Bill and Joe are joined again by FDD Senior Fellow and Iran expert Behnam Ben Taleblu to discuss the latest regional updates surrounding Israel's war against Hamas (and then some).

Bill and Joe are back with an update on Israel's now-resumed war in Gaza, and they're joined by FDD Senior Fellow and Hezbollah expert David Daoud. They discuss the latest activity from Hezbollah at Israel's border with Lebanon, U.S. funding to the Lebanese Armed Forces (a policy that Bill calls: "giving crack to a crackhead"), the pieces in play on the Islamic Republic of Iran's regional chessboard, and more.

In a slight detour from our Israel coverage, Bill and Caleb are joined by counterterrorism expert Sara Harmouch to discuss her recent article that sounds like it was written for Long War Journal but was actually written for War on the Rocks, called "Al-Qaeda: A Defeated Threat? Think Again."

They debunk the latest example of President Biden's insistence that al Qaeda no longer has a presence in Afghanistan and discuss how U.S. rejection of intelligence is neither new nor at odds with its dangerous habit of disconnecting dots pertaining not least of all to al Qaeda.

Bill and Joe are back with an update on the latest from Israel and Gaza, starting with the release by Hamas of hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held in Israel amidst the backdrop of a still-holding ceasefire.

They're also joined again by FDD Senior Fellow and Iran expert Behnam Ben Taleblu to unpack the latest regional aggression covered with Tehran's fingerprints, including more missiles fired at U.S. and Israeli assets in the region (and why one incident last week was actually a "game-changer") as well as the latest string of maritime hijackings off the coast of Yemen.

Bill and Joe discuss the ceasefire agreement and expected hostage exchange.

Bill and Joe are back for an update on the latest headlines stemming from Israel's war in Gaza. They check in on where things stand with Shifa, do a multi-front around the horn to catch up on Gaza, the West Bank, and the northern front with Lebanon and Syria. They also discuss the insanity that is media coverage of Gaza.

Bill is back with, plot twist, his long-lost cohost Caleb. They tell you how they really feel about Gen Zs lionizing Osama bin Laden on TikTok and then do an around the horn update on how jihadi groups around the world have (or have not) responded to the war in Gaza.

Bill and Joe are back for an update on Israel's ground incursion into Gaza, and they're again joined by their FDD colleague and Iran expert Behnam Ben Taleblu to provide a deeper, more nuanced analysis on Tehran's role as puppet master to the various terrorist groups in play.

Bill and Joe are back with an update on Israel's ground offensive inside Gaza. They're joined by FDD's David May to discuss international pressure on Israel, trajectories and timelines, rumors about reporters from western outlets receiving tips and then traveling into Israel alongside Hamas on October 7, and more.

Bill and Joe are back to discuss the latest from Israel's ground offensive in Gaza, including the established civilian corridor. They talk about Netanyahu's recent remarks — and Nasrallah's. They also debunk the latest "attempted Abbas assassination" rumors.

Bill and Joe provide a mid-week update on Israel and Gaza — including Joe’s key takeaway from today’s IDF conference call, IDF tactics on the ground inside Gaza (particularly related to the tunnels), Hezbollah propaganda ahead of Hassan Nasrallah’s Friday speech, and more. 

FDD's Behnam Ben Taleblu is back on the show with Bill and Joe for an update on the latest from Israel and Gaza.

The war goes on; rockets are still raining down on central Israel (including Jerusalem) while Israel continues targeting Hamas leaders in Gaza. But...

Breaking today and over the weekend:

• Israeli boots are now on the ground inside Gaza. There was also some IDF activity in Jenin inside the West Bank.
• Iran's President Raisi said in a statement that "the Zionist regime's crimes have crossed the red lines which may force everyone to take action."
• While Lebanese Hezbollah is still keeping things at a simmer just below the threshold of all-out war, other Iran-backed militias in Iraq and Syria are very much in the game. Some are even firing at U.S. forces in the region.

Bill, Joe, and Behnam unpack these and related news.

Bill and Joe are back with an update on the latest from Israel and Gaza. Today they're also joined by their FDD colleague and Turkey expert, Sinan Ciddi, to unpack just how deep Turkey's relationship is with Hamas.

Bill and Joe are joined again by FDD's Behnam Ben Taleblu to catch up on and unpack the latest from Israel and Gaza as of mid-afternoon (ET) on Wednesday, October 25, 2023.

Bill and Joe talk through the latest headlines surrounding Israel and Gaza as of late afternoon (ET) on Monday, October 23, 2023.

At almost two weeks (!) into the war, we remain on standby for Israel's anticipated ground invasion of Gaza and continue to watch Israel's northern border for more activity from Hezbollah.

And to complicate the already complicated: an incident yesterday on the Red Sea marked the first active engagement by the U.S. in this ongoing war, when the USS Carney shot down missiles fired by Iran-backed Houthis.

So for today's briefing, Bill and Joe called in their FDD colleague and top expert on Iran, Behnam Ben Taleblu. 

Bill and Joe convene (plot twist: in-person) to discuss the latest from Israel at war — including the explosion at the hospital in Gaza.

(Episode material up to date as of late morning/early afternoon ET on Wednesday, October 18.)

Bill and Joe give an update on the latest from Israel as of later morning/early afternoon (ET) on October 15, 2023.

Bill and Joe give another update on the latest developments from Israel almost one week into the war.

Bill and Joe discuss the latest news surrounding the war against Israel on Wednesday, October 11, 2023.