Jonathan Spyer is a British-Israeli journalist, analyst, writer, and senior fellow at the Jerusalem Institute for Strategy and Security (JISS), specializing in Middle East conflicts, particularly in the Levant, Iraq, Syria, and involving Islamist groups. Born in the United Kingdom to parents of Russian Jewish and Central Asian heritage, he immigrated to Israel in 1991. He holds advanced degrees in Middle Eastern politics and international relations. Spyer is currently the director of research at the Middle East Forum, editor of the Middle East Quarterly magazine, a research fellow at JISS, a freelance security analyst and correspondent for IHS Jane's Information Group, a columnist for The Jerusalem Post, and director of the Middle East Center for Reporting and Analysis (MECRA). His career focuses on strategic affairs, with notable contributions to understanding the Syrian civil war, the rise of groups like HTS and al-Qaeda affiliates, and the dynamics of non-state actors in the region. He has conducted firsthand reporting from conflict zones including Syria, Iraq, and Kurdish areas, and is recognized for uncovering evidence of weapons possession and other developments in volatile areas. His work emphasizes Israel's security interests and broader Middle Eastern geopolitics, offering a unique perspective bridging Western and Israeli viewpoints.