Generation Jihad
The war against Islamic Jihadism is defining generations. It was our father’s war, it’s our war, and will most likely be our children’s war. The FDD's Long War Journal team has been researching and reporting for over two decades on the jihadists fueling this terror. “Generation Jihad” features LWJ Editors Bill Roggio and Caleb Weiss as they diagnose the black and white motivations behind the world’s most notorious terrorists, report on their expanding malign activities, and offer their prescriptions for confronting the multi-generational menace that is Islamic Jihadism.
Episodes
Gaza: Smoldering Battlefield?
Despite multiple attempts by Israel to quell the fighting in Gaza and decapitate their leadership, Hamas continues a guerilla-style resistance. The IDF now fights on three active fronts, Lebanon, Iran, and Gaza. But it’s perhaps the forgotten war in Gaza that could resume major hostilities if left unchecked. Bill speaks with FDD Research Analyst Samuel Ben-Ur about next steps in Gaza. Was Trump’s
The Next Caliphate Battleground
While attention remains fixed elsewhere, jihadist groups are expanding across Africa. Bill and Caleb revisit the growing threats in Mali, Nigeria, and Somalia—and why the continent remains one of the most consequential battlegrounds in the war against Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State.
Everybody Wants a McWar
Iran's military has been shattered. The Strait of Hormuz remains contested. Three months in, Bill and FDD's Jon Schanzer examine why quick victories are rare, patience is scarce, and this war is entering its most consequential phase yet.
Dune: The Brotherhood Jihad
Before Hamas. Before Al-Qaeda. Before the Islamic State. There was... (🥁)The Muslim Brotherhood. And for nearly a century, it has played the long game by building influence across the Middle East and even deep inside the West.But what exactly is it — a political movement? A terrorist organization? The ideological engine behind modern Islamism? Some combination?Bill is joined again by longtime frie
POV: FPV (or: "The Anarchist Cookbook of War")
Hezbollah's missiles may be depleted, but cheap FPV drones are changing the battlefield — slipping past defenses, targeting Israeli troops, and exposing a dangerous new vulnerability.Bill and David Daoud unpack Hezbollah’s drone evolution, the psychological warfare behind the footage, and why Israel may be drifting back toward the failed security zone dynamics of the past.
Iran's Nukes: Degraded but not Dead
Iran’s nuclear program is in ruins, but the threat is far from dead. Deputy Director of FDD's Non-Proliferation Program, Andrea Stricker and Bill dive into the desperate gamble Tehran is making at the negotiating table with the U.S. — and the terrifying chemical contingency they might be holding in reserve.
Gridlock at the Strait
The world’s most vital trade artery is under siege. As the U.S. launches "Project Freedom" to break the Iranian blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, global shipping remains in a chokehold. This week, Bill sits down with shipping expert Sal Mercogliano to break down the stalemate, the dual blockade, and the massive economic ripple effects threatening the global supply chain.
Strait Strategy
Tehran is shifting the battlefield from missiles to markets, turning the Strait of Hormuz into leverage and testing whether Washington will trade long-term strategy for short-term relief. Bill and Behnam discuss.
Can Fortress Bamako Hold?
Across Mali, jihadis are seizing territory, encircling the capital, and pushing a fragile regime toward collapse. Backed by a sprawling network and years in the making, Al-Qaeda’s Sahel affiliate has launched its most ambitious offensive yet—one that could redraw the map of West Africa. Bill and Caleb unpack.
Iran's Choke Point
Iran says it’s not in a rush to negotiate, but reality signals something else.Bill is joined by FDD senior fellow Miad Maleki — former U.S. Treasury sanctions architect — to break down why Tehran walked away from talks, what the Strait of Hormuz blockade is really doing, and why the regime may be under more pressure than at any point since 1979.
