Politics & Security - AL-MONITOR: The Middle Eastʼs leading independent news source since 2012

politics and security cover image

Politics & Security

Security personnel and first responders prepare to cordon off an area near the Four Seasons Hotel following two blasts nearby in Damascus on July 7, 2026. Syrian authorities said 18 people were wounded by two blasts in central Damascus on July 7 near the hotel where France's president spent the night, with the Elysee Palace saying his visit is ongoing. (Photo by LOUAI BESHARA / AFP via Getty Images)

Breaking | Last Updated: July 7, 2026, 7:52 am

Two explosions in Damascus as Macron visits Syria

Two explosions were heard in Damascus on Tuesday morning, while French President Emmanuel Macron is in the city for a meeting with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa.

sampt-t

Analysis

As it hosts NATO, Turkey eyes France's SAMP/T system, F-35 progress with Trump

Turkey is set to host NATO leaders as doubts over US commitment linger prompting Ankara to seeks its own defense deals with Paris and Washington.

Ezgi Akin

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

Government Media Office Director Ismail Thawabteh (R) and Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem (L) speak at a press conference.

Explainer

What does Hamas' move to dissolve its Gaza government mean?

Hamas has agreed to hand civilian administration over to the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza, but the committee is not yet in Gaza and may not deploy until Hamas’ disarmament is resolved.

A picture taken on Nov. 10, 2019, shows workers on the construction site of a second reactor in Iran's Bushehr nuclear power plant, during an official ceremony to kick-start the works at the facility.

Russia’s Rosatom says staff to return to Iran’s Bushehr nuclear plant: What to know

Russia evacuated hundreds of personnel from Bushehr after the start of the US-Israel-Iran war, but it has pledged to continue helping Iran develop its nuclear capabilities.

Latest News

Israel, Greece conduct military drills ahead of NATO summit in Turkey

ABIR SULTAN / AFP via Getty Images

Iran’s hard-line judicial chief Mohseni Ejei gets second term: What to know

Gholam Hossein Mohseni Ejei

Analysis

Why Kuwait is turning to Ukraine for its next air-defense lessons

An employee of the Ukrainian SkyFall company checks a P1-Sun interceptor drone before a test flight at an undisclosed location in Ukraine on March 19, 2026,

Francesco Schiavi

By Francesco Schiavi

In Bologna, reporting on security, defense, economy, governance

Amberin Zaman

Chief Correspondent

Reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture

Adam Lucente

News and Business Correspondent

In New York City, reporting on regional news, militancy, climate change

Elizabeth Hagedorn

Diplomatic Correspondent

In Washington, DC, reporting on diplomacy, regional politics, human rights

Ezgi Akin

Associate Editor (Turkey)

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

Ben Caspit

Israel Columnist

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

Jared Szuba

Defense and Security Correspondent

In Washington, DC, reporting on defense, national security, military

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan looks on during an Extraordinary Summit of the Heads of State of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS), in Ankara, on March 16, 2023.

Analysis

For Turkey, can Turkic OTS be an alternative to BRICS?

Composed of Turkey, six other Turkic nations and Hungary, the Organization of Turkic States meshes cultural kinship with political and economic interests. Can it become more?

Barin Kayaoglu

By Barin Kayaoglu

In Ankara, reporting on geopolitics and national security

Royal Saudi Air Force Panavia Tornado and F-15 Eagle fighter aircraft fly over during an airshow.

Analysis

Saudi Arabia’s 2025 budget brings 5% increase to military spending as local industry hits 20%: What we know

The country's strides in defense production reduce it reliance on arms imports while fostering growth of its domestic defense industry.

Francesco Schiavi

By Francesco Schiavi

In Bologna, reporting on security, defense, economy, governance

Afghan workers carry flour sacks off a freight train upon its arrival from Uzbekistan, at the border station in Hairatan, Balkh Province, March 5, 2024.

Analysis

Iran looks to invest $6B in Afghanistan as route to China: What to know

Engaging the Taliban has become a must in Tehran's efforts not only to improve transportation in and boost trade with Afghanistan in the face of economic sanctions, but also to achieve its goal of having a reliable, overland trade route to China.

Sabena Siddiqui

By Sabena Siddiqui

In Karachi, reporting on South Asia, Middle East, Iran

Anti-regime fighters drive along the Aleppo- Damascus M5 international highway in the newly captured northwestern area of Khan al-Assal, as smoke rises in the distance on Nov. 29, 2024.

Analysis

Embattled in Gaza and Lebanon, can Iran defend Assad in Syria amid Aleppo offensive?

Iran is at a critical juncture amid the Sunni insurgent offensive in Syria, as it navigates the realities about its weakened ally Hezbollah and the complexities of its own presence in a geopolitical power play that involves multiple actors competing for different agendas.

A correspondent in Tehran

By A correspondent in Tehran

In Tehran, reporting on politics

Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi attends a ceremony marking Memorial Day, honoring fallen soldiers of Israel's wars and victims of attacks, Mount Herzl military cemetery, Jerusalem, May 13, 2024.

Israeli military chief Halevi hints he’ll resign after Oct. 7 probe

Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi has hinted that after the investigation into Hamas' attack on southern Israel, he intends to resign over the army's failures that day.

Israeli tanks aligned in northern Israel, near the border with Lebanon, Nov. 28, 2024.

Analysis

As Lebanon ceasefire holds, Israel sees opportunity to apply Syria model against Hezbollah

Israeli security chiefs warn that Hezbollah is likely to violate the US-mediated ceasefire deal.

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

Smoke billows from the site of clashes and mutual shelling between Syrian jihadists and allied factions and regime forces on the front lines on the outskirts of the city of Saraqib, in Aleppo province, on Nov. 28, 2024.

Over 200 killed, more than 7,000 displaced in clashes in Syria’s Aleppo

The fighting marks a significant escalation in northwestern Syria, which had been relatively calm since a ceasefire between Russian and Turkish forces in 2020.

US President Joe Biden (R) holds a bilateral meeting with Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides in the Oval Office of the White House, Washington, Oct. 30, 2024.

Turkey deems 'unacceptable' any Greek Cyprus NATO membership attempt

The Turkish statement came as the president of Cyprus suggested that his country could eventually become a NATO member.

Supporters wave national flags as well as orange flags of the Free Patriotic Movement and the yellow flag of the Hezbollah movement, as Lebanon's outgoing President Michel Aoun leaves the presidential palace in Babda, at the end of his mandate, east of the capital Beirut, on October 30, 2022.

Lebanon to hold January presidential elections amid fragile ceasefire

The announcement of a parliament session to elect a head of state after more than two years of presidential vacuum coincides with a ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, which the Israeli army said was being breached in the south.

A picture taken during a tour organized by the Syrian Ministry of Information shows Syrian soldiers at a checkpoint in the district of Daraa al-Balad of Syria's southern city of Daraa, on Sept. 12, 2021.

Heavy clashes as Syrian rebels advance against government forces in Aleppo

The assault marks one of the biggest escalations in the Syrian civil war in years.

Algerian People's National Council

Iran sends senior delegation to Algeria, Tunisia as relations warm

This week, a high-level Iranian delegation is visiting Algeria and Tunisia for talks with senior officials from both North African countries.

IBRAHIM AMRO/AFP via Getty Images

Analysis

Could Israel-Lebanon deal momentum lead to Gaza ceasefire?

Having concluded the deal for a ceasefire in Lebanon, the Biden administration is now pushing the Israeli government to advance on a deal with Hamas.

Rina Bassist

By Rina Bassist

In Paris, reporting on Israeli politics and European affairs