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 immutable Muqtada al-Sadr loses a battle against Iran

MENASource Dec 16, 2025

What will 2026 bring for the Middle East and North Africa?

As 2025 comes to a close, our senior analysts unpack the most prominent trends and topics they are tracking for the new year.

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The immutable Muqtada al-Sadr loses a battle against Iran

MENASource Dec 7, 2025

One year after Assad’s fall, here’s what’s needed to advance justice for Syrians

By Elise Baker and Ahmad Helmi

The second year of a post-Assad Syria requires structural reform, victim-centered leadership, and international reinforcement.
Democratic Transitions International Norms
The immutable Muqtada al-Sadr loses a battle against Iran

MENASource Nov 20, 2025

Saudi Arabia’s next horizon: Building human capital beyond Vision 2030

By Khalid Azim

Riyadh still needs to take fully support small and medium-sized enterprises—the true engines of job creation.
Economy & Business Middle East

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MENASource

Jun 22, 2022

The immutable Muqtada al-Sadr loses a battle against Iran

By Andrew L. Peek

The June 12 decision by Iraqi Shia cleric Muqtada al-Sadr to renounce his electoral victory and collapse the government formation process is a gift to Iran.

Iran
Iraq

MENASource

Jun 21, 2022

This organization is helping Syria’s LGBTQI community. Here’s how.

By Jennifer Bailey and Francois Zankih

Guardians of Equality Movement and other organizations and groups like it are a promising indicator for renewable development.

Human Rights
Middle East

MENASource

Jun 17, 2022

The Bennett-Lapid coalition is still holding on, but Israel can’t seem to let go of Bibi

By Noga Tarnopolsky

Former Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu loves the spotlight and remains, one year out of office, Israel’s greatest prestidigitator of attention.

Israel
Middle East

Event Recap

Jun 16, 2022

A new transatlantic relationship for the Middle East and North Africa

By Alexandra Kaiss

On June 7, the Atlantic Council’s (AC) North Africa Initiative hosted an event, “New Transatlantic Relations for the Middle East and North Africa,” in collaboration with US Embassy Rome and Centro Studi Americani. Moderated by Karim Mezran, director of the AC’s North Africa Initiative and resident senior fellow at the Atlantic Council, the event explored […]

Crisis Management
Democratic Transitions

MENASource

Jun 16, 2022

Lebanon-Israel maritime border dispute picks up again

By Nicholas Blanford

The arrival of the UK-based Energean, which will begin a drilling operation close to a disputed maritime zone in the eastern Mediterranean, has sparked tensions once more between Israel and Lebanon.

Israel
Lebanon

Event Recap

Jun 15, 2022

The Middle East and North Africa in the New Geopolitical Disorder

By Otto Lanzavecchia

While the US seems to be disengaging from the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), which is rife with lingering tensions and subject to geopolitical turmoil, other external actors fill the void. All while the European Union (EU) mostly ignores the wider Mediterranean until it becomes impossible to ignore. An expert panel held by the Atlantic Council and the Med-Or Foundation in Rome delved into the drivers and strategic reasons behind the region’s newfound centrality on May 31, 2022.

Crisis Management
Democratic Transitions

Event Recap

Jun 14, 2022

Promoting more women in leadership is “a business imperative” and key to unlocking economic prosperity, say top executives

By Allison Holle

On June 7, the Atlantic Council’s empowerME Initiative held a workshop on "Balance of power: Promoting more women in leadership."

Economy & Business
Entrepreneurship

MENASource

Jun 14, 2022

Muqtada al-Sadr just issued a mass resignation decree. Where does Iraq go from here?

By Abbas Kadhim

An early election won’t solve the Iraqi dilemma.

Elections
Iraq

MENASource

Jun 9, 2022

Israel, guess who’s back? Netanyahu is back again.

By Amichai Stein

Yes, Israel might go, once again, to an early election, the fifth since 2019.

Israel
Middle East

MENASource

Jun 8, 2022

Trade trumps strategic competition in the Middle East

By Jonathan Fulton

Washington would do well to understand that many outside the US have a different view of China, and very few are interested in being a theater of strategic competition. 

China
Economy & Business
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