Define Destroyed
Bill joins fellow FDD colleagues, Cameron McMillan and Ryan Brobst, from the Center on Military and Political Power to reassess the combat objectives met by the U.S. military after seven weeks of engagement in the Iranian War. Can the Department of Defense stand by their robust claims about Iranian hardware destruction? And, will the recent naval blockade be the military operation that ultimately
Battle for the Strait
FDD Senior Fellow Edmund Fitton-Brown joins Bill to assess the current state of the Iran War. From the dual blockade in the Strait of Hormuz to the failed peace negotiations, they consider: why did Pakistan step up as mediator? Can Tehran stretch the Houthis for even more leverage in the Red Sea? Has the war pushed the Gulf States closer together?
Ceasefire or Long Game?
FDD Senior Fellow David Daoud and Bill examine the recent and fragile ceasefire in the ongoing Iran War. Will the fighting in southern Lebanon between Israel and Hezbollah break the peace, and has the Iranian resistance movement missed a golden opportunity?
Risky Raid Behind Enemy Lines
Bill and FDD Senior Analyst, Cameron McMillan, unravel the complex rescue of two US airmen shot down over Iran - including the strategic coordination and risks involved with the operation - as well as the current state of the Iranian ballistic missile program, and Tehran’s strategic adaptability amidst the dynamic conditions of this war.
Timeline after Timeline
FDD’s Janatan Sayeh is back with Bill for an update on the Iran war, including: the potential for concrete regime change, last night’s address by President Trump, rumored U.S.-Iran deliberations, the fragile balance of power on the ground, and the possibility of a popular uprising against the wounded Islamic Republic.
Tehran's proxies have entered the chat
As U.S. and Israeli strikes hit inside Iran, the regime is firing back outside its borders — and the war is expanding because of it. Iraqi militias target U.S. forces. The Gulf is under attack. The Houthis are back in the fight. This isn’t spillover — it’s strategy. Ahmad Sharawi and Bridget Toomey are back with Bill to assess Iran’s expanding proxy war — and the growing risk that America is fundi
The Kharg Island Trap
Kharg Island looks like the perfect target — take it, and you choke off Iran’s oil. But it’s not that simple.Bill is joined by Ryan Brobst and Cameron McMillan to discuss why seizing Kharg could hand Tehran exactly what it wants: a wider war, a vulnerable U.S. position, and a fight on the regime’s terms.
The Hormuz Shake(down)
Iran says the Strait of Hormuz is closed. It’s not.Ships are still moving. Oil is still flowing.Just not for everyone. Friends pass. Also anyone with millions of dollars to spare.Enemies don’t.This isn’t a blockade. It's a shakedown.Bill Roggio sits down with shipping expert Sal Mercogliano to break down Tehran’s latest act of war: turning the world’s most critical shipping chokepoint into lev
The regime falls when the people rise
The bombs are falling. The regime is reeling. But revolutions aren’t won from 30,000 feet.As Washington and Jerusalem pummel toward a mission accomplished, Bill is joined by FDD's Jon Schanzer to grapple with a harder question that looms: what happens if there’s no uprising when the bombing stops?
Games Without Frontiers
As pressure builds inside Iran, the regime is lashing out across the region.Bill Roggio, Joe Truzman, and David Daoud break down Tehran’s expanding battlefield from internal strain to external escalation and the question at the center of it all: Is this strength or a regime under stress trying to change the game before it loses control? Mentioned by BillWe didn't light it, but we tried to figh
When the most stable place in the Middle East is Syria...
As the US and Israel strike targets inside Iran’s borders, the regime is firing back outside of them. Across the region from tourist hubs and capital cities to energy infrastructure and U.S. military bases, Iranian attacks are dragging the region into the war and raising the cost of conflict. Ahmad Sharawi joins Bill to assess Tehran’s strategy and the threat it poses to Middle East stability — in
Day 14 of the Iran War
As U.S. and Israeli strikes pound Iran’s military and Tehran threatens shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, the conflict is entering a dangerous new phase. FDD’s Bradley Bowman joins Bill to break down what the strikes have achieved — and the harder question that remains: is the goal to weaken the regime… or bring it down?
Day 12 of the Iran War
After 12 days of war—and the death of Iran’s supreme leader—the Islamic Republic is under unprecedented pressure.Bill and Janatan Sayeh assess this initial phase of the war, the gap between Washington and Jerusalem’s goals, and the decisive question still looming over Tehran: will the Iranian people finish the job?
