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

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Politics & Security

MOHAMMED HUWAIS/AFP via Getty Images)

Houthis claim new strikes on Saudi Arabia after IRGC warning: What to know

A senior Iranian commander said Saudi Arabia will be unable to the defeat the Yemeni group as the conflict intensifies.

Turkey signals restraint as war of words with Israel escalates over Syria

The Turkish president’s top communications aide says Ankara will not be drawn into the Israeli government's “games” as Washington pushes a Turkey-Israel-Syria deconfliction mechanism.

Islamabad

Syria’s FM pays Pakistan first visit in 19 years amid new regional alignments

Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani is paying his office's first visit to Pakistan in nearly two decades after Islamabad, Ankara and Riyadh signed a joint defense pact.

Zomi Frankcom

Australia summons Israeli ambassador over World Central Kitchen strike: What to know

Australia has summoned Israeli Ambassador Hillel Newman after the Israeli military decided not to open a criminal investigation into the killing of one Australian and six other World Central Kitchen aid workers in Gaza in 2024.

Latest News

Interview

Barzani calls for enhanced air defense for Kurdistan Region to counter drone attacks

Masrour Barzani, Prime Minister of the Iraqi Kurdistan Regional Government, gives a press conference in the autonomous region's capital Arbil on June 25, 2025.

Masrour Barzani

Masrour Barzani

KRG Prime Minister

Russia’s Putin hosts Saddam Hifter amid instability in Libya: What to know

Saddam Hifter meets with Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin

Exclusive

Saudi Arabia wants Iran-backed militia 'heads to roll' in Iraq amid talks with Tehran

AHMAD AL-RUBAYE/AFP via Getty Images

Amberin Zaman

By Amberin Zaman

Reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture

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

BIM discount stores

Senior Turkish retail executive forced out after criticizing government economic policy

The chief operator of Turkey’s largest discount chain resigned from a retail association post after threats from Erdogan's ally Nationalist Movement Party.

Israeli settlers walk with batons and axes.

Israeli security agencies concerned over rise in settler violence in West Bank

The number of Israeli settlers attacking Palestinians is on the rise, and the severity of the attacks is also increasing.

Herzog

Israel’s president in UAE after historic visit to Bahrain

Israel's President Isaac Herzog is in Bahrain, the next stop on his historic tour.

Sudan

Sudan's transition deal seen as significant, but doubts remain

Protesters and some observers are skeptical the agreement will end the political crisis in the east African country, but the United States and Gulf states have praised the deal.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Foreign Affairs Minister of the United Arab Emirates Abdullah bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan and Foreign Affairs Minister of Bahrain Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani participate in the signing ceremony of the Abraham Accords on the South Lawn of the White House, Washington, Sept. 15, 2020.

Netanyahu to visit UAE

Already before assembling his government, Prime Minister-designate Benjamin Netanyahu prepares his first visit abroad — to Abu Dhabi.

Israelis outraged over Netflix film showing IDF murdering Palestinians

Israeli actress Nataly Dadon canceled her Netflix subscription, protesting against the streaming giant adding the anti-Israeli/anti-IDF film "Farha" to the platform.

JAAFAR ASHTIYEH/AFP via Getty Images

New Palestinian armed groups emerge in West Bank

As armed factions in the West Bank struggle under Israeli pursuit, new groups are springing up.

A woman holds a sign during a protest over the death of Iranian Mahsa Amini outside the Iranian Consulate on Oct. 7, 2022 in Istanbul, Turkey.

Confusion grows over future of Iran's hijab patrols

Comments by Iran’s top prosecutor suggesting that the so-called morality police has been disbanded were rejected by state media.

ARMEND NIMANI/AFP via Getty Images

Egypt reaches out to Serbian Muslims

Cairo is making overtures toward Muslims in Serbia amid the Muslim Brotherhood's growing influence in neighboring Kosovo.

ISIS leader death

Syrian rebels kill IS caliph as attacks continue in Iraq, Syria

The Islamic State’s third caliph has been killed in southern Syria as Iraqis retain control of the organization amid concerns and confusion about identities, fighter whereabouts and security gaps.

TOPSHOT - Russian President Vladimir Putin meets with Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on the sidelines of the Sixth Summit of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA) in Astana on October 13, 2022.

The Turkey Briefing: Can Ankara convince Moscow to grant green light for Syria invasion?

In this week's newsletter, Ezgi Akin rounds up the top stories from Turkey.

Erdogan

Analysis

Turkey’s leveraging of Syria, Ukraine crises frustrates US, Europe

Erdogan disregards appeals by US for restraint in Syria and demands further concessions from Stockholm for agreeing to Sweden’s NATO admission.

Week in Review

By Week in Review