English LCCC Newsbulletin For
Lebanese, Lebanese Related, Global News & Editorials
For October 27/2024
Compiled & Prepared by: Elias Bejjani
#elias_bejjani_news
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Bible Quotations For today
The Judgment Day
Accountability
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew 25/31-46/:”‘When
the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit
on the throne of his glory. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he
will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the
goats, and he will put the sheep at his right hand and the goats at the left.
Then the king will say to those at his right hand, “Come, you that are blessed
by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the
world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me
something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you
gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you
visited me.” Then the righteous will answer him, “Lord, when was it that we saw
you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? And
when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you
clothing? And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?”
And the king will answer them, “Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of
the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.” Then he will
say to those at his left hand, “You that are accursed, depart from me into the
eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels; for I was hungry and you
gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a
stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not give me clothing,
sick and in prison and you did not visit me.” Then they also will answer, “Lord,
when was it that we saw you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or
in prison, and did not take care of you?” Then he will answer them, “Truly I
tell you, just as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do
it to me.”And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into
eternal life.’”
Titles For The Latest English LCCC
Lebanese & Lebanese Related News & Editorials published
on October 26-27/2024
A perspective on the Israeli strike on Iran: a victory for all who value
peace and stability/Elias Bejjani/October 26/2024
Lebanon state news agency reports Israeli raid on southern Beirut
Hezbollah Claims First Targeting of Tel Aviv-area Airbase
Hezbollah Urges Residents of More Than Two Dozen Israeli 'Settlements' to
Evacuate
Azour: Conflict in the Middle East Increases Uncertainty
Iran and Israel's Open Warfare after Decades of Shadow War
Explosion of Lebanese weapons depot activates earthquake alerts in northern
Israel
New wave of night airstrikes hits Dahieh
Israeli army says strike that killed journalists in Lebanon 'under review'
Reports: War expected to end soon, Netanyahu may accept 2-week pause
IDF intensifies Lebanon and Gaza ops., destroys Hezbollah and Hamas positions
The strike on Al-Qard al-Hasan bank was a strategic economic blow to Hezbollah /Shlomit
Wagman/Jerusalem Post/October 26/2024
Titles For The Latest English LCCC Miscellaneous Reports And News published
on October 26-27/2024
'Let there be light' takes on new meaning as Israel strikes Iran/Zvika
Klein/Jerusalem Post/October 26/2024
Israel attacks Iran in series of pre-dawn airstrikes targeting military
infrastructure
Israel completes retaliatory military strikes in Iran; US says it wasn't
involved
Iran’s military suggests ceasefires in Gaza, Lebanon trump retaliation against
Israel
Two IRGC soldiers killed in Operation Days of Repentance
'Days of Repentance': Israel strikes multiple targets across Iran in retaliatory
strikes
Israel warns Iran before Operation Days of Repentance: 'Don't respond'
Significant blow or warning shot?: What Israel achieved in Operation Days of
Repentance/AMIR BOHBOT/Jerusalem Post/October 26/2024
Israel strikes Iran: Is deterrence the key to prevent an all-out war?/Seth J.
Frantzman/Jerusalem Post/October 26/2024
More than 130 Israeli reservists sign letter refusing to fight in Gaza and
Lebanon/Zeena Saifi, CNN/October 26/2024
Iran: Attack on Police Convoy in Southeastern Province Kills 10 Officers
Germany's Scholz Urges Iran to De-escalate after Israeli Strikes
Israel's Opposition Leader Says Military Should've Hit Iran Harder
With No Exit Strategy for Israel in Gaza, Critics Fear an Open-Ended Stay
Titles For The Latest English LCCC analysis & editorials from miscellaneous
sources
on October 26-27/2024
Iranian Missiles Hit Europe: Europe Does Nothing/Majid Rafizadeh/Gatestone
Institute./October 26, 2024
The Forgotten Christian ‘Braveheart’ Who Delivered the West from Islamic
Terror/Raymond Ibrahim/The Stream./October 26, 2024
Gaza, The Target and Hostage/Nabil Amr/Asharq Al Awsat/October 26/2024
UK foreign policy ‘reset’ as Starmer looks to Asia-Pacific/Andrew Hammond/Arab
News/October 26, 2024
Sinwar’s killing should end the bloodshed/Yossi Mekelberg/Arab News/October 26,
2024
Countering Hamas’s Shadow Governance in Gaza/Devorah Margolin & Neomi
Neumann/The Washington Institute /October 26, 2024
Strikes on missiles and defense systems send Iran a powerful signal/Yossi
Yehoshua/Ynetnews/October 27/2024
IDF deception tactics leave Iran weighing its next move/Itamar Eichner, Lior Ben
Ari, Yoav Zitun/Ynetnews/October 27/2024
The Latest English LCCC Lebanese & Lebanese Related News &
Editorials published
on October 26-27/2024
A perspective on the Israeli strike on Iran: a victory for all who value
peace and stability
Elias Bejjani/October 26/2024
Today’ Israeli military operation against Iran exposed a critical truth: the
Iranian regime, despite its grandiose threats and relentless propaganda, is a
paper tiger. Over four hours, 100 advanced Israeli jets—equipped with
state-of-the-art American technology—conducted precision strikes on key Iranian
military sites, achieving their objectives without resistance. Iran, which
claims it can "annihilate Israel" and "drive the Jews into the sea," could not
even down a single Israeli jet, revealing its military weakness for all to see.
Israel’s operation didn’t target civilians; instead, it focused on destroying
missile production facilities, air defense systems, and critical military bases.
This precise strike underscored a reality that every Arab nation should take to
heart: Iran’s power is illusory, based on empty rhetoric rather than real
military capability. For decades, Iran’s leaders have been the loudest opponents
of Israel, but their primary targets are the Arab nations themselves,
destabilizing the region through armed proxies and aggressive meddling in
neighboring countries.
The Iranian regime has always relied on its militia networks and terrorist
proxies like Hezbollah to carry out its agenda. This regime’s tactics have
consistently placed Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, and Yemen in the line of fire,
sacrificing countless Arab lives. By using these militias, Iran avoids direct
confrontation with Israel while continuing its destabilizing actions against
Arab nations, risking “the last Lebanese, Palestinian, and Arab” in a
never-ending quest for dominance.
It’s baffling, therefore, that some Arab countries condemned Israel’s actions
today. They must realize that their true security lies in a Middle East free
from the influence of Iran’s mullahs, who pose an existential threat to regional
peace. These Arab nations have far more at stake in seeing the mullahs’ power
weakened, if not dismantled, than Israel does alone.
Israel acted fearlessly, proving once more that it won’t hesitate to counter
threats directly. The United States, though influencing certain boundaries,
allowed Israel’s operation to proceed, making it clear that the global community
is unwilling to turn a blind eye to the destructive ambitions of Tehran’s
regime.
Iran will not retaliate directly because it knows it lacks the power to do so.
Instead, it will persist in its hollow threats, leaving real combat to its
proxies. Israel's resolve against Iran should be seen as a beacon of strength,
protecting not only its own citizens but also advancing the cause of peace and
stability in the entire region.
In conclusion, Arabs' actual enemy is not the State Of Israel, but rather the
Iranian Mullahs' terrorist regime. And if the Middle East is to see stability,
the Iranian regime must be dismantled, its militias and proxies neutralized, and
its leaders brought to justice. For the Arab world, the Israeli strikes are a
necessary step toward exposing and weakening a regime that endangers all who
hope for a secure, peaceful future. Israel’s efforts against Iran should be
applauded as a force for regional security.
Lebanon state news agency reports Israeli raid on
southern Beirut
AFP/October 27, 2024
BEIRUT, Lebanon: Lebanon’s state news agency on Sunday reported an Israeli raid
on southern Beirut, after Israel’s army issued a fresh evacuation call. The
official National News Agency said shortly after midnight that Israel had
“targeted the southern suburbs of Beirut.”
The Israeli army had earlier urged residents of two neighborhoods in the
southern suburbs of the Lebanese capital to evacuate their homes. “You are
located near Hezbollah facilities and interests, against which the IDF will
operate in the near future,” military spokesman Avichay Adraee said in a post on
social media platform X, using an acronym for the Israeli army. The evacuation
call included maps showing buildings that would be targeted in Burj Al-Barajneh
and Hadath.
Lebanon State Media Says Israel Army Blows up Houses in Border Village
Asharq Al Awsat/October 26/2024
Lebanese state media said the Israeli army dynamited houses in Lebanese border
villages on Saturday, more than a month into its war with Hezbollah. The
official National News Agency said "the army of the Israeli enemy has since dawn
blown up and destroyed houses" in the border village of Adaisseh. The NNA also
reported "large explosions" in the border village of Kfar Kila, saying the
blasts were heard across the south as columns of smoke rose above the area. The
Israeli military had earlier reported "the explosion of a large quantity of
explosives in Lebanon" that was strong enough to trigger earthquake warnings in
large parts of Israel. A video circulating on social media showed massive
explosions along the border but AFP could not independently verify its
authenticity. Lebanese state media has reported several incidents of Israeli
blasts in border villages in recent days amid Israel's ground invasion.
Hezbollah says it is fighting Israeli troops at close range in the area. The two
sides began exchanging cross-border fire with Hezbollah last year over the Gaza
war, but all-out war erupted on September 23, when Israel ramped up its aerial
campaign on Hezbollah strongholds in south Lebanon, the capital Beirut and the
eastern Bekaa Valley. The war has left at least 1,580 people dead in Lebanon,
according to an AFP tally of nationwide health ministry figures though the real
number is likely to be higher due to gaps in the data.
Hezbollah Claims First Targeting of Tel Aviv-area Airbase
Asharq Al Awsat/October 26/2024
Hezbollah on Saturday said it had launched drones against Israel’s Tel Nof
airbase south of Tel Aviv, its first claimed attack against the facility. At war
with Israel since last month, after a year of tit-for-tat cross border
exchanges, Hezbollah regularly announces the targeting of Israeli military
facilities but its statement that it launched "an aerial attack with drones"
against Tel Nof base was the first claim of its kind in one year. The attack
claimed by Hezbollah came after a series of Israeli strikes hit Beirut's
southern suburbs late Friday. Lebanon's official National News Agency said
"enemy aircraft" carried out at least eight strikes on the area, a Hezbollah
stronghold, targeting districts including Haret Hreik, Burj al-Barajneh and
Laylaki. The Israeli army had earlier told residents of two neighborhoods in the
area to leave immediately, warning that it would strike Hezbollah targets there.
"You are located near facilities and interests affiliated with Hezbollah,
against which the Israel Defense Forces (army) will act in the near future,"
military spokesman Avichay Adraee said in a post on X. The evacuation call
included maps showing buildings that would be targeted in the Burj al-Barajneh
and Haret Hreik districts.
Hezbollah Urges Residents of More Than Two Dozen Israeli 'Settlements' to
Evacuate
Asharq Al Awsat/October 26/2024
Lebanon's Hezbollah warned residents of more than two dozen Israeli
"settlements" on Saturday to immediately evacuate, saying they had become
legitimate targets because it said Israeli troops were stationed there.
Iran-backed Hezbollah issued its warning in a video. The warning came after
Israel's military eased some safety restrictions for residents in areas of
northern Israel late on Saturday, a possible indication that it does not expect
any immediate large-scale attack from Iran or its proxies in the region. The
decision followed a "situational assessment,” it said in a statement which made
no mention of Israel's bombing of military sites in Iran in the early hours of
Saturday, carried out in retaliation for an Iranian attack on Israel this month.
In areas closest to the border with Lebanon, where Hezbollah has for months been
firing heavy barrages of rockets at Israel, schools can now open, as long as
they have bomb shelters close by, the Israeli military said. In towns a bit
further from the border, nearer to the port city of Haifa, gatherings of up to
2,000 people are now permitted, it added. Israel's military has tightened and
eased restrictions for the home front over the past year, depending on its
evolving assessment of the threat level. In Saturday's attack on Iran, Israel
did not target the most sensitive oil and nuclear facilities and drew no
immediate vows of vengeance from Tehran.
Azour: Conflict in the Middle East Increases Uncertainty
Asharq Al Awsat/October 26/2024
The Director of the Middle East and Central Asia Department at the International
Monetary Fund (IMF), Jihad Azour, stated that ongoing conflicts in Lebanon and
the broader Middle East have increased uncertainty, emphasizing that economic
stability is the primary need for the region.
Presenting the Regional Economic Outlook report for the Middle East and North
Africa on the sidelines of the IMF and World Bank annual meetings, Azour noted
that economic growth in the Middle East and Central Asia is expected to rise. He
added that Gulf countries have adapted effectively to various shocks, from the
COVID-19 pandemic to multiple crises, with the GCC maintaining a stable growth
rate. Azour highlighted that Saudi Arabia is projected to achieve 4.6% growth,
driven by advancements in economic diversification and expansion in non-oil
sectors. He pointed out that the Kingdom’s reforms under Vision 2030 have helped
protect the economy despite fluctuations in oil prices. Azour also mentioned
that IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva will visit Egypt to assess the
effectiveness of the country’s social protection programs, underscoring the
importance of maintaining a flexible exchange rate. Azour noted that
geopolitical tensions and conflicts have negatively impacted Egypt’s economy,
particularly Suez Canal revenues. He emphasized that the cornerstone of Egypt’s
economic reform program is maintaining financial stability and shielding the
economy from external shocks, with an expected growth rate of about 4% by the
end of the current fiscal year. He also indicated expectations for a significant
decline in inflation in the coming period. The IMF’s program with Egypt, he
explained, is designed to address challenging conditions but remains adaptable
to shifts in the Middle East. Azour highlighted that Egypt’s IMF financing
program was recently increased from $3 billion to $8 billion, a level
well-suited to the country’s macroeconomic needs. He confirmed that the country
has received around $35 billion in investments from the United Arab Emirates,
providing a major boost to the economy. Azour also noted that the war in Gaza
has affected Jordan’s economy, though the kingdom has maintained growth.
Iran and Israel's Open Warfare after Decades of Shadow War
Asharq Al Awsat/October 26/2024
Israel said its strikes against Iran on Saturday were in retaliation for
Tehran's strikes on Israel on Oct. 1, the latest exchange in an escalating
conflict between the arch-rivals.
This was the latest in a wider escalation since the war in Gaza began last year,
but Israeli-Iranian enmity stretches back decades through a history of
clandestine wars and attacks by land, sea, air and cyberspace. According to
Reuters, following is a timeline of key events:
1979 - Iran's pro-Western leader, Mohammed Reza Shah, who regarded Israel as an
ally, is swept from power in a Revolution that installs a new Shiite theocratic
regime with opposition to Israel an ideological imperative. 1982 - As Israel
invades Lebanon, Iran's Revolutionary Guards work with fellow Shiites there to
set up Hezbollah. Israel will eventually see the group as the most dangerous
adversary on its borders. 1983 - Iran-backed Hezbollah uses suicide bombings to
expel Western and Israeli forces from Lebanon. In November a car packed with
explosives drives into the Lebanon headquarters of Israel's military. Israel
later withdraws from much of Lebanon. 1992-94 - Argentina and Israel accuse Iran
and Hezbollah of orchestrating suicide bombings at Israel's embassy in Buenos
Aires in 1992 and a Jewish center in the city in 1994, each of which killed
dozens of people.
Iran and Hezbollah deny responsibility.
