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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

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.