I - On Defense Podcast

For review: 1. Ukraine Sends 5 x Combat Brigades into Russia's Kursk Oblast.   Russia declared a “federal-level” emergency in the region and sent reinforcements there on Friday.  Russia’s Defense Ministry said reinforcements were on their way to Kursk to counter Ukraine’s raid. 2. Ukrainian First Person View Drone takes down Russian MI-28 Havok Attack Helicopter.  “The future use of helicopte...

For review: 1. Secretary of National Security Sergei Shoigu, delivers Russian President Putin's message of restraint during his visit to Tehran on Monday. 2.  Organization of Islamic Cooperation Meets in Saudi Arabia.  Iranian and Palestinian officials called for Wednesday’s gathering of the 57-member OIC in the Saudi coastal city of Jeddah, saying the body needed to respond to the killing of...

For review: 1. US Forces in Iraq Struck in Rocket Attack. Several US personnel were injured in a suspected rocket attack at a military base in Iraq, Defense officials said Monday.  2. Russian National Security Council Secretary Shoigu Visits Tehran. Russian state news agencies reported that Sergei Shoigu was scheduled to meet with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian; the secretary of the Supreme N...

For review: 1. Iran State TV reports that a short-range projectile was behind the killing of Hamas political chief Ismail Haniyeh- and not an explosive device planted in the building beforehand (as previously reported by other media). The televised statement says a rocket with a seven-kilogram warhead was used to target the residence of Haniyeh in the capital Tehran on Wednesday, adding it caused...

For review: 1. US to exit final installation (Air Base 201) in Niger next week. Air Base 201 was the final US military site in the West African country after forces exited Air Base 101 in July. The US spent years building it to launch drone operations and has used its military presence to train Nigerien forces as well. 2. Getting Ready for Iran: US Increasing Presence in CENTCOM AOR.  The US bolst...

For review: 1. Iran Supreme Leader Orders Direct Strike on Israel. Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has ordered a direct strike on Israel for the killing of Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh. Israel has not commented on the incident. 2.  IDF Tough Response to Hezbollah. The IDF confirms that top Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr was killed in an Israeli airstrike in the Lebanese capital of Beirut. Shukr...

For review: 1. Diplomats Work to De-escalate Israeli Response to Druze Village Rocket Attack. Israeli officials suggested that the response would be serious but not lead to an all-out conflagration (conflagration = an extensive fire which destroys a great deal of land or property). 2. Spain to provide another Hawk Air Defense System to Ukraine.  Spain will send another Hawk air defense system to U...

1. Boeing to Purchase Spirit AeroSystems - Shaking Up US Army FLRAA Program. Bell (winner of the FLRAA competition), intends to step away from Spirit AeroSystem as the fuselage provider for the Future Long-Range Assault Aircraft after the Boeing acquisition is finalized. 2. Israel PM: Hezbollah Will Pay Heavy Price for Druze Village Rocket Attack.  Following the deadly strike, PM Netanyahu spoke t...

For review: 1. Israel - Saudi Arabia Normalization Still Possible.  A normalization agreement between Israel and Saudi Arabia is still possible before the US presidential election, a top Israeli official told reporters Friday, adding that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu discussed the matter with US President Joe Biden during their Thursday meeting at the White House. 2. Germany to receive the Ar...

For review: 1. Gaza Post-War Plan Discussions in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.  Officials from Israel, the United States and the United Arab Emirates reportedly held a secret meeting in Abu Dhabi last week to discuss plans for a postwar Gaza. 2. From Farnborough Air Show: Israel Aerospace Industries announces air-to-surface missile named Wind Demon. The missile can be launched from various aeri...

For review: 1. Royal Australian Navy Destroyer Employs Naval Strike Missile at RIMPAC 2024. Royal Australian Navy destroyer HMAS Sydney (DDG-42) successfully fired a Naval Strike Missile and sank former amphibious assault ship USS Tarawa (LHA-1) in the waters off Hawaii during the biennial Rim of the Pacific 2024 exercise. 2. China & Philippines open a direct line of communication between resp...

For review: 1. Israeli Response: IAF F-35s and F-15s Strike Houthi Port Facilities in Yemen. At least a dozen IAF aircraft, including F-35 stealth fighter jets, F-15 fighters, reconnaissance aircraft and refueling planes were involved in the attack — the latter of which was due to the target being some 1,800 kilometers (1,100 miles) from Israel. 2.  Estonia Sends Mistral Air Defense Systems to Ukr...

For review: 1. Last Story on US-built Gaza Pier (I think). 2. Houthi-launched explosive drone hits Tel Aviv.  The drone, identified by the IDF as an Iranian-made Samad-3, had been modified to have an extended range, had flown to the country for several hours at a low altitude. 3. Lebanon files complaint with the UN over GPS jammed Southern Lebanon. GPS jamming has taken a toll on Lebanese civil av...