We didn't light it, but we tried to fight it.
For decades, many Americans believed conflict with the Islamic Republic would be a new war. But as Bill and Behnam explain, the truth is simpler: this war began in 1979 — with hostage-taking, terrorism, and a regime built on hostility toward the United States and its allies. Now, after the killing of Iran’s supreme leader and a campaign to dismantle Tehran’s missile arsenal — and as Iran widens th
Toppling Tehran
Bill and Edmund Fitton-Brown recorded this conversation before the U.S. and Israel conducted the military strikes inside the Islamic Republic that killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei.In it, they pondered the question that Washington was wrestling with at the time: should the U.S. strike Iran, and what would happen if it did? From whether airpower alone can truly cripple Iran’s nuclear and mis
Don't want the regime to have nukes? Eliminate the regime.
It’s day four of Operation Epic Fury. So... what's the strategy?Bill Roggio is joined by FDD military analyst Cameron McMillan to assess the objectives of the campaign, the forces now deployed across the region, and why destroying Iran’s weapons before they launch them may be the only way to protect American forces.
After decades of f*cking around, did Ayatollah Khamenei just find out?
Emerging reports following today's U.S. and Israeli military strikes on Iran suggest Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is dead.If true, is regime decapitation the opening salvo of the fall of the Islamic Republic? What happens next?David Daoud and Joe Truzman are back with Bill to unpack what we know, what we don’t know, and whether this is the moment that reshapes the Middle East.Indeed,
The Rise of Anti-Hamas Militias in Gaza
Bill and Joe discuss the emergence of anti-Hamas militias in Gaza, their dynamics, challenges, and the response from Hamas, highlighting the complexities of the situation in Gaza and the uncertain future of these militias in the broader context of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Can Washington Help Topple Tehran?
After slaughtering tens of thousands during a nationwide internet blackout — the bloodiest crackdown in the Islamic Republic’s history — the regime still stands.President Trump now has three options: negotiate, strike, or wait.Is this the moment to help finish what the 12-Day War started? Or would U.S. intervention only prolong the Long War? Can this regime fall without a true revolution — and how
The West’s greatest threat is still al Qaeda
In its latest report on the state of global jihad, the UN reveals that al-Qaeda is expanding — and one critical fact the report doesn't mention: al-Qaeda’s leader is based in Iran.Bill Roggio is joined by his FDD colleague Edmund Fitton-Brown — who previously oversaw the UN’s sanctions and monitoring team that produces these assessments — to unpack what the report gets right, what it misses, a
Big Yikes in Syria, Part XXXVII
In Part 37 of Big Yikes in Syria, Bill and Ahmad unpack yet another round of bad alliances and strategic failure in the war-torn country.
One Month of Protests in Iran
One month into the uprising in Iran, the regime is still killing.With the internet shut down, foreign militias unleashed on civilians, and reports of more than 30,000 dead, Tehran is waging a war on its own people.FDD's Janatan Sayeh joins Bill to share what he’s hearing directly from inside Iran, why this is no longer “just protests,” and what it will take to finally break the Islamic Republi
With Iran, Another "Failure of Imagination"
Three weeks into the largest uprising in the Islamic Republic’s history, the country has gone dark. With the internet shut down and security forces unleashed, thousands — possibly tens of thousands — of Iranians have been massacred in an unprecedented and brutal crackdown. Behnam Ben Taleblu joins Bill to unpack what this revolution means, why defections — not protests — are the real tipping point
Mark Dubowitz: The regime clings to its ninth life
After military defeat abroad and at home where the economy also has collapsed, the Islamic Republic is weaker than ever, and the Iranian people know it.The regime is facing a nationwide uprising unlike anything seen in decades with Iranians across class, age, and ideology back in the streets, and they’re no longer asking for reform. They’re demanding an end to the Islamic Republic itself. Meanwhil
Nicolás and Cilia Take Manhattan
In a lightning-fast U.S. military raid, Venezuela's Nicolás Maduro and his wife were captured in Caracas, arrested, and transported to the United States, sending shockwaves across Latin America and far beyond. Bill is joined by Sam Ben-Ur to unpack the raid and the intelligence behind it, what comes next when the dictator is gone, but the regime remains — and why Bill says "the ayatollah m
Regime Squeeze
Iran is erupting again — and this time, the protests are openly anti-regime. Strikes are spreading, nationalist slogans are surging, and the Islamic Republic’s margin for control is shrinking. Guest host Behnam Ben Taleblu is joined by Janatan Sayeh and Navid Mohebbi to discuss what’s driving the unrest and what (dwindling) options the regime still has. The Iran protest resources you need:We'r
Home Alone 3: Lost in Nigeria?
