The Israel Defense Forces called for the evacuation of around 100,000 civilians in eastern Rafah to a designated humanitarian zone near Khan Younis. These efforts to keep civilians safe from possible fighting occur as Israel has reiterated a months-long vow to launch an operation into Rafah where an estimated four Hamas battalions remain. The post IDF asks Gazans to evacuate eastern Rafah ahead of offensive first appeared on FDD's Long War Journal ..read more

Hamas fired ten projectiles at Kerem Shalom in Israel near the Egyptian border on May 5. Hamas took credit for the attack and claimed it targeted IDF troops. In addition, Hezbollah fired dozens of projectiles at communities in northern Israel. Israel Defense Minister Yoav Gallant also visited Gaza on May 5, where he vowed that Israel would continue with its planned Rafah operation. The post Israel faces rocket fire on two fronts first appeared on FDD's Long War Journal ..read more

Zalmay Khalilzad, the former Special Repressive for Afghanistan Reconciliation and the key architect of the Doha Agreement, continues to maintain that the Taliban "dismantled" Al Qaeda, despite evidence to the contrary from the UN and CENTCOM. The post Architect of Doha agreement wrongly claims: ‘Al Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent has been dismantled’ first appeared on FDD's Long War Journal ..read more

Israeli Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant spoke with US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin on the evening of May 1. Israel’s Chief of Staff went to northern Israel to meet commanders on the northern front facing Hezbollah. Israel announced several wartime promotions for commanders amid ongoing political discussions surrounding the Rafah offensive. The post Israel faces multi-front challenges amid internal discussions on war first appeared on FDD's Long War Journal ..read more

Bill is joined again by his FDD colleague and show regular David Daoud to unpack issues raised in David’s latest piece for The Wall Street Journal, “Hezbollah Stumbles Into a War of Attrition.” They also catch up on adjacent matters concerning Israel’s ground war in Gaza and the dumpster fire engulfing American "institutions of higher education.” The post Generation Jihad Ep. 164 — Hezbollah Hold ‘Em first appeared on FDD's Long War Journal ..read more

Escalating attacks by Iranian-backed Houthi on ships highlights the challenges in deterring their aggression and the need to safeguard maritime security in the Red Sea.  The post Houthis attack four ships and threaten to expand operations against U.S. forces first appeared on FDD's Long War Journal ..read more

Saraya al-Ashtar, an Iranian proxy in Bahrain, claims it has now joined the fighting against Israel. This claim is unconfirmed. The post Bahraini militia claims drone attack on Israel first appeared on FDD's Long War Journal ..read more

Israel Defense Forces recruitment data for March and April 2024 showed high levels of men and women seeking enlistment to combat roles. Women sought out positions in the artillery and border protection units in numbers almost double those sought and expected. Men also sought recruitment to a variety of infantry units at higher than expected numbers, continuing a trend that began after the Hamas attack on October 7. The post IDF combat unit recruitment attracts record number of Israeli men and women first appeared on FDD's Long War Journal ..read more

The Israel Defense Forces said on April 30 that two of its divisions are prepared for the next phase of combat in Gaza. The two divisions played a key role in battles in Gaza between October 2023 and March 2024. The IDF's statement follows Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu saying that Israel will proceed with an offensive into Rafah in southern Gaza. The post Two IDF Divisions prepare for next phase in Gaza first appeared on FDD's Long War Journal ..read more

The Popular Resistance Committees, published a statement threatening to attack British troops and other forces, if they delivered aid to Gaza. The post Gaza-based terrorist group threatens British forces if they begin to deliver aid from offshore pier first appeared on FDD's Long War Journal ..read more