Titles For The Latest English LCCC Lebanese & Lebanese Related News & Editorials published on June 15-16/2024
Celebrating Fathers Day: A Biblical Perspective on Duty, Honor, and Sacrifice/Elias Bejjani/June 16/2024
Biden to send senior adviser to Israel for talks on Lebanon escalation
US officials worry Israel will drag America into war against Hezbollah - CBS
'Miscalculation' could lead to wider Hezbollah-Israel conflict, say UN officials
U.S. Officials Fear Escalating Israeli Attacks preliminary to Full-Scale War on Lebanon
Southern Front: Israeli Raid Kills Islamic Jihad Fighter in Bint Jbeil
Hezbollah attacks Meron anew as Israeli strike kills 1 in Aitaroun
Hezbollah says intensified attacks show Israel all-out war would be costly
Lebanon and Israel's fire warfare: A new dimension of destruction
Upcoming US envoy visit: Will Israel's decisions and actions lead to its defeat?
Israeli officials reject Gallant's 'attacks' on Paris after he rejects Lebanon initiative
South Lebanon village shaken by deadly Israeli strike
Islamic Jihad says ready to send more fighters from Syria to Lebanon in case of war with Israel
Adib Abdel Massih on LBCI: Addressing political shifts and presidential dynamics
Joint Statement of UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon
Patriarch Al-Rahi in a mass after the conclusion of the Synod: Atheists in Lebanon who believe in religious, nationalist and separatist projects have begun to destroy it from the moment of its founding.
The final statement of the Maronite Church Synod: There is no priority higher than electing the president
Beirut airport busy with Eid visitors despite tense security situation

Titles For The Latest English LCCC Miscellaneous Reports And News published on June 15-16/2024
8 Israeli soldiers killed in southern Gaza
Israeli Druze leader: We must be equals in everyday life, not just in mourning
Capt. Wassem Mahmoud, seven other IDF soldiers killed in Rafah blast
Islamic Jihad says only way to free Israeli hostages is Gaza withdrawal, prisoner deal
Qatar and Egypt plan talks with Hamas on Gaza ceasefire: White House
Rafah blast kills 8 IDF soldiers early Saturday morning
White House: Qatar and Egypt plan talks with Hamas on Gaza ceasefire
Palestinian teenager killed in West Bank raid
Israel bombards Gaza as truce efforts fail to make progress
U.S. military destroys radars that allowed Houthis to target ships
Ukraine conference draft communique calls out Russia’s war on Ukraine
Leaders head to Ukraine peace summit under shadow of Putin demands
Ukrainian forces strike Russian airbase with at least 70 drones, targeting Su-34 jets used to drop glide bombs
World leaders join Ukraine summit in test of Kyiv's peace push
Taiwan is one-upping Ukraine's navy to defeat a Chinese invasion
Erdogan says Biden faces a test of sincerity in handling of the Gaza war
Iran swaps EU diplomat, another man for Sweden freeing Iranian convicted over '88 mass executions
Sweden and Iran exchange prisoners in breakthrough deal

Titles For The Latest English LCCC analysis & editorials from miscellaneous sources on June 15-16/2024
As US Is Being Encircled by Enemies, the US Administration Wants Israel to Surrender to Terrorists/Majid Rafizadeh/Gatestone Institute./June 15, 2024
Hamas and Hezbollah’s drone warfare poses new threats to Israel's security/Amir Bohbot/Jerusalem Post/June 15/2024
Question: “What does the Bible say about fathers?”/GotQuestions.org/June 14, 2024
Europe decided, what next for North Africa?/Hafed Al-Ghwell/Arab News/June 15, 2024
G7 steps up as geopolitics defines Italy’s summit/Andrew Hammond /Arab News/June 15, 2024
Is Europe sliding toward a new dark age?/Jonathan Gornall/Arab News/June 15, 2024

Latest English LCCC Lebanese & Lebanese Related News & Editorials published on June 15-16/2024
Celebrating Fathers Day: A Biblical Perspective on Duty, Honor, and Sacrifice
Elias Bejjani/June 16/2024
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/archives/130787/130787/
Today, as we gather to celebrate Fathers’ Day, we are reminded of the pivotal role fathers play in our lives. Fathers, both in their presence and sacrifices, mirror the divine fatherhood of God Himself. This day is not merely about showering our fathers with gifts and words of appreciation but also about reflecting on our duties and obligations towards them, as underscored by biblical teachings.
The Bible provides profound insights into the importance of honoring our fathers. Ephesians 6:2-3 commands, “Honor your father and mother”—which is the first commandment with a promise—”so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.” This directive is clear: honoring our fathers is not just a noble act but a divine injunction that brings blessings.
Furthermore, Proverbs 23:22 instructs us, “Listen to your father, who gave you life, and do not despise your mother when she is old.” These verses highlight that respect and obedience to our fathers are lifelong duties. They underscore the need to appreciate the wisdom and experience that our fathers impart, recognizing their efforts and sacrifices in nurturing us.
Fathers, in many ways, emulate God the Father, who is described in Psalm 103:13: “As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him.” Just as God’s compassion and care are boundless, so too are the efforts of our earthly fathers. They toil and labor, often in silence, to provide for us, ensuring our well-being and success.
In honoring our fathers, we acknowledge the countless sacrifices they have made. From working long hours to provide for the family to making tough decisions for our betterment, fathers constantly put their children’s needs before their own. This dedication is aptly captured in the Lebanese saying, “No one is dear to my heart more than my son, but the son of my son.” It speaks to the enduring love and legacy that fathers build, emphasizing the generational impact of their devotion.
However, it is disheartening to see that not all children recognize or reciprocate this dedication. Some neglect their fathers, disregarding their wisdom and contributions. To such individuals, the biblical admonition in Proverbs 30:17 serves as a stern reminder: “The eye that mocks a father and scorns a mother will be pecked out by the ravens of the valley, will be eaten by the vultures.” This vivid imagery warns of the severe consequences of disrespect and neglect towards one’s parents.
As we celebrate Fathers’ Day, let us remember that honoring our fathers is not limited to a single day of festivities. It is an ongoing commitment to show respect, provide care, and express gratitude for all they do. Let us strive to embody the principles of the Bible, ensuring that our fathers feel valued and appreciated every day of their lives.
In conclusion, Fathers’ Day is a powerful reminder of the immense love and sacrifices our fathers have made for us. By honoring them, we not only fulfill our biblical duties but also strengthen the bonds of family and faith. Let us cherish our fathers, acknowledging their vital role in our lives and upholding the respect and honor they rightfully deserve.

Biden to send senior adviser to Israel for talks on Lebanon escalation
Barak Ravid/Axios/June 15/2024
President Biden's envoy Amos Hochstein is expected to arrive in Israel on Monday in an effort to prevent the recent escalation between Israel and Hezbollah from turning into an all out war, two Israeli officials told Axios. Why it matters: Amid the highly sensitive push to reach a ceasefire deal in Gaza, a war between Israel and the Lebanese militant group would dramatically exacerbate the regional crisis and draw the U.S. deeper into the conflict. Over the last few days, preventing violence on the Israeli-Lebanese border from erupting into a war turned into an urgent priority for the White House, second only to getting a ceasefire in Gaza, U.S. officials say. Driving the news: Israel conducted an airstrike on Tuesday that killed a senior Hezbollah commander in the town of Jwaya, about six miles north of the border. On Wednesday and Thursday, Hezbollah retaliated by launching it largest attacks against Israel since Oct. 7. The militia fired about 400 rockets and drones at targets across northern Israel. What they're saying: The leaders of the G7 countries said in a joint statement at the end of their meeting in Italy on Friday that they are "particularly concerned" by the situation along the Israeli-Lebanese border. "We recognize the essential stabilizing role played by the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) and the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) in mitigating that risk. We urge all involved actors to exercise restraint to avoid further escalation," they said. What to watch: Hochstein is expected to meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant to discuss de-escalating tensions between Israel and Hezbollah and to urge them against a "limited ground invasion" in Lebanon, according to an Israeli official and a source with knowledge. A source with knowledge said Hochstein might also travel to Beirut for talks with Lebanese officials. Next Thursday, a senior Israeli delegation headed by Netanyahu's Minister for Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer and national security adviser Tzachi Hanegbi will arrive at the White House for talks about Lebanon, Gaza and the Iranian nuclear program, Israeli officials said.

US officials worry Israel will drag America into war against Hezbollah - CBS
Jerusalem Post/June 15/2024
An official said that the administration had been working toward lowering the risk that US troops face in Syria, Iraq and Jordan. The Biden administration has become increasingly concerned that the increasing conflict and rocket exchanges between Israel and Hezbollah could expand through the region, anonymous US officials told CBS News on Friday. An official said that the administration had been working toward lowering the risk that US troops face in Syria, Iraq, and Jordan. Additionally, diplomatic advisor Amos Hochstein is heading to Israel on Monday with the reported purpose of trying to de-escalate tensions before they spread throughout the region.
IAF strikes deeper into Lebanon
Some of the US officials told CBS that they interpreted the deepening IDF strikes in Lebanese territory as a preparatory measure for a sweeping assault. This, the officials worry, could start a war with Lebanon that Israel would require US support to win. Other officials told CBS they were concerned that, in response to the deepening strikes, Hezbollah would escalate attacks, resulting in an unintended war. The rocket exchanges on the northern border are also creating new barriers in pushing for a hostage-ceasefire deal, the CBS report added. A senior Biden administration official said, "The most important thing about the hostage release and ceasefire deal that's on the table now is that if it's achieved, it can have an impact in the north [of Israel], so that is an opportunity for us to be able to bring this conflict to a full close." "There has to be an agreement that allows Israelis to return to their homes in the North with security guarantees that it is not Oct. 6 of Hezbollah … sitting right on the blue line," the official added.
Inflaming tensions
After senior Hezbollah official Sami Taleb Abdullah was eliminated in a strike, Hezbollah increased its rocket attacks against Israel. Approximately 250 rockets were launched on Wednesday towards northern Israel, disrupting civilians trying to partake in the holiday of Shavuot. Abdullah is the most senior member of Hezbollah to be eliminated since October 7. "The powerful elimination worries Hezbollah members. They now understand that the IDF knows much more about them than we do. Additionally, the operation indicates that Hezbollah's field security is not airtight and that the organization's intelligence system has been penetrated to such an extent that we were able to eliminate such an important sector commander. The IDF managed to infiltrate their networks and systems and identify the right people for elimination," said Professor Amatzia Baram, suggesting that this also impacts the leader of the terrorist organization.

'Miscalculation' could lead to wider Hezbollah-Israel conflict, say UN officials
Reuters/June 15, 2024
There is a "very real" risk that a miscalculation along Lebanon's southern border could trigger a wider conflict between Hezbollah and the Israeli military, two U.N. officials in Lebanon warned on Saturday. The United Nations special coordinator for Lebanon, Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, and the head of U.N. peacekeeping forces in Lebanon, Aroldo Lazaro, said they were "deeply concerned" about the recent escalation along Lebanon's border. Iran-backed Hezbollah last week launched the largest volleys of rockets and drones yet in the eight months it has been exchanging fire with the Israeli military, in parallel with the Gaza war. "The danger of miscalculation leading to a sudden and wider conflict is very real," the two officials said in a written statement on Saturday. The United States and France are working on a negotiated settlement to the hostilities along Lebanon's southern border. Hezbollah says it will not halt fire unless Israel's military offensive on Gaza stops.

U.S. Officials Fear Escalating Israeli Attacks preliminary to Full-Scale War on Lebanon
Jalaa MAREY/AFP/This Is Beirut/June 15/2024
American officials are increasingly alarmed that a recent surge in violence between Israel and Hezbollah could erupt into a full-scale war, according to a CBS News report.The officials are particularly concerned that the more frequent rocket fire from Lebanon could “result in unintended consequences that trigger an event Israel feels compelled to respond to,” the report said. These officials interpret the recent Israeli strikes deeper into Lebanon as “preparing the battlefield for a sweeping assault” by the Israeli army. There is a growing fear among them that an escalation by Israel will “start a war against Hezbollah in Lebanon that it cannot finish” without US support.They have noted that Israeli army troops in the north are “training in brigade-sized units, but are not yet in position to begin an assault.”Senior US presidential adviser Amos Hochstein is on his way to Israel, a visit that is aimed, among others, to de-escalate the situation on the Lebanese-Israeli front.

Southern Front: Israeli Raid Kills Islamic Jihad Fighter in Bint Jbeil
This Is Beirut/June 15/2024
Tensions between Hezbollah and Israel have continued to escalate since the assassination of a senior Hezbollah official in Jwaya on Tuesday. An Israeli raid targeted a motorcycle in Bint Jbeil on Saturday morning, killing one person and wounding another. The motorcycle caught fire on the roadside at the intersection of Bint Jbeil and Maroun al-Ras, before Civil Defense teams could extinguish it. Later Saturday, Al-Quds Brigades, the armed wing of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad militant group, announced the death of one of its combatants, Zuhweir Jalbout, a Palestinian, in the Israeli attack that targeted the motorcycle in southern Lebanon. As part of its ongoing reprisals following the elimination of senior Hezbollah official Taleb Sami Abdallah on Tuesday evening , Hezbollah announced that it had targeted the Meron military base in northern Israel “with guided missiles, destroying some of its equipment and radars.”Additionally, it was reported that a woman was wounded by a bullet following the Israeli army’s sweep of Wazzani. She was taken to Marjeyoun hospital for treatment. On Saturday, the Israeli army said “two projectiles were fired from Lebanon toward the IDF (army) Aerial Control Unit in the area of Meron in northern Israel”, reporting “no injuries or damage to the unit’s capabilities”. It also said “several aerial targets were identified crossing from Lebanon into Israeli territory” and falling in the Goren area, adding there were no reported injuries but that “a fire broke out”.
With AFP

Hezbollah attacks Meron anew as Israeli strike kills 1 in Aitaroun
Naharnet/June 15, 2024
Hezbollah on Saturday said it attacks Israel’s Meron air control base with guided missiles as part of its response to Israel’s assassination of senior military commander Taleb Abdallah. In a statement, Hezbollah said the attack destroyed parts of the base’s equipment and radars. The Meron had been also attacked by Hezbollah on Wednesday as part of a massive missile and drone attack on Israel that followed Abdallah’s killing. In another statement, Hezbollah said it fired a guided missile at the Hadb Yaroun Israeli post near the border, inflicting “deaths and injuries.”
An Israeli drone strike meanwhile targeted a motorbike on the road between Bint Jbeil and Aitaroun, causing casualties, the National News Agency said. TV networks said the strike killed one person and wounded another, as the Israeli army said the strike targeted a militant. Hezbollah, which is allied with Hamas, has been clashing near-daily with Israeli forces against the backdrop of Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza. The fighting has escalated in recent weeks, raising fears of a full-scale war on the Lebanon-Israel front.The violence since early October has killed at least 470 people in Lebanon, most of them fighters but also including 91 civilians, according to an AFP tally. At least 15 soldiers and 11 civilians have been killed in Israel's north, authorities say.