On Christmas Day, the United States launched airstrikes against Islamic State targets in northwest Nigeria, framed as a response to jihadist violence and the persecution of Christians. But did Washington hit the right enemy? In the right place? For the right reasons? Bill and Caleb analyze the known knowns of the strike, including who was targeted and who wasn’t — and why the operation may have be
Better Call Sharaa
After two American soldiers are killed in Syria, Washington responds (not with hard questions). Same war. Same mistake. Same tragic — and avoidable — consequences. In a solo rant, Bill Roggio dismantles the official story behind Operation Hawkeye, exposes the jihadist reality of Syria’s “security forces,” and ponders why the U.S. is (again) covering for al Qaeda–linked entities and calling it coun
Fighting terror with terror
According to the Taliban's self-assessment (what could go wrong), Afghanistan is "stable" — but according to reality, it's not. Terrorist groups still operate openly, al-Qaeda remains embedded, and the same extremists are now being trusted to “fight” other extremists.Bill Roggio and Edmund Fitton-Brown break down why outsourcing counterterrorism to jihadists is a fatal mistake — an
"Trust Me, Bro" and The Art of Verification
Bill is joined by Caleb Weiss to dissect the recently-viral claim that Osama bin Laden’s son, Hamza bin Laden (the one President Trump had previously announced was killed in a U.S. counterterrorism operation several years ago), is alive and secretly leading al-Qaeda from Afghanistan.
O Muslim Brotherhood, Where Aren't Thou?
In a seismic policy shift after decades of Western indifference, the Trump administration has moved to designate key chapters of the Muslim Brotherhood as terrorist organizations.Bill is joined by FDD’s Edmund Fitton-Brown, who explains why this first round of designations is just the opening salvo — and how pulling this initial thread could eventually unravel the Brotherhood’s sprawling global ne
Hezbollahi: Gotta Catch ‘Em All
A precision strike in southern Beirut wiped out Haitham al-Tabataba’i, Hezbollah’s chief of staff, longtime military leader, and architect of its elite Radwan force. He was also the man overseeing Hezbollah’s post-ceasefire rearmament. Bill is joined by FDD’s David Daoud and Joe Truzman to unpack who Tabataba’i was, why the Israelis chose to strike now and what it means for Hezbollah’s failed rege
Don't Call it a Peace Deal
Ceasefire on paper. Chaos on the ground. Trump’s 20-point plan promises “peace” in Gaza — but Hamas is already violating the ceasefire, gaming hostage returns, killing rivals, and rearming in tunnels.Bill is joined by his FDD colleagues Samuel Ben-Ur and Aaron Goren to discuss why disarming Hamas is a fantasy, why an international force risks becoming UNIFIL 2.0, and why Israel may be forced to fi
Syria's George Washington?
Washington is rolling out the red carpet for Abu Mohammad al-Jolani, now “President Shara.” Bill Roggio and Edmund Fitton-Brown ask the hard question: why is a former al-Qaeda leader who oversaw massacres and foreign-terror networks suddenly treated like Syria’s George Washington? They unpack the risks, the Taliban déjà vu, and what this means for Israel, minorities, and the next phase of the long
"Belligerent Occupation"
Bill and David Daoud examine how Israel’s near-daily strikes on Hezbollah barely register in the West while even minor flare-ups in Gaza seemingly become a global crisis. They unpack why Lebanon’s decades of incompetence paved the way for Hezbollah entrenchment and failed statehood — and Western exhaustion, which may help explain why the “belligerent occupation” narrative remains strong in Gaza.
