While the IDF is in control of most of Khan Younis, the area surrounding Nasser Hospital remains a focal point of IDF operations. In the northern Gaza city of Shati, the IDF re-entered an area that it had previously taken control of from Hamas in November and continued to conduct sweeps for terrorist infrastructure. 

The post Israel again contends with Hamas’ use of human shields in hospitals first appeared on FDD's Long War Journal.

Federal Reserve Board releases the hypothetical scenarios for its annual stress test

Hezbollah did not claim today’s rocket barrage on Safed, which struck an IDF base and killed a soldier. But the dynamics surrounding the attack suggest it may have been a retaliation for Israeli strikes on high-value Hezbollah targets beginning with an Israeli attack last week in Nabatiyeh targeting two high-ranking Hezbollah commanders.

The post Does Hezbollah’s Silence Link the Attack on Safed to Israel’s Strike on Nabatiyeh?  first appeared on FDD's Long War Journal.

Rockets fired from Lebanon at the northern Israeli city of Safed killed one soldier and wounded eight others. The attack is an escalation, and the Israel Defense Forces launched numerous airstrikes in retaliation. Israel’s Chief of Staff told members of northern communities who remain evacuated that the IDF would enable them to return to their homes.

The post Rocket fire from Lebanon strikes IDF base first appeared on FDD's Long War Journal.

WICHITA, KAN. – The U.S. Attorney's Office – District of Kansas has charged a Kansas man by information with embezzling millions of dollars from his former employer. An information is an accusation exhibited against a person for a criminal offense without an indictment from a grand jury.

Israeli farmers return to plow fields near the border of Gaza with fighting reduced in many areas and with almost no rocket fire. Israel’s Chief of Staff spoke at length about the successes and challenges the IDF faces in Gaza. This includes the need to return to areas they already took from Hamas to eliminate more terrorists. The Israeli Ministry of Defense purchased 200 new security vehicles for border communities.

The post Israeli forces renew efforts to solidify defeat of Hamas first appeared on FDD's Long War Journal.

Federal Reserve Board issues enforcement action with Select Bank

Part II: Propaganda is a critical element of Hezbollah’s warfighting toolkit. The current Gaza-Israel War, of which Hezbollah considers itself a part, is no different, and the group has therefore crafted a narrative around that conflict to appeal to Western audiences to side against the Israelis.

The post Part II – Hezbollah’s narrative on Al-Aqsa Flood: Tailored to appeal to specific Western sensibilities first appeared on FDD's Long War Journal.

Israeli special forces rescued two hostages from Rafah in southern Gaza along the border with Egypt on February 12. The successful operation follows failed attempts by the IDF to rescue hostages being held in tunnels in Khan Younis.

The post Israel rescues two hostages in Gaza raid first appeared on FDD's Long War Journal.

Bill and Joe catch up on the latest headlines from the war in Gaza. They discuss the IDF's operation along Gaza's border with Egypt in Rafa, which last night included the rescuing of two hostages; how Hamas fighters are resurfacing in Khan Younis; and the uncomfortably palpable uptick in international pressure on Israel as it continues its defensive war, most notably from the U.S. They also start to unpack some of this UNRWA baggage, like the newly-discovered Hamas operations hub found beneath an UNRWA school (to ironically quote DJ Khaled: "another one"); the UNRWA chief's subsequent statement about "alleged tunnels" (which Bill points out is interesting, given that something either is or is not a tunnel); new consequences for the UN organization still reeling from funding cuts after it was revealed that several of its employees participated in the October 7 attack on Israel; and whether (and how) Israel might continue to work with UNRWA to facilitate the transfer of aid into Gaza.

The post Generation Jihad Ep. 142 — With Israel’s friends like these… first appeared on FDD's Long War Journal.

Heartland Tri-State Bank, based in rural Kansas, had about $139 million in assets before it failed in the summer of 2023. The bank's failure cost the Deposit Insurance Fund an estimated $54 million, prompting our review.

