
Generation Jihad Ep. 134 — The IDF’s competing priorities
Bill and Joe discuss stats released this week by the IDF pertaining to its operations in Gaza and why escalation at Israel’s northern border with Lebanon is “just a matter of time.”
Bill and Joe discuss stats released this week by the IDF pertaining to its operations in Gaza and why escalation at Israel’s northern border with Lebanon is “just a matter of time.”
The Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Herzi HaLevi discussed the likelihood for escalation in northern Israel amid continued Hezbollah attacks. As Israel’s 36th division is ending its deployment in Gaza, two airstrikes targeted terrorist cells in the West Bank.
The Israel Defense Forces released data after three months of fighting Hamas in Gaza. Israeli warplanes struck Hezbollah targets after a missile launched by the terrorist group killed two civilians inside Israel. Israel’s Defense Minister also warned of escalation in the West Bank.
Israeli forces killed three gunmen that infiltrated northern Israel from Lebanon on Sunday morning. The trio were claimed by an unknown group calling itself Islamic Azz Brigades.
The Israel Defense Forces operated in Khan Yunis in southern Gaza and in central Gaza to target Hamas terrorists. Israel estimates that Hamas used 6,000 tons of concrete to build hundreds of miles of tunnels underneath Gaza. Meanwhile at the Hague, Israel defended itself against charges of genocide brought against it by South Africa.
Joe just returned from Israel and joins Bill to share insights from his trip which included a sobering visit to Nir Oz, one of the kibbutz communities along the Gaza border that was brutally attacked by Hamas on October 7, 2023.
The Israel Defense Forces and Ministry of Defense distributed rifles to local security teams in an effort to bolster security for concerned civilians in northern and southern border-straddling communities. Meanwhile, the IDF carried out strikes on Hezbollah and continued to uproot terrorist infrastructure in Gaza.
Nine IDF soldiers were killed in Gaza, six of which died as a result of a mistaken demolition explosion. Hezbollah increased drone attacks on Israel with strikes deeper into northern Israel. Meanwhile, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant met with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
The IDF expanded some operations in Khan Yunis on January 8, using the 7th armored brigade to support paratroopers and commandos who are identifying terrorist targets. The IDF continues to find terrorist infrastructure in Khan Yunis and other parts of Gaza, and Israel’s Defense Minister vowed that fighting will continue against Hamas.
Bill and Behnam unpack this week’s headlines from the Middle East, including the assassination of Hamas deputy Saleh al-Arouri; the U.S. strike that killed Iran-backed militia commander Abu Taqwa Al-Saedi in Iraq (and subsequent drama with the Iraqi government); the U.S.-led coalition dubbed Prosperity Guardian’s “final warning” to the Houthis; and the ISIS bombings at a memorial in Kerman, Iran for slain IRGC-QF commander Qassim Suleimani.
Israel dismantles terrorist infrastructure in Gaza as the intensity of the war against Hamas shifts into a new phase. Tunnels were discovered under a Gaza hotel near the beach, and the IDF revealed they had dismantled a tunnel found in November under Shifa hospital. IDF reserve unit commanders also met at IDF Southern Command to discuss lessons learned in three months of fighting in Gaza.
Israel Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said Israel is determined to return Israeli civilians to communities near Israel’s northern border with Lebanon and that the window for diplomatic solutions for reducing the Hezbollah threat is closing. The IDF also carried out a multi-day raid near Tukaram in the West Bank and eliminated a Palestinian Islamic Jihad operative.
The Houthi attacks “constitute a significant international problem that demands collective action.” The Houthis said that the attacks will continue.
The IDF says it is in a high state of readiness in the wake of the killing of Hamas deputy leader Saleh al-Arouri in Lebanon on January 2. Israel did not take responsibility for the killing, but pro-Iranian groups like Hezbollah have blamed Israel. Meanwhile, Red Sea tensions increased with the Houthis continuing to target commercial ships.
Salih al-Aruri is the first major Hamas political or military leader killed since Hamas and its terrorist allies launched the Oct. 7 rampage on southern Israel.
Hamas has yet to employ a game changing weapon in this current conflict and that is conflict at the Al Aqsa Mosque.
The man reportedly traveled from Egypt to Kenya, where he planned to use Shabaab facilitators to cross into Somalia. The American citizen was motivated by his support of Hamas and desire to target the U.S. for its support of Israel.
Israel revealed details about a Hamas headquarters that was uncovered and destroyed in northern Gaza. The extensive tunnel system linked several houses and the tunnels included electricity and sewage systems. In southern Gaza, the IDF continued to expand operations. Hezbollah attacks targeted numerous communities in northern Israel, and the Israeli air force carried out retaliatory airstrikes against Hezbollah.
On December 28, sirens sounded near Haifa as a Hezbollah drone infiltrated Israeli airspace and was intercepted in northern Israel. Additionally, Hezbollah fired rockets and anti-tank missiles at numerous communities in northern Israel. The IDF also released findings from the investigation into its mistaken shooting of the three hostages earlier this month.
Hezbollah threats against Israel grow as rocket fire from Hezbollah targeting a church in northern Israel wounded both civilians and soldiers. Meanwhile in Gaza, the IDF expanded operations near Khan Yunis as well as in central Gaza.
An IDF soldier was killed by a Hezbollah attack in northern Israel on December 22. In Gaza, the IDF continued to uncover Hamas tunnels and terrorist infrastructure. IDF units used dogs to explore and document Hamas tunnels.
On December 22, Israel expanded operations inside Gaza while Hamas launched rocket barrages at central and southern Israel and Hezbollah targeted a northern Israeli community with anti-tank fire.
IDF Chief of Staff meets with Israeli reservists on northern border as Hezbollah threats continue. Hezbollah used drones to attempt attacks on Israel on December 19. The IDF found a rocket launcher in Gaza and Israel provided updates on how it had defeated Hamas air defenses.
Israel is using special forces to target Hamas tunnels in Gaza. In northern Israel, air defenses downed a drone from Hezbollah. In Gaza, the IDF said they targeted a Hamas financier and are also investigating Hamas’ use of the Kamal Adwan hospital. In addition, new technology is shaping the battlefield in Gaza, including precision sights used on rifles that can help down drone threats.
Palestinian terrorist organizations and the Israel Defense Forces say suicide bombers have been used in the current Gaza war.
Bill and Joe discuss the latest issues emanating from Israel’s defensive war in Gaza, including the tragic death of the three Israeli hostages mistakenly shot by IDF soldiers, the massive labyrinth of tunnels continuing to be discovered by the IDF and controversy surrounding the decision to flood them, and use by Hamas of suicide bombers — Joe explains why one case is different.
Hezbollah attacks against Israel increased, including one on December 16 in which an IDF soldier was killed. US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin arrived in Israel on December 18 for meetings with Israeli leaders as the IDF continued operations in northern and southern Gaza. The Iranian-backed Houthis targeted more ships in the Red Sea while shipping companies have begun to pause shipping through the strategic waterway.
Israeli soldiers opened fire on and killed three people on Friday who were later identified as Israeli hostages.
The IDF trains reservists in northern Israel for possible escalation with Hezbollah. In Gaza, the IDF recovered the bodies of several hostages. In addition, the IDF carried out airstrikes near the Egyptian border, and IDF troops used a new loitering munition in Gaza.
On December 14, Israel hosted US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan to discuss the objectives of the war. Meanwhile in Gaza, the IDF confronted Hamas in tunnels, and seventy terrorists surrendered at a hospital. The IDF also revealed that one in five rockets fired at Israel from Lebanon since October 7 have fallen in Lebanon.