Zitat:BREAKING: Drones and rockets target Ain al-Asad airbase in Iraq housing US troops, multiple blasts heard inside the base, security sources tell Reuters

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Zitat:A US Navy warship operating in the Middle East intercepted multiple projectiles near the coast of Yemen, two US officials tell CNN.

CNN: One of the officials said the missiles were fired by Iranian-backed Houthi militants, who are engaged in an ongoing conflict in Yemen. Approximately 2-3 missiles were intercepted, according to the second official.

The officials said it was unclear what the missiles were targeting. It’s possible the missiles were fired at the USS Carney or launched towards another target.

Zitat:Top officials say Gaza ground offensive ‘soon,’ warn it will be ‘long and intense’

Senior Israeli officials talked up the prospect of an imminent large-scale ground campaign in the Gaza Strip to root out the Hamas terror group Thursday, making a series of visits to Israel Defense Forces soldiers stationed near the territory and predicting that the fighting will be “difficult, long and intense,” but ultimately victorious.

Defense Minister Yoav Gallant told troops near Gaza that the order to enter the Hamas-run Palestinian enclave would come “soon.”

“You now see Gaza from afar, soon you will see it from the inside,” Gallant told troops of the Givati Brigade. “The order will come.

The head of the IDF Southern Command, Maj. Gen. Yaron Finkelman, said the expected ground offensive would be “long and intense.” "Now, the maneuver is going to move the fighting to their territory. We are going to beat them in their territory,” he said. “It’s going to be difficult, long and intense.”

Zitat:Israeli Defence Force is arguably one of the more unique militaries around the world, combining a rapid mass mobilisation system with a strategy that prioritises a unique mix of offensive, defensive and industrial capabilities.

Now, with Israel mobilising those reserves and declaring a state of war, the capabilities of the IDF have taken on particularly pressing geopolitical significance, and so I thought it was time to take a closer look at the force, as we have previously for nations like Japan and the Republic of Korea.

In this video I look at the history of some major IDF operations, the development of Israeli strategy, doctrine, and capabilities and some initial observations arising out of the events of the last week.

I do want to say however, that as noted in the video, most of this presentation was prepared before the events of the last week in Israel and Gaza.

As a result, they focus on the IDF from a strategic and defence-industrial perspective with observations arising out of the recent escalation of open war between Hamas and Israel still being very much in their early, tentative stages.

I also want to stress that this video is not intended as a comprehensive study of the history of the region or Israeli-Palestinian relations. That does not mean that those issues or topics are unimportant – only that they are beyond the scope of this particular video.

Zitat:Our strength arose from one principle: we shall never take shelter behind barbed wire or man-made fortifications. Instead we shall charge the enemy.

Never, since 1948 has Israel protected its frontiers with a network of trenches or a line of bunkers. To the chiefs of the israeli army, the best defence has always been, and remains today, offense - attacking the enemy on his own territory.

That is the secret of our army´s strength.

Zitat: Defense Minister Yoav Gallant lays out Israel’s war plans and objectives in the Gaza Strip, speaking at a Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee meeting in Tel Aviv.

He says the objectives include eliminating the Hamas terror group by destroying its military and governmental capabilities, and completely removing any responsibility Israel has over Gaza by creating a new “security regime” in the Strip.

Gallant tells the committee members that the war will have three main phases.

“We are in the first phase, in which a military campaign is taking place with [airstrikes] and later with a [ground] maneuver with the purpose of destroying operatives and damaging infrastructure in order to defeat and destroy Hamas,” Gallant says.

He says the second phase will be continued fighting but at a lower intensity as troops work to “eliminate pockets of resistance.”

“The third step will be the creation of a new security regime in the Gaza Strip, the removal of Israel’s responsibility for day-to-day life in the Gaza Strip, and the creation of a new security reality for the citizens of Israel and the residents of the [area surrounding Gaza],” he says.

(12.10.2023, 10:18)Nightwatch schrieb: [...] wenn die Hamasführung nicht völlig bekloppt ist, entlässt sie die Tage tatsächlich mal einige Geiseln und dann haben wir den Salat.

