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United States

May 12, 2025

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US President Donald Trump (L) bids farewell to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as he leaves the White House after a meeting on April 7, 2025, in Washington.

Analysis

How Trump's Gulf tour and release of Edan Alexander expose rift with Netanyahu

The US-Hamas deal for the release of Edan Alexander is just one of a series of issues where the gaps between Washington and the Netanyahu government keep growing.

Rina Bassist

By Rina Bassist

In Paris, reporting on Israeli politics and European affairs

President Donald Trump is greeted by Air Force Col. Paul R. Pawluk as he arrives to board Air Force One on May 12, 2025, at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland.

From Nixon to Trump: A look at US presidential visits to the Gulf

As Trump prepares for his visit to Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, Al-Monitor looks back at the history of US presidential trips to the Gulf.

Mark Wilson/Getty Images

Trump may visit Turkey Thursday for Erdogan’s Russia-Ukraine talks

The US president floated the idea of traveling to Turkey on Thursday for a potential meeting between the Russian and Ukrainian leaders.

Edan Alexander

Breaking | Last Updated: May 12, 2025, 12:56 pm

Edan Alexander, last American hostage, released from Gaza after Trump-Hamas deal

American envoys are waiting to meet with released hostage Edan Alexander, released from Hamas captivity in a deal negotiated between Washington and Hamas without Israel involved.

Latest News

Trump-Hamas deal secures release of Edan Alexander: What to know

A sign showing the face of Israeli-US hostage Edan Alexander (C), who has been held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip since October 2023, is pictured among portraits of other Israelis held captive in Gaza at Hostages Square, Tel Aviv, May 12, 2025.

US 'encouraged' by latest Iran nuclear talks ahead of Trump's Gulf visit

U.S. President Donald Trump delivers remarks as Vice President JD Vance (R) and Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff (C) embrace, during the swearing-in ceremony in the Oval Office at the White House on May 06, 2025 in Washington, DC. Witkoff provided an update on the Houthi conflict in the Middle East. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

Analysis

Iran's counterbalancing act: Araghchi in Saudi Arabia ahead of Trump tour

Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi speaks to AFP during an interview at the Iranian consulate in Jeddah on March 7, 2025.

A correspondent in Tehran

By A correspondent in Tehran

In Tehran, reporting on politics

Analysis

Why Trump agreed to ceasefire with Houthis that ignores Israel, root causes

WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 06: U.S. President Donald Trump delivers remarks during a swearing-in ceremony for Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff in the Oval Office at the White House on May 06, 2025 in Washington, DC. Trump provided an update on the Houthi conflict in the Middle East. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

Francesco Schiavi

By Francesco Schiavi

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

Adam Lucente

News and Business Correspondent

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

Elizabeth Hagedorn

State Department Correspondent

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

Jared Szuba

Pentagon Correspondent

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

Joyce Karam

Senior News Editor

In Washington, DC, reporting on regional geopolitics, China in the Middle East

Andrew Parasiliti

President and Chief Content Officer

In Washington, DC, reporting on diplomacy, regional politics, national security

Megan Mineiro

In Washington, DC, reporting on US Congress

A Palestinian man carries away an injured child from a home that was hit in an Israeli strike on the Jabalia refugee camp in the northern Gaza Strip, on November 7, 2024. Israel's military has been conducting a sweeping air and ground assault in northern Gaza since October 6, 2024, particularly around Jabalia, Beit Lahia and Beit Hanoun, saying it aims to prevent Hamas regrouping. (Photo by AFP) (Photo by -/AFP via Getty Images)

Feature

Uncertain future: Gaza’s hopes and fears as Trump wins presidency

Palestinians hope for a sign that the US president-elect might shift American policy toward halting the Gaza conflict and addressing their humanitarian crisis, but they are not optimistic.

Abeer Ayyoub

By Abeer Ayyoub

In Istanbul, reporting on Palestine

Republican presidential nominee, former US President Donald Trump, speaks during an election night event at the Palm Beach Convention Center on Nov. 6, 2024 in West Palm Beach, Florida.

