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

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Politics & Security

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Explainer

Iran war pushes up coal use, complicating Turkey’s COP31 pledge

Turkey is asking world leaders at COP31 to back a global push to use more electricity, even as the Iran war has driven up natural gas prices and pushed some power producers back to coal.

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.

Latest News

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

ANDY BUCHANAN / AFP via Getty Images

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. (

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

An Iranian boy takes a tray of eggs at a grocery store in Tehran on Sept. 30, 2012.

Retirees join Iran protests over economic grievances

The rallies were sparked by unprecedented rising prices across the food sector under President Ebrahim Raisi's economic policies.

A member of the Syrian government forces stands next to a well at Jazel oil field near the ancient city of Palmyra.

Gulf states blacklist terror financiers linked to Iran, Islamic State, Syrian regime

Lead figures in the Assad regime’s Qatirji oil-smuggling network were among those sanctioned.

TOPSHOT - Deputy of HDP (People's Democratic Party) Musa Piroglu (L) in a wheelchair tries to stop Turkish riot policemen near Taksim square in Istanbul on May 31, 2022, as the police blocked the access to the square during the ninth anniversary of the Gezi park and Taksim square demonstrations. - People gathered on May 31, 2022 to mark the ninth anniversary of Gezi park at Taksim square. In 2013, what started as a small campaign to save the Gezi Park from the bulldozers eventually drew an estimated three m

Turkey’s Erdogan pins economic crisis on 2013 Gezi protests

Turkey's president has added the economy to his list of casualties of the nationwide Gezi protests nine years ago.

Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett speaks during a press conference on the economy in Jerusalem, on July 6, 2021, flanked by Justice Minister Gideon Saar.

Israeli coalition's fragility on display during volatile Knesset session

The government of Naftali Bennett was not toppled yesterday, but its failure to pass a critical piece of legislation dealing with settlers does not bode well for its future.

NIKOLAY DOYCHINOV/AFP via Getty Images

Ukraine complains of Israeli holdup on defensive gear

Addressing the press today, Ukraine's ambassador to Israel complained that Israel refuses to greenlight the transfer of sophisticated anti-tank systems from Germany despite US approval.

Soldiers carry the coffin of an Israeli who was killed in an Istanbul suicide bombing the previous day, upon its arrival at Ben Gurion Airport, Tel Aviv, March 20, 2016.

Israel warns nationals against possible Iranian attacks in Turkey, Thailand

Jerusalem tries distancing itself publicly from a series of strange deaths in Iran, while warning Israeli tourists in Turkey and in Thailand that Tehran could be targeting them.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and his Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu shake hands during a joint press conference following their talks in Moscow on March 16, 2022.

Ukraine, Syria top Lavrov's agenda in Turkey

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov arrives in Ankara on June 8.

People and journalists hold banners reading "Freedom for jailed journalists - we will not be silenced" on April 9, 2017 during a demonstration for the freedom of the press in Istanbul.

Turkey’s independent journalists stand against so-called disinformation bill

The new bill in parliament aims to bring further restrictions on freedom of expression online and on social media as elections approach, experts say. 

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) activists shout slogans from a police vehicle after being detained during a protest against West Bengal's state government over alleged irregularities in the School Service Commission (SSC) recruitment process, in Kolkata on May 20, 2022.

Analysis

Explainer: India BJP Party spokesperson's comments on prophet spark backlash

The comments have drawn attention to anti-Muslim statements among some BJP officials, while sparking social media reactions on all sides.

Adam Lucente

By Adam Lucente

In New York City, reporting on regional news, militancy, climate change

An image of Nesrin Abdullah, Anne Lindh and Aminah Kakabaveh that prompted a reaction from Turkish officials.

Kurds in Sweden on edge as Turkey presses government to ditch them in exchange for NATO membership

As Sweden’s government survived a non-confidence vote today, its fate was tied to Kurdish lawmaker and former guerrilla Amineh Kakabaveh.

Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh holds a press conference in Tehran on May 9, 2022.

Iran warns IAEA against resolution

Iran has threatened to reduce its cooperation with the IAEA if a resolution is written against it.

PRAKASH SINGH/AFP via Getty Images

Israeli defense minister pushes security cooperation, trade in India

Defense Minister Benny Gantz's twice-postponed trip to India that finally took place last week.