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People fleeing from Lebanon arrive on the Syrian side of the border with Lebanon in Jdeidat Yabus in southwestern Syria on September 25, 2024. Human Rights Watch warned on September 25 that Israeli strikes on Lebanon were putting civilians "at grave risk", urging an international investigation into hostilities in the country and in northern Israel. (Photo by LOUAI BESHARA / AFP) (Photo by LOUAI BESHARA/AFP via Getty Images)

Feature

With Lebanon under Israeli bombardment, over 200,000 flee to war-torn Syria

With land travel now stymied due to Israeli shelling, desperate, hungry and tired civilians are making the arduous journey on foot to the Syrian border in hopes of finding temporary safety.

(R to L) Somali Ambassador to Ankara Fathudin Ali Mohamed, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Turkish Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar, and Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan bid farewell to the Oruc Reis departs from Istanbul.

Analysis

Turkey's hydrocarbon mission to Somalia extends its Africa influence

Turkey-Somalia ties enter a new phase as the Turkish research vessel RV Oruc Reis heads to Somali waters to prospect for oil and natural gas.

Barin Kayaoglu

By Barin Kayaoglu

In Ankara, reporting on geopolitics and national security

Lieutenant General Lucas Schreurs of the Netherlands assumes command of the NATO Mission to Iraq (NMI) in Baghdad, May 24, 2024.

Interview

NATO deepens engagement with Iraq as US prepares to withdraw

In an exclusive Al-Monitor interview, Lucas Schreurs, commander of NATO Mission Iraq, explains the scope of his outfit's mandate.

Commander of NATO Mission Iraq

Commander of NATO Mission Iraq

Lucas Schreurs

A portrait of slain Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah sits amid debris at Beirut's southern suburb Rouweiss neighborhood on Oct. 10, 2024, following overnight Israeli strikes.

With Hezbollah battered, US seeks to break Lebanon’s political impasse

As Israeli military pressure mounts on a weakened Hezbollah, the Biden administration sees an opening to break political impasse in Lebanon and appears to have ditched its call for an immediate cease-fire there.

Daniel Carde/Getty Images

After UNIFIL attacks, Pentagon urges Israel to wind down Lebanon war 'as soon as feasible'

There's no sign the Biden administration has put any time limit on the Israeli campaign in Lebanon, nor of whether the White House intends to exert leverage to limit the ground invasion.

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Turkey mulls peace talks with Kurds amid fears of Israeli strike on Iran

Supporters of the pro-Kurdish Peoples DEM Party attend a rally for the Turkish Municipal elections to be held on March 31, in Esenyurt Square, in Istanbul on Feb. 25, 2024.

Amberin Zaman

By Amberin Zaman

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

Feature

'Hard to just breathe': Mental health crisis grips Lebanon amid Israel's war

BEIRUT, LEBANON - OCTOBER 11: Emergency workers stand on rubble at the site of an Israeli airstrike on October 11, 2024 in Beirut, Lebanon. At least 22 people died, and over 100 were injured, in the strike in central Beirut last night, according to Lebanese officials. Israel said the target was a high-ranking Hezbollah official. (Photo by Carl Court/Getty Images)

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Analysis

What UAE's Edge expansion into space means for country's military industry

Visitors walk among displays at the UMEX Exhibition showcasing drones, robotics, and unmanned sytems at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre in Abu Dhabi on January 23, 2024. (Photo by Ryan LIM / AFP) (Photo by RYAN LIM/AFP via Getty Images)

Francesco Schiavi

By Francesco Schiavi

In Bologna, reporting on security, defense, economy, governance

Analysis

Nuclear option: Iran's hard-liners advocate for atomic weapons to deter Israel

A big banner depicting Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is placed next to a ballistic missile in Baharestan Square in Tehran, Iran, on Sept. 26, 2024 on the sideline of an exhibition which marks the 44th anniversary of the start of Iran-Iraq war.

