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

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Politics & Security

Israeli soldiers take positions during a military operation in the town of Qalqiya, in the occupied West Bank, Dec. 4, 2025.

Katz warns PA against 'Oct. 7-style' attack as West Bank violence rises

After a West Bank stabbing of an Israeli settler, Defense Minister Israel Katz warns the Palestinian Authority against launching an “Oct. 7-style” assault.

Forces loyal to Yemen's Saudi-backed government ride in a pick-up truck in the Hays district, south of Hodeidah, Yemen, Sept. 5, 2026.

Yemen army ups strikes on Houthis, retakes Red Sea coast positions

The Iranian-backed Houthis launched an offensive to take areas bordering the Red Sea, prompting heavy clashes and exchanges of fire with Saudi-backed government forces.

An excavator digs as rescuers search for survivors amid the rubble following an overnight Israeli airstrike on the village of Kfar Roummane, southern Lebanon, Sept. 7, 2026.

Lebanon says at least 12 killed in Israeli strikes as tensions rise in south

The escalation in southern Lebanon casts a shadow over upcoming Israel-Lebanon talks in Rome.

A woman walks past a model of a Lora missile, Israel's long range artillery missile at the Israel defence stall at the international DefExpo 2008 defence fair, in New Delhi on February 16, 2008. India kicked off South Asia's largest defence fair, with hundreds of global weapons firms offering their latest hardware to the country's technology-hungry military. About 450 weapons companies from 30 countries are present at the four-day "DefExpo" in New Delhi, with several big-ticket announcements expected. AFP P

Analysis

LORA missile test reveals limits of Germany’s Gaza criticism of Israel

The German navy tested Israel’s LORA ballistic missile as Berlin considers acquiring the system, deepening defense ties with Israel despite criticism of the Gaza war.

Rina Bassist

By Rina Bassist

In Paris, reporting on Israeli politics and European affairs

Latest News

Analysis

With Hurjet test, Turkey seeks defense dominance beyond drones

TAI Hurjet

Barin Kayaoglu

By Barin Kayaoglu

In Ankara, reporting on geopolitics and national security

Analysis

How Jewish politician joining Arab party could reshape Israeli politics

Raam

Rina Bassist

By Rina Bassist

In Paris, reporting on Israeli politics and European affairs

Analysis

Playing for time: Despite US pressure, Israel stalls Lebanon talks until after election

Ammar Ammar / AFP via Getty Images

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

US sanctions Turkey-based bank over Iran ties

Chip Somodevilla/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

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi hold a meeting in Tehran on July 19, 2022.

Despite visits, deals, Russia's Putin does not acquiesce to Iran's Raisi on Gaza

The Iranian leadership is finding global sentiments for Gaza civilians as a unique opportunity it shouldn't miss to weaken and corner Israel, the sworn enemy.

Supporters hang a campaign banner of Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi at a bus on a street in Cairo on December 7, 2023, ahead of the country's presidential election.

As Egyptians head to polls, Gaza war helps Sisi secure third term

Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi continues to reject any attempt to forcibly displace and resettle Palestinians in Sinai, which has garnered him wide popularity that he had lost in the past years.

Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan (R) escorts US Secretary of State Antony Blinken as they arrive for a meeting with GCC Ministers at the GCC Secretariat in Riyadh on June 7, 2023.

Ending Gaza war ‘doesn’t seem priority’ says top Saudi diplomat on US visit

Top diplomats of Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Egypt, Turkey and Qatar implied Washington’s credibility is on the line, saying repercussions from destruction wrought by Israeli military in Gaza will impact region for ‘generations’ if not stopped.

A general view shows a United Nations Security Council meeting on Gaza, at UN headquarters in New York City on December 8, 2023.

US vetoes UNSC resolution demanding immediate cease-fire in Gaza

The renewed push for a cease-fire comes as the death toll in Gaza surpasses 17,000 and the humanitarian situation reaches catastrophic levels.

Jordan's Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi gives a joint press conference with his German counterpart following talks at the Foreign Ministry in Berlin on March 10, 2021.

Interview

Israel already suffering 'strategic defeat' with global outcry over Gaza, Jordan’s FM says

In an interview with Al-Monitor, Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi urged the United States to wield its influence with Israel to stem the bloodshed in Gaza after two months of devastating war.

Ayman Safadi

Ayman Safadi

Foreign Minister of Jordan

Stephanie Keith/Getty Images

New York synagogue becomes scene of latest attack amid Israel-Hamas war

Jewish religious institutions in the United States, Canada and Germany have been attacked since the war began as antisemitic and Islamophobic incidents continue to rise across the West.

Washington Pulse

Palestinian mourners carry the bodies of men killed in the village of al-Fara during an Israeli raid in the occupied West Bank, Dec. 8, 2023.

Six Palestinians killed in Israeli raid as West Bank violence continues

The Israeli army continues its near-daily incursions into West Bank towns and cities amid the war in Gaza.

JACK GUEZ/AFP via Getty Images

Hamas claims to foil Israeli hostage-rescue effort

An Israeli official declined to comment on the matter as the war between the two rages on in Gaza following the collapse of the cease-fire.

UNSC vote

Day 63 of Hamas-Israel war blog: Friday, Dec. 8

Mourners carry the coffins of two Kurdish women killed a day earlier in a reported Turkish drone strike, during their funeral in Amuda, a town in the Hasakah governorate in northeastern Syria, on June 21, 2023.

With world's eyes on Gaza, Turkey attacks Syria's Kurds again

As of the beginning of 2023, at least 32 civilians have died in Turkish attacks in northeast Syria, including seven women and five children, according to local monitoring organizations.

Turkey's Erdogan declares 'new era' with Greece on landmark visit

The Turkish and Greek leaders vowed to maintain good neighborly relations in the interest of peace in the Agean Sea region.

Dubai, United Arab Emerates, Dec. 2: António Guterres, United Nations Secretary-General speaks at the G77 and China Leaders' Summit.

Analysis

Explainer: Why did UN chief Guterres invoke Article 99 over Gaza?

The invocation of the article, which formally brings the war to the attention of the Security Council, drew a rebuke from Israel and praise from Arab states, and may harm the UN secretary-general's relations with the US.

Adam Lucente

By Adam Lucente

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