Wheel of Jihad
Will the next phase of the Long War erupt inside a nuclear-armed state?The Taliban, a monster Islamabad built but can’t control, is waging a war against Pakistan — and it shouldn’t surprise anyone. After decades of Islamabad playing both arsonist and firefighter — nurturing the Taliban, harboring al Qaeda, and weaponizing jihad against India — Bill Roggio and Tom Joscelyn reunite to dissect why th
What's up with Friday prayers in Iran?
Guest host Behnam Ben Taleblu and FDD’s Janatan Sayeh delve into the complexities of Iran's internal politics, implications of the recent 12-day war, and ongoing discussions surrounding the truth about the Islamic Republic’s nuclear ambitions. They unpack the regime's strategies, the impact of social media on public perception, and the challenges faced by regime leadership in maintaining “
Unfinished Business
There’s a ceasefire in Gaza — not a peace deal. Hamas won’t disarm, the Houthis won’t quit, and Iran’s already rebuilding. Bill Roggio and Edmund Fitton-Brown unpack the unfinished wars still burning from Yemen to Tehran and trace the next fronts in this Long War.
Turkey (and Syria) Time
Bill Roggio, Sinan Ciddi, and Ahmad Sharawi discuss the brewing fight between Erdogan's Turkey, the SDF, and Sharaa’s Syria.
Two Years into Israel's Long War
Two years after the Iran-backed, Hamas-led attack against Israel on October 7, 2023, Israel remains locked into a multi-front, defensive war against the Islamic Republic and its patrons — including Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis. Bill Roggio and Joe Truzman look back at how 10/7 reshaped the region, what’s surprised them most, and why the conflict is far from over.
Shilling for Sharaa
Ahmad Sharawi is back with Bill to discuss the ongoing Sharaa spectacle, from massacres whitewashed and sanctions lifted with no conditions to foreign fighters handed Syrian citizenship — in its rush to embrace him, is the West willfully ignoring Sharaa’s blood-soaked past?
SATC: Sharaa and the City
Ahmed al-Sharaa used to be known as Abu Mohammed al-Julani — al Qaeda’s man in Syria. Now he’s known as the president of Syria. He’s in New York City this week, headlining the UN General Assembly (UNGA), fraternizing with world leaders and meeting with senior Trump administration officials like Secretary of State Marco Rubio. He was even hosted by a prominent think-tank for a fireside chat with Ge
Back to Bagram?
Four years after America’s chaotic retreat from Afghanistan, President Trump has said he wants U.S. forces back at Bagram — or as Bill and Tom call it: a fantasy. They explain why the Taliban will never allow it, China wouldn’t tolerate it, and Washington still hasn’t learned. From Doha to Abbey Gate, they retrace how America’s exit empowered jihadists—and why talk of going back is pure madness.
Israel's Long War expands
Bill is joined by Joe Truzman and David Daoud to dissect Israel’s high-risk strike in Qatar that targeted senior Hamas leaders, including how it missed its top target, the blowback across the region, and what it might mean for the future of the Abraham Accords. They also assess the latest Israeli strikes on Hezbollah and IRGC targets in Lebanon as Israel's Long War expands.
Israel’s decapitation strike in Yemen
Israel’s biggest strike yet on the Houthis killed 12 ministers — including their prime minister — signaling a major intelligence breakthrough in Yemen.Bill is joined again by Brad Bowman and Bridget Toomey to break down what this means for Israel’s fight against Iran’s Axis of Resistance, why targeting leaders (“the archers”) matters more than just shooting down missiles, and how the Red Sea confl
Kyiv’s crossroads: Bad peace or no peace
President Trump’s red-carpet meeting with Vladimir Putin in Alaska followed with talks to Zelensky and European leaders could reshape the war in Ukraine. Bill is joined by Brad Bowman and John Hardie to unpack these meetings—from Putin’s demands and whether Washington risks handing Moscow a “bad peace,” to Ukraine’s manpower crisis and whether a ceasefire would buy Kyiv time or lock in defeat.
