Israeli prime minister takes to the stand to fight graft allegations that he has dismissed as a dangerous distraction
Israeli PM accuses legal authorities of pursuing a witch-hunt against him
HTS issues amnesty for conscripted military but Israel grabs territory on border
Netanyahu has justified the incursion as a temporary move to protect Israeli citizens
Also in this newsletter: How to protect critical undersea cables
Plastic surgeon Victoria Rose shares her experience
Steven Witkoff held talks with Netanyahu and Sheikh Mohammed to discuss deal ahead of inauguration
Families of those held in enclave urge Isaac Herzog to keep issue in focus for incoming Trump administration
What began as a band of a few dozen jihadis is now a disciplined force with units producing modern weaponry
Assad regime looks vulnerable as rebels retake Aleppo
Opposition supporters are ecstatic but others are wary of their new Islamist rulers as Assad regime begins counteroffensive
Minister’s vow to ‘go deeper’ if hostilities resume comes after deadly Israeli air strikes severely test truce
Ankara, long a backer of opposition groups, sees chance to push back Kurdish militants and force Assad to negotiate
Air strikes by Israeli military across Lebanon come after militant group fires rockets
US president-elect’s comments come as Gaza ceasefire talks fail to make progress
Arrangements such as the ceasefire in Lebanon are all the more important as the region lurches from one convulsion to the next
Biden’s energy adviser exudes ‘positive American arrogance . . . he gets results’, says one official
The militant group claims victory in its war with Israel, despite devastating losses
Bashar al-Assad vows to defend country’s stability as shock offensive challenges his regime
Rapid capture of Aleppo from government forces underlines regime’s fragility despite Russian and Iranian help
Lebanon’s capital was hit hard by bombing and an influx of displaced people but residents are rebuilding their lives
In first speech since truce took effect, militant group’s leader says he will work with Lebanon’s army
Invasion and intense bombing campaign has left a trail of destruction across Hizbollah’s southern heartland
Israel says it is responding to breaches of deal that would end a year of conflict with Hizbollah
Lebanese militant group insists it was ‘victorious’ despite most devastating battering in its four-decade history
