Mark Urban
@markurban.bsky.social
Host C4N Fourcast Indicators pod, writing @Sunday Times, ex-BBC guy covering war & peace + sometime Newsnight presenter 1990-2024, IWM trustee, author Big Boys Rules, Generals, Rifles, Task Force Black, The Tank War, Skripal Files, Red Devils, Tank & more!
Of all the decisions we make as citizens, there are few as consequential as those for - or against - war. Good journalism plays an important role in keeping us - as citizen, not just consumers, informed, so this, from an experienced and very talented defence correspondent is important
Mark Urban@markurban.bsky.social · 2h agoI’ve been thinking about the coverage of defence and conflict - who’s stepping up, and who isn’t markurban.substack.com/p/making-sen...
I’ve been thinking about the coverage of defence and conflict - who’s stepping up, and who isn’t markurban.substack.com/p/making-sen...
Making Sense of Our War Torn World
There's a huge public appetite for journalism about conflict ...but not everyone delivers
markurban.substack.com
Dramatic events in the Middle East during the past week as Iran finally played the Houthi card. How one side in this conflict escalates to advantage ... while the other posts on social media open.substack.com/pub/markurba...
The Art of War, 2026 Style
How Iran regained its escalation dominance
open.substack.com
🎧 Listen to Deputy Director of @chrussiaeurasia.bsky.social & head of @chathamhouse.org #UkraineForum - Orysia Lutsevych discussing recent government reshuffle in Ukraine with Matt Frei & @markurban.bsky.social on Channel 4’s The Fourcast: Indicators. Full video: www.youtube.com/watch?v=caG3...
What Ukraine's defence reshuffle REALLY means for Russia war | The Fourcast Indicators
YouTube video by Channel 4 News
youtube.com
Just as Ukraine looks like turning the tide, a bitter row and sackings at the top of their forces - time for a @C4TheFourcast Indicators pod! youtu.be/caG3bWH3VQ8
What Ukraine's defence reshuffle REALLY means for Russia war | The Fourcast Indicators
YouTube video by Channel 4 News
youtu.be
Can America ever restore its relationships with Nato allies post-Trump? This week I found some reasons to be hopeful open.substack.com/pub/markurba...
Steadying the Ship
How US military leadership acts as a force for stability
open.substack.com
As America and Iran resume their struggle for the Strait of Hormuz, time for us on @channel4news.bsky.social Indicators pod to discuss whether there is any path to success for Trump youtu.be/paS6vi0zuO0
Iran war oil shock: how world economy on brink of something ‘EVEN WORSE’
YouTube video by Channel 4 News
youtu.be
Nine European countries have agreed to back an ambitious Ukrainian effort to develop a domestic missile defense system that, if successful, would reduce reliance on U.S. technology such as Patriot interceptors.
Europeans to partner with Kyiv on homegrown missile defense
13 Jul 2026 - Pro Article - By Giorgio Leali, Veronika Melkozerova, Esther Webber
politico.eu
Whether it's US targeting in Iran, the drones that the Islamic Republic sends back at its Arab neighbours or Ukraine's recent hits on Russia there's a pattern ... open.substack.com/pub/markurba...
Economic Warfare Is Back
And selective outrage won't alter that
open.substack.com
Is the US/Iran war breaking out again? A stormy day demanded an emergency Fourcast Indicators pod with @krishgm.bsky.social and I youtu.be/7HxqRd8urEE
‘THEY’RE SCUM’ - Trump rips up Iran ceasefire as countries exchange strikes
YouTube video by Channel 4 News
youtu.be
Today we remember the 52 people who were killed, the people who were injured and affected, the heroes who helped and those who lost loved ones because of the terrible events twenty one years ago on the 7th of July 2005 in London. #LondonBombings #NeverForget #7July @allontheboard.bsky.social
WATCH: Has Ukraine managed to gain the upper hand? how is it prosecuting its attack on Russia differently? My latest video for the Times www.youtube.com/watch?v=mA2R...
Why Russia Is Burning Through 35,000 Soldiers A Month
YouTube video by Times Originals
youtube.com
Fascinating, and made me realise how little I know about the period - including that 10% of the population chose to leave after Britain's defeat.
Mark Urban@markurban.bsky.social · last mo.Happy Birthday rebels! As the USA celebrates its 250th birthday, a deep dive into what the army that tried to stop the revolution thought of the Americans open.substack.com/pub/markurba...
