Globalism / Great Reset –
The Saudi Arabian energy minister said Wednesday that the new United Nations (UN) green energy transition pledge will not diminish the country’s ability to sell fossil fuels, according to Al Arabiya, a Saudi Arabian news outlet.
“The pharaoh methodology of dictating things has been buried, and so people are free in their choices,” Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman, the oil minister, told Al Arabiya in an interview. He also said explicitly that the COP28 pledge would not hurt the country’s ability to sell crude oil.
OBSERVATION - With the dust settling, the apparent implosion of the anti-fossil fuel radicals in the global community hit the preverbal brick wall. When the bottom line hit the Saudi bottom line, that’s where the game ended. Now this leaves the globalists with having to pressure the existing compliant countries even more and try to use that as some sort of leverage on these hold outs. Short some kind of disaster that centralizes control globally, OPEC and coal producers will not yield.
RELATED -
Michael Mann … “The agreement to ‘transition away from fossil fuels’ was weak tea at best,” he told AFP. “It’s like promising your doctor that you will ‘transition away from donuts’ after being diagnosed with diabetes. The lack of an agreement to phase out fossil fuels was devastating.”
Mann called for a substantial reform of the COP rules, for example permitting super-majorities to approve decisions over the objections of holdout petro states like Saudi Arabia, and barring oil executives such as COP28 president Sultan Al Jaber from presiding over future summits.
OBSERVATION - As I said, something needs to happen to allow FORCE to be applied to insure compliance with COP goals and standards. Another unanswered question is just how this ‘supermajority’ will actually enforce COP dictate when a nation like China says “No”.
CW2 / Domestic violence - Heightened THREAT
The House of Representatives overwhelmingly approved Congress’s $886 billion defense policy bill just before leaving Washington for the holidays. The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for fiscal year 2024 passed 310 to 118, with a majority of Republicans and Democrats voting for it.
In addition to laying out the next year’s Pentagon policy priorities, this year’s bill also includes an extension of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act’s (FISA) Section 702, a tool that allows the intelligence community to spy on foreign nationals outside the U.S. without a warrant, even if the person on the other side of their communications is an American citizen. (Fox)
OBSERVATION - Republicans say that they are for us, but when the voting time comes, they show that they are against us. The NDAA has morphed into a frankenstein monster since 9/11 and it is time to put it out to pasture. But it gives the Deep State powers that it would not otherwise have, and as such, it continues to live.
***
Democrat majority in Oregon banned half the Republican Senate delegation from running for reelection. Oregon’s conservatives, who have been otherwise shut out of the legislative process, have taken to protesting extreme bills by staging walkouts. Currently , Oregon Senate Republicans are battling the Democrat majority in court. At the heart of their court battle is the question of whether a majority can simply eliminate political dissent.
OBSERVATION - The walkouts last year froze some of the most extremist pieces of legislation in the country. Democrats have commonly used similar tactics in other states. But the liberal, big city controls of the state seek to further cancel the rights and representation of the minority republicans. Hence the rapid growth of the “Greater Idaho” movement. Blindly, democrats miss the fact that when people are not allowed to be represented and have a voice in govt - basically taking away the ballot box - they leave only the ammo box as the only remaining option.
***
Being Friday, there are a number of pro-hamas marches/protests being scheduled for this weekend. At least 20 cities by one count.
Yesterday, pro-hamas protestors blocked the I-76 in Philadelphia. Expect this tactic to be used in an increasing manner. While it gains them news time, it tends to backfire in angering citizens into not supporting their ‘cause’.
Also expect continued disruption of Christmas related activities such as shopping, ceremonies, etc.
The LGBT crowd continues to join these pro-hamas protests with the fanciful idea that islam respects and loves them. True to the axiom that the ‘enemy of my enemy is my friend’ I see these islamics tolerating this addition - but not for much longer as it takes the message away from genocide of Israel to the growing LGBT sexual revolution theme.
Terrorism - Level is HIGH due to increased lone wolf threats.
Three federal agencies issued a public safety warning on Tuesday night, saying that the threat of violence — especially by lone actors — in the United States is heightened through the upcoming Christmas and New Year’s holidays.
