MENASource brings you up-close to a region at the epicenter of geo-political headlines. It is the Atlantic Council’s hub for in-depth commentary about breaking news, key topics, and trends from our team of experts on the Middle East and North Africa.

The views expressed in MENASource are solely those of the authors and do not reflect the views of the Atlantic Council, its staff, or its supporters.

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Top News: Abdel Fattah al-Sisi Gives First Ever TV Interview

MENASource
Jan 14, 2026

Voices from Iran: As rejection of government reaches all-time high, Iranians also wary of foreign intervention

If Trump is serious about peace, stability, and a lasting legacy, the path forward does not run through air strikes or transactional deals with a failing theocracy.

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Top News: Abdel Fattah al-Sisi Gives First Ever TV Interview

MENASource
Jan 13, 2026

Eight questions (and expert answers) on the SDF’s withdrawal from Syria’s Aleppo

By
Atlantic Council experts

Our experts unpack why violence erupted, what it means for Kurdish safety and integration in Syria, and how Washington is engaging.

Civil Society
Conflict

Top News: Abdel Fattah al-Sisi Gives First Ever TV Interview

MENASource
Jan 12, 2026

The Venezuela-Iran connection and what Maduro’s capture means for Tehran, explained 

By
Joze Pelayo, Kirsten Fontenrose, Ellie Sennett 

Our experts break down Iran’s ties to Venezuela and the impact Maduro’s capture could have on Tehran’s interests in and outside of its own borders. 

Iran
Oil and Gas

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Content

MENASource

May 6, 2014

Top News: Abdel Fattah al-Sisi Gives First Ever TV Interview

By EgyptSource

The privately owned TV stations CBC and ONTV aired the first half of a pre-recorded interview with presidential hopeful Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi on Monday evening. When asked whether he was the armed forces candidate, Sisi interrupted, saying: “I will not tolerate your usage of the word a’askar [military] again.”

MENASource

May 6, 2014

Libya Cannot, and Should Not, Please Them All

By MENASource

Amidst political stagnation, massive security concerns, and an economic mudslide, Libya faces one of its most sensitive periods in its transition to a stable democracy. Despite international support, the dangers inherent in the country’s struggle to move forward will not be resolved unless the fundamental problem of appeasement is addressed.

Libya

MENASource

May 6, 2014

EconSource: IMF–Mideast growth outlook to improve overall, bold reforms still needed

By EconSource

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

MENASource

May 6, 2014

The Search for Lebanon’s President

By Matt Nash

The most important question underlying Lebanon’s presidential election is to what extent certain Lebanese parties—and their foreign backers—want to confront Hezbollah. It will not be answered by May 25, when the current president’s term expires, and will be largely influenced by regional developments, particularly the war in neighboring Syria.

Middle East

MENASource

May 5, 2014

Top News: Egypt Presidential Campaign Period Begins; Salafi Nour Party Backs Sisi

By MENASource

Saturday marked the first official day of campaigning for Egypt’s only two candidates vying for the presidency, Hamdeen Sabbahi and Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. Sabbahi launched his campaign in the Upper Egyptian city of Assiut on Saturday, and highlighted various points of his electoral platform, including solar energy, foreign policy, and ways to combat corruption. In […]

MENASource

May 5, 2014

Syria: No Cogent Alternatives

By Frederic C. Hof

In its May 4, 2014 editorial “President Obama and the World,” The New York Times employed a customary administration talking point in an otherwise balanced and even critical review of the president’s foreign policy stewardship, including his handling of the Syria crisis: “His critics are inconsistent in their philosophies [i.e. some want airstrikes, some want more weapons […]

Syria

MENASource

May 5, 2014

The Week in Egypt [May 5, 2014]

By Daniel Stoker

Catch up on the latest out of Egypt every week, with analysis, news updates, photos, videos, and more.

North Africa

MENASource

May 5, 2014

Top News: Presidential Campaign Period Begins; Salafi Nour Party backs Sisi

By EgyptSource

Saturday marked the first official day of campaigning for Egypt’s only two candidates vying for the presidency, Hamdeen Sabbahi and Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.

MENASource

May 5, 2014

EconSource: Economic platforms of Egypt’s presidential candidates

By EconSource

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

20140502Badie

MENASource

May 2, 2014

The Death Sentence: The Consequences of Taking the Wrong Path [Part I]

By Yussef Auf

A new chapter in the discourse of Egypt’s revolution, post-July 3rd, has seen hundreds of supporters of the Muslim Brotherhood sentenced to death. With Mohamed Morsi’s removal from power, the political situation has spun out of control. What began as mere political differences has transformed into violent confrontations.  Egypt has been pulled into a cycle […]

North Africa
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