Following Israel's large-scale attack on Iranian nuclear facilities and military targets, Iran responded with massive drone and missile attacks on Friday. Both states are openly threatening further retaliation. Has the threshold for a conflagration in the Middle East inevitably been crossed? … Discussing: …Hans-Jakob Schindler, Senior Director of the Counter Extremism Project

How long will this war last? BR24 will discuss this at 4 p.m. with ARD correspondent Katharina Willinger in Istanbul, who is monitoring the situation in Iran, and with security expert [CEP Senior Director] Hans-Jakob Schindler, who served for many years as a German diplomat in Tehran. The live stream can be found embedded above this article.

CEP Senior Director Dr. Hans-Jakob Schindler interviewed: The war between Israel and Iran continues and escalates. Following renewed rocket attacks, the number of civilian casualties is rising. Extremism expert Hans-Jakob Schindler discusses this on WELT TV.

Edmund Fitton-Brown, CEP senior advisor, and Ari Heistein, CEP nonresident fellow, write: How will the Houthis respond to the devastating Israeli strikes on Iran? This moment could prove decisive for both the Iran-led axis and the Houthis’ role within it. Historically, the Houthis have demonstrated a high tolerance for risk. This approach has allowed them to achieve far more than many would have thought possible a decade ago. At the same time, they are strategic actors who consistently prioritize their position within Yemen above all else. With that in mind, there are three key reasons to assess that the Houthis will play a limited supporting role in responding to Israeli strikes on Iran, one that aligns with Tehran’s objectives but does not place them at the forefront of the response.

The German government's reaction was predictable, says Hans-Jakob Schindler, a Middle East expert with the international organization Counter Extremism Project. Germany plays only a secondary role in the Middle East conflict and is unable to actively mediate. "Certainly, one could offer to do so. But now the direct negotiations between the US and the Iranians are crucial," Schindler told DW. "The negotiating format of the past—Germany, France, Great Britain, and the US with the Iranians—is no longer part of this formula. Unfortunately, the Europeans are now more spectators than actors in this conflict."