JEWISH KING JESUS IS COMING AT THE RAPTURE FOR US IN THE CLOUDS-DON'T MISS IT FOR THE WORLD.THE BIBLE TAKEN LITERALLY- WHEN THE PLAIN SENSE MAKES GOOD SENSE-SEEK NO OTHER SENSE-LEST YOU END UP IN NONSENSE.GET SAVED NOW- CALL ON JESUS TODAY.THE ONLY SAVIOR OF THE WHOLE EARTH - NO OTHER. 1 COR 15:23-JESUS THE FIRST FRUITS-CHRISTIANS RAPTURED TO JESUS-FIRST FRUITS OF THE SPIRIT-23 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming.ROMANS 8:23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.(THE PRE-TRIB RAPTURE)
IRAN MOUTH PIECES AND NO ACTION CLAIME THEIR COMING AGAINST ISRAEL.AFTER ISRAELS ATTACK LAST NIGHT.
WARN THE PEOPLE-WW3
EZEKIEL 33:1-6
1 Again the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
2 Son of man, speak to the children of thy people, and say unto them, When I bring the sword upon a land, if the people of the land take a man of their coasts, and set him for their watchman:
3 If when he seeth the sword come upon the land, he blow the trumpet, and warn the people;
4 Then whosoever heareth the sound of the trumpet, and taketh not warning; if the sword come, and take him away, his blood shall be upon his own head.
5 He heard the sound of the trumpet, and took not warning; his blood shall be upon him. But he that taketh warning shall deliver his soul.
6 But if the watchman see the sword come, and blow not the trumpet, and the people be not warned; if the sword come, and take any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at the watchman’s hand.
DANIEL 11:40-45 (WW3 BREAKDOWN)
40 And at the time of the end shall the king of the south( EGYPT) push at him:(EU DICTATOR IN ISRAEL) and the king of the north (RUSSIA AND MUSLIM HORDES OF EZEK 38+39) shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, and with horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter into the countries, and shall overflow and pass over.
41 He shall enter also into the glorious land, and many countries shall be overthrown: but these shall escape out of his hand, even Edom, and Moab, and the chief of the children of Ammon.(JORDAN)
42 He shall stretch forth his hand also upon the countries: and the land of Egypt shall not escape.
43 But he shall have power over the treasures of gold and of silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt: and the Libyans and the Ethiopians shall be at his steps.
44 But tidings out of the east(CHINA 2ND WAVE OF WW3) and out of the north(RUSSIA, MUSLIMS WHATS LEFT FROM WAVE 1) shall trouble him:(EU DICTATOR IN ISRAEL) therefore he shall go forth with great fury to destroy, and utterly to make away many.( 1/3RD OF EARTHS POPULATION)
45 And he shall plant the tabernacles of his palace between the seas in the glorious holy mountain; yet he shall come to his end, and none shall help him.
ISAIAH 24:1
1 Behold, the LORD maketh the earth empty, and maketh it waste,(NUKES USED) and turneth it upside down, and scattereth abroad the inhabitants thereof.(WORLD IMMIGRATION)
GENESIS 16:11-12
11 And the angel of the LORD said unto her, Behold, thou art with child, and shalt bear a son, and shalt call his name Ishmael;(ARAB/MUSLIM) because the LORD hath heard thy affliction.
12 And he will be a wild man;(RIOTS-BURNING-MURDEROUUS RAGE) his hand will be against every man,(ISLAM WANTS WORLD DOMINATION) and every man's hand against him;(DEFENDING THEMSELVES) and he shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren.(ARAB/MUSLIMS LIVE WITH ISRAELIS)
ISAIAH 33:1,18-19 Woe to thee that spoilest,(destroys) and thou wast not spoiled;(destroyed) and dealest treacherously, and they dealt not treacherously with thee! when thou shalt cease to spoil,(destroy) thou shalt be spoiled;(destroyed) and when thou shalt make an end to deal treacherously, they shall deal treacherously with thee.
18 Thine heart shall meditate terror. Where is the scribe? where is the receiver? where is he that counted the towers?
19 Thou shalt not see a fierce people, a people of a deeper speech than thou canst perceive; of a stammering tongue, that thou canst not understand.
JOHN 16:2
2 They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service.(ISLAM MURDERS IN THE NAME OF THEIR MOON GOD ALLAH)
ISAIAH 14:12-23
12 How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, (SATAN) son of the morning! (HEBREW MEANS CRESCENT MOON ANGEL-ISLAM OVIOUSLY)(SATAN IS THE GOD OF ISLAM) how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!
13 For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:
14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.
15 Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.
Ecclesiastes 9:10
10 Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, for in the realm of the dead, where you are going, there is neither working nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom.
EZEKIEL 31:10-17
10 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Because thou hast lifted up thyself in height, and he hath shot up his top among the thick boughs, and his heart is lifted up in his height;
11 I have therefore delivered him into the hand of the mighty one of the heathen; he shall surely deal with him: I have driven him out for his wickedness.
12 And strangers, the terrible of the nations, have cut him off, and have left him: upon the mountains and in all the valleys his branches are fallen, and his boughs are broken by all the rivers of the land; and all the people of the earth are gone down from his shadow, and have left him.
13 Upon his ruin shall all the fowls of the heaven remain, and all the beasts of the field shall be upon his branches:
14To the end that none of all the trees by the waters exalt themselves for their height, neither shoot up their top among the thick boughs, neither their trees stand up in their height, all that drink water: for they are all delivered unto death, to the nether parts of the earth, in the midst of the children of men, with them that go down to the pit.(HELL).
15Thus saith the Lord GOD; In the day when he went down to the grave I caused a mourning: I covered the deep for him, and I restrained the floods thereof, and the great waters were stayed: and I caused Lebanon to mourn for him, and all the trees of the field fainted for him.
16 I made the nations to shake at the sound of his fall, when I cast him down to hell with them that descend into the pit: and all the trees of Eden, the choice and best of Lebanon, all that drink water, shall be comforted in the nether parts of the earth.
17They also went down into hell with him unto [them that be] slain with the sword; and [they that were] his arm, [that] dwelt under his shadow in the midst of the heathen.
18To whom art thou thus like in glory and in greatness among the trees of Eden? yet shalt thou be brought down with the trees of Eden unto the nether parts of the earth: thou shalt lie in the midst of the uncircumcised with [them that be] slain by the sword. This [is] Pharaoh and all his multitude, saith the Lord GOD.
EZEKIEL 32:17-32
17 It came to pass also in the twelfth year, in the fifteenth [day] of the month, [that] the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
18 Son of man, wail for the multitude of Egypt, and cast them down, [even] her, and the daughters of the famous nations, unto the nether parts of the earth, with them that go down into the pit.
19 Whom dost thou pass in beauty? go down, and be thou laid with the uncircumcised.
20 They shall fall in the midst of [them that are] slain by the sword: she is delivered to the sword: draw her and all her multitudes.
21 The strong among the mighty shall speak to him out of the midst of hell with them that help him: they are gone down, they lie uncircumcised, slain by the sword.
22 Asshur [is] there and all her company: his graves [are] about him: all of them slain, fallen by the sword:
23 Whose graves are set in the sides of the pit, and her company is round about her grave: all of them slain, fallen by the sword, which caused terror in the land of the living.
24 There [is] Elam (IRAN) and all her multitude round about her grave, all of them slain, fallen by the sword, which are gone down uncircumcised into the nether parts of the earth, which caused their terror in the land of the living; yet have they borne their shame with them that go down to the pit.
25 They have set her a bed in the midst of the slain with all her multitude: her graves [are] round about him: all of them uncircumcised, slain by the sword: though their terror was caused in the land of the living, yet have they borne their shame with them that go down to the pit: he is put in the midst of [them that be] slain.
26 There [is] Meshech, Tubal,(RUSSIA) (GERMANY, TURKEY) and all her multitude: her graves [are] round about him: all of them uncircumcised, slain by the sword, though they caused their terror in the land of the living.
27And they shall not lie with the mighty [that are] fallen of the uncircumcised, which are gone down to hell with their weapons of war: and they have laid their swords under their heads, but their iniquities shall be upon their bones, though [they were] the terror of the mighty in the land of the living.
28 Yea, thou shalt be broken in the midst of the uncircumcised, and shalt lie with [them that are] slain with the sword.
29 There [is] Edom,(JORDAN) her kings, and all her princes, which with their might are laid by [them that were] slain by the sword: they shall lie with the uncircumcised, and with them that go down to the pit.
30 There [be] the princes of the north, all of them, and all the Zidonians, which are gone down with the slain; with their terror they are ashamed of their might; and they lie uncircumcised with [them that be] slain by the sword, and bear their shame with them that go down to the pit.
31 Pharaoh shall see them, and shall be comforted over all his multitude, [even] Pharaoh and all his army slain by the sword, saith the Lord GOD.
32 For I have caused my terror in the land of the living: and he shall be laid in the midst of the uncircumcised with [them that are] slain with the sword, [even] Pharaoh and all his multitude, saith the Lord GOD.
EZEKIEL 38:1-23
1 And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
2 Son of man, set thy face against Gog,(RULER) the land of Magog,(RUSSIA) the chief prince of Meshech (MOSCOW) and Tubal,(TOBOLSK) and prophesy against him,
3 And say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against thee, O Gog,(LEADER OF RUSSIA) the chief prince of Meshech(MOSCOW) and Tubal:TOBOLSK)
4 And I (GOD) will turn thee back, and put hooks into thy jaws,(GOD FORCES THE RUSSIA-MUSLIMS TO MARCH) and I will bring thee forth, and all thine army, horses and horsemen, all of them clothed with all sorts of armour, even a great company with bucklers and shields, all of them handling swords:
5 Persia,(IRAN,IRAQ) Ethiopia, and Libya with them; all of them with shield and helmet:
6 Gomer,(GERMANY) and all his bands; the house of Togarmah (TURKEY) of the north quarters, and all his bands: and many people with thee.(AFRICAN MUSLIMS,SUDAN,TUNESIA ETC)
7 Be thou prepared, and prepare for thyself, thou, and all thy company that are assembled unto thee, and be thou a guard unto them.
