Middle East Crisis

News, analysis, and background on the Israel-Hamas war and regional conflict between Israel and Iran and its proxies.

Far-right Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich displays a map of an area near the settlement of Maale Adumim, a land corridor known as E1, outside Jerusalem in the occupied West Bank.
Far-right Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich displays a map of an area near the settlement of Maale Adumim, a land corridor known as E1, outside Jerusalem in the occupied West Bank.
Spanish soldiers with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) stand guard at the entrance of their base near the southern Lebanese village of Taibeh, 18 September 2006.
Spanish soldiers with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) stand guard at the entrance of their base near the southern Lebanese village of Taibeh, 18 September 2006.

The Desperate Search for Gaza Peacekeepers

Most of the world seems very eager to avoid joining the territory’s international stabilization force.

Two men hold up clear boxes. One looks through the box, another tilts it on its side. In front of them is a dais with a microphone. Behind them red drapes.
Two men hold up clear boxes. One looks through the box, another tilts it on its side. In front of them is a dais with a microphone. Behind them red drapes.

Sharaa’s Democratic Test

The Syrian president, who visits the White House on Monday, just oversaw his first election.

Israel-Hamas War

Trump holds up a finger as he speaks to the press, with microphones pointed at him.
Trump holds up a finger as he speaks to the press, with microphones pointed at him.

What We Can Learn From Trump’s Success in Gaza

In diplomacy, style now matters just as much as substance. This article has an audio recording

An Israeli flag hangs from a metal pole alongside loudspeakers on a beach, with dozens beachgoers playing and lounging on the edge of the sea in the background.
An Israeli flag hangs from a metal pole alongside loudspeakers on a beach, with dozens beachgoers playing and lounging on the edge of the sea in the background.

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.

Dozens of people crowd together, many with their arms raised in celebration. Closest to the camera are two boys about 8 to 12 years old, both holding up their fingers in the V-shaped peace symbols as they beam at the camera.
Dozens of people crowd together, many with their arms raised in celebration. Closest to the camera are two boys about 8 to 12 years old, both holding up their fingers in the V-shaped peace symbols as they beam at the camera.

Can Palestinians Trust Donald Trump?

Only U.S. pressure will ensure that Israel honors the Gaza cease-fire.

A road is clogged with a vast mass of people stretching to the horizon. On one side is the sea on the other is devastation from the war in Gaza.
A road is clogged with a vast mass of people stretching to the horizon. On one side is the sea on the other is devastation from the war in Gaza.

Two Years After Oct. 7, a Trail of What-Ifs

Decisions made early on set the path for a devastating war. This article has an audio recording

Iran-Israel Tensions

Men work inside an uranium conversion facility in Iran.
Men work inside an uranium conversion facility in Iran.

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.

Participants place radiation signs during a simulated nuclear emergency drill in Tehran on November 5, 2015.
Participants place radiation signs during a simulated nuclear emergency drill in Tehran on November 5, 2015.

Iran’s Collapse Could Cause a Nuclear Security Nightmare

Washington would struggle to secure dangerous materials, technologies, and expertise.

The late Hossein Salami, commander-in-chief of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, speaks during a memorial service beneath portraits of slain Hezbollah leader Hasssan Nasrallah, Iranian general Qassem Soleimani, and Nasrallah's successor, Hashem Safieddine, at the Grand Mosque in Tehran on Feb. 23.
The late Hossein Salami, commander-in-chief of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, speaks during a memorial service beneath portraits of slain Hezbollah leader Hasssan Nasrallah, Iranian general Qassem Soleimani, and Nasrallah's successor, Hashem Safieddine, at the Grand Mosque in Tehran on Feb. 23.

Iran Is Islamism’s Last Lifeline in the Middle East

Without support from a weakened Tehran, the region’s extremist movements would wither.

Smoke rises over several buildings.
Smoke rises over several buildings.

The Next Israel-Iran War Is Coming

Both countries’ strategic calculus suggests it will be even more violent.

Israel and Hezbollah

Fire and tear gas smoke rise among a crowd in Beirut.
Fire and tear gas smoke rise among a crowd in Beirut.

Hezbollah Is Weak Enough for Lebanon to Finally Disarm It

The government and army are taking back their own country.

A man in a vest holds a cable attached to a spool on the ground. Behind him are shrubs and a blue sky.
A man in a vest holds a cable attached to a spool on the ground. Behind him are shrubs and a blue sky.

Lebanon’s Demining Mission Faces Aid Uncertainty

Cuts to foreign assistance and a fragile cease-fire have made the urgent work more dangerous.

