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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

Sep 14, 2015

Ullman: An Open Letter to Donald J. Trump

By Harlan Ullman

Atlantic Council Senior Adviser Harlan Ullman writes for United Press International, penning a  letter to Donald Trump on the Iran Deal: 

Iran

In the News

Sep 14, 2015

Hof on Syrian Refugees

By Frederic C. Hof

The Washington Post quotes Rafik Hariri Center Resident Senior Fellow Frederic C. Hof on Syrian refugees leaving for Europe:

Syria

In the News

Sep 14, 2015

Mardini on Russian Flights Over Iraq and Iran

By Ramzy Mardini

The New York Times quotes Rafik Hariri Center Nonresident Fellow Ramzy Mardini on Iraq’s ties with the United States and Russia:

Iraq Russia

In the News

Sep 14, 2015

Mardini on Russia’s Military in the Middle East

By Ramzy Mardini

Business Insider quotes Rafik Hariri Center Nonresident Fellow Ramzy Mardini on Russian flights to Syria over Iran and Iraq:

Iraq Middle East

SyriaSource

Sep 14, 2015

Syria: The Right Salafis Can Make All the Difference

By Mona Alami

Salafi groups in Western media have triggered a debate over the jihadists’ role in the Syria war. The proliferation of terrorist groups like the Islamic State (ISIS or ISIL) has left the West wary of the Salafis, a narrative used by Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to promote himself as a counterweight to the spread of […]

Syria

In the News

Sep 13, 2015

Itani and Barabandi: In Zabadani, Signs of a New and Worrying Iranian Strategy in Syria

By Faysal Itani

Rafik Hariri Center Resident Fellow Faysal Itani and former Syrian diplomat Bassam Barabandi write for The World Post on Zabadani’s impact on Iran’s strategy in Syria, mentioning their recently release report on seizing local opportunities in Syria:

Iran Syria

In the News

Sep 13, 2015

Slavin: Will Iran Reach Truce with ISIS?

By Barbara Slavin

South Asia Center Nonresident Senior Fellow Barbara Slavin writes for Al Monitor on Iran’s regional policies, quoting Brent Scowcroft Center Resident Senior Fellow for Middle East Security Bilal Y. Saab  on the perceptions of Iran’s neighbors and announcing Nasser Hadian’s report on Iran’s engagement in the region to be presented at the Atlantic Council: 

Iran

MENASource

Sep 13, 2015

Libya’s Political Agreement: What’s Next?

By Azza K. Maghur

At a modest gathering in July in Skhirat, Morocco, Libyan dialogue participants initialed a long negotiated United Nations Support Mission in Libya’s (UNSMIL) facilitated political agreement. Not present at the gathering was the dialogue team representing the General National Congress (GNC)—the political body that reinstated its authority after the Libya Dawn militias took control of […]

Libya

In the News

Sep 12, 2015

Stavridis: Migrants and the Road to Character

By James Stavridis

Adm. James Stavridis, Dean of The Fletcher School and Atlantic Council Board Director, writes for Foreign Policy on the migrant crisis and why the United States must do more to take in Syria’s refugees:

European Union International Organizations

In the News

Sep 11, 2015

Herbst on Russia’s Buildup in Syria

By John E. Herbst

The Washington Post quotes Dinu Patriciu Eurasia Center Director John E. Herbst on the significance of Russia’s military buildup in Syria:

Russia Syria

Experts