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

Biden Didn’t Really Try to End the War in Gaza
U.S.-led diplomatic talks were essentially a performance, doomed from the outset.

5 Questions About the Cease-Fire Between Israel and Hezbollah
Limited strikes could continue even after the truce.

Why the Gulf States Might Feature Prominently in Trump’s Foreign Policy
One likely goal: expanding the Abraham Accords.

The U.S. Must Support Gaza Before Winter
Seasonal rains and flooding portend further humanitarian catastrophe.

What Biden Must Do to Help Gaza Now
The outgoing administration has one last chance to do the right thing.

Will Tehran Make a Dash for the Bomb?
With other components of its defense strategy in tatters, attention turns to Iran’s nuclear threshold capability.

What Israel’s Attack on Iran Means for the Region
This week’s strikes could draw a line in the sand—or set the stage for a bigger offensive.

Sinwar’s Death Gives Bibi a Boost—but Not Much More
A cease-fire deal between Israel and Hamas remains far off.

Why Sinwar’s Death Matters
The Hamas leader’s demise closes the first act of the war and sets up what comes next.

Israel’s Killing of Yahya Sinwar Is Not a Turning Point
While the Hamas leader’s death represents a political victory for Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel is no closer to a realistic plan for governing Gaza.

Biden’s ‘Bear Hug’ of Israel Is a Failure
The administration’s unwavering support has brought the Middle East to the brink of all-out war.

Iran’s Terrible, Horrible, Very Bad Year
Tehran was in a stronger strategic position before its proxies plunged the region into war.

How Settler Violence Serves Israel’s Interests
Attacks on Palestinians in the West Bank have surged since Oct. 7, 2023.

What Is Iran Trying to Prove?
Leaders in Tehran believe that Washington will restrain Israel in order to prevent a regional conflagration.

More Wars, a Failed State, and a Step Back by the United States
What to expect after the war in Gaza ends.

Is the Israel-Hamas War Closer to Its Beginning or Its End?
A year on, FP asks experts to assess the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians.