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

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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

Latest News

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

LUDOVIC MARIN/AFP via Getty Images

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)

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

Members of Al-Qassam Brigades, Hamas' military wing, stand next to a model of an Iranian Ababil drone during a rally in the Palestinian town of Khan Yunis, southern Gaza Strip, July 26, 2022.

Why Hamas stayed out of Gaza battle

This is not the first time that the Hamas movement leaves Islamic Jihad alone in a military confrontation with Israel.

Palestinian children try to cool off a baby in a crib during a heat wave and lengthy power cuts in Nahr al-Bared camp in Khan Yunis, southern Gaza Strip, Aug. 3, 2022.

Power outage adds to 'unbearable' hardships for Palestinians in Gaza

For a week, Gazans have been braving the scorching heat with only a few hours of electricity a day, following the closure of all border crossings with Israel and the suspension of the only power plant.

Supporters of the Kurdistan Democratic Party celebrate with the KDP party flags during Iraq's parliamentary election in Erbil, Iraqi Kurdistan, Oct. 10, 2021.

Kurdish leaders meet as Iraqi political deadlock continues

Iraq’s two major Kurdish parties have been trying to reach a compromise between the two, but to no avail.

Iraqi-Kurdistan

Israeli Likud party leader and former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Netanyahu loyalists victorious in Israel party primaries

All those Likud seniors who might have fiddled with the idea of challenging the leadership of Benjamin Netanyahu were pushed to unelectable spots on the party’s new Knesset list.

Melissa Sue Gerrits/Getty Images

Iran rejects ‘ridiculous’ US accusation of plot to kill John Bolton

The Islamic Republic said the claim was politically motivated and part of an "Iranophobia" campaign advanced by the United States.

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu meets with his Armenian counterpart, Ararat Mirzoyan.

Turkish official says slow pace of Armenia normalization designed to avert disappointment

Ankara has said both sides are focused on confidence-building steps to be taken “one at a time.”

Uriel Sinai/Getty Images

Israel demolishes one West Bank outpost, stalls on another

The Ramat Migron outpost was demolished this morning and now Israeli settlers and right-wing politicians are focusing on preserving the iconic Homesh settlement.

Army soldiers gather near a Federal Bank branch, Beirut, Lebanon, Aug. 11, 2022.

Reports: armed man who held bank hostage in Lebanon now in custody

Lebanese cannot access most of their savings amid the worsening economic meltdown.

ALEXEY NIKOLSKY/SPUTNIK/AFP via Getty Images

Turkey makes peace bid with Chechen leader

As Ankara finesses relations with Moscow, top Turkish officials have quietly met with Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov after years of chill marked by a string of murders of Chechen exiles in Turkey.

A picture taken from the Israeli side of the Tarkumiya checkpoint near Kiryat Gat shows Palestinian workers.

Despite killings, violations, Gazans eager to work inside Israel

Gaza Strip workers embark on a perilous journey inside Israel as they are killed or assaulted by Israeli soldiers and settlers while traveling through Israeli checkpoints.

Shiite Muslims re-enact the Battle of Karbala.

Suicide attack thwarted as Iraqi Shiites celebrate Ashura

While the history of al-Qaeda in Iraq and the Islamic State continue to haunt Iraq, the start of the annual Shiite religious mourning celebration was largely uneventful — though Diyala province remains problematic.

The flag of Iran is seen in front of the building of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Headquarters ahead of a press conference by Rafael Grossi, Director General of the IAEA, about the agency's monitoring of Iran's nuclear energy program on May 24, 2021 in Vienna, Austria. The IAEA has been in talks with Iran over extending the agency's monitoring program. Meanwhile Iranian and international representatives have been in talks in recent weeks in Vienna over reviving the JCPOA Iran nuclear deal.

Analysis

The Takeaway: Iran deal’s fate could again hinge on IAEA probe

Hamas sits out Gaza war; Israel pursues Islamic Jihad in West Bank; Gaza’s eroding beaches; Turkey’s Alevis fear attacks; Iran trains Russians on drones.

Elizabeth Hagedorn

Andrew Parasiliti

By Elizabeth Hagedorn , Andrew Parasiliti