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

China Tries to Play Power Broker Among Palestinians
But experts say the Hamas-Fatah unity agreement Beijing brokered is unlikely to succeed.

Netanyahu’s Address to Congress Is a Campaign Rally
Republicans want to help him out—but Democratic lawmakers don’t need to provide the crowd.

Who’s in Charge of the IDF?
Evidence is growing of a command and control problem.

Ehud Olmert on Israel’s Two-Front War and the Fall of Netanyahu
The former Israeli prime minister calls for a cease-fire in Gaza and the creation of a Palestinian state.

The Man Leading Israel’s Not-So-Quiet Annexation of the West Bank
Bezalel Smotrich aims to bankrupt the Palestinian Authority and cement Israeli rule.

What a War Between Israel and Hezbollah Might Look Like
The Lebanese armed group is trained and equipped much better than Hamas.

Why Biden’s Gaza Gambit Is Likely to Fail
The U.S. president wants a truce more than Israel and Hamas do.

Inside Israel, the Gaza War Looks Very Different
Mired in the trauma of Oct. 7, many see the war as one of existential necessity.

Biden Outlines Israeli Proposal For Gaza Cease-Fire Deal
Hamas is “no longer capable” of carrying out another major attack against Israel, the U.S. president said.

Why the U.S. Should Recognize Palestinian Statehood
Sovereignty would serve America’s interests—and Israel’s.

Is the War in Gaza Turning Israel Into a Pariah State?
Possible ICC warrants are the latest indicators.

ICC Prosecutor Seeks Arrest Warrants for Netanyahu, Hamas Leaders
The announcement ramps up pressure on Israel and puts the United States in a new bind.

Rift or Rupture?
What the war in Gaza is doing to U.S.-Israeli relations.

After Al Jazeera, Will Israel Target Its Own Media?
Rights groups worry the closing of the Qatari network is just the beginning.

A Middle East Security Pact Won’t Free Palestine
The Biden administration needs to recognize that the problems lie with Israeli politics.

Biden Draws a Red(Ish) Line on Israel
The U.S. president pauses some military aid as tensions with Israel mount.