Hezbollah says intensified attacks show Israel all-out war would be costly
Associated Press/June 15, 2024
A senior Hezbollah official said the group's intensified attacks along Israel’s northern border will make it difficult for Israel to stage an all-our war on Lebanon because it knows the conflict would be costly. The attacks are also pressuring Israel to end the war in the Gaza Strip, said Sheikh Ali Daamoush in a sermon during Friday prayers. His comments came as Iran-backed Hezbollah claimed it fired rockets into northern Israel in a third day of barrages, saying it struck several military posts including two in the towns of Metula and Misgav Am. The Israeli military said approximately 35 projectiles were identified crossing from Lebanon into the areas of Kiryat Shmona and Kfar Szold in northern Israel earlier Friday. The army said that as a result of the launches, a fire broke out in the area of Kfar Szold. Israeli army artillery fired toward the sources of the launches, it said. Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency reported an Israeli airstrike Friday on the border village of Kfar Kila. Late Thursday, an Israeli strike on the south Lebanon village of Janata killed two women and wounded 19, according to Hezbollah’s Al-Manar TV. Hezbollah's intensified attacks come after an Israeli strike late Tuesday killed the most senior military commander with the group since fighting began along the Lebanon-Israel border in early October. These cross-border attacks have been taking place almost daily. This week's escalation comes as some Israeli leaders have threatened all-out war to silence Hezbollah’s rocket fire, which has displaced tens of thousands of Israelis, and Hezbollah seeks to exert pressure in support of its Palestinian ally Hamas during back-and-forth negotiations over a cease-fire in Gaza. More than 400 people have been killed in Lebanon, mostly fighters, but they include over 70 civilians and non-combatants. Tens of thousands have also been displaced. On the Israeli side, at least 15 soldiers and 10 civilians have been killed. The United Nations is “encouraging all parties to exercise maximum restraint and refrain from any action or statement that could further fuel tensions,” U.N. deputy spokesman Farhan Haq said Friday.

Lebanon and Israel's fire warfare: A new dimension of destruction
LBCI/June 15, 2024
The residents of southern Lebanon are increasingly fearful for their lands as sporadic fires have transformed into a full-scale fire war. The use of incendiary weapons, particularly phosphorus bombs, by Israel since the onset of the conflict has intensified over the past week. This escalation coincides with Hezbollah's increased involvement, resulting in large-scale fires in significant areas across the Galilee, including Kiryat Shmona, Safed, Mount Meron, Misgav Am, and surrounding areas near Metula and the occupied Golan Heights. The total burnt area in Israel is expected to exceed 10,000 dunams. Using phosphorus bombs, Katyusha rockets, and 120mm Katyusha shells, Hezbollah said these actions are in retaliation for Israel's burning of large southern territories. As a result, both sides have been exchanging incendiary fire in recent days.In the past two days, vast fires have devastated areas in Rmeish, Shebaa, Khallet Warde on the outskirts of Aita al-Shaab, Markaba, Odaisseh, and the plains of Marjayoun-Khiam. Fires also ravaged the outskirts of Deir Mimas and Wazzani.  Despite being accompanied by UNIFIL, civil defense teams struggled to reach and extinguish the flames due to Israeli targeting of firefighting teams with phosphorus bombs and the use of traditional methods like slingshots and crossbows to ignite the forests. Why has the method of forest burning reached such a critical point? There is no doubt that the fire war initiated by Israel is taking on a new military dimension, emerging as a tactic that imposes itself at the expense of property, agricultural lands, and the green environment. Southern Lebanon has already lost 1695 hectares of its land to these fires.

Upcoming US envoy visit: Will Israel's decisions and actions lead to its defeat?
LBCI/June 15, 2024
As the arrival of US envoy Amos Hochstein in Tel Aviv is anticipated on Monday, Israel's War Cabinet is set to convene on Saturday evening to discuss responses to the escalating security situation on the northern border. The Israeli army's plan for a potential war with Lebanon is also scheduled for discussion during the weekly government session on Sunday. Disagreements between the military and political institutions are intensifying. The military and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant support a war with Lebanon. However, the political establishment is cautious, adhering to a US request to first achieve the objectives in Gaza, including defeating Hamas and securing a prisoner exchange deal. A security report, to be reviewed by the War Cabinet and presented to the government, highlights the Israeli army's unpreparedness for war with Lebanon due to a lack of combat units, depleted weapon stocks, and inadequate defensive systems. This leaves the home front vulnerable to significant and unpredictable risks. According to the report, the military will first consider the army's plans, but execution requires international support and assurances of weapon shipments from Washington. Minister Ron Dermer and National Security Council head Tzachi Hanegbi are scheduled to meet US officials in Washington to persuade them to expedite these deliveries. A major challenge in any war with Lebanon will be the development of defense systems, which have so far failed to detect and intercept Hezbollah's drones and missiles that have inundated northern towns, causing near-total destruction in many border areas. Parallel to the Lebanon issue, efforts to finalize a prisoner exchange deal are also at the forefront of political maneuvers. Tel Aviv has made it clear that the Israeli delegation will not participate in negotiations until Hamas agrees to the latest proposal and sends it back for Israeli review. Despite this Israeli precondition, most of the governing coalition rejects the prisoner exchange deal, advocating for intensified fighting in Gaza and pressing Hamas, along with launching a war on Lebanon without considering US demands or waiting for a potential settlement in Gaza. Security experts warn that such actions could lead to disaster and defeat for Israel.

Israeli officials reject Gallant's 'attacks' on Paris after he rejects Lebanon initiative
Agence France Presse/June 15, 2024
Senior Israeli officials said that comments by the defense minister, who rejected a French initiative to contain tensions on the Lebanese border over "hostile policies against Israel," do not reflect the government's position. French President Emmanuel Macron announced Thursday at the G7 summit in Italy that France, the United States and Israel would form a group to de-escalate soaring cross-border violence between Hezbollah and Israeli forces. But Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said on social media platform X that "Israel will not be a party to the trilateral framework proposed by France," which last month had barred Israeli defense firms from a trade show. "As we fight a just war, defending our people, France has adopted hostile policies against Israel," Gallant said, accusing Paris of ignoring attacks on Israelis by Palestinian militant group Hamas.
The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and senior officials in the foreign ministry distanced themselves from Gallant's remarks. Asked by AFP whether the comments reflected the government's position, a spokesperson for the prime minister's office said Gallant was speaking as defense minister.The foreign ministry officials described the remarks as "attacks on France." "Beyond the existing disagreements between Israel and France, the statements against France are incorrect and inappropriate," the officials said.
"France actively participated in the defense of Israel's skies and citizens and took part in the operation to thwart the Iranian missile attack" in April, they added. The officials also praised France's "clear line of condemnation and sanctions against Hamas" since the onset of the Gaza war, as well as combating of the "scourge of anti-Semitism."Macron's offer, which he said a similar one was being made to Lebanon, aims to curb near-daily exchanges of fire between Israel and Hezbollah which have escalated in recent weeks. The clashes began shortly after Hamas' October 7 attack on southern Israel that sparked the ongoing war in the Gaza Strip. French authorities in May banned Israeli defense firms from exhibiting at a trade show taking place later this month near Paris, amid global outrage over Israel's military operations in the Gaza Strip. Israel's offensive has killed at least 37,266 people in Gaza mostly civilians.

South Lebanon village shaken by deadly Israeli strike
Agence France Presse/June 15, 2024
Plumes of smoke were still billowing Friday over a south Lebanon village after a deadly Israeli strike as shopkeepers swept shattered glass and vowed to stay put despite soaring cross-border violence. Jannata had been largely spared more than eight months of clashes between Hezbollah and Israel as war rages in Gaza, but the Lebanese village was shaken by an overnight strike that officials say killed two civilians. "We were sitting on the balcony at night, and we felt a rocket fly over our heads. Then the world started to shake," resident Khadija Husseini told AFP.
On Friday morning, she found that her clothing store had been damaged in the strike which targeted a building about 200 meters away. "There was shattered glass everywhere" from the shop window, she said. Lebanon's official National News Agency said a building was hit in Jannata, 20 kilometers from the Israeli border. The village's deputy mayor, Hassan Shour, told AFP that two civilians, both women, were killed in a nearby building. They were the latest fatalities in months of near-daily exchanges of fire between Israeli forces and Hezbollah, a Hamas ally, since the Palestinian militant group's October 7 attack that triggered the Gaza war. Rescuers said at least nine people were wounded in the strike on Jannata, including an infant and two children. An AFP photographer said a three-story building had been completely destroyed. Residents said the targeted building was uninhabited, but housed a wood warehouse that had caught fire, with plumes of smoke still emanating from the wreckage on Friday.
'We will not be displaced'
The strike, which the Israeli military has not commented on, comes on the heels of a major Hezbollah attack. Hezbollah launched barrages of rockets and drones on Wednesday and Thursday targeting Israeli military sites across the border, after an Israeli strike earlier this week killed a senior commander. The violence since early October has killed at least 470 people in Lebanon, most of them fighters but also including 91 civilians, according to an AFP tally. At least 15 soldiers and 11 civilians have been killed in Israel's north, authorities say. The clashes have also pushed tens of thousands of residents on either side of the border to flee their homes for safety. But Jannata resident Huda Shour said: "We will remain on our land, we will not be displaced.""We don't care about material losses," added the 55-year-old woman, who also owns a clothing shop, as she was cleaning up glass shards scattered over the floor. "We are not intimidated by the raids on civilians," she told AFP.On Wednesday, a top Hezbollah official vowed to "increase the intensity, strength, quantity and quality of our attacks" after the Israeli military confirmed it had "eliminated" Taleb Abdallah, describing him as "one of Hezbollah's most senior commanders in southern Lebanon."A government spokesman said Israel would respond "with force" to any attacks by Hezbollah, vowing to "restore security on our northern border."Israel and Hezbollah last fought a major war in 2006, killing nearly 1,400 people including 1,200 on the Lebanese side, most of them civilians, and causing massive destruction.

Islamic Jihad says ready to send more fighters from Syria to Lebanon in case of war with Israel
Associated Press/June 15, 2024
The Syrian branch of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad militant group is prepared to send more forces to Lebanon in case Israel launches a full-scale war against Hezbollah, an Islamic Jihad official said. “All Palestinian youth look forward to facing the Israeli occupation and joining Hezbollah in this resistance,” said Ismail al-Sendawi, national relations officer for the Islamic Jihad in Syria. He spoke at a ceremony in Damascus commemorating members of the group from Syria who died fighting in Lebanon over the past eight months. Sixteen Palestinian refugees from Syria, all Islamic Jihad members, have died to date fighting on the Israel-Lebanon border. Ahmad Saleh, 62, said his 22-year-old son, Mohammad, a former factory worker, was killed in southern Lebanon in December and his older son is still fighting there. “I am proud that I am the father of a martyr. My son is a fighter for the children of Gaza and a fighter for Palestine,” he said. “I encouraged my son to join the fight in the south.”Like the larger and stronger Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad was formed in the 1980s as a radical Islamist movement to resist Israel’s occupation of Gaza. Hezbollah, which is allied with Hamas and Islamic Jihad and, like them, backed by Iran, has been clashing near-daily with Israeli forces against the backdrop of Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza. The fighting has escalated in recent weeks, raising fears of a full-scale war on the Lebanon-Israel front.

Adib Abdel Massih on LBCI: Addressing political shifts and presidential dynamics
LBCI/June 15, 2024
MP Adib Abdel Massih recently addressed his departure from the Renewal Bloc, describing the situation as complex and drawn-out. On LBCI's "Nharkom Said" TV show, Abdel Massih clarified that his decision stemmed from a desire to return to his original political alignment, emphasizing that personal differences with bloc members were not the issue. "I haven't identified the reasons behind the public discourse about our disagreements," he said. "I felt a disconnect with Renewal Bloc and sensed that I no longer fit within the group," Abdel Massih stated. He explained that his pragmatic and efficient approach to governance might have diverged from the bloc's more traditional methods, suggesting this as a possible factor contributing to his departure. Addressing the presidential election, Abdel Massih advocated for a balanced approach. "We must find a middle ground between discussions on national identity and the presidency," he urged. Regarding Hezbollah's role in southern Lebanon, Abdel Massih acknowledged their active participation in conflicts but cautioned about public opinion turning against the group if they fail to align political actions with popular sentiment. He pointed out that "there is an insistence from abroad and from within not to link the presidential file to Gaza or the south, and there is an external wish for a solution to the presidential file internally because it is not a priority for the United States." On the battlefield in the south, he said: "Hezbollah is actively involved in the war, positioned at the forefront of the artillery. Throughout history, resistance movements have been mindful of public opinion, which serves as their support base. He continued, "If Hezbollah fails to harness public sentiment in politics, public opinion could turn against them."

Joint Statement of UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon
NNA/June 15, 2024
The following is a Joint Statement of UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert and UNIFIL Head of Mission and Force Commander Lt. Gen. Aroldo Lázaro:
"As communities in Lebanon and around the world celebrate Eid Al-Adha, the UN family reiterates its call for all actors along the Blue Line to put down their weapons and commit to a path of peace.
Since October, we have seen too many lives lost, families uprooted, and neighbourhoods destroyed. We are deeply concerned about the escalation we have seen recently. The danger of miscalculation leading to a sudden and wider conflict is very real, and we continue to engage with the parties and urge all actors to cease their fire and commit to working toward a political and diplomatic solution - which is the only lasting solution. On this Eid Al-Adha, we wish everyone celebrating compassion, harmony, and - most of all - peace."

