Spread across Syria, Lebanon and Israel, the secretive religious minority has long balanced integration and independence. Now, members are at the heart of the region’s shifting power struggles.
Spread across Syria, Lebanon and Israel, the secretive religious minority has long balanced integration and independence. Now, members are at the heart of the region’s shifting power struggles.
A writer, editor and political adviser, he broke with the left over its criticism of Israel and what he saw as its anti-Americanism. But he also became a critic of Donald Trump.
A writer, editor and political adviser, he broke with the left over its criticism of Israel and what he saw as its anti-Americanism. But he also became a critic of Donald Trump.
The writer and editor Sol Stern at his Manhattan apartment in 2008. A liberal turned conservative, he was known for his largely nonideological judgment and his willingness to change his mind.
For weeks, Israel has engaged in back-channel talks over a diplomatic agreement with the Syrian government. Its strikes on Damascus this week highlight a lack of strategic clarity.
For weeks, Israel has engaged in back-channel talks over a diplomatic agreement with the Syrian government. Its strikes on Damascus this week highlight a lack of strategic clarity.
For weeks, Israel has engaged in back-channel talks over a diplomatic agreement with the Syrian government. Its strikes on Damascus this week highlight a lack of strategic clarity.
For weeks, Israel has engaged in back-channel talks over a diplomatic agreement with the Syrian government. Its strikes on Damascus this week highlight a lack of strategic clarity.
President Ahmed al-Shara said the airstrike on Damascus threatened to escalate sectarian violence, in his sharpest criticism of Israel since he came to power.
President Ahmed al-Shara said the airstrike on Damascus threatened to escalate sectarian violence, in his sharpest criticism of Israel since he came to power.
Israel threatened to escalate attacks on Syrian government forces unless they withdrew from Sweida, a southern province dominated by the country’s Druse minority.
Israel threatened to escalate attacks on Syrian government forces unless they withdrew from Sweida, a southern province dominated by the country’s Druse minority.
There were conflicting accounts from Palestinian and aid officials over what happened at the food distribution hub run by the Israel-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation.
There were conflicting accounts from Palestinian and aid officials over what happened at the food distribution hub run by the Israel-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation.
Mike Huckabee, the U.S. ambassador to Israel, demanded “accountability for this criminal and terrorist act,” referring to the killing last week of Sayfollah Musallet in the occupied territories.
Mike Huckabee, the U.S. ambassador to Israel, demanded “accountability for this criminal and terrorist act,” referring to the killing last week of Sayfollah Musallet in the occupied territories.
Mike Huckabee, the U.S. ambassador to Israel, urged Israel to “aggressively investigate” the death of a Palestinian-American in a clash in the West Bank.
Some of the prime minister’s political allies have quit over a proposal to make religious students serve in military, and more are threatening to do so.
Some of the prime minister’s political allies have quit over a proposal to make religious students serve in military, and more are threatening to do so.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Parliament on Monday. His government is fracturing because of the debate over whether ultra-Orthodox students must serve in the military.
Syrian government forces entered the predominantly Druse city of Sweida on Tuesday. Israel intervened after days of deadly sectarian clashes in the southern Sweida region.
Israel’s military said a “technical error” had caused munition to land dozens of meters from its target. The victims were gathered near a water distribution point, health workers said.
Israel’s military said a “technical error” had caused munition to land dozens of meters from its target. The victims were gathered near a water distribution point, health workers said.
The 2020 agreements addressed diplomacy and commerce, not conflicts or the Palestinians. Predictions that the deals would produce regional peace were baseless, analysts say.
The 2020 agreements addressed diplomacy and commerce, not conflicts or the Palestinians. Predictions that the deals would produce regional peace were baseless, analysts say.
President Trump leading Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel and officials from Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates outside the White House to sign the Abraham Accords in 2020.
Palestinian authorities and family members said Israeli settlers beat and killed a Palestinian-American man. Israel said the violence began when Palestinians threw stones at Israeli civilians.
Palestinian authorities and family members said Israeli settlers beat and killed a Palestinian-American man. Israel said the violence began when Palestinians threw stones at Israeli civilians.
Israeli soldiers holding back Palestinians trying to get to injured Palestinians after clashes with Israeli settlers in Sinjil in the Israeli-occupied West Bank on Friday.
Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, met several times with President Trump, amid rising hopes of a cease-fire in Gaza, but there are still obstacles to a truce with Hamas.
Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, met several times with President Trump, amid rising hopes of a cease-fire in Gaza, but there are still obstacles to a truce with Hamas.
This image released by the Houthis’ Ansarullah Media Center on Wednesday shows what the group says is the Eternity C, a Liberian-flagged bulk carrier, sinking after it was attacked by the Houthis.
The assessment came as experts are trying to determine how long it would take Iran to rebuild its nuclear program in the aftermath of U.S. and Israeli strikes.
The assessment came as experts are trying to determine how long it would take Iran to rebuild its nuclear program in the aftermath of U.S. and Israeli strikes.
The assessment came as experts are trying to determine how long it would take Iran to rebuild its nuclear program in the aftermath of U.S. and Israeli strikes.
The assessment came as experts are trying to determine how long it would take Iran to rebuild its nuclear program in the aftermath of U.S. and Israeli strikes.
The decision followed discussions with the European Union, which has pressed Israel to ease the dire humanitarian conditions for Palestinians in the territory.
The decision followed discussions with the European Union, which has pressed Israel to ease the dire humanitarian conditions for Palestinians in the territory.
The attack struck near a facility run by an American aid organization as negotiators from Hamas and Israel wrangle over a potential new cease-fire agreement.
