Search Results for: TTP

IDF troops

Israel faces major Hezbollah escalation as Rafah battle continues

Hezbollah launched more than 215 rockets at Israel from Lebanon on June 12, its largest escalation of the war. The attacks came in the wake of Israel eliminating senior Hezbollah commander Taleb Sami Abdullah on June 11. The terrorist group also targeted areas along the Sea of Galilee in some of the deepest attacks it’s carried out since October 2023. In Gaza, the IDF’s 98th Division completed operations in central Gaza, and the IDF continues to operate in Rafah.

Islamic State flag waving on the wind

Islamic State operatives arrested after illegally crossing the US border

Eight Tajik nationals with ties to the Islamic State in Khorasan Province (ISKP) were recently arrested in major US cities after illegally crossing the Mexican border as early as 2023. The arrests underscore the resurgence of the ISKP after the US withdrawal from Afghanistan and may indicate terrorist groups are seeking to exploit America’s border crisis to stage attacks.

U.S. offers $5 million reward for member of Al Qaeda’s top leadership council

Hamza al Ghamdi is a legacy Al Qaeda leader who fought alongside Osama bin Laden against the Soviets, led bin Laden’s bodyguard, organized terror attacks in Tajikistan in the 1990s, and fought at the battle of Tora Bora. He is currently a member of Al Qaeda’s shura, or executive leadership council. Ghamdi is likely based in Afghanistan or Iran.

Hezbollah shoots down Israeli drone, targets warplane with surface-to-air missile

Hezbollah shot down a large Israeli Hermes 900 drone on June 10. The Iranian-backed terrorist group carried out numerous attacks across northern Israel, increasingly utilizing drones in its attacks. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant visited northern Israel to conduct an assessment on June 9, the same day that Benny Gantz resigned from Israel’s war cabinet.

Islamic State flag waving on the wind

ISKP’s transnational reemergence

Leveraging its stronghold in Afghanistan and networks across Central and South Asia, ISKP is surging as a formidable transnational actor, posing a threat from Asia to Europe. The Taliban’s self-portrayal as a counterforce to ISKP raises concerns about their true motives and the perpetuation of regional instability.

Gantz resigns from Israeli war cabinet following rescue of four hostages in Gaza raid

Israel rescued four hostages in a raid in Nuseirat in central Gaza. The operation began the morning of June 8 and targeted two buildings where Noa Argamani, Almog Meir Jan, Andrey Kozlov, and Shlomi Ziv were being held. The following day on June 9 Israel war cabinet minister Benny Gantz resigned from the cabinet and ended his party’s backing for the government.

Al Qaeda leader calls foreign fighters to Afghanistan

Sayf al-Adl, who is thought to be al Qaeda’s current leader, calls on supporters around the world to migrate to Afghanistan to gain training, experience, and knowledge before undertaking attacks against so-called “Zionist” and Western targets around the world.

Generation Jihad Ep. 177 — Gaza: “There is no pretty end to this.”

Bill and Behnam discuss a Tablet Magazine article “Israel is Succeeding in Gaza” and whether there are any possible “settle-for-less” military and political outcomes in Gaza that involve anything other than the total defeat of Hamas; an IDF soldier killed by Hamas terrorists attempting to infiltrate Israel from Gaza; Iran’s IRGC vowing revenge for an Israeli strike in Syria that allegedly killed an IRGC general; and Israel’s new normal of daily skirmishes with Hezbollah on its northern border.

Hamas uses tunnel near Gaza border to attack IDF

Hamas terrorists attempted an attack on the border of Israel in the early hours of the morning on June 4. The IDF was alerted and responded to the presence of suspicious men near the border fence. The terrorists shot at the IDF soldiers, killing one. Three Hamas terrorists were eliminated. The attack showcases how Hamas continues to use tunnels to attempt infiltration attacks.

IDF uncovers long tunnel in Rafah as Hezbollah attacks in north

The Israel Defense Forces uncovered a tunnel that stretched for more than 1.2 miles with several branches near the Egyptian and the Rafah border crossings. At least 20 shafts were identified as entrances to the tunnel. In northern Israel, Hezbollah targeted Hufeish with drones. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant flew over Gaza and northern Israel in an F-15, surveying the multi-front conflict.

With northern Israel aflame, IDF warns of ‘decision’ against Hezbollah

Fires in northern Israel caused by Hezbollah attacks threatened Israeli communities and compelled Israeli leadership to consider how to stop Hezbollah’s escalation. “We are approaching the point where a decision will have to be made, and the IDF is prepared and very ready for this decision,” Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Herzi HaLevi said on June 4.

The Islamic Resistance in Iraq increases its drone attacks on Israel

Over the past month, there has been an increase in attacks from Iraq against Israel by the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, consisting of multiple Iran-backed militias, amid claims of targeting significant Israeli locations and an escalation marked by advanced weaponry use, despite many claims lacking independent confirmation.

Generation Jihad Ep. 175 — Afghanistan’s emerging resistance movement

The botched U.S. withdrawal in 2021 left behind a Taliban-controlled Afghanistan with al-Qaeda running training camps using abandoned American military equipment. Terrorism confined by the borders of Afghanistan until history repeats itself and it isn’t. Luckily, a major resistance movement is taking shape in Afghanistan and attempting to organize against the Taliban.

To learn about three groups that have emerged at the forefront Bill is joined by Will Selber, retired Middle East Foreign Area Officer with multiple deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan.

They discuss who’s who in the resistance, which groups could be effective enough to take the fight to the Taliban (and which should sit it out), the work ahead and what they need for success — including unification.

Generation Jihad Ep. 174 — Attrition Warfare

Bill and Behnam catch up on new Houthi activity, reports of the Iranian regime leveraging criminal groups in Sweden to target Israeli and Jewish interests, and an update on the most expensive piece of performance art in history, the floating humanitarian aid pier in Gaza.

IDF unearths more tunnels, gains control of Philadelphi Corridor

On May 29 the Israel Defense Forces took operational control of the Philadelphi Corridor, which runs along the southern Gaza border with Egypt. The IDF found 20 tunnels in this area with one found near the Rafah crossing. In other areas of Gaza, Hamas claimed several attacks on the IDF.

IDF Pushes Forward in Rafah City

The Israel Defense Forces continued to expand operations in Rafah, primarily along the Egyptian border. They deployed new technology including unmanned M113 armored personal carriers, according to photos taken in Gaza. The IDF also clarified a strike on May 26 near Rafah which killed civilians: “following the strike, due to unforeseen circumstances, a fire ignited tragically taking the lives of Gazan civilians nearby.”

Generation Jihad Ep. 173 — Who was Ebrahim Raisi, AKA the Butcher of Tehran?

Bill and Behnam discuss the helicopter crash in northern Iran that killed multiple regime officials, chief among them Ebrahim Raisi who was President of the Islamic Republic and a top contender to be the next Supreme Leader. Was it an accident?

Given the Islamic Republic’s constitutional mandate that elections be held to replace Raisi, who might be the next president? What does the president even do? What will it mean for Iran’s foreign and security policy

They also revisit Raisi’s history in the regime or as Behnam calls it, “failing up.” From being the youngest hand-picked by Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini to head the infamous “death commission” and implement fatwas issued by the then-Supreme Leader to his days as a hanging judge and heading the judiciary, the “Butcher of Tehran” had a lot of blood on his hands.

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.

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.