8 After many days thou shalt be visited: in the latter years thou shalt come into the land that is brought back from the sword, and is gathered out of many people, against the mountains of Israel, which have been always waste: but it is brought forth out of the nations, and they shall dwell safely all of them.
9 Thou shalt ascend and come like a storm, thou shalt be like a cloud to cover the land, thou, and all thy bands, and many people with thee.(RUSSIA-EGYPT AND MUSLIMS)
10 Thus saith the Lord GOD; It shall also come to pass, that at the same time shall things come into thy mind, and thou shalt think an evil thought:
11 And thou shalt say,(RUSSIA-ARAB-MUSLIMS) I will go up to the land of unwalled villages;(ISRAEL) I will go to them that are at rest, that dwell safely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates,
12 To take a spoil,(OIL IS IN SPOIL) and to take a prey; to turn thine hand upon the desolate places that are now inhabited, and upon the people that are gathered out of the nations, which have gotten cattle and goods, that dwell in the midst of the land.
13 Sheba, and Dedan,(SAUDI-ARABIA) and the merchants of Tarshish,(SPAIN) with all the young lions thereof,(ENGLAND,AND ALL ITS ASSOCIATES-CANADA,AUSTRALIA-NEW ZEALAND, USA, AND WESTERN ENGLISH SPEAKING NATIONS) shall say unto thee, Art thou come to take a spoil? hast thou gathered thy company to take a prey? to carry away silver and gold, to take away cattle and goods, to take a great spoil?(OIL IS IN SPOIL-I BELIEVE THATS WHY RUSSIA,ARAB/MUSLIMS MARCH TO ISRAEL)
14 Therefore, son of man, prophesy and say unto Gog, Thus saith the Lord GOD; In that day when my people of Israel dwelleth safely, shalt thou not know it?
15 And thou shalt come from thy place out of the north parts, thou, and many people with thee, all of them riding upon horses, a great company, and a mighty army:
16 And thou shalt come up against my people of Israel, as a cloud to cover the land; it shall be in the latter days, and I will bring thee against my land, that the heathen may know me, when I shall be sanctified in thee, O Gog, before their eyes.
EZEKIEL 39:11-22
11 And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will give unto Gog (RUSSIA/ARAB/MUSLIMS) a place there of graves in Israel, the valley of the passengers (EAST OF THE DEAD SEA IN JORDAN VALLEY) on the east of the sea: and it shall stop the noses of the passengers: and there shall they bury Gog (RUSSIAN) and all his multitude:(ARAB/MUSLIM HORDE) and they shall call it The valley of Hamongog.(BURIEL SITE OF THE 300 MILLION,RUSSIAN/ARAB/MUSLIMS)
12 And seven months shall the house of Israel be burying of them, that they may cleanse the land.(OF ISRAEL)
13 Yea, all the people of the land (OF ISRAEL) shall bury them; and it shall be to them a renown the day that I (GOD-JESUS) shall be glorified, saith the Lord GOD.
14 And they shall sever out men of continual employment,(NUCLEAR ATOMIC BOMB EXPERTS) passing through the land to bury with the passengers those that remain upon the face of the earth, to cleanse it: after the end of seven months shall they search.
15 And the passengers that pass through the land, when any seeth a man’s bone, then shall he set up a sign by it,(WON'T TOUCH IT) till the buriers have buried it (PROPERLY) in the valley of Hamongog.(RUSSIA/ARAB/MUSLIMS NEW BURIEL SITE)(EAST OF THE DEAD SEA IN THE JORDAN VALLEY)
16 And also the name of the city shall be Hamonah. Thus shall they cleanse the land.(OF THE ISRAEL-GOD HATERS)
17 And, thou son of man, thus saith the Lord GOD; Speak unto every feathered fowl,(500 MILLION MIGRATING BIRDS THREW ISRAEL EVERY SPRING,FALL) and to every beast of the field, Assemble yourselves, and come; gather yourselves on every side to my sacrifice that I do sacrifice for you, even a great sacrifice upon the mountains of Israel, that ye may eat flesh, and drink blood.(OF THE RUSSIAN/ARAB/MUSLIM ARMIES)
18 Ye shall eat the flesh of the mighty, and drink the blood of the princes of the earth, of rams, of lambs, and of goats, of bullocks, all of them fatlings of Bashan.
19 And ye shall eat fat till ye be full, and drink blood till ye be drunken, of my sacrifice which I have sacrificed for you.
20 Thus ye shall be filled at my table with horses and chariots, with mighty men, and with all men of war, saith the Lord GOD.
21 And I will set my glory among the heathen, and all the heathen shall see my judgment that I have executed, and my hand that I have laid upon them.
22 So the house of Israel shall know that I am the LORD their God from that day and forward.
REVELATION 19:17-18
17 And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God;(AGAINST ALL NATIONS ARMIES THAT COME AGAINST JERUSALEM AND ISRAEL)
18 That ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great.
PROOF HALF ON EARTH DIE DURING THE 7 YR TRIBULATION PERIOD (8 BILLION ON EARTH)
REVELATION 6:7-8 (8 BILLION- 2 BILLION = 6 BILLION)
7 And when he had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth beast say, Come and see.
8 And I looked, and behold a pale horse:(CHLORES GREEN) and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth,(2 BILLION) to kill with sword,(WEAPONS) and with hunger,(FAMINE) and with death,(INCURABLE DISEASES) and with the beasts of the earth.(ANIMAL TO HUMAN DISEASE).
REVELATION 9:15,18 (6 BILLION - 2 BILLION = 4 BILLION)
15 And the four(DEMONIC WAR) angels were loosed,
18 By these three was the third part of men killed,(2 BILLION) by the fire, and by the smoke, and by the brimstone, which issued out of their mouths.(NUCLEAR ATOMIC BOMBS)
HALF OF EARTHS POPULATION DIE DURING THE 7 YR TRIBULATION.(THESE VERSES ARE JUDGEMENT SCRIPTURES NOT RAPTURE SCRIPTURES)
LUKE 17:34-37 (8 TOTAL BILLION - 4 BILLION DEAD IN TRIB = 4 BILLION TO JESUS KINGDOM) (HALF DIE DURING THE 7 YR TRIBULATION PERIOD JUST LIKE THE BIBLE SAYS)(GOD DOES NOT LIE)(AND NOTICE MOST DIE IN WAR AND DISEASES-NOT COMETS-ASTEROIDS-QUAKES OR TSUNAMIS)
34 I tell you, in that night there shall be two men in one bed; the one shall be taken,(IN WW3 JUDGEMENT) and the other shall be left.(half earths population 4 billion die in the 7 yr trib)
35 Two women shall be grinding together; the one shall be taken,(IN WW3 JUDGEMENT) and the other left.
36 Two men shall be in the field; the one shall be taken,(IN WW3 JUDGEMENT) and the other left.
37 And they answered and said unto him, Where, Lord? And he said unto them, Wheresoever the body is, thither will the eagles be gathered together.(Christians have new bodies,this is the people against Jerusalem during the 7 yr treaty)(Christians bodies are not being eaten by the birds).THESE ARE JUDGEMENT SCRIPTURES-NOT RAPTURE SCRIPTURES.BECAUSE NOT HALF OF PEOPLE ON EARTH ARE CHRISTIANS.AND THE CONTEXT IN LUKE 17 IS THE 7 YEAR TRIBULATION OR 7 YR TREATY PERIOD.WHICH IS JUDGEMENT ON THE EARTH.NOT 50% RAPTURED TO HEAVEN.
MATTHEW 24:37-42 (THESE ARE JUDGEMENT SCRIPTURES-SURE NOT RAPTURE SCRIPTURES)(50% OF EARTHS POPULATION DIE)
37 But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
38 For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark,
39 And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
40 Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken,(IN WW3 JUDGEMENT) and the other left.(ON EARTH)
41 Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken,(IN WW3 JUDGEMENT) and the other left.(ON EARTH)
42 Watch therefore:(FOR THE LAST DAYS SIGNS HAPPENING) for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.
ZECHARIAH 14:12-13
12 And this shall be the plague wherewith the LORD will smite all the people that have fought against Jerusalem; Their flesh shall consume away while they stand upon their feet,(DISOLVED FROM ATOMIC BOMB) and their eyes shall consume away in their holes,(DISOLVED FROM ATOMIC BOMB) and their tongue shall consume away in their mouth.(DISOLVED FROM ATOMIC BOMB)(BECAUSE NUKES HAVE BEEN USED ON ISRAELS ENEMIES)(GOD PROTECTS ISRAEL AND ALWAYS WILL)
13 And it shall come to pass in that day, that a great tumult from the LORD shall be among them; and they shall lay hold every one on the hand of his neighbour, and his hand shall rise up against the hand of his neighbour.(1/2-3 BILLION DIE IN WW3)(THIS IS AN ATOMIC BOMB EFFECT)
EZEKIEL 32:18-29 (NOTICE ALL THE COUNTRIES LAND PROMISED ISRAEL BY GOD ARE IN THE JORDAN VALLEY BURIED)
18 “Son of man, wail for the multitudes of Egypt, and consign her and the daughters of the mighty nations to the depths of the earth with those who descend to the Pit:
19 Whom do you surpass in beauty? Go down and be placed with the uncircumcised! (IN HELL FIRES)
20 They will fall among those slain by the sword. The sword is appointed! Let them drag her away along with all her multitudes.
21 Mighty chiefs will speak from the midst of Sheol about Egypt and her allies: ‘They have come down and lie with the uncircumcised, with those slain by the sword.’
