Operation Iron Swords - Day 188 - 11 April 2024
“At any point, Hamas could have ended this burgeoning tragedy to
surrender and release every hostage. …
Hamas instigated and owns this humanitarian catastrophe.”
Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA)
Contents |
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NEW - War Termination NEW - Operations NEW - Operations - Gaza NEW - Operations - Judea-Samaria NEW - Operations - Lebanon NEW - Operations - Syria / Iraq NEW - Operations - Yemen UPDATED - Operations Maps NEW - By-Standers NEW - Axis of Resistance NEW - Allied for Democracy UPDATED - By the Numbers |
Three sons and four grandchildren of Hamas’ politburo chief Ismail Haniyeh were killed in an Israeli airstrike that targeted a vehicle in al-Shati refugee camp in north of Gaza. Haniyeh, who is based in Qatar and represents Hamas in international meetings and negotiations, said in a statement that blood of his children and grandchildren would create hope and freedom for the people and the cause of Palestine. Haniyeh stated when asked whether their killing would affect the talks, "Our Palestinian people have their interests before anything, and our sons and daughters are part of this people and part of this process."
IDF spokesman, Brigadier General Daniel Hagari was asked: "Was it correct to approve the elimination of Haniyeh's sons at a political level - chief of staff, commanding general, and not lieutenant colonel, given the sensitive timing. A: Haniyeh's sons are terrorists, commanders in the field of terrorist activity, they intended in real time to carry out terrorist operations and terrorist infrastructure. One of them is involved in holding hostages during the war. They are terrorists and therefore they were attacked, according to the instructions and orders."
Saapir Lipkin reported for Israeli N12 TV news that since the assassination of three of Ismail Haniyeh's sons it was evident that Hamas has adopted a strategy that will help it turn the attack that harmed the senior's family into an event that actually helps him, at least outwardly. He is taking advantage of the IDF airstrike to strengthen his image in Gaza and in front of the international community that has been hurt in recent months.
The news of the death of three of Haniyeh's children - Amir, Muhammad and Hazem, caught the head of the political bureau of Hamas during his visit to the hospital in Doha. Within a short time of learning about it, he already decided to release a video from there showing the moment when he receives this news. "May God make it easy for them, may God forgive them," said Haniyeh, the man who has long been considered a symbol of the terrorist organization.
Haniyeh already went on air on the Qatari Al-Jazeera network, where he was heard lamenting their deaths and claiming that their elimination would not affect the negotiations for a deal - in an attempt to portray himself as a stable and strong leader who did not surrender after an Israeli attack. "If the enemy thinks that attacking my sons, whom Allah gave them the honor of being martyrs, will push Hamas to change its position - then he is delusional," he clarified. Hamas knows how to leverage this type of assassination to strengthen its position in the Palestinian and Arab arena. His information system issued statements in a flash last night, about every condolence call Hania received from the leaders of the region.
He stressed: We are on the path to liberating Al-Quds Al-Sharif and Al-Aqsa Mosque. We will not hesitate and we will not retreat. The blood of my children and grandchildren is a sacrifice for the liberation of Al-Quds Al-Sharif and Al-Aqsa Mosque.
Haniyeh can position himself at the heart of the consensus, after in the last six months he has been criticized internally and externally for the fact that he is staying in luxury hotels in Doha - while the Gazans are dealing with the war in the Gaza Strip and are busy surviving.
Various resistance groups erupted in a chorus of condemnation and condolence after the Israeli airstrike, pledging allegiance to Hamas and asserting that such atrocities would not dent the Palestinian nation’s resolve to defeat the occupation. A Saudi activist defined it this way: "The move was recorded in front of the camera as soon as he received the news of his sons' death to show the suffering residents of Gaza as if 'we are with you' and to gain sympathy that glorifies Hamas and promote false victories."
Ibrahim al-Madhoun, a commentator close to Hamas, clarified that "the elimination of Haniyeh's sons and grandsons will increase his determination, resistance and stability, and not weaken his support. He told the leaders and Hamas in one of the meetings that 'I am ready to sacrifice my family and my loved ones for the sake of my issue and my people.' Despite his humanity and love for his children, Hania is charismatic, and he sees himself as the Hand."
"Where are those who rose up against you and accused your children of enjoying themselves in hotels?" Al-Madhoun is not alone. It is evident that this news evoked empathy for the plot that allegedly "paid" with the lives of his family - even though the IDF clarified that all three served as operatives in the military wing of Hamas who were on their way to carry out terrorist activities in the center of the Gaza Strip.
"Where are those who stood up against you and accused your children of enjoying themselves in luxury hotels and on the beaches of Turkey? This gave us a lesson in stability, steadfastness and patience," wrote a Palestinian active in the networks. Adham Abu Salmiya, a Gazan influencer, added: "Those who slandered Ismail Haniyeh, his honor and his children, may Allah humiliate them in public. We will not forgive them. Continue your wailing, the free people will continue their jihad, resistance and demonstrations until the removal of your Zionist masters".
And yet, other voices are also heard in the Arab world after the elimination of Haniya's sons, but they are considered relatively rare. "I am amazed by the Egyptians who sympathize with the news of the death of the Haniya children. He caused the destruction of Gaza and is the cause of the death of thousands, and now he is running away from American bases," wrote an Egyptian resident.
