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KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA - OCTOBER 26: U.S. President Donald Trump holds a bilateral meeting with Brazil's President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (not in frame) at Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre on October 26, 2025 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Trump is in Malaysia for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit, and will next travel to Japan, en route to South Korea for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

Analysis

Trump pursues Israeli-Syrian security pact with Sharaa, larger US military footprint

Israelis welcome the US effort but fear losing decision-making power and the ability to protect their interests as the US troop presence in the region looks set to further expand.

Yazar: Ben Caspit

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

Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa visits with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres (off frame) during the United Nations General Assembly at the UN headquarters in New York City on Sept. 24, 2025.

UN Security Council votes to lift sanctions on Syria's Sharaa

The move comes days before Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa is due to visit the White House.

Ahmad Hasaballah/Getty Images

Culture

Egypt recovers 36 ancient artifacts from US including mummy mask: What to know

Egypt recovered 36 ancient artifacts from the United States that had been smuggled out of the country, authorities announced on Thursday.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 1: Democratic New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani (C) raises his hands during a campaign event with New York City elected officials on November 1, 2025 in the Queens borough of New York City. With only days left in the race for New York City's next mayor, Mamdani remains the front runner against Independent candidate, former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa. (Photo by Stephanie Keith/Getty Images)

For Arab and Muslim Americans, Mamdani's victory grants seat at table

Zohran Mamdani will be New York City’s first Muslim mayor, a milestone celebrated by Muslim and Arab organizations nationwide.

A portrait of jailed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) leader Abdullah Ocalan and a sign with the words "Serok Apo," are displayed on a hillside in the Qandil mountains, Iraq, October 26, 2025. REUTERS/Thaier Al-Sudani

Exclusive-Turkey preparing law to let PKK fighters return under peace plan

Reuters

Latest News

Feature

Families of Americans missing in Syria urge Caesar sanctions relief

A Syrian man inspects the prison of Saydnaya, north of Damascus on Dec. 16, 2024.

Elizabeth Hagedorn

Yazar: Elizabeth Hagedorn

In Washington, DC, reporting on diplomacy, regional politics, human rights

Iraq elections: What to know as Sudani seeks second term

Iraqis walk past electoral billboards, including one bearing a portrait of Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani (C), in central Baghdad on Oct. 19, 2025, ahead of Iraq's parliamentary elections on Nov. 11.

Exclusive

SDF commander Hemo: Syria’s Kurds prepare for threat of war as Damascus talks falter

Sipan Hemo

Amberin Zaman

Yazar: Amberin Zaman

Reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture

Iran doubles down on Venezuela support as Trump ups threats: What to know

A woman waves an Iranian flag during a rally against Israel's attacks on Iran, in solidarity with the Palestinian people and to call for world peace in Caracas, on June 19, 2025.

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Palestinian children stand on the rubble of destroyed buildings, amid a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, in Jabalia, northern Gaza Strip, November 6, 2025. REUTERS/Mahmoud Issa

Exclusive-US intel found Israeli military lawyers warned there was evidence of Gaza war crimes, former US officials say

Reuters

Commanders and members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps meet with Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in Tehran, Iran August 17, 2023. Office of the Iranian Supreme Leader/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via REUTERS

Iranian plot to kill Israel's ambassador to Mexico contained, US official says

Reuters

FILE PHOTO: An injured displaced Sudanese woman who fled violence in al-Fashir receives treatment while carrying her child at a makeshift clinic run by Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF), amid ongoing clashes between the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the Sudanese army, in Tawila, North Darfur, Sudan November 3, 2025. REUTERS/Mohamed Jamal/File Photo

'Fifty or sixty people in a single street': Witnesses describe civilian killings in Sudan's al-Fashir

Reuters

Israeli writer and director of the film 'The Sea', Shai Carmeli-Pollak speaks during an interview at a screening event in Tel Aviv, Israel November 5, 2025, in this screengrab taken from a video. REUTERS/via Reuters TV

Israeli Oscars entry evokes empathy to Palestinians but irks government

Reuters

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Adam Lucente and Beatrice Farhat

The Al-Monitor Brief

Hezbollah rejects talks as Israel escalates in Lebanon: View from Beirut

Adam Lucente interviews Beatrice Farhat

12:54

Barbara Leaf

On the Middle East with Amberin Zaman

Why Syria's formal entry to anti-ISIS coalition reduces risk of US troop pullout

Amberin Zaman interviews Barbara Leaf

38:37

Adam Lucente and Rosaleen Carroll

The Al-Monitor Brief

China VP Han visits Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Qatar as Beijing’s influence grows

Adam Lucente interviews Rosaleen Carroll

7:41

ALM Interviews

Exclusive conversations with Al-Monitor.

