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

Al-Monitor Staff

Al-Monitor Staff

Trump later headed to Florida, where he announced the Iran strikes in a video message

Breaking | Last Updated: February 28, 2026, 5:16 pm

Trump: Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei dead

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio (2nd L), Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani (3rd R) and SDF commander Mazlum Kobane (4th R) meet on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference, on Feb. 13, 2026 in Munich.

Rubio holds joint talks with Syria's FM, SDF commander in Munich

Adam Lucente

Al-Monitor Staff

Adam Lucente , Al-Monitor Staff

US President Donald Trump meets Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa in the Oval Office, Washington, DC, Nov. 10, 2025.

Syrian President Sharaa arrives at White House in historic first

Al-Monitor Staff

Al-Monitor Staff

An activist waves the Palestinian flag as a boat carrying Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg and activists.

Israeli navy begins intercepting Gaza-bound international aid flotilla

Al-Monitor Staff

Al-Monitor Staff

Test firing of a High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) at the Jiupeng base, Pingtung, Taiwan, May 12, 2025.

US to sell $500 million HIMARS rocket system to Bahrain

Al-Monitor Staff

Al-Monitor Staff

An aerial view shows a tank, left behind by regime forces, on the road leading to the Syrian town of Khan Sheikhun, in the northwestern Syrian Idlib province, on Dec. 1, 2024.

Explosion kills 4 in Syria’s Idlib: What to know

Al-Monitor Staff

Al-Monitor Staff

Debris of missiles fired from Iran toward Israel leave trails in the night sky over Nablus in the occupied West bank after being intercepted on June 13, 2025. (Photo by Zain JAAFAR / AFP) (Photo by ZAIN JAAFAR/AFP via Getty Images)

‘Declaration of war’: Iran fires 100+ missiles at Israel after airstrikes

Al-Monitor Staff

Al-Monitor Staff

US Energy Secretary Chris Wright speaks with Al-Monitor president Andrew Parasiliti at an Al-Monitor Global Institute event in Washington, DC, May 22, 2025.

US backs more energy investment in Kurdistan region: Energy secretary

Al-Monitor Staff

Al-Monitor Staff

A member of Saudi security forces stands next to a replica of a fighter jet of the Saudi armed forces during the daily media briefing on Operation Decisive Storm, the Saudi-led coalition carrying out air strikes against Shiite Huthi militia in neighboring Yemen, on April 2, 2015 at the Air Base of the Saudi capital Riyadh.

US signs $142B deal to upgrade Saudi military

Al-Monitor Staff

Al-Monitor Staff

US National Security Advisor Mike Waltz speaks during the Hill & Valley Forum at the US Capitol Visitor Center Auditorium in Washington, DC, on April 30, 2025.

Trump taps Mike Waltz as UN ambassador

Al-Monitor Staff

Al-Monitor Staff

Dania Akeel

Culture

Saudi Dania Akeel’s Baja Cup win inspires Arab women in motorsports

Win McNamee/Getty Images

Trump's CIA pick John Ratcliffe seen as loyalist insider, hawkish on Iran

Al-Monitor Staff

Al-Monitor Staff