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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Tales of Blasphemy in Egypt

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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Tales of Blasphemy in Egypt

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

Tales of Blasphemy in Egypt

MENASource
Jan 12, 2026

The Venezuela-Iran connection and what Maduro’s capture means for Tehran, explained 

By
Joze Pelayo, Kirsten Fontenrose, Ellie Sennett 

Our experts break down Iran’s ties to Venezuela and the impact Maduro’s capture could have on Tehran’s interests in and outside of its own borders. 

Iran
Oil and Gas

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Content

MENASource

Apr 23, 2015

Tales of Blasphemy in Egypt

By Ishak Ibrahim

Dr. Mahmoud Dahroug, a man of over sixty, lives in a constant state of suspense, fearing he will be arrested to serve a five-year prison sentence issued against him late last year for being a Shiite. Most of his acquaintances have distanced themselves from him, and Dahroug spends his time reading and surfing the Internet […]

North Africa

MENASource

Apr 22, 2015

US Senators Call for Safe Zones in Syria

By Andrea Taylor

After four years of conflict in Syria – with a humanitarian atrocity that emerged from peaceful protests on the streets of Damascus and Aleppo – the horror of the statistics may have surpassed fully comprehendible proportions; many Americans seem to have turned a blind eye to this atrocity, unable to see a way past the […]

Syria

MENASource

Apr 22, 2015

Top News: Saudi-Led Coalition Resumes Airstrikes After Announcing Their End

By MENASource

Hours after Saudi announced the end to the first phase of fighting in Yemen, Houthi fighters captured the compound of an army brigade loyal to the government in Yemen’s central city of Taiz following heavy fighting.

MENASource

Apr 22, 2015

Top News: Morsi Faces New Charges Related to Raba’a al-Adaweya Sit-in

By EgyptSource

Egypt’s former ousted Islamist president Mohamed Morsi was given fifteen days of detention on Tuesday over new charges related to a massive sit-in held by his supporters after his ouster in 2013. Along with other defendants, Morsi is charged with inciting his supporters to commit murder, demonstrate and disturb the public peace.

MENASource

Apr 22, 2015

The Kurdish Impact on Turkey’s Democratic Development

By Aaron Stein

In the past few weeks, Turkey’s major political parties have ramped up their campaign for the June 2015 national election. After years of electoral dominance, numerous polls suggest that Turkey’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) may lose seats.

Turkey

MENASource

Apr 22, 2015

EconSource: Egypt Requests New $300 Million World Bank Loan for Health Sector

By EconSource

The Egyptian government is negotiating with the World Bank to receive a new loan of $300 million to support health care in government hospitals, through the provision of medical equipment and removal of ineffective drugs.

MENASource

Apr 21, 2015

The Obama Doctrine and the Middle East: Problems and Prospects

By Nabeel Khoury

President Barack Obama, in his interview with Tom Friedman on April 5, was at his intellectual best. He convincingly explained the framework agreement with Iran while stressing serious strategic disagreement with Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamene’i. Tom Friedman, in turn, was at his diplomatic best, trying to nudge the President into crafting an Obama doctrine […]

Iran
Middle East

MENASource

Apr 21, 2015

Egypt’s Ex-President Morsi Sentenced to Twenty years in Prison

By EgyptSource

Egypt’s ousted Islamist president Mohamed Morsi was sentenced to twenty years in prison and a five year parole on Tuesday. He was convicted on charges of inciting violence, arresting protesters and physically abusing them, outside the Ittihadiya presidential palace in December 2012.

MENASource

Apr 21, 2015

Top News: US Sends Warships to Block Iranian Ships in Yemeni Waters

By MENASource

In a stepped-up response to Iranian backing of Shia rebels in Yemen, the Navy aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt sailed to the waters off Yemen to beef up security to join other US ships to intercept any Iranian vessels carrying weapons to the Houthi rebels.

MENASource

Apr 21, 2015

EconSource: Iraq Oil Exports Slip So Far in April, Still Near Record

By EconSource

Iraq’s oil exports have slipped so far in April to 2.92 million barrels per day (bpd), according to loading data and industry sources, although shipments remain close to a record high. If sustained, Iraq’s exports this month will be just short of the record of 2.98 million bpd set in March.

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