| DAILY ALERT |
Thursday, January 9, 2025 |
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News Resources - North America, Europe, and Asia:
Brig.-Gen. Behrouz Esbati, Iran's top ranking general in Syria, admitted on Dec. 31 that Iran had suffered a major defeat in Syria. In a speech at a mosque in Tehran that surfaced publicly on Monday in Iranian media, Esbati said, "I don't consider losing Syria something to be proud of. We were defeated, and defeated very badly, we took a very big blow and it's been very difficult." Esbati revealed that Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad had denied multiple requests for Iranian-backed militias to open a front against Israel from Syria after Oct. 7, 2023. Iran had presented Assad with comprehensive military plans on how it could use Iran's military resources in Syria to attack Israel, he said. Asked whether Iran planned to carry out a third round of direct strikes on Israel, he said that "the situation" couldn't realistically handle another attack on Israel right now. Asked why Iran would not fire missiles at U.S. military bases in the region, he said that would invite bigger retaliatory attacks on Iran by the U.S. (New York Times) U.S. Central Command forces conducted multiple precision strikes against two Houthi underground Advanced Conventional Weapon (ACW) storage facilities in Yemen on Wednesday. The Houthis used these facilities to conduct attacks against U.S. Navy warships and merchant vessels in the southern Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. (CENTCOM) The newly installed House of Representatives is set to vote Thursday to sanction the International Criminal Court (ICC) and its chief prosecutor, Karim Khan, over efforts to arrest Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) said Tuesday, "The House will not tolerate rogue actors who circumvent international law to attack Israel and threaten America." Both Israel and the U.S. do not recognize the ICC's jurisdiction. Rep. Brian Mast (R-Fla.), the new chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said, "Our bill sends a clear message to the International Criminal Court. We may not recognize you, but you sure as hell will recognize what happens when you target America or its allies." (Washington Free Beacon) The Israel Defense Forces released footage on Tuesday from the interrogation of one of the militants arrested at the Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza, saying it backed up Israel's allegations that Hamas and other armed groups deliberately embed themselves in hospitals in violation of international law. Anas Muhammad Faiz al-Sharif, 21, explains that he had been a member of Hamas's military wing since 2021. In the video, he says that operatives from Hamas, Islamic Jihad and other groups operated out of the hospital, using it for weapons transfers and distribution, patrols, and as an observation post because they considered it a safe haven that could not be directly targeted by the Israeli military. (New York Times) See also Captured Hamas Terrorist Describes How Hamas Uses Gaza Hospitals - Yoav Zitun The Hamas terrorist captured at the Kamal Adwan Hospital in Jabalya said, "I joined the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades in 2021, serving in the Nukhba Force. I was arrested at the Kamal Adwan Hospital, where medical staff was staying alongside operatives from Hamas, Islamic Jihad, the Al-Nassr Brigades and other organizations in northern Gaza. They were transferring equipment and weapons, like AK-47s, bullets and pistols. The weapons were brought to and from the hospital, in and out. Reconnaissance units and patrols would leave the hospital late at night." (Ynet News) See also Video: Hamas Terrorist Admits to Embedding in Kamal Adwan Hospital (Israel Defense Forces) Hamas said Tuesday that it will free its remaining hostages only if Israel agrees to end the war and withdraw all its troops from Gaza. Officials from Hamas and Israel have been holding talks with Qatari and Egyptian mediators. Israel says it will not end the war until Hamas is dismantled and all hostages are free. "Hamas is the only obstacle to the release of the hostages," said director general of Israel's Foreign Ministry Eden Bar Tal. (Reuters) With Assad's fall a month ago, the machinery of death that he ran is starting to come out into the open. In more than 100 detention facilities, torture, brutality, sexual violence and mass executions were rampant. Security agents spared no one, not even Assad's own soldiers. Young men and women were detained for simply living in districts where protests were held. Tens of thousands disappeared over more than a decade. (AP) In 2024, Israel's cybersecurity sector achieved significant growth, with over $4 billion invested across 89 funding rounds, in a year marked by regional conflict. This resilience reflects the strength of Israel's tech ecosystem, which included 50 new startups in 2024, and underscores its critical role in addressing the world's most pressing cybersecurity challenges. (Forbes) News Resources - Israel and the Mideast:
Three Israeli soldiers were killed Wednesday when a tank hit a booby-trapped pit in Beit Hanoun, northern Gaza. The fallen soldiers are Staff Sgt. Matityahu Ya'akov Perel, 22; Staff Sgt. Kenew Kasa, 22; and Staff Sgt. Nevo Fisher, 20. Another soldier sustained serious injuries. Since the war began, 830 Israeli soldiers have been killed and 5,589 soldiers have been injured, 822 seriously. (Ynet News) The IDF announced Wednesday it had recovered the body of Youssef Ziyadne, an Israeli Bedouin hostage abducted on Oct. 7, from an underground tunnel in Rafah in southern Gaza. Evidence was also found related to Youssef's son, Hamza Ziyadne, who was also abducted. Youssef and Hamza, from Rahat, were abducted from Kibbutz Holit, where they were working on Oct. 7, along with Youssef's children, Aisha and Bilal. The siblings were released after 55 days as part of a hostage exchange. (Ynet News) Sources told the Hizbullah-affiliated Al-Akhbar that U.S. envoy Amos Hochstein and U.S. Maj.-Gen. Jasper Jeffers, head of the international oversight committee monitoring the ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, agreed to Israel's proposal to retain control over three strategic hills, where military outposts will be established overlooking sectors in southern Lebanon. These positions will enable Israel to monitor vast areas south of the Litani River. The hills are uninhabited and devoid of structures. The outposts will allow the IDF to conduct raids into Lebanese territory if necessary. (Israel Hayom) The deputy commander of U.S. Central Command, Vice Admiral Brad Cooper, was in Israel last week and met with IDF deputy chief of staff Maj.-Gen. Amir Baram. They discussed shipments of critical weapons, improving readiness for a possible joint attack on Iran's nuclear facilities, and the threats from Yemen. (Ynet News) The IDF located and dismantled five Hizbullah weapons storage facilities in southern Lebanon, the military confirmed on Wednesday. The storage facilities, located in thicketed, mountainous terrain, contained over 200 mortar shells, landmines, and loaded rocket launchers. (Jerusalem Post) See also Israel: No IDF Withdrawal without Lebanese Army Action Against Hizbullah - Itamar Eichner Israeli officials affirmed Wednesday that the IDF would not withdraw from its positions in southern Lebanon unless the Lebanese Army fulfills its obligations under the ceasefire agreement. The accord requires Hizbullah's removal from south of the Litani River, a condition that remains unmet. The deal also prohibits the rebuilding of buildings previously used for terrorist activities. An Israeli official told the Security Cabinet that Christian-led units of the Lebanese Army take action, whereas those led by Shia commanders often cooperate with Hizbullah. The U.S. reliance on the Lebanese Army has proven less effective than anticipated. (Ynet News) The Israel Foreign Ministry uploaded a map to its Arabic-language social media account that showed the biblical boundaries of the Kingdoms of Israel and Judea, which extended into areas east of the Jordan River. The post begins: "Did you know that the Kingdom of Israel was established 3,000 years ago?" The map was featured in outlets across the Middle East, including Al-Arabiya and Al Jazeera, with the channels connecting it to alleged Israeli schemes to claim territory beyond its current borders. The speaker of the Jordanian Parliament, Ahmad al-Safadi, claimed that the maps "express a criminal mentality and malicious ambitions that cannot be ignored or tolerated." However, Luay al-Shareef, a peace activist from the Gulf, commented: "Sound words that are consistent with history, the Quran, the Bible, and archaeology. It is worth noting that millions of Muslims bear the name of the Israelite king and prophet David, son of Yishai, whose historical kingdom's denial poses a dilemma in the Islamic faith." (Jerusalem Post) Global Commentary and Think-Tank Analysis:
The Gaza War Hamas has managed to rebuild some of its military infrastructure, including the production of rockets. Hamas is producing hundreds of new rockets in tunnels that remain operational. By firing rockets, Hamas seeks to demonstrate its resilience and operational capability, underscoring that it remains a significant force even after enduring heavy losses. (Jerusalem Center for Security and Foreign Affairs) Hamas continues to pay its operatives regular salaries 15 months into the war, despite Israeli efforts to dismantle its governing infrastructure. Hamas operatives commandeer supply trucks carrying internationally-funded cargo, then resell essential supplies at premium prices to the local population. "The resale of international aid has become their dominant revenue stream," a senior security official said. "Hamas maintains its recruitment capabilities through aid-generated revenue." (Israel Hayom) See also U.S. Demands on Aid Preserve Hamas Control over Gaza - Nadav Shragai The main obstacle to defeating Hamas and meaningfully advancing a hostage deal remains the Biden administration's dictate to Israel to transfer humanitarian aid to Gaza in enormous quantities. This aid to the enemy during wartime reaches Hamas, which makes millions from reselling it. Most importantly, it preserves Hamas's civilian control over the Gaza population. The Biden administration, through threats of a weapons embargo and removal of diplomatic protection for Israel, forced it to channel aid to Gaza, and consequently continue maintaining Hamas's civilian authority. To defeat Hamas, the U.S. will need to grant Israel complete autonomy in handling this critical issue. (Israel Hayom) On Oct. 7, the "State of Gaza" launched a criminal war against the State of Israel. In wars between states, it is customary to exert economic pressure on the enemy state and even impose a siege on it. There is no obligation under international law to provide the enemy state with all its needs. Israel has no territorial or political interest in Gaza, but only a security interest, which means ensuring the complete demilitarization of Gaza for years. Any proposal that can convince us that Gaza will be demilitarized will be acceptable to us. A different strategy is needed that works against the enemy's weaknesses rather than against his strength. The writer is a former head of Israel's National Security Council. (Ynet News) The war in Gaza has gone on for more than fifteen months since the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. Hamas still holds 100 hostages captive in Gaza. Hamas continues to recruit and also controls a large swath of the area. "We are not yet at the point of defeating Hamas entirely," Brig.-Gen. (res.) Yossi Kuperwasser told ILTV in December 2024. In many urban areas, the IDF withdraws after weeks or months of combat. Although the fighting in Gaza is not as intensive as it was a year ago, the IDF is suffering casualties every week. Despite reports of a hostage deal taking shape, Hamas appears to be stalling. Leaving Hamas in control of Gaza would inevitably enable the group to reconstitute its threat to Israel. The writer is an adjunct fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies. (National Interest) Hizbullah The IDF reported on Dec. 31 that during the first month of the ceasefire in southern Lebanon, it eliminated 44 Hizbullah members, conducted 25 strikes in Lebanon, and identified 120 violations of the agreement by Hizbullah. Hizbullah is provocative, attempting to rehabilitate and strengthen itself in order to prepare the ground for continued "resistance." Hizbullah hasn't lost its ability to fight. It still has tens of thousands of fighters in its regular and reserve forces, waiting for orders. Unlike in 2006, Israel is now determined to enforce the upgraded UN Resolution 1701 and not rely on any other entity to do the work for it. The writer is an expert on the Arab world in the Department of Middle Eastern Studies at Bar-Ilan University. (Israel Hayom) The Houthis According to American intelligence sources, the Houthis in Yemen are using Chinese-made weapons in their attacks on Red Sea shipping, in exchange for immunity for ships flying the Chinese flag. China is providing the Houthis with advanced components and guidance equipment for their ballistic and cruise missiles. In addition, Houthi leaders are reportedly planning to manufacture hundreds of cruise missiles capable of striking Persian Gulf states, using these same Chinese components. Washington has repeatedly passed on this information to Beijing since September, including detailed lists of the Chinese companies involved. In the face of Beijing's inaction, the U.S. now threatens to act jointly with Israel to cut off these Chinese trade networks from the global financial system. (i24News) The IDF Intelligence Directorate has recruited dozens of Yemeni Israeli Jews fluent in the Yemeni Arabic dialect to support its operations against the Houthis in Yemen, Israel's Channel 11 reported on Wednesday. The recruits include both recent immigrants from Yemen and individuals raised in Arabic-speaking households with Yemeni roots. They will assist the IDF in intelligence gathering and provide critical insights into Yemen's language and culture. Channel 11 reported on Friday that the U.S. has informed Israel that President Biden has approved escalating U.S. attacks on Yemen's Houthis and striking more missile-related targets. (Jerusalem Post) Danny