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Over the weekend, the war between Israel and Iran escalated dramatically. Iran launched hundreds of ballistic missiles at Israeli cities, with some evading air defenses and striking residential buildings. Israel responded with force — launching a sustained air campaign deep into Iranian territory. 

And yet, while Israel fights, the United States remains publicly absent. Officials insist the U.S. is not involved and that protecting American personnel is the top priority. But can the U.S. afford to sit this one out?

In this episode, host Aviva Klompas speaks with Mark Dubowitz about what’s really happening behind the scenes. Is the U.S. quietly supporting Israel? Why isn’t Washington doing more to stop Iran’s nuclear threat? And how is the rest of the region reading America’s posture?

This is more than a regional conflict. It’s a moment that will shape the future of deterrence, alliances, and Western resolve.

Guest Bio:

Mark Dubowitz is the chief executive of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD), a Washington, D.C.-based nonpartisan policy institute. A leading expert on Iran’s nuclear program and global threat networks, he has played a central role in shaping U.S. policies to counter the Iranian regime and is the host of The Iran Breakdown podcast. Mark has advised four U.S. administrations and testified before Congress more than twenty times. His work has been cited by The New York Times, The Atlantic, and Politico, which called him one of Washington’s top policy influencers. Sanctioned by both Iran and Russia for his efforts to expose their malign activities, Mark has also contributed to FDD’s China Program, drawing on his background in China studies and Indo-Pacific business. A former venture capitalist and tech executive, he holds degrees from Johns Hopkins SAIS and the University of Toronto and has lived in Washington since 2003.