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

Does Israel Have an Exit Strategy?
Netanyahu might be bumbling into a war of attrition with Iran.

Israel’s Attacks Make an Iranian Bomb More Likely
Iran’s nuclear program is damaged, but its determination is heightened.

How the Israel-Iran War Might End
Scenarios include an Iranian defeat, an Israeli retreat—or an expanded regional conflict.

Iran’s Military Just Lost Its ‘Brain Trust’
Israeli strikes killed several of Iran’s top military commanders.

A Victory for Israel
Israel’s strikes keep Iran out of the nuclear club.

Nuclear Claims Are a Smoke Screen for Hopes of Toppling Iran
The Israeli strikes aren’t about facilities or centrifuges, but regime change.

Oil Prices Spike After Israeli Attacks on Iran
Traders fear a wider conflict, even if oil facilities haven’t been targeted yet.

Iran’s Options for Retaliating Against Israel Have Narrowed
Its proxies are weakened, and its arsenals have been degraded.

Israel Is Going for the Death Blow on Iran
The Israeli attack on Iran is about much more than its nuclear program.

Israel Strikes Iran
The attack comes after a frenzy of speculation that Israel was planning to take military action against Iran’s nuclear facilities.

Is Israel Becoming a Pariah State?
Stalwart allies are distancing themselves, including Germany and the United Kingdom.

Trump and Netanyahu Were Marching in Lockstep—Until They Weren’t
For the first time in decades, a U.S. president is veering away from Israel.

Trump Could Put Gaza on a Better Path With One Tweet
He says he wants to end the war—his Gaza Riviera plan is prolonging it.

Families of Hostages Speak Out Against New Israeli Offensive in Gaza
One family member warned that the military action could “endanger the lives of the hostages.”

Why Khamenei Is Betting on Trump
The calculus behind Iran’s stunning reversal on a new nuclear deal.

Trump Isn’t Following the Script on Israel
In dealing with Netanyahu, the U.S. president appears to actually be living up to his campaign slogan to put America first.