Afkār is a publication of the Middle East Council on Global Affairs, providing short-form analyses, insights, and perspectives on regional issues and developments from the Council's experts and outside contributors. Afkār is published in English and Arabic, and is edited by Omar H. Rahman.
While the economic bloc is not inherently anti-Western, the desire to constrain Western hegemony is a potent unifying force and could push the bloc to increasingly challenge American- and European-led institutions.
While Muscat has not been the most prominent of regional mediators, its role has been essential in bridging some of the most intractable regional divides. And it is not done yet.
After a punishing Israeli assault on its leadership, communications network and military installations, Hezbollah—and the Lebanese public—braces for a possible Israeli invasion of southern Lebanon.