BREAKING....Thread 9...Israel At War...OPERATION SWORDS OF IRON

[libertybele]

That song got heavy air play when I was a DJ....

I had forgotten about it, but, yes, I do recall hearing that played a few times.

[Cyber Liberty]

I had forgotten about it, but, yes, I do recall hearing that played a few times.

It was the kind of song that went from heavy airplay to not even Oldie status.  Not unusual for parody songs.

[mountaineer]

 Explosions sounded inside the American Al-Shaddadi base in the southern countryside of Al-Hasakah.

https://twitter.com/jj_talking/status/1742270521281274038

[mystery-ak]

Israel defense minister says several thousand Hamas fighters remain in Gaza
Yoav Gallant says Hamas started the war with as many as 18,000
By Greg Norman Fox News
Published January 2, 2024 2:24pm EST

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant estimated Tuesday that the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas still has several thousand fighters left in the Gaza Strip after beginning the war with between 15,000 to 18,000.

Gallant, speaking during a visit to troops inside Gaza, also said it would be a mistake to think that Israel is planning on halting the war, according to The Associated Press.

"The feeling that we will stop soon is incorrect," he said. "Without a clear victory, we will not be able to live in the Middle East."

Gallant said Israel has destroyed 12 Hamas battalions in northern Gaza, and although this does not mean Hamas has been eliminated altogether, the terrorist organization's capabilities are limited.

more
https://www.foxnews.com/world/israel-defense-minister-says-several-thousand-hamas-fighters-remain-gaza

[DB]

Blue Oyster Cult did an Iran/Ayatollah song...


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6aqyw8ghHII

[libertybele]

Israel Radar
@IsraelRadar_com
·
46m
2 points about Beirut assassination:
- Israel has VERY GOOD intel capabilities; Hamas chiefs knew they must be extra-careful. Israel still got them.
-  Israel is not afraid to take extreme action in Lebanon, even at risk of escalating fight vs. Hezbollah.

BEIRUT (AP) — An explosion in Beirut on Tuesday killed Saleh Arouri, a top official with the Palestinian militant group Hamas and three others, officials with Hamas and the Lebanese group Hezbollah said.

Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency said the blast killed four people and was carried out by an Israeli drone. Israeli officials declined to comment.

If Israel is behind the attack it could mark a major escalation in the Middle East conflict. Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah has vowed to retaliate against any Israeli targeting of Palestinian officials in Lebanon.

Hamas official Bassem Naim confirmed to The Associated Press that Arouri was killed in the blast. A Hezbollah official speaking on condition of anonymity in line with regulations also said Arouri was killed.

Arouri, one of the founders of Hamas' military wing, had headed the group's presence in the West Bank. Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had threatened to kill him even before the Hamas-Israel war began on Oct. 7.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/mysterious-blast-shakes-beiruts-southern-162738415.html

[Right_in_Virginia]

The Guardian Updates
30m ago
18.00 EST

Summary of the day...

This is Richard Luscombe in the US, handing over our blog coverage to colleagues in Australia. Thanks for joining me.

It’s 1am on Wednesday in Gaza City, Jerusalem and Beirut. Here are the main developments we’ve been following in the Israel-Hamas war:

Senior Hamas official Saleh al-Arouri was killed in an explosion in the southern Beirut suburb of Dahiyeh, reportedly caused by a targeted Israeli drone strike. Israel has not accepted responsibility, but says “whoever did this… [it was] a surgical strike against the Hamas leadership”.

Six people were killed in the explosion, reports say, including al-Arouri, a founder of Hamas’s military wing long targeted by Israel, and two leaders of Hamas’s elite military al-Qassam Brigades. Lebanon’s caretaker prime minister, Najib Mikati, condemned a “new Israeli crime” and said the country was filing a complaint to the United Nations security council.

Israel’s military forces are in a state of “high readiness” following the assassination, a senior spokesman without acknowledging his country’s involvement in the incident. Rear Adm Daniel Hagari told reporters “We are focused and remain focused on fighting against Hamas. We are on high readiness for any scenario”.