The FBI, Department of Homeland Security and the National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC) warned of lone actor violence targeting large public gatherings throughout the winter” as a result of the conflict in the Middle East between Israel and the Hamas terrorists in Gaza.
“Although this announcement is not in response to any specific plotting activity, these targets likely remain attractive to lone actors inspired by a range of ideologies due to their accessibility and symbolic nature,” the agencies said in the release.
https://www.newsmax.com/newsfront/fbi-dhs-heightened/2023/12/12/id/1145736/
OBSERVATION - Specifically, continued warnings of lone wolf attacks.
***
There are increasing bomb and related threats towards Jewish schools, synagogues and businesses. Given the presence of Hamas and related terrorists agents in country, these threats should be considered serious and credible.
Military / Strategic Activity / Deployments –
The Defense Department’s senior officials testified Wednesday about shortfalls in Army, Navy and Air Force recruiting in the fiscal year that ended in September at a hearing of the House Armed Services Military Personnel Subcommittee. The Marine Corps and Space Force made their recruiting goals.
Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness Ashish Vazirani said that during fiscal year 2023, the military services together missed goals by about 41,000 recruits.
OBSERVATION - They are decrying this as the collapse of the all volunteer military - forgetting the they demonized the majority of Americans they rely upon to fill the ranks of the military. I’m seeing this more and more as an effort to end the volunteer military and institute the draft.
Wuhan and other “new” Plandemics – HEIGHTENED ALERT STATUS
An active-duty officer, Navy Health Administrator and Medical Recruiter in the US Navy Medical Service Corps blew the whistle and revealed data indicating a significant rise in heart-related issues among military pilots following covid injections. Two weeks later he was placed under investigation.
According to the data from the Pentagon’s Defence Medical Epidemiology Database (“DMED”) presented by Lieutenant Ted Macie, there has been a dramatic increase in various heart-related ailments among fixed-wing and helicopter pilots in 2022.
The figures show dramatic increases in hypertensive disease (36%), ischemic heart disease (69%), pulmonary heart disease (62%), heart failure (973%), other forms of heart disease (63%) and cardiomyopathy (152%) compared to the pre-2022 five-year average.
OBSERVATION - This Navy officer killed his career with this release, but was correct in doing so. The detrimental effects of the illegal jab (remember, DoD forces a different nRNA jab than was authorized and so far has been allowed to get away with it - not that the authorized one was any safer). The dataset is damning to the pro-jab crowd and I’m sure with those kinds of numbers, the military members are aware of them. The leadership stabbed the military in the back - deliberately now IMHO - to damage it for globalist goals of weakening America.
POLITICAL FRONT –
House of Representatives overwhelmingly approved Congress’s $886 billion defense policy bill - See CW2 above.
Congress now wrapping up and getting set for ANOTHER break.
Biden / Harris Watch –
More blowback from the WH’s hideous video showing the christmas decorations. Apparently the dance troupe are virulently defund the police, anti white and very strongly socialists. What a freeking clown show.
Cyber attacks/warfare – HEIGHTENED ALERT
More reports on how China and other countries hostile to the US are burrowing into computer networks across the country.
Illegal Immigration –
Encounters at the U.S. southern border once again surpassed 10,000 in a single day on Tuesday, according to Customs and Border Protection (CBP) sources. Despite being lower than the record-breaking 12,000 in one day last week, the numbers continue to strain Border Patrol agents.
Russia -
WAR WATCH - into the second year of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine - Feb 24th, 2022
CURRENT ASSESSMENT - Updated Nov 12, 2023
Russia is struggling to gain the initiative on several fronts in easter Ukraine. Attacks to take Adviivka, located near occupied Donetsk has been their priority as well as further north. However, it is on a defensive footing across most of Ukraine.
The Russian army has lost a considerable amount of armor/tanks and personnel in the fight to take Adviivka, causing that offensive to stall considerably and resort to “meat” attacks.
With the arrival of the muddy season, significant offensive actions by Russia are unlikely.
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. With the onset of winter, it is believed that Russian is shepherding its stockpile of missiles/drones for an effort to take down the Ukraine power grid as it did last year. This task has become increasingly difficult as Ukraine adds air defense systems and gets better coverage.
The Russian Black Sea fleet is is essentially impotent and hesitant to deploy into now contested waters. Ukraine’s recent attacks on ships in Crimean harbors has forced the majority of the fleet to redeploying out of Crimea and to Russian bases, about 600 Km further away from the front lines.
Russian leadership reportedly planning for a long duration conflict, hoping to wear the Ukraine army down and cause European allies to tire of their support - forcing some sort of cease fire and negotiated peace.
Ukraine –
WEATHER FORECAST – Temps in the 20-30 degree range with on again, off again rain and snow.
24 HOUR ROUND UP –
Weather continues to dominate action.
Ukrainian air defense shot down 14 of 14 Shahed drones overnight, with drone activity covering the Mykolaiv, Kherson, Odesa regions.
Ukraine deep targeted Berdiansk and Mariupol areas
Outlook —-
Weather and mud conditions are dictating operations. Limited operations across most fronts.
Moldova/Transnistria -
Progress made in allowing Moldova into the EU.
Europe / NATO General –
An EU summit in Brussels delivered an unexpected piece of welcome news at a bleak moment of the Russia-Ukraine war. Kyiv can soon begin official talks to join the European Union after getting the green light from the bloc’s leaders on Thursday. Hungary, which had been threatening to veto the decision, stood aside at the last minute.
Included in the talks is the inclusion of Moldova into the EU.
OBSERVATION -The pro-Russian govt of Hungary continues to be a boil in the rear end of the EU.
SERBIA / KOSOVO -
ISRAEL –
Key overnight developments -
- White House national security advisor Jake Sullivan meets with Netanyahu to dictate war effort.
- Houthi stepping up interdiction and harassment of shipping in the Red Sea with no counter strikes by the west.
——— GENERAL ——————————-
In his meeting with Prime Minister Netanyahu, White House national security advisor Jake Sullivan told Netanyahu that the Israeli government’s military actions need to “transition to the next lower intensity phase in a matter of weeks, not months.”
Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on Thursday told visiting US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan that the military campaign against Hamas will not be completed within the next few months, as intense battles raged for control of the terror group’s redoubts in the northern Gaza strip.
***
Israel’s military says it has recovered the bodies of two Israeli soldiers, Nik Beizer and Ron Scherman, 19, who were taken hostage by Hamas on 7 October. It comes hours after Israel retrieved the body of hostage Elia Toledano, 28, who was taken by Hamas from the Supernova music festival
——— GAZA FRONT ———————————-
Pockets of stiff Hamas resistance still being encountered in N and S Gaza. Israel continues to tighten the noose around those areas, but have suffered higher casualties as well.
***
The Israeli Army reports that the Air Force carried out more than 500 air strikes this week in the Gaza Strip.
***
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said on Wednesday that Hamas terrorists have fired over a hundred rockets from the humanitarian zone in the Gaza Strip.
The IDF said on X that 116 rockets were launched in total, including 38 that landed in Gaza.
“Hamas has fired 116 rockets from the humanitarian zone toward Israel since its opening on October 18,” the IDF post read. “38 of those rockets fell inside Gaza, endangering their own civilians.”
“Hamas continues to carry out terrorist activities from the humanitarian zone, designated to prevent harm to civilians, further endangering Gazan lives,” the Israeli military added. (Fox)
***
Mass surrenders continue across Gaza. In one instance yesterday, IDF captured 70 terrorists in the Kamal Adwan Hospital near the Israeli border.
Yep, using a hospital as a military base.
——— LEBANON / HEZBOLLAH——————————-
Border fight continues with little change as Hezbollah continues to fire mortars and ATGMs along the Lebanon border, with IDF artillery and air strikes in response.
———WEST BANK——————————-
At least 1,300 Israeli military soldiers are continuing to carry out a massive counter-terror operation in the Palestinian town of Jenin, in what is shaping up to be the largest Israeli operation in the West Bank since the end of the Second Intifada in 2005.
The current operation has now lasted longer than Operation Home and Garden in Jenin, which took place last July.
The IDF confirmed on Thursday afternoon that the operation that began in the early hours of Tuesday morning, and whose scope wasn’t announced beforehand, was still taking place in the Samaria region. More than 600 suspects were detained, with more than 30 of them being transferred to interrogation facilities.
