With curated multimedia series focused on hard hitting issues such climate change as well as current events, MENASource seeks to explore all facets of life in the region as affected by political, security, economic, and cultural issues.

Of particular focus and interest are the minorities, women, and the youth populations across the region and how they are affected by the changing environments.

The views expressed in MENASource are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Atlantic Council, its staff, or its supporters.

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Despite Successive Blows, Muslim Sisters Keep the Brotherhood Alive

MENASource
Jul 29, 2025

‘I can barely stand or make it through the day’: First-hand views of Gaza’s starvation

Israel has systematically denied aid entry into Gaza, and perpetuated false narratives intended to discredit the humanitarian community.

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Despite Successive Blows, Muslim Sisters Keep the Brotherhood Alive

MENASource
Jul 31, 2025

Beyond tariffs: Building a win-win relationship between the US and Iraq

By
Ahmed Tabaqchali

Iraq is among the countries to face a 30 percent tariff starting August 1 on its exports to the United States.

Energy Markets & Governance
Iraq

Despite Successive Blows, Muslim Sisters Keep the Brotherhood Alive

MENASource
Jul 30, 2025

After Swaida: How Syria’s periphery is shaping its future

By
Ibrahim Al-Assil

What comes next in Syria will not be determined by battlefield victories or summit declarations, but by the evolving realities on the ground.

Conflict
Democratic Transitions

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Content

MENASource

Jun 7, 2017

Despite Successive Blows, Muslim Sisters Keep the Brotherhood Alive

By Abdelrahman Youssef

In a continuation of their confrontation with the Muslim Brotherhood, the Egyptian authorities arrested two Muslim Sisters, Dr. Hana Badr al-Din and Sara Abdul Moneim, during their visit to al-Qanater prison with the family of one of its prisoners. Recently, the Brotherhood’s Fund Inventory Committee has included the names of several women with relatives among […]

North Africa

MENASource

Jun 7, 2017

Retreating from the Middle East Is Not the Solution

By Frederic C. Hof

Ambassador Frederic Hof contributed to NSI’s recent Strategic Multilayer Assessment (SMA) report titled “US Foreign Policy as a Global Power.” SMA is a “multidisciplinary, multi-agency portfolio of projects that assesses and studies challenging problems associated with planning and operations of DoD, military services, and Government agencies,” and delivered to the commander of US Central Command. […]

MENASource

Jun 6, 2017

Latest ISIS Attack in Egypt Leaves Christians Feeling Out of Place at Home

By Jihad Abaza

“Girgis and I used to go to the monastery together. It was a getaway, and we enjoyed serving the priests and volunteering our time. We would rent a small truck, or a motorcycle, and we would go once every week, or every ten days,” Eid Ishak says, as he recalled the trips he and his […]

North Africa

MENASource

Jun 6, 2017

Haftar and Salafism: A Dangerous Game

By Ahmed Salah Ali

There is a contradiction in General Khalifa Haftar’s narrative. Although he denounces his opponents as “takfiri terrorists and Kharijites” and accuses Misrata of employing political Islam, turning to takfiri groups for help, embracing the Muslim Brotherhood and the Islamic State (ISIS, ISIL, or Daesh), and supporting Ansar al-Sharia, he also has strong ties to Salafist […]

Libya

Future of Iraq Taskforce

Jun 6, 2017

The Role of Decentralization in Combatting Extremist Influence in Iraq

By Todd Diamond

Many governance experts see decentralization as a potential model to mitigate political and sectarian challenges in Syria, Libya, and Iraq and improve livelihoods in those countries by restoring basic services to local populations. But in countries with a long history of absolute control, central government officials frequently resist any reforms seen as weakening their influence, […]

Iraq

MENASource

Jun 5, 2017

How Will the Rift with Qatar Play Out?

By H.A. Hellyer

Early on Monday morning, a coordinated isolation of Qatar took place in the Gulf Cooperation Council region, and beyond. While it began with Bahrain severing ties, the power behind the moves was clearly Saudi Arabia, with strong Emirati backing. The isolation was rather complete: Riyadh, Manama, and Abu Dhabi requesting all Qatari nationals to depart […]

Saudi Arabia The Gulf

MENASource

May 30, 2017

Former Presidential Candidate Khaled Ali Referred to Trial Amid Wave of Arrests in Egypt

By Dalia Rabie

Lawyer and former presidential candidate, Khaled Ali, was sentenced to trial Wednesday in light of a complaint filed against him for public indecency. Ali was summoned for investigation and detained overnight on Tuesday amid a wave of arrests targeting members of political parties and groups over the past week.

North Africa

MENASource

May 30, 2017

Why the 2017 Iranian Election Matters

By Mariam Elatouabi

 The 2017 Iranian presidential election could be mainly summarized by the many images of Iranians lining up outside the polling stations and the overall enthusiasm and fervor sparked by the short yet dynamic campaign and re-election of the pragmatic Hassan Rouhani. Hassan Rouhani won a second term with fifty-seven percent of the votes, almost seven […]

Iran

MENASource

May 25, 2017

The Barak al-Shati Massacre Shows a Weakened UN-Supported Government and a Fractured Country

By Hani Shennib

On May 18, militias belonging to the Misratan Third Force and its affiliates launched an attack on the Libyan National Army (LNA) in Barak al-Shati, an airport base in the Libyan province of Fezzan, and killed 141 Libyan army personnel and civilians, according to LNA sources. Many were unarmed and were shot in the head […]

Libya

MENASource

May 23, 2017

Tactical Lessons from the Ejection of ISIS from Sirte

By Dr Alia Brahimi and Jason Pack

In December 2016, ISIS was ejected from Sirte by a coalition of forces allied to the UN-backed government. US airstrikes and special operations by western forces were integral to the campaign and, combined, provided the tipping point. This article proposes three tactical lessons from the campaign – which, of course, contain within them strategic implications. 

Libya
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