22 Assyria (SYRIA) is there with her whole company; her graves are all around her. All of them are slain, fallen by the sword.
23 Her graves are set in the depths of the Pit, and her company is all around her grave. All of them are slain, fallen by the sword—those who once spread terror in the land of the living.
24 Elam (IRAN) is there with all her multitudes around her grave. All of them are slain, fallen by the sword—those who went down uncircumcised to the earth below, who once spread their terror in the land of the living. They bear their disgrace with those who descend to the Pit.
25 Among the slain they prepare a resting place for Elam with all her hordes, with her graves all around her. All of them are uncircumcised, slain by the sword, although their terror was once spread in the land of the living. They bear their disgrace with those who descend to the Pit. They are placed among the slain.
26 Meshech and Tubal (RUSSIA) are there with all their multitudes, with their graves all around them. All of them are uncircumcised, slain by the sword, because they spread their terror in the land of the living.
27 They do not lie down with the fallen warriors of old, who went down to Sheol with their weapons of war, whose swords were placed under their heads, whose shields rested on their bones, although the terror of the mighty was once in the land of the living.
28 But you too will be shattered and lie down among the uncircumcised, with those slain by the sword.
29 Edom (JORDAN) is there, and all her kings and princes, who despite their might are laid among those slain by the sword. They lie down with the uncircumcised, with those who descend to the Pit.THIS IS RIGHT FROM 93:
Warns it has many more targets if Iran 'escalates'IDF hits military sites across Iran in hours-long attack, weeks after Iran’s missile barrage-Warplanes operate freely over skies of Islamic Republic in unprecedented op, with Israel saying it hit air defenses, key missile and drone sites, in response to ‘months of attacks’By Emanuel Fabian,ToI Staff and Agencies Today, 5:09 am-OCT 26,24
Israel launched a long-awaited retaliatory strike against Iran early Saturday, almost four weeks after the Islamic Republic’s massive ballistic missile barrage on the country, with the military saying the “precise strikes” by the Israeli Air Force targeted strategic military sites — specifically drone and ballistic missile manufacturing and launch sites, as well as air defense batteries.Reports of explosions near Tehran began to emerge around 2:15 a.m. local time, with the Israel Defense Forces quickly releasing a statement confirming that it was attacking, in response to “months of continuous attacks from the Iranian regime against the State of Israel.”The strikes were carried out in several waves over the course of several hours, in various areas of Iran, with the Islamic Republic closing its airspace for the duration and seemingly showing little ability to counter the assault. Strikes were reported in the Tehran, Karaj, Isfahan and Shiraz areas.The operation, hitting targets some 1,600 kilometers (1,000 miles) away, marked an unprecedented attack in terms of its scale, duration and Israel’s immediate acknowledgment of responsibility.The first wave of attacks apparently targeted Iran’s air defense capabilities, both to ensure the IDF’s freedom of operations during Saturday’s sorties, and to lay the ground for further strikes, should Iran retaliate.As the campaign was underway, Syrian state media reported that Israel struck several military sites in the south and center of the country, action possibly taken to enable the IAF to operate more freely in Iran.The next waves hit drone and ballistic missile manufacturing sites — those used in direct Iranian attacks on Israel on April 14 and October 1 — as well as sites used to launch such weapons.Iran confirmed an Israeli attack had targeted military sites in the capital Tehran and other parts of the country, but said it had caused “limited damage” and that air defense systems had successfully countered much of the attacks — an assertion dismissed in Israel.The Israeli military said at 6 a.m. that the assault had been completed, with “all goals achieved” and all aircraft returning safely home. It dubbed the campaign “Days of Repentance,” a reference to the recent Yom Kippur holiday.It said dozens of IAF aircraft, including fighter jets, refuelers and spy planes, participated in the “complex” operation some 1,600 kilometers from Israel.The IDF releases a video showing F-15 fighter jets heading out to carry out last night's strikes in Iran. pic.twitter.com/9BAjeSBP5H— Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian (@manniefabian) October 26, 2024-The military said the strikes had given the IAF “wider freedom of aerial action in Iran,” and that it had a broad bank of targets that it could hit in the future if required.“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,” the IDF said. “Like every other sovereign country in the world, the State of Israel has the right and the duty to respond.”Following the strikes, the IDF said it was holding an assessment on a potential Iranian response to the attack, but as of now, there were no changes to guidelines for civilians. The IDF added that its “defensive and offensive capabilities are fully mobilized,” and that it “will do whatever necessary to defend the State of Israel and the people of Israel.”“Iran struck Israel twice… and has paid the price for that,” IDF Spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said in a statement, referring to Iran’s direct attacks on Israel in April and earlier this month. “We are focused on the goals of the war in Gaza and Lebanon. It is Iran that continues to push for a wide regional escalation.“If the regime in Iran were to make the mistake of beginning a new round of escalation — we will be obligated to respond,” he continued. “Our message is clear: All those who threaten the State of Israel and seek to drag the region into a wider escalation will pay a heavy price. We demonstrated today that we have both the capability and the resolve to act decisively, and we are prepared — on offense and defense — to defend Israel and the people of Israel.”Ynet cited an Israeli source with knowledge of the matter as saying: “The intelligence provided here by the IDF Intelligence Directorate was science fiction-like, beyond imagination.” He said the highly precise intel enabled Israel to hit “an irreplaceable factory” behind the manufacture of surface-to-surface missiles.There was no immediate comment from Israeli political leaders, though Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office released a picture of him huddled with Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and top IDF generals at IDF headquarters in Tel Aviv as the operation was launched. It later said he held a security assessment with Gallant and the heads of the IDF, Mossad and Shin Bet.The IDF said Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi was also below the Kirya base to command the strikes from the Israeli Air Force’s command center, with the chief of the IAF, Maj. Gen. Tomer Bar.In a statement, Iranian air defenses said Israel attacked military targets in the provinces of Tehran, Khuzestan and Ilam.“The loud blasts heard around Tehran were related to the activation of the air defense system against the actions of Zionist regime which attacked three locations outside of Tehran city,” state TV reported, citing officials of the Tehran province air defense.An unidentified Israeli source told the Ynet news that the Iranian claim of interception was “a lie. It was a total failure, [there were] zero interceptions.”According to an Israeli official quoted by NBC News, Israel did not target Iranian nuclear facilities or oil fields and focused on military targets.“We’re targeting things that might have threatened us in the past or could do in the future,” the official said.The Biden Administration had pressed Israel not to strike nuclear or oil sites, while backing Israel’s right to respond to Iran’s October 1 ballistic missile attack.An American official told Reuters that Israel notified the US ahead of the strikes, stressing the United States was not involved in the operation.“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 White House National Security Council spokesperson Sean Savett.Iran’s semi-official Fars news agency reported that several military bases in the Tehran area were targeted in Israeli strikes. It specified that several bases in the western and southern areas of the capital were attacked.Sources quoted by the Tasnim news agency threatened that Iran was prepared to respond to any Israeli “aggression.”“There is no doubt that Israel will face a proportional reaction for any action it takes,” Tasnim quoted the sources as saying.Iran had braced for an Israeli reprisal after its latest direct attack on Israel, in which it fired 200 ballistic missiles that sent most of Israel to bomb shelters on October 1, killed a Palestinian man in the West Bank, and caused damage in residential areas and at military bases — although the IDF said that the attack had no operational impact.Netanyahu also blamed “the agents of Iran” for an attack by a drone fired by Hezbollah last Saturday that smashed a window and caused additional minor damage at his home in Caesarea. The prime minister, who was not at home at the time, described the attack as an assassination attempt and warned that anyone who harmed Israelis would pay “a heavy price.”Iran said that the October 1 attack came in response to strikes in Lebanon that killed Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and much of the terror group’s senior leadership last month, as well as the killing of Hamas politburo leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran in July in a blast which has been widely blamed on Israel despite its silence on the matter.
Op-ed: Day 386 of the war-Israel’s strike on Iran was ‘historic,’ but it’s not ‘the end’ of anything-The calibrated attacks aimed to expose the vulnerability of Iran’s air-defense systems, while building legitimacy, crucially with the US, for the inevitable rounds to come-By David Horovitz-Today, 7:42 pm-OCT 26,24
Initial reports indicate that the Israeli Air Force struck at least 20 military targets across Iran in the course of its unprecedented four-hour attack on Iran in the early hours of Saturday morning — focusing on air-defense systems and missile production facilities.The IDF stressed that the “precise” strikes, for which it took immediate responsibility, were launched in response to months of attacks by Iran and its proxies, the most relevant of which was Iran’s barrage of 200 ballistic missiles, which sent almost all of Israel dashing for safety on October 1. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a further warning that a price would be paid when he blamed “the agents of Iran” for an attack a week ago in which a drone fired by Hezbollah exploded at his home in Caesarea, smashing a bedroom window.A former head of the IDF’s Operations Division, Yisrael Ziv, described the Israeli attack as “historic” in scale and scope, as “amazingly well executed” 1,600 kilometers (1,000 miles) away from Israel, and as devastating for the Iranian regime in that it showed Israel to have freedom of operation for hours in the skies above Iran.The attack, apparently involving more than 100 planes, was carefully calibrated. It harmed Iran’s missile industry — targeting factories, stores, launchers and research facilities — in a direct response to the October 1 barrage. And it hit and exposed the vulnerability of Iran’s air-defense systems, which the IAF neutralized at the start of the strikes and would likely be no match for more intensive and broader operations in the future.But as far as is known, Israel did not target the regime’s nuclear or oil sites. There have been unconfirmed reports that an Israeli drone hit the Parchin base near Tehran, identified for years by Israel as an element in Iran’s nuclear weapons program. But other military activity goes on at Parchin, too, and a researcher at the International Institute for Strategic Studies has claimed that what was targeted was a plant related to rocket manufacture.Thus Israel appears to have heeded pressure from the Biden Administration to eschew nuclear and energy targets, and in turn to have retained firm American support in defending against any Iranian response.Iran is, nonetheless, entirely capable of attempting to escalate the direct conflict with Israel still further. There is no suggestion that Saturday morning’s attack strategically harmed the regime’s offensive capabilities. But it did underline the weakness of Iran’s defenses if –as it surely would — a further Iranian attack prompted a more aggressive Israeli response next time around.In attacking what it did, Israel was seeking both to deter Iran and to bolster its own legitimacy, with the US most of all, to indeed tackle broader targets in the future, including those the Biden Administration had urged it to avoid on Saturday.These first hours after the strike have seen official Iran asserting a duty to defend itself but not issuing direct threats to strike at Israel, while also claiming that Israel is exaggerating the scale of the attack and that it caused only minor damage.That response might be misinterpreted as indicating that the regime is prepared to swallow the humiliation and heed the Israeli warnings against escalation. Military sources quoted in Hebrew media on Saturday night said the IDF does not regard the incident as over, that Iran was still assessing the damage and its options, and that the IDF has “a bank of targets” ready to hit in a next round if necessary.The ayatollahs have shown themselves to be patient and unrelenting in their strategic effort to destroy Israel. Their most potent proxy Hezbollah is much weakened, and Hamas, which began this war with its October 7 invasion, is no longer an organized military force. But even after the most significant Israeli strikes to date on the regime, its nuclear program remains untouched.One way or another, the Islamic Republic can be relied upon to try, for as long as it takes, to harm Israel or indeed Diaspora targets in response to Saturday’s attack.And so long as the regime remains in power, nothing will deter it from its goal of destroying Israel. Which is why US President Joe Biden’s stated hope that the Israeli strike “is the end” can have only very limited application.
