Exclusive Senior Houthi official says Bab el Mandab closure an option if any Gulf states join war Houthi Deputy Information Minister Mohammed Mansour also said the strait could be closed “should the aggression against Iran and Lebanon escalate.” By Elizabeth Hagedorn In Washington, DC, reporting on diplomacy, regional politics, human rights
Analysis Israel urges US escalation against Iran, possible ground invasion Israel has made clear it will not deploy ground forces to Iran, but would strongly support US military action if the Trump administration chooses to proceed. By Ben Caspit In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense
Dermer’s return puts Netanyahu’s 'brain' at center of US-Israel calculus Dermer, former Israeli strategic affairs minister, is considered one of Netanyahu’s closest associates, having worked together for over two decades. Israel
Settler violence spike exposes Israeli government rift with military Knesset member Ram Ben-Barak of centrist Yesh Atid told Al-Monitor that the government must permit the use of administrative detention for extremist settlers to curb the violence. Israel
Exclusive Israel suspects Trump betting on 3 Iran officials, including Ghalibaf, to end war By Ben Caspit In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense
Analysis Meet Bagher Zolghadr, a hard-line IRGC veteran now Iran's security chief By A correspondent in Tehran In Tehran, reporting on politics
Syrians brace as Turkey begins operation against Kurds After the United States withdrew troops from the Syrian-Turkish border this week, Turkey pulled the trigger on its offensive against Kurdish forces in northern Syria. Syria
Erdogan’s friendship with Trump has extra benefits The friendship between the Turkish and American presidents thrives despite all ideological differences, so much so that elites of Turkey's ruling party view the impeachment inquiry as an act of the "deep state" or even a "coup" against Trump. Syria
Confusion reigns as Trump authorizes troop withdrawal from Turkish-Syrian border towns US President Donald Trump's announcement catches Pentagon, State Department and Syrian Kurds off guard as Turkey assumes a primacy of sorts in the president's thinking despite the S-400 fiasco. Syria
Trump allies in Congress assail decision to let Turkey attack Syrian Kurds Lawmakers and presidential candidates are lambasting President Donald Trump for greenlighting Turkey’s offensive against Kurdish-held areas in northeastern Syria. Syria
Pentagon pushes back on Turkish incursion in Syria The Pentagon opposed the Donald Trump administration’s decision to allow a Turkish operation in Syria, a senior administration official told Al-Monitor. Syria
Turkish incursion threatens to unleash Islamic State in Syria, US officials warn The Donald Trump administration’s decision Sunday to allow a Turkish incursion into northeast Syria threatens to let loose thousands of Islamic State prisoners onto the battlefield, US officials are warning. Syria
Have Iran, US slammed door on nuclear negotiations? Iran and the United States both have upcoming elections and other urgent domestic issues to focus on, and neither seems interested in cooperating on nuclear talks. United States
Erdogan's Syria plan: Resettling the Syrian refugees or ousting Kurds from their land? Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's remarks in United Nations indicate that Turkey has dangerous intentions about the east of Euphrates. Syria
Pompeo, Mnuchin say no preconditions for Iran meeting as Trump ousts Bolton After President Donald Trump announced that he had fired his national security adviser John Bolton over very strong policy disagreements, Trump’s top diplomat and treasury chief reiterated that Trump has no preconditions to meet with Iran. United States
Pentagon says it’s 'on time' with Syria safe zone despite questions The Pentagon said Monday it is "on time" or ahead of schedule in most areas of setting up a safe zone in Syria after initial patrols with Turkish troops over the weekend, despite lingering questions about the size and depth of the area. Syria
As Trump mulls Iran diplomacy, Mnuchin plays more visible role As US President Donald Trump mulls Iran diplomacy, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin is playing a more visible role. United States
US delay reflects fear in Netanyahu losing The Donald Trump administration has yet again delayed the announcement of its long-awaited peace plan for the Middle East, which some say is linked to the Israeli elections next month and fear of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu losing them. Israel
