Economy –
The U.S. government posted a $1.695 trillion budget deficit in fiscal 2023, a 23% jump from the prior year, as revenues fell and outlays for Social Security, Medicare and interest costs on the federal debt rose significantly.
OBSERVATION - A 23% JUMP! Massive effort to crash the country before the 2024 election and to facility the ‘great reset’.
CW2 / Domestic violence -
Hakeem Jeffries just called Jim Jordan a “clear and present danger to the American people” before offering his support for Patrick McHenry and others.
OBSERVATION - The left continues with inflammatory rhetoric.
***
FBI Portland told local media it is investigating a threat of violence related to the war between Hamas & Israel. They’re concerned about people preparing for violence. Many Muslims & leftists have celebrated the terrorism, some urging for violence here.
OBSERVATION - Cross reference with Terrorism. Of all places, Portland would be ground zero for such violence getting started, given the dominance that Antifa has there.
Terrorism -
I see threats still elevated for lone wolf style attacks with an increased chance of sleeper cell activation once the Gaza ground war phase gets started.
See also CW2 threats in the Portland area for related terror potential.
Military / Strategic Activity / Deployments –
The Ronald Reagan Carrier Strike Group (CSG) conducted drills with a Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) frigate in the East China Sea from earlier this week.
POLITICAL FRONT –
Obama was reportedly ‘at the emergency response scene’ after his chef Tafari Campbell drowned near his residence.
According to Judicial Watch, records obtained from the Massachusetts State Police ‘indicate’ that Obama was present for a witness interview.
“[The records] indicate Barack Obama arrived at the emergency response scene via motorcade. A short time later, a cold, wet woman, who was a witness, arrived. The next morning, the eyewitness was interviewed in the Obama residence, again with Barack Obama present,” JudicialWatch revealed.
OBSERVATION - this has generated new speculation that Campbell was killed and not from an accident.
***
Rep Jordan was removed by the republican caucus in a closed door / secret session following his failure to be elected on the third try. Stuck up RINO prigs gave the deep state a victory, but the crisis isn’t over. However, the self righteous RINOS trotted off to a free weekend, with the next attempt to select a new speaker currently scheduled for Monday NIGHT!.
RUMORS have it that the 20 RINOS have an affiliation with FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried and voter mule donations.
Early favorite to replace Jordan is FL Rep Donalds
Biden / Harris Watch –
With all hell breaking out around the world - biden headed to his beach house for the weekend.
***
The noose is closing - House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer, R-Ky., says the panel has obtained bank records showing James and Sara Biden paid Joe Biden $200,000 in the form of a personal check in March, 2018, claiming the document shows proof of the Biden family’s influence-peddling scheme.
Illegal Immigration –
Biden’s deputies are asking Congress for $14 billion extra to help bus illegal migrants up to the U.S. border and onward into hotels in many cities and towns around the nation.
The request is being touted as “border security” even though very few funds would be used to exclude economic migrants. Much of the requested money would be used to help more job-seeking migrants reach the U.S. border, register and release them, and then bus them to hotels, job training, and American workplaces around the United States.
OBSERVATION - this is wrapped up in the emergency funding package for Ukraine and Israel. With unemployment of citizens and these illegals allegedly willing to work for subpar wages, pressures are going to build fast. Add to it that these ‘wages’ are going to require massive social welfare to house and feed these illegals who are essentially being given a ‘green card’. Trump only wanted 8 billion to finish the fence.
Russia -
WAR WATCH - into the second year of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine - Feb 24th, 2022
CURRENT ASSESSMENT - Updated Sept 27, 2023
Russia is on a defensive footing across most of Ukraine, relying on Russian doctrinal defense in depth to blunt the Ukrainian offensive. However, Russian forces continue increasingly stretched and undermanned, with increasingly insufficient artillery support.
Ukrainian action has forced Russia to move forces laterally to meet the Ukraine advance - thinning critical portions of the line and making them vulnerable to assault.
