Might Sinwar Killing Lead to Peace in Gaza?
DEEP DIVE — More than a year after Israeli leaders unleashed a punishing war to destroy Hamas, the end for Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar came in […] More
Middle East
Behind the U.S. Letter – and Ultimatum – To Israel
DEEP DIVE — It’s one of those “private” documents that was almost certainly written for public consumption. A spokesman for Secretary of State Antony Blinken insisted […] More
Could Israeli Attacks Prompt Changes in Iranian Intelligence?
OPINION — Iran’s intelligence services, particularly its Ministry of Intelligence (MOIS), must have been awestruck by Israel’s late-September airstrike on Hezbollah’s underground Beirut headquarters. The Israeli […] More
The Axis of Authoritarians – and A Dangerous World
OPINION — The October 1 debate between Senators Tim Walz and JD Vance dealt with just one foreign policy question: the widening war in the Middle […] More
Lessons From Israel’s Operation to Dismantle Hezbollah
EXPERT OPINION — Many may have thought that the Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah was untouchable in Lebanon, and that an unprovoked Israeli attack on Nasrallah in […] More
One Year Later, Reflections on the Terror of October 7 – and the Wars That Followed
EXPERT ANALYSIS — Almost no one saw it coming. Access all of The Cipher Brief’s national security-focused expert insight by becoming a Cipher Brief Subscriber+ Member. […] More
One Year Later, Lessons from Israel’s October 7 Intelligence Failures
OPINION — As Israel marks the one-year anniversary of the tragic October 7 attacks by Hamas, the country still has limited insight into the security establishment’s […] More
Lebanon has a chance to return power to its people. Will it take it?
OPINION — On 29 September, Lebanese caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati announced that his country was “committed to Resolution 1701” – a 2006 U.N. ceasefire plan […] More
Iranian Cyber Operations Raise Fears of Attacks on Military Personnel
OPINION — “You and your children … are our legitimate targets around the world,” an X account called @idfleaks threatened in December 2023, addressing service members […] More
Ex-US Commander: In Mideast, ‘We’re in the Wider War Now’
EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW — The Middle East is on the brink of a new war, after a dizzying series of events: Israel has battered Hezbollah militants in […] More
Ex-Secretary of Defense: Iran’s Attack Ushers in ‘Dangerous World’ in Middle East
EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW — On the day after Iran’s missile strikes against Israel, and as Israel’s war cabinet considered a retaliation that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and […] More
Iran’s Attack – and Likely Israeli Response – Bring Dangerous ‘New Normal’ to Middle East
EXPERT Q&A — Iran’s missile barrage against Israel may have done little damage, but its aftermath may bring a major escalation in a region already brimming […] More
Iran Targets Israel – and This Time, Signs Point To Wider War
DEEP DIVE – For months, a question has loomed over the Israeli wars against Hamas and Hezbollah: at what point would Iran, the patron of […] More
Israel’s ‘Limited’ Invasion of Lebanon Opens New Chapter in War
EXPERT ANALYSIS — Israel’s campaign against Hezbollah — which has included a stunning pager and walkie-talkie sabotage attack, and airstrikes that have taken out a significant […] More
After Nasrallah Assassination, Hezbollah and Israel Face Uncharted Territory
DEEP DIVE – Hezbollah has lost an experienced, deeply committed leader – and a lot more. Access all of The Cipher Brief’s national security-focused expert […] More
Israel Strike on Hezbollah Command Center Brings ‘Precarious Moment’ In Middle East
EXPERT ANALYSIS — Since the October 7 Hamas massacre in southern Israel, and the Israeli war on Hamas that followed, the U.S. and other countries […] More
Israel’s War on Hezbollah Faces Long Road to ‘Mission Accomplished’
DEEP DIVE — Exploding beepers and walkie-talkies have killed and maimed Hezbollah operatives, air strikes have taken out top commanders, and hundreds of aerial bombardments […] More
After Devices Explode, Hezbollah Vows Revenge: What Comes Next?
EXPERT Q&A — As fears of a wider Mideast war rattle the region, and many in other parts of the world, Cipher Brief CEO Suzanne […] More