Patriarch Al-Rahi in a mass after the conclusion of the Synod: Atheists in Lebanon who believe in religious, nationalist and separatist projects have begun to destroy it from the moment of its founding.
NNA/June 15/2024 (Translated from Arabic by Google)
The Maronite Patriarch, Cardinal Mar Bechara Boutros Al-Rai, chaired the mass concluding the work of the Synod of the Maronite Church in the Church of Our Lady in the Patriarchal edifice in Bkerke, assisted by Bishops Abdullah Zidane and George Shehan, and with the participation of the Apostolic Ambassador, Monsignor Paolo Borgia, and the bishops of the sect in Lebanon and the countries of expansion.
After the Holy Gospel, the shepherd delivered a sermon entitled: “And Jesus prayed: Glory be to You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth” (Matthew 11:25), in which he said: “Today’s Gospel is divided into three sections: The first, thanks for revealing these matters to children and concealing them.” About the wise and learned; The second, the unique relationship between Jesus and the Father, and the third, the invitation to come to Him and follow Him to find rest. First, Jesus thanks his Father for hiding these things from the wise and prudent, that is, his truth and the values ​​of his kingdom, and revealing them to children and the simple. The wise and intelligent are those who are full of themselves, who are independent of God, His Christ, and the mystery of His Church. There are so many of them in our cultured and sophisticated society! Educated in everything except God. Today we return to our dioceses and our place of work, and they have provided us with spiritual exercise and the Holy Synod. We carry a lot of good intentions to bear witness to the risen Christ, teach our people the secret of Christ and the Church, and bring them out of their ignorance.”
He added: “Secondly, Christ explains to us the relationship of communion between Himself and the Father and the complete knowledge between them. He shows us that in the Son we know all the mystery of the Father. “He who has seen me will see the Father,” as our Lord one day said to his disciple Philip. In the Son we see and know all the mystery of the Father. And had it not been The Son, since we have no access to know the Father. The Son is the radiance of the Father, the radiance of his glory, and the image of his essence. Thirdly, he calls us to him who are burdened, so that we may learn from him meekness and humility of heart, so that we may find rest for our souls. Meekness is the third beatitude from the Gospel of the Beatitudes They will inherit the earth” (Matthew 5:5). The humble, or poor in spirit, is the first beatitude: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, or the meek, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:3). The humble is like a tree with many fruits, for it bends and does not move with every wind. While the arrogant is like a fruitless tree whose branches grow tall and move with every wind. As Lebanese, we look forward to our national unity that brings us together under one homeland that we are proud of. The believers in Lebanon, who are from all sects and regions, thought that they had accomplished their mission with the establishment of the state, the restoration of stability, and the approval of the “Taif Agreement.” They expected that the tribulations and wars that the Lebanese experienced would be sufficient for them to draw lessons and become convinced of Lebanon’s entity, its specificity, its neutrality, and its identity. But the “atheists in Lebanon” who believe in religious, nationalist, and separatist projects, and they also come from all sects and regions, began to destroy it, from the moment of its founding, and all the concessions, political settlements, and constitutional amendments did not help them.”He continued: “The failure to elect a president of the republic is at this intersection between these two groups. If the intentions are clear, they will agree on a president who brings them together, as Lebanon cannot be left without a president. The country cannot tolerate any political, economic, security, constitutional, and life delay for the House of Representatives, the government, and all state institutions.” What is required of this president: to ensure that loyalty to Lebanon coincides with its being “a final homeland for all its people,” as the Constitution stipulates (Preamble A), and to work to resolve the discrepancy between the Lebanese components regarding the common history, as it is impossible to agree on a history book, and there is no nation. Without a history book, and working to heal the split in the sense of belonging to one national conscience, one cause, and one future, and working to put an end to the spread of foreign loyalties that contradict Lebanon’s interests and contradict each other, and working to heal the collapse of the unified Lebanese state, which is the constitutional, legal, and institutional framework of the nation, the homeland, and the entity. .The shepherd concluded: “We ask our mother, the Virgin Mary, to give us from God how to recognize His signs in our lives. So we raise glory and praise to Him now and forever, Amen.”

The final statement of the Maronite Church Synod: There is no priority higher than electing the president
NNA/June 15, 2024
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/archives/130751/130751/
The Synod of Bishops of the Maronite Church met in its regular session from June 5 to June 15, 2024, in the Patriarchal See in Bkerke, at the invitation of the Maronite Patriarch, Cardinal Bechara Boutros Al-Rai, and in the presence of the bishops and exarchs coming from the dioceses of Lebanon, the patriarchal domain, and the countries of expansion, carrying in their hearts the affairs of their sons and daughters, their sorrows, their expectations, and their aspirations. . They participated in the first phase, from June 5 to June 8, 2024, in the spiritual exercise delivered by sermons delivered by Father George the Shield, the Lebanese missionary, on the topic “With prayer we face crises.” In a second phase, from June 10 to 15, 2024, they participated in the work of the Synod, which the pastor began with an opening speech in which he reviewed the agenda. After they prayed together and listened to the voice of God and the inspirations of the Holy Spirit, they thanked God for the blessing of holiness that He had renewed for their church after the Supreme Pontiff, Pope Francis, agreed to declare the sainthood of the blessed “martyrs, the three Masbakite brothers,” and to announce the beatification of the honorable Patriarch Estephan Douaihy, who will be celebrated in Bkerke on August 2, 2024. Then they discussed ecclesiastical and pastoral affairs, focusing in particular on social and national affairs, and discussed them in a fraternal spirit and synodal partnership that was evident in listening, dialogue, and discernment. They took appropriate ecclesiastical measures. At the conclusion of the council, the attendees issued a detaled statement

Beirut airport busy with Eid visitors despite tense security situation
NAJIA HOUSSARI/Arab News/June 15, 2024
BEIRUT: Beirut’s Rafic Hariri International Airport witnessed an influx of arrivals on Saturday as Lebanese expatriates and tourists ignored the hostilities in the south and traveled to celebrate the Eid Al-Adha holiday. European embassies had earlier issued warnings against visiting Lebanon because of the tense security situation, but these failed to deter expatriates and visitors, mainly from Iraq and Egypt, arriving for Eid. On the eve of the holiday, there was a noticeable discrepancy in the prices of sacrificial animals in the Lebanese market, along with an unjustified increase in meat prices. Majed Eid, secretary of the Syndicate of Butchers, Importers, and Traders of Live Livestock, said that imports of sacrificial animals from abroad had fallen this year compared with previous years. The security situation in the Tyre area has led to reduced shopping activities as Eid approaches, despite the substantial influx of expatriates who typically boost commercial and economic activity there. Tyre Traders Association Secretary Ghazwan Halawani said that the preparations for Eid seemed ordinary, with no noticeable improvement in commercial activity, sales, or market visitors. He attributed the decline to anxiety over military operations on the border and Israeli attacks on civilians. On the eve of Eid Al-Adha, thousands of families from the southern region headed to their villages near the border despite the hostilities. Issa, a butcher, planned to spend the holiday with his family, even though his area had been sporadically shelled in the past few months. “Nothing will happen to us except what God has destined for us,” he said. The Eid holiday will be challenging for the people of the south, especially those who fled their villages eight months ago.
Eid Al-Adha presents significant challenges for the displaced southerners, with almost 100,000 people forced to leave their villages. Nabatieh Gov. Hwaida Turk told Arab News that 65 towns in Nabatieh Governorate had been subjected to “systematic shelling and fires due to Israeli attacks.”
Some towns were almost destroyed, she said. Turk said that residents of the front-line towns, especially in the Marjayoun and Hasbaya areas, did not return for Eid. However, villages and towns to the rear are crowded with displaced people alongside their original inhabitants.She said the people in the southern region tried to celebrate Eid with hope despite the difficult economic conditions. Hezbollah kept up retaliatory attacks on Israel on Saturday, days after an airstrike killed one of its commanders. Aerial attacks on both sides escalated, with Hezbollah saying that it carried out an attack “with a fleet of suicide drones on the Khirbet Maer base, destroying part of it.” The attack was in response to the killing of a senior Hezbollah commander, Sami Hassan Taleb, nicknamed Abu Taleb, along with three others, in an Israeli attack on their location in Jouaiyya several days ago. Israeli Army Radio reported that a fire erupted in the Goren settlement in western Galilee after several Hezbollah drones struck the area. As part of the escalation, Hezbollah targeted the headquarters of the air surveillance and operations management unit at the Meron base. Israeli media outlets said that “two anti-armor missiles launched from the Meron base were targeted.”Hezbollah said that it struck a group of Israeli soldiers at the Hadab Yaron site with a missile, killing or injuring several. An Israeli military drone strike early on Saturday killed a motorcyclist at the Bint Jbeil–Maroun Ras intersection. Another person was injured in the resulting fire. The outskirts of Deir Mimas and the Aaziyyeh Hill were subject to phosphorus shelling, causing fires to erupt in forests.Israeli army spokesperson Avichay Adraee claimed that “an air force plane targeted a Hezbollah vandal in Aitaroun,” adding that “the Israeli army shelled the area with artillery.”

Latest English LCCC Miscellaneous Reports And News published on June 15-16/2024
8 Israeli soldiers killed in southern Gaza
JERUSALEM (AP)June 15, 2024
Israel's military said Saturday that eight soldiers were killed in southern Gaza in the deadliest attack on Israeli forces in months. Only one of the dead troops was identified by the army. No further information was immediately available. The deaths will likely fuel calls for a cease-fire and heighten Israeli public anger over ultra-Orthodox exemptions from the military. In January, 21 Israeli troops were killed in a single attack by Palestinian militants in Gaza. Months of cease-fire negotiations have failed to find common ground between Israeli and Hamas. On Wednesday, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that Hamas proposed changes to a U.S.-backed plan, some of which he said were “workable” and some not, without elaborating. Israel’s bombardment and ground offensives in Gaza have killed more than 37,000 Palestinians, according to Palestinian health officials, who don’t give the breakdown of civilians and fighters. The war has also driven about 80% of the population of 2.3 million from their homes, and Israeli restrictions and ongoing fighting have hindered efforts to bring in humanitarian aid, fueling widespread hunger. Israel launched its campaign after Hamas and other militants stormed into Israel on Oct. 7, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and taking around 250 hostage. Over 100 hostages were released during a weeklong cease-fire last year in exchange for Palestinians imprisoned by Israel. Hamas is believed to be holding around 80 hostages and the remains of another 40.

Israeli Druze leader: We must be equals in everyday life, not just in mourning
Jerusalem Post/June 15/2024
The head of the Beit Jann Local Authority, Attorney Nazih Dabbour, announced that all planned celebrations of the Muslim and Druze holiday of Eid-al-Adha are to be cancelled. The head of the Druze community in Israel, Sheikh Muafak Tarif, commented on the community's contribution and sacrifice to Israel's security following the announcement of the death of Capt. Wassem Mahmoud in Rafah on Saturday, Maariv reported. "The Druze community pays once again a very heavy price in this war. Capt. Waseem Mahmoud, may his memory be blessed, from Beit Jann, joins a long list of fallen Druze who sacrificed their lives for the security of the state since the outbreak of the war." He then expressed sympathy for Mahmoud's family, and said,"The family, who hoped and waited for their officer son to return home for the holiday, receives this terrible news on the holiday eve. Their son will return, but to eternal rest."
Tarif continued, "Once again, we discover in the battlefield the partnership and equality in bearing the burden and loss. This partnership and equality must also be in everyday life, but sadly, this is not the case. The Druze community must be equal partners not only in battle and mourning but also in life." He concluded, "The Druze community grieves and shares in the sorrow of the families of the fallen soldiers, including Captain Waseem. May his memory and the memory of all the fallen be cherished in our hearts forever." The Chairman of the Druze forum against the Nation State Law, Dr. Amir Hanifas commented on Mahmoud's death and expressed condemnation of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government, YNet reported. "The pain is immense, and the most terrible thing is that the malicious government still sanctifies racist and unequal laws like the Nation State Law and the Draft Evasion Law. Shame! The Druze community and the citizens of Israel deserve a worthy government today, lest it be too late." The Nation State Law is a reference to the 2018 Basic Law which granted the Jewish people alone the right to self-determination and gave Hebrew the status of Israel's only official language. The Druze community has been outspoken in their opposition to this law. Head of Beit Jann Local Authority cancels holiday celebrations. The head of the Beit Jann Local Authority, Attorney Nazih Dabbour, announced that all planned celebrations of the Muslim and Druze holiday of Eid-al-Adha are to be cancelled following the news of Mahmoud's death, according to YNet. Eid-al-Adha is on Sunday. "Following the painful and heartbreaking event that has struck the village and the death of the young soldier Waseem Mahmoud, we are announcing the suspension and cancellation of all planned celebrations," Dabbour said. "May the memory of the deceased be blessed, and may his family be comforted from heaven," he added.

Capt. Wassem Mahmoud, seven other IDF soldiers killed in Rafah blast
Jerusalem Post/June 15/2024
A preliminary investigation reveals that the incident occurred around five in the morning. IDF soldiers from the 401st Brigade had just completed an attack in Tal as-Sultan. Capt. Wassem Mahmoud, 23, from Beit Jann, and seven other IDF soldiers were killed in an explosion of an armored vehicle in Rafah, the IDF announced on Saturday. Mahmoud was a deputy company commander in Battalion 601 of the Combat Engineers Brigade. IDF Spokesperson Daniel Hagari on Saturday night said that the IDF is currently investigating the incident as well as the armored vehicle that the soldiers were in. "The explosion was either caused by a planted explosive or anti-tank fire, the incident is still being investigated," Hagari said. He added that the IDF will not announce the names of the additional soldiers until they finish the investigation. Mahmoud's uncle, Sharif Ghanem, said his nephew returned to fight in the Gaza Strip after being injured at the start of the war, YNet reported. "A great tragedy has befallen us. Waseem was injured at the beginning of the war by shrapnel that penetrated his arm. He was supposed to undergo surgery, but he postponed it until the end of the war. Waseem was a determined and brave fighter, everyone loved him," he said. Sharif shared that, "Waseem was supposed to start his studies in March, but he postponed them because his main focus was the army and his unit, and ensuring the security of the country. His mother is completely devastated, he was the beating heart of her life. Everyone is mourning today for the son and nephew we have lost."The explosion occurred in the Tal as-Sultan neighborhood of Rafah.
IDF investigates explosion
The IDF is investigating whether the armored vehicle was damaged by an explosive device under the vehicle or by an explosive device attached to the side of the vehicle. Another possibility that is being examined is that a malfunction in the explosives the vehicle was carrying caused the explosion. A preliminary investigation revealed that the incident occurred around five in the morning. IDF soldiers from the 401st Brigade had just completed an attack in Tal as-Sultan. The soldiers from the attacking brigades included the 932nd Battalion and the 424th Battalion. A company from the 601st Combat Engineering Battalion joined these battalions. While driving through a luxurious area of the neighborhood, a massive explosion was heard, which caused the armored vehicle to explode and catch fire. The vehicle was severely damaged. All the occupants of the vehicle, eight combat engineering soldiers, were killed on the spot. The vehicle's exterior sides contained large amounts of explosives, including demolition blocks, mines, and more. Recommended byWhat is Outbrain. The IDF stated that the explosives were located on the exterior sides of the vehicle so that if an explosion occured, these explosives were not supposed to harm the soldiers in the vehicle's combat compartment.

