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

politics and security cover image

Politics & Security

Ozgu Ozel

Turkish opposition leader Ozgur Ozel could launch new party by August

Ozgur Ozel’s remarks on a potential new party came as the legal crackdown on the main opposition widened further this week with the arrest and suspension of the mayor of Cankaya,one of the party’s most secure and symbolically important strongholds in the heart of Ankara.

Visitors stand inside Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque in Istanbul on April 14, 2025.

Russian couple faces deportation from Turkey after Bible reading at Hagia Sophia

The couple were detained after reading from the Bible inside the Istanbul landmark, which remains one of Christianity’s most important historic sites despite its conversion into a mosque.

BEIRUT, LEBANON - OCTOBER 13: Lebanese people wave flags and hold portraits of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad (not pictured) as he arrives in southern suberb of Beirut on October 13, 2010 in Lebanon. The controversial visit is seen as a boost for key ally Hezbollah. According to reports Mr Ahmadinejad may visit the border with Israel - the site of recent deadly clashes between Israeli and Lebanese forces. (Photo by Salah Malkawi/Getty Images)

Ahmadinejad denies alleged Mossad plot to install him as Iran leader: What to know

The former president, who was a virulent critic of Israel while in office, was reportedly part of a Mossad plan to replace the current Iranian leadership.

Latest News

Israel's Netanyahu plans US visit for Trump meeting, Graham memorial

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attends a cornerstone laying ceremony for the Atarot Heritage Center at an abandon airport in East Jerusalem near the separation wall with the Israeli occupied West Bank city of Ramallah on July 5, 2026.

Lebanon army enters Palestinian camp ahead of Aoun’s US visit

FATHI AL-MASRI/AFP via Getty Images

Analysis

How UK's IRGC designation raises stakes for Iran and Europe

A general view of the Iranian Embassy on July 13, 2026, in London, England.

A correspondent in Tehran

By A correspondent in Tehran

In Tehran, reporting on politics

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

Israeli self-propelled artillery howitzers are stationed at an Israeli army base in Zawra, the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights, April 6, 2023.

Suspected Israeli strikes in Syria target Hezbollah, Iran-backed groups

The strikes come amid the ongoing Hamas-Israel war in the Gaza Strip.

Former Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit and Israeli peace activist and hostage negotiator Gershon Baskin.

Feature

Why an Israeli hostage negotiator cut contact with Hamas

Gershon Baskin, who helped negotiate the release of Israeli solder Gilad Shalit in 2011, says his contacts in Hamas have no influence over the fate of the Israeli hostage.

Gabrielle Debinski

By Gabrielle Debinski

In New York City, reporting on the Middle East

Borrell

Analysis

US, French, Irish diplomats flock to Middle East with focus on Gaza aid

EU foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell, French Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu and senior American officials are visiting Israel and the region in a bid to advance humanitarian aid for Gaza.

Rina Bassist

By Rina Bassist

In Paris, reporting on Israeli politics and European affairs

A religious protester holds a portrait of Saudi dissident Osama bin Laden during a protest rally against the United States on July 30, 1999, in Islamabad.

Why is bin Laden’s ‘letter to America’ trending during Gaza war?

The controversial 2002 letter explains the al-Qaeda leader and 9/11 mastermind’s reasons for attacking the United States.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (C) addresses parliament to mark the opening of the new legislative year.

Turkey postpones vote on Sweden’s NATO bid as lawmakers raise F-16 sale

The postponement is believed to have linked Ankara’s approval of Stockholm's entry into NATO to progress on its own bid to buy new F-16 fighter jets from the United States.

YASIN AKGUL/AFP via Getty Images

Turkey accused of double standard as Armenian journalist's killer walks free

Armenian-Turkish journalist Hrant Dink's murderer walked free in Turkey Wednesday while the government's critics pointed aghast to political prisoners held years beyond the court's authority to keep them.

KENZO TRIBOUILLARD/AFP via Getty Images

Day 41 of Hamas-Israel war blog: Thursday, Nov. 16

A police car sits in front of the Islamic Center Hamburg (Islamisches Zentrum Hamburg) in Hamburg, Germany, Nov. 9, 2022.

Germany raids Islamic center allegedly linked to Hezbollah

The nationwide operation comes as Hezbollah and Israel continue to exchange fire along the Lebanese border.

TOPSHOT - Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas (R) arrives to lay a wreath of flowers by the graves of Palestinians killed in recent Israeli military raids on the Jenin camp for Palestinian refugees, north of the occupied West Bank on July 12, 2023. (Photo by Zain JAAFAR / AFP) (Photo by ZAIN JAAFAR/AFP via Getty Images)

Can Abbas lead Palestinian Authority into Gaza after Israel-Hamas war?

As the humanitarian situation in Gaza grows more dire by the day, some Palestinians are frustrated at the slow pace of the leadership in Ramallah.

US navy destroyer

US Navy intercepts drone fired from Yemen amid Gaza war

The Biden administration's restrained approach to deterrence hasn't fully halted attacks by Iran-backed militias across the Middle East in response to Israel's war in Gaza.

(COMBO) This combination of pictures created on June 2, 2021 shows Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the city of Lod early on May 12, 2021 and Israel's centrist opposition leader Yair Lapid at the Knesset (Israeli parliament) in Jerusalem on May 31, 2021. - Israel's opposition leader Yair Lapid said he had succeeded in forming a coalition to end the rule of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the country's longest serving leader.Lapid's announcement came in the final hour before a midnight deadlin

Israel's Netanyahu 'must go now,' says opposition leader Lapid

For the first time since the Oct. 7 Hamas attack, opposition leader Yair Lapid said Netanyahu can no longer head the government, arguing that the Israeli public does not trust him.

ZAIN JAAFAR/AFP via Getty Images

Israeli settler attacks force 963 Palestinians out of West Bank homes since Gaza war started

The Israeli human rights organization B'Tselem says hundreds of Palestinians have fled their homes due to settler violence, and the United States is pressuring Israel on the issue.