***
Israel Defense Forces discovered hundreds of explosives and destroyed 8 production laboratories. More than 10 underground tunnel shafts were located, some of them being used as weapons caches, and will be prepared for destruction. In addition, 40 weapons have been confiscated.
———“ISLAMIC RESISTANCE” ———————————
A Spanish warship is reportedly approaching a Houthi - hijacked merchant ship.
A projectile launched by Houthis struck the Liberia flagged, German-owned, Al Jasrah ship on Friday causing a fire but no injuries, a U.S. defense official said.
A ballistic missile was fired from a Houthi-controlled area of Yemen toward the international shipping lane north of the Bab-el-Mandeb. There were no injuries or damage. Following the missile launch, the M/V Maersk Gibraltar was hailed by the Houthis, who threatened further missile attacks. The M/V Maersk Gibraltar is a Hong Kong-flagged cargo container vessel
US to announce maritime Task Force Friday to stop Houthis. Arrival of commercial ships to the port of Eilat in southern Israel has almost completely stopped. Ships heading to Israel from Asia now take expensive route around Africa.
———INTERNATIONAL ——————————-
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has told US President Joe Biden that the United States has a “historic responsibility” to achieve a lasting cease-fire in the Gaza conflict as soon as possible, Erdogan’s office said on Thursday.
During a phone call, Erdogan reportedly told Biden that a cease-fire could be achieved quickly if the United States withdrew its unconditional support for Israel, and warned that “Israel’s prolonged attacks may have negative global consequences.”
***
A Hamas plot to kill Jews in Europe was foiled by German and Danish police who uncovered the terrorist group’s alarming change of tactics.
Seven terror suspects were arrested. Three people were arrested in Germany, three in Denmark and one in the Netherlands with the Danish prime minister describing the plot as being “as serious as it gets”.
The Hamas operatives were under orders to bring a cache of weapons from an undisclosed location in Europe to Berlin to attack Jewish institutions, German prosecutors said.
——— FORECAST ————————-
Bottom Line Up Front (BLUF) - Israel continues the methodical elimination of Hamas forces throughout Gaza. IDF repeats the estimate of several months before the operation is considered to be complete.
Why is the American National Security Advisor telling Israel how to fight its existential war against Hamas? So far, Israel has largely did what it was going to do anyway and rejected the ‘advice’ from Washington. The stick that Sullivan has is the reduction or stoppage of US supplied munitions and other support. Sullivan also brought the threat/warning of waining support globally. I’m pretty sure Israel has already factored both into their decision to pursue Hamas and very possibly Hezbollah later.
Venezuela - Increasing potential for war
Guyana and Venezuela have agreed to not “use force” to settle their dispute over the oil-rich region of Essequibo.
After meeting Venezuela’s President Nicolás Maduro, Guyanese President Irfaan Ali reaffirmed his commitment to peace in the region. But he said Guyana had the right to exploit their sovereign space.
In a three-page joint declaration, the countries agreed they would “not threaten or use force against one another in any circumstances” and would “continue dialogue”.
They also agreed to establish a joint commission of foreign ministers to address any matters arising over the contested area, and will meet again Brazil to discuss Essequibo.
Black Swans
The sun just unleashed the strongest solar flare of Solar Cycle 25 (so far), an X2.8-class explosion from unstable sunspot AR3514. The blast caused a deep shortwave radio blackout over the Americas and hurled a fast CME toward Earth. Expected impact around the 17th.
OBSERVATION - Major flare but will unlikely have significant impact on the global power grid. May well generate a spectacular aurora show. The 1980’s Quebec Power blackout was caused by an X15 level flare/CME. Hopefully, electrical companies will use this event to test their plans for a potentially larger future event.
Globalism / Great Reset –
This has been a scenario that the founder of the World Economic Forum (WEF) Klaus Schwab has been warning us about. He has foretold, that a cyber pandemic that was going to be happening in the near future would have significantly worse consequences for the entire world wide population. He is not a prophet, but knows this as it has been planned, practiced and we have been prepped to fear it.
