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

Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh speaks at the Al-Haq Foundation after Israel raided and closed an entrance to their offices, Ramallah, West Bank, Aug. 18, 2022.

Palestinian NGOs launch international campaign to revoke Israeli decision to shut them down

Israel shut down the offices of seven Palestinian NGOs in the West Bank per a military decision, which these NGOs seek to confront with a wide international campaign.

Iran Raisi

Analysis

The Takeaway: US responds to Iran proposal but gaps remain

Israel resigned to nuclear deal; Turkey hints at normalizing ties with Syria; Islamic Jihad denies Hamas rift; Syria’s HTS purges hardliners; Egypt-China consortium for logistics project.

Elizabeth Hagedorn

Andrew Parasiliti

By Elizabeth Hagedorn , Andrew Parasiliti

Nasrallah

Hezbollah leader Nasrallah meets with Palestinian Islamic Jihad

The sit-down comes as Iran is calling for unity among Palestinian factions.

A stray dog lies on a street at Besiktas in Istanbul on April 11, 2020, as Turkish government announced a two-day curfew to prevent the spread of the epidemic COVID-19 caused by the novel coronavirus. (Photo by Ozan KOSE / AFP) (Photo by OZAN KOSE/AFP via Getty Images)

Defending dogs pays dividends in Erdogan’s Turkey

Following a public outcry, a Turkish court has suspended an app used to report the location of stray dogs after the information was allegedly used to kill canines.

This picture shows a general view of the Israeli Knesset during a meeting, in Jerusalem on June 30, 2022.

Israeli Arabs make it into the top 10 Meretz Party Knesset list

Regional Cooperation Minister Essawi Frej is not running in the upcoming November elections, but Israeli Arab Ali Salalha managed to secure a realistic spot at the Meretz Party primary.

JOE KLAMAR/AFP via Getty Images

Iran pushes back against IAEA claims as US responds to nuclear deal proposal

As it reviews the latest US response about returning to the 2015 nuclear deal, Iran is refuting the International Atomic Energy Agency's claims about its previous nuclear activities.

ADEM ALTAN/AFP via Getty Images

Exam fiasco exposes rot in Turkish bureaucracy

The scandal surrounding a civil service exam has painted a grim picture of Turkey's bureaucratic corruption.

EMMANUEL DUNAND/AFP via Getty Images

Far-right platforms take shape in Israeli primaries

The Religious Zionism primaries show how far the national-religious stream has veered to the right.

People inspect the site where a US drone strike killed Maher al-Agal, an Islamic State leader, near the village of Khaltan, near Jindayris, northern Syria, July 12, 2022.

US airstrikes target bunkers used by Iran-linked militias in Syria

US President Joe Biden authorized the strikes in a bid to deter harassment of US troops in Iraq and Syria.

MOHAMMED ABED/AFP via Getty Images

Gazans call for probe into Islamic Jihad missiles that killed civilians

Many Gazans are asking where the Islamic Jihad movement's responsibility lies for the recent fighting.

A supporter of Iraqi Muslim Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr raises his portrait.

Sadrist protesters withdraw from Iraq's Judiciary after condemnation

Sadrist protesters stormed the Judiciary this morning, raising concerns over stability in Iraq.

Hossein Amir-Abdollahian in Bamako, Mali, Aug. 23, 2022, meets with Mali Foreign Minister Abdoulaye Diop.

Iran's FM seeks Africa ties to boost sanctions-hit economy

The Islamic Republic renewed the official line that it won't keep its battered economy waiting on the fate of the nuclear deal.