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. 


U.S. Ambassador to Turkey and U.S. special envoy for Syria Thomas Barrack speaks after meeting with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun (not pictured) at the presidential palace in Baabda, Lebanon August 26, 2025.

'Arrogance of a cowboy': US envoy slammed for off-the-cuff remark in Lebanon

IDF soldiers operating in Syria

'Dangerous Israeli escalations': Abu Dhabi, Damascus condemn IDF operations in Syria

 Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa meets with U.S. Ambassador to Turkey and special envoy to Syria Tom Barrack as they are flanked by Syrian Foreign Minister Assad Hassan al-Shibani in Istanbul, Turkey, May 24, 2025.

US lawmakers Shaheen, Wilson return to Syria for continued talks with Sharaa


Palestinian groups begin handing over arms to Lebanese military - report

The report at Al-Akhbar claimed that weapons were handed over in the Burj al-Shamali and Al-Bass camps.

Demonstrators take part in a protest against the hunger crisis in Gaza, in Sidon, Lebanon July 25, 2025

Iraq to deport 50,000 Turkish, Russian, Azeri nationals linked to ISIS

The foreigners appear to be mostly arrested on charges of being affiliated with ISIS or being members of families of ISIS members.

DEMONSTRATORS CLIMB a structure during an anti-government protest in Baghdad, last week.

An endless challenge in Gaza, from Nasser Hospital to Gaza City - analysis

Hamas's repeated reoccupation of areas previously cleared by the IDF has led to a seemingly endless cycle of war, including the bombing of a Khan Yunis hospital.

Palestinians and Hamas terrorists celebrate in Khan Younis

US diplomats in Israel, Lebanon push for action on Hezbollah disarmament - analysis

In the wake of US envoy Thomas Barrack and Deputy Special Envoy Morgan Ortagus visiting Israel, Beirut may feel that the US is growing in its serious desire to see real action.

 Members of Hezbollah attend the funeral of Taleb Abdallah, also known as Abu Taleb, a senior field commander of Hezbollah who was killed by what security forces say was an Israel strike in Beirut's southern suburbs, Lebanon June 12, 2024.

ISIS massacres continue to haunt region, must be remembered - analysis

European governments' refusal to take back citizens from refugee camps, while providing little economic support, plays a role in preventing the region from healing.

 Illustration of ISIS terrorist.

Are the Houthis testing new missiles on Israel? - analysis

The Houthis' use of cluster munitions in a ballistic missile attack was confirmed by the IDF on Sunday.

 A VIEW of missiles during a military parade held by the Houthis on September 21 to mark the anniversary of their takeover in Sanaa, Yemen.

Integrating the Kurdish communit? Syria has more pressing concerns - analysis

Damascus is still trying to crack down on ISIS threats, and fund people who have returned from displaced persons camps. The gov't wants to focus on issues closer to home, such as Israel, and Sweida.

Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, August 6, 2025.

Lebanon looks to disarm Palestinian factions before turning to Hezbollah - analysis

In Lebanon, the pro-Iranian factions continue to take a wait and see approach as to whether the government will actually disarm Hezbollah.

Demonstrators carry flags as they take part in a protest against the hunger crisis in Gaza, in Sidon, Lebanon July 25, 2025

Northern Iraq's Kurdish region on edge after arrest of local opposition leader - analysis

The sudden reason for the arrest of Lahur Talabany is not clear but it casts a potential shadow over the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan.

A top Kurdish counterterrorism official Lahur Talabany speaks during an interview with Reuters in Sulimaniyeh, Iraq, July 17, 2017

Syria’s returning refugees face ruins, not relief - analysis

The Norwegian Refugee Council said on Thursday that the world is “failing the Syrians who have returned home.”

People load a vehicle, as some families prepare to leave the al-Hol refugee camp to go back to their hometowns, in al-Hol, Syria, April 27, 2025.