Just as tabletop exercises were conducted prior to the COVID plandemic, similarly, table top exercises have been conducted by the United States Intel agencies on this exact scenario too.
0bama- produced Netflix movie “Leave the world behind” cyberattack - potentially being predictive programming?
OBSERVATION - I have to push through heaps of normalcy bias to engage this possibility. The threat has been there and increasing from hostile foreign actors, but for a WEF Great Reset scenario that not only could torpedo the 2024 election but reverberate globally into a level of chaos that would permit the WEF to step in as the ‘voice of reason’ and seize global leadership hurts my mind. Never in my minded growing up did I expect to see the combination of forces coming together that could pull this off - and note, I grew up under the nuclear threats of the cold war.
CW2 / Domestic violence - Heightened THREAT
80 pro-hamas demonstrators are facing charges of ‘false imprisonment’ for a recent blockade of the Bay Bridge in the San Fran area.
Pro-hamas demonstraties closed down the road to LAX overnight and tried to march into the airport terminal area. They were blocked by police.
It has been revealed that Seattle law enforcement personnel had been ordered to allow anti-Israel demonstrators to seize control of a major bridge during rush hour traffic on Thursday evening.
In addition, the United States Coast Guard had reportedly agreed to hold boat traffic ahead of the demonstration. The activists shut down the drawbridge for more than 3 hours, which caused significant traffic delays with miles-long backups.
OBSERVATION - Bridge/highway blockage is the now favored protest tactic. Police have largely stayed hands-off, giving protestors hours worth of highway disruption. Blockage in LA earlier in the week found CHP intervening only after frustrated drivers started fighting with protestors. Plan on having your commute disrupted even more this weekend and into the Christmas/New Years period.
Of Note - once the holiday season has passed, it remains to be seen just what other situations/events will be targeted by pro-hamas elements.
***
Heavily redacted documents released by the FBI showed that the agency’s controversial targeting of Roman Catholics was more widespread than a single incident in one field office, watchdog Judicial Watch reported Friday.
Judicial Watch reported that the 98 pages it obtained through a Freedom of Information lawsuit showed that the FBI memo from earlier this year that tagged some Catholics as violent extremists due to their religious beliefs was reviewed by the agency’s Office of General Counsel. Coordination also took place with Portland and Milwaukee officials.
Hardly a “single product but a single field office,” Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton said Friday.
https://www.newsmax.com/newsfront/judicial-watch-fbi-targeting/2023/12/15/id/1146142/
OBSERVATION - This scandal continues to grow. With the threat of real terror from those who’ve come into the country illegally, the FBI/DoD are focusing on a conservative religious faction in the Catholic Church. What other churches/denominations have they infiltrated into as well?
Terrorism - Level is HIGH due to increased lone wolf threats.
Parallel to Illegal Immigration - CBP is warning its agents to ‘exercise extreme caution’ after the Mexican military seized 10 IEDs at the border.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection is warning agents to be on the lookout for explosive devices.
A federal law-enforcement source shared with FOX Business Network an internal officer safety alert dated December 13th that warns CBP agents to be vigilant after the Mexican military seized 10 improvised explosive devices (IEDs) at the border.
On Wednesday, Mexican authorities located ten such devices on the Mexican side. Fox News reported that the IEDs were found after what amounted to a firefight near Tucson between two rival cartels. Each side wanted control of the area that has a gap in the border fence. That gap has previously served as a portal for transporting drugs. It is currently used for human trafficking. One suspect was found with an AK-47, two magazines, loose rounds, and a handgun.
OBSERVATION - Narco-terrorism that the cartels bring is likely already functioning here in the US. That includes IEDs being present here as well. We are unprepared for the concept of IEDs, and the border and will be equally unprepared for them when they go off here.
Economy-
GM is scheduled to layoff 1300 employees. Of the 1,300 layoffs, more than 900 of them are from Orion Assembly, which manufactured the Chevy Bolt electric car (which is being discontinued after this year).
The current plan is to retool the plant and reopen it in 2025 to make electric trucks instead of electric cars.
OBSERVATION - The automakers have been taking a beating over poor EV sales. High prices coupled with high car loan rates, high insurance rates and poor performance have created a bloodbath on the bottom line. Retooling to produce EV trucks is also on shaky ground as recent EV trucks continue to greatly underperform.
