The stage is set for Trump’s global leadership moment

MENASource Jun 17, 2025

Why Hezbollah is unlikely to engage in the Israel-Iran war—for now

By David Daoud

As wave after wave of Israeli jets continue to strike Iran, Tehran’s proxy on Israel’s northern border remains quiet.
Iran Israel
The stage is set for Trump’s global leadership moment

MENASource Jun 4, 2025

What Lebanon’s municipal election results mean for Hezbollah

By David Daoud

Municipal election results did not demonstrate the militant group’s dominance over Lebanon’s Shiites, but Hezbollah nevertheless retains popularity.
Elections Lebanon
The stage is set for Trump’s global leadership moment

MENASource May 22, 2025

Lebanon’s 1982 war reverberates in Israel’s Syria campaign

By Sinan Hatahet

Israel’s ongoing intervention in Syria appears different from its 1982 invasion of Lebanon—but beneath the surface, parallels are striking.
Israel Lebanon

Content

Inflection Points

Dec 18, 2024

The stage is set for Trump’s global leadership moment

By Frederick Kempe

The lightning-like fall of the Assad regime in Syria reveals larger weaknesses in Russia and Iran. These weaknesses present the incoming president with three historic opportunities.

China
Lebanon

Report

Dec 11, 2024

Even in authoritarian countries, democracy advocates are worth investing in

By Fernanda Buril, Nate Grubman, and Patrick Quirk

Case studies in four different regions suggest that using foreign assistance to support actors and organizations advocating for democracy worldwide is an effective strategy, even if the payoff is not immediately apparent.  

Democratic Transitions
Elections

MENASource

Dec 5, 2024

A ceasefire happened in Lebanon, but Israel seems to have missed the memo

By Nicholas Blanford

Within hours of the 4 a.m. ceasefire coming into force, Israeli troops inside Lebanon opened fire at vehicles as tens of thousands of Lebanese who had earlier fled the fighting attempted to return to their homes.

Conflict
Israel

New Atlanticist

Nov 26, 2024

Experts react: Israel and Lebanon have struck a ceasefire deal. Is the Israel-Hezbollah war really over?

By Atlantic Council experts

Atlantic Council experts share their insights on the deal, which US President Joe Biden announced on Tuesday and already faces questions about its durability.

Conflict
Iran

In the News

Nov 21, 2024

Citrinowicz quoted in Bloomberg: Israel Has a New Operational Freedom After Crippling Hezbollah

By Atlantic Council

Conflict
Israel

In the News

Nov 20, 2024

Samaan quoted in the Washington Post on whether Lebanon’s army can secure the south

By Atlantic Council

Conflict
Israel

MENASource

Nov 5, 2024

Naim Qassem is finally the bride

By David Daoud

Hezbollah will not moderate or shift its primary loyalties to Lebanon under its new soft-spoken secretary-general.

Conflict
Lebanon

MENASource

Oct 22, 2024

Israel versus Hezbollah: Not a full-scale war—yet

By Nicholas Blanford

The Israeli army appears to have absorbed some of the lessons of its troubled 2006 experience fighting against Hezbollah.

Conflict
Lebanon

Fast Thinking

Oct 17, 2024

After Sinwar’s death, what’s next for Iran’s Axis of Resistance?

By Atlantic Council

Israel's killing of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar raises big questions about the future of Iran's proxy groups. Our experts answer them.

Conflict
Israel

In the News

Oct 11, 2024

Michael Groen shares his thoughts on Iran’s ballistic missile attack against Israel and the possibility of an Israeli response on Bloomberg Businessweek

On October 2, [Retired/Former] US Marine Corps Lieutenant General Michael Groen, nonresident senior fellow at Forward Defense, spoke with the Bloomberg Businessweek podcast regarding Iran’s missile attack against Israel and Israel’s possible response.

Israel
Lebanon
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Experts

Fellow

Paul Klimos

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Freedom and Prosperity Center

Entrepreneurship G20

Fellow

Eric Alter

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs Scowcroft Middle East Security Initiative

Arabic French

Staff

Daniah Jarrah

Program Assistant

Iraq Initiative Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Arabic Civil Society

Fellow

Nicholas Blanford

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Arabic Conflict

Staff

Jonathan Panikoff

Director, Scowcroft Middle East Security Initiative

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs Scowcroft Middle East Security Initiative

Economy & Business Financial Regulation

Staff

Joze Pelayo

Associate Director, Strategic Initiatives and Policy, Scowcroft Middle East Security Initiative

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs Scowcroft Middle East Security Initiative

Arabic Intelligence
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