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. 


 Gaza militia leader Yasser Abu Shabab with the backdrop of the Gaza Strip.

Yasser Abu Shabab's killing raises questions about Israel's militia strategy in Gaza - explainer

A fire blazes at Khor Mor Oil and Gas field following a drone strike, November 26, 2025.

Drones hit Iraq's Khor Mor gas field, Baghdad deploys air defense in Kurdish region

Lebanese army members stand on a military vehicle during a Lebanese army media tour, near the border with Israel, southern Lebanon, November 28, 2025

Will Israel's new talks with Lebanon prevent another war with Hezbollah? - analysis


Controversy and confusion in Iraq over attempt to freeze assets of Hezbollah, Houthis - analysis

A list reporting that Iraq had approved the freezing of Hezbollah and Houthi funds was reportedly mistakenly published before revision.

 Hezbollah flags flutter as protesters, mainly Houthi supporters, rally to show support to Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and Lebanon's Hezbollah, in Sanaa, Yemen September 27, 2024.

Reporter’s Notebook: All quiet on the Gaza border as people return, communities rebuild

The war has been replaced by quiet, except for the occasional drone still buzzing. The IDF now controls a large buffer zone all along the border of Gaza. And the communities are still recovering.

Two men look over the Gaza border at the Black Arrow Site. The site was recently re-opened after two years of war.

CENTCOM unveils Task Force Scorpion Strike to field one-way attack drones in Mideast

The reverse-engineered Shaheed drones are long range, can operate autonomously, and can be launched by catapult, rocket-assisted takeoff, or mobile ground and vehicle systems.

CENTCOM's Low-cost Unmanned Combat Attack System (LUCAS) drones.

UAE celebrates its 54th anniversary as it presses for ceasefire progress, Gaza plan - analysis

UEA's 54th anniversary celebration since the union's creation was focused on the nation's role in improving the humanitarian situation in Gaza and on demands for the ceasefire plan.

Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohamed Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence and Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Ruler of Abu Dhabi and UAE National Security Adviser, arrive at Doha International Airport, in Doha, Qatar, September 10, 2025

Trump pushes Israel to embrace Sharaa, forcing Israel to reassess Syria doctrine - analysis

US President Donald Trump’s shift forces Israel to confront a core dilemma: Are its raids neutralizing threats in Syria, or nurturing new ones?

US President Donald Trump meets Syrian counterpart Ahmed al-Sharaa in the White House, Washington, DC, November 10, 2025

Israel's policy in Syria is 'rudderless,' Syria expert Elizabeth Tsurkov tells 'Post'

Tsurkov: “There is no clear objective for Israel's presence. What is the long-term goal? What is the long-term vision?”

A damaged site, following an Israeli raid on Friday, according to Syrian state media, in Beit Jinn, Syria November 28, 2025.

Vatican, Hezbollah flags wave: Pope Leo calls for peaceful dialogue during Beirut visit

Pro-Hezbollah media focused on the Pope's message of dialogue but fears the visit will be merely symbolic, failing to address the "real challenges" facing the country.

Pope Leo XIV addresses the crowd during a meeting with bishpops, priests consacrated persons and personal workers at the shrine of Our Lady of Lebanon in Harissa, northeast of the capital Beirut, on December 1, 2025.

US, Syria partner against ISIS: CENTCOM destroys caches near Damascus in first major joint op.

Syrian President Ahmed al-Shara’a recently secured Syria's official entry into the US-led Coalition Against ISIS, formalizing the new military cooperation on counter-terrorism.

US PRESIDENT Donald Trump meets Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa in Riyadh earlier this year.

Egypt reportedly accelerating training of Gaza police force, EU to follow suit

Al-Ain reported Egypt is training a potential Gaza police force to focus on sensitive issues, most notably border and crossing management, which will be key to the next phase of the ceasefire.

 Palestinian police officers seen during a military parade in the West Bank city of Nablus, July 1, 2025

Gas field in Kurdistan Region of Iraq seeks restart after drone attack

Iraq’s Khor Mor gas field, vital for Kurdistan’s electricity, is preparing to restart production days after a drone attack halted operations, sparking widespread condemnation.

FILE PHOTO: The Khor Mor gas field after a rocket attack near Chamchamal, in Sulaymaniyah province, Iraq, November 27, 2025.