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MENASource

Jun 23, 2026

The Middle East’s greatest killer is not what you think

By
Daniel E. Zoughbie

When considering the forces claiming lives across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), minds inevitably turn to warfare and terrorism. Yet the region’s most prolific killer does not carry a weapon. Its methods are salt, sugar, and sitting. The numbers are staggering. Cardiovascular disease kills approximately 1.4 million people in the region every year; […]


Economy & Business


Middle East


MENASource

Jun 11, 2026

The Iran war is a game of liar’s poker

By
Khalid Azim

The central question has not simply been who possesses power, but who is willing to absorb pain, tolerate risk, and continue escalating when conventional logic suggests restraint.


Conflict


Iran


MENASource

Jun 4, 2026

تفتت الفصائل المسلحة العراقية بعد تحول النظام الإيراني من الثيوقراطية الى الجنتوقراطية

By
Munqith Dagher

كيف يؤثر تغيير القيادة في ايران على الميليشيات العراقية؟ د. منقذ داغر يبدو اننا بتنا ، بعد 28 فبراير 2026 ،امام نظام مختلف وظيفياً، بل وحتى هيكلياً عما عرفناه طوال السنوات السبعة وأربعين من عمر النظام الايراني. فقد اتسم نظام الحكم في ايران بنسخته الخمينية الأولى 1979-1989  بأحادية قطبية لا مكان فيها سوى للمرشد الأعلى(الخميني). […]


Arabic


Conflict

Through our Rafik Hariri Center for the Middle East, 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.

Content

In the News

Dec 4, 2015

Itani on Syrian Rebel Forces

By Faysal Itani

McClatchy DC quotes Rafik Hariri Center Resident Fellow Faysal Itani on the Obama administration’s decision-making process in deciding which Syrian rebel militias are acceptable partners:

Syria

In the News

Dec 3, 2015

Shaffer on OPEC Meeting and Saudi Arabia

By Brenda Shaffer

Global Energy Center Nonresident Senior Fellow Brenda Shaffer joins NPR to discuss how the lifting of sanctions on Iranian oil will affect Saudi Arabia’s oil production:

Iran Saudi Arabia

Issue Brief

Dec 3, 2015

ISIS war game III: The final phase

By Bilal Y. Saab

September 2015 marked the one-year anniversary of President Barack Obama’s speech outlining the administration’s strategy to “degrade and ultimately destroy” the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS). Yet, ISIS celebrated in June its own first-year anniversary of setting up a state by conducting three nearly simultaneous terrorist operations in three different countries—France, Tunisia, and […]

Iraq Middle East

SyriaSource

Dec 3, 2015

Top News: December 3, 2015

By SyriaSource

– UK begins Syria air strikes after parliament vote– Kerry calls for Syrian, Arab ground troops against ISIS– Russia-Syria prepare for Idlib battle; FSA coalition launches new offensive in the south– Syrian opposition figures accept Saudi invite to attend Riyadh conference– Russia, Turkey trade accusations over who bought oil from ISIS– Germany considering sending aircraft […]

Syria

In the News

Dec 3, 2015

Vakhshouri on Iranian Petroleum Contracts

By Sara Vakhshouri

Oil and Gas 360 quotes Global Energy Center Nonresident Senior Fellow Sara Vakhshouri on the new, long-term Iranian Petroleum Contracts (IPCs) that aim to restimulate the industry in Iran:  

Iran

In the News

Dec 2, 2015

Hof on the Deployment of US Troops to Fight ISIS in Iraq

By Frederic C. Hof

Reuters quotes Rafik Hariri Center Resident Senior Fellow Frederic C. Hof on the deployment of US special operation troops to Iraq following the deadly attacks in Paris:

Iraq

In the News

Dec 2, 2015

Slavin: New Report Confirms Iran’s Nuclear Weapons Program

By Barbara Slavin

South Asia Center Nonresident Senior Fellow Barbara Slavin writes for Al-Monitor on the report released by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) that details Iran’s nuclear weapons program:

Iran

SyriaSource

Dec 2, 2015

Boots on the Ground: Slowly, Slowly

By Frederic C. Hof

President Obama long ago articulated very clearly his anti-Islamic State (ISIL, ISIS, or Da’esh) objective: degrade and destroy it. When it became clear that the November 13 attacks in Paris had been planned in ISIL’s Syria headquarters, it was reasonable to assume that the operational emphasis would shift from degrade to destroy, that the United […]

Syria

SyriaSource

Dec 2, 2015

Top News: December 2, 2015

By SyriaSource

– US sending new special ops force to Iraq to fight ISIS; Abadi says foreign troops not needed– Kerry says NATO members ready to step up anti-ISIS fight– Cameron urges UK parliament to back bombing of ISIS in Syria– Russia says it has proof of Turkey’s involvement in ISIS oil trade– Germany says every EU […]

Syria

MENASource

Dec 2, 2015

The Economic Fallout of the Metrojet Crash

By Brendan Meighan

Egypt’s tourism industry has been shaken to its core by the downing of a Russian airliner over Sinai in October, killing all 224 passengers and crew members onboard.  While tragic in its own right, the economic implications for the tourism sector, and indirectly the broader Egyptian economy, are massive and have the potential to reverse […]

North Africa

Experts