Amos Harel, a journalist at Haaretz, and Suzanne Maloney, vice president at the Brookings Institution, delve into the recent flare-up between Israel and Hezbollah, analyzing airstrikes and fragile ceasefire negotiations. Michael Kofman from the Carnegie Endowment explores Ukraine's military strategies and implications in the ongoing conflict with Russia. The conversation also touches on domestic political tensions within Israel and shifts in U.S. politics surrounding Kamala Harris as she prepares for the upcoming presidential race.

Suzanne Maloney, an Iran specialist at Brookings, and Dan Byman, a terrorism expert, delve into the aftermath of the U.S. strike on Qassem Soleimani. They discuss whether the anticipated backlash from Iran was overstated and analyze the unexpected reductions in U.S.-Iran hostilities. The experts explore Iran's strategic restraint, the complexities of military operations in the region, and the longer-term implications for U.S. interests in Iraq, highlighting the need for new diplomatic approaches amid evolving geopolitical tensions.

Suzanne Maloney, a leading expert on Iran, shares her insights on the current geopolitical tensions surrounding Israel, Hezbollah, and Iran after a week of heightened anxiety. She discusses Iran's strategic calculations following recent assassinations and their implications for regional stability. The conversation also touches on the dire hostages’ situation in Gaza and the surprising influences of political identity on electoral dynamics in the U.S. Lastly, the rising anti-Semitism in the UK is examined through its historical context.

Discussing the surprising UAE-Israel normalization, experts delve into its implications for Israel, Iran, and the US, as well as regional dynamics. They explore the deal's impact on Palestinian rights, Israeli politics, and potential responses from Arab Gulf states. The podcast also speculates on how this agreement may influence the upcoming US election and examines the Trump administration's narrative strategies.

From June 17, 2019: It's getting ugly in the Persian Gulf: Iran allegedly attacks two oil tankers. It announces that it's going to violate the JCPOA, the so-called Iran nuclear agreement. There's talk of military strikes. Europe is edgy, and the Secretary of State is on Sunday talk shows being edgier still.Benjamin Wittes sat down with Suzanne Maloney and Scott R. Anderson to talk it all through. They talked about whether the AUMF covers Iran, why Iran is doing this stuff, whether the Trump administration brought this all on itself, and where it's all going from here.To receive ad-free podcasts, become a Lawfare Material Supporter at www.patreon.com/lawfare. You can also support Lawfare by making a one-time donation at https://givebutter.com/c/trumptrials.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/lawfare. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.