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.
Thanks, Godzilla.
You're right - they need to stay out of our elections. Also someone has organized a large group of illegals to 'cross the border' around election time. And since democrats accuse us of what they're doing - maybe the plan for democrats is to cause violence and destabilize elections...
CW2 / Domestic violence - Moderate THREAT - up dated Oct 20, 2024
The Bucks County McDonald received threatening phone calls and social media messages following Trump’s visit, Jim Worthington, the leader of Pennsylvania’s delegation at the Republican National Convention and one of the key organizers of the Trump McDonald’s visit, told the DCNF. As a precaution to protect his employees, the franchise’s owner Derek Giacomantonio has retained the private security force he’d hired in the lead up to the event, said Worthington, who was communicating on behalf of Giacomantonio.
Despite some threats, the vast majority of the community has reportedly been supportive, with Worthington telling the DCNF, “the community is really embracing it, and a lot of people have come in here since Sunday just to patronize the restaurant,” adding that, “a lot of people anticipated [a boycott] would happen, because that is typical for some Democratic supporters to do, but [the business] hasn’t been hurt.”
OBSERVATION - This is the Mickey Ds that trump was at. Take these threats and project them onto the rest of the country in the event of a trump win at the polls. The left continues to be primed to react violently - see harris’ recent comments equating trump to hitler - again. Should threats become reality, the left could awaken the silent elements of the right who just want to live their lives. The resultant push back could create a different level of political violence.
NOTE - Threats have also been made to citizens in Pennsylvania displaying pro-Trump materials - reported in previous posts.
Military / Strategic Activity / Deployments –
The House of Representatives has made a significant decision that could alter the landscape of military service in America. They’ve passed an updated version of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) which includes a provision for automatic draft registration for men. This move raises critical questions about equality and the responsibilities of citizenship.
In a pivotal shift, the Senate Armed Services Committee has also backed a version of the NDAA that would extend automatic registration to women. If enacted, this legislation would require women to register for the Selective Service, placing them on the same footing as their male counterparts. This move has ignited a heated debate about gender equality and the role of women in the armed forces.
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.
***
Election officials in Maricopa County, Arizona, announced that it will likely take 10-13 days to tabulate all the ballots cast in the upcoming presidential election next month.
“We do expect that it will take between 10 and 13 days to complete tabulation of all of the ballots that come in, but we ask for the community’s patience,” Deputy Elections Director Jennifer Liewer said, according to 12News, the local NBC affiliate.
“We want to make sure that this is a secure process, but we also want to make sure that it is an accurate process,” she continued.
A little over two million people in Maricopa County are expected to vote in the presidential election in two weeks and over 400,000 people have already voted early.
OBSERVATION - Many are saying that this is stinking to high heaven and fraught with built in vote fraud. There is absolutely no reason for such a delay in today’s modern world.
***
The Atlantic magazine (Jeffrey Goldberg - author) has ramped up its diatribes against trump by an order of magnitude this week, publishing lies that are almost instantly rebutted by the truth. The latest is a lie is trump’s help for a family of a fallen service member. The sister of the soldier immediately called BS to it.
This is a desperate Hail Mary attempt, an “October Surprise,” intended to change the course of the election .
Biden / Harris Watch –
If harris was hoping to gain ground on the CNN town hall hosted by Anderson Cooper, she better recheck her numbers again. At best pundits considered her presentation lack luster, and with even Anderson getting frustrated with her dodging the big questions many see it as another dumpster fire.
Axelrod couldn’t even defend her performance on CNN tonight by Kamala Harris. ‘When you’ve lost David Axelrod …’
Axelrod on Kamala Harris’ town hall performance:
“When she doesn’t want to answer a question, her habit is to kind of go to word salad city”
“She would acknowledge no concerns about any of the administration’s policies and that’s a mistake”
“You do want to relate to the people in front of you. She didn’t do a lot of that. She didn’t ask them questions. She didn’t address them particularly. She was giving set pieces too much.”
https://x.com/RealSaavedra/status/1849305374299406710
Harris actually paused her campaign for TWO DAYS to ‘prepare’ for that appearance.
Cyber attacks/warfare – Moderate ALERT as of Oct 20, 2024
Hackers linked to Iran’s Revolutionary Guards are preparing for “more direct influence operations” as the US election nears, according to Microsoft. The hacking group is called Cotton Sandstorm by Microsoft, which says they are actively scouting election-related websites.
Illegal Immigration –
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has identified hundreds of migrants in the United States who may be connected to an international crime syndicate originating from Venezuela, according to NBC News.
DHS officials suspect more than 600 foreign nationals living in the U.S. have ties to Tren de Aragua, according to data obtained by NBC News. Around 100 of the 600 migrants that DHS has identified as “subjects of interest” are confirmed members of the international gang, while others could be witnesses, victims or are members themselves.
https://dailycaller.com/2024/10/23/dhs-identifies-600-suspected-tren-de-aragua/
OBSERVATION - Why are they all not in jail and being deported out of the country?
