<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

A group of armed Israeli soldiers stands in a narrow alley of the Old City of Hebron, West Bank, on May 31, 2025. 

Economics

Military & Security

Politics

While it will likely curb immediate terror threats, the crackdown will also fuel Palestinian grievances, increasing the risk of a larger uprising and internal Israeli government tensions.

To Thwart Militant Attacks, Israel Cracks Down on the West Bank

Media

Podcasts

What is the long-term outlook for the conflict?

Essential Geopolitics: How Will the Israel-Iran War End?

Columns

On Geopolitics

An Israeli tank rolls along the fence on the border with the Gaza Strip on June 4, 2025. 

Israel-Hamas Conflict

Uncertainty regarding who will govern post-war Gaza and fund its reconstruction increases the likelihood of a prolonged Israeli occupation that would empower Israel's far-right to push for annexation and more extensive population displacement.

Is Gaza Destined for Another Israeli Occupation?

Snapshots

United States

Israeli air defense systems intercept Iranian missiles over Tel Aviv amid a fresh barrage of Iranian rockets on June 16, 2025. Israeli air defense systems intercept Iranian missiles over Tel Aviv amid a fresh barrage of Iranian rockets on June 16, 2025. 

The Israel-Iran conflict is set to evolve into a short war of attrition as Iran pits its degraded missile stocks against Israel's dwindling air defense systems.

Assessing the Trajectory of the Iran-Israel War

U.S.-Iran Relations

Sub-Saharan Africa

Canada

Japan

Europe

Germany

France

United Kingdom

Italy

Rescue teams work at damaged buildings in Nobonyad Square following Israeli airstrikes on June 13, 2025, in Tehran, Iran. 

Global Trade

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: G7 Leaders' Summit, More Israeli Attacks on Iran

What is the outlook for Hezbollah's disarmament in the coming months?

Essential Geopolitics: The Potential for Militia Disarmament in Lebanon

Smoke rises from a location allegedly targeted in Israel's wave of strikes June 13, 2025, in Tehran, Iran. Israel and Iran are increasingly likely to expand the scope of their attacks to include targets like each other's political leadership, energy infrastructure and other sensitive targets that would open the door to a wider regional war.

Israel and Iran are increasingly likely to expand the scope of their attacks to include targets like each other's political leadership, energy infrastructure and other sensitive targets that would open the door to a wider regional war.

Israel and Iran's Conflict Intensifies, Raising the Risk of a Regional War

A view of the Bushehr nuclear power plant. Israel's massive strikes on Iran's nuclear and military sites mark a sharp escalation likely to trigger sustained retaliation, regional instability and the collapse of U.S.-Iran nuclear talks.

Israel's massive strikes on Iran's nuclear and military sites mark a sharp escalation likely to trigger sustained retaliation, regional instability and the collapse of U.S.-Iran nuclear talks.



What To Expect as Israel Goes After Iran's Nuclear Program, Military Capabilities

An Israeli Air Force F-16 fighter aircraft on March 24, 2025, over the city of Yokneam Illit in northern Israel.

Israeli launched a "preemptive" strike on Iran in the early hours of June 13, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz announced as he declared a special state of emergency inside Israel.

Israel Launches Major Military Strikes on Iran

An aerial depiction of Iran's Zagros Mountains and the Strait of Hormuz.

Israel is growing increasingly likely to strike Iran's nuclear program as U.S.-Iran talks struggle to progress, potentially setting off a cycle of regional escalation that alters Iran's political landscape.

As U.S.-Iran Nuclear Talks Flounder, Israel Inches Toward Escalation

U.S. military officials have expressed concern over the dwindling supply of Israeli Arrow interceptors used to counter Iranian long-range missiles, The Wall Street Journal reported on June 18.

U.S., Israel: U.S. Concerned About Dwindling Israeli Interceptors

South Sudan

Angola

Benin

Burkina Faso

Cameroon

Cabo Verde

Cote d'Ivoire

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Djibouti

Ethiopia

Gabon

Gambia

Ghana

Liberia

Malawi

Niger

Nigeria

Sao Tome and Principe

Senegal

Tanzania

Uganda

Zambia

Zimbabwe

Antigua and Barbuda

Dominican Republic

Saint Lucia

Saint Kitts and Nevis

Cambodia

Tonga

Tuvalu

Vanuatu

Kyrgyzstan

Bhutan

The U.S. State Department issued a memo giving 36 countries 60 days to meet new department requirements or be added to a travel ban implemented on June 9, The Washington Post reported on June 14.

U.S.: Trump Administration Considers Adding 36 More Countries to Travel Ban

Kenya

Sudan

China

The Sudanese Armed Forces, or SAF, found crates of ammunition and mortar bombs ordered by the Kenyan Ministry of Defense and dated from 2023 and 2024 in recaptured weapon depots belonging to Sudan's paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, or RSF, Daily Nation and Bellingcat reported on June 15.

Sudan: Nairobi To Face Global Scrutiny as Kenyan Weapons Found in RSF Depot 

Iran launched dozens of ballistic missiles June 14 toward northern Israel, impacting several areas, including infrastructure near the port of Haifa, resulting in dozens of casualties.

Israel, Iran: Dueling Attacks Against Civilian Infrastructure Escalate

Energy

Gulf Arab states condemned Israel's June 13 attack on Iranian nuclear and military targets in a series of official statements, Al Jazeera reported on June 13. 

GCC, Israel: GCC Countries Condemn Israeli Attacks on Iran

European light sweet crude benchmark Brent increased by as much as 12.9%, peaking at $78.50 per barrel on June 13, following Israeli strikes targeting Iran's senior military leadership, nuclear scientists and nuclear program earlier in the day, Bloomberg reported on June 13.

Global: Israel's Attack on Iran Spikes Oil Prices, But Physical Supplies Remain Fairly Secure

Social Issues

A bill that would have dissolved Israel's Knesset was rejected in a 61-53 vote in the legislature on June 12, after the two religious parties in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition, Shas and United Torah Judaism, backed off their threats to support the motion upon reaching a last-minute compromise on ultra-Orthodox conscription, The New York Times has reported.

Israel: Netanyahu Survives Knesset Vote to Dissolve Itself After Last-Minute Compromise With Religious Parties 

Indonesia

Indonesia agreed to purchase 48 KAAN fighter jets from Turkey over the next 10 years, and the deal includes technology transfers, Hurriyet Daily News reported on June 11. 

Turkey, Indonesia: 10-Year Deal Marks Breakout KAAN Fighter Jet Sale

Middle East and North Africa

SITUATION REPORTS

U.S., Israel: U.S. Concerned About Dwindling Israeli Interceptors

U.S.: Trump Administration Considers Adding 36 More Countries to Travel Ban

Sudan: Nairobi To Face Global Scrutiny as Kenyan Weapons Found in RSF Depot

Israel, Iran: Dueling Attacks Against Civilian Infrastructure Escalate

GCC, Israel: GCC Countries Condemn Israeli Attacks on Iran

Global: Israel's Attack on Iran Spikes Oil Prices, But Physical Supplies Remain Fairly Secure

Israel: Netanyahu Survives Knesset Vote to Dissolve Itself After Last-Minute Compromise With Religious Parties

Turkey, Indonesia: 10-Year Deal Marks Breakout KAAN Fighter Jet Sale

Forecasts

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