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The Conflict

The Conflict

BBC News · BBC

48 episodesEN

Show overview

The Conflict has been publishing since 2023, and across the 2 years since has built a catalogue of 48 episodes. That works out to roughly 20 hours of audio in total. Releases follow a fortnightly cadence.

Episodes typically run twenty to thirty-five minutes — most land between 23 min and 28 min — and the run-time is fairly consistent across the catalogue. It is catalogued as a EN-language News show.

The catalogue appears to be on hiatus or wound down — the most recent episode landed 1.3 years ago, with no new episodes in over a year. The busiest year was 2023, with 33 episodes published. Published by BBC.

Episodes
48
Running
2023–2025 · 2y
Median length
27 min
Cadence
Fortnightly

From the publisher

The BBC's podcast on the Middle East. Hosted by Jonny Dymond.

Latest Episodes

View all 48 episodes

The Global Story: A Ceasefire in Gaza

Following intense negotiations, Israel and Hamas have agreed to a ceasefire deal to end more than 15 months of war in Gaza. All Israeli hostages being held by Hamas will be released, while Israel’s soldiers will withdraw fully from Gaza, and allow 600 aid trucks per day to enter the devastated territory. In the hours after the deal was announced, Jonny Dymond spoke to the BBC’s Chief International Correspondent, Lyse Doucet for this episode of The Global Story podcast. She breaks down the terms of this landmark agreement and tells us how these bitter rivals arrived at an accord. The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. You can find a fresh episode each weekday wherever you get your BBC podcasts. This episode was made by Richard Moran, Tom Kavanagh and Beth Timmins. The technical producer was Mike Regaard. The assistant editor is Sergi Forcada Freixas. The senior news editor is China Collins. The senior news editor for The Conflict is Sam Bonham.

Jan 16, 202528 min

Six Day War (1967): What Next For Syria and Israel?

We look back on the region’s history and discuss what it can teach us about the future.Jonny Dymond brings together a carefully assembled panel of experts, academics and journalists to talk about the conflict in the region.What has happened in history to lead us to this point? And what can history teach us about what might happen next?This week, Jonny is joined by Tom Bateman, the BBC’s State Department correspondent and before that, Middle East correspondent; Jotam Confino, the Telegraph’s Middle East correspondent; and Broderick McDonald, Associate Fellow at Kings College London’s International Centre for the Study of Radicalisation. They explore the Six Day War - also known as the Arab-Israeli war - a brief, but bloody conflict fought in June 1967 between Israel and the Arab states of Egypt, Syria and Jordan. Israel’s victory changed the map of the Middle East and fanned the flames of the Israeli-Arab conflict for decades to come. This episode was made by Keiligh Baker and Sally Abrahams. The technical producer was Ben Andrews. The assistant editor is Ben Mundy. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.This episode is part of a BBC Sounds series. It was recorded at 12:30 on Monday 16 December 2024.

Dec 18, 202427 min

Leaders: What Is Ariel Sharon’s Legacy?

We look back on the region’s history and discuss what it can teach us about the future.Jonny Dymond brings together a carefully curated panel of experts, academics and journalists to talk about the conflict in the Middle East.What has happened in history to lead us to this point? And, what can history teach us about what might happen next?This week, Jonny is joined by Dr Ahron Bregman, from King’s College London, and the BBC’s International Editor, Jeremy Bowen.In the second of two special episodes, they focus in on the former Israeli leader, Ariel Sharon. Last week’s episode covered another leader who bestrode the modern Middle East - Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat.This episode was made by Keiligh Baker and Eleanor Harrison-Dengate. The technical producers were John Scott and Michael Regaard. The assistant editor is Ben Mundy. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.This episode is part of a BBC Sounds series. The discussion was recorded at 15:00 on Friday 6 December 2024.

Dec 11, 202427 min

Leaders: What Is Yasser Arafat’s Legacy?

