https://editorials.voa.gov/z/3241 Editorials on Voice of America expressing U.S. policy on the Middle East https://editorials.voa.gov/Content/responsive/VOA/en-US-POLICY/img/logo.png https://editorials.voa.gov/z/3241 en 2026 - VOA 60 Fri, 09 Oct 2026 10:17:51 -0400 Pangea CMS – VOA During a six-year period from 2020–2026, Barika, Oualid, and al-Zaq collected more than $2 million for Hamas, of which $1.5 million was collected after the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel.  https://editorials.voa.gov/a/u-s-continues-to-target-funders-of-hamas/8208038.html https://editorials.voa.gov/a/u-s-continues-to-target-funders-of-hamas/8208038.html Tue, 06 Oct 2026 06:30:00 -0400 Middle East The international system cannot continue to treat forced displacement as a burden for only host and donor states, said Ambassador Locetta. “Origin-country actors must finally face accountability.”  https://editorials.voa.gov/a/time-to-create-conditions-for-refugees-to-return-home/8207220.html https://editorials.voa.gov/a/time-to-create-conditions-for-refugees-to-return-home/8207220.html Mon, 05 Oct 2026 06:00:00 -0400 AfricaAmericasAsiaEuropeMiddle East One of the sanctioned entities includes Joint Stock Company Experimental Design Bureau also known as Yakovlev. It is a Russia-based aircraft manufacturer that develops and produces the Yak-130 fighter jet. https://editorials.voa.gov/a/stopping-iran-s-procurement-of-weapons-and-materiel/8206341.html https://editorials.voa.gov/a/stopping-iran-s-procurement-of-weapons-and-materiel/8206341.html Thu, 01 Oct 2026 09:03:00 -0400 Middle East “A prosperous future will not be secured by a global regulator,” he stressed. “It will be secured by sovereign nations that adopt superintelligence, responsible companies that build it, and free people who refuse to be ruled by fear.” https://editorials.voa.gov/a/superintelligence-must-be-freely-developed-and-deployed/8205884.html https://editorials.voa.gov/a/superintelligence-must-be-freely-developed-and-deployed/8205884.html Wed, 30 Sep 2026 08:00:00 -0400 AsiaAfricaAmericasEuropeMiddle East The Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) designated, on September 17, BitBank, a priority digital assets venture controlled by OFAC-designated Iranian financier Babak Zanjani, as part of Operation Economic Outcast. https://editorials.voa.gov/a/u-s-disrupts-digital-asset-exchange-enabling-iran/8202932.html https://editorials.voa.gov/a/u-s-disrupts-digital-asset-exchange-enabling-iran/8202932.html Tue, 22 Sep 2026 13:30:08 -0400 Middle East A United Nations-brokered truce in April 2022 largely halted Houthi attacks on Saudi territory, but hostilities have escalated again since the group declared a blockade on Saudi shipping in July. https://editorials.voa.gov/a/houthis-escalate-tensions-in-the-middle-east/8201055.html https://editorials.voa.gov/a/houthis-escalate-tensions-in-the-middle-east/8201055.html Fri, 18 Sep 2026 09:00:00 -0400 Middle East KH and Lebanese Hizballah fuel Iran’s destabilizing influence in the Middle East, endanger U.S. and partner forces, and facilitate extensive sanctions evasion schemes.  https://editorials.voa.gov/a/operation-economic-outcast-strikes-iran-s-terrorist-network/8197302.html https://editorials.voa.gov/a/operation-economic-outcast-strikes-iran-s-terrorist-network/8197302.html Mon, 14 Sep 2026 06:30:00 -0400 Middle East The Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), on September 4, designated Türkiye-based financial institution Golden Global Yatirim Bankasi Anonim Sirketi (Golden Global Bank) and its subsidiaries. https://editorials.voa.gov/a/severing-iran-s-financial-lifelines-in-turkiye/8195978.html https://editorials.voa.gov/a/severing-iran-s-financial-lifelines-in-turkiye/8195978.html Wed, 09 Sep 2026 06:30:00 -0400 Middle East Aid is beginning to reach those in need. Hamas has agreed to disarm in full. The IDF is pulling back. And the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza is authorized to move in. https://editorials.voa.gov/a/president-trump-s-plan-is-the-only-way-forward-in-gaza/8192798.html https://editorials.voa.gov/a/president-trump-s-plan-is-the-only-way-forward-in-gaza/8192798.html Tue, 01 Sep 2026 06:30:00 -0400 Middle East U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio formally rescinded Syria’s designation as a State Sponsor of Terrorism (SST), following the conclusion of the mandatory 45-day Congressional notification period. In an action taken on August 24, Secretary Rubio also delisted Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham’s (HTS) designation as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT). “These actions,” the Secretary said, “represent another historic step by President Trump to give the Syrian people a path to prosperity.”