The IDF's Mission Brief Is Back In Business

Operational recap of the latest events and a personal message from the new International IDF Spokesperson.

Hi everyone,

Lt. Col. (Select) Nadav Shoshani here, the new International Spokesperson of the Israel Defense Forces.

I’ll share a little bit more about myself below, but first a word on our re-launch of Mission Brief - the Official IDF Substack.

My friend and predecessor in this role, Lt. Col. Richard Hecht, opened up Mission Brief to give you an inside view of the war with Hamas that began on October 7th.

We know how many of you appreciated Richard’s insights into the IDF’s operations (as well as updates on snacks consumed along the way).

My aim now is to do more of the same: share updates on the war we are fighting (not just in Gaza, but on multiple fronts), as well as some broader reflections on the main issues that we are encountering as the war continues.

I’d love to hear feedback from all of you too - questions, comments and topics you want me to address.

In short: Mission Brief is back in business.

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Let’s start with an update on the war:

It’s over nine months since the Hamas terror organization waged war on Israel on October 7th. On that horrific day, Hamas massacred 1,200 people inside Israel, abducted 251 children, women and men into Gaza, committed acts of extreme sexual violence, and fired thousands of rockets at Israeli towns and cities across the country.

We have not forgotten the horrors of that day - and never will.

Ever since Hamas began this war, we have been operating to bring all our hostages home, dismantle Hamas’ capabilities, and restore security to all of Israel’s borders.

Hamas is continuing to hold 120 hostages inside Gaza. For nine months, Hamas has held them in brutal conditions and denied the International Red Cross access to visit any of them. Last month, we conducted a daring rescue operation to save four of our hostages being held in Nuseirat by Hamas and brought them home safely to Israel. Each and every IDF soldier is operating with this goal in mind: to create the conditions for the return of all the hostages, as soon as possible. This is our duty.

Something that receives less coverage is the attacks Israel is facing on other fronts beyond Gaza. Since October 7th, terrorist groups have been firing at Israel from across the Middle East. Hezbollah - the Iranian terror proxy in Lebanon that joined Hamas’ attacks on October 8th - has since fired over 5,300 rockets from Lebanese territory into northern Israel. 60,000 Israelis from towns and villages across northern Israel have been unable to return to their homes in safety and security ever since. 

Our operations are continuing on all fronts to win this war - a war to protect our families, homes and communities from extreme forces of violence, terror, and destruction. 

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In keeping with the traditions of Mission Brief, I wanted to give you a run-down of the latest operational updates from the last few days:

• On Monday, following intelligence indicating the presence of Hamas and Islamic Jihad terrorist infrastructure, operatives, weapons, and investigation and detention rooms in the area of Gaza City, including in the UNRWA headquarters, the IDF and ISA began a counterterrorism operation in the area. IDF soldiers have previously operated in the area in order to eliminate terrorists and destroy an underground tunnel route below the compound. With the start of the operation, the IDF called on and warned civilians about the operational activity in the area, and a defined route will be opened to facilitate the evacuation of uninvolved civilians from the area. 

• The IDF’s intelligence-based, targeted operations against Hamas terrorist infrastructure and operatives in Rafah continue. So far, the IDF have eliminated over 900 terrorists in the area.

• As part of Israel’s ongoing humanitarian efforts, the IDF is implementing a local, tactical pause that is in place between 08:00 and 19:00 each day along the road from the Kerem Shalom Crossing to the Salah al-Din Road and northwards in Gaza. 

• Humanitarian aid continues to enter Gaza in large quantities every day. The main problem is the collection and distribution of aid by the UN and international organizations inside Gaza. As we increase our capabilities and operations, the UN must also increase its efforts to collect and distribute this aid. There are currently 1150 aid trucks waiting for collection on the Gazan side of the Kerem Shalom crossing.

  

• On Sunday, Hezbollah fired over 40 projectiles, 4 anti-tank missiles and a number of attack UAVs from Lebanon at northern Israeli communities. In response to the missile fire, the IAF conducted strikes on Hezbollah military structures, targeting the specific sites from which the missiles were launched. The continued aggression from Hezbollah has sparked large-scale fires in northern Israel, causing significant damage to entire communities. The IDF will continue to operate against the threat of the Hezbollah terrorist organization in order to defend the State of Israel.

  

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Finally, a little about myself and how I arrived in this role.

I served as an officer in the IDF Spokesperson’s Unit for over a decade, holding various roles in the unit, including as the spokesperson of the IDF Intelligence Directorate, before leaving the military for the civilian world in 2022

Along with over 300,000 Israelis, I reported for reserve duty (miluim) on the morning of October 7th. I spent the next six months as the Spokesperson of the Israeli Navy during the war.

In April, I made the transition from reservist back to full-time officer, as I took over the reins as Head of the International Media Branch in the IDF Spokesperson’s Unit.

Over the last two months, the war has developed in significant ways, from Iran’s unprecedented attack against Israel on April 14th, to the ongoing operations against Hamas in the southern Gaza Strip aimed to create the conditions to bring home all the remaining hostages.

In a war against a brutal enemy with no concern for truth or accuracy and in a world of swirling misinformation, my mission is to bring you the facts on the ground and the stories behind the IDF’s operations.

I also believe that when we get it wrong - and in wars, things tragically can go wrong - we must be honest and held accountable. These values are what separates us from our enemies hell-bent on our destruction.

So welcome to my Mission Brief. The next edition will be in your inboxes in a few days time.