Israel's Gaza gambit, Lebanon's disarm dilemma
Israel’s push into Gaza City could decide the war’s next phase. Bill Roggio, Joe Truzman, and David Daoud unpack the high-stakes offensive and discuss the IDF’s manpower crunch, international backlash, Hamas’ refusal to disarm, and in Lebanon: Hezbollah warns of sectarian war if the government moves to disarm it.
Ballots, bullets and bylines
In this co-host takeover, Joe Truzman and David Daoud cut through the very loud noises emanating from Beirut and Gaza — from Israel’s controversial killing of an Al Jazeera reporter it accused of Hamas ties to Lebanon’s unprecedented and ambitious push to disarm Hezbollah.
The Gaza gambit
Bill, Joe, and David unpack Israel’s controversial decision to occupy Gaza City nearly two years into the war. From the absence of a viable “day after” plan and the Arab world’s refusal to police the Strip to the political, military, and diplomatic costs of Israel enmeshing itself deeper into Gaza, they examine whether or not this move can actually weaken Hamas.
New UN report on state of global jihad
Bill is joined by Caleb Weiss and Edmund Fitton Brown to analyze the UN's latest Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team report on the evolving threats posed by Al-Qaeda and ISIS — from their current state and leadership to the geopolitical influences at play and strategic significance of areas like Syria, Iraq, and Somalia.
Mapping the chaos in Syria
Behnam, David, and Ahmad unpack the ongoing tensions in Syria and the country’s political landscape, the role of the Druze community, Iranian influence, Israel’s military strategy, and the broader implications for Israel and the United States.
Syria's Turmoil
Bill, Joe and Ahmad cut through the social media smokescreen surrounding Suwayda’s Druze‑Bedouin clashes, from shifting loyalties to regime reprisals, as well as unpack Israel’s Gaza City offensive.
The post‑12‑day war chessboard
Bill and Edmund Fitton‑Brown break down the post‑12‑day war chessboard: Houthis, Hezbollah, and Tehran’s other proxies—what they’ve learned, and where to anticipate the next flashpoint.
Another quiet week for the Houthis, Syria, etc.
Bill, Ahmad, and Bridget unpack this week's biggest headlines out of the Middle East, including Druze militias overrunning Soweda as Israeli jets blast Damascus; anonymous drones torching Kurdish oilfields and U.S. posts; Yemeni forces intercepting 750 tons of Iranian arms—and more.
Loose Ceasefires Sink Ships
The Houthis are back at it—sinking ships, killing civilians, and holding crews hostage in the Red Sea. Bill is joined by his FDD colleagues Bridget Toomey and Bradley Bowman to unpack the details and discuss why Iran-backed proxies keep getting away with it—including how the U.S. “ceasefire” deal may have emboldened them. Also: Where’s Europe? And why does everyone seem more afraid of offending Te
Does helping Ukraine help us?
Does arming Ukraine come at the expense of our military readiness—or is it an investment in it?Bill asks his FDD colleague and military expert Bradley Bowman to set the record straight on what it really takes for the US to defeat its enemies in the long war — and why deterring China, Russia, and Iran simultaneously is essential for American national security.From munitions math and Pentagon priori
From war crimes to White House visits?
Bill is joined by (most of) the Generation Jihad crew to unpack a few headlines like: Hamas is murdering aid workers, the US is delisting a former al Qaeda franchise, and the Houthis are back to bombing ships. They discuss how we got here and why terrorists around the region have every reason to feel emboldened.
A word with the last Afghan general
Nearly four years after Kabul fell, the Taliban remain entrenched—and the resistance is fragmented, under-resourced, and increasingly demoralized. General Hibatullah Alizai, the last Chief of General Staff of the Afghan army, joins Bill Roggio and Will Selber to discuss the anti-Taliban fight, internal Taliban rifts, and why the US and its allies risk repeating their worst mistakes.
