
I - On Defense Podcast
Probably the best defense commentary in the world. Top military and defense industry analysis in 45 minutes or less.
I - On Defense Podcast
What is Europe's "Reassurance Force" for Ukraine? + Houthi Prime Minister Reported Killed in IDF Strike + US to Ban PA President's Travel to UN General Assembly Meeting in September + More
For review:
1. Houthi Prime Minister Reported Killed in IDF Strike.
Yemen’s Al-Jumhuriya channel and the Aden Al-Ghad newspaper reported that Houthi Prime Minister Ahmed al-Rahawi was killed in an Israeli attack on an apartment in the capital Sanaa,
The IDF assesses that the entire Houthi cabinet — including the prime minister and 12 other ministers — were likely killed in Thursday’s strikes in Yemen, Channel 12 reported Friday, without citing any sources.
2. The notorious spokesperson for Hamas’s military wing in the Gaza Strip was said to have been the target of an Israeli airstrike on Saturday.
While the statement did not provide the identity of the targeted terror operative, multiple Hebrew media outlets reported that it was the longtime Hamas spokesman, Hudayfa Samir Abdallah al-Kahlout, who is more widely known by his nom de guerre Abu Obeida.
3. US to Ban PA President's (Mahmoud Abbas)Travel to UN General Assembly Meeting in September.
President Abbas’s office said it was astonished by the visa decision and argued that it violated the UN “headquarters agreement.”
4. Forces from the military and Shin Bet security service recovered the body of slain hostage (Ilan Weiss) in an operation in the Gaza Strip, the Israel Defense Forces said Friday.
His body was recovered along with the remains of a second hostage, whose name was not immediately published as the identification process was still ongoing.
5. What is Europe's "Reassurance Force" for Ukraine?
6. NATO said all alliance members will spend at least 2% of their GDP on defense this year, the first time for that to happen since the spending target was set more than a decade ago.
7. Poland will increase its defense spending next year (2026) to 4.8 percent of GDP ($55.0 billion), its finance minister said Thursday.
8. Japan’s Ministry of Defense has submitted its budget request of $59.9 billion for the 2026 fiscal year.