Remembering the Six-Day War
(credit: GPO)
Today marks the 46th anniversary of the start of the Six-Day War, when Israeli forces fought off attacking Arab armies and regained control of the Old City of Jerusalem.
To honor this milestone, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has release six previously unreleased photos of behind-the-scenes moments from this significant military maneuver, including this image of soldiers and the pets that kept them company in the Negev desert.
Comments (7) »Wednesday, June 5th, 2013 at 3:05 PM | Stand For Israel
Photo Friday: The Incredible IDF
Photo: IDF
We’ve been reporting all week on the civil war in Syria, which has been affecting Israel more and more, this week in the form of mortar fired into the Golan and an Israeli air strike against a Syrian weapons delivery to the Lebanon-based terrorist group Hezbollah. This Photo Friday, we want to express our gratitude for the fierce protection offered by the Israeli Defense Forces and for their dedicated service to Israel and her people.
“All who rage against you will surely be ashamed and disgraced; those who oppose you will be as nothing and perish. Though you search for your enemies, you will not find them. Those who wage war against you will be as nothing at all” (Isaiah 41:11-12).
Comments (10) »Friday, May 10th, 2013 at 11:56 AM | Stand For Israel
IDF Infographic: Palestinians Committed Hundreds of Terror Attacks in April
The IDF has gathered facts on the overwhelming amount of Palestinian violence that terrorized Israel last month. In just EIGHT days, there were over 130 terror attacks. Throughout the entire month, there were more than 600.
Thursday, May 9th, 2013 at 12:21 PM | Stand For Israel
U.S. Officials: Israel Struck Weapons Facility in Syria
Photo: IDF
Although Israel hasn’t confirmed, it appears they have launched an air strike on a weapons facility in Syria. The story is still unfolding, but here’s the initial report from Times of Israel:
Comments (34) »The strike on Syria occurred overnight Thursday into Friday, the US officials told The Associated Press Friday night. According to a source quoted by Reuters in a report Saturday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convened his security cabinet for secret talks on Thursday night, hours before the strike.
It did not appear that a chemical weapons site was targeted, said the US officials, and one official said the strike appeared to have hit a warehouse.
Saturday, May 4th, 2013 at 10:09 AM | Stand For Israel
“Above and Beyond” – A New Israeli Air Force Documentary
Check out this fascinating sample reel for the Playmount Productions documentary Above and Beyond: The Birth of the Israeli Air Force. Though the film is still forthcoming, this short clip shows the inspiring courage and passion behind the Israeli Air Force.
From the producer’s website:
In 1948, a group of World War II pilots, mostly from America, volunteered to fight for Israel in the War of Independence. As members of “Machal” – volunteers from abroad – this ragtag band of brothers not only turned the tide of the war, preventing the possible annihilation of Israel at the very moment of its birth; they also laid the groundwork for the Israeli Air Force.
And for even more on Above and Beyond, read here.
Comments (11) »Monday, April 29th, 2013 at 4:39 PM | Stand For Israel
Breaking: Hostile Drone Intercepted off Israeli Coast
It has been cleared for publication that Israeli F-16 fighter jets downed a drone off of Haifa’s coastline at around noon Thursday.
The unmanned aircraft apparently entered Israel’s airspace from the north and was heading south. Explosions were heard in the area.
Israel Navy vessels were searching for the wreckage. The drone was apparently sent by Hezbollah in Lebanon. The warplanes were scrambled from the Ramat David airbase. Reports of Israeli flyovers in Lebanon followed the drone’s interception.
There’s more info at the IDF Blog.
Comments (20) »
Thursday, April 25th, 2013 at 9:38 AM | Stand For Israel
A Moment in the Life of an Israeli Casualty Officer
Today is Yom Ha’Zikaron, Israel Memorial Day, a day to remember Israel’s fallen soldiers and the innocent victims of the ongoing terrorist war against the Jewish state. It’s a good day to meet 2nd Lt. Ofer, a casualty officer in the IDF’s 7th Brigade, who has the extraordinarily difficult job of comforting bereaved families of IDF soldiers who have been killed in the line of duty. Watch this powerful video — and remember all those who have died to secure Israel’s freedom.
Comments (8) »
Monday, April 15th, 2013 at 7:13 AM | Stand For Israel
Quiet, Shy, and a Born Leader
Photo: Ashernet
Uri Shabtai and Roi Amos, writing in Israel Hayom, profile the next commander of Israel’s elite anti-terror unit. The 38-year-old Lt. Colonel, whose name is not publicly released and who is referred to in the piece only by the initial “S,” will head the most important combat operations group in the IDF and – arguably – in the world.
Comments (18) »S. joined Sayeret Matkal and was placed in a team under the command of H., whom he later beat out in the race for the command of the entire unit. According to his friends, S. always wanted to be a combat soldier. “Because he was always so discreet, the mystery that surrounds Sayeret Matkal suited him,” says one friend. “The whole gang that he hung out with in high school, and his friends from the youth movement in Haifa, all went to serve in elite combat units.”
Monday, April 1st, 2013 at 9:08 AM | Stand For Israel
2 Israel Air Force Pilots Die in Helicopter Crash
Maj. (res.) Erez Flekser
A sad day in Israel. The IDF reports:
IDF aircrew members Lt. Col. (res.) Noam Ron (49) of Oranit and Maj. (res.) Erez Flekser (31) of Haifa were killed in the early hours of the morning when their Bell AH-1 Cobra combat helicopter crashed overnight (Tuesday, March 12) during a routine training flight in the Shfela region.
Commander of the IAF Maj. Gen. Amir Eshel has ordered an investigation into the incident.Maj. Gen. Eshel has also ordered to ground all Bell AH-1 Cobra helicopters until the circumstances of the accident are clarified.
Please keep the victims’ loved ones in your prayers — and pray for protection for all IDF soldiers.
Comments (1) »Tuesday, March 12th, 2013 at 5:50 AM | Stand For Israel
Photo Friday: Celebrating International Women’s Day
“If the daughters of Israel are absent from the army, then the character of the Yishuv* will be distorted.”
—David Ben-Gurion, first Israeli Prime Minister
Photos: IDF
* “Yishuv” refers to the Jewish population in what was then known Palestine prior to the establishment of the state of Israel in 1948.
Comments (1) »Friday, March 8th, 2013 at 1:31 PM | Stand For Israel