Middle East

A steady escalation along the Lebanon-Israel border—and no end in sight

By Nicholas Blanford

If the Gaza war drags on for much longer and clashes continue to persist along the Lebanon-Israel border, the pressure on the Israeli government to launch some form of offensive into south Lebanon is going to be hard to resist.

Middle East Instability: A Chinese Perspective to the Latest Flashpoint

By Atlantic Council

Chuchu Zhang joins us from Shanghai to explore China's evolving response to the ongoing instability in the Middle East—including the attacks in the Red Sea and the Palestinian-Israeli conflict— and how they could test US hegemony in the region.

Here’s what an uncoordinated US withdrawal from Syria would look like. It’s bad for many partners, but especially Turkey.

By Ömer Özkizilcik

An uncoordinated withdrawal from Syria by the United States could pose significant risks for Turkey, leaving the country alone against Iran and Russia.

Regardless of Sisi’s decision on Palestinian refugees in Rafah, he will not emerge as a winner  

By Shahira Amin

Now that Israel has clarified its intent to undertake operations in Rafah, after evacuating the nearly 1.4 million displaced Palestinians who have sought a safe haven in the Gaza Strip’s southern city, it may only be a matter of time before the Egyptian's president's true intentions are revealed.

Iran is socially engineering mass depression to suppress dissent  

By Saeid Golkar and Kasra Aarabi

The Islamic Republic has worked tirelessly to strategize and doctrinize control of Iranians’ minds and bodies. But it hasn't always been successful.

Could the US and other states be implicated in South Africa’s genocide case against Israel?

By Celeste Kmiotek

The International Court of Justice case could inspire proceedings against other states for complicity in or failure to prevent genocide.

Unraveling Egypt’s political economy puzzle: It’s more than just economics

By Racha Helwa

Egypt's economy continues to operate using piecemeal economic reforms, which are hindered by strong Nasser-era remnants, resulting in a slow and inconsistent pattern of implementation.

Global Energy Agenda full survey results

In the fall of 2023, the Atlantic Council's Global Energy Center surveyed global energy and climate experts for an in-depth analysis to set the agenda for the world to achieve net-zero emissions and an energy-secure future for all.