A correspondent in Tehran

By A correspondent in Tehran

In Tehran, reporting on politics

UNIFIL, a mission of about 9,500 troops of various nationalities, was created following Israel's 1978 invasion of Lebanon

UN chief says attacks on UNIFIL 'may constitute a war crime'

Agence France-Presse

Iraq's Kataib Hezbollah and other armed groups have said they should be readying for an escalation

Iraq walks fine line with pro-Iran factions to avoid war

Agence France-Presse

Ali Assaf (R), 20, was reported to be the only survivor of an Israeli air strike on Jabalia that killed his family

Palestinians in Gaza's Jabalia grieve and try to survive

Agence France-Presse

Devastation the day after Israel attacked the iconic marketplace in the southern Lebanese city of Nabatiyeh

A beating heart silenced: south Lebanon's Nabatiyeh market

Agence France-Presse

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The Al-Monitor Brief

Middle East startups outperform global peers

Jack Dutton interviews Philip Bahoshy

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The Al-Monitor Brief

The year since Oct. 7

Kristen Talman interviews Daoud Kuttab and Rina Bassist

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Lina Khatib

On the Middle East with Amberin Zaman

What are Hezbollah's choices after Israel killed its leader, and which way will Iran point?

Amberin Zaman interviews Lina Khatib

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Interview

Iraq's Sudani: US troop withdrawal does not mean end of security relationship

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani speaks during the 79th Session of the United Nations General Assembly at the United Nations headquarters in New York City on September 26, 2024.

Mohammed Shia al-Sudani

Mohammed Shia al-Sudani

Prime Minister of Iraq

Interview

Syrian-Kurdish KNC leader decries abuse by Turkey-backed Sunni factions in Afrin

Turkish-backed Syrian fighters from the Turkish-backed 1st Corps of the Samarkand Brigade take part in a military parade in the opposition-held Afrin region of northern Syria, on Nov. 23, 2022.

Sleiman Oso

Sleiman Oso

Kurdish National Council President

Interview

IAEA chief: Iran's nuclear program on 'turbocharge' without deal

Rafael Grossi, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, attends the IAEA's Board of Governors meeting at the agency's headquarters in Vienna, Austria, on Sept. 9, 2024.

Rafael Grossi

Rafael Grossi

IAEA Director General

Interview

NATO deepens engagement with Iraq as US prepares to withdraw

Commander of NATO Mission Iraq

Commander of NATO Mission Iraq

Lucas Schreurs

Lieutenant General Lucas Schreurs of the Netherlands assumes command of the NATO Mission to Iraq (NMI) in Baghdad, May 24, 2024.

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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

Co-founder and Ceo of Starz Play Maaz Sheikh poses in his office in Dubai on April 23, 2019. Streaming services in the Middle East are competing for Arab audiences with US giant Netflix set to release its first Arabic production in June, chasing a slice of a potentially lucrative market. (Photo by GIUSEPPE CACACE / AFP) (Photo by GIUSEPPE CACACE/AFP via Getty Images)

Netflix in crosshairs as Middle East streaming competition mounts

Samuel Wendel

In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech

Analysis

Stay a step ahead of your colleagues.

Analysis

Nuclear option: Iran's hard-liners advocate for atomic weapons to deter Israel

A big banner depicting Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is placed next to a ballistic missile in Baharestan Square in Tehran, Iran, on Sept. 26, 2024 on the sideline of an exhibition which marks the 44th anniversary of the start of Iran-Iraq war.

A correspondent in Tehran

By A correspondent in Tehran

In Tehran, reporting on politics

Analysis

What UAE's Edge expansion into space means for country's military industry

Visitors walk among displays at the UMEX Exhibition showcasing drones, robotics, and unmanned sytems at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre in Abu Dhabi on January 23, 2024. (Photo by Ryan LIM / AFP) (Photo by RYAN LIM/AFP via Getty Images)

Francesco Schiavi

By Francesco Schiavi

In Bologna, reporting on security, defense, economy, governance

Analysis

Why the US, Israel disagree over striking Iran’s nuclear sites

Members of Israel's Home Front Command and police forces inspect a crater left by an exploded projectile at a heavily damaged school building in Israel's southern city of Gedera.

Jared Szuba

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

Analysis

Turkey's hydrocarbon mission to Somalia extends its Africa influence

Barin Kayaoglu

By Barin Kayaoglu

In Ankara, reporting on geopolitics and national security

(R to L) Somali Ambassador to Ankara Fathudin Ali Mohamed, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Turkish Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar, and Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan bid farewell to the Oruc Reis departs from Istanbul.

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September 26, 2024 18:00 EDT

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In Washington, DC, reporting on diplomacy, regional politics, human rights

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