OUTPOST: WARZONES

Middle East in Chaos

Outpost — Wed, 29 Jul 2026 17:27:51 GMT

In this episode of WARZONES, and assess the fragile pause in the US-Iran conflict and how dwindling American missile stocks could reshape the balance of power in the Gulf. They also discuss the Houthis’ proposal to impose a toll on shipping through the Bab al-Mandeb, the prospect of US military action against al-Qaeda-linked militants in Mali, and the return of Somali piracy around one of the world’s most important maritime chokepoints. Finally, they argue that recent wars have exposed the West’s inability to produce military equipment at the speed and scale modern warfare demands.

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CAR BOMB STOPPED - Are the IRA back?

Outpost — Tue, 28 Jul 2026 16:13:44 GMT

In this week’s episode of WARZONES, and are joined by journalist to discuss a security scare that echoes the darkest days of the Troubles: a young law student was intercepted near Carrickmacross transporting a Semtex car bomb, its timer apparently set to go off the day before Princess Anne’s visit to Fermanagh — a coincidence one source called “one in a million.” The panel explores the suspect’s unusual profile, the possible Gaddafi-era origins of the explosives, and what it all signals about dissident republicans today.

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Has Trump lost the Iran war?

James Glancy — Thu, 16 Jul 2026 16:14:49 GMT

In this week’s episode of WARZONES, James Glancy and Tom Tugendhat ask whether Donald Trump has lost the war in Iran. With the Strait of Hormuz still effectively closed despite a months-long military campaign, they examine why overwhelming American firepower has failed to restore freedom of navigation, why Iran continues to threaten global shipping despite suffering heavy military losses, and why Washington may now face an impossible choice between escalation and an embarrassing climbdown.

The discussion also explores the growing risk of a wider regional crisis after Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels declared an immediate naval blockade and “maritime embargo” against Saudi Arabia, raising the prospect of disruption at both of the world’s most important maritime chokepoints.

James and Tom assess the consequences for Britain, the United States and the wider world if the conflict grinds on, from rising energy and fertiliser prices to renewed inflation and the geopolitical opportunities it presents for China.

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TRUMP vs IRAN (Round 3) 🇺🇸 🇮🇷 with Andrew Fox & James Glancy

James Glancy — Wed, 10 Jun 2026 20:04:29 GMT

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How the Cartels Weaponised Migration

Outpost — Sun, 07 Jun 2026 18:14:49 GMT

In this episode of Warzones, James Glancy speaks to Ammon Blair of the Texas Public Policy Foundation about America’s southern border, the cartels, and the changing nature of the threat inside the United States. Blair argues that the Mexican cartels can no longer be understood simply as criminal gangs, but as foreign terrorist organisations and proxies in a wider contest involving narcotics, migration, hostile states and the control of communities far from the border.

Recorded on location in Texas, after Outpost embedded with a counter-narcotics task force, they discuss the state’s border counties, overwhelmed by smuggling routes, and the political battle over immigration enforcement, mass migration and national sovereignty. Blair warns that Britain and Europe are becoming a cautionary tale for America, as questions of citizenship, allegiance, free speech and Western civilisation move from the margins to the centre of politics, as evidenced by the recent rediscovery of Rhodesia on the …

Russia's Longest War

Outpost — Wed, 20 May 2026 16:31:13 GMT

On 11 January 2026, something quiet happened.

Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine had run for 1,418 days. Exactly the same length as the Soviet Union’s war against Nazi Germany, from 22 June 1941 to Victory Day on 9 May 1945. In those days, the Red Army fought from inside its own borders to the gates of Berlin. The Russian army today has captured roughly 20% of Ukraine, and still can’t take the whole Donbas.

Now the war in Ukraine became Russia’s longest war since the Great Patriotic War. By the time Tom Tugendhat and James Glancy sat down to record this week’s Warzones, the count was past 1,540 days and still rising.

This week on Warzones, we walk through what that means:

- Russia has now lost more soldiers in Ukraine (~325,000 KIA) than in every post-WW2 conflict combined, by an order of magnitude.

- Q1 2026 was Russia’s first officially recorded economic contraction of the war.

- Ukrainian deep-strike drones have knocked ~43% of Russian fuel production offline.

