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. 


 Maj. Gen. Amir Hatami replaced Abdolrahim Mousavi who was recently appointed the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces after Israel killed the former chief of staff.

New Iranian army head vows to defend the country's 'territorial integrity'

A drone view shows the damage over residential homes at the impact site following missile attack from Iran on Israel, in Bat Yam, Israel June 15, 2025

Sitting in a quiet, destroyed neighborhood: At the heart of Iran's missile attack on Bat Yam

Pictures of those killed in Israeli strikes on Iran are displayed on a street, in Tehran, June 15, 2025

A volcano ready to blow: Middle East erupts with Israeli strikes on Iran - analysis


Iran's revolving door of military leadership: Tehran looks for quick replacements after strikes

While Iran moved to replace many key officers, it is not clear who will replace some of the others who were reported killed in Israel’s strikes.

Pictures of those killed in Israeli strikes on Iran are displayed on a street, in Tehran, Iran, June 14, 2025

Middle East airspace gradually reopens after Israel-Iran strikes ground flights

In Syria, the Syrian General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) announced on Saturday the full reopening of Syrian airspace to civilian aviation.

 The first domestic flight departs from Damascus International Airport to Aleppo International Airport during the re-opening of the airport after the ousting of Syria's Bashar al-Assad, in Damascus, Syria, December, 18 2024.

Tehran claims success in latest missile barrage against Israel amid rising tensions

The IRGC Aerospace Force is employing precision-guided and smart missile systems to strike military centers and airbases, according to Tasnim News.

 Rescue personnel work at an impact site following missile attack from Iran on Israel, Israel, June 14, 2025.

Arab states condemn Israeli strikes as relations with Iran thaw - analysis

Arab states that once opposed Iran now condemn Israel’s June 13 strikes, reflecting shifting alliances and fears of regional escalation.

 Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi poses for a picture with leaders as Egypt hosts emergency Arab summit to discuss Palestinian developments, at Egypt's New Administrative Capital in Cairo, March 4, 2025.

IRGC head Hossein Salami's fatal flaw: Arrogance - analysis

The IRGC had felt they could inflame wars, but they didn’t believe it would come to Tehran’s own doorstep.

 Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) commander Major-General Hossein Salami threatened Israel's retaliatory strike would have consequences. (Illustrative).

How Iran may retaliate after Israeli strikes - analysis

After years of boasting and talking about its air defenses and capabilities, the Iranian regime has been shown to be unable to defend Iran’s airspace.

 Aftermath of Israeli strike in Tehran

Middle East on edge: Israel-Iran escalation threatens regional stability - analysis

Just after three in the morning, sirens sounded across Israel, and Israel’s Defense Minister announced a preemptive strike against Iran.

 People gather in the street in the aftermath of Israeli strikes, in Tehran, Iran, June 13, 2025.

Iran tensions spotlight militias in Iraq's role in regional conflict - analysis

Iraqs militias serve Iran's interests and control parts of Iraq. Thus, during tensions between Iran and the US, they are used to enforce Iran’s policies.

Iraqi Shi'ite Muslim men from the Iranian-backed group Kataib Hezbollah wave the party's flags as they walk along a street painted in the colours of the Israeli flag during a parade marking the annual Quds Day, or Jerusalem Day, on the last Friday of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, in Baghdad

As US evacuates Middle East personnel, Iran appears to downplay tensions - analysis

How is it possible that Iran’s foreign minister was in Oslo attending a forum, while tensions were supposedly spiraling out of control?

 Image of Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi against a backdrop of the Iranian flag, US flag and fire.

Inside Houthis’ war machine: How it is organized, what it means for Middle East- explainer

Units have been indoctrinated with extremist ideology, including the notion that anyone who opposes the Houthis is an ‘agent of Israel’, a new report notes.

 Newly recruited fighters who joined a Houthi military force intended to be sent to fight in support of the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, march during a parade in Sanaa, Yemen December 2, 2023