EPISODE · Apr 5, 2026 · 58 MIN
How Mideast Conflict Highlights a Changing World
from Facing Coming Storms: Talking International Defence
Host Peter Apps is joined by US Naval War College Professor Nikolas Gvosdev and CHACR director Major General Andrew Sharpe to unpack “Operation Epic Fury” and what it tells us about modern warfare. What starts as a discussion about Iran quickly turns into something much bigger. This is about how wars actually unfold today, why they rarely go to plan, and why the systems we’ve relied on for decades might not hold up anymore.Discussion points include:- Why You Can’t Bomb Your Way to Victory: Tactical success means little without a clear strategy or political endgame to back it up.- The Shift from Alliances to Fragile Coalitions: Long-standing global alliances are being tested, replaced by more fluid and uncertain partnerships.- Modern War Is Faster, Messier, and Less Predictable: From drones to disrupted supply chains, today’s conflicts evolve in ways no war game fully captures.Facing Coming Storms is brought to you by the British Army’s Centre for Historical Analysis and Conflict Research, in partnership with the Project for the Study of the 21st Century, and produced by Urban Podcasts.
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What this episode covers
Clip 1: Trump’s Uncertainty Strategy Uncertainty isn’t a byproduct - it’s the strategy. As global powers hedge their bets, Europe is caught between reinforcing old alliances and adapting to a world where unpredictability is the new normal. Stability is no longer guaranteed - it’s negotiated in real time. Clip 2: Cyber Attacks - War or Just Disruption? If the outcome is the same, does the label matter? From cyber strikes to missile attacks, modern conflict is blurring the line between “war” and “interference.” The tools may differ but the impact doesn’t. And that raises a bigger question: when does disruption become war? Clip 3: Ukraine’s Surprising Middle East Role War doesn’t stand still and neither do its players. Ukraine’s influence is reaching beyond its borders, while the battlefield itself keeps evolving. From drones to tanks, yesterday’s assumptions are constantly being rewritten. Adaptability isn’t optional anymore it’s survival.
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How Mideast Conflict Highlights a Changing World
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