Russia’s strategic ballistic and cruise missiles continue to show evidence of massively reduced inventories. Recent attacks indicate the Russia has started to produce its own Shahed drones with Iranian assistance. Russia capable of continued, though limited, attacks in this arena. The majority of Russian strikes are with these Iranian drones. Major targets are grain shipping facilities in the Odesa region as well as trying to hit logistical targets across the rest of the country.
Supplemental cruise missile attacks using old models will be occasionally used to supplement the drones.
The Russian Black Sea fleet is increasingly hesitant to deploy into now contested waters. Ukraine’s mixture of seaborne and airborne drones and anti-ship missiles beginning to render areas more or less off limits to Russia. The fleet is reportedly in the process of redeploying out of Crimea and moving east to Russian bases, about 600 Km further away from the front lines.
Russia is capable of launching small scale attacks in various sectors of company and small sized elements, but any large scale offensive action in the face of the heavy demands from defending against the Ukrainian offensive are essentially nil.
*****
Logistics –
Russia reached a mile stone in the Ukraine war, having now lost more than 5000 tanks in the fight.
Ukraine –
WEATHER FORECAST – Temperatures varying between the 50s and 60s with rain in the forecast for starting 25th of October.
24 HOUR ROUND UP –
Russians continue to mindlessly push against the Avdiivka. The burnt out predecessor waves of Russian armored vehicles are literally clogging the pathways so that following vehicles have to push their way through only to get obliterated themselves.
Continued on the Tokmok and Bakhmut fronts. No significant gains for either side.
OUTLOOK -
Rain is fast becoming the critical factor for the war. Both sides will trying to establish positions of tactical superiority before the ground turns to a quagmire. It will be several months before temperatures are cold enough to freeze the ground and allow greater use of armor/tanks off road.
Onset of winter means Russia’s deep game will again focus on Ukraine’s energy grid. Ukraine will focus on Russia’s logistics to make the troops in the trench miserable, under armed and sick.
Of note - Russia has slowed down the drone/missile attacks lately. Perhaps trying to conserve capability to saturate Ukranian air defenses to successfully reach power grid nodes.
ISRAEL –
Key overnight developments -
Two American hostages were released from Gaza.
“In response to Qatari efforts, we released two American detainees (a mother and her daughter) for humanitarian reasons, and to prove to the American people and the world that the allegations of Biden and his fascist administration are false allegations that have no basis in truth.”
According to Israeli Officials, the 2 Americans released by Hamas are 59 y/o Yehudit Ra’anan and her 18 y/o Daughter, Nathalie Shathogug who are both from Chicago, Illinois. They were reportedly visiting their mother/grandmother. No word if the Hamas terrorists killed her or not.
Bloomberg reports that the US and European governments are pressuring Israel to delay the ground operation in Gaza to give more time for secret talks mediated by Qatar regarding additional hostage releases.
NOTE - This has been a common delay tactic used by Hamas over the years. I don’t think it is going to work this time.
Also, Qatar is known for harboring Hamas leaders who live in luxury in the capitol of Doha.
Palestinian terrorists in Gaza continued to rain down rockets on Israel’s south and the Israeli Air Force pounded Hamas targets in the Strip on Friday night
It is Sabbath in Israel, leading some to speculate that tomorrow is ‘D’ day for the ground assault.
GENERAL ——————————-
20 trucks carrying food, water, medicine and fuel - have been allowed through the Rafah border crossing from Egypt.
Over 1,400 Israelis (306 soldiers) have been killed, and over 4,600 have been injured.
Nearly 7,000 Rockets have been fired by Hamas toward Southern and Central Israel from Gaza (450+ failed launches inside Gaza), with Lebanon and Syria also firing from the north.
Israel has struck over 2,600 Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip and killed over 1,000 terrorists.
***
The Israeli Minister of Defense, Yoav Gallant announced the plan for a 3-Phased War against Hamas in the Gaza Strip during a Meeting today consisting of Members of the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee:
(Current) Phase 1: A Military Campaign by Fire and later by Tactical Ground Maneuver, the Goal of which will be to Assassinate Operatives and Damage Infrastructure in order to Destroy the Hamas Organization in the Gaza Strip.
Phase 2: Continued Fighting at a Lower Intensity throughout the Gaza Strip and Beyond.
