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Adam Lucente

Adam Lucente

Al Monitor

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Saudi Arabia, Italy sign $10B in deals during Meloni visit: What we know

Italy is a strong trading partner of Saudi Arabia's, and the two countries are eying cooperation on renewable energy.

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Al Monitor

Adam Lucente

Iran confirms purchase of Russia’s Sukhoi-35 fighter jets: What we know

Iran confirms purchase of Russia’s Sukhoi-35 fighter jets: What we know

Iran and Russia have grown closer since the start of the Ukraine war as the two countries face international sanctions.

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Al Monitor

Adam Lucente

Hamas names hostages to be freed in next swap with Israel

Hamas names hostages to be freed in next swap with Israel

Hamas named on Friday four Israeli "women soldiers" held hostage since October 7 whom it plans to release from captivity in a second exchange under a...

24.01.2025 6

Al Monitor

Adam Lucente

Saudi Arabia must punch its weight on global stage: minister

Saudi Arabia must punch its weight on global stage: minister

Saudi Arabia "needs to punch at (its) weight" on the global stage given its growing institutional presence and the return of Donald Trump, the...

24.01.2025 6

Al Monitor

Adam Lucente

Saudi Arabia seizes 1.4 million Captagon pills in latest drug bust

Saudi Arabia seizes 1.4 million Captagon pills in latest drug bust

Syria is the main source of Captagon shipments to the Gulf and the new authorities in the country have pledged to crack down on the trade.

24.01.2025 10

Al Monitor

Adam Lucente

Syria FM Shibani touts 'big opportunity for investment' in country at World Economic Forum

Syria FM Shibani touts 'big opportunity for investment' in country at World Economic Forum

Asaad al-Shibani said Syria is not a threat to its neighbors and defended the transitional government’s actions during the first visit by a Syrian...

23.01.2025 5

Al Monitor

Adam Lucente

Iraq passes law that could legalize child marriage: What to know

Iraq passes law that could legalize child marriage: What to know

The controversial amendments were passed alongside laws on land disputes and amnesty for some crimes.

22.01.2025 2

Al Monitor

Adam Lucente

Iraqi parliament passes law that could legalize child marriage: What to know

Iraqi parliament passes law that could legalize child marriage: What to know

The controversial amendments were passed alongside laws on land disputes and amnesty for some crimes.

22.01.2025 6

Al Monitor

Adam Lucente

Israeli raid in West Bank kills 8 in Jenin as tensions soar

Israeli raid in West Bank kills 8 in Jenin as tensions soar

The operation follows Israeli concerns about the presence of Iran-backed groups in the Palestinian territory as well as a crackdown by the Palestinian...

21.01.2025 2

Al Monitor

Adam Lucente

ICC chief prosecutor Karim Khan meets Syria's new leader

ICC chief prosecutor Karim Khan meets Syria's new leader

Chief prosecutor at the International Criminal Court Karim Khan met Syria's new leader Ahmed al-Sharaa on Friday, state media reported, as last...

17.01.2025 7

Al Monitor

Adam Lucente

Qatar pledges electricity, support for Syria as PM meets Sharaa in Damascus

Qatar pledges electricity, support for Syria as PM meets Sharaa in Damascus

Qatari Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani met Syrian leader Ahmed al-Sharaa in Damascus to discuss bilateral relations,...

17.01.2025 5

Al Monitor

Adam Lucente

Qatar PM says Gaza truce, hostage release deal agreed

Qatar PM says Gaza truce, hostage release deal agreed

Qatar's prime minister announced that Israel and Hamas had agreed Wednesday to a ceasefire and the release of hostages held in Gaza, adding he hoped...

15.01.2025 6

Al Monitor

Adam Lucente

Syria arrests Egyptian Islamist who threatened to overthrow Sisi

Syria arrests Egyptian Islamist who threatened to overthrow Sisi

Wanted Egyptian Ahmed al-Mansour was arrested by Syria’s transitional authorities.

15.01.2025 5

Al Monitor

Adam Lucente

Al-Waleed bin Talal announces Four Seasons to reopen in Beirut, Lebanon

Al-Waleed bin Talal announces Four Seasons to reopen in Beirut, Lebanon

The planned reopening of the hotel, which was damaged in the 2020 port explosion, follows Saudi-backed Gen. Joseph Aoun's becoming president of...

15.01.2025 6

Al Monitor

Adam Lucente

Pro-Assad militias clash with Syria security in Latakia: What we know

Pro-Assad militias clash with Syria security in Latakia: What we know

The incident, which left two members of the transitional security forces dead, marks the latest violent challenge to the new rulers' grip on power in...

