I - On Defense Podcast

For review: (Episode mostly dedicated to the IDF strike that killed the Hezbollah Leader Hassan Nasrallah.) 1. US Foreign Military Sales: - Australia: 100 x Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missiles-Extended Range and related equipment for an estimated cost of $405 million.  - Egypt: 720 x Stinger Missiles for vehicle-based use on existing Avenger systems, and related elements of logistics and progr...

For review: 1. IDF Targets Hezbollah Leader Hassan Nasrallah in Beirut Strike - Status Unknown. - A US official told The Times of Israel that Israel notified the US about the airstrike after planes were already in the air and the operation was in motion. - Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei called an emergency session of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council on Friday. Officials said...

For review: 1. US Congress passes Continuing Resolution (CR) for continued Federal Government funding. The CR now makes its way to the White House, which has indicated that the President will sign the bill well in advance of the 30 Sep deadline. 2.  IDF Prepares for Ground Combat in S. Lebanon. Israel has continued to launch hundreds of strikes against Hezbollah targets and warned that a ground of...

For review: 1. IDF Pounds Hezbollah Rocket & Missiles Sites in S. Lebanon. The IDF said it struck some 1,600 targets across Lebanon on Monday, including many homes it said housed weapons directly threatening Israel. 2. Monday IDF airstrike in Beirut targets Senior Hezbollah Commander. An Israeli airstrike in Beirut on Monday evening targeted Hezbollah commander Ali Karaki, fueling speculation...

For review: 1. IDF Strikes Hezbollah's Radwan Force Leadership. The Israel Defense Forces confirmed Saturday that it had eliminated many of the top commanders of Hezbollah’s elite Radwan Force in the Friday strike in Beirut. 2.  Iraq to Procure Medium-Range Air Defense Systems. Iraq’s Ministry of Defense announced Thursday that it signed a contract with a South Korean company to procure a num...

For review: 1. Israeli Defense Minister tells US Envoy that only "military action" can restore security and return residents to the border region. 2. Pager & Hand-Held Radio Explosions in Lebanon - Iranian Ambassador Wounded. Thousands of Hezbollah group pagers exploded on Tuesday, killing nine people and wounding nearly 3,000. In addition, a fresh wave of explosions ripped across Le...

For review: 1. US Foreign Military Sales: - Japan: KC-46A Refueling aircraft. - Israel: Heavy Duty Tank Trailers.  2. Houthi Rebels Claim Downing of MQ-9 Reaper. The U.S. military said it was aware of the Houthis' claimed downing of a drone over the country's southwestern Dhamar province, without elaborating. 3. Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar congratulates Houthi Rebels for missile attack on...

For review: 1. US Secretary of the Navy Violates Hatch Act. Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro has apologized for comments he made to British reporters in January that the Office of the Special Trial Counsel found violated a US law that prevents federal employees from endorsing political candidates during their official duties. 2. IDF Tunnel Warfare in Khan Younis. According to the Commanding G...

For review: 1. US Carrier Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71) Departs CENTCOM AOR. The Carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71) is heading back home eight months into its deployment, Pentagon officials announced on Thursday. 2. IDF Reports 13 kilometers of Tunnels Destroyed in Rafah. Brigadier General Itzik Cohen, 162d Division Commander said that his combat engineering forces located 203 separate, but int...

For review: 1.  Israel Defense Minister - Hamas as Military Formation is Gone. Hamas is no longer an organized military force in the Gaza Strip after Israel’s 11-month ongoing military campaign, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant told foreign journalists on Monday. 2. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said US will present new formula for Hostage Deal between Israel and Hamas. 3. Hamas Chief Yahya Si...

For review: 1. Israel - Hamas Hostage Deal Remote.  The chances of a phased hostage-ceasefire agreement being achieved on the basis of Israel’s May proposal are “close to zero” and there is “very broad pessimism” among the Israeli negotiators. 2. Germany to Provide 155mm Howitzers to Ukraine. Germany will deliver a batch of 12 x Panzerhaubitze 2000 self-propelled howitzers to Ukraine, the Defense...

For review: 1. Egypt's Army Chief of Staff Visits Gaza Border. Egypt’s army chief of staff Lieutenant General Ahmed Khalifa made a surprise visit on Thursday to the country’s border with the Gaza Strip to inspect the security situation. 2. IDF Infantry Brigade Prepares for Combat in North. The IDF’s Yiftah Brigade carried out a drill over the past week simulating fighting in Lebanon. The dril...

