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Politics & Security

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (R) casts his ballot, next to his wife Sara

Explainer

From Oct. 7 inquiry to blocking Netanyahu: Eisenkot's bloc maps out Knesset agenda

Israel's opposition to advance anti-Netanyahu government measures as soon as Knesset convenes Tuesday, without waiting for a new cabinet to take shape.

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.

Latest News

Explainer

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

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)

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.

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

Israeli President Isaac Herzog meets with Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson (not pictured) inside Number 10 Downing Street, London, England, Nov. 23, 2021.

Israel rushes to de-escalate diplomatic crisis with Russia

Israeli President Isaac Herzog is now trying to discreetly resolve the diplomatic dispute between Moscow and Jerusalem so that the Jewish Agency can continue its activities there.

Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi meets Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic on July 19, 2022, in Belgrade.

Egypt, Serbia launch new chapter in relations amid war in Ukraine

Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi’s visit to Serbia opens a new chapter in old relations between Cairo and Belgrade in the midst of the Ukraine crisis and may bring the activity of the member-states of the Non-Aligned Movement to the forefront of international relations.

A demonstrator holds up a Sudanese flag during a protest demanding civilian rule in the "Street 40" of the Sudanese capital's twin city of Omdurman on Jan. 4, 2022.

US confirms first ambassador to Sudan in 25 years

John Godfrey has experience in the region and hopes to support efforts to return Sudan to a democratic transition, yet the leeway he will ultimately have remains to be seen.

Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, human rights minister of Iraq, speaks at the International Commission on Missing Persons, The Hague, Netherlands, Oct. 30, 2013.

Mohammed Shia al-Sudani nominated for Iraqi premiership

The Coordination Framework, which is the largest bloc in the parliament, has nominated Mohammed Shia al-Sudani for the prime minister position.

Iran's Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian (R) attends a press conference with Josep Borell.

Iran says nuclear deal's revival up to US

According to Iranian media, hopes are fading that the nuclear deal can be revived.

Denis Doyle/Getty Images

US focus of ire as Turkey threatens Syria‘s Kurds

Syrian Kurdish leader says Turkish intentions unclear.

SAFIN HAMED/AFP via Getty Images

Tourist massacre marks turning point in Turkish-Iraqi ties

Iraq’s major political actors have all condemned Turkey over a deadly attack on a tourist site in what many believe signal a major downturn in bilateral ties.

Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Regional Government Masrour Barzani (R) welcomes Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi, Erbil, Iraqi Kurdistan, Sept. 10, 2020.

Kadhimi, Barzani meet in Baghdad to address oil, budget issues

Masrour Barzani, prime minister of the Kurdistan Regional Government of Iraq, met July 24 with Iraqi officials in Baghdad, including Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi, reportedly discussing the establishment of a new energy government for the Kurdistan Region.

AL-MONITOR Staff

By AL-MONITOR Staff

FAYEZ NURELDINE/AFP via Getty Images

Biden's Yemen envoy heads to region to press for truce extension

US special envoy for Yemen Tim Lenderking will visit Riyadh and Amman for talks focused on renewing the truce set to expire on Aug. 2.

Amir Levy/Getty Images)Images

Israeli ultranationalist soars in polls

Public opinion polls show significant support for the Religious Zionism party running together with the far-right Jewish Power.

China's President Xi Jinping (L), Russia's President Vladimir Putin (2nd L), Brazil's President Jair Bolsonaro (C), India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi (2nd R) and South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa (R) attend a meeting with members of the Business Council and management of the New Development Bank during the BRICS Summit in Brasilia, Brazil, Nov. 14, 2019.

Sisi advances Egypt's bid for BRICS membership

President of the BRICS International Forum Purnima Anand revealed Egypt's interest in joining the group along with Saudi Arabia and Turkey, and the position is to be discussed at the BRICS summit scheduled for next year in South Africa.

Iraq politics

Coordination Framework establishes committee to select next Iraqi prime minister

The Coordination Framework, which became the largest Shiite bloc in the parliament after the withdrawal of Sadrists, have set up a committee to nominate the prime minister as a part of forming the next government.