More from MEF
Inside the new Gulf of Sirte Airport in Libya.
Middle East Forum Observer
Benghazi 2026 Is Dubai 1994
Libyans Want Unity, but They Do Not Want Unity to Absolve Failure and Corruption
July 13, 2026
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Michael Rubin
The Islamic Republic is not only burying a former supreme leader but, more importantly, trying to convert his death into a staged affirmation of authority, legitimacy, and transnational Shia leadership. Image: Mourners attend a farewell ceremony for Iran’s late Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on July 6, 2026, in Tehran, Iran.
Middle East Forum Observer
Tehran Uses Khamenei’s Funeral to Reinforce That Iraq Is Still in Iran’s Orbit
President Trump Should Not Treat a New Iraqi Prime Minister as Proof That Iraq’s Balance of Power Has Changed
July 13, 2026
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Ali Mahmoud
The Syrian army secured dozens of villages in the Northeast after the withdrawal of Kurdish fighters from Syrian Democratic Forces.
Middle East Forum Observer
Why Aren’t Displaced Kurds in Northeast Syria Returning Home?
Few Kurds Are Likely to Feel Safe Returning as Long as the Current Security Conditions Remain Unchanged
July 13, 2026
 · 
Sirwan Kajjo
Sirte, Libya is located along the central Mediterranean coast.
Middle East Forum Observer
Sirte as Libya’s New Capital Could Advance Unity and Security
Halfway Between Tripoli and Benghazi, Sirte Is Also the Gateway to Sebha, the Regional Capital of Libya’s South
July 12, 2026
 · 
Michael Rubin
The Coptic Orthodox Church of the All Saints in the Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt.
Middle East Forum Observer
Coptic Christians Accuse Egypt of Football Apartheid
Egypt’s FIFA World Cup Defeat to Argentina Sparks Fresh Anti-Israel Libels
July 12, 2026
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Jules Gomes
Outdoor cafes in the old town of Xanthi, Greece, attract crowds in the summertime.
Middle East Forum Observer
Turkey Tries to Play the ‘Islam Card’ to Subvert Greece’s Western Thrace
The Principal Challenge in Thrace Is Not Only Turkish Pressure, but Also the Local and National Political Establishment
July 12, 2026
 · 
Christos Konstantinidis
An aerial view of Qeshm Island.
Middle East Forum Observer
To Win the War Against Iran, the United States Must Seize Qeshm Island
In U.S. Hands, Qeshm Would Flip the Script—Iran No Longer Could Easily Target the Strait of Hormuz
July 11, 2026
 · 
Shay Khatiri
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in an October 2025 photo.
Middle East Forum Observer
Erdogan Has Become Turkey’s Most Successful Coup Leader
Erdoǧan’s Colleagues Have Not Reined in His Ambition and He Refuses to Retire
July 11, 2026
 · 
Michael Rubin
A recovery plant for natural gas liquids processing and extraction in Saudi Arabia.
Middle East Forum Observer
Middle Eastern Countries are Failing to Reduce Dependence on Fossil Fuels
The Region Emitted More than 3 Billion Tons of Greenhouse Gases Last Year; Iran Accounted for Roughly Half of the Total
July 11, 2026
 · 
Dalga Khatinoglu
Israeli surgeons at Soroka Medical Center removed a brain tumor from chairman of the Hamas Political Bureau Yahya Sinwar while he was imprisoned. Sinwar survived and later became the leader of Hamas in Gaza before masterminding the October 7 massacre.
Middle East Forum Online
Israel Saved Its Enemies. Turn Mercy Into Leverage
Israel Should Link Offers of Medical Treatment for Wounded Enemies to Information Operations That Publicly Document Leadership’s Dependence on Israeli Capabilities
July 10, 2026
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Jose Lev Alvarez