- April 2026 was the first…

Labour Grandee criticises Starmer's Defence spending

James Glancy — Tue, 14 Apr 2026 19:21:53 GMT

Tom and James discuss Britain’s defence crises and Labour’s prioritisation of massive welfare spending over investment in Britain’s under-resourced Armed Forces. Meanwhile Trump announced the US will close the Straits of Hormuz until Iran comes to the negotiating table.

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Is the Iran War out of control? 🇮🇷

James Glancy — Tue, 07 Apr 2026 19:19:03 GMT

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Chagos Court Case Verdict 🇬🇧 & Iran War update with Tom Tugendhat and James Tumbridge

James Glancy — Tue, 31 Mar 2026 20:05:21 GMT

A court has overturned a ban on people living on the outer Chagos Islands. This now jeopardises Keir Starmer’s unpopular Treaty to surrender the Chagos islands to Mauritius, which in turn forces the Ministry of Defence to pay up to £48billion to lease the base at Diego Garcia back on behalf of the American military.

In February, Chagossians, landed on Ile Du Coin, an uninhabited outer island which is 135 south of Diego Garcia. The audacious operation was planned by former special forces officer and Conservative MP Adam Holloway. They were ordered to leave by the British Government, and four members of the group took legal action against the commissioner of the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT).

It was argued that a 2004 law by the Labour Government, removing the right of Chagossians to enter and remain on the outer islands was unlawful. In a ruling on Tuesday, the BIOT Supreme Court quashed the rule and the commissioner’s order for the Chagossians to leave. The forced removal of the Chagossian people from the Chagos Archipelago between 1965 and 1973 is widely described by international bodies and human rights organisations as a "crime against humanity" and an "appalling colonial crime."

Lawyer James Tumbridge who has represented the Chagossian Government (in exile) who are currently back on the Chagos islands, joins Tom Tugendhat and James Glancy on Outpost to discuss today’s Court verdict.

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Does Putin hold the upper hand in Ukraine?

Outpost — Wed, 25 Mar 2026 15:57:08 GMT

The Iran war is reshaping the global economy and international relations in real time. As the conflict escalates, oil prices are surging and global markets are under pressure. While much of the world faces economic strain, Russia could benefit a relief in oil sanctions and a bigger seat at the table, especially as uncertainty grows around Donald Trump’s sanctions policy. At the same time, Ukraine and Volodymyr Zelenskyy may be finding new diplomatic openings through providing support to America. Meanwhile Gulf states like the United Arab Emirates fear the war is damaging their stability and global standing, while Lebanon risks being drawn further into the conflict through Hezbollah.

Tom Tugendhat and James Glancy discuss who is really benefiting from the conflict. Has easing pressure on Russia shifted the balance in Ukraine, or is Volodymyr Zelenskyy gaining ground diplomatically with Gulf states? With the U.S. distracted, does this present a rare opportunity for China to act on Taiwan…

The Shadow War in Iran

Outpost — Sat, 14 Mar 2026 10:42:53 GMT

Ayatollah Khamenei’s son has been chosen as his replacement, but is he even alive? As the US Israeli war against Iran enters it’s third week, it’s clear that Iranian conventional forces have been decimated, yet Iran was prepared for this scenario and is now unleashing assymetric attacks across the Gulf using Shaheed drones. Following through on their threat to close the Straits of Hormuz, Iran has now hit 16 tankers causing oil prices to spike above $100 and stock markets to crash. Is the war now following the familiar pattern of US interventions in the Middle East, where operational military success is followed by strategic defeat? Unless America can re-open the straits and force the Iranian regime to negotiate or collapse, the conflict could potentially drag on for months instead of weeks.

Tom Tugendhat and James Glancy discuss American options, and who the winners and losers are from the conflict. Has releasing of sanctions on Putin given Russia the advantage in the Ukraine war? Or …

Where's the Royal Navy?

Outpost — Sat, 07 Mar 2026 08:30:31 GMT

For the first time in centuries, Britain does not have a single frigate or destroyer in either the Gulf or the Mediterranean. The Royal Navy is now weaker than anytime in history, down to just 13 Frigates and Destroyers. When Iran attacked RAF Akrotiri in Cypress with Shaheed drones, the Navy’s only available two Destroyers were sat in Portsmouth, unable to yield their Air Defence weaponry. Keir Starmer is now dispatching just one Type 45 destroyer, HMS Dragon, to defend Cyprus, yet she is not expected to sail until next week due to maintenance works.

