The Israel Defense Forces targeted a building in Beirut and eliminated senior Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr on July 30. In the early hours of July 31, Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh was killed in Tehran. Israel did not take credit for the latter killing, but Iran and its proxies have blamed Israel and vowed to respond, and Israel is preparing for possible attacks.
Haniyeh represented Hamas in high-stakes negotiations and was one of the key public faces of the Palestinian terrorist group.
The IDF’s 98th Division wrapped up a week-long battle in Khan Younis against Hamas. The division recovered the bodies of five hostages, and the IDF said it eliminated an estimated 150 terrorists. The week-long operation is one of several raids the IDF has launched since May to eliminate militants who returned to previously cleared areas.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) recovered the bodies of five hostages in Gaza, the IDF said on July 25. The hostages were found in a tunnel under Khan Younis that was 20 meters deep in an area designated as a humanitarian zone. The IDF also announced that one Israeli soldier was killed in southern Gaza and two severely wounded.
An Israeli drone strike on Tuesday morning in the northern West Bank city of Tulkarm killed two West Bank commanders belonging to Hamas and al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) began a new operation in the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis due to Hamas activity and rocket fire from the area. The IDF’s 98th Division led the raid with tanks, paratroopers, and commandos. The IDF also announced the deaths of two more Israeli hostages in Gaza and asked civilians to evacuate western Khan Younis.
Hezbollah increased attacks on Israel amid an escalation of Houthi-Israel tensions that grew after the Houthis attacked Tel Aviv with a drone, killing one person, and IDF retaliatory strikes. Israel’s Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said, “The blood of Israeli citizens has a price.”
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) carried out precision airstrikes on several Hamas members in Gaza and targets in Lebanon. Israeli forces also eliminated a Hezbollah member in a Lebanon strike, part of a growing pattern of targeting individual terrorists. In addition, the IDF said an RPG attack in Gaza wounded a soldier.
The Israel Defense Forces targeted Hamas armed forces commander Mohammed Dief and Hamas Khan Younis Brigade commander Rafa’a Salameh on July 13. On July 14, the IDF assessed that Salameh was killed in the strike and continued attempting to determine the fate of Deif.
An Israeli airstrike on July 13 targeted Hamas military leader Mohammed Diab Ibrahim al-Masri, aka Muhammed Deif, and Khan Yunis Brigade commander Rafa’a Salameh. The pair were targeted above ground in an area between al-Massawi and Khan Younis in southern Gaza.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) released the first of a number of inquiries into the failures during the battles against Hamas terrorists in communities along the border of Gaza on October 7, 2023. The first inquiry focused on Kibbutz Beeri, where 101 civilians were killed and 30 taken hostage. The IDF also ended a two-week raid into Shejaiya, and Israel’s defense minister said 60 percent of Hamas terrorists had been eliminated in nine months.
Israeli forces launched a new offensive in Gaza City. The IDF’s 99th Division targeted terrorists, operatives, and weapons in several neighborhoods after calling on civilians to evacuate toward the south. In addition, Israeli forces continued to operate in Shejaiya, uncovering weapons and munitions.
The IDF continues operations in northern Gaza’s Shejaiya neighborhood, stating it has eliminated 100 terrorists and destroyed 100 terrorist infrastructure sites since June 27. The IDF also released footage reportedly showing Hamas abusing Gazans who sought aid.
Jordanian authorities announced an investigation that may have successfully thwarted an Iranian-backed attempt to destabilize the Kingdom. The efforts of Iran, its proxies, and allied organizations in Jordan have notably increased since Hamas attacked Israel on October 7.
Israel-Hezbollah tensions increased on June 18 and June 19. Hezbollah released drone footage showing sites in northern Israel, and the group’s leader, Hassan Nasrallah, threatened Cyprus and warned it against letting the IDF use its bases. IDF Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Herzi HaLevi and Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant held discussions with Israel’s Northern Command to discuss the situation.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) lost 11 soldiers in several days of fighting in Gaza. In one of the deadliest incidents since the IDF’s ground operation began, eight soldiers were killed by an explosion targeting their armored personnel carrier on June 15. The IDF continues operations in Rafah against Hamas and other terrorist groups.
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.
Evidence of foreign fighters operating in southern Lebanon continues to mount as the Israeli military recently killed three Syrian members of Islamic Jihad.
The Popular Resistance Committees, published a statement threatening to attack British troops and other forces, if they delivered aid to Gaza.
The White House confirmed on Monday that Israel successfully targeted and eliminated senior Hamas figure Marwan Issa.
Evidence has emerged demonstrating that foreign fighters are operating in Lebanon against Israel.
Bill and Joe discuss the latest updates from Israel’s defensive war in Gaza, including a potentially dwindling supply of ammunition for Hamas and its subsequent cooperation with other Palestinian terror groups; Egypt “fortifying” its border (but only above-ground and only because they want to keep Gazans out); whether Yahya Sinwar is still hiding out in a tunnel somewhere under Khan Younis (“with pneumonia”); the possibility and consequences of a ceasefire during Ramadan; and why Israel is indeed “winning” but will only win if it to continues its ground operation in Gaza, including in Rafah.
Hezbollah carried out multiple rocket, drone and ATGM attacks on Israel between February 19 and 21. New reports revealed Hezbollah concerns about Hamas operations in Gaza as well as insights into Hezbollah’s decision to not launch a larger war in early October.
The Israel Defense Forces continue to redeploy reserve units from Gaza after months of war, with several reserve brigades having been withdrawn in the last two weeks. With fighting in Gaza reduced, these reservists are able to return home. In Gaza, the IDF has increased its ability to respond to rocket fire and eliminate perpetrators of rocket launches and other types of attacks.
Israeli Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi visited northern Gaza to meet with key Israeli commanders and discuss Israel’s new raids into areas wherein the IDF defeated Hamas in November and December. Israel continues to find tunnels in Khan Younis and target Hamas members throughout Gaza.
Hezbollah continued to fire rockets at Israel on February 4 and 5, as Israel’s Minister of Defense warned that Israel’s air force is “pointing” north and as the Israel Defense Forces released new data on strikes against Hezbollah. US envoy Amos Hochstein was in Israel at the same time France’s Foreign Minister visited Jerusalem.
Rockets from Lebanon targeted the northern Israeli community of Arab al-Aramshe. Israel’s Defense Minister visited Haifa and warned about a potential conflict in the north. Israel’s Chief of Staff visited the Gaza border and met with a reserve battalion that had suffered losses in Gaza. The IDF also revealed more details about its operations using water in Gaza tunnels.
The IDF continues to degrade Hamas forces in Khan Younis, with Israel estimating that more than half of Hamas battalions in the city have been eliminated. Nonetheless, Israel’s Defense Minister met with a unit of IDF artillery to discuss the long war ahead that Israel still faces.
Rocket fire from Hamas in Gaza decreased significantly between January 21 and 24. In Gaza, the Israel Defense Forces continued to increase pressure on Hamas in the southern city of Khan Younis. Israeli forces also found a tunnel near the Israeli border in central Gaza.
Bill and Joe catch up on the latest news from the Middle East, including U.S. pressure on Israel (led by Secretary of State Blinken) to come to a permanent ceasefire in Gaza while the U.S. also considers withdrawing its own troops from Syria; Israeli casualties in Gaza (including suffering the recent historic loss of 24 IDF reservists); Israeli strikes inside Lebanon; and, yes, more Houthi drama.