MENASource brings you up-close to a region at the epicenter of geo-political headlines. It is the Atlantic Council’s hub for in-depth commentary about breaking news, key topics, and trends from our team of experts on the Middle East and North Africa.

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

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Top News: White House says ready to help ICC genocide probe in Syria, Iraq

MENASource
Jan 14, 2026

Voices from Iran: As rejection of government reaches all-time high, Iranians also wary of foreign intervention

If Trump is serious about peace, stability, and a lasting legacy, the path forward does not run through air strikes or transactional deals with a failing theocracy.

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Top News: White House says ready to help ICC genocide probe in Syria, Iraq

MENASource
Jan 28, 2026

Trump’s National Security Strategy doesn’t downgrade the Middle East, it redefines it

By
Kristian Alexander

Trump’s strategy is a sophisticated refinement of “America First.” For the Gulf, the implications are significant, but manageable.

Middle East
National Security

Top News: White House says ready to help ICC genocide probe in Syria, Iraq

MENASource
Jan 13, 2026

Eight questions (and expert answers) on the SDF’s withdrawal from Syria’s Aleppo

By
Atlantic Council experts

Our experts unpack why violence erupted, what it means for Kurdish safety and integration in Syria, and how Washington is engaging.

Civil Society
Conflict

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MENASource

Mar 18, 2016

Top News: White House says ready to help ICC genocide probe in Syria, Iraq

By MENASource

The White House on Thursday said it was ready to support an investigation by the International Criminal Court (ICC) into alleged genocide carried out by ISIS in Syria and Iraq.

MENASource

Mar 18, 2016

Top News: Judicial Committee Freezes Assets of Four Rights Activists in 2011 NGO Case

By EgyptSource

A judicial committee overseeing a five-year-old investigation into illegal foreign funding allegations ordered on Thursday the freezing of assets of four Egyptian human rights activists and their families. Egypt’s state-news agency MENA reported on Thursday that Cairo Criminal Court will review the commission’s decision on Saturday. It added that Hossam Bahgat, Gamal Eid and two […]

MENASource

Mar 18, 2016

EconSource: Egypt Central bank Raises Key Interest Rates

By EconSource

The Central Bank of Egypt (CBE) raised its key interest rates on Thursday by 150 basis points to curb inflationary pressures. The bank’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) raised the overnight deposit rate to 10.75 percent from 9.25 percent and the overnight lending rate to 11.75 percent from 10.25 percent.

MENASource

Mar 17, 2016

Can Turkey’s Economy Endure a Syria Intervention?

By M. Hande Akmehmet

Ankara risks not only diplomatic ties, but also economic ties with its neighbors and the rest of the world as it moves further away from its “zero problems with neighbors” foreign policy. Turkey’s economy and budget have been squeezed by the high priced bill from Ankara’s foreign policy maneuvers.

Syria
Turkey

MENASource

Mar 17, 2016

Top News: Saudi-led operation in Yemen ‘coming to an end’

By MENASource

The spokesman for the Saudi-led military coalition Brig. Gen. Ahmed al-Asiri said Thursday that major combat operations in Yemen are coming to an end, after which the coalition will work on “long-term” plans to bring stability to the country.

MENASource

Mar 17, 2016

Top News: Committee on Crashed Russian Plane in Sinai Refers Case to Egypt Attorney General

By EgyptSource

An official Russian report suggesting that “criminal activity” was behind the deadly crash of a Metrojet in central Sinai in October 2015 was referred to the Attorney General by Egypt’s independent investigations committee on Thursday, the first indication it suspects foul play.

MENASource

Mar 17, 2016

EconSource: World Bank May Grant Tunisia up to $1 Billion Annually for Five Years

By EconSource

The World Bank is seeking to grant Tunisia $750 million to $1 billion a year as part of a program to mobilize $20 billion over five years for countries in Middle East and North Africa, according to World Bank Vice President for MENA Hafez Ghanem.

MENASource

Mar 16, 2016

Retaking Mosul: ISIS and Human Shields

By Sahr Muhammedally

Talks about retaking Mosul from the Islamic State (ISIS)—a city of 1 million people—are once again in the news. But Iraqi and US military planners need to think creatively about how best to minimize civilian harm in what is anticipated to be a long and fierce urban campaign where ISIS fighters are likely to be […]

Iraq

MENASource

Mar 16, 2016

Top News: Syrian Kurds say they will declare federal region in Syria

By MENASource

The main Syrian Kurdish group, the Democratic Union Party (PYD), announced plans Wednesday to declare a federal region in northern Syria, a model it hopes can be applied to the entire country. The idea was promptly dismissed by Turkey and also the Syrian government team at UN-brokered peace talks underway in Geneva.

MENASource

Mar 16, 2016

EconSource: Egypt Central Bank Mounts War on Black Market

By EconSource

The Central Bank of Egypt (CBE) offered $1.5 billion to local lenders in an exceptional auction today to cover importers’ debts.

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