Islamic Jihad says only way to free Israeli hostages is Gaza withdrawal, prisoner deal
REUTERS/June 15, 2024
CAIRO: The armed wing of Palestinian Islamic Jihad said on Saturday the only way to return Israeli hostages is through Israel’s withdrawal from Gaza, ending its offensive and reaching a deal for exchanging Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners. The spokesman of Al-Quds Brigades, the armed wing of the Palestinian group, made the remarks in a video posted on Telegram. Islamic Jihad is a smaller ally of the militant Islamist group Hamas, which led a rampage in southern Israel on Oct. 7 in which 1,200 people were killed and over 250 taken hostage, according to Israeli tallies. More than 100 hostages are believed to remain captive in Gaza, although at least 40 have been declared dead in absentia by Israeli authorities. At least 37,296 Palestinians have been killed in Israel’s military campaign to eliminate Hamas, according to the Gaza health ministry.

Qatar and Egypt plan talks with Hamas on Gaza ceasefire: White House
REUTERS/June 16, 2024
BUERGENSTOCK, Switzerland: White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said on Saturday that mediators for Qatar and Egypt plan to engage Hamas militants soon to see if there is a way to push ahead with a Gaza ceasefire proposal offered by US President Joe Biden. Sullivan spoke to reporters on the sidelines of a Ukraine peace summit and was asked about diplomatic efforts to get an agreement for Hamas to release some hostages held since Oct. 7 in exchange for a ceasefire lasting at least six weeks. Sullivan said he had spoken briefly to one of the main interlocutors, Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, and that they would speak again about Gaza on Sunday while both are in Switzerland for the Ukraine conference. Hamas has welcomed the ceasefire proposal, but insists any agreement must secure an end to the war, a demand Israel still rejects. Israel described Hamas’s response to the new US peace proposal as total rejection. Sullivan said that US officials have taken a close look at Hamas’s response. “We think some of the edits are not unexpected and can be managed. Some of them are inconsistent both with what President Biden laid out and what the UN Security Council endorsed. And we are having to deal with that reality,” he said. He said US officials believe there remains an avenue to an agreement and that the next step will be for Qatari and Egyptian mediators to talk to Hamas and “go through what can be worked with and what really can’t be worked with.”
“We anticipate a back-and-forth between the mediators and Hamas. We’ll see where we stand at that point. We will keep consulting with the Israelis and then hopefully at some point next week we’ll be able to report to you where we think things stand and what we see as being the next step to try to bring this to closure,” he said.

Rafah blast kills 8 IDF soldiers early Saturday morning
Mike Heuer/United Press International/June 15, 2024
An explosion claimed the lives of eight Israel Defense Forces soldiers returning from an overnight operation at about 5 a.m. local time Saturday in Rafah in southern Gaza. The fatalities made the explosion the deadliest event for the IDF since January in its war against Hamas that began in October. The IDF identified Capt. Wassem Mahmoud, 23, of the 601st Battalion Combat Engineering Corps, as among the eight fatalities. The IDF will name the seven others later though the families have been notified. Israel's foreign minister Israel Katz posted on X it was "a difficult Saturday." "Eight of our best sons were killed in Rafah," he said. "While knowing the price, they bravely entered Gaza to complete the mission of destroying Hamas and freeing the hostages." The soldiers were traveling in a Namer armored combat engineering vehicle, the IDF said. The Namer was part of a convoy returning from an overnight operation with the 401st Armored Brigade that killed an estimated 50 Hamas militants in Rafah's Tel Sultan neighborhood. The convoy was going to buildings the IDF captured to enable the troops to rest from the overnight operation. The armored vehicle was in the convoy's fifth or sixth position when the explosion occurred due to an unknown cause. The IDF said the armored vehicle was carrying explosives stored outside its passenger compartment, which might have amplified the blast. An initial IDF investigation said there was no gunfire from Hamas and the Namer was moving when the explosion occurred. IDF officials said they don't know if a bomb was planted in advance or a Hamas militant on foot might have planted the explosive on the moving vehicle. The deaths raise the IDF's death toll to 307 since the start of the ground offensive in Gaza following Hamas' Oct. 7 attack on the Nova Music Festival and nearby civilian areas in Israel. Hamas militants killed 1,200 and kidnapped 250 civilians, nearly half of whom were released while others remain in captivity or have been killed. The United States designated Hamas a foreign terrorist organization on Oct. 8, 1997.

White House: Qatar and Egypt plan talks with Hamas on Gaza ceasefire
Steve Holland/BUERGENSTOCK, Switzerland (Reuters)/June 15, 2024
White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said on Saturday that mediators for Qatar and Egypt plan to engage Hamas militants soon to see if there is a way to push ahead with a Gaza ceasefire proposal offered by U.S. President Joe Biden. Sullivan spoke to reporters on the sidelines of a Ukraine peace summit and was asked about diplomatic efforts to get an agreement for Hamas to release some hostages held since Oct. 7 in exchange for a ceasefire lasting at least six weeks. Sullivan said he had spoken briefly to one of the main interlocutors, Qatar's Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, and that they would speak again about Gaza on Sunday while both are in Switzerland for the Ukraine conference. Hamas has welcomed the ceasefire proposal, but insists any agreement must secure an end to the war, a demand Israel still rejects. Israel described Hamas's response to the new U.S. peace proposal as total rejection. Sullivan said that U.S. officials have taken a close look at Hamas's response. "We think some of the edits are not unexpected and can be managed. Some of them are inconsistent both with what President Biden laid out and what the U.N. Security Council endorsed. And we are having to deal with that reality," he said. He said U.S. officials believe there remains an avenue to an agreement and that the next step will be for Qatari and Egyptian mediators to talk to Hamas and "go through what can be worked with and what really can’t be worked with." "We anticipate a back-and-forth between the mediators and Hamas. We’ll see where we stand at that point. We will keep consulting with the Israelis and then hopefully at some point next week we’ll be able to report to you where we think things stand and what we see as being the next step to try to bring this to closure," he said.

Palestinian teenager killed in West Bank raid
REUTERS/June 15, 2024
RAMALLAH: The Palestinian Health Ministry said Israeli troops shot dead a Palestinian teenager in the occupied West Bank on Saturday, as an army official confirmed troops opened fire during a raid. Sultan Abdul Rahman Khatatbeh, 16, was killed by Israeli fire in the northern West Bank town of Beit Furik, the ministry said in a statement published on Facebook. Palestinian news agency Wafa reported that two others were injured when Israeli forces stormed the town east of Nablus, “firing live bullets at local residents.”
HIGHLIGHTS
• Sultan Abdul Rahman Khatatbeh, 16, was killed by Israeli fire in the northern West Bank town of Beit Furik.
• Two others were injured when Israeli forces stormed the town east of Nablus, ‘firing live bullets at local residents.’
An Israeli military official said that troops were operating in the Nablus area when “dozens of suspects hurled rocks at Israeli security forces, who responded with riot dispersal means and live fire.”“Hits were identified,” the official said. The West Bank, which Israel has occupied since 1967, has seen a surge in violence for more than a year, particularly since the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza erupted on Oct. 7.At least 546 Palestinians have been killed in the territory by Israeli troops or settlers since the Gaza war broke out, according to Palestinian officials. At least 37,296 Palestinians have been killed in Israel’s military campaign, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. Also on Saturday, the armed wing of Palestinian Islamic Jihad said the only way to return Israeli hostages is through Israel’s withdrawal from Gaza, ending its offensive and reaching a deal for exchanging Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners. The spokesman of Al-Quds Brigades, the armed wing of the Palestinian group, made the remarks in a video posted on Telegram.

Israel bombards Gaza as truce efforts fail to make progress
Agence France Presse/June 15, 2024
Israeli forces struck Gaza and battled Hamas militants on Friday as truce efforts failed to make progress. Witnesses reported strikes on the southern city of Rafah and central areas of the Gaza Strip. At Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in the central city of Deir al-Balah, men gathered over the body of an 11-year-old boy who died during a bombardment of nearby Bureij refugee camp. In a black singlet, the child lay on a floor smeared with fresh blood, a white bandage covering the top half of his face, AFP images showed. The Israeli military said troops continued operations in central Gaza, where warplanes struck a militant cell in the Zeitun area. Witnesses in Rafah, on Gaza's southern border with Egypt, reported helicopter fire, while Hamas's armed wing said its militants fired mortar rounds at Israeli troops near the Tal al-Sultan neighborhood. The war began after Hamas' unprecedented October 7 attack on southern Israel, which Israel says resulted in the deaths of 1,194 people. The militants also seized 251 hostages. Of these, 116 remain in Gaza, although the army says 41 are dead. Israel's retaliatory offensive has killed at least 37,266 people in Gaza, also mostly civilians, according to the Hamas-ruled territory's health ministry.
The toll includes at least 34 deaths over the past 24 hours, the ministry said on Friday. During a Middle East trip this week to push a Gaza ceasefire plan, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said "the best way" to help resolve the Hezbollah-Israel violence was "a resolution of the conflict in Gaza and getting a ceasefire."
Truce 'hang-up' -
At a summit of G7 leaders in Italy, U.S. President Joe Biden called Hamas "the biggest hang-up so far" to reaching a deal on a Gaza truce and hostage release. The Palestinian group has insisted on the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza and a permanent ceasefire, demands Israel has repeatedly rejected. Blinken has said Israel backs the latest plan, but Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, whose far-right coalition partners are strongly opposed, has not publicly endorsed it. Biden's roadmap for the first truce since a week-long pause and hostage-prisoner release in November includes a six-week ceasefire, hostage releases and Gaza's reconstruction. The World Food Program said that "as fighting escalates in the south and center of Gaza, the toll on civilians is devastating."But "with lawlessness inside the Strip... and active conflict," it has become "close to impossible to deliver the level of aid that meets the growing demands on the ground," the U.N. agency's deputy executive director Carl Skau said. "More than anything, people want this war to end," Skau added in a statement after a two-day visit to Gaza. The World Health Organization has said more than 8,000 children under five have been treated for acute malnutrition in Gaza. AFP images from Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital showed the grieving family of a 10-year-old boy who died suffering from malnutrition. His limbs appeared thin and his ribcage was clearly visible.
U.S. sanctions -
The United States, Israel's close ally, imposed sanctions Friday on an Israeli group whose activists have blocked Gaza-bound aid convoys. "Individuals from Tzav 9 have repeatedly sought to thwart the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza, including by blockading roads, sometimes violently," the U.S. State Department said. "They also have damaged aid trucks and dumped life-saving humanitarian aid onto the road."G7 leaders in a statement at the end of their summit urged the "rapid and unimpeded passage of humanitarian relief for civilians in need," and said the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, must be allowed to work unhindered in Gaza. Israel had accused 12 of the agency's 13,000 Gaza staff of involvement in the October 7 attack, prompting a number of donor governments to temporarily suspend their contributions. An independent review said Israel did not support its claims with evidence. The G7 statement also called for aid flow through "all relevant land crossing points" including the Rafah border, which has been shut since Israeli forces launched a ground operation in the city in early May. As Muslims worldwide prepare to mark Eid al-Adha starting Sunday, Gazans lamented the shortages of essential goods."There is no Eid spirit," Mohammed Shabat, who like most of Gaza's population has been displaced by the war, said outside his tent in Deir al-Balah.

U.S. military destroys radars that allowed Houthis to target ships
Ehren Wynder/UPI/June 15, 2024
 U.S. forces have launched a barrage of attacks destroying Houthi radar sites that helped the group target commercial shipping vessels, according to U.S. Central Command. CENTCOM said in a post on X Friday that the U.S. military over the past 24 hours destroyed seven radars in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen, as well as several of their sea and aerial drones. "It was determined these systems presented an imminent threat to U.S., coalition forces, and merchant vessels in the region," CENTCOM said in the post. "This action was taken to protect freedom of navigation and make international waters safer and more secure for U.S., coalition and merchant vessels." The strikes come after Houthi rebels on Wednesday damaged the M/V Tutor, a 44,000-ton Greek-owned bulk carrier while it was navigating the Red Sea about 66 miles southwest of the port of Hudaydah. The attack on the ship caused severe flooding and damage to the engine room. Most of the crew abandoned ship and was rescued by U.S. and allied forces. One crew member was declared missing. The Tutor is still in the Red Sea and is taking on water, according to CENTCOM. The U.K. Maritime Trade Operations reported the vessel is drifting from its last known position. The Houthis on Thursday also attacked the Ukrainian-owned M/V Verbena in the Gulf of Aden, injuring one crew member and causing fires on board. Houthi rebels have said they are targeting vessels in the Red Sea to help bring an end to Israel's war on Hamas in Gaza, but these recent attacks have been against vessels from countries that have no connection to the fighting. "This continued reckless behavior by the Iranian-backed Houthis threatens regional stability and endangers the lives of mariners across the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden," CENTCOM said in a statement after the Verbena attack. "The Houthis claim to be acting on behalf of Palestinians in Gaza and yet they are targeting and threatening the lives of third country nationals who have nothing to do with the conflict in Gaza."

