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Members of the Sabahiha tribes of Lahj gather during a rally to show their support for the UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council in Aden on December 14

Saudi-led coalition says targets arms shipments from UAE in Yemen

Agence France-Presse

This aerial view shows residents waving Somaliland flags as they gather to celebrate Israel's announcement recognizing Somaliland's statehood in downtown Hargeisa, on Dec. 26, 2025.

Somalia’s president heads to Turkey as Israel’s Somaliland recognition rattles region

The Somali leader’s visit comes amid a heightened Turkish-Israeli rivalry, fueled by Israel’s recognition of Somaliland, in the region and beyond.

Shopkeepers and traders in Tehran protest against the economic hardships and sharp swings in Iran's embattled currency

Tehran shopkeepers shut stores over economic conditions

Agence France-Presse

A picture taken at the port of Dilovasi, outside Istanbul, on June 20, 2019, shows the drilling ship Yavuz scheduled to search for oil and gas off Cyprus.

Turkey eyes offshore energy pact with Syria in 2026 amid East Med isolation

Turkish Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar has offered up details on a deal with Syria that could unsettle regional rivals in the gas-rich Eastern Mediterranean.

Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images

At Mar-a-Lago, Netanyahu seeks Iran strike approval while Trump presses Gaza plan

US President Donald Trump is expected to push Israel to enter the second phase of his Gaza peace plan, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will focus on securing Trump’s approval for a potential strike on Iran’s ballistic missile program.

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Analysis

From Sputnik to satellites: How China is pulling Egypt and Gulf into its space orbit

A platform for the satellite launcher is seen ahead of the Shenzhou-19 mission to the Tiangong space station at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, in China's northwestern Gansu province, on Oct. 29, 2024.

Dale Aluf

In Amsterdam, reporting on China in the Middle East

Australian LNG deal marks latest step in Turkey's energy diversification push

Dan Kitwood/Getty Images

Analysis

From looming war to currency crash: Iran ends 2025 on edge

Bahram / Middle East Images / AFP via Getty Images

A correspondent in Tehran

Par A correspondent in Tehran

In Tehran, reporting on politics

Analysis

Turkey's defense sector enters 2026 with naval progress — and unresolved vulnerabilities

Turkish naval forces patrol vessel TCG F 500 and an unidentified submarine (back) sail during a military naval parade on the Bosphorus in Istanbul on Oct. 29, 2023.

Barin Kayaoglu

Par Barin Kayaoglu

In Ankara, reporting on geopolitics and national security

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Forces of Yemen's main separatist group, the Southern Transitional Council, arrive in a mountainous area where they are launching a military operation in the southern province of Abyan, Yemen, December 15, 2025. REUTERS/Stringer

Saudi-backed head of Yemen's presidential council tells UAE to leave

Reuters

Osama Twayyer looks at his burned room in his house in the countryside of Jableh, Latakia, Syria September 17, 2025. REUTERS/Yamam Al Shaar

Facing Alawite backlash, Syria’s new leaders take controversial steps to win loyalty

Reuters

A general view of the house where Turkish security forces launched an operation believed to contain suspected Islamic State militants, and where, three Turkish police officers and six Islamic State militants were killed in a gunfight, according to authorities, in Yalova province, Turkey, December 29, 2025. REUTERS/Umit Bektas/File Photo

Turkey detains 110 suspects in operation targeting Islamic State after deadly clash

Reuters

A shopkeeper tidies his stall in Tajrish Bazaar in the Iranian capital. Some traders have protested the rising price of imports as the rial falls against the dollar

Iran president urges government to heed economic protests

Agence France-Presse

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Adam Lucente, Sam Wendel and Jack Dutton

The Al-Monitor Brief

2025 Middle East business review: Gulf AI and mineral races heat up as startups, Red Sea shipping bounce back

Adam Lucente interviews Sam Wendel and Jack Dutton

27:24

Adam Lucente and Ezgi Akin

The Al-Monitor Brief

Turkey’s year 2025 in review: Progress abroad, challenges at home?

Adam Lucente interviews Ezgi Akin

18:03

Adam Lucente and Danny Makki

The Al-Monitor Brief

What’s next for Syria's economy, security after Trump repeals Caesar sanctions?

Adam Lucente interviews Danny Makki

23:50

Analysis

Stay a step ahead of your colleagues.

Analysis

La France peine à trouver ses marques et à jouer un rôle dans la crise Liban-Israël

WOODSTOCK, ENGLAND - JULY 18: French President Emmanuel Macron arrives for the European Political Community Summit at Blenheim Palace on July 18, 2024 in Woodstock, England. At the 4th European Political Community Summit, Europe’s leaders will focus on energy, infrastructures, connectivity, cybersecurity, countering disinformation and migration. (Photo by Carl Court/Getty Images)

Rina Bassist

Par Rina Bassist

In Paris, reporting on Israeli politics and European affairs

Analysis

Au sein du bataillon Netzah Yehuda, l'unité de l'armée israélienne se prépare aux sanctions américaines

Israeli soldiers of the Netzah Yehuda Battalion hold morning prayers as they take part in their annual unit training in the Israeli annexed Golan Heights, near the Syrian border, May 19, 2014.

Rina Bassist

Par Rina Bassist

In Paris, reporting on Israeli politics and European affairs

Analysis

Qu’est-ce qui retient les représailles israéliennes contre l’Iran et quelles sont ses options ?

Members of the Israeli military show an Iranian ballistic missile which fell in Israel on the weekend, during a media tour at the Julis military base near the southern Israeli city of Kiryat Malachi on April 16, 2024. Iran carried out an unprecedented direct attack on Israel overnight April 13-14, using more than 300 drones, cruise missiles and ballistic missiles, in retaliation for a deadly April 1 air strike on the Iranian consulate in Damascus. Nearly all were intercepted, according to the Israeli army.

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

Analysis

L'arrestation du PDG de Telegram met en lumière les lois sur la citoyenneté fondée sur l'investissement aux Émirats arabes unis

Jennifer Gnana

Par Jennifer Gnana

In Dubai, reporting on Gulf energy policy and politics

MUNICH, GERMANY - JANUARY 24: Pavel Durov of Vkontakte speaks during the Digital Life Design conference (DLD) at HVB Forum on January 24, 2012 in Munich, Germany. ence and culture which connects business, creative and social leaders, opinion-formers and investors for crossover conversation and inspiration. (Photo by Nadine Rupp/Getty Images)

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

Syria's Sharaa in Washington

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1:00:44

Joe Snell

Iraqis prepare to head to the polls

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1:34

Amberin Zaman in Damascus

Amberin Zaman Reports from Damascus

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Elizabeth Hagedorn at UNGA in New York

Elizabeth Hagedorn Reporting from UNGA in New York

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1:07