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Middle East Institute

How Far Can the Houthis Go?
  • Podcast
  • How Far Can the Houthis Go?

    Over the past several weeks, the Houthis have seized the port city of Mokha, Yemen’s western coastline, and several islands in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, and they are now massing around Marib and Taiz in the first major frontline shift since 2022. MEI Associate Fellow Nadwa Al-Dawsari joins host Matthew Czekaj to unpack the latest developments. Together, they discuss what has allowed the Houthis to advance against Yemeni government forces, the role the militant group plays in Iran’s regional strategy, and what it will take to contain the threat.

    September 17, 2026

    Hisham Melhem’s American Crossroads
  • Podcast
  • Hisham Melhem’s American Crossroads

    Brian is joined by Hisham Melhem, a prominent journalist known for his interviews with Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama and his role as an honest intermediary between Americans and the people of the Middle East. He reflects on his journey from growing up in Lebanon to building a life in America, discusses how the region has transformed over his lifetime, and offers a candid take on where US foreign policy stands today.

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    The Latest on War with Iran

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    Featured Events

    Public Opening | El Marsam: Modern and Contemporary Art from Egypt
  • Arts & Culture
  • Public Opening | El Marsam: Modern and Contemporary Art from Egypt

    Join us for the public opening of our newest exhibition tracing nearly a century of Egyptian art.

    September 18, 2026, 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM

    The MEI Art Gallery | 1763 N St. NW, Washington, District of Columbia 20036

    New York Arabic Orchestra at Wolf Trap
  • Arts & Culture
  • New York Arabic Orchestra at Wolf Trap

    Co-produced by the Middle East Institute Arts & Culture Center and Abu Dhabi Festival

    December 4, 2026, 8:00 PM – 9:30 PM

    The Barns at Wolf Trap, 1635 Trap Road Vienna, VA 22182

    Podcasts

    Backgrounders

    The Houthis
  • Backgrounder
  • The Houthis

    The Houthis are a political-military faction and Zaydi religious movement founded in northwestern Yemen in the 1980s. A key member of Iran’s Axis of Resistance with links to other militant organizations in the Arabian Peninsula and the Horn of Africa, the group has continued to pose a threat to Western interests on a global scale.

    May 15, 2026

    Israeli Settlements in the West Bank
  • Backgrounder
  • Israeli Settlements in the West Bank

    Since 1967, Israeli settlements in the West Bank have been a contested feature of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The ultimate disposition of the settlements and ongoing activity related to their growth have repeatedly defied agreement in negotiations over a resolution to the conflict.

    June 9, 2026