Ukraine conference draft communique calls out Russia’s war on Ukraine
REUTERS/June 16, 2024
BUERGENSTOCK, Switzerland: A draft communique for a summit of world leaders convened to pursue a pathway for peace in Ukraine makes reference to Russia’s “war” against Kyiv and urges that Ukraine’s territorial integrity be respected, according to a copy of the document seen by Reuters.
The final communique is due to be issued on Sunday at the conclusion of the two-day conference at the Buergenstock resort in central Switzerland. The draft was dated June 13. The Swiss government has said it hopes the final summit declaration will be supported unanimously by participants. The document tracked certain changes made to the draft. The document also calls for the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant to be restored to Ukrainian control and for Kyiv’s access to its Azov sea ports to be safeguarded. More than 90 countries are taking part in the conference, but China’s absence in particular dimmed hopes the summit would show Russia as globally isolated, while recent military reverses have put Kyiv on the back foot. China has shunned the summit and it was dismissed as a waste of time by Russia, which pushed its own rival ceasefire plans from afar. The war in Gaza between Israel and Hamas has also diverted the world’s attention from Ukraine. The talks focused on broader concerns triggered by the war, such as food and nuclear security. But Turkiye and Saudi Arabia, both mooted hosts for another such event, said meaningful progress required Russia’s participation. A draft of a final summit declaration, seen by Reuters, blames Russia’s “war” in Ukraine for causing “large-scale human suffering and destruction” and urges Ukraine’s territorial integrity to be respected. The document, dated June 13, also calls for Kyiv to regain control of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant and access to its sea ports. The draft had deleted an earlier reference to Russian “aggression” where “war” is cited.Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky trumpeted the summit’s attendance as a success and predicted “history being made.” “Today is the day when the world begins to bring a just peace closer,” he told leaders assembled around a giant rectangular table.
US President Joe Biden sent his deputy Kamala Harris to represent him — a decision that had riled Kyiv. Harris announced more than $1.5 billion in energy and humanitarian aid for Ukraine, where infrastructure has been pounded by Russian airstrikes since the 2022 full-scale invasion. On the eve of the summit, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Russia would end the war if Kyiv agreed to drop its NATO ambitions and hand over four provinces claimed by Moscow. The conditions apparently reflected Moscow’s growing confidence its forces have the upper hand. But they were swiftly rejected by Ukraine and its allies. “He’s calling for surrender,” Harris said, adding: “Let nothing about the end of this war be decided without Ukraine.”“Freezing the conflict today, with foreign troops occupying Ukrainian land, is not the answer. It is a recipe for future wars of aggression,” added European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
China and Russia
China said it would boycott the event after Russia was frozen out of the process, with the US suggesting Beijing’s decision was taken at Moscow’s behest. “Putin has no interest in a genuine peace,” said British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. “He has launched a sustained diplomatic campaign against this summit ordering countries to stay away, spinning a phoney narrative about his willingness to negotiate.” Avoiding some of the most difficult issues, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz compared the summit to “a small plant that needs watering, nurturing and delicate care” that would yield results further down the line.
But countries including Turkiye, Saudi Arabia and Kenya noted Russia’s absence as a hurdle.“I must also note that this summit could have been more result-oriented if the other party to the conflict, Russia, was present in the room,” said Turkiye’s foreign minister, Hakan Fidan. Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud said credible talks would involve “difficult compromise.” Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer saw an opportunity to start building a broader global consensus to pressure Russia. “It’s like we’re in a Western echo chamber. That is: all Western European countries, the USA, we agree on what we want to happen with Ukraine,” Nehammer said. “But that alone is not enough.”Calls for Russia to be at the table will only get stronger over time, said Bob Deen, senior research fellow at the Netherlands-based Clingendael Institute think-tank. “There is a risk that if Ukraine waits too long, it might end up with rival formats popping up. It may risk losing the initiative,” Deen told a forum on the summit’s sidelines. Supporters of Ukraine marked the talks with a series of events in the nearby city of Lucerne to draw attention to the war’s humanitarian costs. Dozens of Ukrainian refugees from choirs around Switzerland converged in a public square to sing Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy.”Earlier about 250 people gathered in the center of the city, many wrapped in Ukrainian flags, wearing traditional clothes and carrying pictures of missing brothers, husbands or sons as they shared their stories.
“I’m clinging to the idea that my husband is still alive,” said Svitlana Bilous, the wife of a soldier who has been missing for more than 14 months. “That’s what keeps me going.”

Leaders head to Ukraine peace summit under shadow of Putin demands
Agence France Presse/June 15, 2024
World leaders headed to Switzerland on Saturday for a first summit on peace in Ukraine, after Vladimir Putin demanded Kyiv effectively surrender if it ultimately wants negotiations with Moscow. The two-day gathering at the luxury Burgenstock resort brings together Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and more than 50 other heads of state and government, but without Russia taking part. Switzerland says the aim is to lay the early groundwork for a path to peace eventually involving Moscow, but Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday branded the summit a "trick to distract everyone". He said Moscow, which launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, would cease fire and begin peace talks "immediately" if Kyiv pulled its troops out of the east and south and gave up its NATO membership bid. Zelensky slammed Putin's demands as a territorial "ultimatum" reminiscent of Nazi Germany's dictator Adolf Hitler, while NATO and the United States also immediately rejected the hardline conditions. After almost a year of stalemate, Ukraine was forced to abandon dozens of frontline settlements this spring, with Russian troops holding a significant advantage in manpower and resources.
But since mid-May, Russian progress has slowed and Zelensky hopes to swing the momentum further with the back-to-back G7 and peace summits.
G7 $50 bn, security deal -
The G7 summit in Italy, which Zelensky attended, offered on Thursday a new $50 billion loan for Ukraine, using profits from the interest on frozen Russian assets. Leaders of the Group of Seven rich democracies said they would support Ukraine "for as long as it takes." Zelensky said the new loan would go towards "both defence and reconstruction", while Putin branded the move as "theft", warning it would "not go unpunished." Meanwhile, a landmark 10-year security deal signed by Zelensky and U.S. President Joe Biden on Thursday will see the United States provide Ukraine with military aid and training, with Zelensky calling it a bridge to joining the NATO defence alliance. Biden will not go from Italy to Switzerland, sending instead his Vice President Kamala Harris, while the other G7 leaders from Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Japan and Italy are due to attend. The EU chiefs and the presidents of Argentina, Colombia, Chile, Finland and Poland are among the others heading to Switzerland. The Summit on Peace in Ukraine aims to see the 92 attending countries agree a final declaration on some tentative basic principles. Russia's BRICS allies Brazil and South Africa are only sending an envoy, and India will be represented at the ministerial level, while China will not take part at all without Moscow's presence.
Finding common ground -
The summit is being held at the ultra-exclusive Burgenstock hotel complex perched high above Lake Lucerne in classic picture-postcard Swiss scenery. The gathering will focus on narrow themes, based on common ground between Zelensky's 10-point peace plan presented in late 2022, and U.N. resolutions on the war that passed with widespread support. The summit aims to find paths towards a lasting peace for Ukraine, based on international law and the United Nations Charter; a possible framework to achieve this goal; and a roadmap as to how both parties could come together in a future peace process. Experts have warned against too-high expectations from the gathering. "Meaningful negotiations that could truly end the devastating war in Ukraine remain out of reach, as both Kyiv and Moscow stick to theories of victory that amount to outlasting the other," the International Crisis Group think tank said.
"Kyiv and its backers will be hard pressed to get tangible results from the meeting... beyond reaffirmations of the UN Charter's principles of territorial integrity."
Nuclear, food, humanitarian focus -
A plenary session involving all delegations will be held on Saturday. On Sunday, three topics will be discussed in detail in working groups: nuclear safety, freedom of navigation and food security, and humanitarian aspects. These will look at Black Sea shipping, prisoners of war, civilian detainees and deported children. A second summit is envisaged, and Zelensky's chief of staff Andriy Yermak said Tuesday that Kyiv hoped Russia would attend and receive a "joint plan" presented by the other attendees. The Burgenstock mountain is surrounded by the lake on three sides and the hotel complex is on a ridge some 450 metres above the water, making it relatively easy to seal off from traditional physical threats. However, the Swiss government said its websites have been repeatedly hit with cyberattacks in the build-up to the summit, and has noted a surge in misinformation. Samuel Charap, a Russia expert at the RAND think tank, said of the Swiss summit: "Russia is clearly going out of its way to demonstrate its pique with it... that tells you something. "Avoiding the expansion of the pro-Ukraine coalition: they're concerned about this," he told AFP.

Ukrainian forces strike Russian airbase with at least 70 drones, targeting Su-34 jets used to drop glide bombs
Nathan Rennolds/Business Insider/June 15, 2024
Ukraine targeted an airbase in Russia's Rostov region with at least 70 drones, an official said. Kyrylo Budanov, the head of the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine, confirmed the attack to The War Zone. The operation targeted Su-34 bombers used by Russia to drop glide bombs on Ukraine. Ukraine struck a military airbase in Russia with at least 70 drones on Thursday, Lt. Gen. Kyrylo Budanov, the head of the Defense Intelligence Directorate of Ukraine, told The War Zone. The mass attack was launched at Morozovsk airbase in Russia's Rostov region, almost 200 miles from the Ukrainian border. A satellite image of an airfield close to Morozovsk shows what appear to be multiple Su-34 fighter-bombers. A security source told Sky News that the Ukrainian attack was designed to target the jets that Russia has used to drop powerful glide bombs on Ukraine. They added that the strikes were part of a "sustained campaign to degrade the Russian Air Force."The extent of the damage caused by the attack is not yet known. Budanov told The War Zone that they were "waiting for information" on whether any targets were destroyed or damaged. But one Russian Telegram channel, The Kremlin Snuff Box, claimed that six Russian military personnel were killed in the strikes, citing sources in the Russian General Staff. "Most of the drones were shot down, a few failed. We have six dead, including two military pilots. And more than ten wounded," one source said, per the channel. It is not the first time that Ukraine has targeted the Morozovsk airbase. In early April, Ukrainian forces carried out another large drone assault on the site, destroying "at least six fighter bombers," damaging another eight planes, and killing 20 Russian soldiers, a Ukrainian law enforcement official told Politico. A video shared on social media at the time appeared to show the strikes. Russia has increasingly used glide bombs — some weighing more than 3,000 pounds — to batter Ukrainian targets. The cheap projectiles are made by attaching wings and satellite navigation systems to old Soviet-era bombs. Russian bombers are then able to release them from safer distances, making it hard for Ukraine to counter such attacks. Ukraine's foreign minister, Dmytro Kuleba, said in March that Russia's use of the bombs was its "main advantage on the battlefield," allowing its forces "to destroy the targets of the strikes and advance through the ruins."

World leaders join Ukraine summit in test of Kyiv's peace push
Steve Holland and Dave Graham/BUERGENSTOCK, Switzerland June 15, 2024
World leaders gathered at a Swiss Alpine resort on Saturday to seek broader consensus for Ukraine's peace proposals at a summit shunned by China and dismissed as a waste of time by Russia, which pushed its own rival ceasefire plans from afar. More than 90 countries took part, but China's absence in particular dimmed hopes the summit would show Russia as globally isolated, while recent military reverses have put Kyiv on the back foot. The war in Gaza between Israel and Hamas has also diverted the world's attention from Ukraine. The talks focused on broader concerns triggered by the war, such as food and nuclear security. But Turkey and Saudi Arabia, both mooted hosts for another such event, said meaningful progress required Russia's participation. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy trumpeted the wide attendance as a success and predicted "history being made"."Today is the day when the world begins to bring a just peace closer," he told leaders assembled around a giant rectangular table. U.S. President Joe Biden sent his deputy Kamala Harris to represent him - a decision that had riled Kyiv. Harris announced more than $1.5 billion in energy and humanitarian aid for Ukraine, where infrastructure has been pounded by Russian air strikes since the 2022 full-scale invasion. On the eve of the summit, Putin said Russia would end the war if Kyiv agreed to drop its NATO ambitions and hand over four provinces claimed by Moscow. The conditions apparently reflected Moscow's growing confidence its forces have the upper hand. But they were swiftly rejected by Ukraine and its allies. "He's calling for surrender," Harris said, adding: "Let nothing about the end of this war be decided without Ukraine.""Freezing the conflict today, with foreign troops occupying Ukrainian land, is not the answer. It is a recipe for future wars of aggression," added European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
CHINA AND RUSSIA
China said it would boycott the event after Russia was frozen out of the process, with the U.S. suggesting Beijing's decision was taken at Moscow's behest. "Putin has no interest in a genuine peace," said British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. "He has launched a sustained diplomatic campaign against this summit ordering countries to stay away, spinning a phoney narrative about his willingness to negotiate." Avoiding some of the most difficult issues, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz compared the summit to "a small plant that needs watering, nurturing and delicate care" that would yield results further down the line. But countries including Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Kenya noted Russia's absence as a hurdle. "I must also note that this summit could have been more result-oriented if the other party to the conflict, Russia, was present in the room," said Turkey's Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan. Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud said credible talks would involve "difficult compromise". Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer saw an opportunity to start building a broader global consensus to pressure Russia. "It's like we're in a Western echo chamber. That is: all Western European countries, the USA, we agree on what we want to happen with Ukraine," Nehammer said. "But that alone is not enough."Calls for Russia to be at the table will only get stronger over time, said Bob Deen, senior research fellow at the Netherlands-based Clingendael Institute think-tank. "There is a risk that if Ukraine waits too long, it might end up with rival formats popping up. It may risk losing the initiative," Deen told a forum on the summit's sidelines. Supporters of Ukraine are marking the talks with a series of events in the nearby city of Lucerne to draw attention to the war's humanitarian costs. Dozens of Ukrainian refugees from choirs around Switzerland converged in a public square to sing Beethoven's "Ode to Joy". Earlier about 250 people gathered in the centre of the city, many wrapped in Ukrainian flags, wearing traditional clothes and carrying pictures of missing brothers, husbands or sons as they shared their stories.
"I'm clinging to the idea that my husband is still alive," said Svitlana Bilous, the wife of a soldier who has been missing for more than 14 months. "That's what keeps me going."