Phase 3: The eventual Creation of a New Security Regime in the Gaza Strip and the Removal of Israel’s Responsibility for Life and Security in the Strip as well as the Creation of a New Safe Reality for the Citizens of Israel.
***
The USS Carney shot down 15 drones and four cruise missiles on Thursday in the span of 9 hours, a U.S. defense official tells Fox News. The Defense Department initially said the warship had taken down ‘several’ drones and three land attack cruise missiles before these full details were released .
GAZA FRONT ———————————-
Terrorists continued to attack and threaten Israel with further rocket attacks overnight. The IDF conducted further discreet ground Ops into Gaza mostly CTR and HVT targeting, whilst the main ground forces continue to prepare for wider offensive Ops.
Total internet outage in northern Gaza, obvious precursor to the start of ground ops.
Reportedly 700,000 gazans have left N. Gaza.
LEBANON / HEZBOLLAH——————————-
Hezbollah continued its attacks on Mount Dov trying to take out Israeli early warning radars using ATGMs and rockets. Israel takes out launching sites.
WEST BANK——————————-
Israeli forces took over the house of Hamas deputy Saleh Al-Arouri (who is abroad) near Ramallah and hung up a banner that reads: “This used to be the home of Saleh Al-Arouri. It is now the headquarters of Abu Nimr - Israeli intelligence.”
INTERNATIONAL ——————————-
Clashes in Berlin between pro-Hamas immigrants and German police. Large pro-Hamas protests in other cities around the world.
FORECAST ————————-
Bottom Line Up Front (BLUF) - Getting old already, but the ground assault is still imminent. N Gaza is largely cleared of non-combatants, Israel has its forces poised on the borders and has reportedly gotten the green light.
Hamas propaganda blitz continues with willing global media parroting the claims and cries of hamas. Virtually no reporting on the remaining hostages - a war crime in itself - or the brutal terror attack that started this whole round of violence. Even efforts to double down on the claim that Israel bombed the Gaza hospital - in spite of all the evidence to the contrary - it is one narrative they do not want to let go of.
Iran –
According to Pentagon official and congressional sources, the Iranian approach increases the risk of miscalculation and the outbreak of an unintended regional conflict.
According to a US intelligence assessment, Iran does not currently seek a direct conflict with the United States, BUT that it is ‘looking to ratchet up pressure’ through its proxies.
OBSERVATION - A very dangerous game. Poke the bear too many times and bad things might happen. One factor in Iran’s favor is the mentally challenged US president in the WH. The other factor is that they may engage/be engaged by Israel, which will most likely cause a US attack.
Iraq -
Ain Al-Assad Airbase, Iraq was reportedly targeted in the last hour, unclear if rocket or drone attack at this time.
Lebanon -
See Israel above.
CW2 / Domestic violence -
Detroit synagogue president Samantha Woll was found murdered outside of her home. Woll was a prominent figure in the Jewish community and worked to build bridges between Jews and Muslims.
She also previously worked for Democrat congresswoman Elissa Slotkin and was on the re-election campaign for Democrat Attorney General Dana Nessel. She resided in pro-Hamas congresswoman Rashida Tlaib’s district.
OBSERVATION - Possibly anti-Israel terror related, but also, this is Detroit. Tlaib has been on a rage of anti-Israeli rhetoric over the past week and this may have triggered the murder.
***
Pro-Hamas protestors clashed with police in NYC overnight, as the number of protests grew across the country as the weekend came upon us.
OBSERVATION - Most violence occurred after dark - common timing, especially if Antifa / BLM are involved as it helps mask their identities and enables actions. However, most damage was fires set in streets.
Continued heightened concern and awareness as the action in Gaza will shift to a ground phase.
Terrorism -
The Department of Homeland Security announced it has put an asylum official on leave after it was reported she formerly worked for the terror-backed Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and had been seen posting virulent anti-Israel posts on social media.
Nejwa Ali, who had been hired in 2019 and was working at the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services as an asylum officer, had worked for the PLO in 2016 and 2017 prior to being hired by DHS, according to the New York Post.
