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December 8, 2025

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People shop in a market on June 17, 2025 in Damascus, Syria.

US set to scrap Syria sanctions as Caesar Act repeal heads to vote

The annual defense bill calls for the full repeal of the Caesar Act without conditions.

Israeli Druze from Majdal Shams crossed into Syria on July 16, 2025, to assist relatives in nearby villages following a reported massacre of Druze civilians by Syrian army forces and allied militias.

Analysis

Under US pressure, Israel softens Syria tone but is wary of Sharaa

The Trump administration has been pressuring Israel to reach a security deal with Syria, but talks are at a stalemate for the time being, as both sides entrench in their positions.

Rina Bassist

By Rina Bassist

In Paris, reporting on Israeli politics and European affairs

Smoke rises as fire burns, in an alleged site of IRGC's missile launch targeted by Israel on the mountains of Shiraz, Iran on June 21, 2025. Israel attacked Iran in early hours of June 13, and the exchange of fire between the two countries continues ever since. (Photo by Hiroon / Middle East Images via AFP) (Photo by HIROON/Middle East Images/AFP via Getty Images)

Analysis

Israel likely to strike Iran in 2026, European diplomats say

Israel might opt to strike Iran again next year if it assesses that the Tehran-based government is resuming high-level uranium enrichment.

Rina Bassist

By Rina Bassist

In Paris, reporting on Israeli politics and European affairs

The US National flag flies at half staff on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, DC on December 4, 2025, in honor of Sarah Beckstrom, the National Guard member who was fatally shot the week before. An Afghan man accused of shooting two members of the National Guard near the White House, killing one, pleaded not guilty on December 2, 2025 to murder charges. Lakanwal is charged with first-degree murder for the death of Sarah Beckstrom, 20, a National Guard member from West Virginia, as well as ass

US strategy document names Iran 'chief' destabilizer, calls Syria 'potential problem'

The document frames US engagement as shifting away from energy and conflict and toward broader economic and defense partnerships.

Latest News

Analysis

Lebanon-Israel direct talks pause operation against Hezbollah — but for how long?

An Israeli military tank patrols along the border fence separating northern Israel from southern Lebanon on November 24, 2025. Hezbollah held the funeral on November 24 for its top military chief and other members of the militant group a day after Israel killed them in a strike on Beirut's southern suburbs. (Photo by Jalaa MAREY / AFP via Getty Images)

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

US pressure prompted Israel-Lebanon talks to avert war with Hezbollah

US deputy Middle East envoy Morgan Ortagus speaks during a United Nations Security Council meeting on the situation in Gaza, at UN headquarters in New York, on Sept. 18, 2025.

Analysis

A Trump bargain: Pardon Netanyahu in exchange for Israel-Syria security deal?

TEL AVIV, ISRAEL - OCTOBER 13: U.S. President Donald Trump (2R) is welcomed by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (L) at Ben Gurion International Airport on October 13, 2025 in Tel Aviv, Israel. President Trump is visiting the country hours after Hamas released the remaining Israeli hostages captured on Oct. 7, 2023, part of a US-brokered ceasefire deal to end the war in Gaza. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

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

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

Jared Szuba

Pentagon Correspondent

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

Joyce Karam

Senior News Editor

In Washington, DC, reporting on regional geopolitics, China in the Middle East

Andrew Parasiliti

President and Chief Content Officer

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

Megan Mineiro

In Washington, DC, reporting on US Congress

CHRISTINE OLSSON/TT/TT NEWS AGENCY/AFP via Getty Images

Turkish-American economist Daron Acemoglu wins joint Nobel Prize

Turkish-American Daron Acemoglu has become Turkey's third Nobel laureate.

Lieutenant General Lucas Schreurs of the Netherlands assumes command of the NATO Mission to Iraq (NMI) in Baghdad, May 24, 2024.

Interview

NATO deepens engagement with Iraq as US prepares to withdraw

In an exclusive Al-Monitor interview, Lucas Schreurs, commander of NATO Mission Iraq, explains the scope of his outfit's mandate.

