Wuhan and other “new” Plandemics
Discussions that Bill Gates has released wuhan ‘vaccines’ that contain an abortion promoting drug. Most reports coming out of Japan on this.
China –
China held a live-firing exercise from its territory closest to Taiwan one week after it launched a large-scale drill encircling the island.
Chinese military drills off the Taiwanese coast have intensified in recent years as its claims over the self-governed island have grown.
Beijing announced late on Monday that an area around Niushan - an island 105km (66 miles) from Taiwan - will be closed for drills for four hours from 09:00 local time (01:00 GMT) on Tuesday.
Taiwan’s premier Cho Jung-tai said on Tuesday that China should not be conducting such exercises given their threat to regional stability.
“No matter how large the scale of the drill is, they should not be frequent and close to Taiwan,” he told reporters. “This will only cause unnecessary tension.”
Although Taipei has called the drills routine, analysts believe China is likely sending a message given their proximity to Taiwan.
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c3rlrv1qewqo
OBSERVATION - Program of maintaining pressure on Taiwan while preparing for an eventual action against it.
North/South Korea –
South Korea vows to take ‘phased measures’ in response to North Korea-Russia military cooperation.
South Korea may send military and intelligence personnel to Ukraine in response to North Korea sending troops to Russia, according to Newsweek. These specialists could interrogate captured North Korean soldiers and provide tactical/operational insights.
Russia -
*****
Tuesday’s opening of the BRICS summit in Kazan, Russia. For President Vladimir Putin will it will be an opportunity to personally engage with multiple world leaders, including China’s Xi Jinping, India’s Narendra Modi, Turkey’s Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Iran’s Masoud Pezeshkian.
The multipolarity is on, and dedollarization is on everyone’s minds.
Associated Press reported:
“They will all be in the Russian city of Kazan on Tuesday for a meeting of the BRICS bloc of developing economies, defying predictions that the war in Ukraine and an international arrest warrant against Putin would turn him into a pariah.”
Initially, the group was formed by Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa – but lately it started to rapidly expand.
Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia joined in January; Turkey, Azerbaijan and Malaysia also formally applied, along with a rather large number of other countries who have expressed a desire to join.
Russia sees the meeting as a great success. 36 countries confirmed participation, and of those, more than 20 will send heads of state.
https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2024/10/multipolarity-brics-summit-kicks-tomorrow-kazan-russia-36/
OBSERVATION - BRICS is a challenge to the global dominance of the dollar. The founding countries sought other ways around the economic sanctions brought on by the US, so alternative currencies for payment agreements started. This is a growing movement, but is unlikely to replace the dollar any time soon unless there is a serious collapse of the dollar via economic crisis in the US. The US will eventually have to face the completion or the erosion of the dollar support will cause a crash here in the US as well. Rock meet hard place.
Ukraine –
WEATHER FORECAST – Temperatures in the 40-60s with scattered showers in the forecast.
24 HOUR ROUND UP –
Overnight Russia launched about 60 Shaheds into Ukraine with 42 being shot down. Ten more were lost due to electronic warfare and four flew back to either Belarus or Russia.
Ukrainian drones hit Russian regions overnight. Explosions were reported in Tambov where a distillery (ethanol) plant was hit. Drones have also attacked a thermal power plant and a synthetic rubber plant in the Tula region.
Russian Ministry of Defense claims full occupation of Novosadove village in Donetsk region of Ukraine.
Another ‘large’ armor assault launched by Russia overnight. A total, 7 tanks and 11 BMPs advanced towards the positions of the 46th Air Assault Brigade. Ukrainian units destroyed 2 tanks (one T-90M) and 5 BMPs, while 2 damaged tanks retreated. 28 Russians were eliminated.
Outlook —
No real trends to report. Russia continues to claw some Ukrainian terrain at high costs of men and material. Mud season is becoming more prominent as rains start to return.
Currently the biggest issue is the trading and presence of N Korean forces in Russia and possibly into the war zone.
Europe / NATO General –
John Healey, British Defense Secretary: It is very likely that a transfer of forces from North Korea to Russia has begun
ISRAEL –
Key overnight developments -
- IDF continues to close the loop on remaining Hamas elements in N Gaza.
- Israel continued to hit Hezbollah financial resources in Lebanon and Syria.