We look back on the region’s history and discuss what it can teach us about the future.Jonny Dymond brings together a carefully assembled panel of experts, academics and journalists to talk about the conflict in the region.What has happened in history to lead us to this point? And, what can history teach us about what might happen next?This week, Jonny is joined by Dr Burcu Ozcelik, Senior Research Fellow for Middle East Security at RUSI, and BBC correspondent and Middle East expert Jane Corbin.In the first of two special episodes, they focus in on the former Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat. Next week, attention will turn to another leader who bestrode the modern Middle East, Israel’s military and political leader Ariel Sharon. This episode was made by Keiligh Baker. The technical producers were Dan Ehrlich and David Crackles. The assistant editor is Ben Mundy. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.This episode is part of a BBC Sounds series. It was recorded at 10:00 on Monday 2 December 2024.

Dec 4, 202427 min

The First Intifada (1987): What impact did the Palestinian uprising have?

We look back on the region’s history and discuss what it can teach us about the future.Jonny Dymond brings together a carefully curated panel of experts, academics and journalists to talk about the conflict in the region.What has happened in history to lead us to this point? And, what can history teach us about what might happen next? This week, Jonny is joined by BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner, Dr Dina Rezk, associate professor of modern Middle Eastern history at Reading University and Dr H A Hellyer, senior associate fellow at the think tank RUSI.They explore the First Intifada, a mass uprising by Palestinians, in 1987 against 20 years of Israeli occupation, and its lasting impact on the region.This episode was made by Keiligh Baker with Ivana Davidovic. The technical producer was Dafydd Evans and David Crackles. The assistant editor is Ben Mundy. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.This episode is part of a BBC Sounds series. It was recorded at 14:00 on Wednesday 27 November 2024.

Nov 27, 202427 min

Israel Declares Independence (1948): Why did Britain leave its mandate in Palestine?

We look back on the region’s history and discuss what it can teach us about the future.Jonny Dymond brings together a carefully assembled panel of experts, academics and journalists to talk about the conflict in the region. What has happened in history to lead us to this point? And, what can history teach us about what might happen next?This week, Jonny is joined by senior BBC correspondent and Middle East expert Jane Corbin, historian James Barr, and the BBC’s Middle East correspondent, Yolande Knell.They explore the violence and civil war in the run up to Britain’s withdrawal from its Palestine mandate, Israel’s declaration of independence, and the war with Arab states that followed.This episode was made by Keiligh Baker with Ivana Davidovic. The technical producer was Ricardo McCarthy. The assistant editor is Ben Mundy. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.This episode is part of a BBC Sounds series. It was recorded at 14:00 on Tuesday 19 November 2024.

Nov 20, 202427 min

Operation Opera (1981): How Important Is the Israel-America Relationship?

What can history teach us about the conflict in the Middle East? We look back on the region’s history and discuss what it can teach us about the future.Jonny Dymond brings together a carefully assembled panel of experts, academics and journalists to talk about the conflict in the region.This week Jonny is joined by Dr Giordana Pulcini, who teaches History of Transatlantic Relations at the University of Roma Tre, and geopolitical analyst, Dr Hellyer from the Royal United Services Institute. They take a closer look at Israel’s 1981 raid on a French-built nuclear plant in Iraq, and discuss what impact Operation Opera had on the Israel-America relationship.The Conflict: Middle East was made by Keiligh Baker and Ivana Davidovic. The technical producers were Ricardo McCarthy and David Crackles. The assistant editor is Ben Mundy. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.This episode is part of a BBC Sounds series. It was recorded at 14:00 on Tuesday 12 November 2024.

Nov 13, 202427 min

Israel withdrawal from Gaza (2005)

We look back on the region’s history and discuss what it can teach us about the future.Jonny Dymond brings together a carefully assembled panel of experts, academics and journalists to talk about the conflict in the region.What has happened in history to lead us to this point? And what can history teach us about what might happen next?This week Jonny is joined by Orla Guerin, the BBC’s senior international correspondent, Dr Ahron Bregman, senior teaching fellow at King’s College London and Dr Julie Norman, an Associate Professor in Politics and International Relations at UCL. They explore how the decision by then-Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon to “disengage” from Gaza and withdraw 9,000 Israeli settlers still looms large over the current conflict in the region.This episode was made by Keiligh Baker with Ivana Davidovic. The technical producers were David Crackles and Jonny Hall. The assistant editor is Ben Mundy. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.This episode is part of a BBC Sounds series. It was recorded at 14:00 on Tuesday 5 November 2024.

