Mahad Karate, a senior official and a deputy emir of Shabaab, al-Qaeda’s branch for East Africa, again named several al-Qaeda leaders present in Mogadishu during the infamous ‘Black Hawk Down’ incident in 1993.
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.
Today’s attack is the third by the Houthis that has targeted Israel, and the terror group has threatened more as Israel prepares its ground offensive into Gaza.
As Moscow looks to ramp up production of Iranian Shahed-136 kamikaze drones, a recent strike left a clue about Russia’s production rate.
Iran’s militias in Iraq and Syria have launched at least 24 strikes, primarily with drones, rockets, and mortars on U.S. military bases since Oct. 17. Five of the attacks took place after the U.S. military struck IRGC weapons depots in Syria in a failed effort to reestablish deterrence.
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.
The war goes on; rockets are still raining down on central Israel (including Jerusalem) while Israel continues targeting Hamas leaders in Gaza. But…
Breaking today and over the weekend:
Israeli boots are now on the ground inside Gaza. There was also some IDF activity in Jenin inside the West Bank.
Iran’s President Raisi gaslit said on X that, “the Zionist regime’s crimes have crossed the red lines which may force everyone to take action.”
While Lebanese Hezbollah is still keeping things at a simmer just below the threshold of all-out war, other Iran-backed militias in Iraq and Syria are very much in the game. Some are even firing at U.S. forces in the region.
Bill and Joe are joined again by FDD’s Behnam Ben Taleblu to unpack these and related headlines.
As conflict continues on Israel’s northern border, Hezbollah is increasingly suffering losses.
The IDF is launching targeted raids, backed by air and artillery support, into the Gaza strip. These raids appear to be part of a new pattern of operations.
Bill and Joe are back with an update on the latest from Israel and Gaza. Today they’re also joined by their FDD colleague and Turkey expert, Sinan Ciddi, to unpack just how deep Turkey’s relationship is with Hamas.
Despite speculation that Russia debuted its new Italmas drone in Ukraine, the mystery drone in question is likely more mundane.
In response to a spate of attacks on U.S. bases in Iraq and Syria by Iran-backed militias, the U.S. military struck two IRGC weapons storage sites in Syria. After years of largely ignoring these strikes, the Biden administration wants to deter the militias from future assaults. It may be too late.
“Hezbollah Brigades has the capacity to fight against its enemies and confront them by relying on the internal resources of the resistance,” a key Hezbollah Brigades official said. “We are ready for a war of attrition that may last for years, firmly believing in victory.”
The Givati brigade, which has been conducting specialized urban warfare training over the last week, led the assault. The operation is designed to prepare the ground for the next phase of combat.
While the HAWK may be old, Ukraine will take all the air defenses it can get as winter approaches.
Bill and Joe are joined again by FDD’s Behnam Ben Taleblu to catch up on and unpack the latest from Israel and Gaza as of mid-afternoon (ET) on Wednesday, October 25, 2023.
Hamas targeted Israel with rockets, including long-range attacks on cities more than 100 miles from Gaza, as the war between Israel and Hamas continues. The Israel Defense Forces also highlights Iran’s support of Hamas and its involvement in providing training and support for the terrorist group.
Israel continued to carry out airstrikes on Hamas and on threats from Lebanon as the Israel Defense Forces prepare for a ground incursion into Gaza. Hamas rocket fire continues over Israel as the conflict stretches into its eighteenth day.
Bill and Joe talk through the latest headlines surrounding Israel and Gaza as of late afternoon (ET) on Monday, October 23, 2023.
Hamas employs an extensive propaganda network during times of war with Israel.
At almost two weeks (!) into the war, we remain on standby for Israel’s anticipated ground invasion of Gaza and continue to watch Israel’s northern border for more activity from Hezbollah.
And to complicate the already complicated: an incident yesterday on the Red Sea marked the first active engagement by the U.S. in this ongoing war, when the USS Carney shot down missiles fired by Iran-backed Houthis.
So for today’s briefing, Bill and Joe called in their FDD colleague and top expert on Iran, Behnam Ben Taleblu.
Hamas’ deadly attack on Israel on Oct. 7 would not have been possible if Hamas was not afforded a safe haven.
The USS Carney intercepted three missiles fired from Yemen as it was patrolling the Red Sea. The missiles appear to have been fired at Israel.
Hamas used Iranian-produced AZ111-A2 60mm mortar fuses and M112 demolition charges in the October 7 terror attack on Israel.
ATACMS has already proven its value for Ukraine in strikes against a pair of Russian helicopter bases. But unless Kyiv receives more missiles, it will soon run out.
The attacks took place as Hezbollah Brigades, a dangerous Iranian proxy, threatened U.S. forces in Iraq with “the fire of Hell” if American did not withdraw its troops from Iraq.
The Islamic State’s Central Africa Province, known locally as the Allied Democratic Forces, or ADF, mounted its second attack in western Uganda since last Friday. The mobile unit currently operating inside Uganda represents the first sustained guerrilla presence in the country since 2007.
Bill and Joe convene (plot twist: in-person) to discuss the latest from Israel at war — including the explosion at the hospital in Gaza.
(Episode material up to date as of late morning/early afternoon ET on Wednesday, October 18.)
Abukar Ali Adan, the deputy leader of Shabaab, Al Qaeda’s branch in East Africa, is a dangeorus commander who has led the group’s military wing and has ties to other Al Qaeda branches in African and on the Arabian Peninsula.
The Shadow Unit is likely holding an unknown number of hostages following the Oct. 7 attack in southern Israel.