Zitat:Israeli officials: Hamas released 2 hostages with US citizenship, will likely be transferred to Egypt (via @ynetalerts)

Zitat:Release of US hostages linked to deal on humanitarian aid for Gaza, @N12News
reports.

Zitat: EXCLUSIVE: The US and allies are pressing Israel to delay a Gaza ground invasion to buy time to secure the release of Hamas-held hostages

Zitat:Und vom anfangs großen Gejammere und theatralischen Gefluche muslimischer Staatschefs, angefangen in Ankara und weitergemacht in Amman und Kairo, ist nur noch ein ohrenbetäubendes Schweigen geblieben. Ähnlich verhält es sich mit manchen UN-Kreisen und den Russen. Es ist genauso bezeichnend wie beschämend.

Zitat:In Ägypten protestierten Tausende gegen das Vorgehen Israels. Die Regierung half bei der Organisation von 27 Kundgebungen, was sie nur selten tut.

Zitat:Al Quds Brigade Deploys from Gaza Iranian-made RAAD-T Anti-Tank Missile in Attack on Israeli Target

According to a video published on Social Networks, Al Quds Brigade, the military group of Islamic Jihad, the second-largest armed group in Gaza after Hamas, has used Iranian-made RAAD-T wire-guided anti-tank guided missile based on the Soviet 9M14M Malyutka (AT-3b Sagger) missile during the attack on Israeli target on October 7, 2023. [...] The Iranian Raad-T anti-tank missile draws its origins from the Soviet 9M14M Malyutka, known by its NATO designation as the AT-3b Sagger. The Malyutka, a first-generation wire-guided missile, was a staple during the Cold War era, seeing use by various Soviet allies and client states.

Zitat:Israel to evacuate 14 more communities on Lebanon border amid Hezbollah attacks

IDF strikes terror cell preparing new missile attack; military spokesman says Iran-backed group risks ‘dragging Lebanon into a war’. [...]

The Israel Defense Forces and Defense Ministry announced Sunday that they were planning to evacuate another 14 communities close to the Lebanese border, amid repeated rocket and missile attacks by Hezbollah and allied Palestinian factions in the last two weeks. [...] Last week, NEMA began to evacuate 28 communities that are within two kilometers (1.25 miles) of the border, as well as the city of Kiryat Shmona.

Zitat:Armeesprecher warnt vor Krieg

Israel: Hisbollah "eskaliert die Situation"

An der nördlichen Grenze zum Libanon gibt es immer wieder Angriffe auf Israel. Ein Armeesprecher warnt: "Die Hisbollah greift an und zieht den Libanon in einen Krieg hinein." [...] "Wir sehen jeden Tag mehr und mehr Angriffe", erklärte Armeesprecher Jonathan Conricus am Sonntagmorgen. [...]

Doch der Libanon müsse sich jetzt die Frage stellen und sie selbst beantworten: "Ist der libanesische Staat wirklich bereit, das, was vom libanesischem Wohlstand und von der libanesischen Souveränität noch übrig ist, zugunsten von Terroristen im Gazastreifen, für den IS von Gaza, aufs Spiel zu setzen?".

Zitat:For years, the various governments led by Benjamin Netanyahu took an approach that divided power between the Gaza Strip and the West Bank — bringing Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas to his knees while making moves that propped up the Hamas terror group.

The idea was to prevent Abbas — or anyone else in the Palestinian Authority’s West Bank government — from advancing toward the establishment of a Palestinian state.

Thus, amid this bid to impair Abbas, Hamas was upgraded from a mere terror group to an organization with which Israel held indirect negotiations via Egypt, and one that was allowed to receive infusions of cash from abroad.

Hamas was also included in discussions about increasing the number of work permits Israel granted to Gazan laborers, which kept money flowing into Gaza, meaning food for families and the ability to purchase basic products.

Israeli officials said these permits, which allow Gazan laborers to earn higher salaries than they would in the enclave, were a powerful tool to help preserve calm.

Zitat:Additionally, since 2014, Netanyahu-led governments have practically turned a blind eye to the incendiary balloons and rocket fire from Gaza.

