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Supporters of the pro-Kurdish Peoples DEM Party attend a rally for the Turkish Municipal elections to be held on March 31, in Esenyurt Square, in Istanbul on Feb. 25, 2024.

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Turkey mulls peace talks with Kurds amid fears of Israeli strike on Iran

Three well-placed sources told Al-Monitor that exploratory talks for a possible resumption of negotiations between the Turkish government and imprisoned PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan were already underway.

Amberin Zaman

By Amberin Zaman

In London, reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture

A portrait of slain Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah sits amid debris at Beirut's southern suburb Rouweiss neighborhood on Oct. 10, 2024, following overnight Israeli strikes.

With Hezbollah battered, US seeks to break Lebanon’s political impasse

As Israeli military pressure mounts on a weakened Hezbollah, the Biden administration sees an opening to break political impasse in Lebanon and appears to have ditched its call for an immediate cease-fire there.

A UNIFIL personnel carrier drives by a picture of late Hezbollah leader Sheikh Abbas al-Mussawi May 2, 2000, in the village of Ghandourieyh in south Lebanon.

Live Updates

UN says Israel fired on peacekeepers in Lebanon as diplomatic push intensifies

Two peacekeepers were hit by an Israeli tank firing at a UNIFIL position in southern Lebanon, sparking deep concern from the UN regarding the safety of its mission in Lebanon.

A man looks at high meat prices at a butcher in the historic Ulus district in Ankara on Jan. 27, 2023.

Popular steakhouse accused of pork fraud divides Turkey

While official tests revealed traces of pork, the company’s owner suggests a “dark plot.”

A sign about the heightened level of the counterterrorism response is seen outside HMS Duncan while docked at the Port of Limassol on the Mediterranean island of Cyprus, on Oct. 2, 2024.

Cyprus arrests eight Syrians accused of funding terror group: What we know

The arrests come as more Syrians arrive in Cyprus, fleeing the conflicts in Lebanon and Syria.

Latest News

Analysis

Why the US, Israel disagree over striking Iran’s nuclear sites

Members of Israel's Home Front Command and police forces inspect a crater left by an exploded projectile at a heavily damaged school building in Israel's southern city of Gedera.

Jared Szuba

In Washington, DC, reporting on defense, national security, military

Saudi crown prince hosts Iran's FM as Riyadh shields itself from Israel tension

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman meets with Iranian foreign minister in Riyadh, Oct. 9, 2024. (SPA)

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Outrage sweeps Turkey over double femicide as Erdogan pledges stricter measures

Protesters take part in a demonstration in support of We Will Stop Femicide outside the courthouse in Istanbul on Sept. 13, 2023.

UAE’s AD Ports Group inks major deal with China

Tingshu Wang/Getty Images

United Arab Emirates

The strikes damaged buildings in the Basta neighbourhood of Beirut

'Like a quake': Beirut shaken after deadliest strikes on centre

Agence France-Presse

Several people took turns carrying a woman out of Jabalia refugee camp, her injured leg in a makeshift splint made of salvaged furniture

Civilians flee Gaza's Jabalia in tightening Israeli siege

Agence France-Presse

As the first boat docked in Mersin port, Turkish soldiers helped the passengers disembark, one carrying a crying toddler, while another pushed a boy in a wheelchair

Relief as Lebanon evacuees dock in Turkey

Agence France-Presse

Reuters journalist Isaam Abdallah was killed while filming in the border region on Friday

No answers on strike on reporters in Lebanon one year on: watchdog

Agence France-Presse

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Three stories hand-picked by our editorial team.

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The Al-Monitor Brief

Middle East startups outperform global peers

Jack Dutton interviews Philip Bahoshy

12:57

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The Al-Monitor Brief

The year since Oct. 7

Kristen Talman interviews Daoud Kuttab and Rina Bassist

27:26

Lina Khatib

On the Middle East with Amberin Zaman

What are Hezbollah's choices after Israel killed its leader, and which way will Iran point?

Amberin Zaman interviews Lina Khatib

22:35

ALM Interviews

Exclusive conversations with Al-Monitor.

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Interview

Syrian-Kurdish KNC leader decries abuse by Turkey-backed Sunni factions in Afrin

Turkish-backed Syrian fighters from the Turkish-backed 1st Corps of the Samarkand Brigade take part in a military parade in the opposition-held Afrin region of northern Syria, on Nov. 23, 2022.

Sleiman Oso

Sleiman Oso

Kurdish National Council President

Interview

IAEA chief: Iran's nuclear program on 'turbocharge' without deal

Rafael Grossi, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, attends the IAEA's Board of Governors meeting at the agency's headquarters in Vienna, Austria, on Sept. 9, 2024.

