I - On Defense Podcast

Short episode- For review: 1.  Bodies of Four Hostages Returned to Israel include Shiri, Ariel & Kfir Bibas. 2. President Trump & Leader of Ukraine Have War of Words. President Trump: “Think of it, a modestly successful comedian, Volodymyr Zelensky, talked the United States of America into spending $350 Billion Dollars, to go into a War that couldn’t be won, that never had to start, but a...

For review: 1. Hamas to release six Israeli Hostages on Saturday.   2.  IDF Strikes Weapon Sites in Syria. The strikes targeted Syrian tanks used to store weapons, according to the IDF. 3. IRGC General Threatens Israel with Third Missile Attack. “The True Promise 3 will be carried out in appropriate time,” said deputy commander-in-chief of the IRGC Brigadier General Ali Fadavi. 4. US & Russia...

For review: 1. : IDF will Remain on 5 Strategic Hills in S. Lebanon. The US authorized the IDF to remain in the five points, though it was not clear how long troops would stay there. 2. Lebanon extend ban on flights from Iran. US advised Lebanon that Israel may shoot Iranian planes down. Israel asserts that Tehran was using civilian aircraft to smuggle cash to Beirut to arm the Iran-backed terror...

For review: 1. Three Israeli Hostages Released after 498 Days in Captivity. In exchange for the three Hostages, Israel released 369 Palestinian detainees and security prisoners, including 36 terrorists serving life sentences for murder.   2. Per Washington Post report- President Donald Trump and PM Benjamin Netanyahu discussed US support for a potential Israeli attack on Iranian nuclear sites duri...

For review: 1. Israel to Hamas - Ceasefire Continues if 3 Hostages Released Saturday. 2. IDF conducts airstrikes in Lebanon, targeting Hezbollah weapon stores, launchers, and facilities. 3. Iran to unveil and new indigenous, cruise missile in March- with a reported range of 2000 kilometers.  Quote from IRGC Rear Admiral Tangsiri: “We now have missiles that can be launched from the depths of the Ir...

For review: 1. US President Trump suggests that Israel end the ceasefire agreement with Hamas if all remaining Hostages are not freed by Saturday. 2.  Israel PM Warns Resumption of "Intense Fighting" in Gaza if Hostages Not Released on Saturday. In preparation, the IDF announced that it is “extensively” bolstering its forces in the Southern Command, and approving battle plans for the Gaz...

For review: 1.  IDF Withdraws from Netzarim Corridor After 5th Hostage Release Cycle. According to the ceasefire deal, Israeli forces had to withdraw after the fifth swap was carried out. 2. US President Donald Trump comments on the poor state of appearance of the three Israeli Hostages released on Saturday. President Trump: “They are in really bad shape, they have been treated brutally, horribly....

For review: 1.  IDF Warplanes Strike Hezbollah Weapon Depots in Lebanon. 2. Three Israeli Hostages set for release on Saturday morning from Gaza Strip. Israel will release 183 Palestinian prisoners in return. 3. In a speech from Tehran, the Iranian Supreme Leader vows Iran will respond to any threat or violation of the country's security by the US. 4. Iran Unveils IRGC Navy Drone Carrier. Acc...

For review: 1.  President Trump's Idea Relocates Palestinians During Gaza Reconstruction. Asked how many Gazans he intended to relocate, the President said, “All of them.” Asked to clarify whether the White House was shifting away from President Trump’s talk of “permanent” to “temporary” relocation, the WH Press Secretary responded, “The President has made it clear that they need to be tempor...

For review: 1. Israeli PM Visits Washington D.C. 2. Major General Eyal Zamir to be the new Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff. Major General Zamir’s background in the armored corps is unique for a Israeli Chief of Staff.  3. New Iranian Ballistic Missile (Etemad) can reach Israel with a 1,700 kilometer range. 4. Saudi Arabia Increases Defense Spending in 2025. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has all...

For review: 1. From DoD Release: US AFRICOM conducts airstrikes against ISIS operatives in the Golis Mountains of Somalia. 2. Three Israeli Hostages Released After 484 Days of Hamas Captivity. 3. Iran Threatens War in Region if Nuclear Sites Attacked. 4. US Wants Ukraine Presidential Elections Possibly This Year.  Keith Kellogg, President Donald Trump's special envoy for Ukraine and Russia, t...

For review: 1. US Army Black Hawk Collides with Passenger Jet Near Reagan National Airport. The two aircraft crashed as the American Airlines flight from Wichita, Kansas, with 64 people aboard, was approaching the runway flying over the Potomac River. The Black Hawk was on a training flight from Davison Army Airfield at Fort Belvoir.  There were no survivors found.  2. Eight Hostages released from...

