I - On Defense Podcast

For review:

1. Report: IDF Strikes Gathering of Houthi Leadership in Sanaa. 

The strike was first reported by the Houthi-run Al Masirah TV, and then confirmed by Defense Minister Israel Katz and the Israel Defense Forces, though they did not confirm the targets.

2.  IDF Ground Operation on Syrian Military Installation Near Damascus.

According to a Syrian source who spoke to Al Jazeera, the raid involved four helicopters and two fighter...

For review:

1. Australia expels Iran's Ambassador over connection to antisemitic events.

2. Israeli Defense Minister: IDF Troops Remain on Syrian Side of Mt. Hermon.

3. Lebanon's Plan to Disarm Hezbollah Due on 29 Aug.

4. President Donald Trump is signaling fresh doubts about whether Ukrainian President Zelenskyy and Russian President Putin will meet anytime soon. 

“I don’t know that they’ll meet — maybe they will, maybe they ...

For review:

1. Warning Shots Fired Across Korean DMZ.

2. Israel Strikes Houthis; Destroys Presidential Palace in Sanaa. 

3. Israeli planes and tanks pounded the eastern and northern outskirts of Gaza City overnight Saturday and into Sunday- as the IDF increased its troop presence in northern Gaza as part of an offensive aimed at bolstering the army’s control in the area.

4. Report: Possible security deal between Israel and Syria. 

The r...

1.  Iranian Naval Exercise in Gulf of Oman & Indian Ocean.

2. The Houthis in Yemen take responsibility for carrying out today’s ballistic missile and drone attacks on Israel.

3. A Hezbollah weapon depot in southern Lebanon’s Deir Kifa was targeted in an Israeli strike, the IDF says. The military says the site was a violation of the ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon.

4. Israeli Defense Minister: If Hamas Does Not Capitulate- Gaz...

For review:

1. Israeli PM to IDF: Shorten Timeline for Seizing Gaza City.

2. Israel to Call up 60k Reservists to Support Gaza City Campaign

The forces included 12 brigade-level teams, each of which has infantry, armored, artillery, and combat engineering forces, along with combat support. In addition, the Gaza Division’s northern and southern brigades — normally tasked with the border — are set to participate in the offensive, bringin...

1. President Trump Hosts Ukraine President - European Leaders at White House.

Hopes of a breakthrough (in Peace) rose after President Trump said he had spoken by phone with Russian counterpart Putin  -- following a "very good" meeting with the Europeans and the Ukrainian president at the White House.

European Leaders who attended:

• NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte
• Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission
• ...

For review:

1. Hamas negotiators in Cairo this week signaled a willingness to come down from demands they made last month that led to the collapse of hostage talks in Doha. 

Arab mediators passed along the development to Israel, but Jerusalem responded that it is not interested in another partial ceasefire.

2. The IDF on Friday said it destroyed dozens of “terror targets” in its new offensive on Zeitoun on the outskirts of Gaza City. ...

For review:

1. Mossad Chief to Qatar. Mossad Director David Barnea was in Doha on Thursday to meet with the Qatari Prime Minister al-Thani.  The Mossad Director conveyed to the Prime Minister that Israel was not bluffing with its plan to conquer Gaza, and intends to do so unless there’s progress in the talks to free the hostages.

2. IDF CoS Approved Gaza City Take Over Plan.

3. During a meeting in Beirut with Ali Larijani (secretary o...

For review:

1. Australia will recognize a Palestinian state in September at the United Nations General Assembly, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced Monday.

2. Israel - Hamas Hostage & Ceasefire Negotiations Could Restart This Week. 

Israel may send negotiators to Doha this week for meetings on a comprehensive agreement for the release of hostages held by Hamas and a ceasefire in Gaza.

3.  New US CENTCOM Commander. 

Incoming C...

For review:

1. Israeli PM explains why recognition of Palestinian Statehood will not bring peace to region.

2. IDF Plan for Gaza City Complete Next Week.

3. Iranian nuclear scientists have been sent into hiding after dozens were killed by Israel during its 12-day offensive against Tehran’s nuclear and ballistic-missile programs in June.

4. Iran has arrested 20 people it alleges are operatives of Israel’s Mossad spy agency in recent mon...

For review:

1. Kadena AB in Japan to inspect all F-15E Eagles after fighter landed w/o landing gear wheel.

2. Gaza Occupation Plan to Israeli Cabinet Thursday.

According to report, in the plan’s first phase, Israel will issue an evacuation notice to the residents of Gaza City to allow time for the establishment of civilian infrastructure in central Gaza, including hospitals and camps for evacuees. 

Israel would then launch a military o...

For review:

1. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly told ministers this week that he will seek cabinet backing for a plan to fully occupy the Gaza Strip.

2. Netherlands & Germany Committed to Send Patriot Systems to Ukraine.

3. President Trump threatens high tariffs/secondary sanctions on buyer's of Russian oil (that economically support Russian war effort).

4. France Continues Development of Archangel SIGINT Aircraft....

1. Hamas on Saturday said it would not disarm “as long as the occupation exists,” despite announcement from Arab League, urging the terror group to disarm. 

2. The Israel Defense Force defeated Hamas’s Beit Hanoun battalion, the IDF declared on Saturday. The majority of the Hamas gunmen in the Beit Hanoun Battalion were either killed during the fighting or fled.

3. President Trump Announces Submarine Movements- in response to remarks...

For review:

1.Arab League Condemns 7 October Attack; Calls for Hamas to Disarm.

 Arab and Muslim countries, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Egypt, Jordan and Turkey, signed a declaration (New York Declaration) Tuesday condemning for the first time Hamas’s onslaught of October 7, 2023, and calling on the Palestinian terror group to release all the hostages it is holding, disarm and end its rule of Gaza.

2. Givati Infantry Brigade combat...

For review:

1. Ceasefire Between Thailand & Cambodia. After efforts by Malaysia, the United States, and China to bring both sides to the table, the two countries' leaders agreed during talks in Putrajaya, Malaysia to end hostilities, resume direct communications and create a mechanism to implement the ceasefire.

2. Dozens of ministers gathered at a United Nations conference on Monday to urge the international community to wo...

For review:

1. IDF Announces Daily 10-Hour Humanitarian Pauses in Gaza. The  pauses will take place from 10 a.m. till 8 p.m. in areas where the IDF is currently not operating with ground troops.

2. As a result of stalled negotiations- Hamas is taking additional precautionary measures to undermine potential efforts by Israeli special forces or others to rescue the hostages. For example, Hamas has reinstated a policy to kill hostages i...

For review:

1. Iran and E3 Nations (France, Germany, UK) meet in Turkey for nuclear talks.

2. A ballistic missile launched at Israel Friday night by the Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen was intercepted by air defenses, the Israel Defense Forces said.

There were no reports of impacts or injuries in the attack.

3. Israel and Hamas Hostage & Ceasefire Talks Stall: Will Resume Next Week.

4. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said Friday th...

For review:

1. Syria’s interim government has requested Turkey’s support to strengthen its defense capabilities following sectarian violence over the past two weeks.

2.  US envoy to Syria Tom Barrack has urged Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa to recalibrate his policies and embrace a more inclusive approach after a new round of sectarian bloodshed last week, or risk losing international support.

3. Hezbollah has informed Lebanese Parl...