RELATED - Discussions appearing on the interwebs that Tren de Aragua and MS-13 may soon be facing off for control of some areas of the US.
China –
China’s wealthiest citizens are resorting to dubiously legal methods to get their money out of the country as economic turmoil and a failing property market loom over the nation, according to the Wall Street Journal Wednesday.
The richest in the country are using various methods to circumvent the $50,000 foreign exchange limit, such as buying cryptocurrency, paintings or overpaying for imports among other methods, according to the WSJ. From the last half of 2023 to June this year, over $250 billion in assets has left the country, according to a WSJ analysis of Census and Economic Information Center data.
https://thelibertydaily.com/chinas-richest-are-desperate-get-their-fortunes-country/
OBSERVATION - Chinese news and govt officials work hard to keep the lid on China’s economic woes, but things keep leaking out. The Evergrande and associated property crashes along with the very sluggish manufacturing sector are a thorn in Xi’s efforts to ramp up the country for eventual war over Taiwan with the west. A lot of national resources are being expended trying to hold the economy together.
***
China sailed the Liaoning Carrier Strike Group through the Taiwan Strait on Tuesday night, according to the Taiwanese Ministry of National Defense. This follows Chinese live fire drills at the northern mouth of the Strait on Tuesday morning and a U.S.-Canada Strait Transit on Sunday.
****
(FO) Taiwan continues to discuss preparations for a Chinese blockade of the island. The Defense Minister announced that the country’s has less than 14 days worth of natural gas stockpiled. The Minister expects to mitigate this by reactivating coal power plants, leaning on the much larger strategic coal stockpile, rationing, and increasing gas storage facilities.
OBSERVATION - The blockade scenario continues to be the most likely way that China will attempt to force the surrender of Taiwan.
North/South Korea –
President Yoon says South Korea could consider sending arms to Ukraine depending on North Korea-Russia military cooperation
Japan –
In addition to new frigates ordered in 2023, Japan has decided to also build a similar number of 4,800-ton New FFMs. Japan plans to build twelve new frigates in five years. Now Japan is also producing ten of the New FFMs as well.
Until 2023 Japan planned to build 24 new FFM Mogami class missile frigates. These were procured in two batches of twelve each. Japan currently has ten frigates. These 3,900-ton FFM ships are an example of successful innovation and speed in implementing new concepts. The New FFMs have similar capabilities as the Mogami’s but carry more missiles
https://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htsurf/articles/20241024094.aspx#gsc.tab=0
OBSERVATION - Japan is taking its build up of naval forces very seriously and quickly in order to have an adequate deterrent against the growing Chinese naval presence in the region and the associated threats to Japanese islands being claimed by China.
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.”
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres calls on Russian President Putin for a “just peace” in Ukraine, during the BRICS summit in the Russian city of Kazan
Russian Personnel Issues –-
According to the Financial Times, Putin is betting that North Korean troops will help retake the Kursk region from Ukrainian control. Around 12,000 soldiers from North Korea will reportedly be sent to Russia for this purpose, aiming to reclaim territories held by Ukrainian forces since August.
Ukraine –
WEATHER FORECAST – Temperatures in the 50s with scattered showers in the forecast.
24 HOUR ROUND UP –
Overnight, Russia attacked Ukraine with both missiles and drones.
Shot down:
0/2 Kh-22 cruise missiles
0/2 Kh-59 cruise missiles
40/50 Shahed drones
Another 7 Shahed drones were taken down by electronic warfare. Two drones returned to Russia. One drone is still within Ukraine.
Intense fighting being reported in the villages of Serebrianka and Mykolaivka in Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk region.
Pokrovsk axis (Formerly Ocheretyne) -
Ukraine reports that heavy fighting has gripped towns on the approach to Pokrovsk, the next key logistical town in the Russian military’s westward push in Donetsk.
The situation in Selydove was worsened for Ukrainian troops. With a high possibility that the extent of Russia’s advance is deeper. Russians planted their flag close to the central part of Selydove, south of the Solona River. Although still marked as a gray zone, the area south of this location is high likely Russian controlled. This follows ongoing Russian attacks, mainly coming from the south and east.
Outlook —
Russia is pressing hard towards Pokrovsk, a key town that could help anchor its efforts in Donbas and inhibit Ukraine counter attacks. They have a limited window of opportunity.
Poland –
South Korea, Poland agree to bolster joint response against North Korea’s troop dispatch to Russia
ISRAEL –
Key overnight developments -
- IAF selectively targeted a building next to the Iranian embassy in Beirut where it was believed that Iranian and Hezbollah were working together to coordinate the drone and missile attacks on Israel.
——— GENERAL ——————————-
Authorities in Tehran released a blood-splattered mural depicting photos of Israeli hostages abducted by Hamas on October 7 with the text “no hostage will be released” in Hebrew, Iran International and local media reported. The mural was reportedly put up in Tehran’s Palestine Square on Tuesday, according to Tehran Times.
U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin told his Israeli counterpart on Wednesday that Washington had concerns about strikes against the Lebanese armed forces while urging Israel to take steps to ensure the safety of the Lebanese army and the U.N. peacekeeping mission in Lebanon, the Pentagon said.