Ali was reportedly a public affairs officer for the PLO’s delegation to the U.S.A. and, according to her Linkdin profile, in Jan. she was handed an even higher position with DHS and was working as an adjudication officer, a position in which she was responsible for vetting people before they enter the U.S.
But Ali’s social media accounts have revealed a deep animus for Israel and Jews and are filled with hateful rhetoric which has been steadily mounting over the last month. And on Wednesday, DHS spokesman Matthew Burke said Ali had been placed on administrative leave pending an investigation.
OBSERVATION - More details on this mole that the regimen knowingly hired to this sensitive position. She’s still be there if it weren’t for the break out of war in Gaza/Israel. Who knows how many terrorists she facilitated placement here.
Military / Strategic Activity / Deployments –
U.S. Secretary of Defense Austin has put out a press release, saying he has activated the deployment of a THAAD battery as well as additional Patriot battalions to the Middle East region to “increase force protection for U.S. forces”.
He also says he has placed an additional number of forces on “prepare to deploy” orders “to increase their readiness and ability to quickly respond as required.”
OBSERVATION - These forces appear to be in addition to the standing rapid deployment forces of the 82d and 101st divisions. I suspect these ‘alerted’ units are heavier mech/armor division elements. Further - no stated location for these THAAD and related to be stationed. US ‘allies’ in the region are not on best terms now with US due to our support of Israel and deployment to Israel will be seen as a big provocation by arabs.
Wuhan and other “new” Plandemics –
To obtain emergency use authorization (EUA) for its COVID-19 vaccine, Pfizer and BioNTech submitted a data package in 2020 to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) so the agency could evaluate the safety and efficacy of its vaccine. A recently published peer-reviewed study by the DailyClout Pfizer/BioNTech Documents Investigations Team suggests Pfizer excluded known deaths in the vaccine arm of its clinical trial from its data filing and withheld information from the agency that could have resulted in a denial of EUA. Delayed reporting of the subject deaths into the Case Report Forms (CRFs) obscured the cardiac adverse event signal and allowed Pfizer/BioNTech’s request for EUA to proceed unchallenged, according to the study.
As reported by The Epoch Times prior to the study’s publication in the International Journal of Vaccine Theory, Practice, and Research, a group of researchers conducted a forensic analysis of Pfizer/BioNTech’s early COVID-19 vaccine trial data and found significant inconsistencies between data in the companies’ six-month interim report and publications authored by Pfizer/BioNTech trial site administrators.
The forensic analysis showed trial subjects vaccinated with Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine experienced a 3.7 times increase in cardiovascular deaths compared to placebo controls and that this “significant adverse event signal” was not disclosed by Pfizer when the FDA was evaluating its vaccine for emergency use. Additionally, researchers identified numerous instances where Pfizer/BioNTech attributed potential vaccine-associated deaths to other causes and undermined vaccine safety data.
OBSERVATION - Documentation of fraud by Pfizer and Moderna will strip the lawsuit protections the EUA gives them. This is another peace of the evidence demonstrating such fraud.
POLITICAL FRONT –
Tom Emmer told members of the House Republican Conference that he will seek nomination for speaker. Emmer will likely gain several Democrat votes. The Minnesota RINO was formerly a paid spokesman for the George Soros funded organization The National Popular Vote initiative. Emmer has also slithered to the top of the group vying for the nomination to speakership.
OBSERVATION - The house republicans are willing to commit hari-kari with a Soros minion. What little hope of any impeachment action, as well as other oversight into the massive fraud and crime of the biden clan will be gone.
****
Joe Biden’s summer beach house in Rehoboth, Delaware, where he has spent much of presidency on vacation, may have been paid for with Chinese bribe money.
According to an investigation by the DailyMail.com, Joe Biden bought the home in 2017 for roughly $2.75 million in cash. What makes this purchase suspicious is that it came mere weeks after Hunter Biden’s infamous text to Henry Zhao, an executive at the Chinese oil company CEFC. According to a WhatsApp conversation from July 30, 2017, Hunter threatened Zhao to pay a promised bribe while invoking his father’s name, insisting that Joe Biden was there with him as he wrote the message.
