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

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Politics & Security

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and French President Emmanuel Macron arrive to hold a joint press conference in Jerusalem, Oct. 24, 2023.

Analysis

After France's settlement ban, Israel sees no warming of ties with Macron government

Israeli diplomats say France’s decision to ban imports from West Bank settlements has brought bilateral relations to an unprecedented low point.

Rina Bassist

By Rina Bassist

In Paris, reporting on Israeli politics and European affairs

A picture of Brig. Gen. Amir Ali Hajizadeh, who was killed during Israeli strikes on Tehran in June, is displayed Zahedan, the capital of the southeastern province of Sistan-Baluchistan, during a media tour organized by the Iranian government on Dec. 18, 2025.

Analysis

How a new Baluch militant coalition raises pressure on Iran-Pakistan border

Iran's military standoff with the US may be creating opportunities for Baluch groups to launch operations from the mountainous, sparsely populated frontier region with Pakistan.

Sabena Siddiqui

By Sabena Siddiqui

In Karachi, reporting on South Asia, Middle East, Iran

Members of Iran's Basij paramilitary force march

Analysis

As Iran regime marks 200 days of war, is it also preparing for dissent?

Seven months into the war with the US, Iranian authorities staged a pro-government mobilization in Tehran, combining patriotic spectacle with a carefully calibrated demonstration aimed for domestic internal security capacity.

A correspondent in Tehran

By A correspondent in Tehran

In Tehran, reporting on politics

Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani visits Latakia airport on Sept. 18, 2026.

Syria’s Shibani visits Latakia airport to review Russia deal progress: What to know

Syria is seeking to ensure that the August deal to turn Russian facilities in the country into joint training centers is implemented.

Latest News

Lebanon charges 5 in alleged Hezbollah operation to train Assad loyalists

Hibatullah Barakat / Middle East Images / AFP via Getty Images

Analysis

How Netanyahu is leveraging Houthi threat in secret Saudi normalization push

Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman looks on as he attends a trade agreement signature ceremony at the Elysee Palace in Paris on August 24, 2026. (Photo by LOU BENOIST / POOL / AFP via Getty Images)

In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense

Former Assad official sentenced to 60 years in US for torture

Mario Tama/Getty Images

Interview

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

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)

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

KHALED DESOUKI/AFP via Getty Images

Islamic State claims attack near Suez Canal

The Islamic State's attack on a water-pumping station near the Suez Canal could affect global trade.

An Israeli settler adds the finishing touches to a large Star of David.

Israel adds more than 4,000 new homes in settlements

The government of Prime Minister Naftali Bennett authorized the construction of new housing units in settlements and legalized wildcat outposts despite the upcoming visit next month in Israel of President Joe Biden.

Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei speaks with Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani in Tehran, May 12, 2022.

Iran's supreme leader warns Qatari emir about Israel

The Iranian state media coverage of the meeting made no mention of the Iran nuclear deal, which was widely speculated to have topped the agenda of the emir's visit to Tehran.

A Syrian worker is pictured at a makeshift refining installation in the Tarhin area near the Turkish-controlled city of al-Bab, in the north of the Aleppo province, on Nov. 19, 2021.

US eases sanctions on investment in Kurdish, Turkish areas of Syria

Kaftancioglu

Turkey’s top appeals court upholds jail term for prominent opposition figure

Canan Kaftancioglu, head of the CHP’s Istanbul branch, sentenced to nearly five years and barred from politics for insulting Erdogan and the Turkish government.

Fattah

Hope may be fading for release of Egyptian activist Alaa Abdel Fattah

Alaa Abdel Fattah enters his sixth week of hunger strike.

Iraqi election officials conduct the electronic count of votes at a polling station in Erbil, Iraqi Kurdistan, Oct. 10, 2021.

Upcoming KRG election marred by political divisions

Due to the political dispute in Iraq’s Kurdistan Region, the Oct. 1 regional parliamentary election is likely to be delayed.

Iraqi-Kurdistan

Students attend a lecture in this undated image at the Nesin's Mathematics Village.

Turkish educational foundation says accounts frozen on bogus charges

The Nesin Foundation, which built Turkey’s famous Mathematics Village, says its accounts were blocked on unfair charges after it conflicted with a neighboring Islamist foundation.

Syrian Kurds demonstrate on June 10, 2021, in the northeastern Syrian city of Qamishli.

Syrian Kurdish unity talks crumble as Turkey escalates anti-PKK campaign

The breakdown between sides serves Turkey’s agenda of keeping its Kurdish foes divided and weak.

JAAFAR ASHTIYEH/AFP via Getty Images

Palestinian journalist Shireen Abu Akleh's colleagues recount her killing

The journalists with Shireen Abu Akleh when she was shot described it as among the worst experiences of their lives.

ABBAS MOMANI/AFP via Getty Images

Israel insists joint probe needed into journalist's death as PA resists

Preliminary findings from the IDF indicate that no gunfire was directed at Shireen Abu Akleh, but Israel is finding a cold reception for its investigation.

Arab Joint List leader Mansour Abbas and other party members attend a meeting with President Reuven Rivlin at the president's residence, Jerusalem, April 5, 2021.

Israeli-Arab Parties divided over Raam's return to coalition

The opposition Joint List refrained from supporting two no-confidence votes against the government, and the announcement of Ra’am ending its coalition membership suspension, reflect the ongoing tensions between Israeli-Arab politicians.