More detainees are joining a hunger strike to protest ongoing trials from the crackdown on the protests by the Shia majority.  The Bahrain Center for Human Rights released a statement highlighting the hunger strike, which now includes 20 doctors who are imprisoned and face anti-state charges linked to the protests against the Sunni dynasty.  The Bahrain Center for Human Rights also reported that at least two other activists, Abdul Jalil al-Singace ...

Syrian security forces killed two people after storming a northern village in search of an alleged high-profile defector from President Bashar al-Assad's regime.  This increased the death toll from the past two days to about 19.  Yesterday, security forces increased pressure on demonstrators by firing on thousands of marchers, resulting in 17 deaths. On Friday, the European Union announced it was banning oil imports from Syria.  British Foreign Secretary William Hague ...

Days after the U.S. State Department released it's annual report on terrorism and labelled Iran as the "most active sponsor of terrorism," Iran retaliated by accusing the U.S. of being the "biggest sponsor of terrorism."  Iran's Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast condemned the report findings by citing that the U.S. supports "the most active supporter of terrorism in the world," Israel. The State Department report says that by supporting groups such ...

Following President Barack Obama's call for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to step down, the European Union issued an identical call for the Syrian leader's departure. E.U. Foreign Policy chief, Catherine Ashton, cited “the complete loss of Bashar al-Assad’s legitimacy in the eyes of the Syrian people and the necessity for him to step aside.” Then Britain, France, and Germany said in a joint statement that Assad "can no longer claim to lead the country," ...

Randa Slim writes in Foreign Policy about the whether or not the decision by the U.S. Treasury to freeze assets of Syrian businessman Mohammad Hamsho and his business will send a "strong message" to the pro-Assad business community and potentially increase the possibilities for pressuring the Syrian regime.  According to Slim, the business community is the "key to the survival of Bashar al-Assad" therefore, sanctions against businesses will be very ...

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's troops surrounded the Damascus suburb of Harasta in an effort to maintain the ongoing crackdown on urban centers that have been the cite for daily protests.   According to residents, Harasta's entrances have been sealed off and troops are wearing "combat fatigues, helmets, ammunition belts and carrying assault rifles."  In addition, the water, electricity and telephone lines have been cut.  Since Monday, at least 20 people have ...

Libyan Leader Muammar Gadhafi gave a speech on Friday night announcing that Libya "will never surrender in the face of assaults by rebels and a NATO air campaign." His audio address was directed at the city of Zawiya where thousands had gathered in support of Qadhafi as he announced that "Libya would keep fighting." In addition, Gadhafi said that the international recognition of the rebels is "worthless."  His speech was a ...

On Tuesday, The Brookings Institution held a forum on “The European Union Response to the Arab Spring” featuring Catherine Ashton, the high representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Police.  The forum was moderated by Martin Indyk, the vice president and director of the foreign policy department at the Brookings Institution.  Ashton spoke on the role of the European Union in supporting the Arab Spring. For full text, ...

As Libyan rebels continue to make progress toward moving into Tripoli despite heavy casualties.  They have battled west from Misrata toward Zlitan and after six weeks of stalemate, rebels have pushed back the forces of Libyan leader Muammar Gadhafi. Tripoli still remains about 125 miles away. However, Gadhafi continues attacking the opposition on the Libyan frontline by relying on heavy artillery to defend their positions. Gadhafi supporters rallied in Green Square ...

Shadi Hamid, the director of research at the Brookings Doha Center and Anouar Boukhars, a former fellow at The Brookings Institution  wrote that the United States and European Union should stop "praising" King Mohammed VI's promises of reform and instead ensure that certain priorities are implemented through the reforms.  These priorities include freedom of association and speech, limiting the powers of the king and the royal court, allowing elected institutions to ...

On June 13, Deborah A. McCarthy, the principal deputy assistant secretary of the Bureau of Economic, Energy and Business Affairs, spoke about the United States' commitment to engaging with partners and allies in the Middle East. According to McCarthy, the U.S. has taken numerous steps to help the region, including providing financial support to stabilize Egypt and Tunisia's economies.  In addition, the U.S. is also working with parliament to create enterprise ...

On Tuesday, the European Union agreed to extend sanctions against Syria to four military-linked firms and seven individuals, including three Iranians, that are linked to the violence against the anti-government protests.  The individuals and firms will be added to a list of 23 people and entities that are under an EU asset freeze and travel ban.  President Bashar al-Assad was added to that list in May. On Wednesday, Walid al-Moallem, Syria's foreign ...

On Tuesday, the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace hosted a debate to be aired on BBC's The World Debate on U.S. foreign policy in response to the uprisings in the Middle East. Matt Frei, anchor for BBC's World News America moderated the event and introduced the following panelists: Marwan Muasher, Vice President for Studies at the Carnegie Endowment; Tamara Wittes, Deputy Assistant Secretary at the Bureau of Near Eastern ...

On Thursday,  Britain, France, Germany and Portugal submitted a draft resolution to the United Nations Security Council, condemning "the systematic violation of human rights, including the killings, arbitrary detentions, disappearances, and torture of peaceful demonstrators, human rights defenders and journalists by the Syrian authorities."  The resolution calls for Damascus to comply with a UN Human Rights Council inquiry and to launch an independent and credible investigation into ...

On Sunday,  Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh refused to sign the transition agreement brokered by the Gulf Cooperation Council, despite threats by White House counterterrorism chief John O.Brennan that the U.S. will consider "possible other steps" if he does not sign.   One option on the table now is bringing Yemen before the U.N. Security Council for unspecified sanctions.  Other countries are hesitantly reviewing aid packages to Yemen, aware that any course of action ...