Thomas and Aimen return to tackle a barrage of listener questions in this special Q&A episode, offering unparalleled insights into the ever-shifting landscape of Middle Eastern geopolitics.

We begin with a deep dive into the recent US strikes on Iran, where Aimen details the real impact of "Bunker Buster" bombs on Iranian nuclear facilities. Did they cause the destruction that many in the US government are claiming? The pair then discuss your questions about the prospect of a more comprehensive Middle East peace deal, outlining the critical conditions, including Iran's nuclear ambitions and its ‘triple-H’ network of proxies. Aimen then sheds light on the complex negotiations involving Syria and Lebanon, revealing the potential for non-aggression pacts, albeit with significant concessions and challenges posed by entrenched ideological factions.

The focus shifts to the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza, the contentious rise of Israeli-backed "popular forces" there, before moving on to the broader theological principles that justify jihad in response to state-sponsored injustice. Finally, we expand our geographical scope to the increasingly dire situation in the Sahel region of West Africa, where jihadist groups like JNIM are rapidly gaining ground.

To listen to the full episode, you’ll need to subscribe to the Conflicted Community. And don’t forget, subscribers can also join our Conflicted Community chatroom, where you can interact with fellow dearest listeners, discuss episodes past and future, get exclusive messages from Thomas and Aimen, ask future Q&A questions and so much more.

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