menu_open Columnists
Elizabeth Hagedorn

Elizabeth Hagedorn

Al Monitor

We use cookies to provide some features and experiences in QOSHE

More information  .  Close

Trump sends letter to Iran's Khamenei about negotiating nuclear deal

Trump sends letter to Iran's Khamenei about negotiating nuclear deal

The president said he would prefer a diplomatic solution to Iran's nuclear program over the military option.

previous day 10

Al Monitor

Elizabeth Hagedorn

US sanctions on Iran’s 'shadow' oil fleet target brokers in UAE, China

US sanctions on Iran’s 'shadow' oil fleet target brokers in UAE, China

WASHINGTON — In an effort to further squeeze the Iranian economy, on Monday the Trump administration imposed new sanctions on vessels, shippers and...

24.02.2025 3

Al Monitor

Elizabeth Hagedorn

Why Trump turned to Saudi Arabia for US-Russia talks

Why Trump turned to Saudi Arabia for US-Russia talks

The high-level talks are an opportunity for Saudi Arabia to burnish its credentials as the Middle East's power broker.

19.02.2025 2

Al Monitor

Elizabeth Hagedorn

Trump moves to list Yemen's Houthis as a foreign terrorist organization

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Wednesday clearing the way for the redesignation of Yemen’s Houthi movement...

23.01.2025 40

Al Monitor

Elizabeth Hagedorn

WFP chief McCain urges funding to alleviate Syria's hunger crisis

WFP Executive Director Cindy McCain warned of donor fatigue after nearly 14 years of civil war in Syria.

21.01.2025 4

Al Monitor

Elizabeth Hagedorn

Over 70 arrested at London pro-Palestinian rally on eve of Gaza truce

Thousands of people gathered and over 70 were arrested at a pro-Palestinian rally in central London Saturday, on the eve of the start of a ceasefire...

19.01.2025 2

Al Monitor

Elizabeth Hagedorn

US issues sanctions waiver for countries backing Syria’s transition

The Biden administration stopped short of lifting sanctions on Syria or rescinding the terrorist designation of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham.

19.01.2025 3

Al Monitor

Elizabeth Hagedorn

US unveils sanctions on Sudan's army chief Burhan

The move comes over a week after the Biden administration imposed sanctions on Rapid Support Forces leader Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo.

16.01.2025 4

Al Monitor

Elizabeth Hagedorn

Blinken offers blueprint for post-war Gaza in final speech

The outgoing chief US diplomat laid out his vision for Gaza’s future as negotiators appeared on the brink of a cease-fire.

14.01.2025 4

Al Monitor

Elizabeth Hagedorn

Blinken outlines blueprint for post-war Gaza in final speech

The outgoing chief US diplomat laid out his vision for Gaza’s future as negotiators appeared on the brink of a cease-fire.

14.01.2025 4

Al Monitor

Elizabeth Hagedorn

Biden defends foreign policy legacy as Gaza ceasefire deal 'on the brink'

President Joe Biden's final foreign policy speech came as negotiators rush to secure a Gaza ceasefire deal before he leaves office.

14.01.2025 5

Al Monitor

Elizabeth Hagedorn

Tactic or bluster? Trump’s Hamas threat hangs over Gaza talks

President-elect Donald Trump is threatening “all hell will break out” if Hamas doesn’t release the remaining hostages before he takes office. Is...

09.01.2025 8

Al Monitor

Elizabeth Hagedorn

US sanctions Sudan's Hemedti, declares RSF committed genocide

WASHINGTON — The Rapid Support Forces’ systemic atrocities in Sudan’s Darfur region amounts to genocide, Secretary of State Antony Blinken...

07.01.2025 2

Al Monitor

Elizabeth Hagedorn

US unveils Syria sanctions exemption to bolster aid relief

WASHINGTON — A month after the rebel offensive that toppled Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, the United States announced a 6-month waiver to ease...

06.01.2025 3

Al Monitor

Elizabeth Hagedorn

Family of US contractor jailed in Kuwait asks Biden to push for pardon

The family of a US defense contractor imprisoned in Kuwait on what he claims are false drug charges is appealing to the Biden administration to...

