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

politics and security cover image

Politics & Security

Local residents look on from outside a cordoned off area in the Golders Green neighborhood of north London on April 29, 2026, following the stabbing to two people nearby.

Iran-linked group claims stabbing in Jewish area in London: What to know

Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamiya has been linked to a number of attacks on Jewish targets in Europe, as well as an anti-regime Iranian news outlet.

President Donald Trump gives a speech during the State Arrival Ceremony on the South Lawn on April 28, 2026, in Washington.

Trump speaks with Netanyahu, Putin as Iran pressure campaign escalates

President Donald Trump spoke by phone separately with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Russian President Vladimir Putin, discussing the situation in Iran and the possibility of extending the ceasefire.

This aerial photograph shows Turkey's first floating natural gas production platform, "Osman Gazi," passing through the Bosphorus, in Istanbul, on May 29, 2025.

Turkey advances gas pipeline plan to northern Cyprus as East Med rivalry grows

The Turkish energy minister said the country's oil and natural gas pipeline operator, BOTAS, has started the engineering work for the pipeline.

Latest News

Pentagon: Iran war has cost US estimated $25B so far

In this handout photo provided by the U.S. Navy, Two F/A-18 Super Hornets launch from the flight deck of Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) in support of Operation Epic Fury on March 3, 2026 in the Mediterranean Sea.

Analysis

Why Abbas' win in Gaza remains 'symbolic,' not rejection of Hamas

Displaced Palestinian people look at paintings at an open-air art exhibition at the Bureij camp for Palestinian refugees in the central Gaza Strip on April 28, 2026. The majority of Gaza's 2.4 million people have been displaced, often multiple times, by the war that began with Hamas's attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023. With displaced families living in tented camps, with serious concerns raised about their living conditions. (Photo by Eyad Baba / AFP via Getty Images) / -- IMAGE RESTRICTED TO EDI

Adam Lucente

By Adam Lucente

In New York City, reporting on regional news, militancy, climate change

Analysis

How long can Iran's economy withstand Trump's naval blockade?

The Ateela 2 oil tanker boat navigates the sea on April 28, 2026, on Qeshm Island, Iran, in the Strait of Hormuz.

A correspondent in Tehran

By A correspondent in Tehran

In Tehran, reporting on politics

Meet Ali al-Zaidi, businessman and Iraq's new prime minister-designate

Prime Minister Mohammed S. al-Sudani met with Prime Minister-designate Ali Faleh al-Zaidi on April 28, 2026.

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

ANDREAS SOLARO/AFP via Getty Images

Israeli right pleased with Italy's next prime minister

Italy's next Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is being fawned over by the Israeli right while the rest of the political spectrum treads carefully.

People look at the crater left by a missile strike on a playground in Taras Shevchenko Park the day before, Kyiv, Ukraine, Oct. 11, 2022.

Israel’s Lapid condemns Russian attack on Kyiv

Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid has joined condemnation from across the globe against the Russian attack on Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities.

An Israeli warship sits at mooring close to the disputed maritime border with Lebanon

In win for Lapid, Israel hails imminent maritime agreement with Lebanon

Despite threats from Hezbollah, and despite harsh criticism from opposition chief Benjamin Netanyahu, Prime Minister Yair Lapid hopes for the government to soon approve the maritime border agreement with Lebanon.

A woman holding a flower touches the picture of a suicide attack victim.

Seven years on, questions linger over deadliest terror attack in Turkey

Lawyers for victims' families blame neglect of duty on the part of authorities for the failure to capture fugitive suspects and prevent the attack in the first place.

Daily workers harvest onions near Turkey’s border wall with Syria, Sept. 29, 2022.

Syrian farmers trapped by 'Erdogan's wall'

Military unrest combined with drought is making it much harder to draw a living from the soil along the Turkish-Syrian border.

French-Palestinian Salah Hamouri.

French Palestinian jailed in Israel on hunger strike

Arrested last March by Israeli authorities, French Palestinian Salah Hamouri protests his prolonged administrative detention.

AL-MONITOR Staff

By AL-MONITOR Staff

Israeli soldiers stand guard at one of the entrances of the Shuafat refugee camp, East Jerusalem, Oct. 9, 2022.

Palestinian attack on Israeli soldiers ramps up tension in Jerusalem

With the deadly attack Oct. 8, Israeli security agencies warn about tensions in the West Bank seeping into East Jerusalem and the Temple Mount compound.

A picture obtained by AFP outside Iran on Sept. 21, 2022, shows Iranian demonstrators taking to the streets of the capital Tehran during a protest for Mahsa Amini, days after she died in police custody.

Iran’s Raisi heckled by female students as more protesters killed

Several deaths were reported in yet another day of turmoil in Iran, with women and men taking to the streets to confront armed riot police.

A girl walks while holding water containers in her hands and mouth at the Washukanni camp for the internally displaced near the town of Tuwaynah, near the city of Hasakah, Syria, Oct. 8, 2020.

Turkish-backed Syrian group cuts off water to Hasakah

Hasakah residents in northeast Syria have relied on buying water from private suppliers as their underground wells have dried up, while the Turkish-backed factions suspended pumping operations from the only water station supplying the city.

OPEC

Analysis

US should balance response to OPEC+ oil cuts with other needs

Yet again, Iran lurks in background.

Week in Review

By Week in Review

Israeli Minister of Defense Benny Gantz speaks at the start of a Blue and White party meeting, Jerusalem, June 27, 2022.

Settlers blame Israeli defense minister for growing West Bank insecurity

Defense Minister Benny Gantz is caught between his efforts to establish good relations with the Palestinian leadership, and the wrath of the settlers following insecurity escalation.

Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid makes an opening statement as he chairs the weekly Cabinet meeting, Jerusalem, Oct. 2, 2022.

After collapse of Lebanon maritime deal, Israel fears Hezbollah attack

Pressured by opposition leader Benjamin Netanyahu, and concerned over Hezbollah attacking, Prime Minister Yair Lapid announced Israel will not negotiate its maritime border with Lebanon under threats.