MENASource

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.

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.

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 […]

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.

Top News: Saudi Arabia Offers One Billion Dollars to Lebanese Army

By MENASource

Saudi Arabian King Abdullah granted one billion dollars to help the Lebanese army bolster its security force as they battle Islamic militants from the al-Qaeda affiliated Nusra front and the Islamic State in Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS), who have seized the border town of Arsal on the Syrian frontier.

Egypt High Elections Committee Secretariat-General Announced

By EgyptSource

The President of the High Elections Committee (HEC) and the head of the Cairo Court of Appeals, Chancellor Ayman Abbas, issued a decision on Tuesday to form a secretariat general, comprised of 28 members representing the judiciary, public prosecutors, and various ministries and stakeholders in the electoral process for Egypt’s upcoming parliamentary elections.

EconSource: US Allocates $9 Million for Tunisia

By EconSource

Follow the latest in economic news and developments about the Arab transition countries. 

Tunisia Calls For Support to Keep Hope Alive

Tunisia’s President Mohamed Moncef Marzouki made an impassioned appeal for reason and support in his speech at the Atlantic Council on August 5, 2014. Despite being a beacon for the promise of the Arab Spring, Tunisia nonetheless still struggles with extremism within and outside its borders.