The Israeli bombardment that killed the sons of the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas’ leader signified yet again the Israeli regime’s savagery, Iran’s president said. In a message addressed to Hamas’ politburo chief Ismail Haniyeh on Wednesday, Ebrahim Raisi offered condolences on the deaths earlier in the day of Haniyeh’s three sons and their children in a refugee camp in Gaza as a result of an Israeli airstrike.
“Undoubtedly, this crime made clearer the savage and child-killing psyche of this regime,” he said in the message, adding that the Israeli regime continues to resort to any action it deems necessary to save itself from the “collapse quagmire”. The Iranian president also condemned the inaction and silence of the so-called advocates of human rights in the world in the face of the unprecedented crimes committed by the Israeli regime in Gaza.
Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian offerd condolences over the martyrdom of Hamas political bureau chief’s sons and grandchildren in an Israel strike. The martyrdom of the Hamas’ leader’s family members “serves as a precursor to divine assistance and victory for the Palestinian nation, and a source of eternal shame, defeat, abasement, and ignominy for the criminal Zionists and their supporters,” he said. Such instances of sacrifice “will undoubtedly increase the Palestinian nation’s steely faith and resolve to (exercise) steadfastness and resistance towards liberation of the dear Palestine and will speed up the foundationless Zionist regime’s inevitable defeat and collapse,” concluded the message.
Israeli media reported, on Thursday, that the Israeli raid that killed 3 sons of the head of the Hamas political bureau, Ismail Haniyeh, in the Gaza Strip, was carried out “without consulting senior commanders or political leaders, especially Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.” The Walla news website quoted senior Israeli officials as saying that Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Galant “did not know in advance about the air strike, which was coordinated between the Israeli army and the Internal Security Agency (Shin Bet).”
The website said that Amir, Muhammad, and Hazem Haniyeh "were targeted because they were fighters, and not because they were the sons of the head of the political bureau of the Hamas movement." The army did not comment on reports about the killing of 4 of Haniyeh’s grandchildren in the same operation. There has been no comment yet from the Israeli Prime Minister's Office or the army on the Walla news website report.
Yaron Avraham reported for Israeli N12 TV news that in Jerusalem, it is estimated that the leader of Hamas in Gaza is deliberately delaying his answer to the new proposal for a hostage deal, and is waiting to see how Iran will respond to the assassination of a senior member of the Revolutionary Guards. According to Israeli sources, Sinwar hopes for an Iranian response to the assassination in Damascus of Hassan Mahdavi, commander of the Quds Force of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards. "Sinvar has not given up his ambition to see a regional war here, and he is pinning his hopes on the Iranian attack and the Israeli response, which could lead to the "unification of the sectors"."
Haniyeh said that the negotiations are continuing on the basis of the constants set by the Hamas movement, which are the declaration of an explicit and permanent ceasefire, the withdrawal of the Israeli occupation army from the Gaza Strip, the return of the displaced without conditions, the entry of aid and the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip, and the conclusion of a logical exchange deal. Informed sources reported that “Hamas will continue to cling to these demands in a diplomatic response to the mediators and will therefore practically reject the recent US-Egyptian paper of proposals.”
Two Israeli officials told Reuters on Wednesday that Israel agreed, during talks in Egypt about a ceasefire in Gaza, to “concessions regarding the return of the Palestinians to the northern Gaza Strip,” but believes that Hamas “does not want to reach an agreement.” The two officials familiar with the talks said that under a US proposal for a truce, Israel would allow the return of 150,000 Palestinians to northern Gaza without security checks. They added that in return, Hamas will be asked to provide a list of the names of the women, elderly and sick hostages it is holding who are still alive. The two officials said that the Israeli assessment is that “Hamas does not want to reach an agreement yet.” For its part, Hamas said on Tuesday that the latest proposal it received from the Egyptian and Qatari mediators “does not meet the demands,” but that it “will study it more deeply before responding.” The movement demands an end to the Israeli military attack, the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, and allowing displaced Palestinians to return to their homes.
Hamas’ politburo chief Ismail Haniyeh told Reuters: “We are seeking that (an agreement), but until this moment, the Zionist enemy is procrastinating and evading responding to the demands to provide the required entitlement to reach an agreement”.
The Israeli army may not be able to create a security buffer zone with Gaza as initially planned, according to a new report. Sources in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Southern Command reportedly told local news outlet Walla! that due to shortages in manpower as well as legal obstacles, the planned 1-kilometer no man's land may only be 500 meters wide in some areas. Israeli officials had promised at the outset of the war to establish a buffer zone, one of the security provisions meant to reassure the residents of the border area who suffered the attack on October 7 and have long born the brunt of Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad rocket attacks, meant to replicate the security area along Israel's northern border.
Former Israeli Minister of Justice, Haim Ramon, said that the war launched by Benjamin Netanyahu’s government on the Gaza Strip “ended in a strategic defeat” (for Israel). In response to a question about whether the war was over, Ramon said: “Unfortunately, yes. Unfortunately, there is a tactical victory, but there is also a strategic defeat . We did not achieve any of the goals set by the government,” according to the Hebrew newspaper “Maariv.”
He added: “The ground attack began in the wrong way, and only moved heavily to the north of the Gaza Strip .” He continued: “We transferred a million and a half refugees to the south, and now we will not go to Rafah in the south because there are a million and a half displaced people. It is not an American problem, it is our problem in how we deal with them.” He added: “Six months ago we went to this war and there was one thing: the collapse of the Hamas movement militarily. They dealt our army severe blows to it, but it is still standing on its feet.”