For review: 1. IDF monitored Hamas' Khan Yunis Brigade Commander's residence for weeks before airstrike. Senior Hamas Commander was reported to have been at the compound for significant periods in recent months,  2. Israel is a Real-Time Proving Ground for Layered Air Defense- Short, Medium, & Long-range systems. 3. US & Armenia Conduct Eagle Partner 24 Military Exercise (in Arme...

For review: 1. US President and Secretary of Defense Statements on Former President Donald Trump assassination attempt. 2. Israeli Prime Minister (Benjamin Netanyahu) press conference at IDF Headquarters in Tel Aviv. Prime Minister discusses strike on Senior Hamas Commander and reasons for the Rafah operation. 3. IDF Chief of Staff Lt. General Herzi Halevi has no plans to resign.   Lt. General Her...

For review: 1. Israel PM (Benjamin Netanyahu) Denies IDF Withdrawal from Philadelphi Corridor as part of Hostage Negotiations. Israeli PM statement:  “The prime minister insists that Israel remain in the Philadelphi Corridor.”  2.  NATO to Open Liasson Office in Jordan. 3.  Northrup Grumman Ammo Co-Production in Ukraine.  Northrup Grumman Spokesperson: “As part of the co-production agreement North...

For review: 1. Hezbollah to cross-border Stop Attacks with Israel-Hamas Ceasefire.  Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah said Wednesday his Lebanese terror group would accept Palestinian ally Hamas’s decision on Gaza hostage negotiations and would stop cross-border attacks on Israel if a ceasefire were reached. 2. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken at the NATO Summit in Washington D.C:  The long-awa...

1. Pitch Black Exercise in Australia will see 20 nations participating. Of these, 16 are contributing combat jets to the exercise, with more than 140 aircraft and over 4,000 personnel. The three-week exercise will run 12 July - 02 August 2024.   2. US Navy vessel rundown in the Indian Ocean and Mediterranean Sea.  3. IDF Hamas tunnel assessment in Gaza Strip.   After nine months of war, much of Ha...

For review:  1. Reformist candidate (Masoud Pezeshkian) wins Iranian Presidential election. President-elect Pezeshkian advocates for improved ties with the West, "except for Israel." 2. IDF Strikes Key Figure in Hezbollah Air Defense Unit. Prominent Hezbollah member was killed by an IDF drone strike in Northeastern Lebanon, about 100 kilometers from the Israeli border.  3. Latest on F-16...

For review: 1. Israel - Hamas Negotiations Resume. Israel said the Friday talks were only an initial meeting, and their delegation will return to Doha next week to resume talks. 2. Report from Reuters: Masoud Pezeshkian leads rivals in Iran Presidential race. Masoud Pezeshkian is reported to be moderate and has pledged to open Iran to the world and deliver freedoms its people have yearned for. 3.H...

For review: 1. IDF Strikes Senior Hezbollah Commander in Southern Lebanon.  2. Lebanon's Foreign Minister (Abdullah Bou Habib) statement to Israel: "We are interested in peace, we do not want war.” Message to Israeli Foreign Minister (Israel Katz) was delivered via Azeri Foreign Minister (Jeyhun Bayramov).  Bayramov said that the Lebanese had chosen him to deliver the message because the...

For review: 1. US Military raises security alert level of bases in European Command.   2. Israeli Defense Minister (Yoav Gallant) visits Rafah.  Defense Minister Gallant vowed the IDF will “continue and push until we reach a situation where we choke [Hamas’s] windpipe, and do not allow it to rebuild its strength. This is the goal of this operation.” 3. IDF locates and destroys the largest undergro...

For review: 1.  Iran UN Mission Threatens "Obliterating War" if IDF Offensive in Lebanon. 2. IDF has 2 x Divisions and 1 x Mountain Brigade on Northern Border. These units are back-up by two more Divisions. 3. Finland to Procure Border Surveillance Aircraft (2). Finland has selected Sierra Nevada Corporation’s (SNC) Bombardier Challenger 650 (with sensor package), for its border surveill...

For review: 1. NATO Statement: Outgoing Netherlands Prime Minister set to become the new NATO Secretary General on 01 October 2024. The position is a four year term, which can be extended repeatedly. 2. Pentagon Inspector General (IG), in collaboration with US Agency for International Development (USAID), will investigate the effectiveness of the Gaza pier mission in delivering humanitarian aid. 3...

For review: 1. USNI  posts the Memorandum of Understanding (11 June 2024), between the USMC & US Navy concerning amphibious warship readiness terms.  2. US has fully cleared equipment from Base 101 in Niger. Work on Base 201 continues in order to meet the 15 September 2024 departure date of US Forces agreed upon by the US & Niger.  3. US Secretary of Defense (Lloyd Austin) has Call with Ru...