Generation Jihad

Bill and Behnam unpack the details they’ve been able to gather so far surrounding the U.S. and UK-led coalition strike against Houthi targets inside Yemen and whether this will restore deterrence. Accurate preview courtesy of Behnam: “We like to say ‘freaky Fridays’ here [we do not] — it can’t get freakier than the first-ever, historic use of force since October 7 by the U.S. and UK against the Houthis.”

Joe just returned from Israel and joins Bill to share insights from his trip which included a sobering visit to Nir Oz, one of the kibbutz communities along the Gaza border that was brutally attacked by Hamas on October 7, 2023. Included in Joe’s haunting description of a scene “almost untouched since October 7” and frozen in time: “There’s still blood on the ground. There’s still blood on the walls. There’s glass everywhere. You can still smell burnt wood; a lot of these homes were burned with people still inside of them. There is still the smell of death.” His visit was also marked by the constant hum of heavy artillery and gunfire, apache helicopters, and the incessant buzzing of drones (AKA “the lawnmower of the sky”). Also discussed: being on sustained high-alert for shelling from rockets, mortars, and drones; spending time at Israel’s northern border with Lebanon to observe Israel’s management of the Hezbollah threat; takeaways from conversations with Israelis — from cab drivers to government officials — about the resolve of Israelis and the still-standing solidarity between them, whether or not they share the Biden administration’s insatiable appetite for a ceasefire, and why one Israeli official told him that on October 7, “Israel shrunk.”

Bill and Behnam unpack this week's headlines from the Middle East, including the assassination of Hamas deputy Saleh al-Arouri; the U.S. strike that killed Iran-backed militia commander Abu Taqwa Al-Saedi in Iraq (and subsequent drama with the Iraqi government); the U.S.-led coalition dubbed Prosperity Guardian’s “final warning” to the Houthis; and the ISIS bombings at a memorial in Kerman, Iran for slain IRGC-QF commander Qassim Suleimani.

Bill and Behnam are back for what has been dubbed by Behnam as the first and last Freaky Friday of 2023 to discuss news of an alleged Israeli assassination of an IRGC general, context of U.S.-launched strikes against the Hezbollah Brigades after the group targeted U.S. forces at an airbase in Erbil, the latest string of Houthi maritime attacks (remember Operation Prosperity Guardian… yeah…), and the painful irony of a million dollar missile shooting down a thousand-dollar drone, AKA Iran’s asymmetrical warfare strategy. 

Discussion on the controversial Operation Prosperity Guardian and the countries involved. Exploration of Houthi tactics, Iran's military means for political goals, escalating tensions between US and Iran, and concerns regarding striking in Iranian territory.

Discussion on the formation of Operation Prosperity Guardian to counter Houthi threat. Formation of multinational coalition and absence of certain nations. Analysis of US treatment by Saudi Arabia and UAE, and India's neutrality. Exploration of US standing, unreliable allies, and vulnerabilities. Challenges faced in Afghanistan and limitations on providing assistance. Speculation on the mission of Operation Prosperity Guardian and concerns about escalation.

Bill and Joe discuss the latest issues emanating from Israel's defensive war in Gaza, including the tragic death of the three Israeli hostages mistakenly shot by IDF soldiers, the massive labyrinth of tunnels continuing to be discovered by the IDF and controversy surrounding the decision to flood them, and use by Hamas of suicide bombers — Joe explains why one case is different.

The podcast discusses the politics of diplomacy in the Middle East, including recent trips and statements by key players. They examine the US administration's support for Israel and its implications on Arab and Muslim countries. The speakers also explore the brutal nature of war and the ongoing conflict in Gaza. Additionally, they analyze the impact of the war on Middle Eastern partners and discuss the lack of a political diplomatic strategy in the region.

Seth Frantzman, a senior Middle East correspondent, shares his first-hand account of the war in Israel, discussing the chaos, confusion, and mobilization of reserves. He also examines the IDF operations in Gaza, reflects on witnessing the violence and shifting normalcy in Israel, and explores Israeli perspectives on the hostage situation.

Bill and Joe discuss the latest surrounding Israel at war after the resumption of fighting one week ago and since Israel's expansion of its ground incursion into southern Gaza.