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

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Politics & Security

US Vice President JD Vance speaks at the Wisconsin Air National Guard facility at Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport on July 8, 2026, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Vance says Israeli intelligence had ties to Epstein: What to know

Vice President JD Vance has grown more critical of Israel, possibly in an effort to capitalize on changing views among voters with an eye on the 2028 presidential election.

DAVOS, SWITZERLAND - JANUARY 22: U.S. President Donald Trump (C) sits in between Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan (L) and Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev during a signing ceremony for the “Board of Peace” at the World Economic Forum (WEF) on January 22, 2026 in Davos, Switzerland. The US-backed “Board of Peace” is intended to administer the fragile ceasefire in the Gaza Strip after the war between Israel and Hamas. The final makeup of the board has not been confirmed. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/G

Trump taps Russia-born investor to oversee $200M+ fund backing Armenia-Azerbaijan corridor

The appointment of Chicago-based investor Konstantin Sokolov to oversee a $200 million fund marks a new phase for Washington's proposed trade and transportation route linking Azerbaijan, Armenia and Turkey.

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.

Israeli PM Netanyahu 'will not travel' to US next week, his office says

On Wednesday, an Israeli official had told Al-Monitor that Netanyahu was planning to travel on Saturday and meet with President Donald Trump next week and attend the memorial service for Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.).

Zaid AL-OBEIDI / AFP via Getty Images

Syria seizes arms shipment on Iraq border destined for Hezbollah

The operation comes as part of the Syrian authorities' efforts to curb illicit arms smuggling through its territory, namely intended for Hezbollah.

Latest News

Turkish opposition leader Ozgur Ozel could launch new party by August

Ozgu Ozel

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

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

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

Olaf Scholz

Europe cracks down on Hamas-linked activities fearing spike in antisemitism

European capitals are beefing up their security presence to prevent a rise in antisemitic incidents that have taken place since Hamas attacked Israel on Saturday.

A view of the sign that reads "Caution: mines" on the beach on April 25, 2022, in Odesa, Ukraine.

Turkey, Romania, Bulgaria announce mechanism to clear mines in Black Sea

The joint mechanism between Turkey, Bulgaria and Romania comes after the British government said Russia might use sea mines to deter Kyiv from exporting its grain.

Iranians attend a gathering in Tehran on October 7, 2023, to express their solidarity with Palestine after Hamas militants launched a deadly air, land and sea assault into Israel from the Gaza Strip. A senior adviser to Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei voiced support for a deadly attack by Hamas on Israel, calling it a "proud operation". (Photo by AFP) (Photo by -/AFP via Getty Images)

US, Qatar reportedly agree to pause Iran's access to $6 billion fund

The Biden administration faced mounting congressional pressure to punish Iran over the surprise attack on Israel carried out by its proxy, Hamas.

US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin opens an in-person Ukraine Defense Contact Group meeting at Ramstein Air Base, southwestern Germany, on April 21, 2023. - The United States are hosting the meeting to discuss further support for Ukraine after President Volodymyr Zelensky pushed Western allies to send more fighter jets and long-range missiles. Representatives from around 50 countries gather at the US Ramstein Air Base to coordinate their backing for Kyiv, as battles with Russia rage in the east of the cou

Pentagon chief heads to Israel, says no conditions on US arms transfers

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Washington has "not placed any conditions" on military hardware sent to Israel amid its campaign in Gaza, even as UN officials warn the IDF's siege of the Palestinian enclave violates international law.

A man transports an injured Palestinian baby into Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City following an Israeli airstrike, October 11, 2023.

At least 300,000 displaced in Gaza amid blackout, Israeli bombardment

The situation in Gaza continues to deteriorate as the health sector collapses and bodies begin piling up in front of hospitals.

Syrian air defense batteries respond to what the Syrian state media said were Israeli missiles targeting Damascus, January 21, 2019.

Suspected Israeli airstrikes hit Syria for first time since Hamas war began

Syria regularly accuses Israel of striking its territories, the latest occurring during a regional tour by Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian.

Palestinian citizens inspect the damage to their homes caused by Israeli airstrikes on Oct. 13, 2023, in Gaza City.

Day 6 of Hamas-Israel war blog: Thursday, Oct. 12

On day six of the war, Israel gave the United Nations a deadline to evacuate residents in northern Gaza ahead of a ground invasion.

USS Ford

US forces in Middle East brace for fallout of Israel-Gaza conflict

Pentagon officials have been increasingly concerned about the potential for wider conflict across the Middle East should Hezbollah and other Iran-backed groups open up new fronts against Israel in a war with Gaza.

Jared Szuba

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

Gaza tunnel

How the complex search for Israel's hostages in Gaza could unfold

Even determining the whereabouts of the hostages in the overcrowded Gaza Strip, much less rescuing them, will be a daunting mission for Israel and the United States.

Israel air

Dozens of countries including France, Ukraine, Canada evacuate citizens from Israel

The fighting between Israel and Hamas has left more than 2,000 people dead, including foreigners from Europe, Asia, the United States and Latin America.

Turkish President and the leader of the Justice and Development (AK) Party Recep Tayyip Erdogan speaks during his party's group meeting at the Turkish Grand National Assembly in Ankara, Turkiye on October 11, 2023. (Photo by Adem ALTAN / AFP) (Photo by ADEM ALTAN/AFP via Getty Images)

Analysis

Gaza war tests fragile Israel-Turkey rapprochement as Erdogan ups rhetoric

Seen once as a champion for the Palestinians, Erdogan has lambasted the Israeli airstrikes in Gaza even as his government has tried to mend ties with Israel.

Ezgi Akin

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

DELIL SOULEIMAN/AFP via Getty Images

Syrian Kurds accuse Turkey of war crimes as Erdogan vows escalation

Syria’s Kurds say Turkish forces are committing war crimes as Erdogan escalates against the US-Allied Syrian Democratic Forces.