IMRA Middle East News Updates

Biden to Hezbollah’s Rescue - Terrorists Now Safe In Beirut

Sun, 13 Oct 2024 15:55:43 -0400

Biden to Hezbollah’s Rescue - Terrorists Now Safe In Beirut
[Translation of the following report]
13 October 2924 21:42 Itamar Eichner YNET
https://www.ynet.co.il/news/article/rj99xqt1kl

The suspension of operations in Beirut – due to a request from the political echelon, following Biden’s request

The Air Force has not attacked in Beirut for three days, due to a request from the political echelon.

This followed a conversation that took place on Wednesday between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. President Joe Biden, during which Biden asked to limit operations in the area.

The last operation in Beirut’s southern suburb occurred in the center, where, according to reports and senior officials of the Israeli Defense Forces, a senior Hezbollah operative, who was considered the right-hand man of Hassan Nasrallah, was eliminated in the operation.
_______________________________________
IMRA - Independent Media Review and Analysis

Since 1992 providing news and analysis on the Middle East with a focus on Arab-Israeli relations

Website: www.imra.org.il

Israel's New Conditions for Agreement: Israeli Intelligence and fire control throughout Lebanon and ground operations as required

Sun, 13 Oct 2024 15:03:14 -0400

Israel's New Conditions for Agreement: Israeli Intelligence and fire control
throughout Lebanon and ground operations as required
Dr. Aaron Lerner 13 October 2024

Nir Dvori Channel 12 reports that the Israeli security authorities have
developed Israel's new conditions for an agreement

1. Full implementation of UN Resolution 1701, including the disarmament of
armed militias in Lebanon.

2. International supervision, with a focus on the Syrian-Lebanese border, to
prevent arming.

3. Israeli intelligence and fire control throughout Lebanon, with an
emphasis on the Syrian-Lebanese border as well as southern villages.

4. Israeli access to carry out ground operations as required.
________________________________________
IMRA - Independent Media Review and Analysis

Since 1992 providing news and analysis on the Middle East with a focus on
Arab-Israeli relations

Website: www.imra.org.il

Will THAAD deployment make Israel complacent?

Sun, 13 Oct 2024 02:58:43 -0400

Will THAAD deployment make Israel complacent?
Dr. Aaron Lerner 13 October 2024

With the deployment of the American operated THAAD (Terminal High Altitude
Area Defense) systems in Israel, I am reminded of the warning I published on
January 27, 2008 about Iron Dome
https://www.imra.org.il/story.php?id=37890

Dr. Aaron Lerner - IMRA: There are two fundamentally different visions of
the purpose of a rocket defense umbrella:

Concept #1: The enemy can be essentially allowed to fire rockets 24/7 at
Israeli targets because they are intercepted.

Concept #2: The IDF can carry out operations against the enemy with the
enemy's ability to retaliate against Israel's civilian population
dramatically limited.

In the first case, life is still pretty miserable for Israelis with rockets
blowing up all the time and the enemy taking advantage of the Israeli
avoidance of ground activity to develop answers to the Israeli equipment
(e.g. shoot enough rockets at the same time that are aimed well enough that
most of them will in fact land inside a populated area so that the Israeli
umbrella temporarily runs out of supplies).

I fear that the THAAD provides us with two similar options regarding Iran:

#1. Sit back because we have an upgraded multi-layered shield to protect us
from Iranian attacks.

#2. Attack Iran because we have an upgraded multi-layered shield to protect
us from Iranian counterattacks.

====
Release
Immediate Release
Statement by Pentagon Press Secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder on the Deployment of a THAAD Battery to Israel
Oct. 13, 2024
https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/3934493/statement-by-pentagon-press-secretary-maj-gen-pat-ryder-on-the-deployment-of-a/

At the direction of the President, Secretary Austin authorized the deployment of a Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) battery and associated crew of U.S. military personnel to Israel to help bolster Israel's air defenses following Iran's unprecedented attacks against Israel on April 13 and again on October 1. The THAAD Battery will augment Israel's integrated air defense system. This action underscores the United States' ironclad commitment to the defense of Israel, and to defend Americans in Israel, from any further ballistic missile attacks by Iran. It is part of the broader adjustments the U.S. military has made in recent months, to support the defense of Israel and protect Americans from attacks by Iran and Iranian-aligned militias.