Hezbollah said its finger “is on the trigger” as it promised vengeance for Arouri’s death, and later claimed it had launched a so-far unconfirmed missile attack on Israeli troops. The group said the attack in Beirut was “a serious assault on Lebanon… that will not go without a response or punishment” in a statement posted to Telegram.

Hamas said it won’t release any more hostages it took during the 7 October attacks on Israel, except under its own terms. The group’s political chief, Ismail Haniyeh, told Reuters he laid out the Hamas position to officials of Egypt and Qatar, countries trying to broker a ceasefire similar to the one in November that saw more than 100 hostages freed. Haniyeh is demanding “a complete cessation of the aggression” by Israel.

Turkey arrested 34 people on suspicion of spying for Mossad on behalf of Israel. “The Israeli intelligence service is recruiting personnel to be used in acts against Palestinians residing in our country and their families.,” a government official said. Without providing evidence, the official said the suspects were also spreading fake news and disinformation, carrying out robberies and blackmail for Israeli intelligence.

Israeli defense minister Yoav Gallant said military operations in the south of the Gaza Strip around Khan Younis were focused on areas above what he said was a tunnel network where Hamas leaders were believed to be hiding. “We are reaching them all ways. There already is engagement and there are hostages there too sadly,” he told Israeli troops in footage shown on Israeli television, Reuters said.

The Palestine Red Crescent Society reported “several fatalities and wounded” at its headquarters in Khan Younis as a result of Israeli missile. “The occupation renews its bombardment of the PRCS headquarters in Khan Younis for the second time, resulting in several fatalities and wounded among the 14,000 displaced individuals housed in the PRCS’s premises and the adjacent Al-Amal hospital,” the group said in a statement.

At least 22,185 Palestinians have been killed and more than 57,000 wounded by Israel’s military action in Gaza, according to updated figures from the health ministry. It says that 207 Palestinians were killed and 338 were wounded in the past 24 hours. The Gaza health ministry is run by Hamas. The figures do not distinguish between civilians and combatants.

Separately, the Israeli military has claimed to have killed about 8,000 fighters in the Gaza Strip during its campaign. Additionally, since 7 October, at least 321 Palestinians have been killed in the occupied West Bank by Israeli troops or settlers. It has not been possible for journalists to independently verify the casualty figures being issued during the conflict.

Israel Defense Forces have killed four alleged Palestinian militants during a raid in the occupied West Bank town of Azzun, the IDF has said. In addition it said it had arrested seven others. More than 2,550 people have been arrested in the occupied territory since the Israel-Hamas war began.

Israel will defend its actions in Gaza at the international court of justice in The Hague after South Africa launched a case against the state accusing it of genocide last week, Israeli media has reported. “Israel, a longstanding signatory to the Genocide Convention, will not boycott the proceedings. We will participate and refute the absurd accusation that amounts to blood libel,” national security adviser Tzachi Hanegbi told the news site Ynet.

The first UK maritime shipment of aid for Gaza has arrived in Egypt, carrying almost 90 tonnes of thermal blankets and other essential items. The shipment was delivered from Cyprus by royal fleet auxiliary ship Lyme Bay, and the aid will be distributed within the Gaza Strip by UNRWA.

[Right_in_Virginia]

The Guardian Updates
33m ago
00.16 GMT

French president calls on Israel to avoid escalation

French President Emmanuel Macron has called on Israel to avoid escalation, “particularly in Lebanon”, after a strike in Beirut that killed Hamas’s deputy leader, the Élysée Palace said on Tuesday.

Israel has so far not admitted or denied responsibility for the attack. Government adviser Mark Regev has told MSNBC that “whoever did this … [it was] a surgical strike against the Hamas leadership”.

Agence France-Presse (AFP) is reporting that Macron spoke by telephone with Israeli minister and war cabinet member Benny Gantz. The presidency said:

"It was essential to avoid any escalatory attitude, particularly in Lebanon, and that France would continue to pass on these messages to all players directly or indirectly involved in the area."