2002 - A disclosure that Iran has a secret program to enrich uranium stirs
concern that it is trying to build a nuclear bomb in violation of its
non-proliferation treaty commitments, which it denies. Israel urges tough action
against Iran. 2006 - Israel fights Hezbollah in a month-long war in Lebanon but
is unable to crush the heavily armed group, and the conflict ends in effective
stalemate. 2009 - In a speech, Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei calls Israel
"a dangerous and fatal cancer.”2010 - Stuxnet, a malicious computer virus widely
believed to have been developed by the US and Israel, is used to attack a
uranium enrichment facility at Iran's Natanz nuclear site. It is the first
publicly known cyberattack on industrial machinery. 2012 - Iranian nuclear
scientist Mostafa Ahmadi-Roshan is killed by a bomb placed on his car by a
motorcyclist in Tehran. A city official blames Israel for the attack. 2018 -
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hails President Donald Trump's
withdrawal of the US from Iran's nuclear deal with world powers after years of
lobbying against the agreement, calling Trump's decision "a historic move.”
In May Israel says it hit Iranian military infrastructure in Syria - where
Tehran has been backing President Bashar al-Assad in the civil war - after
Iranian forces there fired rockets at the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights. 2020 -
Israel welcomes the assassination of General Qassem Soleimani, commander of the
overseas arm of Iran's Revolutionary Guards, in an American drone strike in
Baghdad. Iran strikes back with missile attacks on Iraqi bases housing American
troops. About 100 US military personnel are injured. 2021 - Iran blames Israel
for the assassination of Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, viewed by Western intelligence
services as the mastermind of a covert Iranian program to develop nuclear
weapons capability. Tehran has long denied any such ambition. 2022 - US
President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid sign a joint pledge to
deny Iran nuclear arms in a show of unity by allies long divided over diplomacy
with Tehran. The undertaking, part of a "Jerusalem Declaration" crowning Biden's
first visit to Israel as president, comes a day after he tells a local TV
station he is open to a "last resort" use of force against Iran - an apparent
move toward accommodating Israeli calls for a "credible military threat" by
world powers. April 2024 - A suspected Israeli airstrike on the Iranian embassy
compound in Damascus kills seven Revolutionary Guards officers, including two
senior commanders. Israel neither confirms nor denies responsibility. Iran
responds with a barrage of drones and missiles in an unprecedented direct attack
on Israeli territory on April 13. This prompts Israel to launch a strike on
Iranian soil on April 19, sources familiar with the matter say. Oct. 1, 2024 -
Iran fires over 180 missiles at Israel in what it calls revenge for the killing
of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah on Sept. 27 in an airstrike on Beirut's
southern suburbs, and the killing of Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh in Iran's
capital on July 31. Oct. 26, 2024 - Israel strikes military sites in Iran,
saying it was retaliating against Tehran's attacks earlier in the month. Iranian
media reports explosions over several hours in Tehran and at nearby military
bases. Iran reports "limited damage" to some locations.
Explosion of
Lebanese weapons depot activates earthquake alerts in northern Israel
Jerusalem Post/October 26/2024
Earthquake warnings were mistakenly activated on Saturday morning across 284
communities in northern Israel and the West Bank due to an explosion at a
Lebanese site containing a large amount of explosives. The IDF confirmed the
explosions as a result of IDF activities, saying, "Over the past few minutes,
explosions were heard in northern Israel following IDF operational activity in
southern Lebanon. There is no indication of a security incident." The Geological
Institute confirmed the details, explaining that the alerts were mistakenly
triggered due to a detection error. “Following a significant controlled
explosion in the north this morning, the alert system identified the explosion
as an earthquake, and the alert was distributed accordingly,” they said. The
“Teru’a” system, Israel’s national earthquake alert platform, is recognized as
one of the world’s most advanced. When launched in Israel in 2022, a standout
feature was its ability to differentiate between explosions and earthquakes.
However, the system was misled this morning, possibly because the explosion
occurred near one of its sensors. even the European international monitoring
network recorded the explosion as seismic activity. The alert system, developed
by the Geological Institute with several partners, comprises field sensors,
computer communication, a control and monitoring center, and an emergency hub
staffed around the clock. Its estimated cost is approximately NIS 45 million.
Maintaining the system. At the system’s launch, Geological Institute Director
Prof. Zohar Gvirtzman cautioned that without sustained funding for upgrades and
maintenance, the system risks deterioration. “On the day this system goes live,
we issue a warning: if sufficient long-term funding is not allocated for ongoing
maintenance, capability upgrades, and research and development, the system will
decline,” he said. “When the project began, few systems like it existed
globally, making future needs hard to estimate. Now, an update in budgetary
support is necessary for the coming years. In a country requiring billions to
reinforce buildings, the costs needed to maintain and preserve this alert system
are minimal, and every shekel invested will save lives.”
New wave of
night airstrikes hits Dahieh
Agence France Presse/October 26/2024
A series of Israeli strikes hit Beirut's southern suburbs late Friday, Lebanese
state media reported, as AFPTV footage showed smoke rising from the area after
Israel's army issued an evacuation call. Lebanon's official National News Agency
said "enemy aircraft" carried out at least eight strikes on the area, a
Hezbollah stronghold, targeting districts including Haret Hreik, Burj al-Barajneh
and Laylaki. AFP correspondents heard the sound of explosions while AFPTV
footage showed smoke rising from the southern suburbs. The Israeli army had
earlier told residents of two neighborhoods in the area to leave immediately,
warning that it would strike Hezbollah targets there. "You are located near
facilities and interests affiliated with Hezbollah, against which the Israel
Defense Forces (army) will act in the near future," military spokesman Avichay
Adraee said in a post on X.The evacuation call included maps showing buildings
that would be targeted in the Burj al-Barajneh and Haret Hreik districts.
Israeli army says strike that killed journalists in Lebanon
'under review'
Agence France Presse/October 26/2024
The Israeli army said that a strike that killed three journalists in south
Lebanon was "under review," maintaining that it had targeted Hezbollah
militants. "Earlier today, following intelligence information, the IDF (army)
struck a Hezbollah military structure in Hasbaya in southern Lebanon," the
military said in a statement to AFP. "The strike was carried out while the
terrorists were located inside the structure," it added."Several hours after the
strike, reports were received that journalists had been hit during the strike.
The incident is under review."Lebanese television channel Al-Mayadeen said a
cameraman and broadcast engineer were killed in the strike in Hasbaya, which
targeted a journalists' residence. Journalists and crew from seven TV networks
were present there. Another TV outlet, Al-Manar, said one of its video
journalists was also killed.
After the strike, a car bearing a "press" marking was crushed under
debris.Lebanon's Prime Minister Najib Mikati accused Israel of intentionally
targeting the journalists in what he called a "war crime" that "aims to
terrorixe the media to cover up crimes and destruction." Israel expanded its
focus to Lebanon last month, after nearly a year of war in Gaza sparked by Hamas'
attack, launching a massive bombing campaign targeting mainly Hezbollah
strongholds across the country and sending in ground troops on September 30.
Reports: War expected to end soon, Netanyahu may accept
2-week pause
Naharnet/October 26/2024
A Lebanese political leader has expected Israel's war on Lebanon to end soon,
telling al-Joumhouria newspaper that there are two factors that support his
suggestion. The first is that the international efforts are "extremely serious"
and the second is that Israel's losses are mounting in its ground operation in
south Lebanon, the political leader added. Senior political sources meanwhile
told ad-Diyar newspaper that Qatar and Turkey are pressing Hamas in the issue of
achieving a prisoner exchange with Israel. Israeli PM Benjamin "Netanyahu has
linked the issue of ceasing fire for two weeks on Lebanon's front to the al-Qassam
Brigades releasing four hostages," the daily said. "So far the atmosphere is
positive regarding the ongoing negotiations in Qatar," the sources added.
IDF intensifies Lebanon and Gaza ops., destroys Hezbollah and Hamas positions
Jerusalem Post/October 26/2024
In southern Lebanon, the Israel Air Force (IAF) launched strikes on more than 70
Hezbollah-related targets.
The IDF continued active operations over the past 24 hours in southern Lebanon
and the Gaza Strip, eliminating dozens of terrorists and dismantling significant
terrorist infrastructure, including weapons caches and tactical positions. In
southern Lebanon, the Israel Air Force (IAF) launched strikes on more than 70
Hezbollah-related targets, covering anti-tank missile sites, command and control
centers, and weapons storage facilities. These strikes are part of ongoing
efforts to disrupt Hezbollah's operational networks and prevent potential
escalations in the region. On the ground, IDF troops remain engaged in
dismantling terrorist sites and neutralizing active threats. In one encounter,
IDF soldiers swiftly neutralized a Hezbollah cell that had fired rockets at IDF
positions. IDF personnel also directed an IAF airstrike against a Hezbollah-held
site with substantial weapons stockpiles, aiming to reduce the group’s capacity
for further hostilities. The IAF also neutralized a Hezbollah terrorist cell
linked to the group’s aerial defense network after it launched a missile at an
IAF aircraft near Kafr Fila, north of the Litani River on Friday. The aircraft
sustained no damage. Overnight, the IAF, acting on intelligence from the Israel
Defense Forces (IDF), targeted Hezbollah sites in Beirut’s Dahieh neighborhood,
a stronghold known for embedded weapons manufacturing sites and intelligence
command posts. The operation also struck several Hezbollah observation posts in
the area. What is Outbrain According to the IDF, Hezbollah continues to position
its military infrastructure in civilian-populated areas. The IDF emphasized that
precautions were taken to minimize civilian casualties, including advance
warnings to residents in the area.
Dismantling Hamas in Gaza
Meanwhile, in the central Gaza Strip, IDF troops have conducted targeted raids,
leading to the elimination of terrorists and the dismantling of terrorist
operational posts. In one incident, troops identified a fortified observation
post, resulting in a coordinated IAF strike that triggered secondary explosions,
indicating the presence of a large weapon. In Rafah, IDF units have been active
in uncovering terrorist infrastructure linked to Hamas. Over the past day,
troops located a weapons cache, including rocket-propelled grenades, within a
Hamas-controlled building, eliminating armed terrorists encountered during the
operation.
The strike on Al-Qard al-Hasan bank was a strategic economic blow to Hezbollah -
opinion
Shlomit Wagman/Jerusalem Post/October 26/2024
The “bank” serves hundreds of thousands of Hezbollah operatives and their
families, providing them with salaries, loans, and funding for the
organization’s ongoing activities.
The strike on Al-Qard al-Hasan bank, Hezbollah’s “shadow bank,” marks a new and
creative phase in Israel’s battle against designated terror organization
Hezbollah. Alongside military targets, Israel has now targeted financial
institutions directly, striking several branches of the bank. This attack likely
impacted cash and gold stored in the bank’s vaults – critical resources for
Hezbollah.
The significance of this strike can be seen on multiple levels: disrupting
Hezbollah’s economic recovery capability, undermining the morale and public
trust of its operatives in the banking system on which they have long relied,
and raising international awareness of the crucial economic role this bank plays
for the organization.
Financing terrorism
Al-Qard al-Hasan is not a traditional bank. It is officially registered as a
charity but in practice, it functions as Hezbollah’s shadow bank, designated by
the US already in 2007 due to its connection to Hezbollah. Operating under the
radar of the international banking system, it is not subject to regulatory
oversight by the Lebanese government or international organizations, unlike any
other regulated financial institutions that must comply with financial
regulations, such as anti-terror financing regulations.
The “bank” serves hundreds of thousands of Hezbollah operatives and their
families, providing them with salaries, loans, and funding for the
organization’s ongoing activities. With its numerous branches, the bank acts as
a separate financial economy within Lebanon. It is primarily funded through cash
transfers from Iran, estimated at around $750 million annually, as well as
revenues from international criminal activities, such as drug trafficking.
The financial network supporting Hezbollah is crucial to its ability to continue
operating and recovering. Therefore, the attack on Al-Qard al-Hasan bank
represents a significant blow to Hezbollah’s economic nerve center – a strike
that targets not only its military but also its economic foundations.
The strategic importance of the strike
Physically striking a bank is uncommon in warfare, primarily because “ordinary”
banks do not keep substantial reserves of cash and gold in their branches,
making such attacks less worthwhile. However, the situation is different when it
comes to Hezbollah, a designated terrorist organization under severe sanctions.
Hezbollah’s operations are heavily restricted by international sanctions against
it and its primary financier, Iran. As a result, a large portion of its assets
are held physically in cash and gold.
The attack on the bank constitutes a significant economic blow, but it also
creates a psychological impact. Finance is built on trust, and when a bank is
physically damaged, public trust erodes, harming the organization’s reputation
as well.
It must be acknowledged that while the strike may be significant and extensive,
it is unlikely that the bank will collapse entirely. Hezbollah has probably
concealed a substantial part of its funds in other locations, and Iran will
likely continue to funnel additional funds as soon as the opportunity arises.
Nevertheless, the economic strike is crucial on several fronts. Firstly, it
directly damages vital infrastructure essential for the organization’s recovery
and ongoing operations, including paying salaries to operatives, procuring new
weapons, and meeting daily needs such as fuel and food. Secondly, it severely
undermines the trust of the bank’s customers, dealing a psychological blow to
operatives and their financial security. Many even deposited family heirlooms as
collateral for loans, which may have been damaged in the strike. The financial
harm to Hezbollah operatives and their families will likely lead to further
upheaval within the organization and its surrounding circles.
The next step: Economic warfare
To complete the action, Israel and the global community must take several
additional measures. On a strategic level, they must capitalize on the momentum
and lead a global economic combat against Hezbollah. Hezbollah’s dominance over
the Lebanese economy already exerts a profoundly negative influence on Lebanon’s
struggling economy. Without substantial action by the Lebanese government,
supported by the international community, Hezbollah may be able to quickly
restore its financial infrastructure.
Coincidentally, this week the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), the
international watchdog responsible for setting global standards on money
laundering and terrorist financing, is convening for its periodic plenary
meeting. FATF should compel the Lebanese government to take significant measures
against Hezbollah’s significant role in its economic system. Since Lebanon’s
government is particularly weak, international assistance is essential,
alongside genuine pressure on Lebanon. FATF can utilize its tools, including
placing Lebanon on the “grey list,” which would require the government to take
emergency actions to improve the situation and bring about real, substantive
change. During my tenure as chair of a FATF working group, I witnessed time and
again how placing countries on FATF’s grey and blacklists can effectively drive
internal processes needed to safeguard their economies’ integrity. This is the
case here as well.
Without significant action by the Lebanese government and the international
community, Hezbollah will be able to restore its financial network quickly.
Therefore,the global community must take complementary measures, such as
imposing further effective sanctions on Iran and Hezbollah, and continue
identifying and confiscating their assets globally.
In conclusion, the strike on Al-Qard Al-Hasan Bank represents a critical blow to
Hezbollah’s financial system, but the battle against the organization cannot end
here. Hezbollah’s influence in Lebanon extends far beyond the military sphere,
and to eliminate the organization, its financial infrastructure must also be
targeted. The combination of additional sanctions, increased international
pressure, and global economic actions against Hezbollah can aid in its defeat
and prevent its recovery.
The writer served as chair of the Israel Anti-Money Laundering and
Counter-Terrorism Financing Authority, chaired a working group at FATF, and held
the highest international roles held by an Israeli in this field. She is a
member of Forum Dvorah.
This article was originally published in Hebrew by N12:
www.mako.co.il.
The Latest English LCCC Miscellaneous Reports And News published
on October 26-27/2024
'Let there be light' takes on new meaning as Israel strikes Iran -
comment
Zvika Klein/Jerusalem Post/October 26/2024
This week’s biblical reading, from Genesis, aligns with Israel’s defense
decisions, mixing ancient themes with modern challenges.
