Dr. Paul Salem has been named president of the Middle East Institute (MEI). The announcement was made by MEI’s Board of Governors at its meeting on Monday, October 15. He succeeds Amb. (ret.) Wendy Chamberlin, who stepped down in July 2018 after serving nearly twelve years as president.

Originally styled as a small detachment of volunteers and refugees mobilized to defend the shrine of Sayyeda Zeinab, the Fatemiyoun formation’s size and presence across Syria has slowly expanded throughout the war. In this policy paper, Tobias Schneider analyzes the Fatemiyoun Division and the impact of its Syrian jihad on the Hazara community in Iran as well as transnational militancy in Afghanistan.

In this week's Monday Briefing, MEI experts discuss recent and upcoming events including Washington's response to the Saudi problem, the fading threat of a military campaign in Idlib, a potential U.S.-Turkey rapprochement, and a new round of talks between Washington and the Taliban.

The disappearance of journalist and commentator Jamal Khashoggi from the Saudi consulate in Istanbul has sparked the most serious crisis to face relations between the Trump administration and Riyadh. It has also posed a major diplomatic challenge for Turkey’s President Erdogan. MEI’s Jerry Feierstein and Gonul Tol join host Paul Salem to discuss this crisis and potential tragedy.

Tickets are now available for MEI's signature annual event! Join us November 7 as we honor this year's award recipients for outstanding humanitarian and cultural contributions to the region.

Dr. Paul Salem has been named president of the Middle East Institute (MEI). The announcement was made by MEI’s Board of Governors at its meeting on Monday, October 15. He succeeds Amb. (ret.) Wendy Chamberlin, who stepped down in July 2018 after serving nearly twelve years as president.

Originally styled as a small detachment of volunteers and refugees mobilized to defend the shrine of Sayyeda Zeinab, the Fatemiyoun formation’s size and presence across Syria has slowly expanded throughout the war. In this policy paper, Tobias Schneider analyzes the Fatemiyoun Division and the impact of its Syrian jihad on the Hazara community in Iran as well as transnational militancy in Afghanistan.

In this week's Monday Briefing, MEI experts discuss recent and upcoming events including Washington's response to the Saudi problem, the fading threat of a military campaign in Idlib, a potential U.S.-Turkey rapprochement, and a new round of talks between Washington and the Taliban.

The disappearance of journalist and commentator Jamal Khashoggi from the Saudi consulate in Istanbul has sparked the most serious crisis to face relations between the Trump administration and Riyadh. It has also posed a major diplomatic challenge for Turkey’s President Erdogan. MEI’s Jerry Feierstein and Gonul Tol join host Paul Salem to discuss this crisis and potential tragedy.

Tickets are now available for MEI's signature annual event! Join us November 7 as we honor this year's award recipients for outstanding humanitarian and cultural contributions to the region.