<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

Canada

United States

Europe

Italy

Ukraine

India

Pakistan

Indian soldiers stand guard atop their vehicle in Srinagar, India, on April 23, 2025, following a deadly militant attack on tourists in Indian-administered Kashmir.

Military & Security

Politics

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

The Weekly Rundown: Escalating Pakistan-India Tensions, Canadian Elections and Pope Francis' Funeral

U.S.-Iran Relations

Yemeni soldiers stand guard during a protest against the United States on April 18, 2025 in Sanaa, Yemen. 

As intensified U.S. airstrikes fail to halt Houthi attacks on Israel and Red Sea shipping, Washington is increasingly likely to seek on-the-ground Yemeni partners to pressure the militant movement.


In Yemen, the U.S.'s Anti-Houthi Campaign Raises the Specter of a Government Ground Offensive

Columns

On Geopolitics

A Lebanese flag painted on a damaged building in the village of Meiss El-Jabal in southern Lebanon is seen from a position on the Israeli side of the border on Jan. 23, 2025, in northern Israel. 

Economics

Hezbollah's military losses and the formation of Lebanon's new government have opened the door to a new chapter in Lebanese history, although external pressure will complicate the country's next steps.

Hezbollah's Future in Lebanon

United Kingdom

Workers at a quarry Feb. 26, 2025 in the Zhytomyr region of Ukraine.

Cyber

Russia-Ukraine Conflict

The Weekly Rundown: Von der Leyen Meets Starmer, a U.S.-Ukraine Minerals Deal

Snapshots

Kuwaiti traders follow the stock market activity at the Boursa Kuwait stock exchange building in Kuwait City on April 7, 2025. 

Energy

The law will enable external borrowing to finance the country's deficits and Vision 2035 investments, but Kuwait's growing reliance on debt markets to increase capital expenditure could eventually prove problematic. 

After Eight Years of Gridlock, Kuwait Finally Passes a New Debt Law

Mock drones and missiles are displayed at an exhibition on Nov. 13, 2024, in Sanaa, Yemen. 

Recent actions by Iran and its Iraqi proxies appear designed to appease the U.S. as the Trump administration weighs taking aggressive military action against them both.

To Placate the U.S., Iran Temporarily Scales Back Its Regional Proxy Strategy

Ecuador

Cambodia

China

Malaysia

Vietnam

Chinese President Xi Jinping attends the closing session of the National People's Congress (NPC) in Beijing, China, on March 11, 2025. 

The Weekly Rundown: Xi Tours Southeast Asia, Iran-U.S. Nuclear Talks Begin

Armenia

Azerbaijan

Russia

Armenia's foreign minister (2nd R) speaks during a meeting with his Azerbaijani and Kazakh counterparts in Almaty on May 10, 2024. 

A peace deal between Armenia and Azerbaijan is edging closer, but political delays in Yerevan postpone its implementation and leave the risk of renewed border tensions unresolved.

Armenia-Azerbaijan Peace Deal Progresses, Though Hurdles Remain

Palestinian men walk amidst the rubble of a destroyed building following an Israeli strike on a residential area of Gaza City on April 9, 2025. 

Israel-Hamas Conflict

With the U.S.'s tacit support, Israel will likely keep expanding its military operations in Gaza in the hopes of pressuring both Hamas and local civilians there to leave, thereby making it easier to reoccupy the Strip.

To Secure Gaza, Israel Pursues a Strategy of Occupation and Displacement

Global Trade

Rising tensions between the U.S., Israel and Iran are increasing the risk of direct strikes on Iranian territory and potential retaliation in the Strait of Hormuz, threatening to disrupt global oil flows and destabilize energy markets.

The Geopolitics of Trade: Security Threats in the Strait of Hormuz and Likely Strategies

U.S. President Donald Trump is expected to offer Riyadh a $100 billion arms deal during his first second-term visit to Saudi Arabia in mid-May, Reuters reported on April 24. 

U.S., Saudi Arabia: U.S. Set To Offer Saudi Arabia $100B Arms Package

The Palestine Liberation Organization's Central Council approved the creation of a vice presidential position for the Palestinian Authority, Reuters reported on April 24. 

Palestinian Territories: Vice Presidential Post Established as Abbas Succession Looms

Lebanon's National Assembly approved a law to remove banking secrecy, Reuters reported on April 24.

Lebanon: Parliament Passes Banking Secrecy Act

Jordan's interior minister announced that the government banned the Muslim Brotherhood -- the country's largest opposition group -- and confiscated its assets after the group was linked to a failed plot to attack targets in Jordan, Reuters reported on April 23. 

Jordan: Government Bans Muslim Brotherhood, Confiscates Its Assets

Syria detained two Palestinian Islamic Jihad leaders: Khaled Khaled, head of PIJ operations in Syria, and Yasser al-Zafari, head of PIJ's organizational committee, Reuters reported on April 22, citing PIJ and a Syrian official.

Syria: Damascus Detains PIJ Leaders in Pursuit of U.S. Sanctions Relief

The Palestinian militant group Hamas reportedly told Arab mediators that it was willing to halt tunnel construction, stop governing Gaza, place its arsenal into a guarded warehouse overseen by Palestinian technocrats, and release all remaining Israeli hostages in exchange for a 5-15 year truce and Israel's exit from the strip, The Times of Israel reported on April 20. 

Israel, Gaza: Israel Rejects Hamas' Newest Peace Proposal

U.S. and Iranian officials made positive remarks following their second round of indirect nuclear talks, and technical talks will occur on April 23, followed by high-level talks on April 26, Reuters reported on April 19. 

Iran, U.S.: Nuclear Talks Appear Positive Despite Mixed Messaging on Enrichment

The United States struck Yemen's Ras Isa fuel port on April 17, reportedly killing at least 58 individuals and wounding 126 more, The Guardian reported on April 18.

U.S., Yemen: U.S. Conducts One of Its Deadliest Attacks on the Houthis

Middle East and North Africa

SITUATION REPORTS

U.S., Saudi Arabia: U.S. Set To Offer Saudi Arabia $100B Arms Package

Palestinian Territories: Vice Presidential Post Established as Abbas Succession Looms

Lebanon: Parliament Passes Banking Secrecy Act

Jordan: Government Bans Muslim Brotherhood, Confiscates Its Assets

Syria: Damascus Detains PIJ Leaders in Pursuit of U.S. Sanctions Relief

Israel, Gaza: Israel Rejects Hamas' Newest Peace Proposal

Iran, U.S.: Nuclear Talks Appear Positive Despite Mixed Messaging on Enrichment

U.S., Yemen: U.S. Conducts One of Its Deadliest Attacks on the Houthis

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