AL-Monitor: The Middle Eastʼs leading independent news source since 2012

PEDRO MATTEY/AFP via Getty Images

Hezbollah’s funding network in Venezuela takes spotlight after Maduro

Hezbollah has long been accused of running drug smuggling and money laundering networks in Venezuela and other South American countries to fund its activities both in Lebanon and abroad.

Burning debris lies next to an overturned dumpster in the middle of a street during unrest amid demonstrations in Hamedan, Iran, on January 1, 2026. The demonstrations erupted after shopkeepers in Tehran's Grand Bazaar shut their businesses to protest the sharp fall of Iran's currency and worsening economic conditions, with clashes reported in several provinces and Iranian media and rights groups saying multiple people were killed in the violence, marking the largest protests to hit the Islamic Republic in

Iran protests enter second week as Ghalibaf warns of 'foreign' actors

Senior Iranian officials have begun pointing to foreign actors to explain the ongoing nationwide protests.

The Iranian-flagged oil tanker Fortune is docked at the El Palito refinery after its arrival to Puerto Cabello in the northern state of Carabobo, Venezuela, on May 25, 2020.

Analysis

Venezuelan crisis unlikely to impact MENA crude exporters in short term

Oil prices inched up on Monday as global oversupply concerns outweighed output disruption fears over the upheaval in Venezuela.

Yazar: Jack Dutton

In Bristol, reporting on regional business, climate change, AI, tech

A motorcycle rides past a graffiti depicting President Nicolas Maduro, Caracas, Venezuela, Jan. 3, 2026.

For Israel, capture of Venezuela’s Maduro seen as setback for Iran, Hezbollah

Considering Venezuela an ally of Iran and Hezbollah, Israel welcomed the capture of Venezuelan President Maduro by American forces.

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro (R) gestures next to Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani (L) during a meeting at the Miraflores presidential palace in Caracas on November 25, 2015. AFP PHOTO/JUAN BARRETO / AFP / JUAN BARRETO (Photo credit should read JUAN BARRETO/AFP via Getty Images)

Analysis

With central role for Qatar, can Gulf states mediate between US and Venezuela?

Venezuela's ties improved with Gulf states under Maduro, and some in the region voiced concern about the US operation.

Adam Lucente

Yazar: Adam Lucente

In New York City, reporting on regional news, militancy, climate change

Latest News

Analysis

Turkey casts Israel’s Somaliland move as overreach, but Somalia’s fragility poses risks

Somalis celebrate the victory of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan after he won the presidential run-off election during the celebration organized by the government in Mogadishu, on May 29, 2023.

Barin Kayaoglu

Yazar: Barin Kayaoglu

In Ankara, reporting on geopolitics and national security

Analysis

Beyond Venezuela, what does Maduro’s fall mean for isolated Iran?

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi (L) is welcomed by Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro at Miraflores Presidential Palace in Caracas, on June 12, 2023. Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi arrived in Venezuela Monday for the start of a visit to "friendly countries" that also include Cuba and Nicaragua, all under sanctions from a common adversary, the United States. (Photo by Yuri CORTEZ / AFP) (Photo by YURI CORTEZ/AFP via Getty Images)

A correspondent in Tehran

Yazar: A correspondent in Tehran

In Tehran, reporting on politics

Analysis

Hezbollah still dominant among Lebanon's Shiite, but ground is shifting

A Shiite Muslim cleric holds a picture of Hassan Nasrallah.

Karim Safieddine

Izzat Zahreddine

Yazar: Karim Safieddine , Izzat Zahreddine

Analysis

Mideast nuclear energy goals tested as Turkey, Saudi Arabia eye breakthroughs

This photograph taken on April 26, 2023 shows the construction of the Russian-built Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant in Mersin Province. - Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will try to offset his absence from the campaign trail weeks before crucial elections by unveiling the nuclear plant by video link. (Photo by OZAN KOSE / AFP) (Photo by OZAN KOSE/AFP via Getty Images)

Samuel Wendel

Yazar: Samuel Wendel

In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech

Subscribe to the Daily Briefing for only $1.67 per month.

The most authoritative roundup for Middle East news everyday in your inbox.

What you get

Daily email with comprehensive regional news coverage
Start with a two-week free trial
Summary of all key insights from our in-country journalists.

A demonstrator holds an image depicting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as Somalis attend a demonstration after Israel became the first country to formally recognise the self-declared Republic of Somaliland as an independent and sovereign state, a decision that could reshape regional dynamics and test Somalia's longstanding opposition to secession, in Hodan district of Mogadishu, Somalia, December 28, 2025. REUTERS/Feisal Omar

Israeli foreign minister visiting Somaliland, sources say

Reuters

FILE PHOTO: A sign at a currency exchange, as the value of the Iranian Rial drops, in Tehran, Iran, December 30, 2025. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via REUTERS/File Photo

Rights groups say at least 25 dead in Iran protests

Reuters

Women look at a mobile phone screen in Ramallah, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, January 20, 2025. REUTERS/Ammar Awad/File Photo

Israel approves upgrade to 4G mobile services to Palestinians in West Bank

Reuters

Tourists stand outside a hotel in the Socotra Island, Yemen, January 5, 2026. REUTERS/Stringer

Tourists on remote Yemeni island stranded after Saudi, UAE rift

Reuters

Featured Newsletters

Editor's choice

Three stories hand-picked by our editorial team.

