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

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


MENASource

Jun 4, 2026

Iraq’s militias are fracturing as Iran turns from theocracy to juntocracy

By
Munqith Dagher

Iraq’s militias face a spiritual and organizational dilemma that gravely endangers their existence, in the wake of Iran's leadership change.


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

New Atlanticist

Aug 14, 2013

Will White House Strong Words on Egypt Be Followed by Action?

By James Joyner

The Obama administration has issued a strongly worded statement on this morning’s massacre by the Egyptian government:

North Africa Political Reform

NATOSource

Aug 13, 2013

Is Sudan Providing Chinese Missiles to Syrian Rebels?

By C.J. Chivers and Eric Schmitt, New York Times

Syrian rebels, frustrated by the West’s reluctance to provide arms, have found a supplier in an unlikely source: Sudan, a country that has been under international arms embargoes and maintains close ties with a stalwart backer of the Syrian government, Iran.

China Sudan

Event Recap

Aug 13, 2013

Conference Call on Iranian President Rouhani’s Inauguration

On August 12, 2013 the South Asia Center’s Senior Fellow Barbara Slavin conducted a briefing call on Iran following President Hassan Rouhani’s inauguration.

Iran

New Atlanticist

Aug 13, 2013

Obama’s Red Lines

By Henry Johnson

President Obama’s tepid response to Bashar al-Assad’s use of chemical weapons illuminates how he might react to a decision by Iran to build nuclear weapons. In both cases, he has drawn red lines that are extremely costly to enforce.

Iran Missile Defense

MENASource

Aug 13, 2013

Graffiti that Cannot Be Erased: Sectarianism Lives On

By Mai El-Sadany

Since the ousting of Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi and the political standstill that has followed, both international and local news media dedicated countless hours and resources to analyses of whether the ousting was a coup, documentations of sit-ins and demonstrations, and interviews with political leaders and observers. While there is no doubt that the political […]

North Africa

MENASource

Aug 13, 2013

Top News: Egypt New Governors Sworn in Before Interim President

By EgyptSource

Twenty-five governors took the oath of office before Egyptian interim President Adly Mansour on Tuesday. The Red Sea and Mounifeya governors are not named yet. The post-Morsi regime reshuffling involved the appointment of twenty new governors and nine new deputy-governors, leaving seven in their positions from the previous government.

North Africa

MENASource

Aug 12, 2013

What Will it Take to Get Egypt’s Economy on the Right Path?

By Hoda Selim

More than two and a half years after the 2011 popular uprising, Egypt’s double transition, political and economic, remains complex. As the political uncertainty remains fluid and continues to unfold, the economy suffers. The time to act is now as economic challenges are a moving target. The new government must immediately develop a home-grown coherent […]

North Africa

MENASource

Aug 12, 2013

Top News: Egypt Postpones Dispersing Pro-Morsi Protest Camps, Presidency Against Dispersal

By EgyptSource

Egyptian police were expected to start taking action early on Monday against supporters of ousted President Mohamed Morsi who are gathered in crowded protest camps in Cairo, security and government sources said, a move which could trigger more bloodshed. 

North Africa

MENASource

Aug 12, 2013

What Yemen Needs From Washington

By Danya Greenfield

Yemen’s President Abd Rabbo Hadi Mansour is scheduled to meet with President Barack Obama today, culminating three days of intensive meetings in Washington, DC, with cabinet secretaries from the treasury, state, and defense departments.

Yemen

Issue Brief

Aug 12, 2013

The Israeli experience in missile defense: Lessons for NATO

By Jean-Loup Samaan and Guillaume Lasconjarias

Jean-Loup Samaan and Guillaume Lasconjarias, research fellows at the NATO Defense College in Italy, outline in this issue brief for the Brent Scowcroft Center on International Security what NATO can learn from the Israeli experience in missile defense. Samaan and Lasconjarias identify five domains where Israel’s missile defense experience may offer both helpful lessons and […]

Israel Missile Defense
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Experts

Fellow

Khaled Sakr

Nonresident Senior Fellow

empowerME Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Arabic Economy & Business

Millennium fellow

Mohamad Sakr

Head of Commercial Operations, Crescent Petroleum

Millennium Leadership Program

Energy & Environment Middle East

Active affiliation

Reem Salahi

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Arabic Democratic Transitions

Fellow

Nathan Sales

Distinguished fellow, Middle East Programs

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

Extremism Human Rights

Fellow

Jean-Loup Samaan

Nonresident Senior Fellow

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

Arabic Defense Policy

Staff

Nushin Sarkarati

Deputy Director, Strategic Litigation Project

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Corruption Human Rights
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