Mission Brief: Episode 1

In today’s episode, we dive into the courageous stories and challenges faced by women who are serving in combat positions on the field. SGT Talia, a commander in a mixed combat unit, speaks about her experience as a leading female in the battlefield and the reality of life during war. Tune in to hear her story and the remarkable contribution of women defending their country. Don’t forget to like and subscribe for more episodes.

How does one emotionally handle losing their loved one in battle? In this special Memorial Day edition, we sat down with two Casualties Officers, CPT Yaakov and MAJ Meytal, for an intimate conversation about grief. Their day-to-day includes accompanying and visiting those who have lost their loved one, and supporting their journey of healing with care. This episode is dedicated to our sons, our brothers, our sisters, and our loved ones who have fallen in battle to protect Israel.

Tune in and take a step into Gaza’s underground and discover how combat engineering troops approach threats and any hostile surprises they might encounter—all through the eyes of CPT Simha, Operations Officer in the 98th Brigade. CPT Simha discusses everything from demolition scenarios to unique explosives developed in light of emerging threats in the field. Don't forget to like and subscribe for more episodes.

This week’s Mission Brief discusses close-quarters combat in Gaza and the tactical challenges our troops face in the field.  Our guest for this week’s Mission Brief is ready for any threat that might present itself. SSGT R. is a commander in the IDF Special Forces counterterrorism LOTAR unit.  How does one operate under heavy fire, make extreme life-threatening decisions and improve their tactics to stay one step ahead of the enemy? Answer these very questions by listening in.  Don’t forget to like and subscribe for more episodes.

This week's episode of Mission Brief focuses on the safety warnings and procedures taken here in Israel during times of war. LTC Itay speaks on the hard work the Home Front Command has done from behind the scenes. From warning Israelis of incoming threats to operating under fire. Additionally, he answers how even deaf people can hear the siren and ways to introduce and explain the complicated topic to children. Don’t forget to like and subscribe for more episodes.

This week's Mission Brief focuses on the incredible commitment of IDF reservists to the defense of the State of Israel, even years after concluding their mandatory service. We host Alon and Sam, two reservists from the Paratroopers Brigade, who speak about their experience getting back in uniform and on the field. They share how their training prepared them for war, as well as the distinctly different atmospheres in Israel right now: that of civilian life and that among IDF ranks.

This week's Mission brief starts by exposing the cynical use of medical facilities by Hamas, taking you deep into the tunnel beneath Shifa Hospital. Lt. Masha Michelson, an officer in the International Press Office, shares her firsthand experience, revealing the shocking truth about how Hamas turns hospitals into combat zones. We then shift our focus to real medical care, from the heroic efforts of medical officers responding to the October 7th massacre to the search and rescue operators extracting wounded IDF soldiers from Gaza. This episode underscores the stark contrast between the abuse of medical facilities by terrorist organizations and the unwavering commitment of IDF medical staff to save lives. Join us as we uncover the battlegrounds of care in this intense episode.

In this week's Mission Brief, we're joined by an IDF officer from the International Law Department. He explains the steps the IDF takes to ensure compliance with the laws of war, and some of the biggest misconceptions around the legal aspects of the war against Hamas.

Our guests for this week's Mission Brief  take you above and below the front lines of Gaza, speaking with two officers - one on the ground in the Combat Engineering Corps and another flying the drones above him. The last two weeks have involved intense, close quarters combat in Gaza as troops work to dismantle Hamas’ tunnel network. The Combat Engineering Corps has been working with other units to find and destroy Gaza’s underground city, where Hamas terrorists are hiding and maneuvering.  Meanwhile, in the skies above them the air force is working to identify tunnel openings, ambushes, and other threats to our troops on the ground. Listen now to hear these units work together to completely dismantle Hamas in the Gaza Strip.   Special thanks to Major ‘T’ and Major ‘R’ for taking the time to share their experiences fighting Hamas. Please like, share, and subscribe to make sure their stories reach as far as possible.

Welcome to Mission Brief, the Official Podcast of the Israel Defense Force. In our first episode, Major (res) Libby Weiss describes her trip to Kibbutz Be'eri after the atrocities of October 7th and shares her impressions from the devastated Kibbutz. We speak with Lt Col Yaron, an officer in Southern Israel who bravely rushed to his base, picked up a weapon and engaged dozens of terrorists. Finally, we climb into the cockpit with Lt Col 'A', an experienced air force navigator who describes the intelligence and decision making before an IAF strike.