Podcasts about Revolutionary Guard

Iran said on Monday it has expanded the range of legitimate targets for its armed forces after the United States attacked three Iranian nuclear sites on Saturday. Ebrahim Zolfaqari, spokesperson for Iran's Khatam al-Anbiya central military headquarters, said, “Mr Trump, the gambler, you may start this war, but we will be the ones to end it.”The State Department has issued a “worldwide caution” for U.S. citizens living abroad. In a Sunday alert, the department warned of potential demonstrations against U.S. citizens and interests around the world. “The conflict between Israel and Iran has resulted in disruptions to travel and periodic closure of airspace across the Middle East,” the bulletin stated, as it called on U.S. citizens worldwide to exercise “increased caution.”Israel hit Iranian government targets in Tehran on Monday in a series of strikes. The attack came after Iran launched missiles and drones at Israel. Israel's Defense Ministry said it hit targets that included the notorious Evin Prison in the Iranian capital and the security headquarters of the paramilitary Revolutionary Guards. The Israeli military also confirmed it struck roads around Iran's Fordow enrichment facility to obstruct access to the site.

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran's often reclusive supreme leader, surfaced this week to hit back at Donald Trump's demands for an unconditional surrender.   Khamanei first came to power as President of Iran in 1981, and he was a surprise choice for supreme leader eight years later. But since then, with the help of the Revolutionary Guard he has had almost complete control of Iran and its anti-Israel and anti-American foreign policy agenda.  Sky's Tom Cheshire speaks to Alex Vatanka, founding director of the Iran program at the Middle East Institute in Washington, DC about how Khamanei is viewed inside Iran and how his policies contributed to the current crisis. Producer: Soila Apparicio Assistant producer: Araminta Parker Editor: Wendy Parker

On June 12, 2025, Israel launched a series of aerial strikes (codenamed Operation Rising Lion) into Iran, targeting nuclear facilities, Revolutionary Guard command centers, missile production sites, and officials — including nuclear scientists and senior IRGC leaders — citing an imminent nuclear threat. While Israel says the goal is to dismantle Iran's nuclear program and degrade its missile capabilities, Prime Minister Netanyahu has also hinted at destabilizing President Khamenei's regime and possibly provoking a broader regime change.    Iran has responded with missile barrages toward Israel, and the conflict has displaced many civilians in Tehran amid fears of escalation . Israel's broader strategy appears to combine military strikes, intelligence-driven sabotage, and political messaging aimed at weakening Iran's nuclear and military posture — and potentially its government.   And then there's, the involvement of the United States…   The U.S. has been involved diplomatically, urging de-escalation and expressing support for Israel's right to defend itself while also seeking to revive the nuclear deal with Iran, aiming to limit Iran's nuclear capabilities through negotiations. However, differing approaches and concerns from various political factions within the U.S. have complicated these efforts, with debates ongoing about the best course of action moving forward.   So how is this all going to shake out? Will it be over in a matter of days? Weeks? Years? Or will this further escalate into World War III?   Also, why are some Christians saying that the recent events are of prophetic significance, citing passages from Jeremiah 49?  

This week we talk about tit-for-tat warfare, conflict off-ramps, and Israel's renewed attacks on Iran's nuclear program.We also discuss the Iron Dome, the Iran-Iraq War, and regime change.Recommended Book: How Much is Enough? by Robert and Edward SkidelskyTranscriptIn late-October of 2024, Israel launched a wave of airstrikes against targets in Iran and Syria. These strikes were code-named Operation Days of Repentance, and it marked the largest such attack on Iran by Israel since the 1980s, during the height of the Iran-Iraq War.Operation Days of Repentance was ostensibly a response to Iran's attack on Israel earlier than same month, that attack code-named Operation True Promise II, which involved the launch of around 200 ballistic missiles against Israeli targets. Operation True Promise II was itself a response to Israel's assassination of the leader of Hamas, the leader of Hezbollah, and the Deputy of Operations for Iran's Revolutionary Guard.If you feel like there might be a tit-for-tat pattern here, you're right. Iran and Israel have been at each other's throats since 1979, following the Islamic Revolution when Iran cut off all diplomatic relations with Israel; some backchannel relations continued between the two countries, even through part of the Iran-Iraq War, when Israel often supported Iran in that conflict, but things got tense in the early 1980s when Iran, partnering with the Syrian government, started backing Hezbollah and their effort to boot Israel out of Southern Lebanon, while also partnering with Islamist militants in Iraq and Yemen, including the Houthis, and at times Hamas in Gaza, as well.Most of these attacks have, until recently, been fairly restrained, all things considered. There's long been bravado by politicians on both sides of the mostly cold war-ish conflict, but they've generally told the other side what they would be hitting, and signaled just how far they would be going, telling them the extent of the damage they would cause, and why, which provides the other side ample opportunity to step off the escalatory ladder; everyone has the chance to posture for their constituents and then step back, finding an off-ramp and claiming victory in that specific scuffle.That back-and-forth in late-2024 largely stuck to that larger pattern, and both sides stuck with what typically works for them, in terms of doing damage: Israel flew more than 100 aircraft to just beyond or just inside Iran's borders and struck a bunch of military targets, like air defense batteries and missile production facilities, while Iran launched a few hundred far less-accurate missiles at broad portions of Israel—a type of attack that could conceivably result in a lot of civilian casualties, not just damage to military targets, which would typically be a no-no if you're trying to keep the tit-for-tat strikes regulated and avoid escalation, but because Israel has a fairly effective anti-missile system called the Iron Dome, Iran could be fairly confident that just hurling a large number of missiles in their general direction would be okay, as most of those missiles would be shot down by the Iron Dome, the rest by Israel's allies in the region, and the few that made it through or struck unoccupied land in the general vicinity would make their point.While this conflict has been fairly stable for decades, though, the tenor and tone seems to have changed substantially in 2025, and a recent wave of attacks by Israel is generally being seen as the culmination of several other efforts, and possibly an attempt by the Israeli government to change the nature of this conflict, perhaps permanently.And that's what I'd like to talk about today; Operation Rising Lion, and the implications of Israel's seeming expansion and evolution of their approach to dealing with Iran.—In mid-June of 2025, Israel's military launched early morning strikes against more than a dozen targets across Iran, most of the targets either fundamental to Iran's nuclear program or its military.The strikes were very targeted, and some were assassinations of top Iranian military leaders and nuclear scientists, like the Commander of the Revolutionary Guard, along with their families, including twenty children, who were presumably collateral damage. Some came from beyond Iran's borders, some were conducted by assets smuggled into Iran earlier: car bombs and drones, things like that.More attacks followed that initial wave, which resulted in the collapse of nuclear sites and airport structures, along with several residential buildings in the country's capitol, Tehran.This attack was ostensibly meant to hobble Iran's nuclear program, which the Iranian government has long claimed is for purely peaceful, energy-generation purposes, but which independent watchdog organizations, and pretty much every other non-Iranian-allied government says is probably dual-purpose, allowing Iran to produce nuclear energy, but also nuclear weapons.There was a deal on the books for a while that had Iran getting some benefits in exchange for allowing international regulators to monitor its nuclear program, but that deal, considered imperfect by many, but also relatively effective compared to having no deal at all, went away under the first Trump administration, and the nuclear program has apparently been chugging along since then with relative success; claims that Iran is just weeks from having enough fissile material to make a nuclear weapon have been common for years, now, but they apparently now have enough nuclear weapons-grade materials to make several bombs, and Israel in particular is quite keen to keep them from building such a weapon, as Iran's leaders, over the years, have said they'd like to wipe Israel off the face of the Earth, and nuclear weapons would be a relatively quick and easy way to make that happen.Of course, even without using such a weapon, simply having one or more is a sort of insurance policy against conventionally armed enemies. It ups the stakes in every type of conflict, and allows the nuclear-armed belligerent to persistently raise the specter of nuclear war if anyone threatens them, which is truly terrifying because of how many nuclear-related failsafes are in place around the world: one launch or detonation potentially becoming many, all at once, because of Dr. Strangelove-like automated systems that many militaries have readied, just in case.So the possibility that Iran might be on the brink of actually, really, truly this time making a nuclear weapon is part of the impetus for this new strike by Israel.But this is also probably a continuation of the larger effort to dismantle Iran's influence across the region by the current Israeli government, which, following the sneak attack on Israel by Hamas on October 7, 2023, and the subsequent invasion of the Gaza Strip by Israeli forces, has been trying to undermine Iran's proxies, which again, include quite a few militant organizations, the most powerful of which, in recent years, have been the trio of Hamas in Gaza, the Houthis in Yemen, and Hezbollah in southern Lebanon, right on Israel's border.Israel's invasion of Gaza, which has led to an absolutely catastrophic humanitarian situation for Gazan civilians, but has also led to the near-total collapse of Hamas as a functioning militant organization in the Strip, could be construed as a successful mission, if you ignore all those civilians casualties and fatalities, and the near-leveling of a good portion of the Strip.Israel was also able to take out a significant portion of Hezbollah's leadership via conventional aerial attacks and ground-assaults, and a bizarrely effective asymmetric attack using bombs installed in the pagers used by the organization, and it's been able to significantly decrease the Houthis' ability to menace ships passing through the Red Sea, using their own military, but also through their relationship with the US, which has significant naval assets in the area.Iran has long projected power in the region through its relationship with these proxies, providing them training and weapons and money in exchange for their flanking of Israel. That flanking was meant to keep Israel perpetually off-balance with the knowledge that if they ever do anything too serious, beyond the bounds of the controllable tit-for-tat, Cold War-style conflict in which they were engaged with Iran, they could suffer significant damage at home, from the north via Lebanon, from their southwestern flank via Gaza, or from a little ways to the south and via their coast from Yemen.Those proxies now largely hobbled, though, Israel found itself suddenly freed-up to do something more significant, and this attack is being seen by analysts as the initial stages of what might be a more substantial, perhaps permanent solution to the Iran problem. Rather than being a show of force or a tit-for-tat play, these might be the beginning days of an assault that's meant to enact not just a dismantling of Iran's nuclear program, but full-on regime change in Iran.And regime change means exactly what it sounds like: Iran's government is Islamist, meaning that it wants to enforce a fairly brutal, repressive version of Islam globally, and it already does so against its people. There have periodically been successful protests against these measures by Iranian citizens, especially by severely repressed women and minority groups in the country, including folks of different religions and LGBTQ identifying folks, among others, almost always these protests, and any other attempts to attain more rights and equality for people who aren't strictly Islamist men, generally result in violence, the black-bagging of protest leaders, extrajudicial killings and lifetime imprisonment and torture; a whole lot of really authoritarian, generally just villain-scale behavior by the Iranian government against anyone who steps out of line.So the Iranian government is pretty monstrous by most modern, democratic standards, and the Israeli government's seeming desire to crush it—to cry false on the regime's projection of strength, and create the circumstances for revolution, if that is indeed what they're doing—could be construed as a fairly noble goal.It perhaps serves the purposes of Israel, as again, Iran has said, over and over, that they want to destroy Israel and would totally do so, given the chance. But it arguably also serves the purpose of democratic-leaning people, and perhaps even more so folks who are suffering under the current Iranian regime, and maybe even other, similar regimes in the region. Which again, in terms of spreading democracy and human rights, sounds pretty good to some ears.That said, Israel is killing a lot of Iranian civilians alongside military targets, and its efforts in Gaza have led to accusations that it's committing genocide in the region. Israeli leaders have themselves been accused of anti-democratic actions, basically doubling-down on the nation's furthest-right, most militant, and most authoritarian and theocratic impulses, which makes any claims of moral superiority a little tricky for them to make, at this point.There's a chance, of course, that all this speculation and analysis ends up being completely off-base, and Israel is really, truly just trying to hobble Iran a bit, taking out some of their missile launchers and missile- and drone-manufacturing capacity, while also pushing back their acquisition of nuclear weapons by some meaningful amount of time; that amount of time currently unknown, as initial reports, at least, indicate that many of the attacks on Iran's most vital nuclear research and development facilities were perhaps not as effective as Israel had hoped. There's a chance that if enough overall damage is done, Iran's government will enthusiastically return to the negotiating table and perhaps be convinced to set their nuclear program aside willingly, but at the moment both Iran and Israel seem committed to hurting each other, physically.On that note, so far, as of the day I'm recording this, Iran has launched around 100 missiles, killed a few dozen Israelis, and injured more than 500 of the same. The Iranian government has said Israel's strikes have killed at least 224 people and wounded more than 1,200; though a human rights group says the death toll in Iran could be quite a bit higher than official government numbers, with more than 400 people killed, around half of them civilians, so far.It's been nearly a week of this, and it looks likely that these strikes will continue for at least another few days, though many analysts are now saying they expect this to go one for at least a few weeks, if indeed Israel is trying to knock out some of Iran's more hardened nuclear program-related targets; several of which are buried deep down in the ground, thus requiring bunker-buster-style missiles to reach and destroy, and Israel doesn't have such weapons in their arsenal.Neutralizing those targets would therefore mean either getting those kinds of weapons from the US or other allies, taking them out via some other means, which would probably take more time and entail more risk, or doing enough damage quickly than Iran's government is forced to the negotiation table.And if that ends up being the case, if Israel is really just gunning for the nuclear program and nothing else, this could be remembered as a significant strike, but one that mostly maintains the current status quo; same Iranian leadership, same perpetual conflict between these two nations, but Israel boasting even more of an upper-hand than before, with less to worry about in terms of serious damage from Iran or its proxies for the next several years, minimum.It does seem like a good moment to undertake regime change in Iran, though, as doing so could help Israel polish up its reputation, at least a little, following the reputational drubbing it has taken because of its actions in Gaza. I doubt people who have really turned on Israel would be convinced, as doing away with an abusive, extremist regime, while doing abusive, extremist regime stuff yourself the homefront, probably won't be an argument that convinces many Palestinian liberation-oriented people; there's a chance some of those people will even take up the cause of Iranian civilians, which is true to a point, as many Iranian civilians are suffering and will continue to suffer under Israel's attacks—though of course that leaves out the part about them also suffering, for much longer, under their current government.That said, taking Iran out of the geopolitical equation would serve a lot of international interests, including those of the US—which has long hated Iran—and Ukraine, the latter of which because Russia has allied itself with the Iranian government, and buys a lot of drones, among other weapons, from Iran. That regime falling could make life more difficult for Russia, at least in the short term, and it would mean another ally lost in the region, following the fall of the Assad regime in Syria in late-2024.There's a chance that these same geopolitical variables could pull other players into this conflict, though: Russia could help Iran, for instance, directly or indirectly, by sending supplies, taking out Israeli missiles and drones, maybe, while the US could help Israel (more directly, that is, as it's apparently already helping them by shooting down some of Iran's counterstrike projectiles) by providing bunker-buster weapons, or striking vital military targets from a distance.Such an escalation, on either side, would probably be pretty bad for everyone except possibly Iran, though Israel has said it wants the US to join in on its side, as that would likely result in a much quicker victory and far fewer casualties on its side.The US government is pretty keen to keep out of foreign conflicts right now, though, at least directly, and Russia is pretty bogged down by its invasion of Ukraine; there's a chance other regional powers, even smaller ones, could act as proxies for these larger, outside forces—the Saudis taking the opportunity to score some damage on their long-time rival, Iran, for instance, by helping out Israel—but any such acts would expand the scope of the conflict, and it's seldom politically expedient to do anything that might require your people make any kind of sacrifice, so most everyone will probably stay out of this as long as they can, unless there are serious benefits to doing so.Show Noteshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/June_2025_Israeli_strikes_on_Iranhttps://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2025/06/13/israel-iran-regime-attack-goal-column-00405153https://www.foreignaffairs.com/israel/real-threat-iran-tehran-most-dangerous-option-responding-israelhttps://www.twz.com/news-features/could-iran-carry-out-its-threat-to-shut-the-strait-of-hormuzhttps://www.jpost.com/israel-news/defense-news/article-857713https://kyivindependent.com/israel-asks-us-to-join-strikes-on-irans-nuclear-sites-officials-told-axios/https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog-june-15-2025/https://www.twz.com/air/israel-escalates-to-attacking-iranian-energy-targets-after-ballistic-missiles-hit-tel-avivhttps://www.cnn.com/world/live-news/israel-iran-strikes-news-06-14-25https://www.timesofisrael.com/idf-confirms-irgc-air-force-chief-top-echelon-killed-in-israeli-strike/https://time.com/7294186/israel-warns-tehran-will-burn-deadly-strikes-traded-nuclear-program/https://www.nytimes.com/live/2025/06/14/world/israel-iran-newshttps://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/13/opinion/israel-iran-strikes.htmlhttps://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/14/world/middleeast/drones-smuggled-israel-iran-ukraine-russia.htmlhttps://www.nytimes.com/live/2025/06/15/world/iran-israel-nuclearhttps://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/15/world/middleeast/iran-military-leaders-killed.htmlhttps://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/14/world/europe/israel-iron-dome-defense.htmlhttps://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/14/world/middleeast/israel-iran-missile-attack.htmlhttps://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/14/world/middleeast/iran-israel-energy-facility-strikes-tehran.htmlhttps://www.cnn.com/world/live-news/israel-iran-strikes-news-06-15-25https://www.lawfaremedia.org/article/was-israel-s-strike-on-iran-a-good-idea--four-questions-to-askhttps://apnews.com/article/israel-iran-missile-attacks-nuclear-news-06-16-2025-c98074e62ce5afd4c3f6d33edaffa069https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/16/world/middleeast/iran-israel-war-off-ramp.htmlhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/October_2024_Iranian_strikes_on_Israelhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/October_2024_Israeli_strikes_on_Iranhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Axis_of_Resistancehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2024_Lebanon_electronic_device_attacks This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit letsknowthings.substack.com/subscribe

