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This photograph taken during a press tour organised by the Lebanese army shows Lebanese soldiers standing atop a military vehicle in Alma Al-Shaab, near the border with Israel in southern Lebanon, on November 28, 2025. It was the first guided tour the army gave journalists since a November 2024 ceasefire sought to end over a year of hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel. (Photo by Anwar AMRO / AFP via Getty Images)

US, France and Saudi Arabia agree to conference to bolster Lebanon’s army

France is looking for more support for a committee monitoring the ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon.

Lebanon

Egypt lands $572M UAE-backed solar deal, expanding Gulf's clean-energy footprint

Gulf companies have been increasing their investments in North African renewable energy.

Egypt

Brig. Gen. Alireza Elhami, pictured in this undated image, has been appointed as the commander of Iran’s Air Defense Headquarters.

Iran appoints new air defense, air force chiefs in post-war shakeup

The promotion of Brig. Gen. Alireza Elhami and Brig. Gen. Bahman Behmard follows Iran's efforts to rebuild its air defenses following the war with Israel in June.

Iran

People shop in a market on June 17, 2025 in Damascus, Syria.

Senate vote paves way for Trump to repeal Syria’s Caesar sanctions

President Trump is poised to sign bipartisan legislation scrapping the sanctions that are seen as a major obstacle to Syria's economic recovery.

Syria

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio (R) shakes hands with Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani at the State Department in Washington, on Dec. 17, 2025.

Qatar’s prime minister meets US officials as Gaza plan stalls

Sheikh Mohammed's visit comes as questions mount over Hamas' disarmament and the role of international troops in post-war Gaza.

Qatar

Latest News

Syria foils major arms smuggling attempt to Lebanon: What we know

The Internal Security Directorate in the Zabadani area of rural Damascus thwarted an attempt to smuggle a shipment of weapons and seized large quantities of RPG shells that were hidden in an organized manner and prepared for smuggling towards Lebanon, on Dec. 17, 2025.

Syria

Trump imposes full travel bans on seven more countries, Palestinians

US President Donald Trump speaks with military officers at the White House

Agence France-Presse

Israel's Netanyahu approves $35B natural gas megadeal with Egypt

Israel

Over 600 Israeli ex-security chiefs urge Trump to disarm Hamas, back PA in Gaza

Israel

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Washington's sanctions against two more judges come after the ICC upheld arrest warrants for two Israeli leaders

US imposes sanctions on two more ICC judges for Israel probe

Agence France-Presse

Vehicles negotiate a flooded road in Dubai on December 18, 2025

Dubai warns residents to stay indoors because of rain

Agence France-Presse

US special envoy Steve Witkoff has been heavily involved in talks to end the wars in Gaza and Ukraine

US, Qatar, Turkey, Egypt to hold Gaza talks in Miami

Agence France-Presse

FILE PHOTO: U.S. President Donald Trump's envoy Steve Witkoff reacts during a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow, Russia, April 25, 2025. Sputnik/Kristina Kormilitsyna/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo

Witkoff to meet Qatari, Egyptian and Turkish officials on Gaza

Reuters

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Cyprus weighs joining Gaza force but 'not enough clarity' on mission, FM says

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UNRWA plans Turkey office to boost Gaza, Syria aid as pledges dip

A boy sits outside the entrance to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) building complex in Gaza City, on Sept. 6, 2025.

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Can protests in Israel halt Netanyahu's second attempt at judicial overhaul?

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Robots can solve UAE construction labor shortage, says Buildroid AI

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Iran’s FM Araghchi in Moscow as biting sanctions drive closer Russia ties

TATYANA MAKEYEVA/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

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Trump's Syria envoy Barrack tests Israel's patience as Netanyahu pushes back

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

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

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Will deadly Palmyra attack accelerate SDF's integration into Syrian forces?

Armed personnel of SDF and public security forces of the new Syrian government stand guard in al-Ramun district of Aleppo, Syria, on April 3, 2025.

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Reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture

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Turkey rebuffs air-defense criticism after drone shot down near Ankara

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

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Iraqis prepare to head to the polls

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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

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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

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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.

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