I - On Defense Podcast

For review: 1. Israeli Prime Minister (Benjamin Netanyahu): Once the IDF completes its intense fighting in Rafah, “we will face north.”  2. IDF locate and raid Hamas headquarters and training complexes in Rafah- find weapon depots, tunnel shafts, and intelligence materials.  3. Israel Defense Minister (Yoav Gallant)  to Washington.  The Defense Minister meet with US Secretary of State Antony Blink...

For review: 1. US Gaza Pier Operational Again. The pier was reattached to Gaza’s shoreline on 19 June 2024. 2. France signals support for a potential Lebanese Armed Forces security mission on its' southern border. 3. US re-prioritizes deliveries of Patriot & NASAMs air defense interceptors. Ukraine moves to front of line. Taiwan and Israel not affected. Countries affected by delay not men...

For review: 1. In response to comments by NATO Secretary Jens Stoltenberg (concerning China's support for Russia), Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian urges NATO "to do something practical for the political settlement of the crisis (Ukraine-Russia conflict). " 2. Netherlands Prime Minister (Mark Rutte) expected to become the next NATO Secretary General in October 2024, repla...

For review: 1. Update: Court rules that Israeli Military Companies can attend Eurosatory 2024 Exhibition in Paris. 2.  IDF Says Half of Rafah Brigade Dismantled. Of the four battalions in Hamas’s Rafah Brigade, two — Yabna (South) and East Rafah — are considered to be almost completely dismantled, while the capabilities of the other two — Shaboura (North) and Tel Sultan (West) — are somewhat degra...

For review: 1.  Despite a daily humanitarian pause- IDF Will Continue Rafah Fight. IDF: The pause “for humanitarian purposes will take place from 8:00 am (0500 GMT) until 7:00 pm (1600 GMT) every day until further notice along the road that leads from the Kerem Shalom crossing to the Salah al-Din road and then northwards.”  2. Israel and Hezbollah continue cross-border strikes, leading to fears of...

For review: 1.  US Gaza Pier Dismantled Due to Weather. US CENTCOM Statement: "After the period of expected high seas, the pier will be rapidly re-anchored to the coast of Gaza and resume delivering humanitarian aid to Gaza."  2. Washington Post Report: Since 07 October 2023, US has assisted Israel with intelligence via drone footage, satellite imagery, communications intercepts, and dat...

For review: 1. Houthi forces strike cargo ship with two anti-ship cruise missiles in Gulf of Aden. US CENTCOM statement: “Both missiles struck MV Verbena , a Palauan-flagged, Ukrainian-owned, Polish-operated bulk cargo carrier." 2.  Hezbollah Rocket Assault in Response to IDF Targeted Strike on high-level commander. 3. Report from Saudi Arabian news outlets (Al-Arabiya and Al-Hadath):  Senior...

For review: 1. Hamas Provides "Amendments" to Ceasefire Proposal.  A Hamas spokesman said the response included “amendments that confirm the ceasefire, withdrawal, reconstruction and [hostage] exchange.” 2. Ukrainian Air Force Aviation Chief: Ukraine will station a "certain number" of F-16s outside Ukraine to prevent Russia from targeting them. These F-16s are separate from tho...

For review: 1. IDF Operation Arnon Hostage Rescue Details. 2. UN Security Council Adopts US Sponsored - Israel - Hamas Ceasefire Proposal. 14 in Favor with 1 x Abstain (Russia). 3. Israeli Roem/Sigma Automatic 155mm Mobile Howitzer ready for fielding. 4. Around 90 Countries Will Attend Swiss Hosted Ukraine Peace Summit, (15-16 June). Swiss officials say the conference aims to set a course toward “...

For review: 1. US Gaza Pier Back in Operation. 2. IDF Rescues 4 Hostages (Alive) from Nuseirat, in Central Gaza. 3. Latest US Security Assistance to Ukraine is Worth $225 Million. Includes air defense interceptors; artillery systems and munitions; armored vehicles; and anti-tank weapons. 4. France to Provide Mirage 2000-5 Warplanes to Ukraine. In addition, France will begin training pilots, with c...

For review: 1. Follow-up. More than 70 Israeli defense firms uninvited to Eurosatory Defense Expedition in Paris. Some defense firm executives shrug-off decision as unpleasant but note little effect on the bottom line. 2.   IDF Destroys 2k Tunnel Adjacent to Rafah Border Crossing. 3. Israel - Hamas hostage negotiations continue without sign of breakthrough. 4. IDF to Build a third F-35 Squadron. ...

For review: 1. IDF Prepares for Operations on Northern Border.  IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi : “We are approaching the point where a decision will have to be made, and the IDF is prepared and very ready for this decision." 2.   President Biden Will Not Attend Ukraine Peace Summit in Switzerland. Vice President Kamala Harris and National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan will represen...