For review: 1. Israel PM - IDF Potentially Off Philadelphi Corridor in Phase 2 but Not Without Security Arrangements. PM Netanyahu: “The conditions that we shall have for a permanent ceasefire must include a situation where the Philadelphi Corridor cannot be perforated.” 2.  Slovakia to Procure Barak MX Air Defense Systems. The Slovak government has approved the purchase 6 x Barak MX air defense s...

For review: 1. US White House reports that new Hostage Deal has Israel mvoing off populated areas of the Philadelphi Corridor. White House National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby: “The deal itself, including the bridging proposal that we started working with… includes the removal of Israeli Defense Forces from all densely populated areas… in phase one… and that includes those areas along...

For review: 1. According to final investigation report, the helicopter crash that killed Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi in May 2024, was caused by bad weather. The main cause of the helicopter crash was the “complex climatic and atmospheric conditions of the region in the spring.”  2. IDF Recovers Bodies of Six Hostages Murdered by Hamas. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu blamed Hamas for the ong...

For review. 1. USAID Report on Gaza Pier- available at USNI News. 2. Israeli Security Cabinet Supports Remaining on Philadelphi Corridor. Israel's security cabinet voted Thursday to back Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s position in favor of maintaining IDF presence along the Gaza-Egypt border as part of any potential ceasefire and hostage release deal. 3. Qatar & Turkey Joint Air Force...

For review: 1. Among Hostage Negotiations, Israel PM faces tough decisions on status of Philadelphi Corridor. 2.  IDF Says 80% Tunnels Destroyed on Philadelphi Corridor - Rafah Brigade Collapsed. 3. Israel & Hamas likely to agree to humanitarian truce for child polio vaccinations. Unnamed Egyptian sources as expecting a truce to kick off within days, lasting through daylight hours for 3-5 days...

For review. 1. Hezbollah attacks Northern Israel with missiles and drones in retaliation for strike on senior commander. 2. US SEC DEF:  2 x US Carriers to Remain in CENTCOM AOR. With the USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) and the USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71), there will now be 2 x aircraft carriers and their warships available for US Central Command. 3. US Israel - Hamas Hostage Negotiations. A US o...

For review: 1.  Israel & Hamas Negotiations Continue - No Deal Yet. Philadelphi Corridor still a sticking point.  Egypt-based Alghad TV reported Saturday, citing citing an unnamed informed source, that Israel had notified Cairo it was prepared to withdraw under a deal from five security points out of eight discussed along the Philadelphi Corridor. There was no other confirmation of the report....

For review: 1. US Carrier Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) Arrives in the Middle East according US Central Command. The Lincoln is set to relieve USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71), which has been operating in the Middle East since June. 2. IDF Recovers Bodies of Six Hostage in Khan Younis. 3. Israel - Hamas Negotiations losing momentum. 4. Ukraine Kursk operation strengthens hand for potential Peace Talks....

For review: 1.  Israel Accepts US "Bridging Proposal" in Negotiations. Statement from Israeli Prime Minister's Office: “The Prime Minister reiterated Israel’s commitment to the current American proposal on the release of our hostages, which takes into account Israel’s security needs, which he strongly insists on." 2. Ukraine Destroys Key Bridges in Kursk Region. This weekend, U...

For review: 1. US Carrier (USS Abraham Lincoln CVN-72) & Guided-Missile Submarine (USS Georgia SSGN-728) Moving Toward CENTCOM AOR. 2.  Israel - Hamas Negotiation Update. The US “bridging proposal” does not provide for an ongoing Israeli presence along the Gaza-Egypt border or for a mechanism in central Gaza to prevent the return of armed Hamas forces to the Strip’s north. 3. Bulgaria to procu...

For review: 1. US President: Significant Progress on Negotiations.  Negotiations between Israel and Hamas were the most constructive that mediators had seen in months, a senior Biden administration official told reporters on Friday. 2. IDF Combat Engineers have destroyed over 50 tunnels along the Philadelphi Corridor. The IDF did not detail how many of the tunnels crossed into Egypt. 3. Israeli Ai...

For review: 1. President Biden hopeful that successful negotiations between Israel & Hamas will stave off Iran retaliatory strike. President Biden was asked by reporters if he expected Iran to hold off on a retaliatory strike if a deal is reached. “That’s my expectation,” the President replied. 2. IDF 98th Division Commander Discusses Gaza Operations, including mission where the IDF was "...

For review: 1. Forbes Report: Ukraine Combat Brigades Digging In at Kursk.  There’s growing evidence that some or all of the 5 x Ukraine Combat Brigades- have plans to stay. (The Russians are digging in, too.) 2.  Hamas Supports Negotiations But Will Not Send Delegation to Upcoming Talks. It (Hamas) said it had asked mediators to present a plan based upon past negotiations, instead of engaging in...