The Israeli American war with Iran has exposed the lack political preparation by the British Government for Iran’s retaliation, humiliating Britain on the global stage. For Britain’s armed forces, the fiasco has revealed the extent to which decades of continuous defence cuts have left them unable to protect Britain’s sovereign bases around the world.

Forty-three years ago, a Royal Navy submarine sunk the ARA General Belgrano during the Fal…

Iran: Who's Left? With Professor Ali Ansari

Outpost — Thu, 05 Mar 2026 16:34:45 GMT

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth announced that the next phase of the American -Israeli aerial bombardment is commencing, after the Iranian air defences, ballistic missiles and Navy have been neurtralised. Now the question turns to what happens after more than 50 senior members of the Iranian Regime, including Ayatollah Khamenei, have been killed by strikes. Ali, James and Tom discuss these key questions on the next phase of the war;

Who is left from the IRGC to negotiate with?

What could a settlement look like?

Will the Iranian people rise up and could there be inter-tribal conflict?

How did Keir Starmer and Britain get it so wrong?

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OPERATION EPIC FURY 🇮🇷 🇺🇸 🇮🇱 US & Israel strike Iran (again). Live Reaction with Tom Tugendhat and James Glancy

James Glancy — Sat, 28 Feb 2026 19:11:19 GMT

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Is America about to strike Iran? (again)

James Glancy — Fri, 06 Feb 2026 16:41:08 GMT

The US has moved enough military assets into the Middle East, to now be ready to strike Iran. While the potential targets are largely predictable, the outcome is not. If no last-minute deal can be reached with the Ayatollah’s and President Donald Trump decides to order US forces to attack, Iran’s response could have grave regional and global repercussions.

Tom Sharpe commanded a Royal Navy frigate on operations in the Gulf, and has first hand experience of Iranian tactics. Tom Tugendhat, James Glancy and Tom Sharpe take a look at what the Iranian response could be and how the US could prosecute strikes on the Iranian regime.

Can Taiwan survive invasion?

Outpost — Thu, 22 Jan 2026 21:16:26 GMT

Tom Tugendhat speaks live from Taipei to James Glancy as they discuss China’s increasing pressure to isolate Taiwan from the international community.

In January 2026 China has continued to ratchet up the pressure on Taiwan. Chinese President Xi Jinping, declared Taiwan’s reunification was “unstoppable,” following major drills by the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) simulating a blockade, emphasising that Taiwan is “sacred territory.” America has recently approved $11billion arms sale, of weaponry proven on the battlefields of Ukraine (HIMARs, Javelin, Howitzers and loitering drones), one of the largest arms sales to Taiwan in history. U.S. intelligence officials and military analysts believe Xi has instructed the PLA to be capable of a successful invasion by 2027, coinciding with the PLA’s 100th anniversary.

Tom and James discuss the Taiwanese disbelief that Britain’s Labour Government have approved a mega embassy in the city of London, the atmosphere in Taipei after recent hostile Chinese military exercises, and their preparations to defend the island.

Iran - Is the Regime about to fall? Live with Tom Tugendhat and James Glancy

James Glancy — Fri, 09 Jan 2026 16:37:32 GMT

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How Delta Force snatched Maduro

Outpost — Wed, 07 Jan 2026 13:57:41 GMT

Caracas, Venezuela. The dead of night. Streetlights down. Communications down. By the early hours, the news was in. The President of Venezuela, and his first lady, had been seized by US elite forces and was on was aboard the USS Iwo Jima, heading to New York.

How did they do it? Could anyone else?

The operation, codenamed Operation Absolute Resolve, began around 2 a.m. local time, when explosions were observed. The United States Armed Forces bombed military infrastructure across northern Venezuela, including Anti-aircraft missile sites, whilst cyber attacks took down power and communication networks across Caracas, as a Delta Force Unit from US Special Operations Command launched from USS Iwo Jima, infiltrating Venezualan airspace on board Chinook MH-47s, before fastvroping into Maduro’s fortified compound. On the ground, Delta Force killed Cuban mercenary bodyguards, before capturing Maduro and his wife, and exfiltrating back to the USS IWO Jima. This complex high risk operation, wher…

Return of the Islamic State?

James Glancy — Thu, 18 Dec 2025 16:17:27 GMT

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Peace in Ukraine before Christmas?

James Glancy — Tue, 16 Dec 2025 16:47:23 GMT

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