FDD Morning Brief

FDD Executive Director Jon Schanzer provides timely situational updates and analysis, followed by a conversation with FDD Research Manager David May. Learn more at: https://www.fdd.org/fddmorningbrief

HAMAS IS TESTING THE WATERS -- FDD Senior Fellow Lt. Col. (Ret.) Jonathan Conricus provides timely situational updates and analysis, followed by a conversation with Gadi Ezra, former director of Israel's National Public Diplomacy Unit. Learn more at: fdd.org/fddmorningbrief -- Featured FDD Pieces: "Is Trump Getting Played by Xi?" - Matt Pottinger, The Free Press "Trump rallies the...

HEADLINE 1: Israeli forces eliminated three terrorists during a counterterrorism operation in a village called Kafr Qud. HEADLINE 2: The Trump administration announced a new aid package for minorities in Syria. HEADLINE 3 : Turkish prosecutors filed new charges against Istanbul’s mayor. -- FDD Executive Director Jon Schanzer provides timely situational updates and analysis, followed by a conversat...

FDD Executive Director Jon Schanzer provides timely situational updates and analysis, followed by a conversation with Robert Satloff, the Segal Executive Director of The Washington Institute for Near East Policy. Learn more at: https://www.fdd.org/fddmorningbrief/

WITH FRIENDS LIKE QATAR, WHO NEEDS ENEMIES? HEADLINE 1: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan wrapped up his tour of the Gulf with a trip to Oman. HEADLINE 2: The warring Hamas and Fatah factions convened for discussions in Egypt yesterday to talk unity. HEADLINE 3: Back to Turkey, where the country has renewed military deployment mandates for Lebanon, Syria, and Iraq.  -- FDD Executive Director...

FDD Executive Director Jon Schanzer provides timely situational updates and analysis, followed by a conversation with Ghaith Al-Omari, senior fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy who previously held various positions within the Palestinian Authority. Learn more at: https://www.fdd.org/fddmorningbrief/ -- HEADLINE 1: Hamas’s base of operations in Turkey is reportedly growing. HEA...

WHAT ARE THE TALKING POINTS OF THE NEW REGIME IN SYRIA? FDD Executive Director Jon Schanzer provides timely situational updates and analysis, followed by a conversation with Michael Rubin, senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute and director of policy analysis at the Middle East Forum. Learn more at: https://www.fdd.org/fddmorningbrief

DO THE HOUTHIS STILL POSE A CONSIDERABLE THREAT TO ISRAEL AND THE REGION? HEADLINE 1: The Houthis announced the untimely passing of their military chief of staff, Muhammed al-Ghamari. HEADLINE 2: Iranian oil tankers briefly came back online this week. HEADLINE 3: Iran convicted two French citizens of espionage. -- FDD Executive Director Jon Schanzer delivers timely situational updates and analysis...

IS THE GAZA WAR OVER? -- FDD Executive Director Jon Schanzer delivers timely situational updates and analysis, followed by a conversation with Nadav Eyal, an award-winning Israeli journalist affiliated with Yedioth Ahronoth and Ynetnews. Learn more at: fdd.org/fddmorningbrief 

THE HOSTAGES ARE HOME. -- FDD Executive Director Jon Schanzer provides timely situational updates and analysis, followed by a conversation with Lt. Col. (Ret.) Jonathan Conricus, FDD senior fellow and former IDF international spokesperson, and Ariel Oseran, senior Middle East correspondent for i24 News English. Learn more at:  https://www.fdd.org/fddmorningbrief

A CONVERSATION WITH HOSTAGE FAMILIES AT THE SUKKAH OF HOPE FDD Executive Director Jonathan Schanzer sits down with the families of hostages held in Gaza for a conversation recorded at the Kennedy Center on October 8, 2025 — just hours before details of the hostage deal began to emerge. Recording credit: Production Management One (https://www.instagram.com/pm1pro/) Learn more at: fdd.org/fddmorning...

A DEAL HAS BEEN MADE. NOW WHAT? HEADLINE 1: The Treasury Department rolled out a fresh round of Iran sanctions.  HEADLINE 2: The U.S. Department of Commerce added over a dozen Chinese companies to a restricted trade list.  HEADLINE 3: Israel disrupted a major arms smuggling operation into the West Bank.  -- FDD Executive Director Jon Schanzer provides timely situational updates and analysis, follo...

HOW HAS THE WAR RESHAPED THE MIDDLE EAST TWO YEARS AFTER OCTOBER 7? HEADLINE 1: A prisoner exchange deal between Iran and France is in the works. HEADLINE 2: Some interesting stuff coming out of Lebanon and Syria. HEADLINE 3: Speaking of Syria, Syria and Kurdish Forces in the country agreed to a ceasefire yesterday. -- FDD Executive Director Jon Schanzer provides timely situational updates and ana...

IS HAMAS SERIOUS ABOUT ENDING THE WAR? HEADLINE 1: The U.S. government approved a new aid package for Lebanese security forces. HEADLINE 2: Syria held elections for the first time since Bashar al-Assad’s fall. HEADLINE 3: Israel intercepted all the boats and there was no violence or bloodshed. But poor Greta Thunberg was grumpy because she wasn’t greeted with hugs and a dance party. -- FDD Executi...

