Defense/Security cooperation

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addresses a joint meeting of Congress in the chamber of the House of Representatives at the US Capitol, on July 24, 2024, in Washington.

Analysis

From UNRWA to ICC, how Republican Congress would shift Middle East policy

Bills to cut aid for Palestinians and expedite arms sales to Israel faced Democratic pushback, but they could now easily become law.

Megan Mineiro

By Megan Mineiro

In Washington, DC, reporting on US Congress

WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 20: President Donald Trump (R) holds up a chart of military hardware sales as he meets with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in the Oval Office at the White House on March 20, 2018 in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Kevin Dietsch-Pool/Getty Images)

Analysis

Saudi Arabia to pursue two-track approach for Trump presidency

Riyadh is likely to compartmentalize business dealings with incoming President Donald Trump separately from its foreign policy engagements, where there is likely to be disagreement.

Jennifer Gnana

By Jennifer Gnana

In Dubai, reporting on Gulf energy policy and politics

ATTA KENARE/AFP via Getty Images

After UAE visit, Qatari PM holds talks in Iran as Hamas officials depart Doha

A Gulf political official told Al-Monitor on Wednesday that the Qatari prime minister's visit to the UAE is designed to communicate Doha's new policy toward Hamas, where it seeks to be more in alignment with them regarding the group.

Smoke rises from the site of an Israeli airstrike that targeted the southern Lebanese border village of Khiam on Nov. 20, 2024, amid the ongoing war between Israel and Hezbollah.

Analysis

Israel seeking US security guarantees to clinch Lebanon deal: What we know

As cease-fire talks advance with Lebanon, Israel might agree to a letter from the US that would guarantee its ability to retaliate to violations by Hezbollah to 1701 framework.

Rina Bassist

By Rina Bassist

In Paris, reporting on Israeli politics and European affairs

Latest News

Analysis

As Netanyahu warms to Israel-Lebanon deal, US role comes into play

A photo taken from the southern Lebanese coastal city of Tyre shows smoke billowing following an Israeli airstrike which targeted the area of al-Hosh on the outskirts of Tyre, on November 19, 2024. (Photo by KAWNAT HAJU / AFP) (Photo by KAWNAT HAJU/AFP via Getty Images)

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

Interview

EU escorted over 200 ships in Red Sea amid Gulf maritime threats, envoy says

NUSA DUA, INDONESIA - JULY 08: The Indonesian Minister for Foreign Affairs, Retno Marsudi (R) greets the Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Luigi Di Maio (L) during arrival of the G20 Foreign Ministers and Head of Department at the Grand Ballroom Mulia Hotel on July 08, 2022 in Nusa Dua, Indonesia. (Photo by Robertus Pudyanto/Getty Images)

Luigi di Maio

Luigi di Maio

EU Special Representative for the Gulf

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Analysis

With leverage in Syria, can Russia's Putin broker Israel-Lebanon deal?

In this pool photograph distributed by Russian state agency Sputnik, Russia's President Vladimir Putin attends a flower-laying ceremony at the Monument to Minin and Pozharsky on Red Square on the National Unity Day in Moscow on November 4, 2024. (Photo by Mikhail TERESHCHENKO / POOL / AFP) (Photo by MIKHAIL TERESHCHENKO/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Rina Bassist

By Rina Bassist

In Paris, reporting on Israeli politics and European affairs

Analysis

Israel euphoric over Trump's cabinet: Will he pick annexation or Saudi deal?

WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 15: Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu waves as he arrives outside the West Wing of the White House September 15, 2020 in Washington, DC. Netanyahu is in Washington to participate in the signing ceremony of the Abraham Accords. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)

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

US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin opens an in-person Ukraine Defense Contact Group meeting at Ramstein Air Base, southwestern Germany, on April 21, 2023. - The United States are hosting the meeting to discuss further support for Ukraine after President Volodymyr Zelensky pushed Western allies to send more fighter jets and long-range missiles. Representatives from around 50 countries gather at the US Ramstein Air Base to coordinate their backing for Kyiv, as battles with Russia rage in the east of the cou

Pentagon chief heads to Israel, says no conditions on US arms transfers

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Washington has "not placed any conditions" on military hardware sent to Israel amid its campaign in Gaza, even as UN officials warn the IDF's siege of the Palestinian enclave violates international law.