OBSERVATION - Fully understand this - the quisling house will not do anything to investigate this further. The coup by the swamp lead RINOS is seeking to put the nail into further investigations.
Biden / Harris Watch –
world burns, biden fiddles . . . .
Illegal Immigration –
Record numbers continue to pour across the border mostly unchecked. I sense a degree of panic by some democrats that they have opened a pandoras box with all the uncontrolled crossing and now the threat of real terror once again in the US is haunting them.
China –
New reporters are just now waking up to the fact that China has ships in the Mideast. 44th Chinese naval escort task force is in Kuwait. The task force is comprised of a guided-missile destroyer, a frigate, and an integrated supply ship. Their presence there has been part of an anti-pirate mission, a mission that many nations have been conducting in the region.
OBSERATION - Comprised by a couple of China’s newer ships, they would only be a minor player if they attempted to confront US/European forces in the region.
***
The Philippines has accused China’s coast guard of colliding with a Filipino supply boat in the South China Sea. The Filipino vessel was on its way Sunday to a Philippine outpost in the Second Thomas Shoal, where tensions have escalated in recent weeks.
Manila said Beijing’s “dangerous blocking manoeuvres” endangered the safety of the Filipino crew.
However, China said the Philippines “deliberately stirred up trouble”.
In a second incident also near Second Thomas Shoal on Sunday, Filipino authorities said a Chinese militia vessel bumped into a Philippine coast guard ship.
A second supply ship was able to reach the Philippine outpost in the shoal, Manila said.
Russia -
WAR WATCH - into the second year of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine - Feb 24th, 2022
CURRENT ASSESSMENT - Updated Sept 27, 2023
Russia is on a defensive footing across most of Ukraine, relying on Russian doctrinal defense in depth to blunt the Ukrainian offensive. However, Russian forces continue increasingly stretched and undermanned, with increasingly insufficient artillery support.
Ukrainian action has forced Russia to move forces laterally to meet the Ukraine advance - thinning critical portions of the line and making them vulnerable to assault.
Russia’s strategic ballistic and cruise missiles continue to show evidence of massively reduced inventories. Recent attacks indicate the Russia has started to produce its own Shahed drones with Iranian assistance. Russia capable of continued, though limited, attacks in this arena. The majority of Russian strikes are with these Iranian drones. Major targets are grain shipping facilities in the Odesa region as well as trying to hit logistical targets across the rest of the country.
Supplemental cruise missile attacks using old models will be occasionally used to supplement the drones.
The Russian Black Sea fleet is increasingly hesitant to deploy into now contested waters. Ukraine’s mixture of seaborne and airborne drones and anti-ship missiles beginning to render areas more or less off limits to Russia. The fleet is reportedly in the process of redeploying out of Crimea and moving east to Russian bases, about 600 Km further away from the front lines.
Russia is capable of launching small scale attacks in various sectors of company and small sized elements, but any large scale offensive action in the face of the heavy demands from defending against the Ukrainian offensive are essentially nil.
Ukraine –
WEATHER FORECAST – Temperatures varying between the 50s and 60s with rain in the forecast for starting 25th of October.
24 HOUR ROUND UP –
Hamas/Israel war still sucking the oxygen out of much of the Ukraine reporting.
Could have trouble brewing for Russia in the Kherson region -see below.
Russians continue to mindlessly push against the Avdiivka incurring heavy equipment and personnel losses.
Continued on the Tokmok and Bakhmut fronts. No significant gains for either side.
A Russian military facility in occupied Donetsk was hit by HIMARS , according to Ukranian news. The news reports indicate that Russia’s attacks on Andiivka were being planned in this Russian facility.
Kherson Axis -
Ukrainian forces had established a presence in the Krynky settlement on the Russian-held Dnipro River’s left bank in Kherson Oblast. Geolocated footage published on Oct. 19 indicates that Ukrainian forces advanced into the northeastern part of Krynky, a village 35 kilometers east of Kherson and two kilometers southeast of the Dnipro River.
In a text exchange, the 46th brigade told the BBC that troops were engaged in heavy fighting as they try to take full control of the village of Krynky. If successful, the force said, the settlement would give advanced units a base from which to launch a larger offensive aimed at dividing Russian troops and cutting off their supply lines.
