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Analysis
[Israel’s two-pronged Lebanon strategy: Pursue border deal, strike Hezbollah](/originals/2025/03/israels-two-pronged-lebanon-strategy-pursue-border-deal-strike-hezbollah)
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Israel is trying to negotiate a border demarcation with the Lebanese government while continuing to keep Hezbollah in check.
[](/authors/ben-caspit.html)
[
By Ben Caspit
In **Tel Aviv**, reporting on **national security, Israeli politics, defense**
](/authors/ben-caspit.html)
[](/originals/2025/03/turkey-detains-5-alleged-iran-spy-ring-syria-tensions-brew-what-we-know)
[Turkey detains 5 in alleged Iran spy ring as Syria tensions brew: What we know](/originals/2025/03/turkey-detains-5-alleged-iran-spy-ring-syria-tensions-brew-what-we-know)
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[The spy bust comes amid diplomatic strains between Turkey and Iran that surfaced after a rare rebuke of Tehran by Turkey's top diplomat.](/originals/2025/03/turkey-detains-5-alleged-iran-spy-ring-syria-tensions-brew-what-we-know)
[
Turkey
](/turkey)
[](/originals/2025/03/us-israel-looking-resettle-gazas-palestinians-somalia-somaliland-sudan-report)
[US, Israel looking to resettle Gaza's Palestinians in Somalia, Somaliland, Sudan: Report](/originals/2025/03/us-israel-looking-resettle-gazas-palestinians-somalia-somaliland-sudan-report)
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[Israeli and American officials have been in contact with Sudan, Somalia and Somaliland for the possible resettling of Gazans there, the Associated Press reported.](/originals/2025/03/us-israel-looking-resettle-gazas-palestinians-somalia-somaliland-sudan-report)
[
United States
](/united-states)
[](/originals/2025/03/us-slams-hamas-offer-release-american-edan-alexander)
[US slams Hamas offer to release American Edan Alexander](/originals/2025/03/us-slams-hamas-offer-release-american-edan-alexander)
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[US special envoy for the Middle East Steve Witkoff said Hamas faces a fast-approaching deadline to accept Washington’s proposed ceasefire extension.](/originals/2025/03/us-slams-hamas-offer-release-american-edan-alexander)Â
[
Israel
](/israel)
[](/originals/2025/03/syrias-draft-constitution-separation-powers-territorial-unity-and-islamic)
[Syria's draft constitution: Separation of powers, territorial unity and Islamic jurisprudence](/originals/2025/03/syrias-draft-constitution-separation-powers-territorial-unity-and-islamic)
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[After more than a week of uncertainty amid violent clashes and Israeli strikes, Syria's interim president has signed a constitutional declaration.](/originals/2025/03/syrias-draft-constitution-separation-powers-territorial-unity-and-islamic)
[
Syria
](/syria)
### Latest News
[UAE, Egypt, Saudi Arabia finance startups lead Forbes Middle East Fintech50](/originals/2025/03/uae-egypt-saudi-arabia-finance-startups-lead-forbes-middle-east-fintech50)
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[
Saudi Arabia
](/saudi-arabia)
[Senior Turkey delegation visits Syria following Sharaa-SDF deal](/originals/2025/03/senior-turkey-delegation-visits-syria-following-sharaa-sdf-deal)
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[
Turkey
](/turkey)
[Meet Lebanon's new military, security chiefs after leadership shake-up](/originals/2025/03/meet-lebanons-new-military-security-chiefs-after-leadership-shake)
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[
Lebanon
](/lebanon)
[Houthis using Chinese-made hydrogen fuel cells to build stealthier drones: Report](/originals/2025/03/houthis-using-chinese-made-hydrogen-fuel-cells-build-stealthier-drones-report)
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[
Yemen
](/yemen)
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[](/originals/2025/03/syrias-new-constitution-gives-sweeping-powers-ignores-minority-rights)
[Syria's new constitution gives sweeping powers, ignores minority rights](/originals/2025/03/syrias-new-constitution-gives-sweeping-powers-ignores-minority-rights)
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Agence France-Presse
[](/originals/2025/03/syria-fms-iraq-visit-focuses-security)
[Syria FM's Iraq visit focuses on security](/originals/2025/03/syria-fms-iraq-visit-focuses-security)
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Agence France-Presse
[](/originals/2025/03/israel-pm-security-agency-fight-it-out-public)
[Israel PM, security agency fight it out in public](/originals/2025/03/israel-pm-security-agency-fight-it-out-public)
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Agence France-Presse
[](/originals/2025/03/hamas-says-ready-free-israeli-us-hostage-four-bodies)
[Hamas says ready to free Israeli-US hostage, four bodies](/originals/2025/03/hamas-says-ready-free-israeli-us-hostage-four-bodies)
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Agence France-Presse
### Editor's choice
Three stories hand-picked by our editorial team.
