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Latest Episodes:

419: President Trump Removes Chairman of the Joint Chiefs & Navy CNO + Israeli Forensic Doctor Reports Bibas Family Murdered by Terrorists - Not Killed by Airstrike + Arab Leaders Meet in Riyadh to Discuss Gaza Reconstruction + More Feb 23, 2025

Show notes

For review:

1. Israeli Forensic Doctor Reports Bibas Family Murdered by Terrorists - Not Killed by Airstrike.

2. Israel to delay freeing of 600 Palestinian Prisoners after humiliating release ceremony of six Israeli Hostages.

3. IDF Warplanes conduct flyover of former top Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah's funeral ceremony in Beirut. Defense Minister Israel Katz: “You will specialize in funerals, and we will specialize in victories.”

4. Arab Leaders Meet in Riyadh to Discuss Gaza Reconstruction. The meeting – including Egypt, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and other Gulf Arab nations – took place ahead of a larger Arab summit on March 4, Saudi Arabia said. A meeting of Islamic countries is expected to follow, according to the Egyptian foreign ministry.

5. Polish President Duda met with President Trump in Washington to discuss Ukraine.

6, US President Trump announced a second meeting for Ukraine negotiations will occur on 25 Feb in Riyadh.

7. UK and French Leaders to visit Washington for Ukraine discussions with President Donald Trump. Mr. Macron, is due at the White House on Monday and Mr. Starmer is set to follow on Thursday.

8. US and Ukraine / EU send competing UN resolutions to General Assembly on 3d year anniversary of the war.

9. President Trump Removes Chairman of the Joint Chiefs & Navy CNO. In addition, the USAF Vice Chief of Staff and the Judge Advocate Generals of the Army, Navy and USAF have reportedly also been removed.

418: Bodies of Four Hostages Returned to Israel include Shiri, Ariel & Kfir Bibas + President Trump & Leader of Ukraine Have War of Words + Australia Monitoring Chinese Warships Off the Continent's East Coast + More Feb 20, 2025

Show notes

Short episode- For review:

1. Bodies of Four Hostages Returned to Israel include Shiri, Ariel & Kfir Bibas.

2. President Trump & Leader of Ukraine Have War of Words.

President Trump: “Think of it, a modestly successful comedian, Volodymyr Zelensky, talked the United States of America into spending $350 Billion Dollars, to go into a War that couldn’t be won, that never had to start, but a War that he, without the US and ‘TRUMP,’ will never be able to settle.”

3. Australia and Papua New Guinea negotiate defense treaty.

4. Australia Monitoring Chinese Warships Off the Continent's East Coast. Three Chinese navy vessels — a frigate, a cruiser and a supply tanker — were spotted last week in waters off mainland Australia.

5. Australian UH-60 Black Hawk Helicopters achieve Initial Operating Capability- 15 months after arrival. The IOC achievement follows extensive testing, evaluation, and training, along with the launch of a fleet support and maintenance system. In 2023, Australia signed a deal to procure 40 UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters via the US Government foreign military sales program.

417: US & Russia Establish Goals for Cooperation in Riyadh Talks + IRGC General Threatens Israel with Third Missile Attack + IDF Strikes Weapon Sites in Syria + US Tests Unarmed Minuteman III Ballistic Missile + More Feb 18, 2025

Show notes

For review:

1. Hamas to release six Israeli Hostages on Saturday.

2. IDF Strikes Weapon Sites in Syria. The strikes targeted Syrian tanks used to store weapons, according to the IDF.

3. IRGC General Threatens Israel with Third Missile Attack. “The True Promise 3 will be carried out in appropriate time,” said deputy commander-in-chief of the IRGC Brigadier General Ali Fadavi.

4. US & Russia Establish Goals for Cooperation in Riyadh Talks. The two sides agreed broadly to pursue three goals: to restore staffing at their respective embassies in Washington and Moscow, to create a high-level team to support Ukraine peace talks, and to explore closer relations and economic cooperation.

5. US President Trump said he would not oppose the Europeans if they wanted to send peacekeepers to Ukraine to provide security guarantees in the event of a peace deal. "Having troops over there would be fine, I wouldn't object to it at all," President Trump told reporters at his Mar-a-Lago Club in Palm Beach.

6. Russian defense companies make comeback at the biennial 2025 IDEX Defense Show in Abu Dhabi- United Arab Emirates. The 2025 IDEX setting is noticeably different from the 2023 edition, when Russian companies were not even listed on the show’s official website. One of the top Russian exhibits is the Kalashnikov Group's Kub-2-E strike drone equipped with guided munitions as part of a drone-swarming concept.

