Author Archives: Seth Frantzman

Reporting from Israel, Seth J. Frantzman is an adjunct fellow at FDD and a contributor to FDD’s Long War Journal. He is the senior Middle East correspondent and analyst at The Jerusalem Post, and author of The October 7 War: Israel's Battle for Security in Gaza (2024).

Pause in fighting in Gaza extended amid tensions

Israel and Hamas extended a pause in fighting in Gaza for several more days as Hamas continues to obfuscate about the groups holding hostages in Gaza. Israel’s Chief of Staff travelled to the northern border with Lebanon to meet with IDF troops. The IDF demolished the home of a terrorist in the West Bank.


Israel says pressure on Hamas through ground offensive forced hostage swap

Israel and Hamas agreed to a four-day pause in fighting in which 50 hostages would be released by Hamas and 150 prisoners freed by Israel. The first three days of the deal went mostly as planned, and Israel and Hamas may agree to extend the deal for several more days. Israeli commanders and the Defense Minister vowed to continue the fight against Hamas when


On eve of ceasefire, fighting continues on several fronts

Dark smoke could be seen billowing from northern Gaza as clashes continued in various parts of the city on the November 22 eve of a ceasefire with Hamas. The IDF revealed on Wednesday more tunnels under Shifa hospital. Hezbollah threats continued in the north with a drone infiltration, and Eilat in southern Israel was threatened by a cruise missile which the Israel Air Force shot down with warplanes.




Israel faces winter storm, Houthi threats  

Israeli infantry and armored units continued to isolate Gaza City on November 17-19, pushing into Jabalya and Zaytun neighborhoods. Israel also faced a winter storm that lashed the Golan with its first snow and will require troops to be kitted out with gear for the cold months ahead. The IDF released new footage obtained from Shifa hospital showing hostages transported to the hospital by Hamas on October 7.


Israeli forces take control of Gaza’s harbor

Israel took control of the harbor of Gaza on Thursday, November 16. This important achievement represents another phase in dismantling the Hamas terrorist infrastructure and brings Israeli forces along the coast closer together to complete the encirclement of Gaza. Operations in Shifa hospital also continued and the body of an Israeli hostage was found in Gaza.


Shifa hospital the focus of IDF ground operations in Gaza

Israel’s IDF began its first operation inside the Shifa hospital compound in Gaza. The hospital is a suspected command and control post for Hamas. Weapons were found and there was a brief battle with terrorists outside the hospital grounds. In addition other Israeli ground forces continued operations in neighborhoods near Gaza city.


Hostages at center of Israel’s focus

Israeli forces took over several Hamas-run government buildings in Gaza on November 14. An Israeli hostage was confirmed killed in Gaza. She was one of several soldiers taken hostage by Hamas at an observation post during the October 7 Hamas terrorist attack. Attacks targeted Israel’s southern city of Eilat and Hezbollah attacked Israel from Lebanon.


Israel acknowledges fight on a third front: Mounting diplomatic pressure

Hezbollah attacks on Israel increased on Monday, November 13. Israeli leaders stressed that they want to continue concentrating on defeating Hamas in Gaza. Israel carried out naval operations, and tanks battled terrorists in Gaza as IDF forces press slowly forward into urban areas around Gaza City. One Israeli was killed, and several wounded in the north by Hezbollah attacks.


Gaza hospitals and Nasrallah threats challenge IDF

Israel’s air force has struck more than 5,000 targets in two weeks of ground operations, the IDF said on November 12. Hezbollah continues to threaten Israel in the north, carrying out attacks deeper into Israel and wounding soldiers and civilians.



IDF has destroyed 130 Hamas tunnels in Gaza while establishing a civilian corridor to safety

The IDF continues to operate in sectors around Gaza City as it attempted to root out terrorist infrastructure on Wednesday, November 8. This included demolishing and blowing up tunnels used by Hamas. In addition the IDF opened a corridor along a main road for civilians to flee south. The twin challenges of dismantling tunnels and enabling civilians to flee is increasingly part of the ground operation as troops settle into their areas of operation.



Israel enters new phase of war with Gaza City now encircled

Israel’s ground operations in Gaza entered their second week on Monday, October 6. With IDF units now astride the Gaza Strip, encircling Gaza City, the two divisions the IDF has in Gaza can settle into their operational areas and begin to uncover Hamas terrorist infrastructure.



IDF suffers increased casualties amid urban Gaza battles 

Israel has suffered more than a dozen casualties in the last two days as infantry presses into urban areas near Gaza City. At the same time the Israel Air Force and navy work closely together to target Hamas terrorists. Israel’s Defense Minister warned Hezbollah and other groups in the region not to threaten Israel, while saying Israel is focused on victory in Gaza.


As battle in Gaza grows, Israel faces multi-front threats

Israel’s infantry pushed deeper into Gaza on October 31, encountering resistance and also taking a key Hamas bastion. As Israel carried out airstrikes on Hamas commanders, the Iran-backed Houthis fired a ballistic missile towards Eilat. It was intercepted. In the north Hezbollah continued anti-tank fire.


Israel presses its offensive into Gaza

Israeli forces pushed into Gaza over the weekend and have expanded operations on Monday, October 30. Close cooperation between ground forces and the air force has enabled 150 strikes on Hamas targets in the last several days. One Israeli hostage was freed by operations in Gaza while tensions continue between Hezbollah and Israel in the north.






Yemen, Syria and Iran’s capabilities: A look at Israel’s strategic view of key proxy conflicts in the MidEast

Israel is concerned about Iran’s role in Syria and Yemen, as well as its continued support for groups that threaten Israel. A recent discussion with an Israeli senior defense official provided an insight into Israel’s concerns and how these conflict areas have developed. A previous post at the FDD’s Long War Journal looked an overview of the […]






Russian air defense systems outmatched by Turkish drones in Syria and Libya

After many years of conflict in Syria and Libya, the involvement of Turkey, Russia and other powers is leading to increasingly sophisticated clashes between the latest UAV and air defense technology. The use of new technology has ramifications for future conflicts in the Middle East and provides an emerging model for how regional powers are fighting proxy wars to redraw the balance of power in the region.