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Beyond the Headlines

The National News

Dive deeper into the week’s biggest stories from the Middle East and around the world with The National’s multi-award-winning podcast, Beyond the Headlines — winner of two Signal Awards and the New York Festivals Radio and TV Awards. Nuances are often missed in day-to-day headlines. We go Beyond the Headlines by bringing together the voices of experts and those living the news to provide a clearer picture of the region’s shifting political and social landscape.

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#524
Yesterday · 17 min
Would Israel’s regional policy change under Gadi Eisenkot?
Israel’s parliament was sworn in this week following last month’s elections, although a new government has yet to be formed. President Isaac Herzog has given that mandate to opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot, who has 28 days to form a coalition, with a possible two-week extension. He has several options but none of them will be easy. Getting the majority he needs will require support from either the Arab lists or ultra-Orthodox parties that defect from current Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s bloc. The make-up of the next government could determine Israel’s policy not only in the occupied West Bank and Gaza, but also across the region including in Iran, Lebanon and Syria. Mr Eisenkot has already said the country should not return to war unless it comes under immediate threat. But questions remain over how different his government’s approach would be to Mr Netanyahu's. In this episode of Beyond the Headlines, host Nada AlTaher speaks to Daniel Levy, president of the US Middle East Project and a former Israeli peace negotiator.
#523
November 6 · 13 min
Worst-case scenario: What happens if Iran war resumes?
After the Democrats’ sweeping victory in the US midterm elections, President Donald Trump acknowledged that the loss was partly because of the Iran war. And, in a lengthy post on X, Vice President JD Vance said that traditionally Republican voters cast their ballots for the Democrats citing frustration over the conflict, the cost of living and US support of Israel. Now that the midterms are over, the question is whether the Trump administration will still escalate against Iran, and if so, whether this would be a large-scale campaign or limited to precision strikes. Meanwhile, negotiators in Doha have been in talks with Tehran, trying to restore the diplomatic track and avoid a worst-case war scenario. In this episode of Beyond the Headlines, host Nada AlTaher looks at how the different scenarios could unfold if the US-Iran war resumes, and what the terms of a new deal could include. She speaks to Sanam Vakil, director of the Middle Eastand North Africa Programme at Chatham House.
#522
October 30 · 17 min
Watching the US midterm elections from the Middle East
The US midterm elections next month could change the course of American politics at home and – and American policy abroad. While voters will be waiting to see whether the Democrats take control of Congress and the Senate, in the Middle East the question is whether the results will change anything in US foreign policy. At the moment, the Republicans control all three branches of government, giving President Donald Trump almost unchecked power to drive the legislative agenda. If the Democrats dominate Congress, Mr Trump and his administration are likely to face a bigger challenge. The war with Iran is already unpopular among many Americans. The price of petrol has risen by 50 per cent since February and the cost of living has also soared. A new Congress could push through a war powers bill that would require legislators to authorise further military action. Meanwhile, the Gaza war and its devastating aftermath could also call into question America’s financial support for Israel. In this episode of Beyond the Headlines, host Nada AlTaher asks whether America’s Middle East policy will be a factor for voters in this election, and whether the outcome of the midterms could influence the Trump administration's future decisions in the region. She speaks to Elizabeth Dent, senior fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy.
#521
October 23 · 22 min
Israeli elections: What would a new government change?
Israelis will vote on Tuesday in the first national election since the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack and subsequent war on Gaza. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud party could win, but polls are showing that opposition candidates also have a good chance. No single party is likely to secure a majority. Whoever wins will almost certainly have to form a coalition. Israelis will be casting their ballots with security and the economy among their main concerns. Palestinians, who cannot vote, are also waiting to see whether a new, potentially less right-wing government will be elected. Under Mr Netanyahu, the West Bank has experienced increasing settler violence and land grabs. In Gaza, a post-ceasefire plan has mostly stalled as Israel refuses to withdraw and Hamas has yet to disarm. In this episode of Beyond the Headlines, host Nada AlTaher asks whether there is any meaningful alternative to Mr Netanyahu and his party and what it could mean for Israelis and Palestinians if he does win. She speaks to non-profit Rand's distinguished chair for Israel policy, Shira Efron, and Palestinian political scientist Xavier Abu Eid.
#520
October 16 · 23 min
What are Saudi Arabia's options as Houthi attacks escalate?