A.M. Edition for June 16. The man suspected of shooting a pair of Democratic state lawmakers in Minnesota is arrested after a sprawling two-day search. Plus, Israel takes control of Iran's skies as it claims more strikes on Revolutionary Guard command centers. WSJ chief foreign-affairs correspondent Yaroslav Trofimov explains how that aerial superiority is creating a major power mismatch between the two sides, even as fighting continues. And the Trump administration orders a pause on immigration arrests at farms, restaurants and hotels. Luke Vargas hosts.  Sign up for the WSJ's free What's News newsletter.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Plus: Israel's military says that further airstrikes on Iran hit command centers of the country's Revolutionary Guard, as fighting between the two countries continues. And Chinese consumers ramp up spending as factories take a hit from Trump's trade war. Sign up for WSJ's free What's News newsletter.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

President Donald Trump arrived in Alberta, Canada, on Sunday for the G7 summit. Over the three-day summit meeting, Trump will engage with the leaders of six of the world's most advanced economies to tackle pressing economic challenges and escalating geopolitical crises—with a particular focus on the Middle East, given the recent escalation to direct conflict. This year's gathering unfolds against the backdrop of active conflict between Israel and Iran, with both countries exchanging strikes for a third consecutive day as of June 15.A man accused of killing a Democratic state lawmaker while posing as a police officer is expected to appear in a Minnesota court on Monday afternoon on state murder charges, after a massive two-day manhunt ended with his arrest on Sunday night.Iran fired a new wave of missile attacks at Israel early on Monday, triggering air raid sirens across the country as emergency services reported at least five killed and dozens more wounded in the fourth day of a conflict between the two countries that showed no sign of slowing. Iran said on Sunday that Israel had struck oil refineries, killed the intelligence chief of the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, and hit population centers in intensive aerial attacks.

In today’s episode, Ben O’Shea crosses to Mark Riley in Calgary to preview Anthony Albanese’s G7 meeting with Trump. Plus, Israel-Iran conflict claims Revolutionary Guard chief & EU defence pact on the table.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The RSMS crew discusses Israel’s Operation Rising Lion, a sweeping preemptive strike on over 100 Iranian nuclear and military targets—including the Natanz facility and Revolutionary Guard leaders—ending in drone retaliation from Iran and immediate global concern over escalating tensions. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In today’s episode of The Rickey Smiley Morning Show Podcast, we discuss Israel’s Operation Rising Lion, a sweeping preemptive strike on over 100 Iranian nuclear and military targets—including the Natanz facility and Revolutionary Guard leaders—ending in drone retaliation from Iran and immediate global concern over escalating tensions. Switching gears to entertainment and legal drama, Porsha Williams emerges triumphant in her divorce battle: the prenup has been upheld, securing her $40,000/month alimony, a Rolls-Royce, and continued residence in their $7 million home pending a decision on property ownership. Finally, fans can look forward to Nelly & Ashanti: We Belong Together, an intimate new reality series on Peacock chronicling the couple’s rekindled romance and early parenthood, premiering on June 26. Website: https://www.urban1podcasts.com/rickey-smiley-morning-show See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In a historic 48-hour shift, Tara delivers a searing breakdown of Iran's unraveling regime and the U.S. institutions that helped prop it up. As Israel takes out top Revolutionary Guard leaders—mirroring Trump's past actions—the Biden-backed billions funneled through USAID and the CIA face rare scrutiny. Tara connects the dots from Operation Ajax in the 1950s, which birthed Iran's dictatorship, to the congressional vote that may finally slash USAID's global influence. From Taliban funding to Hamas handouts, she reveals how American tax dollars have emboldened the enemies of freedom. Is the world finally waking up?

Marc Cox and Alex Hogan discuss Israel's preemptive strike on Iran's nuclear facilities using over 200 aircraft targeting hundreds of sites. They cover the reported killing of Revolutionary Guard commanders, Iran's retaliatory drone launch that failed to reach Israel, and Iranian media casualty reports. The discussion includes international reactions with President Trump urging diplomacy, Iran's claims of US involvement, and the potential for a prolonged conflict as Netanyahu hints at a two-week campaign. Israeli airspace and airports remain closed with residents advised to shelter.

As simmering tensions between Israel and Iran explode in a barrage of missiles and drones, Krishnan Guru-Murthy talks to journalist Jonathan Rugman and RUSI's Middle East Security expert, Burcu Ozcelik about whether the conflict might escalate.After a number of Iranian nuclear scientists and military leaders including the head of the country's powerful Revolutionary Guard were killed, Iran has retaliated with 100 drones fired into Israel with more promised.So what will Israel's next move be with Prime Minister Netanyahu saying strikes could continue 'for as many days as it takes?'

Explosions have boomed across Iran's capital Tehran overnight as Israel launched an attack on the country's military facilities. The attack has reportedly killed the chief of Iran's Revolutionary Guard and other high-ranking regime officials. Meanwhile a state of emergency has been declared in Israel, with air raid sirens ringing out as Iran vows to retaliate. BBC's Middle East editor Sebastian Usher spoke to Lisa Owen.

On today's podcast: 1) Israel attacks Iran's nuclear and ballistic missile programs in a major escalation of hostilities and oil prices surged on fears of a wider war. Iran has vowed reprisals and sent drones toward Israel. The UN atomic watchdog says there are no signs of increased radiation at Iran’s main enrichment site. The airstrikes did kill the commander of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard. The US says it knew of the Israeli attack beforehand but was not involved. It warned Iran against targeting US assets. 2) An appeals court lets President Trump keep using the National Guard in Los Angeles for now. A 3-judge panel of the 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals put on hold a judge's order to pull back on the Trump administration's use of military troops in Los Angeles to deal with protests over immigration raids. The appeals court scheduled a hearing for Tuesday to discuss further action in the case, with written arguments from the administration and California due before then. 3) Frontrunners take aim at each other in the final New York City mayor's debate. democratic candidates held their second debate ahead of this month's primary election. The 33 year old socialist state Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani, who has become one of top contenders in the race, found himself the target of jabs from former Governor Andrew Cuomo. Cuomo, who is in the midst of a political comeback after resigning as governor over a sexual harassment scandal, has long been the favorite.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Iran has vowed to retaliate after Israel attacked multiple cities across the country, including Tehran. Israel says the airstrikes were targeting nuclear facilities, with Iranian media reporting the leader of its Revolutionary Guards Corps is among those killed in the attacks.

