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As war spreads across Lebanon and Iran, the U.S. and Israel claim they are making progress. But on the ground, the picture looks far more complicated. After a supposed pause in fighting and failed negotiations, Israel escalated dramatically, launching massive strikes on Beirut while continuing its ground invasion in southern Lebanon.  At the same time, Iran has held firm in negotiations, raising questions about whether Washington’s strategy is working. So who’s actually winning? In this episode of Dispatches, Rania Khalek speaks with journalist Jon Elmer of The Electronic Intifada to break down the military realities: -Israel’s war in south Lebanon and the battle for Bint Jbeil -Hezbollah’s resurgence and military capabilities -The U.S.-Israel strategy against Iran -What the failed negotiations reveal -Whether this war is escalating toward a second phase

As Israel escalates its war on Lebanon, one narrative dominates: that Hezbollah is the cause of the conflict. But that story erases decades of history. Long before Hezbollah existed, southern Lebanon was already a frontline of anti-colonial struggle led by Palestinian fighters, Lebanese leftists, and marginalized communities resisting Israeli aggression and internal neglect. In this episode of Dispatches, Rania Khalek speaks with scholar Nate George about: THE ORIGINS OF RESISTANCE IN SOUTH LEBANON THE ROLE OF THE LEBANESE LEFT AND THE PLO HOW ISRAEL, THE US, AND REGIONAL POWERS CRUSHED THAT MOVEMENT THE SHIFT FROM SECULAR REVOLUTION TO ISLAMIST RESISTANCE WHY HEZBOLLAH EMERGED — AND WHAT IT REPLACED This conversation challenges the dominant narrative and reveals a deeper truth: 🎥 The full episode is available to Breakthrough News members. Become a member at: https://www.patreon.com/BreakThroughNews

Donald Trump has issued a shocking ultimatum to Iran: submit, or face the destruction of its civilian infrastructure and the total devastation of the country within hours. As Washington and Tel Aviv escalate their war threats, Iran says it will retaliate in kind with potentially catastrophic consequences for Israel, the Gulf, and the wider region. Meanwhile, Israel continues its assault across the region: threatening Tehran with the Dahieh doctrine, demanding unilateral disarmament from every force that resists it, and pushing Lebanon toward collapse and capitulation. To break down what this moment means, Rania Khalek is joined by Mouin Rabbani, co-editor of Jadaliyya. They discuss: Trump’s ultimatum and the threat of massive war crimes against Iran Iran’s response and what Tehran is demanding The US-Israeli divide over war aims How the Strait of Hormuz could become Washington’s Suez Israel’s campaign for regional military supremacy Lebanon, displacement, and the attempted “Shia Nakba” Whether Israel’s regional hegemony is beginning to crack What this war reveals about American decline The global costs of Israel’s unchecked power

The U.S.-Israeli war on Iran has entered its second month, and despite repeated assassinations, attacks on infrastructure, and growing civilian casualties, Iran has not collapsed. Meanwhile, Donald Trump is threatening to take Iran “back to the Stone Age,” floating the seizure of oil infrastructure, Kharg Island, and even a military reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, all while claiming negotiations may be underway. So what is actually happening inside Iran? Is Tehran looking for a way out, or preparing for a longer war? How is Iranian society responding to mounting destruction and civilian targeting? And what would any eventual settlement mean for Lebanon and the wider region? To discuss all this, Rania Khalek is joined by Foad Izadi, Associate Professor of World Studies at the University of Tehran. Support independent media, become a Breakthrough News member today:  Patreon.com/BreakthroughNews

Journalist and lawyer Dimitri Lascaris just returned from Iran, where he traveled from Tehran to the Strait of Hormuz, witnessing firsthand the impact of the US-Israeli war. From hospitals treating the wounded to the world’s most important oil chokepoint, Lascaris saw a side of this war that Western media is barely covering. The Strait of Hormuz is one of the most critical waterways on earth, responsible for a massive share of global energy flows.  But today, it has become a frontline in a rapidly escalating conflict. Trump says only with its opening would he consider a ceasefire. In this episode of Dispatches, Rania Khalek speaks with Dimitri Lascaris about: What he witnessed inside Iran during wartimeThe situation on the ground at the Strait of HormuzCivilian infrastructure and the human toll of the warWhether US and Israeli actions constitute war crimesHow Iran is responding and what comes nextThis is a rare, on-the-ground account from inside a country under attack. You can follow Dimitri’s work on his YouTube channel Reason2Resist https://www.youtube.com/@reason2resist  Support independent media, become a Breakthrough News member today:  Patreon.com/BreakthroughNews

Speaking from Tehran, Al Jazeera correspondent and columnist Ali Hashem explains how Iran, Lebanon, Yemen, and Iraq are all part of a single, interconnected battlefield, a coordinated confrontation between the axis of resistance and the United States and Israel. That means what happens in Lebanon is directly tied to what happens in Iran, and vice versa. Despite months of attacks, Hezbollah remains operational and has restored its ability to strike deep into Israel, underscoring that this front is far from contained. At the same time, the war is becoming increasingly unpredictable. With no clear endgame and contradictory signals coming from Washington, both sides appear to be embracing escalation, what some describe as a “madman strategy”, signaling they are willing to go to the brink with no limits. So what happens when multiple fronts become one war? And what happens when no one is playing by predictable rules? Support independent media, become a Breakthrough News member today:  Patreon.com/BreakthroughNews

