Global Economy
What Is the Bab el-Mandeb Strait? The Red Sea Chokepoint Explained
The Bab el-Mandeb links the Red Sea to the Indian Ocean. Why it matters for oil and trade, and how the Houthis threaten it in 2026.
Category: Middle East
Middle East news and analysis for U.S. readers: Israel, Gaza, Iran, the Gulf states, Yemen and the Red Sea — what is happening and why it matters to America.
Defense & Security
Iran’s Nuclear Program in 2026: What’s Left After the Strikes?
How much enriched uranium does Iran still have? What happened to Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan, and why the nuclear file blocks a U.S.–Iran deal.
Global Economy
What Is the Strait of Hormuz? Map, Facts and Why It Matters in 2026
The Strait of Hormuz carries about a fifth of the world’s oil. Where it is, how it works, and why its 2026 closure is shaking the global economy.
Global Economy
Why Are Gas Prices So High? Oil Tops $110 as the Strait of Hormuz Stays Closed
Why are gas prices so high in 2026? The Iran war has kept the Strait of Hormuz nearly shut and Brent above $110. What it means for U.S. drivers and…
Middle East
Will the U.S. Strike Iran After the Midterms? What Trump’s Pledge Really Means
Trump says the U.S. won’t attack Iran before the Nov. 3 midterms, but reports say new U.S.–Israeli strikes are being planned. Where US–Iran talks stand now.
Defense & Security
Houthi Attacks on Saudi Arabia Explained: Aramco Evacuation, Airport Strikes and a U.S. Drawdown
Houthi drones and missiles are hitting Saudi airports and oil sites. Why Aramco evacuated its headquarters, why U.S. staff were ordered out and what comes next.
Middle East
Gaza Ceasefire One Year Later: What the U.S.-Brokered Truce Has — and Hasn’t — Delivered
One year after the U.S.-brokered Gaza ceasefire, more than 1,400 Palestinians have been killed, aid lags and no stabilization force has deployed. Where the deal stands now.
Middle East
Israel Election 2026: What Americans Need to Know Before the Oct. 27 Vote
Israel votes Oct. 27, 2026. Polls show Netanyahu’s bloc and Gadi Eisenkot’s opposition near a tie, both short of 61 seats. Parties, polls and what it means for the U.S.
Defense & Security
UN Peacekeepers Are Leaving Lebanon: What Happens After UNIFIL Ends on Dec. 31?
UNIFIL ends operations in Lebanon on Dec. 31, 2026, as Israel–Hezbollah tensions rise. What the UN exit means for Hezbollah’s weapons, southern Lebanon and U.S. policy.
Middle East
Gaza’s Ceasefire Is Holding on Paper—but Israel Is Expanding Its Control
Gaza’s U.S.-backed ceasefire still holds on paper, but satellite analysis shows Israel building outposts and moving past the withdrawal line. What it means next.