FDD Morning Brief

FDD Executive Director Jon Schanzer delivers timely situational updates and analysis, followed by a conversation with Ilan Berman, Senior Vice President of the American Foreign Policy Council.Learn more at: https://www.fdd.org/fddmorningbrief/

WHAT HISTORICAL LESSONS MUST SHAPE GAZA'S FUTURE? HEADLINE 1: Israel is at its wit’s end with the porous Egyptian border.HEADLINE 2: Israel and Greece wrapped up joint military exercises this week. HEADLINE 3: Turkey held a terrorist summit in Istanbul on Wednesday.--FDD Executive Director Jon Schanzer delivers timely situational updates and analysis, followed by a conversation with Hebrew University Professor Netta Barak-Corren.Learn more at: https://www.fdd.org/fddmorningbrief/--Featured FDD Pieces:"Learning the Right Lessons From ‘A House of Dynamite’" - Bradley Bowman and David Adesnik, Real Clear Defense"Iranians Challenge the Regime by Celebrating Cyrus the Great" - Janatan Sayeh and Behnam Ben Taleblu, FDD"The US must not endorse Russia and China’s vision for cybersecurity" - John Yoo and Ivana Stradner, The Hill

HEADLINE 1: Oman’s foreign minister called on countries in the Gulf to engage with…wait for it… Iran.HEADLINE 2: The U.S. sent a draft resolution to the UN Security Council calling for the implementation of an International Stabilization Force, or “ISF,” which would operate in Gaza until 2027.HEADLINE 3: On Monday, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said that Beirut has no choice but to sit down and talk with Israel.--FDD Executive Director Jon Schanzer delivers timely situational updates and analysis, followed by a conversation with FDD Research Analyst Mariam Wahba, whose work focuses on Egypt and minority communities in the Middle East.Learn more at: https://www.fdd.org/fddmorningbrief/--Featured FDD Pieces:"Israel 2040: Benny Gantz’s Vision for Security and Cooperation" - FDD Event"How the U.S. Can Stay Ahead of China in Space" - Jack Burnham and Sophie McDowall, The Cipher Brief"Aoun’s Push for Talks with Israel Must Overcome Hezbollah’s Ploys" - Hussain Abdul-Hussain, This is Beirut

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 allies to break China’s dangerous mineral, rare earths monopoly" - Elaine Dezenski, New York Post"How Turkish Arms End Up in African Conflicts" - Sinan Ciddi and William Doran, Foreign Policy

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 conversation with Joseph Braude, president of the Center for Peace Communications.Learn more at: https://www.fdd.org/fddmorningbrief--Featured FDD Pieces:"Patient Extremism: The Many Faces of the Muslim Brotherhood" - FDD Memo"Qatar’s Calculated Bet on the Islamic Republic" - Saeed Ghasseminejad, RealClearWorld"Iraqi polls grapple with Israeli and Iranian relations as country prepares to vote" - Hussain Abdul-Hussain, New York Post

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 Jon Schanzer provides timely situational updates and analysis, followed by a conversation with writer and Middle East analyst Eitan Fischberger.Learn more at: https://www.fdd.org/fddmorningbrief--Featured FDD Pieces:"Georgian Dream’s Power Grab Sets Stage to Outlaw Opposition" - Keti Korkiya, FDD Policy Brief"The UN Cybercrime Treaty: A Trojan Horse for Suppressing Dissent" - Ivana Stradner and Emily Hester, FDD Memo"To Preserve the Gaza Deal, Keep Qatar at Arm’s Length" - Natalie Ecanow, FDD Policy Brief

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.HEADLINE 2: Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani slammed Israel for committing genocide and violating the ceasefire in Gaza. Did he mention Hamas’s October 7 massacre? Nope.HEADLINE 3: The new Syrian regime seized a massive haul of captagon pills.BONUS HEADLINE 4: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hosted Egyptian intelligence chief Hassan Rashad yesterday.--Featured FDD Pieces:"5 Ways the United States and Europe Must Help Ukraine Now" - RADM (Ret.) Mark Montgomery, FDD Insight"How the Muslim Brotherhood Built a Media Empire" - Mariam Wahba, The Free Press"The New Middle East and the Challenges to Israel" - Jonathan Schanzer, Commentary