For review: 1. Three Israeli and Five Thai Hostages Set for Release on Thursday. In exchange for the three hostages to be freed on Thursday, Israel will free 110 Palestinian security prisoners. 2. In Syria, Ahmed al-Sharaa is appointed President to lead the transitional phase.  After cancelling the country's constitution passed in 2012 under the Assad regime, Mr. al-Sharaa will be authorized...

1. After broken agreement & negotiations, Hamas to Release Three Hostages on Thursday- Gazans can begin moving north tomorrow.  Israeli PM Netanyahu’s office says Israel reached an agreement with Hamas after “strong and determined negotiations,” and reiterates that it will “not tolerate any violation of the agreement.” 2. US President Trump to end delivery hold on 2,000 pound bombs to Israel....

For review:. 1. Pete Hegseth Confirmed as US SECDEF. 2. Second Set of Israeli Hostages Released - Four Female IDF Soldiers Free After 477 Days in Captivity. 3. IDF to continue presence in S. Lebanon. A ceasefire signed in late November, stipulated that Israeli forces should withdraw as Hezbollah's weapons and fighters are removed from the south and the Lebanese army deploys. The deal set a 60...

For review: 1. IDF Chief of Staff to Resign in March.  Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi and the head of the IDF Southern Command (Major General Yaron Finkelman) said they would both be resigning over their roles in the failures that led to the Hamas 07 October onslaught. 2. Iranian Vice President for Strategic Affairs (Mohammad Zarif) discusses conflict with Israel while...

For review: 1.  Israel Releases 90 Palestinian Prisoners As Part of Ceasefire Deal. 2. Donald Trump is sworn in as the 47th American president at the US Capitol in Washington (2d Term). 3. Portrait of former Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff (General Mark Milley) taken down, hours after President Trump's swearing in. Whereabouts unknown. 4. UK and Ukraine Sign 100-Year Partnership Agreement....

For review: 1. Hostage Deal Begins - Three Hostages Released After 471 Days of Captivity in Gaza. The first three hostages freed under the deal were civilians Romi Gonen, 24, Emily Damari, 28, and Doron Steinbrecher, 31. Romi Gonen was abducted from the Supernova music festival, while Emily Damari and Doron Steinbrecher were taken from their homes in Kibbutz Kfar Aza. 2. Syrian leader (Ahmed Al-Sh...

For review: 1.  Israel Cabinet to Vote on Hostage & Ceasefire Deal - Set to Begin on Sunday. The deal is currently scheduled to take effect on Sunday at 12:15 p.m. Unconfirmed reports in Hebrew media said the release of the first three female hostages was expected at 4 p.m. that day.  2. Palestinian Authority President (Mahmoud Abbas) said on Friday that the PA is ready to assume “full respons...

For review: 1. Israel - Hamas Ceasefire & Hostage Talks Continue. Key mediator Qatar it had presented both parties with a “final” draft of the agreement. Israel’s Channel 12 news reported Monday that Jerusalem considered it broadly acceptable. CNN cited an Egyptian official as saying the mediating countries — Qatar, Egypt, and the United States — had not yet received a response from Hamas. 2....

For review: 1. Israel Strikes Targets Amid Hezbollah Threat. Israel says that before the strikes, it made the threats known to an international mechanism set up as part of the ongoing ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, but “the threats weren’t addressed.” Israel struck several Hezbollah targets, including a rocket launcher, an unspecified military site, and “routes along the Syria-Lebanon bor...

For review: 1. Israel Responds to Houthi Drone & Missile Attacks - IDF Strikes Houthi Coastal Ports and Sanaa Powerplant. The Israel Defense Forces said over 20 IAF aircraft — including fighter jets, refuelers and spy planes — participated in the Israeli strikes. 2. Iranian Media: Military to Field 1000 Strategic Drones. Reportedly the unmanned aerial vehicles to be delivered include Ababil-4...

For review: 1. Lebanon's Lawmakers Elect New President.  Lebanon’s lawmakers elected on Thursday army chief Joseph Aoun as president on Thursday. Under multi-confessional Lebanon’s power-sharing system, the president must be a Maronite Christian, as do military chiefs. 2. Iran's former top General Officer in Syria conducts Q & A session at Tehran mosque. Brigadier General Behrouz Esb...

For review: 1. Iran Conducts Air Defense Drills near Nuclear Site. Iran’s military has begun drills focusing on air defenses near the Natanz nuclear enrichment plant in the center of the country as part of exercises planned nationwide, state media reported on Tuesday.  2. US State Department moves $95 million of assistance designated for Egypt and $7.5 million dollars of assistance designated for...

For review: 1.  Iran: Future Attacks by Israel Could Lead to Full War. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi: “We are fully prepared for the possibility of further Israeli attacks. I hope Israel will refrain from taking such reckless action, as it could lead to a large-scale war.” 2. IDF May Extend 30 Days in S. Lebanon Based On Delayed LAF Deployment. The IDF was gearing up for the possibility...