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MENASource

Aug 8, 2014

Uncertainties in the Wake of US Intervention in Iraq

By Ramzy Mardini

Last night, President Barack Obama addressed the American public on his decision to authorize two missions: one focused on providing humanitarian aid to tens of thousands of stranded Iraqi civilians from religious minorities fleeing from militants, and the other, to initiate US air strikes should militants advance against the Kurdish city of Irbil, where US […]

Iraq

MENASource

Aug 8, 2014

Top News: Obama Authorizes Air Strikes in Iraq

By MENASource

The Pentagon said US aircraft attacked artillery that was being used in northern Iraq against Kurdish forces defending the city of Irbil. President Barack Obama has authorized air strikes against the Islamic State in Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS) militants in Iraq if the fighters make a move toward American personnel residing in Irbil

MENASource

Aug 8, 2014

Top News: Egypt Rebukes Israel, Palestine for Refusing Ceasefire Extension

By EgyptSource

Egypt’s ministry of foreign affairs rebuked Israel and Palestinian factions on Friday for failing to come to terms on an extension of the 72-hour ceasefire that expired early this morning, reported the state-owned Middle East News Agency (MENA).

MENASource

Aug 8, 2014

Airstrikes in Iraq, But Why Not Syria

By Frederic C. Hof

On August 7, President Barack Obama authorized both airstrikes and humanitarian relief in response to attacks launched by the ersatz caliphate of the criminal enterprise calling itself the Islamic State (IS).

Syria

MENASource

Aug 8, 2014

Tunisia’s Political Prospects

By Duncan Pickard

Consensus has characterized Tunisia’s transition to democracy. Ennahda, the self-styled Islamic party, governed in coalition with two secular parties. The National Dialogue, which made several important decisions about the stages of the transition, prompted Ennahda to agree to step down from power—a first for an Islamic party in the region—in favor of a technocratic government.

North Africa

MENASource

Aug 7, 2014

Building a Syrian National Stabilization Force

By Frederic C. Hof

The Obama administration’s request for $500 million in fiscal year 2015 money to arm and equip elements of the Syrian opposition has generated confusion and skepticism.

Syria

MENASource

Aug 7, 2014

Top News: ISIS Storms Army Base in Raqqa

By MENASource

Islamic State in Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS) fighters stormed one of the government’s last military posts in the northern province of Raqqa in an overnight attack killing dozens of soldiers, activists said. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights announced the clashes continued into Thursday and that there were still government troops in the base.

MENASource

Aug 7, 2014

Top News: Obama Says Al Jazeera Journalists Should be Released

By EgyptSource

US President Barack Obama on Wednesday urged the release of three Al Jazeera journalists sentenced to long prison terms in Egypt on charges of aiding the now-banned Muslim Brotherhood organization.

MENASource

Aug 7, 2014

The Nour Party’s Dilemma

By Khaled Dawoud

An accusation leveled at strict Salafist groups in Egypt, especially among political Islamic parties, has been that they are keen to maintain good relations with any government in power in order to maintain their presence, particularly in the mosques where they preach. This was the case, in particular, under ousted President Hosni Mubarak. While armed […]

North Africa

MENASource

Aug 6, 2014

Syria: “Caesar” and the Way Forward

By Frederic C. Hof

The July 31 testimony of “Caesar,” the former Syrian military police photographer who spirited out of Syria part of the Assad regime’s photographic archive of detainees it has tortured and starved to death, stunned members of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.

Syria