Expert Hans-Jakob Schindler assumes that Ahmadinejad is still alive. And there must be a reason for that. “For right on the very first day, the U.S. and Israel succeeded—100 percent—in killing those individuals who had been identified as priority targets,” says the Senior Director at the international Counter Extremism Project (CEP) in Berlin. Ahmadinejad, it seems, was likely not among them.

According to terrorism expert Hans-Jakob Schindler, bringing about regime change solely through airstrikes is an extremely risky undertaking. The airstrikes would have to continue until a sufficient number of security apparatus employees defected to the opposition.

But can the American-Israeli airstrikes truly bring about a democratic change of power? Terrorism expert Hans-Jakob Schindler emphasized that no attempt has ever been made to effect regime change solely from the air. One would then have to hope that enough people within the system would switch sides to the opposition.

The most intriguing presentation of Thursday evening was reserved for Hans-Jakob Schindler. The security expert was addressed directly by Illner, who directed her hands at him, subtly gesturing with them to resemble pistols. Schindler, in any case, presented himself as a cool observer: the current regime must go, not least because it would exact incredible revenge on the Iranians if it remained in power.

CEP senior research analyst Josh Lipowsky told the Jewish Standard: “Over the past week or two we have seen a significant blow to the Iranian influence on the region,” Mr. Lipowsky said. “Look at Lebanon. The Lebanese prime minister, Nawaf Salam, declared last week that all of Hezbollah’s military activity was illegal. A few days after that, he called for the arrest of all IRCG officers operating in Lebanon.” The IRCG is the Iranian Islamic Military Guard. “These are steps that would have been unthinkable just last year.”

Hans-Jakob Schindler, Middle East and terrorism expert, director of the Counter-Extremism Project (CEP) think tank, speaks on possible outcomes of the war.

Hans-Jakob Schindler, senior director at the Counter Extremism Project, warned of new radicalisation fuelled by the Iran war. "Both online and offline, we are seeing further radicalisation across the entire spectrum of violent Islamist extremism," he said.

What has changed within just a few days? What networks does the regime have in Germany? How are supporters being mobilized? How prepared are the German security authorities for possible actions? Alica Jung discusses these issues with Marc Henrichmann, CDU, Chairman of the Parliamentary Control Panel, Hans-Jakob Schindler, terrorism and Middle East expert [and CEP Senior Director], and ZDF correspondent Elmar Theveßen in Washington. 

While formally a U.S. ally, Qatari’s ruling elite shelters and bankrolls Islamist movements including Hamas, Taliban elements, al‑Qaeda affiliates, and Muslim Brotherhood networks, making Doha one of the world’s key state enablers of jihadist terrorism, according to the Counter Extremism Project think tank.

CEP Senior Director Dr. Hans-Jakob Schindler discusses Iranian hybrid warfare in the current war.