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

Amal Khalil, a veteran correspondent for the daily newspaper Al-Akhbar, in the southern Lebanese border village of Jebbayn in 2024.

Lebanon bids farewell to Amal Khalil, journalist killed by Israel: What to know

Khalil's death in a targeted strike on a house where she and a colleague took cover sparked widespread condemnation by Lebanese officials and international media groups.

Lebanon

Ahmed Shihab‑Eldin attends the Opening Night during the Doha Film Festival 2025 on Nov. 20, 2025 in Doha, Qatar.

Breaking | Last Updated: April 23, 2026, 10:55 am

Kuwait acquits journalist Ahmed Shihab-Eldin after 7 weeks in detention

The American-Kuwaiti journalist is expected to be released after 52 days in custody over posts about wartime damage.

Kuwait

US forces patrol the Arabian Sea near M/V Touska on April 20, 2026, after firing upon the Iranian-flagged vessel. (Handout Photo by the U.S. Navy via Getty Images)

Analysis

China gets around Iran blockade as Gulf courts Beijing

Beijing is responding to the Iran war on two fronts: economically, sustaining Iranian oil flows and its Strait of Hormuz routes despite the US blockade; and diplomatically, deepening ties with Gulf states.

By Joyce Karam

Refueling trucks are seen at Southend Airport on April 17, 2026, in Southend, England.

Which airlines are cutting flights amid Hormuz fuel disruption?

European and Asian airlines have been most impacted by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, which is throttling jet fuel supplies.

Iran

'The prevailing view in Tehran is that time is on its side and that a prolonged conflict would impose mounting costs on the US and the global economy,' Sina Toossi, a senior fellow at the progressive Center for International Policy, told AFP

Trump looks for way out on war, but Iran may not oblige

Agence France-Presse

Latest News

Who is Ahmad Vahidi, IRGC chief and hard-liner against nuclear compromise?

Iran

Analysis

'Is it worth it?' Syria's Sharaa faces backlash over Missy Elliott performance

President of Syria Ahmed al-Shara arrives for the 80th session of the UN’s General Assembly (UNGA) at UN Headquarters on Sept. 23, 2025 in New York City.

By Amberin Zaman

Reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture

Split over Maliki, Iraq’s Shiite bloc delays PM vote as deadline nears: What to know

Iraq

Analysis

On eve of Palestinian local elections, competition in short supply

Women read instructions to voters ahead of the upcoming municipal elections in Deir el-Balah in the central Gaza Strip on April 21, 2026.

By Daoud Kuttab

In Amman, reporting on Palestinian politics

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Iran's Hossein Vafaei in action at the World Snooker Championship

Iran's Vafaei shines at World Snooker Championship

Agence France-Presse

Higher fuel costs due to Iran war mean fewer people will receive aid globally, NRC says

Reuters

FILE PHOTO: A European Union flag flutters as soldiers of EUFOR (European Union Forces in Bosnia and Herzegovina) stand guard in EUFOR Base Camp in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, April 8, 2025. REUTERS/Amel Emric/File Photo

EU leaders to discuss mutual assistance pact amid NATO doubts

Reuters

This screen grab taken from a screen recording of the MarineTraffic website on April 21, 2026, shows data visualisation of maritime traffic in the Gulf, Strait of Hormuz and Gulf of Oman from April 18 to April 20

War in the Middle East: latest developments

Agence France-Presse

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The AL-MONITOR Brief

What to make of Pakistan’s increased defense ties with Saudi Arabia

Sabena Siddiqui joins Adam Lucente

21 April, 3:38 PM ET

14:11

Adam Lucente, Jack Dutton and Francesco Schiavi

The AL-MONITOR Brief

As Iran declares Strait of Hormuz “fully open”, what does it mean for Gulf?

Jack Dutton and Francesco Schiavi joins Adam Lucente

17 April, 4:22 PM ET

24:33

On the Middle East with Amberin Zaman

Lebanon’s Ghassan Salame: Israel talks ‘not negotiations,’ Hezbollah disarmament by force ‘illusion’

Ghassan Salame joins Amberin Zaman

13 April, 3:47 PM ET

33:33

Interviews

Exclusive conversations with AL-MONITOR.

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Interview

UAE official says opening Hormuz integral to any Iran deal, describes infrastructure damage 'manageable'

Abdulla Balalaa, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs for Energy and Sustainability, United Arab Emirates

Interview

Minister warns aid cuts to Lebanon risk empowering Hezbollah

Haneen Sayyed

Lebanese Minister of Social Affairs

Interview

Despite Trump’s U-turns, US may still support Iran’s Kurds, says Komala’s Mohtadi

A armed Kurdish Peshmerga of the Komala party waves the Komala flag in a ceremony held in memory of Komala Martyrs' Day in Sidakan, Kurdistan Region of Iraq, on March 17, 2021.

Abdulla Mohtadi

Leader of Komala

Interview

Olmert: Only Israel-Lebanon deal can curb Hezbollah, occupation 'unviable'

Analysis

Stay a step ahead of your colleagues.

Analysis

On eve of Palestinian local elections, competition in short supply

By Daoud Kuttab

In Amman, reporting on Palestinian politics

Analysis

'Is it worth it?' Syria's Sharaa faces backlash over Missy Elliott performance

By Amberin Zaman

Reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture

Analysis

As Iran's power struggle deepens, US talks stall, who’s calling the shots in Tehran?

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi speaks to the press during a visit to the shrine of slain Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in Beirut's southern suburbs on Jan. 8, 2026.

By A correspondent in Tehran

In Tehran, reporting on politics

Analysis

China gets around Iran blockade as Gulf courts Beijing

By Joyce Karam

Joyce Karam, Randa Slim, Hamidreza Azizi, Hasan Alhasan

Iran War at One Month: Outlook and Implications

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy sits across from Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Ukraine's Zelenskyy capitalizes on Iran war to ink security deal with Saudi Arabia

Play Video

Joe Snell appears on a street wearing a black jacket; in the frame next to it, a woman with blonde hair, glasses, and a black blazer appears on a laptop screen from a Zoom meeting.

French ISIS Member Convicted of Genocide Against Yazidis

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Ezgi Akin at Turkey's Kapikoy border crossing

AL-MONITOR's Ezgi Akin at Turkey-Iran Border Crossing

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Past

AL-MONITOR Global Institute hosts food security forum with Dr. Conrad Rein

On October 16, 2025, the AL-MONITOR Global Institute hosted Dr. Conrad Rein, Secretary of the Global Flagship Initiative for Food Security, alongside representatives from multilateral development banks and the private sector for a discussion on food security in the Middle East and Africa.

Washington, DC

October 16, 2025 11:00 EDT

Past

AL-MONITOR Global Institute hosts Digital Cooperation Organization Secretary-General Deemah AlYahya

On Sept. 21, 2025, the AL-MONITOR Global Institute hosted Deemah AlYahya, Secretary-General of the Digital Cooperation Organization, for a discussion on digital inclusion and economic empowerment in the Middle East, Africa, and Europe.

New York, NY

September 21, 2025 17:00 EDT

Past

Iraqi Kurdistan Prime Minister Masrour Barzani at AL-Monitor Global Institute

AL-MONITOR Global Institute hosts Iraqi Kurdistan Prime Minister Masrour Barzani and US Energy Secretary Chris Wright

On May 22, 2025, the AL-MONITOR Global Institute hosted Prime Minister Masrour Barzani of the Kurdistan Regional Government of Iraq and US Secretary of Energy Chris Wright in Washington DC to discuss the future of power and energy in Iraq’s Kurdistan region.

Washington, DC

May 22, 2025 10:30 EDT

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