<p>The Middle East and North Africa is the world&#39;s crossroads. It encompasses the Arabian Peninsula, the mountains of Iran, the plains of Turkey, the deserts of the Levant, the lands north of the Sahara and all coasts in between. The story of the region, as is so often the case of places stuck between foreign players, is the story of trade, exchange and conflict. The traditional powers of the region are Turkey and Iran &mdash; Saudi Arabia and Egypt are the current Arab powers &mdash; and their competition for influence over the region&#39;s weaker states makes the Middle East and North Africa an arena of violence and instability.</p>

The Middle East and North Africa encompasses the Arabian Peninsula, the mountains of Iran, the plains of Turkey, the deserts of the Levant, the lands north of the Sahara and all coasts in between.

Middle East and North Africa

Algeria

Bahrain

Egypt

Iran

Iraq

Israel

Jordan

Kuwait

Lebanon

Libya

Morocco

Oman

Palestinian Territories

Qatar

Saudi Arabia

Syria

Tunisia

Turkey

United Arab Emirates

Western Sahara

Yemen

The Syrian Civil War

The Yemen Civil War

The Libyan Civil War

The Fight Against the Islamic State

The Saudi Survival Strategy

The Kurdish Struggle

Iran's Arc of Influence

Israel's Survival Strategy

The Difficulties of North African Reform

Egypt's Uphill Battle

The Battle for Mosul

Assessments

United States

Israeli military vehicles drive along the border fence into Israel, near the town of Majdal Shams, in the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights, on July 17, 2025.

Economics

Military & Security

Politics

While the two countries may engage in limited security cooperation, Israel's continued military interventions in Syria and the lack of U.S. economic pressure on Damascus will make full normalization nearly impossible.

Despite Recent Talks, Syria-Israel Normalization Remains Highly Unlikely

China

Russia

India

U.S. President Donald Trump (R) looks at Russia's President Vladimir Putin on Nov. 30, 2018, during the G20 Leaders' Summit in Buenos Aires, Argentina. U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin are expected to meet in the coming days.

Energy

Israel-Hamas Conflict

Russia-Ukraine Conflict

A look at what the coming week will bring -- and a list of recommended RANE articles from the week that was.

The Weekly Rundown: A Trump-Putin Summit, the Deadline for a U.S.-China Tariff Pause

U.S.-China Relations

Hezbollah leader Naim Kassem speaks from a stage surrounded by flags in the southern suburbs of Beirut, Lebanon, on July 6, 2025. 

Lebanon's new push to disarm Hezbollah will prove challenging amid U.S. pressure, Israel's military assertiveness and Hezbollah's hardening stance, potentially leading to government instability and increased violence.

Can Lebanon Navigate the Minefield of Disarming Hezbollah?

The new flag of Syria's interim government.

Parliamentary elections in September will cement Syrian leaders' power at the expense of many minority groups, deepening national fragmentation and heightening risks of violent unrest, particularly amid Israeli military intervention.

In Syria, Parliamentary Elections Will Deepen Political and Sectarian Divides

Israeli troops are seen deployed at the border with the Gaza Strip on July 23, 2025.

Reoccupying the Strip would be expensive and stir controversy at home and abroad, making the strategy politically difficult to sustain in the likely case that a new Israeli government is elected next year. 

The Fallout From an Israeli Reoccupation of Gaza

Snapshots

A researcher from the International Center for Agricultural Research in Dry Areas (ICARDA) examines crops in a cultivated field in Morocco on April 18, 2024.

Environment, Science & Technology

Despite a temporary boost in crop yields from spring rainfall, Morocco's persistent drought and structural water shortages continue to threaten its agricultural sector, food security and economic stability ahead of the 2026 elections.

Rainfall Boosts Morocco's Crop Yields, But Long-Term Water Crisis Persists

Iraq and Turkey's flags together on a textile cloth fabric 

Turkey is repositioning itself in Iraq by replacing its security-heavy posture with a push for economic and energy integration, signaling Ankara's long-term ambitions to become a regional power broker as U.S. and Iranian influence wanes.

Turkey Shifts Iraq Strategy Amid Waning U.S. and Iranian Influence

A gas flare is seen in the disputed Penja Ali district of Kirkuk in northern Iraq.