Ramon said: “The goal was to eliminate civilian Hamas, which controls humanitarian aid,” considering that “it is impossible for Hamas to collapse without temporary civilian rule.” He added: “We were also unable to bring down civilian Hamas. We said that there would be military pressure, and the pressure would lead to the release of Jewish prisoners, and this did not happen either, and the goals of the war were not achieved after six months, and at this time, we are in great trouble.”
He pointed out that “we have not even begun to overthrow Hamas,” and said: “In my opinion, after six months and in light of everything that happened and certainly in light of the failure of October 7, this is the moment when the Chief of Staff of the Israeli Defense Forces (Herzi Halevy) must bear responsibility, as he announced.” By himself". He said: “If this happens, there will be a chain of reactions at the military level, but also at the political level.”
IDF spokesman, Brigadier General Daniel Hagari: "Tonight I will refer to the various publications and reports about the preparation for a response from Iran. First of all, it is important to say - there is no change in the instructions for the rear. We are alert and highly prepared for a variety of scenarios, and we constantly assess the situation. Prepared and ready in attack and defense in a variety of capacities of the IDF, and also prepared with our strategic partners. This morning the commander of the Central Command of the United States Army, General Michael Eric Korilla, arrived in Israel and together with the Chief of Staff held a strategic situational assessment of the security challenges in the region. Our strategic relationship with the United States military, firm and close, and as it has been manifested since the beginning of the war - it is measured in actions.
"For years, and even more so during the war, Iran finances, directs and arms its affiliates - in Lebanon, Gaza, Syria, Iraq and Yemen - to target the State of Israel, but not only the State of Israel. but other countries in the region and not only in the region. An attack from Iranian territory would be clear proof of Iranian intentions to escalate the Middle East and stop hiding behind the proxies.
"In recent months we have improved and advanced our attack capabilities, and we will know how to act where needed. We have a multi-layered defense capability that has proven itself throughout the war, with thousands of successful interceptions, but still at the same time, the defense is never hermetic. You must continue to obey the directives of the Home Front Command. I clarify again: as of today, there is no change in the guidelines, but vigilance must be maintained.
"If there is a change, we will update immediately, here including on the platforms of the Home Front Command and the IDF spokesperson - as we have done throughout the war, transparently and immediately. In Gaza, tonight we launched a targeted operation in the center of the Gaza Strip, in the area of the Netzer corridor, to destroy terrorist and terrorist infrastructure and increase our grip on the corridor Wicker which crosses the strip. The purpose of the operation is to thwart Hamas' attempts to rehabilitate itself in the area. We continue to fight in Gaza, and are preparing for further actions."
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Thursday that Israel is "prepared for scenarios in other regions" apart from the Gaza Strip, which is experiencing a war that entered its seventh month this week, warning that his country "will strike whoever strikes it." Netanyahu added: “We are in the midst of the war in Gaza, but we are also preparing for scenarios in other regions,” adding: “We are ready to meet Israel’s security requirements in defense and attack.”
Netanyahu's speech came on the sidelines of his visit to an air base housing F-15 fighter jets, of which the Israeli fleet is the air force's main weapon for long-range strikes, according to the Times of Israel newspaper. Netanyahu said: “We have established a simple principle: whoever hits us, we will hit him,” in a clear reference to Iranian threats to carry out strikes against Israel.
These statements come after Iran pledged to respond to a strike attributed to Israel, which targeted an Iranian diplomatic compound in the Syrian capital, Damascus. Iranian Leader Ali Khamenei confirmed, on Wednesday, that Israel “will receive punishment” after the attack attributed to it on April 1 in Syria. The attack destroyed the Iranian consulate in Damascus and led to the death of 16 people, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. The Iranian Revolutionary Guard mourned 7 of its members in the attack, including two senior officers.
Axios and Reuters revealed that US Presidential Advisor for Regional Affairs Brett McGurk asked the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Iraq and the UAE to mediate with Tehran and ask it not to escalate with the occupation and not to respond to its crime against the Iranian consular affairs building in Damascus.
The commander of the US Central Command, "Centcom", General Eric Kurella, is expected to go to Israel, on Thursday, to coordinate a possible attack by Iran and its agents in the Middle East, according to what the American " Axios " website quoted two unnamed Israeli officials. Corella is scheduled to meet with Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Galant and senior officials in the ministry, according to the website.
"Axios" quoted Israeli officials as saying, "They are preparing for an unprecedented direct attack from Iranian territory, using ballistic missiles, drones, and cruise missiles." “In such a scenario, Israel would respond with a direct attack on Iran,” the officials said.
This week, Gallant spoke with US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin about Iranian threats. Axios quoted an unidentified official as saying that the Israeli Minister of Strategic Affairs, Ron Dermer, made a phone call on Tuesday regarding this issue with US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken. Meanwhile, US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said that Blinken spoke with Gallant on Wednesday, “and affirmed the United States’ support for Israel’s security, and made it clear that the United States will stand by Israel against any threats from Iran and its agents.”
Axios also quoted a "senior Israeli official" as saying, "Israel asked the United States to help limit the Iranian response, by sending private and public warning messages to the Iranians, and highlighting its power in the region." Bloomberg, citing people familiar with intelligence information, said that the United States and its allies believe that an Iranian response to the Israeli attack on the Tehran consulate in Damascus is imminent and will be carried out through massive missile attacks or drones.
