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MENASource

Feb 13, 2015

The Al Jazeera Trial: A Timeline

By EgyptSource

On February 12, the defendants in the Al Jazeera trial were released on bail as they face a retrial on charges of aiding a terrorist group and publishing false news to harm national security. Below is a timeline from their arrest in December 2013, to their release in January 2015.

North Africa

MENASource

Feb 12, 2015

Top News: Al-Qaeda fighters seize Yemen army base

By MENASource

Yemeni military officials say al-Qaida militants have seized control of an important army base in the south following clashes with soldiers. The officials say at least four troops and four militants died in the fighting and that at least fifteen soldiers were taken hostage.

MENASource

Feb 12, 2015

Top News: Egypt Court Releases All Al Jazeera Case Defendants Pending Retrial

By EgyptSource

Two Al Jazeera journalists, Mohamed Fahmy and Baher Mohamed, were released on bail on Thursday by a Cairo criminal court after spending over a year in prison. The court postponed the first session in a retrial of the journalists and a number of other defendants to February 23 and ordered the release of all defendants pending trial. 

MENASource

Feb 12, 2015

Tunisia Between Subsidies and Security

By Chris Chapman

With a democratically elected parliament and president, now come Tunisia’s difficult growing pains of balancing newly earned freedoms with security reform and economic transformation. Tunisia’s leadership must guide the country through a difficult path that addresses the primary needs of Tunisians—from curbing violent terrorism to increasing economic opportunity.

North Africa

MENASource

Feb 11, 2015

Putin’s Visit to Egypt: Much Pomp but Little Circumstance

By Mark N. Katz

Russian President Vladimir Putin paid a widely publicized visit to Egypt from February 9 to 10.   The government-backed Egyptian press gushed over how well Russia (unlike America) treats the Egyptian government.  Some commentary in the Russian press proclaimed the visit to be another sign that Russia was gaining influence in the Middle East while America […]

North Africa Russia

MENASource

Feb 11, 2015

Top News: US Embassy Closes, Houthis Seize Vehicles

By MENASource

Houthi rebels took all US embassy vehicles parked at the Yemeni capital’s airport and would not allow departing US Marines to take their weapons with them.

MENASource

Feb 11, 2015

Top News: Prosecution Says Sabbagh Killer in Custody; Two More Islamist Parties Boycott Elections

By EgyptSource

The Qasr al-Nil prosecution announced Tuesday that the killer of leftist activist Shaimaa al-Sabbagh is in custody, but their identity will be revealed by Prosecutor General’s office within days.

MENASource

Feb 10, 2015

Lessons for Sinai from Yemen

By Nervana Mahmoud

Following the recent major attacks by militants that killed at least twenty-seven people, mostly soldiers, in Sinai, Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi made two important decisions. He has established a unified military command east of the Suez Canal to fight radical groups in the Sinai Peninsula. He has also pledged $1.3 billion to develop the […]

North Africa Yemen

MENASource

Feb 10, 2015

Top News: American ISIS hostage Kayla Mueller confirmed dead

By MENASource

The United States has confirmed the death of aid worker Kayla Mueller, who had been held hostage since August 2013 by the Islamic State (ISIS or ISIL) after being captured in Syria.

MENASource

Feb 10, 2015

US National Security Strategy, Implementation, and the Middle East

By MENASource

The US National Security Strategy, released on February 6, reflects President Barack Obama’s world view in the context of dynamic and volatile global change. The document focuses on US leadership in the face of complex emergencies with a strong commitment to promoting US values through global cooperation with capable partners.