Still largely RUMINT, but OSINT trackers/observers have noted a potential buildup of forces across from the new bridgehead on the Dniper River consisting of -
3+ marine brigades
3 light brigades
1 security brigade
1 brigade of SF
1 armored brigade
If Ukraine can get bridging assets there as well, a significant development of this front will hit reality for Russia. They note that these are predominantly ‘light’ forces, but the terrain on the east (left) bank of the Dniper River is more suited for such and Ukraine currently has an artillery advantage in order to provide cover. Russia doesn’t have the forces necessary to prevent a major crossing in this area.
OUTLOOK -
Watch Kherson as this is growing to be an October surprise to Russia is Ukraine is able to establish crossings. This is the lightest defended sector Russia has, depending largely on the Dniper River to be the uncrossable barrier. Plus, Russia has stationed bashed up units there to reconsolidate and thinned out others to supply defense support to Tokmok.
Europe / NATO General –
A Chinese container ship called ‘Newnew Polar Bear’ is at the centre of a Finnish investigation into the potential sabotage of a gas pipeline and data cable between Finland and Estonia. Finnish police said on Friday that they were was focusing on the Hong Kong-registered container ship, as its movements coincided with the time and place of the damage to the undersea pipeline.
“The potential sabotage of undersea infrastructure has led Nato to increase its patrols in the Baltic Sea with additional flights by drones as well as surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft. The military alliance also sent four minesweepers to the area.”
ISRAEL –
Key overnight developments -
Pressure from multiple governments for Israel to hold its offensive in order to get more hostages released.
A spokesperson for Israel’s military says it will increase attacks on the Gaza Strip beginning Saturday to prepare for the next stage of the war with Hamas. Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari told reporters that its trying to create optimal conditions for a possible ground invasion
“We will deepen our attacks to minimize the dangers to our forces in the next stages of the war. We are going to increase the attacks, from today,” Hagari said.
Indicators that Israel may be considering a preemptive strike against Hezbollah when the ground campaign kicks off.
The Israeli military found a USB key with instructions for the production of a “cyanide dispersion device” on the body of a Hamas operative who participated in the Oct. 7 terrorist attack, according to two Israeli officials and a copy of a classified Israeli Foreign Ministry cable obtained by Axios. It is not clear from the file whether Hamas had any serious or operational plan for using makeshift chemical weapons or whether the group had attempted to produce them.
GENERAL ——————————-
Israeli army Spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari says the deputy commander of Hamas’s rocket array was killed in an Israeli airstrike overnight.
Rocket fire from Hamas et al continued, albeit at lower rates into Israel while IAF continued its strikes on terror infrastructure in Gaza
The convoy of 20 trucks which entered Gaza through the Rafah Crossing with Egypt on Saturday were not checked for weapons, the New York Times reported. The convoy was supposed to be carrying food, water, and medical supplies. According to IDF spokesman Daniel Hagari, no fuel was brought into Gaza on the trucks, NYT added. However, according to the NYT, the first 20 trucks were not inspected for weapons, as Israel demanded they be.
At least 5,700 people have been killed in the war on both sides, including at least 1,400 Israeli civilians and soldiers and 32 Americans. The Hamas-run Gaza health ministry claims at least 4,385 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza and the West Bank and more than 13,561 wounded. At least 10 Americans are feared to be held captive by Hamas
GAZA FRONT ———————————-
Over 500 of the approximately 7000+ rockets launched by Hamas et al failed to reach Israel and fell back into Gaza since start of hostilities on Oct 7th.
Israel distributed more fliers in n Gaza urging civilians to flee south.
Reports that IAF airstrikes have been on the increase.
LEBANON / HEZBOLLAH——————————-
Heavy Israeli shelling continues in southern Lebanon, especially in Aita, Yaroun, Bint Jbeil and Al-Dahira. This comes after an attack was heard deep into Southern Lebanon, in Jezzine, for the first time since the destructive 2006 war. It is believed that IAF hit Hezbollah ammo dumps. Israeli bombing reached a depth of 5 km inside the Lebanese border.