The leader of Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard reportedly killed in Israeli strikes on Tehran, A man has died in Adelaide two weeks after a police arrest, Australia and South Africa dominate on day two of the World Test Championships.

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened down 72-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 22,216 on turnover of $6.7-billion N-T. Kaohsiung Districts Suspend Work and Classes Due to Heavy Rain Parts of Kaohsiung are suspending work and classes, due to heavy rain. The city government announced that school and work in Mao-lin District, as well as parts of Tao-yuan District will be cancelled today for safety. Officials say a now-dissipated tropical depression has resulted in torrential (滂沱) showers in mountainous areas, with risks of rockslides and overflowing rivers. (NS) Israel Claims Tehran Attack Targeted MIlitary and Nuclear Program Officials Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel targeted Iran's main enrichment facility in Natanz and the country's ballistic missile program, as well as top nuclear scientists and officials, in an attack today. He said Iran was working on a new plan to destroy Israel after its old plan, failed. Netanyahu said in an address on social media that the attacks will continue “for as many days at it takes to remove this threat.” Iranian state television says the head of Iran

The chief of Iran's Revolutionary Guard, Hossein Salami, has been killed by an Israeli strike just after 10 am AEST in an attempt to prevent Iran from working on their nuclear program.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An SBS News Investigation revealing alleged attacks on the Australian embassy in Iran, as well as an assassination plot against Australia's then-ambassador in 2019, has been met with concern from some Iranian community members. They are calling on the Australian government to act in favour of its national security, re-voicing their demand to list a paramilitary branch of the Iranian armed forces as a terrorist organisation. This story has been produced in collaboration with SBS Persian. - एसबीएस न्युजको अनुसन्धानले इरानस्थित अस्ट्रेलियन दूतावासमाथि भएको कथित आक्रमणहरू र सन् २०१९ मा अस्ट्रेलियाका तत्कालीन राजदूतमाथिको हत्या योजनालाई उजागर गरेपछि केही इरानी समुदायका सदस्यहरू चिन्तित बनेका छन्।

An SBS News Investigation revealing alleged attacks on the Australian embassy in Iran, as well as an assassination plot against Australia's then-ambassador in 2019, has been met with concern from some Iranian community members. They are calling on the Australian government to act in favour of its national security, re-voicing their demand to list a paramilitary branch of the Iranian armed forces as a terrorist organisation. This story has been produced in collaboration with SBS Persian.

A mysterious explosion at a Iran's biggest port Saturday kills at least 40 and injures more than 800, dealing a severe setback to the Iranian regime and the Revolutionary Guard, and while Iranian lawmakers blame Israel or other foreign ...

A mysterious explosion at a Iran's biggest port Saturday kills at least 40 and injures more than 800, dealing a severe setback to the Iranian regime and the Revolutionary Guard, and while Iranian lawmakers blame Israel or other foreign ...

A mysterious explosion at a Iran's biggest port Saturday kills at least 40 and injures more than 800, dealing a severe setback to the Iranian regime and the Revolutionary Guard, and while Iranian lawmakers blame Israel or other foreign ...

A mysterious explosion at a Iran's biggest port Saturday kills at least 40 and injures more than 800, dealing a severe setback to the Iranian regime and the Revolutionary Guard, and while Iranian lawmakers blame Israel or other foreign ...

The founder of Iran's most feared military force, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard (IRGC), sits down with Patrick Bet-David to EXPOSE what really happened behind closed doors during the 1979 Iranian revolution.. Mohsen Sazegara, a former insider, reveals how the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps transformed from its original mission into a global power player—linked to Hezbollah, Hamas, and international conflicts.

Art Keller served in the US Army during Operation Desert Storm and later spent seven years serving in the Central Intelligence Agency's Directorate of Operations, where he worked on cases to block the proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction and terrorism issues. While at the CIA, he served as a weapons inspector in the Iraq Survey Group, and concluded his time at the CIA as an Acting Chief of Base in the North West Frontier Province of Pakistan.Since leaving the CIA, he has been a freelance author, commentator, and journalist published in a wide variety of leading media outlets including The Technoskeptic, Forbes.com, Newsweek, The New York Times, The New York Daily News, The Washington Post, ForeignPolicy.com, CNN's Security Clearance, ValueWalk, Newsmax, the Langley Intelligence Group Network (LIGNET) and the CTC Sentinel. He has appeared on CNN, CBS, PBS's News Hour, The National Geographic Channel, and the BBC. He is author of the espionage thriller, “Hollow Strength” about the CIA and Iran's Revolutionary Guard. He is currently working on the sequel to Hollow Strength.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-x-zone-radio-tv-show--1078348/support.

Art Keller served in the US Army during Operation Desert Storm and later spent seven years serving in the Central Intelligence Agency's Directorate of Operations, where he worked on cases to block the proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction and terrorism issues. While at the CIA, he served as a weapons inspector in the Iraq Survey Group, and concluded his time at the CIA as an Acting Chief of Base in the North West Frontier Province of Pakistan.Since leaving the CIA, he has been a freelance author, commentator, and journalist published in a wide variety of leading media outlets including The Technoskeptic, Forbes.com, Newsweek, The New York Times, The New York Daily News, The Washington Post, ForeignPolicy.com, CNN's Security Clearance, ValueWalk, Newsmax, the Langley Intelligence Group Network (LIGNET) and the CTC Sentinel. He has appeared on CNN, CBS, PBS's News Hour, The National Geographic Channel, and the BBC. He is author of the espionage thriller, “Hollow Strength” about the CIA and Iran's Revolutionary Guard. He is currently working on the sequel to Hollow Strength.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-x-zone-radio-tv-show--1078348/support.

Dominique Pelicot has been found guilty of all charges and sentenced to 20 years. The mass rape trial in France has transformed the victim, Gisele Pelicot, into a stirring symbol of courage and resilience. Donald Trump has disrupted bipartisan efforts to dodge a government shutdown, pressuring Republicans to reject a stopgap bill. The Fed's rate cut lands as expected, but policymakers are starting to price in expectations of economic changes under the incoming administration. And Iran's Revolutionary Guards have tightened their grip on the country's oil. Sign up for the Reuters Econ World newsletter here. Listen to the Reuters Econ World podcast here. Find the Recommended Read here. Visit the Thomson Reuters Privacy Statement for information on our privacy and data protection practices. You may also visit megaphone.fm/adchoices to opt out of targeted advertising. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you like learning about the current news and improving your English for the IELTS or TOEFL at the same time, this English lesson is for you. While watching a news report about how the country of Iran is trying to assassinate President-elect Donald Trump, you will learn English phrasal verbs, English idioms, how to use some swear words, and other advanced English vocabulary that can really stump English learners.

Plus: A researcher was so frustrated by the lack of data on women that she scanned her own brain 75 times.Also: Two years after a foiled attempt on Masih Alinejad's life, US prosecutors charge a senior official in Iran's Revolutionary Guard in the plot. The activist tells us threats to her life won't stop her from speaking out.

Iranian/American actress & filmmaker Shila Ommi (Disney & Pixar ELEM ENTAL, Apple TV+  “Tehran,” “Little America,” “Charlie Wilson's War”), discussing her work at Pas in Netflix hot new binge-worthy series KAOS (starring Jeff Goldbloom and Janet McTeer). In the intriguing world of KAOS, it's the pantheon of gods versus humans with Zeus at the top of the mythological food chain as the cruel and stylish ruler of the gods, a position he has enjoyed for some time. Then one day he discovers the unthinkable: a wrinkle on his forehead. Paranoia builds, leading the supreme deity down a dangerous and unstable path. All-powerful Zeus is convinced his fall is nigh and sees omens of doom everywhere.  Recently audiences saw Shila as Cinder Lumen Firetown's resident matchmaker in Disney & Pixar ELEM ENTAL, utilizing her natural gift that allows her to smell true love in a Fire person's smoke, whether they know it or not. She boasts numerous matches throughout her tenure—she's proud of her track record—but this brusque, no-nonsense and traditional mom has yet to find a match for her daughter.  Elsewhere audiences can see Shila Ommi on the Apple TV+ espionage thriller, “Tehran.” Shila Ommi is one of the returning co-stars of Apple TV+,  espionage thriller, “Tehran,” now streaming season two now on Apple TV+.  Ommi portrays the character of Nahid Kamali, the wife of Shaun Toub's character Faraz Kamali (a skilled investigator with the Revolutionary Guards), and she also shared the screen with the iconic Glenn Close, and in season two. The heart-pounding “Tehran,” which has earned the comparison in the media already of “24” meets “The Americans,” is must-watch TV at its finest. Shila Ommi is an American/ actress, born in Tehran, and has lived in Los Angeles since the onslaught of the 1979 Iranian Revolution.  Her mother was a poet and her father was a philanthropist, real estate mogul, and the founder and CEO of Iran's largest construction company, Vima Co.  At an early age, Ommi witnessed the wrath of the Islamic regime. Ommi's father was also on their hit list, but her family had the chance to flee the country, leaving behind their wealth and all their belongings to begin a new life in the United States. Today, Shila Ommi is a prominent actress in the Iranian communities in diaspora.  For over a decade, she toured the globe as the lead actress and co-artistic director of Workshop 79, a theatre company spearheaded by acclaimed Iranian playwright/director/actor Houshang Touzie (“A Simple Wedding,” “Argo”). The founder of the LA-based theater group, Turquoise Heart Productions,  Ommi uses theater art as a form of healing and activism, writes, directs, and acts in theatre pieces that share the Iranian experience with American audiences, and the exile experience with Iranians abroad. She is recently directed a play commissioned by the Los Angeles Department of Mental Health. Ommi portrays the character Nahid, in the acclaimed espionage thriller, “Tehran,” with seasons 1 & 2 streaming now on Apple TV+ . She portrayed the character of Yasmin in the Apple TV+ anthology series “Little America” co-starring with Shaun Toub (who is also her screen husband in “Tehran”).  Ommi is also a voice-over artist and performs regularly in animated films and web series.  She is the voice of all the characters, male and female in a cartoon series called “NOPM: Special Forces” which was commissioned by the Boromand Foundation, a human rights organization focused on Iran's human rights violations. She is narrating a video about deforestation, and a film about Iran… both coming out by the end of this year.   Today's sponsor: Www.kaldental.com 310-360-8250 https://www.instagram.com/dds.kaldental    Stay connected on my newsletter and socials: https://www.chonacas.com/links/    

*) Israel confirms damage to army bases in Iranian missile strikes The Israeli army has confirmed several of its air bases were struck during Iran's massive ballistic missile strikes on the US-backed country. According to Israeli media, authorities confirmed damages to office buildings and maintenance areas. In northern Tel Aviv, warheads reportedly fell close to Mossad headquarters, though they failed to cause significant damage. Iran's Revolutionary Guard claimed to have used its Fattah missiles, describing them as capable of reaching Mach 15 and posing a new challenge to Israeli missile defence systems. *) Bloodbath continues in Gaza as Israel kills dozens in overnight carnage Israeli military strikes across Gaza have killed at least 65 Palestinians overnight, including in a school sheltering displaced families One Israeli strike on a school sheltering displaced families in Gaza City killed 17 people, while another hit the Amal Orphan Society, killing at least five others. It comes after Iran launched a salvo of ballistic missiles at Israel on Tuesday in retaliation for Israel's offensives in Gaza, Lebanon and assassinations. *) Hundreds of churches, several mosques and two synagogues desecrated in India in one year — US agency The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has recommended that the US government designate India as a "country of particular concern" (CPC), arguing the religious freedom conditions in the country have continued to deteriorate under the Hindu nationalist government led by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The American federal government commission, citing local NGOs, said that in 2023 alone, 687 incidents of violence were reported targeting Christians, "who continued to be detained under various state-level anti-conversion laws”. The US agency also said Indian Muslims and their places of worship continued to face violations throughout 2023, arguing several mosques were destroyed under police presence and Hindu vigilantes attacked Muslims under the guise of protecting cows from slaughter. *) Lavrov says Russia stands alongside China on Taiwan, other issues Russia has said it stands alongside China on Asian issues, including the criticism of the US drive to extend its influence and "deliberate attempts" to inflame the situation around Taiwan. Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov praised Beijing's approach to the war in Ukraine and said both countries wanted to eliminate the problems that Moscow says lie behind the conflict. He said Moscow and Beijing held close positions "in assessing the risks associated with the advance of the West in the Asia-Pacific region". *)Türkiye's new TB3 armed drone makes public debut at Teknofest Turkish unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) producer Baykar's new combat drone Bayraktar TB3 has made its public debut in the country's premier technology event TEKNOFEST. TB3 is the first combat drone capable of taking off and landing from short-runway ships such as the TCG Anadolu. It is equipped with the PD-170 engine developed domestically by Turkish aerospace engine manufacturer Tusas Engine Industries (TEI), and it can fly for more than 24 hours.