Wuhan and other “new” Plandemics – HEIGHTENED ALERT STATUS
There may be around a 1 in 10 chance that Pfizer mRNA COVID-19 vaccines will not generate spike proteins but something else, a new Cambridge study finds, raising concerns about autoimmune response among experts.
The study authors found that 8 percent of the time, Pfizer mRNA COVID-19 vaccines are mistranslated, leading to the formation of unintended proteins.
“Our work presents both a concern and a solution for this new type of medicine,” said leading author Anne Willis in the study’s press release.
One can think of mRNA vaccines as a set of instructions used to make spike proteins. Once the vaccine enters the cell, ribosomes interpret the mRNA instructions to make proteins, like spike proteins.
Among tested vaccines, only Pfizer has the issue.
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-023-06800-3
OBSERVATION - Basically, the mRNA causes other things to be made, triggering autoimmune issues. The authors of the study reportedly have tried to down play the results, however, a 10% chance of this occurring is way too high for safety.
POLITICAL FRONT –
On January 19, a day before he left office, Trump ordered a declassification order for a ‘binder of materials related to the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Crossfire Hurricane investigation,’ the name for the Trump-Russia probe. This binder is now strongly suspected to have been the real target when the FBI raided Mar-a-Lago. These documents reportedly have not been found, nor are their location known to govt elements. The binder is suppose to contain all the receipts on the bogus Russia influencing scandal the Hillary campaign cooked up in 2016.
The main line is liberals / Anti-Trumpers are fearing that if re-elected, Trump will use the document to go after them. And they are approaching panic mode.
***
The “prophetic” nature of the Babylon Bee is rising to the surface again with recent actions / positions by PA Senator Fetterman -
Weird: Man Becomes More Conservative As He Regains Brain Function https://t.co/6nesG1N1WN pic.twitter.com/TcQ2n21Rx7
— The Babylon Bee (@TheBabylonBee) December 6, 2023
Fetterman has sent liberal heads into explosion mode with his recent stances on Israel and immigration. Now he has stated that he is not a progressive. Time will tell if he is able to maintain his independent stance or not.
Cyber attacks/warfare – HEIGHTENED ALERT
Is the Deep State setting up a massive cyber attack false flag on the American people that will disrupt the 2024 election? See “Globalism / Great Reset “ at top of post.
Illegal Immigration –
Arizona Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs on Friday ordered her state’s National Guard to the southern border to aid in managing the unprecedented surge in illegal border crossings.
“Yet again, the federal government is refusing to do its job to secure our border and keep our communities safe,” she said in a press release. “With this Executive Order, I am taking action where the federal government won’t.”
“But we can’t stand alone, Arizona needs resources and manpower to reopen the Lukeville crossing, manage the flow of migrants, and maintain a secure, orderly and humane border,” she insisted. “Despite continued requests for assistance, the Biden administration has refused to deliver desperately needed resources to Arizona’s border.”
OBSERVATION - Hobbs is just one of many democrat leaders wilting under the overwhelming surge of illegals pouring into the country. Whether or not she has the backbone to actually have the NG actually turn illegals back is yet to be seen. Same too, will she buckle under fed govt counterattacks similar to what TX is facing.
Russia -
WAR WATCH - into the second year of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine - Feb 24th, 2022
CURRENT ASSESSMENT - Updated Nov 12, 2023
Russia is struggling to gain the initiative on several fronts in easter Ukraine. Attacks to take Adviivka, located near occupied Donetsk has been their priority as well as further north. However, it is on a defensive footing across most of Ukraine.
The Russian army has lost a considerable amount of armor/tanks and personnel in the fight to take Adviivka, causing that offensive to stall considerably and resort to “meat” attacks.
With the arrival of the muddy season, significant offensive actions by Russia are unlikely.
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. With the onset of winter, it is believed that Russian is shepherding its stockpile of missiles/drones for an effort to take down the Ukraine power grid as it did last year. This task has become increasingly difficult as Ukraine adds air defense systems and gets better coverage.
