I - On Defense Podcast

For review:

1. Syria’s interim government has requested Turkey’s support to strengthen its defense capabilities following sectarian violence over the past two weeks.

2.  US envoy to Syria Tom Barrack has urged Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa to recalibrate his policies and embrace a more inclusive approach after a new round of sectarian bloodshed last week, or risk losing international support.

3. Hezbollah has informed Lebanese Parl...

For review:

1. Iran and E3 Nuclear Talks in Istanbul on Friday. Iran, Britain, France and Germany will hold nuclear talks in Istanbul on Friday- following warnings by the three European countries that failure to resume negotiations would lead to international sanctions being reimposed on Iran.

2. Iran could withhold security commitments if European states invoke a UN mechanism to reimpose international sanctions on the Islamic Republ...

For review:

1. Ceasefire in S. Syrian City of Sweida Between Druze & Bedouin.

2. Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas has said elections will be held before the end of the year for the Palestinian National Council, for the first time since 2006.

3. Ukraine proposes new round of peace talks with Russia next week.

4. New Round of EU Sanctions Against Russian Energy. 

5. UK & Germany Sign New Defense Pact.

The new bilateral...

For review:

1. US Army Mid Range Capability Live-Fire During Talisman Sabre '25.  The U.S. Army hit an at-sea target with a Standard Missile 6 fired from its Typhon missile system as part of the Talisman Sabre 2025 exercise in Australia.

The live-fire test is the first time the Army has tested the containerized missile launcher derived from the Navy MK 41 launchers used on warships outside the US.

2. IDF Strikes Damascus in Suppo...

For review:

1. No progress on Israel - Hamas Hostage and Ceasefire negotiations.

2. In a meeting in Amman on Sunday with British former prime minister Tony Blair, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas urged Hamas to release the hostages it is holding and hand over its weapons to the PA, stressing that the terror group “will not rule the Gaza Strip” after the war there ends.

3. Israeli jets carried out a wave of airstrikes deep...

For review:

1. Doha Hostage & Ceasefire Talks Stalled.

2. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he was “confident” he will be able to reach a deal to free hostages held in the Gaza Strip, in an interview with US media aired late Saturday.

3. Russian President Putin Supports Zero Enrichment for Iran.

4. A Syrian official and an Israeli official are expected to meet in Baku later Saturday on the sidelines of President Ahmed ...

For review:

1. No significant progress has been made on Hostage and Ceasefire Negotiations between Israel and Hamas.

2. Lebanon's President Aoun: Peaceful Relations but No Normalization with Israel.

Addressing relations with Israel, President Aoun “distinguished between peace and normalization,” according to a statement by his office.

3. US Sec of State Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov Meet in Kuala Lumpur. This was their...

For review:

1. Israeli PM on Hostage & Ceasefire Deal: "Not at any price." 

Israeli PM Netanyahu: “President Trump and I have a common goal. I want to achieve the release of our hostages. We want to end Hamas rule in Gaza. We want to make sure that Gaza does not pose a threat to Israel anymore.” 

2. Israeli ground troops raided several sites inside Lebanon in recent days, destroying Hezbollah weapon depots and other infr...

For review:

1. During interview with American commentator Tucker Carlson, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian claimed that Israel attempted to assassinate him.

2. IDF Strikes Houthi Ports in Yemen. More than 50 munitions were dropped by IAF fighter jets on the Houthi targets, in response to repeated Houthi missile and drone attacks on Israeli territory.

3.  Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem said Sunday his group would not surrender or lay ...

For review:

1. Israel Sending Team to Qatar for Hostage Talks. However, the Prime Minister’s Office cautioned in a statement that Hamas had suggested several amendments to the proposal, which Israel found to be unacceptable.

According to a source involved in the mediation efforts, Hamas proposed three amendments to the proposed framework.

The source said that Hamas wants the agreement to say that talks on a permanent ceasefire will co...

For review:

1.  Syrian state media reported Wednesday that statements on signing a peace deal with Israel were “premature.”

2.   The IDF carried out an airstrike Thursday in the Lebanese village of Sil, near Beirut, targeting an operative for Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. According to the IDF, the target was involved in smuggling weapons and advancing terror plots, acting on behalf of the Quds Force, the IRGC’s foreign ar...

For review:

1. Iranian Foreign Minister: Diplomacy Not Off the Table.  Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said it will take time and assurances from the US before Tehran is ready to re-engage in talks on its nuclear program.

2.  US President Donald Trump said Monday he is not holding discussions with Iranian leaders and not offering them anything.

3. Israel & Syria Hold Talks on Security Matters.  The neighboring states have ...

For review:

1. Israel - Iran War Summary.

2. UN nuclear watchdog chief Rafael Grossi says Iran likely will be able to begin to produce enriched uranium “in a matter of months,” despite damage to several nuclear facilities from US and Israeli attacks, CBS News said Saturday.

3. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday that Israel’s operation against Iran has opened up “broad regional possibilities,” while stressing that freedom fo...

For review:

1.  IDF Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir has told colleagues that Iran is no longer a nuclear threshold state following the Israeli and US strikes on its nuclear program. While Iran may still maintain parts of its nuclear program, it has been set back by years, LTG Zamir has concluded.

2. Iranian Parliament votes to suspend cooperation with the IAEA. Bill sent to Iranian President for ratification.

3. President...

For review:

1.  In a video statement on Tuesday summing up the war against Iran, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that Israel “achieved a historic victory” that would “abide for generations."

“Now, the focus returns to Gaza, to bringing the hostages home and toppling Hamas rule,” he added. 

2. IDF: Iran's Nuclear Program Set Back Years.  

Israel Defense Forces spokesman Brigadier General Effi Defrin said Wednesday: ...

For review:

1.President Trump Announces Ceasefire Agreement between Israel and Iran. 

There was no immediate Israeli comment on President Trump’s announcement.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi later insisted on X that “as of now, there is NO ‘agreement’ on any ceasefire or cessation of military operations.” 

He said, however, that the Islamic Republic would not launch further attacks if Israel immediately ceased strikes.

2. Many q...

For review:

1. US CJCS: 7 x B2 Bombers Dropped 14 x GBU-57/B MOP Bombs.

2. IAEA Chief on Fordo: "Clear Indications of Impacts...Cannot Announce Degree of Damage.

3. Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warned Sunday morning of “everlasting consequences” after the American military had carried out an attack” on the Fordo, Natanz and Isfahan nuclear sites in Iran.

4. Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told a meeting of the Org...

For review:

1. On Thursday night, Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem offered "all forms of support" to Iran in its fight against Israel and the US.

2. On Friday, the Israeli Air Force fighter jets struck several Hezbollah military sites in southern Lebanon, the IDF says.

3.  Iran Launches Another Missile with Cluster Warhead. The apparent targeting of Beersheba with a cluster bomb came after the IDF Home Front Command on Thursday ...