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, followed by a conversation with FDD Research Analyst Bridget Toomey, whose research focuses on the Houthis and Iran-backed militias in Iraq.Learn more at: https://www.fdd.org/fddmorningbrief--Featured FDD Pieces:"50 Years of Anti-Zionist Propaganda: Why the UN’s ‘Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People’ Must Be Dismantled" - Ben Cohen and David May, FDD Memo"The news from Gaza" - Cliff May, The Washington Times"Buying the Hatchet" - Ahmad Sharawi, Foreign Policy

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 HOPEFDD 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/fddmorningbrief

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, followed by a conversation with former Israeli National Security Advisor Eyal Hulata.Learn more at: https://www.fdd.org/fddmorningbrief--Featured FDD Pieces:"Israel Moves To Counter Drone Threat on Egyptian Border" - Mariam Wahba, FDD"Hamasniks in fox holes" - Cliff May, The Washington Times"Recipe for Success: Guidance Based on the Experience of the Cyberspace Solarium Commission" - Sophie McDowall, FDD

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 analysis, followed by a conversation with New York Times bestselling author Yossi Klein Halevi.Learn more at: https://www.fdd.org/fddmorningbrief--Featured FDD Pieces: "Combatting PRC Illegal, Coercive, Aggressive, and Deceptive Behavior in the Indo-Pacific" - Craig Singleton, Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee "America must stop aiding our enemies by enabling the shadowy world of dirty cash" - Josh Birenbaum, New York Post"Is Qatar Finally Ready to Split With Hamas?" - Natalie Ecanow, Wall Street Journal

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 Executive Director Jon Schanzer provides timely situational updates and analysis, followed by a conversation with Council on Foreign Relations Senior Fellow The Honorable Elliott Abrams, who formerly served as U.S. Special Representative for Iran and Venezuela and Deputy National Security Advisor.Learn more at: https://www.fdd.org/fddmorningbrief-- Featured FDD Pieces"Trump will help Ukraine hit Putin where it hurts — to finally end his bloody war" - John Hardie, New York Post"5 Ways to Curb Iran’s Oil Exports to China" - Saeed Ghasseminejad, The National Interest"Europe Should Support Moldova Against Russian Meddling" - Ivana Stradner and RADM (Ret.) Mark Montgomery, Foreign Policy"Hamas Says 'Yes, But...'" - Elliott Abrams, The Free Press

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 any aid all.HEADLINE 4: The U.S. Treasury Department slapped sanctions on 21 entities and 17 individuals involved in Iranian weapons procurement networks supporting the regime’s ballistic missile and military aircraft programs. --FDD Executive Director Jon Schanzer provides timely situational updates and analysis, followed by a conversation with Amotz Eyal, founder and CEO of the Israeli newswire Tazpit Press Service (TPS).Learn more at: https://www.fdd.org/fddmorningbrief--Featured FDD Pieces:"The Quiet Return of Hezbollah’s Smuggling Network in Syria" - Ahmad Sharawi, FDD"Trump Administration Plan for Gaza Puts Unprecedented and Unified Pressure on Hamas" - Aaron Goren, FDD"8 UN Failures in Yemen" - Bridget Toomey, FDD"Iran on Your Soil: Tehran’s Global Crime Network Exposed" - The Press Service of Israel

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 Frannie Block of The Free Press.Learn more at: https://www.fdd.org/fddmorningbrief--Featured FDD Pieces:"Hidden Huaweis" - Nathan Picarsic and Emily de La Bruyère, Real Clear Defense"The Chance to Save Myanmar" - Dan Swift and Sean Turnell, Foreign Affairs "FAQ: 5 Things to Know About Israel’s Gaza City Offensive" - Joe Truzman, FDD"The Middle Kingdom Meets Higher Education" - Craig Singleton, FDD

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 conversation with former UK Ambassador to Yemen and current FDD Senior Fellow Edmund Fitton-Brown.Learn more at: https://www.fdd.org/fddmorningbrief--Featured FDD Pieces: "5 Recent Instances of Foreign Malign Influence Threatening U.S. National Security" - Mark Montgomery and Max Lesser, FDD"When Erdoğan Shifted Focus to the Kurds in Syria" - Sinan Ciddi and Ahmad Sharawi, The Jerusalam Strategic Tribune "Qatar Is Knocking on Canada’s Door" - Natalie Ecanow, FDD