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

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Politics & Security

Israeli soldiers react after taking cover near the Israel-Lebanon border following a Hezbollah drone attack that hit the northern border on May 19, 2026. The Israeli military on May 19 warned residents of 12 towns and villages in southern Lebanon to immediately evacuate ahead of expected attacks against Hezbollah, the latest despite a ceasefire. (Photo by Jalaa MAREY / AFP via Getty Images)

In first, US sanctions Lebanon military, intel officials for aiding Hezbollah

New tranche of sanctions marks a warning shot from Washington as Senate Republicans threaten to freeze funding to the Lebanese Armed Forces if it does not move more aggressively to disarm Hezbollah.

Iranians drive next to a billboard displaying pictures of nuclear scientists, centrifuges and a sentence reading in Farsi " Science is the power," at the Enqelab Square in Tehran, on Aug. 29, 2025.

US, Iran trade mixed signals on enriched uranium as Tehran weighs response

Speaking on Wednesday, President Donald Trump said he would be willing to wait "a couple of days" for Tehran's response to the latest US proposal to end the war.

TOPSHOT - US Secretary of State Marco Rubio (R) meets with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa at the Lotte New York Palace Hotel on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly meeting in New York City on September 22, 2025. (Photo by Bing Guan / POOL / AFP via Getty Images)

Feature

With sanctions off, what’s keeping Syria on US terror blacklist?

Despite President Donald Trump’s pledge to lift all sanctions on Syria, the country's designation as a State Sponsor of Terrorism continues to discourage investment.

Elizabeth Hagedorn

By Elizabeth Hagedorn

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

Omar AL-QATTAA / AFP via Getty Images

Israel targets Turkey charity amid Gaza flotilla tensions

The request, published in Israeli media, marks a further escalation in tensions with Turkey amid disputes over Gaza aid operations.

Latest News

Iran’s Hormuz authority declares control over ports in UAE, Oman: What to know

AFP via Getty Images

Ethiopia accuses Egypt of obstructing Red Sea access bid: What to know

TO GO WITH STORY by Peter Martell: "Eritrea-economy-port": A couple of boats and two tug boats can be seen in Eritrea's Red Sea port of Massawa on November 18, 2007. Once one of East Africa's busiest ports, the town is still recovering after being badly bombed in 1990 during Eritrea's war of liberation from Ethiopia. The government is trying to revitalize the port, but efforts are hampered by a sluggish economy and threat of a renewed conflict with Ethiopia. AFP PHOTO/Peter MARTELL (Photo credit should read

Turkish court ousts CHP leadership amid opposition crackdown

Leader of Turkey's main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) Ozgur Ozel addresses the audience during a rally in Istanbul on April 9, 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

Recep Tayyip Erdogan shakes hands with Abdel Fattah el-Sisi in Qatar on Nov. 20, 2022.

Erdogan-Sisi handshake sparks backlash from Turkey's Islamists

President Erdogan’s about-face on Egypt sparked backlash from some Turkish Islamists ahead of critical June elections.

Israeli Knesset member Itamar Ben-Gvir delivers a speech next to his wife Ayala (bottom L) at the Knesset, before a swearing-in ceremony for new members of parliament, Jerusalem, Nov. 15, 2022.

Netanyahu offers national security post to ultranationalist Ben-Gvir

Under the newly created position, Jewish Power leader Itamar Ben-Gvir will manage both the Public Security Ministry and the Border Police forces operating in the West Bank.

West Bank fence

Israel plans 60-mile concrete wall in northern West Bank

Palestinians believe that Israel’s decision to build a concrete separation wall in the northern West Bank aims to entrench its control over their lands and draw new borders.

Iranian women wave Palestinian and national flags during a march to condemn the ongoing Israeli airstrikes on the Gaza Strip, Palestine Square, Tehran, Iran, May 19, 2021.

Gaza factions worry about fallout from Iranian protests

Hamas and Islamic Jihad are worried that the protests might impact Iran’s military and financial support.

GERD

Egypt bets on US to restart talks on Nile dam dispute

Egypt hopes that the momentum from the COP27 summit will help to resume the stalled negotiations on the controversial dam Ethiopia is building on the Nile.

Israeli security forces gather at the scene of an explosion at a bus stop in Jerusalem, Nov. 23, 2022.

Jerusalem bomb attack which killed Israeli sign of escalation in West Bank

The Jerusalem operation came at a time when the Palestinian territories are witnessing a field escalation in the wake of the right-wing victory in the Israeli elections, which may keep the door widely open for escalation in the coming period.

Syria protest

US again tries to thwart Turkish invasion of northern Syria

Erdogan says military operations are "just beginning" against Syrian Kurdish groups, while teasing possibility of talks with Assad.

A barricade set up by Palestinians blocks a street in case of an Israeli army raid, Jenin, West Bank, Nov. 23, 2022.

Cooperation with Palestinian Authority behind return of abducted Israeli body

Israel's leadership, the Palestinian Authority, the Americans, the UN and even Islamic Jihad contributed to the return to Israel of a body abducted in a West Bank hospital.

AFP via Getty Images

Land mines continue to haunt women, children in Yemen

Yemeni women and children continue to die from land mines planted by Houthi rebels across the country.

Syrian demonstrators gather to protest Hayat Tahrir al-Sham in the opposition-held city of al-Bab, on the border with Turkey, Aleppo province, Syria, Oct. 21, 2022.

Syrian National Army police clashes with peaceful protesters in al-Bab

The police of the Syrian National Army assaulted protesters near the city of al-Bab following civil protests calling for controlling the security situation in the city and holding the killers of a prominent activist accountable.

Erdogan

Erdogan says meeting with Syria's Assad is 'possible'

The Turkish president adds that "there is no resentment or bitterness in politics."

Iraq Sudani

Iraqi government, parliament working together to pass bills

The pace of completion of pending legislation is quickening amid noticeable cooperation between the executive and legislative branches of the current government.