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

Israel Escalates Shadow War Against Iran
An airstrike in Damascus kills a top Iranian IRGC commander.

Don’t Give Up on UNRWA
The agency, which goes to great lengths to remain neutral, is Palestinians’ only hope.

Biden-Netanyahu Tensions Roil U.S.-Israel Ties
American abstention on a U.N. vote this week caused a major public spat between the two partners.

Why Biden Can’t Force a Truce on Israel—or Won’t
The United States has intervened in past Mideast wars, but this one is different.

The Houthis’ Media Machine Is Going Global
The group is exploiting sympathy for Palestine to spread its propaganda.

Egypt Is What Happens When the U.S. Gives Up on Democratization
Civil society loses—and China and Russia fill the vacuum.

What the Latest U.N. Cease-Fire Vote Means
The U.S.-led resolution signals a subtle shift in the Biden administration’s stance on the Israel-Hamas war.

Shifting Conflicts Hit Key Energy Routes
From Russia to Yemen, gas and oil exports have become prime targets.

Trucks, Piers, and Parachutes Will Not Solve Gaza’s Crisis
In the Middle East, nothing is ever simple—including the provision of humanitarian aid.

Israeli Civilians Are Taking Up Arms
In the wake of Oct. 7, lax gun laws have empowered militias—and the far right.

War-Zone GPS Spoofing Is Threatening Civil Aviation
A surge in spoofing from the Middle East to northern Europe is throwing onboard navigation systems off course.

Violence Has Failed Palestinians
A pragmatic, peaceful approach is the only way to a real state.

Will Gaza Ever Recover?
Chaos and turmoil will endure long after a cease-fire.

Why Ramadan Matters in the Israel-Hamas War
Fears are growing that clashes during the Islamic holiday could ignite the region.

Oct. 7 Changed Everything—but What if It Didn’t?
Why the new status quo in the Middle East might look a lot like the old one.

How Israel’s Assassination Campaign Against Hamas Could Backfire
The targeted killings pose diplomatic and security risks.