As Israel carried out an aerial strike targeting military sites in Iran this
Saturday morning, Jewish communities worldwide were reading the weekly portion
of Parshat Breishit—the very beginning of the Bible’s Book of Genesis. In it, we
find the account of creation, where God brings light into a formless world with
a simple command, “Let there be light.” This separation of light from darkness
symbolizes order emerging from chaos, a concept that feels particularly relevant
as Israel addresses what it views as emerging threats from Iran. Genesis begins
with a world that is "formless and empty" and, with one command, God divides
light from darkness, setting the stage for a stable, ordered world. Israel’s
strike on Iranian targets, including missile sites, might be seen as an effort
to establish boundaries and create stability in a region that remains tense and
unpredictable. This action can be interpreted as Israel’s attempt to bring
clarity to what it sees as a chaotic and dangerous situation. The weekly
readings in synagogues also include passages from the prophets, and this week’s
reading from Isaiah adds depth to the story. An ancient mission. Isaiah, a
prophet revered in Judaism and Christianity, describes Israel’s role as a “light
unto the nations.” He calls on Israel to uphold justice and resilience, an
ancient mission that resonates with the country’s modern role in maintaining its
security and stability in the region. Many see Isaiah’s vision as an
encouragement for Israel to act with purpose and determination, even when facing
opposition. Isaiah’s text also emphasizes resilience, stating that Israel “will
not falter or be discouraged till [it] establishes justice.” For Israel, this
timeless call speaks to its ongoing responsibility to confront challenges,
uphold security, and pursue peace, even amid complex political landscapes. The
idea of “being a light” here reflects a commitment to prevent threats from
destabilizing not just Israel, but the broader region as well. This connection
between ancient text and modern events highlights a longstanding Jewish
perspective: establishing order and ensuring stability are not merely goals, but
responsibilities. The texts from Genesis and Isaiah, written thousands of years
ago, move forward, providing a framework of meaning as Israel faces today’s
challenges. While military actions are inherently complex, the themes of
clarity, resilience, and moral purpose remain central to the Jewish narrative—a
story that has continued to shape the region across centuries.
Israel attacks
Iran in series of pre-dawn airstrikes targeting military infrastructure
Jon Gambrell, Adam Schreck And Tia Goldenberg/Jerusalem
Post/October 26/2024
TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — Israel attacked military targets in Iran with a series
of pre-dawn airstrikes Saturday in retaliation for the barrage of ballistic
missiles the Islamic Republic fired upon Israel earlier in the month. The
Israeli military said its aircraft targeted facilities that Iran used to make
the missiles fired at Israel as well as surface-to-air missile sites. There was
no immediate indication that oil or missile sites were hit — strikes that would
have marked a much more serious escalation — and Israel offered no immediate
damage assessment. Explosions could be heard in the Iranian capital, Tehran,
though the Islamic Republic insisted they caused only “limited damage” and
Iranian state-run media downplayed the attacks. Iran's army said two of its
troops had been killed in the attack, Iran's Al-Alam television reported.
Still, the strikes risk pushing the archenemies closer to all-out war at a time
of spiraling violence across the Middle East, where militant groups backed by
Iran — including Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon — are already at war
with Israel.
Following the airstrikes, Iran's Foreign Ministry issued a statement saying it
had a right to self-defense, and "considers itself entitled and obligated to
defend against foreign acta of aggression."
The first open Israeli attack on Iran
“Iran attacked Israel twice, including in locations that endangered civilians,
and has paid the price for it,” said Israeli military spokesperson Rear Adm.
Daniel Hagari.
“We are focused on our war objectives in the Gaza Strip and Lebanon. It is Iran
that continues to push for a wider regional escalation.”Photos and video
released by Israel showed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, wearing a black
casual jacket, and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant meeting with military advisers
and others in a conference room at a military command and control center in the
Kirya military base in Tel Aviv.
The strikes filled the air for hours until sunrise in Iran. They marked the
first time Israel's military has openly attacked Iran, which hasn't faced a
sustained barrage of fire from a foreign enemy since its 1980s war with Iraq.
Israel is also widely thought to have been behind a limited airstrike in April
near a major air base in Iran in which the radar system for a Russian-made air
defense battery was hit.
Saturday's attack came as part of Israel's “duty to respond” to attacks on it
from “Iran and its proxies in the region,” Hagari said.
“The Israel Defense Forces has fulfilled its mission,” Hagari said. “If the
regime in Iran were to make the mistake of beginning a new round of escalation,
we will be obligated to respond.”
Israel’s attack effectively sent the message to Iran that it would not remain
silent, while not taking out highly visible or symbolic facilities that could
prompt an significant response from Iran, said Yoel Guzansky, a researcher at
Tel Aviv's Institute for National Security Studies who formerly worked for
Israel’s National Security Council.
At the same time, it also gives Israel room for further escalation if needed,
and the targeting of air defense systems weakens Iran’s capabilities to defend
against future attacks, he said, adding that if there is Iranian retaliation, he
expects it to be limited.
“There’s more chances of Iranian restraint because of their interests, because
of pressure from the outside, and because of the nature of the Israeli attack …
that allows them to save face,” he said.
Mixed reactions at home and abroad
Israel’s opposition leader, Yair Lapid, criticized the decision to avoid
“strategic and economic targets" in the attack."We could and should have exacted
a much heavier price from Iran,” Lapid wrote on X. The United States warned
against further retaliation, indicating that the overnight strikes should end
the direct exchange of fire between Israel and Iran, and British Prime Minister
Keir Starmer said “Iran should not respond.”“We need to avoid further regional
escalation and urge all sides to show restraint,” he said while attending a
summit in Samoa.
Saudi Arabia was one of multiple countries in the region condemning the strike,
calling it a violation of Iran's "sovereignty and a violation of international
laws and norms.”
The kingdom’s foreign ministry said it rejected the escalation in the region and
“the expansion of the conflict that threatens the security and stability of the
countries and people of the region.”
Iran-backed Hamas called the attack “an escalation targeting the region's
security and its people's safety.”Nuclear facilities and oil installations were
all seen as possible targets for Israel’s response to Iran’s Oct. 1 attack,
before U.S. President Joe Biden's administration won assurances from Israel in
mid-October that it would not hit such targets, which would be a more severe
escalation.
Iran’s military said the strikes targeted military bases in Ilam, Khuzestan and
Tehran provinces, without elaborating. It closed its airspace during the attack
but Iran's Civil Aviation Organization said flights were resuming at 9 a.m.,
Iranian state news agency IRNA reported.
Iran’s state-run media acknowledged blasts that could be heard in Tehran and
said some of the sounds came from air defense systems around the city. But
beyond a brief reference, Iranian state television for hours offered no other
details.
Iran may be trying to bring an end to the escalating tit-for-tat attacks
Iran's move to quickly downplay the attack may offer an avenue for it not to
respond, averting further escalation. Iran fired a wave of missiles and drones
at Israel in April after two Iranian generals were killed in an apparent Israeli
airstrike in Syria on an Iranian diplomatic post. The missiles and drones caused
minimal damage, and Israel — under pressure from Western countries to show
restraint — responded with a limited strike it didn't openly claim.
In Lebanon, dozens were killed and thousands wounded in September when pagers
and walkie-talkies used by Hezbollah exploded in two days of attacks attributed
to Israel. A massive Israel airstrike the following week outside Beirut killed
Hezbollah’s longtime leader, Hassan Nasrallah, and several of his top
commanders.
On Oct. 1, Iran launched at least 180 missiles into Israel in retaliation,
sending Israelis scrambling into bomb shelters but causing only minimal damage
and a few injuries.
Netanyahu immediately said Iran had “made a big mistake.”
Israel then ratcheted up the pressure on Hezbollah by launching a ground
invasion into southern Lebanon. More than a million Lebanese people have been
displaced, and the death toll has risen sharply as airstrikes hit in and around
Beirut.
Antipathy between the two countries goes back decades
Israel and Iran have been bitter foes since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. Israel
considers Iran to be its greatest threat, citing its leaders’ calls for Israel’s
destruction, their support for anti-Israel militant groups and the country’s
nuclear program.
During their yearslong shadow war, a suspected Israeli assassination campaign
has killed top Iranian nuclear scientists and Iranian nuclear installations have
been hacked or sabotaged, all in mysterious attacks blamed on Israel.
Meanwhile, Iran has been blamed for a series of attacks on shipping in the
Middle East in recent years, which later grew into the attacks by Yemen’s Houthi
rebels on shipping through the Red Sea corridor.
The shadow war has increasingly moved into the light since Oct. 7, 2023, when
Hamas and other militants attacked Israel. They killed 1,200 people, mostly
civilians, and took some 250 hostages into Gaza. In response, Israel launched a
devastating air and ground offensive against Hamas, and Netanyahu has vowed to
keep fighting until all of the hostages are freed. Some 100 remain, of whom
roughly a third are believed to be dead.
More than 42,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza, according to local
health officials, who don’t differentiate between civilians and combatants but
say more than half of the dead have been women and children.
**Gambrell reported from Dubai, and Schreck from Jerusalem. United Arab
Emirates. Associated Press writers Amir Vahdat in Tehran, Iran; Abby Sewell in
Beirut; Lolita C. Baldor, Farnoush Amiri and Zeke Miller in Washington; David
Rising in Bangkok; and Aamer Madhani in Wilmington, Delaware, contributed to
this report.
*Jon Gambrell, Adam Schreck And Tia Goldenberg, The Associated Press
Israel completes retaliatory military strikes in Iran; US says it wasn't
involved
Kim Hjelmgaard, Michael Collins and Tom Vanden Brook, USA TODAY/October 26, 2024
WASHINGTON ― Israel’s military said early Saturday it had completed a series of
retaliatory airstrikes against Iran in response to an Iranian missile attack, a
move that continued to push the Middle East to a more dangerous and multi-front
phase of conflict a year after Hamas' Oct. 7 attack on the Jewish state. "The
regime in Iran and its proxies in the region have been relentlessly attacking
Israel since October 7th – on seven fronts – including direct attacks from
Iranian soil," Israel Defense Forces said in a statement. "Like every other
sovereign country in the world, the State of Israel has the right and the duty
to respond."Iran's authorities may not reveal the precise nature and impact of
Israel's attack and whether it was limited to military targets or included
facilities linked to Tehran's nuclear program, which could trigger a major
response from Iran. Israel said that based on intelligence, its aircraft hit
missile manufacturing facilities used to produce the missiles that Iran fired at
Israel over the past year and that posed "a direct and immediate threat to the
citizens of Israel."
The IDF also said it struck surface-to-air missile arrays and additional Iranian
aerial capabilities that were intended to restrict Israel's aerial freedom of
operation in Iran.
"The mission was fulfilled," the military said.
Iranian state media said Israel's attacks did not cause any major damage. In
Washington, a senior administration official said the U.S. was notified in
advance of the Israeli strikes but did not take part in the military operation.
"It is our aim to accelerate diplomacy and de-escalate tensions in the Middle
East region," said Sean Savett, spokesman for the National Security Council. "We
urge Iran to cease its attacks on Israel so that this cycle of fighting can end
without further escalation.”He referred other questions to the Israeli
government. The White House said President Joe Biden had been briefed by his
national security team on Israel’s military operations and was closely following
the latest developments. Vice President Kamala Harris also was briefed and
monitoring the attacks, the White House said.
Strong explosions heard around Tehran
A U.S. senior administration official described the Israeli strikes as
extensive, targeted, precise and directed at military targets across Iran.
Iran's state TV reported several strong explosions were heard around the
capital, Tehran. Semi-official Iranian media said explosions were also heard in
the nearby city of Karaj. The Israeli airstrikes also targeted some military
sites in Syria's central and southern parts, the Syrian state news agency SANA
reported. Syrian air defense forces intercepted missiles launched by Israel
"from the direction of the Israeli-occupied Syrian Golan Heights and the
Lebanese territories" and shot down some of them, SANA added. Earlier on
Saturday, SANA reported explosions in the vicinity of Syria's capital Damascus.
Escalating tensions between Israel and Iran
Israel's operation came after Iran fired around 180 missiles at Israel on Oct. 1
in what Tehran described as a retaliation for Israel's killing of Hassan
Nasrallah and other top Lebanon-based Hezbollah leaders. Most of Iran's missiles
were intercepted with help from the U.S. military. A Palestinian man was killed
in the West Bank. An all-out war between arch-foes Israel and Iran has been
threatened for decades. But the two regional powerhouses have been caught in an
escalatory spiral after Hamas attacked communities in southern Israel last year,
killing 1,200 people and kidnapping 251. Israel responded by launching a war in
the Gaza Strip that has killed tens of thousands of Palestinians, laid waste to
Gaza and sparked an uptick in military actions against Israel by groups that
Iran trains, funds and supplies with weapons to promote its interests.
These groups, sometimes referred to as Iran's "axis of resistance," include
Hezbollah in Lebanon, Hamas in Gaza, Houthis rebels in Yemen and various
Iraq-based militias. Among their shared interests with Iran are opposition to
the state of Israel and a desire to drive western powers, chiefly U.S. troops,
from the Middle East. Conflict in the Middle East: On anniversary of Israel-Hamas
war, fears of wider conflict are closer to reality. Iran launched a barrage of
more than 300 missiles and drones at Israel in April. With U.S. and western
allies, Israel shot down almost all of them. Over the summer, Hamas political
leader Ismail Haniyeh was assassinated by a bomb hidden in the wall of a
government guest house in Tehran. Israel is believed to be behind the
assassination. Yahya Sinwar, the elusive leader of Hamas regarded as the
mastermind behind group’s brutal attack on Israel last year, was killed last
week during an Israeli military operation in Gaza. His body was found in the
rubble of a building. DNA testing confirmed his identity. In recent weeks Israel
launched what it characterized as a "limited" ground operation inside Lebanon to
destroy Hezbollah weapons and infrastructure. Israel's new strikes on Iran mean
it is effectively fighting a war on multiple fronts against a web of non-state
and state actors spread across four countries: Iran, Lebanon, Yemen and Iraq.
Lives lost: 30,000-plus lives lost: Visualizing the death and destruction of
Israel's war in Gaza. In Washington, a senior administration official said that
Israel has signaled the retaliatory attacks against Iran should mark the end of
the direct exchange of fire between the two countries. The official said the
U.S. has multiple direct and indirect channels of communication with Iran where
it has made its position clear. While the U.S. was not involved in the attacks,
it stands ready to defend Israel should Iran choose to respond, the official
said.
Iran has said it reserves the right to respond to Israel's attack. It's not
clear if it will.
Biden had worked with Israelis over the past few weeks to encourage Israel to
conduct a targeted and proportional response with low risk of civilian harm, and
that appears to be what occurred, the official said. Biden has ordered the U.S.
military to aid Israel in its defense, a move that some national security
experts believe risks pulling the U.S. into a war in the Middle East. Rosemary
Kelanic, Middle East director at Defense Priorities, a Washington think tank
that argues for a smaller global U.S. military footprint, said that surging more
U.S. troops to the region recently has "only encouraged Israel's brinkmanship
and raised the risk of a war with Iran that serves no U.S. interest." Friends
lost, relatives at odds: How Oct. 7 reshaped lives in the U.S. Kelanic said that
"if the past 20 years of failed policy have taught us nothing else, conflict in
the Middle East is quicksand. The more the U.S. fights it, the deeper we are
drawn in."Two weeks ago, the Biden administration slapped fresh sanctions on
Iran’s oil industry in response to Tehran’s attack on Israel. The Treasury
Department said the sanctions targeted “the shadow fleet” of tankers and illicit
operators that help transport the Iranian regime’s petroleum exports in
violation of existing sanctions. The punitive measures designate 10 entities in
multiple jurisdictions and 17 vessels as “blocked property” under a federal law
that allows the federal government to freeze a company’s assets and property in
the United States. The State Department announced it also is imposing sanctions
on six companies and six vessels engaged in the Iranian petroleum trade. This
story has been updated with new information. Contributing: Reuters; and Swapna
Venugopal Ramaswamy of USA TODAY
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Israel completes retaliatory
military strikes in Iran
Iran’s military
suggests ceasefires in Gaza, Lebanon trump retaliation against Israel
AP/October 26, 2024
TEL AVIV: Iran’s military issued a carefully worded statement Saturday night
suggesting a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and Lebanon trumps any retaliation
against Israel. While saying it had the right to retaliate, the statement
suggested Tehran may be trying to find a way to avoid further escalation after
Israel’s attack early Saturday. Iran’s military added that Israel used so-called
“stand-off” missiles over Iraqi airspace to launch its attacks and that the
warheads were much lighter in order to travel the distance to the targets they
struck in three provinces in Iran.
