Day 457 - IDF raids Iranian site in Syria in complex commando op
Welcome to The Times of Israel's Daily Briefing, your 20-minute audio update on what's happening in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world. Military reporter Emanuel Fabian joins host Amanda Borschel-Dan on today's show. The Hamas terror group released a propaganda video on Saturday showing signs of life from 19-year-old hostage Liri Albag, the latest in a series of clips it has released of Israeli captives taken in the October 7, 2023, attack. What were the contents of the three-and-a-half-minute-long video, which Hamas released as a form of psychological torture? The Israeli military said Saturday that its troops had in recent days demolished an entire residential complex in northern Gaza, close to Beit Hanoun, which had been used as a hideout and command center by senior Hamas commanders. The complex overlooks the Israeli community of Netiv Ha’asara and was considered a threat to the rail line to Sderot, which hasn’t operated since Oct. 7, 2023. We learn more about this operation and where else the IDF is actively fighting, as well as continued rocket fire from the Strip. A ballistic missile fired toward Israel from the Yemenite Houthis was intercepted early Sunday morning, the military said, with air raid sirens largely remaining silent despite the threat. Fabian updates on the shrapnel that fell and why sirens didn't sound. Lebanese army officials have received “serious signals” that Israel could extend its presence in Lebanon for an additional 30 days beyond the 60-day withdrawal period stipulated in its ceasefire agreement with Hezbollah, a newspaper aligned with the terror group reported on Saturday. We hear how Hezbollah and the Lebanese Army aren't holding up their ends of the truce and what may be the results. The Israeli Air Force on Thursday revealed details and footage from one of its most daring and complex commando operations ever, in which 120 members of special forces units raided and destroyed an underground Iranian missile manufacturing plant deep in Syria in September. Some of the details of the September 8 operation previously reported by foreign media outlets — including the name of the raid — are now known to have been wrong, or slightly incorrect. Fabian fills us in. For news updates, please check out The Times of Israel’s ongoing live blog. Discussed articles include: Hamas releases video of hostage Liri Albag, 19. Parents: ‘This is not the Liri we know’ Gaza rocket lands near Nir Am, missile fired at chopper, as IAF pounds Hamas targets IDF destroys Hamas terror compound overlooking Israel; rocket hits aid crossing Late-night Houthi ballistic missile attack thwarted by IDF, without widespread sirens Reports: IDF may extend south Lebanon presence for 30 more days as Hezbollah regroups Israel said to hit defense facility, scientific research center near Syria’s Aleppo 120 commandos deep inside Syria: IDF reveals daring raid on Iranian missile factory Subscribe to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode was produced by Ben Wallick. IMAGE: Members of the IAF's Shaldag unit in Israel following a raid against an Iranian missile factory in Syria, September 8, 2024. (Israel Defense Forces) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.