Behind bars, Sinwar's demeanour was more conciliatory. After being released, he went on to mastermind the worst attack on Israel in its history—something many Israelis will never forget

Four years is a long time in this region, and the approach that worked during his first term may not work during his second. Trump will need to be at his deal-making best.

Can Israel's overstretched military outmanoeuvre Hezbollah's well-established networks and fully sever its access to Iranian weaponry? Probably not.

An unexpected offer by Erdoğan's coalition partner to release terrorist leader Abdullah Öcalan if his armed Kurdish group downs their guns suggests Ankara is playing a wider game

Two former national security chiefs argue in a research paper that the US should continue to supply weapons to Ukraine, but only on condition that Kyiv enters peace talks with Russia

Israel's actions over the past 13 months have changed the dynamics in the Middle East, and Israel's ideological cabinet will likely have plans to change it further. Trump may let them.

The Egyptian leader secretly negotiated peace with Israel. It was deeply unpopular, but he got US weapons, the Sinai, and security. Hezbollah would rather thousands die for no discernible gain.

Truth is found in what is useful, making knowledge a tool for productive action. By focusing on what is useful, it helps to ignore the critics.

Seen from every angle, there is no good news for the Lebanese people, who have just lived through a historically bad five years. The only thing worse is the future.

The fundamental misreading of Israel's internal squabbles has led to some catastrophic decisions, not least the decision by Hamas to attack on 7 October. It helps to 'know thy enemy', as Sun Tzu said.

Every so often, the region experiences such a period of upheaval that permanent change is considered inevitable. The next White House incumbent will preside over another such moment

The once-powerful Shiite group has taken a battering but there are two very big reasons—one local, one regional—why it will remain a feature of the political landscape