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

politics and security cover image

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

MOHAMMED ABED/AFP via Getty Images

Israel sends armed drones over border to curb Islamic Jihad threat

The escalation comes after the IDF arrested one of their senior leaders in the West Bank.

ALEX HALADA/AFP via Getty Images

Iranian negotiators in Vienna as questions remain over IRGC delisting

The removal of the Revolutionary Guards from the US list of foreign terrorist organizations continues to play a central role in the debates surrounding the revival of the Iran nuclear deal.

Netanyahu

Netanyahu slams Lapid over Israeli inflation spike

Opposition head Benjamin Netanyahu believes the high cost of living is where he can turn Israeli citizens against Prime Minister Yair Lapid and his government.

Yemen

Analysis

The Takeaway: Yemen’s truce renewed but permanent peace elusive

Strains in Israel-Russia ties; psychological toll of Israeli warplanes over Lebanon; Gulf expands ESG investment; Tunisia’s water shortage and Erdogan's diplomatic star turn on Black Sea grain initiative.

Elizabeth Hagedorn

Andrew Parasiliti

By Elizabeth Hagedorn , Andrew Parasiliti

Iraq Sadr

Iraqi government initiates dialogue to end national crisis

Iraqi and international leaders are responding positively to the prime minister's call fior national dialogue among the various political parties.

Kabul

Taliban on edge after US kills al-Qaeda chief in upscale Kabul neighborhood

The US and the Taliban traded accusations of violating a key 2020 accord after Al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri was killed by a US drone attack in a part of the Afghan capital long known for its ostentatious villas.

JACK GUEZ/AFP via Getty Images

Israel expands West Bank security fence as violence escalates in Jenin

Following the wave of violence in March and April, Israeli security authorities are working on the unfinished security wall in the north of the West Bank.

ALEX HALADA/AFP via Getty Images

Negotiators head to Vienna for Iran nuclear talks

An Iranian lawmaker says recent proposals have grown closer to Iran’s positions.

Members of the Palestinian security services stand at attention during a drill in the flashpoint West Bank city of Nablus.

Palestinians alarmed by lawlessness in West Bank

A state of insecurity has become widespread in the West Bank, raising fears among Palestinians of the uncertain future that awaits them.

An aerial view shows Syrian farmers picking cherries in a field in the town of Juzif in the Jebel al-Zawiyah Mountains, Idlib province, Syria, May 30, 2022.

Syrian jihadi group charges farmers for irrigation amid water crisis

The water resources directorate of the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham-affiliated Salvation Government has imposed fees for irrigation as part of a project to rehabilitate water stations in al-Roj Plain in Idlib.

Kirby Zawahiri

US warns Taliban to abide by Doha peace agreement

Washington has vowed additional strikes in Afghanistan if the Taliban does not move against Al-Qaeda.

Jared Szuba

In Washington, DC, reporting on defense, national security, military

Lapid Abdullah

Lapid’s legacy to include better relations between Israel, Jordan

First as foreign minister, and then as prime minister, Yair Lapid identified rehabilitating commercial and diplomatic ties with Jordan as top priority for Israel.