CNN Global Report War With Iran

·53 min·5 clips

Two suspected Iranian drones strike the U.S. Embassy in Saudi Arabia, triggering a State Department warning for Americans to leave 14 countries.

This CNN special report covers the initial days of a widening military conflict between the United States, Israel, and Iran. The episode begins with breaking news of a drone strike on the U.S. Embassy in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, prompting a State Department warning for Americans to evacuate 14 countries. CNN correspondents provide on-the-ground updates: Jeremy Diamond in Tel Aviv describes Iranian ballistic missile barrages and Israeli expectations of a major uptick in U.S.-led airstrikes targeting over 1,200 sites in Iran. Matthew Chance reports from Beirut on Israeli strikes against Hezbollah, noting Lebanon is being drawn into the conflict as a proxy front. Clarissa Ward reports from Erbil, Iraq, detailing drone attacks on U.S. facilities and civilian infrastructure. The episode features analysis from retired General David Petraeus, who outlines U.S. military objectives to degrade Iran's missile, drone, and naval capabilities, emphasizing the threat of low-cost Shahed drones. Iran analysts Karim Sadjadpour and Norman Roule discuss the political aftermath of the supreme leader's killing, with Sadjadpour describing a leadership void and a 'zombie regime'. CNN Chief White House correspondent Caitlin Collins notes the administration's lack of a clear end goal, citing contradictory statements from officials. Former officials Brett McGurk and Congressman Seth Moulton express concerns about mission creep and the absence of a congressional debate. Commentators Fareed Zakaria and Thomas Friedman critique the administration's rationale for the war, with Friedman calling one justification 'a pile of nonsense'. They explore potential outcomes, including a more hardline regime, a reformed Islamic government, or regional disorder. The episode highlights the rapid escalation, civilian impacts, and strategic uncertainties surrounding the conflict.

As heard by us

A taut CNN war briefing on regional strikes and the succession crisis after Khamenei's death.

CNN's war coverage opens with the strike on the U.S. Embassy in Saudi Arabia, where two suspected Iranian drones hit the site, then quickly widens to reprisals from Bahrain and Cyprus to Dubai.

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Why you'd press play

You want the Iran war briefing that moves from a U.S. Embassy strike in Saudi Arabia to the question of who comes after Khamenei.

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