The Israeli official told Axios, "Israel and the United States have also coordinated in recent days regarding joint air and missile defense in the region, before a possible Iranian attack." Last week, Israel announced that it was strengthening its defense measures and temporarily suspending the permissions of combat units, after Iranian threats. In a press statement issued by his office this week, the Israeli Defense Minister said that “preparations have been completed” to deal with any scenario that might develop with Iran. The United States maintains a state of high alert for its forces in the region, and is preparing for a possible attack by Iran targeting Israeli or American interests in the region. Washington confirmed that it had “nothing to do” with the Iranian consulate strike.
US President Joe Biden sent an important message to Tehran that an Iranian attack would open a front not only with Israel, but also with America - and this evening (Thursday) we published in the "Main Edition" that this statement came after conversations between Defense Minister Yoav Galant and senior officials The American administration demanded that they make a public statement against Iran.
The public statement did come when US President Joe Biden said last night that his country has an "iron commitment" to protecting Israel from Iran's threats. At a press conference with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, Biden said that "the Iranians are threatening to launch a significant attack against Israel. As I told Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, our commitment to Israel's security against these threats from Iran and its proxies - is made of iron plating. Let me say that again - ironclad. (We will do) everything we can to protect Israel's security."
Afterwards, the Al-Jazeera network quoted an American source who said that "the US does not rule out joint retaliatory action with Israel if it is attacked by Iran or its proxies." The source added that the US would in any case "help defend Israel if it will be attacked, and may intercept missiles or UAVs that will be launched towards it. Biden's statements did not come in a vacuum."
At the same time, the Reuters news agency reported from Iranian sources that Tehran had signaled to Washington that it would respond to the assassination of a senior member of the Revolutionary Guards in a manner aimed at preventing a major escalation and would not act hastily, Iranian sources told Reuters. Iran's message to Washington was conveyed through Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdullahian during a visit on Sunday to Oman, which has often served as a mediator between Tehran and Washington.
In Iran they claim that they have already achieved one achievement without firing a single bullet, and this is their ability to put an entire country under stress and anxiety. In recent days, the Iranian media have been echoing Israel's great concern over Tehran's reaction, and Internet accounts identified with the Revolutionary Guards are publishing fictitious news about an imminent attack. Even today, Arab and Iranian commentators say that despite the great tension between Israel and the US, the close military cooperation between the two is maintained.
Israel is preparing to respond if Iran decides to attack Israel and the US is cooperating with it in this regard. Behind the scenes there was a series of telephone conversations between Defense Minister Gallant and his counterparts in the US. Gallant spoke with US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, and demanded that the US administration send a public and clear message against Iran.
A secret discussion took place at the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, where the professional elements are preparing for a comprehensive diplomatic attack against Iran in the US, Europe and other countries, with the aim of isolating it, weakening it and labeling it even more as someone who destabilizes the situation in the Middle East. Foreign Minister Israel Katz said that "Iran is the head of the octopus, and now is our opportunity to weaken it in the face of global public opinion." In other words, in Israel we are preparing for defense, for attack - which includes not only military operations, but also diplomatic and political ones.
Bloomberg , citing people familiar with intelligence information, said on Wednesday that the United States and its allies believe that an Iranian response to the Israeli attack on Tehran’s consulate in Damascus is imminent. The sources, who requested anonymity while discussing confidential issues, added that the attacks likely to be carried out by Tehran or its agents in the region will target military and government sites in Israel.
The sources confirmed that the possible attack may occur in the coming days using high-precision missiles or drones. The agency quoted a source as saying that the attack was seen as only a matter of time, according to American and Israeli intelligence assessments. The sources also said that Israel's Western allies have been informed that Israeli government and military facilities may be targeted, but civilian facilities are not expected to be targeted. The sources indicated that American officials are helping Israel plan and exchange intelligence assessments.
The sources said that American and Western intelligence agencies believe that the attack launched by Iran or its agents in the region may not necessarily emanate from northern Israel, where Hezbollah, Tehran's ally in Lebanon, is present. The Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Ali Khamenei, vowed again, on Wednesday, that Israel would “receive punishment” after an air strike attributed to it that resulted in the destruction of the Iranian consulate building in Damascus and the killing of seven members of the Revolutionary Guard, including two senior officers.
Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz was quick to respond on the X platform, writing in Persian, “If Iran launches an attack from its territory, Israel will respond and attack Iran.” Last week, Israel announced the strengthening of its defense measures and the temporary suspension of combat unit permissions after Iranian threats. The raid on the Iranian consulate came in the midst of escalating regional tensions, a war raging in the Gaza Strip against Hamas, and almost daily exchanges of fire with Hezbollah in Lebanon.
Iran once again vowed to respond to an air strike “attributed to Israel,” which resulted in the destruction of the Iranian consulate building in Damascus and the killing of seven members of the Revolutionary Guard, including two senior officers. On Wednesday, the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Ali Khamenei, once again threatened Israel that it would “be punished.” Khamenei pointed out that "consulates and embassies in any country are the territory of that country, and an attack on our consulate means an attack on our territory."
Speaking to Al-Hurra website, the Iranian strategic expert, Saeed Shawwardi, lists scenarios for “Iran’s expected response to Israel.” Khamenei's statements are not just "threats or psychological warfare" as the Israeli side believes, and Israel would be "wrong" if it thought that Iran "does not have the tools to respond and punish," according to Shawwardi. Iran is “strong and has inflicted strategic damage on the Israelis at the present time,” and is capable of “inflicting existential damage on Israel in the future,” as he put it. The Tehran-based strategic expert reveals "a long-term plan that includes Iran's tools to implement its threats," including "an indirect response on several fronts inside and outside Israel, and a direct response inside Israel."