Hamas number two Saleh al-Aruri was killed in a strike in a suburb of Beirut on Tuesday evening, the Palestinian militant group and Lebanese security officials said.

[Right_in_Virginia]

The Guardian Updates
1h ago
23.52 GMT

The United States has reached a deal to extend its military presence at a base in Qatar for another 10 years, a source familiar with the matter told the Reuters news agency on Tuesday.

It’s believed to be the Al Udeid airbase, which is located in the desert southwest of Doha and hosts the largest US military facility in the Middle East, the source said, asking Reuters not to be identified. The development was reported first by CNN.

The US Department of Defense did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Tuesday. The tiny Gulf state has played a key role in mediation talks with Hamas and Israeli officials in relation to the war in Gaza.

US President Joe Biden has regularly spoken with the emir of Qatar since the 7 October attacks on securing the release of hostages held by Hamas and on boosting aid to Gaza.

There has also been criticism of Qatar by some in the US Congress over Hamas’ presence in the country.

[Right_in_Virginia]

Bernie Sanders calls on Congress to block funding to Israel
Jan 2, 2023

Bernie Sanders, the progressive senator of Vermont, issued a statement Tuesday calling on Congress to block additional funding to Israel amid the war in Gaza, where more than 22,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli attacks after Hamas killed 1,200 people in Israel on 7 October.

“While we recognize that Hamas’ barbaric terrorist attack began this war, we must also recognize that Israel’s military response has been grossly disproportionate, immoral and in violation of international law,” Sanders said.

“Enough is enough. Congress must reject that funding. The taxpayers of the United States must no longer be complicit in destroying the lives of innocent men, women, and children in Gaza.”

Sanders’ statement came as Congress considers Joe Biden’s request for $10bn in aid to Israel as part of a larger funding package meant to assist US allies, including Ukraine, and address border security. Last month, Sanders notably opposed a $111bn funding proposal backed by Democrats because of his concerns about the money for Israel included in the bill.

“Israel has the absolute right to defend itself against the Hamas terrorists who attacked them on October 7,” Sanders said in a statement explaining his vote. “They do not have the legal or moral right to kill thousands of innocent men, women, and children in Gaza".

More:
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/jan/02/bernie-sanders-reject-aid-to-israel

[Right_in_Virginia]

Far-right ministers call to ‘resettle’ Gaza’s Palestinians, build settlements in Strip
Times of Israel, Jan 1, 2023

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s two senior far-right partners endorsed the rebuilding of settlements in the Gaza Strip and the encouraging of “voluntary emigration” of Palestinians on Monday, while hawkish opposition MK Avigdor Liberman called for Israel to reoccupy southern Lebanon.

Speaking during their parties’ respective faction meetings in the Knesset, National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich presented the migration of Palestinian civilians as a solution to the long-running conflict and as a prerequisite for securing the stability necessary to allow residents of southern Israel to return to their homes.

The war presents an “opportunity to concentrate on encouraging the migration of the residents of Gaza,” Ben Gvir told reporters and members of his far-right Otzma Yehudit party, calling such a policy “a correct, just, moral and humane solution.”

“We cannot withdraw from any territory we are in in the Gaza Strip. Not only do I not rule out Jewish settlement there, I believe it is also an important thing,” he said.

The “correct solution” to the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict is “to encourage the voluntary migration of Gaza’s residents to countries that will agree to take in the refugees,”  Smotrich told members of his Religious Zionism party, predicting that “Israel will permanently control the territory of the Gaza Strip,” including through the establishment of settlements.

The idea of population transfer, once considered a fringe view held by members of the ultranationalist Kahane movement, was given renewed prominence in mainstream Israeli political discourse this November when MKs Danny Danon (Likud) and Ram Ben-Barak (Yesh Atid) published an op-ed piece for The Wall Street Journal, calling for “countries around the world to accept limited numbers of Gazan families who have expressed a desire to relocate.”

