggressive stance following Iran’s involvement in the conflict. The question of what Israel’s retaliation will look like looms large, with potential options ranging from targeted assassinations to more ...

Kamala Harris Promises a Clean Break From Biden's Presidency
Kamala Harris Promises a Clean Break From Biden's Presidency

A combative Kamala Harris pledged a clean break from Joe Biden's presidency Wednesday in a feisty interview with right-wing Fox News aimed at reaching Republican voters wary of Donald Trump. Harris clashed with interviewer Bret Baier on hot-button issues including immigration and gender transition surgery, with the Democratic nominee repeatedly ...

Blinken Weighs Presenting Gaza Post-War Plan After Presidential Election
Blinken Weighs Presenting Gaza Post-War Plan After Presidential Election

According to US officials interviewed by Axios, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is considering a post-war plan for Gaza, based on ideas developed by Israel and the United Arab Emirates, which would be presented after the US presidential election. In July, Brett McGurk, President Biden’s top Middle East advisor, and State Department ...

US Sanctions Hezbollah Finance Network and Syrian Captagon Trafficking
US Sanctions Hezbollah Finance Network and Syrian Captagon Trafficking

The United States issued sanctions against individuals and entities on Wednesday, that it describes as part of a Lebanon-based sanctions evasion network that funnels millions of dollars to Hezbollah. The action targeted four Lebanon-based companies registered to conceal ties to Hezbollah as well as three individuals linked to the group’s ...

Gallant Insists that Lebanon Peace Talks Must Occur 'Under Fire'
Gallant Insists that Lebanon Peace Talks Must Occur 'Under Fire'

Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said on Wednesday that any negotiation to end the war on Lebanon must be conducted “under fire,” in a statement he made while overseeing a situational assessment of the northern front. During a meeting with commanders of the reservist 146th Division, Gallant said that the recent capture of Hezbollah operatives in ...

Had It Not Been for Rafsanjani…
Had It Not Been for Rafsanjani…

Iran, which seeks today to eliminate Israel through its regional proxies, was not always in continuous conflict with Tel Aviv. Some historical perspective could be insightful. Imam Khomeini arrived in Tehran aboard a French plane in 1979, following the overthrow of the Shah’s regime. A year later, the Iran-Iraq war broke out. Khomeini’s ...

Israel Labels Macron a 'Disgrace' Following Defense Show Ban
Israel Labels Macron a 'Disgrace' Following Defense Show Ban

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on Wednesday slammed French President Emmanuel Macron, calling him a "disgrace" after Israeli delegations were banned from exhibiting at the Euronaval defense show. "Macron's actions are a disgrace to the French nation and the values of the free world, which he claims to uphold. The decision to discriminate ...

Brussels Summit on Middle East Tensions Brings Together Gulf and EU Leaders
Brussels Summit on Middle East Tensions Brings Together Gulf and EU Leaders

Gulf leaders including Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman gather with EU heads of state and government in Brussels Wednesday for a summit aimed at averting a "general conflagration" in the Middle East. The 27-nation European Union is seeking to work more closely with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) -- which groups Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, ...