Hamas leaders rejected Israeli offer of safe passage if they freed hostages — report-Senior Israeli official urges Jerusalem to be more flexible with demands for deal, warns against ‘pulling the wool’ over the eyes of hostage families-By ToI Staff Today, 6:26 pm-OCT 26,24
Hamas has refused an Israeli proposal that offered the terror group’s leaders safe passage out of the Gaza Strip if they disarmed and freed the hostages they are holding, according to a US media report Friday.Citing Arab mediators, The Wall Street Journal reported that the head of Israel’s spy agency Mossad, David Barnea, conveyed the offer during meetings in Egypt over the past week.Hamas “swiftly” rebuffed the proposal with Khalil al-Hayya, Hamas’s deputy leader for Gaza, saying the offer showed Israel misunderstood the terror group and risked extending the war for months or years, according to the report.Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s senior political adviser Ophir Falk told the newspaper that the premier “has reiterated that we are willing to give them safe passage if they lay down their arms and release the hostages,” while those who harm the captives will be pursued.Hamas refused to comment on the report.-Barnea is set to travel on Sunday to Qatar, which is mediating ceasefire-hostage talks and hosts a number of top Hamas leaders, to restart discussions on a deal, Netanyahu’s office said in a statement Thursday evening.A senior Israeli official with knowledge of the hostage negotiations told Channel 12 news on Friday night there will be no progress if Israel does not show some flexibility in its demands.“They’re pulling the wool over the eyes of the public and hostages’ families,” the anonymous source said, referring to hopes that a deal could be more likely with Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar dead.Israel and the US have hoped that Sinwar’s death could be an opportunity to restart negotiations, as the terror chief had been described by officials from both countries as the main obstacle to progress in talks.“He blocks everything or doesn’t respond,” an Israeli official told The Times of Israel before Sinwar was killed on October 16.In addition to having the final say on Hamas’s position during the hostage talks and having been the architect of the October 7 terror onslaught, in which 251 hostages were abducted, Sinwar also appeared to have been heavily involved in their captivity inside of the Strip.Israel and Hamas have clashed in negotiating rooms over whether a ceasefire will constitute an end to the war; over the numbers and identities of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners to be freed; whether Israel will maintain control over the Gaza-Egypt border; and whether Israel will allow a return of residents to north Gaza; and more.It is believed that 97 of the 251 hostages abducted by Hamas on October 7 remain in Gaza, including the bodies of at least 34 confirmed dead by the IDF.Hamas released 105 civilians during a weeklong truce in late November, and four hostages were released before that. Eight hostages have been rescued by troops alive, and the bodies of 37 hostages have also been recovered, including three mistakenly killed by the military as they tried to escape their captors.Hamas is also holding two Israeli civilians who entered the Strip in 2014 and 2015, as well as the bodies of two IDF soldiers who were killed in 2014.
Hezbollah bombards north with rockets and drones as IDF targets launchers in Lebanon-Footage shows controlled explosion in southern Lebanon that triggered earthquake alerts in northern Israel; Israeli jets strike Hezbollah weapons and command sites in Beirut-By Emanuel Fabian and Agencies Today, 5:49 pm-OCT 26,24
Hezbollah fired dozens of rockets at northern Israel while Israel’s air defenses shot down four drones launched from Lebanon by the Iran-backed terror group on Saturday.The hostile aircraft triggered air raid sirens in the Upper and Western Galilee as well as the northern border cities and towns of Kiryat Shmona, Metula and Tel Hai, but no injuries were reported.In a statement, Hezbollah claimed it launched a drone attack against the Tel Nof air force base, south of Tel Aviv.In addition to the drones, Hezbollah fired some 150 rockets at northern Israel throughout the day, according to an IDF tally.In one of the barrages, 15 rockets were launched from Lebanon at the Western Galilee, with some intercepted while the rest hit open areas, the IDF said.There were no reports of injuries from the rocket fire, which sparked fires at several locations in the north.The attacks on the north came as the army pressed on with operations against Hezbollah in Lebanon. Footage posted on social media showed a massive IDF explosion in southern Lebanon Saturday morning, which triggered earthquake alerts across northern Israel.The blast was from the detonation of a Hezbollah tunnel.This morning, earthquake alerts were activated across northern Israel due to a massive controlled IDF explosion in southern Lebanon. pic.twitter.com/o818I6ALeZ— Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian (@manniefabian) October 26, 2024-The IDF also said Saturday that troops with the 91st Division seized four truck-mounted rocket launchers during operations in southern Lebanon this week. According to the military, the launchers were loaded with some 160 rockets.Separately, around 130 Hezbollah launchers were struck by the Israeli Air Force in the past week, the IDF says.The launchers included those used to fire rockets at Israel, including in Friday’s attack on Majd al-Krum that killed two residents of the northern Arab town.Overnight, Israeli fighter jets struck Hezbollah targets in Beirut.According to the IDF, the targets included weapons manufacturing sites, a command room belonging to Hezbollah’s intelligence division, and surveillance equipment.The Hezbollah assets were all located in civilian buildings in Beirut’s southern suburb, according to the IDF. Before the strike, the military issued evacuation warnings to civilians.Separately, the IDF said a cell of Hezbollah operatives who launched a missile at an IDF drone in southern Lebanon Friday were killed in a drone strike a short while later.The drone flying over Kfar Fila was not hit in the incident, according to the IDF.Lebanon’s health ministry reported that a Hezbollah-affiliated paramedic was killed in an Israeli strike on a medical center in southern Lebanon, which left five others wounded, three of them also members of the Islamic Health Committee.Hezbollah began attacking Israel a day after thousands of Hamas-led terrorists stormed southern Israel on October 7, 2023, to kill nearly 1,200 people and take 251 hostages, sparking the war in Gaza.Shortly afterward, Israel evacuated communities along the border with Lebanon, fearing Hezbollah would carry out a similar attack.Israel stepped up its airstrikes on the Iran-backed terror group in September, after adding to its official war aims the return home of some 60,000 northern residents. The airstrikes all but decimated Hezbollah’s leadership, paving the way for the ground operation, launched on September 23.The attacks on northern Israel since October 2023 have resulted in the deaths of 31 civilians. In addition, 55 IDF soldiers and reservists have died in cross-border skirmishes and in the ensuing ground operation launched in southern Lebanon in late September.Two soldiers have been killed in a drone attack from Iraq, and there have also been several attacks from Syria, without any injuries.The IDF estimates that more than 2,000 Hezbollah operatives have been killed in the conflict. Around 100 members of other terror groups, along with hundreds of civilians, have also been reported killed in Lebanon.
Clocks in Israel to turn back as daylight saving time ends-People in Israel to get an extra hour of sleep overnight Saturday-Sunday when clocks wind back an hour at 2 a.m.By ToI Staff Today, 5:14 pm-OCT 26,24
Israel will turn its clocks back by one hour overnight Saturday-Sunday, marking the end of daylight savings time for the year.At 2 a.m. early Sunday, Israel’s clocks will wind back to 1 a.m. with many gaining an extra hour of sleep.Daylight saving time will return on March 28, 2025.The time change coincides with that of the EU, but not with the US, which will switch back on November 3.In 2013, the Knesset passed legislation extending daylight saving time from the last Sunday in March to the last Sunday in October.Before that, standard time would begin the Saturday night before Yom Kippur, so that the day’s fast, which is pegged to nightfall, would end — but also begin — an hour “earlier.”Because the Hebrew calendar is lunar, Yom Kippur can fall between mid-September and mid-October, which used to mean that Israelis returned to standard time as much as a month and a half before most other countries.As a result, the issue of the seasonal time transition became contentious and was caught up in political tensions between religious and secular parties before the 2013 change was implemented.
