Al-Monitor: The Middle Eastʼs leading independent news source since 2012

WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 23: U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) walks out of the Senate Chamber on Capitol Hill on April 23, 2024 in Washington, DC. The Senate takes up a $95 billion foreign aid package today for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

Breaking

Last Updated: November 20, 2024, 9:51 pm

Senate rejects bid to block key arms transfers to Israel

Lawmakers rejected three separate measures aimed at halting transfers of explosive shells and bomb guidance kits to Israel, despite a clear-cut case laid out by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and others that the Biden administration is violating US law.

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

Yazar: Rina Bassist

In Paris, reporting on Israeli politics and European affairs

Iran's head of the Atomic Energy Organization, Mohammad Eslami, speaks during a joint press conference with the United Nations nuclear chief in Tehran on Nov. 14, 2024.

Iran threatens 'proportionate' response as IAEA censure looms

Iranian officials have repeatedly denied pursuit of nuclear weapons. In recent months, however, the rhetoric from state media and hard-liners has increasingly shifted.

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.

Chinese President Xi Jinping (shakes hands with Saudi Arabian Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud at the G20 Summit on Sept. 4, 2016, in Hangzhou, China.

Saudi Arabia, Iran, China slam Israel at Riyadh meeting: What we know

The China-Saudi Arabia-Iran Trilateral Joint Committee met for the second time in the Saudi capital, more than a year after the Chinese-brokered deal that resumed relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran.

Latest News

Shootings in Daraa leave 9 dead as instability plagues Syria’s south

A picture taken during a tour organized by the Syrian Ministry of Information shows flags of Russia and Syria atop a damaged building in the district of Daraa al-Balad of Syria's southern city of Daraa, on Sept. 12, 2021.

US vetoes UN resolution demanding Gaza cease-fire

ANGELA WEISS/AFP via Getty Images

Sign up to our Daily Briefing

Keep up with Al-Monitor's top stories with a morning digest from across the region.

US envoy advances Israel-Lebanon cease-fire talks as Hezbollah says decision with Netanyahu

AFP via Getty Images

Egypt to launch first IPO in three years amid IMF-fueled privatization drive

Egyptian pound banknotes lie on a table on March 6, 2024, in Cairo, after Egypt's central bank announced it will allow the exchange rate to be set by the market.

The year-long war in Gaza has devastated the tiny Palestinian territory

Dozens feared dead in Gaza after Israeli strikes

Agence France-Presse

A lot of work still needed to be done said Grossi

UN nuclear chief welcomes Iran's 'concrete step' on uranium stockpile

Agence France-Presse

Israel escalated its operations against Hezbollah in late September

Hezbollah says Israel 'cannot impose conditions' for truce

Agence France-Presse

The UN nuclear watchdog's board of governors will this week discuss a resolution critical of Iran

UN watchdog chief welcomes Iran nuclear gesture as Western powers seek censure

Agence France-Presse

Editor's choice

Three stories hand-picked by our editorial team.

Stay informed with our daily and weekly newsletters

Read By

See all newsletters

Jim Jeffrey

On the Middle East with Amberin Zaman

What will Middle East policy look like under the new Trump administration?

Amberin Zaman interviews Jim Jeffrey

Ezgi<>Kristen

The Al-Monitor Brief

Why Turkey’s proposed ‘foreign agent’ law is worrying civil society

Kristen Talman interviews Ezgi Akin

Jennifer, Kriten

The Al-Monitor Brief

Trump heads back to Washington amid shifted Gulf dynamics

Kristen Talman interviews Jennifer Gnana

13:51

ALM Interviews

Exclusive conversations with Al-Monitor.

See All

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.

ALM Memos

Executive briefs that lay out scenarios on key issues.

See All

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 30: A container ship departs the Port of Newark for the Atlantic Ocean on September 30, 2024 seen from New York City. A massive strike that could shut down ports across the East and Gulf coasts could begin at midnight as members of the International Longshoremen’s Association continue to make salary and other demands to the United States Maritime Alliance, which controls many of the ports across the country. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

Red Sea, Iran energy threats amplify 2025 global economic risks as trade wars, Trump loom

Samuel Wendel

In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech

Cars drive along a street in front of high-rise buildings in Dubai, on February 18, 2023. - Home to towering skyscrapers and ultra-luxury villas, Dubai saw record real estate transactions in 2022, largely due to an influx of wealthy investors, especially from Russia. (Photo by Karim SAHIB / AFP) (Photo by KARIM SAHIB/AFP via Getty Images)

UAE aims to attract family offices to boost stature as wealth hub

Sebastian Castelier

Sebastian Castelier

In Dubai, reporting on regional business

Solar pannels cover the rooftops of the buildings of the Makhtar boarding school on September 29, 2022, in the Tunisian central-west region of the same name. - The Makthar boarding school, a unique business initiative is both generating income and opening pupils' minds to the outside world. Lotfi Hamadi, founder of the NGO "Wallah (Swear to God) We Can", is hoping that helping schools boost their resources through food and energy production can breathe new life into Tunisia's failing, cash-strapped educatio

Tunisia’s green hydrogen strategy will need domestic stakeholders

Francisco Serrano

Francisco Serrano

In Lisbon, reporting on North Africa business

Analysis

Stay a step ahead of your colleagues.

Analysis

Trump’ın ulusal güvenlik danışmanı olarak seçtiği Mike Waltz kimdir?

Committee of the Platform Co-Chair Mike Waltz speaks on the first day of the Republican National Convention at the Fiserv Forum, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, July 15, 2024.

Jared Szuba

Yazar: Jared Szuba

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

Analysis

Trump’ın dönüşü Orta Doğu için hem devamlılığın hem değişimin habercisi

This US Navy photo released Jan. 15, 2015 shows an MH-60S Sea Hawk helicopter from the Red Lions of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 15 as it prepares to land on the flight deck of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) on Jan. 13, 2015 in the Gulf.

Jared Szuba

Yazar: Jared Szuba

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

Analysis

ABD Kongre üyeleri İsrail-Arap askeri eşgüdümünü artırmak için harekete geçti

An exterior view of the US Capitol on September 9, 2024 in Washington, DC.

Megan Mineiro

Yazar: Megan Mineiro

In Washington, DC, reporting on US Congress

Analysis

Suudi Arabistan ve İran arasında artan görüşme trafiği ne anlama geliyor?

Rosaleen Carroll

Yazar: Rosaleen Carroll

In Washington, DC, US, reporting on the Middle East

Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman (C) inspects a guard of honour during a ceremonial reception at the President House a day after the G20 summit in New Delhi on September 11, 2023. (Photo by Money SHARMA / AFP) (Photo by MONEY SHARMA/AFP via Getty Images)

Our Journalists

See All

Amberin Zaman

Chief Correspondent

In London, reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture

Ben Caspit

Israel Columnist

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

Contributor

News and Business Correspondent

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

Andrew Parasiliti

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