... https://editorials.voa.gov/a/8191796.html https://editorials.voa.gov/a/8191796.html Mon, 31 Aug 2026 09:26:00 -0400 Middle EastSecurity “there will be no refuge for violent extremists who wage war on our civilization and plot to undermine law and order, destroy critical infrastructure, assault political opponents, or conceal their crimes from authorities." https://editorials.voa.gov/a/countering-far-left-terrorism/8191198.html https://editorials.voa.gov/a/countering-far-left-terrorism/8191198.html Fri, 28 Aug 2026 06:00:00 -0400 AmericasEuropeMiddle EastSecurity The World Food Program now projects an additional 45 million people will suffer from acute food insecurity globally. https://editorials.voa.gov/a/united-states-remains-committed-to-feeding-the-hungry/8190750.html https://editorials.voa.gov/a/united-states-remains-committed-to-feeding-the-hungry/8190750.html Thu, 27 Aug 2026 06:00:00 -0400 AfricaAmericasAsiaEuropeMiddle EastAid U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent recently announced the launch of Operation Economic Outcast – an unprecedented campaign against the Islamic Republic of Iran and its enablers. “Our objective is to sever every economic lifeline that sustains this tyrannical regime until Tehran stands alone,” Secretary Bessent declared. Under President Donald Trump’s leadership, “America is no longer managing the Iranian threat. We are ending it.” U.S. Armed Forces have laid the groundwork for... https://editorials.voa.gov/a/treasury-department-launches-operation-economic-outcast/8190321.html https://editorials.voa.gov/a/treasury-department-launches-operation-economic-outcast/8190321.html Tue, 25 Aug 2026 09:28:00 -0400 Middle EastTrade President Donald Trump announced the launch of what he called an Economic D-Day against Iran - “the most crushing economic operation ever taken against any country.” https://editorials.voa.gov/a/trump-launches-economic-d-day-against-iran/8189904.html https://editorials.voa.gov/a/trump-launches-economic-d-day-against-iran/8189904.html Fri, 21 Aug 2026 17:20:40 -0400 Middle EastEconomySecurity The United States has identified three priority threats in its recent national counterterrorism strategy: narco-terrorists and transnational gangs, Islamist terrorists, and violent left-wing extremists. https://editorials.voa.gov/a/countering-the-terrorist-threat/8188037.html https://editorials.voa.gov/a/countering-the-terrorist-threat/8188037.html Wed, 19 Aug 2026 06:00:00 -0400 AmericasAfricaAsiaEuropeMiddle EastDefense The U.S. Department of State has announced a historic $2 Billion investment in health and humanitarian assistance to faith-based and community organizations that provide global health and humanitarian assistance around the world. https://editorials.voa.gov/a/8186976.html https://editorials.voa.gov/a/8186976.html Sun, 16 Aug 2026 16:47:08 -0400 AfricaAmericasAsiaEuropeMiddle EastAid “Iran’s shadow banking system is buckling under Economic Fury, and the regime is running out of ways to move money.” https://editorials.voa.gov/a/u-s-dismantles-iranian-regime-s-global-clandestine-currency-network/8184794.html https://editorials.voa.gov/a/u-s-dismantles-iranian-regime-s-global-clandestine-currency-network/8184794.html Tue, 11 Aug 2026 00:00:00 -0400 Middle EastTrade The United States is committed to destroying the Iranian regime’s illicit global networks which finance terrorism and  regional aggression. https://editorials.voa.gov/a/u-s-cracks-down-on-networks-enabling-mahan-air-and-irgc/8182436.html https://editorials.voa.gov/a/u-s-cracks-down-on-networks-enabling-mahan-air-and-irgc/8182436.html Mon, 03 Aug 2026 03:32:00 -0400 Middle East On July 12, the UN issued a statement saying Hamas continues to obstruct and exploit humanitarian operations in Gaza. https://editorials.voa.gov/a/hamas-cannot-play-a-future-role-in-gaza/8182435.html https://editorials.voa.gov/a/hamas-cannot-play-a-future-role-in-gaza/8182435.html Fri, 31 Jul 2026 09:25:00 -0400 Middle EastSecurity The United States is holding Babak Zanjani and his sprawling network accountable for enabling the Iranian regime to evade sanctions and finance its destabilizing activities, including supporting the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.  https://editorials.voa.gov/a/u-s-targets-those-who-are-helping-iran-evade-sanctions/8180742.html https://editorials.voa.gov/a/u-s-targets-those-who-are-helping-iran-evade-sanctions/8180742.html Wed, 29 Jul 2026 20:52:24 -0400 Middle East