——— GENERAL ——————————-
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is currently meeting with the United States Secretary of State Anthony Blinken in Jerusalem
***
Seven Jewish Israelis have been arrested for allegedly carrying out tasks for Iran, including taking photos and gathering information on Israeli army bases, the Justice Ministry says. According to a statement from the State Attorney’s Office, the seven, from Haifa and other northern towns, include a deserter soldier and two minors. The seven allegedly gathered information on the Nevatim and Ramat David airbases, the Israeli army HQ in Tel Aviv, Iron Dome batteries, the Golani training base, and other sites, per the instructions of their Iranian operators. Indictments are expected to be filed against the suspects on Friday, the ministry adds.
***
Channel 13 reports that members of the Israeli Political-Security Cabinet were informed during last night’s meeting, that Israel will soon launch a “Very Significant Attack” inside Iran, but that they would not be notified of its nature in advance; with officials believing that Iran will forcefully respond to the attack.
***
WSJ reports that Sinwar cited pressure from the Israeli opposition and the White House as reasons to reject a hostage deal and hold out for more.
The pressure to stop the war from the side of the U.S. administration and the Israeli progressive left is the reason why the hostages aren’t back!
——— GAZA FRONT / HAMAS ———————————-
IDF issuing more evacuations orders for N Gaza areas, directing individuals south toward safe areas near Khan Younis.
Palestinian civilians trying to evacuate intense fighting in the northern Gaza Strip are being shot by Hamas terrorists trying to prevent them from leaving, an Israel Defense Forces medic said on Monday.
The IDF said that thousands of Palestinian civilians have adhered to the military’s calls to evacuate Jabaliya amid a renewed military offensive aimed at preventing Hamas from regrouping in the area.
The evacuations were taking place despite the Hamas-run Interior Ministry ordering civilians earlier this month to ignore the instructions to relocate to other safer areas in the Strip.
https://www.newsmax.com/world/globaltalk/hamas-terrorists-shooting/2024/10/22/id/1184947/
OBSERVATIONS - This is not the first time it has been documented Hamas shooting civilians as they try to evacuate to safer areas as directed by the IDF. This war crime is continually overlooked by the UN and media sources. It is estimated that potentially thousands of Hamas et al elements are hiding among the tens of thousands of civilians in the north.
——— LEBANON / HEZBOLLAH——————————-
Israeli army: Hezbollah fired about 170 rockets towards the country in the past 24 hours
IAF conduced air strikes across S Lebanon, the Bekaa Valley and southern Beirut including the port area.
Israel’s Northern Command reports that Hezbollah only has 30% of its rockets and launchers remaining and has lost 2,000 of its terrorists since October 8th last year. The Northern Command added that just a few more weeks of operations in Lebanon are required to accomplish goals that will allow northern Israeli residents to return home in safety.
***
IAF revealed intelligence on a Hezbollah financial site that has not been hit—where Hezbollah has a much as a half billion dollars in gold and cash—in Hassan Nasrallah’s bunker. The bunker is located directly under Al-Sahel Hospital in the heart of Beirut.
In spite of Israel stating that it will not attack the bunker, IAF spokesman said the Israeli Air Force is keeping an eye on the facility, and he urged Lebanese authorities and international organizations to stop Hezbollah from utilizing “the money for terror and to attack Israel.”
Lebanese have begun to evacuate the hospital.
***
The Saudi Al-Hadath channel, citing its “sources,” reports that officials at the Iranian embassy in Beirut were involved in the assassination attempt on Prime Minister Netanyahu. According to the sources, the Israeli investigation has revealed Iranian involvement in launching a drone targeting Netanyahu’s residence.
(Open Source Intel on X)
——— SYRIA / HEZBOLLAH / IRAN———————————-
The Israeli army spokesperson Daniel Hagari confirmed that Israel carried out the airstrike in Syria today, saying it targeted “the head of Hezbollah’s financial arm responsible for funneling cash from Iran to Hezbollah.” Syrian media are reporting a car explosion in Al-Mezzah neighborhood of Damascus, where the Iranian embassy is located
***
According to Israeli Media; Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has been talks over the last few weeks with both Iranian and Hezbollah officials, urging them not to launch further attacks from Syrian Territory or commit any action which could lead to additional Israeli strikes. Al-Assad fears that a war between Israel and Iran could result in his removal from power.