The attack struck near a facility run by an American aid organization as negotiators from Hamas and Israel wrangle over a potential new cease-fire agreement.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio denounced Francesca Albanese, a special rapporteur, for calling for international investigations of Americans and Israelis over the war in the enclave.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio denounced Francesca Albanese, a special rapporteur, for calling for international investigations of Americans and Israelis over the war in the enclave.
Dr. Victoria Rose spent 21 days in the territory, treating people who were shot trying to get food and children with life-changing injuries from Israeli bombs.
Dr. Victoria Rose spent 21 days in the territory, treating people who were shot trying to get food and children with life-changing injuries from Israeli bombs.
Dr. Victoria Rose at Nasser Hospital in southern Gaza in May, in a picture distributed by Anadolu Agency, a Turkish state news outlet. “I’ve not seen this volume and this intensity before,” she said of the traumatic injuries she treated.
Israel has been conducting near-daily strikes against what it says are Hezbollah targets as the Iranian-backed group comes under pressure to disarm amid fears of a renewed war.
Israel has been conducting near-daily strikes against what it says are Hezbollah targets as the Iranian-backed group comes under pressure to disarm amid fears of a renewed war.
An Israeli airstrike in southern Lebanon last week. Israel has conducted near-daily strikes in southern Lebanon since it agreed to a cease-fire in November.
For months, Israel has conducted near-daily strikes against what it says are Hezbollah targets. Hezbollah has not responded militarily since a November truce.
For months, Israel has conducted near-daily strikes against what it says are Hezbollah targets. Hezbollah has not responded militarily since a November truce.
An Israeli airstrike in southern Lebanon last week. Israel has conducted near-daily strikes in southern Lebanon since it agreed to a cease-fire in November.
The longtime enemies have opened contacts, reflecting a power shift across a Middle East in which they have newfound common ground: antipathy for Iran.
The longtime enemies have opened contacts, reflecting a power shift across a Middle East in which they have newfound common ground: antipathy for Iran.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel praised President Trump’s role in his country’s establishment of diplomatic relations with some Arab states. But Mr. Trump has supported Israeli actions that have strained those ties.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel praised President Trump’s role in his country’s establishment of diplomatic relations with some Arab states. But Mr. Trump has supported Israeli actions that have strained those ties.
With the fighting in Iran over, President Trump is considering whether to pursue a new nuclear agreement with Tehran. He is also urging a new cease-fire deal to end the fighting in Gaza.
With the fighting in Iran over, President Trump is considering whether to pursue a new nuclear agreement with Tehran. He is also urging a new cease-fire deal to end the fighting in Gaza.
The June 23 airstrikes on Evin prison, including the hospital ward, have turned it from a hated symbol of oppression into a new rallying cry against Israel, even among the Iranian regime’s domestic critics.
The June 23 airstrikes on Evin prison, including the hospital ward, have turned it from a hated symbol of oppression into a new rallying cry against Israel, even among the Iranian regime’s domestic critics.
The June 23 airstrikes on Evin prison, including the hospital ward, have turned it from a hated symbol of oppression into a new rallying cry against Israel, even among the Iranian regime’s domestic critics.
The June 23 airstrikes on Evin prison, including the hospital ward, have turned it from a hated symbol of oppression into a new rallying cry against Israel, even among the Iranian regime’s domestic critics.
The decision came after Hamas said it had responded positively to an American-backed cease-fire proposal. President Trump says he hopes for a truce as soon as next week.
The decision came after Hamas said it had responded positively to an American-backed cease-fire proposal. President Trump says he hopes for a truce as soon as next week.
A man inspecting damage after an Israeli strike in central Gaza on Friday. The war has killed tens of thousands of Palestinians and reduced much of the territory to rubble.
The alliance of emerging economies hopes to offer a counterweight to the United States and other Western powers. But military strikes on Iran are testing its unity.
The alliance of emerging economies hopes to offer a counterweight to the United States and other Western powers. But military strikes on Iran are testing its unity.
It is more secure from threats than at any time since its founding. But the war in Gaza, and attacks on Iran and Lebanon, have undercut Israel’s standing among the world’s democracies.
It is more secure from threats than at any time since its founding. But the war in Gaza, and attacks on Iran and Lebanon, have undercut Israel’s standing among the world’s democracies.
It was not immediately clear whether the group was demanding any significant changes to the plan for a 60-day truce, hostage-for-prisoner swaps and talks on a permanent end to the Gaza war.
It was not immediately clear whether the group was demanding any significant changes to the plan for a 60-day truce, hostage-for-prisoner swaps and talks on a permanent end to the Gaza war.
Mr. Alexander, who was held for nearly 600 days before being released in May, is a dual citizen of Israel and the United States. He was in the Israeli military when he was abducted on Oct. 7, 2023.
Mr. Alexander, who was held for nearly 600 days before being released in May, is a dual citizen of Israel and the United States. He was in the Israeli military when he was abducted on Oct. 7, 2023.
President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia in Moscow on Wednesday. He discussed Ukraine and Iran with President Trump by phone on Thursday, the Kremlin said.
President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia in Moscow on Wednesday. He discussed Ukraine and Iran with President Trump by phone on Thursday, the Kremlin said.
The rise of Izz al-Din al-Haddad in the chain of command suggests the group will hold firm to its position demanding a total end to the war before releasing all remaining hostages.
The rise of Izz al-Din al-Haddad in the chain of command suggests the group will hold firm to its position demanding a total end to the war before releasing all remaining hostages.
Connexion
