CW2 / Domestic violence - Heightened THREAT
July 25 - Protest of Netanyahu’s appearance before congress.
NOTE - I mis-dated the Netanyahu speech to this month.
U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy formally declared gun violence a public health crisis on Tuesday.
He also called for a ban on assault weapons and civilian use of large-capacity magazines …
Medical organizations publicly supported his declaration in the press release, including the American Medical Association, American Academy of Pediatrics, American Public Health Association, American College of Surgeons, and the YWCA.
https://notthebee.com/article/us-surgeon-general-declares-gun-violence-a-public-health-crisis
OBSERVATION-
Essentially, he is calling for-
- Firearm Carry Bans
- Gun Confiscation Laws
- “Assault Weapons” Bans
- Magazine Capacity Limits
- Storage Requirements
- Gun Registration Checks
His ‘advise’ does not carry the weight of law, so his proclamations are at this stage only words. They do set the stage for another avenue that gun grabbers will utilize as they prepare legislation and regulations to accomplish the goals of this declaration. On the worst end of things, the far rumored declaration of another health emergency by the regime a la the wuhan pandemic kind could try to force the issue.
NOTE - On a globalist side, the effort to switch the debate over guns into a ‘health’ arena is one the WHO is attempting to weave into their so far failed attempts to modify the global pandemic treaty.
***
In response to Sunday’s violent clash between anti-Semitic protesters and Israel supporters at a local synagogue, Los Angeles mayor Karen Bass (D.) announced she is considering a mask ban during protests within the city.
Speaking to the public on Monday, Bass said the city was examining several issues related to public protests, including “the idea of people wearing masks at protests.” Many of the anti-Semitic protesters on Sunday were wearing headdresses and masks, obscuring their identity from police. Pro-Palestine protesters blocked the entrance to the Adas Torah synagogue and beat, wrestled, kicked, and bear-sprayed those trying to defend the house of worship.
OBSERVATION - These pro-Hamas and leftist demonstrators rely on keeping their identity secret to avoid arrest at a later time as well as to permit them to hold jobs and social status that would be threatened with unmasking. Antifa has been masking long before the wuhan plandemic, but the plandemic provides ‘cover’ for the use of masks by other participants - under the guise of health protections.
At one of the university protests, those arrested were de-masked and pubic photos were released. If this became more of an aggressive policy - unmasking the perps - I would suspect that leftist participation may drop considerably.
Economy- MODERATE Threat - as of June 26, 2024
Threat status upgrade due to increasing evidence that the economy may have or has already reached a tipping point towards a more clearly defined recession, at a minimum.
****
Consumer confidence in June dropped as people expressed growing pessimism about the short-term prospects for the economy.
The Conference Board’s consumer confidence index fell to 100.4 in June, down from 101.3 the month before, the group announced on Tuesday. That is another warning signal for President Joe Biden, who has been trying to shore up support for his handling of the economy.
The index that gauges consumers’ assessment of the labor market and business conditions increased from last month, although the headline number was dragged down by the Expectations Index, which is based on consumers’ short-term outlook for income, business, and labor market conditions.
That index fell to 73 in June, down from 74.5 in May. If the index is below 80, it typically signals a recession ahead, according to the Conference Board. It has been in recession warning territory for some five months.
OBSERVATION - Key indicators like this continue to flash red warning lights in regards to the probability of a recession in the very near future. As noted, the indicator has been in the red zone for 5 months now.
***
U.S. auto sales through the first half of the year are expected to be up by 2.9% compared to a year ago, but there are concerns that the auto industry may not be able to continue that momentum through year-end.
Vehicle inventory levels are growing, incentives are increasing and there’s growing uncertainty surrounding the economy, interest rates and U.S. presidential election, according to Cox Automotive.
The auto data and research firm expects sales growth to slow in the next six months to 15.7 million units, roughly a 1.3% increase from 2023. And, unlike in recent years, growth is coming from commercial sales rather than more profitable consumer sales.
“Overall, we’re expecting some weakness in the coming few months,” said Cox chief economist Jonathan Smoke during a midyear review briefing Tuesday. “We basically are making some assumptions that we can’t quite hold the pace that we’ve been seeing. But we’re not expecting a collapse either.”
OBSERVATION - Economic weakness in that the consumer cannot afford the prices and the interest rates. Article notes that this may work to the advantage of some consumers who have access to the credit necessary to purchase later this year as prices are expected to drop as dealers attempt to offload excess inventory.
***
Due to inflation eating away at earnings and less supply of affordable housing, the majority of Americans today cannot afford median rent prices, according to a new report by the real estate company Redfin.
The analysis comes as other reports indicate that both homeowners and renters are struggling with high housing costs due to inflationary pressures, an inflated housing market, low supply and demand for affordable housing.
“Just 39% of renters make enough to afford the median-priced apartment,” the report states, with renters needing $11,000 more to afford a typical apartment in major U.S. cities.
