The joint and combined military exercise is a benchmark of Egypt-US relations, yet it also raises questions about the two countries' long-term strategic alignment

France, Germany, and the UK ran out of patience with Tehran and are bringing back previously halted UN measures

The notion of the US as an honest broker was always a dubious one, particularly given its largely unquestioning support for Israel, but its recent actions towards Iran shatter the concept completely

The US security umbrella will focus on Iran's direct threats, but regional states should deal with Tehran's residual proxy groups in the region

Determined to show that Saddam Hussein possessed WMDs to justify the US invasion of Iraq, George W. Bush prioritised intel that supported his preferred outcome

Keen to keep the US president in their good graces, member states agree to contribute more to the alliance's budget, but fail to secure firm pledges on supporting Ukraine in its war with Russia

Israel sees an opportunity to eliminate a strategic regional rival, but the future course of events primarily hinges on what Trump decides to do next

Years of painstaking intelligence work went into the operation that activated vast networks of operatives and involved multiple layers of subterfuge