Part of Middle East Security

Israel-Hamas War

On October 7, 2023, the Palestinian terror organization Hamas launched an attack on Israel that was unprecedented in scale, sophistication, and depravity. Before the terrorists were subdued, they murdered 1200 men, women, and children, wounded thousands more, and took over 200 hostages back to Gaza.

Israel launched a military counter-attack that eventually neutralized the invaders, and began an air campaign against Hamas’ terrorist infrastructure in Gaza of an intensity and operational tempo unmatched in modern military history. While that air campaign continues, Israel has mobilized its entire military reserve, and prepares for a ground incursion into Gaza with the expressed goal of destroying Hamas.

President Biden ordered a large U.S. military force into the Middle East for the explicit purpose of deterring Hezbollah and other Iran-supported groups from opening new fronts against Israel. In an effort to deter Israel, Iran’s proxies and partners in the region have steadily increased their attacks on Israeli forces, and American forces deployed in Iraq and Syria.

The CNAS Middle East Security Program will continuously monitor and assess security developments in and around Israel, and the conflict’s impacts on the broader region and U.S. policy interests.

Middle East Security

Hamas Tried to Sabotage Israeli-Saudi Normalization; U.S. Can Make It Backfire

Before Oct. 7, the biggest Middle East story was the growing prospect of a normalization agreement between the U.S., Saudi Arabia, and Israel. The thawing of Saudi-Israeli rel...

Middle East Security

Virtual Fireside | Congress and the Conflict in Gaza: A Conversation with Congressman Adam Smith

Oct 20, 2023

Middle East Security

Sharper: Israel at War

On October 7, 2023, Hamas launched an unprecedented and destructive attack on Israel. The consequences of this attack will reverberate throughout the region, with difficult ob...

Support CNAS

Recent Publications

View All Reports View All Articles & Multimedia

Related Events

Related Press

Middle East Security

Trump and Netanyahu Meet Amid Gaza Cease-Fire Negotiations

President Trump and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confronted several high-stakes issues when they met for dinner on Monday night, including the long-term future of Gaza an...

Middle East Security

Israel and Hamas Are Teetering Toward War

Just over three weeks into a cease-fire that has brought the Gaza Strip relative peace, Israel and Hamas are already moving toward a return to war....

Defense

Iran’s Massive Missile Strike on Israel Is Just a Fraction of What China Could Do

The differences between Iran's attack and a potential Chinese missile strike are probably best understood in terms of scale, sophistication, and intent. A Chinese missile stri...

View All Press