US Secretary of State warns Lebanon’s Prime Minister of the impact on Lebanon if it is “drawn into the conflict”
Blinken indicated concern about the ‘escalation of tension on the southern Lebanese border’
This comes hours after Lebanon requests a 48-hour cease fire from Israel.
Israel expects Hezbollah to expand intensity & range of rocket fire in coming days; IDF ready for possible shift to Lebanon as primary war zone; massive Israeli forces have been deployed on northern front
SYRIA / HEZBOLLAH / IRAN———————————-
Syrian News Agency - Israeli bombs targeted Damascus and Aleppo airports, putting them out of service.
The Commander of the “Quds Force” of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps, Brigadier General Ismail Qa’ani has reportedly arrived in Syria today in order to “Supervise” the Pro-Iranian militias which are claimed to be on high alert along the Western Syrian Border with Israel.
WEST BANK——————————-
The Israeli Defense Force has announced that the Explosion earlier tonight at the Al-Ansari Mosque within the Jenin refugee camp in the West Bank was the result of a joint-operation and Aairstrike between the IDF as well as Shin Bet on a underground-terror compound beneath the Mosque which was being used by both Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad to prepare an Imminent terrorist attack.
NOTE - The terrorist organizations have been well established as locating their bases, supplies and rocket launchers in such facilities including schools, hospitals and other traditionally ‘off limits’ sites. Some have stated that Hamas is not located on the West Bank, those making those statements are woefully ignorant or willingly putting forth false stories.
**
Israeli army, the Shin Bet and the Mageb operated overnight in many centers throughout the Judea and Samaria Division to counter terrorism and arrested 46 wanted persons suspected of involvement in terrorist activities
INTERNATIONAL ——————————-
Egypt and Jordan harshly criticized Israel over its actions in Gaza at a summit on Saturday, a sign that the two Western allies that made peace with Israel decades ago are losing patience with its war against Hamas.
Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan discussed Gaza in phone call with the leader of the Palestinian militant group Hamas, Ismail Haniyeh, on Saturday.
FORECAST ————————-
Bottom Line Up Front (BLUF) - Getting old already, but the ground assault is still imminent. Israel is entering a danger zone in further delays. Combat readiness for critical operations begin to fall off after extended periods of high alert status. It is evident that Hamas’ tried and true dribble out the hostage releases to delay ground operations has gained a little traction with the US and some European countries. Perhaps even to rumors that the Israeli war govt is in dispute on launching the ground war. Such rumors may be out there to put Hamas off guard, thinking they have dodged the assault.
A valid point of delay in the start of the war is shaping the battle field in Lebanon against Hezbollah - who is almost guaranteed to step in once Israeli boots hit the ground in Gaza. This two front war is one contingency that Israel has been known to be planning for. Adjusting for current conditions seem to be indicating that Israel is ready to launch larger scale preemptive airstrikes to weaken Hezbollah rocket and combat capabilities.
Iran –
Unconfirmed reports of explosions at the headquarters of the Iranian Defense Forces in Ashrat Abad, the capital of Iran, Tehran. Video posted to the interwebs show flashes and explosions. I’ve been unable to confirm this event.
Lebanon -
See Israel above.
Syria -
Assad forces continue to hammer Aleppo and the Idlib regions with heavy artillery fire.
A drone attack was reported against Al-Harir Air Base in the Erbil Region of northwestern Iraq which houses a number of U.S. troops; this is likely the second attack on U.S. Forces in Iraq by the “Islamic Resistance of Iraq.”
See Israel above on more strikes on Damascus and Aleppo airports.
Black Swans
South Africa has had to cull about 7.5 million chickens to contain dozens of outbreaks caused by two different strains of avian influenza. “They’re dying like flies. This year’s bird flu outbreaks are the worst that South Africa has witnessed and has already caused shortages of table eggs and poultry meat in the market,” leading poultry producer Astral Food said in a trading update.
OBSERVATION - The US has just pulled out of a two year period of bird flu that decimated flocks across the country. Concern is that this strain could make it to the US as the bird flu season is starting here.