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.
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 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.
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.
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.
The IDF has apprehended more than 500 terrorists in Gaza since the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7. Israel officials also estimate 7,000 terrorists have been killed in Gaza since the war began. The IDF continued to fight Hamas in Shujaiya, Jabalya and Khan Yunis. In northern Israel, Israel is seeking to strengthen security along the border as Hezbollah attacks continued over the weekend.
IDF forces fought In Khan Yunis, Dier al-Balah and Shujaiaya and uncovered terrorist infrastructure in Rimal and Shati in northern Gaza. Elite counter-terror forces bolstered IDF units in Shujaiaya, while a hostage rescue operation resulted in injured IDF soldiers. Hezbollah escalated attacks in the north and tensions rose at the Syrian border on December 7 and December 8.
Israel fights in Khan Yunis in southern Gaza and also in neighborhoods around Gaza city. The son of former IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot was killed in battle in Gaza. Hezbollah attacks in the north killed an Israeli civilian. Hamas fired rockets from near humanitarian safety area in Gaza, the IDF said on December 7.
Israeli forces expanded operations into Khan Yunis in southern Gaza on Tuesday, December 5. IDF Southern Command head Maj. General Yaron Finkelman called December 5 the most intense day of fighting since the beginning of the ground operation. The IDF is also focusing on defeating remaining Hamas units in Jabalya and Shujaiya, adjacent to Gaza City. Israel has detained over 1,200 Hamas operatives in the West Bank since October 7, IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi said.
Bill and Joe are joined again by FDD Senior Fellow and Iran expert Behnam Ben Taleblu to discuss the latest regional updates surrounding Israel’s war against Hamas (and then some).
Bill and Joe are back with an update on Israel’s now-resumed war in Gaza, and they’re joined by FDD Senior Fellow and Hezbollah expert David Daoud. They discuss the latest activity from Hezbollah at Israel’s border with Lebanon, U.S. funding to the Lebanese Armed Forces (or as Bill calls it: “giving crack to a crackhead”), the pieces in play on the Islamic Republic of Iran’s regional chessboard, and more.
Hamas renewed rocket fire on Israel just before 06:00 local time on Friday, December 1, ending a pause in fighting that had held for one week. The Israel Defense Forces said the Iron Dome air defense system had been activated to intercept rockets launched from the Gaza Strip, and Israel responded with airstrikes on Gaza soon after the rocket launch began.
A terror attack in Jerusalem left three dead and a dozen wounded on November 30. A second attack in the West Bank wounded Israeli soldiers. A UAV was intercepted from Lebanon. Israel awaited another group of hostages and bodies returned from Gaza as the ceasefire was extended for a day. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited Israel and met with officials.
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 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
The agreement calls for 50 Israeli hostages, mostly women and children, to be returned in exchange for 150 Palestinian prisoners.
Israel weighed a ceasefire and hostage deal on November 21. Hezbollah attacks increased in northern Israel. In Gaza, the IDF continued to operate in areas next to the center of Gaza City. Israel’s Minister of Defense and Chief of Staff visited troops in the South.