Israeli forces kill Hamas operative in Tulkarem plotting ‘imminent’ attack-IDF says Islam Odeh planned ‘major terror attack’ for Oct. 7 anniversary with other members of terror group; troops find bomb parts in his car-By Emanuel Fabian-and ToI Staff Today, 5:08 pm-OCT 26,24
A Hamas operative planning an “imminent” terror attack was killed by special forces in the West Bank city of Tulkarem on Saturday, the IDF, Shin Bet, and police announced.Members of the police’s elite Yamam counter-terrorism unit and the Kfir Brigade’s Haruv reconnaissance unit encircled a building in Tulkarem Saturday morning and carried out a tactic known as “pressure cooker,” which involves escalating the volume of fire directed at a building to force a suspect to come out.The IDF said the suspect, Islam Odeh, opened fire from the building and was eventually killed in an exchange of fire.In the suspect’s car, the IDF said it found weapons, including parts to build a bomb.According to the military, Odeh was a member of a Hamas network in Tulkarem and was involved in planning a major terror attack on the anniversary of the October 7 massacre with Hamas commander Zahi Oufi, who was killed in an airstrike earlier this month along with 11 other operatives and six civilians.“After the assassination of Oufi, Odeh commanded and led the network and in recent days was planning more attacks,” the statement said.Tulkarem is a major city in the northern West Bank, near the Green Line with Israel. The army says Tulkarem is a hotbed of terror activity, and has carried out numerous operations including airstrikes against operatives in the city over the course of the past year.Since October 7, 2023, the IDF has carried out more than 70 airstrikes in the West Bank, using drones, attack helicopters, and fighter jets. Israeli troops have arrested some 5,250 wanted Palestinians across the West Bank over the past year, including more than 2,050 affiliated with Hamas.According to the Palestinian Authority health ministry, more than 716 West Bank Palestinians have been killed in that time. The IDF says the vast majority of them were gunmen killed in exchanges of fire, rioters who clashed with troops or terrorists carrying out attacks.During the same period, 41 people, including Israeli security personnel, have been killed in terror attacks in Israel and the West Bank. Another six members of the security forces were killed in clashes with terror operatives in the West Bank.
Several Israelis remain in Sri Lanka surfing town despite terror alert-Man waiting for his family to arrive in Arugam Bay dismisses warnings from National Security Council about threat to attack beaches and tourist hotspots: ‘Don’t think it’s serious’By Uditha Jayasinghe Today, 4:49 pm-OCT 26,24
ARUGAM BAY, Sri Lanka (Reuters) — The last of the Israelis left in a scenic surfing hotspot in Sri Lanka said they felt safe and would stay put despite a warning from Jerusalem to immediately leave due to the threat of a possible terrorist attack.Israel’s National Security Council called on Israelis on Wednesday to get out of tourist areas in the south of the Indian Ocean island nation, saying it had information about a terrorist threat focused on tourist areas and beaches.The agency did not specify the nature of the threat but said the warning pertained to the Arugam Bay area — a popular haunt for Israelis — and beaches in the south and west of the country.The US embassy in Sri Lanka and the German foreign ministry also followed with similar warnings, prompting Colombo to step up security and go on high alert.Sri Lankan police have arrested three suspects for questioning in connection with an unspecified threat.“We are working to ensure that all tourists are protected and their safety assured at all times,” police spokesman Nihal Thalduwa told Reuters.There were about 600-700 Israeli tourists from September to early October in Arugam Bay, local authorities said, but that number had dwindled to just 20 when the security warning was issued this week which came at the tail-end of the tourist season.By Friday, 17 had moved out of the area with some of them flying out of the country, leaving behind three Israelis in the south-eastern town of about 7,000 residents.One of them, who has been coming to Sri Lanka since 1991 and is a long-term resident, said he feels safe and is expecting his wife and 17-year-old twin sons to join him in a week’s time.“I love coming here and my family loves coming here, and we surf for about three to four hours every day when my sons are here,” he told Reuters on Friday after returning home from his morning surfing. “I don’t think there is a serious security threat.”The man, who declined to be identified, said two policemen showed up after the first security warnings. Now, there are 16 security personnel, including police special forces, stationed around his small, blue-painted house in Arugam Bay.Two other Israeli men, brothers who were lounging in their room at a nearby homestay, surrounded by about eight police and special forces personnel, also said they would remain until the end of the month and then relocate to nearby Ahangama town.Sri Lanka has nevertheless beefed up security, with the memory of the Easter Sunday bombings of 2019 still fresh. Those attacks blamed on Islamic State targeted churches and three hotels, killing 267 people, including at least 45 foreign nationals.Unprecedented security-Checkpoints have sprung up on the main roads and bridges in Arugam Bay and the surrounding area, and as many as 500 police, military and special forces were deployed.Police stopped vehicles and checked the identification cards of passengers.Israeli officials have warned of an increase in threats of attacks on Israelis outside their country since the start of the war in Gaza. There has also been a surge in reports of antisemitic incidents in many parts of the world since war broke out in the Middle East after Palestinian Islamist terror group Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, 2023.Arugam Bay residents dismissed social media speculation of tensions in the Muslim-majority town over the presence of Israelis in the wake of the Gaza war.“I started renting out rooms to foreigners last year and they are happy to stay here because they are not scared,” said Abubakar Rinosha, 41, who owns the homestay of the Israeli brothers.Other residents said Israeli tourists are a major source of income, accounting for 70 percent of the town’s revenue.
After attack, Tehran residents fear war while officials project business as usual-Some say they’re unaware of strikes as state media downplays Israeli response to Oct. 1 missile barrage; others are concerned: ‘If they attack, it’s us who will be crushed’By Majid Sourati Today, 4:10 pm-OCT 26,24
TEHRAN, Iran (AFP) — Residents of Tehran awoke and went about their business as planned on Saturday after their sleep was troubled by Israeli strikes that triggered blasts that echoed across the city.The night skies had been criss-crossed by light trails from air defense weapons, but by mid-morning the capital had resumed its usual rhythm and buses wove through the streets, taking troubled Iranians to work.Iranian officials and media have played down the attack, but on the streets of Tehran, many were concerned that it had marked a new escalation and a step towards all-out war.Hooman, a 42-year-old factory employee, was on a factory night shift when he heard the blasts.“It was an echoing sound… terrible and horrifying,” he told AFP. “Now that there is war in the Middle East, we are afraid that we will be dragged into it.”Israel attacked Iran in response to Iran’s October 1 missile strike, which came days after Israel killed Hassan Nasrallah, the longtime leader of Iran’s Lebanese proxy Hezbollah.On Saturday, the IDF said it had conducted “precise strikes on military targets in Iran,” in response to what it said were “months of continuous attacks from the regime in Iran.”It warned Tehran not to “make the mistake” of responding.Iran confirmed Israel targeted military sites in Tehran province as well as other areas, saying the blasts heard were the “activation of the air defense system” intercepting the Israeli attack.At least four Iranian soldiers died in the strikes.Some in Tehran voiced fears over an escalation of the conflict.“If they attack, it will be us who will be crushed,” said Moharam, a 51-year-old day laborer.Others, however, said they were entirely unaware that an attack had even happened.Iranian media has downplayed the attack, which also targeted areas in the border provinces of Khuzestan and Ilam, and reported it caused “limited damage” thanks to Iran’s air defense forces.State media carried footage showing traffic flowing normally in several cities as people went about their daily business.Iranian officials emphasized that all school activities and sports events were to be held as scheduled.Flights over Iran were briefly suspended for a few hours following the attack, but later resumed as scheduled.Sepideh, a 30-year-old insurance manager, said she woke up Saturday and hurried to work like usual despite her worries.“War is frightening… but I don’t think a terrible war will happen in Iran,” she said.Times of Israel staff contributed to this report.
