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Syrian interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa (R) and SDF leader Mazloum Kobane sign an agreement in Damascus on March 10, 2025.

Analysis

Syria’s Kurds win big as Sharaa shakes hands with Kobane to save his own skin

The surprise deal between Syria’s interim president and the Kurdish leader marks a pivotal moment for the country’s Kurdish minority and shifts the balance of power amid escalating violence.

Amberin Zaman

Yazar: Amberin Zaman

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

Saudi Crown Prince, Mohammed bin Salman meets Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during his visit to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, March 10.

Analysis

Ukraine ceasefire showcases Saudi Arabia's diplomatic role under Trump

Ahead of Ukraine's high-stakes negotiations over the Russia-Ukraine war with the US on Tuesday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Monday.

Jennifer Gnana

Yazar: Rosaleen Carroll , Jennifer Gnana

UNIFIL peacekeeping troops patrol the southern Lebanese village of Ramia near the southern border on March 5, 2025. Lebanese official media said two people were wounded on March 5 when Israeli drones attacked a vehicle in the south, a day after a deadly raid and despite a November 27 Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire. (Photo by Mahmoud ZAYYAT / AFP) (Photo by MAHMOUD ZAYYAT/AFP via Getty Images)

Lebanon, Israel agree to border talks under US mediation: What to know

A military meeting in southern Lebanon on Tuesday led to an agreement between Israel and Lebanon regarding the next steps on the Blue Line.

Digital generated image of abstract AI chat icons over digital surface.

AL-Monitor FutureVerse: AI superpowers clash

An exclusive sneak peek of an interview with a top Saudi tech diplomat who is helping shape the future of AI collaboration among emerging economies.

Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdoan (3-R) greets Egypt's President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi (2-L) next to Bolivia's President Luis Arce (L) and Argentina's President Javier Milei (R) before the group photo at the end of the first session of the G20 Leaders' Meeting in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on November 18, 2024. (Photo by Ludovic MARIN / AFP) (Photo by LUDOVIC MARIN/AFP via Getty Images)

Analysis

As Iran’s role recedes, Israel alarmed by Turkey-Syria-Egypt alignment

Could a new triple axis replace the yearslong threat against Israel of Iran and its proxies?

Yazar: Ben Caspit

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

Latest News

After SDF agreement, Syria's Sharaa meets Druze leaders seeking deal

Walid Jumblatt (L), the Druze former leader of Lebanon's Progressive Socialist Party (PSP), attends a meeting with Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) leader Ahmed al-Sharaa.

UAE’s XRG to make big investment in US energy, ADNOC chief says

Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, President of COP28, speaks during the opening ceremony of the UNFCCC COP29 Climate Conference on Nov. 11, 2024 in Baku, Azerbaijan.

United Arab Emirates

Analysis

A year on, UAE walks BRICS tightrope amid escalating US-Brazil rhetoric

UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan walks with President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva of Brazil, on an official visit to the United Arab Emirates, April 15, 2023.

Jennifer Gnana

Yazar: Jennifer Gnana

In Dubai, reporting on Gulf energy policy and politics

Libya now politically stable, 'attractive' to foreign oil firms: NOC chairman

An oil refinery in the northern town of Ras Lanuf is seen in this photo, Libya, June 3, 2020.

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UN peacekeepers carry out a patrol in the south Lebanon village of Ramia.

Israel kills senior Hezbollah militant, frees four Lebanese prisoners

Agence France-Presse

EU foreign affairs chief Kaja Kallas, pictured here in February, reaffirmed European support for Ukraine as she addressed the UN Security Council

EU foreign affairs chief slams rise of the 'rule of force'

Agence France-Presse

Syrians in the northeastern city of Qamishli protested the wave of sectarian killings in western Syria

Syria determined to 'prevent unlawful revenge' says fact-finding committee

Agence France-Presse

Pope Francis could be discharged from Gemelli Hospital (pictured here) in several days' time

Pope 'stable', out of imminent danger as talk turns to return home

Agence France-Presse

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Adam Lucente and Jack Dutton

The Al-Monitor Brief

What's behind the UK removing sanctions on Syria?

Adam Lucente interviews Jack Dutton

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Joshua Landis

On the Middle East with Amberin Zaman

How Israel is driving Syria’s new leadership into Turkey’s arms

Amberin Zaman interviews Joshua Landis

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27:07

Adam Lucente and Barin Kayaoglu

The Al-Monitor Brief

Turkey eyes role in Ukraine amid Trump-Zelenskyy row

Adam Lucente interviews Barin Kayaoglu

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ALM Interviews

Exclusive conversations with Al-Monitor.

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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.

Analysis

Stay a step ahead of your colleagues.

Analysis

Türkiye’nin Suriye’deki etkisi artarken İsrail Dürzilere yöneliyor

Ultraorthodox Jewish men speak to soldiers standing on an armored personnel carrier in the buffer zone that separates the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights and Syria, near the Druze village of Majdal Shams, Feb. 27, 2025.

Yazar: Ben Caspit

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

Analysis

Trump'ın Gazze planı Suudi-İsrail anlaşması için pazarlık taktiği olabilir mi?

JIM WATSON/AFP via Getty Images

Yazar: Ben Caspit

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

Analysis

Netanyahu Gazze’deki savaşı gerçekten bitirecek mi?

Former US President Donald Trump delivers remarks at the Israeli American Council National Summit at the Washington Hilton, on Sept. 19, 2024, in Washington.

Yazar: Ben Caspit

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

Analysis

Türkiye'nin Kürt açılımı, artan bölgesel etkinliği İran’ı korkutuyor

Amberin Zaman

Yazar: Amberin Zaman

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

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (C) meets with Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei (R) in Tehran, on July 19, 2022.

Our Journalists

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Amberin Zaman

Chief Correspondent

In Paris, 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