The oil-salary agreement could cement the Iraqi government's control over Kurdistan, permanently clipping the region's autonomy ambitions, but several roadblocks to implementation remain.

New Iraq-KRG Oil Deal Institutionalizes Baghdad's Dominance

Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly (center right) meets with Chinese Premier Li Qiang (center left) in Cairo on July 10, 2025.

In the coming years, Egypt will deepen its economic ties with China via increased trade and investment, while simultaneously maintaining its military alliance with the U.S. to address regional security concerns.

Egypt Navigates Its Needs for Chinese Investment and U.S. Military Support

Media

Podcasts

How have Gulf Arab states' positions on the Israel-Iran conflict evolved?

Essential Geopolitics: The Future of Gulf-Iranian Relations

Libyan Arab Armed Forces commander Khalifa Hifter appointed his son, Ground Forces Chief of Staff Saddam Hifter, as deputy commander-in-chief of the forces, Al-Wasat reported on Aug. 12.

Libya: Khalifa Hifter Appoints Son as Heir Apparent, Cementing Family Legacy

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel's expanded war plan to take control of Gaza City includes dismantling Hamas' presence in refugee camps in central Gaza, The Wall Street Journal reported on Aug. 10.

Israel, Palestinian Territories: IDF To Expand Operations Against Hamas in Central Gaza Refugee Camps

Australia

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced that Australia will formally recognize a Palestinian state at the upcoming U.N. General Assembly in September, joining the United Kingdom, Canada and France, The Australian Financial Review reported on Aug. 11.

Australia, Palestinian Territories: Canberra Offers Qualified Recognition of Palestine

Germany

The Israeli security cabinet approved a plan to take control over Gaza City on Aug. 8, but the full cabinet will still need to approve the plan, Reuters reported the same day.

Israel, Palestinian Territories: Israeli Security Cabinet Approves Gaza City Takeover Plan

Hamas has said that it is willing to deliver aid to the Israeli hostages remaining in the Gaza Strip in coordination with the Red Cross if Israel establishes permanent humanitarian corridors within Gaza and stops conducting airstrikes while aid is being distributed, Reuters reported Aug. 3.

Palestinian Territories, Israel: Hamas Conditions Disarmament on Palestinian State

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi conditioned the resumption of U.S.-Iran nuclear talks on a U.S. guarantee that Iran would not be attacked in the middle of negotiations if they resumed and called for financial compensation for the damage incurred during the June U.S. attacks on Iran's nuclear facilities, The Financial Times reported July 30.

Iran, U.S.: Iran Seeks Compensation and Security Assurances Before Rejoining Nuclear Talks

Kazakhstan

Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan co-chaired the fifth High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council in Ankara, which produced 20 intergovernmental agreements covering a variety of sectors, Kazinform reported on July 30.

Kazakhstan: Tokayev-Erdogan Summit Revives Strategic Ties, Anchors Oil and Transit Cooperation

Somalia

Somalia's breakaway region of Somaliland offered the United States access to a military base in its territory as well as critical mineral deals in exchange for recognition of its independence, Bloomberg reported on July 30. 

Somalia, U.S.: Somaliland Offers Access to Military Base, Mineral Deals in Return for U.S. Recognition

Middle East and North Africa

SITUATION REPORTS

Libya: Khalifa Hifter Appoints Son as Heir Apparent, Cementing Family Legacy

Israel, Palestinian Territories: IDF To Expand Operations Against Hamas in Central Gaza Refugee Camps

Australia, Palestinian Territories: Canberra Offers Qualified Recognition of Palestine

Israel, Palestinian Territories: Israeli Security Cabinet Approves Gaza City Takeover Plan

Palestinian Territories, Israel: Hamas Conditions Disarmament on Palestinian State

Iran, U.S.: Iran Seeks Compensation and Security Assurances Before Rejoining Nuclear Talks

Kazakhstan: Tokayev-Erdogan Summit Revives Strategic Ties, Anchors Oil and Transit Cooperation

Somalia, U.S.: Somaliland Offers Access to Military Base, Mineral Deals in Return for U.S. Recognition

Forecasts

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