Middle East Crisis
Coverage of the Israel-Hamas war and regional conflicts.
How to Keep Gaza’s Recovery From Becoming an 80-Year Project
The coming year will determine whether the territory’s recovery can break the region’s cycle of violence.
Does the Road to Disarming Hamas Lead Through Qatar and Turkey?
Diplomats and experts say Doha and Ankara have leverage, but it may not be enough.
The Israel-Iran Detente Won’t Last
The next round could be bigger and uglier than last year’s 12-day war.
Sharaa’s Democratic Test
The Syrian president, who visits the White House on Monday, just oversaw his first election.
Israel-Hamas War
What We Can Learn From Trump’s Success in Gaza
In diplomacy, style now matters just as much as substance.
Two Ways Oct. 7 Changed Israel and One Way It Didn’t
The impact will be felt for years, even if Trump’s peace plan succeeds.
Can Palestinians Trust Donald Trump?
Only U.S. pressure will ensure that Israel honors the Gaza cease-fire.
Two Years After Oct. 7, a Trail of What-Ifs
Decisions made early on set the path for a devastating war.
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.
The Next Israel-Iran War Is Coming
Both countries’ strategic calculus suggests it will be even more violent.
Israel and Hezbollah
Hezbollah Is Weak Enough for Lebanon to Finally Disarm It
The government and army are taking back their own 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.
Hezbollah Is Trying to Spin Loss as Victory
Assad’s fall and Israel’s offensive give Lebanese a chance to reclaim their country.
Regional Dynamics
America’s Accidental New Military Ally
The Trump administration has made an unprecedentedly sloppy security guarantee to Qatar.
Ankara’s New Syrian Headache
Toppling Assad didn’t solve Turkey’s problems—it made them worse.
Can the Gulf Rebuild the Middle East?
Despite many threats, the Gulf states have emerged with structural advantages that could reshape the region.
Buying the Hatchet
How arms deals are helping Sharaa to make up with Moscow.
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.
How Washington’s Israel-Palestine Peace Process Theology Failed Again and Again
Trump’s plan is just the latest example.
Latest Stories
Will a U.S.-Iran Deal Include Kurds?
Attacks against Kurdish regions in Iran and Iraq never stopped.
Iran Is Still Fighting a War Against Dissidents Abroad
Iranians in Europe say governments aren’t taking threats from Tehran seriously.
Israel Has a Hezbollah Drone Problem
“We don’t have a solution,” an Israeli military official said.
For Israel, the Oct. 7 War Is Effectively Over
In 984 days of fighting, “total victory” eluded Netanyahu on all fronts.
Why the Iran Deal Might Endure
Both Washington and Tehran need it.
Netanyahu’s Reelection Could Hinge on Outcome of Iran War
He promised Israelis “total victory” but has fallen short on three fronts.
War and Circuses
Trump juggles Iran, a World Cup, and a UFC cage fight.
Diagnosing the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict Doesn’t Solve It
Two new books offer fresh explanations for what went wrong—but little on how to make it go right.
What’s in Trump’s New Counterterrorism Strategy?
The White House ignores the threat of far-right groups.
Trump’s Gaza Impasse
Experts say Hamas has few incentives to disarm.
The Lebanese State Is Done With Hezbollah
The talks between the neighboring countries are about defeating their mutual enemy.
How Iran and the United States Are Planning Their Next Moves
Karim Sadjadpour on the extended cease-fire and continued blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.
Where Do the Gulf States Go From Here?
The U.S. war with Iran has shattered their economic model.
The Iran War’s Exit Ramp Has Become a Diplomatic Maze
The war began without a strategy for victory. The peace has no formula, either.
Why Energy Has Become a Foreign-Policy Weapon
Iran’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz is a reminder of how everything is fair game in an era of great-power competition.
The Next Global Food Crisis Has Already Begun
Blocked fertilizer shipments plus La Niña spell trouble for farmers around the world.