Adam Lucente

Adam Lucente is a News and Business Correspondent for Al-Monitor. He has reported on a variety of topics for Al-Monitor, including Iraqi politics, Iranian foreign policy, Congress, Gulf investment in sports, China in the Middle East and the Gaza war. Adam previously worked as a freelance journalist in Iraq, Syria and Jordan, with additional stints in local US media. He has discussed the Middle East on a variety of television stations in both English and Arabic, including Euronews, TalkTV and Al-Hurra. On Twitter: @Adam_Lucente. Email: alucente@al-monitor.com

Jul 15, 2024

Breaking

Meet J.D. Vance, Trump’s VP pick: Hawk on Israel, critic of foreign aid

Vance is an “America First” firebrand who opposed the 2003 invasion of Iraq and military funding for Ukraine, but is a staunch supporter of Israel and backs normalization agreements with Arab states.

Iraq | Jul 15, 2024

Iraq-China ties progress with Nasiriyah airport project

Relations between Iraq and China are strengthening, in part due to Chinese interest in Iraqi oil and infrastructure projects.

United Arab Emirates | Jul 11, 2024

China, UAE hold air force drills in Xinjiang as defense relations grow

The joint air force training exercise, dubbed Falcon Shield, began on Wednesday in the northwest Xinjiang province of China and will continue until late July.

United Arab Emirates President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan reviews the honour guard.

Saudi Arabia | Jul 10, 2024

As Boeing struggles, Airbus inks 4-aircraft deal with Saudi Arabia

The kingdom ordered four more of Airbus’ A330 Multi Role Tanker Transport aircraft for the Royal Saudi Air Force as Boeing's challenges mount in Gulf over safety issues.

An Airbus A330 of Saudi airline company, also known as Saudi Arabian Airlines, lands in Toulouse, on July 22, 2017.

Iraq | Jul 10, 2024

Widow of ISIS leader sentenced to death in Iraq: What we know

Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi's wife held Yazidi women captured by the Islamic State in her home, according to Iraqi authorities.

An internal security patrol escorts women, reportedly wives of Islamic State fighters, in the al-Hol camp in al-Hasakah governorate in northeastern Syria, on July 23, 2019.

Lebanon | Jul 9, 2024

Hezbollah airs drone footage of Israeli military sites in Golan Heights

The conflict between Israel and Hezbollah has escalated in recent weeks, including with the Israeli killing of one of the Iran-backed group’s commanders.

A flag bearing portraits of (L-R) slain Iraqi commander Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, Hezbollah military leader Imad Moghniyeh, and Iranian Revolutionary Guards commander Qasem Soleimani, flutters after a raising ceremony by Lebanon's Hezbollah supporters and members on a hill facing the Israeli northern town of Metula by the border with Lebanon, on January 3, 2021, to mark the first anniversary of the killing of Soleimani and al-Muhandis in a US drone strike. (Photo by Ali DIA / AFP) (Photo by ALI DIA/AFP via Get

Egypt | Jul 8, 2024

Egypt’s remittances reach $2.7 billion in boost to foreign reserves

Egypt’s liquidity crisis has been alleviated by recent investment from the United Arab Emirates and help from the International Monetary Fund, though inflation and debt remain issues.

People walk past a currency exchange shop displaying a giant US dollars banknote in downtown Cairo on November 3, 2016. Egypt floated the country's pound as part of a raft of reforms, after a dollar crunch and exorbitant black market trade threatened to grind some imports to a halt. / AFP / KHALED DESOUKI (Photo credit should read KHALED DESOUKI/AFP via Getty Images)

Saudi Arabia | Jul 8, 2024

Saudi's latest drug bust: thousands of narcotics tablets, 760 pounds of qat

Saudi Arabia is a major destination for the amphetamine Captagon, though seizures have decreased recently due to more enforcement in transit countries like Jordan, according to a recent report.