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

A Middle East Paradox
The Palestinian-Israeli conflict has never been more dire—or riper for resolution.

Unsourced Allegations Feed Israel’s ‘Masada Complex’
The Israeli public is convinced the world is against it.

China’s Problem With the Genocide Case Against Israel
Beijing backs the Palestinians in Gaza but faces its own genocide accusations at home.

Six Steps Israel Must Take to Win the War
Netanyahu needs to scale back war aims and compromise on core issues.

Why an End to the War in Gaza Is Still Far Off
A major U.S. diplomatic push is unlikely this year.

What Gulf States Want in Gaza
Getting rid of Hamas could intensify regional rivalries for influence.

On Israeli TV News, Scenes of Palestinian Suffering Are Rare
The coverage could be contributing to a perception gap about the war in Gaza.

U.S. Middle East Policy Has Failed
The region is on fire, and Washington is to blame.

Israel and Hezbollah Could Stumble Into a War Neither Wants
A war on Israel’s northern border could be far deadlier than the one in Gaza.

Inside Biden’s Push to Head Off an Israel-Hezbollah War
Lebanon’s government seems eager for diplomacy, but the Iran-backed militant group may get the final say.

5 Reasons the Israel-Palestine Conflict Won’t End Anytime Soon
Extremists, lobbyists, meddling outsiders, and deeper structural problems mean that the issue is likely to remain unresolved.

Is Israel Winning the War on the Tunnels in Gaza?
Destroying Hamas’s underground network has been slow and cumbersome.

How the Gaza War Could Shape Global Politics in 2024
From India to Germany to the United States, debate over the war could have real electoral consequences.

The 6 Lessons Israel Should Not Learn From Hamas’s Attack
Drawing the wrong conclusions from Oct. 7 would make the region less secure.

Gaza Is a Burning Topic for Southeast Asia’s Domestic Politics
A distant war has powerful resonance in a region often divided by faith.

FP Live Looks Back at 2023
Stephen Walt explains why countries are accusing America of hypocrisy.