Rafael Grossi

Rafael Grossi

IAEA Director General

Interview

Norway's FM: Our problem is not with Israelis but with Netanyahu's cabinet

Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide holds a joint press conference with his Spanish and Irish counterparts at the the Permanent Representation of Spain to the European Union in Brussels on May 27, 2024.

Espen Barth Eide

Espen Barth Eide

Norwegian Foreign Minister

Interview

Iraq's Sudani: US troop withdrawal does not mean end of security relationship

Mohammed Shia al-Sudani

Mohammed Shia al-Sudani

Prime Minister of Iraq

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani speaks during the 79th Session of the United Nations General Assembly at the United Nations headquarters in New York City on September 26, 2024.

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Executive briefs that lay out scenarios on key issues.

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Cars drive along a street in front of high-rise buildings in Dubai, on February 18, 2023. - Home to towering skyscrapers and ultra-luxury villas, Dubai saw record real estate transactions in 2022, largely due to an influx of wealthy investors, especially from Russia. (Photo by Karim SAHIB / AFP) (Photo by KARIM SAHIB/AFP via Getty Images)

UAE aims to attract family offices to boost stature as wealth hub

Sebastian Castelier

Sebastian Castelier

In Dubai, reporting on regional business

Solar pannels cover the rooftops of the buildings of the Makhtar boarding school on September 29, 2022, in the Tunisian central-west region of the same name. - The Makthar boarding school, a unique business initiative is both generating income and opening pupils' minds to the outside world. Lotfi Hamadi, founder of the NGO "Wallah (Swear to God) We Can", is hoping that helping schools boost their resources through food and energy production can breathe new life into Tunisia's failing, cash-strapped educatio

Tunisia’s green hydrogen strategy will need domestic stakeholders

Francisco Serrano

Francisco Serrano

In Lisbon, reporting on North Africa business

Co-founder and Ceo of Starz Play Maaz Sheikh poses in his office in Dubai on April 23, 2019. Streaming services in the Middle East are competing for Arab audiences with US giant Netflix set to release its first Arabic production in June, chasing a slice of a potentially lucrative market. (Photo by GIUSEPPE CACACE / AFP) (Photo by GIUSEPPE CACACE/AFP via Getty Images)

Netflix in crosshairs as Middle East streaming competition mounts

Samuel Wendel

In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech

Analysis

Stay a step ahead of your colleagues.

Analysis

'Do not test our will,' Iran FM Araghchi warns Israel ahead of Saudi Arabia visit

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi speaks to the press, in front of the portrait of slain Lebanese Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, after meeting with Syrian officials at the Iranian embassy in Damascus on Oct. 5, 2024.

A correspondent in Tehran

By A correspondent in Tehran

In Tehran, reporting on politics

Analysis

Erdogan accuses Israel of wanting to wage war on Turkey despite robust trade ties

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan wears a scarf with both Turkish and Palestinian flags as he addresses a rally organized by the AKP party in solidarity with the Palestinians in Gaza, in Istanbul on Oct. 28, 2023.

Amberin Zaman

By Amberin Zaman

In London, reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture

Analysis

As response looms, US tries to dissuade Israel from catastrophic attack on Iran

Italian F35 fighter jets take part in the "Blue Flag" multinational air defence exercise at the Ovda air force base, north of the Israeli city of Eilat, on November 11, 2019. (Photo by JACK GUEZ / AFP) (Photo by JACK GUEZ/AFP via Getty Images)

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

Analysis

Why the US, Israel disagree over striking Iran’s nuclear sites

Jared Szuba

In Washington, DC, reporting on defense, national security, military

Members of Israel's Home Front Command and police forces inspect a crater left by an exploded projectile at a heavily damaged school building in Israel's southern city of Gedera.

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UAE presidential advisor HE Dr. Anwar Gargash speaks at Al-Monitor event during UNGA

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September 26, 2024 18:00 EDT

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Iraq PM Sudani speaks at Al-Monitor/US Chamber of Commerce event during UNGA

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September 25, 2024 18:00 EDT

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September 12, 2024 16:00 EDT

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Amberin Zaman

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In London, reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture

Ben Caspit

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

Elizabeth Hagedorn

State Department Correspondent

In Washington, DC, reporting on diplomacy, regional politics, human rights

Jack Dutton

Chief Business Correspondent

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

Ezgi Akin

Associate Editor (Turkey)

In Ankara, reporting on diplomacy, EU-Turkey ties, NATO

Jared Szuba

Pentagon Correspondent

In Washington, DC, reporting on defense, national security, military