——— GAZA FRONT / HAMAS ———————————-
IDF reports the apprehension overnight of 200 terrorists from the N Gaza strip area, in addition to the dozens reportedly killed.
——— LEBANON / HEZBOLLAH——————————-
Lebanese Christian Member of Parliament Nadim Gemayel:
Calls for the total disarming of Lebanon’s Hezbollah before elections are held in Lebanon
Reports of a targeted strike hitting the second floor of a supermarket building in Al-Janah, near the Iranian Embassy in Lebanon, just hours after the IDF spokesperson claimed Iranian advisors were stationed at the embassy aiding Hezbollah forces with missile and drone attacks on Israel.
Overnight, IAF struck 160 Hezbollah targets throughout Lebanon, with Beirut Hezbollah related sites particularly hard, many being ammo storage and manufacturing facilities.
The IDF said that Hezbollah launched at least 90 rockets from Lebanon into Israel over the past day.
IDF soldiers raided several underground bases belonging to Hezbollah’s special unit, the Radwan Forces, the military announced on Thursday. The bases were intended for use by the Radwan Forces as part of Hezbollah’s “Conquer the Galilee” plan.
——— SYRIA / HEZBOLLAH / IRAN———————————-
The Israeli Air Force carried out a raid a short while ago on the Orontes River Bridge in the town of Arjoun, Al-Qusayr countryside, Homs Governorate
Syria’s state-run SANA news agency, citing a military source, says a soldier was killed and seven others were wounded in Israeli airstrikes early this morning. The report says two sites were struck in the Kafr Sousa neighborhood of the capital Damascus, and another military site was hit in the Homs area. The strikes also caused “material damage,” SANA adds.
———“ISLAMIC RESISTANCE” ———————————
Initial reports of U.S. air strikes against Houthi sites in the area around Hodeida International Airport in Western Yemen.
———INTERNATIONAL ——————————-
China’s Xi calls for ceasefire in Gaza, stop to ‘spread of war in Lebanon’ in address to BRICS leaders
Guterres: Israel’s targeting of UNIFIL forces is unacceptable and amounts to a war crime. An immediate ceasefire must be established in Lebanon, resolution 1701 must be implemented, and its sovereignty must be respected
Putin: Iran-Israel confrontation puts Middle East on brink of war
A senior member of Hamas, the Palestinian terrorist group that controls Gaza, Mousa Abu Marzouk has arrived in Moscow on a planned visit, Russian state-run news agency RIA Novosti reported on Wednesday, citing a diplomatic source. Hamas politburo member, Abu Marzouk, intends to hold a series of meetings with Russian officials, RIA said without providing any further details.
——— ASSESSMENT AND FUTURE OPERATIONS ————————-
Operations against Hamas continue to degrade and eliminate much of the remaining forces in N Gaza.
In Lebanon, Israel continues to methodically advance into the southern areas, taking a lot of time to destroy in detail Hezbollah bunkers and other facilities in the border area. The IAF continues to hit major ammo related sites in and around Beirut, areas at the start of the war Hezbollah warned Israel not to touch. Hezbollah is only able to shoot off fewer and fewer rockets on a daily basis. This is a combination of poor coordination as well as a reflection of the decimation of Hezbollah’s rocket / missile stockpiles, now estimated to be less than one third of their initial levels.
Political ruptures are growing between Hezbollah and other, smaller groups that have been generally kept under thumb since the Lebanese civil war. With Hezbollah’s loss of combat capability and strategic reserves, these other parties are becoming bolder in their demands to minimize and exclude Hezbollah from its essential rulership of Lebanon.
Clock is ticking on Israel’s strike on Iran. At this stage, keeping Iran on edge for this long has an effect of overall lowering their readiness for an attack and may result in making mistakes and becoming complacent which an Israeli strike will take advantage of.
Lebanon -
Lebanon’s caretaker PM Mikati: Lebanon could deploy 8,000 additional troops in south as part of ceasefire agreement.
OBSERVATION - Combined with the demands for a demilitarized / disarmed Hezbollah, the Lebanese govt is becoming bolder.
Turkey –
Turkish Defense Minister announces bombing of 47 sites in “northern Iraq and Syria”
The Turkish air and artillery strikes on civilian infrastructure in Northern Syria continue. Since the early morning hours the Turkish military carried out airstrikes on: - Kobane city center; Bakery in Amude; Train station in the Assyrian/Christian neighbourhood in Qamishli; 3 airstrikes in Rmelan, one of the airstrikes targeted the electricity power station, and Rmelan is now without electricity and heavy artillery strikes on the rural areas of Al Shahba. Numbers of civilian casualties being reported.
OBSERVATIONS - Turkey’s attacks are clearly indiscriminate and reflect the hypocrisy of their stance towards Israel’s response to Hamas/Hezbollah’s terrorism.
Mexico -
Reports that immigrants are beginning to surge thru Mexico in an effort to make it into the US in light of uncertainty of the election.