Battle Lines

On today's episode, we speak to our Middle East correspondent Natalia Vasilyeva in Jerusalem on Israel's impending assault on Rafa and Biden's threats to halt weapons supplies to Israel. Then, we hear from Jumana Shahin, a Gaza resident who's fled to Egypt to protect herself and her young daughter. Then, we speak to our economics reporter Melissa Lawford on the dire state of Iran's economy. And finally, I talk to senior foreign correspondent Roland Oliphant, who recently saw the film Civil War, directed by Andrew Garland. Roland, as a war reporter, had some thoughts on the film and he shares them with us.ContributorsDavid Knowles (Host) @djknowles22 on X.Nataliya Vasilyeva (Middle East Correspondent) @Nat_Vasilyeva on X.Jumana Shahin @jumana.shahin on InstagramMelissa Lawford (Economics Reporter) @Melissalawford on XRoland Oliphant (Host, Senior Foreign Correspondent) @rolandoliphant on XRead‘Iran is broke’: How clerics crippled the Islamic Republic by Melissa LawfordFor 3 months access to The Telegraph for just £1: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/audio |Email: battlelines@telegraph.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information

In this episode of Battle Lines, we join The Telegraph's Asia correspondent, Nicola Smith, for a special dispatch on board a Filipino ship patrolling the simmering conflict in the South China Sea. Then we speak to economics reporter Melissa Lawford about China's gold buying binge and why it means tensions in East Asia could be on the cusp of heating up even further.ContributorsVenetia Rainey (Host, Weekend Foreign Editor) @venetiarainey on XNicola Smith (Asia correspondent) @niccijsmith on XMelissa Lawford (Economics Reporter) @Melissalawford on XRead Nicola's report here: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2024/04/30/onboard-filipino-ship-attacked-by-china/Melissa's report is here: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2024/04/30/china-launches-gold-buying-spree-amid-fears-o/ For 3 months access to The Telegraph for just £1: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/audio |Email: battlelines@telegraph.co.uk 

On this bonus episode of Battle Lines we speak to Colonel Hamish de Bretton-Gordon about the state of the army in 2024. What should an army look like in the 21st century? What equipment is needed? How much should countries be spending? ContributorsDavid Knowles (Host) @djknowles22 on X.Hamish Stephen de Bretton-Gordon OBE  @HamishDBG on XFor 3 months access to The Telegraph for just £1: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/audio |Email: battlelines@telegraph.co.uk 

In this episode of Battle Lines, we speak to The Telegraph's Middle East correspondent, Natalia Vasilyeva, about why the invasion of Rafah is back on the agenda, and what we know about Israel's attack on Iran one week on. Then we catch up with Russia and Caucasus correspondent James Kilner to hear about the mass protests in Georgia and how a shadowy billionaire figure with links to the Kremlin is driving the unrest.ContributorsVenetia Rainey (Host, Weekend Foreign Editor) @venetiarainey on XNataliya Vasilyeva (Middle East Correspondent) @Nat_Vasilyeva on X.James Kilner (Russia and Caucasus correspondent) @jkjourno on XHosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information

In this episode of Battle Lines, we speak to the Telegraph’s Middle East Correspondent Nataliya Vasilyeva about how Israel will retaliate against Iran for their recent missile strikes. Then we speak to Holly Dagres, senior fellow with the Atlantic Council's Middle East Program and writer of the substack The Iranist, about how Iran and Israel's relationship has developed from a shadow war to the brink of a full-scale conflict.ContributorsRoland Oliphant (Host, Senior Foreign Correspondent) @rolandoliphant on XNataliya Vasilyeva (Middle East Correspondent) @Nat_Vasilyeva on X.Holly Dagres (The Iranist) @hdagres on XHosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information

In this episode of Battle Lines, we speak to the Telegraph’s Middle East Correspondent Nataliya Vasilyeva about Iran's weekend strike on Israel. We ask; did Iran achieve its objectives? How will Israel respond? And does this mean full-scale war in the Middle East is inevitable? ContributorsVenetia Rainey (Host, Weekend Foreign Editor) @venetiarainey on XNataliya Vasilyeva (Middle East Correspondent) @Nat_Vasilyeva on X.Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information

In this episode of Battle Lines, we speak to the Telegraph’s Middle East Correspondent Nataliya Vasilyeva about Iran's potential plans to strike on Israel, then our Asia Correspondent Nicola Smith explains why the rebels are winning the war in Myanmar. Finally, Europe Editor James Crisp reflects on his interview with NATO's Deputy Secretary General.ContributorsVenetia Rainey (Host, Weekend Foreign Editor) @venetiarainey on XNataliya Vasilyeva (Middle East Correspondent) @Nat_Vasilyeva on X.Nicola Smith (Assia Correspondent) @niccijsmith on XJames Crisp (Europe Editor) @JamesCrisp6 on XReadUS needs Europe to stand up to Russia and China threat, says Nato deputy by James CrispFor 3 months access to The Telegraph for just £1: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/audio |

In this episode of Battle Lines, we reflect on the upcoming 6 month anniversary of the October 7th attacks in Israel that sparked an invasion of Gaza. We speak to the Telegraph’s Middle East Correspondent Nataliya Vasilyeva and Senior Foreign Correspondent Sophia Yan as they reflect on the past 6 months and what the future holds for Israel, Hamas, and a Palestinian state.ContributorsDavid Knowles (Host) @djknowles22 on XNataliya Vasilyeva (Middle East Correspondent) @Nat_Vasilyeva on X. Sophia Yan (Senior Foreign Correspondent) @sophia_yan on XRead‘I tried to scrub the smell of death off my body...’: A war reporter’s Israel-Hamas diary by Nataliya VasilyevaFor 3 months access to The Telegraph for just £1: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/audio |Email: battlelines@telegraph.co.uk 

In this episode of Battle Lines, we speak to the Telegraph’s Chief Political Correspondent Camilla Turner and US Editor Tony Diver on an alleged Chinese hacking plot against the UK and the US. Then we speak to Senior Foreign Correspondent Sophia Yan on her visit to Latvia to understand how the Baltic nations are mobilising to counter any future attack by the Russian Federation. Finally, we speak to Senior Foreign Correspondent Roland Oliphant on the rising tensions after decades of conflict, between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Contributors David Knowles (Host) @djknowles22 on XCamilla Turner (Chief Political Correspondent) @camillahmturner on XTony Diver (US Editor)@Tony_Diver on XSophia Yan (Senior Foreign Correspondent) @sophia_yan on XRoland Oliphant (Roland Oliphant) @RolandOliphant on XReadThe Latvian sandwich makers training to push Putin’s army into ‘kill zones’ by Sophia YanFor 3 months access to The Telegraph for just £1: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/audio |Email: battlelines@telegraph.co.uk