Happy Birthday rebels! As the USA celebrates its 250th birthday, a deep dive into what the army that tried to stop the revolution thought of the Americans open.substack.com/pub/markurba...
'Most Inveterate Enemies'
How America's revolution divided the English speaking world
open.substack.com
Why the appeal of shiny new things so often suckers the commentariat - and what we might do to use drones to their best advantage open.substack.com/pub/markurba...
The Drone Trap
And how we might avoid it...
open.substack.com
The £15bn defence spending boost announced today by the government adds just £1.5bn (over 4 years) to the sum John Healey resigned over, saying it would require defence cuts. That's a problem in terms of what Nato allies expect and military chiefs wanted markurban.substack.com/p/game-over?...
Game Over
Britain's failure to fund defence adequately is a turning point
markurban.substack.com
'Shoot the archer' - the mantra of those arguing Ukraine should focus more effort on Russian missile and drone factories or units. Easier said than done! But some changes are afoot open.substack.com/pub/markurba...
Shoot the Archer
Ukraine strikes Russia's drone and missile plants
open.substack.com
Putin’s running out of road financially, and Ukrainian strikes on his heartlands are exposing the failures of his war. So does he escalate or find a way to end it? That’s our topic on today’s @channel4news.bsky.social Indicators pod, give it a listen t.co/sQuLF9tYJG
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YnlIm9TzJQM
t.co
We've heard many times before that Ukraine might be winning its war. But there's some important changes going on right now that have really turned the heat up for Putin open.substack.com/pub/markurba...
Putin's Hot Summer
Ukraine is raising the price of ongoing war
open.substack.com
So much to discuss in this week’s @channel4news.bsky.social Indicators as Matt Frei Helia Ebrahimi nd I pull apart the US/Iran Memorandum of Understanding and try to work out what the deal amounts to and whether it can stick youtu.be/oXwaWgl9XSY
Has Trump REALLY agreed to pay Iran $300 BILLION?
YouTube video by Channel 4 News
youtu.be
I'm not sure many people have processed the importance of Britain's defence spending crisis. What should have been a waypoint on a journey of revival has instead become another one in the arc of decline open.substack.com/pub/markurba...
Game Over
Britain's failure to fund defence adequately is a turning point
open.substack.com
Are we finally getting this Defence Investment Plan or what?! how the long struggle for money makes a mockery of the idea that we are now on a war footing open.substack.com/pub/markurba...
Jaw Jaw Footing
How the budgetary battle makes a mockery of Britain's defence transformation
open.substack.com
How America emerges as a military power from this Iran war markurban.substack.com/p/the-giant-...
The Giant Stumbles
Part 2 of my lessons from the Iran War
markurban.substack.com
Missiles flying in the Gulf, Israeli strikes in Lebanon, and yet we’re closer to a lasting ceasefire?! @krishgm.bsky.social and I host this week’s @channel4news.bsky.social pod with guest Lina Khatib looking at indicators that a deal may indeed be imminent youtu.be/yyuqpYTyZqc
Are we headed for a DEAL or ESCALATION? | The Fourcast Indicators
YouTube video by Channel 4 News
youtu.be
Who won the Iran war? It's not even over yet but that's the question so many are asking. Here's Part 1 of my own analysis open.substack.com/pub/markurba...
Who Won?
Reading the Iran War aftermath: Part 1 the Middle East
open.substack.com
WATCH - Trump expects Europe to rearm but the US is now sending it to the back of the queue for weapons deliveries. My latest video for the Times www.thetimes.com/video/origin...
Is Trump sabotaging Europe’s rearmament?
The Continent’s strategic dependence has become its greatest liability
thetimes.com
International law is dead 18.10 Force has become a priority in the region 19.13 Nagar Mortazavi @krishgm.bsky.social @markurban.bsky.social #iran youtu.be/gvL8_JIX9sk?...
The RED ZONE warning: on the brink of a global oil shortage?
YouTube video by Channel 4 News
youtu.be
Your weekly @channel4news.bsky.social Indicators pod has dropped co-hosted by @krishgm.bsky.social and I, taking in falling oil reserves, Britain buying Russian jet fuel, and Negar Mortazavi joins us to analyse whether is a workable Iran peace deal coming in to view at last youtu.be/gvL8_JIX9sk
The RED ZONE warning: on the brink of a global oil shortage?
YouTube video by Channel 4 News
youtu.be