03.01.2025 1

Al Monitor

Elizabeth Hagedorn

US scraps $10M bounty on HTS leader Golani after meeting in Damascus

WASHINGTON — A delegation of American diplomats arrived in Damascus on Friday to discuss Syria’s political transition with its interim leaders,...

20.12.2024 4

Al Monitor

Elizabeth Hagedorn

US delegation in Damascus to meet HTS in first visit since Assad's fall

WASHINGTON — A delegation of American diplomats arrived in Damascus on Friday to discuss Syria’s political transition with its interim leaders,...

20.12.2024 4

Al Monitor

Elizabeth Hagedorn

US delegation in Damascus, will meet HTS in first visit since Assad's fall

WASHINGTON — A delegation of American diplomats arrived in Damascus on Friday to discuss Syria’s political transition with its interim leaders,...

20.12.2024 5

Al Monitor

Elizabeth Hagedorn

Web of sanctions hinders US aid to post-Assad Syria

A patchwork of preexisting sanctions on Syria complicates any effort by the US government to surge aid to the war-battered country.

17.12.2024 4

Al Monitor

Elizabeth Hagedorn

US weighs how to engage as Syria’s rebel government emerges

As Syria’s post-war future takes shape, Washington is debating how to deal with the blacklisted Islamist organization that’s swept into power.

10.12.2024 3

Al Monitor

Elizabeth Hagedorn

Biden says fall of Syria’s Assad ‘moment of historic opportunity’

WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden described the fall of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad as “a fundamental act of justice” after more than a...

08.12.2024 3

Al Monitor

Elizabeth Hagedorn

Biden calls fall of Syria’s Assad ‘moment of historic opportunity’

The president said the United States will engage with all Syrian groups to establish a transition away from the Assad regime.

08.12.2024 4

Al Monitor

Elizabeth Hagedorn

US sees increasing possibility that Syria’s Assad falls

WASHINGTON — The Biden administration believes the likelihood is increasing that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s regime collapses amid the...

07.12.2024 9

Al Monitor

Elizabeth Hagedorn

Austin Tice's family says captive journalist still alive as Syria’s war rekindles

The Tice family met with White House national security advisor Jake Sullivan as Syria's rebels advanced on the strategic city of Homs.

06.12.2024 4

Al Monitor

Elizabeth Hagedorn

Rebel offensive to force Syria onto Trump’s agenda

With just over a month before President-elect Donald Trump takes office, Syria’s forgotten war has reignited.

05.12.2024 3

Al Monitor

Elizabeth Hagedorn

Shock Syria offensive complicates Biden's Middle East push

The State Department called for “de-escalation” as the Syrian rebels continued their rapid assault across the northern part of the country.

03.12.2024 4

Al Monitor

Elizabeth Hagedorn

Biden says Israel, Lebanon accept ceasefire to end war

President Joe Biden made the announcement shortly after the Israeli security cabinet approved the US-brokered ceasefire with Hezbollah.

27.11.2024 20

Al Monitor

Elizabeth Hagedorn

US isolation deepens with ICC’s Netanyahu arrest warrant

The White House was quick to condemn the arrest warrants for Netanyahu and his former defense minister, fueling accusations of a double standard.

22.11.2024 10

Al Monitor

Elizabeth Hagedorn

US vetoes UN resolution demanding Gaza cease-fire

The United States was the single dissenting vote on a UN Security Council resolution that called for an immediate and unconditional cease-fire and...

20.11.2024 3

Al Monitor

Elizabeth Hagedorn

Senate Democrats to challenge Biden’s arms sales to Israel

The Bernie Sanders-led rebuke comes a week after the Biden administration said it would not curb weapons transfers to Israel over lack of Gaza aid...

20.11.2024 3

Al Monitor

Elizabeth Hagedorn

US warns Turkey against hosting Hamas' political leaders

The State Department said several Hamas leaders have been indicted in the United States and "should be turned over."

19.11.2024 30

Al Monitor

Elizabeth Hagedorn

US unveils new West Bank sanctions amid calls to target Israeli ministers

The latest sanctions come after nearly 90 Democratic lawmakers urged the administration to penalize Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and...

18.11.2024 5

Al Monitor

Elizabeth Hagedorn

Gaza hostage families look to Trump as hope fades for deal

As President Joe Biden's time in office wanes, the families of the American hostages are looking to his replacement to strike a deal.

