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

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks during a meeting with Yemeni Foreign Minister Ahmed Awad Bin Mubarak at the State Department, Washington, May 17, 2022.

US urges Yemen's Houthis to extend truce amid fears of renewed fighting

The United States is seeking the renewal of a nationwide truce that brought a much-needed pause in violence to Yemen before it expired on Sunday.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Turkey’s Caucasian diaspora to help kinsmen fleeing Russian draft

The Caucasian community in Turkey is treading carefully in an initiative to help kinsmen fleeing Moscow’s military call-up, wary of coming off as encouraging draft evasion and angering Russia.

Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, president of the Transitional Sovereign Council of Sudan, addresses the 77th session of the United Nations General Assembly at the UN headquarters, New York, Sept. 22, 2022.

Sudanese coup leader’s trips to UK, US fail to win over the West

Burhan tried to portray the trips to Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral and the UNGA meeting in New York as the beginning of a new chapter with the Western capitals.

Kadhimi in Erbil

Iraqi PM, in Erbil, makes case for national dialogue

Iraq's political deadlock continues amid fear of a new wave of violence erupting in the streets.

Smoke billows following Russian airstrikes near Syria's Bab al-Hawa border crossing with Turkey, Sept. 27, 2022.

Russian warplanes bomb FSA camp in Syria's Idlib

As Syrian and Russian attacks escalate in Idlib, the FSA-affiliated Jaysh al-Izza denied Russian reports that an airstrike at one of their sites in a displaced camp in the north killed some of their commanders.

Riders carry flags during the first World Nomad Games

Turkey boosts soft power in Central Asia with Nomad Games

Turkey has stepped up its charm offensive toward energy-rich Central Asia with traditional archery and horseback fights over a goat's carcass.

Palestinian youths stand behind a makeshift barricade of flaming tires separating them from Israeli security forces during clashes at the northern entrance of the city of Ramallah, West Bank, Oct. 3, 2022.

Israel escalates raids on Palestinian armed groups in West Bank

The security situation in the West Bank continues to worsen as Israel escalates its raids and assassinations inside cities and armed factions retaliate.

Mohammad Ali Karimi, a nominee for AFC Player of the Year, speaks at a press conference in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Nov. 28, 2012.

Iran’s legendary soccer player under fire for backing protests

Ali Karimi’s name is being chanted out loud by his fans on the street since the day he threw his support behind the ongoing anti-government protests in Iran that started Sept . 16.

Kobi Gideon/GPO

In EU dialogue, Lapid recommits Israel to two-state solution

Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid addressed the long-defunct council for the Israel-EU Association Agreement today in a major step toward resuming dialogue with the European Union.

Khamenei

Khamenei breaks silence on Iran protests, lays blame on US

In his first speech since the outbreak of protests Sept. 16, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei accused the United States and Israel of promoting unrest in the country.

Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid makes an opening statement as he chairs the weekly Cabinet meeting, Jerusalem, Oct. 2, 2022.

Israel’s Lapid defends compromise with Lebanon over maritime border

Slammed by opposition leader Benjamin Netanyahu, Prime Minister Yair Lapid claims the proposed deal over the demarcation of Israel and Lebanon’s maritime border protects Israel strategically on several levels.

An Aeroflot-Russian Airlines Boeing 777-3M0 lands at Ben Gurion International Airport in Lod, east of Tel Aviv, Israel, Aug. 3, 2020.

Israel warns dual citizens about travel to Russia

Jerusalem tells Israeli-Russian citizens they could be drafted into Russian army.