Day 485 - Pulling out of Gaza, IDF trains its sights on West Bank

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.


The Israeli military on Saturday carried out three drone strikes
on terror operatives in the northern West Bank. The strikes came
as the Israel Defense Forces expanded an ongoing counterterrorism
operation in the northern West Bank, now in its 13th day. What
has been the scope of the operation so far?


On Friday, IDF troops operating in a buffer zone in southern
Syria came under fire in the first such incident since Israeli
forces deployed to the buffer zone on the border between Israel
and Syria. The IDF said soldiers returned fire toward the source
of the shooting. Who was shooting at the IDF soldiers?


Maj. Gen. (res.) Eyal Zamir, the Defense Ministry director
general, was tapped by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and
Defense Minister Israel Katz on Saturday to become the next chief
of staff of the Israel Defense Forces. We learn about a previous
case in which a reserves officer is pulled back into the army to
head it and what Zamir may bring to the role.


The Israel-Egypt border has been largely peaceful since the two
countries signed a peace agreement in 1979, Israel’s first with
an Arab state. Increasingly in addition to drug smuggling, the
IDF border forces are attempting to prevent weapons smuggling as
well. Fabian was there a few weeks ago and reports back.


Defense Minister Israel Katz on Saturday threatened the released
Palestinian prisoner and former terror chief Zakaria Zubeidi, two
days after Zubeidi was freed as part of the hostage-ceasefire
agreement with Hamas. Why was this terrorist mastermind singled
out?


For news updates, please check out The Times of Israel’s
ongoing live blog.


Discussed articles include:


IDF carries out 3 drone strikes in Jenin area;
Palestinians say 4 dead, including teen


IDF troops operating in Syria buffer zone come under fire
in 1st such incident


Eyal Zamir named next IDF chief, set to take over from
Herzi Halevi in March


On Egypt border, senior IDF officer warns quietest
‘front’ has potential to erupt


Defense minister warns freed terrorist Zubeidi: ‘One
mistake and you’ll meet old friends’


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podcasts. This episode was produced by the Pod-Waves.


IMAGE: IDF troops operate in the West Bank city of Jenin on
January 31, 2025, in this handout photo. (IDF)


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