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

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Politics & Security

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Former Assad official sentenced to 60 years in US for torture

Samir Ousman Alsheikh was convicted by a jury in March of three counts of torture, one count of conspiracy to commit torture, visa fraud and attempted naturalization fraud.

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.

Latest News

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

Vyacheslav PROKOFYEV / AFP via Getty Images

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.

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

Israel's Defense Minister Benny Gantz looks on while Alternate Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Yair Lapid converses with Prime Minister Naftali Bennett as they are seated in the Knesset chamber after a special session to vote on a new government at the Knesset, Jerusalem, June 13, 2021.

Winners, losers emerge as Israel’s parliament dissolves

Opposition head Benjamin Netanyahu and Foreign Minister Yair Lapid are the big winners of the decision to dissolve the Knesset, while Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and his ally Interior Minister Ayelet Shaked are the big losers.

AMANUEL SILESHI/AFP via Getty Images

Arab League weighs in on Nile dam dispute

Ahmed Aboul Gheit, secretary general of the Cairo-based League of Arab States, criticized the way the international community has dealt with the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam crisis.

Bahraini Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa attends the opening ceremony of the International Humanitarian Pledging Conference for Syria at Bayan palace, Kuwait City, Kuwait, Jan. 30, 2013.

Syria-Bahrain ties continue to develop with bilateral talks, arrival of ambassador

Bahrain, like its ally the United Arab Emirates, is working to reestablish good ties with Syria.

High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell gives a press conference in Tehran.

Analysis

Cautious optimism as US, Iran set to resume indirect talks in Qatar

A State Department spokesperson confirmed US Special Envoy Robert Malley will travel to Doha, which will serve as the venue for "indirect discussions."

Elizabeth Hagedorn

Ali Hashem

By Elizabeth Hagedorn , Ali Hashem

AFP via Getty Images

Iran's foreign minister checks in with Ankara as Turkey courts Tehran's foes

Iran's foreign minister is meeting Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara today.

AHMAD GHARABLI/AFP via Getty Images

Ultranationalist lawmaker's popularity soars among Israeli ultra-Orthodox

The ultra-Orthodox parties are more concerned about ultranationalist lawmaker Itamar Ben Gvir, who appears to enjoy growing popularity among their voters, than anti-clerical politicians like Foreign Minister Yair Lapid and Finance Minister Avigdor Liberman.

ATTA KENARE/AFP via Getty Images

Iran says nuclear talks to resume within days

On the heels of EU foreign policy chief Joseph Borrell’s visit to Iran, the spokesperson for Iran’s Foreign Ministry said that Iran expects the negotiations to resume shortly.

ALI NAJAFI/AFP via Getty Images

Iraqi premier advances regional dialogue in Riyadh, Baghdad

Iran and Saudi Arabia appear ready to resume diplomatic talks following Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi's shuttle diplomacy.

Israeli Foreign Ministry

Negev Summit steering committee hatches plans in Bahrain

After Israel’s Foreign Minister Yair Lapid brought together counterparts from Israel, the United States, the Emirates, Bahrain, Morocco and Egypt last March, senior officials meet in Bahrain to lay more concrete plans.

AHMAD GHARABLI/AFP via Getty Images

Arab political party unprepared for new elections in Israel

If new elections are called this week, the opposition Joint List will be hard pressed to convince its electorate it has its own agenda worth supporting.

Josep Borell

US, Iran to resume indirect nuclear talks

Tunisia

Tunisian constitutional campaign continues as voter interest ebbs

Tunisian President Kais Saied’s campaign is flagging amidst international criticism and voter apathy and opposition.