<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

India

Pakistan

People gather around an army air defense system on display at a military exhibition in Islamabad, Pakistan, on Aug. 14, 2025.

Economics

Military & Security

Politics

While they could unlock economic and strategic gains, Pakistan's new defense pacts with Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait will also increase its military's role in domestic policymaking and Islamabad's exposure to regional conflicts.

The Implications of Pakistan's Growing Defense Ties in the Middle East

United States

A Russian aircraft takes off from an airport in northeastern Syria's Hasakah province on Jan. 27, 2026. 

Syria's cooperation with the U.S. to remove nuclear materials and reduce Russian military influence will support its reconstruction efforts, but security challenges will continue to hinder major infrastructure projects.

Syria's Pro-U.S. Policy Shift May Secure Sanctions Relief, but Challenges Persist

Snapshots

Europe

Spain

A Spanish soldier escorts a group of migrants on their way back towards the Moroccan border, following their illegal crossing into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta, on Aug. 1, 2026.

Spain and Morocco's heightened security measures will likely thwart online efforts to organize another mass migration attempt, though smaller border breaches remain possible.

The Risk of a Second Migration Surge Into Spain's Ceuta

Nigeria

Zambia

China

Migrants wait to receive water on a beach in the North African Spanish enclave of Ceuta on Aug. 2, 2026.

Environment, Science & Technology

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

The Weekly Rundown: Extreme Weather in China and Europe, More Migrant Crossings Into Spain

People in Sanaa, Yemen, stand under a large screen broadcasting Houthi-run coastguard forces patrolling in the Red Sea on March 13, 2026.

Energy

If economic concessions and limited military action fail to halt the Houthis' Red Sea blockade, the Saudis may pursue ground operations in Yemen, risking Iranian strikes and a renewed military quagmire.

Escalating Houthi Attacks Force Saudi Arabia To Shift Its Strategy

Media

Podcasts

Trace the hidden chain reaction from a closed Strait of Hormuz to a local bakery line, and discover how a Middle East energy shock can quietly turn into a global food crisis.

The Decision Advantage: The Foreseen Effects of the Strait of Hormuz Closure

Colombia

Venezuela

Colombia's President-elect Abelardo de la Espriella (R) delivers a speech during a military parade commemorating Colombia's Independence Day in Medellin, Colombia, on July 20, 2026. 

Cyber

The Weekly Rundown: Colombia's New President Takes Office, Brussels Gains AI Act Enforcement Powers

U.S.-Iran Relations

Ethiopia

South Africa

Brazil

Russia

(From left to right) Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa attend a plenary session at the BRICS summit in Kazan on Oct. 24, 2024.

The bloc's push to develop an independent payment system for trade will not immediately undermine the U.S. dollar's global dominance, though it could reduce the effectiveness of U.S. sanctions.

The Implications of an Independent BRICS Payment System

U.S. President Donald Trump (right) speaks during a meeting with Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi (2nd-L) in the Oval Office of the White House on July 14, 2026.

While the Iraqi prime minister's visit to the White House yielded some deals, implementation constraints will likely eventually lead to renewed U.S. economic pressure, further straining Baghdad's finances.

New U.S. Agreements Unlikely to Ease Iraq's Economic Woes

Peru

United Kingdom

Ukraine

A couple rides past Iranian-made Zolfaghar missiles displayed at Azadi Square in Tehran on July 24.

Russia-Ukraine Conflict

The Weekly Rundown: A Likely U.S. Escalation in Iran, Zelensky Travels to Washington

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the United States plans to unveil more extensive economic measures against Iran during the week of Aug. 17, Bloomberg reported on Aug. 14.

U.S., Iran: U.S. To Unveil Additional Economic Measures Against Iran 

Sudan

Sudan's paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, or RSF, claimed to have recaptured the strategic border town of Kurmuk from the Sudanese Armed Forces, or SAF, Sudan Tribune reported on Aug. 13.

Sudan: RSF Recaptures Kurmuk Border Town Amid Allegations of Ethiopian Aerial Support 

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz announced that the Israeli Defense Forces would not withdraw from southern Lebanon until Hezbollah is disarmed, Reuters reported on Aug. 13. 

Lebanon, Israel: Israel Ties Withdrawal to Hezbollah Disarmament, Eyes New Military Operation

Israel-Hamas Conflict

Israel deployed extra forces to the town of Qusra outside of Nablus in the West Bank in an attempt to protect a Palestinian-American-owned home from Israeli settlers who were besieging it after pressure from the United States, NPR reported on Aug. 13. 

Palestinian Territories, Israel: U.S. Intervenes in Settler Attack, Hamas To Run in PLC Elections

Moldova

Ukraine and Moldova are negotiating a rail corridor to move Ukrainian grain through Moldova to Romania's port of Constanta, with Kyiv seeking a 50% freight discount and Chisinau demanding volume guarantees in return, Reuters reported on Aug. 10.

Ukraine, Moldova: Rail Corridor Will Ease but Not Offset Grain Export Losses

Turkey's Grand National Assembly approved a framework law for the disbandment and dissolution of the Kurdistan Workers' Party, or PKK, in a 468-88 vote, Reuters reported on Aug. 10.

Turkey: Parliament Approves Framework Bill for PKK Disbandment

Russia will steadily hand over its two military bases in Syria -- its only military bases in the Middle East -- to the interim Syrian government by November, with the bases turned into joint Russo-Syrian training facilities, Syria's foreign ministry announced on Aug. 9.


Syria, Russia: Russia Slowly Winds Down Military Bases in Syria

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected the 15-point Israel-Hamas peace plan backed by U.S. President Donald Trump on Aug. 9, the highest-level comments by the Israeli government on the matter since the ceasefire was implemented at the end of 2025, BBC reported on Aug. 9.

Israel: Netanyahu Rejects U.S.-Backed Peace Plan for Gaza

Middle East and North Africa

SITUATION REPORTS

U.S., Iran: U.S. To Unveil Additional Economic Measures Against Iran

Sudan: RSF Recaptures Kurmuk Border Town Amid Allegations of Ethiopian Aerial Support

Lebanon, Israel: Israel Ties Withdrawal to Hezbollah Disarmament, Eyes New Military Operation

Palestinian Territories, Israel: U.S. Intervenes in Settler Attack, Hamas To Run in PLC Elections

Ukraine, Moldova: Rail Corridor Will Ease but Not Offset Grain Export Losses

Turkey: Parliament Approves Framework Bill for PKK Disbandment

Syria, Russia: Russia Slowly Winds Down Military Bases in Syria

Israel: Netanyahu Rejects U.S.-Backed Peace Plan for Gaza

Forecasts

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