Battle Lines - podcast cover

Battle Lines

The Telegraphshows.acast.com

Across the world, from Europe to Asia, the Americas to the Middle East, tensions are rising between nation states. Traditional alliances and alignments are constantly evolving in the 21st century. An understanding of defence and security policy and the tides of political, social and economic changes is crucial for any informed understanding of our world.


2024 sees war in Europe and Israel, and elections in major economies, including the US, the UK, Taiwan, South Africa, and many others. Insurgencies flare in Yemen and Burma, tensions escalate in East Africa, and all around the world the international security architecture buckles under increasing pressure. 


With expert and experienced reporting on the ground from across the globe, Battle Lines combines on the ground reporting with analytical expertise to aid listeners to better understand the course of world politics and wars as the fault lines of global history grind and slip in an increasingly dangerous, and confusing, multipolar world. 


Battle Lines is the best of The Telegraph’s defence, security, and foreign reporting in one place.


Telegraph subscribers get early access to bonus episodes on Ukraine: The Latest and Battle Lines. You can subscribe within The Telegraph app, or tap on ‘Already a subscriber’ at the top of this page to log in to link your existing subscription, for more information head to https://www.telegraph.co.uk/contact-us/telegraph-subscription-bonus-content-apple-podcasts/

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Episodes

'I want my baby back. I want my son back': Reflecting on a week of hostage releases

As the ceasefire ends, we reflect on the hostage releases - and those left behind. In this episode of Battle Lines, Middle East Correspondent Natalia Vasilyeva and Senior Reporter Henry Bodkin join us from on the ground in Israel, where they reflect on a week of hostage releases, and consider what the West Bank settlement of the Israeli finance minister can tell us about Gaza's future. Plus we hear from Orit Meir, whose son Almog is a hostage of Hamas, as she makes a heartfelt plea to get him ba...

Dec 01, 202356 min

‘If the Middle East sneezes, Europe catches a cold': Interview with Lebanon's Minister for Foreign Affairs

The view from Lebanon In this bonus episode of Battle Lines, Sophia Yan brings us her interview with Lebanon's Minister for Foreign Affairs, Abdallah Bou Habib. They discuss how the war in Israel and Gaza is impacting his country and the wider region, and what role the US and Britain have to play in resolving the conflict.  Contributors: Sophia Yan (Host, Senior Foreign Correspondent).  @sophia_yan on X. Abdallah Bou Habib (Lebanon's Minister for Foreign Affairs). Read:  Brit...

Nov 28, 202329 min

'Torn between hope and fear': Israel's desperate families wait to hear if their loved ones are alive

Israel waits for Hamas to release hostages In this episode of Battle Lines, Middle East Correspondent Natalia Vasilyeva looks at the highly anticipated hostage release and temporary ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, after weeks of bloody fighting. She also talks about the rollercoaster of emotions being experienced by the families of hostages, desperate to find out if their loved makes will make the lists of those being released. Plus Foreign Reporter Verity Bowman on the dire public health si...

Nov 23, 202324 min

Testimony of an October 7th survivor: ‘I knew at any second they might kill me’

In this bonus episode of Battle Lines, we hear from Naomi Greenaway, Deputy Editor of the Telegraph Magazine, who tells the story of Adi Efrat. Adi Efrat was taken from her home on Kibbutz Be’eri and held hostage by Hamas for over 12 hours. Naomi explains that for Adi, her life will forever more be split in two – before and after October 7th, recounts that day, and explains how Adi is still full of hope for peace. Contributors: David Knowles (Host).  @djknowles22 on X. Naomi Greenaway (Depu...

Nov 21, 202318 min

Israel hunts for Hamas while Gaza's hospitals collapse

A warning this week that this episode contains graphic language that some listeners might find distressing.  In this episode of Battle Lines, Senior Foreign Correspondent Sophia Yan, analyses some of the diplomatic moves made by Middle Eastern states close to the conflict. Telegraph Global Health Reporter Lilia Sebouai updates us on the conditions In Gaza’s hospitals, and Foreign Reporter Verity Bowman talks us through the Israeli assault on the Al-Shifa hospital.  Plus Defence Editor ...

