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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US dollar shipments to Iraq are a molehill, not a mountain

MENASource May 14, 2026

Five ways the Iran war will forever alter the Middle East

Expect the war to weaken the Iranian regime, keep the US in the Middle East, harm Israel’s standing in the region, and more.

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US dollar shipments to Iraq are a molehill, not a mountain

MENASource Jun 4, 2026

Iraq’s militias are fracturing as Iran turns from theocracy to juntocracy

By Munqith Dagher

Iraq’s militias face a spiritual and organizational dilemma that gravely endangers their existence, in the wake of Iran’s leadership change.
Conflict Iran
US dollar shipments to Iraq are a molehill, not a mountain

MENASource May 26, 2026

An oil windfall will not fix Libya’s economy

By Ahmed Shalghoum and Frank Talbot

Libya’s new unified budget needs transparency, accountability, and oversight to deliver for the people.
Economy & Business Libya

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MENASource

Jul 31, 2026

US dollar shipments to Iraq are a molehill, not a mountain

By Ahmed Tabaqchali

The impact of the recent pause in US dollar shipments to Iraq is far less severe than many assume, because Iraq's economy has modernized.

Dollar Dominance Economy & Business

MENASource

Jul 31, 2026

Why GCC integration matters more than ever

By Khalid Azim

Gulf countries can't build their knowledge economies of the future on their own.

Economy & Business Inclusive Growth

MENASource

Jul 27, 2026

Syria’s new parliament can build institutions and trust

By Nanar Hawach

The People's Assembly is not designed to check the presidency’s power, but it could help democratize the new political order.

Democratic Transitions Politics & Diplomacy

MENASource

Jul 21, 2026

The Gulf’s real front line in the Iran conflict runs through its water, cloud, and cables—and the links between them

By Alia Brahimi, John James

Gulf countries must each build resilience as a single architecture across every layer that can be weaponized.

Conflict Iran

MENASource

Jul 13, 2026

Israel’s next government must prioritize the Abraham Accords

By Amit Yarom and Itai Melchior

The fall election could open a narrow window for Israel to reset its regional strategy and create momentum to expand normalization.

Israel Politics & Diplomacy

MENASource

Jul 6, 2026

New Middle East corridors are about more than just bypassing the Strait of Hormuz

By Allison Minor

A recent Atlantic Council gathering reveals how initiatives like the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) must evolve.

Economy & Business Infrastructure

MENASource

Jul 1, 2026

Libya doesn’t need another elite bargain

By Karim Mezran

The US blessing of a power-sharing arrangement for Libya preserves a fragile stability today while increasing the risk of a much larger crisis tomorrow.

Libya Political Reform

MENASource

Jul 1, 2026

The US is sending Syrian asylees back. Syria isn’t ready.

By Diana Rayes 

The US Supreme Court's recent decision to uphold the Trump administration's decision to terminate Temporary Protected Status programs crates a troubling global precedent.

Migration Syria

MENASource

Jun 30, 2026

Algeria’s financial reforms are showing progress. Washington should take note.

By Frank Talbot

The Financial Action Task Force recently removed Algeria from its grey list. Here's how the US can strengthen ties as a result.

Economy & Business Financial Crimes & Illicit Trade

MENASource

Jun 29, 2026

The new non-alignment: How the Middle East is carving out room to maneuver in AI

By Bilal Baloch

Middle Eastern countries are no longer just playing the wealthy customer, but increasingly shaping the AI future.

Artificial Intelligence Technology & Innovation
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