7. UK begins competition for new 5.56mm light machine gun. Named “Project TROUBLER,” the initiative seeks to address capability gaps left by the decommissioning of the L110 A2, a 7.2-kilogram (15.8-pound) machine gun. The new weapon must be lighter and more modern than its predecessor, enhancing the mobility and combat effectiveness of Infantry Soldiers.

8. US Navy continues recovery of the EA-18G Growler that crashed in the San Diego Bay last week. The entire recovery operation could take up to two weeks, according to a US Navy news release.

9. US Tests Unarmed Minuteman III Ballistic Missile. A test launch of an unarmed Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile is scheduled for Tuesday night from Vandenberg Space Force Base in Santa Barbara County, California. The missile will likely be visible from Los Angeles and well beyond as is flies on a trajectory to the central Pacific Ocean. The launch might be visible from as far away as Oregon, Nevada, western Utah and Arizona, and northwest Mexico.

416: IDF will Remain on 5 Strategic Hills in S. Lebanon + US & Russian Officials Meet in Saudi Arabia + Top European Leaders Meet in Paris to Discuss Next Steps in Ukraine + Ukraine President Calls for 200k Soldier European Army + More Feb 17, 2025

Show notes

For review:

1. : IDF will Remain on 5 Strategic Hills in S. Lebanon. The US authorized the IDF to remain in the five points, though it was not clear how long troops would stay there.

2. Lebanon extend ban on flights from Iran. US advised Lebanon that Israel may shoot Iranian planes down. Israel asserts that Tehran was using civilian aircraft to smuggle cash to Beirut to arm the Iran-backed terror group Hezbollah.

3. Unconfirmed reports say that Hamas has agreed to allow the Palestinian Authority to lead Gaza after a permanent ceasefire.

4. US & Russian Officials Meet in Saudi Arabia. Senior American and Russian officials will hold talks on improving their ties and negotiating an end to the war in Ukraine.

5. Ukraine President Calls for 200k Soldier European Army.

6. Top European Leaders Meet in Paris to Discuss Next Steps in Ukraine.

6. US Indo-Pacific Combatant Commander Admiral Samuel Paparo say that Chinese military exercises around Taiwan are “not exercises; they are rehearsals” for forced reunification with the mainland.

415: US & Russian Officials to Meet in Saudi Arabia to Discuss Peace in Ukraine + Three Israeli Hostages Released after 498 Days in Captivity + Indonesia to Procure Bayraktar TB3 Drones + More Feb 15, 2025

Show notes

For review:

1. Three Israeli Hostages Released after 498 Days in Captivity. In exchange for the three Hostages, Israel released 369 Palestinian detainees and security prisoners, including 36 terrorists serving life sentences for murder.

2. Per Washington Post report- President Donald Trump and PM Benjamin Netanyahu discussed US support for a potential Israeli attack on Iranian nuclear sites during the Israeli leader's visit to Washington D.C. last week.

3. IDF strikes a prominent member of Unit 127- the Hezbollah formation in S. Lebanon responsible for aerial drone attack and surveillance flights over Israel.

4. Lebanon arrests 25 for attack on UNIFIL Convoy that wounded two Peacekeepers. UNIFIL = UN Interim Force in Lebanon.

5. From Politico: US & Russian Officials to Meet in Saudi Arabia to Discuss Peace in Ukraine. Representing the US are the National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Steve Witkoff, the president’s Middle East Envoy. A spokesperson for the Ukrainian government and the State Department didn’t respond to a request for comment.

6. On Friday, US Secretary of Defense Hegseth visited Poland where he held talks with Polish President Andrzej Duda and Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, the country’s defense minister. Secretary Hegseth: "We see Poland as the model ally on the continent, willing to invest not just in their defense, but in our shared defense, and the defense of the continent.”

7. Due to long lead times for Lockheed Martin-made M142 HIMARS, Estonia is considering other long-range fires options for a second tranche order. Rocketsan’s Khan, from Turkey; the Elbit Precise and Universal Launching System (PULS), out of Israel; and South Korea’s Hanwha Aerospace-made K239 Chunmoo- are said to be in the running for selection.

8. Indonesia to Procure Bayraktar TB3 Drones. Turkish drone maker Baykar will supply Indonesia with 60 Bayraktar TB3 armed drones and nine Akinci surveillance drones, according to Indonesian firm Republikorp.

9. US Army to deploy the ATHENA - R (Army Theater level High Altitude Expeditionary Next Airborne ISR- Radar) to South Korea for a four-month Operational Test and Evaluation. The ATHENA effort is in support of the US Army's High Accuracy Detection and Exploitation System (HADES) program- that is also integrated on the Bombardier Global 6500 business jet.