14.01.2025 5

Al Monitor

Adam Lucente

Kuwait sentences 13 to prison over Hezbollah financing: What we know

Kuwait sentences 13 to prison over Hezbollah financing: What we know

Kuwait has had tense relations with Hezbollah in the past and the ruling comes as Saudi Arabia is reportedly pushing for the Iran-backed group to be...

13.01.2025 4

Al Monitor

Adam Lucente

Lebanon's Mikati set to meet Sharaa in Syria in wake of Aoun's election

Lebanon's Mikati set to meet Sharaa in Syria in wake of Aoun's election

Najib Mikati’s visit, the first in 15 years, comes amid pressure in Lebanon to release Islamists imprisoned during the civil war and just after the...

10.01.2025 3

Al Monitor

Adam Lucente

Khamenei pushes for US withdrawal from Iraq in meeting with Sudani

Khamenei pushes for US withdrawal from Iraq in meeting with Sudani

Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani’s trip to Tehran is his first since the ouster of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and comes ahead of...

08.01.2025 3

Al Monitor

Adam Lucente

Israeli settlers vandalize Palestinian property across West Bank: What we know

Israeli settlers vandalize Palestinian property across West Bank: What we know

Israeli settlers attacked Palestinian property throughout the West Bank on Monday night, Palestinian media and an Israeli rights group said, as the...

07.01.2025 2

Al Monitor

Adam Lucente

Wave of instability hits Syria’s Daraa in challenge to al-Shara'a: What we know

Wave of instability hits Syria’s Daraa in challenge to al-Shara'a: What we know

Syrian security forces deployed to the south recently following clashes involving a commander who reportedly served ousted President Bashar al-Assad.

07.01.2025 2

Al Monitor

Adam Lucente

EU seeks Syria stability, Russian withdrawal as German, French FMs visit

Europe views Syria as crucial to its stability, particularly regarding migration, and is hoping to reduce Russia’s presence in the country...

04.01.2025 2

Al Monitor

Adam Lucente

After outrage, Syria's education minister clarifies curriculum changes: What to know

The Hayat Tahrir al-Sham-led transitional administration is working on imposing a list of modifications to what is taught in Syrian schools,...

03.01.2025 2

Al Monitor

Adam Lucente

Ukraine sends Syria 500 tons of wheat in first post-Assad aid: What we know

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has indicated a desire to help Syria after the fall of Bashar al-Assad, who was heavily backed by Russia.

27.12.2024 4

Al Monitor

Adam Lucente

Amid Alawite tensions, Syria's new rulers launch security operation: What we know

Syrian authorities conducted a search and made arrests in Tartous on Thursday following an ambush the day prior and amid rising violence throughout...

27.12.2024 6

Al Monitor

Adam Lucente

Trump's national security adviser says ISIS, Israel border priorities in Syria

Congressman Mike Waltz, who incoming President Donald Trump nominated to be his national security advisor, said on Sunday that the United States is...

24.12.2024 30

Al Monitor

Adam Lucente

From UK to Jordan: Delegations pour into Damascus, meet Syria's al-Sharaa

Officials from the Arab world, Turkey, the US and Europe have sent delegations to Syria since the ouster of President Bashar al-Assad.

23.12.2024 6

Al Monitor

Adam Lucente

Ahead of Syria visit, Lebanon Druze leader Jumblatt says give HTS 'a chance'

Lebanese Druze leader Walid Jumblatt voiced optimism on Thursday that Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) could play a positive role in neighboring Syria...

20.12.2024 7

Al Monitor

Adam Lucente

Iran's power shortages force schools to close, fuel public anger: What we know

Iran experienced a fourth day of closures on Wednesday due to power shortages, leading to public anger and coinciding with a historic drop in the...

18.12.2024 5

Al Monitor

Adam Lucente

HTS expands Syria rule with amnesty programs, minority outreach: What we know

Authorities in Syria, led by the Islamist rebel group, are calling for the dissolution of armed groups and are reportedly allowing alcohol to be...

18.12.2024 2

Al Monitor

Adam Lucente

Who controls what in Syria as post-Assad transition begins?

Syria is predominantly controlled by rebel groups and Kurdish-led forces following the toppling of President Bashar al-Assad on Sunday. A...

08.12.2024 3

Al Monitor

Adam Lucente

Syrian rebels take control of Hama in major blow to Assad

Government and rebel forces had been fighting over the strategic city for days after the latter seized Aleppo.

