Will Lebanon swap prisoners with IS, Jabhat al-Nusra?

The families of kidnapped Lebanese soldiers have been calling on the government to agree to a prisoner exchange to secure their relatives’ release, but a number of obstacles stand in the way.

Saudi Arabia

How Saudi Arabia is distancing itself from Islamic State

While Saudi Arabia has confronted the Islamic State, the country has denied there is any connection between its state religion and the jihadist group.

Legacy: Gulf

Israeli academics to Netanyahu: accept Arab Initiative

Alex Mintz, director of the Institute for Policy and Strategy at the Interdisciplinary Center in Herzliya, explains that accepting the Arab Initiative “with reservations” is needed, as it “would weaken Hamas and the Iranian axis” while opening regional negotiations.

Saudi Arabia

Hezbollah parliamentarian: We will defend Lebanon from IS

In an exclusive interview with Al-Monitor, Hezbollah lawmaker Ali Fayyad said Lebanon was under direct threat from the Islamic State and that Hezbollah stood ready to confront it.

Saudi Arabia

Iranian-Saudi agreement on Iraq may be near

While key issues remain, Iran and Saudi Arabia are reportedly close to agreeing on the formation of an Iraqi government, clearing the way to focus on another regional crisis.

Saudi Arabia

Hariri’s visit sign of Iranian-Saudi rapprochement

Saad Hariri's return to Lebanon coincided with a rapprochement between Iran and Saudi Arabia, and appears to be part of Riyadh's plan to invest in fighting terrorism and promoting moderate Islam.

Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia seeks Yemen reconciliation to subdue Houthis

After months of fierce fighting in Omran, the city fell under the control of armed Houthis, while Saudi Arabia was seeking to achieve national reconciliation in Yemen.

Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia toughens stance on jihadist groups

Saudi Arabia is responding to widespread accusations that it is supporting extremist groups by publicly toughening its rhetoric against jihadists.

Saudi Arabia

Could Maliki's departure spur Lebanon’s presidential election?

Many Lebanese are looking for signs that the departure of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki in Iraq will lead to progress in Lebanon's presidential race, but diplomatic sources are quick to downplay any such hopes.

Saudi Arabia

Can Egypt, Saudi Arabia, UAE form Arab security alliance?

With the Islamic State (IS) out to change the regional order, Gulf states ought to establish a security alliance to prevent this from happening.

Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia and the third Gaza war

Saudi Arabia has remained quiet during the current Gaza war, working instead through Egypt.

Saudi Arabia

UAE tries to scuttle Qatar-Saudi reconciliation

There are signs that ties between Qatar and Saudi Arabia are improving, but the United Arab Emirates is maintaining a hard-line position on Doha, threatening Gulf reconciliation.

Saudi Arabia