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

politics and security cover image

Politics & Security

Anwar AMRO / AFP via Getty Images

Lebanon detains Hezbollah members as PM pledges end to impunity

Concerns about internal strife are growing amid tensions between Lebanese authorities and Hezbollah.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (L) and Central Bank Governor Sahap Kavcioglu attend a signing ceremony with Abu Dhabi’s crown prince, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan at the Presidential Complex in Ankara on Nov. 24, 2021. ADEM ALTAN/AFP via Getty Images

Turkey’s banking watchdog chief submits resignation amid fund scandal

Turkey’s government is facing growing criticism over regulators’ failure to prevent a fund scandal involving more than $20 billion.

Chris McGrath/Getty Images

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.

Latest News

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

Iranian-made Zolfaghar missiles

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

OZAN KOSE/AFP via Getty Images

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

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

This photograph shows an Ukrainian armoured personnel carrier (APC) BTR-4 destroyed as a result of fight not far from the centre of Ukrainian city of Kharkiv, located some 50 km from Ukrainian-Russian border, on Feb. 28, 2022.

Iraqi students stranded in Ukraine

Iraqi students are stuck in Ukraine and seem unable to flee due to the Russian invasion of that country.

Turki al-Sheikh, the new CEO of Saudi Arabia's General Entertaintment Authority (GEA), speaks during a presentation of the 2019 GEA program at the Four Seasons Hotel, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Jan. 22, 2019.

Egypt, Saudi Arabia compete over title of regional art pioneer

Egypt’s United Media Services, a production company linked to Egyptian intelligence, decided to contract with veteran Egyptian actor Mohamed Sobhi after his recent clash with Turki al-Sheikh, chairman of the Saudi General Entertainment Authority.

US Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) .

Iran accuses Lindsey Graham of calling for assassination of Iranian scientists

The Republican lawmaker told reporters in Jerusalem last month that he would “expect more accidents” to befall Iranian scientists in an apparent reference to alleged Israeli assassinations of the country’s nuclear scientists.

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi delivers a speech during a parliament session on the occasion of Parliament Day in Tehran on Dec. 1 2021.

Iran’s NSC meets with lawmakers over nuclear deal

Iranian media is accusing Western media of playing the blame game in the final days of the nuclear talks.

Iran's chief nuclear negotiator, Ali Bagheri Kani (R).

Analysis

The Takeaway: Ukraine war looms over Iran nuclear talks, energy markets

More on the Ukraine War from Israel, Russia, Lebanon and Gaza; Nile Dam crisis escalates … all in less than 1,100 words.

Andrew Parasiliti

Elizabeth Hagedorn

Joe Snell

By Andrew Parasiliti , Elizabeth Hagedorn , Joe Snell

Wheat grains spilled from the silos at Beirut port in the massive explosion Aug. 4, 2020, are fully grown, Lebanon, May 27, 2021.

Lebanese fear wheat shortage amid Ukrainian crisis

Amid the Russian-Ukrainian crisis, concerns are growing in Lebanon over a shortage of wheat supplies, as the country imports the bulk of its wheat needs from Ukraine.

Turkey masks

Turkey drops mask rules as it heads for normality ahead of tourist season

Turkish Health Minister Fahrettin Koca announces a return to normal life after two years of COVID-19 measures, but medical association warns it may be too early.

100 Jewish orphans leave Zhytomyr

Analysis

Israel celebrates rescue of Jewish orphans from Ukraine

Hailing the operation to rescue 100 orphans in Ukraine, Israeli leaders vow to continue sending humanitarian assistance.

Rina Bassist

By Rina Bassist

In Paris, reporting on Israeli politics and European affairs

Syria jihadi

Syrian opposition backs Ukraine in stand against Russian army

Jihadis in Syria want to exploit the Syrian regime’s preoccupation with Russia’s war on Ukraine to open new fronts, while the Syrian opposition cheers for Ukraine.

KARIM SAHIB/AFP via Getty Images

UAE sends aid to Ukraine

The aid is a departure for the Emirates, which has remained neutral on the Russia-Ukraine conflict so far in a reflection of improving UAE-Russia ties.

United Arab Emirates

A view of part of the Shagarab camp, situated about 70 kilometers (43 miles) west of the Eritrean border, Shagarab, Sudan, Aug. 15, 2021.

Sudan, Ethiopia negotiate over border conflict

Bilateral talks are ongoing between Ethiopia and Sudan aimed at resuming negotiations to solve the border dispute between the two countries and the GERD crisis.

Russian President Vladimir Putin (R) and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi

Egypt avoids direct condemnation of Russia over Ukraine

Egypt called for diplomacy to solve the Ukrainian crisis, avoiding taking any sides in order not to harm its ties with Russia, the United States or NATO.