ToI in south Lebanon Earthquake alarms sound in northern Israel as IDF blows it up-Under a Lebanese border village, IDF finds huge Hezbollah base primed for invasion-ToI joins commander of 98th Division for tour of terror group’s subterranean staging ground; at 2 km long and some 40 meters deep, it is the largest tunnel network found to date-By Emanuel Fabian-Today, 7:00 pm-OCT 26,24
SOUTH LEBANON — Under the cover of darkness and strict security, the Israeli military earlier this week led The Times of Israel and other reporters from an army post near Kiryat Shmona into southern Lebanon.Traveling in a convoy of open-top humvees, we were being taken to a village several kilometers from the border, where Hezbollah had constructed a massive underground military base that the Israel Defense Forces says was to be used by the terror group in a planned invasion of Israel.Members of the press were instructed to put their phones on airplane mode, not to turn on their screens throughout the drive, and to be as silent as possible, amid fears that Hezbollah operatives could spot us and launch anti-tank missiles at the convoy during the drive in enemy territory.The humvees turned their headlights off as the convoy approached the border, and upon crossing it, the soldiers cocked their weapons.Intermittent sounds of gunfire and explosions from artillery shelling were heard around us as we drove along a dirt path, the humvees kicking up dust. The soldiers leading the convoy were using night vision to see their way in the pitch black.Upon arriving at the village, which the army asked us not to name in our reporting, and with just the moonlight to illuminate our way, the soldiers led us to the yard of a home. There, next to a tree, was a hole in the ground.A small jump down and we were greeted with a long staircase running dozens of meters down. From there, the soldiers directed us on the correct pathway, taking us to the tunnel network’s main hallway.But calling the passages tunnels fails to capture the scale of the subterranean system.In all, the underground site — dug into a mountain — was some 2 kilometers in length. It reached depths of around 40 meters in some areas, and the hallways themselves were more than two meters high. In fact, it was the largest tunnel found by the army in southern Lebanon to date.The Hezbollah site dwarfed even the most impressive Hamas tunnels uncovered in the Gaza Strip. Those are far more claustrophobic, with many requiring ducking and even crawling in some areas, and have limited ventilation.“This isn’t a ‘tunnel,’ it’s an underground combat site, extremely significant, which the enemy constructed over years for the purpose of an invasion of Israel — we estimate targeting the northern towns,” said Brig. Gen. Guy Levy, the commander of the 98th Division, as he gave us a tour of the complex.The military estimated that the tunnels were built by Hezbollah over the past 15 years.The IDF believes the underground site was intended by Hezbollah for use as a staging ground, where hundreds of terror operatives would arrive when called, gather equipment, and ready themselves to attack Israeli towns. Hezbollah’s invasion plans never materialized.In the event of fighting, Hezbollah members could also reside in the site for lengthy periods. It could also be used by officers for command and control, the IDF assesses.According to the general, the tunnel network was large enough to hold hundreds of Hezbollah fighters, members of the terror group’s elite Radwan Force, to prepare for an attack on Israel — though only a handful were there when the military arrived.The tunnel had several emergency exits, which were normally covered above ground. When deciding to launch an assault, the Radwan Force terrorists would potentially leave the tunnel from the various exits that led to open areas in the Lebanese village, and from there head toward the Israeli border, according to the IDF.As we walked through the subterranean passages, low thuds could be heard from Israeli airstrikes as well as Hezbollah rocket attacks.Along the wide corridors of the underground site were doorways leading to dozens of rooms, including an armory, food storage, living quarters, showers, generator rooms and kitchens. Reporters were given a tour of several hundred meters of the tunnel, as other sections were not deemed safe enough at the time.In one of the rooms, dozens of weapons were being stored, including AK-47 assault rifles, explosive devices, RPGs and launchers, sniper rifles and anti-tank guided missiles and launchers. Next to the weapons were stacks of canned food, from chocolate spread and halva to pickled olives.“Everything here is ready ahead of the action they planned to carry out in Israel. It’s a warehouse ready for the day the order is given,” said the commander of the Paratroopers Brigade’s 890th Battalion, Lt. Col. Yoni Hacohen, who participated in the raid on the tunnel complex.The commander said that capturing the “strategic” site was a “huge victory” for his forces.Some of the rooms reporters were able to enter resembled galleries or halls, with high ceilings of around four meters, large enough for well over 100 people to stay in comfortably.“As you can see, it is a big room, with electricity, places for lockers, mattresses, anything that is needed to reside in. In the hallway, there were toilets and showers. Everything needed for an enemy Radwan company to prepare, reside here, and head from here to an attack on Israel,” Hacohen said.As we strode through the tunnel’s main hallway, officers warned us to watch our step, as Hezbollah had left behind weapons strewn on the ground. “Don’t touch, don’t step, don’t play around, don’t do anything,” the battalion commander said.Grenades, assault rifles, RPGs and mines were seen along the ground. In one of the living quarters, an AK-type gun and a grenade were left on a bed.Several days before reporters were brought to the site, troops of the Paratroopers Brigade, with support from tank forces and combat engineers, raided the village above the network and searched for the shafts leading into it.Levy said that the army had prior intelligence regarding the underground site and some of the shafts, and his forces were able to quickly reach it during the assault.Over the course of around 48 hours, the troops battled Hezbollah operatives around the village, including a cell stationed at the main entrance to the tunnel system which the military believes was responsible for guarding the underground site.Another cell of four Hezbollah operatives was killed by troops in another, smaller tunnel in the village.After troops entered the passages, removed booby traps — including a claymore-style mine planted on the ceiling in one of the hallways — and breached Hezbollah’s heavy blast doors, the site was mapped out by combat engineers, ahead of its planned demolition.“We came here with intelligence. This is a central target, among many other targets that the division has operated against and destroyed in recent days,” Levy said.“We will stay here until the site is destroyed completely and it no longer poses a threat to the residents of the north,” the general added.“They won’t be able to launch an attack from here on our towns.”Update: On Saturday morning, using 400 tons of explosives, the underground base was blown up.The subterranean explosion was so massive that it was registered as an earthquake, setting off alarms across northern Israel.
Jordan: Breach of international law; Egypt: Grave concern-After Israeli strikes, West urges Iran to stand down as Muslim nations slam Jerusalem-Washington says Islamic Republic must end ‘cycle of fighting,’ as official signals approval of Jerusalem’s ‘targeted and proportional’ response to Iran’s Oct. 1 missile attack-By ToI Staff, Agencies, Jacob Magid-and Emanuel Fabian-Today, 11:10 am-OCT 26,24
Western leaders on Saturday urged Iran not to respond to Israel’s overnight strikes in its territory, conducted in retaliation for its October 1 missile barrage on the Jewish state.Meanwhile, Arab and Muslim nations and the Hamas terror group condemned the Israeli assault and warned it was contributing to regional instability.“We urge Iran to cease its attacks on Israel so that this cycle of fighting can end without further escalation,” US National Security Council spokesman Sean Savett told reporters, in a position echoed by London and Berlin.The Israeli military conducted air strikes against Iran early on Saturday, hitting military bases, missile sites, and other systems in several regions.“Their response was an exercise in self-defense and specifically avoided populated areas and focused solely on military targets, contrary to Iran’s attack against Israel that targeted Israel’s most populous city,” Savett added.Stressing that the US did not participate in the operation, he said “it is our aim to accelerate diplomacy and de-escalate tensions in the Middle East region.”A senior administration official signaled approval of Israel’s “targeted and proportional” strikes in a briefing with reporters, saying US President Joe Biden and his national security team have worked with the “Israelis over recent weeks to encourage Israel to conduct a response that was targeted and proportional with low risk of civilian harm.”“And that appears to have been precisely what transpired this evening,” the official told reporters.Biden had encouraged Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu “to design a response that served to deter further attacks against Israel while reducing risks of further escalation, and that is our objective.”Meanwhile, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer also said Iran should not respond to the wave of Israeli strikes, urging restraint on all sides.“I am clear that Israel has the right to defend itself against Iranian aggression. I’m equally clear that we need to avoid further regional escalation and urge all sides to show restraint. Iran should not respond,” he said, speaking at a press conference in Samoa, where he has been attending a Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.Germany’s Chancellor Olaf Scholz warned Iran against any “escalation.”“My message to Iran is clear: massive escalating reactions must not continue. These must stop immediately. Only then can we open the possibility of a peaceful evolution in the Middle East,” he posted on X.France, in a more neutral statement said it had “taken note” of Israel’s announcement of strikes, and “urges the parties to refrain from any escalation and action likely to aggravate the context of extreme tension prevailing in the region.”Russia warned that an “explosive escalation” in hostilities between Iran and Israel risked spiraling out of control. “We urge all parties involved to exercise restraint, stop the violence and prevent events from developing into a catastrophic scenario,” Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said.The US official said that “should Iran choose to respond, we are fully prepared to once again defend against any attack,” pointing to the recent US deployment of THAAD missile defense batteries to Israel.“This should be the end of this direct exchange of fire between Israel and Iran,” the US official said, adding that “Israel has made clear to the world that its response is now complete.”“Accordingly, we will call on all countries of influence to press Iran to stop these attacks against Israel.”Arab and Muslim condemnations-Egypt said it was “gravely concerned” over the escalation in the Middle East including the Israeli air attack on Iran, and condemned all measures that threaten regional security and stability, the foreign ministry said in a statement.Jordan said the strikes were “in violation of international law and [Iran’s] sovereignty, and a dangerous escalation that leads to more tension in the region.” Foreign ministry spokesman Sufyan Qudah called on the international community to “assume its responsibilities and take immediate measures to impose a halt to the Israeli aggression on Gaza, the West Bank and Lebanon as a first step towards reducing the escalation.”Turkey said “Putting an end to the terror created by Israel in the region has become an historic task for the establishment of international peace and security. We condemn in the strongest terms the Israeli attack on Iran. By committing genocide in Gaza, preparing to annex the West Bank and killing civilians every day in Lebanon, Israel has brought our region to the brink of a greater war,” the ministry added.Saudi Arabia, a regional rival of Iran widely considered an unofficial ally of Israel, particularly on issues pertaining to the Islamic Republic, condemned the Israeli strikes, warning against any further expansion of the conflict in the Middle East.“The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia expresses its condemnation and denunciation” of the Israeli strikes and emphasizes its “firm position rejecting escalation of the conflict in the region,” which “threatens the security and the stability of countries and peoples” in the Middle East, the foreign ministry said on X.Israel ally the United Arab Emirates said it “strongly condemns the military targeting of the Islamic Republic of Iran and expresses deep concern over the continued escalation and its impact on regional security and stability.”The ministry emphasized the “importance of exercising the highest levels of restraint and wisdom to avoid risks and the expansion of conflict.”Iranian ally Qatar, which has been a key mediator between Israel and Hamas amid the war in Gaza, condemned Israel’s airstrikes and urged restraint and dialogue to avoid regional instability.Palestinian terror group Hamas, at war with Israel in Gaza, said it strongly condemned “the Zionist aggression against the Islamic Republic of Iran, and the targeting of military sites in several provinces,” which it called “a blatant violation of Iranian sovereignty and an escalation that threatens the security of the region.”Syria expressed its “solidarity” with Iran. The Syrian foreign ministry said in a statement that it supported “Iran’s legitimate right to defend itself and protect its territory and the lives of its citizens.”Iraq denounced global inaction against Israel which it accused of expanding conflict in the Middle East.“The occupying Zionist entity continues its aggressive policies and widening the conflict in the region through blatant attacks that it carries out with impunity,” including against Iranian targets, government spokesman Basim Alawadi said in a statement denouncing “the international community’s silence” on Israeli actions.And Pakistan said the strikes “undermine [a] path to regional peace and stability and also constitute a dangerous escalation in an already volatile region.”“Israel bears full responsibility for the current cycle of escalation and expansion of the conflict. We call on the UN Security Council to play its role for the maintenance of international peace and security, and to take immediate steps to bring an end to Israeli recklessness in the region and its criminal behavior.”Widespread strikes-Israel struck military sites in Iran early on Saturday, saying it had achieved its objectives and warning Iran not to respond. A semi-official Iranian news agency vowed a “proportional reaction” to the Israeli moves against Tehran.Iranian media reported multiple explosions over several hours in the capital and at nearby military bases, starting shortly after 2 a.m.The military said later it had completed its “targeted” attacks in Iran, striking missile and drone manufacturing facilities and launch sites as well as surface-to-air missile arrays.Targets did not include energy infrastructure or Iran’s nuclear facilities.Iran claimed its air defense systems successfully countered Israel’s attack with “limited damage” to some locations.The Middle East has been on edge awaiting Israel’s retaliation for a ballistic missile barrage carried out by Iran on October 1, in which it fired around 200 missiles at Israel, sending millions of Israelis into shelters but killing only one Palestinian in the West Bank, while causing minor damage to air bases.The rapid escalation of violence has heightened fears across the region and beyond of a wider war, pitting Israel against Iran and the allies it dubs the “axis of resistance” on multiple fronts.Iran had in recent weeks warned that any attack on its infrastructure would provoke an “even stronger response,” while Revolutionary Guards general Rassul Sanairad said an attack on nuclear or energy sites would cross a red line.