“I never thought there's antisemitism. It's something from the past, for my grandparents, for my mom a little, but it's not something in my generation, or my kids' generation. It's done . . . apparently, not.” Einat Admony is a chef, cookbook author, comedian, and social media star who grew up in Bnei Brak, Israel. With parents from Iran and Yemen, Einat spent her childhood in the kitchens of Mizrahi, Sephardi, and Ashkenazi neighbors. Learn about her family's deep-rooted Jewish heritage in Iran and the broader Middle East. Along with her mother Ziona's journey from Iran to Israel in 1948, Einat discusses the antisemitism she's dealt with online and on the streets in the past year. Hear her stories of Jewish-Muslim coexistence in Iran and memories of spices and perfumes that inspire Einat's dishes. Her cookbooks Balaboosta and Shuk, along with her Manhattan restaurant Balaboosta, reflect a blend of tradition and innovation. “You could not have Judaism today, if it were not for the Jews of Iran,” says Houman Sarshar, an independent scholar and director of publications at the Center for Iranian Jewish Oral History in Los Angeles. Sarshar highlights the historical relationship between Iran and Israel, noting that Iran was the second Muslim-majority country to recognize Israel post-1948.  The conversation also touches on the challenges faced by Jews in Iran, their cultural integration, and the impact of the 1979 Islamic Revolution.  —- Show notes: How much do you know about Jewish history in the Middle East? Take our quiz. Sign up to receive podcast updates. Learn more about the series. Song credits:  Pond5:  “Desert Caravans”: Publisher: Pond5 Publishing Beta (BMI), Composer: Tiemur Zarobov (BMI), IPI#1098108837 “Suspense Middle East” Publisher: Victor Romanov, Composer: Victor Romanov; Item ID: 196056047 ___ Episode Transcript: EINAT ADMONY: I've been in Israel a few months ago. It's like you always feel loved, you always feel supported. It's still home. It's always going to be my home. MANYA BRACHEAR PASHMAN: The world has overlooked an important episode in modern history: the 800,000 Jews who left or were driven from their homes in the Middle East and North Africa in the mid-20th century. Welcome to the second season of The Forgotten Exodus, brought to you by American Jewish Committee. This series explores that pivotal moment in history and the little-known Jewish heritage of Iran and Arab nations. As Jews around the world confront violent antisemitism and Israelis face daily attacks by terrorists on multiple fronts, our second season explores how Jews have lived throughout the region for generations despite hardship, hostility, and hatred, then sought safety and new possibilities in their ancestral homeland. I'm your host, Manya Brachear Pashman. Join us as we explore untold family histories and personal stories of courage, perseverance, and resilience from this transformative and tumultuous period of history for the Jewish people and the Middle East.  The world has ignored these voices. We will not.  This is The Forgotten Exodus. Today's episode: Leaving Iran. MANYA: Whether she's deviling eggs soaked in beet juice, simmering Oxtail in shawarma spices, or sprinkling za'atar on pastry dough, chef Einat Admony is honoring her family's Middle Eastern heritage. Both the places where they have lived for generations, as well as the place they have and will always call home: Israel.   EINAT/Clip: Start with brushing the puff pastry with olive oil and za'atar. Have some feta all around and shredded mozzarella. Take the other sheet and just cut it to one inch strips. Now we're going to twist. Need to be careful. Now we're just gonna brush the top with the mix of oil and za'atar. Get it some shiny and glazy. This is ready for the oven. Bake at 400 until it's golden. That's it super easy, just sprinkle some za'atar and eat. MANYA: For the chef, author, reality TV star, and comedian, food reflects the Zionist roots that have been a constant for Einat, the self-made balaboosta, who is largely credited with introducing Israeli cuisine to the U.S. That love for Israel goes back generations, long before the modern state existed, when her maternal ancestors lived in the land, that until 1935 was known as Persia, but is now known as Iran. Her own mother Ziona, the third of seven siblings, was even named for the destination where Einat's grandparents aspired to one day raise their family. Returning home to the land of Zion from which Jews had been exiled centuries earlier was always the goal. When you ask her why, Einat laughs in disbelief.  EINAT: Why? Why? That's homeland. I think a lot of Jewish people for hundreds of years was, that's in every prayer, it's in every Shabbat dinner evening. MANYA: The hatred directed toward Israel by Iran's regime in the form of the deadly attacks on Israel by Iran-backed terrorist groups and the Islamic Republic of Iran itself make it hard to believe that Iran was once a place where Jews and the Zionist movement thrived. But in fact, Iran's history includes periods when the wide-open roads between Iran and Israel ran two ways and the countries not only lived in harmony but worked in close partnership.  Iran was the second Muslim-majority country after Turkey to recognize the modern state of Israel after its formation in 1948, and the two established diplomatic ties. Regular flights ran between Tehran's Mehrabad International Airport and Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion airport.  SARSHAR: We cannot overlook the fact that since October 29, 539 BCE the Jewish community of Iran remains to this day the largest community of Jews anywhere in the Middle East outside the state of Israel. To this day. You could not have Judaism today, if it were not for the Jews of Iran.  MANYA: Houman Sarshar is an independent scholar and director of publications at the Center for Iranian Jewish Oral History in Los Angeles. He has edited a number of books, including Esther's Children: A Portrait of Iranian Jews.  SARSHAR: The history of the Jews in Iran begins about 2,700 years ago, when the first community of known Jews was taken to Iran. They are commonly believed to be one of the 10 Lost Tribes. And then when we fast forward to when Nebuchadnezzar came and destroyed the temple in Jerusalem and took Jews into captivity. Some years after that at 539 BCE on October 29, 539 BCE, to be exact, Cyrus the Great, the founder of the Achaemenid dynasty, liberated Babylon and gave Jews the permission to go back to Israel and rebuild the Second Temple. MANYA: Cyrus the Great – a Persian emperor particularly renowned among contemporary scholars for the respect he showed toward peoples' customs and religions in the lands that he conquered. According to the Book of Ezra in the Hebrew Bible, Cyrus even paid for the restoration of the Jewish temple in Jerusalem. SARSHAR: This is known as the Second Temple period in Jewish history, and under the Achaemenid dynasty, Jews participated in every level of society. And a few centuries forward, around the 5th Century, we know the Jews continue to live with many freedoms, because that is the era when the Babylonian Talmud was originally produced in Iran by Rav Ashi. So, you know, there was a thriving rabbanut (rabbanite) in Iran who had the freedom and the luxury and the time to be able to produce such an important document as the Talmud, which has become the cornerstone of all jurisprudence that we know, Western law, and everything. MANYA: The advent and arrival of Islam in Iran in the 7th Century CE changed circumstances somewhat. As was the case across the Middle East, all non-Muslims became dhimmis – residents who paid a special tax and lived under certain restrictions. The situation for Jews worsened in the 16th Century when the Safavid dynasty made the Shiite creed the dominant form of Islam in Iran. Fatwas made life for all non-Shiites quite difficult. SARSHAR: And for reasons that are still open to discussion, all of these restrictions were most vehemently imposed on the Jews of Iran. And because of these restrictions, all non-Shiites were considered religiously impure. And this religious impurity, kind of like the concept of the untouchable sect in India, they were considered pollutive. MANYA: Jews could not look Muslims in the eye. They were placed in ghettos called mahaleh where they could not leave on rainy days for fear the water that splattered on them could contaminate the water supply. They wore yellow stars and special shoes to distinguish them from the rest of the population. They were not allowed to purchase property from Muslims or build homes with walls that were higher than those of their Muslim neighbors. SARSHAR: They could not, for example, participate in the trade of edible goods because, you know, fruits and vegetables and meats carried this pollution. So Muslims could no longer consume the foods that were touched by Jews. And as a result, this created a certain path forward in history for the Jews of Iran.  They went into antique trades. They went into carpet trades. They went into work of textiles. They became musicians. And for the following 500 years, these restrictions kind of guided the way the Jews of Iran lived in that country, even though they had been there for thousands of years previously. MANYA: Houman said the 1895 arrival of the Alliance Israélite Universelle, a Paris-based network of schools for Jewish children throughout the Middle East and North Africa, including within the mahalehs in Persia, was the first step in a series of improvements for Jews there. SARSHAR: Previous to that, Jews were not allowed to get any kind of an education whatsoever. The only teachers were the Muslim clergy, and they refused to teach anything to Jewish students. So this allowed for the Jewish community to finally start to get a Western-style education, which was very important at that time, given all of the dynamics that were going on in society with modernity. MANYA: As educational opportunities increased in the middle of the 19th Century, so did opportunities for the courtiers and elite to travel and see the Western world as it industrialized and modernized, expanding international trade and sharing wealth more widely. SARSHAR: Often they would be sent by their families to go and try to see if they can, you know, find a way to expand the family's businesses and lives as merchants, and they would come back shocked. I mean, Iran was a place where you know of mostly mud brick homes and dirt roads and people riding around on donkeys. And imagine this is all you've known. You never see women walking around the street. The only women you have ever seen with your own eyes in your life are your mom, your sister, your daughter or your wife, and occasionally, sex workers. And that's it. So all of a sudden, you know, you travel a couple of months by boat and train, and you get to Paris, and it's impossible to try to even conceive of the experience. It must have been something like the Hegelian experience of the sublime. What can the world look like? And where is it that I live in, and why isn't my country the same as this? MANYA: By the early 20th Century, the Persian people concluded the answer to that question was in the rule of law. The reason the European nations provided such opportunity for the community at-large had to do with the fact that the law of the land was not arbitrary or enforced by religion or royalty. It was embedded in a constitution – a set of laws that define the structure of a government and the rights of its citizens – a Western tenet that reduced the power of the clergy and created a parliament called the Majles. SARSHAR: They were starting to read travel journals. They were starting to understand the perspective that Westerners had on Iranians, and those perspectives were often awful. You know, the Western world believed, for example –the country was corrupt to the bone in every respect.  So all of these things gradually led to a call for a constitution, the major pivot of which was the establishment of a legislature of law that would start to create a community where everyone can feel like they're equal in the eyes of the law and have something to gain by trying to improve the country as a whole. Iran became the first constitutional monarchy in the Middle East in 1906 when that revolution happened, it was a momentous event. And really, things really, really did, in fact, start to change. MANYA: In 1925, Reza Shah Pahlavi – an arch nationalist who wanted to propel Iran forward into the industrial age – took over the crown of Iran. He welcomed any Iranian citizen to participate in that agenda. SARSHAR: By now, we had a good two generations of Jews who had been French-educated by the Allianz Society.  They had all gone to France at some point in their lives, so they were able to participate in this industrialization of the country, given the language skills that they had and some of the connections they had built in the Western world. MANYA: Both World Wars in Europe took a massive toll on Iran. Despite declaring neutrality, Iran was occupied by European nations that took over the nation's agriculture, treating Iran as a pantry to feed the armies. Droughts and disease worsened the toll. SARSHAR: One of the lesser-known factoids about history is that during World War I, the nation that lost the most individuals as a result of the war was Iran. Above and beyond all European nations who were at war, because of a famine that had started in Iran. The same dynamic started to happen in World War II. MANYA: With nationalist fever sweeping Europe and Iran, the Allies feared the arch-nationalist Shah would go the way of Franco in Spain, Mussolini in Italy, and Hitler in Germany. They also feared the Shah would collaborate with Hitler's Germany to provide oil for the German oil machine and cease being the pantry the Allies needed it to be. In 1941, the Western powers convinced him to abdicate the throne to his son Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi. And when the war ended, Iran was able to enjoy the same economic benefits as the rest of the world at peace time. Most importantly, it was able to profit from its own oil reserves, significantly boosting Iran's national income. SARSHAR: In 1941, it was really the beginning of what is commonly referred to by the scholars of Jewish Iranian history as the Golden Age of Iranian Jewry. From 1941 until the revolution in 1978, the Jewish community of Iran saw a meteoric rise to power and social wealth. Industries such as pharmaceuticals, banking, insurance, real estate development, and other major industries, the aluminum plastics industries in Iran, all were either directly owned by the Jews of Iran or managed under their management.  And during this period, really, we can say that for the first time, after 2,500 years, the Jews of Iran really started to experience the kinds of freedoms that they had not seen since the Achaemenid dynasty. And it is during this time that, you know, we see, really, that life started to change for the Jews of Iran, even though some of the age-old social dynamics were still there.  The institutionalized antisemitism had not been completely wiped out. But for the most part, things had changed because Iranian society in general was also being Westernized, light speed. And many educated people had realized that antisemitism was really looked down upon, you know, that kind of prejudice was really no longer acceptable in the world at large. So many, many sections of the community really had shifted, genuinely shifted. And some, even though maybe their feelings had not changed, knew that their antisemitism was something that they needed to keep private. MANYA: At that time, Iran also became a refuge for Jews fleeing Europe and other parts of the Middle East. On June 1, 1941, a brutal pogrom in Iraq known as the Farhud, incited by Nazi propaganda, targeted Jews celebrating the holiday of Shavuot. Nearly 200 Jews were murdered in the streets. The violence became a turning point for Iraqi Jews. Thousands fled, many stopping in Iran, which became a way station for those headed to Palestine.  In 1942, thousands of Jewish refugees from Poland who had fled across the border into the Soviet Union during the German invasion traveled on trains and ships to Iran. Among the refugees – 1,000 orphaned children.  