359: Iran Threatens "Painful" Response to Israel + IDF Chief Warns Iran "Not to Pursue Further Attacks" + Armor Not Dead: Croatia to Procure Leopard Tanks & German Leopards Receive Trophy Active Protection System + More

I - On Defense Podcast

For review:
1. Iran Threatens "Painful" Response to Israel.
Unnamed Source to CNN: Iran will deliver a “definitive and painful” response to Israel’s recent attack on its territory, likely before the US presidential election on 05 November.
2. IDF Chief Warns Iran "Not to Pursue Further Attacks."
Speaking to aircrews at the Ramon Air Base in southern Israel, Lieutenant General Herzi Halevi said that if Iran “makes the mistake and launches another barrage of missiles at Israel, we will once again know how to reach Iran.”
3. New Hezbollah Chief (Naim Qassem) threatens Israeli PM.
“Netanyahu survived this time, but perhaps his time has not yet come,” Qassem said. The pre-recorded speech, delivered from an undisclosed location, was his first address as the terror group’s leader. His appointment was announced on Monday.
4. Lebanon's PM Najib Mikati hopeful for ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah.
“We are doing our best… to have a ceasefire within the coming hours or days,” Mikati said adding that he was “cautiously optimistic.”
5. US Secretary of Defense (Lloyd Austin) expects N. Korean troops to join combat against Ukraine. Secretary Austin said the administration is working with allies on how to respond to the deployment, though he wouldn’t specify how.
6. Ukraine to Mobilize 160,000 citizens. On Tuesday, the Secretary of Ukraine’s National Security told Parliament that the army planned to recruit another 160,000 people. An AFP source said the recruitment would take place over three months.
7. Armor Not Dead: Croatia to Procure Leopard Tanks.
The government of Croatia has signed a letter of intent with Germany to acquire up to 50 new Leopard 2A8s tanks for the country’s armed forces.
8. Armor Not Dead: German Leopards Receive Trophy Active Protection System.
The Trophy system has been integrated on the IDF’s Namer armored personnel carriers, on US M1 Abrams Tanks, and also on the UK's Challenger 3 tanks.