Former British diplomat Alastair Crooke, a specialist in Middle Eastern affairs, joins Chris Hedges to dissect the recent conflict between Iran, Israel, and the U.S. They explore Israel's advanced military strategies, including cyberattacks and drone usage, and the delicate geopolitical dynamics with neighboring countries. Crooke analyzes the implications of American strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities and discusses the precarious balance of power in the Middle East, warning that the situation remains volatile and could affect global stability.
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Inside Israel's Secret Strike on Iran's Air Defenses
Israel's June 13 surprise attack on Iran's air defenses was far more complex than publicized. Mossad and special forces pre-positioned anti-tank weapons from Iraqi Kurdistan near Iranian air defenses. Special forces used ballistic missiles guided by American Battlescape software to target key sites without crossing into Iranian airspace directly.
Israeli planes flew through Azerbaijan's airspace and launched attack drones and cruise missiles from the Caspian Sea toward Tehran. A major cyber attack initially disabled Iranian air defenses but they recovered within eight hours, disproving claims of "open skies" control by Israel.
This sophisticated, long-planned operation is not easily repeatable, as Iran's air defenses are now fully operational and reinforced by Chinese systems. The use of foreign neighbors' airspace and cyber warfare were critical to Israel's initial success.
insights INSIGHT
Israel’s Complex Iran Air Strike
Israel's 13th June strike on Iran air defenses was not a simple air attack but a complex operation involving cyber attacks, special forces, and drones from Azerbaijan.
The operation was sophisticated and cannot be easily repeated, as Iranian defenses have been restored and reinforced.
insights INSIGHT
Limited Impact of U.S. Strike
The American strike on Iran’s nuclear sites was a one-time operation with prior warning to Iran and likely allowed by Russia to minimize damage.
It is uncertain how much damage was done, as key entrances were blocked and uranium reportedly relocated.
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In this historical fiction novel, John McRae depicts the largest military force in American history as it attempts to conquer Utah territory. However, the campaign is complicated by the eruption of guerilla warfare, adding a layer of complexity to the military endeavor. This book is part of the Trilogy of Fire series.
Following attacks on Iran by Israel and the United States, the world held its breath as the prospect of World War III loomed on the horizon. After 12 days of conflict, a ceasefire has brought about new uncertainty for the future.
Former British diplomat Alastair Crooke joins host Chris Hedges on this episode of The Chris Hedges Report to make sense of the current situation in the Middle East and what can be expected in the coming weeks or months.
Crooke details the lead up to the Israeli attacks, including the use of technology and neighbouring countries that allowed for the element of surprise. Cyber attacks, drones flown in from Azerbaijan and American military software served as crucial elements for the Israeli attacks on Iran.
As for the American strikes weeks later, Crooke explains Donald Trump’s alleged anxiety in not engaging in a prolonged conflict and theorizes about what the damage on Iran’s nuclear facilities actually looks like and what it could mean going forward.
Hedges and Crooke lay out what could come next, indicating that this conflict is far from over and the future of the Middle East, along with the rest of the world’s economy, hinges on what comes next from Israel, Iran or the United States.
The Chris Hedges Report 