Explainer-What Iran and Israel would wield in any long-range air war-A look at the enemies’ air forces and aerial defense systems as their conflict continues to escalate-By Reuters Today, 12:45 pm-OCT 26,24
Israel struck military sites in Iran on Saturday, saying it was retaliating against Tehran’s massive missile attack on Israel on October 1, as the conflict escalated between the Middle East rivals.The Israeli military said it had completed the strikes and achieved its objectives, warning Iran not to respond, while a semi-official Iranian news agency vowed a “proportional reaction” to the Israeli action.Below is a look at both countries’ air forces and aerial defense systems:Iran-The Iranian air force has 37,000 personnel but decades of international sanctions have largely cut off Iran from the latest high-tech military equipment, according to the International Institute for Strategic Studies in London (IISS).The air force has only a few dozen working strike aircraft, including Russian jets and aging US models acquired before the country’s 1979 Islamic Revolution.The Islamic Republic has a squadron of nine F-4 and F-5 fighter jets, one squadron of Russian-made Sukhoi-24 jets, and some MiG-29s, F7 and F14 aircraft, IISS said.Iran also has pilotless planes designed to fly into targets and explode. Analysts estimate its drone arsenal to be in the low thousands. Further, they say, Iran has more than 3,500 surface-to-surface missiles, some of which carry half-ton warheads. The number capable of reaching Israel may be lower, however.Iran’s air force commander said in April that the Sukhoi-24s were in their “best state of preparedness” to counter any potential Israeli attack. But Iran’s dependence on Sukhoi-24s, first developed in the 1960s, underscores the relative weakness of its air force.For defense, Iran relies on a mixture of Russian and domestically produced surface-to-air missile and air defense systems.Iran received deliveries of the S-300 anti-aircraft system from Russia in 2016 – long-range surface-to-air missiles capable of engaging multiple targets simultaneously, including aircraft and ballistic missiles.Tehran also has the domestically produced Bavar-373 surface-to-air missile platform, as well as the Sayyad and Raad defense systems.The semi-official Iranian news outlet ISNA published a graphic in April showing nine Iranian missiles it said could reach Israel. These included the “Sejil,” capable of flying at more than 17,000 kilometers (10,500 miles) per hour and with a range of 2,500 kilometers (1,550 miles); the “Kheibar” with a range of 2,000 kilometers (1,240 miles); and the “Haj Qasem,” which has a range of 1,400 kilometers (870 miles), according to ISNA.According to a 2023 report by Behnam Ben Taleblu, a Senior Fellow at the US-based Foundation for Defense of Democracies, Iran continues to develop underground missile depots complete with transport and firing systems, and subterranean missile production and storage centers. In June 2020, Iran fired its first-ever ballistic missile from underground, it said.“Years of reverse-engineering missiles and producing various missile classes have also taught Iran about stretching airframes and building them with lighter composite materials to increase missile range,” the report said.Israel-Israel has an advanced, US-supplied air force with hundreds of F-15, F-16 and F-35 multipurpose jet fighters. These played a role in shooting down Iranian drones in April when the Islamic Republic launched explosive drones and fired missiles at Israel in its first direct attack on Israeli territory.The air force lacks long-range bombers, though a smaller fleet of repurposed Boeing 707s serve as refueling tankers that could enable its fighters to reach Iran for pinpoint sorties.The Israeli air force demonstrated its ability to hit long-range targets in July when its fighter jets struck areas near Yemen’s Hodeida port in retaliation for a Houthi drone strike in Tel Aviv.A pioneer in drone technology, Israel has Heron pilotless planes capable of flying for more than 30 hours, enough for far-flung operations. Its Delilah loitering munition has an estimated range of 250 kilometers (155 miles) — far short of the Gulf region where Iran is, though the air force could close the gap by delivering one of the munitions closer to Iran’s border.Israel is widely believed to have developed long-range surface-to-surface missiles, but neither confirms nor denies this.A multi-layer aerial defense system developed with US help after the 1991 Gulf War provides Israel with several additional options for shooting down long-range Iranian drones and missiles.The highest-altitude system is the Arrow-3, which intercepts ballistic missiles in space. An earlier model, the Arrow-2, works at lower altitudes. The mid-range David’s Sling counters ballistic missiles and cruise missiles, while the short-range Iron Dome tackles the kind of rockets and mortars used by Iranian-backed groups in Gaza and Lebanon — but can also, in theory, be fired at any more powerful missiles missed by Arrow or David’s Sling.The Israeli systems are designed to be patched into counterpart US interceptors in the region for coalition-strength defenses.
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LeoStella and BlackSky join SDA's Proliferated Low-Earth Orbit initiative-by Clarence Oxford
Los Angeles CA (SPX) Oct 25, 2024-LeoStella has been chosen by the Space Development Agency (SDA) to contribute to the Hybrid Acquisition for Proliferated Low-Earth Orbit (HALO) program. This initiative opens doors for nontraditional defense contractors to collaborate directly with SDA on rapid on-orbit mission feasibility prototypes. LeoStella, a small satellite manufacturer, will partner with BlackSky as a subcontractor to develop these mission prototypes. This selection pre-qualifies LeoStella to work closely with SDA in this capacity."This new, innovative program will be an integral tool for the Government to engage with industry. This award enables SDA to leverage nearly 60 years of successful on-orbit experience with a proven heritage across more than 20 satellites that deliver real-time space-based monitoring capabilities," explained Nick Merski, LeoStella Board Member and Chief Operating Officer at BlackSky. "We appreciate SDA's innovative approach to acquisition problem solving. This contract enables users to combine industry innovation and apply it to current and future SDA mission needs on mission-ready timelines.""SDA is proud to welcome 19 vendors into the first-ever HALO pool," said SDA Director Derek Tournear. "This creative award solution enables SDA to quickly compete, build, and fly demonstration missions to burn down risk for the future of the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture. We also hope, through the HALO pool, to build a broader base of vendors that can compete for work on operational layers of future tranches."LeoStella's approach centers on developing flexible and scalable satellite solutions, ensuring these designs can be efficiently produced at scale. As part of the HALO program, and with SDA's vision, companies can rapidly develop, test, and deploy small satellite capabilities. Since its inception in 2018, LeoStella has delivered 23 satellites, 19 of which are currently operating in LEO. These satellites have demonstrated excellent performance, consistently delivering customer data with over 99 percent uptime. With this award, LeoStella and BlackSky are now positioned to compete for SDA's Tranche 3 opportunities.
EU calls for 'utmost restraint' after Israel strikes Iran.
Brussels, Belgium, Oct 26 (AFP) Oct 26, 2024-The European Union on Saturday called for all parties to exercise utmost restraint to avoid an "uncontrollable escalation" in the Middle East, after Israel carried out deadly air strikes in Iran.Earlier Israel said its warplanes carried out raids targeting Iranian military facilities in retaliation for a missile barrage -- further stoking fears of a full-scale regional war."The dangerous cycle of attacks and retaliations risks causing a further expansion of the regional conflict," the EU said in a statement."While acknowledging Israel's right to self-defence, the EU calls on all parties to exercise utmost restraint to avoid an uncontrollable escalation, which is in no one's interest."Iran warned it would defend itself after the strikes, which the Israeli military said hit Iranian missile factories and military facilities in several regions, killed two soldiers.Israel in turn cautioned that Iran would "pay a heavy price" if it responded to the strikes, which it said came in retaliation for Iran's October 1 missile attack, which saw the country launch around 200 ballistic missiles at Israel.The EU called for calm saying the strikes came amid "severe and growing regional tensions"."The EU remains fully committed to lowering tensions and contributing to de-escalation and, to this end, remains in close contact with all relevant actors," the 27-nation bloc added.
Japan to resume trial removal of Fukushima nuclear debris: reports.
Tokyo, Oct 25 (AFP) Oct 25, 2024-The operator of Japan's stricken Fukushima nuclear plant will resume an operation to remove a sample of highly radioactive material next week, reports said Friday, after having suspended the effort over a technical snag.Extracting the estimated 880 tons of highly radioactive fuel and debris inside the former power station remains the most challenging part of decommissioning the facility, which was hit by a catastrophic tsunami in 2011.Radioactivity levels inside are far too high for humans to enter, and last month engineers began inserting an extendable device to try and remove a small sample.However, operator Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) had to halt the procedure after noticing that remote cameras on the apparatus were not beaming back images to the control centre.TEPCO on Friday said it would resume the removal on Monday after replacing the cameras with new ones, the Asahi Shimbun daily and other local media reported.TEPCO officials could not immediately be reached to confirm the reports.Three of Fukushima's six reactors went into meltdown after a tsunami triggered by Japan's biggest earthquake on record swamped the facility in one of the world's worst atomic accidents.Japan last year began releasing into the Pacific Ocean some of the 540 Olympic swimming pools' worth of reactor cooling water amassed since the catastrophe.China and Russia banned Japanese seafood imports as a result although Tokyo insists the discharge is safe, a view backed by the UN atomic agency.Beijing last month said it would "gradually resume" importing seafood from Japan after imposing the blanket ban.In a TEPCO initiative to promote food from the Fukushima area, swanky London department store Harrods began selling peaches grown in the region last month.kh/smwTEPCO - TOKYO ELECTRIC POWER
Indonesia drives Chinese ship from disputed waters again.
