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

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Politics & Security

Qais al-Khazali (L), head of the Asaib Ahl al-Haq group, stands along with former Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki after casting their ballots at a polling station in Baghdad on Nov. 11, 2025.

Split over Maliki, Iraq’s Shiite bloc delays PM vote as deadline nears: What to know

Two other candidates have emerged as alternatives to Coordination Framework nominee and former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, who is openly opposed by the Trump administration.

Iranian Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi speaks at a candidates' registration office in Tehran on May 30, 2024, during the first day of registration ahead of the country's presidential election.

Who is Ahmad Vahidi, IRGC chief and hard-liner against nuclear compromise?

A longtime Revolutionary Guard insider with strong ties to Iran’s security apparatus and proxy network, Ahmad Vahidi has taken over the IRGC at a moment of crisis, with some reports suggesting he is playing an outsized role in the country’s decision-making.

President of Syria Ahmed al-Shara arrives for the 80th session of the UN’s General Assembly (UNGA) at UN Headquarters on Sept. 23, 2025 in New York City.

Analysis

'Is it worth it?' Syria's Sharaa faces backlash over Missy Elliott performance

Backlash erupts after dancers perform to Missy Elliott’s “Work It,” exposing the tightrope between Sharaa’s outreach to the West and pressure from his Islamist base.

Amberin Zaman

By Amberin Zaman

Reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture

Fishing and cargo ships and ferries are pictured in the Gulf off the Iranian port city of Bandar Abbas, which is the main base of the Islamic Republic's navy and has a strategic position on the Strait of Hormuz, on April 29, 2019.

Iran seizes two cargo ships in Hormuz after Trump extends ceasefire

The IRGC Navy’s seizure of two cargo vessels follows US Navy interdictions of two Iran-linked crude oil tankers in the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean earlier this week.

Latest News

Iran executes 14th person since war over alleged Mossad ties: What to know

Mahdi Farid, who was convicted of espionage for Israel’s Mossad, was executed after his death sentence was upheld by Iran’s Supreme Court, Tehran, Iran, April 22, 2026.

Trump extends ceasefire with Iran ‘until discussions concluded’

President Donald Trump walks toward reporters before answering questions before boarding Air Force One on April 10, 2026, at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland.

Trump envoy Barrack’s embrace of 'strong leaders' sparks fury in Turkey

US Ambassador to Turkey Thomas Barrack attends a meeting with President Donald Trump and President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan in the Oval Office at the White House on Sept. 25, 2025, in Washington, DC.

Analysis

Israel sees chance of US-Iran deal as almost 'non-existent,' readies for war

ATTA KENARE / AFP via Getty Images

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

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 walk past a poster showing the portrait of Kemal Kilicdaroglu, presidential candidate of the main opposition alliance, and the words translating to "Promise to You," Istanbul, Turkey, May 05, 2023.

Analysis

Turkey Elections: Gulf investments likely to be challenged if Erdogan loses

Kemal Kilicdaroglu, leader of the Republican People’s Party and presidential competitor, said he will reevaluate Gulf country purchases in Turkey if he wins in the May 14 elections.

By Salim A. Essaid

Militants with the Lebanese Shiite movement Hezbollah, parade in Beirut's southern suburbs on April 14, 2023, to mark Al-Quds (Jerusalem) Day, a commemoration in support of the Palestinian people celebrated annually on the last Friday of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan. (Photo by ANWAR AMRO / AFP) (Photo by ANWAR AMRO/AFP via Getty Images)

Germany arrests two suspected Hezbollah members over 'recruiting activities'

Germany designated the Lebanese militant group a terror organization in 2020 and has seen its relations with Iran sour in the last year.

A plume of smoke rises above buildings during an Israeli strike on Khan Yunis, on May 10, 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)

Over 200 rockets hit Israel, 20 Palestinians killed in Gaza escalation

Over 200 rockets were fired at Israel from Gaza on Wednesday, and 20 people were killed in the Gaza Strip after Israeli airstrikes as Egypt tries to broker a ceasefire.