From Riyadh to Taiz, it has been a week of tragedy. While Saudi Arabia faces a wave of deadly attacks by the Houthis, hundreds of thousands of people in the southern Yemeni city are largely cut off from food and fuel. The fighting continues to intensify between the rebel group and Yemeni government forces, but the most recent attacks on Saudi targets, both inside and outside the country, have tested the kingdom’s patience. At least 13 people were killed and hundreds injured in a missile strike on Riyadh’s international airport over the weekend. Since then, the Houthis have continued to target airports and oil facilities across the kingdom, as well as the headquarters of Saudi Aramco. In this episode of Beyond the Headlines, host Nada AlTaher examines the security options Saudi Arabia could consider in the wake of the most recent escalation, and asks how the country can find a way out without being drawn into a wider war. She speaks to Nawaf Obaid, senior research fellow at the Department of War Studies at King’s College London, and to Mahdi Ghuloom, geopolitics researcher at the Observer Research Foundation Middle East.
#519
October 9 · 20 min
Gaza ceasefire: a year of stalled promises
When the Gaza ceasefire came into effect a year ago, Palestinians in the enclave hoped that they could start rebuilding their lives. The truce came in the form of a 20-point plan which specified that aid would enter at scale and the strip would be “redeveloped for the benefit of the people of Gaza”. It also said there would be a demilitarisation process and gradual Israeli withdrawal. While the ceasefire brought much-needed respite after two years of full-scale war, many of the terms of the agreement have stalled, leaving 1.9 million people still displaced. Meanwhile, in the past year, about 1,400 people in Gaza have been killed and Israel has occupied more territory. Humanitarian workers say food, medical supplies, shelters and other lifesaving aid are not being allowed to enter at the capacity needed. In this episode of Beyond the Headlines, host Nada AlTaher looks at what, if anything, has changed for residents in the strip a year since the ceasefire. We hear from Nesma Al-Sallaq. Gaza shelter co-ordinator at the Norwegian Refugee Council, and political analyst Omar Rahman, fellow at the Middle East Council on Global Affairs.
#518
October 2 · 19 min
What happens next after US withdrawal from Iraq?
The US withdrawal from Iraq this week marked a major milestone, as its anti-ISIS mission officially came to an end. The government in Baghdad called it Sovereignty Day. More than 20 years since the American invasion of Iraq and 12 years since the start of the US-led coalition against ISIS, the departure was widely celebrated by Iraqis. But it also comes at a challenging time for the country and the region. The US-Iran war has turned Iraq into a key battleground for competing influences, making it the only country to be attacked from both sides. Iran-backed militias in Iraq were supposed to disarm by the same deadline as the US withdrawal, but this has been postponed until June 2027. The delay and the withdrawal are being portrayed by Iran and its axis as a victory. In this episode of Beyond the Headlines, host Nada AlTaher asks, what will the US exit change for Iraq and what will it mean for American and Iranian influence in the region? She speaks to Iraqi political analyst Sajad Jiyad and The National’s deputy foreign editor Aveen Karim.
#517
September 25 · 20 min
Barham Salih on why the refugee crisis is a global responsibility
The number of people forced from their homes by war, violence and persecution continues to grow, while the international system created to protect them is under increasing strain. On the sidelines of the 81st UN General Assembly in New York, The National’s Editor-in-Chief Mina Al-Oraibi speaks to Barham Salih, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees and former president of Iraq, about the mounting pressures on the global refugee system. Mr Salih says protecting those forced to flee is not only a humanitarian and legal responsibility, but also a matter of national interest. With conflicts lasting longer and displacement increasing, he argues that the international community cannot afford to look away. In this special episode of Beyond the Headlines, they discuss shrinking humanitarian funding, the strain on the asylum system, and the worsening crises in Yemen and Sudan. They also look at what Syria and Iraq can teach the region about displacement and returning to rebuild lives after conflict.
#516
September 18 · 21 min
How did the Houthis become so emboldened?