As Zionist leaders worked to negotiate the young Jews' immigration to Palestine, the Jewish Agency established the “Tehran Home for Jewish Children” – a complex of tents on the grounds of a former Iranian Air Force barracks outside Tehran. More than 800 orphans, escorted by adults, most of them also refugees, moved from Tehran to kibbutzim in Palestine the following year. Later, in 1948, when most Arab League states forbade the emigration of their Jews after the creation of Israel, the Zionist underground continued to smuggle Jews to Iran at about a rate of 1,000 a month, before they were flown to Israel. SARSHAR: The Zionist movement was fairly strong in Iran. It was a very lively movement. The Balfour Declaration was celebrated in all of the Allianz schools in Iran, and very soon thereafter, the first Zionist organization of Iran was established. And truly many of its founding fathers were some of the leading industrialists and intellectuals in Iranian society, in the Jewish Iranian community for the years to come. It was not unlike the kind of Zionism we see today in the United States, for example. You know, the wealthy families of the Jewish communities in New York and Los Angeles, all are very passionate about Israel, but you don't see very many of them selling their homes and packing up and moving to Israel because they just don't want to do it. They feel like they're very comfortable here. And what matters is that a state of Israel should exist, and they are political advocates of that state and of that policy and of its continued existence, but not necessarily diehard participants in the experiment itself. Iranians, after the establishment of the State of Israel, were being encouraged to move to Israel, and the Israeli government was having a lot of difficulty with that, because a lot of Iranians were seeing that life had become better for them, and they weren't as willing to leave, despite the fact that the Kourosh Project provided airplanes to get Jews out of Iran. My own great-grandmother was one of those passengers. She is buried in Mount of Olives in Jerusalem. She was one of the early citizens of Israel who went to live out the Zionist dream. MANYA: Both sides of Einat's family – her mother and father's ancestors – were among those early Israeli citizens. Einat's father was born in Tel Aviv. His parents and grandparents had come from Yemen in the late 19th Century. Einat's mother Ziona was 10 years old when in 1948, the family left Kerman, a city in southeastern Iran known for its carpet weaving and woolen shawls. They arrived in Israel with their suitcases ready to fulfill their dream. But living the dream in the new Jewish nation was not easy. After all, the day after Israel declared its independence, Arab nations attacked the Jewish state, launching the first of a series of Arab-Israeli Wars. EINAT: The story of my mom, it's a very interesting story. The family didn't have much money. There wasn't like, rich family that left, very different story. No, both of my parents come from very, I would say, very poor family. My grandpa was, like, dealing with textile. He was like, traveling from town to town with fabric. And that's what they did. They put them in what's called ma'aborot, which was like a very kind of small villages, tin houses. My mom always said there were seven kids, so all of them in one room. In the winter it's freezing; in the summer, it's super hot. But it was also close to the border, so the one window they have, they always had to cover it so at night, the enemy cannot see the light inside that room and shoot there. Also in the ma'aabarot, nobody speaks the same language. So, it was Moroccan and Iraqi and nobody speak the same dialect or the same language. So, they cannot even communicate quite yet. MANYA: Most of Ziona's six siblings did not go to school. To make it possible for Ziona, her parents placed her in a foster home with an Iraqi family in Ramat Gan, east of Tel Aviv. EINAT: My mom's family decided that for her, she should get education, because most of the siblings didn't went to school or anything, So they put her in a foster home. In an Iraqi home, and she didn't speak a word there. So my mom, as a 10 years old, became a kid for foster parents that live in a center in Ramat Gan, where I basically grew up. And she got education, which was great. She learned also Iraqi, which is Arabic. So she speaks fluent Arabic, but she had not an easy life in coming to Israel from a different country. MANYA: Ziona has shared many of these stories with her daughter in the kitchen and dining room as they prepare and enjoy dishes that remind them of home. When she visited her daughter at her home in upstate New York at the end of the summer, Einat collected as many stories as she could over cutting boards, steaming pots, and sizzling pans. EINAT: There's a lot of story coming up, some old story that I know, some new stories. And it's really nice, because my mom is 84, 85. So, it's really nice to capture all of it, all of it. There is a lot of interesting stuff that happened during the first 10 years when she came to Israel.  That's the main, I think, I always talk about, like, how I grew up and how much food was a very substantial part of our life, if not the biggest part. You know, it's like, family can fight and this, but when it's come to the dinner, it's just change everything, the dynamic. For us, it was a big, significant part of everything. So obviously, most of these stories and memories come in while we're cooking or eating. A lot of time she used to talk about, and still talking about the smells, the smells of the flowers, the smells of the zafar (perfume). She still have the nostalgia from that time and talking very highly about what Iran used to be, and how great, and the relationship between the Muslims and the Jews back then. My grandpa's best friend was crying when he left, and he said: ‘Please don't go. Stay with us.' And he said: ‘I want to go to homeland.' So, they have a really great relationship. She's always talking, actually, about how they come for Shabbat dinner, the friends if they put the cigarettes outside of the door in Shabbat because they were observant. So cigarettes, lighter, everything, they keep it outside, in the garden, not coming inside the house. So a lot of mutual respect for the religion to each other. And I love that stories. It just showed what's happened when people take it extreme. MANYA: Einat's cookbooks and restaurant menus are filled with recipes from her own childhood and her parents' upbringing. To satisfy the appetite of her father, a former Israeli athlete, her house always had hummus and every weekend, the family made a hilbeh sauce --  a traditional Yemenite fenugreek dip made with cardamom, caraway seeds and chili flakes. Other recipes reflect her mother's Persian roots. And then there are recipes that, at first blush, seem to come out of left field, but are inspired by the Iraqi Jewish foster family that raised her mother, and the Mizrahi, Sephardi, and Ashkenazi neighbors that passed through the dining room and kitchen where Einat was raised in Bnei Brak.  Now a Haredi town east of Tel Aviv, it was then a diverse population of Jews from, well, everywhere. Einat still remembers standing on a stool next to the Moroccan neighbor in her building learning how to roll couscous. EINAT: One neighbor that was my second mom, her name was Tova, and she was Moroccan, so it was like, I have another Moroccan mom. But all the building was all Holocaust survivors. None of them had kids, and they were all speaking in Yiddish, mostly. So I grew up with a lot of mix. I wouldn't say, you know, in my time, it's not like our neighborhood. I grew up in Bnei Brak, and our neighborhood was very, it was before Bnei Brak became so religious like today. It was still religious, if you go really in, but we're close to Ramat Gan, and I have to say that it's, I would say, I didn't grow up with, it's very mixed, very mixed.  Wouldn't say I grew up just with Moroccan or Mizrahi, I say that it's very, very mixed. And my mom same. I think a lot of her friend is like, It's my mom would speak some Yiddish. She would do Kugel on Shabbat next to the jachnun and all the Mizrahi food. You know, this is the multi-pot and one things I love in Israel. You can see in one table so many different cultures. And that's something that would have happened in my house a lot. MANYA: That amalgam of Jewish cultures is reflected in her cookbooks Balaboosta and Shuk. It also shows up in her menu at the brick-and-mortar Balaboosta, a quaint Middle Eastern trattoria on Mulberry Street in Manhattan.  The name Balaboosta is borrowed from Yiddish meaning “a perfect housewife” – a twist on ba'al habayit, Hebrew for master of the house, or boss. But Einat insists that the term is no longer exclusively Ashkenazi, nor does it refer exclusively to a woman's domestic role. EINAT: An old friend, chef, asked me when I went to open Balaboosta, and I said, ‘I don't have a name.' She said: ‘What do you call a badass woman in Hebrew?' I'm like, ‘balaboosta.' She said, ‘It's a perfect name. We done.' Took five minutes to find this name, and I love it. It's really connected because for me it's so so much different things. You know, I always talk about the 20th century balaboosta. The balaboosta that outside going to work, the balaboosta that asking a man for a date. The balaboosta that it's not just like she's the housewife and the homekeeper. It's much more than that. Today, she's a multitask badass.  It's much more spiritual than what it is. I think it's the one that can bond the people together and bring them together and make peace between two parties clashing. So for me, it's much more than somebody that can cook and clean. So, much, much more than that. MANYA: Einat's parents became more religious when she was 12, which of course had the opposite effect on their daughter: she rebelled. When her time came to do her mandatory service in the Israel Defense Force, she was determined not to serve in a role typically assigned to women. She requested a post as a firing instructor. But after reviewing the high school transcript shaped by her rebellious adolescence, the IDF assigned her to the Nevatim Air Base where she served as a chauffeur for fighter pilots. EINAT: Back then most women would be secretaries giving coffee to some assholes. I was trying not to do that, and somehow I got very lucky, and I was in the same division, I was in the Air Force. I had amazing time for two years. I start the military a very different person, and left a very different person. I used to hang with a lot of bad people before, really bad people. And when I get to the military, I was a driver of pilots, it's the top of the top of the top in the hierarchy in the military in all IDF. So now I'm hanging with people that have the biggest ambition ever, and I'm learning new stuff, and everything opened up, even my language changed completely. Everything. I was want to travel more than I ever want before, and I have like, crazy dreams. MANYA: To make sure the elite pilots were well-fed, the IDF bused in a group of Yemenite grandmothers to provide ochel bayit, or home-cooked meals. Einat befriended the kitchen staff and helped out from time to time. Then in January 1991, she was tapped to cook a meal that probably launched her career. The IDF chiefs of staff had convened at Nevatim base to discuss the U.S. plan to bomb Iraq during the Gulf War and what Israel would do if Saddam Hussein retaliated with an attack on the Jewish state. But they needed to plot that strategy on full stomachs. A couple of pilots served as her sous chefs. That night, the Israeli generals dined on Chinese chicken with garlic, honey, and soy. And a rice salad. EINAT: It was definitely the turning point, the military.  I would say there is some values of relationship and working ethics that I wouldn't see anywhere else, and that's coming, I think because the military. They're waking up in the morning, the friendship, they're no snitching or none of this. It's to stand up for each other. There is so many other values that I grabbed from that. So when I start my culinary career, and I was in a fine dining kitchen, it was very helpful, very helpful. MANYA: After spending five years in a van driving around Germany – an extended celebration of freedom after IDF service --  it was time to get serious about a career. A culinary career made as good a sense as any. Einat worked as a waitress in Eilat and enrolled in culinary school. At the end, she marched into the kitchen of Keren, one of the first restaurants in Israel to offer haute cuisine. She got an internship, then a job. The former restaurant, run by Israeli Chef and television host Haim Cohen, is credited for reinventing Israeli cuisine. Now, as a restaurant owner and TV personality herself, Einat is largely credited for introducing Israeli cuisine to the U.S. But before she became the self-made Balaboosta of fine Israeli dining, Einat was America's Falafel Queen, made famous by two victories on the Food Network's show Chopped and her first restaurant – now a fast food chain called Ta'im Falafel. But her fame and influence when it comes to Israeli cooking has exposed her to a fair bit of criticism. She has become a target on social media by those who accuse Israelis of appropriating Palestinian foods – an argument she calls petty and ridiculous. So ridiculous, she has found the best platform to address it is on the stage of her new hobby: stand-up comedy. Cooking has always been her Zen. But so is dark humor. EINAT: I like comedy more than anything, not more than food, but close enough. EINAT/Clip: Yeah, this year was great here on Instagram, lot of hate comments, though. A lot about food appropriation, me making Arabic dishes. So let me clarify something here. I check my DNA through ancestry.com and I am 97% Middle Eastern, so I fucking bleed hummus. EINAT: It's very petty. Food, supposed always to share. Food supposed to moving forward.  It's tiring and life is much more complex than to even argue and have a debate about stupid things. I'm done. OK, yes, we're indigenous.I have connection to the land. My parents, my grandparents and great grandparents have connection to that land. Okay, I get it. Now we need to solve what's going on, because there was Palestinian that lived there before, and how we can, for me, how we change the ideology, which I don't see how we can, but how we can change the ideology, convince them that they want peace. And they want…I don't know. MANYA: Needless to say, in the year that has followed the attacks of October 7, stand-up comedy has not been the balm it once was. The attacks that unfolded that day by Iran-backed terrorists that killed more than 1,200 Israelis and kidnapped more than 250 more was simply too devastating. EINAT: I was broken there, my husband was with me, I was every day on a bed crying, and then going to work, and it was like I couldn't hear music, because every music thinking about Nova and my friends and then I couldn't see babies with a mom. Everything was a trigger. It was bad. We had a disaster of October 7 and then October 8 to see the world reaction was another. It's not just enough that we going through so much grief and need to kind of contain all that emotion and crazy and anger and rage and now we need to see the world's. Like, ok. I never thought there is antisemitism. It's something from the past, for my grandparents, for my mom a little, but it's not something in my generation, or my kids' generation. It's done, apparently, not. MANYA: The lack of sympathy around the world and among her culinary peers only amplified Einat's grief. As a way to push for a cease-fire and end U.S. support for Israel, nearly 900 chefs, farmers and others in the food industry signed a pledge to boycott Israel-based food businesses and culinary events that promote Israel. EINAT: I felt very, very alone, very alone. The first few months, I felt like, wow, not one call from anyone to check on me. It was pretty sad. At the same time, I'm in the best company ever Jewish community. There is nothing like that, nothing. MANYA: Her team at Balaboosta also checked in on their Israeli boss. But they too were scared. Soon after she posted pictures of the hostages on the window of her restaurant, she confronted a group of teenagers who tried to tear them down. EINAT: I stand in front of them and I said, ‘You better move fast'. MANYA: It's no secret that Iran helped plan Oct. 7. What is not as well known is how many Jews still live and thrive in Iran. Before the 1979 Islamic Revolution, there were nearly 100,000 Jews in Iran. Today, Israeli sources say the population numbers less than 10,000, while the regime and Iran's Jewish leaders say it's closer to 20,000. Regardless, Iran's Jewish community remains the largest in the Middle East outside Israel.  To be sure, the constitution adopted in 1906 is still in place nominally, and it still includes Jews as a protected religious minority. Jews in Iran have synagogues, access to kosher meat, and permission to consume wine for Shabbat, despite a national ban on alcohol. There's also a Jewish representative in Iran's parliament or Majlis. But all women and girls regardless of religion are required to wear a veil, according to the Islamist dress code, and Jews are pressured to vote in elections at Jewish-specific ballot stations so the regime can monitor their participation. Zionism is punishable by death and after Oct. 7, the regime warned its Jewish citizens to sever contact with family and friends in Israel or risk arrest. They also can't leave. Iranian law forbids an entire Jewish nuclear family from traveling abroad at the same time. At least one family member, usually the father, must remain behind to prevent emigration. But Houman points out that many Iranian Jews, including himself, are deeply attached to Iranian culture. As a resident of Los Angeles, he reads Persian literature, cooks Persian herb stew for his children and speaks in Persian to his pets. He would return to Iran in an instant if given the opportunity to do so safely. For Jews living in Iran it may be no different. They've become accustomed to living under Islamist laws. They may not want to leave, even if they could. SARSHAR: The concept of living and thriving in Iran, for anyone who is not related to the ruling clergy and the Revolutionary Guard, is a dream that feels unattainable by anyone in Iran, let alone the Jews. In a world where there is really no fairness for anyone, the fact that you're treated even less fairly almost fades. MANYA: Scholars say since the Islamic Revolution, most Jews who have left Iran have landed in Los Angeles or Long Island, New York. Still, more Jews of Iranian descent live in Israel – possibly more than all other countries combined. The reason why? Because so many like Einat's family made aliyah–up until the mid-20th Century.  It's hard to say where another exodus might lead Iranian Jews to call home. Einat will be forever grateful that her family left when they still could and landed in a beautiful and beloved place. Though she lives in the U.S. now, she travels back to Israel at least twice a year. EINAT: It's a dream for every Jew, it's not just me. It's the safe zone for every Jew. It's the one place that, even if we have, it's not safe because there is people around us that want to kill us. It's still emotionally. You know, I've been in Israel a few months ago, it's like, you always feel loved, you always feel supported. It's incredible. And it's still home. It's always going to be my home. MANYA: Persian Jews are just one of the many Jewish communities who, in the last century, left Middle Eastern and North African countries to forge new lives for themselves and future generations.  Many thanks to Einat for sharing her family's story. You can enjoy some of her family's favorite recipes in her cookbooks Balaboosta and Shuk. Her memoir Taste of Love was recently released in  an audio and digital format.  Too many times during my reporting, I encountered children and grandchildren who didn't have the answers to my questions because they'd never asked. That's why one of the goals of this project is to encourage you to ask those questions. Find your stories. Atara Lakritz is our producer. T.K. Broderick is our sound engineer. Special thanks to Jon Schweitzer, Nicole Mazur, Sean Savage, and Madeleine Stern, and so many of our colleagues, too many to name really, for making this series possible. You can subscribe to The Forgotten Exodus on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts, and you can learn more at AJC.org/theforgottenexodus.  The views and opinions of our guests don't necessarily reflect the positions of AJC. You can reach us at theforgottenexodus@ajc.org. If you've enjoyed this episode, please be sure to spread the word, and hop onto Apple Podcasts or Spotify to rate us and write a review to help more listeners find us.

