The war against Islamic Jihadism is defining generations. It was our father’s war, it’s our war, and will most likely be our children’s war. The FDD' s Long War Journal team has been researching and reporting for over two decades on the jihadists fueling this terror. “Generation Jihad” features LWJ Editors Bill Roggio and Caleb Weiss as they diagnose the black and white motivations behind the world’s most notorious terrorists, report on their expanding malign activities, and offer their prescriptions for confronting the multi-generational menace that is Islamic Jihadism.
Bill, Ahmad, and Bridget unpack this week's biggest headlines out of the Middle East, including Druze militias overrunning Soweda as Israeli jets blast Damascus; anonymous drones torching Kurdish oilfields and U.S. posts; Yemeni forces intercepting 750 tons of Iranian arms—and more.
The Houthis are back at it—sinking ships, killing civilians, and holding crews hostage in the Red Sea. Bill is joined by his FDD colleagues Bridget Toomey and Bradley Bowman to unpack the details and discuss why Iran-backed proxies keep getting away with it—including how the U.S. “ceasefire” deal may have emboldened them. Also: Where’s Europe? And why does everyone seem more afraid of offending Tehran than protecting global shipping and freedom of navigation?
Does arming Ukraine come at the expense of our military readiness—or is it an investment in it? Bill asks his FDD colleague and military expert Bradley Bowman to set the record straight on what it really takes for the US to defeat its enemies in the long war — and why deterring China, Russia, and Iran simultaneously is essential for American national security. From munitions math and Pentagon priorities to strained stockpiles, weapons we’re sending, and weapons we’re not making fast enough, Brad...
Bill is joined by (most of) the Generation Jihad crew to unpack a few headlines like: Hamas is murdering aid workers, the US is delisting a former al Qaeda franchise, and the Houthis are back to bombing ships. They discuss how we got here and why terrorists around the region have every reason to feel emboldened.
Nearly four years after Kabul fell, the Taliban remain entrenched—and the resistance is fragmented, under-resourced, and increasingly demoralized. General Hibatullah Alizai, the last Chief of General Staff of the Afghan army, joins Bill Roggio and Will Selber to discuss the anti-Taliban fight, internal Taliban rifts, and why the US and its allies risk repeating their worst mistakes.
From Trump’s decision to lift sanctions on Syria to whispers of folding Damascus into the Abraham Accords, Syria’s new leader, Ahmad al Sharaa—an ex–al Qaeda commander—now finds himself near the center of America's diplomatic efforts in the region. Can a former jihadi become a US-backed peace partner? Are we seriously having this conversation again? Yes, and joining Bill to have it are his FDD colleagues David Daoud and Ahmad Sharawi.
The U.S. and Israel just hit Iran’s nuclear program hard — but how much damage did they really do? Bill is joined by his FDD colleague and nuclear expert Andrea Stricker to discuss what was destroyed, what might have survived, whether Tehran’s nuclear program is dead or just delayed — as well as the intelligence, the spin, and why the Mossad and IAEA may hold the real answers.
In this explosive episode of Generation Jihad , Bill Roggio and Thomas Joscelyn unpack one of the most chaotic weekends in the post-9/11 war on terror: U.S. forces' strike on Iranian nuclear facilities, Tehran's retaliation on CENTCOM’s forward base in Qatar, and Trump's sudden ceasefire declaration.
In an historic move following defanging efforts by the Israelis, the U.S. dropped multiple massive ordinance penetrators ("MOPs") on three nuclear facilities inside Iran this weekend. Tehran has just retaliated with strikes on the U.S. base in Qatar. Bill Roggio and Brad Bowman discuss.
Israel has launched a massive, coordinated strike campaign against Iran—targeting nuclear facilities, ballistic missile infrastructure, and senior regime officials. The entire Generation Jihad team convenes to break down what’s been hit, who’s been killed, why Israel chose this moment to act, and how one thing is clear: the long shadow war between Israel and Iran has just gone overt—and it may only be the beginning.
Bill, David, and Ahmad discuss recent news that Israel is quietly arming a militia in Gaza to challenge Hamas. Drawing lessons from Iraq, Lebanon, and Afghanistan, they unpack the risks, precedents, and possible blowback of empowering Gaza clans with murky pasts.
Bill and Behnam discuss the evolving dynamics of U.S. foreign policy on Iran and the subsequent need for coherent policy that addresses multifaceted issues including nuclear negotiations, Iranian protests against the regime, the ongoing threat posed by Iran's proxy strategy — particularly from the Houthis, shifting attitudes of Gulf states like Saudi Arabia and the potential impact on U.S.-Israel relations.