An escalation of attacks on Saudi Arabia by the Houthi rebels in Yemen, and the group’s seizure of Yemen’s western coast, comes at a critical time in the region. The rapid advance in a matter of days has given the group unprecedented access to the Bab Al Mandeb strait, a global maritime chokepoint, while displacing at least 125,000 civilians. Meanwhile, the Strait of Hormuz, another critical route for international energy supplies, remains effectively closed because of the war between the US and Iran. The violence in the two waterways has disrupted the flow of oil, goods and aid. The fighting only intensified over the past week as the Iran-backed group attacked Saudi targets, including the holy city of Makkah, while the East-West pipeline was struck from Iraq. In Yemen, pro-government forces have suffered major losses. In this episode of Beyond the Headlines, host Nada AlTaher looks into how the Houthis' capacity to fight has grown enough for them to make such sweeping gains so quickly and whether the confrontation will escalate further before it dies down. She speaks to Baraa Shiban, political analyst on Yemen at the Royal United Services Institute, and to Gulf expert Cinzia Bianco, visiting fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations.
#515
September 11 · 17 min
What will UK sanctions against Israeli settlements change?
The UK’s decision to ban imports from illegal Israeli settlements, and impose sanctions on entities that are used to build them, has put new pressure on Benjamin Netanyahu’s government as the occupied West Bank faces unprecedented land grabs. It has been more than two years since the International Court of Justice issued its advisory opinion stating that all states are under an obligation not to recognise Israel's decades-long occupation. The court also obliged Israel to stop building settlements, which are illegal under international law. Israel began its settlement project when it occupied Palestinian territory in 1967. It has continued expanding under every successive government, and at an accelerated pace since October 7, 2023. But one project in particular has rung alarm bells. The Israeli government has issued a tender to build 1,200 housing units as part of the E1 settlement. This development would cut the West Bank in half, making the prospect of a Palestinian state unviable. In this episode of Beyond the Headlines, host Nada AlTaher speaks to Mairav Zonszein, senior analyst on Israel at the International Crisis Group. They discuss what the new UK-led measures will change on the ground and whether they will have any bearing on Israel's actions.
#514
September 4 · 19 min
Can Hezbollah survive without money?
When the US announced it was imposing new sanctions on Iran late last month, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the aim was to sever every economic lifeline “until Tehran stands alone”. The burden will also fall on Iran-backed groups across the region. For Hezbollah in Lebanon, the sanctions deal yet another blow after its war with Israel, the fall of the Assad regime in Syria and the fallout from the US-Iran conflict. Before the war, Iran’s funding to Hezbollah was about $700 million a year, according to the US State Department. Now, Washington has designated Hezbollah a terrorist group under Iranian control as part of its economic-pressure campaign. But the consequences could be felt by some southern Lebanese communities that depend on the group for their livelihoods and for reconstruction support after ruinous the conflict. In this episode of Beyond the Headlines, host Nada AlTaher asks whether Hezbollah can survive if it loses its Iranian financing and what this means for Lebanon as a whole. She speaks to Randa Slim, director of the Middle East programme at the Stimson Centre.
#513
August 28 · 22 min
What’s behind the Israel-Turkey power struggle in Syria?
Israel has been attacking parts of Syria since the fall of the Assad regime and carrying out incursions into the country’s south under the pretext of targeting weapons of the former government. But its attack last week on the Abu Al Duhur military airfield in the northern governorate of Idlib was different, apparently directed at Turkey as tensions rise between the two countries. Israeli officials accused Turkey of stationing troops at the airbase, an allegation both Syria and Turkey dismissed. US special envoy to Syria and ambassador to Ankara Tom Barrack called the strikes unnecessary and deeply concerning. The escalation comes at a time when President Ahmad Al Shara’s government is seeking stability with its neighbours, with Washington’s support. Stalled talks between Israel and Syria picked up again in Jordan this week as the US pushed to defuse tension. But with Turkey and Israel seeking to secure their influence in a post-Assad Syria, challenges remain. In this episode of Beyond the Headlines, host Nada AlTaher discusses the motives driving this showdown between two major regional powers. She speaks to Noah Bonsey, senior adviser on Syria at the International Crisis Group, and Danny Citrinowicz, senior fellow at the Institute for National Security Studies.