USS Ford

US forces in Middle East brace for fallout of Israel-Gaza conflict

Pentagon officials have been increasingly concerned about the potential for wider conflict across the Middle East should Hezbollah and other Iran-backed groups open up new fronts against Israel in a war with Gaza.

Jared Szuba

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

President Joe Biden speaks on the terrorist attacks in Israel.

Breaking | Last Updated: October 11, 2023, 9:42 am

Blinken to visit Israel in show of support after unprecedented Hamas attack

Secretary of State Antony Blinken is expected to arrive Thursday in Israel for meetings with senior Israeli leaders.

French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna and her Armenian counterpart Ararat Mirzoyan shake hands at the end of a joint press conference following their talks in Yerevan on October 3, 2023. (Photo by ALAIN JOCARD / AFP) (Photo by ALAIN JOCARD/AFP via Getty Images)

Analysis

As Armenia's ties strain with Turkey, France pushes EU to stand with Yerevan

France has positioned itself strictly on Armenia’s side on the Nagorno-Karabakh dispute, but can it avoid generating another crisis with Turkey?

Rina Bassist

By Rina Bassist

In Paris, reporting on Israeli politics and European affairs

Navy gulf Oman

US sends 1.1 million rounds of seized Iranian ammunition to Ukraine

The unprecedented shipment comes as political paralysis in Congress has threatened to interrupt the flow of weapons to Kyiv.

The launch of a Tracking and Data Relay Satellite from an orbiting spacecraft.

Israel, Azerbaijan announce landmark deal for sale of two satellites

Israel Aerospace Industries and Azeri space agency Azercosmos announced the signing of an agreement for the sale of two Israeli-developed satellites.

TOW missile

US sells Oman $70 million worth of TOW antitank missiles

The Biden administration advanced the sale proposal even as Yemen's Houthis have engaged in peace talks in Saudi Arabia last month.

MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty Images

US top diplomat to visit Israel, Saudi Arabia as normalization talks continue

The Israeli press has reported that US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will travel to Israel, the West Bank, Saudi Arabia and Morocco in mid or late October to advance Israel-Saudi normalization.

US Army officers stand in front a US Patriot missile defense system during joint Israeli-US military exercise "Juniper Cobra" at the Hatzor airforce base, Israel, March 8, 2018.

Analysis

With Iran in mind, Israel's security brass warms to US defense pact

After years of objecting to a defense pact with the United States, seniors in the Israeli security establishment are increasingly coming around to the idea.

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

Drone package delivery takes off in Jerusalem on September 13, 2023. (Photo by AHMAD GHARABLI / AFP) (Photo by AHMAD GHARABLI/AFP via Getty Images)

Israel's defense exports on the rise, drone customers up 40% since 2020

Israel’s defense exports have been boosted in part by the normalization of relations with several Arab states.

Black smoke billows over the city after drone strikes in the western Ukrainian city of Lviv on September 19, 2023, amid Russia's military invasion on Ukraine. Drones attacked Ukraine's western city of Lviv early on September 19, and explosions rang out, causing a warehouse fire and wounding at least one person. Several waves of drones buzzed overhead, starting around 0130 GMT, and an AFP journalist heard numerous explosions and movements of heavy vehicles through the streets during the nightly curfew. (Phot

Analysis

Europe ups pressure on Iran for supplying Russia with drones in Ukraine

The European Union has shifted its focus regarding Iran-made drones beyond the Iranian officials and companies producing them to third parties buying components outside of Iran.

Rina Bassist

By Rina Bassist

In Paris, reporting on Israeli politics and European affairs

French President Emmanuel Macron (R) and Senegal's President Macky Sall (L).

Analysis

Niger, Morocco turn their backs on France as Macron withdraws troops

In the Sahel region and in North Africa, post-colonial France is rapidly losing its influence.

Rina Bassist

By Rina Bassist

In Paris, reporting on Israeli politics and European affairs