414: Israel to Hamas - Ceasefire Continues if 3 Hostages Released Saturday + President Trump Speaks with Russian President - Directs Negotiations to End War + US Sec Def - No NATO Membership for Ukraine + More Feb 13, 2025

Show notes

For review:

1. Israel to Hamas - Ceasefire Continues if 3 Hostages Released Saturday.

2. IDF conducts airstrikes in Lebanon, targeting Hezbollah weapon stores, launchers, and facilities.

3. Iran to unveil and new indigenous, cruise missile in March- with a reported range of 2000 kilometers. Quote from IRGC Rear Admiral Tangsiri: “We now have missiles that can be launched from the depths of the Iranian territory, eliminating the need for coastal launches.”

4. Speaking at the Ukraine Defense Contact Group in Brussels, the US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth says no NATO Membership for Ukraine. Secretary Hegseth: "the war between Ukraine and Russia must end", that Kyiv joining NATO is unrealistic and that the US will no longer prioritize European and Ukrainian security.

5. President Trump Speaks with Russian President - Directs Negotiations to End War.

6. US President Donald Trump wants to have nuclear arms talks with Russia and China. President Trump: “There’s no reason for us to be building brand new nuclear weapons, we already have so many,” Trump said. “You could destroy the world 50 times over, 100 times over. And here we are building new nuclear weapons, and they’re building nuclear weapons.” The US President continues: “One of the first meetings I want to have is with President Xi of China, President Putin of Russia. And I want to say, ‘Let’s cut our military budget in half.’ And we can do that. And I think we’ll be able to.”

7. Japan to procure Boeing CH-47 Block II Chinooks. Beside the US, Japan will join Germany and the UK as operators of the latest Chinook variant.

8. Two Naval Aviators in good condition after their EA-18G Growler crashes during an attempted landing at the NAS North Island (San Diego, CA).

413: Israel PM Warns Resumption of "Intense Fighting" in Gaza if Hostages Not Released on Saturday + Egypt to Present Plan for Gaza Reconstruction + Belgium Promises to Increase Defense Spending + Germany Selects PULS Rocket Artillery System + More Feb 11, 2025

Show notes

For review:

1. US President Trump suggests that Israel end the ceasefire agreement with Hamas if all remaining Hostages are not freed by Saturday.

2. Israel PM Warns Resumption of "Intense Fighting" in Gaza if Hostages Not Released on Saturday. In preparation, the IDF announced that it is “extensively” bolstering its forces in the Southern Command, and approving battle plans for the Gaza Strip in the event that the ceasefire-hostage deal with Hamas collapses.

3. Egypt to Present Plan for Gaza Reconstruction. Egypt plans to “present a comprehensive vision for the reconstruction” of the Gaza Strip that ensures Palestinians remain on their land, the Egyptian foreign ministry says in a statement.

4. Houthi Rebels in Yemen vow to launch attacks on Israel if fighting resumes in Gaza.

5. Belgium Promises to Increase Defense Spending. The government of Prime Minister Bart De Wever plans to set the Belgian defense budget on track to reach current NATO spending targets by 2029 (2% GDP).

6. Germany Selects PULS (Precise and Universal Launching System) Rocket Artillery System. For Germany, a key PULS feature is that it can fire rockets of various calibers, ranging from 122mm to 370mm, produced by different manufacturers.

7. Latest US Army update on the IVAS program. IVAS = Integrated Visual Augmentation System. Microsoft is seeking to transfer its entire IVAS contract over to Anduril (10-year - $22 billion contract).

412: IDF Withdraws from Netzarim Corridor IAW Ceasefire Deal + President Trump Reveals Conversations With Russian President About Ending War + EU Defense Spending in '24 Expected be 326 Billion Euros + More Feb 09, 2025

Show notes

For review:

1. IDF Withdraws from Netzarim Corridor After 5th Hostage Release Cycle. According to the ceasefire deal, Israeli forces had to withdraw after the fifth swap was carried out.

2. US President Donald Trump comments on the poor state of appearance of the three Israeli Hostages released on Saturday. President Trump: “They are in really bad shape, they have been treated brutally, horribly. Even the ones that came out earlier, they were in a little bit better shape, but mentally they were treated so badly. Who could take that? “You know, at some point, we’re gonna lose our patience.”

3. IDF continues strikes on Hezbollah targets in Lebanon. Israeli fighter jets carried out several airstrikes in Lebanon on Sunday evening, including against a tunnel between Lebanon and Syria used by Hezbollah to smuggle arms. Additionally, the Israeli Air Force targeted several Hezbollah sites in other areas of Lebanon, which included weapons and rocket launchers that “posed an immediate threat” to Israel.

