Defense Priorities
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MIDDLE EAST EXPERTS

Rosemary
Kelanic

Director, Middle East Program

Defense Priorities

Photo of Gil Barndollar

Gil
Barndollar

Non-Resident Fellow

Defense Priorities

Photo of Daniel Davis

Daniel
Davis

Senior Fellow & Military Expert

Defense Priorities

Photo of Daniel DePetris

Daniel
DePetris

Fellow

Defense Priorities

Photo of Benjamin Friedman

Benjamin
Friedman

Policy Director

Defense Priorities

Jennifer
Kavanagh

Senior Fellow & Director of Military Analysis

Defense Priorities

Photo of Rajan Menon

Rajan
Menon

Non-Resident Senior Fellow

Defense Priorities

Photo of Will Ruger

William
Ruger

Non-Resident Senior Fellow

Defense Priorities

Mike
Sweeney

Non-Resident Fellow

Defense Priorities

Photo of Will Walldorf

William
Walldorf

Senior Fellow

Defense Priorities

op-edIsrael‑Hamas, Israel, Middle East

Is the Gazan ceasefire doomed?

By Rajan Menon

February 17, 2025

Despite appearing all but doomed, the precarious 15 January ceasefire between Israel and Hamas held over the weekend. Yet Benjamin […]

In the mediaYemen, Air power, Deterrence, Iran, Middle East, Military analysis, Naval power

Yemen’s Houthis emerge from Gaza war emboldened, and with more enemies

Featuring Jennifer Kavanagh

February 13, 2025

op-edIsrael‑Hamas, Israel, Middle East

Donald Trump Needs a Better Solution to the Israel-Hamas War

By Alexander Langlois

February 13, 2025

The Latest

op-edIsrael‑Hamas, Israel, Middle East

Is the Gazan ceasefire doomed?

By Rajan Menon

February 17, 2025

In the mediaYemen, Air power, Deterrence, Iran, Middle East, Military analysis, Naval power

Yemen’s Houthis emerge from Gaza war emboldened, and with more enemies

Featuring Jennifer Kavanagh

February 13, 2025

op-edIsrael‑Hamas, Israel, Middle East

Donald Trump Needs a Better Solution to the Israel-Hamas War

By Alexander Langlois

February 13, 2025

op-edIsrael‑Hamas, Iraq, Israel, Middle East

Trump’s Middle East Plan Would Commit U.S. to Iraq War 2.0

By Rosemary Kelanic

February 12, 2025

op-edGrand strategy, Iran, Israel, Israel‑Hamas, Middle East, North Korea, Syria, Ukraine

Trump the ‘peacemaker’ faces many obstacles

By Benjamin Friedman

February 11, 2025

Middle East, Israel, Russia

The Saudi Deal Is a Faustian Bargain

By Daniel DePetris

February 10, 2025

DEFP in the Media

Connect with Experts

Featured in Al Jazeera: Yemen’s Houthis emerge from Gaza war emboldened, and with more enemies

Featuring Jennifer Kavanagh

February 13, 2025

Featured in Security Dilemma: Security Dilemma podcast: Rose Kelanic on Syria and energy security

Featuring Rosemary Kelanic

February 6, 2025

Featured on Bloomberg: Trump proposes plan for Gaza 'riviera'

Featuring Jennifer Kavanagh

February 5, 2025

EVENTS ON THE MIDDLE EAST

See All Events
virtualSyria, Balance of power, Basing and force posture, Counterterrorism, Middle East, Military analysis
February 21, 20252:00PM–3:00PM ET

Virtual: Syria after Assad: Prospects for U.S. withdrawal

More than a decade since former president Barack Obama announced Bashar al-Assad “must go,” a new government rules in Syria. […]
RSVP
virtualMiddle East, Alliances, Diplomacy, Israel, Military analysis

Past Virtual Event: Assessing a formal U.S.-Saudi alliance

October 17, 2024
virtualHouthis, Iran, Israel‑Hamas, Middle East, Yemen

Past Virtual Event: Houthi conundrum: defend, degrade, or defer

March 28, 2024
virtualGrand strategy, Middle East

Past Virtual Event: Does the Middle East still matter?

February 6, 2024