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

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Politics & Security

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. (

Slotkin, Van Hollen emerge as potential challengers to Schumer’s Senate leadership

A growing number of Democrats are calling for new leadership in the Senate to replace Schumer, arguing that the party needs a leader who better reflects its generational and ideological shift to the left.

SAUL LOEB / AFP via Getty Images

Massie introduces impeachment articles against Hegseth over Iran war

House Democrats are on board with voting to impeach the Pentagon chief, but it's not clear how many Republicans will break with the White House's public messaging.

This photograph shows empty fresh-food refrigerators at an Intermarche supermarket in Nevez, France, on Oct. 12, 2026, following a cyberattack that caused its refrigerators to defrost.

France blames Iran for supermarket fridge hack, seeks EU sanctions

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot on Monday blamed Iran for the October cyberattack that disabled refrigeration at supermarkets across France.

Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi speaks during a joint press conference with Germans chachellor at the Chancellery on September 15, 2026 in Berlin, Germany. High on the meeting's agenda is the expansion of economic cooperation between Germany and Iraq. (Photo by Michele Tantussi/Getty Images)

Explainer

Iraqi PM cancels Mosul airport contracts, citing Iran militia links: What to know

Kataib Hezbollah’s parliamentary bloc is questioning the sources of Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi’s wealth after he moved to curb militia influence in the country.

Latest News

Trump meets Qatar PM as mediators push Iran deal

President Donald Trump (R) attends a bilateral meeting with Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani during the G7 summit, in Evian, France, on June 16, 2026.

Lebanon replaces Detroit consul expelled over 1983 Marines attack posts

Marines barracks

Iran claims IAEA held 'recent' inspection at Bushehr plant: What to know

A picture taken on Nov. 10, 2019, shows an Iranian flag at Iran's Bushehr nuclear power plant.

Analysis

Trump officials look past Netanyahu, push Eisenkot to form government quickly

Amir Levy/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

FAYEZ NURELDINE/AFP via Getty Images

Saudi authorities find nearly 4 million amphetamine pills hidden in peppers

One recent think tank report suggested Saudi Arabia needs to focus more on curtailing demand for such drugs among its population.

Israeli soldiers search an area for Palestinian assailants who fled after they carried out an attack on an Israeli checkpoint with an explosive device and gunfire, in the village of Till, near Nablus, West Bank, Oct. 16, 2022.

Israel resorts to besieging West Bank cities as tensions mount

Israel is implementing a policy of besieging the West Bank cities and towns, as resistance operations are increasing and expanding across the West Bank.

ERdogan Flake

US dismisses Turkish criticism of imbalance in Mediterranean

The US ambassador to Turkey stated that America is focusing on the Russian invasion of Ukraine amid simmering tensions between Turkey and Greece.

Itamar Ben-Gvir, Israeli far-right lawmaker and leader of the Otzma Yehudit (Jewish power) party, attends a campaign event in the northern Israel Kibbutz of Ayelet Hashahar on Oct. 6, 2022.

Israeli Knesset member waves gun in east Jerusalem

Ultranationalist Itamar Ben Gvir is exploiting an incident in which he brandished a gun in the east Jerusalem Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood ahead of the Nov. 1 elections.

YASIN AKGUL/AFP via Getty Images

Turkish mine disaster sends blame flying

In the wake of an explosion that killed 41 miners, several Turkish bodies are trading blame for safety failures in the coal industry.

A protester holds a banner with the image of Mahsa Amini as demonstrators gather in front of the Brandenburg Gate to march in solidarity with protesters in Iran, Berlin, Germany, Oct. 15, 2022.

Iran to 'reciprocate' new EU sanctions amid continued unrest

EU sanctions over Iran's clampdown on dissent unsettled Iranian authorities, which are grappling with one of the biggest domestic challenges they have faced since the 1979 revolution.

Iraq's newly-elected President Abdul Latif Rashid waves during his inauguration and handover ceremony at al-Salam Palace in the capital Baghdad on Oct. 17, 2022.

New Iraqi president takes office, government expected next week

Iraq's new president commenced his duties, and the designated prime minister will form his Cabinet next week.

LOUAI BESHARA/AFP via Getty Images

Ukrainian breakaway region sends delegation to Syria

Syria, which has a history of supporting pro-Russia breakaway regions, recognized Donetsk and Luhansk earlier this year.

KOOSHA MAHSHID FALAHI/MIZAN/AFP via Getty Images

Fire at Iranian prison renews pressure for US prisoner release

Efforts to free Siamak Namazi and Emad Shargi have taken on greater urgency following a deadly fire that erupted at their detention center.

An engineer from the Israeli company Commun.it uses his expertise in social media commercial analysis to identify networks of fake users at the group's office, Bnei Brak, Israel, Jan. 23, 2019.

Israel braces for election interference from Russia, elsewhere

With diplomatic ties deteriorating, Israel fears that Russian or other hackers could try tampering with the Nov. 1 election results.

A Tunisian woman looks at posters of candidates for the legislative elections, Tunis, Tunisia, Oct. 4, 2019.

Feminists, opposition denounce Tunisia's new electoral system as unfair to women, youth

Members of the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) jihadist group bring reinforcements.

Is Turkey using HTS to strengthen its hand in Syria?

Amid Ankara’s overtures to Damascus, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham — the radical group controlling Idlib — has seized Afrin and is seeking a deal to expand its control further into territories held by factions allied with Turkey.