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Politics & Security

Members and supporters of the Nafas movement take part in an anti-government protest against Tunisian President Kais Saied, chanting "Degage" and calling for political change, in Tunis,Tunisia on August 20,2026. (Photo by Imen Ben Youssef / Hans Lucas / AFP via Getty Images)

Tunisia’s water, power crisis fuels growing protests against Saied: What to know

A utility crisis is giving momentum to opposition forces challenging Saied’s grip on power.

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

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

khamenei

Iran's supreme leader in public appearance following reports of ill health

Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei appeared in public today, refuting rumors that he was on his death bed following recent surgery.

Syrians shop in a market in the northern city of Manbij, located near the border with Turkey, Syria, July 21, 2022.

Are Iranian products banned into Syrian opposition-held areas?

The Syrian Islamic Council close to the Syrian opposition issued a fatwa prohibiting the entry of Iranian goods into opposition areas, claiming Hayat Tahrir al-Sham is allowing the spread of the goods in its areas in northwest Syria.

(from L) French President Emmanuel Macron (L), France's ambassador to the USA Philippe Etienne, French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian and French Economy Minister Bruno Le Maire arrive at the French Embassy to the Vatican in Rome on October 29, 2021 ahead of a meeting with US President. (Photo by Ludovic MARIN / AFP) (Photo by LUDOVIC MARIN/AFP via Getty Images)

Analysis

Exclusive: Iran ‘must cooperate’ on nuclear probe, French envoy says

French Ambassador to the US Philippe Etienne tells Al-Monitor that France has spared no effort to reach an agreement in the nuclear talks.

Week in Review

By Week in Review

ALEXANDER NEMENOV/AFP via Getty Images

Iran to join Shanghai Cooperation Organization

Iran took a step toward joining in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization at a summit in Uzbekistan this week.

GIL COHEN-MAGEN/AFP via Getty Images

Lapid’s coalition crumbles ahead of Israeli elections

Unlike opposition head Benjamin Netanyahu, Prime Minister Yair Lapid has failed to unite his camp ahead of the November elections.

Shiite Muslim pilgrims march toward Iraq's holy city of Karbala to attend the Arbaeen religious commemoration.

Iran-linked militias claim arrest linked to threats to disrupt religious holiday

Iraq’s Popular Mobilization Units have conducted numerous arrests of alleged 'Bathists' in recent days that raise questions about the legitimacy of the arrests and the political reasons behind them.

A torched observation post is seen outside a religious Jewish school following night clashes between Israeli Arabs and Israeli Jews, Lod, Israel, May 11, 2021.

Arab Israelis deplore growing violence, political indifference

The recent killing of an Arab Israeli journalist highlights the depth of the problem of violence and crime within the Israeli Arab community.

Mother (C) of slain Israeli Maj. Bar Falah, killed overnight during operational activity adjacent to the Gilboa crossing, mourns during his funeral, Netanya, Israel, Sept. 14, 2022.

Israel continues West Bank raids

Prime Minister Yair Lapid and Defense Minister Benny Gantz face a tough choice: How to avoid the collapse of the Palestinian Authority, and at the same time prevent terrorist attacks on Israelis.

Lobby of the al-Masa hotel, during an African Ministers of Finance Economy and Environment Meeting for the COP27 climate summit, Cairo.

Egypt to focus on water crises at COP27

Egypt plans to discuss during the COP27 the need to include the water issue in the international action related to climate change.

Tunisian politician Ahmed Najib Chebbi.

Tunisian opposition to boycott legislative elections

Political forces in Tunisia are divided over the upcoming legislative elections announced by President Kais Saied, with the country’s main opposition alliance announcing its boycott of the vote over the controversial measures Saied has taken since last year.

Mahsa Amin

Arrest by hijab police leaves woman comatose

Iranians are enraged over the mandatory hijab rules as police deny torture allegations by the victim's brother.

Newspaper stall with a view of Etemad newspaper's front page bearing a title reading in Farsi "The night of the end of the JCPOA,"

Iranian diplomat calls IAEA statement ‘shameful’

The United States and its European allies want answers from Iran regarding uranium traces found at undeclared sites.