Jonathan Spyer

Director of Research & MEQ Editor

Jonathan Spyer oversees the Forum’s content and is editor of the Middle East Quarterly. Mr. Spyer, a journalist, reports for Janes Intelligence Review, writes a column for the Jerusalem Post, and is a contributor to the Wall Street Journal and The Australian. He frequently reports from Syria and Iraq. He has a B.A. from the London School of Economics, an M.A. from the School of Oriental and African Studies in London, and a Ph.D. from the London School of Economics. He is the author of two books: The Transforming Fire: The Rise of the Israel-Islamist Conflict (2010) and Days of the Fall: A Reporter’s Journey in the Syria and Iraq Wars (2017).

Articles by this Author
The New Plan Is a Tacit Acknowledgment That Israel’s Approach Has Not Come Close to the Desired Objective of the Destruction of Hamas Rule in Gaza
The Latest India-Pakistan Confrontation Underscores the Strategic Role of Pakistan’s Military and ISI in Exacerbating Kashmir’s Instability
Israel Has for the Last 18 Months Been Engaged in a War on Seven Fronts Against a Single Enemy
The Houthis Are the Only Iran-Aligned Force to Have Directed Its Attacks Not at Israel Alone but Also at Western Targets, Including International Shipping
‘Morag’ Is Intended to Drive a Wedge Between the Rafah and Khan Yunis Brigades of Hamas, and Then to Destroy These Formations
Contrary to Some Commentary of Recent Months, the Iranian Regional Project Has Not Been Destroyed, or Even Conclusively Defeated
With Turkey’s Backing of Hamas and Disputes in Syria, the Future of Jerusalem-Ankara Ties Look Dim
Pressure Mounts on Both Sides—Who Will Yield First in This Endless War?
The U.S. Administration Appears to Fail to Notice the Broader Alliance Taking Shape Behind These Forces
Imprisoned PKK Leader Abdullah Ocalan’s Declaration of a Ceasefire Does Not Indicate The Conclusion of the Long Conflict with the Turkish State
As a Result of Recent Experience in Gaza, Israel’s Preference Is Now for Buffer Zones on Hostile Borders
As Syria Faces a Power Vacuum, ISIS Regroups and Expands Its Reach.
With Iran’s Proxies Weakened and Its Air Defenses Damaged, the Time Is Ripe for Israel to Act Against Tehran’s Nuclear Program.
It Has Been Clear from the Start That the Implementation of the First Phase of the Deal Does Not Indicate an Ending of the War, or a Failure of Israel’s War Aims
The Question Now Facing Israel Is This: Will the War in Gaza Recommence?
The HTS Government Doesn’t Have Formal Control over All Syrian Land
Syrian Kurdish Leader Ilham Ahmed Says Israel Must Be Part of the Solution for Middle East Security
While Arab and Muslim States Profess Loyalty to the Palestinian Cause, This Rarely—If Ever—Extends to Measures to Help the Plight of Actual, Living Palestinians