This report discusses the political future of various countries in the Middle East-North Africa (MENA) region. A change in the leadership in these countries could significantly affect their policies toward the United States and their willingness to cooperate with the United States in achieving the stability needed to advance U.S. interests in this important region.

This report provides a background on Libya's descent into conflict and discusses current policy issues for the U.S. Since Muammar al Qadhafi's fall in 2011, Libyan interest groups have pursued diverse objectives based on local and regional identities, tribal affiliations, political and religious ideologies, and shared personal backgrounds. Fighting and political maneuvering during 2014 and 2015 among rival factions and armed groups has reflected a number of unresolved debates.

This report provides background information on Libya and U.S.-Libyan relations; profiles Libyan leader Muammar al Qadhafi; discusses Libya's political and economic reform efforts; and reviews current issues of potential congressional interest.

Script from the WBAP-TV/NBC station in Fort Worth, Texas, relating a news story. Dallas oilman Bunker Hunt and British Petroleum Company have filed suit to recover a million dollar oil cargo they claim is from nationalized Sarir Oil Fields in Libya and suit seeks to recover 220-thousand barrels of fuel oil which arrived in Philadelphia this week end.

Script from the WBAP-TV/NBC station in Fort Worth, Texas, relating a news story of Israeli officials who say that a Lebanese jetliner was diverted to Israeli's Lod International Airport under escort of two Israeli jet fighters.

This report discusses the revolution and post-conflict transition in Libya. The crisis was triggered in mid-February 2011 by a chain of events in Benghazi and other eastern cities that quickly spiraled out of Qadhafi's control and resulted in his death. A July election marked a shift from the appointed interim government and may provide more democratic legitimacy and better decision making. The report also looks at the military and economic state of the country, including human rights, Islam and politics, and Libya's oil asses.

This report discusses the recent revolution in Libya, from its 2011 uprising to the end of the Qadhafi era. It specifically looks at Libya's weapons of mass destruction (WMD) disarmament, political reform and human rights, and energy as it relates to the Libyan economy.

Script from the WBAP-TV/NBC station in Fort Worth, Texas, relating a news story of Radio Cairo who has officially announced that Egypt and Libya have merged to form a new political state.

A 1996 amendment to the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act (FSIA) enables American victims of international terrorist acts supported by certain States designated by the State Department as supporters of terrorism - Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Sudan, Syria, and previously Iraq and Libya - to bring suit in U.S. courts to seek monetary damages. This report, which will be updated, provides an overview of these issues and relevant legislation (H.R. 5167).

Script from the WBAP-TV/NBC station in Fort Worth, Texas, relating a news story about the Damascus government which says that Syria and West Germany agreed to restore diplomatic relations.