The statement said Iranian military radar sites had been damaged, but some
already were under repair. Israel attacked military targets in Iran with
pre-dawn airstrikes Saturday in retaliation for the barrage of ballistic
missiles the Islamic Republic fired on Israel earlier this month. The strikes
marked the first time Israel’s military has openly attacked Iran. Following the
airstrikes, Iran’s Foreign Ministry said it had a right to self-defense, and
“considers itself entitled and obligated to defend against foreign acts of
aggression.” Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Iran has “no limits” in
defending its interests. Israel’s military said it targeted facilities that Iran
used to make the missiles fired at Israel as well as surface-to-air missile
sites. There was no immediate indication that oil or nuclear sites were hit,
which would have marked a much more serious escalation.
Iran’s state-run IRNA news agency said four people were killed, all with the
country’s military air defense. It did not say where they were stationed. Iran’s
military said the strikes targeted military bases in Ilam, Khuzestan and Tehran
provinces, without elaborating. The Islamic Republic said the attacks caused
“limited damage.”The strikes risk pushing the archenemies closer to all-out war
at a time of spiraling violence across the Middle East, where militant groups
backed by Iran — including Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon — are already
at war with Israel.
US President Joe Biden told reporters Israel gave him a heads-up before the
strikes and said it looked like “they didn’t hit anything but military targets.”
He said he had just finished a call with intelligence officials.
“I hope this is the end,” he said.
Israel’s first open attack on Iran
Iran hadn’t faced a sustained barrage of fire from a foreign enemy since its
1980s war with Iraq. Explosions could be heard in Tehran until sunrise.On Oct.
1, Iran launched at least 180 missiles into Israel in retaliation for
devastating blows Israel landed against Hezbollah. They caused minimal damage
and a few injuries. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Iran “made a big
mistake.”Israel is also widely thought to be behind a limited airstrike in April
near a major air base in Iran that hit the radar system for a Russian-made air
defense battery. Iran had fired a wave of missiles and drones at Israel in
April, causing minimal damage, after two Iranian generals were killed in an
apparent Israeli airstrike on an Iranian diplomatic post in Syria.“Iran attacked
Israel twice, including in locations that endangered civilians, and has paid the
price for it,” Israeli military spokesperson Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said. He
added: “If the regime in Iran were to make the mistake of beginning a new round
of escalation, we will be obligated to respond.” Images released by Israel’s
military showed members preparing to depart for the strikes in American-made
F-15 and F-16 warplanes. Israel’s attack did not take out highly visible or
symbolic facilities that could prompt a significant response from Iran, said
Yoel Guzansky, a researcher at Tel Aviv’s Institute for National Security
Studies who formerly worked for Israel’s National Security Council.
It also gives Israel room for escalation if needed, and targeting air defense
systems weakens Iran’s capabilities to defend against future attacks, he said,
adding that if there is Iranian retaliation, it should be limited. Israel has
again shown its military precision and capabilities are superior to Iran’s, said
Sanam Vakil, the director of the Middle East and North Africa program at the
London-based think tank Chatham House. “By targeting military sites and missile
facilities over nuclear and energy infrastructure, Israel is also messaging that
it seeks no further escalation for now,” Vakil said. “This is a sign that the
diplomacy and back-channel efforts to moderate the strike were
successful.”Biden’s administration won assurances from Israel in mid-October
that it would not hit nuclear facilities and oil installations.
After the strikes, the streets in Iran’s capital were calm and children went to
school and shops opened. There were long lines at the gas stations — a regular
occurrence in Tehran when military violence flares as people stock up on fuel.
But some Tehran residents seemed anxious and avoided conversations with an
Associated Press reporter.
Mixed reactions at home and abroad
Israel’s opposition leader, Yair Lapid, criticized the decision to avoid
“strategic and economic targets,” saying on X that “we could and should have
exacted a much heavier price from Iran.”The United States warned against further
retaliation, and Britain and Germany said Iran should not respond. “All acts of
escalation are condemnable and must stop,” the spokesman for the UN
secretary-general said.Saudi Arabia was one of multiple countries in the region
condemning the strike, calling it a violation of Iran’s “sovereignty and a
violation of international laws and norms.”
Both Hezbollah and Hamas condemned Israel’s attack, with Hezbollah saying it
would not affect Tehran’s support for Lebanese and Palestinians fighting Israel.
Regional tensions have been soaring in recent weeks. In Lebanon, dozens were
killed and thousands wounded in September when pagers and walkie-talkies used by
Hezbollah exploded in attacks attributed to Israel. A massive Israel airstrike
the following week outside Beirut killed Hezbollah’s longtime leader, Hassan
Nasrallah. Israel launched a ground invasion into southern Lebanon. More than a
million Lebanese people have been displaced, and the death toll has risen
sharply as airstrikes hit in and around Beirut.
Enemies for decades
Israel and Iran have been bitter foes since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. Israel
considers Iran its greatest threat, citing its leaders’ calls for Israel’s
destruction, their support for anti-Israel militant groups and the country’s
nuclear program.
During their yearslong shadow war, a suspected Israeli assassination campaign
has killed top Iranian nuclear scientists, and Iranian nuclear installations
have been hacked or sabotaged. Meanwhile, Iran has been blamed for attacks on
shipping in the Middle East, which later grew into the attacks by Yemen’s Houthi
rebels on shipping through the Red Sea corridor. The shadow war has increasingly
moved into the light since Oct. 7, 2023, when Hamas and other militants attacked
Israel. They killed 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and took some 250 hostages
into Gaza. In response, Israel launched a devastating air and ground offensive
against Hamas, and Netanyahu has vowed to keep fighting until all hostages are
freed. Some 100 remain, about a third believed to be dead. More than 42,000
Palestinians have been killed in largely devastated Gaza, according to local
health officials, who don’t differentiate between civilians and combatants but
say more than half have been women and children.
Two IRGC soldiers killed in Operation Days of Repentance
Jerusalem Post/October 26/2024
Iran said its air defenses had successfully countered the attack but some
locations had received "limited damage."
Two IRGC soldiers were killed in Operation Days of Repentance, the name of
Israel's strike on Iranian military targets, IRNA reported on Saturday. "In
defense of Iran’s security and to protect the people and interests of the
nation, the Islamic Republic of Iran’s military sacrificed two of its fighters
last night as they confronted projectiles from the 'criminal Zionist regime,'"
the announcement said.
Damage to the Islamic Regime. Iran said its air defenses had successfully
countered the attack but some locations had received "limited damage." A
semi-official Iranian news agency vowed a "proportional reaction" to the Israeli
strikes. The actual extent of the damage may not be known, as reports indicate
Tehran has threatened civilians with long prison sentences if they share
evidence of Israel's attacks with Western media. Iranian news sites aired
footage of passengers at Tehran's Mehrabad Airport, seemingly meant to show
there was little impact. Local media had reported blasts over several hours in
the capital and at nearby military bases. Iranian authorities have repeatedly
warned Israel against any attack. "Iran reserves the right to respond to any
aggression, and there is no doubt that Israel will face a proportional reaction
for any action it takes," the semi-official Tasnim news agency said on Saturday,
citing sources.
'Days of Repentance': Israel strikes multiple targets
across Iran in retaliatory strikes
YUVAL BARNEA, CORINNE BAUM/Jerusalem Post/October 26/2024
The attack occurred in three major waves, with the second and third waves
targeting Iranian drone and missile production sites, hitting over 20 targets.
Israel confirmed it had struck numerous military sites during its retaliatory
strikes on Iran on Saturday in an operation later named "Days of Repentance."The
attack was declared over by 5:45 a.m., just as the sun began rising over Tehran,
according to public broadcaster KAN11. The attack occurred in three major waves,
US and Israeli officials said. The second and third waves targeted Iranian drone
and missile production sites, hitting over 20 targets, according to Axios and
the New York Times. Iran told AFP that it had not received any reports of
injuries from the strikes. The IDF later announced early Saturday morning that
it had completed its reactive operation against Iran. The IDF said that the
strikes were conducted in response to the continuous attacks on the State of
Israel and its citizens. The IDF confirmed the operation was over and that all
mission goals had been achieved, with all planes returning safely home. The IAF
struck missile manufacturing sites that produced the missiles Iran fired at
Israel over the last year. Simultaneously, the IDF struck surface-to-air missile
arrays intended to restrict Israel's aerial freedom of operation in Iran. "The
State of Israel reserves the right to defend its citizens if the Iranian regime
continues attacks against the State of Israel and its civilians," the IDF said.
Defense Minister Yoav Gallant was directing the attacks from a secure complex in
IDF headquarters in Tel Aviv, according to Israeli media. "The IDF is currently
attacking precise targets in Iran," IDF Spokesperson Daniel Hagari said in a
statement. "This is in response to persisting attacks by the Iranian regime on
the State of Israel. A second wave of airstrikes was reported following blasts
heard in Shiraz later on early Saturday morning. "The IDF is completely prepared
in attack and in defense. We are following the developments from Iran and its
proxies in the region." No change in Home Front Command orders was announced.
Israel's Security Cabinet also convened in order to approve the strikes. Over
100 planes were involved in the 2000 k.m. attack, including the cutting-edge
F-35, according to Walla. The United States was notified by Israel ahead of its
strikes on targets in Iran but was not involved in the operation, a US official
told Reuters. “We understand that Israel is conducting targeted strikes against
military targets in Iran as an exercise of self-defense and in response to
Iran’s ballistic missile attack against Israel on October 1," said Sean Savett,
White House National Security Council spokesperson, in a statement. "We would
refer you to the Israeli government for more information on their operation."
Sites in Iran
Israel reportedly attacked the location of the headquarters of the Islamic
Revolutionary Guards Corps in Iran. “We’re targeting things that might have
threatened us in the past or could do in the future,” NBC News quoted an Israeli
official saying. The official further stated that Israel is not striking Iranian
nuclear facilities or oil fields and is focusing on military targets. There were
reports of widespread internet outages across Iran as the attacks continued.
Several of the strikes in Tehran targeted military bases across southern and
southwestern Tehran, according to Iranian media. Karaj, one of the cities where
explosions were heard, contains one of Iran's nuclear power plants. The Tasnim
news agency said that "nothing has been reported about hearing the sound of
rockets or airplanes in the sky of Tehran so far."Iranian officials and media
have been denying that Israeli airstrikes took place, saying explosions were a
result of Iranian air defense; an Israeli official strenuously denied this to
Ynet, saying, "This is a lie. Total failure - zero interceptions."Reports of
explosions at the Imam Khomeini International Airport in the Iranian capital
were also received. However, Iranian officials denied anything was wrong.
Parallel operations
The IDF began an artillery attack on the Al-Bureij refugee camp in the Gaza
Strip as part of the broader series of strikes across the region, including both
aerial and ground attacks on terrorist strongholds, according to Israeli media.
Israel also attacked targets in Syria, with the Syrian military confirming that
the IDF had struck sites across central and southern Syria. Explosions were also
reported in Iraq as part of the series of responses to Iran and its proxy groups
throughout the region. There were no planes flying over Syria or northern Iraq
during the time of the suspected attack. Iran closed its airspace following the
attack, according to Maariv. On Friday, a fire was reported at an Iranian
Defense Ministry site in Tehran, although the Tehran Fire Department denied any
connection.
Israel warns Iran before Operation Days of Repentance:
'Don't respond'
Walla/October 26/2024
The Israeli message was conveyed to the Iranians through several third parties,
making it clear what Israel would target and what it would not. Israel sent a
message to Iran on Friday before its retaliatory airstrikes, warning the
Iranians not to respond, according to three sources familiar with the matter.
The Israeli message aimed to limit the ongoing exchange of attacks between
Israel and Iran and prevent wider escalation, sources said. US and Israeli
officials reported that three waves of airstrikes took place on Saturday morning
local time, later named Operation Days of Repentance. The first wave targeted
Iran’s air defense system, while the second and third focused on missile and
drone bases and weapons production sites. Iran claimed it thwarted the Israeli
attack, with only “limited damage” reported to military targets. Israeli
officials stated the strikes were in retaliation for Iran’s ballistic missile
attack on October 1. The Israeli message was conveyed to the Iranians
through several third parties, sources added. “The Israelis made it clear to the
Iranians what they were going to target and what they were not,” one source
said. Two additional sources said Israel warned Iran not to respond, stressing
that further retaliation from Iran would trigger a larger Israeli response,
especially if Israeli civilians were harmed. The Prime Minister’s Office
declined to comment. Iran has stated it does not seek a full-scale war with
Israel but would retaliate if attacked. On Saturday, IDF spokesperson Rear-Adm.
Daniel Hagari warned that any escalation from Iran would compel Israel to
respond. A US official stated that the US did not participate in the Israeli
operation but emphasized that if Iran retaliates, the US is prepared to defend
Israel. “This should be the end of the direct military exchange between Israel
and Iran,” the official said. “If Iran attacks Israel again, there will be
consequences. We communicated that directly and indirectly to Iran.”
No further escalation?
One channel used to convey the message to Iran was Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar
Veldcamp, who wrote on X, “I spoke with the Iranian Foreign Minister about war
and rising tensions in the region. I urged restraint from all parties to prevent
escalation.” US officials expect Iran to respond to the Israeli attack in the
coming days, though in a controlled way that could allow Israel to avoid further
conflict. “It is our goal to accelerate diplomacy and reduce tensions in the
Middle East,” said National Security Council spokesperson Sean Savett. “We urge
Iran to halt its attacks on Israel to end this cycle of conflict without further
escalation.”
Significant blow or warning shot?: What Israel achieved
in Operation Days of Repentance - analysis
AMIR BOHBOT/Jerusalem Post/October 26/2024
The results of Operation Days of Repentance are still unclear, but the burning
question is whether it ended the cycle of attacks between the two countries or
renewed them.
Last night, an Israeli fear barrier was broken. In the intricate dynamics of the
Middle East, a second round of Israeli strikes in Iran appears increasingly
likely. Rockets, missiles, and UAVs—either Iranian-made or Iranian-funded—are
launched almost daily against Israel’s home front.
The critical question now is: What was the purpose of this strike at this
particular moment, with the IDF engaged on two fronts—Gaza and Lebanon? Was it
intended to degrade Iranian military production capabilities and disable launch
systems? Or was it aimed at sending a deterrent message, reducing the cycle of
retaliatory actions?
Iran’s response will soon clarify the situation. If Tehran’s reaction is limited
to rhetoric encouraging the “Axis of Evil” to align in Lebanon and Gaza, it may
signal that the political decision and military action have achieved Israel’s
objectives. But if Iran retaliates directly or through proxies in Yemen, Syria,
Iraq, or Lebanon, it could mean Tehran perceives Israel’s airstrikes as weak and
indecisive. Such a perception, however, underscores a vital point. One
significant takeaway from this strike is a sense of weakness in America. If
Israel’s Air Force undertakes additional strikes on Iran, they are likely to
differ, as Iran’s defensive and offensive capabilities have been reduced,
limiting the threats posed to Israeli aircraft. This raises a core dilemma: what
should the next target be? Further strikes on military sites similar to those
targeted last night? Oil infrastructure? The nuclear project? No containment
from the US
Last night’s strike in Iran—and the recent one in Yemen—highlight American
weakness. Middle Eastern nations and the world observe Israel as it issues
threats and warnings and ultimately takes action. Meanwhile, the United States
appears weakened in its response to emerging threats, attempting to restrain
Israel’s political and military leaders from more assertive actions. This
perception ultimately strengthens Israel’s position, particularly with Saudi
Arabia and the UAE. In the coming days, undeniable evidence of the damage in
Iran will emerge, despite Tehran’s efforts to downplay the extent of the Air
Force’s success. Was “the king” exposed, or was this operation a strategic move
aimed at preventing a broader escalation?