Heartland failed because of alleged fraud by its CEO, who initiated wire transfers totaling about $47.1 million of the bank's funds as part of an apparent cryptocurrency scheme. Under the CEO's influence, bank employees circumvented internal controls and processed the transfers. The wire transfers significantly impaired Heartland's capital and liquidity, and the bank became insolvent.

In earlier examinations, FRB Kansas City had determined that Heartland had adequate internal control policies for a bank of its size. When FRB Kansas City became aware of the wire transfers it promptly launched a target examination, but the bank's financial troubles were already beyond Heartland's ability to repair.

We are recommending that the Board raise awareness among banks of cryptocurrency scams and train examiners on such scams and relevant preventive and detective controls at banks.

This episode features the most special guest to join Generation Jihad in two years: Thomas Joscelyn.

Bill's OG partner in crime is back on the show to discuss the newest variant of Disconnect-the-Dots Disease and its primary benefactor who also happens to be the arsonist behind the dumpster fire currently engulfing the Middle East — and the dangerous cost of American ambivalence.

The post Generation Jihad Ep. 141 — PSA: “Iran + Iran ≠ anything other than Iran” first appeared on FDD's Long War Journal.

Hezbollah launched two barrages of rockets at Israel on February 9. The head of Israel’s air force told an Israel Defense Forces conference that “Hezbollah will continue to pay with the loss of its systems. Dozens of aircraft are now operating in the skies of southern Lebanon.” Israel carried out retaliatory strikes against Hezbollah on February 9

The post Hezbollah rocket barrages target northern Israel  first appeared on FDD's Long War Journal.

The Israeli Prime Minister said Israel will draft a plan “for evacuating the population and destroying the battalions” in the southern Gaza city of Rafah, the last major area held by Hamas in Gaza. IDF forces have continued to uncover weapons in Khan Younis, and they also operated in Beit Lahia in northern Gaza.

The post Rafah in Israel’s sights as next Gaza moves loom first appeared on FDD's Long War Journal.

Israel targeted two high-ranking Hezbollah commanders in an airstrike in Nabatieh. While the details and outcome remain uncertain, the location of the strike and nature of the targets suggest Israel’s patience is wearing thing with Hezbollah’s ongoing attacks.

The post Israel attempts to assassinate two high-ranking Hezbollah commanders in south Lebanon  first appeared on FDD's Long War Journal.

Russian forces have pushed into northern Avdiivka, which now seems likely to fall. But Russia stands little chance of making major gains unless the U.S. cuts aid.

The post Ukraine’s Hold on Avdiivka Slipping first appeared on FDD's Long War Journal.

Propaganda is a critical element of Hezbollah’s warfighting toolkit. The current Gaza-Israel War, of which Hezbollah considers itself a part, is no different, and the group has therefore crafted a narrative around that conflict to appeal to Western audiences to side against the Israelis.

The post Hezbollah’s narrative on Al-Aqsa Flood: Tailored to appeal to specific Western sensibilities first appeared on FDD's Long War Journal.

Saraya al-Ashtar, a U.S. designated terrorist organization, and Saraya Wa'ad Allah send their condolences and congratulations to the Iraqi Hezbollah Brigades.

The post Iranian-backed Bahraini militias eulogize killed Hezbollah Brigades commander first appeared on FDD's Long War Journal.

A drone strike in Baghdad eliminated a Hezbollah Brigades commander complicit in planning and carrying out attacks against U.S. troops in the region.

The post U.S. strike eliminates key Kata’ib Hezbollah commander first appeared on FDD's Long War Journal.

Israeli Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi visited northern Gaza to meet with key Israeli commanders and discuss Israel’s new raids into areas wherein the IDF defeated Hamas in November and December. Israel continues to find tunnels in Khan Younis and target Hamas members throughout Gaza.

The post Israel ‘peeling off layers’ of Hamas in Gaza first appeared on FDD's Long War Journal.