The World with Richard Engel and Yalda Hakim

Episode: BONUS: Bombs in Doha and Drones in Poland
Date: September 10, 2025
Hosts: Yalda Hakim (London), Richard Engel (Jerusalem)
Podcast by: Sky News

Overview

This bonus episode responds to an extraordinary 24 hours in geopolitics: Israel’s unprecedented airstrike in Doha, Qatar, targeting Hamas leaders, and Poland’s shooting down of Russian drones in its airspace—an act escalating tensions on NATO’s eastern flank. Veteran correspondents Yalda Hakim and Richard Engel dissect these flashpoints, drawing on firsthand reporting, interviews with key players (including US Ambassador Mike Huckabee and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte), and their extensive contacts in Israel, Qatar, and Europe. The conversation weaves breaking news with context on the broader Middle East conflict, the Ukraine war, and shifting global alliances.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Israeli Airstrike in Doha: The War Hits Qatar

• Event Details:

  • Explosions rocked a diplomatic area in Doha, Qatar, targeting a Hamas office frequented by diplomats, journalists, and officials ([00:38–03:30]).
  • The Israeli attack aimed at five top Hamas negotiators (including Khalil Al Haya), gathered to discuss an American-brokered Gaza ceasefire proposal.
  • Outcome: All Hamas leaders survived. Fatalities included Khalil Al Haya's son, an office manager, and Qatari police officers ([03:38–04:34]).

• Controversy & Fallout:

  • Condemnation from Middle Eastern US allies.
  • Uncertainty about advance US knowledge or involvement. Initial denials from the White House ([03:38–04:34]).
  • Diplomatic implications, given Doha's role as a negotiation site and safe haven for Hamas.

• Contextual Analysis:

  • The strike happened as pressure mounted from President Trump on Hamas and Qatar for a response to a US ceasefire initiative ([04:34–06:38]).
  • "President Trump had been issuing threats against Hamas. You better come up with an answer to our ceasefire proposal and we want that answer now." – Richard Engel ([04:34]).

2. US-Israel Relations and Ambassador Interview

• US Ambassador Mike Huckabee's Response (Interview Excerpts):

  • "The White House found out about this operation not from Israel, but from the US Military. How could that possibly be?" – Richard Engel ([06:41]).
  • Huckabee appears unfazed on lack of coordination:
    • "Countries make decisions based on what they think their best interests are... sometimes we do [agree], sometimes we may not." ([07:39]).
    • No direct condemnation from the US; minimal action in response ([08:17]).

• Host Commentary:

  • Yalda: “The reason why Israel can do all of this seemingly with impunity is because Donald Trump… has said very blatantly that Benjamin Nehemiah Netanyahu will do what he has to do.” ([08:17]).
  • Richard: “It’s a slap on the wrist kind of thing, if that.” ([08:50]).

3. Russian Drones Over Poland: NATO Tensions Escalate

• Incident Breakdown:

  • Early hours: Polish air defense, with NATO help, shoots down as many as 24 Russian drones in Polish airspace ([10:01] and [11:53]).
  • Not a first incursion, but the scale and location signal intentional escalation by Russia ([10:01–11:53]).
  • Poland calls for invoking NATO Article 4 (consultative defense mechanism)—not Article 5 (collective defense), but a sign of serious concern ([11:53]).

• Geopolitical Implications:

  • Russian drones traveled from Belarusian territory, underlining Moscow-Minsk military collaboration ([13:19]).
  • Interpreted as Vladimir Putin’s warning: "This is Putin sending a message, don’t mess with us and we don’t want your troops in Ukraine." – Richard Engel ([10:01–11:53]).
  • Yalda: “Putin wants to normalize the fact that he can just send drones into NATO airspace and there’s frankly nothing they can do about it.” ([11:53]).

4. NATO’s Stance and Security Guarantees to Ukraine

• NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte Interview Excerpts ([13:28, 14:12]):

  • “NATO and the US together now… making sure that there is a weapon flow into Ukraine… is a clear signal to Putin we are serious.”
  • “We are all trying to put maximum pressure on the Russians to come to the table.”