For review: 1. Latest on Israel - Hamas Hostage Release Deal. 2. Israeli Defense companies uninvited to the 2024 Eurosatory Defense Show in Paris, France. More than 70 Israeli companies had been scheduled to participate  3. Ukraine President surprise appearance at Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore. Seeks the support of Asian governments and attendance at the Ukraine Peace Summit in Switzerland late...

For review: 1. US-UK Strikes Houthi Rebels with airstrikes. 2.  IDF Controls Philadelphi Corridor. Along the corridor, IDF said it has located so far some 20 tunnels that cross into Egypt.  3. IDF finish operations in Northern Gaza city of Jabalya. In addition to destroying 12 kilometers of tunnels, the IDF finds the remains of seven hostages taken and killed by Hamas on 7 October. 4. Israel consi...

For Review: 1.  US Gaza Pier Needs Repair.  The pier will be pulled from the beach and sent to the southern Israeli city of Ashdod, where U.S. Central Command will repair it. 2. IDF continues investigation into the deadly fire that occurred after a strike on two Hamas commanders in Rafah. IDF suspects that munitions or some other combustible substance caused a secondary explosion and a fire to spr...

For review: 1.  Israel - Egypt Cross Border Shooting results in death of Egyptian Soldier.   Spokesperson for Egypt’s military said it was carrying out an investigation “into the shooting incident in the border area in Rafah, which led to the martyrdom of one of the [security] personnel.” 2. In Rafah, IDF carries out strike that kills two Senior Hamas Commanders. As a result, Israel believes shrap...

For review: 1.  US Gaza Pier Vessels Disconnect in Stormy Seas.  Four vessels broke free from moorings, and efforts to recover the vessels were underway with assistance from the Israeli Navy. 2. IDF continues Rafah Operation despite ruling from International Criminal Court. Israeli officials said they consider the ICJ order to allow room for some operations in Rafah. 3. US Department of Defense Re...

For review: 1. Three US Soldiers Sustain Non-Combat Injuries during Gaza Pier Operations. 2. Iran claims that Turkey's assistance (via infrared capable drone) did not aid in finding Iranian President's helicopter wreckage site.  Story calls into question the capabilities of Iranian drones and unmanned aircraft systems. 3. Hezbollah fires 30 munitions into Northern Israel (from Lebanon)....

For review: 1. Follow-up: Iranian President (Ebrahim Raisi) dies in helicopter crash in bad weather and mountainous terrain. Iran Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei has named the first vice president, Mohammad Mokhber, as interim President. The election for a successor will be held 28 June.  2. IDF Controls Half of Philadelphi Corridor.  The IDF has estimated that some 950,000 Palestinians had evac...

For Review: 1.  Iranian President's (Ebrahim Raisi) Helicopter Crashes in Mountainous Region.  Condition of passengers unknown. Heavy fog and bad weather challenge rescue efforts. 2. Israeli Prime Minister (Benjamin Netanyahu) rejects normalization with Saudi Arabia at the cost of a two-state solution- (with Hamas in control- marginalized or not). 3. US Forces Begin Departing Niger. All US Fo...

For review: 1. US Gaza Pier ready for operation. Goal is for 500 tons of humanitarian assistance daily via the pier. 2. IDF airstrike in southern Lebanon potentially reveals that Hezbollah has Iranian-made Sayyad-2 surface-to-air missiles.  3.  Report: Hezbollah has the capability to arm drones with 2 x S-5 rockets.  The S-5 is a Soviet-era 57-mm unguided air-to-surface rocket equipped with a high...

For review: 1. IDF locating and destroying tunnels in Rafah operation. Israel Defense Minister (Yoav Gallant): "many tunnels have already been destroyed and many more will be destroyed soon."  2. Strange Story: US Secretary of State (Antony Blinken) visits Kyiv weeks after Washington approved a $61 billion package of aid for the country- and plays guitar.  3. Finnish Leaders: No Appetite...

For review: 1. US - built Gaza Pier ready in one or two days. US Pentagon Deputy Press Secretary (Sabrina Singh): "Improved sea conditions will allow the U.S. Army to anchor a causeway onto the beach this week." 2.  IDF Moves Further into Rafah. Israel's relations with Egypt strained. 3. Ukrainian Commander of Kharkiv Region Removed.  Offensive in Kharkiv Region has given Russian fo...

For review: 1. Report: Hamas leader (Yahya Sinwar) is not hiding in Rafah, but possibly in the Khan Younis area- some five miles away. 2. Latest US Security Assistance Package to Ukraine is Worth $400 million. It includes air defense munitions, artillery ammunition, and anti-tank weapons among other materiel. 3. Apparently referencing the AP report about US M1 Tanks pulled from frontline duty (due...

For review: 1. US Pauses Delivery of 2000lb & 500lb Bombs to IDF. US President (Joe Biden): (if Israel goes into Rafah), “we’re not going to supply the weapons and artillery shells used.” 2.  Israel Prime Minister (Benjamin Netanyahu) reaction to US weapon pause:  “We are determined and we are united to defeat our enemy and those who seek to destroy us… If we need to, we will fight with our fi...