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What will happen if Iran, Egypt, Bangladesh join Mecca Joint Defense Agreement? - analysis

BY GIORGIA VALENTE / THE MEDIA LINE — Fri, 28 Aug 2026 22:38:16 GMT

Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan’s new defense pact is already attracting interest from Bangladesh, Egypt, and Iran. But expansion could reshape regional security, alliances, and power balances.

US Treasury revokes 'critical node' of Iranian access to US dollars in latest Tehran sanctions

BY ARIELLA ROITMAN — Fri, 28 Aug 2026 19:51:20 GMT

The new sanctions come two days after the Treasury cracked down on what it called “far-left terrorist networks.”

Syrian president names former commander of Kurdish-led force as adviser

BY REUTERS — Fri, 28 Aug 2026 16:51:43 GMT

Once civil war rivals, Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa and former SDF commander Mazloum Abdi are moving toward cooperation as Kurdish forces integrate into state institutions.

Trump abandons June MoU terms, complicating diplomatic efforts to reopen Strait of Hormuz - WSJ

BY CORINNE BAUM — Fri, 28 Aug 2026 10:12:07 GMT

Sources familiar with the matter told the WSJ that Trump is no longer interested in the MoU, which has been heavily criticized as a deal that is too soft on Iran.

US denies Lebanese report that Ambassador Michael Issa got 'green light' to meet Hezbollah

BY IDAN KWELLER — Fri, 28 Aug 2026 08:21:33 GMT

Issa himself denied on Wednesday that he is currently holding any talks with Hezbollah, but said he would be willing to speak with the organization if it had something to offer.

Lebanese army failing to curb Hezbollah activity in south, Israeli officials tell US

BY AMIR BOHBOT — Fri, 28 Aug 2026 04:39:33 GMT

"There is no real friction between the Lebanese Army and Hezbollah. Hezbollah would not want anyone to collect its weapons or destroy its infrastructure," a senior security official said.

US clears Strait of Hormuz as 50,000 troops maintain blockade of Iran, CENTCOM chief says

BY LEO FEIERBERG BETTER — Fri, 28 Aug 2026 03:47:22 GMT

Nearly 1500 vessels carrying roughly 750 million barrels of crude oil have transited the strait in the past months, Cooper said, adding that this was done with the protection of US forces.

US 'must commit' to ending Gaza, Lebanon conflicts to reopen Hormuz, Iranian official says

BY REUTERS — Thu, 27 Aug 2026 22:53:16 GMT

Rezaee also said reports about a potential plot to assassinate US President Donald Trump's youngest son are a lie in the interview.

Iran’s Strait of Hormuz trump card is losing strategic value, expert tells 'Post' - interview

BY DANIELLE GREYMAN-KENNARD — Thu, 27 Aug 2026 18:14:27 GMT

Although 14 to 15 million barrels of oil passed through Hormuz per day before the war, an expert told the Post that it was entirely possible to manage without much of that supply.

Kurdish language officially introduced in Syrian schools for first time marking historic shift

BY RIZIK ALABI/THE MEDIA LINE — Thu, 27 Aug 2026 17:25:07 GMT

Syria’s MoE has issued new instructions under Decree No. 13 of 2026 aimed at protecting cultural and linguistic rights while promoting diversity within an inclusive national identity.

Kurdish women helped defeat ISIS in Syria. What is next for them as SDF dissolves? - analysis

BY SETH J. FRANTZMAN — Thu, 27 Aug 2026 17:02:02 GMT

Will the women who played such a heroic and key role in defeating ISIS receive new roles in Syria's new security force, or be left behind?

SDF dissolution earns global praise, but questions remain over Syria's future - analysis

BY SETH J. FRANTZMAN — Thu, 27 Aug 2026 16:49:32 GMT

The deal to dissolve the SDF is expected to pave the way for several key decisions in the next phase, including political appointments and developments involving Turkey.

USAID OIG advises that three UNRWA teachers be disbarred for holding hostages, Hamas membership

BY DANIELLE GREYMAN-KENNARD — Thu, 27 Aug 2026 16:31:00 GMT

A USAID OIG spokesperson told the Post that the office's "active and ongoing investigations help prevent terrorists from circulating across US-funded foreign assistance programs in Gaza."

New Turkish law allows children to be sentenced to life in prison outrages human rights groups

BY DANIELLE GREYMAN-KENNARD — Thu, 27 Aug 2026 16:24:48 GMT

The amendments to the Child Protection Law, which took effect on August 8, violate children’s rights by allowing those younger than 14 to be tried as adults, Human Rights Watch claimed.

Iranian assassination threats blur theater and action with videos, plots, and propaganda - analysis

BY GIORGIA VALENTE/THE MEDIA LINE — Thu, 27 Aug 2026 12:46:52 GMT

Criminal proxies, public targeting videos, and loosely organized intermediaries give Tehran deniability while creating unpredictable security risks.

