A volatile day in politics stretched from Damascus to Washington. Explosions rocked central Damascus during Emmanuel Macron’s high-stakes visit to meet Syria’s new president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, underscoring how fragile the post-Assad transition remains even as Western leaders begin re-engaging. In Britain, Nigel Farage dramatically resigned as MP for Clacton to force a by-election he says will let voters judge him amid mounting scrutiny over his finances and undeclared gifts. At the NATO summit, Donald Trump signaled a major shift toward Turkey, saying U.S. sanctions would be lifted and that a sale of F-35 fighter jets was under consideration, potentially redrawing a strained alliance. Meanwhile, tensions with Iran escalated sharply after attacks on three ships in the Strait of Hormuz prompted new U.S. strikes, further eroding an already shaky interim arrangement and raising fresh fears for regional stability.