——— ASSESSMENT AND FUTURE OPERATIONS ————————-
Evidence that Sinwar/Hamas exploited US and international opposition to Israeli attacks and leveraged that along with hostages in the war is not unexpected. Understand - the US state dept knew full well it was contributing to this. Honey Badger Netanyahu knew this tactic well and ignored it - throwing Hamas (and later Hezbollah) plans into a tail spin.
Lebanon has been experiencing a financial crisis over the past couple years, and the exposing of the vast stores of wealth in Hezbollah bunkers is bound to exacerbate the tensions between Hezbollah and other ethnic/religions groups who view Hezbollah as the primary cause of the troubles. Half billion in dollar equivalents would go a long way to keep the power on in the country for instance. This financial divide will only get worse as Lebanon begins to face rebuilding after the war is over, with hundreds of millions of dollars in damage.
I’ve noted the potential and now growing internal resistance to Hezbollah. Exposing a half billion sitting in a vault may just trigger the Lebanese govt to confiscate it for the nation and deny Hezbollah’s use. Since it is under a civilian hospital, there is plenty of justification for the action as Hezbollah’s only action to prevent it is to attack the Lebanese govt - triggering more internal hostility towards it.
Syria’s Assad is apparently getting cold feet in his support of Iran and Hezbollah. He already has his hands full between the ongoing civil war, ISIS resurgence and Iranian militias staring up US/coalition forces in the east.
Finally, the world is still waiting for the big show of the Israeli response to Iran’s Oct 1 missile attack. Iran’s attempted assassination of netanyahu may well have put nuclear and oil facilities back on the target list. The US response still suggests Israel is going after some pretty sensitive targets. Nations in the region are already looking at Iranian responses. The region is bracing for Iran’s expanding the conflict. Time will tell as will the extent and success of the Israeli operation.
Iran –
Iran will hold the United States accountable for the coming Israeli attack.
The Iranian Embassy at the United Nations in New York City said this afternoon, “President Biden’s remarks in Berlin on Friday, stating he knows “when and how” Israel will attack Iran, amount to “tacit approval and explicit support” for Israel’s “illegal aggressive actions” against Iran.
They added, “The United States will bear full responsibility for its role in any Israeli act of aggression against Iran.”
OBSERVATION - Not the first threat by Iran towards the US. However, this threat comes after the US lit the houthi’s up with the big bombs dropped by B2. The threat to hit all U.S. Bases in the Middle East is a serious on and would likely cause a US counter strike. Iran may see itself soon fighting a two (or more) front war and may find out it wasn’t too smart to poke the bear. Additionally, threats continue to spill out to other gulf nations - particularly against their oil production assets. Some, like the saudi’s have missiles of their own that they may fire towards Iran as well as air force strike capabilities. Should Iran go down the road of attacking locations in the region, things could tailspin out of control rapidly. FAFO in play here.
Iraq -
Iraq has announced it has killed the leader of ISIS in Iraq. I’ve not seen further details.
Thanks, Godzilla.
There's a reason our enemies are working to destabilize the US - using everything from endless government corruption or flooding our borders with illegals... to dumbing down government employees with WOKE/DEI idiots.
CW2 / Domestic violence - Moderate THREAT - up dated Oct 20, 2024
Russia, China and Iran are intent on fanning divisive narratives to divide Americans ahead of the Nov. 5 U.S. elections and may consider fomenting violence after voters go to the polls, U.S. intelligence officials said on Tuesday.
The officials, briefing reporters on U.S. election security, said foreign actors could consider physical threats and violence, and are highly likely to conduct disinformation operations to create uncertainty and undermine the election process.
“Foreign actors, particularly Russia, Iran and China, remain intent on fanning divisive narratives to divide Americans and undermine Americans’ confidence in the U.S. democratic system. These activities are consistent with what these actors perceive to be in their interests, even as their tactics continue to evolve,” said one official from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI)
That official said influence actors, “particularly from Russia, Iran and China,” have learned from previous U.S. elections and are better prepared to exploit opportunities to stoke unrest.
https://www.newsmax.com/newsfront/election/2024/10/22/id/1185040/
OBSERVATION - This warning, combined with the hundreds of thousands (millions) of illegals from the ME and China suggests that there is huge potential for mega disruptions beyond the Antifa/BLM riots of 2020. The potential for pre election actions is waning since there is now less than two weeks left to go. Post election action is a greater concern, potentially triggering regime efforts that could utilize violence provoked from hostile nations to essentially overturn the election if trump wins.