US moves to disbar three former UNRWA teachers over Hamas ties, Oct. 7 involvement

BY DANIELLE GREYMAN-KENNARD — Thu, 27 Aug 2026 12:20:20 GMT

One former educator also served as a Hamas military operative in the Deir al-Balah Battalion and allegedly helped abduct hostages during the October 7 massacre.

Syrian national arrested on border trying to smuggle rocket shells into Lebanon

BY DANIELLE GREYMAN-KENNARD — Thu, 27 Aug 2026 11:47:49 GMT

The approximately 330-kilometer border with Syria has been used by Hezbollah, as well as other terrorist groups and criminal gangs, to smuggle supplies and people in and out of Lebanon.

Turkey probes Israeli pharmaceutical company Teva over claims it blocked rivals in drug market

BY DEAN SHMUEL ELMAS/GLOBES/TNS — Thu, 27 Aug 2026 10:55:14 GMT

The Turkish investigation was opened against Teva International, its subsidiary Teva Europe, and its subsidiary in Turkey to determine whether the law was violated.

Iranian attacks caused billions in damages to US intelligence sites and hardware - report

BY LEO FEIERBERG BETTER — Thu, 27 Aug 2026 00:57:35 GMT

Some of the intelligence-linked sites hit throughout the war include a Riyadh CIA station, a site in eastern Iraq, and other radar and surveillance equipment throughout the region, NBC reported.

Syrian Druze leader says community is ‘inseparable part of Israel,’ hints at developments in Sweida

BY RIZIK ALABI/THE MEDIA LINE — Wed, 26 Aug 2026 22:24:55 GMT

Al-Hijri also suggested that developments concerning Sweida could emerge “within days,” without elaborating on their nature, as the province remains the focus of intensifying diplomatic activity.

Mladenov tells UNSC that IDF, Hamas are causing Gaza ceasefire to unravel

BY AMIR BOHBOT AND MAYA ZANGER-SHAMIR — Wed, 26 Aug 2026 19:33:37 GMT

Nikolay Mladenov, in a briefing to the UN, claimed that Hamas agreed to disarm and hand over authority in Gaza to a new body.

US removing Syria as sponsor of terror is 'blow' to victims, impacts on sectarian violence unknown

BY DANIELLE GREYMAN-KENNARD — Wed, 26 Aug 2026 19:23:24 GMT

The Anti-Defamation League is still in the process of suing Syria on behalf of 130 US citizens who were killed or injured on October 7 and family members of American victims.

Turkey may view Israel as its regional rival after strikes in Syria - analysis

BY SETH J. FRANTZMAN — Wed, 26 Aug 2026 18:59:01 GMT

This shift is not lost on Jerusalem. Increasingly voices in Israel and supporters abroad are depicting Turkey as an emerging threat, one similar to Iran.

Saudi Arabia considers introducing cheaper insurance to increase shipping in Middle East - report

BY DANIELLE GREYMAN-KENNARD — Wed, 26 Aug 2026 18:22:02 GMT

Saudi Arabia, like many countries in the region, has had its economy severely impacted by the war. The Saudi Finance Ministry is considering offering a cheaper insurance option to revive shipping.

US Ambassador Barrack has a unique position, balancing work in Syria, Turkey, Iraq - analysis

BY SETH J. FRANTZMAN — Wed, 26 Aug 2026 17:38:22 GMT

This month tensions exploded into view with Israeli airstrikes in northern Syria. Barrack, who has been playing an important role in Syria for the last year is now front and center.

Source to 'Post': Iran, Oman still have significant gaps regarding Strait of Hormuz

BY AMICHAI STEIN AND REUTERS — Wed, 26 Aug 2026 16:43:05 GMT

A source familiar with the matter told The Jerusalem Post that suspected disagreements between the two countries remain.

Trump says Khamenei was 'seriously wounded' on the left side of his body during Op. Epic Fury

BY REUTERS — Wed, 26 Aug 2026 16:27:05 GMT

"I don't think he's dead. He was very seriously wounded," Trump said on the Glenn Beck program.

Turkey's AK party welcomes dissolution of Kurdish-led SDF, eyes stronger Syrian alliance

BY REUTERS — Wed, 26 Aug 2026 15:56:01 GMT

Ankara has vowed to help Damascus rebuild the country and restructure its state institutions and armed forces, and it has provided Damascus with political and diplomatic support.

US water sector supplier hack draws FBI scrutiny as Iran-linked cyber concerns grow

BY REUTERS — Wed, 26 Aug 2026 14:16:03 GMT

Cote said the FBI told the company the data breach was an opportunistic attack not specifically targeting Micro-Comm, and the company recommended that customers change passwords out of caution.

Strategy or physical withdrawal: What does Washington’s shift from airstrikes to sanctions signify?

BY DANIELLE GREYMAN-KENNARD — Wed, 26 Aug 2026 14:03:26 GMT

Despite the apparent success of the US’s blockade and sanctions campaign, Iranian officials have repeatedly expressed that they would not falter in maintaining control over the Strait of Hormuz.