<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

Snapshots

Armed Yemeni supporters of the Iran-backed Houthi movement brandish their weapons during a protest against U.S. strikes on Iran in Sanaa on July 10, 2026. 

Military & Security

The attacks do not necessarily signal an immediate return to a full-scale war between the Saudis and the Houthis or a reignition of Yemen's civil conflict, but the likelihood of more frequent flare-ups in both theaters is increasing.

Saudi Arabia and the Houthis Exchange Airstrikes, Breaking Yearslong Unofficial Truce

People gather by the rubble of destroyed buildings following an Israeli strike on an industrial area in Gaza City on July 12.

Israel-Hamas Conflict

Hamas will likely continue to reject full disarmament in the hope that a more moderate Israeli government will come to power following elections in the fall.


Unfeasible Plans for Gaza Governance Hinder Progress of U.S-Backed Ceasefire 

Assessments

United States

Indonesia

Myanmar

Philippines

Singapore

Thailand

Europe

France

United Kingdom

Ukraine

Russia

ASEAN leaders hold hands for a group photo during the opening ceremony of the 48th ASEAN summit in Cebu, central Philippines on May 8, 2026. 

Economics

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: U.S.-Iran Tensions Remain High, ASEAN Foreign Ministers Meet With Myanmar

People pass a large banner depicting U.S. President Donald Trump with a target on his head, during funeral ceremonies for Iran's slain Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, at the Grand Mosalla on July 5 in Tehran, Iran. 

Energy

Global Trade

Recent tit-for-tat strikes between the United States and Iran signal the rising risk of a return to high-intensity regional conflict following the June 17 memorandum of understanding.


U.S.-Iran Truce at Risk of Collapse Over Hormuz Control Dispute

U.S.-Iran Relations

The Geopolitics of Natural Resources

Environment, Science & Technology

The state-owned OCP Group is accelerating domestic green ammonia projects and diversifying sulfur suppliers to secure its position as a dominant agricultural and diplomatic partner across sub-Saharan Africa.

Morocco, World's Leading Phosphate Exporter, Seeks To Mitigate Strategic Vulnerabilities

Billboards are seen ahead of the upcoming NATO Summit in Ankara, Turkey, on June 26, 2026.

Russia-Ukraine Conflict

Recent U.S. military drawdowns in Germany and threatened reductions in Italy and Spain underscore the stakes of the summit on July 7-8.

Transatlantic Tensions Set To Dominate NATO Summit in Ankara

Media

Cuba

Forecast Webcast

Join our analysts for this webcast recording exploring key topics identified in RANE's 2026 Third-Quarter Geopolitical Forecast.

2026 Third-Quarter Forecast Webcast

Sudan

Sudan's de facto leader and army chief, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, waves to spectators after attending a soccer match at Kober Stadium in Khartoum on May 15, 2026.

The outbreak of the Iran war has redirected Western and Arab diplomatic attention away from Sudan, worsening the country's long-running civil war.

Humanitarian Disaster Looms in Sudan as RSF Prepares New Offensive

Sub-Saharan Africa

Americas

Asia-Pacific

Eurasia

South Asia

Cyber

Social Issues

A fragile truce in the Middle East, persistent energy-driven inflation, shifting U.S. trade policy and escalating regional pressures from Europe to Africa will collectively shape geopolitical risk in the third quarter.

2026 Third-Quarter Forecast: An Excerpt

Canada

Mexico

Japan

India

Cargo ships June 19 off the coast of the Khor Fakkan Container Terminal in Sharjah emirate, along the Gulf of Oman.

The Weekly Rundown: Japan's Takaichi Goes to India, an Unsteady U.S.-Iran Ceasefire

U.S. President Donald Trump notified lawmakers on July 10 that the United States had started military operations against Iran, Politico reported on July 13, while U.S.-Iran clashes continued on July 14.

U.S., Iran: Trump Notifies Congress of Military Operations, U.S.-Iran Clashes Continue

In a Truth Social post on July 13, U.S. President Donald Trump announced that the United States was reimposing a blockade on Iranian ports and would take a 20% fee from cargo passing through the Strait of Hormuz.

U.S., Iran: Trump Reimposes Blockade on Iran

Saudi Arabia struck the runway of Yemen's Houthi-controlled Sanaa International Airport to prevent an Iranian civilian plane carrying a Houthi delegation from landing, AP reported on July 13.

Yemen, Saudi Arabia: Saudis Strike Sanaa Airport, Houthis Vow Retaliation

U.S.-Iran technical negotiations are set to continue despite both sides trading fire on July 8-9, Bloomberg reported on July 10, citing an unnamed U.S. official.

U.S., Iran: U.S. Official Claims Iran Negotiations Will Continue Despite Renewed Clashes

Burkina Faso

Togo

Togo is reportedly undertaking a major overhaul of its counterinsurgency strategy to combat the growing threat posed by al Qaeda-affiliate Jamaat Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin, or JNIM, along its border with Burkina Faso, including the construction of trenches stretching for several hundred kilometers across vulnerable sections of the northern border, the establishment of new forward operating bases, and reinforced military deployments in the Savanes region, Jeune Afrique reported on July 9.

Togo: Government Strengthens Counterterrorism Strategy, Deepens Security Cooperation With Turkey

The United States and Iran conducted tit-for-tat attacks for the second consecutive day, during which the United States targeted 90 Iranian military sites, the Ogtay Khan railway bridge and the perimeter of the Bushehr nuclear power plant, Reuters reported on July 9.

U.S., Iran: Attacks Gradually Escalate and Continue Into Second Day

QatarEnergy is pausing plans to increase liquefied natural gas production at the Ras Laffan complex following Iran's strike on a QatarEnergy LNG carrier earlier in the week and the subsequent escalation between Iran and the United States, Bloomberg reported on July 9.

Qatar: QatarEnergy Pauses Plans To Ramp Up LNG Output

U.S. President Donald Trump notified Congress of his decision to rescind Syria's designation as a state sponsor of terrorism, Reuters reported on July 8, citing an unnamed senior U.S. official.

U.S., Syria: Trump Moves To Rescind Syria's State Sponsor of Terrorism Designation

Middle East and North Africa

SITUATION REPORTS

U.S., Iran: Trump Notifies Congress of Military Operations, U.S.-Iran Clashes Continue

U.S., Iran: Trump Reimposes Blockade on Iran

Yemen, Saudi Arabia: Saudis Strike Sanaa Airport, Houthis Vow Retaliation

U.S., Iran: U.S. Official Claims Iran Negotiations Will Continue Despite Renewed Clashes

Togo: Government Strengthens Counterterrorism Strategy, Deepens Security Cooperation With Turkey

U.S., Iran: Attacks Gradually Escalate and Continue Into Second Day

Qatar: QatarEnergy Pauses Plans To Ramp Up LNG Output

U.S., Syria: Trump Moves To Rescind Syria's State Sponsor of Terrorism Designation

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