***
(FO) Stop Cop Nation’s “day of action” is scheduled for today. The movement seeks “to bring an end to police violence against Black and brown communities and to stop the construction of cop city projects all across the so-called United States.”
Organizers are publicizing the shift from “Stop Copy City” in Atlanta, Georgia to “Stop Cop Nation,” a nationwide direct action movement to stop the construction of law enforcement training facilities.
Stop Cop Nation seeks to bring Black Lives Matter, the Palestine liberation movement, and other indigenous and liberation movements together to protest law enforcement militarization and capitalist oppression.
OBSERVATION - Forward Observer assesses the action today saying this “day of action” looks mostly like protests, panel discussions, and education events, as opposed to violent direct action that happened during the Atlanta, Georgia-based Stop Cop City campaign
Military / Strategic Activity / Deployments –
USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) conducted a second set of drills with the Italian carrier ITS Cavour (CVH-550), this time in U.S. Central Command on Friday.
Meanwhile, USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75) is in the North Sea and conducting drills with Standing NATO Maritime Group 1 (SNMG1), will soon conduct joint drills with the Royal Navy’s Prince of Wales Carrier Strike Group, formally known as the U.K. Carrier Strike Group and the Norwegian Armed Forces.
OBSERVATIONS - With tensions in the ME one has to question having our CSGs out playing elsewhere.
POLITICAL FRONT –
Merchan sentencing of trump - Nov 25th
**** Remember, most polls are designed to shape opinion, not reflect it. ****
****Notably, Democrats historically have an edge in support in national polls due to the large strangleholds on registered voters in the largest blue states of California and New York that do not impact the Electoral College but can skew the popular vote and a national poll.****
***
Warning for discernment over the next couple weeks. PR and propaganda will be spinning intensely with reports/stories of this or that in each campaign. Voter influencing and demoralizing are top of the list. Key polls to watch are state level with secondary to national polls. Common sense says they are skewed to influence as well, but are generally being forced to shift to more accurately depict what people think. Further great caution on using the betting “polls” as absolutes.
***
Labour activists from Britain have come to the US to campaign for harris.
Trump’s campaign has made a complaint to the FEC saying the “illegal foreign assistance” is a “another feeble attempt in a long line of anti-American election interference”
Prime Minister Keir Starmer has tried to play down the row, telling the BBC Labour has long sent volunteers to US elections
OBSERVATION - Some of the brits claim that they’ve done this in the past. So, what. This is foreign assistance and interference in OUR election and they have no inherent rights to be here campaigning for anyone.
Biden / Harris Watch –
While harris tries to bash trump over schedule changes - claiming exhaustion - harris has dropped off the radar for couple days to “prepare” for some media interviews. This has left some scratching their heads - with the campaigns coming into the final stretch she is isolating for interview preps?
China –
The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Higgins (DDG 76) and Royal Canadian Navy Halifax-class frigate HMCS Vancouver (FFH 331) conducted a routine Taiwan Strait transit on Oct. 20 (local time) through waters where high-seas freedom of navigation and overflight apply in accordance with international law.
NOTE - this transit seems to be timed as a response to recent Chinese efforts to intimidate Taiwan via ‘blockade’ exercise and live fire events.
North/South Korea –
Reports suggest North Korea has sent fighter pilots to Russia to potentially assist in the Ukraine war, amid shortages of Russian pilots according to Newsweek. South Korean media indicated that North Korean pilots were dispatched to Vladivostok ahead of ground troop deployment.
S Korea has also sent a message to Moscow encouraging them to stop the effort to integrate NK troops into the fight in Ukraine.
SK has also warned that should the integration of NK forces continue, they may start sending Ukraine military aid and assistance.
Russia -
*****
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese leader Xi Jinping have discussed the Ukraine war and other global issues at a meeting on the sidelines of the 16th annual BRICS Summit being held in the Russian city of Kaza, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has confirmed. Peskov hailed the bilateral meeting as “very open” and “constructive.”
***
(ISW). Georgia’s Oct. 26 parliamentary elections will likely be one of the country’s most significant elections since its independence and present the Kremlin opportunities to derail Georgia’s long-term Euro-Atlantic integration efforts and reestablish Russian influence.