From Al-Qaeda to the Abraham Accords?
From Trump’s decision to lift sanctions on Syria to whispers of folding Damascus into the Abraham Accords, Syria’s new leader, Ahmad al Sharaa—an ex–al Qaeda commander—now finds himself near the center of America's diplomatic efforts in the region. Can a former jihadi become a US-backed peace partner? Are we seriously having this conversation again? Yes, and joining Bill to have it are his FDD
Damage Assessment: Iran's Nuclear Program (featuring Andrea Stricker)
The U.S. and Israel just hit Iran’s nuclear program hard — but how much damage did they really do? Bill is joined by his FDD colleague and nuclear expert Andrea Stricker to discuss what was destroyed, what might have survived, whether Tehran’s nuclear program is dead or just delayed — as well as the intelligence, the spin, and why the Mossad and IAEA may hold the real answers.
The very, very long war
In this explosive episode of Generation Jihad, Bill Roggio and Thomas Joscelyn unpack one of the most chaotic weekends in the post-9/11 war on terror: U.S. forces' strike on Iranian nuclear facilities, Tehran's retaliation on CENTCOM’s forward base in Qatar, and Trump's sudden ceasefire declaration.
The Pentagon's plot twist
In an historic move following defanging efforts by the Israelis, the U.S. dropped multiple massive ordinance penetrators ("MOPs") on three nuclear facilities inside Iran this weekend. Tehran has just retaliated with strikes on the U.S. base in Qatar. Bill Roggio and Brad Bowman discuss.
Tehran's bluff has been called.
A new chapter in Israel's long war
Israel has launched a massive, coordinated strike campaign against Iran—targeting nuclear facilities, ballistic missile infrastructure, and senior regime officials. The entire Generation Jihad team convenes to break down what’s been hit, who’s been killed, why Israel chose this moment to act, and how one thing is clear: the long shadow war between Israel and Iran has just gone overt—and it may onl
New strategy in Gaza, who dis
Bill, David, and Ahmad discuss recent news that Israel is quietly arming a militia in Gaza to challenge Hamas. Drawing lessons from Iraq, Lebanon, and Afghanistan, they unpack the risks, precedents, and possible blowback of empowering Gaza clans with murky pasts.
I just ran. Iran so far away.
Bill and Behnam discuss the evolving dynamics of U.S. foreign policy on Iran and the subsequent need for coherent policy that addresses multifaceted issues including nuclear negotiations, Iranian protests against the regime, the ongoing threat posed by Iran's proxy strategy — particularly from the Houthis, shifting attitudes of Gulf states like Saudi Arabia and the potential impact on U.S.-Isr
Terror in Washington, D.C.
Behnam and David D. join Bill to discuss the attack in Washington, D.C. that killed a young couple working for the Israeli embassy. Behnam and David both were friends with Yaron, who tragically lost his life to yet another act of terror rooted in anti-semitism.They also briefly catch up on the current state of U.S.-Iran nuclear negotiations and the still-burning dumpster fire in Lebanon.
The Houthi headache
FDD's Brad Bowman and Bridget Toomey catch Bill up on the latest cluster of developments related to the Houthis — from the ceasefire initiated by President Trump and possible consequences for U.S.-Israel relations to the role of Iran in the ongoing conflict.
A terrorist in a suit is... still a terrorist
Bradley Bowman and David Adesnik join Bill to unpack the U.S. decision to legitimize Ahmed al-Shara (AKA Jolani), the ex-al-Qaeda leader now heading HTS in Syria; other regional players seeking influence in the Syria vacuum, including Turkey and Saudi Arabia; and broader U.S. policy failures in Syria.
Trump's Iran Gambit
Bill, Behnam, and Janatan dive into the high-stakes complexities of U.S.-Iran relations, unpacking President Trump’s dual-track approach of military readiness and diplomatic outreach to the Islamic Republic. They discuss Iran’s internal reactions to U.S. policy shifts, Saudi Arabia’s cautious recalibration toward Tehran, and intensifying military pressure on the Houthis.
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