All articles tagged with #defense news
IDF forces found more than 150 weapons in the Hadatha village in southern Lebanon, destroyed over 90 Hezbollah terror infrastructure sites, and killed over 20 militants. The update follows earlier strikes, including the destruction of a 200-meter underground tunnel in Majdal Zoun, underscoring ongoing Israeli operations in the Security Zone.
Captain David Hazutt, 21, from Ashkelon, a platoon commander in Golani Brigade's 12th Battalion, was killed and another soldier wounded when his unit searching for a terror suspect near Deit Siryan in southern Lebanon encountered a Hezbollah fighter. The attacker was killed, and the IDF launched operations against terror targets; the army later said it located the attacker in a nearby structure and killed him. Prime Minister Netanyahu and Ashkelon Mayor Tomer Galam offered condolences, noting Hazutt's frontline service and that he leaves behind his mother and sister.
A Jerusalem Post tour of Elbit’s laser labs explains how the Iron Beam, built by Elbit and integrated with Rafael’s air-defense system, uses fiber lasers and Coherent Beam Combining to shoot down drones from aircraft, outlines airborne laser advantages and challenges (stability, cooling, weather), and discusses potential future deployments on fighters and helicopters with unclear timelines and costs.
IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Eyal Zamir says Israel is prepared for a potential Iranian ballistic missile attack in the coming hours, following Israeli strikes in Beirut; the home front should stay on high alert though no immediate restrictions were announced. If Iran attacks, Israel would respond with airstrikes, and there is an expectation of U.S. involvement to prevent a broader war.
The Jerusalem Post quotes IDF Golani Brigade Battalion 13 Commander M saying his unit is prepared to advance and take over Beirut if ordered, following their recent takeover of the Wadi Saluki area in southern Lebanon from Hezbollah. He described clashes with Hezbollah fighters, casualties on both sides, and the discovery of Hezbollah tunnels and Iranian military materials. He credited air power, tanks, and artillery for enabling progress, acknowledged ongoing FPV drone threats, and emphasized the need for patient, systematic ground action to protect northern Israeli civilians. M also noted the battalion will refit before the next mission and highlighted the personal and long-term nature of the campaign, with three soldiers killed and around 50 Hezbollah fighters killed in the broader area.
Israeli officials warn President Trump may withhold even a symbolic green light for Iran strikes, potentially leaving Israel to face Tehran without American backing after a broader attack was canceled amid diplomatic efforts; Netanyahu emphasized Israel could act alone if needed as tensions with Iran continue.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel will not allow Iran or Hezbollah to dictate its security paradigm and asserted Israel’s right to defend itself, signaling ongoing U.S. coordination with Trump to secure the North; amid warnings from Defense Minister Katz and discussions of retaliatory actions in Beirut’s Dahiyeh, Israel has struck the area as a deterrent in the ongoing confrontation.
The IDF disclosed that Maj. Gen. Rafi Milo, head of the Northern Command, was unharmed when his personal command vehicle was struck by a Hezbollah drone during a visit to sub-commanders in southern Lebanon; the strike occurred in the last few weeks, Milo had just left the vehicle, and the episode highlights Israel’s ongoing challenge with FPV drones and may lead to stricter safety measures for top officials.
IDF Givati Brigade Commander Col. Netanel Shamaka recounts the Lebanon operation to seize Beaufort Ridge north of the Litani River, detailing weeks of crossings prep, brush clearance, and passage-building, followed by clearing terrorists and infrastructure amid artillery fire, with reflections on fallen soldiers and reaffirmed brigade training for Lebanon's terrain; Netanyahu framed Beaufort as a dramatic strategic shift in Israel's multi-front security efforts.
IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Eyal Zamir announced that operational and technological solutions to counter Hezbollah's FPV drones are already in development and being rapidly integrated on the battlefield, following an assessment of IDF posts overlooking Lebanon. He urged ongoing pursuit of drone launch squads and warned that every threat will be struck, linking progress against Hezbollah to undermining Iran's regional axis. Zamir noted the drones' reliance on fiber-optic links to evade jamming and said the IDF has killed thousands of terrorists since the war began.
A new initiative, the Daily Giving Israel Emergency Fund, enables Jews worldwide to support Israeli civilians in the North during ongoing Hezbollah drone attacks by funding frontline medical teams and delivering food, medications, and financial assistance through Paamonim and partner organizations, helping families endure fear, displacement, and economic hardship.
The Jerusalem Post reports that the IDF, just 11 days after killing Hamas' previous military chief, announced an attempted assassination of the group's newly named military chief Mohammed Ouda. Prime Minister Netanyahu and Defense Minister Katz said the operation occurred on Tuesday night, with the success assessment potentially taking hours to days. If confirmed, Ouda would join Hamas' top leaders and would mark a significant intelligence achievement, though its impact on the broader conflict remains unclear amid ongoing ceasefire and disarmament talks. Ouda previously headed Hamas' military intelligence during the October 7 attack and has survived previous assassination attempts.
Maj. (res.) Itamar Sapir, 27, from Eli, was killed in combat in southern Lebanon while serving as deputy commander of a company in Battalion 7008 after Hezbollah fired on IDF troops. He left behind a wife and a 1.5-year-old son. Israeli leaders Naftali Bennett and Benjamin Netanyahu mourned his death and praised his courage as Israel continues to defend its northern border.
Israel’s defense establishment says military action alone won’t eliminate Hezbollah’s drone and rocket threat; even occupying southern Lebanon wouldn’t eradicate the last explosives, and a political breakthrough coupled with prolonged deterrence is needed to change the northern threat, as the IDF continues strikes on Hezbollah targets and deploys defensive measures against drones.
Staff-Sgt. Negev Dagan, 20, from Dekel, was killed during combat in southern Lebanon when Hezbollah mortars struck his unit near the Litani River. Medics failed to save him; he was posthumously promoted to Staff-Sergeant. Dagan’s death marks the sixth combat fatality since the ceasefire, and Prime Minister Netanyahu publicly eulogized him.