Nov 6, 202427 min

The Iranian Revolution (1979)

What can history teach us about the conflict in the Middle East? Jonny Dymond brings together a carefully curated panel of experts, academics and journalists to talk about the conflict in the region. This week’s panel includes Dr Siavush Randjbar-Daemi, a lecturer at the University of St Andrews, and Dr Roham Alvandi, expert in Iran and modern Middle East history. They revisit February 1979, when Ayatollah Khomeini returned from exile to Iran in the defining moment of a revolution that would change his country and the Middle East. And, they dig deeper into the complexities of Iran’s relationship with Israel. Please get in touch with Jonny and the team: [email protected]. The Conflict: Middle East was made by Keiligh Baker, Ivana Davidovic and Anna Harris. The technical producers were Hannah Montgomery and Bob Nettles. The assistant editor is Ben Mundy. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham. This episode is part of a BBC Sounds series. It was recorded at 14:00 on Tuesday 29 October 2024.

Oct 30, 202427 min

Israel Strikes Iran

Adam Fleming and Laura Kuenssberg talk to the BBC's Diplomatic Correspondent Paul Adams.

Oct 26, 202415 min

The 1972 Munich Massacre

What can history teach us about the conflict in the Middle East? Jonny Dymond brings together a carefully assembled panel of experts, academics and journalists to talk about the conflict in the region. This week, Jonny's joined by Nomi Bar Yaacov, Associate Fellow at Chatham House and Dr Aviva Guttman, a lecturer in Strategy and Intelligence. Plus, Ronen Bergman, an Israeli investigative journalist with the New York Times. They revisit the 1972 Munich Olympics when 11 Israeli athletes were kidnapped and killed. Israel’s covert programme of targeted assassinations would last 20 years in response. Now, 52 years later, as Israel continues to attack Hamas, we look at the echoes and reflections of five decades ago. Please get in touch with Jonny and the team: [email protected]. The Conflict: Middle East was made by Keiligh Baker and Ivana Davidovic. The technical producers were Jonny Hall and Rod Farquhar. The assistant editor is Ben Mundy. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham. This episode is part of a BBC Sounds series. It was recorded at 14:00 on Tuesday 22 October 2024.

Oct 24, 202427 min

Israel Kills Hamas Leader

Today, Israel confirmed that Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar has been killed in Gaza.For this extra episode, Newscast's Adam Fleming speaks with the BBC's International Editor Jeremy Bowen about his death and what it might mean for the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

Oct 17, 202411 min

Israel-Lebanon (1982)

What can history teach us about the conflict in the Middle East?Jonny Dymond brings together a carefully assembled panel of experts, academics and journalists to talk about the conflict in the region.What has happened in history to lead us to this point? And, what can history teach us about what might happen next?This week, Jonny is joined by Dr Burcu Ozcelik, a senior research fellow for Middle East security at Rusi, and historian, James Barr.Please get in touch with Jonny and the team: [email protected]. The Conflict: Middle East was made by Keiligh Baker and Ivana Davidovic. The technical producers were Jonny Hall and Tim Heffer. The assistant editor is Ben Mundy. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.This episode is part of a BBC Sounds series. It was recorded at 14:00 on Tuesday 15 October 2024.

Oct 16, 202427 min

One Year On

Journalists from across the BBC reflect on the war in the Middle East.Chief International Correspondent Lyse Doucet is joined by International editor, Jeremy Bowen, Middle East correspondent, Anna Foster, and Gaza reporter, Rushdi Abualouf.Please note, both Hamas and Hezbollah have been designated terrorist organisations by Western states, Israel and some Arab countries.This episode was made by Keiligh Baker with Kirsteen Knight and Kamilah McInnis. The technical producer is Jack Graysmark. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

Oct 6, 202427 min

Is The Iran-Israel Attack A Turning Point For The Middle East?