As the U.S.–Israeli war on Iran escalates into a second month, the situation is becoming increasingly unpredictable and uncontrollable. Iranian missiles are hitting Israeli targets at higher rates than expected, while the U.S. is deploying massive firepower, including 2,000-pound bombs. At the same time, conflicting signals are emerging from Washington, with reports that Trump may be seeking an off-ramp even as the war intensifies. So what is the strategy? Who is actually winning? And how far could this go? In this episode of Dispatches, Rania Khalek speaks with Trita Parsi to break down: -The real military balance in the war -Whether the U.S. has a coherent strategy -Iran’s position and whether it’s overplaying its hand -The risk of regional escalation -And whether there is any off-ramp left

As Israel expands its war across the region, Lebanon is once again in the crosshairs. Israeli officials are openly calling for pushing the border to the Litani River, annexing southern Lebanon, and preventing displaced civilians from returning. At the same time, the country is being bombed, depopulated, and pushed toward internal collapse. So what is Israel actually trying to achieve? In this episode of Dispatches, Rania Khalek speaks with Karim Makdisi, co-host of the Makdisi Street podcast and Associate Professor of International Politics at the American University of Beirut. They discuss:  -Israel’s long-term ambitions in southern Lebanon -Whether this is a plan for annexation or permanent control -Hezbollah’s actual strength after 2024 -Lebanon’s internal divisions and the role of the army -The risk of civil strife and regional escalation This isn’t Israel’s first invasion of Lebanon, but the stakes may be higher than ever.

The United States and Israel are pushing the region toward a dangerous escalation with Iran, threatening strikes on energy infrastructure and even raising the possibility of a ground invasion. But Iran isn’t backing down. As the war expands across the region and the global economy, the risk of a wider conflict is growing by the day. So what is the real strategy here? Is this brinkmanship, or the early stages of a war that could spiral far beyond anyone’s control? Have the U.S. and Israel fundamentally misjudged Iran? Rania Khalek is joined by Mohammad Marandi, professor at the University of Tehran, to break it all down.

In week 4 of the U.S.-Israeli war of aggression on Iran, the global economy has been pushed to the brink.  Iran’s disruption of the Strait of Hormuz shows just how key it is to global energy markets, supply chains, and food systems, putting millions at risk. So what happens when the U.S. no longer has a monopoly on economic coercion? Has Trump overplayed his hand? Are we witnessing the limits of American power and the beginning of a more chaotic global order? To break it all down, Rania Khalek is joined by Marxist economist Prabhat Patnaik, professor emeritus at Jawaharlal Nehru University and co-author of Capital and Imperialism: Theory, History, and the Present.

Three weeks into the war on Iran, the conflict is expanding more than ever. The Strait of Hormuz is closed, energy infrastructure is under attack, and U.S. bases are increasingly vulnerable. Israel and Washington are escalating. According to Middle East expert Vali Nasr, this is actually all part of Iran's strategy. Iran isn’t trying to win quickly. To “win” is to survive — and for that it wants to make the war longer, more expensive, and politically unsustainable for the United States. In this conversation with Rania Khalek, Nasr explains: -Why Trump gets weaker the longer the war extends -How energy and Hormuz became the central battlefield -What Washington fundamentally miscalculated -Why regime change is unlikely -The role of Hezbollah, the Houthis, and Iraqi factions -And whether any real off-ramp still exists -If this war continues, the consequences won’t just be regional, they will be global.

Israel has expanded its war across the region, bombing Lebanon and Iran while preparing a potential ground invasion into southern Lebanon. Israeli officials claim the goal is simply to create a “buffer zone” for security. But many Israeli politicians and commentators are openly discussing something much bigger: territorial expansion to the Litani River and beyond. This is not about security, it’s part of much longer historical Greater Israel project On this live episode of Dispatches, Rania Khalek is joined by historian Zachary Foster to examine the long history of Israeli invasions of Lebanon, the ideological roots of the “Greater Israel” concept, and how the Gaza model of destruction is now spreading across the region.

The war between the U.S., Israel, and Iran could send shockwaves through the global economy. Energy markets, shipping routes, fertilizer supply, and cloud infrastructure are all at risk. Even a short disruption could drive inflation, food shortages, and economic instability worldwide. Rania Khalek speaks with economist Yanis Varoufakis, former Finance Minister of Greece, about why this conflict could become one of the most economically disruptive wars in decades.

As war between Iran, Israel, and the United States escalates, what’s actually happening on the battlefield, and how is the conflict being viewed inside the U.S. military itself? On this live episode of Dispatches, Rania Khalek is joined by two guests to break down both the military realities of the war and the growing opposition to it inside the United States. Jon Elmer, contributing editor at The Electronic Intifada, joins the show to analyze the military dynamics of the US-Israeli war on Iran — including Iran’s strategy, the effectiveness of Israeli and U.S. defenses, and who appears to have the strategic advantage so far. Then Mike Prysner, Executive Director of the Center on Conscience and War and a U.S. Army veteran, discusses widespread opposition to war on Iran among American soldiers and what it reveals about morale, public opinion, and the limits of U.S. war-making power.

As Israel expands its war on Iran and U.S. officials float the possibility of American boots on the ground, what is really happening behind the headlines? Iran expert at Johns Hopkins Vali Nasr joins Rania Khalek to explain: Why Iran prepared for decapitation strikesWhy “regime collapse” is far from guaranteedHow global oil supplies “have become a battlefield” Why Trump may already be looking for an off-rampThe growing divide between U.S. and Israeli war goalsThe chances this conflict could spiral into something far biggerNasr argues that Iran’s strategy isn’t to win quickly. It’s to make the war long, costly, and politically dangerous for Washington. If this is the “last battle” for Iran’s leadership, what does that mean for the region — and for the global economy?