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Politics & Security

An Iranian man walks past an anti-US and anti-Israel banner hanging on a building in Palestine Square in Tehran on Jan. 27, 2026.

Analysis

From 'help is on the way' to nuclear talks, Iranians wary of Trump's shift

After Trump repeatedly pledged to hold Tehran accountable for its protest crackdown, many Iranians are still waiting for him to make good on his promises.

Elizabeth Hagedorn

By Elizabeth Hagedorn

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

Ali Shamkhani, the secretary of the Supreme National Security Council of Iran, attends a meeting with the diplomatic adviser to the French president, in the Iranian capital Tehran, on July 10, 2019.

Iran names Ali Shamkhani head of Defense Council: What to know

Ali Shamkhani, a longtime security official, recently dismissed the idea of sending enriched uranium abroad and expressed a degree of hope about the upcoming negotiations with the US.

The commander of CENTCOM, Admiral Brad Cooper, visited Israel as the official guest of Chief of the General Staff Eyal Zamir.

Analysis

As US-Iran talks set to begin, Israel struggles to shape Trump's options

With US-Iran scheduled for Friday in Oman, Israel finds itself faced with two opposing options: press Washington to strike Iranian targets, or urge it to insist on a comprehensive deal.

Rina Bassist

By Rina Bassist

In Paris, reporting on Israeli politics and European affairs

An emergency vehicle drives through flood waters as residents are evacuated and relocated to other towns as preventive and emergency evacuations are carried out to move residents living near flood-prone areas following the weather alert and the rise in the water level of the Loukkos River, with flooding expected in the coming days, in Ksar El Kebir on Feb. 1, 2026.

Storm Leonardo displaces 140,000 as heavy floods hit northern Morocco

Heavy rains from the storm have flooded northern Morocco, prompting mass evacuations and straining emergency services.

Latest News

Iran's IRGC seizes two tankers in Gulf over alleged oil smuggling

A picture obtained by AFP from the Iranian news agency Tasnim on Jan. 4, 2021, shows the South Korean-flagged tanker being escorted by Iran's Revolutionary Guards navy after being seized in the Gulf.

Washington Post cuts 30% of staff, guts foreign desk, Mideast team: What to know

A man exits the Washington Post office building in Washington, DC, on Feb. 4, 2026.

Feature

Syrian Kurds say US ignored pleas for help as ISIS detainees turned on them in al-Hol

Members of Syrian security forces at the entrance of the al-Hol camp in the desert region of Hasakah province which holds around 24,000 people, including some 6,200 women and children from around 40 nationalities on Jan. 21, 2026 in Al Hasakah, Syria.

Amberin Zaman

By Amberin Zaman

Reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture

Russian delegation in Syria to preserve military bases: What to know

A Russian military Ilyushin Il-76 strategic airlift aircraft takes off from Qamishli International Airport in northeastern Syria's Hasakah province on January 27, 2026. Russia withdrew troops and equipment on January 27 from the airport in Kurdish-held northeast Syria where its forces were based, as Kurdish forces who once controlled swathes of territory in the country's north and east have withdrawn in the face of military pressure of Syrian army advance while the country's new Islamist authorities seek to

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

his combination of pictures created on April 18, 2023 shows Sudan's army chief, Lieutenant-General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan (L), in Juba on October, 14, 2019 and Mohamed Hamdan Daglo (R), who commands the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), addressing the media upon his return from Russia at Khartoum airport on March 2, 2022. - Explosions rocked the Sudanese capital Khartoum on April 18, 2023 as fighting that has claimed nearly 200 lives entered a fourth day, despite growing (Photo by Akuot Chol and Ashr

Washington ignored warnings on Sudan days before descent into chaos

Senate lawmakers called for a new approach after State Department officials led by Africa bureau director Molly Phee repeatedly downplayed intel indicating the country’s rival generals were heading for a violent confrontation.

Coordinator for Strategic Communications at the National Security Council John Kirby.

White House previews new moves against Iran's drone transfers to Russia

Iran has sent more than 400 armed drones to Russia since August and is seeking billions of dollars worth of military equipment in return, a White House official said Monday.

People form a convoy as they celebrate in support of the Sudanese armed forces in Khartoum on May 12, 2023.