Explosions have been heard across Israel after Iran said it had launched dozens of ballistic missiles towards the country. Iran's Revolutionary Guards said it launched the missiles in retaliation for recent attacks that killed the leaders of Hezbollah and Hamas, as well as a senior Iranian commander.Also on the programme: reaction from Israel and an academic close to the Iranian government.(Image: A man holds children as people take cover during an air raid siren after Iran fired a salvo of ballistic missiles, amid cross-border hostilities in central Israel on 1 October 2024.Credit: Reuters/Ronen Zvulun)

Title: "Former Ambassador to Israel and State Dept. official Hacked: Revelations about Iran's Cyber-Operations"In a significant development that exposes the escalating cyber-warfare between nations, the U.S. government has accused Iran of hacking the email accounts of key figures in its diplomatic and political circles. The primary targets were reportedly the former ambassador to Israel and an official from the State Department.The case, which was recently brought into the public domain by a major Israeli news outlet, Haaretz, has gleaned notable attention due to the sophisticated nature of the hacking operation as well as the implications it has on Iran-U.S. relations. The indictment detailed the actions of three Iranians, allegedly working for Iran's Revolutionary Guards, who were successful in breaking into the email accounts of U.S. diplomats.Donald Trump, the man who recently occupied the highest office in the U.S., drew attention to this episode as a pivotal point in the discourse on cybersecurity and national safety. His comments reflect an urgent need for the U.S. and its allies to collaborate in combating such cyber threats, ensuring the security of sensitive information and protecting the interests of their citizens.The former ambassador to Israel, Jack Smith, was one of the cyber attack victims. Smith served as an emissary to Israel during a tense period in Middle Eastern politics. The breach of his email account potentially exposes sensitive information that could disrupt the geopolitical equilibrium in that region. It also underscores the need for enhanced security measures to protect confidential diplomatic communications.The State Department official, whose identity is currently withheld, is another key figure in this unsettling situation. The breach into an operative of such high-ranking status pushes the alarm button on the vulnerability of state institutions and official correspondents against cyber-attacks.As countries worldwide increasingly grapple with the complexities of cybersecurity, accusations like these highlight an urgent need to prioritize and invest in digital security measures. It also emphasizes the necessity for greater vigilance in international diplomacy and counter-terrorism efforts, particularly against sophisticated cyber-tools that could be used by nations with adversarial relationships.According to the U.S. authorities, the alleged Iranian offenders are part of Iran's Revolutionary Guards, suggesting that the attack was state-sponsored. If proven, this situation would have severe repercussions for the Iran-U.S. relations, which are already strained.In conclusion, this alarming event involving the former ambassador to Israel and a State Department official serves both as a stark reminder of the burgeoning cyber threats that governments face and as a call-to-action to guarantee the digital safety of state apparatus.

In our news wrap Friday, Israel struck Hezbollah's central headquarters in Beirut and flattened several residential buildings, New York Mayor Eric Adams pleaded not guilty to bribery and other charges in federal court and the Justice Department charged three members of Iran's Revolutionary Guard for the suspected hacking of Donald Trump's presidential campaign. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

In our news wrap Friday, Israel struck Hezbollah's central headquarters in Beirut and flattened several residential buildings, New York Mayor Eric Adams pleaded not guilty to bribery and other charges in federal court and the Justice Department charged three members of Iran's Revolutionary Guard for the suspected hacking of Donald Trump's presidential campaign. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

This summer, Iranians elected Masoud Pezeshkian, a cardiac surgeon and political reformer, as their new president, surprising many foreign observers who doubted anyone could defeat hardliners. Questions remain about whether he won with or without support from Iran's Supreme Leader and Revolutionary Guards, and whether he can address the country's significant domestic and international challenges, including reducing Western sanctions. Hossein Mousavian, a former Iranian diplomat and Princeton scholar, offers insights into Pezeshkian's presidency, Iran's future, and what it means to be a "reformer" in Iran's complex political landscape. Should the West reconsider negotiations with Iran?

