MENASource

May 18, 2021

Factbox: Iranian presence in Syria’s Deir ez-Zor province

By Navvar Saban

Since the beginning of 2018, Iran has been directly involved in the battle against ISIS in eastern Syria. Through its participation, Iran has been able to carry out its expansion project specifically in Deir ez-Zor, a province bordering Iraq that is troubled by a fragile security situation.

Middle East Politics & Diplomacy

MENASource

May 13, 2021

The escalation between Israel and Hamas: What’s new—and what’s not

By Shalom Lipner

While the intensity of the fighting appears to have caught some veteran practitioners of Middle East conflict and diplomacy by surprise, a trail of discernable factors led to this fraught outcome.

Israel Middle East

MENASource

May 10, 2021

Want resiliency in MENA? Invest in women-led startups

By Nadereh Chamlou

As MENA assesses how to rebuild better after the pandemic, women-led startups could be part of the solution.

Economy & Business Middle East

MENASource

Apr 9, 2021

Jordan was never ‘boring.’ A vibrant protest movement has been ignored for too long.

By Tuqa Nusairat

The greatest risk to Jordan’s stability remains that political and economic reform has been delayed for too long, and the little space that remains for Jordanians to express their legitimate frustration and dissent is narrowing every day.

Civil Society Coronavirus

MENASource

Apr 9, 2021

Russia is friendly with the Houthis in Yemen. But it’s complicated.

By Mark N. Katz

Even though Moscow may not be militarily involved in Yemen does not mean that Russia is uninvolved.

Middle East Politics & Diplomacy

MENASource

Apr 5, 2021

Experts React: A royal rift in Jordan amid competing allegations of a coup & corruption

By Atlantic Council

Atlantic Council experts react to the latest news of the royal rift in Jordan and how recent events may impact the country’s security, economy, and regional standing.

Middle East Peacekeeping and Peacebuilding

MENASource

Apr 5, 2021

US Mission to Saudi Arabia announces new women’s entrepreneurship program in partnership with Atlantic Council, AmCham Saudi Arabia, and Quantum Leaps

By Allison Holle

On March 31, the Atlantic Council’s empowerME initiative hosted an event in partnership with the US Mission to Saudi Arabia, AmCham Saudi Arabia’s Women in Business Committee, and Quantum Leaps to mark the launch of their new joint program: IGNITING Women’s Entrepreneurship and Innovation in Saudi Arabia.

Civil Society Education

MENASource

Apr 2, 2021

The end of Libya’s nightmare or the beginning of a new one?

By Karim Mezran and Tahani Elmogrbi

If badly managed, any of these challenges could turn fatal for Dbeiba’s government. It will take a lot of goodwill from the Libyan population and from the new elite of the country to allow space for compromise and acceptance of differences to ensure that the path is one of political dialogue and peaceful confrontation rather than one of armed conflict.

Libya Middle East

MENASource

Mar 31, 2021

Family businesses in the Gulf must not be left behind

By Amjad Ahmad and Farida F. El Agamy

Research suggests that family-owned businesses contribute about 60 percent of the gross domestic product in the GCC countries and employ more than 80 percent of its labor force.

Politics & Diplomacy

MENASource

Mar 25, 2021

‘It’s not a zero-sum game’: MENA officials agree that regional integration is key to growth

By Heba Malik

Atlantic Council’s empowerME initiative and the King Faisal Center for Research and Islamic Studies co-hosted an event that discussed strategies for building regional cooperation to create a more attractive investment landscape and productive entrepreneurial ecosystem. These are some key takeaways.

Economy & Business Middle East

Rafik Hariri Center for the Middle East

The Atlantic Council’s work on social, economic and human development issues in the Middle East honors the legacy of Rafik Hariri and his life’s mission to unlock the human and economic potential of the Arab world.