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

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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

US President Joe Biden takes notes while an usher serves coffee during the Jeddah Security and Development Summit (GCC+3) at a hotel in Saudi Arabia's Red Sea coastal city of Jeddah on July 16, 2022.

Live Updates: Biden at GCC summit in Saudi Arabia 'US is not going anywhere'

Follow along for the latest updates on the US president's trip to Israel, the West Bank and Saudi Arabia.

US President Joe Biden (C-L) takes part in a working session with Saudi Arabias Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (C-R) at the Al Salam Royal Palace in the Saudi coastal city of Jeddah, on July 15, 2022.

Analysis

Biden visit to Israel a ‘mixed bag’ because of differences on Iran

Meeting between US and Palestinian presidents described as ‘warm’; UAE opts out of anti-Iran alliance; Biden agenda may include Saudi-American families banned from traveling.

Week in Review

By Week in Review

US President Joe Biden (C) is received by Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas (R) during a welcome ceremony at the Palestinian Muqataa Presidential Compound in the city of Bethlehem in the occupied West Bank on July 15, 2022.

Biden, Abbas look to reset US-Palestinian ties to pre-Trump era

The meeting between the US and Palestinian presidents was described as "warm," exceeding low expectations.

Meeting

Analysis

Families of Americans held in Saudi Arabia pin hopes on Biden visit

US families separated by punitive travel bans hope President Joe Biden will use his visit to secure the release of their loved ones.

Elizabeth Hagedorn

By Elizabeth Hagedorn

In Washington, DC, reporting on diplomacy, regional politics, human rights

JACK GUEZ/AFP via Getty Images

Israel hails Saudi agreement to open skies to all airlines

Riyadh has decided to allow flights from Israel to cross Saudi airspace, significantly cutting flight times to the Far East.

AMER HILABI/AFP via Getty Images

Hope, despair in Yemen as Biden travels to Saudi Arabia

Ahead of the US president's Saudi trip, Yemenis are feeling a mixture of optimism and gloom about its likely benefits for them.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog, US President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid at the opening of the Maccabiah Games, Teddy Stadium, Jerusalem, July 14, 2022.

Biden captures Israeli hearts

On the strategic level, the visit of US President Joe Biden to Israel generated mixed results, but on the level of image and intimacy, Biden captured the hearts of Israeli citizens.

Turkish military tanks drive past the town of Ariha on the M4 highway in Syria's rebel-held northwestern Idlib province on May 7, 2020.

Pentagon warns Turkey against renewed invasion of Syria

A US defense official called for a political process to end Turkey's perpetual battles with Kurdish militants.

Tunisia's President Kais Saied (C-R) receives Algeria's President Abdelmajid Tebboune (C-L) as the latter arrives at Tunis-Carthage International Airport, Tunis, Tunisia, Dec. 15, 2021.

Will Tunisia, Algeria relations recover through land border reopening?

Several issues, including gas and the dispute over the Western Sahara, continue to linger over the tense Algerian-Tunisian relations, despite the reopening of the land borders between the two countries.

Members of Syria's top jihadist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham.

HTS arrests members of little-known Syrian group behind attacks against Turkish army in Idlib

Hayat Tahrir al-Sham announced that it arrested most members of the Ansar Abu Bakr al-Siddiq Brigade, a small, little-known jihadist group that is hostile to HTS and has repeatedly targeted Turkish forces in Idlib.

U.S. President Joe Biden meets Israeli singer Yuval Dayan on July 14, 2022.

Why did Israeli singer Yuval Dayan refuse to shake Biden’s hand?

The religious Jewish singer declined the US president's outstretched hand during his visit to Israel, but she did not mean to offend him.

AL-MONITOR Staff

By AL-MONITOR Staff

Hamid Nouri

Tehran slams Sweden over 'political' verdict against ex-official

Already holding two Swedish nationals on death row, Iran warned that the verdict by a Stockholm court could harm bilateral ties.