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

politics and security cover image

Politics & Security

AFP via Getty Images

Analysis

Oman talks leave Israel unsure of Trump's endgame as missile threat persists

Israel and the United States are tightly coordinated on intelligence, but Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is apparently in the dark on President Donald Trump's intentions in Iran.

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

Turkish Presidential spokesperson Ibrahim Kalin gives a press conference following talks with Sweden and Finland over their bids to join NATO at the Presidential Complex in Ankara, on May 25, 2022. - Turkey on May 25 said the NATO accession process for Sweden and Finland would not move forward unless they addressed Ankara's security concerns, in talks with delegations from both Nordic states. NATO member Turkey has opposed the applications of Sweden and neighbouring Finland over what it considers leniency t

Turkey arrests two over alleged Mossad espionage ties: What to know

Turkish authorities accuse the suspects of providing intelligence for more than a decade, including technical data on communications equipment and attempting to infiltrate technological supply chains.

A person with a motorbike stands on the side of a road as US-led coalition plane operates at a base on Jan. 26, 2026 in Al-Shaddadi, Syria.

US troops pull out of Shaddadi base in Syria: What to know

The base has been a hub for American troops between the central city of Hasakah and the strategic Khabur River Valley, once the gateway to the Islamic State's oil-producing heartland.

Jared Szuba

In Washington, DC, reporting on defense, national security, military

A picture shows a view of a street with access to a detention center under the Adliyeh (Palace of Justice) bridge (L) of Lebanon's capital Beirut, on Aug. 7, 2022.

Lebanon, Syria sign deal to transfer 300 Syrian prisoners: What we know

Lebanon and Syria signed a deal to transfer more than 300 convicted Syrians held in Lebanese prisons to their home country to complete their sentences.

Latest News

Iranian FM says US-Iran nuclear talks in Oman 'a good start'

Burak Kara/Getty Images

Analysis

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

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.

Elizabeth Hagedorn

By Elizabeth Hagedorn

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

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

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.

Analysis

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

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

Rina Bassist

By Rina Bassist

In Paris, reporting on Israeli politics and European affairs

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

People flee their neighborhoods amid fighting between the army and paramilitaries, following the collapse of a 24-hour truce, Khartoum, Sudan, April 19, 2023.

Erdogan speaks with warring sides in Sudan, calls for truce before Eid

Ankara is hoping to strike a conciliation between the sides before the Eid al-Fitr holiday.

Yemenis wait outside a hospital after a stampede during charity distribution left at least 85 people dead and over 300 injured, Sanaa, Yemen, early April 20, 2023.

Stampede in Yemen at Ramadan charity event kills at least 78

The victims were waiting to receive donations of about $9 each in the city of Sanaa.

Syria Saudi

Analysis

The tipping point of Arab normalization with Syria

If the once-pariah state is welcomed back into the Arab League, the repercussions will stretch across Russia, Turkey, Iran and beyond.

Gilles Kepel

By Gilles Kepel

The head of Tunisia's Islamist movement Ennahdha Rached Ghannouchi greets supporters upon arrival to a police station in Tunis on Feb. 21, 2023, in compliance to the summons of an investigating judge.

US warns of 'troubling escalation' in Tunisia after Ghannouchi arrest

The State Department expressed alarm over the stifling of political activity under Tunisia's increasingly authoritarian president, Kais Saied.

Sudan

Second Sudan cease-fire goes into effect with nearly 300 killed

The international community has been calling on the military and rival forces to stop the fighting as the death toll rises.

Muhammed Yakut

Turkey arrests journalist over 'sleaze' charges against government

Serdar Akinan’s alleged crime was to share and comment on videos accusing numerous members of the ruling party and their business cronies of corruption and engaging in extramarital sex.

A Lebanese demonstrator returns a tear gas canister that was fired by security forces during a protest demanding better pay and living conditions in the capital Beirut on April 18, 2023. - Lebanese security forces fired tear gas at protesters demonstrating in Beirut on Wednesday against deteriorating living conditions, as the currency plummeted to new lows against the dollar. (Photo by ANWAR AMRO / AFP) (Photo by ANWAR AMRO/AFP via Getty Images)

Lebanon raises minimum wage from $27 to $92 a month

Hundreds of retired soldiers protested outside government headquarters as the Cabinet discussed an increase in public sector salaries.

BULENT KILIC/AFP via Getty Images

Is Turkey’s shutdown of Hatay airport designed to help Erdogan in polls?

Hatay's mayor says the continuing halt of flights mean evacuees are unable to return for May 14 polls amid wider concern for election security.

An Azerbaijani national flag flies next to the mediaeval Khudaferin bridge in Jebrayil district at the country's border with Iran - the territories recaptured from Armenian forces in fierce clashes over the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region that were under Armenian separatists' control for nearly three decades, on December 9, 2020. (Photo by STRINGER / AFP) (Photo by STRINGER/AFP via Getty Images)

Signaling Iran, Israel's FM visits Azerbaijan, will open embassy in Turkmenistan

Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen is holding meetings in Azerbaijan before traveling to Turkmenistan, where he will inaugurate Israel’s embassy.

HUSSEIN FALEH/AFP via Getty Images

Iraqi religious official dies of heart attack following escape from prison

Saad Kumbesh, the former head of Iraq's Sunni waqf, died after he was caught by police. He was serving time for corruption before his escape.

Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi watches combat drones alongside high-ranking officials and commanders during a military parade marking the country's annual army day in Tehran on April 18, 2023.

Breaking | Last Updated: April 19, 2023, 3:23 pm

New US sanctions target network supporting Iran's drone program

Since September, the Biden administration has issued multiple rounds of sanctions targeting Iran’s drone and missile programs.

OZAN KOSE/AFP via Getty Images

Turkey detains six Islamic State, al-Qaeda suspects

Turkey has stepped up its security operations against terrorist groups, ahead of the decisive May 14 elections.