This week, two major terrorist leaders were assassinated in the Middle East. Hamas' Ismail Haniyeh was killed in an explosion in Tehran, just a day after top Hezbollah leader Fuad Shukr was killed in an Israeli airstrike on Beirut in retaliation for the horrific rocket attack that killed 12 children on a soccer field in northern Israel. What does this mean for Israel and the wider region? Is this a major setback for Iran and its terror proxies? Tune in to hear what AJC Jerusalem Director Lt. Col. (res.) Avital Leibovich, who visited the site of the terror attack in Majdal Shams, has to say. Episode Lineup:  (0:40) Avital Leibovich Learn: What to Know About Hamas Terror Leader Ismail Haniyeh What to Know About Hezbollah's Escalation Against Israel Listen: Aviva Klompas is Fighting the Normalization of Antisemitism on Social Media On the Ground at the Republican National Convention: What's at Stake for Israel and the Middle East? Follow People of the Pod on your favorite podcast app, and learn more at AJC.org/PeopleofthePod You can reach us at: peopleofthepod@ajc.org If you've appreciated this episode, please be sure to tell your friends, and rate and review us on Apple Podcasts. Transcript of Interview with Avital Leibovich: Manya Brachear Pashman:   This week marked 300 days of captivity for the 115 remaining hostages kidnapped by Hamas terrorists on October 7. There was also a major development: confirmation that an operation in July led to the death of Hamas' military leader Muhammad Deif. But there were two more assassinations this week, the leaders of two terror groups targeting Israel.  On Wednesday, we learned that Hamas terror leader Ismail Haniyeh was killed in an explosion in Tehran shortly after meeting with Iran Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Haniyeh had been in Tehran for the inauguration of its new president. This just a day after top Hezbollah leader Fuad Shukr was killed in an Israeli airstrike on Beirut in retaliation for the horrific rocket attack that killed 12 children on a soccer field in Golan Heights. AJC Jerusalem director Avital Leibovich is with us now to discuss these developments. Avital, welcome back to People of the Pod. Avital Leibovich: Thank you. Manya. Good to be here. Manya Brachear Pashman:   So, Avital, my first question is, are we safer now than we were at the start of the week? Do two fewer terror leaders lead to less terror? Avital Leibovich: Well, I would say the world in general is a safer place with the absence of Shukr and Haniyeh. However, the neighborhood here is not changing. And unfortunately, we are still surrounded by vicious enemies, who still are seeking to see our erosion and eradication. So while I'm very happy with your outcome in the last 24 hours, I also know there's still a lot of reason for concern. Manya Brachear Pashman:   So tell us about these terror leaders. Who was Ismail Haniyeh? And what was his role with Hamas? Avital Leibovich: Sure. So Ismail Haniyeh, who's also, by the way, has another name, which is Abu al-Abed, he actually served as the number one political leader of Hamas since May 2017. He actually substituted in this role, Khaled Mashal and other terrorists, and before that, he actually served as the prime minister of the Palestinian Authority just for a very brief, short time between 2006 and 2007. And he actually became very close to a Hamas leader called Ahmed Yassin. And basically, he really grew into the very radical agenda of Hamas. Interesting enough, his background was totally different. I mean, even worked in Israel in the city closest to Gaza called Ashkelon. So he knows the country. He knows the mentality. So in addition to this, he also began to do some terror activity after the three years of working in Ashkelon in Israel. And then he initiated different kinds of activities. Among them was the kidnapping of Gilad Shalit, a soldier who we'll remember. And after being involved in the terror realm and the political realm, he decided to focus more on Hamas' agenda, on Hamas' charter. And basically, what we have seen in the last couple of years are a few things. Number one, Hania got very rich, because he received millions and millions of dollars from the Qataris. Number two, he left Gaza and he spent the last years of his life in Qatar, in lavish hotels and apartments, enjoying great life. And this is also an indication of how much does he care about the people of Gaza.  And I want to connect to the current war and give you a quote of who Haniyeh was because I see that some of the media outlets have the nerve to call him a moderate negotiator. Therefore, I'd like to help them and share with you the following quote, which was said on October 27 — that was the first day where the IDF entered Gaza following the October 7 massacre. So he said, "We need the blood of women, children, and the elderly of Gaza, so it awakens our revolutionary spirit." This is the moderate guy that international media is referring to in their reports. He was a radical, he was a terrorist, and we had a very good opening of our day this morning when we heard the news. Manya Brachear Pashman:   And Fuad Shukr, what was his role with Hezbollah? Avital Leibovich: He also, you know, this is a name which is not known, I think, to many people, but he does have a French connection and an American connection — of course, an Israeli connection. The guy was number two in the level of seniority in Hezbollah. He was actually the manager of the army in a way of the Hezbollah military apparatus.  But more than that, he was a strategist, and he knew what direction should Hezbollah take in the next years. He was in charge of developing the entire missile industry that Hezbollah had, including the accurate missiles. In other words, he was a strategist but also was a practical man. Now, here's the connection that he had to the US and to France. In 1983, he was one of the orchestrators of the attack in the marine base in Beirut.  On that terrible day, 241 American marines lost their lives, but 70 French soldiers were killed as well. So as you can imagine, this terrorist Fuad Shukr has 40 years of terror activities, primarily against Israel, but also against Israeli allies. So again, I think it was a very courageous and accurate Israeli operation. And more than anything, Manya, it shows the amazing level of intelligence, where that person was exactly in which room, in which building, in which floor, and to be able to very surgically act in the right time, at the right moment and target him, I think that shows a lot for the Israeli intelligence capabilities. Manya Brachear Pashman:   Was Haniyeh part of the ceasefire and hostage release negotiations? Avital Leibovich: So if you look at the title that Hanieyeh had, which is the head of the political branch of Hamas, you could think that he had some impact on the decision making process with the hostage deals. But I can tell you that he had really no impact, very little impact. Because from the analysis that we have here in Israel, the main decision maker is Sinwar.  Now the question is, will the death of Haniyeh have an impact, number one on Sinwar? And therefore, number two on the hostage deal? Now, I'm not sure it will have an effect. I have to say. Sinwar is known as the longtime rival of Haniyeh. So in other words, he will not be mourning his death. But he had the last word with regard to any of the discussions on the hostages.  And at the end of the day, Sinwar said numerous times, that he's willing to die. And his ultimate goal is to make sure that Hamas has some sort of a controlling Gaza. He understands today Sinwar, that Hamas will no longer control the government, therefore, he's willing to compromise. For example, let's say Hamas will be giving the role of being in charge of the renovations in Gaza. Or perhaps they will be in charge of the education system and so on, in other words, just to have some sort of a stronghold inside Gaza in terms of governance of some sort. Now, if that will not be a part of any possible deal, then Sinwar has no interest to give a positive answer to a deal. Manya Brachear Pashman:   I am curious why Haniyeh would have met with Ayatollah Ali Khamenei before his death? Avital Leibovich: Hamas and Iran have different kinds of cooperation. We have seen that across the region. In other words, we have seen Hamas representatives in Lebanon, working alongside Nasrallah, the health Hezbollah, but also meeting the Iranian foreign minister, when he came to Lebanon for visits. We understand that this time around there is a clear interest which Iran supports, is to target Israel as much as possible. And obviously Iran prefers a proxy like Hamas to be representative of its own goals and intentions.  And therefore you saw Haniyeh last time, was last night paying respects for the inauguration ceremony in Iran. And according to what I'm hearing, he was also hosted in a Revolutionary Guards facility. In other words, whoever targeted Haniyeh had a great level of intelligence by knowing how to get to that specific building.  But moreover, this is a very secure area, because the Revolutionary Guards are considered the body which is the most guarded of all bodies in Iran. They're the ones controlling the budget of the Iranian government. They're the ones operating Hezbollah and other militias and proxies. So in other words, the fact that it was a Revolutionary Guards headquarters, Antonia was there and despite of all this information, the security system around him cracked. I think that sends a very loud and clear message to the Iranians. Manya Brachear Pashman:   How is the relationship between Iran and Hamas and the relationship between Iran and Hezbollah different? Can you explain that to our audience? Avital Leibovich: First of all, I mean, you know, Iran is the chief orchestrator of everything that we have been seeing here since October 7, but actually before that as well. Now, I would say that with Hezbollah, it's a long love story between the two. Actually, Hezbollah was founded by Iran, quite shortly after the revolution in '79.  When the country became a fundamentalist Islamist and obviously, took the wrong path, distancing itself from the Western world. Iran actually built Hezbollah, founded Hezbollah, first the military wing, and then adding three years later the political wing. And the idea was to use them in order to attack Israel. And this is very convenient.  Think about it, Iran is 1300 kilometers away from Israel. It's not convenient to fire a rocket all the way from that country to Israel. But let's say you want to use simpler means and within half an hour to take an operation out, it's easier to use someone who's bordering with Israel. So gradually, we saw Hezbollah taking over almost the entire country. And everything had to do with Iranian funding. Now, in order to have Iranian funding in terms of sanctions, Iran and Hezbollah, found alternative options like laundering money, like a whole chain of drug trafficking in Syria and other countries. So they found solutions to do that.  By the way, Iran is doing the same thing with the Houthis in Yemen, also using them as a proxy. Because you know, this is the most poor country in the region, huge unemployment rates, you can recruit 10s of 1000s and hundreds of 1000s of people, as long as you pay them a very minimal salary. Now, as for Hamas, Hamas was built a little bit later.  It's actually an offshoot of the Muslim Brotherhood, so not directly of Iran. However, sometimes there are joint interests between different terror groups. Actually, Iran founded the Islamic Jihad in Gaza, in 79, right after the revolution, because he thought this would be the main actor controlling Gaza with the best assets and so on. But with the course of the years, when Hamas controlled Gaza, and was able to develop its terror means rockets, drones, etc, then, of course, Iran moved to cooperate with Hamas, according to its needs for Iran, it's, of course, more worthwhile to use the blood of Palestinians than the blood of Iranians to sacrifice Palestinians and not the Iranians. This is how they see it.  At the end of the day, Iran now wishes to resume to the situation of being a major empire as it used to be, a Persian empire decades and decades ago. So this is the longtime dream, I would say. And the proxies are just another, I would say detail in the path to reach that dream.  Manya Brachear Pashman:   Now, Hezbollah did not claim responsibility for the attack that killed a dozen children on a soccer field. Why not? They're usually proud of the death and destruction that they wreak. Why did Israel target the terror group anyway?  Avital Leibovich: Look, say a few words about this tragic event that took place just a few days ago in a very small, beautiful, pastoral village called Majdal Shams, which, by the way, means the tower of sun. It's on the Syrian border, and the other side is on the Lebanese border. And, you know, people asked me if this is the first time that Hizballah ever targeted Druze or targeted Muslims. Now this specific village was targeted five times already by Hezbollah. Saturday, obviously, was the deadliest of all the five. It was 6:18 in the afternoon, beautiful summer day, lots of kids outside.  I visited the soccer field where it happens. And the rockets left, really not a chance for those kids who were playing there. Although there was actually a shelter right there, maybe two feet from where the rocket hit the ground. They really didn't have a chance to make it and go into the shelter. And unfortunately, those poor 12 year old kids, ages 10-16, died in place. We still have over 30 people hospitalized, many of them are kids as well.  And I have to say, Manya, that I saw a village who has been traumatized. People are still wearing black clothes. There are black flags hanging everywhere inside the village. The pictures of the kids are, you know, pasted everywhere, on the squares just on random villages and walls of buildings.  I also went to one of the bereaved families. And you know, you sit there with a parent who lost his 12 year old boy named Johnny [Wadeea Ibrahim]. And he tells you about his dreams. And he says to me, you know, these dreams will never be fulfilled. And he says to me, we don't even know how to digest what happened to us. So, for Hezbollah, they don't really care who they're firing at, whether it's Jews or Arabs, or Muslims or Christians, whoever, they don't care if it's in the eastern Galilee, or the Western Galilee, or the Golan. All these areas are relevant for the Hezbollah fire since October 8. Manya Brachear Pashman:   Well, Hezbollah did not take responsibility. Why not? Avital Leibovich: So here is the mistake. Hezbollah actually made the mistake. Hezbollah has a TV station, which is its mouthpiece, just like Hamas's TV station mouthpiece is Al Jazeera. Hezbollah's is Al Mayadeen. Now, immediately after an attack, a Hezbollah attack, Al Mayadeen immediately publishes responsibility taking by Hezbollah always every time. And by the way, we're talking about an average of eight attacks a day, every day. And that's what they did here too. On Saturday, they immediately took responsibility in the name of Hezbollah.  Unfortunately, for them, after 20 minutes, they understood the extent of the mistake they did, and deleted, of course, this responsibility, and then they made up their own narrative. The narrative was that a misfiring of an Iron Dome interceptor, mistakenly killed the kids, like Israel's fault is that the kids died. Now, this narrative, if you think it was only the social media, then think again, they sent the foreign minister of Lebanon to the media to repeat it.  But they also did something more. They sent the head of the Druze community. It's the same blood and flesh of the Druze in the Golan. They sent him to the press to declare that it was not a Hezbollah rocket. So they understood that they will pay a price of some sort. I'm sure they understood that I'm not sure they understood the extent of the intelligence Israel had. And now of course, they're threatening to target Israel. I think the next 48 hours will reveal where we're heading. Manya Brachear Pashman:   And you talk about the incredible intelligence that led to the precise explosion in Beirut as well as the death of Haniyeh. Has Israel taken responsibility for his death and what it claimed credit if it was responsible, Avital Leibovich: Up to this minute, Israel did not take any responsibility for Haniyeh's death. Of course, yes, for the Hizballah number two guy Fuad Shukr, but not for Haniyeh. As a matter of fact, the Prime Minister ordered the Cabinet members and the ministers not to speak publicly on the issue. And basically, there's been a lot of quiet from the political echelon here since the morning. Manya Brachear Pashman:   And you touched on what my last question is, and that is, how will this elevate the tensions? Does this raise the chance of a war between Israel and Lebanon, Israel, and Iran, these assassinations?  Avital Leibovich: So I would say we are already in a war to some extent with Hezbollah, because Hezbollah has fired more than 6000 rockets since October 8. And I've counted 43 Israeli casualties since October 8. So we are talking about an active war in a sense, I think that there is a good reason to believe that both Hezbollah and Iran will react to these two targets. I'm not sure in which way. I do think that Hezbollah still has the notion and the strategy of not completely escalating the situation to a full scale war. I'm sure that Nasrallah is sitting in his bunker in the darkened neighborhood, seeing the footage from Gaza and understanding Israel's capability and does not want to turn Beirut into a similar kind of situation.  And he also saw the building last night and he also understood the extent of the intelligence capability. So I think he will have to react in such a way that on the one hand, he could be proud that he did something but on the other hand, would not engage in a full scale war. Iran, on the other hand, is a different story.  Because three months have passed since April 14 in which Iran decided to gift us with hundreds of drones and different kinds of ballistic missiles. And from their perspective, it failed. It failed because Israel has a great defense system. It also failed because the US led the great coalition of countries who supported the interception attempts in April 14. However, and this is a big however, Iran learned its lessons.  Iran learned why it failed in April. And therefore, my concern is that they will take these lessons and implement them in whichever reaction they will have. I'm not sure it will be tomorrow morning. Tomorrow, they will celebrate Haniyeh in the big funeral in Iran, and then there will be additional mourning days in Qatar. So it may take a few days, but I have no doubt that they will both, Hezbollah and Iran react. Manya Brachear Pashman:   Avital, thank you so much for just explaining all of these developments and what they mean. Avital Leibovich: Of course, I just hope that for once they will be able to talk about positive things and not only terror and wars. Manya Brachear Pashman:   We hope so too. We hope so too. Thank you so much. Avital Leibovich: Thank you and Am Yisrael Chai.

