Defense minister calls for increased security coordination with regional US allies; Lapid stresses importance of protecting democratic institutions in meeting with top US diplomat

US officials tell NYT drone attack not aimed at stopping weapons exports to Russia; ex-PM Bennett says he intensified Iran strikes after plot to kill Israelis in Turkey, Cyprus

The alleged strike comes while talks between Jerusalem and Washington are aimed at finding new ways to counter Tehran's nuclear program

US is moving forward with unilateral and multilateral measures to hold Iran to account over cooperation with Moscow and crackdown on protesters, secretary of state says

PM says allied nations are closer aligned than ever before on threat posed by Islamic Republic, as Dermer lands in Washington for meetings with Biden officials on issue

At first cabinet meeting with official business, ministers approve makeup of security cabinet, heavily slanted toward Likud; PM promises to fight crime, cost of living

Hossein Amir-Abdollahian says Tehran ready to negotiate but will alter stance if West doesn't end 'hypocritical and interventionist behavior'

David Barnea says Tehran 'expanding' supply of advanced weapons to Russia, slams 'absurd' Western hopes of still reaching a nuclear agreement

Jordan set to host 'Baghdad II' conference, bringing together Iraq, France and main players in Mideast, including rivals Iran and Saudi Arabia, in effort to defuse tensions

300-megawatt site in oil-rich Khuzestan province, near western border with Iraq, will take eight years to build and cost around $2 billion