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

politics and security cover image

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

INA FASSBENDER/AFP via Getty Images

Turkey blocks VOA, Deutsche Welle in pre-election media clampdown

The ban came after the websites failed to apply for licenses that would allow government to oversee their content.

JALAA MAREY/AFP via Getty Images

Iran's chief negotiator warns Israel against war preparations

The raging war of words coincided with protracted diplomacy over the revival of the Iran nuclear deal, which Israel has relentlessly criticized.

Women and a child queue to receive humanitarian aid packages at the Kurdish-run al-Hol camp.

Iraq’s northwest wary as IS executions, cross-border movement continue

The Islamic State continues to target local tribes and others in desert areas of Iraq and across the border in Syria, as more Iraqi nationals with alleged IS links are moved to an IDP camp in northwestern Iraq.

Amos Ben Gershom/GPO

Lapid, Macron discuss Hezbollah, Iranian nuclear deal in Paris

On his first trip abroad as prime minister, Yair Lapid met at the Elysée Palace in Paris with French President Emmanuel Macron to discuss Lebanon, Hezbollah and Iran.

Sudanese demonstrators perform the Friday noon prayers in the southern area of Khartoum on July 1, 2022.

Sudan-Ethiopia conflict escalates over disputed border

The killing of seven Sudanese soldiers and one civilian in Ethiopian territory and an attack in the disputed Al Fashaga also takes place as the third filling of the giant Nile dam nears.

MAHMOUD ZAYYAT/AFP via Getty Images

Hamas heads multi-faction effort to challenge Palestinian Authority

Various major Palestinian factions are working together on a new platform to challenge Fatah's dominance of the Palestine Liberation Organization.

Israeli Minister of Foreign Affairs Yair Lapid (L) speaks to head of Israel's conservative Islamic Raam party Mansour Abbas.

Israeli Arab Muslim party aspires to be part of the next new coalition

Having made history as the first Arab party to be part of the coalition, Muslim Ra’am says it hopes to be part of whatever coalition will be established after the Nov. 1 elections.

The beach in Beit Lahia looks out on the towers of an Israeli power plant in the city of Ashkelon, Gaza Strip, Dec. 15, 2021.

Egypt ready to help with Gaza Marine natural gas field

Palestnian officials claim the project has been complicated by Israel, which controls the coastal waters off Gaza.

Abu Mari, a Syrian Bedouin livestock farmer who raises camels, goats and sheep, tends his flock in the village of Ghezlaniah, in the countryside of the Badia region, southeast of Damascus, Syria, April 20, 2021.

Syrian forces crack down on Islamic State in Syrian desert

The Syrian government forces are waging a revenge war against the Islamic State in the Syrian desert amid escalating attacks.

Xue Bing (C), China's special envoy to the Horn of Africa, speaks as Redwan Hussein, national security adviser to the prime minister of Ethiopia looks on during the first Horn of Africa peace conference, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, June 20, 2022.

Nile dispute absent from first peace conference led by China to settle conflicts in Horn of Africa

China avoided the controversial GERD dispute between Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia during the first peace conference held in Addis Ababa to settle the disputes plaguing the Horn of Africa.

ASHRAF SHAZLY/AFP via Getty Images

Sudan extradites wanted Muslim Brotherhood affiliates to Egypt

Sudan has handed over to Egypt several men wanted for their alleged ties to the Muslim Brotherhood.

Egypt's members of parliament attend a session in Cairo on April 16, 2019.

Egypt's opposition steps up demands for release of prisoners ahead of national dialogue

With Egypt's proposed national dialogue set to open in the coming days, opposition figures are stepping up demands for the release of political detainees.