Nov 17, 202334 min

Israel 'cuts Gaza in two', disagreements with the UN & Gaza's hospitals on the brink

A warning this week that this episode contains graphic language that some listeners might find distressing.  In this episode of Battle Lines, Senior Foreign Correspondent Sophia Yan brings us up to date on the major news of the week from the region, Telegraph Global Health Reporter Lilia Sebouai speaks about the devastating plight of Gaza’s hospitals and Middle East Correspondent Nataliya Vasilyeva explains the bad blood between Israel and the UN. Plus Assistant Comment Editor Francis Dearn...

Nov 10, 202347 min

Urban warfare, the Merkava tank and taking the battle underground

In this bonus episode of Battle Lines we hear from Telegraph Contributor Hamish de Bretton-Gordon. As a former soldier, we wanted to hear his views on the kind of conflict Hamas and The IDF are fighting in Gaza, what the challenges are, and the similarities and differences between this war and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.  Contributors: David Knowles (Host).  @djknowles22 on Twitter. Hamish de Bretton Gordon, former British Army Colonel. @HamishDBG on Twitter. For 3 months access to T...

Nov 06, 202319 min

Israeli troops push deep into Gaza & investigating Hamas' property portfolio

A warning this week that this episode contains graphic language that some listeners might find distressing.  In this episode of Battle Lines, we speak to Defence Editor Danielle Sheridan, Middle East correspondent Nataliya Vasilyeva and Senior Foreign Correspondent Sophia Yan. Danielle speaks about the Israeli forensics teams searching through ash as they look for teeth to identify Hamas victims, Sophia takes us inside her investigation into Hamas assets in Turkey, and Nataliya explains her...

Nov 03, 202358 min

Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the economic impact of the war in Israel and Gaza

In this bonus episode of Battle Lines we'll hear from The Telegraph's Economics reporter, Melissa Lawford. Melissa has been writing about the economic impact of the war in Israel and Gaza on key regional actors - Saudi Arabia and Qatar. As Saudi Arabia desperately courts investment and Qatar is busy striking LNG deals with states around the world, what does the war mean for them and how might their great economic involvement with the West impact international diplomacy?  Contributors: David...

Nov 01, 202317 min

'Gazans are living through a bombardment like they've never experienced before'

In this bonus episode of Battle Lines we'll hear from James Rothwell, The Telegraph's Berlin Correspondent who until recently was our Middle East Correspondent based in Jerusalem. James tells us about his reporting on life and death in the Gaza Strip, of Palestinian journalists battling to tell the story, and what impact this war will have on the future of the region. Contributors: David Knowles (Host).  @djknowles22 on Twitter. James Rothwell (Berlin Correspondent). @JamesERothwell on Twit...

Oct 31, 202325 min

Watching unedited footage of Hamas atrocities, on the ground in the West Bank, and China's wave of anti-semitism

NB: This episode of Battle Lines contains descriptions of extreme violence and murder, plus details of antisemitism. We would not advise listening to this episode with children present. In this episode of Battle Lines, we speak to Defence Editor Danielle Sheridan and Middle East correspondent Nataliya Vasilyeva about their reporting on the ground in Israel and the West Bank. They talk about the harrowing experience of watching a screening of Hamas murders, speaking to locals in the West Bank whe...

Oct 27, 202348 min

"The smell of bodies hangs in the air" - reporting on the ground in Israel

In this first episode of Battle Lines, The Telegraph's leading journalists bring you analysis on the war taking place in Israel and the Gaza Strip, after a surprise attack of Hamas Terrorists a few weeks ago, from what it's like reporting on the ground to what we know about the other global actors keeping a close eye on the war. Contributors: David Knowles (Host). @djknowles22 on Twitter. Nataliya Vasilyeva (Middle East Correspondent). @Nat_Vasilyeva on Twitter. Danielle Sheridan (Defence Editor...

Oct 20, 202338 min