But on the other hand, the Israeli military and strategic expert, Kofi Lavie, confirms that “Israel is ready to deal with all Iranian scenarios, whether direct or indirect.” Israel “did not claim responsibility for targeting the Iranian embassy in Damascus, and it has not been proven that it did so,” but that “does not prevent a state of satisfaction inside Israel as a result of this action,” according to his interview with the Al-Hurra website. He points out that "Israel has the ability to maintain its security and safety from any threats, whether from Iran itself or its agents in the Middle East."
The Iranian-backed groups form the so-called “Axis of Resistance”, which is an alliance of armed militias that includes the Jihad and Hamas movements in Gaza, Hezbollah in Lebanon, the Houthis in Yemen, and several armed groups in Iraq and Syria. It serves as an Iranian front line of defense, and is used by Iran. To spread its influence throughout the region. Through these militias, Iran has succeeded in competing with traditional regional powers in the region, as it supports, directly or indirectly, more than 20 armed groups, most of which are classified as “ terrorist ” in the United States.
Since Hamas' bloody attack on Israel, the Lebanese Hezbollah group has exchanged fire on a daily basis with Israel, while Iraqi factions have targeted American forces in Syria and Iraq, and the Houthis are launching strikes from Yemen on ships in the Red Sea. Therefore, Shawwardi asserts that “Iran has many allies in the Middle East, and therefore it does not need to enter into a direct, devastating war with Israel and those who are allied with it.” These groups can target Israel from several fronts at the same time, without Iran needing to enter into a direct confrontation with the Israelis, according to the Iranian strategic expert.
At the top of the groups supported by Iran is Hamas, which is classified as a terrorist movement in the United States and other countries. The movement possesses a large number of Russian-made portable anti-tank missiles, which the movement used against Israeli forces in Gaza. Hamas also has drones that it has used to attack Israeli tanks and communication points.
Hezbollah, which was founded by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard in 1982 and is classified by the United States as a “terrorist organization,” serves as a model for other Tehran-backed militias across the region, and also provides advice or training to some of these armed groups. Hezbollah's arsenal amounts to about 135,000 to 150,000 missiles and missiles or more, with a range of more than 300 kilometers or so, allowing it to reach targets deep inside Israel. Hezbollah possesses between 100 and 400 missiles that were recently modernized and equipped with precise guidance systems, according to “ military expert estimates .” In previous statements, Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah said that the group has 100,000 fighters, while the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) says in the World Factbook that the number of militia fighters was estimated in 2022 at about 45,000. Fighters, including about 20,000 full-time workers and 25,000 reserve soldiers.
Regarding the Houthi group in Yemen, which Washington classifies as a terrorist group, it has about 20,000 trained fighters, but in interviews, Houthi leaders claimed that they have up to 200,000 fighters, and in 2015 the United Nations estimated the number at about 75,000. Recent attacks have shown that the Houthis have some units highly trained in operating drones, in addition to anti-ship ballistic missiles and missiles designated for fixed targets on the ground.
Shawwardi reveals that Iran is working on "implementing a time plan aimed at strengthening the strength of the axis of resistance, and providing Tehran's allies with advanced weapons capable of neutralizing Israeli military power." The Iranian strategic expert points out that "Iran's allies currently have great military power," but within a "short" period of time they will gain more power that will enable them to "wage fierce and destructive wars" against Israel, without "Iran's interference and exposure to losses."
On the other hand, Lafi stresses that "Israel is ready to confront any Iranian threat." If Iran thinks about threatening Israel through its agents, the Israeli response will threaten “Iranian national security,” and no matter how “Iranian military power is, it does not match the advanced qualitative Israeli capabilities,” according to the Israeli strategic and military expert. Israel "is not a weak state. It possesses qualitative weapons that rely on modern technology that no army in the world has, and has not yet been used. Any attack on Israeli territory would be a golden opportunity to test these weapons," Lafi said.
On Sunday, Khamenei's advisor, Yahya Rahim Safavi, warned that Israeli embassies "are no longer safe," prompting Israel to strengthen its defense measures and temporarily suspend the licenses of combat units after Iranian threats. Shawwardi points out that “all indirect Iranian responses to Israel are available,” especially after the destruction of the five-story consulate building in Syria, which is a “flagrant violation” of international agreements stipulating the inviolability of diplomatic buildings.
But Lavi asserts that “any threat to Israeli embassies” is an illegal terrorist act, and if this happens through “agents,” Israel will punish them. Israel ranks 14th among the most powerful armies on earth, while Iran ranks 17th in the world, according to the Global Firepower website . However, Israel is militarily advanced on several levels more than Iran, which has been exhausted by Western sanctions.
Following Khamenei’s statements, Israeli Foreign Minister Yisrael Katz said on Wednesday that Israel would respond to Iran within its territory if Tehran launched an attack from there. Katz wrote in Hebrew and Persian on the “X” platform: “If Iran launches an attack from its territory, Israel will respond and launch an attack inside Iranian territory.” Shawwardi points out that "a direct Iranian military response to Israel is one of the options that is likely to occur during the coming period."
The Iranian response may occur at “any moment,” and may continue for days, weeks, or perhaps more, through “advanced drones, missile force, and other methods such as cyber warfare and electronic confrontations,” according to the Iranian strategic expert. If Israel thinks about “targeting inside Iran, it will face a strong, direct, and multi-front temporary response, and if Israeli planes bomb any target on Iranian territory, “you will not find airports to land on in Israel,” according to Shawwardi.