Taiwan is one-upping Ukraine's navy to defeat a Chinese invasion
Michael Peck/Business Insider/June 15, 2024d
China shows how it would attack Taiwan as tensions riseScroll back up to restore default view. Taiwan recently unveiled a kamikaze boat many times larger than Ukraine's successful drones. Naval drones will be key if Taiwan hopes to defeat a Chinese invasion. It can succeed by showing China that a battle for Taiwan is simply too bloody and risky. Taking a cue from Ukraine's use of naval drones to offset a superior Russian fleet, Taiwan has unveiled a much larger unmanned kamikaze boat that could devastate a Chinese amphibious force.
Taiwanese media describe a 20-ton robot vessel that's 55-feet-long, 12-feet-wide, and with a draft of about 3 feet. "The vessel's top speed exceeds 30 knots (55.56 km/h), and it can cover a range of over 300 miles (555.6 km) with a fuel capacity of 1,300 liters," according to Taiwan's Liberty Times newspaper. "What's remarkable is its ability to navigate autonomously, even without GPS or communication equipment, thanks to its advanced onboard computer systems. Its potential military applications range from mine clearance and minesweeping to suicide missions."
The unmanned surface vessel, or USV, was revealed June 2 while Taiwanese leaders attended the shipyard christening of a new frigate and other manned vessels. Photographs show a low, streamlined black boat with bright orange stripes.
The USV has been a "universal test platform," and Taiwanese officials have not said whether this design will stay experimental or go into mass production to create a horde of robot explosive boats. But if not this one, Taiwan will certainly field some kind of unmanned attack boat to try to stop a Chinese invasion or blockade. US officials have already spoken of a "hellscape" strategy that would use drones to turn the Taiwan Straits into a graveyard. Exactly what this entails is classified. But Adm. Samuel Paparo, chief of US Indo-Pacific Command, told a Washington Post reporter last month that "as soon as China's invasion fleet begins moving across the 100-mile waterway that separates China and Taiwan, the US military would deploy thousands of unmanned submarines, unmanned surface ships and aerial drones to flood the area and give Taiwanese, US and partner forces time to mount a full response.""I want to turn the Taiwan Strait into an unmanned hellscape using a number of classified capabilities," Paparo said. "So that I can make their lives utterly miserable for a month, which buys me the time for the rest of everything."
The threat to attack a Chinese invasion force right away may not be achievable, however. In May, China's military surrounded Taiwan and practiced attack drills, the kind of large-scale exercise that could become cover for a military operation like a beach assault. Taiwan may have better luck in the water than in the air. Taiwan's attempt to develop a medium-altitude, long-endurance drone — along the lines of the US MQ-9 Reaper — has run into developmental difficulties. The unmanned aircraft has yet to pass its combat readiness test, leading Taiwan to order more American-made MQ-9B SeaGuardians, a maritime version of the Reaper. Both Taiwan and America are looking to what has become the gold standard in naval drone warfare: Ukraine's campaign in the Black Sea. Vastly outnumbered and outgunned by Russia's navy, and with a long coastline to defend, Ukraine could have been bled white trying to defend against Russian amphibious invasions and coastal bombardment.
Instead, Russia's Black Sea Fleet has retreated from Ukrainian waters. In part this is because of land-based anti-ship missiles such as the Neptune, which sank the cruiser and Black Sea Fleet flagship Moskva in 2022. But mostly it's because of robot boats that have relentlessly stalked Russian warships on the sea and even in port. In November 2023, for example, Ukrainian Magura sea drones sank or damaged two Russian landing craft and a missile corvette docked in Crimean ports and shipyards.
The Magura appears to be much smaller than the Taiwanese USV, at about 18 feet long. It weighs about a ton, can carry a 400-pound warhead, and had a range of 500 miles, with batteries sufficient for 60 hours of operation.
This is a classic case of asymmetric warfare: though vastly outnumbered in conventional military resources, Ukraine turned to cheap alternatives that could be manufactured by its own domestic arms industry and exploited the enemy fleet's vulnerability. Taiwan faces a similar dilemma. With a population of just 24 million compared to China's 1.4 billion, and vastly less resources and manufacturing capacity, Taiwan probably can't prevail in a straight-up naval battle with Chinese naval, air and missile forces, not even with the help of allies Japan and the US.
But it doesn't have to win. It can succeed by showing China that a battle for Taiwan is simply too bloody and fraught with risk. Taiwan would need to sink or damage enough transport vessels that near the island to make a beach landing or blockade untenable. With insufficient troops, heavy weapons and supplies ashore, the beachhead would be vulnerable to being swept into the sea by a Taiwanese counterattack. Similarly, enough kamikaze drones could force China's large fleet farther off-shore in hopes of creating openings for air drops of supplies from Taiwan's allies. Even then, China may have the sheer fleet size to strangle Taiwan. This shows that drones will be an essential and low-cost way to stave off China.
*Michael Peck is a defense writer whose work has appeared in Forbes, Defense News, Foreign Policy magazine, and other publications. He holds an MA in political science from Rutgers Univ. Follow him on Twitter and LinkedIn.

Erdogan says Biden faces a test of sincerity in handling of the Gaza war
Reuters/ June 15, 2024
Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said on Saturday that U.S. President Joe Biden is undergoing "a test of sincerity" in his handling of the Gaza war. In an interview with reporters on his way back from the G7 Summit in Italy, Erdogan said Biden is expected to demonstrate that the Gaza ceasefire plan is not a calculated electoral tactic but a sincere effort to end the war. He also said that Germany has softened its stance on sales of Eurofighter jets to Turkey. In November, Turkey said the country was in talks with Britain and Spain to buy Eurofighter Typhoons, though Germany objected the idea. "Eurofighters are important to us," he added. Erdogan also said that inflation will be put on a more favourable position in the final quarter with the steps to be taken on interest rates. "Policies aimed at rebalancing the economy are bearing fruit," Erdogan said.

Iran swaps EU diplomat, another man for Sweden freeing Iranian convicted over '88 mass executions
Jon Gambrell/DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) /June 15, 2024
Iran and Sweden carried out a prisoner swap Saturday that saw Tehran release a European Union diplomat and another man for an Iranian convicted in Stockholm of committing war crimes over his part in 1988 mass executions in the Islamic Republic. The arrest of Hamid Nouri by Sweden in 2019 as he traveled there as a tourist likely sparked the detentions of the two Swedes, part of a long-running strategy by Iran since its 1979 Islamic Revolution to use those with ties abroad as chip in negotiations with the West. As Iranian state television claimed without evidence that Nouri had been “illegally detained,” Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson described the detentions of diplomat Johan Floderus and Saeed Azizi as a “hell on earth” the two men faced. “Iran has made these Swedes pawns in a cynical negotiation game with the aim of getting the Iranian citizen Hamid Nouri ​​released from Sweden," Kristersson said. “It has been clear all along that this operation would require difficult decisions, now the government has made those decisions." Oman, a sultanate on the eastern edge of the Arabian Peninsula, mediated the release, its state-run news agency reported. Oman long has served as an interlocutor between Iran and the West. In 2022, the Stockholm District Court sentenced Nouri to life in prison over his role in the executions. It identified him as an assistant to the deputy prosecutor at the Gohardasht prison outside the Iranian city of Karaj. The 1988 mass executions came at the end of Iran’s long war with Iraq. After Iran’s then-Supreme Leader Ruhollah Khomeini accepted a United Nations-brokered cease-fire, members of the Iranian opposition group Mujahedeen-e-Khalq, heavily armed by Saddam Hussein, stormed across the Iranian border in a surprise attack. Iran ultimately blunted their assault, but the attack set the stage for the sham retrials of political prisoners, militants and others that would become known as “death commissions.”International rights groups estimate that as many as 5,000 people were executed. Iran has never fully acknowledged the executions, apparently carried out on Khomeini’s orders, though some argue that other top officials were effectively in charge in the months before his 1989 death. Late Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, killed in a helicopter crash in May, also was involved in the mass executions. Floderus' family said he was arrested in April 2022 at the Tehran airport while returning from a vacation with friends. Floderus had been held for months before his family and others went public with his detention. Azizi's case was not as prominent as Floderus'. In February, the group Human Rights Activists in Iran reported that the dual Iranian-Swedish national had been sentenced to five years in prison by Tehran's Revolutionary Court on charges of “assembly and collusion against national security.” The group said Azizi has cancer. The EU’s top diplomat, Josep Borrell, praised the release of the two men. “Other EU citizens are still arbitrarily detained in Iran,” he wrote on the social platform X. “We'll continue to work for their freedom together” with other EU states. Iran long has contended it doesn't hold prisoners to use in negotiations, despite years and multiple swaps with the U.S. and other nations showing otherwise.

Sweden and Iran exchange prisoners in breakthrough deal
Reuters /June 15, 2024
Sweden and Iran carried out a prisoner exchange on Saturday, officials said, with Sweden freeing a former Iranian official convicted for his role in a mass execution in the 1980s while Iran released two Swedes being held there. The prisoner swap was mediated by Oman, the country's foreign ministry said in a statement. "Omani efforts resulted in the two sides agreeing on a mutual release, as those released were transferred from Tehran and Stockholm," it said. Sweden had freed former Iranian official Hamid Noury, Iran's top human rights official said on X. Noury, who had been convicted for his part in a mass execution of political prisoners in Iran in 1988, would be back in Iran in a few hours, the official added. Separately, Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said in a statement that Swedish citizens Johan Floderus and Saeed Azizi who had been detained in Iran were on a plane back to Sweden.