Danon, Israel's ambassador to the UN, told Ynet: "There is no reason for the attacks from Yemen against Israel. We have no border with Yemen. We have no disputes with Yemen, and still they are sending ballistic missiles. Even my own school in my own hometown was destroyed completely from a ballistic missile coming from Yemen....It's not only our responsibility to fight this radical organization. We expect other countries to take part in this fight....The UAVs, the technology, you understand it's all made in Iran. It's all funded by Iran." "At the UN, they always speak with me about the humanitarian aspects of the Palestinians in Gaza. What about our humanitarian rights? What about the hostages?...We will remind the world that we are in Gaza not because we want to be there. We are in Gaza because we have no choice. We will do whatever we have to do to bring all of the hostages back to Israel." (Ynet News) Israeli Security Former Head of the Mossad Intelligence Directorate, Zohar Palti, said in a recent interview: Iran still does not have nuclear weapons, which means someone is doing something right. What the Israeli Air Force and CENTCOM accomplished during the Iranian attack in April was incredible. When the U.S. understood that an Iranian attack was imminent, the Americans called all the Middle East leaders and told them, "Friends, listen - starting in two hours, there will be no civilian flights in the entire Middle East." Then, no "good guys" were in the air, only "bad guys." This made it much easier to identify targets. The double-edged sword of the Iranians' use of their Ground to Ground Missiles (GGM) is that they "forced us" to attack in Iran. Now, this psychological barrier no longer exists. We have already done it twice. We don't know if the Americans will commit to this, but even on a bad day, the Americans know how to dismantle the Iranian nuclear threat in eight hours. The Americans have capabilities that no other power in the world possesses in this regard. They just need to make the right decision. In the early 2000s, what we call the "axis of evil" began to form. But there is no longer such an axis. Assad has fallen, Hizbullah is not in the same state as last year, and Iran has wasted many of its GGMs. And it lost some important defense systems lately. Iran spent tens of billions of dollars over 40 years to build up Hizbullah as a force that essentially disappeared within six weeks. (X) Israel needs to boost military spending to strengthen its offensive capabilities, a government commission warned on Monday. The commission, headed by former Israeli national security adviser Prof. Jacob Nagel, on Monday recommended increasing military spending over the next decade to prepare for continued fighting on multiple fronts. Israel's military must reorient itself toward an attack posture, which would mark a shift away from its longtime reliance on deterrence before 2023. The commission said Israel must be ready to launch pre-emptive and preventive attacks, and even initiate war. "Preventing enemy buildup, in all its forms, is more important than extended quiet. Israel's response to attempts to harm it must be as disproportionate as possible and must be continuously maintained." (Wall Street Journal) Antisemitism On Jan. 6, 2025, the Knesset caucus for combating antisemitism and delegitimization, chaired by MK Ariel Kellner, convened in collaboration with the Jerusalem Center for Security and Foreign Affairs (JCFA) to discuss the challenges facing the nation in light of the alarming rise in global antisemitism and Israel's strategic battles on seven fronts. JCFA experts emphasized that "a comprehensive strategy to address antisemitism is needed as part of the lessons from October 7, 2023, alongside strengthening cooperation with the United States." Kellner stressed: "This morning's horrific attack in Samaria reminds us that the war for our existence on all fronts is still ongoing. We must establish a national vision for the Middle East and U.S.-Israel relations, rooted in political realism rather than utopian ideas like Oslo." Dr. Dan Diker, President of the JCFA, explained that Israel has become a leading force in the Middle East, particularly after recent operational successes against Hamas and the Hizbullah leadership. However, he warned that Israel is currently facing an "eighth front" - international legal, political, media, and social terrorism, including threats from hostile elements in the U.S. and Europe. (Jerusalem Center for Security and Foreign Affairs) See also Israeli Lawmakers, Experts Urge "Political Realism" for Middle East (JNS) Observations: Can You Cancel a Country? - Prof. Russ Roberts (Substack)
The writer, President of Shalem College in Jerusalem, is a Fellow at Stanford University's Hoover Institution. |
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