The Iran-backed Houthi movement continues to escalate attacks at sea off the coast of Yemen, firing two ballistic missiles at the USS Mason, a US destroyer that was operating with the Dwight D. Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group. This came after the Mason had helped free a cargo ship that had been hijacked in the Gulf of Aden, off the coast

As part of a so-called ‘humanitarian truce,’ Israel and Hamas agreed to a pause in fighting in Gaza on Friday. Hamas agreed to release fifty hostages in groups of 12 or 13 a day, while Israel would release 150 Palestinian prisoners over the same span. Under the agreement, Hamas was supposed to release elderly women, mothers, and

Hamas is targeting the West Bank following the Gaza hostage and ceasefire deal. The prize for Hamas has already been obtained in images of Palestinian prisoners released amid Hamas flags flying in places like Betunia in the West Bank near Ramallah. This was one of Hamas’s goals all along since October 7, and was also likely the

Iran has appeared to shift gears during the pause in fighting in Gaza. Like Israel, it must step back and look at what it believes it has achieved. From the Iranian regime’s standpoint, it believes it has achieved a lot. It has been able to coordinate attacks on Israel by pushing Hezbollah and the Houthis to carry out attacks.

In Gaza, the IDF is defeating Hamas, street by street.  After a month and a half of war, the ground forces have surrounded Hamas in Gaza City. IDF infantry and tanks, backed by the air force, artillery, navy, and special units, have cleared Hamas from numerous neighborhoods in the suburban area of Gaza City. This includes

The pro-Iranian militia leader of the Asaib Ahl al-Haq group in Iraq has slammed the Iraqi government’s decision to continue to host US forces. The statement comes amid the ceasefire in fighting in Gaza between Hamas and Israel. Many of Iran’s proxies appear to have also ceased their attacks, for now, against Israel and the

Though the fighting is paused, Israel’s defensive war against Hamas continues. FDD Chief Executive Mark Dubowitz and former Israeli National Security Advisor Eyal Hulata (now a senior international fellow at FDD) both just returned from Israel. Host Cliff May asks them what they saw, heard, and learned about Israel’s ongoing war against Hamas, about Hamas’s allies — in particular Islamic Jihad

Standing in a Gaza hospital this month, an elderly man with a bandaged arm told an Al Jazeera reporter a simple fact: “As for the resistance [Hamas], they come and hide among the people.” The man added: “They can go to hell and hide there.” The reporter promptly turned his back on the man and changed the

Arab states have increased their diplomatic outreach amid the conflict in Gaza, where Israel on Tuesday approved a deal with Hamas for a release of some of the hostages taken by the terrorist organization and a ceasefire for several days. Arab diplomacy illustrates how leading states in the region are maneuvering during the crisis and positioning themselves. 

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian met with Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah on Thursday. The meeting is important because Iranian proxies are watching to see what Hezbollah will do in the coming days. With an Israel-Hamas ceasefire expected, Hezbollah now holds many of the cards regarding further escalation. The group has also announced new casualties in Lebanon, and Beirut-based