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. 


 Mice pull tongues to revive unconscious companions, study finds. Illustration.

Iraqi official denies mice and rats ate country’s cash reserves

Military personnel prepares humanitarian aid packages for Gaza before they are loaded into an aircraft, at a military airport in Cairo, Egypt, July 30, 2025.

Can Israel's aid strategy survive the minefield of Gaza's humanitarian crisis? - analysis

The coffin of late Hezbollah leader Hashem Safieddine, who was killed during Israeli airstrikes last year, is carried during his burial, in Deir Qanoun al-Nahr, southern Lebanon February 24, 2025.

Gun control, border regulation: Lebanon's Aoun inches toward Hezbollah confrontation - analysis


Russia aims to keep hold of key influence over Syria as top diplomats meet - analysis

Ahmed al-Sharaa's government faces many hurdles and having Russia playing a stabilizing role in Syria is important for Damascus. It is not clear how Russia-Syrian relations will develop these days.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov (R) and Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani (L) shake hands during a press conference following their talks in Moscow, Russia, July 31, 2025.

IRGC chief visits Baghdad over fears of Iraqi instability - analysis

Qaani met with top Shiite leaders in Baghdad to contain internal splits and preserve Iran's influence in Iraq ahead of parliamentary elections.

Brigadier General Esmail Ghaani, the newly appointed commander of the country's Quds Force, is seen in Tehran, Iran, in this undated picture obtained January 3, 2020

New drone strike near Erbil adds to growing attacks on Kurdistan region - analysis

A drone crashed near Makhmour in the latest attack on Iraq’s Kurdistan region, as officials blame Iran-aligned groups for a wave of 22 strikes.

Smoke rises after a drone attack targeted oil facilities in the Zakho area of Iraq's Kurdistan region, Iraq July 16, 2025.

How many men has Hamas continued to recruit in a year? - analysis

Even though Hamas was supposedly defeated and down to one brigade and a few battalions, it suddenly was able to re-appear in northern Gaza with thousands of fighters.

 Members of Hamas with the backdrop of the Gaza Strip, amid reports that Hamas has lost control of much of its territory.

Houthis parade kidnapped crew of ETERNITY C, won’t back down from threats - analysis

The main message of the Houthi video is that they are not deterred. Israel has carried out several rounds of attacks on the Houthis, but this has apparently not stopped the attacks.

Yemen’s Houthis released a video showing ten member of the Greek ship ETERNITY C, which was attacked and sunk by the Houthis in the Red Sea earlier this month.

Renewed drone attacks on Kurdistan region of Iraq

The Kurdistan Regional Government has accused the Iranian-backed Popular Mobilization Forces of being behind the attacks.

 An Iranian drone is displayed during the National Army Day parade ceremony in Tehran, Iran, April 18, 2025.

Lebanon can’t get past talk of Hezbollah disarmament - analysis

"The government and Hezbollah need to fully commit and act now in order to not consign the Lebanese people to the stumbling status quo," Barrack wrote.

 US special envoy for Syria, the ambassador to Turkey Thomas Barrack attends a flag-raising ceremony at the US ambassador's residence in Damascus on May 29, 2025 for the first time since 2011.

Syria seeks balance in Sweida amid Druze-Bedouin clashes, Israeli strikes - analysis

As tensions rise in southern Syria, the government seeks to balance humanitarian aid with regional stability amidst Israeli strikes.

Syrian security forces walk together along a street, after clashes between Syrian government troops and local Druze fighters resumed in the southern Druze city of Sweida early on Wednesday, in Sweida, Syria July 16, 2025.

Ceasefires and frustrations: Trump's foreign war doctrine reaches sternest test in Gaza - analysis

Trump's efforts for a Gaza ceasefire face resistance as the conflict endures, leaving his peace doctrine in question.

US President Donald Trump speaks at the White House in Washington, DC, US, July 18, 2025

SDF leader meets French foreign minister as Paris prepares Syria negotiations - analysis

French foreign minister reaches out to Syrian Democratic Forces as Paris also juggles discussions with Turkey and Israel regarding key issues in Syria.

SDF commander Mazloum Abdi, attends an interview with Reuters in al-Shadadi, Syria June 13, 2025.