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Politics & Security

Palestinian Hamas militants arrive to secure the area as Egyptian workers accompanied by members of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), search for the last two remaining bodies of hostages -an Israeli soldier and a Thai national- from under the rubble of the Jabalia refugee camp, in the northern of Gaza Strip on Dec. 1, 2025.

Analysis

How Hamas disarmament deal may test Iran's regional strategy

A possible Hamas decision to disarm would represent more than a Gaza development, testing Iran's decades-old strategy of projecting power through regional allies.

A correspondent in Tehran

By A correspondent in Tehran

In Tehran, reporting on politics

Mourners carry one of the bodies of members of Iraq's Hashed al-Shaabi, or Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF) who were killed earlier in Diyala in central Iraq by US-Saudi strikes, during the funeral in Baghdad on July 29, 2026. The US-Saudi strikes killed at least 20 militants, including Iranians, according to the Hashed al-Shaabi. The US and Saudi Arabia said the strikes were in response to attacks on US forces and Saudi oil facilities. (Photo by murtadha ridha / AFP via Getty Images) /

Analysis

Renewed Iraq attacks test Zaidi’s push to disarm Iran-backed militias

An attempt by Iraqi government forces to seize weapons belonging to an Iranian-backed faction encountered resistance, raising questions about Prime Minister Ali Zaidi’s pledge to disarm militias by Sept. 30.

Mustafa Salim

By Mustafa Salim

Fighters lift flags of Iraq and paramilitary groups, including al-Nujaba and Kataib Hezbollah, during a funeral in Baghdad for five militants killed a day earlier in a US strike in northern Iraq, on Dec. 4, 2023.

Analysis

Iran-linked militias seek to draw Iraq into regional war

“Iran’s logic is the logic of war,” a Gulf regional official tells Al-Monitor.

Week in Review

By Week in Review

Latest News

Explainer

Estimated 60,000 migrants cross from Morocco into Spanish territory: What we know

Ceuta

Analysis

No Iran commitment, no Trump endorsement: Netanyahu leaves US empty-handed

US President Donald Trump walks to board Marine One on the Ellipse near the White House in Washington, DC, on July 31, 2026. President Trump is traveling to Camp David in Maryland to hold a cabinet meeting and later to Bedminster, New Jersey to spend the weekend at his golf club. (Photo by Oliver Contreras / AFP via Getty Images)

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

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

Russian navy's submarine Rostov-on-Don sails with a naval ensign of the Russian Federation through the Bosporus on the way to the Black Sea past the city of Istanbul, Turkey, Feb. 13, 2022.

Turkey's Black Sea warning may impact Syria more than Ukraine

Chelsea owner Russian-born Jewish oligarch Roman Abramovich looks on from the stands during the Barclays Premier League match between Chelsea and Manchester City at Stamford Bridge, London, England, April 16, 2016.

Analysis

Israel torn over ties with Russian oligarchs

Formulating its policy on the Ukraine crisis, Israel must take into account its coordination with Russia in Syria, its special relations with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, its super important alliance with the United States and its large Russian-Ukraine-born population.

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

Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit (L) gives a statement while accompanied by Kuwait's Foreign Minister Sheikh Ahmed Nasser Al-Mohammed Al-Sabah during a meeting of the foreign ministers of the Arab League state, Kuwait City, Kuwait, Jan. 30, 2022.

Egypt-Kuwait talks address bilateral ties, Arab summit, challenges

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi recently visited Kuwait where he met with the emir and crown prince to discuss the upcoming Arab League summit in Algeria, as Egypt regains its pivotal regional role.

Bedouins

Bedouins skirt Israeli law against polygamy

Arab residents of the Negev in southern Israel are bypassing the Israeli law that prohibits polygamy through a practice known as a “cohabitation marriage” that is registered outside the Sharia courts.

Nasiriyah protest

Iraqi officer arrested for 2019 killing of protesters

An interior ministry officer accused of serious human rights abuses during the war against the Islamic State has been arrested after documents emerged allegedly showing his direct involvement in the 2019 killing of protesters.

Turkish-backed policemen man a checkpoint in the northwestern Syrian city of Afrin on March 31, 2018.

Infighting between Islamist, Turkish-backed armed groups continues in north Syria

Infighting between Turkish-backed factions in north Syria continues despite pleas by civilians, with most recently dozens of members of the civilian police resigning in response to a shootout with the military police that left two of its members wounded.

A Palestinian laborer stacks tomato crates at a farm in Rafah, southern Gaza Strip, March 12, 2015.

Israeli agricultural Sabbath offers Gazan farmers hope

Although Israel imposed economic restrictions on agricultural exports from the Gaza Strip in 2007, Shmita offers Gazan farmers an opportunity to export vegetables to Israel, as the Israeli land is left to rest.

Russian President Vladimir Putin (L) talks to Russia's Chief Mufti Talgat Tadzhuddin (back) during their meeting in Kazan on Jan. 24, 2018.

Facing Western isolation over Ukraine, Russia looks to Mideast, Islamic world

As sanctions against Russia continue to increase, Moscow will likely focus on states in the Islamic world and the Middle East for support — but even this window may be closing.

Kurdish riot police stand guard during a demonstration to denounce a Turkish assault in northern Iraq in Sulaimaniya on June 18, 2020.

Turkey bombs village in Iraqi Kurdistan, targeting PKK

Turkey's conflict with the PKK has so far this year been concentrated in northern Iraq.

AL-MONITOR Staff

By AL-MONITOR Staff

ADEM ALTAN/AFP via Getty Images

Turkey, Azerbaijan step up aid to Ukraine

Despite their valuable ties with Russia, Turkey and its close ally Azerbaijan are busily sending aid shipments to Ukraine.

AFP via Getty Images

How Russia's invasion of Ukraine will impact energy markets

Energy markets are roiling with spikes in both oil and gas prices and a surge of instability related to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Iran's foreign ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh speaks to media during a press conference in Tehran on Nov. 15, 2021.

Iran says US should not 'stretch out' nuclear talks

Iranian officials said most of the nuclear agreement is ready and the United States needs to make a political decision.