Policy Analysis

Beirut promised to dismantle Hezbollah as the trigger for Israeli withdrawals, but it has so far preferred to avoid conflict with the Iran-backed group instead, putting a potentially historic opportunity at risk unless some degree of verified progress is made in the “pilot zones” soon.

The conflict has demonstrated how AI-enabled warfare can accelerate the “kill chain,” but human analysts must still know when to question machine recommendations in order to avoid harmful operational or strategic consequences.

Washington should focus instead on helping Riyadh and the United Arab Emirates reconcile their efforts to reverse Houthi conquests.

To solidify its position as the preferred European security partner in the region, Paris will have to demonstrate that its commitments are reliable in the long run.

Crude flows have been recovering, but the story for LNG and refined oil products is less positive and could worsen, especially if Iran’s partners in Yemen and Iraq rejoin the fray.

Although Israeli authorities have silently and capably dealt with an uptick in IS plots since October 7, the threat continues to grow.

Watch experts discuss the preliminary results of Israel’s landmark election, including possible coalition scenarios and their impact on relations with the United States.

The Saied government seems intent on just hanging on until the next presidential election, but the current situation is politically and economically unsustainable unless Washington lends a hand.

As crises in the Strait of Hormuz and Red Sea become more linked, a single, sustained multinational effort to secure both waterways is needed, combining American military capabilities with the imprimatur of an Asian, European, and Middle Eastern coalition.

The administration’s deliberately disconnected bilateral deals could end up fueling regional rivalries that undermine U.S. interests and the president’s own policy goals.

By tapping into the $300 million that Congress has earmarked to bolster CT capabilities abroad, the Trump administration can help partners disrupt Iranian and Hezbollah financing schemes in Iraq, Syria, Yemen, West Africa, South America, and other locales.

If the Iran war proves inconclusive and allies ease their pressure on the Shia regime’s ingrained expansionism, they may inadvertently fuel the Sunni extremist strands that gave rise to the Islamic State in the first place.

Because both U.S. plans in Gaza and the stability of the West Bank depend on a legitimate, reformed Palestinian Authority and a credible alternative to Hamas governance, national elections are essential—leaving the international community with little choice but to redouble its efforts and prepare for the rescheduled vote in 2027.

The recent rebound in crude exports is welcome but only partial, and officials have yet to find answers for the wider fiscal, management, and security problems impeding Iraq’s energy sector.

Both Israel and Iran have developed, adopted, and adapted drones and other technologies in innovative ways to yield success on the battlefield, but the broader strategic utility of these efforts remains uncertain.

If the transition is to succeed, the Quad and Quintet must begin now rather than later, setting a short timeframe for the initial phases and preventing armed factions from once again translating military influence into political power.

Their mutual trauma won’t go away any time soon, but practical improvements, U.S. pressure, and greater Arab involvement can help show both populations that incremental change is possible.

If a bloc of major countries imposed the full range of sanctions suggested by the UK foreign secretary's statement, the consequences for Israel—and the peace process—could be catastrophic.

A sharp break with the UAE underscores Algeria’s ambitions to reassert its presence on the international stage after decades on the periphery, potentially affecting diplomacy over Western Sahara, among other issues.

A panel of top Israeli pollsters, journalists, and political analysts previews the historic October 27 vote, including its prospects for changing Jerusalem’s approach to the Palestinians and reversing the plummet in U.S. public sentiment.