Lebanese celebrate the nomination of Prime Minister Nawaf Salam in Beirut, on Jan. 13.
Lebanese celebrate the nomination of Prime Minister Nawaf Salam in Beirut, on Jan. 13.

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.

Mourners surround the flag-draped coffins of Hezbollah fighters who were killed in the recent war with Israel, during a funeral procession in the southern Lebanese village of Majdal Selm on Dec. 6.
Mourners surround the flag-draped coffins of Hezbollah fighters who were killed in the recent war with Israel, during a funeral procession in the southern Lebanese village of Majdal Selm on Dec. 6.

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

President Donald J. Trump participates in an arrival ceremony at the Amiri Diwan, the official workplace of the emir, on May 14, 2025, in Doha, Qatar.
President Donald J. Trump participates in an arrival ceremony at the Amiri Diwan, the official workplace of the emir, on May 14, 2025, in Doha, Qatar.

America’s Accidental New Military Ally

The Trump administration has made an unprecedentedly sloppy security guarantee to Qatar.

Plume of smoke rise into a blue sky following an explosion from a row of low and midrise buildings, several with industrial smokestacks, several without. A road a the bottom of the image heads toward the town, with a car and a person on a motorbike heading in that direction.
Plume of smoke rise into a blue sky following an explosion from a row of low and midrise buildings, several with industrial smokestacks, several without. A road a the bottom of the image heads toward the town, with a car and a person on a motorbike heading in that direction.

Ankara’s New Syrian Headache

Toppling Assad didn’t solve Turkey’s problems—it made them worse.

A municipal worker hoists flags of various countries near Sharm el-Sheikh International Airport on Oct. 11.
A municipal worker hoists flags of various countries near Sharm el-Sheikh International Airport on Oct. 11.

Can the Gulf Rebuild the Middle East?

Despite many threats, the Gulf states have emerged with structural advantages that could reshape the region.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Syrian interim president Ahmed al-Sharaa shake hands in Moscow on October 15.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Syrian interim president Ahmed al-Sharaa shake hands in Moscow on October 15.

Buying the Hatchet

How arms deals are helping Sharaa to make up with Moscow.

Israeli-Palestinian Conflict

Pres. Bill Clinton (C) w. (L-R) Mideast peaceniks King Hussein, PM Rabin, PLO chmn. Arafat & Pres. Mubarak in WH Rose Garden for Israeli-Palestinian accord signing.    (Photo by Dirck Halstead/Getty Images)
Pres. Bill Clinton (C) w. (L-R) Mideast peaceniks King Hussein, PM Rabin, PLO chmn. Arafat & Pres. Mubarak in WH Rose Garden for Israeli-Palestinian accord signing. (Photo by Dirck Halstead/Getty Images)

Why the Oslo Peace Process Failed

And what it means for future negotiators.

Hussein al-Sheikh attends the funeral of former Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qurei in Ramallah in the occupied West Bank.
Hussein al-Sheikh attends the funeral of former Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qurei in Ramallah in the occupied West Bank.

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? This article has an audio recording

A Palestinian is seen from behind as they look outside through a large broken window. Some shards of fractured glass remain in the frame, but the rest of the opening reveals dark smoke billowing from a dense street of buildings in Gaza City. The sky is otherwise light but hazy.
A Palestinian is seen from behind as they look outside through a large broken window. Some shards of fractured glass remain in the frame, but the rest of the opening reveals dark smoke billowing from a dense street of buildings in Gaza City. The sky is otherwise light but hazy.
A child is silhouetted as he walks across a pile of rubble while carrying a flag.
A child is silhouetted as he walks across a pile of rubble while carrying a flag.

Latest Stories

Putin and Khamenei sit beside each other in upholstered armchairs, a coffee table between them. Putin gestures with both hands as he speaks, while Khamenei smiles slightly at him.
Putin and Khamenei sit beside each other in upholstered armchairs, a coffee table between them. Putin gestures with both hands as he speaks, while Khamenei smiles slightly at him.

Why Russia Is Sitting Out This Round of the Israel-Iran Conflict

As Putin’s dependence on Iran decreases, he seeks to maintain ties with Tehran’s regional rivals.

Demonstrators wave Iranian flags and a poster of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s supreme leader, during a protest against Israeli attacks on Iran in Tehran on June 20.
Demonstrators wave Iranian flags and a poster of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s supreme leader, during a protest against Israeli attacks on Iran in Tehran on June 20.

How the U.S. Locked Itself Into a Regime Change War

Trump’s insistence on zero enrichment was a poison pill in talks with Iran.

U.S. President Donald Trump speaks to the press on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington on June 24.
U.S. President Donald Trump speaks to the press on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington on June 24.

Trump Enraged as Iran-Israel Cease-Fire Wobbles

Israel accused Iran of violating the truce hours after agreeing to it.

Hegseth points to a reporter during a press conference.
Hegseth points to a reporter during a press conference.

Trump’s Iran Strikes Intensify War Powers Debate

The Trump administration did not give Congress advance warning of the attack, prompting outcry from Democrats and some Republicans.

Lines of cars are seen on a roadway at night as dots of light show traces of missile attacks in the sky above.
Lines of cars are seen on a roadway at night as dots of light show traces of missile attacks in the sky above.

Iran Launches Reprisal Attack on U.S. Base in Qatar

Tehran fired at least six missiles toward Qatar, which is home to the United States’ Al Udeid Air Base.

Crowds of people gather for an anti-nuclear demonstration in New York's Central Park on June 12, 1982.
Crowds of people gather for an anti-nuclear demonstration in New York's Central Park on June 12, 1982.

How to Fix the Cracks in the Nuclear Dam

The crisis in the Middle East shows why the world must repair Trump’s damage to the nonproliferation landscape.

Amir Saeid Iravani, Iran's U.N. ambassador, speaks during a Security Council meeting.
Amir Saeid Iravani, Iran's U.N. ambassador, speaks during a Security Council meeting.

Trump Makes Devastating Strike on U.S. Diplomatic Credibility

The attack on Iran makes it harder to get any adversaries to the table. 

U.S. President Donald Trump addresses the nation regarding the U.S. bombing of Iranian nuclear sites as seen on a television screen in the Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House in Washington, D.C., on June 21.
U.S. President Donald Trump addresses the nation regarding the U.S. bombing of Iranian nuclear sites as seen on a television screen in the Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House in Washington, D.C., on June 21.

Why Trump Changed His Mind on Iran

For months, he seemed to prefer a nuclear deal over military action—until he didn’t.

Gen. Dan Caine gestures to a cutout displaying U.S. strikes on Iran.
Gen. Dan Caine gestures to a cutout displaying U.S. strikes on Iran.

Why a Wider War With Iran Is Unlikely

The regime is too weak to escalate or dash to a bomb.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi speaks during a press conference in Istanbul.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi speaks during a press conference in Istanbul.

World Leaders Urge Restraint Following U.S. Strikes on Iran

Global reactions remain mixed, with many Western and regional powers calling for a return to diplomacy while stopping short of condemning U.S. military involvement.

Trump boards Air Force One while lifting a fist and wearing a MAGA hat.
Trump boards Air Force One while lifting a fist and wearing a MAGA hat.

How Trump Could Lose This War

U.S. strikes were limited, but the campaign against Iran could still get messy.

U.S. President Donald Trump addresses the nation in Washington.
U.S. President Donald Trump addresses the nation in Washington.

Trump Warns Iran to Make Peace or Risk Further U.S. Strikes

Read the full text of U.S. President Donald Trump’s speech.

Smoke rises from an alleged Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps missile launch site targeted by Israel in the mountains of Shiraz, Iran, on June 21.
Smoke rises from an alleged Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps missile launch site targeted by Israel in the mountains of Shiraz, Iran, on June 21.

The U.S. Has Bombed Iran’s Nuclear Sites

U.S. President Donald Trump said the attack was “very successful.”

U.S. Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff speaks as U.S. President Donald Trump looks on, May 28, 2025.
U.S. Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff speaks as U.S. President Donald Trump looks on, May 28, 2025.

Trump Lacks the Patience for Peace

Why the mercurial president has failed to deliver on his anti-war rhetoric.

A billboard bearing a picture of U.S. President Donald Trump accompanied by a message is deployed in central Tel Aviv, Israel.
A billboard bearing a picture of U.S. President Donald Trump accompanied by a message is deployed in central Tel Aviv, Israel.

The Many Ways U.S. Involvement in the War on Iran Could Go Badly

Trump initially showed caution but now seems to want the credit.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu gestures as he addresses the assembly during a session of the Israeli parliament (Knesset) at its headquarters in Jerusalem.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu gestures as he addresses the assembly during a session of the Israeli parliament (Knesset) at its headquarters in Jerusalem.

Israel’s Long Road to Regional Dominance

First it humiliated the Arabs, then the Iranians—but Israel still needs Trump.

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