As Ukrainian Forces Flow to Kharkiv, Russia Inches Forward at Chasiv Yar
As Russia’s Kharkiv offensive has forced Ukraine to divert forces badly needed elsewhere, the Russians are trying to capitalize on the eastern front.
Yearly Archives: 2024
Generation Jihad Ep. 172 — Afghanistan autopsy: General Miller
Bill is joined again by our most special guest, Long War Journal/Generation Jihad OG and now senior fellow at Just Security, Thomas Joscelyn, to unpack another marathon, closed-door HFAC testimony. This time, the more than 200 pages of testimony they sifted through is from General Miller, the top U.S. general in Afghanistan during the botched withdrawal. They discuss testimony highlights, including when Gen. Miller throws shade at Bill and Tom but in the same breath admits that “they had it right.”
Israel confronts continued Hezbollah drone threats
Hezbollah and other Iranian-backed terrorist groups continue to use drones in attacks on Israel. Hezbollah appears to have increased its use of drones in recent weeks, using them as often or more often than rockets or missiles. Israel’s Chief of Staff traveled to northern Israel to meet with officers as part of a reserve brigade drill.
Nascent Afghan resistance grows in strength but not a threat to Taliban rule
The anti-Taliban resistance is gaining strength and conducting more attacks on the Taliban regime. However, these groups lack cohesion, outside support, and a safe haven. Until those requirements are met, they will lack the strength to be a formidable challenger to Taliban rule.
Complexity of delivering aid continues in Gaza
Humanitarian aid continues to enter Gaza via several crossings as the IDF expands operations in Rafah and Jabalya. The IDF’s Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) said 451 humanitarian aid trucks were inspected and transferred to the Gaza Strip through the Kerem Shalom Crossing and the Erez West Crossing on May 21. In addition, 12 trucks arrived by sea to the new US-built pier.
Generation Jihad Ep. 171 — Weekend update: more gasoline poured on dumpster fire
Bill and Joe catch up on the last few days of headlines, including the helicopter crash that killed the Iranian president and foreign minister and whether this will impact Israel’s defensive war in Gaza; the International Criminal Court’s issuing of arrest warrants for Hamas leaders in addition to Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and Defense Minister Gallant; the situation in Rafah; an airstrike in the West Bank; and Israel recovering the bodies of four hostages.
Opium protests catalyze anti-Taliban sentiments
Afghanistan has grappled with a surge in terrorism, deepening ethnic rifts, protests, and the devastating impact of natural calamities in recent weeks. Two years into their control of Afghanistan, the Taliban is struggling to govern as a state actor.
Generation Jihad Ep. 169 — The Houthi Origin Story
Bill is joined by Long War Journal regular and long-time friend of the show, Edmund Fitton-Brown to talk about the Houthis. If you’re here, you’ve heard of them — but how much do you actually know about them? What is their relationship with the Islamic Republic of Iran? Why are they in Yemen? Edmund previously served as the United Kingdom’s Ambassador to Yemen, a role which required him to negotiate and spend a significant amount of time in close quarters with Houthi leaders. He details some of his interactions with them and how the experience shapes his understanding of the region today.
Israel’s Defense Minister Calls for Gaza Plan
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant called on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to reach a decision regarding the future of Gaza. “As long as Hamas retains control over civilian life in Gaza, it may rebuild and strengthen, thus requiring the IDF to return and fight, in areas where it has already operated,” he said. He also noted the challenges Israel faces on multiple fronts as two drones were downed by IDF warplanes overnight between May 14 and 15 and with Hezbollah launching more than 60 rockets at Israel.
Russia’s Kharkiv Offensive Stretches Ukrainian Forces
While Russia has little chance of taking Kharkiv, its offensive has already forced Ukraine to redeploy forces badly needed elsewhere.
Israel Opens Another Crossing for Aid to Enter Northern Gaza
The Israel Defense Forces opened a new crossing for aid to enter into Gaza. The crossing is called the Western Erez crossing, and it is near the coast in the area of Zikim in Israel. It enables aid to reach northwestern Gaza in addition to two other crossings that now serve northern Gaza. Meanwhile in southern Gaza, the Rafah crossing remains closed, leading to concerns about aid entering southern Gaza.
Generation Jihad Ep. 168 — The U.S.-Israel impasse
Bill and Joe discuss the current low lows of U.S.-Israel relations as Israel prepares to proceed with finishing its stated goal of defeating Hamas without the blessing of its closest ally.
IDF’s new three-pronged Gaza offensive takes shape
The Israel Defense Forces are now operating in three areas of Gaza in a multi-pronged offensive against Hamas and other terrorist groups. The new phase of operations began on May 6 when Israel began operating in eastern Rafah. This developed into a second operation in northern Gaza on May 9 and an operation in Jabalya on May 12. Jabalya and Zaytun are in northern Gaza, and have been cleared of Hamas in the past, illustrating how quickly Hamas has returned to areas previously cleared by the IDF.
Generation Jihad Ep. 167 — Rafah red lines
Israel’s operation in Rafah officially underway and met with the threat of pausing military aid from the Biden administration. Bill and Behnam discuss the potential consequences and ripple effects.
Iraqi militia threatens Israel with retaliation over strike in Syria
Iranian-backed Harakat Hezbollah al-Nujaba’ issued a statement warning that it would respond against Israel for attacking a site in Damascus belonging to the militia.
