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

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Politics & Security

Ahmed al-Alwani in an undated photo

Ex-Iraqi MP Ahmed Alwani found dead in Lebanon: What to know

Ahmed al-Alwani was a prominent leader of anti-government protests by Iraqi Sunnis in 2013, and was released from prison last year.

Iranian-made Zolfaghar missiles

Iran unveils new underground 'missile city': What to know

Iran has moved much of its missile stockpile underground as the threat of a new war looms.

OZAN KOSE/AFP via Getty Images

Turkey bars MP’s wife from travel after his fund scandal criticism: What to know

Opposition politicians and rights advocates described Yonca Verdioglu Sik’s brief detention as an attempt to intimidate her husband, opposition lawmaker Ahmet Sik, over his criticism of the government.

ANDY BUCHANAN / AFP via Getty Images

GCC to build military command center in Kuwait as region simmers: What to know

GCC countries have stepped up their joint defense efforts with the announcement of a new forward command center to be headquartered in Kuwait, as tensions between Iran and the US continue to escalate.

Latest News

Hegseth strikes defiant tone, calls House impeachment process 'farce'

Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

Jared Szuba

In Washington, DC, reporting on defense, national security, military

Explainer

From Oct. 7 inquiry to blocking Netanyahu: Eisenkot's bloc maps out Knesset agenda

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (R) casts his ballot, next to his wife Sara

Slotkin, Van Hollen emerge as potential challengers to Schumer’s Senate leadership

WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 23: U.S. Sen. Elissa Slotkin (D-MI) speaks at a press conference on China AI export controls at the U.S. Capitol on September 23, 2026 in Washington, DC. Slotkin, joined by fellow Senate Democrats, urged Senate Republican's and the Trump administration to enact stronger export controls on AI technology and computer chips to China. The Democrats also call for a vote on bipartisan export control legislation, including the AI OVERWATCH Act, the MATCH Act, and the Chip Security Act. (

Massie introduces impeachment articles against Hegseth over Iran war

SAUL LOEB / AFP via Getty Images

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 Turkey

Israel still on alert over Iranian threats to tourists in Turkey

Israel and Turkey deepen securty cooperation as Israel calls out IRGC security head as part of psychological warfare campaign.

Gantz

Israel says Middle East air defense partnership already in action

Israel's defense minister said he hopes US President Joe Biden's trip to the region will further the joint defense cooperation.

Aryeh Deri

Ultra-Orthodox instrumental in dissolution of Israel's government

Prime Minister Naftali Bennett's decision to dissolve the Israeli Knesset and go for new elections could have perhaps been avoided, had he made more efforts to include the ultra-Orthodox in his coalition.

Stoltenberg

No breakthrough in Turkey’s talks with Sweden, Finland over joining NATO

Discussions between Turkey, Finland and Sweden about the Nordic countries' proposed NATO membership have ended inconclusively as Ankara showed no signs of abandoning its hardline position.

Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett (R) and Foreign Minister Yair Lapid.

Israel dissolves parliament, declares new elections in October

Foreign Minister Yair Lapid will take over as prime minister.

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian (2nd-L).

Analysis

US, Iran still trying to close gap on nuclear deal

The Biden administration may be considering options for a Plan B if nuclear talks fail, but backchannel diplomacy is continuing.

Ali Hashem

Elizabeth Hagedorn

By Ali Hashem , Elizabeth Hagedorn

Mansour Abbas, head of Israel's conservative Islamic Ra'am party, speaks in his capacity as Knesset deputy speaker during a plenum session on the state budget, Jerusalem, Sept. 2, 2021.

Israel Ra'am leader tries to keep party together as coalition collapses

Faced with rebel legislator Mazen Ghnaim, Muslim party Ra’am leader Mansour Abbas opted for dialogue instead of confrontation.

A Cham Wings Airlines Airbus A320-211 is pictured at the Aleppo airport after flights were diverted from Damascus aiport following an airstrike that damaged the airport, Syria, June 15, 2022.

Russia reportedly drafts UN Security Council resolution condemning Israel over Syria

Reports yesterday claimed that Russia is preparing a UN Security Council resolution condemning Israel over its alleged attack last week on the Damascus airport.

Burak Kara/Getty Images

Turkish court bans Erdogan rival from own party

The ruling appears to be a pattern of similar events befalling political rivals of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan ahead of the 2023 elections.

A woman uses her phone to livestream a traditional "hakawati" storyteller performing late after midnight during the Muslim holy fasting month of Ramadan, at the historic Dar Halabia Hotel in the Bab Antakya area of the Old City of Aleppo, Syria, April 12, 2022.

Women in Idlib face online harassment

Many women in Idlib have been subjected to online harassment and blackmail, where their personal data posted on social media have been exploited for financial or moral gain, or for sexual exploitation purposes.

Bedouin village

Hamas’ use of excessive force to displace Bedouins angers Gazans

Public and official anger could be felt in Gaza after Hamas security forces attacked the residents of the Bedouin village of Umm al-Nasr, north of Gaza, to forcibly displace them and demolish their homes under the pretext that they do not own these houses.

Iraq counterterror

Counterterror ops rake in 'high-value targets' in Iraq, Syria

Multiple counterterrorism operations against Islamic State hideouts in both Iraq and Syria in recent weeks have taken out men whom officials claim were leaders within the international terrorist organization.