But Lafi asserts that "the Israeli air defenses and interception systems that Israel possesses are among the most modern and powerful in the world and are a barrier against any attempts to target Israelis." Israel has several options to respond to any “direct or multi-front Iranian attacks,” and if anyone wants to provoke the Israeli army or exploit the state of war, the people will defend their country against any military action, according to Lavie.
Lavie stresses that Israel is “capable of destroying any force that threatens the security and safety of the Israeli people,” sending a message to Iran, saying: “Go ahead and you will see a response the likes of which you have never seen in your lives.”
Israel's Minister of Defense, Yoav Gallant, emphasized Israel's commitment to distinguishing between civilians and the Hamas terrorist organization in the ongoing conflict in Gaza. "Let me make it very clear – we are not fighting civilians, we are fighting the Hamas terrorist organization," Gallant stated, highlighting Hamas's use of the civilian population as cover for its operations. Gallant unveiled five major breakthroughs in the humanitarian campaign aimed at addressing the needs of the people in Gaza:
- Approval of the Ashdod Port: This initiative aims to increase the entry of goods into Gaza while streamlining security checks.
- Approval of the new Northern Crossing: The establishment of a new crossing will provide a direct route for aid to reach northern Gaza, relieving pressure on existing entry points.
- Boosting aid through Jordan: Collaboration with the Jordanian Armed Forces will facilitate the delivery of aid through two routes, totaling 150 trucks, laying the groundwork for future aid distribution hubs.
- Establishment of the Coordination and Deconfliction Cell: This initiative seeks to enhance cooperation with international organizations, implement lessons learned, and engage with new partners to facilitate aid delivery.
- Major Projects: Collaboration with the United States on Joint Logistics Over-the-Shore (JLOTS) operations, infrastructure projects led by COGAT (Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories), and engagement with new aid organizations.
"These breakthroughs will significantly impact the flow of aid, aiming to flood Gaza with humanitarian assistance," Gallant asserted, highlighting the plan to increase aid delivery to 500 trucks per day. The Coordinator for Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) has revealed a significant impediment to the transfer of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip, citing a backlog of approximately 600 trucks waiting on the Palestinian side of the Kerem Shalom Crossing. In a statement issued through its official channels, COGAT emphasized its efforts to facilitate aid deliveries, including extending crossing hours and increasing operational capacities.
As part of increasing coordination and cooperation on humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip, yesterday (Wednesday) the commander of the Southern Command, Major General Yaron Finkelman, and the coordinator of government operations in the territories, Major Rasan Aliyan, met with representatives of the international community from the UN agencies, the Red Cross, IMC, USAID and the American Humanitarian Coordinator The meeting was held together with the officers of the unit in the Southern Command. As part of the meeting, the commander of the Southern Command, Colonel Yaron Finkelman, presented the operational situation and the coordinator of the government's operations in the territories, Colonel Rasan Alian presented the IDF's humanitarian activities alongside the steps recently taken to increase the pace of aid transfers to the Strip. The IDF spokesman, Brigadier General Daniel Hagari, reveals to the foreign media the plan to expand humanitarian aid for the residents of the Gaza Strip:
The IDF fighters in the command of the Northern Brigade in the Gaza Division have been operating in recent days in a targeted activity in the Shejaiya area in the northern Gaza Strip, eliminating terrorists and destroying many terrorist infrastructures. In one of the activities, the fighters raided an outpost used by Hamas terrorists for training. After the troops raided the outpost, an Air Force aircraft attacked the outpost and destroyed it.
The combat team of the 401st Brigade, Nahal, and other units under the command of the 162nd Division began a targeted operation to eliminate terrorists and destroy terrorist infrastructures in the center of the Gaza Strip. Before the forces entered the area, fighter jets and aircraft of the Air Force in cooperation with the 215th Brigade attacked dozens of terrorist infrastructures above and below. to the ground in the center of the strip.
The joint activity of the maneuvering forces and the Air Force was carried out following precise intelligence guidance indicating the presence of terrorist infrastructures and many terrorists in the area. During the operation, the soldiers of the Nahal Brigade identified an armed terrorist who came out of a tunnel shaft near the forces and entered a military building. A fighter jet attacked the terrorist while he was moving towards the forces. Also, the fighters of the 401st Brigade located several launchers in the area through observations.
As part of the activity, the forces of the Sea Arm carried out several attacks towards the coastal area in the center of the Gaza Strip as assistance to the fighters operating in the area.
The Israeli army announced the start of a military operation in the central Gaza Strip, a few days after the withdrawal of most forces from the south of the Strip. The army revealed in a statement on Thursday that its forces had begun an operation “to eliminate terrorists and destroy terrorist infrastructure in the central Gaza Strip.” It pointed out that "before the forces entered the area, Air Force fighters and aircraft, in cooperation with the 215th Brigade, attacked dozens of infrastructure above and below ground in the central Gaza Strip." It also explained that "the joint activity of the maneuver forces and the air force was carried out, after precise intelligence directives indicating the presence of a terrorist infrastructure and a large number of terrorists in the region."
The Israeli Minister of Finance, Bezalel Smotrich, had stated earlier Thursday that we must “continue combating terrorism and deepen operations in Rafah, Deir al-Balah and Nuseirat,” saying that “part of this begins today (Thursday).” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that civilians will be evacuated from Rafah, before Israeli forces pursue the remaining Hamas members there.