Ismail Haniyeh, the political leader of Hamas, was killed in an Israeli airstrike in Tehran, an event that has heightened tensions across the Middle East. The strike targeted a residence Haniyeh used in Tehran, also killing one of his bodyguards. This unprecedented move marks Israel's first known assassination of a high-profile Hamas leader in Iran, reflecting a significant escalation in their conflict.Details of the Strike:Location: Tehran, Iran.Casualties: Haniyeh and one of his bodyguards.Timing: Shortly after Haniyeh attended an inauguration ceremony and met with Iranian leaders.Reactions and Ramifications:Iran's Response:Iran's Revolutionary Guard promised a "harsh and painful response."An emergency meeting was called by an Iranian parliamentary committee on national security.Regional Impact:Potential escalation of violence from Iran-backed groups like Hezbollah, Iraqi and Syrian militias, and Houthi rebels.Increased daily exchanges of fire between Hezbollah and Israeli forces along the Israeli-Lebanese border, with a risk of all-out war.Impact on Gaza Conflict:Hamas' military wing warned that Haniyeh's assassination would have major repercussions, possibly escalating the conflict further.Israel continues its military campaign in Gaza, resulting in significant casualties and destruction.International Concerns:U.S. officials were reportedly unaware of the strike beforehand and have called for continued efforts towards a ceasefire.Diplomatic efforts to defuse tensions are ongoing but face significant challenges due to the heightened conflict.The assassination of Haniyeh could lead to a broader regional conflict, involving various Iranian-backed groups and further complicating efforts for peace in the region​.(commercial at 14:49)to contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.comsource:Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh is assassinated in 'Israeli' airstrike on his residence in Iran - sparking fears of huge escalation in regional conflict as terror group vows revenge | Daily Mail Online

Ismail Haniyeh, the political leader of Hamas, was killed in an Israeli airstrike in Tehran, an event that has heightened tensions across the Middle East. The strike targeted a residence Haniyeh used in Tehran, also killing one of his bodyguards. This unprecedented move marks Israel's first known assassination of a high-profile Hamas leader in Iran, reflecting a significant escalation in their conflict.Details of the Strike:Location: Tehran, Iran.Casualties: Haniyeh and one of his bodyguards.Timing: Shortly after Haniyeh attended an inauguration ceremony and met with Iranian leaders.Reactions and Ramifications:Iran's Response:Iran's Revolutionary Guard promised a "harsh and painful response."An emergency meeting was called by an Iranian parliamentary committee on national security.Regional Impact:Potential escalation of violence from Iran-backed groups like Hezbollah, Iraqi and Syrian militias, and Houthi rebels.Increased daily exchanges of fire between Hezbollah and Israeli forces along the Israeli-Lebanese border, with a risk of all-out war.Impact on Gaza Conflict:Hamas' military wing warned that Haniyeh's assassination would have major repercussions, possibly escalating the conflict further.Israel continues its military campaign in Gaza, resulting in significant casualties and destruction.International Concerns:U.S. officials were reportedly unaware of the strike beforehand and have called for continued efforts towards a ceasefire.Diplomatic efforts to defuse tensions are ongoing but face significant challenges due to the heightened conflict.The assassination of Haniyeh could lead to a broader regional conflict, involving various Iranian-backed groups and further complicating efforts for peace in the region​.(commercial at 14:49)to contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.comsource:Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh is assassinated in 'Israeli' airstrike on his residence in Iran - sparking fears of huge escalation in regional conflict as terror group vows revenge | Daily Mail OnlineBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-epstein-chronicles--5003294/support.

*) Hamas says leader Ismail Haniyeh killed by Israel in Iran Ismail Haniyeh, the political chief of Palestinian resistance group Hamas, has been killed in Iran, according to a statement from Hamas and Iranian officials. Hamas said its leader was killed early on Wednesday following an Israeli raid targeting his residence in Tehran. In a statement, the group mourned the death of Haniyeh, 62, who it said was killed in “a treacherous Zionist raid on his residence in Tehran after participating in the inauguration ceremony of the new Iranian president.” *) Hamas vows assassination of Haniyeh won't ‘go unpunished' Hamas has said the assassination of senior leader Ismail Haniyeh is a “grave escalation”. Al-Aqsa TV cited senior Hamas official Moussa Abu Marzouk saying the assassination of the Hamas leader is a “cowardly act that will not go unpunished”. Hamas and Iran's Revolutionary Guard confirmed the killing of Haniyeh during his visit to Iran, with Hamas saying Israel targeted his residence in Tehran. *) Druze reject Netanyahu''s attempt to exploit Golan Heights tragedy Mourning Druze of the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights have distanced themselves from Israeli attack on Lebanon. Druze accused Israeli leaders of leveraging their tragedy for political gains. Scores of Majdal Shams residents came out to protest Netanyahu's visit, many donning traditional Druze caps, saying the community rejects the “attempt to exploit the name of Majdal Shams as a political platform at the expense of the blood of our children”. *) India mobilises military as landslide death toll jumps in Kerala Multiple landslides triggered by torrential rains in southern India have killed at least 122 people, and many others are feared trapped under the debris, officials said, with rescue operations being hampered by bad weather. The landslides hit hilly villages in Kerala state's Wayanad district early on Tuesday and destroyed many houses and a bridge, but authorities have yet to determine the full scope of the disaster. Rescuers were working to pull out people stuck under mud and debris, but their efforts were hampered due to blocked roads and unstable terrain. *) US anti-Muslim incidents rise by 70% in first half of 2024: CAIR Discrimination and attacks against Muslims and Palestinians have risen by about 70 percent in the US in the first half of 2024 amid heightened anti-Muslim hate due to Israel's war in Gaza, the Council on American-Islamic Relations advocacy group said. Human rights advocates have reported a global rise in anti-Muslim hate and anti-Palestinian sentiment since the eruption in October 2023 of Israel's war on Gaza which has killed tens of thousands civilians and caused a humanitarian crisis. In the first six months of 2024, CAIR said it received 4,951 complaints of anti-Muslim and anti-Palestinian incidents, a rise of nearly 70 percent compared with the same period in 2023.

This Week's Guests: Dr. Afshon Ostovar Book: https://www.amazon.com/Wars-Ambition-United-States-Struggle/dp/0190940980 Episode 319 "Rethink Production presents "Live From America Podcast" - a weekly show that combines political commentary with humor. Hosted by the comedy cellar owner Noam Dworman and producer Hatem Gabr, the show features expert guests discussing news, culture, and politics with a blend of knowledge and laughter. Dr. Afshon Ostovar is an Associate Professor at the Naval Postgraduate School and a Senior Fellow at the Foreign Policy Research Institute. He is the author of the award-winning Vanguard of the Imam: Religion, Politics, and Iran's Revolutionary Guards, and a frequent contributor to Foreign Affairs, Foreign Policy, the Washington Post, War on the Rocks, and other outlets. His forthcoming book Wars of Ambition: The United States, Iran, and the Struggle for the Middle East, tells the story of how the U.S invasion of Iraq ignited a storm of competition for regional dominance, which continues to play out in the region's wars. Today he's joining us in a personal capacity, and so it should be understood that all the opinions expressed are his, and do not reflect in any way those of the institutions with which he is affiliated.” Follow Live From America YouTube @livefromamericapodcast Twitter twitter.com/AmericasPodcast www.LiveFromAmericaPodcast.com LiveFromAmericapodcast@gmail.com Follow Hatem Twitter twitter.com/HatemNYC Instagram www.instagram.com/hatemnyc/ Follow Noam Twitter twitter.com/noam_dworman #UNDERSTANDINGIRAN #AfshonOstovar #IRAN

In our news wrap Friday, a relatively rare East Coast earthquake rattled much of the northeastern U.S., the economy is still churning out jobs in spite of expert predictions and the commander of Iran's Revolutionary Guard vows retribution against Israel for an airstrike in Damascus. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

Today's Headlines: In a flurry of international and domestic developments, tensions escalate in the Middle East as Iran's Revolutionary Guard reports Israeli airstrikes on the Iranian consulate in Syria, resulting in casualties, prompting Israel to heighten embassy security. Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announces plans to enact legislation allowing action against foreign media networks deemed national security threats, with Al Jazeera targeted specifically. In the US, Florida's Supreme Court rulings greenlight a 6-week abortion ban and pave the way for a ballot measure on abortion rights. Michigan becomes the final state to decriminalize paid surrogacy contracts, signaling progress in LGBTQ rights and reproductive freedom. Congressional dynamics shift, potentially impacting House Speaker Mike Johnson's tenure, while former President Donald Trump secures a $175 million bond to avoid contempt of court in a fraud case, yet faces an expanded gag order in another legal battle. Resources/Articles mentioned in this episode: NPR: Iranian officials accuse Israel of a deadly attack on Iran's consulate in Syria Axios: Netanyahu to shutter Israeli Al Jazeera bureau after government passes new law WA Post: Florida Supreme Court allows one of nation's strictest abortion bans to take effect CNN: Michigan governor signs act to decriminalize paid surrogacy contracts  Axios: Mike Johnson ouster over Ukraine "possible," House Republican says NY Times: Trump Gets Bond Deal to Ward Off $454 Million Judgment, for Now NBC News: Judge expands partial gag order after Trump's attacks on his daughter in hush money case Morning Announcements is produced by Sami Sage alongside Bridget Schwartz and edited by Grace Hernandez-Johnson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There is an escalation of tension in the Middle East. On Monday, warplanes attacked a building inside Iran's consulate complex in Damascus, Syria. Some of the most senior members of Iran's Revolutionary Guard were killed. Iran blames Israel for the strikes. Now there are reports of new attacks on international ships in the Red Sea and a base in southern Israel. Nick Schifrin reports. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

1PM ET 12/25/2023 Newscast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices