From wars and rumors of war abroad, to the rise of anti-Christian, "woke" ideology here at home, it's clear that Americans are living in perilous and unprecedented times. Some would even say that we're witnessing biblical prophecy unfold in real time. Stakelbeck Tonight will make sense of these stunning developments through a bold and biblical lens.
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Stakelbeck Tonight | Erick Stakelbeck: March 5, 2026 | Stakelbeck Tonight | March 6, 2026
- Welcome to stackelbeck. tonight
- 00:00:04.671 --> 00:00:04.391
- I'm eric stackelbeck and this is day six of operation epic
- 00:00:05.558 --> 00:00:10.163
- Fury, the joint effort by the united states and israel to
- 00:00:10.163 --> 00:00:14.034
- Eliminate iran's nuclear and ballistic missile capabilities
- 00:00:14.034 --> 00:00:18.004
- Once and for all. i'm very happy to report that those
- 00:00:18.004 --> 00:00:21.941
- Efforts have been a huge success thus far. earlier this
- 00:00:21.941 --> 00:00:25.879
- Week, israel destroyed a secret iranian nuclear site near
- 00:00:25.879 --> 00:00:30.250
- Tehran that was located partially underground and day
- 00:00:30.250 --> 00:00:33.920
- By day, ever since the onset of the conflict, iran's missile
- 00:00:33.920 --> 00:00:38.091
- Barrages against israel and other neighboring countries
- 00:00:38.091 --> 00:00:42.062
- Continue to diminish. on february 28th, iran launched
- 00:00:42.062 --> 00:00:47.133
- 350 ballistic missiles. on march 4th, iran launched just
- 00:00:47.133 --> 00:00:51.771
- 40 of those missiles. now every missile launched is horrific.
- 00:00:51.771 --> 00:00:56.109
- And iran did launch new volleys today against central israel,
- 00:00:56.109 --> 00:01:00.847
- Including tel aviv, always against civilians. but folks,
- 00:01:00.847 --> 00:01:04.584
- The massive drop in iranian launches over the past six days
- 00:01:04.584 --> 00:01:08.421
- Is no coincidence. the us and israel are decimating iran's
- 00:01:08.421 --> 00:01:13.827
- Military and its leadership. here was u.s. centcom commander
- 00:01:13.827 --> 00:01:17.430
- Admiral brad cooper earlier today.
- 00:01:17.430 --> 00:01:20.300
- >> then if i just look back over the last 24 hours of the
- 00:01:20.300 --> 00:01:23.436
- Operation, compared to the where we were at start,
- 00:01:23.436 --> 00:01:27.173
- Ballistic missile attacks have decreased by 90% since day one.
- 00:01:27.173 --> 00:01:31.111
- Drone attacks have decreased by 83% since day one. having said
- 00:01:31.111 --> 00:01:35.815
- This, we remain vigilant. our air dominance allows us to hit
- 00:01:35.815 --> 00:01:40.019
- Iran's center of gravity with overwhelming power and reach. a
- 00:01:40.019 --> 00:01:43.623
- Couple of examples. in just the last 72 hours, america's bomber
- 00:01:43.623 --> 00:01:48.094
- Force has struck nearly 200 targets deep inside of iran,
- 00:01:48.094 --> 00:01:52.265
- Including around tehran. and in just the last hour, us b-2
- 00:01:52.265 --> 00:01:56.970
- Bombers dropped dozens of 2,000 pound penetrator bombs
- 00:01:56.970 --> 00:02:00.573
- Targeting deeply buried ballistic missile launchers.
- 00:02:00.573 --> 00:02:03.810
- Notably, we have also struck iran's equivalent of space
- 00:02:03.810 --> 00:02:06.746
- Command, which degrades their ability to threaten americans.
- 00:02:06.746 --> 00:02:11.384
- >> amazing folks. the military strategy is working
- 00:02:11.384 --> 00:02:14.687
- Extraordinarily well thus far, and it's a good thing because
- 00:02:14.687 --> 00:02:18.258
- As the president and his team have laid out in great detail
- 00:02:18.258 --> 00:02:21.194
- Over the past several days, and as you've heard, laid out on
- 00:02:21.194 --> 00:02:24.097
- This show for years, iran's regime is in a state of war
- 00:02:24.097 --> 00:02:28.701
- Against america and has been for 47 years. finally, a us
- 00:02:28.701 --> 00:02:34.340
- President has come along who is saying enough is enough? and
- 00:02:34.340 --> 00:02:38.044
- He's found the perfect partner in benjamin netanyahu. we'll
- 00:02:38.044 --> 00:02:41.881
- Break down the historic alliance between trump and bibi
- 00:02:41.881 --> 00:02:44.984
- And all the latest developments in operation epic fury next.
- 00:02:44.984 --> 00:03:10.043
- The united states calls it operation epic fury. israel is
- 00:03:11.177 --> 00:03:14.747
- Calling operation roaring lion, folks, no matter what you call
- 00:03:14.747 --> 00:03:17.984
- It. this is an historic joint us-israeli operation against
- 00:03:17.984 --> 00:03:21.387
- The iranian regime, and no one is following this operation
- 00:03:21.387 --> 00:03:23.957
- More closely than our good friend, lieutenant colonel
- 00:03:23.957 --> 00:03:26.659
- Jonathan conricus, senior fellow at the foundation for
- 00:03:26.659 --> 00:03:28.828
- Defense of democracies in dc and a former international
- 00:03:28.828 --> 00:03:32.765
- Spokesman for the israel defense forces. jonathan, great
- 00:03:32.765 --> 00:03:35.068
- To see you, my friend. hey, you're in tel aviv right now. i
- 00:03:35.068 --> 00:03:37.870
- Know sirens have been sounding and you and your family have to
- 00:03:37.870 --> 00:03:40.940
- Go to the bomb shelter along with other israelis. and a part
- 00:03:40.940 --> 00:03:43.843
- Of that now is hezbollah throwing its hat in the ring,
- 00:03:43.843 --> 00:03:47.113
- So to speak, alongside its masters in tehran. what's the
- 00:03:47.113 --> 00:03:50.917
- State of things, jonathan? up north, the idf, it seems, is
- 00:03:50.917 --> 00:03:54.754
- About to mount a pretty serious offensive against the hezbollah
- 00:03:54.754 --> 00:03:57.957
- Terror machine.
- 00:03:57.957 --> 00:04:01.227
- >> yes, you are right. we are indeed fighting these two
- 00:04:01.227 --> 00:04:04.430
- Fronts simultaneously. incoming rockets from lebanon fired by
- 00:04:04.430 --> 00:04:09.068
- Hezbollah, incoming missiles from iran fired by the iranian
- 00:04:09.068 --> 00:04:13.773
- Regime. but they are, of course, coordinated and part of the
- 00:04:13.773 --> 00:04:17.076
- Same system, which is the iranian empire of evil. and i
- 00:04:17.076 --> 00:04:22.048
- Would say, you know, without sounding pompous, that
- 00:04:22.048 --> 00:04:25.985
- Hezbollah did the strategic mistake that many in israel
- 00:04:25.985 --> 00:04:30.290
- Hoped that it would do. it opened fire on israeli
- 00:04:30.290 --> 00:04:34.060
- Civilians bombarding northern cities two days ago, and said
- 00:04:34.060 --> 00:04:37.864
- That it is now part of the effort, together with iran. by
- 00:04:37.864 --> 00:04:41.567
- The way, they did so in defiance of the democratically
- 00:04:41.567 --> 00:04:46.105
- Elected leadership of lebanon, the president and the prime
- 00:04:46.105 --> 00:04:49.742
- Minister all publicly said to hezbollah, to the iranian proxy,
- 00:04:49.742 --> 00:04:54.447
- You do not have the legitimacy. you do not have our blessing to
- 00:04:54.447 --> 00:04:59.218
- Drag lebanon into yet another war at the behest of foreign
- 00:04:59.218 --> 00:05:03.856
- Interests, meaning iran. nevertheless, hezbollah did it.
- 00:05:03.856 --> 00:05:06.993
- And now i think they are about to face the consequences of
- 00:05:06.993 --> 00:05:11.664
- Their actions. israel has issued warnings and evacuation
- 00:05:11.664 --> 00:05:16.002
- Orders of various shiite neighborhoods. hezbollah
- 00:05:16.002 --> 00:05:20.106
- Strongholds in southern beirut, referred to as the dahiya, and
- 00:05:20.106 --> 00:05:23.676
- A few other neighborhoods around it, informing hezbollah
- 00:05:23.676 --> 00:05:27.613
- And their supporters that are going to be strikes on military
- 00:05:27.613 --> 00:05:31.150
- Targets there. for your own safety, evacuate. and here is
- 00:05:31.150 --> 00:05:35.088
- Where we tell you, advise you to evacuate to. additional
- 00:05:35.088 --> 00:05:39.425
- Warnings have been handed out regarding the northeastern part
- 00:05:39.425 --> 00:05:42.662
- Of lebanon. the area called baalbek area, the bekaa valley.
- 00:05:42.662 --> 00:05:47.734
- And there's going to be military strikes there as well.
- 00:05:47.734 --> 00:05:51.437
- I anticipate a few difficult nights for israelis living in
- 00:05:51.437 --> 00:05:56.776
- Northern israel because hezbollah will be firing
- 00:05:56.776 --> 00:05:59.612
- Missiles. but i think that what hezbollah has done is perhaps
- 00:05:59.612 --> 00:06:04.617
- Sign their own death warrant by the fact that they now got into
- 00:06:04.617 --> 00:06:08.254
- A war which they cannot win, and they are risking their
- 00:06:08.254 --> 00:06:12.225
- Future.
- 00:06:12.225 --> 00:06:13.292
- >> yeah. bad move. and we know israel will take care of
- 00:06:13.393 --> 00:06:15.661
- Business in lebanon with hezbollah. jonathan. but you
- 00:06:15.661 --> 00:06:17.997
- Mentioned the lebanese government. is there a
- 00:06:17.997 --> 00:06:20.133
- Possibility here that the lebanese military could finally
- 00:06:20.133 --> 00:06:22.769
- Get involved against hezbollah and join an effort there and
- 00:06:22.769 --> 00:06:26.506
- Maybe not join an effort with israel, but act unilaterally
- 00:06:26.506 --> 00:06:29.509
- Against hezbollah, the enemy within?
- 00:06:29.509 --> 00:06:32.412
- >> yeah, this is about lebanese sovereignty. and up until now,
- 00:06:32.412 --> 00:06:36.749
- Lebanon has never really been a sovereign state. and the
- 00:06:36.749 --> 00:06:40.653
- Country the state doesn't control its own borders or what
- 00:06:40.653 --> 00:06:43.956
- Happens within the borders. i think what the lebanese state
- 00:06:43.956 --> 00:06:47.226
- Will find is a unique opportunity for the first time,
- 00:06:47.226 --> 00:06:52.231
- To show the leadership and bravery that is needed to
- 00:06:52.231 --> 00:06:56.903
- Actually go in and, as you say, confront hezbollah and
- 00:06:56.903 --> 00:07:01.574
- Hezbollah. enough with your foreign meddling in the country
- 00:07:01.574 --> 00:07:06.612
- And enough with allowing iran to dictate the future of our
- 00:07:06.612 --> 00:07:10.149
- Country. israel will do its share. israel will degrade
- 00:07:10.149 --> 00:07:13.753
- Hezbollah, but it will be eventually up to the lebanese
- 00:07:13.753 --> 00:07:17.023
- Security forces, under the guidance of their
- 00:07:17.023 --> 00:07:19.892
- Democratically elected leadership, to take control of
- 00:07:19.892 --> 00:07:23.129
- Their country. i think it's the best chance that they're ever
- 00:07:23.129 --> 00:07:26.365
- Going to get, but only time will tell if they'll be able to
- 00:07:26.365 --> 00:07:29.936
- Actually do it. i'm happy to see that there's american
- 00:07:29.936 --> 00:07:33.606
- Support in nation building. and, you know, if we look a few
- 00:07:33.606 --> 00:07:37.210
- Months ahead, if the lebanese state will actually take
- 00:07:37.210 --> 00:07:40.713
- Control of their country, really positive things can
- 00:07:40.713 --> 00:07:43.649
- Happen for the lebanese people and for israelis. we could go
- 00:07:43.649 --> 00:07:46.452
- And find, you know, prosperity and coexistence and dare i even
- 00:07:46.452 --> 00:07:52.091
- Say, peace. the thing that stands between a lot of
- 00:07:52.091 --> 00:07:55.728
- Positive things, prosperity, safety, success for lebanese
- 00:07:55.728 --> 00:07:59.565
- And israelis is hezbollah. and what israel is going to do is
- 00:07:59.565 --> 00:08:02.969
- To undermine hezbollah and weaken it so that the lebanese
- 00:08:02.969 --> 00:08:07.373
- Government can move in and actually assume their
- 00:08:07.373 --> 00:08:10.610
- Responsibility and sovereignty.
- 00:08:10.610 --> 00:08:11.811
- >> yeah. either way, it seems that hezbollah may be in its
- 00:08:11.811 --> 00:08:14.814
- Death throes. but, jonathan, what about their masters in
- 00:08:14.814 --> 00:08:17.783
- Tehran? you and i were talking off camera before we started
- 00:08:17.783 --> 00:08:20.253
- The interview, and you pointed out, even though you're in tel
- 00:08:20.253 --> 00:08:23.489
- Aviv and you've been in the bomb shelter frequently with
- 00:08:23.489 --> 00:08:25.858
- Your family, you pointed out that the number of missiles
- 00:08:25.858 --> 00:08:28.628
- Coming from iran has diminished pretty drastically. we've got
- 00:08:28.628 --> 00:08:31.631
- About a minute before the break, before we go, and then we'll
- 00:08:31.631 --> 00:08:34.333
- Bring you right back. can you break down how that missile
- 00:08:34.333 --> 00:08:37.503
- Campaign launched by the iranian regime seems to be
- 00:08:37.503 --> 00:08:40.473
- Ebbing a bit?
- 00:08:40.473 --> 00:08:42.608
- >> well, it's ebbing because israel and the us are
- 00:08:42.608 --> 00:08:46.145
- Effectively taking out iranian missile launchers. and it's
- 00:08:46.145 --> 00:08:49.849
- Ebbing because the amount of missiles that the iranians have
- 00:08:49.849 --> 00:08:53.419
- Is finite. they do not have any means of resupplying or
- 00:08:53.419 --> 00:08:57.723
- Rebuilding what they have already lost. and due to that,
- 00:08:57.723 --> 00:09:02.061
- And due to effective air defenses that we have in place,
- 00:09:02.061 --> 00:09:05.898
- There are less missiles being fired and more importantly,
- 00:09:05.898 --> 00:09:09.201
- Even less impacting in israel. and those are very positive
- 00:09:09.201 --> 00:09:12.772
- Developments that we are very happy about.
- 00:09:12.772 --> 00:09:14.607
- >> yeah, jonathan, great breakdown. much more coming up,
- 00:09:14.607 --> 00:09:17.109
- Folks, with our good friend jonathan conricus. he is a must
- 00:09:17.109 --> 00:09:19.378
- Follow on x. be sure to follow him there. and coming up after
- 00:09:19.378 --> 00:09:23.115
- The break, what about the surrounding arab and muslim
- 00:09:23.115 --> 00:09:25.785
- Nations surrounding iran that iran has been bombarding with
- 00:09:25.785 --> 00:09:28.988
- Rockets and missiles? will they get involved in this effort
- 00:09:28.988 --> 00:09:31.891
- Against the world's number one state sponsor of terrorism?
- 00:09:31.891 --> 00:09:34.827
- More with jonathan conricus after the break. stick around.
- 00:09:34.827 --> 00:09:43.000
- More with jonathan conricus after the break. stick around.
- 00:09:43.000 --> 00:09:46.375
- Welcome back to stackelbeck. tonight we are talking to
- 00:09:47.476 --> 00:09:49.545
- Lieutenant colonel jonathan conricus, senior fellow at the
- 00:09:49.545 --> 00:09:51.547
- Foundation for defense of democracies in washington, d.c.
- 00:09:51.547 --> 00:09:54.650
- Jonathan, today, the iranian regime attacked azerbaijan, its
- 00:09:54.650 --> 00:09:58.988
- Majority shia muslim neighbor to its immediate north. i think
- 00:09:58.988 --> 00:10:02.224
- That's the 16th or 17th country that iran has attacked in the
- 00:10:02.224 --> 00:10:06.895
- Past six days alone. and these are mostly arab muslim
- 00:10:06.895 --> 00:10:11.300
- Countries. i want to talk more about their potential concerted
- 00:10:11.300 --> 00:10:14.536
- Efforts, the muslim nations against iran. but real quick,
- 00:10:14.536 --> 00:10:18.107
- What is iran's goal here? they're firing in every, every
- 00:10:18.107 --> 00:10:21.710
- Direction. it's not sure who's calling the shots in iran right
- 00:10:21.710 --> 00:10:24.513
- Now. most of their leaders have been eliminated. what's the end
- 00:10:24.513 --> 00:10:27.349
- Game? is this just part of this apocalyptic ideology that they
- 00:10:27.349 --> 00:10:31.086
- Live and breathe by?
- 00:10:31.086 --> 00:10:33.922
- >> it definitely gives you room for thought. you know what? if
- 00:10:33.922 --> 00:10:37.993
- The iranians had nuclear weapons and what type of
- 00:10:37.993 --> 00:10:41.764
- Behavior could we have seen then? because what we're seeing
- 00:10:41.764 --> 00:10:45.067
- Is the iranian regime lashing out, firing wanton aggression,
- 00:10:45.067 --> 00:10:50.839
- Firing at civilian locations and national infrastructure all
- 00:10:50.839 --> 00:10:54.910
- Over the middle east and even into europe. they have fired at
- 00:10:54.910 --> 00:10:58.781
- Cyprus, at turkey, azerbaijan and of course, a plethora of
- 00:10:58.781 --> 00:11:03.819
- Arab countries in the gulf. and we're seeing a regime that
- 00:11:03.819 --> 00:11:08.090
- Looks to be in disarray. i struggle to make strategic
- 00:11:08.090 --> 00:11:11.660
- Sense of what they're doing. i struggle to understand why they
- 00:11:11.660 --> 00:11:14.997
- Would fire ballistic missile or ballistic missiles and attack
- 00:11:14.997 --> 00:11:19.368
- Drones at muslim countries where there are no american
- 00:11:19.368 --> 00:11:23.639
- Assets and doesn't really make sense, other than the fact that
- 00:11:23.639 --> 00:11:27.576
- They may be losing control. and we have various hard line
- 00:11:27.576 --> 00:11:32.915
- Factions or residual command and control capabilities that
- 00:11:32.915 --> 00:11:37.019
- Are making decisions that are extremely questionable and to
- 00:11:37.019 --> 00:11:40.456
- Me, look like tremendous strategic mistakes. and i'm
- 00:11:40.456 --> 00:11:44.560
- Very happy that, you know, iran, the iranian leadership is
- 00:11:44.560 --> 00:11:48.864
- Perhaps not yet on the ropes, but that they've been hit and
- 00:11:48.864 --> 00:11:52.034
- They've been hit hard. and there's relentless american and
- 00:11:52.034 --> 00:11:55.337
- Israeli pressure on the regime. but, you know, the really
- 00:11:55.337 --> 00:11:59.108
- Important thing here is to try to identify who is in charge
- 00:11:59.108 --> 00:12:03.178
- And take out those people. it is currently with the irgc, the
- 00:12:03.178 --> 00:12:08.283
- Revolutionary guard, and they are the ones who are to certain
- 00:12:08.283 --> 00:12:11.854
- Extent, firing, mind you, iranians, the iranian
- 00:12:11.854 --> 00:12:16.558
- Establishment has not been able to announce who succeeded the
- 00:12:16.558 --> 00:12:21.230
- Ayatollah khamenei, the supreme leader. he was eliminated on
- 00:12:21.230 --> 00:12:25.200
- The opening salvo. that was saturday morning local time,
- 00:12:25.200 --> 00:12:29.438
- And they have not yet been able to choose or announce who is in
- 00:12:29.438 --> 00:12:34.143
- His place. and that in a dictatorship is a very
- 00:12:34.143 --> 00:12:37.412
- Sensitive and precarious situation to be in.
- 00:12:37.412 --> 00:12:39.882
- >> yeah. and we've heard rumblings that perhaps
- 00:12:39.882 --> 00:12:41.984
- Ayatollah khamenei's son will be his successor. he may not
- 00:12:41.984 --> 00:12:44.553
- Last very long if he gets that dubious title. we shall see.
- 00:12:44.553 --> 00:12:47.156
- And, jonathan, you make a great point. the iranian regime is
- 00:12:47.156 --> 00:12:50.659
- Intentionally targeting civilians, not military targets.
- 00:12:50.659 --> 00:12:53.629
- They're intentionally targeting civilians. speaking of which,
- 00:12:53.629 --> 00:12:57.566
- Could that galvanize the arab and muslim nations that they
- 00:12:57.566 --> 00:13:01.136
- Have been attacking over the last several days? and it seems
- 00:13:01.136 --> 00:13:04.072
- That iran and its axis have been holding up any real
- 00:13:04.072 --> 00:13:08.343
- Possibility of lasting peace in the middle east. with this
- 00:13:08.343 --> 00:13:11.246
- Regime hopefully gone soon, could we see these other arab
- 00:13:11.246 --> 00:13:14.817
- And muslim nations join the abraham accords, for instance,
- 00:13:14.817 --> 00:13:18.353
- With israel? could this mean a new day for the middle east,
- 00:13:18.353 --> 00:13:22.457
- Once the world's number one state sponsor of terrorism, god
- 00:13:22.457 --> 00:13:25.360
- Willing, is out of the picture?
- 00:13:25.360 --> 00:13:28.597
- >> yes, but but we're not there yet. the short answer is yes,
- 00:13:28.597 --> 00:13:32.534
- But i don't think that we're there yet. we're on a positive
- 00:13:32.534 --> 00:13:35.671
- Way, making tremendous progress thanks to the brave and very
- 00:13:35.671 --> 00:13:40.075
- Professional efforts of american and israeli fighters.
- 00:13:40.075 --> 00:13:43.312
- I think what the iranian regime is doing is really backfiring.
- 00:13:43.312 --> 00:13:47.716
- And you can see countries that in the gulf who used to be kind
- 00:13:47.716 --> 00:13:52.254
- Of semi proxies of iran, like qatar and oman, are now
- 00:13:52.254 --> 00:13:59.127
- Outwardly hostile towards the iranian regime. and you can see
- 00:13:59.127 --> 00:14:02.798
- The saudis and the emiratis actually preparing to take
- 00:14:02.798 --> 00:14:07.402
- Military action against iran, which is pretty unprecedented
- 00:14:07.402 --> 00:14:12.174
- And relatively difficult to imagine just a week ago. so
- 00:14:12.174 --> 00:14:17.112
- It's backfiring. and yes, you know, without a doubt, when you
- 00:14:17.112 --> 00:14:21.216
- Look at the middle east, without the iranian regime,
- 00:14:21.216 --> 00:14:24.887
- With a free iran, where iranians will be able to govern
- 00:14:24.887 --> 00:14:29.391
- Themselves without this foreign islamist oppression that has
- 00:14:29.391 --> 00:14:33.362
- Been in place, many beautiful things can happen first and
- 00:14:33.362 --> 00:14:36.531
- Foremost, for the people of iran, who are talented and very
- 00:14:36.531 --> 00:14:42.004
- Educated. they'll be able to enjoy the fruits of their labor
- 00:14:42.004 --> 00:14:44.940
- And their talent, which is great for them. but i think we
- 00:14:44.940 --> 00:14:48.176
- Will find prosperity and stability in the entire region.
- 00:14:48.176 --> 00:14:51.613
- And not only abraham accords, but really good neighborly
- 00:14:51.613 --> 00:14:55.284
- Relations. and i'm very hopeful about the future. and i think
- 00:14:55.284 --> 00:14:58.553
- Eventually we will see that happen.
- 00:14:58.553 --> 00:15:00.022
- >> yeah. jonathan, great breakdown. yesterday, the
- 00:15:00.022 --> 00:15:02.157
- Secretary of war, pete hegseth, praised the us-israel
- 00:15:02.157 --> 00:15:06.795
- Cooperation in this stunning historic joint operation. he
- 00:15:06.795 --> 00:15:10.065
- Praised israel as an ally and their production performance in
- 00:15:10.065 --> 00:15:13.869
- This operation. can you talk a bit more about that? what
- 00:15:13.869 --> 00:15:16.972
- Israel, what the idf and the israeli air force have
- 00:15:16.972 --> 00:15:19.775
- Accomplished over the past six days? pretty stunning results.
- 00:15:19.775 --> 00:15:22.978
- Needless to say.
- 00:15:22.978 --> 00:15:25.547
- >> israelis were very happy to hear those sincere comments by
- 00:15:25.547 --> 00:15:30.953
- Secretary of war hegseth, and i actually think that they are
- 00:15:30.953 --> 00:15:34.556
- Very well deserved. what the us and israel are doing together
- 00:15:34.556 --> 00:15:37.893
- Is writing new chapters in the book of how to do offensive air
- 00:15:37.893 --> 00:15:44.199
- Campaign, how to do effective air defense against incoming
- 00:15:44.199 --> 00:15:48.603
- Ballistic missiles, how to do real high level intel
- 00:15:48.603 --> 00:15:53.675
- Collection and targeting. and i would say that the us is doing
- 00:15:53.675 --> 00:15:57.312
- Tremendous work in everything related to naval keeping the
- 00:15:57.312 --> 00:16:01.116
- Iranian naval forces, either at the bottom of the sea or at
- 00:16:01.116 --> 00:16:05.887
- Port, fearing to engage. and i'd say that the level of
- 00:16:05.887 --> 00:16:09.858
- Cooperation is unprecedented, really, things that i never
- 00:16:09.858 --> 00:16:13.028
- Thought we would be doing together with anybody are
- 00:16:13.028 --> 00:16:15.597
- Happening, and it is happening beautifully. i, as an israeli,
- 00:16:15.597 --> 00:16:20.235
- Very appreciative of the cooperation, but i would say
- 00:16:20.235 --> 00:16:23.472
- That we are standing shoulder to shoulder, fighting together,
- 00:16:23.472 --> 00:16:27.142
- Flying together, operating together. and it is for the
- 00:16:27.142 --> 00:16:31.046
- Benefit of our two countries, for the us and for israel, and
- 00:16:31.046 --> 00:16:34.816
- I think to a greater extent for the free world. and i'm very
- 00:16:34.816 --> 00:16:37.886
- Happy that it's happening.
- 00:16:37.886 --> 00:16:39.021
- >> it is amazing to see. jonathan. hey, about 20s left.
- 00:16:39.021 --> 00:16:42.190
- Any sense of how long this campaign will last? hard to say,
- 00:16:42.190 --> 00:16:45.794
- I guess. president trump said as many as four weeks. what's
- 00:16:45.794 --> 00:16:48.463
- Your take based on what you've seen so far? about 15 20s left.
- 00:16:48.463 --> 00:16:54.069
- >> it's going to take a while. the ultimate aim of actually
- 00:16:54.069 --> 00:16:57.105
- Getting rid of the regime will take weeks and perhaps months.
- 00:16:57.105 --> 00:17:00.942
- But the military campaign, i think, can be shorter. and if
- 00:17:00.942 --> 00:17:04.880
- Everything continues as it is today, it will be shorter. and
- 00:17:04.880 --> 00:17:08.250
- We should all be very appreciative of our respective
- 00:17:08.250 --> 00:17:11.820
- Troops.
- 00:17:11.820 --> 00:17:12.954
- >> great breakdown from the one and only jonathan conricus
- 00:17:13.055 --> 00:17:14.322
- Jonathan. great job. stay safe my friend. god bless. we'll see
- 00:17:14.322 --> 00:17:16.625
- You again soon. and more, much more on the middle east
- 00:17:16.625 --> 00:17:20.395
- Conflict after the break. stick around. welcome back to
- 00:17:20.395 --> 00:17:24.999
- Conflict after the break. stick around. welcome back to
- 00:17:24.999 --> 00:17:28.715
- Stackelbeck tonight. she is international affairs advisor
- 00:17:29.883 --> 00:17:32.820
- To prime minister benjamin netanyahu, and someone who
- 00:17:32.820 --> 00:17:35.622
- Understands the shared threats faced by the united states and
- 00:17:35.622 --> 00:17:39.259
- Israel better than anyone. our friend caroline glick joins us
- 00:17:39.259 --> 00:17:42.396
- Now. caroline, always great to see you. hey, the left here in
- 00:17:42.396 --> 00:17:46.467
- America, surprise, surprise, is saying that this joint us
- 00:17:46.467 --> 00:17:50.003
- Israeli operation against the iranian regime is completely
- 00:17:50.003 --> 00:17:53.607
- Unnecessary. there was no imminent threat, according to
- 00:17:53.607 --> 00:17:56.877
- Them. but caroline israel has been sounding the alarm for
- 00:17:56.877 --> 00:18:00.514
- Years about iran's ballistic missile program. now it's taken
- 00:18:00.514 --> 00:18:04.651
- A major hit in recent days, thank god. but you lay out a
- 00:18:04.651 --> 00:18:07.721
- Bit for our viewers how that iranian ballistic missile
- 00:18:07.721 --> 00:18:10.858
- Threat really posed an existential threat not only to
- 00:18:10.858 --> 00:18:13.694
- Israel, but that there were icbms in the picture. that's an
- 00:18:13.694 --> 00:18:16.964
- Existential threat to america as well.
- 00:18:16.964 --> 00:18:20.601
- >> yes it is. thanks so much for having me on your program.
- 00:18:20.601 --> 00:18:23.770
- It's always great to be with you, eric. so first, before i
- 00:18:23.770 --> 00:18:27.508
- Explain the imminence of the threat, let me just explain to
- 00:18:27.508 --> 00:18:30.144
- You what the threat is. what are what are iranian ballistic
- 00:18:30.144 --> 00:18:34.348
- Missiles like? well, each one of them is the size of a bus
- 00:18:34.348 --> 00:18:38.652
- Filled with explosives. if they're conventional warheads
- 00:18:38.652 --> 00:18:42.990
- And they're they take off and they land on their target at
- 00:18:42.990 --> 00:18:48.362
- Mach eight. speed straight down, plummet into it, and they cause
- 00:18:48.362 --> 00:18:53.734
- Massive destruction and death. so, for instance, a few days
- 00:18:53.734 --> 00:18:58.138
- Ago in israel, one of these missiles just fell straight
- 00:18:58.138 --> 00:19:03.810
- Into a synagogue in the city of beit shemesh. and it killed
- 00:19:03.810 --> 00:19:08.916
- Immediately. eight people buried them, many of them
- 00:19:08.916 --> 00:19:12.119
- Inside of the rubble, and it caused damage for houses and
- 00:19:12.119 --> 00:19:16.423
- Other buildings in a very wide swath of of the area around it,
- 00:19:16.423 --> 00:19:22.596
- You know, like a whole block was damaged. when these kinds
- 00:19:22.596 --> 00:19:26.533
- Of things happen in major cities like tel aviv, where
- 00:19:26.533 --> 00:19:30.270
- People live in high rise apartments, you can understand
- 00:19:30.270 --> 00:19:33.340
- The scope of the damage of these things. and that's just
- 00:19:33.340 --> 00:19:36.243
- One missile. okay. so now what was happening on the ground?
- 00:19:36.243 --> 00:19:40.180
- Iran was building an industrial capacity to produce 100 of
- 00:19:40.180 --> 00:19:44.251
- These missiles a month. and the allies, israel, the united
- 00:19:44.251 --> 00:19:49.556
- States, we have the capacity to build seven interceptor
- 00:19:49.556 --> 00:19:54.194
- Missiles per month. right now, our missile defense system in
- 00:19:54.194 --> 00:19:59.299
- Israel is the strongest by far in the world, partially because
- 00:19:59.299 --> 00:20:03.237
- We have so little territory to cover. but all the same, we are
- 00:20:03.237 --> 00:20:06.907
- Able to intercept around 95% of the incoming projectiles that
- 00:20:06.907 --> 00:20:11.245
- Come into israel. so you can imagine how that mathematics
- 00:20:11.245 --> 00:20:15.282
- Would shift over time, as iran is producing far more missiles
- 00:20:15.282 --> 00:20:20.120
- Than we're capable of producing missile interceptors. so that
- 00:20:20.120 --> 00:20:24.958
- Was already becoming a problem. the other problem is that
- 00:20:24.958 --> 00:20:28.795
- Iran's plan for these missiles to use them as a shield to
- 00:20:28.795 --> 00:20:33.066
- Complete their nuclear weapons program, and how would that
- 00:20:33.066 --> 00:20:36.003
- Happen? because if you have the capacity to wreak mass havoc,
- 00:20:36.003 --> 00:20:39.973
- Death on all your neighboring countries, obviously on israel
- 00:20:39.973 --> 00:20:43.543
- And also on europe, don't forget that some of those
- 00:20:43.543 --> 00:20:46.446
- Missiles fell in cyprus, which is a european union member, and
- 00:20:46.446 --> 00:20:49.249
- They're capable of reaching already places like italy and
- 00:20:49.249 --> 00:20:52.519
- Greece that are in southern italy. so and they can
- 00:20:52.519 --> 00:20:57.291
- Obviously, and they're working very diligently to expand the
- 00:20:57.291 --> 00:20:59.393
- Range of their intermediate range ballistic missiles and
- 00:20:59.393 --> 00:21:01.928
- Move into the icbm category that can reach the eastern
- 00:21:01.928 --> 00:21:06.233
- Seaboard of the united states. so imagine what kind of new
- 00:21:06.233 --> 00:21:11.738
- What kind of missile blackmail they can do with that. and then
- 00:21:11.738 --> 00:21:15.142
- People don't want to go up against them because they don't
- 00:21:15.142 --> 00:21:17.444
- Have defenses against these cataclysmic missiles, and
- 00:21:17.444 --> 00:21:19.346
- They'll use that as a shield to build their to complete their
- 00:21:19.346 --> 00:21:23.250
- Nuclear weapons program. worse than that, they wanted to place
- 00:21:23.250 --> 00:21:26.486
- Them all underground. so if they had moved their
- 00:21:26.486 --> 00:21:30.023
- Manufacturing facilities for these things and for the
- 00:21:30.023 --> 00:21:32.159
- Protection of their nuclear fissile material, that is, you
- 00:21:32.159 --> 00:21:35.696
- Know, a stone's throw from weapons grade a week away from
- 00:21:35.696 --> 00:21:40.767
- Weapons grade, then you then you have a threat that the free
- 00:21:40.767 --> 00:21:46.673
- World simply can't countenance, israel can't countenance, the
- 00:21:46.673 --> 00:21:49.109
- United states can't countenance. and that was why it was so
- 00:21:49.109 --> 00:21:52.212
- Urgent to move now, because iran's lesson from last
- 00:21:52.212 --> 00:21:56.283
- Summer's operation against their missiles and their
- 00:21:56.283 --> 00:21:59.219
- Nuclear facilities was, let's build more. it wasn't, oh,
- 00:21:59.219 --> 00:22:03.156
- We're not going to we shouldn't do this because we'll destroy
- 00:22:03.156 --> 00:22:05.625
- Our country. it was, oh, let's build more. oh, that didn't
- 00:22:05.625 --> 00:22:08.695
- Work that time. let's do it again. let's double down. and
- 00:22:08.695 --> 00:22:11.198
- That's exactly what they were doing. and that's exactly why
- 00:22:11.198 --> 00:22:14.368
- We had to act. and that's why we had to act. now.
- 00:22:14.368 --> 00:22:17.404
- >> caroline, i think thank you, because i think that was the
- 00:22:17.404 --> 00:22:20.374
- Best breakdown i have heard yet about the existential threat
- 00:22:20.374 --> 00:22:22.909
- Posed by that huge iranian ballistic missile program,
- 00:22:22.909 --> 00:22:26.046
- Which is not so huge anymore, thank god. thanks to the shared
- 00:22:26.046 --> 00:22:29.416
- Vision of prime minister netanyahu and president trump
- 00:22:29.416 --> 00:22:32.686
- Working together. hey, only about a minute left here, but
- 00:22:32.686 --> 00:22:35.255
- You're on the inside. you're an advisor to the prime minister.
- 00:22:35.255 --> 00:22:38.024
- Can you talk a bit more about that historic partnership
- 00:22:38.024 --> 00:22:40.560
- Between the president and the prime minister, and how it's
- 00:22:40.560 --> 00:22:43.430
- Really not only changing the middle east, but changing the
- 00:22:43.430 --> 00:22:46.032
- World? about a minute left.
- 00:22:46.032 --> 00:22:47.834
- >> it's it's changing the world. and, you know, just, you know,
- 00:22:47.834 --> 00:22:51.405
- Senator lindsey graham, who knows both men very well, also
- 00:22:51.405 --> 00:22:54.408
- Has said that they are the churchill and roosevelt of our
- 00:22:54.408 --> 00:22:57.277
- Time. they are. but you have to see that these two men are men
- 00:22:57.277 --> 00:23:00.881
- Of a really like roosevelt and churchill. they are men of
- 00:23:00.881 --> 00:23:05.152
- Historic dimensions. they're going to be remembered
- 00:23:05.152 --> 00:23:07.220
- Throughout times for their leadership today, and the fact
- 00:23:07.220 --> 00:23:10.357
- That they're working together today to secure the future of
- 00:23:10.357 --> 00:23:13.927
- The united states, on the one hand, of israel, on the other
- 00:23:13.927 --> 00:23:16.863
- Hand, and through it, the entire free world is a gift for
- 00:23:16.863 --> 00:23:19.900
- All humanity. and we should all be grateful and thankful that
- 00:23:19.900 --> 00:23:23.103
- We're living at this time and under the leadership of these
- 00:23:23.103 --> 00:23:25.839
- Two visionary men.
- 00:23:25.839 --> 00:23:27.407
- >> carolyn. well said. moral clarity, peace through strength,
- 00:23:27.407 --> 00:23:31.044
- Nothing better. and it always works. caroline glick thanks so
- 00:23:31.044 --> 00:23:33.580
- Much, folks. be sure to follow caroline on x across social
- 00:23:33.580 --> 00:23:36.149
- Media. god bless caroline. we'll see you again soon. and
- 00:23:36.149 --> 00:23:38.852
- Coming up, my final thoughts on what you just heard. momentous
- 00:23:38.852 --> 00:23:42.155
- Times for the middle east, the world and for you. that's next.
- 00:23:42.155 --> 00:23:45.759
- Stick around.
- 00:23:45.759 --> 00:23:49.999
- Five. between the segments like we usually have.
- 00:23:49.999 --> 00:23:52.766
- Welcome back to stackelbeck tonight, folks.
- 00:23:53.700 --> 00:23:55.435
- We say often on this show that if you honor god, he will honor
- 00:23:55.435 --> 00:23:59.072
- You. well, at a time of a serious military conflict in
- 00:23:59.072 --> 00:24:02.042
- The middle east, if you're a leader and you're in the middle
- 00:24:02.042 --> 00:24:05.445
- Of that conflict, you're making decisions that impact the lives
- 00:24:05.445 --> 00:24:08.048
- Of americans and really people across the region and across
- 00:24:08.048 --> 00:24:10.951
- The world, then you need prayer. and president trump got exactly
- 00:24:10.951 --> 00:24:14.187
- That today from a group of pastors in the oval office of
- 00:24:14.187 --> 00:24:17.124
- The white house. folks, this was so encouraging to see. a
- 00:24:17.124 --> 00:24:20.093
- Lot of our good friends were there. by the way, pastor sammy
- 00:24:20.093 --> 00:24:23.030
- Rodriguez, johnny moore, who you see here on stackelbeck
- 00:24:23.030 --> 00:24:25.232
- Tonight, frequently. take a look.
- 00:24:25.232 --> 00:24:28.769
- >> company for your presence today, lifting up the arms of
- 00:24:28.769 --> 00:24:32.906
- Our president. we pray for your continued blessing and favor to
- 00:24:32.906 --> 00:24:37.344
- Rest upon him. we pray for wisdom from heaven to flood his
- 00:24:37.344 --> 00:24:41.415
- Heart, his mind and lord, you will guide him in these
- 00:24:41.415 --> 00:24:45.319
- Challenging times that we're facing today. i pray for your
- 00:24:45.319 --> 00:24:48.855
- Grace and your protection over him. i pray for your grace and
- 00:24:48.855 --> 00:24:52.593
- Protection over our troops and all of our men and women
- 00:24:52.593 --> 00:24:55.362
- Serving in our armed forces. and father, we just pray you'll
- 00:24:55.362 --> 00:24:58.966
- Continue to give our president the strength that he needs to
- 00:24:58.966 --> 00:25:03.370
- Lead our great nation as we come back to one nation under
- 00:25:03.370 --> 00:25:07.507
- God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. we pray
- 00:25:07.507 --> 00:25:11.545
- Your heavenly blessing upon him. in jesus name, amen.
- 00:25:11.545 --> 00:25:16.183
- >> when you are in god's hands, you are in very good hands. so,
- 00:25:16.183 --> 00:25:20.220
- So encouraging to see that today our commander in chief,
- 00:25:20.220 --> 00:25:22.789
- During a time of a serious military conflict, getting
- 00:25:22.789 --> 00:25:25.292
- Prayer in the oval office a very special time. thanks so
- 00:25:25.292 --> 00:25:28.061
- Much for joining us tonight. until next time, god bless you
- 00:25:28.061 --> 00:25:32.099
- And we'll see you soon.
- 00:25:32.165 --> 00:25:38.999
