Oman's sultan meets Macron in first France visit since 1989: What to know French President Emmanuel Macron has been pushing against any form of toll for the Strait of Hormuz. Iran
Analysis Why Turkey and Egypt are deepening military ties amid regional turmoil Turkey and Egypt are expanding military cooperation as overlapping security challenges, from Libya and Sudan to Gaza and the Red Sea, bring the former rivals closer together. By Barin Kayaoglu In Ankara, reporting on geopolitics and national security
Analysis Vance turning us into 'punching bag': Israel fumes over alleged IRGC-CENTCOM channel in Doha The US-Iran decision to launch direct talks between the IRGC and CENTCOM in Qatar deepens the rift between President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, while heightening Israeli fears that Washington is shifting toward Doha and Tehran. By Ben Caspit In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense
Iran attacks cargo ship off Oman, testing Trump’s Hormuz Strait deal The first Iranian attack on a cargo vessel since the ceasefire comes as top US diplomat Marco Rubio huddled with Gulf Cooperation Council ministers in Manama to reject Iran's claims to control the Strait of Hormuz. By Jared Szuba In Washington, DC, reporting on defense, national security, military
CENTCOM commander heads to Israel, Gulf as Lebanon talks stall By Jared Szuba In Washington, DC, reporting on defense, national security, military
Analysis As US reshapes Lebanon strategy, Israel finds itself sidelined By Rina Bassist In Paris, reporting on Israeli politics and European affairs
Analysis Why Gulf defense firms are betting on Europe in wake of Iran war By Francesco Schiavi In Bologna, reporting on security, defense, economy, governance
Gun violence soaring in Israel's Arab community, as government cuts funding After boasting in his election campaign that his primary goal in the Knesset would be curbing violence and crime, National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has already cut funding for such programs in the Arab community. Israel
US-Israeli citizen injured in West Bank as parties meet in Egypt to de-escalate A second Israeli-Palestinian-American-Egyptian-Jordanian meeting took place on Sunday, with all parties pledging to take measures to de-escalate tensions in Jerusalem and the West Bank, ahead of Ramadan and Passover. Israel
US officials skeptical of China's deal but concerned about deterring Iran China’s diplomatic reach into heart of Middle East was an unmistakable signal to Washington. Read more in the weekly security-focused newsletter from Al-Monitor’s Pentagon Correspondent Jared Szuba. Legacy: Gulf
Hezbollah, Hamas seek to exploit Israel's internal weakness to attack The security incident last Monday near the border with Lebanon worries the IDF, as Hezbollah tries to exploit the ongoing crisis in Israel. Israel
State Department's Barbara Leaf arrives in Middle East for 10-day visit Assistant Secretary of State Barbara Leaf will make stops in Jordan, Egypt, Lebanon and Tunisia. By AL-MONITOR Staff
Analysis France cautious about China's role but welcomes Iran-Saudi agreement Paris would have much preferred that the Saudi-Iran rapprochement would have been reached by means other than Chinese mediation. By Rina Bassist In Paris, reporting on Israeli politics and European affairs
Israelis, Palestinians to meet in Egypt in bid to lower tensions before Ramadan With Ramadan only days away, Israel, the Palestinians, the United States, Egypt and Jordan fear that West Bank tensions could explode. Israel
US defense chief delays arrival to Israel, will meet Netanyahu near airport Defense Minister Lloyd Austin will conclude his Middle East in Israel Thursday morning, meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. Israel
Israel-Gaza border sizzles in wake of West Bank escalation A rocket fired from Gaza toward Israel during the night and an explosive device that went off early in the morning have interrupted the relative calm in the region. Israel
Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin talks troop presence in surprise Iraq visit Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani is playing a delicate balancing act with pro-Iran factions as Washington keeps a low profile for its military advisers in Iraq in order to subdue the Islamic State. Iraq
US, Saudi Arabia to conduct first counter-drone exercise without allies As tensions heat up with Iran, the Pentagon hopes the Red Sands exercises will convince allies in the Middle East that Western counter-drone technology is still better than China's. Legacy: Gulf
Top US general visits Israel amid increasing tensions with Iran The Pentagon’s top-ranking officer, Gen. Mark Milley, landed in Israel on Friday to coordinate with senior military officials on Iran strategy. Israel
