As war spreads across Lebanon and Iran, the U.S. and Israel claim they are making progress.

But on the ground, the picture looks far more complicated.

After a supposed pause in fighting and failed negotiations, Israel escalated dramatically, launching massive strikes on Beirut while continuing its ground invasion in southern Lebanon.

At the same time, Iran has held firm in negotiations, raising questions about whether Washington’s strategy is working.

So who’s actually winning?

In this episode of Dispatches, Rania Khalek speaks with journalist Jon Elmer of The Electronic Intifada to break down the military realities:

-Israel’s war in south Lebanon and the battle for Bint Jbeil
-Hezbollah’s resurgence and military capabilities
-The U.S.-Israel strategy against Iran
-What the failed negotiations reveal
-Whether this war is escalating toward a second phase

As Israel escalates its war on Lebanon, one narrative dominates: that Hezbollah is the cause of the conflict.

But that story erases decades of history.

Long before Hezbollah existed, southern Lebanon was already a frontline of anti-colonial struggle led by Palestinian fighters, Lebanese leftists, and marginalized communities resisting Israeli aggression and internal neglect.

In this episode of Dispatches, Rania Khalek speaks with scholar Nate George about:

THE ORIGINS OF RESISTANCE IN SOUTH LEBANON

THE ROLE OF THE LEBANESE LEFT AND THE PLO

HOW ISRAEL, THE US, AND REGIONAL POWERS CRUSHED THAT MOVEMENT

THE SHIFT FROM SECULAR REVOLUTION TO ISLAMIST RESISTANCE

WHY HEZBOLLAH EMERGED — AND WHAT IT REPLACED

This conversation challenges the dominant narrative and reveals a deeper truth:

🎥 The full episode is available to Breakthrough News members.
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Donald Trump has issued a shocking ultimatum to Iran: submit, or face the destruction of its civilian infrastructure and the total devastation of the country within hours.

As Washington and Tel Aviv escalate their war threats, Iran says it will retaliate in kind with potentially catastrophic consequences for Israel, the Gulf, and the wider region.

Meanwhile, Israel continues its assault across the region: threatening Tehran with the Dahieh doctrine, demanding unilateral disarmament from every force that resists it, and pushing Lebanon toward collapse and capitulation.

To break down what this moment means, Rania Khalek is joined by Mouin Rabbani, co-editor of Jadaliyya.

They discuss:
Trump’s ultimatum and the threat of massive war crimes against Iran
Iran’s response and what Tehran is demanding
The US-Israeli divide over war aims
How the Strait of Hormuz could become Washington’s Suez
Israel’s campaign for regional military supremacy
Lebanon, displacement, and the attempted “Shia Nakba”
Whether Israel’s regional hegemony is beginning to crack
What this war reveals about American decline
The global costs of Israel’s unchecked power