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

politics and security cover image

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

Windsurfers surf by an Israeli navy boat in the Mediterranean Sea at the Israeli side of the border with Lebanon.

US touts 'historic breakthrough' on Israel-Lebanon maritime border

President Joe Biden called on Lebanon and Israel to now implement the agreement over their long-disputed maritime border.

AFP via Getty Images

Security forces reportedly fire on crowds as protests rock Kurdish city

Iranian security forces have been seen firing indiscriminately into residential neighborhoods in the Kurdish city of Sanandaj, which has hot spot of anti-government protests.

MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty Images

US to 'reevaluate' relationship with Saudi Arabia after OPEC move

The White House has nodded to calls among Democrats in Congress for a reappraisal of Washington's seven decades of support to the kingdom.

Washington Connection

ADEM ALTAN/AFP via Getty Images

Turkish lawmakers to vote on bill critics say will strangle media

Despite international warnings and the opposition’s efforts to kill the controversial bill, the parliament is set to consider Turkey's latest restrictive press law.

AHMAD AL-RUBAYE/AFP via Getty Images

Iraqi parliament sets date to pick president

The Iraqi parliament is set to meet Thursday to select the president and from there, form a new government.

ANDREAS SOLARO/AFP via Getty Images

Israeli right pleased with Italy's next prime minister

Italy's next Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is being fawned over by the Israeli right while the rest of the political spectrum treads carefully.

People look at the crater left by a missile strike on a playground in Taras Shevchenko Park the day before, Kyiv, Ukraine, Oct. 11, 2022.

Israel’s Lapid condemns Russian attack on Kyiv

Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid has joined condemnation from across the globe against the Russian attack on Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities.

An Israeli warship sits at mooring close to the disputed maritime border with Lebanon

In win for Lapid, Israel hails imminent maritime agreement with Lebanon

Despite threats from Hezbollah, and despite harsh criticism from opposition chief Benjamin Netanyahu, Prime Minister Yair Lapid hopes for the government to soon approve the maritime border agreement with Lebanon.

A woman holding a flower touches the picture of a suicide attack victim.

Seven years on, questions linger over deadliest terror attack in Turkey

Lawyers for victims' families blame neglect of duty on the part of authorities for the failure to capture fugitive suspects and prevent the attack in the first place.

Daily workers harvest onions near Turkey’s border wall with Syria, Sept. 29, 2022.

Syrian farmers trapped by 'Erdogan's wall'

Military unrest combined with drought is making it much harder to draw a living from the soil along the Turkish-Syrian border.

French-Palestinian Salah Hamouri.

French Palestinian jailed in Israel on hunger strike

Arrested last March by Israeli authorities, French Palestinian Salah Hamouri protests his prolonged administrative detention.

AL-MONITOR Staff

By AL-MONITOR Staff

Israeli soldiers stand guard at one of the entrances of the Shuafat refugee camp, East Jerusalem, Oct. 9, 2022.

Palestinian attack on Israeli soldiers ramps up tension in Jerusalem

With the deadly attack Oct. 8, Israeli security agencies warn about tensions in the West Bank seeping into East Jerusalem and the Temple Mount compound.