WHAT CRIMINAL NETWORKS ARE DOING IRANS BIDDING? HEADLINE 1: German authorities arrested three suspected Hamas operatives one day before Yom Kippur. HEADLINE 2: Israeli forces dismantled a large rocket cache in the West Bank.  HEADLINE 3: Israel’s Navy intercepted the flotilla attempting to break the so-called blockade on Gaza. Except, guess what? The navy reports that a bunch of boats didn’t have...

HOW IS QATAR GROWING ITS INFLUENCE IN THE U.S.? HEADLINE 1: The IDF took out two Hezbollah operatives in Lebanon. HEADLINE 2: Israeli authorities thwarted an ISIS-linked bomb plot. HEADLINE 3: The Houthis attacked a Dutch-flagged cargo ship in the Gulf of Aden. -- FDD Executive Director Jon Schanzer provides timely situational updates and analysis, followed by a conversation with journalist Franni...

WHAT IS WRONG WITH THE UNITED NATIONS? HEADLINE 1: U.S. ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee will travel to Egypt soon. HEADLINE 2: The mayor of Gaza City reportedly sent a letter to President Trump. HEADLINE 3: Another Houthi missile fired at Israel out of Yemen. Another Israeli interception. -- FDD Executive Director Jon Schanzer provides timely situational updates and analysis, followed by a conv...

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN ERDOGAN COMES TO VISIT? HEADLINE 1: Italy and Spain deployed navy ships to escort the flotilla attempting to break Israel’s blockade on Gaza. HEADLINE 2: Iran says it obtained a trove of documents about sensitive Israeli sites and nuclear facilities. HEADLINE 3: Russia and Iran signed a memorandum of understanding for the construction of nuclear power plants in Iran. -- FDD Execu...

HOW DID ARAB CITIZENS OF ISRAEL EXPERIENCE THE OCT. 7TH HAMAS MASSACRE? HEADLINE 1: If you weren’t already worried about the rise of thinking machines, you definitely want to think twice about getting your news from AI chatbots.  HEADLINE 2: Israel will close the Allenby crossing between the West Bank and Jordan indefinitely. HEADLINE 3: Hamas-led authorities in the Gaza Strip executed three alleg...

ARE TENSIONS RISING IN THE SINAI? HEADLINE 1: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wants Washington’s help diffusing tensions with Egypt. And man, is that overdue. HEADLINE 2: Qatar is still making a stink about Israel’s strike in Doha. HEADLINE 3: As the Gaza City offensive ramps up, Gaza-based terrorists fired two rockets at the southern Israeli city of Ashdod yesterday. -- FDD Executive Di...

WHAT HISTORICAL LESSONS FROM PREVIOUS WARS CAN BE APPLIED TO ISRAEL'S CURRENT CONFLICT WITH HAMAS? HEADLINE 1: Israel’s anti-missile laser system is nearly operational. HEADLINE 2: Two Israeli soldiers were killed in an attack at the Allenby border crossing between Jordan and the West Bank. HEADLINE 3: A Houthi drone evaded Israeli air defenses and slammed into a hotel in Eilat. -- FDD Senior...

HOW ACCURATE ARE THE CLAIMS OF FAMINE IN GAZA? HEADLINE 1:  The Treasury Department rolled out a fresh batch of Iran sanctions. HEADLINE 2:  In response to Israel's strike against Hamas leaders in Doha, r epresentatives from nearly 60 Arab and Islamic countries convened in Qatar to lash out at Israel. HEADLINE 3:  Israel carried out strikes against Yemen’s Hodeidah Port. -- FDD Senior Research...

WHAT LESSONS HAS THE INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE OF THE RED CROSS LEARNED FROM TWO YEARS OF WAR BETWEEN ISRAEL AND HAMAS? HEADLINE 1: Yesterday, the IDF issued evacuation orders for at least three high-rise buildings in Gaza City, including a tower at the Islamic University. HEADLINE 2: Another Israeli citizen was caught spying for Iran. HEADLINE 3: Arab countries are considering establishing a joint...

WILL ISRAEL’S STRIKE ON HAMAS IN DOHA AFFECT THE ABRAHAM PEACE ACCORDS? HEADLINE 1: The Pentagon approved a new security assistance package for Lebanon. HEADLINE 2: Speaking of Hezbollah, guess who busted a Hezbollah cell? The Syrian army. HEADLINE 3: The Treasury Department rolled out fresh sanctions targeting Houthi financial networks. -- FDD Senior Research Analyst Natalie Ecanow, filling in fo...

WHAT LIES AHEAD FOR LEBANON? HEADLINE 1:  Qatar isn’t the only target for the Israel in the last 48 hours — Syria was hit, too. HEADLINE 2:  Israel ordered the full evacuation of Gaza City. HEADLINE 3: Tensions are soaring between Israel and Spain. -- FDD Executive Director Jon Schanzer provides timely situational updates and analysis, followed by a conversation with Ambassador Edward Gabriel, pre...