S8 Ep56: Israel, Iran, and Hezbollah on the brink with Phillip Smyth

In today’s special episode, Phillip Smyth, a leading expert on
Iranian-backed militias, returns to dissect the latest wave of
conflict in the Middle East. Recent escalations have claimed the
lives of a dozen Israeli civilians and two senior leaders of
Hamas and Hezbollah. Retaliation from Iran and its allies is
expected at any moment, leaving the region once again on the
brink of a potentially more widespread and unrestrained war.
Phillip sheds light on who these two men were and what their
deaths mean for their organizations, parses the delicate
messaging and maneuvering behind the scenes, and offers his
insights on what Iran and Hezbollah’s imminent response might
entail.

Phillip’s work for the Washington Institute for Near East Policy:
https://www.washingtoninstitute.org/experts/phillip-smyth

Phillip’s work for West Point’s Combatting Terrorism Center:
https://ctc.westpoint.edu/authors/phillip-smyth

Follow Phillip on Twitter: https://twitter.com/PhillipSmyth

Reporting discussed in the episode
"Who Is Fuad Shukr, Target of the Israeli Strike on Beirut?" by
Aaron Boxerman, Ronen Bergman & Euan Ward:
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/30/world/middleeast/fuad-shukr-hezbollah-israel-strike.html


"Bomb Smuggled Intro Tehran Guesthouse Months Ago Killed Hamas
Leader" by Ronen Bergman, Mark Mazzetti & Farnaz Fassihi:
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/08/01/world/middleeast/how-hamas-leader-haniyeh-killed-iran-bomb.html


"Iran Arrests Dozens in Search for Suspects in Killing of Hamas
Leader" by Farnaz Fassihi:
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/08/03/world/middleeast/iran-security-response-hamas-assassination.html


"Houthis Launch Deadly Drone Strike on Tel Aviv, Evading Israel’s
Defenses" by Gabby Sobelman, Aaron Boxerman, Ronen Bergman, Lara
Jakes & Erin Mendel:
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/19/world/middleeast/houthis-drone-strike-tel-aviv.html


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