#512
August 27 · 19 min
The compounded burdens weighing down humanitarian work
In this episode of Beyond the Headlines, Mercy Corps CEO Tjada McKenna joins host Nada AlTaher in conversation about the challenges facing humanitarian assistance across the Middle East and beyond. The impact of the Strait of Hormuz blockade has trickled down into the aid sector. Rising fuel costs, shortages of essential goods and delays in the delivery of materials such as fertilisers have all taken a toll on vulnerable communities that rely on operational supply chains. Humanitarian organisations are forced to adapt to the growing needs on the ground in places such as Gaza and Sudan, where mass displacement and conflict have brought life to a standstill, and in Syria, where rebuilding after 14 years of civil war remains complicated. Meanwhile, funding is dwindling. The Trump administration’s decision to shut down USAID projects last year has had tangible consequences in countries in the Middle East, where aid and economic empowerment programmes once provided a vital lifeline for millions. Now, many donors are choosing to invest in emergency life-saving efforts instead of in longer-term development projects. Ms McKenna discusses the importance of helping people to be more resilient to crises instead of simply responding to disasters after they happen.
#511
August 21 · 17 min
How cheap weapons are changing the balance of military power
The US-Iran war has highlighted how rapidly modern warfare is changing, with drones and other relatively inexpensive technology playing an increasingly prominent role alongside sophisticated missile and air-defence systems. US Central Command this month announced a multinational attack drone task force that will be operated by US military support staff and partners in the region. Last month the US carried out its first one-way sea drone strike on an Iranian target. As the US expands its drone capabilities to adapt to Iranian tactics, its stockpiles are reportedly shrinking. But Iran, too, has suffered heavy losses. As both sides try to replenish their arsenals, the question is whether conventional weapons can keep pace with cheaper systems that can be produced and deployed at scale. The war is also influencing how states assess and deter hostile threats, driving them to seek expertise and technology from countries that are not traditional major weapons manufacturers. In this episode of Beyond the Headlines, host Nada AlTaher examines what the conflict reveals about the changing nature and cost of warfare. She speaks to Thomas Harding, security and policy editor at The National.
#510
August 14 · 17 min
What do the Houthis stand to gain by escalating now?
The Houthis had mostly stayed out of the Iran war. But in recent weeks they have started attacking ships in the Red Sea, as well as Saudi-linked targets inside Yemen and across the border. On Tuesday, a double-tap strike on a cargo ship in the Bab Al Mandeb strait killed four crew members and two rescue workers. They have also targeted Yemeni government forces in Marib, Hadhramaut and Hodeidah, and hit the port city of Mokha. Beyond the border, they have launched strikes on Saudi oil sites. Analysts say the timing of the Houthis’ intervention in the conflict is not a coincidence. With the Strait of Hormuz mostly closed, they can increase pressure on global shipping and try to establish a more influential role in the region. In this episode of Beyond the Headlines, host Nada AlTaher examines the motives that prompted the Houthis to act now, and what they expect to gain from pressuring Saudi Arabia and by extension, the US-Iran negotiations. She speaks to Nadwa Al-Dawsari, associate fellow at the Middle East Institute, and Abdulghani Al-Iryani, senior researcher at the Sanaa Centre.
#508
August 7 · 30 min
The cost of occupation: How Palestine's economy has been pushed to the brink
Since October 2023, entire industries in Gaza have been wiped out and poverty has increased. In the occupied West Bank, businesses are struggling amid settler violence and increasing restrictions on movement. After the Gaza war began, Israel suspended most work permits for Palestinians in the country. It also withheld billions of dollars in tax revenue collected on behalf of the Palestinian Authority, leaving public sector workers to receive only a fraction of their salaries. The Israeli government has also repeatedly threatened to sever the banking arrangement that connects Palestinian financial institutions to the global economy. But the war has only accelerated decades of policies that left the Palestinian economy deeply dependent on Israel. In this episode of Beyond the Headlines, host Nada AlTaher examines how the Palestinian economy became so intertwined with Israel's financial system – and left it vulnerable to collapse. We hear from Palestinian economist Raja Khalidi and Jalal Abukhater, policy manager at digital rights group 7amleh. We also talk to Bethlehem tour guide Kamal Mukarker about what it means for Palestinians to survive in an economy that many say is being systematically strangled.
