Middle East & North Africa

Smoke rises in the sky following clashes in Tripoli, Libya, August 27, 2022. REUTERS/Hazem Ahmed

Around the halls: Brookings experts on Biden’s performance in the Middle East

A man casts his vote at a polling station during parliamentary and local elections, in Casablanca, Morocco September 8, 2021. REUTERS/Abdelhak Balhaki

The end of the Moroccan “model”: How Islamists lost despite winning

Tuesday, January 31, 2023

13 February 2019, Syria, Aleppo: Fighters of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham militant group hold their weapons at the front lines of the armed opposition overlooking the Syrian government-held city of Aleppo. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Wednesday that Russia will continue to make every possible effort to assist Syria in liberating the country from lawlessness committed by armed groups. Photo: Anas Alkharboutli/dpa

Syria’s dissolving line between state and nonstate actors

Steven Heydemann

Friday, January 27, 2023

One of the Libyan army guards seen during the celebration in Misrata. Libyan security forces affiliated with Tripoli-based interim Prime Minister Abdelhamid Dbeibah take part in a parade marking the 6th anniversary of the liberation of Sirte from the Islamic State (IS) group, in the northwestern city of Misrata. (Photo by Islam Alatrash / SOPA Images/Sipa USA)No Use Germany.

Libya’s hybrid armed groups dilemma

Stephanie T. Williams

Friday, January 27, 2023

Somali policemen gather near the wreckage of a car at the scene of an explosion following an attack in Somalia's capital Mogadishu, March 9, 2016. Islamist group al Shabaab said it fought off an attack on one of its bases in southern Somalia early on Wednesday that was launched by foreign commandos who flew in on two helicopters, leaving one al Shabaab fighter dead in the gun battle. REUTERS/Feisal Omar

Nonstate armed actors in 2023: Persistence amid geopolitical shuffles

Vanda Felbab-Brown

Friday, January 27, 2023

Tunisia, Ariana, 2022-12-17. A Tunisian elderly man arrives at a polling station to cast his vote during the first round of the parliamentary elections. Tunisians are to elect the new 161 members of the parliament officially called Assembly of People s Representatives (ARP). A second round will takes place in February or March 2023. Photograph by Chedly BEN IBRAHIM / Hans Lucas. Tunisie, Ariana, 2022-12-17. Une femme agee tunisienne arrive dans un bureau de vote pour voter lors du premier tour des elections legislatives. Les Tunisiens doivent elire les 161 nouveaux membres du Parlement, officiellement appele Assemblee des representants du peuple (ARP). Un second tour aura lieu en fevrier ou mars 2023. Photographie de Chedly BEN IBRAHIM / Hans Lucas.

Tunisia’s parliamentary election draws a collective shrug

Wednesday, December 21, 2022

Algerian President Abelmadjid Tebboune welcomes Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani upon his arrival in Algiers, to attend the Arab League summit, Algeria November 1, 2022. Algerian Presidency /Handout via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. NO RESALES. NO ARCHIVES.

What happened at the 2022 Arab League summit in Algeria?

Friday, November 4, 2022

(L-R) Israeli President Isaac Herzog, US President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid attend the Opening ceremony of the Maccabiah games in Jerusalem. Ilia Yefimovich/dpa

New polls: Democrats say Biden and members of Congress lean toward Israel more than they do

Shibley Telhami

Tuesday, August 2, 2022

U.S. President Joe Biden and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman attend an Arab summit, in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, July 16, 2022. REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein

Rights as realism in the Middle East

Steven Heydemann

Monday, July 25, 2022

US President Joe Biden (L) welcomed by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud ahead of their meeting at Al-Salam Palace.

Middle Eastern autocrats embarrassed Biden at will

Friday, July 22, 2022