The Iran-Israel Conflict and the U.S. Role: 11 Documentaries to Watch

In the wake of Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attacks on Israel and the start of the war in Gaza, confrontations between Israel and Iran escalated from proxy battles to direct strikes and all-out war.

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FRONTLINE’s new documentary, Remaking the Middle East: Israel vs. Iran, traces the decades of hostility between two of the region’s most powerful actors and the ongoing impact.

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2. Aenean massa.
3. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus mus.Donec quam felis, ultricies nec, pellentesque eu, pretium quis, sem. Nulla consequat massa quis enim.
4. Donec pede justo, fringilla vel, aliquet nec, vulputate eget, arcu.
5. In enim justo, rhoncus ut, imperdiet a, venenatis vitae, justo. Nullam dictum felis eu pede mollis pretium.

“The balance of power has changed dramatically,” Middle East expert Vali Nasr says in the trailer for the documentary, which airs on PBS and online starting July 29.

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Remaking the Middle East: Israel vs. Iran

July 29, 2025

Through the documentaries below, explore the evolution of the balance of power over the past five decades, Israel and Iran’s leaders and their dueling ambitions for the Middle East, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and its human toll, and the role of the United States.

Remaking the Middle East: Israel vs. Iran (2025)

This two-hour documentary examines Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s long campaign to destroy Iran’s nuclear capabilities and counter its proxy forces, the conflict with the Palestinians, Iran’s support of Hamas and how multiple U.S. presidents have tried to manage the volatile issues at play.

Syria After Assad (2025)

The ouster of Iran’s ally Bashar al-Assad in Syria marked a seismic geopolitical shift in the Middle East. This documentary examined what led up to that realignment; Syria’s uncertain future under its new leader, jihadist-turned-statesman Ahmad al-Sharaa; and how neighboring Israel reacted to Assad’s fall and al-Sharaa’s rise.

A Year of War: Israelis and Palestinians (2024)

Released in October 2024, this documentary followed people directly impacted by the Hamas attack and the war in Gaza as they shared harrowing experiences with death, despair and continuing trauma. In the film, Israelis described what it was like to experience the deadliest day for Jews since World War II as the Oct. 7 attacks unfolded, with around 1,200 people killed, 5,000 injured and 251 taken hostage. And in Gaza, where more than 50,000 people have reportedly been killed in Israel’s retaliation against Hamas, Palestinians described — and recorded — the horrors of large-scale devastation.

Netanyahu, America & the Road to War in Gaza (2024)

This documentary presented a sweeping examination of critical moments over the course of the past three decades that led up to the Oct. 7 attack and the war in Gaza, and Netanyahu’s pivotal role. The film took an incisive look at the long history of failed peace efforts and violent conflict in the region ​​— and the increasing tensions between Israel and its ally, the U.S., over the war’s catastrophic toll and what might come next.

Israel’s Second Front (2024)

As regional tensions rose amid the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza and clashes with Iran-backed Hezbollah militants, this investigation examined rising support for militant groups, including Hamas, in the occupied West Bank since the Oct. 7 attack, Israel’s military campaign there, and the implications for a region on edge.

Failure at the Fence (2023)

This documentary with The Washington Post took a close look at how Hamas was able to breach Israel’s vaunted security barrier and carry out the attack that ignited the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza.

Inside the Iranian Uprising (2023)

This documentary went inside an uprising that rocked Iran after the death of a young woman in police custody — and shed light on a regime under unprecedented pressure. The film featured the harrowing stories of protestors and examined the lengths to which the regime of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei went to put down the uprising.

Our Man in Tehran (2018)

In this two-part documentary series, New York Times correspondent Thomas Erdbrink shared a rare journey into a private Iran often at odds with its conservative clerics and leaders. The series offered surprising encounters inside the closed society of Iran, as Iranians revealed the intricacies of their private worlds and the challenges of living under theocratic leaders.

Bitter Rivals: Iran and Saudi Arabia (2018)

This two-part documentary series investigated how a dangerous political rivalry between Iran and Saudi Arabia plunged the Middle East into sectarian war. It featured on-the-ground reporting from inside Iran and Saudi Arabia, as well as Yemen, Iraq, Pakistan, Syria and Lebanon.

Netanyahu at War (2016)

This documentary detailed the events that defined the worldview of the long-serving Israeli prime minister and propelled his political rise. The film traced his path to power, his combative relationships with multiple U.S. presidents, and the implications in America and the Middle East.

Shattered Dreams of Peace: The Road From Oslo (2002)

A seminal documentary from FRONTLINE, this film examined how the Israeli-Palestinian peace process begun at Oslo was derailed and ultimately undone by the dynamics of politics and violence on both sides. It also examined the U.S. role in the peace process. The documentary included interviews with key figures from both sides of the negotiating table, including Netanyahu, then-president of the Palestinian Authority Yasser Arafat, then-senior negotiator for the Palestinian Authority Saeb Erekat and former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak.

Explore more FRONTLINE reporting on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and other players and conflicts in the Middle East.