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MENASource

Apr 1, 2026

The US should rethink Iran as a Southwest Asia challenge

By Mike Schoengold Beatty

Conventional instinct to treat Iran as another Iraq or Yemen risks misallocating resources and missing the real challenges ahead.

Iran Security & Defense

MENASource

Mar 31, 2026

Can France and Algeria get their relationship back on track?

By Karim Mezran

There are signs of a thaw between Algeria and France; however, there appears to be no real political strategy for redefining the relationship.

France North Africa

MENASource

Mar 26, 2026

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

By Yerevan Saeed

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.

Conflict Crisis Management

MENASource

Mar 25, 2026

Amid the Hormuz crisis, an Iraq-Jordan-Egypt oil pipeline can no longer wait

By Maisoon H. Kafafy

Iraq is hemorrhaging oil revenue. Egypt is absorbing shocks on every front. The infrastructure that could have changed both equations has been forty years in the making. It still doesn’t exist.

Conflict Iraq

MENASource

Mar 24, 2026

The real roadblock to government formation in Iraq isn’t Maliki—it’s Kurdish power politics

By Omar Al-Nidawi

A dispute between Kurdish factions presents a significant structural obstacle to Iraq’s government formation regardless of who is nominated for prime minister.

Democratic Transitions Elections

MENASource

Mar 23, 2026

The Iran conflict exposes the new cost curve of war

By Nic Adams

The Pentagon must rapidly field innovative, lower-cost technologies alongside its exquisite capabilities, ensuring each is used where it delivers the greatest advantage.

Conflict Defense Industry

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

MENASource

Mar 10, 2026

Will the Houthis join the Iran war?

By Allison Minor

Houthi involvement in the Iran war could reignite the Yemen war after four years of relative calm, with significant implications for Yemen and the region.

Conflict Iran

MENASource

Mar 3, 2026

Trump wants Iranians to ‘take back their country’ from the regime. Can they?

By Alan Pino

To succeed in overthrowing the Iranian regime, an uprising would likely require a unifying leader, an effective organization, and the support of whatever remains of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

Conflict Democratic Transitions

MENASource

Mar 1, 2026

The risk of unknown unknowns for global markets amid war in Iran

By Khalid Azim

Market reaction will likely begin with Asia’s opening sessions on Monday morning. One early indicator will be the behavior of the US dollar.

Energy Markets & Governance Iran

Experts