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Politics & Security

A woman stands next to Iranian-made Zolfaghar missiles displayed at Azadi Square in Tehran on July 24, 2026.

Iran’s new calculus: Strike first, talk later

An increasingly emboldened Tehran has put President Donald Trump in a bind.

A Saudi navy ship is pictured docked at King Faisal navy base in Jeddah before the departure of a team to Port Sudan to help with the evacuation efforts of people fleeing Sudan, on April 29, 2023.

Turkey, Pakistan among 14 countries backing Saudi Arabia's anti-Houthi Red Sea alliance

Riyadh won political backing from 14 countries for its proposed maritime defense coalition, but members have yet to commit to joining as Washington weighs its position.

Erdogan and Aoun

Turkey ready to participate in post-UNIFIL force in Lebanon, Erdogan tells Aoun

Aoun paid a one-day visit to Ankara amid Lebanon's push to secure an Israeli withdrawal and end the fighting between Israel and Hezbollah.

A ship transits the Suez Canal towards the Red Sea on Jan. 10, 2024 in Ismailia, Egypt.

Houthis deny responsibility for drone attack hitting Egypt's Damietta Port

The attack is the first on Egyptian territory since the Iran war erupted in February, raising the risk of further widening the Middle East conflict.

Latest News

US carries out strikes in southern Iran after IRGC attack on Jordan airbase

In this handout photo provided by the US Navy, Two F/A-18 Super Hornets launch from the flight deck of Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) in support of Operation Epic Fury on March 3, 2026 in the Mediterranean Sea.

Exclusive

Saudi Arabia to announce Red Sea coalition to counter Houthi threats

Houthi soldiers stand guard on a missile carrier during an official military parade marking the ninth anniversary of the Houthi takeover of the capital, Sanaa, on Sept. 21, 2023.

Amberin Zaman

Jared Szuba

By Amberin Zaman , Jared Szuba

Meet Khalida Boufedech, the first woman to lead Algeria’s parliament

Speaker of the National People's Assembly, Dr. Khalida Boufedech, is pictured in this undated image.

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

Deputy Secretary General of the European External Action Service (EEAS) Enrique Mora speaks to journalists in front of the Coburg palace after a meeting of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) in Vienna on Dec. 3, 2021.

EU envoy, Qatar emir arrive in Tehran amid final push for Iran deal

The Iran nuclear deal may be facing "last bullet" with no deal in sight on IRGC.

Iraq dust storm

Dust storms hit Iraqi cities as Green Belt project stalls

Desertification has hit additional land areas in Iraq, which caused more dust storms to sweep through Iraqi cities, in the absence of the Green Belt project despite the huge sums allocated for its implementation.

A picture taken on Feb. 4, 2019, shows a general view of damaged buildings in the northern Iraqi town of Sinjar.

International wing of Yazidi force in Sinjar says it's 'not fighting Turkey'

After three Western deserters claimed that the YBS forces were fighting Turkey and Iraq, the commander of the international brigade denied the allegations.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (L) welcomes Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.

Turkey, Kazakhstan sign joint production accord for drones

Turkey and Kazakhstan agree on an enhanced strategic partnership during Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s first-ever state visit to Turkey .

A member of the border guard force loyal to the Syrian Democratic Forces looks from a position in the countryside near the town of al-Hol at construction work on a concrete border fence erected on the Iraqi side, Hasakah province, Syria, March 29, 2022.

Tribal violence haunts northeastern Syria

The de facto authorities controlling northeastern Syria stand idly by as tribal violence escalates, leading to casualties and tension in the area.

Israeli border police members gather by the Via Dolorosa in the old city of Jerusalem on March 28, 2022.

Israel’s security agencies struggle to prevent future terror attacks

The IDF, Shin Bet and Police manage to solve terror attacks and apprehend the perpetrators, but they are struggling with gathering information that should thwart attacks being planned.

KARIM JAAFAR/AFP via Getty Images

Lapid proposes joint Israeli-Palestinian probe into reporter's death

Israel says it is not clear whether veteran Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh, killed this morning the West Bank Jenin refugee camp, was struck by IDF fire.

AHMAD GHARABLI/AFP via Getty Images

Israeli government quakes as Al Jazeera journalist shot, Al-Aqsa heats further

The worsening crisis around the Temple Mount and the killing of an Al Jazeera journalist in Jenin this morning have the shaky Israeli coalition even more fragile.

OMAR HAJ KADOUR/AFP via Getty Images

HTS leader tours Idlib on Eid al-Fitr

Abu Mohammed al-Golani, the leader of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, continues to appear in public as he promotes his image as a leader who cares about the inhabitants of northwest Syria.

Afghan refugees

Turkey’s potential xenophobia goes beyond Syrian refugees

Growing popular resentment of refugees and migrants is on course to become the second hot-button election topic in Turkey after the economic crisis, but the government is not in a position to force the return of Syrians, the main component of the problem.

Frej

Interview

Israeli Minister Frej joins Palestinian aid summit in Brussels

In an exclusive interview with Al-Monitor, Israel’s Regional Cooperation Minister Esawi Frej said that while a strong Palestinian Authority is "of course a Palestinian interest ... it is also an Israeli and international interest."

Esawi Frej

Esawi Frej

Minister for Regional Cooperation of Israel

ISIS

US targets Islamic State financiers in Turkey, Syria, Indonesia

The US hit five individuals with economic sanctions over aiding jihadi recruits via money transfer.