MENASource

As the MENA region continues to be the epicenter of news headlines, the Atlantic Council’s MENASource is a hub for thought-provoking and hard-hitting analyses about the latest trends, ideas, and debates. This online publication provides fast reactions and in-depth commentary on breaking news and key regional topics by a diverse team of experts and contributors.

Content

MENASource

Apr 2, 2015

Top News: Rebels Capture Regime’s Last Border Crossing with Jordan

By MENASource

Syrian rebels and fighters from the Nusra Front have captured the only functioning border crossing with Jordan and three nearby military posts, prompting government bombing raids on the area.

MENASource

Apr 2, 2015

Top News: Over Thirty Killed in Sinai; Egyptians Evacuated from Yemen

By EgyptSource

Fiffteen security personnel and two civilians were killed in attacks on five security checkpoints in North Sinai early Thursday, medical sources said. Security personnel were quick to respond to the attacks, killing fifteen suspected militants, a security source said.

MENASource

Apr 2, 2015

EconSource: UAE Issues New Companies Law to Spur IPOs

By EconSource

The United Arab Emirates has issued a companies law that eases existing rules for initial public offerings (IPOs), paving the way for more listings on the country’s main exchanges. The new law lowers the minimum free float for companies considering an IPO from 55 percent to 30 percent. The previous threshold was a stumbling block […]

MENASource

Apr 2, 2015

The Joint Arab Military Force and Yemen: Stability or Sectarianism?

The conclusion of the Arab League Summit on March 30, 2015 culminated in a grand statement announcing the formation of a joint Arab military force to tackle regional challenges from the Maghreb to Yemen. While significant, particularly given the ongoing military operations and ground force mobilization led by Saudi Arabia against the Houthis in Yemen, […]

Iran Middle East

MENASource

Apr 1, 2015

Court Watch: Egypt’s Major Ongoing Trials

By Ali Mohamed

Egypt’s courts have become a flashpoint for major changes in the country’s political landscape. Between multiple charges brought against Islamists, including leading Muslim Brotherhood members among them ousted president Mohamed Morsi, and against secular activists, including leaders from the April 6 Movement, the judiciary has been at the forefront of Egypt’s post-Morsi roadmap. The following […]

North Africa

MENASource

Apr 1, 2015

Syria: Moving Beyond the “International Community”

By Frederic C. Hof

The March 31 Kuwait City words of the US Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Samantha Power, to the Third International Humanitarian Pledging Conference for Syria, were powerful and direct.

Syria

MENASource

Apr 1, 2015

Top News: ISIS Seizes Most of Yarmouk Refugee Camp in Damascus; Rebels Attack Main Jordanian Crossing

By MENASource

ISIS terrorists seized control of most of the Yarmouk Palestinian refugee camp in southern Damascus after an assault Wednesday morning, according to Anwar Abdel Hadi, Director of Political Affairs for the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) in Damascus.

MENASource

Apr 1, 2015

Top News: US Releases Military Aid to Egypt Suspended Since 2013, Ends Cash Flow Financing

By EgyptSource

US President Barack Obama on Tuesday released military aid to Egypt that was suspended after the ouster of Islamist President Mohamed Morsi in July 2013, in an effort to boost Cairo’s ability to combat the extremist threat in the region. 

MENASource

Apr 1, 2015

Foreign Aid is Good, But Not Enough for Syria

By Raquel Vazquez Llorente

Almost eighty countries and more than forty international organizations gathered in Kuwait to pledge aid money for the crisis in Syria. The United Nations estimates the humanitarian needs in $8.4 billion, raising about half that amount at the conference.

Syria

MENASource

Apr 1, 2015

Egypt Governments Stalls Effort to Dub Hamas “Terrorists”

By Khaled Dawoud

With Egypt spearheading the creation of a unified pan-Arab military force and lending air and naval support to efforts by the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen, it appears that the current government is making strides to restore Egypt’s image as a regional leader. The country’s role in the Middle East Peace Process has, however, been impacted […]

Middle East North Africa