Latest English LCCC analysis & editorials from miscellaneous sources on June 14-15/2024
As US Is Being Encircled by Enemies, the US Administration Wants Israel to Surrender to Terrorists
Majid Rafizadeh/Gatestone Institute./June 15, 2024
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/archives/130739/130739/
While Russian warships, including a nuclear submarine, this week docked in Cuba, and with China building a major deep-water port in Peru that could serve the Chinese military, the US administration is pressuring only Israel to allow the Iran-backed terrorist group Hamas to win the war it launched against Israel on October 7. Instead of supporting Israel's right to defend itself against coordinated and sustained attacks, the Biden administration's public wavering suggests a pro-terrorist shift in US policy away from Israel. This shift represents a betrayal that leaves Israel in the no-win position of either rejecting US proposals, or allowing Hezbollah, Hamas, the Houthis and other Iranian-backed terrorist groups to keep trying to advance their goal of ultimately destroying Israel.
When Iran itself, and not a terrorist proxy, launched an unprecedented missile and drone attack against Israel from Iranian soil on April 13, 2024, the assault was an act of war.
The result had been that Iran's proxy Hezbollah in Lebanon is now engaged in unremittingly raining down rockets, attack drones and guided missiles throughout Israel's north. The Biden administration might not even have asked the Iranian regime to order its other terrorist proxy Hezbollah to stop.
Asking Israel to do nothing against Hamas and Hezbollah after eight months of escalating aggression is akin to asking the United States, after the 9/11 attacks, to leave Al Qaeda untouched and allow it to remain in power.
Meanwhile, there has evidently been no pressure put on Qatar or Iran to lift a finger to stop the Gaza war. And Hamas official Ghazi Hamad disclosed last week that Egypt and Qatar have exerted no pressure on Hamas whatsoever to accept Biden's proposed ceasefire, and that media reports about threats to expel Hamas leaders from Qatar are false.
On one hand, the Biden administration keeps warning Israel against defending itself, while on the other, it keeps waiving sanctions, thereby providing the Iranian regime with billions of dollars that fund, arm, and sponsor terrorist organizations including Hamas, Hezbollah, Palestinian Islamic Jihad and the Houthis -- all of which are committed to eradicating Israel.
Worse, this US largesse is enabling the Iranian regime to race toward completing its nuclear weapons program.
Israel is being advised to exercise restraint and not retaliate while facing escalating threats from the very enemies bolstered by the people asking them to exercise restraint.
The "ring of fire" strategy -- apparently expanded to the hostile axis of Russia, China and Iran -- is now coiling around the US, as well as installing potential fighters and saboteurs "inside the gates."
The financial resources that Iran gains from waived sanctions, and channels into furthering its agenda with Qatar, Hamas and Hezbollah, simply increase their ability to conduct aggressive actions against Israel and the US, destabilize the region -- and with its new Russian and Communist Chinese axis -- seriously jeopardize the Free World.
The financial resources that Iran gains from waived sanctions, and channels into furthering its agenda with Qatar, Hamas and Hezbollah, simply increase their ability to conduct aggressive actions against Israel and the US, destabilize the region -- and with its new Russian and Communist Chinese axis -- seriously jeopardize the Free World. Pictured: Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei hosts Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran, on June 21, 2023. (Image source: khamenei.ir)
While Russian warships, including a nuclear submarine, this week docked in Cuba, and with China building a major deep-water port in Peru that could serve the Chinese military, the US administration is pressuring only Israel to allow the Iran-backed terrorist group Hamas to win the war it launched against Israel on October 7.
When an ally is attacked by terrorists, the fundamental principle of an alliance dictates that the victim must be provided unwavering support to defeat the terrorists and dismantle the terror infrastructure completely, ensuring that the terrorists cannot regroup to launch further attacks.
Without such a commitment, it, the trust between allies erodes, and terrorists are emboldened. The situation has become particularly dire for Israel, which has been facing brutal attacks on multiple fronts. Despite these assaults, the Biden Administration has not only failed consistently to support Israel after it was invaded on October 7, 2023, accompanied by thousands of missiles, but has also pressed for policies favoring Hamas and its sponsors and enablers, Qatar and Iran.
After yet another of Iran's other proxy terrorist militias, Hezbollah, not only joined Hamas in attacking Israel but has kept escalating its attacks, the response from the Biden administration has been to warn -- not Hezbollah or Iran against warmongering – but Israel. Instead of supporting Israel's right to defend itself against coordinated and sustained attacks, the Biden administration's public wavering (such as here, here and here) suggests a pro-terrorist shift in US policy away from Israel. This shift represents a betrayal that leaves Israel in the no-win position of either rejecting US proposals, or allowing Hezbollah, Hamas, the Houthis and other Iranian-backed terrorist groups to keep trying to advance their goal of ultimately destroying Israel.
When Iran itself, and not a terrorist proxy, launched an unprecedented missile and drone attack against Israel from Iranian soil on April 13, 2024, the assault was an act of war.
The response from the Biden administration was again to warn Israel not to retaliate, defend itself or fight back. The administration went even further and suggested that Israel should consider the situation a "win-win" scenario, simply because Iran's barrage of more than 300 ballistic missiles, cruise missile and attack drones at a country smaller than New Jersey did not inflict significant damage. By suggesting that Israel should be content that the attack did not cause major harm, and by withholding essential military support, the administration is minimizing the seriousness of the threat posed by Iran's actions. The result had been that Iran's proxy Hezbollah in Lebanon is now engaged in unremittingly raining down rockets, attack drones and guided missiles throughout Israel's north. The Biden administration might not even have asked the Iranian regime to order its other terrorist proxy Hezbollah to stop.
Asking Israel to do nothing against Hamas and Hezbollah after eight months of escalating aggression is akin to asking the United States, after the 9/11 attacks, to leave Al Qaeda untouched and allow it to remain in power. Would the U.S. have listened to such a recommendation?
Meanwhile, there has evidently been no pressure put on Qatar or Iran to lift a finger to stop the Gaza war. And Hamas official Ghazi Hamad disclosed last week that Egypt and Qatar have exerted no pressure on Hamas whatsoever to accept Biden's proposed ceasefire, and that media reports about threats to expel Hamas leaders from Qatar are false.
On one hand, the Biden administration keeps warning Israel against defending itself, while on the other, it keeps waiving sanctions, thereby providing the Iranian regime with billions of dollars that fund, arm, and sponsor terrorist organizations including Hamas, Hezbollah, Palestinian Islamic Jihad and the Houthis -- all of which are committed to eradicating Israel.
Worse, this US largesse is enabling the Iranian regime to race toward completing its nuclear weapons program.
The Biden administration has also been massively strengthening the capacity of Iran and its proxies to carry out military operations against Israel, block shipping in the Red Sea and attack even US troops at least 170 times in the region. Three US servicemembers were killed, and at least 183 others wounded, including 131 with serious brain injuries.
Israel is being advised to exercise restraint and not retaliate while facing escalating threats from the very enemies bolstered by the people asking them to exercise restraint.
This policy muddle raises serious questions about the reliability of the United States as a steadfast ally. By not taking decisive action to support Israel, the administration is also sending a warning of inconsistency and weakness to all prospective allies, and encouraging them to rely on America's adversaries instead.
The consequences of this approach are unfortunately far-reaching. They affect not only the immediate security of Israel but also the credibility of the United States on the global stage, the broader stability of the region, and the very preservation of the US, which is currently being encircled by enemies.
The "ring of fire" strategy -- apparently expanded to the hostile axis of Russia, China and Iran -- is now coiling around the US, as well as installing potential fighters and saboteurs "inside the gates."
Allies, such as Israel and Ukraine, depend on military assurance in times of crisis -- not airy promises before and after them -- to know they will not be left to stand alone.
The financial resources that Iran gains from waived sanctions, and channels into furthering its agenda with Qatar, Hamas and Hezbollah, simply increase their ability to conduct aggressive actions against Israel and the US, destabilize the region -- and with its new Russian and Communist Chinese axis -- seriously jeopardize the Free World.
*Dr. Majid Rafizadeh is a business strategist and advisor, Harvard-educated scholar, political scientist, board member of Harvard International Review, and president of the International American Council on the Middle East. He has authored several books on Islam and US Foreign Policy. He can be reached at Dr.Rafizadeh@Post.Harvard.Edu
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Hamas and Hezbollah’s drone warfare poses new threats to Israel's security - analysis
Amir Bohbot/Jerusalem Post/June 15/2024
UAVs employed by Israel's Islamist adversaries in the region have been used in new and devastating ways since the war began on October 7.
In the opening attack of October 7 at around 6:30 a.m., when hundreds of rockets were fired at the Israeli rear, the military arm of Hamas activated dozens of drones that dropped small explosives on the observation towers, the "shooter's" positions, thus blinding the observation crews.
During the attack, the drones dropped explosives on tanks and APCs near the border. This allowed dozens of terrorist squads to run from the built-up Palestinian territory to the fence to attach explosive devices and blow holes in them, through which hundreds of terrorists entered on motorcycles. There were those who ran on foot toward the outposts and settlements to murder, burn, kidnap, and rape.
"When I saw on October 7 the drones that attacked the IDF observation towers in the Gaza Division, my heart broke," Dr. Liran Antebi, a senior researcher at the Institute for National Security Studies, said in an interview with Walla this week. "As part of my research on the issue of drones, which started in 2013, I had a fight with officials in the defense system. I hoped they would act, and when I would present it at conferences, they would tell me it was a drop in the rain of rockets. This explosion in drone activity would be the tip, and I told them, 'It is possible to produce a precision strike capability with this. These are the new rules of the game, and this should not be treated as a drop in the rain."
The State Comptroller's reports in 2017 and 2021 pointed to the gaps and readiness in Israel for the drone threat that also characterized the southern front when Hamas tested the nerves of the commanders of the Gaza Division and the Southern Command. Drones passed from side to side unimpeded. From time to time, the IDF took pride in shooting them down, but observers testified long before the war that quite a few of the drones returned without disturbance after a tour of Israeli territory.
It can already be assumed that they gathered intelligence on the IDF outposts and the deployment of the forces.
"I did all kinds of simulations to illustrate the threat, and I really didn't think about attacking the observatories specifically because I didn't appreciate that these towers were not protected in any way," said Dr. Antebi.
She added, "Hamas conducted itself with great sophistication. During the protests on the fence, it did not use drones even though everyone knew it had them because Hamas wanted to be seen by the world as a weak side, to show that it was fighting with kites and balloons and not to be perceived as strong."
But in practice, Hamas built a drone force of various types in all the brigades for diverse missions while the Southern Command prided itself on the ability to intercept drones, and then the war broke out.
Already at the beginning of the ground maneuver, Hamas used drones against the maneuvering forces using different methods: a pair of roving drones - one gathering intelligence and the other attacking the IDF force. In some cases, they attacked tanks and APCs and, in some cases, fighters who were sitting together resting in the field.
According to Dr. Antebi, the aerial threat changed long before the war in Ukraine and was mainly based on events in the Middle East, among them ISIS in Syria, attacks by the Houthis in Saudi Arabia, and pro-Iranian Shiite militias in Iraq against American military bases.
The main change marked by the Ukraine-Russia war was the use of small multirotor drones in the scope of a war between states. However, another system joined: unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).
The Ukrainian army realized very quickly that there was a reality gap between the air forces. In order to reduce the gap or find the weaknesses of the Russian army, Ukraine needed to promote the use of small drones and UAVs.
Initially, the Ukrainians relied on importing units and parts from the US and other countries that see Russia as a threat. They later switched to local production.
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Ukrainian local production of thousands of UAVs and drones per month has already increased to tens of thousands per month, and some claim that production lines have been established for hundreds of thousands.
They were joined by a very significant threat, racing drones (FPV) controlled by remote control with special glasses. The racing drone brings precision fire to the battlefield. "A Ukrainian general said about operating racing drones that they are cheap, simple to operate, and even if 90% are shot down or blocked by electronic warfare - other 10% carry out the mission and hit the enemy", Dr. Liran Antebi said.
She emphasized that some of them can reach a speed of 200 km/h and are generally intended for photographing races, but in the transition to military activity - attach an explosive to them, and they are easily adapted into self-destructing attack drones.
"The drone operators know how to use them in Ukraine, moving them through chimneys, through windows, narrow openings, against armored vehicles and cause effective explosions. When this is done in a closed space, it causes damage and death. They know how to pursue human targets. There are shocking videos of soldiers being chased by both sides. This threat is especially critical for settlements near a fence. For example, the small arms fire at an excavator can alternate with a group of drones or a single drone at a vehicle and a house. The threat is already present."
Alongside the academic research and the warnings about the future on the Israeli home front, Dr. Antebi has in recent years delved into the threat that emerges from the combination of artificial intelligence and autonomous systems.
"In Israel, we manage our technological superiority in a disgraceful way. We have no strategy in the field of artificial intelligence nor the field of autonomous weapons systems. For example? The use of fixed-wing Iranian UAVs results from identifying weak points in our technological superiority."
"We built a magnificent array of air defenses, but Iran knows how to see mainly the high layers, the fast, and to bypass the ability, they will create something cheap, in large volumes, to produce damage. How did we end up dealing with the last line of defense before the settlements? Admittedly, this is not only an Israeli problem but a global concern."
The pace of Iranian-Russian production increased dramatically
This week, a record number of drone infiltration by Hezbollah was recorded on the northern border, and even in Tiberias, alarms were registered.
Hezbollah repeatedly tried to penetrate Israel's defense layers. Hezbollah operatives are using Iranian technology, the same as the one that the Iranians also transferred to Russia as part of the war against Ukraine. UAVs and drones that operate based on image recognition.
In the past, autonomous weapons systems were a state secret and were a weapon of great powers, and today, they can be purchased on the commercial market.
For eight months now, Hezbollah has been challenging the Israeli defense systems every day and succeeding in sneaking through the defense walls with UAVs of various types and drones based on artificial intelligence.
Dr. Antebi and the former commander of the Air Force, Maj.-Gen. Amikam Norkin already wrote an article in February 2023 in which they claimed that an examination of the Ukrainian front where the Russian side is using Iranian military equipment, including drones, allows for a live demonstration of the threats that Israel will have to face In a future round of fighting in the north or the south.
The two also claimed that the lessons from Ukraine show that Israel must prepare to face new challenges in the field of detection, interception, and defense while in the background, the threat to social resilience and the eroding sense of security is increasing with fears of damage to electricity and water infrastructures, incidental damage and the killing of civilians.
"Israel should be troubled by the intensity and pace of production by Iran, despite the international sanctions. Drones are a step on the way to cruise missiles; hundreds of drones combined with heavy barrages of rockets can pose a challenge to the IDF," the two wrote.
In their article, they pointed out the urgency of dealing with the threat and the need to improve the detection, targeting, and interception systems, including the thwarting of weapons transfers within the framework of The War Between the Wars (a common name for the Israel-Iran shadow war). They called for drones and UAVs to be defined as a new layer within an air defense system while preparing for the use of squadrons and swarms.
At that time, the Iranian-Russian production rate stood at 6000 units per year, but since then, it has increased dramatically, and even according to foreign reports, an effort has been made to increase Hezbollah's weapons arsenal in the last eight months.
The use of drones and unmanned aerial vehicles by terrorist organizations worries many countries in the West and the Middle East, and accordingly, study forums were held before October 7, 2023, with an emphasis on the Ukraine-Russia war.
The IDF sent a senior delegation, including the commander of the air defense formation, Brig.-Gen. Gilad Biran, a highly respected officer, proved his effectiveness on October 7 despite Hamas's launch of a surprise attack.
Despite the high percentage of successful interceptions, a feeling spread among the public that there is no optimal answer in the northern arena for unmanned aircraft.
The public is not necessarily interested because these are small aircraft, some of which are smaller than the UAVs, such as the "Shahad 136," which has a short exposure and is usually launched within a range of 2.5 km from the border.
Therefore, it is a challenge for all the parties involved to identify and intercept them: the control system, the air defense, combat helicopters, and fighter planes that shoot them down.
Another challenge for the Air Force is the very fact that the IDF at this stage is on the defensive, in other words, with its hands tied and not necessarily in attack mode, which gives the Air Force the opportunity to destroy ground capabilities such as weapons depots, launch sites and operators from Hezbollah's military arm.
During the war, the IDF decided to speed up operational processes to improve the quality of defense against UAVs and accordingly approved a number of moves: connecting radars of the artillery corps, the navy, air defense, and control and equipping them with new radars and sensors to improve detection. However, there are still quite a few false alarms that harm the sense of security.
The second action is discrimination. Officials in the Air Force praised the work of control personnel and explained that it is a complex profession that requires sharpness to isolate background noise, such as flocks of birds, a spray plane that decided to spray the area without giving notice, or a tiny IDF tool to determine that it is the enemy. Sometimes, it is a period of seconds in which critical questions are required to be decided.
The third action is the availability of fire for interception. The conditions are challenging because of the proximity to settlements and bases. Air Force officials confirmed that everything happening on the northern front was part of the IDF's threat attribution. Still, they were not prepared for such an extent at the front but in depth. Then, the various formations have a greater warning and interception time, and, accordingly, the chances of success increase.
Despite the criticism of the IDF in general and the Air Force in particular for not being prepared for threats on the southern and northern fronts, sources in the Air Force claim that even the Americans who suffer from incessant attacks by Iranian militias in Iraq have not been able to find a solution. Unlike the long border between Lebanon and Israel, they are supposed to protect bases that can be covered in an hour of running.
On the other hand, the IDF has made the Iron Dome the number one destroyer of UAVs in the IDF, and therefore, Hezbollah is making great efforts to locate the battery components to damage and destroy them.
"Still, the IDF's high level of readiness is for accurate and heavy ballistic missiles that can disable our national infrastructure. It can happen at any given moment," said an Air Force official.
Meanwhile, Hezbollah is eroding infrastructure on the Israeli side, damaging vital military installations, testing its own and the IDF's military capabilities, and preparing for what is to come.
Additional sources in the IDF, who criticized Israel's defensive policy against Hezbollah and the vigilance for the option of going on the attack, warned that Hezbollah is capable of launching a surprise attack using hundreds of drones at the same time as launching thousands of rockets a day on the Israeli home front. But then Hezbollah will drag Israel into a big, destructive, and deadly war on both sides of the border.
Even though the IDF was surprised by the attacks in the south and the north and the use of a variety of weapon systems by Hamas and Hezbollah, it seems that even now, the IDF, in general, and the Air Force, in particular, are firing in every direction to achieve different results on the ground in regards to air threats instead of pushing for one factor that will include the building of the drone force, an examination of weapons and technologies and their integration in war.
*Translated by Yuval Barnea.

Question: “What does the Bible say about fathers?”
GotQuestions.org/June 14, 2024
Answer: The greatest commandment in Scripture is this: “Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength” (Deuteronomy 6:5). Going back to verse 2, we read, “So that you, your children and their children after them may fear the LORD your God as long as you live by keeping all his decrees and commands that I give you, and so that you may enjoy long life.” Following Deuteronomy 6:5, we read, “These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up” (vv. 6-7).
Israelite history reveals that the father was to be diligent in instructing his children in the ways and words of the Lord for their own spiritual development and well-being. The father who was obedient to the commands of Scripture did just that. This brings us to Proverbs 22:6, “Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.” To “train” indicates the first instruction that a father and mother give to a child, i.e., his early education. The training is designed to make clear to children the manner of life they are intended for. To commence a child’s early education in this way is of great importance.
Ephesians 6:4 is a summary of instructions to the father, stated in both a negative and positive way. “Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.” The negative part of this verse indicates that a father is not to foster negativity in his children by severity, injustice, partiality, or unreasonable exercise of authority. Harsh, unreasonable conduct toward a child will only serve to nurture evil in the heart. The word provoke means “to irritate, exasperate, rub the wrong way, or incite.” This is done by a wrong spirit and wrong methods—severity, unreasonableness, sternness, harshness, cruel demands, needless restrictions, and selfish insistence upon dictatorial authority. Such provocation will produce adverse reactions, deadening children’s affection, reducing their desire for holiness, and making them feel that they cannot possibly please their parents. A wise parent seeks to make obedience desirable and attainable by love and gentleness.
The positive part of Ephesians 6:4 is expressed in a comprehensive direction—educate them, bring them up, develop their conduct in all of life by the instruction and admonition of the Lord. This is the whole process of educating and discipline. The word admonition carries the idea of reminding the child of faults (constructively) and duties (responsibilities).
The Christian father is really an instrument in God’s hand. The whole process of instruction and discipline must be that which God commands and which He administers, so that His authority should be brought into constant and immediate contact with the mind, heart, and conscience of children. The human father should never present himself as the ultimate authority to determine truth and duty. It is only by making God the teacher and ruler on whose authority everything is done that the goals of education can best be attained.
Martin Luther said, “Keep an apple beside the rod to give the child when he does well.” Discipline must be exercised with watchful care and constant training with much prayer. Chastening, discipline, and counsel by the Word of God, giving both reproof and encouragement, are at the core of “admonition.” The instruction proceeds from the Lord, is learned in the school of Christian experience, and is administered by the parents—primarily the father, but also, under his direction, the mother. Christian discipline is needed to enable children to grow up with reverence for God, respect for parental authority, knowledge of Christian standards, and habits of self-control.
“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16-17). A father’s first responsibility is to acquaint his children with Scripture. The means and methods that fathers may use to teach God’s truth will vary. As the father is faithful in role modeling, what children learn about God will put them in good standing throughout their earthly lives, no matter what they do or where they go.
Should Christians celebrate Father’s Day?