Israel strikes Iran: Is deterrence the key to prevent an
all-out war? - analysis
Seth J. Frantzman/Jerusalem Post/October 26/2024
The ball is now back in Tehran's court - if Iran is not deterred, further
escalation may occur.
Israel began airstrikes on Iran overnight in the first hour of October 26. They
began on Shabbat in Israel when people were at home with families for the
weekend. The strikes are important and come more than three weeks after Iran
attacked Israel with 180 ballistic missiles on October 1. This was the second
Iranian attack of its kind. The first was in April, involving 300 drones and
missiles. Iran has also been using proxies in Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, and Yemen to
attack Israel for a year. In addition, Iran backed the October 7 massacre.
Therefore, Israel’s retaliation is important. It sends a message to Iran that
direct attacks will receive a response. Forcing Israelis into shelters due to
ballistic missiles will receive a response. Iran has been on a roll in the
region over the last decade. It attacked Saudi Arabia with drones and missiles
in 2019. It has attacked ships in the Gulf of Oman. It has also used drones
flown from Chabahar to attack commercial ships. It has armed the Houthis to
attack ships over the last year. It has carried out multiple ballistic missile
attacks on Kurds in Iraq. It even launched missiles at armed groups in Syria and
Pakistan. Iran’s long list of attacks has often come without any retaliation.
For instance, it mobilized militias to attack US forces in Iraq hundreds of
times since 2019. The US did respond several times, but Iran feels it can get
away with whatever it wants. Israel is now saying that Iran can’t get away with
everything. The IDF said that “in response to months of continuous attacks from
the regime in Iran against the State of Israel – right now the IDF is conducting
precise strikes on military targets in Iran.”Israel’s military also noted that
“the regime in Iran and its proxies in the region have been relentlessly
attacking Israel since October 7 – on seven fronts – including direct attacks
from Iranian soil.” Iran’s reaction will be important to watch. Israel is
working to deter Iran and assert that it has a right to respond. This is very
important, but Iran’s reaction will be important to watch. Iran’s president has
just been at the BRICS conference in Russia alongside the Russian leader and
leaders and envoys from some two dozen countries. Iran was working the room to
encourage anti-Israel sentiment among the non-western countries that were
present. Israel says that “like every other sovereign country in the world, the
State of Israel has the right and the duty to respond.” Israel is now mobilized
to conduct these strikes and defend the country against Iran’s possible
responses. This retaliatory attack was well planned, communicated, and
telegraphed over the last weeks. This means that Iran got the message even
beforehand that it would receive a response. Much brinkmanship went into seeing
which type of response might not provoke a larger war. US Secretary of State
Antony Blinken is in the region this week, and that issue is certainly on his
mind. However, countries in the Middle East, such as Egypt, were also focused on
the meetings at BRICS in Russia. Most countries in the region seem resigned to
the Israeli strikes. Now, the ball may be back in Iran’s court. If Iran is not
deterred, then further escalation may occur.
More than 130 Israeli reservists sign letter refusing to
fight in Gaza and Lebanon
Zeena Saifi, CNN/October 26/2024
When Hamas attacked southern Israel on October 7 last year, reservist Yotam Vilk
wasn’t called up for military service – he volunteered to go and fight. Since
then, he has spent more than 230 days serving with the Israeli military in Gaza.
It has affected every part of his life. And now, he is refusing to serve again.
“On October 7, I didn’t hesitate… because my people were murdered and killed and
I understood that there was a need to save them, and there is still a need to
save them, which the Israeli government doesn’t seem to see as urgent,” he told
CNN in a phone interview. After completing his second round of reserve duty in
Gaza this summer, he decided he would refuse to go back if he were asked. He
believed military action was justified in some cases, but that it should only be
used as a tool to reach diplomatic solutions that work towards peace. He didn’t
believe in the government’s will to achieve that, despite “the destruction in
Gaza getting harder, the lives of Palestinians getting harder and the lives of
Israeli hostages getting harder.”On October 9, Vilk, along with more than 130
other Israeli reservists, signed an open letter to Prime Minister Benjamin
Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant stating that they refuse to serve
unless a deal is signed to end the war and bring back the 101 hostages still in
Gaza. ‘For some of us, the red line has already been crossed, and for others, it
is rapidly approaching: the day when, with broken hearts, we will stop reporting
for service,’ the letter read. Vilk’s “red line” had been crossed, but it wasn’t
an easy decision to make.
On the one hand, by refusing to serve, he felt he would be abandoning the
hostages and leaving Hamas in charge in Gaza, something he believes makes
Palestinians’ lives worse. On the other, by not refusing, he feared he’d be
serving in a war that would end in another Israeli occupation of Gaza, of which
he didn’t want to be a part. Despite Netanyahu stating there would be no
resettlement in Gaza, Vilk said the government’s support for the expansion of
settlements in the occupied West Bank made him doubtful of his intentions.
Netanyahu’s cabinet includes far-right ministers who have called for Israeli
settlements in Gaza.“They put me in a horrible position… I feel betrayed by my
own government,” he said.
And he isn’t alone.
Max Kresch served on Israel’s border with Lebanon for 66 days after October 7.
Hostilities in the border region intensified as the Lebanese militant group
Hezbollah vowed support for Hamas in Gaza. Now, Kresch says he’s had enough.
When he returned to his home in Jerusalem at the end of December, he says he had
a hard time readjusting and fell into a deep depression.
Serving was very difficult for him, Kresch said, because the atmosphere felt
very “religiously militaristic.”“A very significant portion of the people that I
was with felt religiously inspired to be fighting in this war, which was
extremely uncomfortable for me,” he said. He recalled one soldier telling him he
believed it was a mitzvah, or Jewish religious duty, to kill Palestinians in
Gaza, including children, “because they would grow up to be terrorists.”
Israel’s far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir has voiced similar
sentiments. Kresch said he finds it “terrifying” that Ben Gvir has a significant
voice in the country that resonates with a lot of people. Despite some comrades
holding extreme views that were “very difficult to hear and tolerate,” Kresch
believed they were good people, making the choice he made very difficult – and
lonely. By signing the letter, he isn’t trying to discourage others from serving
he said, but to support those who have already decided not to.
Fears over ‘forever war’
Kresch’s concerns came to a head as Israel marked a year since the October 7
attack, a milestone he saw as the straw that broke the camel’s back. “We’re a
year in, and we still haven’t had a hostage deal… but doing a deal isn’t going
to mean I’m OK and suddenly ready to go back. The camel’s back is broken. It
takes a lot more to heal that back,” he said. Another 28-year-old reservist, who
asked to remain anonymous because he didn’t want the families of soldiers who
died to feel betrayed by his decision to refuse, served in Gaza for over 130
days. He felt the weight of the anniversary as well. “The military pressure has
been overwhelming for a bit more than a year now, and I don’t think any more
military action is going to change the situation,” he told CNN. Like Kresch and
Vilk, he believed it was necessary to fight Hamas on October 7, but to what end?
“We can always keep bombing Gaza… I won’t even talk about the civilian cost,
because people in Israel shut down when we talk about it. But the utilitarian
cost. There’s no point in fighting a war that could last forever,” he said. The
“forever war” has become a slogan used by opponents of Netanyahu to describe
what they believe is his desire to keep it going for his own political gains.
Netanyahu has vowed that Israel will “continue to fight” until its enemies are
defeated, the hostages are returned, and Israelis can go back to their homes in
the south and north. Last month, Israeli forces invaded southern Lebanon to
begin the “next phase” of the war against Hezbollah. The 28-year-old reservist
is from a town in northern Israel that has been hit by Hezbollah rockets over
the past year. He feels strongly that Israel needs to go after the Iran-backed
Lebanese militant group, but fears it takes the focus away from Gaza and
bringing back the hostages. Kresch, who served on the border last year, believed
at the time Hezbollah was a threat that needed to be deterred. But now, he
thinks Netanyahu has “leveraged” Israel’s collective trauma “for political
gain.”
‘No place for refusals’
This isn’t the first time since the Hamas attacks that reservists have declared
their refusal to serve. Back in May, more than 40 reservists signed a letter
after Israeli forces invaded the southern Gazan city of Rafah. But for this new
letter, that number has more than doubled, and the stakes are much higher as
Israel wages war on multiple fronts. Transportation Minister Miri Regev,
speaking to Kann News, called for those who signed it to be detained. “There is
no place for refusals in the army. Not from the right and not from the left,”
she said. 28-year-old Max Kresch emigrated to Israel from the United States 10
years ago. He said he did know the reality of what life and the occupation was
like until he challenged the narratives he grew up with. - courtesy Max Kresch
28-year-old Max Kresch emigrated to Israel from the United States 10 years ago.
He said he did know the reality of what life and the occupation was like until
he challenged the narratives he grew up with. - courtesy Max Kresch
A few days after the letter was published, Kresch told CNN he received a call
from the officer responsible for calling up reservists in his unit. The officer
asked him to take back what he’d said or vowed not to call him back to reserves,
Kresch said. “It was kind of a ‘you’re not breaking up with me, I’m breaking up
with you’ conversation, with a hint of ‘we can still fix this,’” Kresch
recalled. “I said I stand by what I signed… as far as I’m concerned, this cannot
be fixed under Netanyahu and whoever comes in afterwards will have a lot of work
to do in repairing the broken trust,” Kresch said.
Vilk says he received a call from his brigade commander a week after the letter
was published, threatening to remove him from his position. He served as a
deputy company commander in Gaza, and despite refusing to serve, still holds
that position. Vilk said the brigade commander claimed he was not allowed to
speak against the government, because it was a violation of army orders. “I
still don’t know how it will unfold,” Vilk told CNN, adding that he wasn’t
concerned about repercussions. “I’m more concerned about my moral decisions and
my well-being and my ability to look back and believe that I made the right
choices and that I was on the right side of history,” he said. The 28-year-old
reservist said he feels the same way. He wasn’t expecting the letter to gain
momentum, and only hoped that it would do good. “My conflict is not at all with
people who choose to go… it’s about following orders when it helps our country
and when it helps us save lives, and not following orders when we don’t need to
because they’re harmful and dangerous,” he said. “War is a bad thing. We should
try to make it as short as possible. And right now, it seems like war has become
the target for our leaders, it is not serving any purpose, it is the purpose
itself.”
Netanyahu Says Israel Chose Targets in Iran Based on National Interests
Asharq Al Awsat/Asharq Al Awsat/October 26/2024
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Saturday that Israel had
chosen the targets it attacked in Iran based on its national interests, not
according to what was dictated by the United States. Netanyahu's office issued
the statement in response to what it referred to as a "completely false" local
television report that Israel had avoided striking Iranian gas and oil
facilities because of US pressure. "Israel chose in advance the attack targets
according to its national interests and not according to American dictates. So
it was, and so it will be," his office said.
US President Joe Biden said Saturday that he got a head’s up from Israel before
the strikes on Iran. “Looks like they didn’t hit anything but military targets,”
he told reporters in Philadelphia, where he was en route to a campaign event in
Pittsburgh.Biden said he had just finished a call with intelligence officials.
“I hope this is the end,” he said. The Israeli military said its aircraft
targeted facilities that Iran used to make the missiles fired at Israel as well
as surface-to-air missile sites.
Iran: Attack on Police Convoy in Southeastern Province Kills 10 Officers
Asharq Al Awsat/Asharq Al Awsat/October 26/2024
An attack on an Iranian police convoy Saturday in the country's southern
province of Sistan and Baluchestan killed at least 10 officers, authorities
said. Details remain scarce over the attack in Gohar Kuh, some 1,200 kilometers
(745 miles) southeast of the Iranian capital, Tehran. Initially, reports simply
described an attack by “miscreants” without more information. But shortly after,
Iranian state media said 10 officers had been killed, The AP reported. HalVash,
an advocacy group for the Baluch people of Afghanistan, Iran and Pakistan,
posted photos and video of what appeared to be a disabled truck painted with the
green stripe used by Iranian police vehicles. One graphic photo shared by the
group showed what appeared to be the corpses of two police officers in the front
seat of the truck. HalVash said the attack appeared to target two security force
vehicles and all those riding in them were killed. The truck appeared to have
only damage from bullets, rather than any explosive being used. The state-run
IRNA news agency said that Eskandar Momeni, the country's interior minister,
ordered an investigation into the incident that it described as causing the
“martyrdom of a number of police.” Authorities identified no immediate suspects
for the attack, nor did any group claim responsibility. The assault came after
Israel launched a major attack across Iran early Saturday morning.
Germany's Scholz Urges Iran to De-escalate after Israeli Strikes
Asharq Al Awsat/Asharq Al Awsat/October 26/2024
German chancellor Olaf Scholz called on Iran to end the cycle of escalation
following Israeli strikes on Iranian military sites early on Saturday, saying
restraint could pave the way for peace in the Middle East, Reuters reported. "My
message to Iran is clear: We cannot continue with massive reactions of
escalation. This must end now," Scholz said in a post on social media platform
X."This will provide an opportunity for peaceful development in the Middle
East," he added. Israel struck military sites in Iran early on Saturday, but its
retaliation for an Iranian attack this month did not appear aimed at the
country's most sensitive oil and nuclear targets after urgent calls from allies
and neighbors for restraint.
Israel's Opposition Leader Says Military Should've Hit Iran Harder
Asharq Al Awsat/Asharq Al Awsat/October 26/2024
Opposition leader Yair Lapid on Saturday praised the work of the military but
said Israel should have struck Iran harder after Israel unleashed a series of
pre-dawn airstrikes against the country. “The decision not to attack strategic
and economic targets in Iran was wrong. We could and should have exacted a much
heavier price from Iran,” Lapid wrote in a post on X. He said the air force
actions showed its operational capabilities, and that Israel’s enemies know that
its military is strong and can attack anywhere.The Iranian army said two
soldiers were killed in the Israeli strikes.
The army statement was carried by the Arabic-language channel of the state TV,
Al-Alam. The report did not elaborate.
With No Exit Strategy for Israel in Gaza, Critics Fear an
Open-Ended Stay
Asharq Al Awsat/Asharq Al Awsat/October 26/2024
Retired Israeli general Giora Eiland believes Israel faces months of fighting in
Gaza unless Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu uses the chance offered by the
death of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar to end the war. Since Sinwar's death this
month, Eiland has been one of a chorus of former senior army officers
questioning the government's strategy in Gaza, where earlier this month troops
went back into areas of the north that had already been cleared at least twice
before.For the past three weeks, Israeli troops have been operating around
Jabalia, in northern Gaza, the third time they have returned to the town and its
historic refugee camp since the beginning of the war in October 2023. Instead of
the Israeli military's preferred approach of quick decisive actions, many former
security officials say the army risks being bogged down in an open-ended
campaign requiring a permanent troop presence. "The Israeli government is acting
in total opposition to Israel's security concept," Yom-Tov Samia, former head of
the military's Southern Command, told Kan public radio. Part of the operation
has involved evacuating thousands of people from the area in an effort to
separate civilians from Hamas fighters. The military says it has moved around
45,000 civilians from the area around Jabalia and killed hundreds of militants
during the operation. But it has been heavily criticized for the large number of
civilian casualties also reported, and faced widespread calls to get more aid
supplies in to alleviate a humanitarian crisis in the area. Eiland, a former
head of Israel's National Security Council, was the lead author of a
much-discussed proposal dubbed "the generals' plan" that would see Israel
rapidly clear northern Gaza of civilians before starving out surviving Hamas
fighters by cutting off their water and food supplies.