Gazans celebrate by a destroyed Israeli tank at the broken Israel-Gaza border fence, east of Khan Younis, October 7, 2023. (AP Photo/Yousef Masoud)

For years, the various governments led by Benjamin Netanyahu took an approach that divided power between the Gaza Strip and the West Bank — bringing Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas to his knees while making moves that propped up the Hamas terror group.

The idea was to prevent Abbas — or anyone else in the Palestinian Authority’s West Bank government — from advancing toward the establishment of a Palestinian state.

Thus, amid this bid to impair Abbas, Hamas was upgraded from a mere terror group to an organization with which Israel held indirect negotiations via Egypt, and one that was allowed to receive infusions of cash from abroad.

Hamas was also included in discussions about increasing the number of work permits Israel granted to Gazan laborers, which kept money flowing into Gaza, meaning food for families and the ability to purchase basic products.

Israeli officials said these permits, which allow Gazan laborers to earn higher salaries than they would in the enclave, were a powerful tool to help preserve calm. Toward the end of Netanyahu’s fifth government in 2021, approximately 2,000-3,000 work permits were issued to Gazans. This number climbed to 5,000 and, during the Bennett-Lapid government, rose sharply to 10,000.Since Netanyahu returned to power in January 2023, the number of work permits has soared to nearly 20,000.

Additionally, since 2014, Netanyahu-led governments have practically turned a blind eye to the incendiary balloons and rocket fire from Gaza.
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Meanwhile, Israel has allowed suitcases holding millions in Qatari cash to enter Gaza through its crossings since 2018, in order to maintain its fragile ceasefire with the Hamas rulers of the Strip.

Zitat:Most of the time, Israeli policy was to treat the Palestinian Authority as a burden and Hamas as an asset. Far-right MK Bezalel Smotrich, now the finance minister in the hardline government and leader of the Religious Zionism party, said so himself in 2015.

According to various reports, Netanyahu made a similar point at a Likud faction meeting in early 2019, when he was quoted as saying that those who oppose a Palestinian state should support the transfer of funds to Gaza, because maintaining the separation between the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank and Hamas in Gaza would prevent the establishment of a Palestinian state.

Zitat: Die aktuelle israelische Regierung - welche so nur besteht um Netanyahus Macht zu erhalten und ihn dadurch vor strafrechtlicher Verfolgung zu schützen und ihm die Möglichkeit zu geben sich und die seinen noch weiter zu berreichern - will den Palästienensern keinen Staat zubilligen, bewusst und ganz gezielt jede Friedensinitiative sabotieren und schlussendlich das Westjordanland vollständig besiedeln, ethnisch säubern und dauerhaft annektieren. Und Netanyahu verfolgt diese Politik aufgrund seiner Koalitionspartner damit er an der Macht bleibt.

Zitat:Dies ist für Israel ein äußerst schwerwiegender strategisch-politischer Fehler - dessen Folgen in dem bestialischen Terrorangriff sich mehr als eindeutig gezeigt haben sollten. Schlussendlich kam dieser Terrorangriff der aktuellen israelischen Regierung gelegen, weil sie damit ihre selbst nach israelischen Recht vollkommen illegale Siedlungspolitik (die Rechtswidrigkeit wurde sogar durch das höchste israelische Gericht mehrfach so festgstellt) weiter betreiben kann und die Israelis nun geschlossen hinter dieser falschen Politik stehen.

Zitat:Zweifelsohne muss man nun die Hamas vollständig auslöschen, den Gaza Streifen erobern und komplett durchkämpfen, aber dass reicht eben nicht. Die Israelische Regierung wird ihren schwerwiegenden politisch-strategischen Fehler fortführen, keinen palästinensischen Staat anerkennen und das Westjordanland weiter mit illegalen (nach israelischem Recht illegalen!) Siedlungen zersetzen um es zu annektieren und die Palästinenser dort Stück für Stück zu vertreiben.

Zitat: Würde Israel auch nur irgendwie intelligent handeln (was aber nicht tun wird und wozu die Bevölkerung nach diesen Terrorangriffen auch nicht mehr bereit ist - was von dieser verbrechischen Regierung Netanyahu explizit so gewolllt war), würde es jetzt: [1-7]