Border Disputes

Several trucks carrying humanitarian aid cross the border between Armenia and Turkey at the village of Margara, Armenia, on March 21, 2025.

Exclusive

Direct Turkey-Armenia land trade to begin amid US-led Caucasus peace push

New transit arrangement via Georgia cuts re-export costs, marking accelerating normalization between Ankara and Yerevan amid broader US-led peace efforts.

Ezgi Akin

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

Israel military vehicles drive along the border fence into Israel, near the town of Majdal Shams, in the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights, on July 17, 2025. Syrian government forces have withdrawn from the whole of Sweida province after days of sectarian bloodshed in the heartland of the Druze minority, a war monitor and witnesses said July 17, 2025. (Photo by Jalaa MAREY / AFP) (Photo by JALAA MAREY/AFP via Getty Images)

Analysis

What Syria and Israel’s new communications cell really signals

The deal reached in Paris under US mediation reflects a rare step toward managing tensions but stops short of halting Israeli military strikes or producing a broader security pact.

Rina Bassist

By Rosaleen Carroll , Rina Bassist

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 foils major arms smuggling attempt to Lebanon: What we know

Syrian authorities have stepped up operations targeting smuggling attempts mainly destined for Hezbollah in Lebanon since the fall of President Bashar al‑Assad’s regime last year.

SAKIS MITROLIDIS/AFP via Getty Images

Ankara open to US mediation role in Turkey-Greece row with conditions: Source

A Turkish source told Al-Monitor that Ankara could be receptive to the idea of the US playing a role in easing tensions with Greece.

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Analysis

Lebanon-Israel direct talks pause operation against Hezbollah — but for how long?

An Israeli military tank patrols along the border fence separating northern Israel from southern Lebanon on November 24, 2025. Hezbollah held the funeral on November 24 for its top military chief and other members of the militant group a day after Israel killed them in a strike on Beirut's southern suburbs. (Photo by Jalaa MAREY / AFP via Getty Images)

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

US pressure prompted Israel-Lebanon talks to avert war with Hezbollah

US deputy Middle East envoy Morgan Ortagus speaks during a United Nations Security Council meeting on the situation in Gaza, at UN headquarters in New York, on Sept. 18, 2025.

Analysis

As it prepares for Hezbollah’s retaliation, Israel anticipates limited fighting in Lebanon

Hezbollah

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

Analysis

Trump pursues Israeli-Syrian security pact with Sharaa, larger US military footprint

KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA - OCTOBER 26: U.S. President Donald Trump holds a bilateral meeting with Brazil's President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (not in frame) at Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre on October 26, 2025 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Trump is in Malaysia for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit, and will next travel to Japan, en route to South Korea for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

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

Smoke billows from an area targeted in a rocket strike by Lebanese Hezbollah militants near Israel's border with Lebanon, amid increasing cross-border tensions as fighting continues with Hamas militants in the southern Gaza Strip, Nov. 23, 2023.

Analysis

Israel braces for possible Hezbollah attack as Lebanese border heats up

Israel is hoping that international pressure will convince Hezbollah to withdraw its Radwan commando units to the other side of the Litani River, but also prepares for a scenario where Hezbollah will refuse such a move.

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

A Palestinian van carrying a family and their belongings arrives at the Rafah refugee camp, in the southern Gaza Strip on Oct. 15, 2023.

European Union launches humanitarian air bridge for Gazans via Egypt

The European Union will start sending humanitarian aid for displaced Gaza residents, including shelters, medicines and hygiene kits.

A security guard is seen at the Iran-Iraq border crossing of Haji Omran on Jan. 3, 2018.

Iran demands Iraq disarm Kurdish opposition as deadline expires

An agreement between Tehran and Baghdad stipulated that Iraqi authorities would disarm and relocate the Kurdish opposition groups along the Iranian border.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Algerian Foreign Minister Ahmed Attaf.

Interview

Algerian FM 'satisfied' with Biden’s Western Sahara policy

In an interview with Al-Monitor, Algerian Foreign Minister Ahmed Attaf also discussed the possibility for military intervention in Niger, his country’s relationship with Russia and improved US-Algeria ties under the Biden administration.

Ahmed Attaf

Ahmed Attaf

Foreign Minister of Algeria

JACK GUEZ/AFP via Getty Images

Analysis

Israel vows to 'return Lebanon to Stone Age' if Hezbollah starts war

In a video message, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant voiced Israeli concerns over the tent erected by Hezbollah near the border with Lebanon and other provocations by the group.

Rina Bassist

By Rina Bassist

In Paris, reporting on Israeli politics and European affairs

A clerk inspects the cargo of a truck among a convoy carrying tent and shelter kits.

US sanctions exemption for earthquake relief to Syria expires

The Treasury announcement came as the Syrian government reauthorized the UN's use of two border crossings to deliver aid.

GIL COHEN-MAGEN/AFP via Getty Images

Israel to include Gaza Americans in US visa waiver trial

After agreeing to facilitate the passage of American-Palestinians in the West Bank, Israel has agreed to similar conditions for those residing in Gaza.

Demonstrators gather around a burning flare during a protest rally against the Israeli government's judicial reform plan in Tel Aviv on July 24, 2023. Israeli lawmakers on July 24 approved a key clause of a controversial judicial reform plan that aims to curb the powers of the Supreme Court in striking down government decisions. (Photo by JACK GUEZ / AFP) (Photo by JACK GUEZ/AFP via Getty Images)

Analysis

Israel’s enemies gloat, friends concerned over judicial overhaul chaos

While Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah relishes over growing internal rift within the Israeli society, Washington is increasingly concerned and making calls to senior Israeli officials to manage the crisis.

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

Lebanese army soldiers and peacekeepers (blue helmets) of the United Nations Interim Forces in Lebanon (UNIFIL).

Lebanon builds road on Israeli border, as tensions with Hezbollah escalate

The incident followed Lebanese construction in the area and is the latest in a series of escalations between Israel and Hezbollah in recent weeks.

Lebanese Hezbollah fighters take part in cross-border raids.

Casualties in Syria after suspected Israeli airstrike

The strikes occurred at a time of significant tension along the Israel-Lebanon border and in the West Bank.

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan.

Armenia PM wishes Turkey’s Erdogan happy Eid as Azerbaijan targets Nagorno-Karabakh

Diplomatic sources say the call comes amid an ongoing effort aimed at getting Turkey to rein in an increasingly aggressive Azerbaijan.

Israeli soldiers console one another outside the Mount Harif military base.

Israeli army admits to operational failures in deadly Egypt incident

The investigation of the Israeli army into the deadly incident last week on the Egyptian border found several operational failures.