The Israeli moves this month have aroused Palestinian accusations that the
military has embraced Eiland's plan, which he envisaged as a short-term measure
to take on Hamas in the north but which Palestinians see as aimed at clearing
the area permanently to create a buffer zone for the military after the war. The
military has denied it is following any such plan and Eiland himself believes
the strategy adopted is neither his plan, nor a classical occupation. "I don't
know exactly what is happening in Jabalia," Eiland told Reuters. "But I think
that the IDF (Israel Defense Forces) is doing something which is in between the
two alternatives, the ordinary military attack and my plan," he said.
NO PLAN TO STAY
From the outset of the war, Netanyahu declared Israel would get hostages home
and dismantle Hamas as a military and governing force, and did not intend to
stay in Gaza. But his government never articulated a clear policy for the
aftermath of the campaign, launched following the attack on Oct. 7, 2023 on
southern Israeli communities by Hamas gunmen who killed some 1,200 people and
took more than 250 hostages. The Israeli onslaught has killed nearly 43,000
Palestinians, according to Gaza health officials, and the enclave has been
largely reduced to a wasteland that will require billions of dollars in
international assistance to rebuild. For months there have been open
disagreements between Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant that reflect a
wider division between the governing coalition and the military, which has long
favored reaching a deal to end the fighting and bring the hostages home.
With no agreed strategy, Israel risks being stuck in Gaza for the foreseeable
future, said Ofer Shelah, director of the Israel National Security Policy
research program at the Institute for National Security Studies in Tel Aviv.
"The situation for Israel is very precarious right now. We are sliding towards a
situation where Israel is considered the de facto ruler in Gaza," he said.
The Israeli government did not immediately respond to a request for a comment on
suggestions that the military is getting bogged down in Gaza.
HIT AND RUN RAIDS
With Israel's military focus now directed against the Iranian-backed Hezbollah
movement in Lebanon, the number of army divisions engaged in Gaza is down to
two, compared with five at the start of the war. According to estimates from
Israeli security sources there are 10,000-15,000 troops in each IDF division.
The Israeli military estimates that the 25 Hamas battalions it assessed Hamas
possessed at the start of the war have been destroyed long ago, and around half
the force, or some 17,000-18,000 fighters have been killed. But bands of
fighters remain to conduct hit and run raids on Israeli troops. "We don't engage
with tanks on the ground, we choose our targets," said one Hamas fighter,
contacted through a chat app. "We are acting in a way that keeps us fighting for
the longest time possible."Although such tactics will not prevent Israel's
military from moving around Gaza as it wants, they still have the potential to
impose a significant cost on Israel. The commander of Israel's 401st Armored
Brigade was killed in Gaza this week when he got out of his tank to talk to
other commanders at an observation point where militants had rigged up a booby
trap bomb. He was one of the most senior officers killed in Gaza during the war.
Three soldiers were killed on Friday. "With the killing of Sinwar, there is no
logic in remaining in Gaza," said a former top military official with direct
experience of the enclave, who asked not to be named. "Methodical" pinpointed
operations going forward should be carried out if Hamas regroups and resumes any
war on Israel, but the risk of leaving troops permanently in Gaza was a major
danger, the former official said, advocating securing the hostages and getting
out. Netanyahu's office said on Thursday that Israeli negotiators would fly to
Qatar this weekend to join long-stalled talks on a ceasefire deal and the
release of hostages. But what Hamas' position will be and who Israel will allow
to run the enclave when the fighting stops remains unclear. Netanyahu has denied
any plans to stay on in Gaza or to allow Israeli settlers to return, as many
Palestinians fear. But the hardline pro-settler parties in his coalition and
many in his own Likud party would like nothing more than to reverse the 2005
unilateral removal of Israeli settlers by former Prime Minister Ariel Sharon.
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who heads one of the pro-settler parties,
said on Thursday - at the close of the Jewish holiday of Simchat Torah - that he
hoped to celebrate the festival next year in the old Gaza settlement bloc of
Gush Katif.
The Latest English LCCC analysis & editorials from miscellaneous
sources
on October 26-27/2024
Iranian Missiles Hit Europe: Europe Does Nothing
Majid Rafizadeh/Gatestone Institute./October 26, 2024
Iran's Islamist regime has never made a secret of its ambitions. Ayatollah
Ruhollah Khomeini, who seized power following the overthrow of Shah Mohammad
Reza Pahlavi and established the Islamic Republic of Iran in 1979, said: "We
shall export our revolution to the whole world. Until the cry 'There is no god
but Allah' resounds over the whole world, there will be struggle."
Ignoring the warning signs will only make the price Europe pays even higher.
The question is, how much more aggression will Europe tolerate before it
recognizes the full extent of the threat?
How come Europeans do not seem as distressed about the deaths of civilians in
Ukraine as in Lebanon and Gaza?
All the EU seems to do is issue statements of condemnation against Israel, which
is sacrificing the lives of its people to save these sanctimonious ingrates.
The first step should be to formally designate Iran's Islamic Revolutionary
Guard Corps (IRGC) and its elite Quds Force as terrorist organizations. This
would send a powerful signal that Europe is no longer willing to tolerate Iran's
military and ideological expansion, and it would empower law enforcement across
the continent to act decisively against Iranian operatives.
Europe should also take a bold step of shutting down all Iranian embassies and
consulates on its soil.
Europe should sever all trade relations with Iran. Every euro that flows into
Iran is likely being funneled into Tehran's military machine and its support for
Russia's war in Ukraine.
The EU also needs to be prepared to form a coalition to back up its words with
military action. Continuing to sit passively while Iranian missiles and drones
rain down on a European nation is not a strategy; it is a surrender
If Europe finds itself too hesitant to confront the Iranian regime directly, it
should at the very least stand by those who are fighting the Iranian regime and
its proxies. Israel has taken the lead in confronting Iranian aggression in the
Middle East. Rather than undermining Israel for defending itself and the West
against Hamas, Hezbollah and Iran, the EU should do everything it can support
these heroes. Abandoning Israel while it fights Iranian-backed terror only
weakens Europe and plays into the hands of everyone working to bring it down.
By responding with empty words as Iranian missiles hit European soil, the EU is
essentially green-lighting Tehran to escalate its aggression. The lessons of
Nazi Germany are there for everyone to see.
The time has come for Europe to support those risking their lives to take down
this terror regime before they get a nuclear bomb.
Most grateful of all would be the people of Iran.
Iran is arming Russia with missiles and attack drones, which are being used to
strike Ukraine. That war is no longer just a regional conflict between Russia
and Ukraine. When Iranian missiles target Ukraine, they are striking Europe
itself. If this isn't the prelude to a direct act of war by Iran against all of
Europe and the individual freedoms it stands for, then what is? Pictured:
Firefighters in Kyiv, Ukraine try to put out a fire in a four-story residential
building, in which three people were killed when it was hit by an attack drone,
on October 17, 2022. (Photo by Paula Bronstein/Getty Images)
The European powers' current approach to Iran is uncomfortably reminiscent of
how, in the 1930s, they dealt with Nazi Germany.
European democracies, choosing appeasement over confrontation, turned a blind
eye to Hitler's rising aggression. This indulgence, not surprisingly, simply
emboldened the Nazis, and led to the horrors of World War II.
Today, in a similar fashion, the Europe's passivity toward Iran's escalating
threats is just bolstering its regime. Iran, called by the 2023 US annual
Terrorism Report, "the world's leading state sponsor of terrorism," is on the
cusp of acquiring nuclear weapons.
Iran's Islamist regime has never made a secret of its ambitions. Ayatollah
Ruhollah Khomeini, who seized power following the overthrow of Shah Mohammad
Reza Pahlavi and established the Islamic Republic of Iran in 1979, said:
"We shall export our revolution to the whole world. Until the cry 'There is no
god but Allah' resounds over the whole world, there will be struggle."[1]
Iran's regime is promising either Western capitulation or a major conflict.
Ignoring the warning signs will only make the price Europe pays even higher.
Iran is arming Russia with missiles and attack drones, which are being used to
strike Ukraine. That war is no longer just a regional conflict between Russia
and Ukraine. When Iranian missiles target Ukraine, they are striking Europe
itself. If this isn't the prelude to a direct act of war by Iran against all of
Europe and the individual freedoms it stands for, then what is? Iran, as has
been no secret, has clearly aligned itself with a "new Axis of Evil" consisting
of Russia, China, North Korea and Iran.
Iran's partnership with Russia will not likely end with Ukraine. The mullahs
seem to have their sights set on helping Russia continuing to expand its
influence. Perhaps, after Ukraine, Russia will try to pick off Moldova, then the
Baltic States, then wherever it looks as if it will not be much resistance. The
question is, how much more aggression will Europe tolerate before it recognizes
the full extent of the threat?
Iranian-supplied missiles and attack drones are destroying Ukrainian
infrastructure and targeting key cities such as Kyiv. These attacks are causing
significant damage as well as killing countless innocent Ukrainians. How come
Europeans do not seem as distressed about the deaths of civilians in Ukraine as
in Gaza and Lebanon?
All the EU seems to do is issue statements of condemnation against Israel, which
is sacrificing the lives of its people to save these sanctimonious ingrates.
What does that achieve?
It is time for Europe to go beyond demonizing the one country that is saving
them -- and to stop firing nothing but words at the countries causing the
mayhem.
The first step should be to formally designate Iran's Islamic Revolutionary
Guard Corps (IRGC) and its elite Quds Force as terrorist organizations. This
would send a powerful signal that Europe is no longer willing to tolerate Iran's
military and ideological expansion, and it would empower law enforcement across
the continent to act decisively against Iranian operatives.
Europe should also take a bold step of shutting down all Iranian embassies and
consulates, and expelling their personnel, before another terror plot comes to
fruition.
The case of Assadollah Assadi, the Iranian diplomat who was convicted for
plotting a terror attack in France, should have been a wake-up call. These
so-called Iranian diplomats do not seem to have been appointed to foster
international cooperation. They appear rather as agents of espionage and terror.
The longer European leaders allow these seditious diplomatic outposts to
operate, the greater the threat to European security.
Europe should sever all trade relations with Iran. Every euro that flows into
Iran is likely being funneled into Tehran's military machine and its support for
Russia's war in Ukraine. The cost of continuing these commercial ties is the
further destabilization of Europe's eastern borders and the empowerment of a
regime that is openly hostile to the West. By trading with Iran, it is actually
funding and empowering its enemies.
The EU also needs to be prepared to form a coalition to back up its words with
military action. Continuing to sit passively while Iranian missiles and drones
rain down on a European nation is not a strategy; it is a surrender. The EU
should put Iran's oil infrastructure, nuclear facilities, and military assets on
the table as potential targets. This would deliver a clear message to the
Iranian regime: Europe will not just look the other way when its cities are
threatened. Such a show of strength could deter further aggression and force
Iran to rein in.
If Europe finds itself too hesitant to confront the Iranian regime directly, it
should at the very least stand by those who are fighting the Iranian regime and
its proxies. Israel has taken the lead in confronting Iranian aggression in the
Middle East. Rather than undermining Israel for defending itself and the West
against Hamas, Hezbollah and Iran, the EU should do everything it can support
these heroes. Abandoning Israel while it fights Iranian-backed terror only
weakens Europe and plays into the hands of everyone working to bring it down.
By responding with empty words as Iranian missiles hit European soil, the EU is
essentially green-lighting Tehran to escalate its aggression. The lessons of
Nazi Germany are there for everyone to see.
The time has come for Europe to support those risking their lives to take down
this terror regime before they get a nuclear bomb.
Most grateful of all would be the people of Iran.
*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
[1] February 11, 1979 (according to Dilip Hiro in The Longest War p.32) p.108
from Excerpts from Speeches and Messages of Imam Khomeini on the Unity of the
Muslims.
© 2024 Gatestone Institute. All rights reserved. The articles printed here do
not necessarily reflect the views of the Editors or of Gatestone Institute. No
part of the Gatestone website or any of its contents may be reproduced, copied
or modified, without the prior written consent of Gatestone Institute.
The Forgotten Christian ‘Braveheart’ Who Delivered the West from Islamic Terror
Raymond Ibrahim/The Stream./October 26, 2024
Today in history, a man who would come to be known as the “Albanian Braveheart”
delivered his homeland — and by extension, all of Europe — from a brutal Muslim
siege following a series of mindboggling events.
Nearly four decades earlier, this same Albanian, George Kastrioti — better known
as Skanderbeg (“Lord Alexander”) — was taken captive as a small child by the
Ottoman Turks, and trained to be a janissary: a Christian slave turned Muslim
soldier. Excelling at war, he quickly rose among the Ottoman ranks until he
became a renowned general with thousands of Turks under his command. But despite
all the honors showered on him, once the opportunity came in 1450, he showed
where his true allegiance lay: he broke free of the Ottomans and fled back to
his native and continuously harried Albania. There, after openly reclaiming his
Christian faith, he “abjured the prophet and the sultan, and proclaimed himself
the avenger of his family and country.”His “ingratitude” naturally provoked the
Turks to no end and prompted wave after wave of jihadist invasions, each one
larger and crueler. Finally, in what was meant to be the campaign to end all
campaigns, in the spring of 1450 Sultan Murad II himself led a gargantuan army
of 160,000 men into Albania — straight for Skanderbeg’s stronghold, the White
Castle in Croya. Against this mammoth Muslim army, Skanderbeg could only raise
some 18,000 Christian defenders. He evacuated all of the women and children from
Croya, garrisoned it with 1,500 men, and took the rest into the nearby
mountains, from where they would proceed to harass the besiegers and try to
undermine their supply trains with guerilla tactics. Meanwhile, all along their
route to Croya, the Turks left a trail of devastation; countless Albanians were
slaughtered or enslaved. Murad finally arrived and put Croya to siege on May 14,
1450. Day after day, Ottoman cannons rocked the White Castle with projectiles
weighing as much as 400 pounds. As one contemporary wrote, the sultan
bombarded the walls with cannons and brought down a large section of them…. But
Skanderbeg lit fires from the mountain signaling to those in the city that when
there was need, he would be there to assist them. He attacked some of the
sultan’s men who went up the mountain and fought against them, performing
remarkable deeds.
Meanwhile, the janissaries — “traitors to God and their country, the worms whose
conscience is ever tormenting their souls,” to quote the former janissary,
Skanderbeg — terrorized and devastated the land of their former brother-in-arms,
burning homes and grain fields.
Several Albanian nobles individually surrendered to the sultan in the hopes of
retaining their lands and titles; others, envious of the Albanian warlord,
actively welcomed the Turks in the hopes of breaking Skanderbeg’s influence. And
Venice, as it had before, supplied the Islamic invader.
Despite such odds, a Venetian report complained that “Skanderbeg is defending
himself heroically” — so much so that, if not for Venetian provisions, the Turks
“would have pulled up their tents” and retreated: “for this reason, it is feared
that Skanderbeg, the moment he frees himself [of the Turks] will attack the
lands of the Republic [of Venice in vengeance].”
Similarly, after stating that Murad “attempts with all his might and vigorous
battle to crush [Skanderbeg],” an otherwise pessimistic letter offered a glimmer
of hope:
the brave men inside are bound by honor to defend it to the death. Skanderbeg
himself is not far from the Turkish tents and daily inflicts heavy losses on the
enemy because he takes advantage of the nature of the country and the nearby
mountains where he hides without being discovered.
