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.
A network of Iraqi militias backed by Iran have claimed responsibility for attacking Israeli territory.
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.
Iran has described Razi Mousavi as “a veteran advisor of Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps” and a one of “the companions of the assassinated general Qassem Soleimani.”
The U.S. hit three Hezbollah Brigades facilities after three U.S. soldiers were wounded, including one critically, in a drone strike at a U.S. airbase in Erbil. the handful of U.S. strikes has not deterred the militias or their Iranian masters.
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.
The U.S. announces the formation of Operation Prosperity Guardian as Houthi attacks have ground international shipping transiting the Red Sea through the Suez Canal to a halt as multiple shippers are now bypassing the dangerous waterway. It is unclear if the operation will be offensive or defensive in nature.
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.
Bill is back with FDD Senior Fellow and Iran expert Behnam Ben Taleblu (now also a Generation Jihad co-host, you heard it here first) to unpack and contextualize this week’s headlines stemming from the Middle East.
They discuss the politics of diplomacy and analyze recent trips and statements made by key players like Secretary of State Antony Blinken, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, and President Biden himself; whether U.S. support for Israel is at a crossroads, and what message this could send to U.S. partners and allies (and enemies) around the world; an apparent U.S. intelligence leak estimating that 45% of Israeli munition used in Gaza has not been precision-guided; and more.
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.
IDF infantry faces tough battles in Gaza’s Shujaiya neighborhood. In Khan Yunis, terrorists fired at IDF soldiers from a school. Hezbollah launched rockets at Rosh HaNikra in Israel’s nort,h and Israeli President Isaac Hezog said the Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen have crossed a “red line” in attacks on ships.
The IDF said on Tuesday, December 12 that it continued to locate weapons caches and terrorist infrastructure in Gaza. The IDF also struck launching positions that Hamas has used to fire rockets. Rocket fire from Gaza has been greatly reduced in recent weeks.
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.
Three members of Lebanese Hezbollah, including a pro-Assad fighter have been killed by a reported Israeli airstrike in southern Syria. One of the Hezbollah members killed is Hassan Ali Daqduq, son of infamous Hebzollah commander Ali Musa Daqduq.
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.
Israel eliminated Hamas battalion commanders and targeted Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar’s home in Gaza. A Houthi missile was fired at Eilat and Israel’s Defense Minister discussed the importance of preventing Hezbollah threats to Israeli communities in the north. In the West Bank a raid uncovered tunnel shafts in Jenin.
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).
The attack is the latest by the Houthis against international shipping and U.S. Navy warships. The U.S. military has yet to respond to repeated attacks on U.S. warships and commercial vessels.
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.