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Politics & Security

Cyprus' President Nikos Christodoulides (2nd L) and his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron (C) review the honor guard at the Presidential Palace in Nicosia on April 23, 2026, ahead of a meeting on the sidelines of a European summit.

Explainer

Turkey slams France-Cyprus military pact as East Med rivalries deepen

Ankara says a defense deal between France and the Republic of Cyprus risks upsetting the island’s delicate balance, as defense ties among Cyprus, Greece, Israel and France deepen.

Russian S-400 anti-aircraft missile launching system is displayed at the exposition field in Kubinka Patriot Park outside Moscow on Aug. 22, 2017 during the first day of the International Military-Technical Forum Army-2017.

Analysis

As Trump admin drops Halkbank case, S-400 last big hurdle in US-Turkey ties

The move eases a key source of friction with Turkey ahead of a NATO summit in Ankara.

Amberin Zaman

By Amberin Zaman

Reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture

Latest News

Trump calls off Iran strikes, says deal is close

US President Donald Trump watches the start of Game 3 of the NBA Finals between New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs at Madison Square Garden on June 8, 2026 in New York City.

Elizabeth Hagedorn

By Elizabeth Hagedorn

In Washington, DC, reporting on diplomacy, regional politics, human rights

Trump weighs releasing billions to Iran after blasting past payments

President Donald Trump speaks to the press before boarding Air Force One prior to departure from John F. Kennedy International Airport, in New York, on June 9, 2026.

Saudi Arabia lifts 5-year ban on Lebanon imports: What to know

Lebanese Prime Minister-designate Nawaf Salam (R) shakes hands with Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan before their meeting in Beirut on Jan. 23, 2025.

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

Palestinian relatives mourn during the funeral of Faris Hashash, 19, who was killed during clashes with Israeli forces at the Balata refugee camp on the outskirts of Nablus, in the occupied West Bank, on June 13, 2023. (Photo by Jaafar ASHTIYEH / AFP) (Photo by JAAFAR ASHTIYEH/AFP via Getty Images)

Nablus mourns Palestinian youth killed by Israeli forces

The West Bank city has been the site of several confrontations between Israelis and Palestinians this year.

Israeli Minister of Defence Yoav Gallant (R) and US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin shake hands after delivering a statement to the press at the Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) headquarters near the Ben Gurion airport in Tel Aviv, on March 9, 2023.

Israeli, US defense chiefs meet on sidelines of NATO meeting

Banned by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu from traveling to Washington, Israel’s Defense Minister Yoav Gallant met in Brussels with US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin.

Shlomi Amsalem/GPO

Israel, Cyprus make strides toward EastMed undersea electricity cable

Cypriot Energy Minister George Papanastasiou's visit to Israel is another step in joint efforts to promote the Euro-Asia undersea electricity cable project.

In this handout image released by the South Korean Defense Ministry, U.S. Air Force B-1B bombers (R), F-22 fighter jets and South Korean Air Force F-35 fighter jets (bottom) fly over South Korea Peninsula during a joint air drill on February 01, 2023 at an undisclosed location in South Korea.

Syria: US sends F-22 stealth fighter jets to ward off Russian pilots' harassment

The Pentagon is upping the ante to deter the Kremlin's provocations in Syria as both Russia and Iran seek to take advantage of a smaller US force fighting ISIS.

Omani Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr al-Busaidi.

Interview

Oman FM says US, Iran 'close' on prisoner deal

Oman's foreign minister told Al-Monitor that the two sides are ironing out the details on a deal to release the prisoners.

Sayyid Badr Albusaidi

Sayyid Badr Albusaidi

Foreign Minister of Oman

NATO Stoltenberg

NATO chief cites 'some progress' in Turkey-Sweden talks in Ankara

Turkey sticks with its hardball strategy on Sweden’s pending NATO membership as a historic NATO summit nears.

TO GO WITH AFP STORY BY SERENE ASSIR A Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) fighters guards a post flying the PKK flag during the ongoing intensive security deployment against Islamic State (IS) militants in the town of Makhmur, southwest Arbil, the capital of the autonomous Kurdish region of northern Iraq, on August 21, 2014. Kurdish groups from Iraq and three neighbouring countries are putting aside old rivalries to battle jihadist militants, but there are cracks in this newly-forged unity and it may not last. A

Did Kurdish PKK call off truce with Turkey to make peace or war?

Ending the ceasefire that the group announced after the earthquakes reflects the reality that Erdogan will continue in power.

Nayera Ashraf

Egyptian man executed one year after brutal killing of Nayera Ashraf

The killing sent shockwaves across the country, prompting calls to carry out the death sentence.

Israel drone

Arab states make up 24% of Israel’s 2022 arms exports including drones

Out of the record-high $12.5 billion in Israeli defense exports in 2022, almost $3 billion were export deals with Arab countries.

Xi Jinping and Mahmoud Abbas

China’s Xi hosts Abbas, vows support for Palestinian state on 1967 borders

Xi used the word 'Palestine' as he welcomed Mahmoud Abbas on a visit that follows Beijing's offer to mediate peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians.

A US F-18 Super Hornet lands on the flight deck of the USS Nimitz (CVN-68) during a South Korea and US combined maritime exercise as a part of Warrior Shield at sea on March 27, 2023 off the coast of South Korea.

US to sell $1.8 billion worth of F/A-18 jets support to Kuwait

The proposed sale would fulfill Kuwait’s request for an ‘extended warranty’ on its F/A-18 fleet.

Israeli soldiers console one another outside the Mount Harif military base.

Israeli army admits to operational failures in deadly Egypt incident

The investigation of the Israeli army into the deadly incident last week on the Egyptian border found several operational failures.