Sudan: 280 killed as fighting rages in West Darfur

The conflict in war-torn Geneina is ethnic in dimension and predates the current conflict between the Sudanese armed forces and the rebel Rapid Support Forces.

Israel's Foreign Minister Eli Cohen meets with Sweden's Foreign Minister Tobias Billstrom in Stockhold, May 15, 2023.

Israeli FM in Sweden, applauds move to blacklist Iran's IRGC

Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen has turned a new page in bilateral relations with Sweden, hoping to cooperate on economic opportunities as well as battle antisemitism and the Iranian regime.

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan (R), accompanied by his wife Ermine Erdogan (L), waves to supporters at the AK Party headquarters in Ankara, Turkey May 15, 2023.

Erdogan proves unbeatable as Turkey heads for runoff

The latest count from Turkey's Supreme Electoral Board shows Erdogan with 49.40% of ballots cast versus 44.96% for Kilicdaroglu, indicating the country is set for a runoff on May 28.

This picture taken on on Feb. 1, 2021 shows a view of the downtown Dubai skyline, with Burj Khalifa, as seen from the Dubai Frame vantage point.

Lebanon: Death of citizen in UAE custody sparks controversy

The death of a Lebanese businessman in the custody of UAE authorities risks further straining relations between the two countries.

ISMAEL ADNAN/AFP via Getty Images

Iraq's parliament speaker Halbousi says Sunni community ‘cannot go back to the past'

In an exclusive interview with Al-Monitor, Iraq's parliament speaker discussed the turnaround among Iraqi Sunnis, relations with Iraq’s neighbors and why young Iraqis expect results.

Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a joint press conference with his Iranian and Turkish counterparts following their summit in Tehran on July 19, 2022. (Photo by Grigory SYSOYEV / SPUTNIK / AFP) (Photo by GRIGORY SYSOYEV/SPUTNIK/AFP via Getty Images)

Analysis

Israeli officials visited Russia, discussed Iran on rare trip

Israel is trying to have it both ways by increasing its assistance to Ukraine while preserving its security ties with Russia.

Rina Bassist

By Rina Bassist

In Paris, reporting on Israeli politics and European affairs

People walk past under the posters of Kemal Kilicdaroglu, the presidential candidate of the Main Opposition alliance and Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at Taksim Square on May 10, 2023 in Istanbul, Turkey. On May 14th, Turkey’s President Erdogan will face his biggest electoral test as the country goes to the polls in the country’s general election. Erdogan has been in power for more than two decades -- first as prime minister, than as president -- but his popularity has recently taken a hit due to

Breaking | Last Updated: May 15, 2023, 12:03 pm

Turkey heads to runoff elections between Erdogan, Kilicdaroglu

Incumbent President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his top rival Kemal Kilicdaroglu will face each other in the runoff on May 28 after a knife-edge race on Sunday.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov meets with Sudan’s paramilitary commander Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo also known as Hemedti in Khartoum, Sudan in February 2023. - Russian Foreign Ministry

Sudan war complicates Russia's port plans, strains Wagner ties in Libya

A couple walks past billboards with the portrait of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (L) and with the portrait of Republican People's Party (CHP) leader and presidential candidate, Kemal Kilicdaroglu (R) in Sanliurfa, south-eastern Turkey on April 28, 2023. (Photo by OZAN KOSE / AFP) (Photo by OZAN KOSE/AFP via Getty Images)

Turkey Elections: Runoff election called as Erdogan faces biggest challenge from Kilicdaroglu

Turkish President Erdogan has finished ahead of main opposition leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu as both frontrunners are preparing to face each other in the runoff.

A plume of smoke rises above buildings during an Israeli strike east of Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip, on May 11, 2023. Israel announced it was targeting rocket launch sites of the militant group Islamic Jihad. Gaza's health ministry said five people were killed, a day after Israeli strikes on the Palestinian territory left 15 dead. (Photo by SAID KHATIB / AFP) (Photo by SAID KHATIB/AFP via Getty Images)

Breaking | Last Updated: May 14, 2023, 12:00 am

Gaza cease-fire agreement reached between Israel, Islamic Jihad

Five days after the breakout of violence on the Gaza border, Israel and the Islamic Jihad reached a cease-fire agreement, mediated by Egypt.