Between 2003 and 2011, the United States maintained a large military presence in Iraq in an attempt to build a stable, democratic society in that country. That effort, most experts agree, has failed. Today Iraq is a country bitterly divided by civil war. The conflict has emerged along sectarian lines: members of Iraq's Sunni Muslim minority have joined with Islamist rebels from Syria to form the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), which has...

Since the 1970s, Afghanistan has been devastated by social unrest and civil war, as various groups have fought for control over this country in central Asia. The United States and other nations have tried to help create a democratic and progressive government, but many problems remain. The U.S.-backed Afghan government must still contend with various factions for control. One of these is the resurgent Taliban, an Islamist group that ruled Afghanistan...

At one time, Lebanon was considered the most cosmopolitan country in the Middle East. That changed with a devastating 15-year-long civil war that began in the mid-1970s, followed by another 15 years of Syrian domination. As Lebanon attempts to rebuild, it faces many problems. The terrorist organization Hezbollah operates freely in southern Lebanon, and its leaders have been elected to important positions in the state's government. In addition, more...

Nearly 5,000 years ago, on the eastern edge of the Sahara Desert, one of the world's earliest and greatest civilizations began to flourish. That civilization, Egypt, has held a firm grip on the human imagination ever since, with its powerful pharaohs, its awe-inspiring pyramids, and its mysterious religious beliefs. Today, it is the most populous Arab country, as well as a vital member of the global community. In January 2011, Egyptians began to hold...

Saudi Arabia is one of the most important states in the Middle East, as well as the larger Muslim world. The birthplace of Islam's prophet, Muhammad, the kingdom is also home to some of that religion's most sacred places, including the holy cities of Mecca and Medina. As custodian of key Islamic traditions, Saudi Arabia enjoys a leading status among its Muslim neighbors. But as the world's largest exporter of oil, it also has forged strong relationships...

The land known as Syria is at the heart of the Middle East. Dotting Syria's landscape are the ancient ruins of the many civilizations that have ruled this land, dating back some 8,000 years. These ruins bear witness to Syria's troubled past under the rule of competing empires and colonial powers. Today the Syrian Arab Republic is ruled by a brutal dictator, Bashar al-Assad, whose repressive policies and blatant disregard for human rights has led to...