Iran

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Israel-Hamas Conflict

Military & Security

Israel said it would reopen Rafah's Kerem Shalom border crossing between Gaza and Egypt after initially closing it on Feb. 28 over the outbreak of the Iran conflict, AFP reported on March 3.

Israel, Gaza: Israel To Reopen Rafah Border Crossing

United States

Middle East and North Africa

Qatar

United Arab Emirates

Energy

Politics

On March 1, following the assassination of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, Guardian Council member Alireza Arafi was appointed to Iran's Leadership Council, alongside President Masoud Pezeshkian and Chief Justice Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei, to exercise the Supreme Leader's powers until a permanent successor is chosen, Al Jazeera reported the same day. 

Iran: Transitional Council Appointed To Lead Country Following Khamenei Assassination

U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convened for a three-hour meeting on Feb. 11, during which they failed to agree on an approach to Iran and Gaza, according to official statements released by the Israeli Prime Minister's Office and Trump on Truth Social.

U.S., Israel: Trump-Netanyahu Meeting Fails To Yield Alignment on Iran, Gaza

U.S.-Iran Relations

Israel's Southern Command has been building operational plans for a long offensive against the Palestinian militant group Hamas in the Gaza Strip should the government conclude that disarming the group is no longer feasible through diplomacy, The Times of Israel reported on Feb. 10.

Israel, Gaza: Israel Drawing Up Fresh War Plans for Gaza

The United States will replace military and civilian leadership at the Civil-Military Coordination Center, or CMCC, a multinational monitoring body designed to oversee the Hamas-Israel ceasefire and facilitate aid into Gaza, Reuters reported on Jan. 30. 

U.S., Palestinian Territories: U.S. Leadership Changes at Civil-Military Gaza Oversight Body

Hamas is reportedly looking to integrate around 10,000 of its police officers into the government led by the new Palestinian-led technocratic National Committee for the Administration of Gaza, or NCAG, as part of discussions about disarmament, Reuters reported on Jan. 27.

Palestinian Territories: Hamas Pushes for Police To Integrate Into Transitional Government

Egypt

The Israeli Prime Minister's Office announced Israel will reopen the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and the Gaza Strip -- likely within days -- after the Israel Defense Forces secured the body of the last remaining hostage taken by Hamas in 2023, Reuters reported on Jan. 26.

Israel, Palestinian Territories: Israel To Reopen Rafah Crossing After Hostage Recovery Efforts End

U.S. President Donald Trump formally unveiled the U.N.-mandated Board of Peace at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Reuters reported on Jan. 22.

U.S., Palestinian Territories: Trump Unveils Board of Peace

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The second quarter will test global resilience as lingering conflicts and energy shocks converge to heighten economic uncertainty and geopolitical volatility.

2026 Second-Quarter Forecast: An Excerpt

Columns

On Geopolitics

Lebanon

Syria

Photos of prominent Hezbollah leaders are seen at the site of a reported Israeli airstrike which killed 6 members of the same family, on March 19, 2026 in Baalbek, Lebanon.

The trajectory of the war will be increasingly defined by a clash of strategic objectives that makes a quick resolution of the conflict unlikely.


The Impact the Israel-Hezbollah War Will Have on Lebanon

A view shows tents near the Port of Gaza in the Gaza Strip on Feb. 9, 2026.

With its focus on Iran, the U.S. is unlikely to greenlight a major new Israeli offensive in Gaza anytime soon, which will complicate Netanyahu's efforts to remove Hamas from the Strip before the October elections.

Netanyahu Will Struggle To Defeat Hamas Before Israeli Elections

Indonesia

Vietnam

Slovakia

Hungary

Ukraine

Russia

India

U.S. President Donald Trump (C) holds up his signature on the founding charter of the Board of Peace among other world leaders at the World Economic Forum on Jan. 22 in Davos, Switzerland.

A look at what the coming week will bring -- and a list of recommended RANE articles from the week that was.

The Weekly Rundown: The Board of Peace Convenes, Russia-Ukraine-U.S. Talks in Geneva

China

Japan

South Korea

United Kingdom

Egyptian trucks and heavy machinery on Oct. 26, 2025, on the Egyptian side of the Rafah border crossing with the Gaza Strip.

The Weekly Rundown: A Gaza Border Reopening, EU Leaders Visit India

U.S. President Donald Trump (center) holds up his signature on the founding charter among world leaders during a ceremony for the Board of Peace at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, on Jan. 22, 2026.

The U.S.-led endeavor's immediate priority will be expanding aid in Gaza, but internal divisions, international skepticism and Israeli interference will likely undermine its effectiveness, especially if the Israel-Hamas ceasefire collapses.

What To Make of Trump's 'Board of Peace'

Greenland

Denmark

France

Switzerland

A sniper police officer on the Congress hotel during the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum on Jan. 24, 2025, in the Alpine resort of Davos, Switzerland.

The Weekly Rundown: Davos, Europe Steps Up Greenland Deployments

Iraq

Yemen

A stock image shows the silhouettes of soldiers.

Emboldened by its recent capture of Venezuela's Maduro, the White House will likely seek to kill and potentially abduct more Middle Eastern extremists in the coming year, but pursuing high-profile targets like Iranian leaders will carry significant risks.

Potential Targets for U.S. Assassination and Abduction Operations in the Middle East

As elections reshape political incentives worldwide, 2026 will see major powers recalibrate diplomacy and conflict, raising the risk of fragile deals, regional instability and sudden escalation.

2026 Annual Geopolitical Forecast: An Excerpt

U.S.-China Relations

A NASA satellite image shows the city lights of Europe. 

Global Trade

In this scorecard, we take a critical look at our hits and misses in forecasting geopolitical events over the past year.

Grading Our 2025 Annual Forecast

Saudi Arabia

YemenYemenis rally to show their support for the UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council on Dec. 14, 2025.

Escalating tensions and potential violence between the Southern Transitional Council and Saudi-backed forces create security vacuums that Houthi rebels will likely exploit.



Yemen's Anti-Houthi Bloc Is Fracturing

A container ship arrives Oct. 10 at the Port of Oakland, California. In 2026, political calculations among major global players will significantly shape international affairs.

In 2026, political calculations among major global players will significantly shape international affairs.

2026 Annual Forecast: A Global Overview

Israel-Hamas Conflict

SITUATION REPORTS

Israel, Gaza: Israel To Reopen Rafah Border Crossing

Iran: Transitional Council Appointed To Lead Country Following Khamenei Assassination

U.S., Israel: Trump-Netanyahu Meeting Fails To Yield Alignment on Iran, Gaza

Israel, Gaza: Israel Drawing Up Fresh War Plans for Gaza

U.S., Palestinian Territories: U.S. Leadership Changes at Civil-Military Gaza Oversight Body

Palestinian Territories: Hamas Pushes for Police To Integrate Into Transitional Government

Israel, Palestinian Territories: Israel To Reopen Rafah Crossing After Hostage Recovery Efforts End

U.S., Palestinian Territories: Trump Unveils Board of Peace

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