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.
Was Gaza's destruction, high death toll necessary for Israel's war on Hamas? - analysis
Gas field in Kurdistan region of northern Iraq on alert after drone threat
Beirut airstrike could be warning message from Israel to Iran, Hamas - analysis
Iraq pushes for Syrian border wall, threatening Iran's regional influence - analysis
Iranian-backed militias used to infiltrate into Syria via the unguarded border - as such, any wall would actually hurt Iran’s project to control the Middle East.
New clashes shake eastern Syria as SDF and Damascus forces trade fire - analysis
Erdogan says Turkey is considering joining an international Gaza stabilization force as it reviews deployment options and ceasefire monitoring.
How Israel’s 12-day war on Iran achieved remarkable military success - analysis
The report illustrates key aspects and successes of Rising Lion, and that Israel has the capacity for great success when it plans for a decisive campaign.
Aoun promises army control in south, but Lebanon still can’t disarm Hamas or Hezbollah - analysis
Lebanon’s President Joseph Aoun announced that the army will launch a peace initiative in southern Lebanon, taking control of additional positions along the border.
What those surprised by the Trump-Mamdani meeting do not understand - analysis
The newly elected mayor of New York City and the president, a native New Yorker, discussed affordability, energy costs, and Israel before ahead of Mamdani taking office.
Can a European-trained Palestinian police force in Gaza stop Hamas infiltration? - analysis
Creating a police force is a necessary way to stabilize an area after conflict. The EU can play a role, but it needs to act to do so.
Israel faces future multi-front war, despite promises of 'total victory' - analysis
Avoiding the endless multi-front low-level conflict could be a strategy for setting Israel’s house in order.
Iran's decision to release seized Talara tanker opens many questions about Hormuz safety - analysis
The incident shows how easily Iran can still harass shipping. It’s unclear whether Iran received a warning from the US or released the vessel for other reasons.
Why Saudi Arabia becoming part of major non-NATO allies of US group matters - analysis
Saudi Arabia’s joining the group of twenty Major Non-NATO Allies of the United States is an important step for Riyadh-Washington relations.
Kurdistan’s security architecture recast as Peshmerga unification continues
The Kurdistan region has its own armed forces, the Peshmerga. Among the largest units are the KDP and PUK, which each have tens of thousands of fighters.