Vaughn Cockayne

China looks to expand economic footprint in developing Syria as Damascus turns to Washington, Riyadh

China's initial investments in Syria's post-war reconstruction could pose serious security risks for the region, advocates say, even as Damascus increasingly turns to the U.S. and Saudi Arabia for its most expensive projects.

February 26, 2026

Iran’s nuclear program appears operational, despite Trump’s assertion it was ‘obliterated’

President Trump insists Iran's nuclear program was "obliterated" by last year's U.S. airstrikes. But Steve Witkoff, Mr. Trump's special envoy, said recently the Islamic republic is about a week away from having enough enriched uranium to build a nuclear bomb. Which is it?

February 25, 2026

Iran’s military conducts new round of drills amid U.S. pressure

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps carried out a fresh round of drills in the Persian Gulf on Tuesday amid the U.S. military buildup in the region, according to state-affiliated media.

February 24, 2026

Secretary of State Rubio to meet with Caribbean leaders this week amid Cuban energy crisis

Secretary of State Marco Rubio will visit the Caribbean islands of Saint Kitts and Nevis on Wednesday to meet with regional leaders on economic, security and immigration issues.

February 23, 2026

U.S. troops pulling out of largest base in northeast Syria as withdrawal continues

U.S. military personnel began leaving the Qasrak base in northeast Syria on Monday as part of a larger drawdown of U.S. military assets in the region, according to news reports.

February 23, 2026

Washington intensifies military buildup in Middle East as Trump considers strikes on Iran

President Trump could order strikes on targets in Iran as early as this weekend, reports this week indicated, as the Pentagon continues a massive military buildup in the region and U.S. negotiators continue diplomatic talks with Iranian officials.

February 19, 2026

Iran closes Strait of Hormuz for live-fire drills as Tehran, Washington talk nuclear deal

Tehran sent alarming signals across the Middle East on Tuesday by partially closing for the first time the Strait of Hormuz, a key strategic waterway, for hours ahead of high-stakes nuclear negotiations between Iranian and U.S. officials in Geneva.

February 17, 2026

Second round of U.S.-Iran talks offer some signs of progress

The second round of U.S.-Iran nuclear talks concluded in Geneva on Tuesday as both sides look to find a diplomatic solution to Tehran's nuclear program.

February 17, 2026

Russia threatens retaliation if Europe seizes oil tankers

Moscow is prepared to deploy naval assets to protect its vessels from seizure by European powers, a senior Russian intelligence official said Tuesday, as Western nations ramp up their fight against the country's shadow fleet.

February 17, 2026

‘The old world is gone’: Rubio looks to reexamine relationship with allies at Munich conference

Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who is attending the Munich Security Conference, could have an opportunity to clearly define Washington's relationships with its European allies after a turbulent year in foreign policy.

February 13, 2026

Syrian troops take control of key military base as U.S. troops withdraw

The Syrian military assumed control of the al-Tanf military base situated near the Jordan and Iraq border, the Syrian Defense Ministry confirmed Thursday, amid a historic withdrawal of U.S. forces from the country.

February 12, 2026

Question of Druze independence looms large as Damascus consolidates power

More than six months after southern Syria was rocked by brutal, sectarian violence between religious minorities and Damascus' soldiers, the region's future hangs precariously in the balance.

February 11, 2026

Marine Corps passes financial audit for third year in a row as Pentagon struggles

The U.S. Marine Corps on Monday passed its third yearly audit in a row, maintaining its record as the only military service to pass an independent investigation of its finances.

February 11, 2026

Indonesia says it’s preparing to send up to 8,000 troops to support Trump’s Gaza peace plan

Indonesia says it plans to send up to 8,000 troops to support an international peacekeeping force in Gaza under the U.S.-backed peace plan.

February 10, 2026

Iranian authorities arrest reformist politicians in crackdown expansion

Iranian authorities arrested three prominent reformist politicians on Sunday evening and Monday morning, accusing them of organizing last month's nationwide protests and seeking to disrupt the Islamic republic's "political and social situation" on behalf of Israel and the U.S.

February 9, 2026

U.S., Iranian officials in Oman for new talks as leaders look to avoid regional war

U.S. and Iranian diplomats arrived in Oman on Friday for negotiations aimed at preventing armed conflict, marking the first time the two nations have officially met for talks since May.

February 6, 2026

Russian troops on front lines lose access to Starlink internet terminals, Ukraine says

Russia has lost access to the Starlink internet terminals its troops had exploited on the battlefield, Ukraine said Thursday, as Kyiv and SpaceX coordinate to disrupt Moscow's operations on the front line.

February 5, 2026

World entering new Cold War over religious liberty, former ambassador says

The efforts of authoritarian governments to control the worship practices of millions could have massive consequences for international security, a former ambassador for religious freedom told Congress on Wednesday, urging the Trump administration to take the issue seriously.

February 4, 2026

Crackdown on religious freedom in Japan, South Korea shocking, say spiritual and political figures

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi could be a key ally for the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification in its ongoing legal battle against the Japanese government and could help the organization score a major victory for global religious freedom, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich said in a major speech this week.

February 4, 2026

Russia, Ukraine and U.S. to meet for second round of trilateral talks in Abu Dhabi

U.S., Russian and Ukrainian diplomats are set to meet this week in Abu Dhabi for a second round of trilateral peace talks, hoping to hammer out a deal that will end Moscow's four-year war against Kyiv.

February 4, 2026