05.12.2024 3

Al Monitor

Adam Lucente

Syrian rebels enter Hama in major blow to Assad

Government and rebel forces had been fighting over the strategic city for days after the latter seized Aleppo.

05.12.2024 3

Al Monitor

Adam Lucente

Clashes in strategic city of Hama intensify as Syrian military battles rebels

Rebel forces moved toward the central city of Hama after taking Aleppo, while the government sent reinforcements to the area.

04.12.2024 3

Al Monitor

Adam Lucente

Iranian rapper Toomaj, who supported protests, released from prison

Toomaj Salehi was sentenced to death earlier this year after releasing a song in support of the Mahsa Amini protests, though the ruling was...

03.12.2024 3

Al Monitor

Adam Lucente

Heavy clashes as Syrian rebels advance against government forces in Aleppo

The assault marks one of the biggest escalations in the Syrian civil war in years.

28.11.2024 4

Al Monitor

Adam Lucente

Iran praises Lebanon ceasefire, vows response to Israel 'in due time'

Iran has repeatedly vowed to respond to the late October Israeli strikes on the country, and a senior official repeated the assertion following the...

27.11.2024 10

Al Monitor

Adam Lucente

Ceasefire to begin in Israel-Hezbollah war

US President Joe Biden said a Lebanon truce would take effect early Wednesday, after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said a ceasefire with...

27.11.2024 2

Al Monitor

Adam Lucente

Ceasefire in Israel-Hezbollah war to take effect

US President Joe Biden said a Lebanon truce will take effect early Wednesday, after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said a ceasefire with...

27.11.2024 3

Al Monitor

Adam Lucente

Saudi Arabia seeks mining deals with Chinese, Indian and Canadian firms in industry push

Companies from China and India announced billions of dollars' worth of investments in the Saudi mining sector, while Canadian companies could win...

27.11.2024 6

Al Monitor

Adam Lucente

Sudan clears path for 17,500 tons of food aid as war rages

Some of the aid has reached the Zamzam camp in Darfur, where famine has been confirmed, while the opening of a key border crossing was extended...

26.11.2024 10

Al Monitor

Adam Lucente

Ronaldo double takes Al Nassr to brink of AFC Champions League last 16

Cristiano Ronaldo struck twice for Al Nassr as they continued to thrive in the AFC Champions League Elite, with the Saudi champions defeating Al...

26.11.2024 3

Al Monitor

Adam Lucente

Iran and Azerbaijan hold joint military drills in sign of easing tensions

Iran and Azerbaijan are at odds over the planned Zangezur Corridor through Armenia, as well as Baku’s relations with Israel.

26.11.2024 5

Al Monitor

Adam Lucente

Congress bill seeks to block US arms sales to UAE over Sudan war

The resolution and legislation introduced by Sen. Chris Van Hollen and Rep. Sara Jacobs comes amid international frustration with the escalating...

23.11.2024 3

Al Monitor

Adam Lucente

Israel strikes kill 52 in Lebanon as Hezbollah targets south Israel

Lebanon said Israeli strikes Thursday on the country's east and south killed 52 people, as raids also hit south Beirut and Hezbollah claimed its...

22.11.2024 3

Al Monitor

Adam Lucente

Iran defense chief visits Venezuela, talks energy, trade: What we know

Iran and Venezuela are working to repair oil ties after the reimposition of US sanctions on the South American country and the looming return of...

22.11.2024 2

Al Monitor

Adam Lucente

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

Daraa, located close to the Jordanian border, is experiencing competition between armed groups and rampant drug smuggling amid the government’s...

21.11.2024 2

Al Monitor

Adam Lucente

After Ronaldo, Neymar scores $54 million penthouse in Dubai

The Brazilian soccer player is the latest athlete to acquire property in the UAE’s largest city.

19.11.2024 3

Al Monitor

Adam Lucente

Huckabee, Trump's ambassador pick to Israel, says two-state solution not legitimate

Trump tapped Mike Huckabee, an evangelical Christian and fervent Israel supporter, as his soon-to-be nominee for ambassador to the country.

18.11.2024 4

Al Monitor

Adam Lucente

Israeli strikes in Syria kill 17 as Iranian adviser set to visit

Israel has allegedly escalated its attacks on Syria amid an international push for de-escalation and continued fighting in Gaza and Lebanon.

14.11.2024 3

Al Monitor

Adam Lucente

As floods ravage Spain, Morocco utilizes disaster diplomacy, offers help

Relations between Morocco and Spain are warming after years of tensions, and a railway linkage project is gaining momentum.

14.11.2024 4

Al Monitor

Adam Lucente