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Interview

Azerbaycan’a verilen tavizler nedeniyle Paşinyan’ı devirmek isteyen başpiskopos Al-Monitor’a konuştu

The protest movement leader Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan participates during the rally demanding the Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's resignation over land transfer to neighboring Azerbaijan, outside the government building in central Yerevan on May 30, 2024.

Bagrat Galstanyan

Bagrat Galstanyan

Armenian Archbishop

Interview

Suriyeli Kürt liderden İran bağlantılı saldırılara 'güçlü karşılık' uyarısı

Salih Muslim, the diplomatic relations official for the Kurdish Movement for a Democratic Society, and the former co-chairman of the main Kurdish leftist Democratic Union Party (PYD), speaks during an interview in his office on August 2, 2018.

Salih Muslim

Salih Muslim

PYD co-chairman

Interview

İran Dışişleri Bakanı: ABD’ye arka kanallardan mesaj gönderdik

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian listens to a question during a press conference with his Saudi counterpart (not pictured) in Tehran, on June 17, 2023.

Hossein Amir-Abdollahian

Hossein Amir-Abdollahian

Foreign Minister of Iran

Interview

Türkiye’ye kaçan Libya Merkez Bankası Başkanı hükümeti ‘darbe’ ile suçluyor

Sadiq al-Kabir

Sadiq al-Kabir

Governor of the Central Bank of Libya

Police officers stand guard outside Libya's Central Bank headquarters in Tripoli on Aug. 27, 2024.

Analysis

Stay a step ahead of your colleagues.

Analysis

Türkiye'nin kazanımları ve Rusya’nın Akdeniz'de azalan nüfuzu

A Syrian rebel fighter looks on as he stands at an inspection checkpoint for incoming vehicles at the entrance of the Russian-leased Syrian military base of Hmeimim in Latakia province in western Syria on Dec. 29, 2024.

Anton Mardasov

Yazar: Anton Mardasov

Analysis

İlhak, abluka veya nüfus transferleri: Netanyahu Gazze çıkmazını nasıl çözecek?

TOPSHOT - People walk with sacks of flour delivered after trucks carrying humanitarian aid entered northern Gaza on July 27, 2025 coming from the Zikim border crossing. (Photo by BASHAR TALEB / AFP) (Photo by BASHAR TALEB/AFP via Getty Images)

Yazar: Ben Caspit

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

Analysis

Çin EA stratejisinde yön değiştirirken Türkiye BYD'yi Avrupa'ya ulaştıran arka kapı mı olacak?

HECTOR RETAMAL/AFP via Getty Images

Samuel Wendel

Yazar: Samuel Wendel

In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech

Analysis

İsrail’in Katar saldırısı geri mi tepecek?

Yazar: Ben Caspit

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

TOPSHOT - Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (C) and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir (R) visit the scene of a shooting at the Ramot road junction in Israeli-annexed east Jerusalem on September 8, 2025. Palestinian gunmen opened fire at a bus stop in Israeli-annexed east Jerusalem on September 8, killing five people and wounding several others. Israeli emergency service Magen David Adom (MDA) said there were five victims dead in the shooting attack, updating an earlier toll of four. Police

Amberin Zaman, Elizabeth Hagedorn, Danny Makki, Joyce Karam in a virtual discussion on Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa's visit to Washington

Syria's Sharaa in Washington

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1:00:44

Joe Snell

Iraqis prepare to head to the polls

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1:34

Amberin Zaman in Damascus

Amberin Zaman Reports from Damascus

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Elizabeth Hagedorn at UNGA in New York

Elizabeth Hagedorn Reporting from UNGA in New York

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Reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture

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In New York City, reporting on regional news, militancy, climate change

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Israel Columnist

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

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President and Chief Content Officer

In Washington, DC, reporting on diplomacy, regional politics, national security

Daoud Kuttab

Palestine Columnist

In Amman, reporting on Palestinian politics

Rasha Abou Jalal

In Gaza City, reporting on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict