Webcast Today | Lebanon's Foreign Minister on Sovereignty, Disarmament & Peace

Join us for a special conversation with His Excellence Youssef Raggi, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants of the Republic of Lebanon. Watch live starting at 12:00 noon EST (1700 GMT) on Tuesday, December 23, 2025.

 

Learn more about this event.

New Study

Split screen: (left) Israeli hostage Eitan Abraham Mor after his release by Hamas on October 13, 2025; right: a Hamas militant outside of Gaza City in December.
The Hamas-Israel War: An Early Assessment
Despite rhetoric to the contrary, neither side can claim a decisive win, and an uneasy status quo could persist as long as Trump, the ceasefire guarantors, and Israeli leaders keep a lid on their frustrations.
Dec 23, 2025
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  • Robert Satloff

Recent Institute Analysis

Peace in the Middle East—A Major Challenge for the United States
Barring sustained U.S. efforts, Gaza’s de facto division into Hamas and Israeli zones will likely persist, and the ceasefire will be remembered as just the prelude to the next conflict.
December 2025
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  • Michael Singh

Study: Inside Look at the New Syria

Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa places his signature at a cabinet meeting in Damascus, October 12, 2025.
Institutions and Governance in the New Syria:
Continuity and Change from the Idlib Model
The transitional leadership can claim several successes, but a shadow government, opaque economic practices, and uneven accountability for former regime crimes could undermine progress.
Dec 4, 2025
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  • Aaron Y. Zelin

Building Peace Between Israel and Lebanon

Flags of Israel and Lebanon painted on hands outstretched to each other, overlaying map of Israel-Lebanon border and beyond.
Maps & Graphics
A Roadmap for Israel-Lebanon Peace
Pursuing even incremental steps will be difficult in a country long dominated by Iran’s chief regional proxy, but the two countries’ leaders have cracked the door open for future diplomacy.
Oct 28, 2025
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  • Hanin Ghaddar
  • Robert Satloff
  • Ehud Yaari

Institute Expertise on Arab-Israeli Relations

In Focus: How Hezbollah Exploits Financial Corruption in Lebanon

Banque du Liban, BDL commissioner Riyad Salameh, Hezbollah symbol, ATM machine
Maps & Graphics
Cash Cabal:
How Hezbollah Profits from Lebanon's Financial Crisis
The Lebanese economy requires an urgent overhaul, and the international community must press for deep reforms.
Jun 22, 2023
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  • Samara Azzi
  • Hanin Ghaddar
Masters of Middle East Policy promo box

Recent Webcasts: Expert Policy Conversations

Interactive Map: ISIS Global Activity

Under the leadership of jihadism scholar Aaron Zelin, a team of researchers at The Washington Institute has built the Islamic State Select Worldwide Activity Map, an interactive tool that provides a more accessible way to search, track, and understand the organization’s global reach. It represents the most comprehensive public archive of the group’s attack data, media output, government designations, and legal cases — information that is becoming invaluable as IS affiliates disperse into a wider range of jurisdictions and the U.S. government continues shifting resources away from the global counterterrorism fight.

Access the interactive map.

Iranian External Operations Map and Timeline

Access this powerful interactive tool, which maps over forty-five years of Iranian clandestine operations around the globe.

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Photo of refugees at the Sudan-Chad border, July 2023.
Somoud, al-Fashir, and the Battle for Sudan’s Future
A historic city has fallen, but if the world listens carefully, it may yet rise again as a catalyst for
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Libya’s High National Elections Commission Is a Dangerous Gamble
The UN Support Mission in Libya and the country’s rival legislatures are pushing to restructure the electoral authority, an effort
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Arab Public Opinion 2014 to Today

Fikra Interactive Public Polling Platform Thumbnail
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TWI Interactive Polling Platform
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In Focus: Great Power Competition and the Middle East

Saudi Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman meets with Chinese President Xi in Beijing in 2019 - source: Reuters
Unpacking the China File in U.S.-Saudi Relations
As the Saudi crown prince visits Washington, the United States should use the occasion—as well as American leverage—to roll back
Nov 18, 2025
Perspectives on Muhammad bin Salman’s Visit to Washington
Washington Institute experts discuss each government’s likely agenda for the landmark visit, from dealmaking in the energy and AI sectors
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