Iran

The Iron Swords – The war in the south of Israel (Updated to 1 p.m., October 16, 2023)

Israeli Air Force attacks on Gaza City continued after at least some of the residents of the northern Gaza Strip had responded to the IDF's calls to evacuate; during the past day there were more than 250 air strikes. The Palestinians reported the night of October 15, 2023, had been the worst since the outbreak of the war. The IDF displayed huge amounts of terrorist weapons and equipment which showed Hamas' intention to take over large sections of southern Israel and remain in the territory for an extended period of time.The humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip is worsening. As of 1 p.m. on October 16, calls for a Tensions continued mounting in northern Israel. During the past day Hezbollah fired anti-tank missiles at IDF forces, killing an IDF soldier. A rocket barrage was launched at the settlements of the Western Galilee, for which Hamas' military-terrorist wing claimed responsibility. The IDF responded with air strikes, artillery fire and tank fire. Israeli security forces detained several dozen Palestinians suspected of terrorist activities. Mahmoud Abbas' feeble condemnation of Hamas' barbaric attack on the Israeli villages near the Gaza Strip was deleted shortly after it was issued.
Read more...

The Iron Swords – The war in the south of Israel (Updated to 1 p.m., October 15, 2023)

IDF forces continued to operate, primarily carrying out aerial attacks, against terrorist targets throughout the Gaza Strip. Several squads, including anti-tank squads, were captured on the border. A number of operatives of Hamas' military-terrorist wing were killed in the attacks, some of them released from Israeli jails in the Gilad Shalit exchange deal (2011). Rockets attacks continued, most of them targeting the Israeli villages near the Gaza Strip border and Ashkelon. A rocket was also fired at the Haifa area. Israel called on the residents of the northern Gaza Strip to evacuate their homes and move to the central and southern Gaza Strip. Hamas tried to prevent the evacuation. In northern Israel several anti-tank missile and rocket attacks were reported from Lebanon and Syria. One Israeli was killed and several were injured. The IDF returned fire. As of now, tensions remain high. In Judea and Samaria Israeli security forces continued counterterrorism activities. The ministry of health in Ramallah reported 55 Palestinian deaths and approximately 1,200 wounded since the beginning of the war. The Iranian foreign minister held a round of meetings in Syria, Lebanon and other Middle Eastern countries.
Read more...

The Iron Swords – The war in the south of Israel (Updated to 1 p.m., October 12, 2023)

IDF forces reported they had control over the area surrounding the Gaza Strip and most of it had been cleared of Hamas terrorist operatives. Meanwhile, IDF fighters continued operating against terrorist squads still in the area attempting to carry out attacks. Israeli Air Force waves of air strikes in the Gaza Strip continued attacking dozens of Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) military. The rocket fire from the Gaza Strip attacking civilian Israeli targets continued. Hamas claimed it had more than 120 hostages. According to reports, the electricity supply was cut off and the hospitals were collapsing under the strain . Israel's north is quiet but tense. UNIFIL and Lebanese army forces reported that they were remaining in the area. Hezbollah continued expressing support for Hamas. Hamas called on everyone who had a weapon, either by virtue of their [formal] occupation or participation in the "resistance" [Palestinian terrorist organizations], to carry out attacks immediately.
Read more...

The Iron Swords – The war in the south of Israel (Updated to 1 p.m., October 10, 2023)

The southern sector: IDF fighters continued battling terrorists in the Israeli villages and IDF posts in the area surrounding the Gaza Strip.. The massive attacks against Gaza from the air, sea and land continued. The terrorist organizations launched rocket barrage after barrage, although fewer than during the first two days. Several people were injured and property damage was reported. Many Gazans sought shelter from the IDF attacks in UNRWA schools.. Hamas also continued to encourage the Palestinians in Judea and Samaria and Israeli Arabs to join the war The northern sector: Tensions rose in the north of Israel after a terrorist squad of Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) operatives infiltrated Israeli territory. Throughout Judea and Samaria there were several attacks and attempts to carry out attacks. Expressions of support and sympathy for Israel continued around the globe, including in several Arab countries. Militias in Iraq and Jihad groups in Syria expressed support for Hamas.
Read more...

Spotlight on Iran (September 26 – October 8, 2023)

With contacts aimed at promoting possible normalization between Israel and Saudi Arabia in the background, Iranian Supreme Leader and Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi attacked Israel and warned against the normalization process. The Syrian army reported an Israeli strike against several military targets in the Deir ez-Zor area in eastern Syria. Iran condemned the drone attack launched from Idlib territory in northwestern Syria at the graduation ceremony of the officers’ course at the military college in Homs, killing dozens of people Iraq’s national security adviser visited Tehran. In a first Iranian reaction to the developments in the Palestinian arena, Rahim Safavi, the senior advisor to the Iranian leader, stated that Iran supports the "commendable operation of Al-Aqsa Storm" and is confident that the 'Resistance Front' backs this cause. He congratulated the 'Palestinian fighters' and affirmed that Iran would stand alongside those fighters until the 'liberation of Palestine and Jerusalem' (ISNA, 7 October 2023).
Read more...

Spotlight on Iran (September 11 – 26, 2023)

The IRGC commander responded to the Israeli Mossad chief’s threats to increase Israel’s activity against Iran, warning that if Israel continues its assassination policy, its life will be shortened, and Iran will have the upper hand.The Iranian media reported on a visit to Syria by Qods Force Commander Esmail Qaani, during which he met with senior political and security officials and visited operational areas in the country. According to a Syrian news channel report, the IRGC and pro-Iranian militias intend to turn the Soleimani military base in eastern Syria into their main base in the region and transfer weapons currently at the Imam Ali base there. Intensive contacts have been held over the past two weeks between senior Iranian and Iraqi officials over Iran’s demand to dismantle the separatist Kurdish groups operating in the Kurdish region in northern Iraq. The Iraqi foreign minister, who visited Tehran, stressed his country’s commitment to the security agreement with Iran and to dismantling the Kurdish armed groups operating in northern Iraq.
Read more...