Stay informed with our daily and weekly newsletters

Read By

See all newsletters

Adam Lucente, Beatrice Farhat, Jack Dutton and Jared Szuba

The Al-Monitor Brief

What’s at stake for the Middle East after Trump removes Venezuela’s Maduro?

Adam Lucente interviews Beatrice Farhat, Jarez Szuba and Jack Dutton

15:32

Elizabeth Tsurkov

On the Middle East with Amberin Zaman

Why US pressure may finally force Israel into striking Syria security deal

Amberin Zaman interviews Elizabeth Tsurkov

38:22

Adam Lucente, Amberin Zaman and Joyce Karam

The Al-Monitor Brief

Middle East 2025 in review: Iran & Israel go to war as UAE-Saudi tensions, Syria challenges come to a head

Adam Lucente interviews Amberin Zaman, Joyce Karam, Rina Bassist and Daoud Kuttab

17:53

ALM Interviews

Exclusive conversations with Al-Monitor.

See All

Interview

Azerbaycan’a verilen tavizler nedeniyle Paşinyan’ı devirmek isteyen başpiskopos Al-Monitor’a konuştu

The protest movement leader Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan participates during the rally demanding the Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's resignation over land transfer to neighboring Azerbaijan, outside the government building in central Yerevan on May 30, 2024.

Bagrat Galstanyan

Bagrat Galstanyan

Armenian Archbishop

Interview

Suriyeli Kürt liderden İran bağlantılı saldırılara 'güçlü karşılık' uyarısı

Salih Muslim, the diplomatic relations official for the Kurdish Movement for a Democratic Society, and the former co-chairman of the main Kurdish leftist Democratic Union Party (PYD), speaks during an interview in his office on August 2, 2018.

Salih Muslim

Salih Muslim

PYD co-chairman

Interview

İran Dışişleri Bakanı: ABD’ye arka kanallardan mesaj gönderdik

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian listens to a question during a press conference with his Saudi counterpart (not pictured) in Tehran, on June 17, 2023.

Hossein Amir-Abdollahian

Hossein Amir-Abdollahian

Foreign Minister of Iran

Interview

Türkiye’ye kaçan Libya Merkez Bankası Başkanı hükümeti ‘darbe’ ile suçluyor

Sadiq al-Kabir

Sadiq al-Kabir

Governor of the Central Bank of Libya

Police officers stand guard outside Libya's Central Bank headquarters in Tripoli on Aug. 27, 2024.

Analysis

Stay a step ahead of your colleagues.

Analysis

İran'daki yeni militan oluşum Tahran için bir tehdit mi?

Iranian soldiers keep watch at a patrol post in Zabol, southeastern Iran, near the Afghan border, on Oct. 10, 2012.

A correspondent in Tehran

Yazar: A correspondent in Tehran

In Tehran, reporting on politics

Analysis

Trump yönetimi ABD’nin Hamas politikasını nasıl değiştirdi?

Donald Trump son-in-law Jared Kushner (L), White House special envoy Steve Witkoff (C) and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio attend a meeting between President Trump and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi (not pictured) at a summit on Gaza in Sharm el-Sheikh, Oct. 13, 2025.

Yazar: Rosaleen Carroll

In Washington, DC, US, reporting on the Middle East

Analysis

Trump’ın planı Netanyahu’ya af karşılığında İsrail-Suriye anlaşması mı?

TEL AVIV, ISRAEL - OCTOBER 13: U.S. President Donald Trump (2R) is welcomed by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (L) at Ben Gurion International Airport on October 13, 2025 in Tel Aviv, Israel. President Trump is visiting the country hours after Hamas released the remaining Israeli hostages captured on Oct. 7, 2023, part of a US-brokered ceasefire deal to end the war in Gaza. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Yazar: Ben Caspit

In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense

Analysis

Trump'ın özel temsilcisi Barrack, Netanyahu'nun sabrını sınıyor

Yazar: Ben Caspit

In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (R) meets with US special envoy Tom Barrack, Jerusalem, Dec. 15 2

Amberin Zaman, Elizabeth Hagedorn, Danny Makki, Joyce Karam in a virtual discussion on Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa's visit to Washington

Syria's Sharaa in Washington

Play Video

1:00:44

Joe Snell

Iraqis prepare to head to the polls

Play Video

1:34

Amberin Zaman in Damascus

Amberin Zaman Reports from Damascus

Play Video

0:30

Elizabeth Hagedorn at UNGA in New York

Elizabeth Hagedorn Reporting from UNGA in New York

Play Video

1:07

Our Journalists

See All

Amberin Zaman

Chief Correspondent

Reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture

Contributor

News and Business Correspondent

In New York City, reporting on regional news, militancy, climate change

Ben Caspit

Israel Columnist

In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense

Andrew Parasiliti

President and Chief Content Officer

In Washington, DC, reporting on diplomacy, regional politics, national security

Daoud Kuttab

Palestine Columnist

In Amman, reporting on Palestinian politics

Rasha Abou Jalal

In Gaza City, reporting on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict