MENASource

As the MENA region continues to be the epicenter of news headlines, the Atlantic Council’s MENASource is a hub for thought-provoking and hard-hitting analyses about the latest trends, ideas, and debates. This online publication provides fast reactions and in-depth commentary on breaking news and key regional topics by a diverse team of experts and contributors.

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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The Obama Doctrine: Hof Remarks in Beirut

MENASource
Mar 26, 2026

As Iran attacks, the US should provide air defense for Iraqi Kurdistan

Washington faces a choice: Continue to defer to Baghdad’s procedural objections while Iran conducts unimpeded strikes on Kurdish territory or acknowledge the strategic reality and take decisive action.

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The Obama Doctrine: Hof Remarks in Beirut

MENASource
Mar 17, 2026

A crisis in Egypt could be a warning sign for the global economy 

By
Khalid Azim

Market watchers should keep an eye on Egypt as an oil shock could cause financial turmoil.

Economy & Business
International Financial Institutions

The Obama Doctrine: Hof Remarks in Beirut

MENASource
Mar 11, 2026

Three lessons from Libya for the war in Iran

By
Frank Talbot

Any outside power using force to attain a political outcome must define the end state it seeks, align coalition partners around a shared strategy, and establish credible escalation controls.

Conflict
Iran

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Content

MENASource

Apr 24, 2014

The Obama Doctrine: Hof Remarks in Beirut

By Frederic C. Hof

The key source for what we might call the Obama Doctrine is the president’s speech to the United Nations General Assembly on September 24, 2013. The speech was preceded by a policy review in the White House during the summer of 2013. That review was overseen by the new Assistant to the President for National […]

Syria

MENASource

Apr 24, 2014

Resurrecting the Egyptian Conscience to Say No to Violence

By Amrou Kotb

A Friday afternoon editing shift at a Cairo-based media outlet is customarily filled with reports detailing the casualties of violent post-Friday-prayer demonstrations. A final update on clashes in Cairo’s Ain Shams on March 28 contained the same terms we have become accustomed to seeing: “clashes turn violent,” “tear gas,” “supporters of the ousted president,” and […]

North Africa

MENASource

Apr 24, 2014

Top News: US to Release Additional Funds to Egypt upon Congressional Approval

By EgyptSource

Washington said on Wednesday it would move forward with releasing $650 million in funding for Egypt, continuing to ease a partial aid suspension following the overthrow of President Mohamed Morsi last year and a violent crackdown on his supporters.

MENASource

Apr 24, 2014

Top News: Jordan Amends Anti-Terror Law to Face Syria Fallout

By MENASource

Controversial amendments to Jordan’s anti-terrorism law seek to curb the influence of homegrown al-Qaeda affiliated jihadists fighting the Syrian regime. New articles added to the law and approved by MPs on Tuesday deem “joining or attempting to join armed or terrorist groups, or recruiting or attempting to recruit people to join these groups” acts of […]

MENASource

Apr 24, 2014

What Next For US Policy in Syria?

By Frederic C. Hof

When national security advisor Susan Rice oversaw a Middle East policy review last summer, the guiding concept was to limit the president’s investment of time and energy in the myriad crises of the region. Considering himself to have been elected to end wars, restore the economy, institute national health care, and rebalance foreign policy in […]

Syria

MENASource

Apr 24, 2014

The Political Process in Libya

By Karim Mezran

Libya’s road to democracy is shaky at best. Security is deteriorating, with targeted killings, criminal attacks, and bombings on the rise and clashes between rival armed groups—some apparently with government legitimacy and others not—growing more frequent. While these negative trends put tremendous pressure on the transition, Libya’s political process, albeit fickle, manages to keep moving. […]

Libya

MENASource

Apr 23, 2014

The Road to Presidential Elections [Update 4]

By EgyptSource

With voting in Egypt’s second presidential elections in two years expected to take place on May 26 and 27, EgyptSource will be providing periodic updates on the latest news coming out of the Egyptian elections process.

Elections North Africa

MENASource

Apr 23, 2014

Top News: US approves military assistance for Egypt

By MENASource

The Obama administration said Tuesday it has certified that Egypt is upholding its peace treaty with Israel and therefore qualifies for some military and counterterrorism assistance.

MENASource

Apr 23, 2014

Top News: US Clears Egypt for Military Assistance

By EgyptSource

The Obama administration said Tuesday it has certified that Egypt is upholding its 35-year-old peace treaty with Israel and therefore qualifies for some military and counterterrorism assistance. Secretary of State John Kerry informed Egypt’s foreign minister, Nabil Fahmy, of the decision in a telephone call, crediting the Egyptian government with sustaining its strategic relationship with […]

MENASource

Apr 23, 2014

Libya’s Faltering Political Process

By Duncan Pickard and Karim Mezran

The transition to democracy in Libya always has been a tenuous affair, but with the start of constitution drafting, the process as imagined is falling apart. The lack of national political leadership, security infrastructure, and public credibility in the state form a vicious circle. Nonetheless, opportunities to move the transition forward exists if the political […]

Libya
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