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

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Politics & Security

Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman looks on upon his arrival during a welcome ceremony as part of his two-day official visit to France, at the Hotel des Invalides, Paris, France, Aug. 24, 2026.

Saudi Arabia’s MBS visits Egypt as Red Sea crisis with Houthis escalates

Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman visits Egypt at a time the kingdom faces repeated Houthi attacks, while the Iranian-backed rebels close in on the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, threatening maritime security.

Mecca

In first, Saudi Arabia activates Mecca warning system amid Houthi threat

Saudi Arabia activated emergency alerts in the holy city for the first time since Yemen's Houthi group intensified its drone and missile attacks on the kingdom.

Milak border crossing near the town of Zabol, Iran

Third Sunni cleric killed in Iran’s Sistan and Baluchistan Province: What to know

Iran says it is stepping up its crackdown on armed groups in the impoverished province as Sunni clerics have been reported killed there and in the predominantly Kurdish northwest.

Win McNamee/Getty Images

CENTCOM chief meets Saudi Arabia's MBS amid Houthi gains in Yemen

The low-profile meeting between the Pentagon's commander in the Middle East and Saudi crown prince comes as Yemen's Houthis seized the high ground overlooking a vital economic waterway.

Latest News

Why Turkey has few options to protect Black Sea shipping

People swim next to the Russian-flagged cargo ship OMSKIY-107, which was attacked off the Black Sea coast and eventually ran aground off the shore of the Sile district, Istanbul, Sept. 3, 2026.

Analysis

Once Netanyahu’s top challenger, Bennett loses ground to Eisenkot: What to know

Erik Marmor

Mazal Mualem

By Mazal Mualem

In Tel Aviv, reporting on politics

Analysis

What does Houthi advance mean for Yemen’s southern separatists?

Yemeni separatists

Adam Lucente

By Adam Lucente

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

Analysis

Houthi gains in Yemen are testing Saudi Arabia’s security strategy

boats and a container ship near the Strait of Bab al-Mandeb

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

The Israeli-linked Japanese-owned tanker MT Mercer Street.

Iran behind drone strike on Israeli-owned tanker, US says

Drone debris recovered from the MV Pacific Zircon belonged to an Iranian-made Shahed drone, the US military said today.

Israel Balad

Left out of Knesset, Arab Israeli party fights for survival

Failing to pass the electoral threshold, the Arab party Balad must find new goals, new faces and new enthusiasm in order to survive.

An aerial picture shows the flag of the self-proclaimed Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.

North Cyprus anniversary highlights renewed rivalry between Turkey, Greece

Ankara’s support for a two-state solution and efforts to legitimize Turkish Cypriot entity stir Greek anger.

Tehran, IRAN: TO GO WITH AFP STORY BY FARHAD POULADI: Iranian staff members of "Press TV" news channel work at the newsroom in Tehran, 20 June 2007. An increasingly crowded market for 24-hour news is facing a new rival -- a channel from Iran whose self-proclaimed aim is to break the "stranglehold" of the West over the world?s media. Iran's state broadcaster is to launch "Press TV" on July 2 at a time of mounting international tension over its nuclear programme, complete with international journalists brough

US sanctions employees of Iranian state-run broadcaster

The Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting is accused of airing hundreds of forced confessions, including from the relatives of Iranians killed in the ongoing protests.

25th Knesset sworn in

Israel’s most religious, furthest right Knesset sworn in

The 25th Knesset includes more far-right legislators, more ultra-Orthodox, fewer women, fewer Arabs and no Druze representatives at all.

IRNA/AFP via Getty Images

Israeli-owned tanker hit by drone off Oman coast

No group or country have taken responsibility for the drone attack last night against the Pacific Zircon, but the Israeli security system suspects Iran was behind the hit.

FBI seal

Israel rejects US plan to investigate death of Palestinian journalist

The outgoing and incoming Israeli leaderships agree that Israel will not allow the FBI to investigate the death of Palestinian journalist Shireen Abu Akleh.

Kurdistan

Iran says attacks on Iraqi Kurdistan will continue

Tehran vows to continue targeting Iraq's Kurdistan region until the Iranian Kurdish opposition leave the area permanently.

A Tunisian voter waits outside a polling station in Tunis on Oct. 13, 2019.

Few candidates run in Tunisian parliamentary elections

The first legislative elections under the new constitution are falling short on candidates, with some seats having no candidates at all, which some say shows a loss of faith in parliament under the current president.

Navy Gulf

US Navy seizes load of missile fuel going from Iran to Yemen

The 70-ton haul suggests the US Navy's yearslong game of cat-and-mouse with Iran-backed arms traffickers in the Gulf of Oman is beginning to pay off.

AFP via Getty Images

Businesses shut down as Iran protests enter third month

Iranian shops are closing up in waves amid the continuing nationwide protests.

Algeria's President Abdelmadjid Tebboune delivers a speech during a signing ceremony in the pavilion of honor at Algiers airport, Algiers, Algeria, Aug. 27, 2022.

Algeria forces Russia to make concessions

As the war in Ukraine carries on, the list of problematic issues between Algeria and Moscow is growing.