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Politics & Security

US President Donald Trump walks to board Marine One on the Ellipse near the White House in Washington, DC, on July 31, 2026. President Trump is traveling to Camp David in Maryland to hold a cabinet meeting and later to Bedminster, New Jersey to spend the weekend at his golf club. (Photo by Oliver Contreras / AFP via Getty Images)

Analysis

No Iran commitment, no Trump endorsement: Netanyahu leaves US empty-handed

The Israeli prime minister described Tuesday's meeting with US President Donald Trump was the "best ever," but diplomatic sources say he left the Washington with little tangibles.

In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense

Patriot

Exclusive

US nears full withdrawal from Iraq as bases in Kurdistan Region face attacks from Iran, proxies

Patriot air-defense systems that detect and shoot down incoming missiles and drones have already been removed, sources told Al-Monitor.

Amberin Zaman

By Amberin Zaman

Reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture

A demonstrator carries a CHP flag during a protest in Izmir, Turkey, on May 24, 2026.

Explainer

What’s behind Turkey’s latest wave of arrests against opposition mayors?

The operations come as Ozgur Ozel’s newly formed party gains momentum.

Latest News

Iran’s new calculus: Strike first, talk later

A woman stands next to Iranian-made Zolfaghar missiles displayed at Azadi Square in Tehran on July 24, 2026.

Turkey, Pakistan among 14 countries backing Saudi Arabia's anti-Houthi Red Sea alliance

A Saudi navy ship is pictured docked at King Faisal navy base in Jeddah before the departure of a team to Port Sudan to help with the evacuation efforts of people fleeing Sudan, on April 29, 2023.

Turkey ready to participate in post-UNIFIL force in Lebanon, Erdogan tells Aoun

Erdogan and Aoun

Houthis deny responsibility for drone attack hitting Egypt's Damietta Port

A ship transits the Suez Canal towards the Red Sea on Jan. 10, 2024 in Ismailia, Egypt.

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

Kurdish youths holds a poster of jailed PKK militant group leader Abdullah Ocalan during Newroz celebrations, Diyarbakir, Turkey, March 21, 2025.

Turkey: PKK disarmament could begin within days, Erdogan’s party says

The ruling party’s spokesperson said the disarmament process is imminent amid reports of a looming “goodwill” ceremony expected from the Kurdish militant group in early July.

Aviation Ordnancemen assigned to "The Swordsmen" of Fighter Squadron Thirty Two (VF-32) transfer 2,000-pound Joint Directional Attack Munition (JDAMs).

US approves over $500M arms sale to Israel ahead of Netanyahu visit

The State Department has greenlit $500 million worth of JDAM guidance kits for Israeli bombs, as at least 80 people were reportedly killed by Israeli military gunfire and airstrikes across the Gaza Strip on Monday.

Israeli ambassador to the US Ron Dermer speaks at the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) policy conference in Washington, DC on March 4, 2018.

Israel weighs Gaza ceasefire, Abraham Accords expansion as Dermer heads to Washington

Israel's Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer's trip comes amid a US push for a broader regional deal linking Gaza, Iran and normalization with Arab states.

President Donald Trump, joined by Sen. John Barrasso (R-WY), Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-LA) and other lawmakers, holds up an executive order after signing a series of bills related to California’s vehicle emissions standards during an event in the East Room of the White House on June 12, 2025 in Washington, DC.

Trump signs executive order ending decades-old Syria sanctions

The sweeping directive unwinds layers of sanctions but maintains Syria's designation as a state sponsor of terrorism.

Debris is scattered across the floor at Al-Baqa cafeteria which was devastated in an Israeli strike on the Gaza City seafront on June 30, 2025.

Israeli strike on cafe in Gaza kills at least 33, medics say: What to know

The Israeli military on Monday stepped up its operations in Gaza, calling for Palestinians to evacuate large areas of the north and carrying out fresh strikes, including one on a beachfront cafe.

Pictures of Lebanese Hezbollah's slain leader Hashem Safieddine (L) and Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) commander Qassem Soleimani (2nd-L) and others during a memorial vigil mourning slain members of the IRGC and scientists killed in recent Israeli airstrikes, outside the Iranian embassy headquarters in Baghdad on June 28, 2025. Iran held a state funeral service on June 28 for around 60 people, including its military commanders, killed in its war with Israel, after Tehran's top diplomat cond

Israel strikes Lebanon as pressure mounts in Beirut to disarm Hezbollah

The US demands that the Lebanese cabinet approve a plan on the disarmament of Hezbollah as Israeli attacks in south Lebanon continue despite a ceasefire.

Jordanian fans cheer for their team during the FIBA Basketball World Cup group C match between Jordan and New Zealand at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City, suburban Manila on August 28, 2023. (Photo by Ted ALJIBE / AFP) (Photo by TED ALJIBE/AFP via Getty Images)

Jordan refuses to play Israel in FIBA Basketball World Cup: What to know

Amid Israel’s military campaign in Gaza, an international backlash is affecting the country’s participation in global sports competitions.

US Air Force F-35A performs during an exhibition flight demonstration as part of the 55th edition of the International Paris Air Show (Salon international de l'aeronautique et de l'espace - SIAE) at the ParisLe Bourget Airport, in Le Bourget, north of Paris on June 19, 2025. (Photo by Roy ISSA / AFP) (Photo by ROY ISSA/AFP via Getty Images)

US ambassador to Turkey says F-35 issue to be resolved 'by year-end'

The new US ambassador to Ankara says that Congress is open to taking a fresh look at the F-35 issue.

Firefighters spray water to extinguish flames in a forest in Izmir, Turkey, Aug. 16, 2024.

Wildfires spread across Turkey’s tourism hub Izmir amid regionwide heat wave

Wildfires rage in Turkey’s tourist heartland, forcing airport closures and evacuations amid fierce winds.

The sun sets behind overhead power lines in Kuwait City as the Kuwaiti Ministry of Electricity requested that citizens ration their electricity usage at peak times due to outages, on June 19, 2024.

Analysis

Kuwait's heatwaves, high demand strain fragile power grid: What to know

Amid rising temperatures and increasing demand, Kuwait's energy crisis is forcing authorities to seek alternatives and consider reforms.

Sebastian Castelier

By Sebastian Castelier

In Dubai, reporting on regional business