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Politics & Security

Zaidi

Iraq’s Zaidi doubles down on militia disarmament, boosting oil exports

Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi made the comments amid Hormuz-related export struggles and a nearing deadline for armed groups to disarm.

ANKARA, TURKEY - JULY 7: U.S. President Donald Trump (L)shakes hands with with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (R) during a formal arrival at the Bestepe Presidential Palace during the NATO summit on July 7, 2026 in Ankara, Turkey. Leaders from NATO's 32 countries, plus NATO allies like Ukraine, gathered in the Turkish capital to discuss a range of issues involving spending targets, defense industrial production, and support for Ukraine, among other topics. (Photo by Emrah Gurel - Pool/Getty Images)

Analysis

Israel fears Turkey’s Syria ambitions and doubts Trump will stop them

Israeli officials remain skeptical of Turkish and Syrian denials over Ankara’s military ambitions in Syria, warning that a deeper Turkish foothold could threaten Israel’s security and strain its ties with Washington.

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

LUDOVIC MARIN/AFP via Getty Images

Saudi crown prince heads to France as ties deepen: What to expect

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman will start a visit to Paris this weekend, his fourth to France since his appointment in 2017.

Latest News

Caught in the middle, Oman shrugs off Trump's latest Iran threat

Win McNamee/Getty Images

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

MOHAMMED HUWAIS/AFP via Getty Images)

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

Burhaanettin Duran

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

Islamabad

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

Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid gives a speech during the 77th session of the United Nations General Assembly at UN headquarters, New York, Sept. 22, 2022.

Israel's Arab voters unimpressed with Lapid’s UN speech on two-state solution

In his address to the UN General Assembly, Prime Minister Yair Lapid also addressed Israeli Arab citizens, boasting that his coalition included an Arab party and that his government included Arab ministers.

A woman reacts as she takes part in a protest over the death in custody of Mahsa Amini.

Mounting deaths in Iran protests as internet blackout drags on

As protests entered a 12th day, the government's deadly crackdown under severe internet disruptions appeared to have failed to soothe the boiling anger.

Banner supporting Mahsa Amini.

Turkish celebrities, including jailed Kurdish politician, cut hair for Mahsa Amini

Women activists, celebrities and jailed Kurdish politician Selahattin Demirtas cut their hair in solidarity with Mahsa Amini, the Iranian Kurdish woman who died in detention by Iran’s morality police.

This general view shows the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam in Guba, Ethiopia, Feb. 19, 2022.

Egypt warns of stalemate in Nile dam dispute

Egypt called for the resumption of negotiations over the disputed Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam as soon as possible, and warned against the stalemate in the talks.

A B model of Bayraktar AKINCI TİHA (Assault Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) in the sky on March 2, 2022, in Corlu, Turkey.

Are Turkish drones complicating disputes in Central Asia?

Kyrgyzstan’s use of Turkish drones in a border dispute with Tajikistan leaves Turkey in a tight spot on how to balance its ties in Central Asia, a region where it has long sought to expand its influence.

No Bears

Acclaimed Iranian filmmaker collects awards in prison

When Jafar Panahi’s "No Bears" won a prize at the 2022 Venice Film Festival, cast members had to accept it on his behalf, as the dissident Iranian director has been behind bars in Tehran since July.

Supporters attend a congress to launch the "Labour and Freedom Alliance", a six party coalition led by the HDP, in Istanbul on Sept. 24, 2022.

Third alliance enters the fray ahead of Turkish elections

The leftist Labor and Freedom Alliance pledges to undo injustice but could risk a split in the opposition vote.

A woman enjoys the sea as a Greek army rib returns from patrol.

Turkey protests US, Greece over ‘violating non-military status’ of Aegean Greek islands

Eastern Mediterranean conflict is steadily turning into a fresh strain in already-troubled US-Turkey ties, as Erdogan lashes out at Washington and Athens over the military buildup in the Dodecanese islands.

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 says it will prosecute those who encourage protests

In an attempt to quell widespread protests, Iran is now warning that those who encourage protests will be held liable.

Mohammed al-Halbusi.

Iraqi parliament speaker resigns

Iraqi parliament speaker Mohammed al-Halbusi resigned from his post but is expected to be re-elected.

UN Climate Change High-Level Champion for COP27, Mahmoud Mohieldin, speaks at the United Nations Climate Action: Race to Zero and Race to Resilience Forum in New York City on Sept. 21, 2022.

UN envoy welcomes climate spotlight on Egypt, Africa

"Africa is bringing solutions," said Mahmoud Mohieldin, the UN Climate Change High Level Champion for Egypt, in an exclusive interview with Al-Monitor.

JACK GUEZ/AFP via Getty Images)

Israel keeps flights coming as Jews flee Russia

In fear of conscription, Russian Jews are fleeing the country for Israel.