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

Blinken

Analysis

Families of American hostages abroad discouraged after Blinken call

Participants don't feel the call made progress toward securing their loved ones' release and hope for a future audience with President Biden.

Elizabeth Hagedorn

By Elizabeth Hagedorn

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

Iran's Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian (R front) arrives for a joint press conference with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov (L) at the Foreign Ministry headquarters, Tehran, Iran, June 23, 2022.

Iran hopeful nuclear talks will resume as Russian FM visits

Iran's new optimism faces some serious challenges in an impasse with the US that has been lingering since March.

A Turkish soldier mans a turret on an infantry fighting vehicle driving near the village of Yazi Bagh.

Why are Turkey’s allies fighting each other in Syria?

Turkey’s handling of recent clashes between allied groups in Syria has called its intention into question, with some arguing that the jihadi outfit controlling Idlib has gained a foothold in Afrin by using a Turkish-linked group as a Trojan horse.

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu (R) and Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid (L).

Israeli FM Lapid gets warm welcome in Ankara

Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid is the latest regional leader to be greeted in Ankara as Turkey takes a fresh approach to its regional ties.

NATO

NATO blinks as Turkey maintains threats to block Sweden, Finland from alliance

Turkey's strategy in blocking Sweden's and Finland’s NATO memberships could soon start to pay off.

Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly attends the inauguration of the 10th president of Somalia in Mogadishu, Somalia, June 9, 2022.

Egypt looks to Somalia for more influence in Red Sea, Nile dam dispute

Egypt Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly attended the inauguration of new Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mahmoud, who faces a wide array of challenges.

Israel's Foreign Minister Yair Lapid with Turkish Foreign Minister Mevult Cavusuglo at a joint press conference, Ankara, Turkey, June 23, 2022.

Israel’s FM Lapid makes first visit to Turkey, focused on security cooperation

When Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid scheduled his trip to Turkey, he didn’t know he would be arriving almost as a prime minister.

Husseyn Tayeb

Iran replaces IRGC's intelligence chief

Taeb's apparent dismissal comes after Israeli media outlets identified him as masterminding plots against Israeli citizens in Turkey.

Umit Ozdag, leader of the nationalist Victory Party, gestures as he speaks to the media after police blocked his attempt to challenge the Turkish interior minister to a public face-off, in front of the Ministry of the Interior, Ankara, Turkey, May 6, 2022.

Is this Turkish anti-immigrant party helping Erdogan?

Critics argue that anti-immigrant Victory Party’s leader Umit Ozdag’s opposition has benefited President Recep Tayyip Erdogan so far.

Jenin

Islamic Jihad ramps up the threats toward Israel in West Bank

The Palestinian Islamic Jihad movement in Gaza is currently leading the confrontation with Israel amid calls for an escalation in response to the Israeli army’s assassination of members of the movement in the West Bank.

Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos III (C) arrives for a meeting with other religious leaders at the Petra Hotel at the Jaffa Gate area, Old City of Jerusalem, March 29, 2022.

Israeli Supreme Court rules against Greek Patriarch over Jaffa Gate property

The Israeli Supreme Court rejected the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate’s appeal against the settler organization Ateret Cohanim’s takeover of the Greek Orthodox properties at Jaffa Gate, leaving the protected Palestinian long-term tenants at risk of eviction.

Protests in Egypt

Lapid

The Takeaway: US, Israel to show united front on Iran during Biden visit

Netanyahu sees path back to power; Israel's Arab parties split on government collapse; Turkey still not giving in on Sweden, Finland NATO bids; US, Iran mixed messages on nuclear talks; Egypt skeptical of Ethiopia call for renewed GERD talks; and more.