Europe decided, what next for North Africa?
Hafed Al-Ghwell/Arab News/June 15, 2024
The recent European parliamentary elections have set the stage for interesting shifts in the bloc’s policies toward North Africa, a region that is increasingly pivotal, and not only for its proximity to Europe. In recent years, North Africa has risen sharply in Western policy priorities owing to rapidly increasing roles in managing migration, bolstering European energy security, counterterrorism cooperation, regional stabilization, and climate change mitigation. Given the outcomes of these elections, it is critical to explore how EU-North Africa relations might evolve or prefer continuity in Europe’s approach toward its closest southern neighbors.
On migration, the changes in the European Parliament’s composition signal potential continuity of favoring stringent immigration controls, and increased reliance on externalization policies that empower North African countries to stem migration flows before they reach European shores. The policy aligns with existing practices, where the EU has sought to reinforce its borders indirectly through collaboration with third countries, coupled with financial incentives to bolster their capacity to deter migrations.
The sustainability of these policies, however, has come under intense scrutiny. Externalization has proven effective in reducing numbers, but it does not deal with the underlying causes of migration, such as instability, economic hardship, and climate change impacts that prevail both in origin countries, mostly in sub-Saharan Africa, and transit countries, mainly in North Africa. The resulting policy framework thus risks perpetuating a cycle where short-term containment overshadows long-term solutions.
North African governments appear to have embraced their sharply expanding roles as gatekeepers of “Fortress Europe.” After all, the threat of a repeat of the 2015 crisis has and will continue to provide significant leverage in negotiations with Brussels. The jury is still out on whether a continuation of the dynamic will eventually shift discussions toward more comprehensive partnerships that include investments in key sectors, infrastructure development, and climate resilience. However, with the current makeup of this next parliament, the EU will likely resist adopting more nuanced strategies beyond the current “contain first, answer later“’ approach, even when faced with continued migration pressures and heightened criticism from human rights groups.
On climate policy, the proposed outcomes and sentiments expressed in continental frameworks such as the European Green Deal make it clear that energy security and sustainability are taking on a new-found primacy in European policy circles. These are not just shaping the internal dynamics within the European bloc but also recalibrating extrinsic partnerships, particularly with its resource-endowed southern neighbor North Africa.
In turn, North African countries are keenly aware of the evolving energy narrative within the EU for various reasons. Aside from Algeria’s meteoric rise as an alternate supplier for disrupted Russian gas, there is also the region’s unmatched potential in solar and wind energy that makes it a pivotal player in the EU’s “greenification,” and mitigating the dependence on non-renewables. Such a trajectory holds great promise for North African countries willing to harness this potential. A concerted move to establish clearer policy directives and bolster infrastructure can channel substantial EU investment into renewable projects — investment that can be a catalyst for broader economic revitalization and diversification within the region.
North African countries are keenly aware of the evolving energy narrative within the EU.
However, while the EU’s policy shift toward the green transition and the enshrined goals such as net-zero emissions by 2050 stand as a testament to its commitment to addressing climate change, this shift is not without its complexities. The impetus toward a green transition, while supported by some European political factions, faces resistance from others, particularly from sectors with entrenched interests in traditional energy sources or those that perceive environmental regulations as threatening to economic competitiveness. Such actions have a direct bearing on the magnitude and pace of green investment flows, and by extension, the benefits to North Africa.
Moreover, the greening of European economies is likely to prompt a systemic shift in global energy markets. North African countries, therefore, perceive the existential necessity not only to align with this transition but also to integrate into the emerging green value chains — motivated by opportunities to create new industries, jobs, and economic diversification. Simultaneously, North African states are disproportionately affected by climate impacts, such as water scarcity and agricultural disruptions, which worsen existing vulnerabilities. Arguably, a deeper collaboration with the EU on climate finance and technology transfers presents not just a route to economic development but also a way to bolster climate resilience — a synergy that dovetails with both EU’s foreign policy aspects of the Green Deal and North Africa’s overall development in future.
In light of security recalibrations in the Sahel, notably the termination of the EU Training Mission in Mali and other missions in Niger, the bloc insists that it will remain a steadfast security partner to Africa. Despite withdrawals from specific operations in the Sahel due to the region’s political instability and the arrival of competing security entities such as Russian mercenaries, the EU’s resolve to engage with African nations on security matters, notably through new civilian-military missions, signals a flexible approach to tackling transnational threats.
North African policymakers are also cognizant of these shifts. Approaches that combine direct military training with broader, capacity-building missions align with both current and future efforts to bolster regional stability and counter threats that could spill over from the Sahel. This operational reshaping indicates European readiness to adapt its security strategies to political changes within its territories and external geopolitical fluctuations, shoring up its role as a critical security partner for a region that sits right next to a volatile Sahel and Horn of Africa.
Lastly, on democratization, the EU’s stance has evolved toward democracy support — a noticeable pivot from an assertive democratization agenda — to safeguard democratic spaces in restrictive contexts. The recalibrated strategy is less about exporting a specific democratic model and more focused on preserving the civic freedoms necessary for democracy to breathe.
The change signifies a recognition of the complexities inherent in supporting democracy in environments where political repression and challenges to civic freedoms are prevalent. Thus, the EU will likely increasingly favor initiatives that strengthen the resilience of civil society, rather than pushing for immediate political transformations.
In sum, the trajectory of EU-North Africa relations in the wake of European parliamentary elections presents a complex interplay of continuity and potential shifts. Understanding these dynamics is crucial for navigating existing challenges and leveraging opportunities to redefine the region’s engagement with Europe. Future strategies should remain nuanced, aiming to balance national interests with collaboration in areas of shared threats, from energy security to climate action, while pursuing a migration agenda that respects dignity and promotes development.
• Hafed Al-Ghwell is a senior fellow and executive director of the North Africa Initiative at the Foreign Policy Institute of the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies in Washington, DC.
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G7 steps up as geopolitics defines Italy’s summit
Andrew Hammond /Arab News/June 15, 2024
The G7 was created amid the instability of the 1970s to monitor developments in the world economy. Yet, its role as a geopolitical lynchpin has long been key to a function that has been highlighted at the Italian leadership summit this week.
Top of the agenda was Ukraine, where the situation has “deteriorated dramatically,” according to Germany’s Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who traveled to Italy for the summit, implored the West for urgent, increased support.
A number of security deals were made with Kyiv, the standout of which is a 10-year bilateral agreement with the US — seen in the West as a potential transition point for Ukraine on the road to joining NATO. This includes commitments for prolonged aid encompassing areas such as military training, the sharing of intelligence, and economic assistance. The deal builds from the unexpected decision by US President Biden in recent days to bend to international pressure to allow Ukraine to use US-made weapons to hit Russian territory for the first time. This after other Western allies, including Germany and France, eased their own rules following NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg’s assertion that the “time has come” for change.
To be sure, the long-term US policy of stopping Kyiv deploying long-range missiles to strike targets inside Russia — across the board — has not been altered. Instead, the change, for now, is limited to Ukraine using US weapons for counterattack purposes in Kharkiv. Nonetheless, the shift could be significant, and a potential sign of things to come, especially if Russia makes much more ground in coming weeks.
The G7 also agreed this week to a $50 billion loan to Ukraine. This uses profits from $300 billion in frozen Russian assets in the West to boost funding for Kyiv, a move that Moscow has condemned.
There were also broader efforts at the summit to woo the Global South on Ukraine. Italian Prime Minister Georgia Meloni invited a range of key emerging market leaders, including Argentina’s President Javier Milei, Brazil’s President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa.
Outside of Ukraine, there was significant focus on Israel, with the G7 giving strong public backing to the US ceasefire deal outlined by Biden. This calls for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, the release of all hostages, plus a significant and sustained increase in humanitarian assistance for distribution throughout the enclave. China was also on the agenda, with the US pushing, in the words of US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, for a “strategic and united” response to China’s overinvestment in electric vehicles, solar products, semiconductors, steel, and other key sectors in order to keep Western firms economically viable in these areas. The goal in Yellen’s assertion is “building a wall of opposition to the strategy that (China) is pursuing.”
Outside of Ukraine, there was significant focus on Israel.
This US call for G7 unity on China comes soon after the Biden team’s announcement of new tariffs on Chinese EVs, batteries, solar panels, and other products, with some of the measures due to kick in on Aug. 1. The US tariffs were added to this week by the EU’s counterpart measures against Chinese EVs.
While there were many international skeptics of this week’s G7 meeting producing any meaningful outcomes, the agreements reached, including on Ukraine, may prove significant. This should not be too surprising, as the Western club has previously been at its best in times of crisis, tackling the big issues of the day.
It was founded in 1975 in the aftermath of geopolitical and economic shocks when Washington pulled out of the gold standard. This underlines that it is fit for turbulent times like today.
Back then, US President Richard Nixon had resigned, and there was a clear and imminent danger of currency wars. The G7 stepped up to the plate, however, playing a key role in the management of the most important exchange rates. It also brought Japan into the Western policymaking community, and a similar far-sighted approach is needed today to try to get greater alignment with leaders of the Global South.
So the body has a proven record of delivering, and can potentially play a significant role again now. This is especially urgent given the paralysis of the G20, with splits between the West and Russia, China plus its allies.
The Italian summit may also be noteworthy as it is potentially the last of Biden’s presidency. At the back of the mind of the leaders has been the possibility that next year’s event could see the return of former US President Donald Trump.
From 2017 to 2021, Trump’s presence prompted the worst divisions ever within the G7. This reached its nadir in 2018 at the Canadian summit, which saw an unprecedented failure to agree an end-of-summit communique and remarkable undiplomatic language, including Trump’s characterization of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as “so indignant,” while the latter called the US leader’s trade tariffs “laughable.”
The personal animosity on display between Trump and other leaders provided political atmospherics for wider policy splits. The US leader, for instance, called on the first day of the summit for Russia to be allowed to rejoin the group (as the G8), as was the case from 1997 to 2013. Yet other G7 leaders dismissed this, and instead called for a “rapid and unified” response to Moscow’s malign international interference.
Taken together, the Italian summit has provided a key moment for Western leaders to double down on the big strategic questions facing the world. At a time when the G20 has become less effective, the G7 has assumed new relevance and has greater potential to set the global agenda again.
• Andrew Hammond is an Associate at LSE IDEAS at the London School of Economics.
 
Is Europe sliding toward a new dark age?
Jonathan Gornall/Arab News/June 15, 2024
Over the past week, the continent of Europe has undergone a seismic shift to the right.
Elections to the European Parliament have seen significant gains by far-right nationalist parties in countries including Germany, Greece, the Netherlands, Poland, Spain, and Hungary. Much of the attention since the June 6-9 poll has been focused on the decision by French President Emmanuel Macron to call a snap parliamentary election, prompted by the defeat of his centrist Renaissance party and its pro-European coalition Besoin d’Europe by Marine Le Pen’s far-right National Rally.
This has raised the distinct possibility that, for the first time since Marshal Philippe Petain sided with the Nazis in 1940 to create the collaborationist Vichy regime, France could be under the control of an extremist right-wing government.
This would be catastrophic for the great European project, paving the way for a Frexit referendum, despite the evidence of how badly Brexit has played out for the UK.But it is developments in Germany that, with historical hindsight, are the most sinister, and ironic. The alliance of the conservative Christian Democratic Union and the Christian Social Union may have come first in the European elections in Germany, but the real shock is the surge into second place, with 16 percent of the vote, of the new populist party, Alternative fur Deutschland.
Rewind exactly 100 years to 1924, the year in which a new populist National Socialist Freedom Party contested its first elections in Germany. The NSFP was a front for the recently banned National Socialist German Workers’ Party, better known as the Nazis, whose leader Adolf Hitler had just been jailed in the wake of the failed Munich “Beer Hall” coup.
The NSFP did poorly in the 1924 election, winning just 3 percent of the vote. But within nine years Hitler was head of a coalition government as chancellor and, in August the following year, 1934, declared himself Fuhrer, transforming Germany into a totalitarian dictatorship.
The rest is tragic, bloody history — and a history that, a century on, is showing disturbing signs of repeating itself.
Perhaps “irony” is an inadequate word for the events of the past week or so.
On June 6, European leaders, US President Joe Biden and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau gathered solemnly in Normandy to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Allied landings in France that freed Europe from the tyrannical grip of the Nazis.
Yet, within days, voters had handed far-right parties across the continent their best-ever results in European Parliament elections. It is, of course, utterly forbidden in European media or politics to compare the policies of any modern democratic political party with those of the Nazis. But the grim reality is that the specter of the hijacking of Germany’s democratic system by the Nazis a century ago has returned to haunt the continent.
Every one of Europe’s newly resurgent right-wing parties has one thing in common with the Nazis, which resonates with citizens tired of incompetent governments and economic hardship: the infectious lie that all their problems, from long hospital waiting lists and a lack of housing to runaway crime and overcrowding in schools and prisons, can be blamed on immigrants.
A fractious Europe has twice dragged the entire world into tragic conflict.
Each country now flirting with this sinister doctrine has followed its own particular route to this tipping point.
Britain, for example, stepped onto the slippery slope in 2006, when the right-wing, Euroskeptic UK Independence Party, seen by many at the time as an unpleasant joke, was taken over by Nigel Farage, a wealthy former commodities trader.
Farage focused the party’s campaigning on immigration and its supposed negative impact on white working-class Britons, and it worked. In 2014, UKIP shocked mainstream parties by winning the majority of Britain’s seats in the European Parliament.
In 2015, to appease right-wing members of the ruling Conservative party who feared that UKIP candidates would take their seats in the upcoming UK general election, Conservative Prime Minister David Cameron agreed to hold a national referendum on the country’s continuing membership of the EU.
In the event, UKIP won only a single seat in the general election, but the damage was done. On June 23, 2016, Britons voted narrowly to leave the EU.
Now Farage is back, as head of UKIP successor party Reform UK, which is rising in the polls and hoping to take advantage of the predicted imminent collapse of the Conservative Party in the general election on July 4.
Reform is fielding more than 600 candidates, including Farage, who is running in the overwhelmingly white, deprived, working-class constituency of Clacton, on England’s east coast. Migrants are the main target of his election rhetoric.
Farage stands a good chance of winning the seat. If he does, there is even talk among Tory MPs — scared, once again, of being swept away by the rising tide of the right — that he should be invited to join the Conservative party and supplant Rishi Sunak as leader.
The British political experience, which in various forms is being repeated all over Europe, demonstrates that within just a few short years the politically unthinkable can become the inevitable.
These are dangerous times.
A fractious Europe, divided by competing nationalist agendas, has twice dragged the entire world into tragic conflict, which in both cases ended with disastrous and ongoing consequences for the peoples of the Middle East.
The EU, founded in the wake of the Second World War to guard against such a thing happening again, is now under siege by nationalist extremists looking to gain power by wrapping themselves in a flag and appealing to the very worst in people.
European history teaches us that political and moral compromise, when exercised for no better reason than a visceral, self-serving desire to hang on to power at any cost, can have terrible consequences.
An anxious world must now wait to discover whether that is a lesson Europeans have learnt, or forgotten.
• Jonathan Gornall is a British journalist, formerly with The Times, who has lived and worked in the Middle East and is now based in the UK.