Foreign Ministers’ quadripartite meeting.

First Turkey-Syria FM meeting in Russia agrees to work on refugees, terrorism

Ankara, for its part, stressed the need for cooperation on the return of Syrian refugees, the top Turkish diplomat said ahead of Turkey's crucial elections.

The dome of a mosque is seen amongst the rooftops of home and apartment blocks in the Syrian capital, Damascus, on June 26, 2013.

Islamic State claims Damascus car bomb as Assad invited to Saudi

The Syrian President's formal invite to the upcoming Arab League summit in Saudi Arabia marks a shift in Riyadh's relations with Damascus.

Tunisian synagogue Djerba

Shooting attack in Tunisia synagogue kills at least four

Tunisian authorities are now investigating the attack on the ancient El-Ghriba synagogue on the island of Djerba, where two guards and two Jewish visitors were shot and killed.

North Africa Pulse

A woman looks out from the window of her damaged building after an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City, Palestinian territories.

Analysis

Israel warns Hamas to stay out of Gaza conflict with Islamic Jihad

Shortly after striking and killing three Islamic Jihad seniors, Israel sent Gaza-based Hamas warnings to stay out of the expected conflagration.

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

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov (R) and Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian shake hands during a joint news conference as part of their meeting in Moscow, on Aug. 31, 2022.

Iran FM in Russia to talk Syria-Turkey reconciliation while vowing to boost Assad's military

Prior to the Moscow meeting, Tehran pledged readiness to equip Syria with the latest Iran-made weaponry, the shipment of which has been eased by the 2020 expiry of a UN arms embargo on the Islamic Republic.

Pope Francis (L) poses for a picture with the Grand Imam of al-Azhar mosque Sheikh Ahmed Al-Tayeb during their meeting at the Papal residence near the Sakhir Royal Palace, in the eponymous Bahraini city on Nov. 4, 2022.

UN Security Council invites Pope Francis, Al-Azhar imam for joint speech

In a first, the world’s two most prominent religious leaders are expected to deliver a joint speech on peace at the UN Security Council at a time when wars and conflicts are raging across the world.

Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan speaks to supporters at a rally while campaigning for the presidential election on May 07, 2023 in Istanbul, Turkey. On May 14th, Turkey’s President Erdogan will face his biggest electoral test as voters head to the polls in the country’s general election. Erdogan has been in power for more than two decades, first as prime minister and then as president, but his popularity has taken a hit recently due to Turkey’s ongoing economic crisis and his government’s handling o

Turkey Elections: Absentee voting ends with record 51% turnout in 73 countries

Absentee voting, which ended on Tuesday for nearly 3.5 million Turkish citizens registered abroad, saw record participation.

Palestinian protesters take cover amid clashes with Israeli security forces during a raid in the old city of Nablus, in the occupied West Bank, on May 9, 2023. - The Israeli army said it killed three leaders of the Islamic Jihad militant group on May 9 in air strikes on Gaza, which left a dozen dead according to the Palestinian territory's Hamas-controlled health ministry, adding that women and children were among the dead. (Photo by Jaafar ASHTIYEH / AFP) (Photo by JAAFAR ASHTIYEH/AFP via Getty Images)

Hamas, Islamic Jihad vow response to Israel's Gaza strikes as West Bank erupts

Three leaders of the Gaza-based Islamic Jihad were killed in the Israeli strike that came in response to rockets fired into Israel.

A fire breaks out at an apartment following an explosion in Gaza City, Palestinian Territories on May 9, 2023. - Nine people were killed May 9, 2023 before dawn in Israeli air strikes on the Gaza Strip, according to the Health Ministry of this territory under the control of the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas. (Photo by MOHAMMED ABED / AFP) (Photo by MOHAMMED ABED/AFP via Getty Images)

Israel braces for revenge after killing Islamic Jihad commanders in Gaza

Israel braces for retaliation, after the IDF said it had killed three Islamic Jihad operatives in the Gaza Strip on Tuesday morning.