‘Drunk on assassinations’: What is Israel’s Iran war strategy?

Has Israel gone rogue with the attack on Iran’s South Pars gas
field?


The bombing triggered a furious response from Tehran and led to a
further escalation in the energy crisis caused by the US and
Israeli war with Iran.


President Donald Trump says the US did not know about it but
Israeli officials say it was coordinated. The Telegraph’s
Jerusalem correspondent Henry Bodkin joins Venetia Rainey and
Roland Oliphant to explain why the attack is consistent with
Israel’s war goals and how tactics are potentially being
prioritised over strategy.


Henry also discusses his reporting from northern Israel where
troops are readying for an expanded ground invasion of Lebanon to
root out Hezbollah and why talk of a buffer zone there may not
match up with the threat.


Plus, senior foreign correspondent Sophia Yan joins to discuss
her time on the ground in Iraq and why things there are much
worse than being reported. She also shares her thoughts on how
Turkey is so far staying out of the conflict and why Iranian
Kurds are pushing the US to let them invade.


CONTRIBUTORS:


Venetia Rainey, co-host @venetiarainey


Roland Oliphant, co-host and chief foreign affairs analyst
@RolandOliphant


Sophia Yan, Senior Foreign Correspondent @sophia_yan


Henry Bodkin, Jerusalem Correspondent @HenryBodkin


CONTENT REFERENCED:


Trump’s three options for reopening the Strait of Hormuz:


https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/03/18/trump-three-options-reopening-strait-hormuz/


Missiles and drones chase Americans out of Iraq


https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/03/15/missiles-and-drones-chase-americans-out-of-iraq/?recomm_id=faf315cd-c56c-4a5d-a833-90e89545db06


Tehran won’t fall without a ground offensive, says Kurdish leader


https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/03/18/tehran-iran-war-ground-offensive-kurdish-leader-khabat/?recomm_id=35c185da-6605-4d40-aa0e-d19bf63781b0


Producer: Peter Shevlin


Executive Producer: Louisa Wells


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