Day 590 - New day rises? IDF launches massive Gaza op

May 18, 2025

Emanuel Fabian, Military correspondent for The Times of Israel, provides insight into the complexities of Israel's new military operation in Gaza, dubbed Gideon's Chariots, amid ceasefire negotiations with Hamas. He updates us on troop movements and the psychological impact on the Israeli public due to rising tensions and missile threats from Yemen. Fabian also discusses a targeted strike on a Hezbollah commander in Lebanon, shedding light on the strategic consequences along Israel's border. It's a gripping dive into current security challenges in the region.

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INSIGHT

Early Phase of Gideon's Chariots

The IDF's operation "Gideon's Chariots" in Gaza is in early stages, with troops seizing strategic areas but not fully engaging deep in cities yet.
Airstrikes have increased while the ground offensive prepares for possible escalation depending on hostage negotiations.

INSIGHT

Houthi Missile Effectiveness Low

Yemen's Iran-backed Houthis launched two ballistic missiles; one was intercepted over Israel while the other likely fell short.
Most Houthi missile attempts fail or are intercepted, except for occasional hits like the Ben-Gurion Airport strike.

ADVICE

Stay Sheltered Post-Sirens

After missile sirens, remain in bomb shelters for at least 10 minutes to avoid injury from falling missile debris.
Shrapnel and large missile fragments from interceptions can cause harm and damage far from the impact site.

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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 for today's episode.

A new round of negotiations for a Gaza ceasefire and hostage deal between Hamas and Israel began in Qatar on Saturday after the Israeli military launched its new expanded offensive in the Gaza Strip, dubbed “Gideon’s Chariots,” that will seek to “seize strategic areas” of the Hamas-run Strip. Fabian describes the slow rollout of the operation so far and how many more troops have entered Gaza as of Sunday morning.

Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis say they fired two ballistic missiles at Israel early Sunday morning. This comes after Israeli fighter jets carried out a wave of airstrikes in Yemen on Friday afternoon, targeting two Houthi-controlled ports in the west of the country, and threatened to kill the terror group’s leader. We discuss the growing realization that the terrorist group is undeterred by IAF strikes and whether Israel will take another tack soon.

The Israel Defense Force said Saturday that it killed a Hezbollah commander in a drone strike in Lebanon. The operative, who was targeted on a road near Mazraat Jemjim — some 30 kilometers from the Israeli border — in the Tyre District, was the commander of Hezbollah’s forces in the Beaufort Castle area, the military said. Fabian updates us on who he was and what he was allegedly up to.

To end the program, we discuss Israel's participation in last night's Eurovision final and Yuval Raphael's second-place finish. Israel's 2025 contestant, who survived the Nova festival massacre on October 7, 2023, won the popular vote, but was less warmly received by the jury. Fabian gives some reasons why.

Check out The Times of Israel's ongoing liveblog for more updates.

For further reading:

IDF launches major new Gaza op, ‘seizing’ key areas; Palestinians: Dozens killed in strikes

Israel, Hamas say Gaza talks renewed after IDF initiates major new offensive

IDF pounds Houthi ports in Yemen, threatens to kill leader, after missile, drone attacks

IDF says it killed Hezbollah commander in drone strike in southern Lebanon

Israel’s Yuval Raphael tops Eurovision public vote, finishes in 2nd place as Austria wins

Israel’s Yuval Raphael feels she’s ‘won at life’ after coming second at Eurovision

Subscribe to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode was produced by the Pod-Waves and video edited by Thomas Girsch.

IMAGE: A Palestinian boy looks at a house destroyed in Israeli strikes in al-Saftawi area west of Jabalia in the northern Gaza Strip on May 18, 2025. (Bashar TALEB / AFP)

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