#509
July 31 · 18 min
What the US-Saudi strikes on Iran-affiliated militias in Iraq reveal about the wider war
It has been five months since the US and Israel launched their war with Iran, and the conflict has never really been contained. Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, the UAE and Jordan have all been hit by Iranian missiles and drones, Hezbollah drew Lebanon into a fight that is still going on, and the Strait of Hormuz remains closed, with neither talks nor military action producing a lasting reopening. Right now, though, no front is moving faster than the one closing in on Saudi Arabia, and it is coming from two directions at once. In Yemen, a strike on Sanaa airport and Houthi accusations against Riyadh in July reignited a conflict that had been largely dormant, leading within days to attacks on Saudi shipping, a Saudi strike on Hodeidah port, and a Houthi claim to have hit oil facilities in Jizan and Yanbu, potentially the first direct strike on Saudi oil infrastructure since 2022. In Iraq, months of accusations that Iran-backed militias were launching drones from Iraqi soil culminated this week in Saudi Arabia joining the US in direct, public strikes for the first time, a move Riyadh justified as an exercise of its right to self-defence under the UN Charter. In this episode of Beyond the Headlines, host Nada AlTaher is joined by Douglas Silliman, former US Ambassador to Iraq and now President of the Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington, Hasan Alhasan, senior fellow for Middle East Policy at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, and Elizabeth Dent, senior fellow at the Washington Institute, to look at how Saudi Arabia's escalation fits into the broader trajectory of the US-Iran war.
#507
July 24 · 21 min
Can Lebanon find a winning formula in peace talks with Israel?
US President Donald Trump pledged his support for Lebanon this week during a visit to the White House by Lebanese President Joseph Aoun. A four-decade ban on US airlines flying to the country will be overturned, Mr Trump said, who also told of concrete plans to support the Lebanese Armed Forces. This comes at a time when the government in Beirut is under pressure to prove it can deliver on an agreement it signed with Israel and the US in June. The trilateral framework states that Lebanese forces must disarm Hezbollah and reassert control in areas dominated by the group, before Israel “redeploys” its troops from areas it occupies in Lebanon. Critics say the deal imposes the heavier obligations on Lebanon. Meanwhile, hundreds of thousands of people remain forcibly displaced from their homes in southern towns and villages, where Israeli attacks have caused mass destruction. In this episode of Beyond the Headlines, host Nada AlTaher looks at the opportunities and challenges the country faces as it tries to bridge the gap between dialogue and the reality on the ground. She speaks to Nada Homsi, The National’s correspondent in Lebanon, and Paul Salem, senior associate at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies.
#506
July 17 · 18 min
Why has the US-Iran agreement not been enough to end the war?
The interim agreement aimed at ending the war between the US and Iran has fallen apart barely three weeks after it was signed. Iran has resumed attacks on commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz, claiming it has control over the entire waterway and any vessels crossing it must co-ordinate with its forces. The US, seeing this as a breach of the ceasefire agreement signed on June 17, has responded by launching a series of strikes against Iranian military targets. Tehran has been firing drones and missiles towards Gulf neighbours as well as Jordan, saying it is aiming at US military assets in those countries. Now, retaliatory naval blockades have been reinstated. US President Donald Trump has said the strait is open for all except Iranian ships, but the UN’s maritime agency has issued a warning that the waterway is not safe. Meanwhile, seafarers continue to suffer in limbo, with some already killed or injured in Iranian attacks. In this episode of Beyond the Headlines, guest host Ban Barkawi looks at the circumstances that led to the latest military escalation and asks whether there’s still a chance to come back to an agreement. She speaks to Gregory Brew, senior Iran and energy analyst at Eurasia Group.
#505
July 10 · 19 min
What’s at stake for foreign powers battling for influence in Syria?
On the sidelines of an eventful Nato summit in Ankara, US President Donald Trump was sitting next to his Syrian counterpart Ahmad Al Shara when he announced his intention to lift Syria’s designation as a state sponsor of terrorism. The move would bring massive relief for the country as it attempts to rebuild in a post-Assad era. But Mr Al Shara’s presence at the summit also reflects Syria’s increasingly important security role in the region. With Iran’s weakened influence, other powers are seeking to capitalise on the void in Syria and across the border in Lebanon. Mr Trump suggested last month that Damascus could handle Hezbollah, with which Israel has been at war. Meanwhile, Nato host Turkey, which sees Israel as a threat, has been strengthening its relationship with the new Syrian government. In this episode of Beyond the Headlines, host Nada AlTaher unpacks the battle between foreign powers to hold sway over Syria and examines how Mr Al Shara will handle it. We hear from The National’s Turkey correspondent Lizzie Porter and Noah Bonsey, senior adviser on Syria at the International Crisis Group.

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