Generation Jihad

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.

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.

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.

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 only be the beginning.

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.

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.-Israel relations.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Bill, David, and Ahmad deep dive into the volatile politics of the Middle East, from Jelani’s controversial role in Syria to sectarian tensions in Iraq and Hezbollah under pressure, the balance of power across the region is fragile.

Bill, David, and Joe break down the latest flashpoints across Lebanon, Israel, and Gaza—examining the fragile ceasefire in Lebanon, Israel’s evolving military operations and campaigns against Hezbollah and Hamas, the Lebanese government’s stalled efforts to disarm Hezbollah, and the growing discontent in Gaza as protests against Hamas intensify.

Bill and Caleb discuss updates from "the Sunni side of the aisle," including Washington's policy pivot on the Haqqani Network, the U.S. military's airstrike strategy in Somalia, the Turkestan Islamic Party's rebranding attempt, the recent death of a key Islamic State leader, and Shabaab's current operations.

Joe Truzman speaks with Jonathan Conrikis about the complexities of conflicts consuming the Middle East, from the aftermath of the Hamas-led, Iran-backed October 7 attacks and role of the media in shaping narratives to the situation in the West Bank and failures of UN peacekeeping forces in Lebanon.

Ahmad Sharawi joins Bill for an update on Syria's ongoing conflict, including:

• The recent Alawite insurgency against the government led by Abu Muhammad al-Jawlani,
• The role of jihadist groups and involvement of the Syrian National Army and Syrian Democratic Forces,
• Israel's position on minority protection in Syria, and
• The feasibility of military action in the region.

Bill is joined by his FDD colleague and Long War Journal contributor Janatan Sayeh to unpack Iran’s various spheres of influence and threats posed not least of all by their military capabilities from drone technology and nuclear enrichment to increasingly close cooperation with Moscow and Beijing.

Bill is joined by Caleb Weiss and Edmund Fitton-Brown to discuss the latest UN Sanctions Monitoring Team report on the Islamic State and Al-Qaeda that was released this week.

Bill and Behnam are joined by their FDD colleague Jonathan Schanzer to discuss President Trump's controversial plan for Gaza which includes a radical restructuring of the region.