Israel’s Rafah operation met with US warning of munitions pause
The Israel Defense Forces continued operations in eastern Rafah on May 9, eliminating up to 50 terrorists and uncovering ten tunnel shafts. Meanwhile, Israel’s military and political leadership reacted to comments from President Biden about the potential for pausing more munitions deliveries if Israel expands into the rest of Rafah. In Zaytun in northern Gaza, the IDF carried out its third raid in six months of ground maneuver.
Generation Jihad Ep. 166 — Bill and Tom’s Excellent Debunking
On November 8, 2023, the House Committee on Foreign Affairs conducted a closed-door interview with Zalmay Khalilzad, the Former Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation and master architect of the Doha Agreement which cemented the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan.
Many items of interest came up during the marathon meeting, including Long War Journal. If you know, you know.
Bill poured over transcripts of the nearly ten hours-long interview, and he had help from none other than LWJ OG Tom Joscelyn.
Bill and Tom discuss the highlights.
Israel’s Defense Minister visits north amid Hezbollah attacks
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant visited the IDF’s 91st division in northern Israel on May 8, where he met with the commander of the division responsible for defending the Lebanon border and vowed that Israel would return evacuated civilians to their communities along the northern border. The IDF evacuated 80,000 Israelis from the north in October 2023 due to Hezbollah attacks, and approximately 50,000 remain evacuated.
Syrian fighters belonging to Islamic Jihad killed in southern Lebanon
Evidence of foreign fighters operating in southern Lebanon continues to mount as the Israeli military recently killed three Syrian members of Islamic Jihad.
IDF tanks take Rafah crossing, forces target eastern Rafah
Israeli tanks took control of the Gaza side of the Rafah crossing with Egypt on May 7, 2024. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant visited IDF artillery supporting the operation and said Israel was still open to a compromise with Hamas, but that Israel would intensify operations if Hamas did not make a hostage deal. Hezbollah and Iraqi militias escalated attacks on Israel as the IDF operation in Rafah began.
Generation Jihad Ep. 165 — Israel’s boiling point (BONUS: Joe goes to a “protest”)
Bill and Joe catch up on top Israel headlines, including this weekend’s attack by Hamas that killed four IDF soldiers and in which the Iron Dome was curiously not activated to intercept the rocket fire; the issues of humanitarian aid, pier, and port; the anticipated Rafah operation; the concept of a permanent ceasefire; the cycle of civilians being kidnapped and held hostage by armed Palestinian groups; reports of the U.S. withholding a shipment of military aid to Israel; an update on the eerily quiet West Bank; and Joe’s visit to his local “pro-Palestine protest.”
IDF asks Gazans to evacuate eastern Rafah ahead of offensive
The Israel Defense Forces called for the evacuation of around 100,000 civilians in eastern Rafah to a designated humanitarian zone near Khan Younis. These efforts to keep civilians safe from possible fighting occur as Israel has reiterated a months-long vow to launch an operation into Rafah where an estimated four Hamas battalions remain.
Israel faces rocket fire on two fronts
Hamas fired ten projectiles at Kerem Shalom in Israel near the Egyptian border on May 5. Hamas took credit for the attack and claimed it targeted IDF troops. In addition, Hezbollah fired dozens of projectiles at communities in northern Israel. Israel Defense Minister Yoav Gallant also visited Gaza on May 5, where he vowed that Israel would continue with its planned Rafah operation.
Architect of Doha agreement wrongly claims: ‘Al Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent has been dismantled’
Zalmay Khalilzad, the former Special Repressive for Afghanistan Reconciliation and the key architect of the Doha Agreement, continues to maintain that the Taliban “dismantled” Al Qaeda, despite evidence to the contrary from the UN and CENTCOM.
Israel faces multi-front challenges amid internal discussions on war
Israeli Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant spoke with US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin on the evening of May 1. Israel’s Chief of Staff went to northern Israel to meet commanders on the northern front facing Hezbollah. Israel announced several wartime promotions for commanders amid ongoing political discussions surrounding the Rafah offensive.
Houthis attack four ships and threaten to expand operations against U.S. forces
Escalating attacks by Iranian-backed Houthi on ships highlights the challenges in deterring their aggression and the need to safeguard maritime security in the Red Sea.
Bahraini militia claims drone attack on Israel
Saraya al-Ashtar, an Iranian proxy in Bahrain, claims it has now joined the fighting against Israel. This claim is unconfirmed.
Generation Jihad Ep. 164 — Hezbollah Hold ‘Em
Bill is joined again by his FDD colleague and show regular David Daoud to unpack issues raised in David’s latest piece for The Wall Street Journal, “Hezbollah Stumbles Into a War of Attrition.” They also catch up on adjacent matters concerning Israel’s ground war in Gaza and the dumpster fire engulfing American “institutions of higher education.”
IDF combat unit recruitment attracts record number of Israeli men and women
Israel Defense Forces recruitment data for March and April 2024 showed high levels of men and women seeking enlistment to combat roles. Women sought out positions in the artillery and border protection units in numbers almost double those sought and expected. Men also sought recruitment to a variety of infantry units at higher than expected numbers, continuing a trend that began after the Hamas attack on October 7.
Two IDF Divisions prepare for next phase in Gaza
The Israel Defense Forces said on April 30 that two of its divisions are prepared for the next phase of combat in Gaza. The two divisions played a key role in battles in Gaza between October 2023 and March 2024. The IDF’s statement follows Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu saying that Israel will proceed with an offensive into Rafah in southern Gaza.