Mission Brief: The Official Podcast of the Israel Defense Forces

In this Remembrance Day episode, we sit down with a son who lost his father — a soldier who fought in both the First and Second Lebanon Wars. He shares how growing up without his father shaped his journey, the ways he carries his memory forward, and how loss became a lifelong source of strength and purpose. His story is a powerful reminder that even in absence, love and legacy continue.To read more about Israel's fallen soldiers, visit the Yizkor website: https://www.izkor.gov.il/en/May their memory be a blessing.

In this emotional Remembrance Day episode, we hear from a young woman who lost the love of her life while he was serving in the IDF. She opens up about the heartbreak that forever changed her world — and the resilience that helped her find her way through it. It's a story of devastating loss, but also of strength, hope, and the unwavering memory of a life that meant everything.To read more about Israel's fallen soldiers, visit the Yizkor website: https://www.izkor.gov.il/en/May their memory be a blessing.

In this episode of Mission Brief, Sergeant First Class in the reserves D sits down with Shani farhi (lourie), Head of pedagogy section in the International Institute for Holocaust Educationto talk about “Netzer Aharon”- The holocaust survivors who were the last descendants of their family. They fought for the establishment of the state of Israel.These were men and women who emerged from the horrors of the Holocaust and went on to fight for the survival of a newly established Jewish state. Their stories are not only a testament to survival, but to the power of rebuilding, defending, and believing in something greater.When they died, they had no family to remember them. Now they're remembered by the nation, and we have to make sure their stories are heard.To learn more about the last descendants, read their stories and light a memorial candle, visit this link: https://www.izkor.gov.il/en/b9b30e34960ba665bc7e5ab4401422cf/life-storiesMay their memory be a blessing.

For the first time in history, a woman is at the helm of the Israeli Navy Shipyard's technical department. On this special Women's Day episode, we sit down with Lieutenant S. to talk about leadership, breaking barriers, and shaping the future of naval innovation.Her journey isn't just about making history—it's about forging a path for the next generation.Don't forget to like and subscribe for more episodes.

For 500 days, Israel has been fighting a war on multiple fronts. In this special episode of Mission Brief, we spoke with soldiers from Lotar, the IDF's elite counterterrorism unit, who have been on the front lines since October 7.Lotar has played a crucial role in eliminating threats and protecting civilians. Hear firsthand accounts of their most intense operations, the challenges they've faced and what it takes to be part of one of the IDF's most elite units.

After 477 days in Hamas captivity, Liri Albag (19), Daniella Gilboa (20), Karina Ariev (20), and Naama Levy (20) are finally back home in Israel. All four were kidnapped from Nahal Oz base on October 7, 2023.  This special episode of mission brief discusses their return, and explores the truth behind their release.  Don't forget to like and subscribe for more episodes.

A special episode about our three returning hostages; Emily Damari, Romi Gonen, and Doron Steinbrecher, who were released from Hamas captivity after 471 days. After weeks of uncertainty and fear, their return brought tears of relief and joy across Israel as they were reunited with their families. Emily, Romi, and Doron were taken hostage on October 7, 2023. Since then, bringing home all of the hostages held by Hamas has been a main priority for the IDF. Join us as we reflect on this pivotal moment, the power of hope, and what their return signifies for the ongoing conflict and future negotiations.

The Enemy Assets Seizing Unit has been tirelessly working around the clock, recovering fragments and enemy assets left behind on the battlefield. In this episode of “Mission Brief”, discover how these pieces come together to reveal the full story of the battlefield. Don't forget to like and subscribe for more episodes. 

A daily brief about the escalation along the northern border in the last 24 hours.  Listen in to get a snapshot of what life under non-stop rocket fire was like for hundreds of thousands of Israelis and dive into significant recent events fighting against Hezbollah's terrorism.

What's Happening on Israel's Northern Front? Tune in and dive into the ongoing conflict with Hezbollah and learn what life under nonstop rocket attacks looks like. Our guest for this week's Mission Brief is an experienced operations officer who has been living and serving in reserve duty along the northern front for the past 10 months—LTC Razili. Don't forget to like and subscribe for more episodes.

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.