Russia’s Shoigu in Iran to signal support, urge restraint against Israel A top Russian security official visited Tehran as Iran says it "welcomes trilateral cooperation between Iran, Russia and China." Iran
Erdogan meets 'dear friend' Putin as Russia, Turkey eye cooperation on Syria The two leaders reaffirmed their commitment to bilateral ties only days ahead of the NATO summit. Turkey
Analysis Can Turkey help Europe build effective air and missile defense system? With Turkey joining the German-led European Sky Shield Initiative, in the long run Ankara could use its burgeoning Hisar and Siper platforms to improve Europe’s air and missile defense. By Barin Kayaoglu In Ankara, reporting on geopolitics and national security
Russia sets up observation points in Syria near Golan Heights New Russian observation posts have popped up in southwest Syria amid increased tensions between pro-Iranian groups and Israel amid the Israel-Hamas war. Syria
Interview Syrian Kurdish commander tells Washington not to sell F-16s to Turkey With Mazlum Kobane SDF commander in chief
Analysis Israel-Russia ties unravel as Putin calls meeting over Dagestan mob incident By Rina Bassist In Paris, reporting on Israeli politics and European affairs
Analysis Israel relayed to Russia 'dissatisfaction' over its Hamas position as rift widens By Rina Bassist In Paris, reporting on Israeli politics and European affairs
Analysis In Israel-Hamas war, Russia's leverage erodes, outflanked by US naval power By Anton Mardasov
Pentagon insists US troops have the ability to defend themselves amid pullout Top military officials say US troops departing northern Syria have the ability to defend themselves and adjust to a fluid situation. Syria
Operation Peace Spring: What is Turkish army's next step? As Turkey’s operation in northeast Syria enters its fifth day, the center of gravity of the operation shifts toward the west. Syria
Russia has 3 messages for Turkey over operation in Syria Russia has its eye on long-term opportunities following Turkey's operation in northeast Syria. Syria
Does Russia seek 'ideological alternative' to US with Gulf security concept? Despite popular claims that Russia's policies in the Middle East are free of any ideology, the recent Gulf security concept released by Moscow may suggest that there should be one. Syria
Congress pushes Trump to get tough on Idlib Congress is calling on the State Department to get tougher on calling out reported Syrian war crimes as forces loyal to the Bashar al-Assad regime attempt to advance deeper into Idlib, one of the opposition’s last holdouts in the war-torn country. Syria
Four years in Syria, Russia expands military base, eyes challenges ahead After four years of fighting in Syria, Russia expands military facilities, but the nature of looming challenges is political. Syria
Intel: How Syria is driving a wedge between Russia and Israel The show of unity during Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to Russia on Sept. 12 can’t paper over the sharp differences between the two countries over Syria. Israel
How latest Astana talks between Turkey, Russia, Iran went beyond Syria What the Astana guarantors agreed upon in Ankara will have implications for Syria but the way the leaders communicated past each other each is even more telling. Saudi Arabia
Netanyahu tries to bring 'Iran threat' home to Russia In the last four years Sochi has become a key Russian decision-making center on issues related to the Middle East; Netanyahu has now come there to have a say. Israel
Is Belarus scheming against Russia's reconstruction policies in Syria? Belarus is tacitly promoting its own businesses in Syria, but not all of them are necessarily to the detriment of the Russians. Syria
US calls on Russia to cease Idlib fight amid terror strikes The Pentagon called for Russia to halt its offensive into Syria’s Idlib province as the United States launched strikes into the contested region aimed at al-Qaeda leaders. Syria
With each Erdogan visit, Ankara grows more indebted to Moscow Russia’s diplomatic, economic and security gains from its ties with Turkey keep growing amid the conflict in Syria, while Ankara becomes increasingly indebted to Moscow. Turkey