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: Sisi, Salman Hold Summit Talks in Riyadh

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: Sisi, Salman Hold Summit Talks in Riyadh

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: Sisi, Salman Hold Summit Talks in Riyadh

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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Content

MENASource

Nov 12, 2015

Top News: Sisi, Salman Hold Summit Talks in Riyadh

By EgyptSource

President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi held talks on Wednesday with Saudi King Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud on enhancing bilateral cooperation.

MENASource

Nov 12, 2015

The Islamic State’s Pattern of Retaliation in Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula

By Zack Gold

The Islamic State (ISIS or ISIL) branch in Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula claimed responsibility for downing Metrojet flight 9268 on October 31. If the group managed to infiltrate Sharm al-Sheikh airport and put an explosive device on the Russian plane, that would be a great achievement for the group and a massive blow to Egypt’s image […]

North Africa

MENASource

Nov 12, 2015

EconSource: Egypt Strengthens Currency Amid Disruptive Dollar Shortage

By EconSource

The Central Bank of Egypt strengthened the pound on Wednesday for the first time since 2013, injecting dollars into a banking system suffering from an acute foreign exchange shortage and raising expectations of a radical shift in monetary policy.

MENASource

Nov 10, 2015

Libya: Back to Square One?

By Karim Mezran

Many authoritative commentators have already expressed their astonishment at the scandal enveloping the United Nations and the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL). Their shock is indeed justified.

Libya

MENASource

Nov 10, 2015

Top News: Investigative Journalist Hossam Bahgat Released From Military Prosecution Custody

By EgyptSource

Egyptian investigative journalist and human rights activist Hossam Bahgat was released from the custody of military prosecution on Tuesday, two days after his detention on charges of “publishing false news aimed at harming national security.”

MENASource

Nov 10, 2015

Top News: EU Report Criticizes Turkey on Human Rights, Freedoms Violations

By MENASource

In an annual report to prepare for possible Turkish membership published on Tuesday, the European Union (EU) severely criticized Turkey for a series of flaws in its respect for human rights and democratic standards at a time when the bloc is looking to Ankara to help deal with the migrant crisis.

MENASource

Nov 10, 2015

EconSource: Egypt Stocks Drop after Russia Suspends Flights, Inflation Increases

By EconSource

Egypt’s benchmark stock index plunged 4.4 percent on Tuesday after steadily declining since Russia suspended flights to Egypt following the October 31 Russian plane crash in the Sinai Peninsula.

MENASource

Nov 10, 2015

Spotlight on Recent Developments in Egypt: Arrests and Detentions

By Elissa Miller and Brandan Martini

In the past few days, two prominent Egyptian figures were detained on various charges. Rights activist and journalist Hossam Bahgat was detained by the military prosecution on charges of spreading false news and subsequently released, while businessman Salah Diab and his son were detained on charges of unlicensed weapons’ possession. Photojournalist Esraa al-Taweel was also […]

North Africa

MENASource

Nov 9, 2015

Recalling Ahmad Chalabi, The Man Who Wanted to Take Saddam’s Place

By Thomas Krajeski

Ahmad Chalabi leaned forward in his chair, his soft hands with their perfectly manicured nails splayed flat on the table between us. “Tom, you don’t understand,” he said in his perfect, virtually unaccented English. “I would do or say anything to persuade the United States to invade Iraq and overthrow Saddam. Anything.”

Iraq

MENASource

Nov 9, 2015

Top News: Rights Activist, Journalist Hossam Bahgat Detained Four Days on Charges of “Publishing False News”

By EgyptSource

Military Prosecution ordered the detention of investigative journalist and rights activist Hossam Bahgat for four days on Monday, pending investigation into charges of publishing false news that harms national interests and disseminating information that disturbs public peace.

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