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MENASource

Feb 18, 2015

Top News: Italy Warns of Libya Threat as Pressure for Action Grows

By MENASource

Italy called for urgent international action to halt Libya’s slide into chaos and said it was ready to help monitor a ceasefire and train local armed forces. The UN Security Council is set to meet today to discuss the violence and a growing fear of local Libyan militias allying themselves with the Islamic State.

MENASource

Feb 17, 2015

Strong Egypt: A Party in the Middle

By Jayson Casper

On an uncontested electoral list at the Strong Egypt Party’s first general conference on February 13, Abdel Moneim Aboul-Fotouh was confirmed as president along with his running mate for general-secretary, Ahmed Fawzi. But this was the least remarkable event of the day. Their acceptance speeches set the tone for the controversy to follow.

North Africa

MENASource

Feb 17, 2015

Syria: Is Assad Crucial to Defusing the Conflict?

By Frederic C. Hof

In a word: yes. Bashar al-Assad is absolutely crucial to defusing the conflict in Syria. United Nations Special Envoy Staffan de Mistura attracted considerable controversy and criticism for having stated the obvious.

Syria

MENASource

Feb 17, 2015

Top News: Egypt Conducts Airstrikes in Libya; Sisi Calls for UN-Backed Coalition

By EgyptSource

The Egyptian army announced in a statement on Monday morning it conducted air strikes against Islamic State (ISIS) militants’ targets in Libya, including training camps and arms depots in three coastal Libyan cities. The army also released footage of the airstrikes. Libyan air force commander Saqr Jeroushi said the attacks were conducted in coordination with the Libyan Air Force. 

MENASource

Feb 17, 2015

Top News: Egypt’s President Sisi calls for UN-backed coalition to fight ISIS in Libya

By MENASource

The Egyptian army announced in a statement on Monday morning it conducted air strikes against Islamic State (ISIS or ISIL) militants’ targets in Libya, including training camps and arms depots in three coastal Libyan cities. Libyan Air Force Commander Saqr Jeroushi said the attacks were conducted in coordination with the Libyan Air Force.

MENASource

Feb 17, 2015

Syria: Will Washington Brace Tehran on the Humanitarian Costs?

By Frederic C. Hof

Another session (the fifth) of intensive, informal discussions with senior, well-connected, and non-official Iranians produced no startling breakthroughs on the subject of Syria. Yet, there may be a way forward toward official discussions as Iranians try to strike a balance between their perceived Assad-centric national interests and the cost to Iran’s reputation incurred by their […]

Iran Syria

MENASource

Feb 13, 2015

Top News: ISIS publishes photos of Coptic Egyptians kidnapped in Libya

By MENASource

The Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS) published a report apparently showing photos of twenty-one Coptic Egyptians recently kidnapped by militants in Libya. ISIS claimed they captured the migrant workers to “avenge the kidnapping of Muslim women by the Egyptian Coptic Church.”

MENASource

Feb 13, 2015

Beyond Countering Extremism: What About Everybody Else in the Middle East?

By Richard LeBaron

When the White House convenes its “summit” on countering violent extremism on February 18, experts and officials will no doubt come up with a few good ideas about how to limit the appeal of terrorism. But when most Americans think about the Middle Easterners, they see problems not people.

Middle East

MENASource

Feb 13, 2015

Top News: ISIS Publishes Photos of Coptic Egyptians Kidnapped in Libya

By EgyptSource

The Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS) published a report apparently showing photos of twenty-one Coptic Egyptians recently kidnapped by militants in Libya, claiming they captured the migrant workers to “avenge the kidnapping of Muslim women by the Egyptian Coptic Church.” 

MENASource

Feb 13, 2015

Anti-Houthi Protests in Yemen

By Victoria Heckenlaible

Thousands of men, women, and children flooded the streets this week in Sana’a and across Yemen protesting the Houthi takeover. The demonstrations came on the fourth anniversary of protests that forced former President Ali Abdullah Saleh from power.

Yemen