1. [Syria's draft constitution: Separation of powers, territorial unity and Islamic jurisprudence](/originals/2025/03/syrias-draft-constitution-separation-powers-territorial-unity-and-islamic)
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[
Syria
](/syria)
2. [Syria’s Kurds win big as Sharaa shakes hands with Kobane to save his own skin](/originals/2025/03/syrias-kurds-win-big-sharaa-shakes-hands-kobane-save-his-own-skin)
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[](/authors/amberin-zaman.html)
[
By Amberin Zaman
In **Paris**, reporting on **geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture**
](/authors/amberin-zaman.html)
3. [Amid US rift and Saudi rivalry, UAE offers Zelenskyy economic lifeline](/originals/2025/02/amid-us-rift-and-saudi-rivalry-uae-offers-zelenskyy-economic-lifeline)
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[](/authors/jennifer-gnana)
[
By Jennifer Gnana
In **Dubai**, reporting on **Gulf energy policy and politics**
](/authors/jennifer-gnana)
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The Al-Monitor Brief
[What’s behind Saudi, UAE interest in mediating Ukraine war?](/podcasts/whats-behind-saudi-uae-interest-mediating-ukraine-war)
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Adam Lucente interviews Jennifer Gnana
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On the Middle East with Amberin Zaman
[French academic Fabrice Balanche: Syria's Islamist leader wants to make example of Alawites](/podcasts/french-academic-fabrice-balanche-syrias-islamist-leader-wants-make-example-alawites)
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Amberin Zaman interviews Fabrice Balanche
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The Al-Monitor Brief
[The FutureVerse: How US economy, China are affecting Gulf's AI sector](/podcasts/futureverse-how-us-economy-china-are-affecting-gulfs-ai-sector)
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Adam Lucente interviews Sam Wendel
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### ALM Interviews
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Interview
[Amid Israel's rightward shift, left struggles for relevance](/originals/2025/02/amid-israels-rightward-shift-left-struggles-relevance)
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Yair Golan
Chair of the Democrats Party
Interview
[Qatar banks on Trump's help to sustain Gaza ceasefire](/originals/2025/01/qatar-banks-trumps-help-sustain-gaza-ceasefire)
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Majed al-Ansari
Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesperson
Interview
[WFP chief McCain urges funding to alleviate Syria's hunger crisis](/originals/2025/01/wfp-chief-mccain-urges-funding-alleviate-syrias-hunger-crisis)
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Cindy McCain
WFP Executive Director
Interview
[As AI superpowers clash, Saudi tech diplomat pushes collaboration over competition](/originals/2025/03/ai-superpowers-clash-saudi-tech-diplomat-pushes-collaboration-over-competition)
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Deemah AlYahya
Secretary General, Digital Cooperation Organization
[](/originals/2025/03/ai-superpowers-clash-saudi-tech-diplomat-pushes-collaboration-over-competition)
### Analysis
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Analysis
[Iran flaunts joint Russia-China naval exercise as defiance of Trump, new order: What to know](/originals/2025/03/iran-flaunts-joint-russia-china-naval-exercise-defiance-trump-new-order-what-know)
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[](/authors/an-al-monitor-correspondent-in-t.html)
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By A correspondent in Tehran
In **Tehran**, reporting on **politics**
](/authors/an-al-monitor-correspondent-in-t.html)
Analysis
[Ukraine ceasefire showcases Saudi Arabia's diplomatic role under Trump](/originals/2025/03/ukraine-ceasefire-showcases-saudi-arabias-diplomatic-role-under-trump)
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[](/authors/rosaleen-carroll)[](/authors/jennifer-gnana)
By [Rosaleen Carroll](/authors/rosaleen-carroll) , [Jennifer Gnana](/authors/jennifer-gnana)
Analysis
[Syria’s Kurds win big as Sharaa shakes hands with Kobane to save his own skin](/originals/2025/03/syrias-kurds-win-big-sharaa-shakes-hands-kobane-save-his-own-skin)
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[](/authors/amberin-zaman.html)
[
By Amberin Zaman
In **Paris**, reporting on **geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture**
](/authors/amberin-zaman.html)
Analysis
[Israel’s two-pronged Lebanon strategy: Pursue border deal, strike Hezbollah](/originals/2025/03/israels-two-pronged-lebanon-strategy-pursue-border-deal-strike-hezbollah)
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[](/authors/ben-caspit.html)
[
By Ben Caspit
In **Tel Aviv**, reporting on **national security, Israeli politics, defense**
](/authors/ben-caspit.html)
[](/originals/2025/03/israels-two-pronged-lebanon-strategy-pursue-border-deal-strike-hezbollah)
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[
On the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York City, AL-Monitor hosted HE Dr. Anwar Gargash, Diplomatic Advisor to the President of the UAE, for an off-the-record dinner and discussion at Le Jardinier of the Bastion Collection. The event was attended by thought and business leaders as well as former officials.
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At an event hosted by AL-Monitor and the US Chamber of Commerce, the prime minister discussed Iraq’s plan to achieve energy independence by 2030 and his desire to drawdown the US military presence in the country.
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[
AL-Monitor hosted the ambassador of Turkey to the United States, Sedat Ă–nal, for an off-the-record discussion on a wide range of topics such as Turkey-US relations, the Gaza war and Turkey's military intervention in Syria. The event was attended by guests from media, private business, and government.
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