Operational Update - Judea-Samaria
The IDF and Shin Bet eliminated the terrorist Nasser Ya'akov Jaber Nasser, who, as part of his activities in the military branch, was involved in the central financing of Hamas's military activities in Rafah and even transferred hundreds of thousands of dollars during the month of last December in favor of military activities. IDF Shin Bet and MGB fighters arrested six wanted men throughout Judea and Samaria. In Ezaria in the Etzion Brigade, the fighters arrested two wanted men and confiscated many weapons, including an M-16 rifle, a gun and other weapons. A wanted man was arrested in Kablan and Orif in Samaria and many weapons and incendiary materials were confiscated. Another wanted person was arrested in Kalandia in Benjamin and weapons and military equipment were confiscated. In Tulkarem and Bir a Basha in Menasha, a wanted person was arrested and suspects will be interrogated. Another wanted man was arrested in Hebron in Judea.
The wanted persons who were arrested and the means of warfare that were confiscated were transferred to the security forces for further treatment, there are no casualties to our forces. So far, since the beginning of the war, approximately 3,700 wanted persons have been arrested throughout the Judea and Samaria Division and the Bekaa and Emekim Division, approximately 1,600 of whom are associated with the terrorist organization Hamas.
Fighter jets attacked three Hizbollah military buildings in the areas of Mis al-Jabal, Yarin and al-Khyam, alongside another military observation of the organization in the area of Marviin in southern Lebanon. During the day, an artillery force fired to remove a threat in the Abu Shesh area. Air force fighter jets attacked a military building in the A-Dahira area in southern Lebanon, where a Hezbollah terrorist was staying. During the day, an armored force fired to remove a threat in the area of Tir Harfa.
Operational Update - Syria / Iraq
Within the framework of the general mobilization of the Yemeni armed forces during the holy battle, a symbolic unit of the Al-Wahbi Brigades, which has a military strength of 12 thousand fighters, conducted a symbolic sea and land maneuver, simulating the attack on the American and British enemy ships in the Red Sea. Major General Bakil Saleh al-Wahbi, commander of the al-Wahbi Brigades, said: “The words of the revolutionary and political leadership are as clear as day. The Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden are safe for all ships, except for the evil trio of America, Israel, and Britain, and everyone who helped, supported, or supported them. Our missiles and our drones will reach them until they stop their aggression against Gaza.” ".
The Yemeni Naval Forces are also at the forefront of the ranks and at the highest levels. As part of their Farahi program, in a number of their military sites, extending along the coast of the Red Sea , they receive a number of tribesmen who came to congratulate them on the holiday and congratulate them on the victories.
Colonel Ali Sabr, a commander in the naval forces, said: The American talk is about peace. There is an American who says if you want peace, take up arms, and for the sake of this peace we have taken up our weapons. Firstly, the weapon of faith, which is our strength in these fields. Secondly, all the weapons we can prepare. He can stop the American and the Israeli, and stop anyone who thinks of defeating this nation.
The American and British raids and the widespread military escalation played a major role in mobilization operations, raising combat morale, and the determination to confront the Americans and the Israelis directly this time.
Maps
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All maps are lies. “Not only is it easy to lie with maps, it is essential,” wrote cartographer Mark Monmoneir in his book How to Lie with Maps. He showed that condensing complex, three-dimensional spaces onto a two-dimensional sheet of paper [in old days] is bound to be reductive. But it is impossible to comprehend the war in Gaza without reference to maps, otherwise the entire conflict is reduced to an endless series of meaningless acts of random violence and the suffering of civilians. The first characteristic of guerrilla warfare is the loss of a front line. Evidently, different mappers have different ideas of how to depict the war in Gaza, notably those that seek to depict Israeli progress in the ground campaign. Part of the problem is latency. The news that forms the basis of the maps takes time to filter out to mappers, and the cartographers take time in crafting their maps, and it takes time to curate them. These processes are uneven among mappers, so their maps may differ in detail. Probably there is some ideological bias, or at least thematic apperception, which is understandable in wartime. It may come as no surprise that al-Jazeera maps depict rather less Israeli territorial progress than other sources. Finally, there remains the epistemological question of just exactly what are the colored in areas depicting. Naively, this might be understood as areas of Israeli control, that are no longer contested by the HAMAS. Or possibly these are areas of Israeli presence, in many of which the possibility of an RPG-wielding HAMAS militant popping out of a tunnel unexpectedly remains a live possibility. With the "zero-range" combat characterized by small unit tactics on both sides, maps may be prey to a fallacy of misplaced concreteness.
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Bystanders
The UN highlighted discrepancies in aid delivery methods. The UN claimed that Israel sends half-full trucks into Gaza, necessitating repacking upon arrival in the Strip. This ongoing disagreement over aid logistics has contributed to the current impasse in relief efforts. Addressing the humanitarian situation in Gaza, U.S. envoy David Satterfield underscored the pressing issue of limited truck availability within the Strip. Satterfield identified this scarcity as the primary obstacle hindering the effective delivery of humanitarian assistance throughout Gaza.
Axis of Resistance
Allied for Democracy
Elon Levy, until this week a senior member of the information headquarters and in fact Israel's face in the world, was interviewed 06 April 2024 by N12's "Olan Shishi", for the first time since he was suspended from his post - to which he has not returned. "After I heard here, at your place, the report about the intentions to oust me and no new message came after I was suspended, I decided that I would take the team of volunteers who have been working with me since the beginning of the war, and establish an independent advocacy initiative with the support of the Ministry of Diaspora and Donors," Levy said. This report did not knock me off my chair," Levy said. "They came to me here and there and said: 'You know there is dissatisfaction in the Prime Minister's office,' but it didn't come from an official place, so I didn't know how much importance and credibility to attach to it," he explained.