In short and by all accounts, Skanderbeg and his men, inside and outside of
Croya, fought tooth and nail and managed to inflict heavy casualties on their
much larger enemy. In the words of a nineteenth-century historian:
With matchless strategy he contrived to keep the myriads of his opponents from
the walls. With energy almost superhuman, he swept unexpectedly, now here and
now there, by night and by day, into the midst of the foe; every swordsman of
his band hewed down scores, and his own blade flashed as the lightning and
caused Moslem heads to fall like snowflakes where he passed. Thousands of the
bravest warriors of Murad were thus swept away continuously. His hosts were
diminishing to the point of danger to his very person.
At one point, Murad spied Skanderbeg and his men on a reconnaissance mission
high up on a mountain overlooking the White Castle. Shaking his head, the sultan
was heard to mutter that perhaps “the best way was to let alone that furious and
untamed lion” — to stop “feeding that unhappy beast” with the blood of his men.
Murad persevered, however, as the breaching of Croya seemed imminent; the
cannons had already leveled many of its ramparts. Thus, on an appointed day,
after “the sultan had demolished a large part of the walls, he engaged his
entire army in the battle.” With a loud cry, the janissaries violently hurled
themselves forward andattempted to seize the city at the place where the walls
had collapsed to the ground. But they did not overcome those in the city, who
were fighting beyond hope. He then decided to starve the city into surrender and
made a second, most ferocious attack.
But that too failed. Countless more Ottomans lay dead and dying. By now Murad
was at his wit’s end, so he
retired to his pavilion, overcome with grief and rage … tearing his hair and his
beard, and pouring out blasphemous speeches against the majesty of heaven,
seeming to call the Almighty in question for suffering his gray hairs and his
former glory, and the Ottoman name, to be disgraced and humbled for the sake of
a paltry castle in Albania. Contemporary Ottoman chronicles are succinctly more
sparing: Murad and his army “struck Croya with cannons and turned it into a
graveyard. He hoped that they would surrender but they did not. Winter then
arrived.”
And that was that: Having marched one of the largest armies he had ever
mustered, and having invested Croya for eight months, Murad resigned and lifted
the siege on today’s date, October 26, 1450. Some 20,000 Turks had been killed
for nothing.
Although Albania was devastated and plagued by starvation, “that Christmas was
the happiest the people had enjoyed since” Skanderbeg had broken free of the
Turks and returned home.
Moreover, his epic defense against everything the sultan who had long terrorized
southeastern Europe could hurl against him caused an explosion of euphoria
throughout the West — not least of which was the fact that Murad died soon
thereafter … of shame, some said.
Pope Nicholas V hailed Skanderbeg a “champion of Christendom.” His greatness was
even acknowledged by the United States Congress in a 2005 resolution titled,
“Honoring the 600th anniversary of the birth of Gjergj Kastrioti (Scanderbeg),
statesman, diplomat, and military genius, for his role in saving Western Europe
from Ottoman occupation.”
In the centuries following his death, more than 1,000 books in more than 20
different languages, and any number of operas and plays, have been written about
him. In a letter dated 1756, Major General James Wolfe of Britain wrote that
Skanderbeg “excels all the officers, ancient and modern.” In 1905, historian
William J. Armstrong went so far as to write that “the exploits even of the
renowned paladins of the crusades, whether Godfrey or Tancred or Richard or
Raymond, pale to insignificance by … comparison.”
*Raymond Ibrahim is the Distinguished Senior Shillman Fellow at the Gatestone
Institute and the Judith Rosen Friedman Fellow at the Middle East Forum.
Portions of this article were excerpted from his book, Defenders of the West:
The Christian Heroes Who Stood Against Islam.
Gaza, The Target and Hostage
Nabil Amr/Asharq Al Awsat/October 26/2024
Following the earthquake of Oct. 7, 2023, and the intense shockwaves it
generated within Israel and across all levels there, the official and military
leadership responded with extreme measures, hastily launching a ground invasion
into the Gaza Strip—a territory heavily armed, populated with fighters, and
filled with tunnels.This action was deemed essential to address the public’s
declining morale, to eliminate the threats posed by Hamas’ military presence and
power grab in Gaza, and to secure the release of hostages, who this time were
larger in numbers compared to those detained in previous wars.
Due to the principle of unifying the various frontlines, and up until the
conflict widened on the northern front, Gaza remained the primary target, with
the elimination of Hamas and its leaders as the focus of political,
intelligence, and military efforts. This approach led to the failure of
de-escalation and exchange attempts, as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin
Netanyahu stubbornly insisted on continuing the war until achieving total
victory.
As the Israeli offensive in the north intensified, aiming to weaken and
potentially eliminate Hezbollah’s power even up to Beirut, Gaza became a
secondary military front. Forces were withdrawn from there to reinforce the
northern front, as Israel prepared for an offensive and defensive war
potentially extending to Iran. Consequently, militarily-occupied Gaza
effectively became a hostage in Israel’s hands, its fate tied to the outcomes of
the battles with Hezbollah and the potential future conflict with Iran. Gaza,
thus, could be seen as the first chapter of the war and the last piece of any
eventual resolution.
Analysts and many policymakers misjudged, assuming that the elimination of Yahya
Sinwar, a prominent Hamas figure, would symbolize a victory that might bring the
Gaza war to an end. This assumption led US Secretary of State Antony Blinken to
urge Israel to capitalize on this and work with mediators on a prisoner
exchange. Blinken even attempted to entice Netanyahu, referring to him as a
“victor in Gaza,” to turn his win into a strategic accomplishment by halting the
war and showing flexibility regarding what comes next.
However, Netanyahu rejected all of Blinken’s requests and remained steadfast in
his position “before Sinwar and after.” He is continuing a war characterized by
unnecessary massacres, leaving the US and the world speculating on scenarios for
the day after, without offering any hint on the matter himself.
Netanyahu’s policy, his notable disregard for the significance of Sinwar’s
elimination, and his adherence to the generals’ plan—beginning with an assault
on Jabalia—practically mean that Gaza, with or without Sinwar, with or without
the US elections, with or without a decisive outcome on the northern front or a
settlement there, and with or without recovering hostages, will remain a pawn in
his quest for absolute victory. This quest is fundamentally driven by his desire
to remain in power for life and prevent the establishment of a Palestinian
state.
Netanyahu views the harsh reality of the ongoing war on two main fronts and the
potential extension of the conflict to Iran differently than others do. He
perceives any indication of flexibility—especially in terms of a ceasefire—as a
retreat that would harm both his strategic plans and his standing in Israel,
where he is seen as the central commander of what some call an “apocalyptic war”
that was initially dubbed “Iron Swords.”According to Netanyahu’s calculations
and strategy, he sees no reason to back down as long as both Democrats and
Republicans in the United States are competing to align with his vision. His
approach can be summed up in his view: “If the Democrats stay in power, no harm
done; if the Republicans come to power, all the better.”
UK foreign policy ‘reset’ as Starmer looks to Asia-Pacific
Andrew Hammond/Arab News/October 26, 2024
Keir Starmer has spent more time on foreign policy issues than perhaps any
recent UK prime minister during the crucial first 100 days in office. Yet, much
of his attention so far has focused on the Middle East and Europe, not least
with the wars involving Israel and Ukraine.
However, recent days have seen the Asia-Pacific rise to the fore. The new UK
government views the vast region as crucially important to UK foreign and
economic policy in the post-Brexit era. Starmer has been making his first trip
as prime minister to the region, to Samoa, to attend the biennial Commonwealth
Heads of Government Meeting, where he has been joined by King Charles fresh from
his visit to Australia. The importance that Starmer attaches to the region, and
the wider Commonwealth, is highlighted by the fact that he is making his
multi-day visit just days before the government’s crucial budget statement on
Oct. 30. The starting point for the Labour government’s policy on the region is
the acknowledgement that, with the possible exception of the AUKUS alliance with
Australia and the US, the UK is not a strategically important nation that can —
alone — significantly alter the military balance. However, this does not mean
the UK government has no key interests in the region.On the economic front, for
instance, the new UK government hopes to build on the so-called post-Brexit
pivot to the region, including to try to seize potential advantages that flow
from its membership of the Comprehensive and Pacific Trans Pacific Partnership.
That is the trade zone that includes Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan,
Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, and Vietnam. UK Foreign
Secretary David Lammy engaged with many of these CPTPP member countries in July
at the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Laos. Lammy was keen to stress the
UK’s economic priority of cooperation with ASEAN member states, which have a
combined population of almost 700 million and an economy set to be fourth
largest in the world by 2030.The new UK foreign secretary also announced a £25
million UK-ASEAN partnership to tackle the world’s most pressing global health
challenges. This includes helping detect and prevent future diseases as well as
boosting health security within the region and also at home. A UK-ASEAN Green
Transition Fund worth up to £40 million was also announced to help boost green
growth and leverage UK expertise to support countries at the forefront of the
climate crisis. The funding will help unlock green growth for ASEAN businesses
and in turn provide opportunities for green investments from the UK.
Outside of CPTPP, UK priorities in Asia are indicated by Lammy’s travels. These
include a recent high-profile visit to China that was centered around a
potential reset of relations, as he became only the second UK foreign secretary
to visit in six years.
Lammy met with his Chinese counterpart Wang Li; Chinese Vice Premier Ding
Xuexiang, who is responsible for science and technology; and other top Communist
Party officials. He also met UK business leaders in Shanghai.
A potentially significant reset of UK policy is underway toward the Asia-Pacific
that builds from the post-Brexit pivot to the region. Relations between the UK
and China had, even before the coronavirus pandemic, cooled significantly under
the last several UK Conservative governments. This includes following the
political unrest in Hong Kong in recent years. Today, even with a potential
reset under the Starmer team, the mood music between Beijing and London remains
a significant distance away from the “golden era” following President Xi
Jinping’s UK visit in 2015. Lammy was keen this week to stress that, while a
stronger partnership is possible with China, the new government will be a
pragmatic, but critical, friend on issues including human rights. To this end,
the UK government has commissioned a government-wide audit of the UK-China
relationship, and has said it will be “clear-eyed” with future ties.
What the Starmer team is particularly interested in is better access to China’s
huge economy. The UK has long received one of the largest amounts of Chinese
foreign direct investment of any European country, and is one of Beijing’s top
European trade partners. Meanwhile, China is one of the UK’s largest non-EU
trade partners.
Following the China trip, Lammy last Sunday attended the inauguration of
Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto. As with Beijing, the UK goal is a “new
chapter” in relations with Jakarta. In July, Lammy also visited India, where he
sought to push forward a trade agreement. India is a key emerging economic
superpower, and the most populous country in the world with around 1.4 billion
people. Last week Lammy also visited South Korea to tour the Demilitarized Zone
before launching the first UK and South Korea Foreign and Defense Ministerial
2+2 Dialogue. The visit comes amid Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s
accusation that North Korea has sent 10,000 troops to help Russia’s war in his
country. Lammy has said this “is a stark reminder of the interconnectedness of
conflict, with North Korea supporting Russia and prolonging conflict on Europe’s
borders, while their illegal weapons of mass destruction program threatens
regional security.” He added that this is why it is important for the UK to
“engage globally over the conflict on our continent and security beyond
it.”Taken together, a potentially significant reset of UK policy is underway
toward the Asia-Pacific that builds from the post-Brexit pivot to the region.
Economics, not only politics, is at the heart of this, with CPTPP one key
opportunity the Starmer team hopes to seize.
• Andrew Hammond is an Associate at LSE IDEAS at the London School of Economics.
Sinwar’s killing should end the bloodshed
Yossi Mekelberg/Arab News/October 26, 2024
For Benjamin Netanyahu, the killing of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar could have
provided the ultimate victory photo-op. But victory is hardly the impression we
are left with when looking at the Israeli leadership’s public statements and
deeds, as they relentlessly continue the war in Gaza. This adds to suspicions
that the Israeli prime minister is not interested in ending the conflict and
bringing the hostages back, but instead is being guided by ulterior motives. In
the absence of any prospect of a ceasefire, the worrying possibility is of a
prolonged phase of terrible bloodshed — a lower-intensity war that could become
the “new normal,” but still exact a heavy daily price from the people of Gaza.
Sinwar was number one on Israel’s hit list for his role in plotting the
atrocities of Oct. 7, and regardless of any ceasefire deal, the Hamas leader,
like everyone else, knew that the Israeli security forces would pursue him no
matter how long it took. Few in Hamas understood Israel’s mindset as well as
Sinwar, much of it learned during his more than 20 years in Israeli prisons —
that it never lets up in its determination to exact revenge on those who cause
it harm, whatever the scale of that harm. Yet, there was something extremely
disturbing in the release of graphic images of his body showing the horrific
injuries that he sustained. Fighting your enemy is one thing, and killing them
on the battlefield is part and parcel of war; but for a civilized society,
Sinwar’s death would mean that the score was settled, with no need for the
gruesome photos and post-death humiliation. That can only be viewed as part of
the brutalization of Israeli society.
By now Israel has eliminated most of the Hamas and Hezbollah leadership, but has
this provided the elusive “total victory” it desires? The simple answer is no,
and for the reason that not only has “total victory” never been defined in
either military or political terms, but also because the way it has been
presented could only denote a victory that will be delayed until the last
militants of these movements are dead or have surrendered. If any country should
know that this is not an achievable goal, it is Israel: from its experiences in
Lebanon since 1982, its 77 years of oppressive occupation of Palestinian land
and blockade of the West Bank and Gaza, and the extreme death and devastation it
has inflicted on tens of thousands of Palestinians and now the Lebanese people,
militants and civilians alike. None of this has enhanced Israel’s long-term
security, its international reputation, or its national unity. Without a
strategy or a political plan, and with its endless quest for further military
targets, Israel has only been drawn into an escalating war on several fronts,
and with no end in sight.
It would be superficial and inaccurate to argue that the cases of Hamas and
Hezbollah and Israel’s approach to them are identical, but there are enough
similarities to draw parallels, and none of these will instill any confidence
that these conflicts are close to a conclusion. To begin with, the idea that
eliminating the leadership of a dissident movement will mean its defeat has time
and again proved to be spurious. One can strongly object to targeted
assassinations for political and moral reasons in the first place, but when they
do take place, the inevitable question is: to what aim? If it is about
vengeance, which is hardly a human trait to be proud of, it results in no more
than instant, often short-lived, gratification. If it is about deterrence and
leaving the organization without leadership and thereby interrupting its
operations, that has proved to be a temporary solution. A new leadership always
emerges, one that is not necessarily more conducive to, or understanding of,
Israeli interests.
The Israeli prime minister is not interested in ending the conflict and bringing
the hostages back. If there was any sense of disappointment at the killing of
Sinwar, it was that he was not killed in a well-planned operation but as a
result of a chance encounter with Israeli soldiers. Hence, it caught the Israeli
leadership unprepared; but instead of moving quickly into the
political-diplomatic sphere, hubris and euphoria have descended on the Israeli
government and its prime minister, with the belief that Israel can continue
fighting on multiple fronts and force a resolution, instead of negotiating one.
Unless Israel can change gear and move to a phase that prioritizes a ceasefire,
the release of the hostages, and the reconstruction of Gaza while ensuring that
it is governed by Palestinians, with a transition period supported by the
regional and international elements, we can expect only a prolonged and
dangerous occupation of the enclave, at least its northern part, and along with
that, mounting pressure from within the coalition, including the Cabinet,
demanding the resettlement of Gaza — a proposal that should be nipped in the
bud. There is also the thorny question of when your enemy’s entire leadership is
wiped out, who do you negotiate with? This might also be a headache for the
mediators, but not an insurmountable one.
The Chinese strategist Sun Tzu understood many hundreds of years ago the need to
“build your opponent a golden bridge to retreat across” — to create an
environment for your enemy to accept that you hold the upper hand, but without
humiliating them, and leaving room for peace beyond the war. There are two
separate, but related, reasons why Israel has not subscribed to this sound
advice and lacks an endgame. First is the surprising and shocking nature of the
incident that sparked this war, which meant that ever since the Israeli
government has only been operating on a tactical and not a strategic level.
