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

Why the U.S. Tolerates Qatar’s Hamas Ties
Washington’s conflicting views of Qatar reflect the constraints of U.S.-Middle East policy.

Netanyahu Hasn’t Just Lost His Credibility on Security
The prime minister’s image has long depended on keeping Israelis safe and promoting economic growth. Polls show he’s in trouble.

Will Hezbollah Hold Back or Escalate?
The militant group must consider domestic Lebanese politics as well as relations with its patrons in Iran.

How Congressional Chaos Hampers U.S. Aid to Israel, Ukraine
Republican infighting continues as emergency crisis response funding is put on ice.

What a Ground Invasion Means for Israeli Hostages
A former White House official who oversaw the Iran hostage crisis weighs in.

What the Israel-Hamas War Means for the World Economy
Palestinians are already reeling, but a wider conflict could trigger a surge in oil prices.

Can Israel Handle a War on 2 Fronts?
Tamir Hayman, a former head of Israeli intelligence, assesses the government's capabilities.

Israel’s Intelligence Failure Is a Wake-Up Call for NATO
Officials in Brussels are questioning the extent of their reliance on technology.

Vengeance Is Not a Policy
Emotionally driven reactions from Washington won’t prevent future violence. Dismantling the Gaza prison could.

Israel Prepares for Block-by-Block Warfare in Gaza
The goal is to destroy Hamas. The human cost will be high.

‘We’re Just Not Able to Function Right Now’
Democratic U.S. Rep. Andy Kim on a dysfunctional Congress amid two wars in Europe and the Middle East.

The 1973 War Analogy Is Deeper Than You Think
The parallels from 50 years ago will shape the region’s battle today.

The Peril in Declaring ‘I Stand With Israel’
Such sentiments stymie discussion of the harder questions around Israel’s treatment of Palestinians.

Has Washington’s Middle East Policy Failed?
The status quo is unworkable, but no one appears to be offering viable long-term solutions.

Hamas’s Strategy of Failure
Its attack on Israel is likely to set the group back and will prove especially devastating to ordinary Palestinians.

Modi’s Comments on Israel-Gaza War Signal Shift
Forthrightly expressing solidarity with Israel, India steps away from a long-held approach toward the Palestinians.