When I spoke to Dalia Dassa Kaye back in early November 2023, she more or less predicted the escalatory cycle that is currently unfolding between Israel, Hezbollah, and Iran. In our conversation nearly a year ago, she explained the dynamics that might lead a contained conflict in Gaza to a wider war between Israel and Iran, which could potentially drag in the United States.

Events over the last several weeks are unfolding in ways that she predicted. So, I wanted to have her back on the show today to explain why the logic of escalation has taken hold and where this conflict might head next.

Dalia Dassa Kaye is a senior fellow at the UCLA Burkle Center for International Relations. She also has a brand-new piece in Foreign Affairs that covers some of the same ground we discuss today.