This is not the first time the United States has deployed a THAAD battery to the region. The President directed the military to deploy a THAAD battery to the Middle East last year following the October 7th attacks to defend American troops and interests in the region. The United States previously deployed a THAAD battery to Israel in 2019 for training and an integrated air defense exercise.

________________________________________
IMRA - Independent Media Review and Analysis

Since 1992 providing news and analysis on the Middle East with a focus on
Arab-Israeli relations

Website: www.imra.org.il

Eizenkot still clueless - proud wanted to destroy Dahiya targets instead of rockets threatening Tel Aviv

Sat, 12 Oct 2024 15:07:07 -0400

Eizenkot still clueless - proud wanted to destroy Dahiya targets instead of rockets threatening Tel Aviv
Dr. Aaron Lerner 12 October 2024

“A month before the Second Lebanon War, I was then the head of the [IDF] Operations Directorate… and I requested approval… that if war breaks out… to take all of Hezbollah’s targets in Dahiya and wipe them out.”
Gadi Eizenkot interviewed by Hagai Segal Makor Rishon 11 October 2024

Amir Paretz, the Minister of Defense at the start of the Second Lebanon War, insisted that the first IAF Operation of the war be to destroy Hezbollah's long-range missiles which threatened Tel Aviv despite the strong recommendation of the military that the first operation focus on striking other targets. This decision has been recognized as one of the critical good decisions of the war.

If you understand Hebrew I urged you to listen to Peretz relay what happened in his own words in this audio from 15 September 2013:
http://youtu.be/SM_LMb10qsQ

That Eizenkot remains apparently clueless that Peretz was right he and the other brass were dangerously wrong speaks volumes.

________________________________________
IMRA - Independent Media Review and Analysis

Since 1992 providing news and analysis on the Middle East with a focus on Arab-Israeli relations

Website: www.imra.org.il

The Economist Claims Ok To Mention 2020 Beirut Port Explosion Without Noting Hezbollah Responsible

Fri, 11 Oct 2024 08:38:30 -0400

The Economist Claims Ok To Mention 2020 Beirut Port Explosion Without Noting Hezbollah Responsible
From: Dr. Aaron Lerner
Sent: Tuesday, October 8, 2024 1:37 PM
To: podcasts@economist.com
Subject: The Intelligence on Elias Khoury mentions the destruction of Beirut port as if by Israel rather than Hezbollah

Greetings,

I appreciate that a day after the 7th of October The Economist is bending over backwards to put out material of a certain, shall-we-say, “orientation”.

But the item on Elias Khoury mentioned the huge August 4 2020 explosion at the port of Beirut with the implication that Israel was behind it when the truth is that Hezbollah recklessly stored close to three thousand tons of ammonium nitrate without proper safety measures and after many years it exploded. Israel had nothing to do with this.

I don’t expect the Economist to spend a microsecond discussing the morality of Gazans who opted to sacrifice themselves along with their families, as human shields for Hamas rather than heeding instructions to evacuate to safety.

But to imply that Israel is responsible for the screw up of Hezbollah?

Best regards,
Dr. Aaron Lerner – Raanana
(I subscribe to the podcasts and listen to basically all of them the moment that they are available!)

From: Chris Impey
Sent: Friday, October 11, 2024 12:19 PM
To: imra@netvision.net.il
Subject: Elias Khoury obituary

Dear Dr Lerner,

Thank you very much for emailing us about our obituary of Elias Khoury. The section you refer to in the piece was as follows:

"The refugee camps were all there, and Beirut itself had suffered terribly from a number of tragedies. First of all, the Civil War, which lasted for 15 years. Then the Israeli bombing of 1982. And then in 2020 a huge explosion in the port which devastated a large part of the city."