***********************************

Separately on Monday, Yisrael Beytenu leader Avigdor Liberman called for Israel to reoccupy southern Lebanon, saying the country must “pay in territory” for damage caused by Hezbollah strikes on Israel’s northern towns.

The former defense minister, a member of the opposition, said Israel’s military must “close off” a swath of southern Lebanon and push the terror group north of the Litani River, even if it means occupying the area for 50 years

“We will not annex anything, and we will not build settlements, but we will release the territory only when there is a government in Beirut that knows how to exercise its sovereignty,” he said.

“Everything between the Litani and Israel must be under the control of the IDF,” added Liberman, likening it to the post-World War II military occupation of Germany. “If Lebanon won’t pay in territory, we haven’t done anything,” he said.



More:
https://www.timesofisrael.com/ministers-call-for-resettling-gazas-palestinians-building-settlements-in-strip/

[Hoodat]

Blue Oyster Cult did an Iran/Ayatollah song...

Well played, sir.  Well played.  Cultösaurus Erectus is one of those albums that should only be played loud.

[Hoodat]

The Guardian Updates
33m ago
00.16 GMT

French president calls on Israel to avoid escalation

French President Emmanuel Macron has called on Israel to avoid escalation, “particularly in Lebanon”, after a strike in Beirut that killed Hamas’s deputy leader, the Élysée Palace said on Tuesday.

Let me know when Macron calls on Hamas/Hezzbollah/Islamic Jihad to avoid escalation.  Israel wouldn't have had to bomb Beruit had not Hamas first escalated.

[Hoodat]

Far-right ministers call to ‘resettle’ Gaza’s Palestinians, build settlements in Strip
Times of Israel, Jan 1, 2023

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s two senior far-right partners endorsed the rebuilding of settlements in the Gaza Strip and the encouraging of “voluntary emigration” of Palestinians on Monday, while hawkish opposition MK Avigdor Liberman called for Israel to reoccupy southern Lebanon.

The only problem with this is that there isn't a single muslim country on the planet that will take in Palestinian refugees.

[mountaineer]

Let me know when Macron calls on Hamas/Hezzbollah/Islamic Jihad to avoid escalation.  Israel wouldn't have had to bomb Beruit had not Hamas first escalated.

[Right_in_Virginia]

The only problem with this is that there isn't a single muslim country on the planet that will take in Palestinian refugees.

What makes you think Netanyahu's minions are limiting the migration to Middle East nations? 

FTA:

The “correct solution” to the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict is “to encourage the voluntary migration of Gaza’s residents to countries that will agree to take in the refugees,”  Smotrich told members of his Religious Zionism party, predicting that “Israel will permanently control the territory of the Gaza Strip,” including through the establishment of settlements.

[Right_in_Virginia]

Let me know when Macron calls on Hamas/Hezzbollah/Islamic Jihad to avoid escalation.  Israel wouldn't have had to bomb Beruit had not Hamas first escalated.

Fair enough.

But, this is a new level of escalation ---- heading for a war with the state of Lebanon: 

Separately on Monday, Yisrael Beytenu leader Avigdor Liberman called for Israel to reoccupy southern Lebanon, saying the country must “pay in territory” for damage caused by Hezbollah strikes on Israel’s northern towns.

The former defense minister, a member of the opposition, said Israel’s military must “close off” a swath of southern Lebanon and push the terror group north of the Litani River, even if it means occupying the area for 50 years

“We will not annex anything, and we will not build settlements, but we will release the territory only when there is a government in Beirut that knows how to exercise its sovereignty,” he said.

“Everything between the Litani and Israel must be under the control of the IDF,” added Liberman, likening it to the post-World War II military occupation of Germany. “If Lebanon won’t pay in territory, we haven’t done anything,” he said.


More:
https://www.timesofisrael.com/ministers-call-for-resettling-gazas-palestinians-building-settlements-in-strip/

[Hoodat]

But, this is a new level of escalation ---- heading for a war with the state of Lebanon:

Maybe Lebanon should start acting like a state and stop letting Hezzbollah/Hamas/Islamic Jihad use it as a base to launch attacks against Israel.  As I recall, it was Israel that was first attacked from Lebanon.  That was the escalation.  Mess around with Israel and find out.

