Israel must risk intensifying military and civil intervention in Syria to prevent Iran from controlling it, an Israeli think tank has said. The Israeli National Security Research Center said in a report that “Israel should focus on three main areas: southern Syria, the Iraqi-Syrian border area, and the Syrian-Lebanese borders.” …

The Lebanese government has asked the Syrian government to start negotiations on demarcating the maritime borders between the two countries. This call comes after the signing of an agreement between Syria and Russia, on oil and gas exploration in the Mediterranean, in the maritime border area between Syria and Lebanon. …

Western trade and investment interests in China are facing new threats as sanctions trigger retaliation, heightening tensions over human rights, national security and territorial control. Since the start of President Joseph R. Biden’s term in office on Jan. 20, there have been several exchanges of new sanctions announced by the …