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

Israeli soldiers and policemen gather at the scene by the body of a Palestinian man who was shot dead reportedly while attempting a knife attack at the Gitai Avisar Junction, west of the Jewish settlement of Ariel and south of Nablus, West Bank, Jan. 26, 2021.

Hamas expands confrontation with Israel to West Bank

In a rare move, Hamas’ military wing claimed responsibility for a deadly shooting at a settlement in the West Bank, in a sign that the resistance may change tactics in its confrontations against Israel.

An Israeli soldier takes aim during a raid in the town of Rummanah.

Hamas seeks to open new battlefront within Israel's borders

Hamas is urging Arabs of Israel to escalate their attacks against Israelis inside Israel, as part of efforts to confuse the Israeli army in the event of a war with Gaza.

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.