4. President Trump Reveals Conversations With Russian President Putin About Ending War in Ukraine. “I’d better not say,” said Trump when asked how many times the two leaders have spoken.

5. European Union Defense Spending in 2024 Expected be 326 Billion Euros.

6. US Secretary of Defense Hegseth pledges to prioritize cutting waster in the Department of Defense. Secretary Hegseth said that in addition to rooting out waste, fraud and abuse, the Pentagon needs to slash hierarchies and layers of bureaucracy that aren’t serving the military. That could also involve a reduction in the number of four-star generals and flag officers, he said. “We won World War II with seven four-star generals. Today we have 44. Do all of those directly contribute to warfighting success? Maybe they do. I don’t know, but it’s worth reviewing to make sure they do.”

411: IDF Warplanes Strike Hezbollah Weapon Depots in Lebanon + Iran Unveils IRGC Navy Drone Carrier + UK to Chair Ukraine Defense Contact Group in Brussels + France Sends Mirage Fighters to Ukraine + More Feb 07, 2025

Show notes

For review:

1. IDF Warplanes Strike Hezbollah Weapon Depots in Lebanon.

2. Three Israeli Hostages set for release on Saturday morning from Gaza Strip. Israel will release 183 Palestinian prisoners in return.

3. In a speech from Tehran, the Iranian Supreme Leader vows Iran will respond to any threat or violation of the country's security by the US.

4. Iran Unveils IRGC Navy Drone Carrier. According to an IRGC Navy Commander- the drone carrier is capable of carrying several squadrons of unmanned aerial vehicles, launching and landing unmanned fighter jets, deploying various reconnaissance and combat drones, launching and recovering various light and fast combat vessels, as well as carrying and deploying various combat and support helicopters.

5. US Special Envoy to Ukraine & Russia- Keith Kellogg- will participate in the Munich Security Conference from 14-16 February. Though he will speak at the event, Mr. Kellogg denied that he will release the US Peace Proposal to stop the fighting between Russia and Ukraine. Mr. Kellogg: "The person that's going to present the peace plan is the President of the United States, not Keith Kellogg."

6. Russian Army receives first batch of BMP-3 Fighting Vehicles. The BMP-3 is armed with a 100-millimeter gun launcher, a 30-millimeter autocannon, a grenade launcher, machine guns, and an optional remote weapon station with a 57-millimeter autocannon.

7. France Sends Mirage Fighters to Ukraine. Sébastien Lecornu, France’s Armed Forces Minister, said last year that the Mirage 2000 Fighters would be equipped with air-to-ground weapons and new electronic warfare equipment.

8. UK to Chair Ukraine Defense Contact Group in Brussels. United Kingdom Secretary of State for Defense John Healey will chair the event as it gathers for its 26th time next week in Brussels, marking the first time an American defense secretary has not convened the meeting in its three-year history.

9. Dutch military renews focus on the strategic importance of rail transport for heavy military equipment and supplies.

10. Panama declines to renew Panama Canal infrastructure agreement with China after US Secretary of State Marco Rubio's visit.

410: President Trump's Idea Relocates Palestinians During Gaza Reconstruction + US Ongoing Negotiations with Russia & Ukraine + US Navy Tests High-Energy Laser from Destroyer + More Feb 05, 2025

Show notes

For review:

1. President Trump's Idea Relocates Palestinians During Gaza Reconstruction. Asked how many Gazans he intended to relocate, the President said, “All of them.” Asked to clarify whether the White House was shifting away from President Trump’s talk of “permanent” to “temporary” relocation, the WH Press Secretary responded, “The President has made it clear that they need to be temporarily relocated out of Gaza for the rebuilding of this effort as it’s a demolition site right now it’s not a livable place for any human being.”

2. President Trump denies that the US is working in conjunction with Israel to blow Iran into "smithereens".

3. US Ongoing Negotiations with Russia & Ukraine. President Trump described the talks as “very good, very constructive” and hinted at “progress” on the Russia-Ukraine issue—though he did not offer specifics.

4. In 2024, Turkey's defense exports increased 29% from the previous year. Turkey’s biggest defense exporters include drone maker Baykar, Turkish Aerospace Industries, ASFAT, armored vehicle producer MKE and ARCA.

5. India to increase defense budget by 9.5% during the 2025-2026 period.

6. Philippines to increase defense budget by 12.3% in 2025.

7. US Navy Tests High-Energy Laser from Arleigh Burke Destroyer, USS Preble (DDG-88).

8. US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth to host first foreign counterpart at the Pentagon- Mr. Richard Marles- the deputy prime minister and defense minister of Australia.

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