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

politics and security cover image

Politics & Security

Yemenis gather during a rally to show their support for the UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council (STC) in the coastal port city of Aden, on December 14, 2025. (Saleh Al-OBEIDI / AFP via Getty Images)

Interview

Yemen separatists urge US not to let Saudi Arabia ‘call the shots’

As Houthi fighters steamroll Yemen’s Red Sea coast, the country's southern separatists say an independent South Yemen is the best check on the group’s expansion.

A US Air Force F-35 fifth-generation jet fighter takes off during the NATO's Ramsteign Flag 2025 exercise at Leeuwarden Air Base on April 8, 2025.

Trump administration approves $24B sale of F-35 jets to Saudi Arabia

Trump first announced the planned sale in November 2025, ahead of hosting Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at the White House.

A pedestrian passes by the Treasury Building in Washington, DC on Jan. 18, 2023.

US sanctions Iranian crypto exchange BitBank over Hormuz payments

The US government says the exchange was used to channel payments from an Iranian maritime-insurance scheme to the regime.

Vyacheslav PROKOFYEV / AFP via Getty Images

Turkey's Erdogan to run for 'final' third term in 2028, adviser says

If Turkey's parliament votes to move the next election up during President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s second term, he could constitutionally run for third.

Latest News

Israel, Morocco agree to exchange ambassadors, open embassies

Royal Air Maroc Boeing 787-9 'Dreamliner' aircraft

China presses Iran, US to reopen Hormuz as disruptions threaten oil supply

AFP via Getty Images

Explainer

Why France is pushing to keep UNIFIL in Lebanon beyond 2026

UN peacekeepers stand next to an armored vehicle during a patrol in southern Lebanon, Feb. 22, 2026.

Algeria pulls Sky News Arabia accreditation amid UAE rift: What to know

Sky News

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

Bidan Salman

Analysis

The Takeaway: Biden visit launches new chapter in US-Saudi ties

Egypt braces for Nile Dam filling; Can Israel help Morocco with Western Sahara?; Palestinians blocked at airport; Erdogan cancels student loan interest; Islamic State menaces Iraq-Syria border.

Elizabeth Hagedorn

Andrew Parasiliti

By Elizabeth Hagedorn , Andrew Parasiliti

Austin Milley

Pentagon warns Iran not to aid Russia's war against Ukraine

Rare rebuke comes after White House declassified intelligence revealing Moscow's interest in Iran's fleet of armed drones.

Gen. Mohammed al-Bayati, secretary of the Iraqi prime minister, visits those injured by Turkish shelling at a hospital in the city of Zakho.

Iraq says Turkey killed Arab tourists in artillery attack on Kurdistan resort

The attack, which Turkey denied in a statement, came a day after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan met with Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in Tehran to win Tehran's backing for a further invasion into northeastern Syria.

Amir-Abdollahian

Iran: We will negotiate on nuclear deal until sanctions are removed

Iran’s Foreign Ministry says they are ready to negotiate, but other officials are signaling that Iran must prepare for no deal with the US.

JALAA MAREY/AFP via Getty Images

Hezbollah, Israel tensions heat up over border

US-led mediation over Israel's maritime borders with Lebanon complicated by border tensions with Israel.

Turkey-backed Syrian fighters take part in a parade in the rebel-controlled town of Tell Abyad in Raqqa province, Syria, Oct. 13, 2020.

Syrian Kurds seek support amid Turkish threats of military action

Syrian government forces have deployed in north Syria in anticipation of a Turkish military operation.

Turkey military

Erdogan vows to move forward with Syria operation despite objections from Iran, Russia

Turkey’s president remains adamant despite opposition from US, Russia, Iran, Syria.

Maliki

Following tape leak, Sadr demands Maliki quit Iraqi politics

The escalating conflict between Muqtada al-Sadr and Nouri al-Maliki has raised further barriers to the formation of a new government.

Aviv Kochavi in Morocco

Israeli army chief in Morocco for first visit

The Rabat visit of IDF chief Aviv Kochavi reflects rapprochement between the countries on regional security cooperation.

A general view of EU ambassadors with European High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs Josep Borrell.

Israel-EU talks to resume for first time in decade

EU foreign ministers agreed today to convene soon a meeting under the EU-Israel Association Council in order to regulate and advance relations between Brussels and Jerusalem.

A partial view of the new international Ramon Airport, north of Eilat, Israel, Jan. 21, 2019.

Palestinians denied access to airport

Israeli reports ahead of US President Joe Biden’s visit last week claimed Palestinians had been promised access to Ramon airport.

SERGEI SAVOSTYANOV/SPUTNIK/AFP via Getty Images

Iran's Khamenei tells Erdogan to avoid military action in north Syria

The Turkish president and his Russian counterpart were both in Tehran for a key regional meeting on the war-torn Syria.