Behnam and David D. join Bill to discuss the attack in Washington, D.C. that killed a young couple working for the Israeli embassy. Behnam and David both were friends with Yaron, who tragically lost his life to yet another act of terror rooted in anti-semitism. They also briefly catch up on the current state of U.S.-Iran nuclear negotiations and the still-burning dumpster fire in Lebanon.
FDD's Brad Bowman and Bridget Toomey catch Bill up on the latest cluster of developments related to the Houthis — from the ceasefire initiated by President Trump and possible consequences for U.S.-Israel relations to the role of Iran in the ongoing conflict.
Bradley Bowman and David Adesnik join Bill to unpack the U.S. decision to legitimize Ahmed al-Shara (AKA Jolani), the ex-al-Qaeda leader now heading HTS in Syria; other regional players seeking influence in the Syria vacuum, including Turkey and Saudi Arabia; and broader U.S. policy failures in Syria.
Bill, Behnam, and Janatan dive into the high-stakes complexities of U.S.-Iran relations, unpacking President Trump’s dual-track approach of military readiness and diplomatic outreach to the Islamic Republic. They discuss Iran’s internal reactions to U.S. policy shifts, Saudi Arabia’s cautious recalibration toward Tehran, and intensifying military pressure on the Houthis.
Bill, David, and Ahmad deep dive into the volatile politics of the Middle East, from Jelani’s controversial role in Syria to sectarian tensions in Iraq and Hezbollah under pressure, the balance of power across the region is fragile.
Bill, David, and Joe break down the latest flashpoints across Lebanon, Israel, and Gaza—examining the fragile ceasefire in Lebanon, Israel’s evolving military operations and campaigns against Hezbollah and Hamas, the Lebanese government’s stalled efforts to disarm Hezbollah, and the growing discontent in Gaza as protests against Hamas intensify.
Bill and Caleb discuss updates from "the Sunni side of the aisle," including Washington's policy pivot on the Haqqani Network, the U.S. military's airstrike strategy in Somalia, the Turkestan Islamic Party's rebranding attempt, the recent death of a key Islamic State leader, and Shabaab's current operations.
Joe Truzman speaks with Jonathan Conrikis about the complexities of conflicts consuming the Middle East, from the aftermath of the Hamas-led, Iran-backed October 7 attacks and role of the media in shaping narratives to the situation in the West Bank and failures of UN peacekeeping forces in Lebanon.
Ahmad Sharawi joins Bill for an update on Syria's ongoing conflict, including: The recent Alawite insurgency against the government led by Abu Muhammad al-Jawlani, The role of jihadist groups and involvement of the Syrian National Army and Syrian Democratic Forces, Israel's position on minority protection in Syria, and The feasibility of military action in the region.
Bill is joined by his FDD colleague and Long War Journal contributor Janatan Sayeh to unpack Iran’s various spheres of influence and threats posed not least of all by their military capabilities from drone technology and nuclear enrichment to increasingly close cooperation with Moscow and Beijing.
Bill is joined by Caleb Weiss and Edmund Fitton-Brown to discuss the latest UN Sanctions Monitoring Team report on the Islamic State and Al-Qaeda that was released this week.
Bill and Behnam are joined by their FDD colleague Jonathan Schanzer to discuss President Trump's controversial plan for Gaza which includes a radical restructuring of the region.
Bill and Joe are joined by show regulars David Daoud and Ahmad Sharawi to discuss the psychological warfare employed by terrorist organizations, including how manipulation and narrative control are their most potent weapons.
Bill is joined by show regular Edmund Fitton-Brown to discuss Edmund's latest analysis for Long War Journal: The role of Iraqi Shia militias as proxies in Iran’s Axis of Resistance .
Bill is joined by his FDD colleagues David Daoud and Jon Schanzer — who literally wrote the book on conflict in Gaza — to discuss the ceasefire and hostage deal that has just been reached between Israel and Hamas.
Bill and co-host Joe Truzman discuss the supposedly imminent ceasefire agreement and subsequent hostage exchange between Israel and Hamas.
🚨 Co-host takeover 🚨 David Daoud , Joe Truzman and Ahmad Sharawi discuss Lebanon's new president and implications for Hezbollah and the broader region, the continuing security challenges inside the West Bank, and the complex situation in post-Assad Syria — including Turkey's rising influence.