"The state of our information in a catastrophic world," Levy clarified. "Today we lost the United States, when the president puts pressure on the prime minister and blames him for not having a hostage deal. We have run out of credit. Even our biggest supporters, who say that in theory Israel has the right to fight Hamas, are looking at six months of war and tens of thousands of dead, and this It has already become more than a nuisance. We want the problem to disappear."
"I don't think the whole world was with us six months ago. If that were true, we would have seen a resolution in the UN Security Council. Relatively, perhaps for the first time in history, Britain said it wanted us to win the war. But six months have passed since then, a lot of destruction in Gaza, tens of thousands of dead and we are facing a well-oiled propaganda machine, that even if the State of Israel had set up the most amazing propaganda system in the world, it is still 'David against Goliath' in the world."
A few weeks after Elon Levy became a star of Israeli propaganda, it becomes clear to the Prime Minister's Office and his wife Sara Netanyahu how active Levy was in protests against the legal revolution. The photos of him participating in the demonstrations still appear on the Internet, he did not remove them from there even after he assumed the role of national explainer. A very heavy pressure mask begins on the members of the national information system to move Ilon Levy. In the first stage, the amount of his appearances was reduced, and that tweet in which he replied to the British Foreign Minister, is simply a glitch that was used to move him from his position.
"No one told me anything in the prime minister's office or in the information system, and the truth is that this report surprised me," Levy said in an interview. "When I heard this report about the Prime Minister's wife, it was after I had already been interviewed and talked about the demonstrations, and I said that there was an Israel before October 7 and there is an Israel after it."
Regarding the tweet that caused an uproar in front of Britain, and resulted in his suspension from the position to which he did not return, Levy said that "What I said was the truth. This was the view of Israeli policy, according to which there are no capacity limits at the crossings and that if they want to send more aid we will allow it to enter, I can accept Maybe the fact that there was a slight violation of the diplomatic protocol, because after all, a spokesperson is not supposed to reply on Twitter to the foreign minister." However, he emphasized that he had not seen the letter of complaint received against him from the British, and that he was not aware of the nature of the complaint against him.
Operation Iron Swords - By the Numbers
U.S. officials have voiced concerns that the majority of hostages held by Hamas might have have been killed, raising alarm bells over the ongoing negotiations for their release. According to a report from the Wall Street Journal, sourced from U.S. officials, there are growing fears that most of the Israeli hostages in Hamas captivity may already be dead. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have confirmed the deaths of 34 hostages still held by Hamas, citing intelligence gathered by troops operating in Gaza. The report highlights that some hostages may have been killed during Israeli strikes on Gaza, while others succumbed to health issues, including injuries sustained during their initial capture by Hamas terrorists.
- 1,900,000 IDPs in Gaza
- 76,094 Gazans injured, 28% adult male
- 70,000 tons of explosives dropped on Gaza
- 70,000 housing units completely destroyed
- 70,000 Israeli IDPs from Lebanon border
- 45,000 bombs dropped in Gaza
- 43,000 Gazans killed, including buried under rubble
- 33,000 Gaza targets attacked
- 33,5450 Gazans martyred
- 20,528 Palestinians in Israeli prisons [Haaretz, 20 Mar 2024]
- 15,140 Israelis injured [i24 TV]
- 15,000 rockets launched from Gaza
- 14,520 Gazan children martyred
- 13,000 HAMAS combatants killed [N12]
- 13,000 HAMAS combatants killed [IDF]
- 11,000 arrested by Israelis in the West Bank in 2023
- 10,000 Gazans missing under the rubble
- 9,920 Gazan women martyred
- 9,000 Palestinians in Israeli prisons
- 9,000 IDF needing psychological assistance
- 8,365 arrested by Israelis in the West Bank since Oct.7th
- 6,800 IDF officers and soldiers injured [Channel 12]
- 6,000 HAMAS combatants killed [HAMAS]
- 5,500 IDF wounded [reports]
- 4,750 West Bank Palestinians wounded
- 4,700 sites targetted in Lebanon
- 3,484 administrative detainees
- 3,700 wanted persons arrested throughout Judea and Samaria
- 3,188 IDF wounded [IDF]
- 2,100 Gazan women are missing
- 1,609 terrorists killed on the first day
- 1,600 wanted persons arrested throughout Judea and Samaria affiliated with Hamas
- 1,160 Israelis killed on the first day
- 604 Israeli officers and soldiers killed since the start of the war
- 456 West Bank Palestinians martyred
- 343 people [including fighters] killed in Lebanon
- 260 Israeli officers and soldiers killed in Gaza
- 222 Hezbollah fighters killed in Lebanon
- 126 people recovered, including 91 Israelis, 11 bodies, and 24 foreign workers
- 116 living hostages in Palestinian custody
- 50 civilians killed in Lebanon
- 29 IDF deaths were caused by "friendly fire"
- 15 Israelis killed in the West Bank and Israel
Not every number is reported every day, so sudden jumps generally reflect reporting artifacts rather than actual upticks. Many of these numbers fluctate, up and down, with no apparent explanation. This list records the highest number reliably reported for each matter, under the theory that reality with catch up with reports, as is relentlessly the case.
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