Commander of NATO Mission Iraq

Commander of NATO Mission Iraq

Lucas Schreurs

Daniel Carde/Getty Images

After UNIFIL attacks, Pentagon urges Israel to wind down Lebanon war 'as soon as feasible'

There's no sign the Biden administration has put any time limit on the Israeli campaign in Lebanon, nor of whether the White House intends to exert leverage to limit the ground invasion.

This picture taken on Sept. 27, 2019 shows the British-flagged oil tanker Stena Impero as it leaves Bandar Abbas port in southern Iran.

US targets Iran oil exports with sanctions after Israel attack

The sanctions on Iran’s shadow fleet of tankers follow pressure from Republicans calling for harsher penalties on Iran’s oil exports, especially to China.

A portrait of slain Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah sits amid debris at Beirut's southern suburb Rouweiss neighborhood on Oct. 10, 2024, following overnight Israeli strikes.

With Hezbollah battered, US seeks to break Lebanon’s political impasse

As Israeli military pressure mounts on a weakened Hezbollah, the Biden administration sees an opening to break political impasse in Lebanon and appears to have ditched its call for an immediate cease-fire there.

Members of Israel's Home Front Command and police forces inspect a crater left by an exploded projectile at a heavily damaged school building in Israel's southern city of Gedera.

Analysis

Why the US, Israel disagree over striking Iran’s nuclear sites

Israel seems to be weighing strikes that go beyond just restoring deterrence while the United States prefers to avert a region-wide war.

Jared Szuba

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

WASHINGTON, DC - OCTOBER 4: U.S. President Joe Biden turns around to joke with a reporter as he leaves a news conference in the Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House on October 04, 2024 in Washington, DC. Biden made a surprise appearance, his first in the briefing room since becoming president, to tout a positive job report and take questions from reporters. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

Biden, Netanyahu speak as Israel plans retaliation against Iran

The two leaders spoke as the region awaits the Israeli military's response to Iran's latest missile barrage.

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant meets with US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin at the Pentagon on June 25, 2024, in Arlington, Virginia.

Pentagon confirms Israel defense chief Gallant's Washington visit postponed

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has nixed his defense chief's trip as Washington looks for leverage to restrain an Israeli retaliation against Iran that Biden administration officials fear could escalate into a regional war.

US President Joe Biden speaks to the press before boarding Marine One on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, DC, on October 5, 2024 as he heads to South Bend, Indiana. (Photo by Ting Shen / AFP) (Photo by TING SHEN/AFP via Getty Images)

Biden postpones Germany, Angola trips over Hurricane Milton

The White House cited the need to prepare for the "projected trajectory and strength of Hurricane Milton" as well as deal with the impacts of Hurricane Helene.

Vice President Kamala Harris speaks before planting a pomegranate tree at the Vice President's residence at the US Naval Observatory on Oct. 7, 2024 in Washington, DC.

Where do Kamala Harris, Donald Trump stand on Gaza war, Iran policy?

During events marking the one-year anniversary of the deadly Hamas attack that sparked war in Gaza, both candidates roughly outlined strategies for de-escalation.

Smoke rises from buildings hit in an overnight Israeli airstrike that targeted the neighbourhood of Al-Jamous in Beirut's southern suburbs on October 3, 2024. Israel kept up its bombardment of Beirut after Iran launched its second, and largest, attack on Israel in months, which prompted Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to warn Tehran would pay. (Photo by AFP) (Photo by -/AFP via Getty Images)

Live Updates

Israel defense chief postpones US visit as differences over Iran response grow

Israel's premier has reportedly barred the defense minister from traveling to the United States until he speaks with the US president and his security cabinet approves a response to an Iranian missile attack.

Italian F35 fighter jets take part in the "Blue Flag" multinational air defence exercise at the Ovda air force base, north of the Israeli city of Eilat, on November 11, 2019. (Photo by JACK GUEZ / AFP) (Photo by JACK GUEZ/AFP via Getty Images)

Analysis

As response looms, US tries to dissuade Israel from catastrophic attack on Iran

The United States, Saudi Arabia and other regional powers are waiting to see which strike option Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will chose to retaliate against Iran as his defense minister heads to Washington.

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