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Traffic moves beneath a banner depicting the slain leader of the Lebanese Shiite Islamist movement Hezbollah Hassan Nasrallah (C) and his deputy Hashem Safieddine (C-R) as well as that of slain Iranian General Qassem Soleimani on Beirut Airport Road, in Beirut on February 19, 2025. The pro-Iran group has called for a huge turnout when Nasrallah, killed in a September Israeli strike, is laid to rest in the Lebanese capital on February 23. (Photo by ANWAR AMRO / AFP) (Photo by ANWAR AMRO/AFP via Getty Images)

Lebanon bans dealings with 4 Hezbollah-linked financial institutions

Lebanon’s Central Bank has banned licensed financial institutions from interacting with unauthorized entities including those linked to Hezbollah.

Lebanon

Syrian security forces stand with their guns atop a truck on July 15, 2025, near Suwayda, Syria.

Analysis

Is Sharaa’s Druze crackdown a warning to Syria’s Kurds?

Syrian Kurds, who control a quarter of Syria's territory in the north and the northeast, are closely watching events unfold in Suwayda.

By Amberin Zaman

Reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture

Trump’s UN envoy pick, Waltz, vows to fight antisemitism, calls to end UNRWA

In his role as ambassador to the world body, Mike Waltz pledged to veto what he described as a disproportionate number of anti-Israel resolutions.

Israel

UAE’s Mohammed bin Zayed heads to Turkey amid heightened regional diplomacy

The UAE president’s visit to Turkey comes as Turkish and Emirati involvement intensifies in regional diplomatic efforts, spanning conflicts from Syria-Israel talks to the South Caucasus.

United Arab Emirates

Drone strike halts operations at Iraqi Kurdistan oil field: What to know

A second drone attack in as many days has suspended operations at an oil facility in Iraqi Kurdistan, with initial investigations pointing to Iran-aligned armed groups.

Iraq

Latest News

Syria announces ceasefire in Druze city of Suwayda: What to know

Syria

Analysis

Will Israel's airstrikes in Druze city derail Syria normalization talks?

Members of Syria's security forces drive through the predominantly Druze city of Suwayda on July 15, 2025, following Israeli bombardment amid clashes between Bedouin tribes and Druze fighters.

By Ben Caspit

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

Turkey's Fidan heads to New York for Cyprus talks as Libya tensions flare

Turkey

Analysis

Israel races to avert EU sanctions by expanding Gaza aid: What to know

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar (L) addresses a press conference with European Commission Vice-President and High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas and EU Commissioner for Mediterranean Dubravka Suica and after a meeting at the EU headquarters on the sidelines of the EU's foreign affairs council, in Brussels on February 24, 2025. (Photo by JOHN THYS / AFP) (Photo by JOHN THYS/AFP via Getty Images)

By Rina Bassist

In Paris, reporting on Israeli politics and European affairs

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US Palestinian Saif al-Din Abdul Karim Musalat, 20, and Mohammed al-Shalabi, 23, were killed in clashes with Israeli settlers on Friday

Trump envoy demands Israel action on killing of American

Agence France-Presse

Syria's security forces and their allies were accused of going on a rampage after being deployed to the mainly Druze city of Sweida

Syrian Druze say govt mission of peace devolved into rampage

Agence France-Presse

Healey said 1,000s of Afghans were brought to UK after major data breach in 2022

Thousands of Afghans win UK asylum after huge data breach

Agence France-Presse

The Church of Saint George in Taybeh, in the occupied West Bank, dates back to the 5th century

West Bank Christian village prays for help after Israeli settler attacks

Agence France-Presse

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Israel responds to Druze-Bedouin clashes in southern Syria as normalization talks uncertain

Adam Lucente interviews Ben Caspit

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The Al-Monitor Brief

US-Palestinian relations under Trump: Cooperation or confrontation?

Adam Lucente interviews Daoud Kuttab

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On the Middle East with Amberin Zaman

Turkey's military might will never open doors to EU membership, says Euro-MP Nacho Sánchez Amor

Amberin Zaman interviews Nacho Sanchez Amor

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Former French PM says Trump has ‘immense opportunity’ in Mideast

Dominique de Villepin

Former French prime minister

Interview

Iran open to regional consortium, enriched uranium transfer in US nuclear talks

Amir Saeid Iravani

Permanent Representative of Iran to the UN

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Amos Yadlin: Israel's goal to enable Trump to reach better Iran deal than 2015

Amos Yadlin

Former head of Israeli military intelligence

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How Red Sea attacks prepared Egypt’s economy for future shocks

Analysis

Stay a step ahead of your colleagues.

Analysis

Will Israel's airstrikes in Druze city derail Syria normalization talks?

By Ben Caspit

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

Analysis

Trump’s Patriot sales to Ukraine underscore Iran's proliferation threat

A US Army MIM-104 Patriot anti-missile defense launcher stands ahead of the arrival of former US President Joe Biden at Rzeszow Airport on March 25, 2022, in Rzeszow, Poland.

By Jared Szuba

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

Analysis

Israel races to avert EU sanctions by expanding Gaza aid: What to know

By Rina Bassist

In Paris, reporting on Israeli politics and European affairs

Analysis

Is Sharaa’s Druze crackdown a warning to Syria’s Kurds?

By Amberin Zaman

Reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture

image of Suwayda, Syria with smoke billowing up from an explosion

Suwayda reels from clashes as truce reached

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Al-Monitor chief correspondent Amberin Zaman interviews H.E. Masrour Barzani, Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq.

The Future of Energy and Power in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq

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1:38:51

Al-Monitor's State Department Correspondent Elizabeth Hagedorn stands on a balcony in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia reporting on President Trump's trip to the Gulf.

President Trump's Visit to Saudi Arabia, Qatar, UAE

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Plestia Alaqad on Gaza and South Lebanon

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AL-Monitor Global Institute hosts Iraqi Kurdistan Prime Minister Masrour Barzani and US Energy Secretary Chris Wright

On May 22, 2025, the AL-Monitor Global Institute hosted Prime Minister Masrour Barzani of the Kurdistan Regional Government of Iraq and US Secretary of Energy Chris Wright in Washington DC to discuss the future of power and energy in Iraq’s Kurdistan region.

Washington, DC

May 22, 2025 10:30 EDT

Past Live Journalism

AI, innovation & global growth: Dr. Marwan Al-Zarouni & Dr. Alaa Murabit speak at event in Washington

Al-Monitor Global Institute hosted Dr. Marwan Al-Zarouni, chief AI officer at Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism and CEO of the Dubai Blockchain Center, alongside Dr. Alaa Murabit, senior advisor at 500 Global, for a high-level conversation on how AI is accelerating innovation and transforming global economic development.

Washington, DC

April 23, 2025 16:00 EDT

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UAE presidential advisor HE Dr. Anwar Gargash speaks at AL-Monitor event during UNGA

On the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York City, AL-Monitor hosted HE Dr. Anwar Gargash, Diplomatic Advisor to the President of the UAE, for an off-the-record dinner and discussion at Le Jardinier of the Bastion Collection. The event was attended by thought and business leaders as well as former officials.

New York City, NY

September 26, 2024 18:00 EDT

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