Middle East Crisis
News, analysis, and background on the Israel-Hamas war and regional conflict between Israel and Iran and its proxies.

Meet the New Middle East, Same as the Old Middle East
Everything has changed in the region, and nothing is different.

Hezbollah Is Weak Enough for Lebanon to Finally Disarm It
The government and army are taking back their own country.

Israel Escalates War Against Hamas With Doha Strike
Qatar decried the strike as a violation of international law.

The Next Israel-Iran War Is Coming
Both countries’ strategic calculus suggests it will be even more violent.
Israel-Hamas War

What Was the Tipping Point on Gaza?
After almost two years of war, Israel is feeling the growing weight of governmental opprobrium.

Israel Isn’t a Hegemon Yet, But It’s Now a Revisionist Power
Netanyahu is seeking to remake the Middle East by force.

Why Israel’s War in Gaza Has Been So Deadly for Journalists
Israel is directly targeting media workers, rights groups warn.

Why Recognizing Palestine Is Meaningless or Even Harmful
Recent announcements by France, Britain, and Canada are mostly performative.
Iran-Israel Tensions

There’s More Than One Way to Build a Bomb
Iran doesn’t need to rebuild its damaged facilities to sprint for a nuclear weapon.

Iran’s Collapse Could Cause a Nuclear Security Nightmare
Washington would struggle to secure dangerous materials, technologies, and expertise.

Iran Is Islamism’s Last Lifeline in the Middle East
Without support from a weakened Tehran, the region’s extremist movements would wither.

What the War Changed Inside Iran
The regime has been pushed to the edge of strategic pivot.
Israel and Hezbollah

Hezbollah Is Trying to Spin Loss as Victory
Assad’s fall and Israel’s offensive give Lebanese a chance to reclaim their country.

Lebanon’s Demining Mission Faces Aid Uncertainty
Cuts to foreign assistance and a fragile cease-fire have made the urgent work more dangerous.

Lebanon’s Success Depends on Sidelining Hezbollah
The new government in Beirut is the country’s best chance for reform in years—but support from Washington and Riyadh will be crucial.

Washington Has One Chance to Help Disarm Hezbollah
As Lebanon moves to confront the country’s most dangerous militia, U.S. support will be vital.
Regional Dynamics

In the Middle East, a Cold War Redux?
China and the U.S. are competing for influence in the troubled region.

Ankara’s New Syrian Headache
Toppling Assad didn’t solve Turkey’s problems—it made them worse.

How Israel’s Strikes on the Houthis Will Change Yemen
For years, the group has relied on the perception that it is untouchable.

Qué Sharaa, Sharaa
With concrete steps, Washington can keep Syria’s future on track.
Israeli-Palestinian Conflict

Why the Oslo Peace Process Failed
And what it means for future negotiators.

The Palestinian Leader Who Survived the Death of Palestine
What would it mean for Hussein al-Sheikh to lead a people whose dream of independence is no longer alive?

How Will This War End? How Can the Next One be Prevented?
FP asks experts two questions about the fighting between Israelis and Palestinians.

All the Palestinians Got From Oslo Was KFC
Thirty years of the peace process has left us with less land and fewer rights.
Latest Stories

What to Expect from Israel’s Rafah Offensive
Israeli troops would face a battle-hardened enemy while trying to get tens of thousands of civilians out of the way.

When AI Decides Who Lives and Dies
The Israeli military’s algorithmic targeting has created dangerous new precedents.

What Columbia’s Protests Reveal About America
Some politicians have called student protesters a threat. Instead, they are providing us all with an education in democracy.

Israel Is Desperate to Replace Palestinian Farmhands
Newly arrived Indian workers say abuse is common.

U.S. Fixation on Nuclear Deal Let Iran Loose on the Middle East
Washington’s shortsighted policies enabled Tehran and its proxies to destabilize the region.

Why Aren’t We Talking More About the Famine in Gaza?
Israel-Iran tensions should not distract us from the suffering of Palestinians.

How Much Leverage Does China Really Have Over Iran?
Washington wants Beijing to rein in Tehran, but experts say it’s not that simple.

Iran Shrugs off Israeli Strike, Allaying Escalation Fears—for Now
Experts say the attack was designed to showcase Israel’s capabilities without further provoking Tehran.

Why Arab States Haven’t Broken With Israel
Arabs across the region are angry, but regimes can’t afford to sever ties.

Iran’s Nuclear Crisis Has No Military Solution
Whether Tehran weaponizes its program remains tied to threat perceptions by political leadership.

Can Israel Harness Its Rare Moment of Regional Support?
Israel has launched a diplomatic offensive to further isolate Iran after its attack.

Iran Launches Retaliatory Attacks Against Israel
The strikes mark perhaps the most dangerous moment in the Middle East in recent years.

The Economics of Humanitarian Aid to Gaza
Will Palestinians ever recover from the famine and destruction?

Israel Is Facing an Iraq-like Quagmire
Six months in, there’s still no plan for after the war, U.S. officials say.

How a Culture Shift in the Israeli Military Helps Explain Gaza’s Death Toll
An execution, a prosecution, and then a backlash.

How to Get More Aid Into Gaza
A joint international task force could quickly mobilize an emergency system to clear shipments through the Rafah border crossing.