The Russian Black Sea fleet is is essentially impotent and hesitant to deploy into now contested waters. Ukraine’s recent attacks on ships in Crimean harbors has forced the majority of the fleet to redeploying out of Crimea and to Russian bases, about 600 Km further away from the front lines.
Russian leadership reportedly planning for a long duration conflict, hoping to wear the Ukraine army down and cause European allies to tire of their support - forcing some sort of cease fire and negotiated peace.
Ukraine –
WEATHER FORECAST – Temps in the 20-30 degree range with on again, off again rain and snow.
24 HOUR ROUND UP –
Weather continues to dominate action.
Ukrainian air defense shot down 30 of 31 Shahed drones overnight.
Ukraine targeted areas of Crimea for drone attacks with russian claiming to have shot down 26. A site near Sevastopol was reportedly hit.
Over the past several day, Ukraine has successfully hit key Russian logistical bases and nodes.
Outlook —-
Weather and mud conditions are dictating operations. Limited ground operations across most fronts.
ISRAEL –
Key overnight developments -
- Three hostages were inadvertently killed during a firefight by Israeli forces.
- Continued search and destroy of Hamas fighters and tunnel base facilities .
——— GENERAL ——————————-
According to an army spoksman, Israeli army was stunned by scope of terror tunnel network in Gaza; Israeli forces discover massive underground spaces used as command centers, weapons production & storage sites. This goes beyond the knowledge they had prior to the start of the war.
——— GAZA FRONT ———————————-
Pockets of stiff Hamas resistance still being encountered in N and S Gaza. Israel continues to tighten the noose around those areas, but have suffered higher casualties as well.
***
Hamas has been using dolls and children’s backpacks rigged with speakers playing sounds of crying to lure IDF forces into a terrorist tunnel in the Gaza Strip where they could be ambushed, the Israel Defense Forces said Friday.
***
At least six rockets were launched towards Jerusalem on Friday according to the Israeli military, with three intercepted. The military said the other rockets landed away from populated zones. Some sources indicate that the temple mount was targeted in this attack. Iron Dome reported did intercept one of these rockets over the mount.
——— LEBANON / HEZBOLLAH——————————-
Border fight continues with little change as Hezbollah continues to fire mortars and ATGMs along the Lebanon border, with IDF artillery and air strikes in response.
Israeli Army spoksman - We are preparing for any possible scenarios on the northern border.
German Foreign Minister - Lebanese Hezbollah and other militias must withdraw from the Blue Line.
——— SYRIA / HEZBOLLAH / IRAN———————————-
According to Israeli media, citing military sources a missile was launched from Syria landed in an open area.
———WEST BANK——————————-
Confrontations broke out against Israeli security forces at the Shuafat refugee camp checkpoint in Jerusalem
———“ISLAMIC RESISTANCE” ———————————
Reuters reports that the Houthis announced the implementation of a military operation against “sensitive targets” in southern Israel with a large number of drones.
———INTERNATIONAL ——————————-
Maersk announces the temporary cessation of all container shipping operations through the Red Sea. HAPAG-LLOYD, another of the largest container shipping lines in the world, has also just announced it will pause sending ships into the Red Sea, for at least the next three days.
——— FORECAST ————————-
Bottom Line Up Front (BLUF) - Israel continues the methodical elimination of Hamas forces throughout Gaza. IDF repeats the estimate of several months before the operation is considered to be complete. Action now is relatively routine.
Houthi attacks on shipping in the Red Sea have created an actual — and effective — naval blockade of Israel in the Red Sea. Either nations have to quickly move naval assets to provide a protective missile shield, strongly attack ground launch facilities and supporting targets in Yemen or else face significant shipping delays and increased costs of having to go around the Horn of Africa to get to their destinations. Blockade of Israeli traffic will be forced to go to the Med ports or else Israel will have to set up convoys under protection by its vessels to/from its Red Sea ports.
Israel is apparently making headway shifting global thoughts on enforcing UN resolution forcing Hezbollah to demilitarize S Lebanon and move north of the Litani River. World opinion may not be enough to have Hezbollah act because they ignored it to begin with and started their military buildup in the region, but it does start establishing that Israel has a legitimate right to self defense and that includes attacking Hezbollah as allowed by the UN mandate.