John Spencer’s Key Takeaways After the 12-Day War: Air Supremacy, Intelligence, and Deterrence

John Spencer, Chair of Urban Warfare Studies at West Point, joins guest host Casey Kustin, AJC’s Chief Impact and Operations Officer, to break down Israel’s high-stakes strike on Iran’s nuclear infrastructure and the U.S. decision to enter the fight. With Iran’s terror proxy network reportedly dismantled and its nuclear program set back by years, Spencer explains how Israel achieved total air superiority, why a wider regional war never materialized, and whether the fragile ceasefire will hold. He also critiques the international media’s coverage and warns of the global consequences if Iran’s ambitions are left unchecked.

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Resources and Analysis:

• Israel, Iran, and a Reshaped Middle East: AJC Global Experts on What Comes Next

• AJC Advocacy Anywhere - U.S. Strikes in Iran and What Comes Next 

• Iranian Regime’s War on America: Four Decades of Targeting U.S. Forces and Citizens

• AJC Global Forum 2025: John Spencer Breaks Down Israel’s War and Media Misinformation

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Transcript of the Interview:

Casey Kustin:  

Hi, I'm Casey Kustin, AJC's Chief Impact and Operations Officer, and I have the pleasure of guest hosting this week's episode.

As of the start of this recording on Wednesday, June 25, it's been 13 days since Israel launched precision airstrikes aimed at dismantling the Iranian regime's nuclear infrastructure and degrading its ballistic missile capabilities to help us understand what transpired and where we are now, I'm here with John Spencer, Chair of Urban Warfare Studies at the Modern War Institute at West Point, co-director of the Urban Warfare Project and Executive Director of the Urban Warfare Institute. 

John, welcome to People of the Pod.

John Spencer:  

Hey, Casey, it's good to see you again. 

Casey Kustin:  

Thanks so much for joining us. John, you described Israel's campaign as one of the most sophisticated preemptive strike cam