Middle East Institute

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Thank you for your interest in spreading the word on The Middle East Journal. NOTE: We only request your email address so that the person you are recommending the page to knows that you wanted them to see it, and that it is not junk mail. We do not capture any email address. Your Email * Your Name * Send To * Enter multiple addresses on separate lines or separate them with commas.

The wars that have raged in the Middle East since October 2023 have contributed to the further rise of Huthi power. This article assesses how the Islamic Republic of Iran has perceived this rise and how it has shifted the nature of its support since 2023. It also analyzes the implications of the rise of the Huthis for Iran-Huthi ties and for the regional balance of power.

Sadu, a traditional weaving practice shaped by nomadic desert life and the ingenuity of women makers, translates generations of knowledge into disciplined bands of vivid geometry. Historically woven from sheep and camel wool for tents and furnishings, Sadu’s motifs form a visual language of movement, memory, and identity—elevating a practical necessity into a lasting cultural symbol.

The final days of 2025 marked a turning point in the Middle East, as competition between Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates in Yemen spilled out into the open. Tensions between the two coalition partners, which jointly launched a military intervention in Yemen in 2015, have simmered for years and are now rapidly escalating, with far-reaching implications for both Yemen and regional security more broadly.

On October 9, the White House persuaded Israel and Hamas to agree to a cease-fire based on a 20-point peace plan initially unveiled on September 29. The plan specifically called for the formation of two multinational entities. A “Board of Peace,” chaired by President Donald Trump, would be composed of senior officials charged with setting an initial framework for the redevelopment of Gaza.

Since Israel’s 12-day war against Iran in June 2025, Tehran and its network of regional proxies and non-state allies, the so-called Axis of Resistance, have entered a phase of strategic dormancy — an outward calm concealing rearmament, financial adaptation, and ideological renewal.

President Trump has unequivocally rejected any efforts by Israel to formally annex the West Bank. This builds on stark warnings from America’s Gulf allies, including the original Abraham Accords signatory the United Arab Emirates. These warnings have reiterated that formal annexation would cross a “red line.” Nevertheless, de facto annexation efforts, long-underway, have been accelerating in recent months, garnering little attention in Washington.

Each issue of The Middle East Journal includes book reviews that are among the most respected, comprehensive, and up-to-date in the field of Middle East studies. Here are 10 recommended titles selected by our Book Review Editor and Editor from reviews published in this year's issues.

In the final episode of 2025, MEI Senior Fellow Paul Salem joins hosts Alistair Taylor and Matthew Czekaj to unpack the major developments that shaped the Middle East over the past year and to look ahead to 2026. Salem reviews the key events that redefined the regional order, including President Donald Trump’s return to office, the 12-day war between Israel and Iran, and the ongoing negotiations over Gaza.