15.11.2024 3

Al Monitor

Elizabeth Hagedorn

Trump hands intel post to Tulsi Gabbard, ex-Democrat with Assad controversy

Gabbard, a former congresswoman-turned Trump diehard, is likely to face scrutiny for her secret 2017 meeting with Syria's dictator.

14.11.2024 6

Al Monitor

Elizabeth Hagedorn

With Rubio as likely top diplomat, Trump signals hard-line Iran approach

The Florida Republican has hawkish views on Iran and is fiercely pro-Israel.

13.11.2024 4

Al Monitor

Elizabeth Hagedorn

Despite missed deadline to boost Gaza aid, US says Israel arms flows to continue

The Biden administration will not follow through with threatened consequences after Israel missed a deadline to surge humanitarian assistance to Gaza.

13.11.2024 3

Al Monitor

Elizabeth Hagedorn

Who is Elise Stefanik, Trump's pro-Israel pick for UN envoy?

The president-elect described the New York congresswoman as a "strong, tough and smart America First fighter."

11.11.2024 2

Al Monitor

Elizabeth Hagedorn

Trump taps pro-Israel stalwart Elise Stefanik as UN envoy

The president-elect described the New York congresswoman as a "strong, tough and smart America First fighter."

11.11.2024 2

Al Monitor

Elizabeth Hagedorn

Trump taps Rep. Elise Stefanik as UN ambassador

The president-elect described the New York congresswoman as a "strong, tough and smart America First fighter."

11.11.2024 3

Al Monitor

Elizabeth Hagedorn

Qatar tells Hamas leaders to leave as Gaza cease-fire talks deadlocked

WASHINGTON — Qatar has told Palestinian militant group Hamas to leave the country, two US officials confirmed to Al-Monitor. The Persian Gulf state...

09.11.2024 5

Al Monitor

Elizabeth Hagedorn

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...

07.11.2024 2

Al Monitor

Elizabeth Hagedorn

Israel strikes Beirut's southern suburbs as US pushes cease-fire deal

Friday's escalation has dampened hopes that a cease-fire can be reached before the US presidential election on Tuesday.

02.11.2024 4

Al Monitor

Elizabeth Hagedorn

As election looms, US calls for calm while Iran weighs response to Israeli strikes

The latest Israeli attack appeared calibrated to avoid a major escalation from Tehran that could trigger an all-out regional war.

29.10.2024 2

Al Monitor

Elizabeth Hagedorn

Israel, Hamas in wait-and-see mode ahead of US election

With Hamas and Israel holding firm and the US election less than two weeks away, a cease-fire deal still appears far from reach.

24.10.2024 3

Al Monitor

Elizabeth Hagedorn

Blinken to push for elusive Gaze cease-fire in latest Mideast trip

The top US diplomat’s 11th mission to the Middle East since the Oct. 7 attacks comes as Israel plans retaliatory strikes on Iran, while waging war...

21.10.2024 3

Al Monitor

Elizabeth Hagedorn

With Sinwar dead, US pushes Israel’s Netanyahu to take off-ramp

Israel’s killing of Yahya Sinwar, the architect of the Oct. 7 attacks, has renewed hope for a cease-fire deal that would free the remaining...

18.10.2024 3

Al Monitor

Elizabeth Hagedorn

‘Too little, too late’: Biden’s latest threat to Israel faces skepticism

The Biden administration has set a monthlong deadline for Israel to either increase aid to the Gaza Strip or face a possible weapons cutoff. Those...

18.10.2024 3

Al Monitor

Elizabeth Hagedorn

US gives Israel 30 days to increase Gaza aid or risk weapons flow

The Biden administration is calling for Israel to take a number of steps over the next 30 days to improve the humanitarian situation, including...

15.10.2024 2

Al Monitor

Elizabeth Hagedorn

US targets Iran oil exports with sanctions after Israel attack

The Biden administration issued sweeping sanctions Friday targeting Iranian oil exports in response to Tehran’s second direct attack on Israel.

11.10.2024 2

Al Monitor

Elizabeth Hagedorn

Iran FM in Saudi for talks on Gaza, Lebanon

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi travelled to Saudi Arabia on Wednesday for talks that were expected to cover efforts to end fighting...

09.10.2024 2

Al Monitor

Elizabeth Hagedorn