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

politics and security cover image

Politics & Security

Explainer

Guterres visit to Cyprus revives frozen diplomacy amid regional tension

The first visit to Cyprus by a UN chief in more than 16 years aimed at testing waters for resumption of UN-led talks amid growing urgency to address the island’s division.

Sudan's de facto leader and armed forces chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan greets supporters in Port Sudan, Dec. 29, 2024.

Analysis

Amid realignment with Egypt, Turkey steps up support for Sudan’s Burhan

Turkey has been intensifying engagement with the Sudanese army leader as Red Sea security concerns grow and to protect its interests in the broader Africa region.

Barin Kayaoglu

By Barin Kayaoglu

In Ankara, reporting on geopolitics and national security

Palestinian Hamas militants arrive to secure the area as Egyptian workers accompanied by members of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), search for the last two remaining bodies of hostages -an Israeli soldier and a Thai national- from under the rubble of the Jabalia refugee camp, in the northern of Gaza Strip on Dec. 1, 2025.

Analysis

How Hamas disarmament deal may test Iran's regional strategy

A possible Hamas decision to disarm would represent more than a Gaza development, testing Iran's decades-old strategy of projecting power through regional allies.

A correspondent in Tehran

By A correspondent in Tehran

In Tehran, reporting on politics

Mourners carry one of the bodies of members of Iraq's Hashed al-Shaabi, or Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF) who were killed earlier in Diyala in central Iraq by US-Saudi strikes, during the funeral in Baghdad on July 29, 2026. The US-Saudi strikes killed at least 20 militants, including Iranians, according to the Hashed al-Shaabi. The US and Saudi Arabia said the strikes were in response to attacks on US forces and Saudi oil facilities. (Photo by murtadha ridha / AFP via Getty Images) /

Analysis

Renewed Iraq attacks test Zaidi’s push to disarm Iran-backed militias

An attempt by Iraqi government forces to seize weapons belonging to an Iranian-backed faction encountered resistance, raising questions about Prime Minister Ali Zaidi’s pledge to disarm militias by Sept. 30.

Mustafa Salim

By Mustafa Salim

Latest News

Analysis

Iran-linked militias seek to draw Iraq into regional war

Fighters lift flags of Iraq and paramilitary groups, including al-Nujaba and Kataib Hezbollah, during a funeral in Baghdad for five militants killed a day earlier in a US strike in northern Iraq, on Dec. 4, 2023.

Week in Review

By Week in Review

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

Turkey protest

Turkish court rejects appeal to release Imamoglu as protests persist

The Istanbul mayor’s lawyers appealed his arrest last week, saying that there was no flight risk for the main opposition presidential contender.

Sharaa

Lebanon’s PM Nawaf Salam makes first Syria visit, meets Sharaa as border tensions loom

The visit is the latest sign of an apparent effort to improve ties between Syria and Lebanon after the fall of the Assad regime.

The Soloturk aerobatic demonstration team of the Turkish Air Force flies an F-16 aircraft over Anitkabir, the mausoleum of Turkish Republic's Founder Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, during celebrations to mark the 100th anniversary of the Republic of Turkey in Ankara, on October 29, 2023. Turkey marked its centenary as a post-Ottoman republic on October 29, 2023, with somewhat muted celebrations held in the shadow of Israel's escalating war with Hamas militants in Gaza. (Photo by Adem ALTAN / AFP) (Photo by ADEM ALT

Analysis

With F-35, Eurofighter jets on table, Turkey cools off on F-16 deal

With Eurofighters available and President Donald Trump back in office, Ankara is reconsidering the urgency of its $23 billion F-16 deal with the United States.

Barin Kayaoglu

By Barin Kayaoglu

In Ankara, reporting on geopolitics and national security

(COMBO) This combination of pictures created on April 09, 2025 shows US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff after a meeting with Russian officials at Diriyah Palace, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on February 18, 2025 (L); and Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi speaking to AFP during an interview at the Iranian consulate in Jeddah on March 7, 2025. Iran said on April 9 a new nuclear deal could be agreed with the United States provided Tehran's longtime adversary shows sufficient goodwill in upcoming talks, as Is

First US-Iran talks in years seen as 'positive' as hard-liners cry treason

While the Iranian foreign minister struck a positive note after the Oman meeting, he had to face a barrage of ferocious criticism from the country's hard-line camp for engaging with "the Great Satan."

Mazloum Kobane

Exclusive

Syrian Kurd commander: Aleppo power-sharing deal could be model for nation

In his first interview since signing a landmark agreement with Syrian interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa, SDF commander General Mazloum Kobane speaks about ties with the transitional government in Damascus, the future of US troops in the region, and notes an "atmosphere of stability" amid a burgeoning detente with Turkey.

Amberin Zaman

By Amberin Zaman

Reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture

TOPSHOT - France's President Emmanuel Macron (R) shares a laugh with Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (L) ahead of a round table as part of the European Political Community Summit in Budapest, on November 7, 2024. (Photo by Ludovic MARIN / AFP) (Photo by LUDOVIC MARIN/AFP via Getty Images)

Analysis

France recalibrates Turkey ties as east Med dynamics shift: What to know

After years of strain between France and Turkey, the two countries seem to be seeking rapprochement on regional issues.

Jonathan Fenton-Harvey

By Jonathan Fenton-Harvey

In London, reporting on North Africa and Gulf politics

Ami Ayalon, a candidate for the Israeli Labor Party leadership, arrives to vote in the second and decisive round of party primaries on June 12, 2007, in Geva Carmel, northern Israel.

Interview

Ayalon: Netanyahu firing Shin Bet chief to shield inner circle from Qatar probe

Former Shin Bet chief Ami Ayalon accuses Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of endangering Israel’s democracy by going after the country’s gatekeepers, such as current Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar.

Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa arrives to the Antalya Diplomacy Forum on April 11, 2025.

Syria’s Sharaa looks to boost ties with Turkey, Azerbaijan during Antalya visit

The new Syrian president was seeking international recognition at the Turkish forum, while Saudi and other Arab leaders met to discuss Gaza.

Syrian Kurds

Interview

Syria's Kurds to demand federalism in tactical push for decentralization

Syrian Kurdish groups are uniting to push for federalism and constitutional guarantees of Kurdish rights in talks with Damascus, despite skepticism about interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa’s willingness to accept decentralization

Mohammed Ismail

Mohammed Ismail

President of the Kurdistan National Council

People cheers as Sudan's de facto leader, armed forces chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan arrives at the market in Port Sudan on December 29, 2024. (Photo by AFP) (Photo by -/AFP via Getty Images)

Sudan’s Burhan arrives in Turkey on heels of Eritrea visit, key victories

The talks come after a major military victory for the Sudanese army in Khartoum against the Rapid Support Forces, who are currently attempting to cement their stronghold in Darfur.

A general view shows the northern collapsed section of the silos in the Port of Beirut, on Aug. 23, 2022 in Beirut, Lebanon.

Lebanon grills former security chiefs over Beirut port blast: What we know

The probe into the explosion caused by thousands of tons of improperly stored ammonium nitrate at the port has stalled for the past four years due to political interference in the judiciary.

An Israeli military vehicle moves through a street in Balata refugee camp, east of Nablus, West Bank, Oct. 1, 2024.

Israel arrests 6 over Turkey money transfer scheme: What we know

The announcement of the indictments comes as Israel over the past week has expanded its operations in the West Bank.