Middle East

Middle East

Stretching from the Western Mediterranean to the Indian Ocean, the Middle East continues to be a region struggling with violent conflict, political repression, and poor development. Numerous pro-democracy protest movements, a burgeoning youth population, and efforts to reform governments and lessen economic dependence on oil, however, are causes for optimism. The United States and the international community must remain engaged with the region to provide support for these positive moves and to address the many remaining challenges.

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The latest pieces from MENASource:


MENASource

Sep 8, 2026

Will Washington back the UN’s Libya roadmap with more than just rhetoric?

By
Frank Talbot

There are actionable steps the US can take now to help bring about Libya's first national elections in more than a decade.


Libya


MENASource

Sep 3, 2026

Bahrain’s opportunity for AI leadership lies under water

By
Minwa Alkhalifa

Bahrain could test the possibility of placing AI infrastructure, specifically data centers, under water.


Artificial Intelligence

The Gulf


MENASource

Aug 31, 2026

Jordan’s military deterrence has collapsed 

By
Aaron Magid

Jordan continues to absorb attacks from Iran without firing back.


Conflict

Iran

READ More from MENASOURCE

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.

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Content

MENASource

Sep 15, 2014

The Trap of Friendly Fire

By Khaled Dawoud

The recent release of two Muslim Brotherhood figures from prison in Egypt, the first since the army’s removal of former President, Mohamed Morsi, fourteen months ago, increased speculation that secret reconciliation talks were taking place between the two sides. While any negotiations were firmly denied in official statements by the government and the Muslim Brotherhood, […]

North Africa

In the News

Sep 15, 2014

Hof on Aiding the Moderate Syrian Opposition

By Frederic C. Hof

Reuters quotes Rafik Hariri Center Senior Fellow Frederic Hof on the $500 million White House proposal to arm moderate members of the Syrian opposition:

Syria

MENASource

Sep 14, 2014

Syria: The Effect of Airstrikes on Aid

By Matthew Timmerman

The Islamic State in Iraq and al-Sham’s (ISIS, ISIL, or the Islamic State) cavalier brutality draws headlines in the media, but its obstruction of aid in several Syrian governorates proves that it possesses more subtle means of inflicting cruelty.

Syria

SouthAsiaSource

Sep 12, 2014

This Week in South Asia: September 6 – 12

By Elijah Logsdon

Commentary from the South Asia Center on the most relevant news from the region, and suggested “must-read” analyses from the week. AfghanistanAfghanistan’s election crisis deepened when representatives of Abdullah Abdullah and Ashraf Ghani confirmed negotiations over forming a national unity government had collapsed. This setback came as the country’s Independent Election Commission announced that it would […]

Afghanistan India

Event Recap

Sep 12, 2014

Despite Detours and Reservations, Egypt Navigating Transition Reasonably Well

By The Atlantic Council

Despite political detours and reservations, Egypt is moving forward and navigating its transition reasonably well, said Ahmed Galal, former Minister of Finance for Egypt and managing director of the Economic Research Forum. Galal was speaking at a Hariri Center public discussion, “Tackling Egypt’s Economic Dilemma” on September 10, 2014. Atlantic Council Vice President and Hariri […]

North Africa

In the News

Sep 12, 2014

Ricciardone on Turkish Role in Syria: We Had to “Agree to Disagree”

By Francis Ricciardone

Reuters quotes VP and Rafik Hariri Center Director Francis Ricciardone on Turkish support of extremist organizations in Syria: 

Syria Turkey

MENASource

Sep 12, 2014

Egypt’s Authorities Re-engineer the Public Space

The January 25 revolution brought Egypt nothing more than trouble and turmoil, bringing Egypt to the brink of civil war and collapse–or so the thinking goes among the firmly entrenched authoritarian mindset controlling the country.

North Africa

In the News

Sep 12, 2014

Hof: We Can’t Destroy ISIS Without Destroying Assad First

By Frederic C. Hof

Rafik Hariri Center Senior Fellow Frederic Hof writes for the New Republic on why President Obama’s strategy for combating the threat of the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham will be incomplete as long as it is not accompanied by more robust measures aimed at the removal of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad from power:

Syria

New Atlanticist

Sep 11, 2014

Obama’s ISIS Strategy Likely to Put 5,000 US Troops Around Iraq Within 90 Days, Former CIA Chief Says

By Alex Ward and Liz Harper

Hayden: Plan Is a Step Forward, But US Should Know ‘We Are Putting Americans in Harm’s Way’ President Barack Obama’s new strategy for confronting the explosive growth of the ISIS militant movement in Iraq and Syria puts the United States “in a better place than we have been,” said General Michael Hayden, Atlantic Council board […]

Iraq Syria

Article

Sep 11, 2014

Column: Coalition Against Islamic State Must Include Iran

By Barbara Slavin

President Barack Obama is right to focus on the responsibility of the Sunni Muslim world to attack and expunge the cancer that is the militant group calling itself the Islamic State (IS). The group’s perversion of Islam in the service of its barbaric goals needs to be confronted first and foremost by those for whom […]

Iraq Saudi Arabia
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Experts

Millennium fellow

Ezgi Canpolat

Lead, Social Dimensions of Climate Change and AI, World Bank Group

Millennium Leadership Program

Africa Climate Change & Climate Action

Millennium fellow

Tim Carlton Jones

Head of International Affairs, UK, Edelman

Millennium Leadership Program

Education Middle East

Board director

Ahmed Charai

Board Member

International Norms Media

Fellow

Lesley Chavkin

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Economic Statecraft Initiative GeoEconomics Center

Africa Economy & Business

Fellow

Hagar Hajjar Chemali

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Economic Statecraft Initiative GeoEconomics Center

Economy & Business Financial Sanctions and Economic Coercion

Fellow

Danny Citrinowicz  

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs Scowcroft Middle East Security Initiative

Arabic Cybersecurity
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Events

Public Event Thu, September 10, 2026 • 9:00 am ET

US engagement with Iraq and the region after Operation Inherent Resolve 
Iraq Middle East Politics & Diplomacy Security & Defense