[Right_in_Virginia]

Maybe Lebanon should start acting like a state and stop letting Hezzbollah/Hamas/Islamic Jihad use it as a base to launch attacks against Israel.  As I recall, it was Israel that was first attacked from Lebanon.  That was the escalation.  Mess around with Israel and find out.

The State of Lebanon has not attacked Israel.

In fact, the Lebanese government has given Israel free rein to bomb Hezbollah at will within its borders for many years..  Israel has taken taken advantage of this --- at will ---- frequently, but failed to get the job done, 

To threaten taking Lebanese territory in retaliation will likely create another state enemy in their neighborhood and put Israel on track to goad an outright war.

Maybe Israeli leadership should consider switching to decaf for a few months.

Separately on Monday, Yisrael Beytenu leader Avigdor Liberman called for Israel to reoccupy southern Lebanon, saying the country must “pay in territory” for damage caused by Hezbollah strikes on Israel’s northern towns.

The former defense minister, a member of the opposition, said Israel’s military must “close off” a swath of southern Lebanon and push the terror group north of the Litani River, even if it means occupying the area for 50 years

“We will not annex anything, and we will not build settlements, but we will release the territory only when there is a government in Beirut that knows how to exercise its sovereignty,” he said.

“Everything between the Litani and Israel must be under the control of the IDF,” added Liberman, likening it to the post-World War II military occupation of Germany. “If Lebanon won’t pay in territory, we haven’t done anything,” he said.


More:
https://www.timesofisrael.com/ministers-call-for-resettling-gazas-palestinians-building-settlements-in-strip/

[Smokin Joe]

Let me know when Macron calls on Hamas/Hezzbollah/Islamic Jihad to avoid escalation.  Israel wouldn't have had to bomb Beruit had not Hamas first escalated.

Macron is likely trying to placate his own Muslim immigrant population, unwisely let in, and now a problem right there in France. Likely, if he advocated the elimination of Hamas, relentlessly and without mercy, he would be tied up with uprisings and terror events at home. If he succeeds in placating them, all he has done is delayed what will occur anyway without some serious changes in policy.

[Smokin Joe]

Hard to believe Sanders is Jewish.

Yeah, well it's hard to believe the Pope is Catholic nowadays.

I haven't been trailing any bears.

[mystery-ak]

 Israel on alert for wider conflict after death of senior Hamas official in Lebanon
by Tara Suter - 01/03/24 9:05 AM ET

A senior Hamas official was reportedly killed in a strike Wednesday in Lebanon’s capital city, putting Israel on high alert should the conflict in the region widen.

According to local news channels, Israel carried out a bombing that killed Saleh al-Arouri, the deputy chief of the political bureau for the Palestinian militant group in Beirut. The Hamas official is the highest-ranked member killed in the ongoing war between Israel and the group in Gaza.

The State Department listed al-Arouri as a terrorist and offered a $5 million reward for information about him, according to the Associated Press.

Despite the win for Israel in taking out the official, Hamas leaders have been quickly supplanted in the past. There’s also the question on how the Israeli bombing in an area where Iran-backed Hezbollah is strong could affect current fighting along the Lebanese-Israeli border.

more
https://thehill.com/policy/international/4386539-israel-alert-for-wider-conflict-senior-hamas-official-killed-lebanon/

[mystery-ak]

https://twitter.com/elikowaz/status/1742233608562045408

[DCPatriot]

Heard (Sky News) that more than 100 were killed in Iran with TWO explosions timed to garner the most fatalities.

People were demonstrating the anniversary of the death of Sulemani [sic]

[Cyber Liberty]

Heard (Sky News) that more than 100 were killed in Iran with TWO explosions timed to garner the most fatalities.

People were demonstrating the anniversary of the death of Sulemani [sic]

Are they trying to blame this on the two Satans yet?