Equally concerning is that it is led by a prime minister whose survival in
power, and ability to derail and deflect from his corruption trial has obliged
him to surround himself with extremists and incompetent politicians who either
do not understand the gravity of a prolonged multi-front war with no political
solution in sight, or, in their distorted view of the current conflict, see a
once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to end this conflict by annexing the West Bank
and Gaza, and expanding its territory in the north, possibly all the way to the
Litani River in Lebanon.
Tragically, this extremist dream is a nightmare for anyone else involved,
including the regional powers and a large part of the international community.
Hence, there is a collective responsibility to prevent this scenario from
becoming reality before it is too late.
• Yossi Mekelberg is a professor of international relations and an associate
fellow of the MENA Program at Chatham House.
X: @YMekelberg
Countering Hamas’s Shadow Governance in Gaza
Devorah Margolin & Neomi Neumann/The Washington Institute /October 26, 2024
Hamas is well aware that sustaining its grip on civilian spaces is crucial to
preserving its dominance in the Palestinian arena after the war, so the
international community must urgently lay the groundwork for an alternative
governance structure.
Since Israeli forces began their campaign against Hamas last year, most of the
group’s military capabilities have been damaged or completely destroyed. Yet
despite the most intensive fighting in Gaza ending several months ago, the war
is not over, and Hamas has not surrendered yet. While Israel continues to focus
on maintaining a buffer zone and carrying out raids in order to prevent Hamas
from rehabilitating militarily, it has not directed enough attention toward the
movement’s shadow governance.
For months now, Hamas has been investing great efforts to regain civilian
control across Gaza, with an emphasis on areas where Israeli forces no longer
operate. It has managed to maintain effective governance across different parts
of the territory, mainly in the center but also in parts of the south and north.
The movement understands that this shadow governance is critical to preserving
its status as a dominant force in the Palestinian arena after the war. Indeed,
Hamas cadres appear to be playing the waiting game—as they see it, in order for
the movement to survive, they need only wait until the international community
forces Israel to stop fighting and leave Gaza. Like other “shadow governing”
groups before it, Hamas is biding its time to fully reemerge when circumstances
are more favorable.
This cannot be allowed to happen. The death of Hamas’s top leadership,
especially military commander Yahya al-Sinwar, should be used as an opportunity
to urgently lay the groundwork for a different governance structure that
provides Palestinians in Gaza with a viable alternative.
Gaza One Year Later
To understand how Hamas has sustained governance in various areas a year into
the war, it is worth considering Gaza’s current humanitarian situation and the
state of its civilian infrastructure. International estimates suggest that
approximately 45-75% of Gaza’s civilian infrastructure has been destroyed.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), only seventeen of Gaza’s
thirty-six hospitals are still functioning, while the UN reports that 87 percent
of schools have been damaged. The economy is in shambles, with unemployment
reaching 80 percent. What remains is a flourishing black market. Amid this
breakdown, Hamas has employed various methods to demonstrate a presence on the
ground, provide essential emergency services to the people, and—most
important—prevent any other potential players from stepping into its shoes.
Hamas’s Shadow Governance
On the eve of the war, Hamas’s government apparatus numbered thousands of
managers, employees, and officials spread across numerous ministries: foreign,
interior, justice, finance, economy, energy, transport, information, education,
tourism, agriculture, youth, public works, land authority, and local government.
Although only a small proportion of these individuals were involved in terrorist
activity, this bureaucracy was crucial to maintaining the movement’s grip on
Gaza.
Today, Hamas is a shadow of what it once was, and most of its ministries are now
defunct. Those that remain are more focused on promoting propaganda and
disinformation than performing their actual duties, such as the Ministry of
Information (which spreads most of its disinformation via Telegram), the
Ministry of Economy (which focuses on price controls and collecting taxes), the
Ministry of Health (which releases near-daily data on death tolls), and the
Ministry of Finance (which occasionally gives small cash handouts).
Despite the collapse of much of its bureaucracy, however, Hamas continues to use
its personnel to maintain control over local populations. In areas with
semi-functional Hamas municipalities, workers have attempted to continue trash
pickup and renovate vital infrastructure (e.g., water, sewage, electricity,
roads). In other areas, the movement has implemented emergency committees to
replace local government that may have collapsed, even sending in emergency
response teams after airstrikes. Officials have also continued educational
efforts among displaced populations, ensuring that what little schooling is on
offer aligns with Hamas’s agenda.
The September polio vaccination campaign in Gaza epitomized the movement’s
continued ability to organize—not to mention its aptitude for self-promotion.
The internationally led operation was exploited by Hamas Health Ministry
officials, who sent text messages to local populations announcing the campaign
and essentially taking credit for organizing it. Hamas officials, in parallel
with personnel from the WHO and the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), helped
vaccinate approximately 550,000 Gazans within twelve days, showing impressive
efficiency.
In addition to more formal governance, Hamas uses criminal elements to ensure
its control. With the movement’s approval, crime families in Gaza have been
collecting taxes and enforcing order. In return, Hamas allows them to divert
respectable chunks of humanitarian aid, among other benefits.
At the same time, Hamas has sought to suppress any attempt to establish
governance alternatives in Gaza. For example, armed Hamas representatives have
threatened the heads of several clans that tried to operate independently and
reportedly murdered the head of the Dughmush clan. The movement has also
countered members of Fatah and the Palestinian Authority when they seek control
over aid distribution. As Fatah spokesman Munzer al-Hayek put it in a recent
interview, Hamas is “trying to eliminate any control on the ground in Gaza
outside of its own.”
Controlling Aid, Controlling the Narrative
In this context, Hamas’s taxation and distribution of humanitarian aid serves as
an important resource that ensures its continued status as the strongest force
in Gaza. Such aid undergoes a complex journey into Gaza involving Israel, Egypt,
and international organizations. In the early days of the war, uniformed Hamas
police officers guarded the convoys once they entered Gaza, but they retreated
after being targeted by Israeli forces. Today, Hamas continues to use operatives
to attack the convoys. In some places, this tactic has led to widespread chaos
and looting where neither Hamas nor Israel is in control; in other areas, Hamas
maintains control using plainclothes officers. Overall, Hamas’s widespread
control of aid has made many Gazans feel that much still depends on the
movement.
Hamas has reinforced this impression by carrying out propaganda activities that
convey three key messages: Israel is the only enemy to blame for the ongoing
chaos; the public is still required to comply with Hamas directives; and Hamas
is here to stay after the war. The movement likely deems such activities even
more important given revelations about popular opinion in Gaza. For example, a
document created by Hamas’s general security apparatus was recently uncovered
showing the manipulation of data released by top Palestinian pollster Khalil
Shikaki, with the intention of inflating the movement’s public favorability
ratings. Notably, a July-August poll by Zogby Research concluded that only 7
percent of Gazans wanted Hamas to govern the territory after the war.
What Needs to Be Done?
The death of Hamas’s top leadership—particularly Sinwar, whose hardline politics
and continued presence in Gaza made dislodging the movement nearly
impossible—could be the change needed to bring about a new order. To complete
the process of toppling Hamas—which includes replacing its (often effective)
civil control over large parts of Gaza and convincing locals that the movement
will not be in control postwar—the international community must lay the
necessary groundwork. This entails formulating a powerful and independent
governmental alternative and then taking steps to implement it. To reach this
goal, the following steps are essential:
Highlight Hamas shadow governance. As described above, the movement has kept its
grip on many parts of Gaza in part by maintaining effective governance.
Policymakers and the public need to understand that Hamas seeks to retain this
civilian control after the war, using its current combination of effective
service provision, violent intimidation, collaboration with criminal gangs, and
other tactics. Steps need to be taken now to prevent this outcome.
Undermine Hamas propaganda and disinformation. The movement is taking advantage
of the current chaos by using its remaining bureaucracy to spread propaganda and
project power. This disinformation helps sustain its status among Gazans, who
see no other viable alternative and likely prefer the semblance of order Hamas
provides in some areas over the complete chaos of undergoverned spaces. Yet
recent polls suggest that Hamas’s influence campaign may be floundering, so the
current environment could be fertile ground for an alternative to emerge.
Do not let Hamas control humanitarian aid. In conflicts and post-conflict
environments, aid becomes a source of power. Accordingly, steps need to be
taken—such as providing armed protection—to ensure that once aid enters Gaza, it
is safeguarded until it reaches its intended recipients. What is certain is that
humanitarian aid must be provided, and it must not be linked to Hamas at any
point during its delivery.
Keep the Gaza bureaucracy. Not every Hamas bureaucrat in Gaza is a Hamas
fighter. To facilitate a new governance entity and avoid a humanitarian
disaster, many of those who previously worked in Gaza’s administration will need
to be incorporated into the next one so that essential services can be provided
to the people efficiently. Again, this must be done without relinquishing local
control to Hamas.
*Devorah Margolin is the Blumenstein-Rosenbloom Senior Fellow at The Washington
Institute. Neomi Neumann is a visiting fellow at the Institute and former head
of the research unit at the Israel Security Agency.
Strikes on missiles and defense systems send Iran a
powerful signal
Yossi Yehoshua/Ynetnews/October 27/2024
Commentary: Operation Days of Repentance hit key missile and defense targets in
Iran; though Tehran plays down damage, Israeli officials expect response as
timing remains uncertain amid US calls for restraint
"This is one of Israel's most successful operations to date," a senior Israeli
official told Ynet, just hours after the outcomes of the IDF’s strike in Iran
began to unfold. "All designated targets were hit and damaged," he added. "It
was a show of strength that has bolstered deterrence." The official acknowledged
criticism from both coalition and opposition members over the decision not to
target oil infrastructure or nuclear sites, despite weeks of mounting public
expectations. The reason, he explained, lies in Israel’s cooperation with the
U.S., which requires certain compromises. He also addressed the unfulfilled
expectation that the strike would serve as direct retaliation for the drone
attack on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's private residence, saying, "The
response to the drone was in Beirut, with the demolition of buildings—this is
not Iran."
Despite the mixed reactions, the senior official emphasized the immense scale of
Israel’s Operation Days of Repentance. "No serious person can call this a 'light
strike' when 150 aircraft hit targets 1,500 kilometers away, confronting a
well-defended regional power," he said, referring to Iran's considerable air
defenses.
The operation dealt a blow to two of Iran’s critical military capabilities:
ballistic missile production—like those fired at Israel earlier this month—and
its air defense systems, with significant damage to IRGC command facilities as
well. "The logic here is not just deterrence but also securing an advantage
should further rounds of blows arise,” the official continued. “Iran’s
ground-to-ground missile production capabilities have been disrupted for a
considerable period, a significant achievement. After this operation, Iran is
left weaker, with compromised defenses and diminished production capacity. We’ve
created new strategic room for action while enhancing deterrence.”
It’s unlikely that Iranian authorities will publicly acknowledge the full extent
of the damage inflicted, which reportedly includes hits to advanced air defense
systems and the exposure and destruction of secret sites.
According to sources in Tehran speaking to local and international media, Israel
targeted missile bases, an S-300 missile battery—critical to Iran’s air
defense—and the covert Parchin facility near the capital. Much of the damage,
however, has been downplayed or concealed. Yet the fact remains: Iran, a nation
that has threatened Israel’s existence for decades, was attacked on its own soil
and sustained a strategic blow.
'This operation was exactly as mandated by our political leadership,' said a
senior IDF official. 'We were not directed to target Iran's nuclear capabilities
or attempt to topple its regime.'
Although nuclear and oil facilities remained untouched, Israeli officials
described the decision to avoid these sites as reasonable and strategic, given
key factors such as the critical partnership with the U.S. Washington not only
declined to join any nuclear-focused action but also explicitly vetoed such an
attack, opposing economic infrastructure strikes—especially on oil
facilities—due to potential global economic fallout on the eve of consequential
elections.
This operation was exactly as mandated by our political leadership," said a
senior IDF official. "We were not directed to target Iran's nuclear capabilities
or attempt to topple its regime. Given Iran's heightened alert, the results are
favorable."
Now, the pivotal factor is the outcome of the U.S. presidential election and the
next administration's policy on the Middle East. Although solving the nuclear
issue was not anticipated at this stage, there is limited time left for action,
and the new administration will need to engage.
For now, Israel appears satisfied with U.S. backing and Iran’s warning against
retaliation. The dilemma for Iran’s leadership remains: respond forcefully or
contain the attack. Israel believes a response is likely, though its timing is
uncertain, leaving tense days ahead.
IDF deception tactics leave Iran weighing its next move
Itamar Eichner, Lior Ben Ari, Yoav Zitun/Ynetnews/October 27/2024
Israeli officials anticipate Iranian response, though specifics remain unclear,
while US sources suggest Tehran may hold back; reports indicate high-level
discussions in Iran, with its vice president saying response would come 'at
appropriate time'
Operation Days of Repentance, the Israeli response to Iran’s October 1 ballistic
missile attack, targeted advanced Iranian air defense systems and missile
production facilities following.
According to sources, over 100 aircraft participated, focusing on gaining air
superiority for future operations and disrupting Iran’s missile capabilities.
Foreign reports indicated that Israel struck critical missile production
components, including high-value planetary mixers essential to Iran’s missile
program.
The operation involved advanced maneuvers and deceptive tactics to enter Iranian
airspace, with Israeli forces also targeting anti-aircraft batteries in Syria
intended to shield Iranian facilities. Damage assessments are ongoing, with
Israeli officials indicating it may take days to determine the full impact.
According to opposition-aligned news outlet Iran International, F-35 jets also
took part in the elaborate operation.
As Tehran weighs its response, assessments of its likely course vary. While
senior American officials suggested in comments to Ynet that Iran may hold off
on retaliation, Israeli sources expect a response, though the timing remains
unknown.
According to Reuters, citing two regional sources briefed by Iran, Tehran held
high-level meetings to determine the scale of its reaction to the strikes. One
source described the damage as "minimal," though noted several Revolutionary
Guard bases around Tehran were impacted.
Israeli Air Force jets take off for precision strike in Iran
Iranian Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref, visiting Hamas headquarters in
Tehran, issued a warning, saying, “The aggressor should await a response; we
will respond at the appropriate time.”
Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, speaking in conversations with Qatari, Saudi
and Egyptian counterparts, urged international action to prevent further
regional conflict, stressing Iran’s “unlimited” commitment to its territorial
defense. However, he refrained from mentioning a direct act of retaliation.
In a statement, Iran’s military confirmed its right to respond but also called
for a permanent cease-fire in Gaza and Lebanon, a message AP analysts
interpreted as a signal to avoid further escalation. The Iranian military
alleged that Israel used U.S.-controlled airspace in Iraq to approach its
targets near Tehran and along borders in Ilam and Khuzestan provinces.
Several female navigators took part in the overnight sorties, as has been seen
in similar operations previously. Major General Aviad Dagan, who is set to
assume the role of head of the IDF’s Telecommunications Division, also joined
the missions as a navigator. Dagan, a former commander of the Hatzerim Airbase,
was among the experienced reservists participating, as more than 60% of the
pilots involved in the operation were reserve forces.
Israeli sources, meanwhile, indicated the operation struck a significant
strategic blow to Iran, reducing its defense capabilities. “If Iran chooses to
respond, it risks a much stronger action, as its defense systems are now
severely weakened,” an Israeli official said, adding, “they are completely
exposed.”
“This wasn’t a minor strike; it was a strategic blow and proof that Israel no
longer fears Iran,” said another official. “Israel did not aim for containment
but was prepared for escalation, while Iran chose to retreat. The regime is
downplaying the attack and may try to spin the narrative, but they know the
reality.”