Seth J. Frantzman

Seth J. Frantzman is the senior Middle East Correspondent and analyst at The Jerusalem Post . He has covered the war against Islamic State, several Gaza wars, the conflict in Ukraine, refugee crises in Eastern Europe, and also reported from Iraq, Turkey, Jordan, Egypt, Senegal, the UAE, Ukraine, and Russia since 2011. He is the author of three books: The October 7 War: Israel's Battle for Security in Gaza (2024), Drone Wars: Pioneers, Killing Machines, Artificial Intelligence, and the Battle for the Future (2021), and After ISIS: America, Iran and the Struggle for the Middle East (2019). He is an adjunct fellow at The Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD). Born in Maine, he received his Ph.D from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem in 2010. He previously served as a research associate at the Rubin Center for Research in International Affairs at the Interdisciplinary Center, Herzliya and a lecturer in American Studies at Al-Quds University. He is Executive Director of The Middle East Center for Reporting and Analysis and was a Ginsburg/Milstein Writing Fellow at the Middle East Forum. Frantzman has conducted research and worked for the JDC, The Shalem Center, the Jerusalem Institute for Market Studies, and as a Post-Doctoral at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. He was a Congressional intern for Congressman Jim Kolbe while studying at The University of Arizona. He is a public speaker and frequent guest on various media as well as a contributor to Defense News , The Hill , The Spectator , and The National Interest, among other publications. His current interests include regional security and geopolitics.
A stand of Israel's Defence Ministry at the Marrakech Airshow in Marrakesh, Morocco, October 7, 2026.

Marrakech Airshow showcases building blocks of Israel-Morocco defense ties - analysis

With so much at stake today in regional shifts from the Horn of Africa to the Sahel, Morocco-Israel ties likely matter now more than ever. The recent Marrakech Airshow was a symbol of these ties.

OCTOBER 14, 2026
Nechirvan Barzani, President of Iraq's autonomous Kurdistan Region, gives a joint press conference with France's Foreign Minister in Arbil, the regional capital, on February 5, 2026.

Iran tensions, Syria talks put Iraqi Kurdistan at the center of Middle Eastern diplomacy - analysis

The Kurdistan Region is involved in a variety of discussions, in part due to its geographic position. It sits at the crossroads of major regional policies. 

OCTOBER 14, 2026
A plume of smoke rises during a reported airstrike by the Saudi-led coalition on the Houthi-controlled Yemeni capital Sana'a, October 9, 2026

Riyadh's dilemma: Can Saudi Arabia stop Houthi attacks without triggering a wider war? - analysis

Saudi Arabia faces mounting pressure to respond to Houthi attacks, as analysts urge Riyadh to work with Israel, the UAE, and the US to counter the threat.

OCTOBER 13, 2026

Iran fortifies nuclear sites, rebuilds missile arsenal as it prepares for the next war - analysis

The emerging picture is of an Iran continuing its efforts to rebuild its missile and drone programs despite the damage inflicted by previous US and Israeli strikes.

OCTOBER 13, 2026
Smoke and flames rise at the site of airstrikes on an oil depot in Tehran on March 7, 2026.

Peace in the Middle East? Kurdish PKK leader discusses regional ‘third world war’

Kamal Chomani, with The Amargi news outlet, spent ten days in caves waiting to interview the PKK chief in an exclusive interview about the region, Kurds, Turkey, and the world today.

OCTOBER 12, 2026
Murat Karayilan co-leader of the Kurdistan Worker's Party (PKK) and leader of the Kurdistan Democratic Confederalism Council (KKK) poses during an interview with AFP in a camp near Arbil in the Sinena mountains, northern Iraq, 11 August 2005.

Iraq targets lingering ISIS pockets with airstrikes, operations in security vacuum after US pullout

"F-16 aircraft carried out two airstrikes targeting a hideout belonging to remnants of Daesh elements in the Nareen area, resulting in its complete destruction."

OCTOBER 12, 2026
Shi'ite fighters launch a rocket during clashes with Islamic State militants on the outskirts of al-Alam, Iraq.

Could Egyptian military deployment in Somalia upset Horn of Africa balance of power? - analysis

This potentially important development comes as Pakistan and Turkey may also be deploying forces to Saudi Arabia to support the Kingdom’s defenses against the Houthis.

OCTOBER 11, 2026
Military personnel stand guard on the day of Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly's visit to the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and the Gaza Strip, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, in Rafah, Egypt, October 31, 2023.

Tensions flare in Syria's Hasaka as Arab protesters target Kurdish symbols

The US is urging all sides to refrain from violence and resolve their differences through dialogue. The State Department made the comments in response to questions from Rudaw.

OCTOBER 11, 2026
Kurdish female fighters in northeastern Syria.

One year after Trump's ceasefire, the next challenge in Gaza is still unclear - analysis

The Board of Peace has tried to do some work on the sidelines to see what might happen after Israel’s elections. In general, the theory is that Israel won’t do anything on Gaza until afterward.

OCTOBER 11, 2026
A Palestinian Hamas terrorist stands guard as Palestinians walk on a street during Eid al-Fitr, in Gaza City, March 20, 2026

How will Saudi Arabia retaliate against Houthi attacks on civilian infrastructure? - analysis

Similar to how Iran targeted US bases in the region, Iran’s allies in Yemen are seeking to disrupt civilian life in Saudi Arabia by getting airports closed and flights canceled.

OCTOBER 11, 2026
A Houthi supporter wearing a military uniform holds a mock missile as he joins Houthi supporters in a rally to show support to the movement as fighting intensifies across several Yemeni fronts, in Sana'a, Yemen, October 9, 2026

Islamic regime attacks against Kurdish forces affect both Kurds in Iran, Iraq as tensions rise

More than 1,000 drones have been fired against Kurdish forces in Iraq, while Kurds in both Iran and Iraq fear that the strikes will reach their homes.

OCTOBER 10, 2026
Image Reboot: A female fighter from from the Kurdistan Freedom Party (PAK) trains at a base near Erbil, Iraq, in Feb.

Syria deepens diplomatic ties with US as it weighs role in Saudi conflict with Houthis - analysis

US envoy Tom Barrack met with Syria's foreign minister shortly after President Ahmad al-Sharaa held talks in Riyadh with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on bilateral ties and regional security.

OCTOBER 8, 2026
Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa meets US Special Envoy Tom Barrack in Damascus, Syria, December 1, 2025.

From Athens to Jerusalem: Why Israel should heed the warnings of ancient Greek history - analysis

Rubio's reflections on ancient Greece raise a question for Israel: Can a country remain strong while fighting on multiple fronts, or will military overreach undermine its long-term security?

OCTOBER 8, 2026
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio speaks at the Pnyx hill, where ancient Athenians held democratic assemblies, with the ancient Parthenon temple atop the Acropolis seen in the background, in Athens on October 7, 2026.