The election outcome will likely determine whether Georgia abandons its longstanding policy of aligning with the West and instead deepens economic and political ties with the Kremlin in line with the pro-Kremlin positions the ruling Georgian Dream party has increasingly taken.
The Kremlin will likely attempt to leverage the ruling Georgian Dream party’s increasingly pro-Russian narratives that justify Russian violence against the sovereignty and territorial integrity of post-Soviet countries such as Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine. Georgian Dream has increasingly positioned itself as favoring the Kremlin, explicitly promoting enhanced Russia-Georgia bilateral ties while gradually distancing the country from its long-standing pro-Western trajectory.
Economic Impact –
Next week, the U.S. will tighten anti-Russian sanctions, according to Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen. The new measures will target intermediaries in third countries supplying critical military components to Russia.
European diplomats plan to resume discussions on tightening economic sanctions against Russian energy, once the EU presidency passes from Hungary to Poland in January 2025.
Ukraine –
WEATHER FORECAST – Temperatures in the 40-60s with scattered showers in the forecast.
24 HOUR ROUND UP –
Russia launched 1767 Shahed-type strike drones in last 30 days.
Also for the first time Ukrainian General staff reported 165 glide bombs(KAB, FAB with gliding module) were dropped on a single day, with 117 daily average since the beginning of September
Russia has launched a series of large attacks south of Pokrovsk to capture key terrain and highway access. This is building into one of the biggest fights in months.
Ukraine Kursk Offensive-
According to several sources, Ukrainian units have conducted counterattacks near Zelenyi Shlyakh in the Kursk region, and encircled a group of Russian forces that likely overstretched their attacks.
Bakhmut / Chasiv Yar -
Chaziv Yar months ago was one of the biggest battlefields as Russia was able to seize on poorly coordinated troop rotations in and around Bakhmut to press forward with a breakthrough. Now, many many months later, Chaziv Yar is still under Ukraine control and Russia attacks have failed to exploit their initial successes.
Outlook —
Russia increasing armored attacks as earlier indicated, stressing Ukraine defenses on the southern/western flank of the Russian Pokrovsk salient/axis. If captured, Russia could place even greater stress on the defense of Pokrovsk.
Continued growth in the use of Shahed drones and glide bombs is being noted. Of the two, glide bombs have had the most devastating effect where used. However, it appears that Russia is using them in secondary areas more than along their primary attack zones. Kharkiv has received the brunt of these bombs while their offensive actions have stalled out and show no evidence of regaining any traction soon.
Watching Russian efforts in the Pokrovsk region.
ISRAEL –
Key overnight developments -
- SoS Blinken met with Netanyahu yesterday.
- Growing internet rumblings that the source of the classified document leaks is Ariane Tabatabai.
——— GENERAL ——————————-
According to Ynet; during his visit yesterday to Israel, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken asked Prime Minister Netanyahu to “Decrease the Scale” of their planned retaliatory strike against Iran, with Defense Minister Gallant stating that U.S. support following the strike will provide a boost to regional deterrence.
Israeli media: “The army has completed its preparations for an attack on Iran and raised the alert level in air defense systems.”
Unconfirmed reports that Israel estimates that Iran will respond immediately if attacked.
Israel has refused to release Yahya Sinwar’s body until the hostages have been returned.
According to a U.S. Defense Official; the deployment of a second Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) Battery to Israel is being considered, alongside the stationing of additional American troops and defensive assets in the country.
***
RUMINT. The FBI and Defense Intelligence Agency are reported to be Investigating the Office of Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations. Two suspects that are floating around the inter webs are Christopher Maier and even more strongly, Ariane Tabatabai who is the chief of staff of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations.
Pentagon Press Secretary, Major General Pat Ryder has officially denied reports from several media outlets yesterday that Ariane Tabatabai, was a “Subject of Interest”. However, that hasn’t dropped her off the radar screen. In Oct. 2023, she faced credible allegations she was spying for Iran. She is of Iranian descent and has close personal and family ties to the IRGC. She has had documented communications prior to her job in the govt with IRGC leaders.
OBSERVATION - Tabatabai is one of many Iranian linked govt employees that are burrowed deeply into the DoD and intelligence alphabet agencies. Congressional republicans have raised red flags over their appointments and security access over the past year, but were summarily ignored by the regime. The fact that she has such access to Sr IRGC leadership by itself should be disqualifying for her to hold her position.