There was no intention to imply that the explosion had anything to do with Israel. The mention of Israel in the sentence specifically refers to the events of 1982. We fully acknowledge that the explosion was caused by 2,750 tonnes of ammonium nitrate stored improperly for years at the port.

I hope that answers your query. I am personally very pleased that you are such a keen consumer of Economist podcasts.

Best wishes,

Chris

--
Chris Impey
Co-editor, The Intelligence podcast – The Economist

________________________________________
IMRA - Independent Media Review and Analysis

Since 1992 providing news and analysis on the Middle East with a focus =
on Arab-Israeli relations

Website: www.imra.org.il

Scoop: The Air Force Eliminated Hassan Nasrallah with Israeli Munitions - 83 Israeli Bombs

Fri, 11 Oct 2024 07:23:38 -0400

Scoop: The Air Force Eliminated Hassan Nasrallah with Israeli Munitions - 83
Israeli Bombs

"Israel Hayom" has learned that during Operation "New Order," local
ammunition was used to strike Hezbollah's Secretary-General. The action
demonstrated Israel's manufacturing capabilities, especially in light of the
slowdown in arms shipments from its allies.

By Shirit Avitan Cohen Israel Hayom

08:10, 11/10/2024 Updated 21:44, 10/10/2024
https://www.israelhayom.co.il/news/defense/article/16597565

[IMRA translation]

The elimination of Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah on September
27 reveals surprising new details, as reported to "Israel Hayom."

During the strike, Israeli Air Force planes used Israeli 83 bombs, each
weighing one ton. These bombs were manufactured by Israel's defense
industries.

The assassination operation, dubbed "New Order," was the pinnacle of
Israel's recent offensive actions against Hezbollah in recent weeks. Israel
carried out the operation using "blue ammunition," showcasing the
capabilities of local Israeli weapons manufacturing.

This was a strategic move, especially considering the threats of a French
arms embargo and the fact that the U.S. had delayed overseas shipments. It
was a definitive demonstration of Israel's defense industry, working hard to
stockpile ammunition during what has become the longest war in the nation's
history.

The airstrike by Israeli fighter jets hit Hezbollah's main command
headquarters, located under a residential building in the Dahiya area of
Beirut. At the time of the strike, Hezbollah's leadership was inside the
command center, coordinating terror activities against Israeli civilians.

83 bombs, weighing a ton each, left no doubt about the fate of Nasrallah,
who had become one of Israel's fiercest enemies over his 32 years as the
leader of Hezbollah. He was responsible for the murder of many Israeli
civilians and soldiers and the planning and execution of thousands of terror
attacks against Israel and around the world.

It is noteworthy that Israel did not share information about the operation
with the Americans this time to prevent the White House from blocking the
assassination out of fear of escalating tensions. This decision was made
following the precedent set during Israel's previous entry into Lebanon,
when the plans and timing of the operation were leaked to American media.

In recent weeks, repeated reports have surfaced regarding dissatisfaction
with Israel's "independence." The assassination, as mentioned, highlighted
Israel's manufacturing capabilities, which quickly came to light just weeks
after October 7.

Despite Israeli self-reliance, a significant portion of Israel's ammunition
- such as artillery shells, bombs, and defense system munitions - still
comes from the U.S.

According to information obtained by "Israel Hayom," Israel's munitions
factories have opened new production lines and are operating seven days a
week to meet the military's demands for the ongoing war on multiple fronts,
as well as the constraints posed by international diplomatic tensions.

The acceleration of production activities occurred simultaneously across
various sectors, requiring more workers, additional production lines, and
24/7 operations. This effort was aligned with the expansion of arms deals
with European countries, where trade had previously been conducted at much
lower volumes. These countries, facing global shortages of military
equipment, have also increased their arms acquisitions from Israel in
response to developments in the Middle East and Eastern Europe.

_______________________________________
IMRA - Independent Media Review and Analysis

Since 1992 providing news and analysis on the Middle East with a focus on
Arab-Israeli relations

Website: www.imra.org.il