• Key Points from Rutte:

  • Europeans prepared for security guarantees and even boots on the ground for Ukraine “with or without the Americans.” ([13:28])
  • Ukraine is a sovereign nation and will choose which foreign troops it accepts, regardless of Russian opinion ([13:28–14:02]).
  • Aims to bring Putin to the negotiating table while ensuring Ukraine’s ability to defend itself ([14:56]).

• Host Analysis:

  • Yalda notes disconnect between diplomatic rhetoric and Russian actions: “It’s not maximum pressure though, because Vladimir Putin… said it was the West who provoked the war… He said, we can try and do this peacefully or we can continue to do this militarily.” ([14:37])
  • Richard references Ian Bremmer’s “Xi3” framework—Xi, Putin, and Modi—as the emerging power bloc challenging traditional Western dominance. ([15:48])

5. The Trump Factor: Policy Ambiguity and Global Instability

• Impact on Israel and Russia’s Calculus:

  • Both Netanyahu and Putin are seen as capitalizing on Donald Trump’s hesitation to forcefully condemn their moves ([16:17]).
  • Yalda: “They know Donald Trump will not come out and condemn them in the strongest terms...” ([16:17]).

• Resulting Instability:

  • “This was a bad week for President Trump. President Trump said Ukraine peace deal is going to be easy…” – Richard Engel ([16:53]).
  • “But the Israelis just carried out this strike... not working toward a ceasefire. It is working in the opposite direction... And Putin is clearly not heading toward a ceasefire and is heading in the opposite direction.” – Richard Engel ([16:53]).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the Israeli strike in Qatar:

  • “What happened yesterday was unprecedented. Israel bringing its war with Hamas to the streets of Qatar, shattering the sense of safety here…” – Richard Engel intro ([00:04])
  • "The fact is that this strike took place targeting one of Hamas’s chiefs, Khalil Al Haya, and four others… They had come together to discuss the latest ceasefire agreement." – Yalda Hakim ([03:38])

• US Ambassador Mike Huckabee Interview:

  • “Countries make decisions based on what they think their best interests are... and that doesn’t mean everyone agrees.” – Mike Huckabee ([07:39])

• On Russian drones in Poland:

  • “So to send Russian drones over there in an area that is far from the conflict zone into a NATO country in large numbers is no accident.” – Richard Engel ([10:01])
  • “The Polish Prime Minister has said this is the closest that they have come to… a conflict with a neighboring state since World War II.” – Yalda Hakim ([09:25])

• On NATO’s approach:

  • “NATO and the US together now making sure that there is a weapon flow into Ukraine… is a clear signal to Putin we are serious.” – Mark Rutte ([14:12])

• Global power realignment:

  • “The world used to be governed by the G7… now it’s the Xi3. And the Xi3 would be Xi, Putin and Modi.” – Richard Engel, paraphrasing Ian Bremmer ([15:48])

• On the challenges to Western leadership:

  • “Just as Israel is taking advantage of this moment… it seems that Vladimir Putin too knows that Donald Trump is not going to necessarily… say, this is absolutely unacceptable.” – Yalda Hakim ([16:17])

Key Timestamps

• 00:04: Opening reactions to Israeli strike in Doha.
• 03:38–04:34: Details and immediate aftermath of the airstrike.
• 06:41: Richard Engel interviews US Ambassador Mike Huckabee.
• 09:25: Transition to Poland/Russian drones crisis.
• 10:01–11:53: Analysis of the drone incursion and Putin’s motives.
• 13:28: Yalda discusses interview with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.
• 14:12: Rutte’s statements on NATO’s resolve.
• 16:53: Richard’s assessment of Trump’s global standing amid these crises.

Tone and Takeaways

• The episode is urgent, analytical, and at times, incredulous at the speed and scale of developments.
• Both hosts emphasize the unpredictability of current geopolitics and the risks of ambiguous US policy and eroding international norms.
• They highlight the shift toward “might makes right” in global affairs, with authoritarian leaders testing Western resolve.
• Listeners are left with a sobering picture of “a long week in geopolitics,” where alliances are tested, and the path to peace appears harder to find.