After an extraordinary weekend in the Middle East we are bringing you a special episode of The Global Story, where Lyse Doucet shares her reflections on the significance of Iran's first ever direct attack on Israel.Israel says 99% of the missiles and drones fired by Iran on Saturday night were intercepted without hitting their targets. Iran said the assault was in response to a deadly attack on an Iranian diplomatic compound in Syria two weeks ago. Now all eyes are on how Israel will respond to Iran's unprecedented move. James Reynolds talks to the BBC’s Chief International Correspondent, Lyse Doucet, who says the attack marks “a whole new chapter” in the relations between Iran and Israel. James is also joined by the BBC’s security correspondent Gordon Corera, and Siavash Ardalan from BBC Persian, to discuss how the players at the centre of this confrontation might decide their next move.The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We’re keen to hear from you, wherever you are in the world. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell #TheGlobalStory. Email us at [email protected] You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480.The Global Story is produced by the same team that made The Conflict and it is part of the BBC News Podcasts family. The team that makes The Global Story also makes several other podcasts, such as Americast and Ukrainecast, which cover US news and the war in Ukraine. If you enjoy The Global Story, then we think that you will enjoy some of our other podcasts too. To find them, simply search on your favourite podcast app.This episode was made by Richard Moran. The technical producer was Annie Smith. The assistant editor is Sergi Forcada Freixas and the senior news editor is Sam Bonham. Read less

Apr 15, 202425 min

Ten Weeks Of War

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The Conflict’s Lyse Doucet and Newscast’s Adam Fleming look back at the past 10 weeks of the Israel-Gaza conflict and discuss the challenges and considerations facing BBC journalists while they report on the war. Revisiting powerful moments from interviews with the BBC’s Gaza Correspondent, Rushdi Abualouf, Anna Foster, Middle East Correspondent and International Editor, Jeremy Bowen - they describe events as they unfolded. PRESENTERS:- Lyse Doucet, BBC chief international correspondent - Adam Fleming, Newscast Presenter GET IN TOUCH:- Send us a message or voice note via WhatsApp to +44 330 123 9480 - Or Email [email protected]:This episode was made by Lucy Boast with Bethan Ashmead Latham. The studio manager was Mike Regaard. The senior news editors are Jonathan Aspinwall and Sam Bonham.

Dec 20, 202330 min

Is Israel Losing International Support?

We speak to the BBC’s North America Correspondent, Anthony Zurcher about the UN General Assembly vote on a ceasefire in Gaza. As America warns Israel that the continuous attacks on Gaza are alienating allies, we look at what diplomatic solutions are being discussed. Today’s episode is hosted by Lyse Doucet, BBC Chief International Correspondent Guest: Anthony Zurcher, North America Correspondent GET IN TOUCH: - Send us a message or voice note via WhatsApp to +44 330 123 9480 - Or Email [email protected] TEAM: This episode was made by Lucy Boast and Bethan Ashmead Latham. The studio manager was Mike Regaard. The senior news editors are Jonathan Aspinwall and Sam Bonham.

Dec 14, 202331 min

War Intensifies

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We speak to the BBC’s International Editor, Jeremy Bowen as he returns to Israel to report on the war. With the humanitarian crisis worsening, he discusses what is happening on the ground in Gaza. Today’s episode is hosted by Lyse Doucet GUEST: Jeremy Bowen, BBC International Editor GET IN TOUCH: - Send us a message or voice note via WhatsApp to +44 330 123 9480 - Or Email [email protected] The programme was made by Lucy Boast and Bethan Ashmead Latham. The technical producer was Chris Lovelock. The senior news editors are Sam Bonham and Jonathan Aspinwall.

Dec 6, 202333 min

The Truce

We speak with the BBC’s Gaza correspondent Rushdi Abu Alouf, who’s now in Istanbul. He reflects on his experiences reporting in Gaza, the Israel-Hamas truce, and the hostage deal. HOST: - Lyse Doucet, BBC chief international correspondentGUEST: - Rushdi Abu Alouf, BBC Gaza correspondent GET IN TOUCH: - Send us a message or voice note via WhatsApp to +44 330 123 9480 - Or Email [email protected]’s Conflict was made by Lucy Boast with Bella Saltiel and Karen Marshall in London. The senior news editors are Jonathan Aspinwall and Sam Bonham.

Nov 30, 202320 min

The Hostage Deal

But does it go far enough?PRESENTERS:- Lyse Doucet, BBC chief international correspondent - Frank Gardener, BBC security correspondentGET IN TOUCH:- Send us a message or voice note via WhatsApp to +44 330 123 9480 - Or Email [email protected]:This episode was made by Beth Ashmead Latham and Karen Marshall in London. The Technical producer was Ben Andrews. The senior news editors are were Sam Bonham and Jonathan Aspinwall.

Nov 22, 202334 min
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