Articles on US Middle East policy

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Graffiti depicts the Kurdish flag and the name of the Kurdish Peshmerga forces in Irbil, the capital of Iraq’s northern semi-autonomous Kurdish region, on Oct. 4, 2026. Safin Hamid/AFP via Getty Images

Iraqi Kurds sees opportunities – and risks – in the withdrawal of US troops

The region may become less of a target for groups seeking to pressure the United States. But the Kurds also have less security support now, should they need it.
Giorgia Meloni gathered with US President Donald Trump, Ukrainian President Zelenskyy and other European allies for peace talks in August 2025 following the Russia–United States summit. Kaua209 / Shutterstock

Italy: Middle East crisis pushes the Meloni government away from the US

Italy’s stance on the Middle East conflict reveals a tendency to tread cautiously to protect both its own and shared European interests while distancing itself from the United States.
Many rockets fired from Iran are seen over Jerusalem from Hebron, the West Bank, on Oct. 1, 2024. Wisam Hashlamoun/Anadolu via Getty Images

Iran’s strikes on Israel are the latest sign that the conflict in the Middle East is spiraling, presenting rising global security threats

A US counterterrorism expert explains the dynamics between Israel, Iran, Hezbollah and Hamas – and why Hezbollah presents new risks for the US and other places globally.

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