RELATED - National Security Communications Advisor John Kirby said the Biden administration does not expect further leaks, after classified documents analyzing Israeli military preparations were leaked on Telegram. Kirby said the Biden administration has spoken to Israel about the leaked classified documents.
——— GAZA FRONT / HAMAS ———————————-
IDF continuing to tighten the loop around Hamas in N Gaza.
——— LEBANON / HEZBOLLAH——————————-
Hezbollah’s biggest Christian ally has broken ties with the terrorist organization. This division could also create new political equations within the Christian community, as the Christian leadership will now have the opportunity to pursue its own agenda independent of Hezbollah. Along with this, Hezbollah’s relations with other religious groups such as Shia, Sunni and Druze communities may also weaken, which is likely to increase political instability in the country.
Following a request yesterday by the director of the Al-Sahel General Hospital, who called on reporters to come to the hospital for a tour to prove that a Hezbollah bunker was not beneath the Hospital; a large group of Lebanese reporters arrived at the hospital yesterday, but found that a door which was referred to by the Arab spokesman for the Israel Defense Force, as an entrance to the bunker, was locked and being guarded by several armed men. Several reporters from LBCI sent a message to Hezbollah’s media representative, requesting entry through the door, but were denied.
IAF continued to dismantle Hezbollah ammo dumps, rocket facilities and financial institutions across lebanon with particularly heavy strikes on Beirut and Tyre.
——— SYRIA / HEZBOLLAH / IRAN———————————-
An Israeli raid targeted the town of Tfail overnight with reports of casualties
———WEST BANK——————————-
———“ISLAMIC RESISTANCE” ———————————
The Islamic Resistance in Iraq: We attacked for the second time a vital target in the Golan Heights using drones
Israeli army spokesman: Air force intercepts drone in Syrian airspace launched from east
———INTERNATIONAL ——————————-
The Saudi Al-Hadath channel, citing its “sources,” reports that officials at the Iranian embassy in Beirut were involved in the assassination attempt on Prime Minister Netanyahu. According to the sources, the Israeli investigation has revealed Iranian involvement in launching a drone targeting Netanyahu’s residence.
(Open Source Intel on X)
——— ASSESSMENT AND FUTURE OPERATIONS ————————-
Israel’s attacks on Hezbollah financial network is being assessed as causing substantial difficulties for the terrorists. Israel is also playing the Hezbollah has all the money angle as a way to turn Lebanese people against them. The reveal of the bunker under the hospital, now apparently confirmed to the extent that there is a guarded metal door right where Israel said there would be is not playing well for Hezbollah. Lebanon is needing money to handle the basics for the country, now facing additional costs with fall out from the war. A half billion in currency and gold would go a long way towards filling that need. So the question is how long will the Lebanese govt wait before confiscating those assets?
Blinken continued the losing talk to Netanyahu - please don’t bomb Iran, stop destroying hezbollah and Hamas and allow Hamas to rebuild their forces. I don’t know why he wasted the jet fuel flying to Israel to pass that message.
With the campaign against Hamas and Hezbollah moving forward, the spotlight remains focused on Israel’s response to the Oct 1 missile attack by Iran. With the Iranian supported assassination attempt via a drone strike on Netanyahu, it appear that all is back in play. Timing is up to Netanyahu and the closer it gets to the election day in the US, the greater the political computations come in.
The reports of an ‘immediate’ response from Iran may have some legitimacy given the rapid deployment of a THAAD battery and the potential deployment of a second. But just how immediate is immediate? For both previous attacks, the delay was measured in weeks. For them to respond in the days time frame, it means that rockets are present and ready to fire almost as I type. This would be a risky posture given that Israel is likely to target missile launch and related facilities in the strike - disrupting the ‘immediate’ nature of any response.
For now, it is a waiting game.
Iraq -
Iraqi Prime Minister Muhammad al-Sudani announced the assassination of the leader of ISIS in Iraq
Syria -
Iran-backed militias targeted the Conoco military base in Deir ez-Zur, eastern Syria, with several rockets
In response to the attack, the international coalition aircraft targeted militia sites near the town of Khasham, east of Deir Ezzor, with a raid.