Through our Rafik Hariri Center for the Middle East and Scowcroft Middle East Security Initiative, the Atlantic Council works with allies and partners in Europe and the wider Middle East to protect US interests, build peace and security, and unlock the human potential of the region.

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Meet our blogs

MENASource

MENASource follows movements across the region and provides news and analysis on current events, including a platform for Middle Eastern perspectives, among others, on major issues—economic, political, security, cultural—that are at stake in the post-Arab Spring era.  

IranSource

IranSource provides a holistic look at Iran’s internal dynamics, global and regional policies, and posture through unique analysis of current events and long-term, strategic issues related to Iran.

All commentary & analysis

IranSource

Jul 2, 2019

Hezbollah won’t stand down in a US-Iran conflict

By Nicholas Blanford

On January 28, 2015, a colleague and I were driving north in Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley to report on the latest developments involving the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Shams (ISIS), which was then occupying a desolate mountain range straddling the Lebanon-Syria border. Shortly before midday, we received news that Hezbollah had just launched an ambush against an Israeli military convoy on Lebanon’s southeast border.

Iran
Israel

MENASource

Jul 1, 2019

Parliament voted to complete Iraq’s cabinet: What’s next?

By Abbas Kadhim

While inclusive governance is an admirable goal, it can be a formula for failure when merit is sacrificed for the sake of meeting ethno-sectarian quotas.

Iraq

SyriaSource

Jul 1, 2019

Liquidating American leverage in Northeastern Syria

By Frederic C. Hof

A week before last Christmas, President Trump tweeted his desire to disengage from Syria quickly. Since then the administration—obviously with a presidential green light—has tried to modify that message. But the ultimate intent of the American commander-in-chief on Syria has not yet been articulated.

Syria

MENASource

Jun 28, 2019

Israel’s problematic role in perpetuating water insecurity for Palestine

By Zena Agha

Climate change poses an existential and global threat to humanity. The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) is expected to be impacted more than any other area.

Israel
Middle East

MENASource

Jun 26, 2019

Reactions to Morsi’s death: Truth became a victim

By H. A. Hellyer

On June 17, 2019 Mohamed Morsi, the first democratically elected president in Egypt, died in court. Joyce Karam, a journalist based in Washington DC, tweets it out. His death released a myriad of emotions—and then the truth became a victim. Yet again.

North Africa

Event Recap

Jun 26, 2019

Arab Barometer Polling Data Event

By Atlantic Council

On June 26, the Hariri Center, in collaboration with Arab Barometer, held a public event to release Arab Barometer’s latest public opinion survey data from Iraq, Lebanon, and Jordan. Following their presentation, Arab Barometer experts Mark Tessler and Kathrin Thomas joined Iraq Initiative Director Abbas Kadhim and Nonresident Senior Fellow Faysal Itani for a panel […]

Iraq
Middle East

Event Recap

Jun 26, 2019

What does new polling data from Iraq, Lebanon, and Jordan tell us?

By Hariri Center

On June 26, the Rafik Hariri Center for the Middle East in collaboration with Arab Barometer held a public event to release the Arab Barometer’s latest public opinion survey data from Iraq, Lebanon, and Jordan. The data covered topics such as the state of the economy, institutional trust, migration, government performance, media consumption, corruption, and foreign […]

Economy & Business
Iraq

Event Recap

Jun 26, 2019

What does new opinion survey data from Iraq, Lebanon, and Jordan tell us?

The Atlantic Council’s Rafik Hariri Center for the Middle East and the Arab Barometer hosted a panel discussion marking the release of new public opinion survey data on the state of the economy, institutional trust, migration, government performance, media consumption, corruption, and foreign relations in Iraq, Lebanon, and Jordan. Participating in the conversation, moderated by Wall Street Journal reporter Vivian Salama, were Arab Barometer experts Dr. Mark Tessler and Dr. Kathrin Thomas and Iraq Initiative Director Dr. Abbas Kadhim and Nonresident Senior Fellow Faysal Itani.

Iraq
Middle East

IranSource

Jun 26, 2019

The challenge of Iran is an opportunity for the US and Europe

By John W. Miller

The level of instability present in the Gulf today is unsustainable, dangerous, and undoubtedly the creation of an increasingly desperate Iranian regime. Tehran has long favored asymmetric attacks that are difficult to factually tie to them or assaults conducted through proxies.

Iran

MENASource

Jun 24, 2019

How the Manama Workshop on Palestine will succeed

By Richard LeBaron

The US-sponsored “Peace to Prosperity” workshop will convene in Bahrain on Tuesday June 25 and Wednesday June 26 to “discuss strategies and galvanize support for potential economic investments and initiatives that could be made possible by a peace agreement” between the Israelis and Palestinians.

Israel
Middle East
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