Jakarta, Oct 26 (AFP) Oct 26, 2024-Indonesia has driven a Chinese coast guard ship from contested waters in the South China Sea for the third time this week, its maritime security agency said Saturday.It is the latest move by a Southeast Asian nation against Beijing's actions in the strategic waterway, which it claims almost in full.Chinese vessels have occasionally entered Indonesia-claimed areas of the North Natuna Sea at the southern edge of the South China Sea, drawing protests from Jakarta."The China Coast Guard-5402 (CCG-5402) re-entered the Indonesian jurisdiction on Friday," Indonesia's Maritime Security Agency said in a statement Saturday.The same ship first entered the disputed waters on Monday and again on Wednesday, with Indonesian patrol ships driving it away both times, the agency said.It added that the Chinese vessel on Monday had disrupted a survey being conducted by state-owned oil company Pertamina, and that when contacted by an Indonesian ship, the Chinese coast guard said the area was part of Beijing's jurisdiction.Indonesia said the area was recognised as its territory under international law."Indonesia has a sovereign right to explore the natural resource in that area and that cannot be disturbed by any country," the agency statement said.Huge, unexploited oil and gas deposits are believed to lie under the South China Sea's seabed, though estimates vary greatly.The incidents are an early test for newly inaugurated President Prabowo Subianto who has pledged to bolster the defence of Indonesian territory.In 2020, Indonesia deployed fighter jets and warships to patrol the Natuna islands' waters in a spat with Beijing after Chinese vessels entered the area.Beijing and Jakarta are key economic allies but the world's largest archipelago nation is trying to stop foreign vessels from fishing in its waters, saying it costs the economy billions of dollars annually.China has ignored an international tribunal ruling that its claims to almost all of the South China Sea have no legal basis.It has deployed military and coast guard vessels in recent months in a bid to eject the Philippines from a trio of strategically important reefs and islands in the contested waterway.It has also been ratcheting up pressure over a disputed island group controlled by Japan in the East China Sea, rattling Tokyo and its allies.
N.Korea involvement in Ukraine raises regional security risks: analysts.
Paris, Oct 26 (AFP) Oct 26, 2024-The deployment of North Korean troops to help Russia in its war against Ukraine is unlikely to have a significant impact on the fighting on the ground but could affect security interests in Asia, Europe, and elsewhere, analysts said.Growing military ties between Moscow and Pyongyang are a major concern for Washington and Brussels as Russian leader Vladimir Putin presses ahead with his efforts to build an anti-Western alliance."The conflict is becoming international," said Pascal Dayez-Burgeon, a North Korea expert and former French diplomat in Seoul.But while he said he understood Western concerns about the risk of the possible expansion of the war, now in its third year, he downplayed any immediate threat to the global security architecture."In reality, I find it hard to see North Korea presenting a threat of escalation," he said, calling the North a "small dictatorship."On Friday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warned that Russia was planning to send North Korean troops into battle against his country as early as Sunday. He has claimed North Korea is training 10,000 soldiers to support Russia.South Korea, NATO and the United States claim thousands of North Korean troops are already training in Russia.On Thursday, Russian lawmakers voted unanimously to ratify a treaty with North Korea that provides for "mutual assistance" if either party faces aggression. South Korea warned it "won't sit idle" over the North's deployment of troops.- 'No Triple Alliance' -"We are no longer in a conflict between Russia and Ukraine, but between Russia, North Korea and Ukraine," said Marie Dumoulin of the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR).But analysts said it was unclear how North Korean troops will be used in what has become Russia's war of attrition against Ukraine, adding the North's forces do not have combat experience."I don't think that sending a few thousand North Korean troops, whose level of training we don't know, will make much difference on the battlefield in operational terms," said Dumoulin."In any case, 10,000 soldiers is not that many," added Isabelle Facon from the France-based Foundation of Strategic Research.Russia has a long history of ties with the Stalinist state. Moscow and the North have drawn closer since the invasion of Ukraine in 2022, with Seoul and Washington claiming North Korea has been sending weapons for use in the conflict.Analysts say the new "strategic partnership" between Moscow and Pyongyang is in line with Putin's efforts to reshape the global security architecture and build an alliance to undermine the dominance of the United States.This week Putin hosted around 20 leaders including Chinese President Xi Jinping and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the BRICS summit, the largest diplomatic event in Russia since Putin invaded Ukraine.But experts said they did not believe China and Iran would become directly involved in Ukraine."There is no Triple Alliance or Triple Entente," said Dayez-Burgeon, referring to power blocs before the outbreak of World War I in 1914."That would certainly be the case if China or Iran were to enter the conflict, but that's just not the case," he said, adding China's focus is on Taiwan and Iran has vital interests in the Middle East.- Security on Korean Peninsula -But if the two Koreas become involved in Ukraine this would affect security on the Korean Peninsula, analysts said. Seoul has suggested it could revise its longstanding policy that prevents sending weapons directly to Ukraine."The Ukrainian theatre risks becoming the first direct test of opposing Korean military capabilities since the 1953 Armistice," wrote Darcie Draudt-Vejares, a Korea expert at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace"This development could fundamentally alter the security balance on the Korean Peninsula - especially if North Korea gains combat experience while testing its advanced weapons systems."Dumoulin pointed out that under the "strategic partnership" agreement Russia could provide support to the North if tensions rise with South Korea.Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un signed the defence deal in June. Under Article 4, the two countries pledge to provide military and other assistance if one of them is attacked."But what and how we do so is our business," Putin said this week.Andrew Yeo, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, said North Korea's support for Russia may encourage states like Iran to further strengthen ties with Moscow."Unlike Beijing, Moscow is ready to pursue bloc politics and embrace the idea of a new Cold War," he added."Russia is more isolated than China and therefore sees more benefit in rounding together non-aligned or anti-imperial countries."
What we know about the Israeli strikes on Iran.
Tehran, Oct 26 (AFP) Oct 26, 2024-Iran said Israeli air strikes targeting its military sites killed two soldiers on Saturday, after Israel said its warplanes carried out raids in retaliation for a missile barrage.Here's what we know:- What happened? -The Israeli army said it conducted "precise strikes on military targets in Iran" on Saturday.Explosions were heard in Tehran from around 2:15 am, AFP journalists in the Iranian capital said.Iranian state television said the blasts were caused by the "activation of the air defence system" in response to an Israeli attack.The Israeli military said it simultaneously struck missile manufacturing facilities, surface-to-air missile arrays and other "aerial capabilities".It said later that the air attack had "concluded" its response to Iran's October 1 missile attack, saying its warplanes had returned safely and the mission was "fulfilled".Iran's air force confirmed strikes on military bases in Tehran, Khuzestan and Ilam provinces that "caused limited damage".The army said two soldiers were killed, while the country's civil aviation authority announced the resumption of flights after a brief suspension.The foreign ministry said Iran had the "right and the duty to defend itself", citing the UN Charter.State media in Syria said Israel also launched air strikes on its territory from the occupied Golan Heights and LebanonIran and Syria are allies in the so-called "axis of resistance" that also includes Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in Gaza.Hezbollah said it had fired rockets at a northern Israel intelligence base and drones at an airbase in the south of the country. The Israeli military said that around 80 projectiles were fired.- Why did Israel attack? -The Israeli military said it had launched the strikes "in response to months of continuous attacks" from the Islamic republic."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," it said.Israel had vowed revenge against Tehran for the October 1 missile attack.Defence Minister Yoav Gallant had said Israel's retaliation would be "deadly, precise and surprising".Iran launched around 200 ballistic missiles at Israel in retaliation for the killing of Tehran-backed leaders belonging to Hamas and Hezbollah, and an Iranian Revolutionary Guard general.It was Tehran's second-ever direct assault on Israeli territory, following an April attack in retaliation for a deadly strike on Iran's consular annex in Damascus.Israel has been fighting Iran-backed Hamas in the Gaza Strip since the Palestinian militant group's October 7, 2023 attack which resulted in the deaths of 1,206 people in Israel, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally of Israeli official figures.The Lebanon-based Hezbollah group, also backed by Tehran, has fired missiles at Israel in solidarity with Hamas since the Hamas attack which triggered Israel's massive military assault in Gaza.- World reaction? -The United States and Britain called for "de-escalation" after the Israeli strikes on Iran, while Muslim countries blamed Israel for exacerbating the conflict.White House National Security Council spokesman Sean Savett said the "targeted strikes on military targets" were "an exercise of self-defence", stressing the United States did not take part."It is our aim to accelerate diplomacy and de-escalate tensions in the Middle East region," he said.British Prime Minister Keir Starmer called for "all sides to show restraint" and Germany warned Tehran against "massive escalating reactions".Russia urged both sides to halt the violence with foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, warning of an "explosive escalation".Turkey called for an end to what it called "Israeli terror"Saudi Arabia condemned Israel and warned against any further expansion of the conflict in the Middle East.Syria expressed its "solidarity" with Iran, saying it supported its right to defend itself, while Iraq denounced global inaction against what it called Israel's "aggressive policies".Qatar, a mediator trying to end the Gaza war, expressed its "deep concern about the serious repercussions that may result from this escalation" by Israel.Oman, which has long played a mediating role between Iran and Western countries, said Israel's attack on Iran "fuels the cycle of violence and undermines efforts" to de-escalate.burs-/dc/dcp.