US presses charges in alleged Iran IRGC plot to kill Trump: What we know

The US Department of Justice unsealed on Friday the details of a criminal case in connection with an IRGC-backed plot to kill President-elect Donald Trump.

US President Donald Trump arrives at a Make America Great rally in Mesa, Arizona, Oct. 19, 2018.

How pro-Iran armed groups reacted to Trump's victory

Representatives from Hamas, Hezbollah and the Houthis doubt that the US president-elect will fulfill his campaign promise to end the ongoing wars in the region.

US President Donald Trump (L) talks with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (R) at NATO headquarters in Brussels during a NATO summit, July 11, 2018.

Erdogan invites Trump to Turkey, seeking end to US-Syrian Kurd alliance

The Turkish president described his conversation with the US president-elect as “sincere,” revealing that it had taken place while Donald Trump was at a family dinner that included Elon Musk.

AHMAD GHARABLI/AFP via Getty Images

Analysis

Gaza and Lebanon for Iran: Inside Netanyahu’s gamble on Donald Trump

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu clearly has high hopes for President-elect Donald Trump, but is nervously watching the new administration take shape.

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

Gregory Shamus/Getty Images

How did Middle East wars impact US House, Senate races?

The conflicts in the Middle East shaped Republican and Democratic campaign trails across the country.

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.

Analysis

Trump’s return bodes both continuity and disruption for fragile Middle East

During his previous term in office, President-elect Trump repeatedly sought to extract US troops from the Middle East, often in a chaotic manner, while shortcutting Washington's traditional policy processes.

Jared Szuba

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

US President Donald Trump (L) speaks with Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (C) as Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (R), Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi (2nd R) and Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May smile during a family photo session at the G20 Summit in Osaka on June 28, 2019. (Photo by KIM KYUNG-HOON / POOL / AFP) (Photo credit should read KIM KYUNG-HOON/AFP via Getty Images)

Analysis

Beyond congratulations, Trump faces changed, eastward-looking Gulf

Gulf states are familiar with Donald Trump and his transactional nature but have also managed to forge their own regional alliances over the last four years.

Jennifer Gnana

By Jennifer Gnana

In Dubai, reporting on Gulf energy policy and politics

US President Joe Biden (L) sits with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, at the start of the Israeli war cabinet meeting, in Tel Aviv on Oct. 18, 2023.

As leverage wanes, what can lame-duck Biden accomplish in Middle East?

As it seeks end-of-term wins in the Gaza Strip and Lebanon, the Biden administration must contend with an Israeli leader accused of waiting out the clock.

JERUSALEM, UNSPECIFIED - NOVEMBER 6: Supporters of Republican presidential nominee, former President Donald Trump during an election night watch party on November 6, 2024 in Jerusalem, Unspecified. Americans cast their ballots today in the presidential race between Republican nominee former President Donald Trump and Democratic nominee Vice President Kamala Harris, as well as multiple state elections that will determine the balance of power in Congress. (Photo by Amir Levy/Getty Images)

Israeli settlers, ultra-Orthodox celebrate Donald Trump’s victory

Believing that newly elected Donald Trump will support their political agenda, leaders of the Israeli settler movement prayed and thanked god for the former president's election victory.

An Iranian holds a local newspapers with frontpage news on the US presidential vote outside a kiost in Tehran on Nov. 6, 2024.

'Unpredictable consequences:' How Iran reacted to Trump's victory

An Iranian government spokesperson was dismissive of Donald Trump’s victory in the US presidential election.

WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 15: U.S. President Donald Trump and Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu participate in a meeting in the Oval Office of the White House on September 15, 2020 in Washington, DC. Netanyahu is in Washington to participate in the signing ceremony of the Abraham Accords. (Photo by Doug Mills/Pool/Getty Images)

Netanyahu is first as Middle East leaders rush to congratulate Trump

Several leaders of Arab and Muslim countries in the region have congratulated Donald Trump on his election as US president, while others have expressed indifference.