“The typical U.S. renter household earns an estimated $54,712 per year. That’s 17.3% less – or $11,408 in dollar terms – than the $66,120 a renter must earn to afford monthly rent for the median-priced U.S. apartment ($1,653),” according to the analysis.
OBSERVATION - In spite of all the spit shine the regime has tried to place on the economy, down to earth reality continues to bite their narrative. Overall cost of living is hurting Americans and biden’s policies are only making it worse.
***
Some Wall Street banks, worried that landlords of vacant and struggling office buildings won’t be able to pay off their mortgages, have begun offloading their portfolios of commercial real estate loans hoping to cut their losses.
It’s an early but telling sign of the broader distress brewing in the commercial real estate market, which is hurting from the twin punches of high interest rates, which make it harder to refinance loans, and low occupancy rates for office buildings — an outcome of the pandemic.
Military / Strategic Activity / Deployments –
The Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group (CSG) will depart Busan on Wednesday to take part in the inaugural U.S.-South Korea-Japan multi-domain exercise Freedom Edge said Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol on Tuesday during a visit of carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71).
Meanwhile, the U.S. Marine Corps and Japan Ground Self Defense Force have announced that they will carry out joint drills around Japan’s southwest islands that will begin on Friday while People’s Liberation Army Navy Dongdiao class surveillance ships and a Chinese unmanned aerial vehicle have been sighted operating around Japan.
On Tuesday, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol visited carrier Theodore Roosevelt while it was docked in Busan, South Korea and made a speech to the crew.
“Tomorrow, the Roosevelt departs to participate in Freedom Edge, the first-ever trilateral multi-domain military exercise between the United States, South Korea, Japan, and South Korea,”, said Yoon according to a release. “Our shared liberal democratic values, along with our alliance, will serve as another powerful deterrent.”
POLITICAL FRONT –
Jun 27 - first debate
July 15 RNC convention in Milwaukee, WI
August 19 DNC convention in Chicago, IL
***
The squad took a big hit last night with Bowman being primaries out of his house seat. Other members of the squad are facing similar removal at their primaries.
Biden / Harris Watch –
MSM is already attempting to down grade expectations for biden in the upcoming debate, in essence indicating that just showing up would be a victory.
Illegal Immigration –
The Biden administration is closing the nation’s largest ICE detention center — despite some 7.4 million migrants remaining free in the US while awaiting court hearings or deportation.
The South Texas Family Residential Center, in Dilley, Texas — about 75 miles southwest of San Antonio — is capable of holding 2,400 migrants.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) said it will replace the facility with 1,600 new beds at other centers in the region.
Former Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) field office director John Fabbricatore told The Post that the decision shows not just a “lapse in judgment, but a deliberate act of amnesty through inaction.”
https://nypost.com/2024/06/24/us-news/biden-admin-is-closing-the-largest-ice-detention-center-in-us/
OBSERVATION - Of course this is a deliberate act.
Russia -
Russia called in the US ambassador to lodge complaints and protests over that Ukrainian attack using US ATACMS missiles that ended up causing casualties to Russian vacationers on a beach adjacent to an active Russian military airbase in the middle of a war zone.
Additional photographs of missile debris from the beach area continue to be identified as belonging to Russian ADA missiles, not ATACMS.
Ukraine –
WEATHER FORECAST – Temperatures continue in the 70 - 80s and fair.
24 HOUR ROUND UP –
Russia continues to press its attacks along most of the eastern front, no significant gains of territory reported. Attacks are part of the ongoing offensive now being dubbed the “Summer Offensive”.
Unconfirmed reports that Russian forces in the Chasiv Yar front are largely depleted and are relying more and more on meat attacks that are including the walking wounded from previous fighting.
Ukrainian forces are reportedly close to regaining the town of Vovchansk north of Kharkiv. Vovchansk was one of the major objectives who’s capture was ordered by putin.
Outlook —
Continued hard fighting on the ground with no evidence of any potential Russian break throughs imminent. Although being dubbed the “summer” offensive, there is no evidence of new, uncommitted forces being brought into the fight. Russia was able to coordinate the attacks of many elements early in the ‘spring’ offensive phase, encircling and bypassing Ukraine forces to gain ground. Now it appears that they have resumed the mindless ‘meat’ attacks and have gone back to ignoring maneuver . More and more, Russian attacks have company and smaller sized units attempting to rush across open areas to get to their objective - only to be decimated by mines, drones and artillery. These speed attacks are increasingly having to use unarmored vehicles due to the heavy losses of armor, making the losses even higher.
This combined with a renewed ability of Ukraine to strike major assembly, command and logistics centers once unobtainable for them is beginning to take its toll. This tactic is at its peak against Russian forces in Crimea. Air defense units and Russian airbases continue to be under severe pressure. Between available ATACMS and its modified Neptune missile, the Kerch Strait Bridge is now very vulnerable, and it is only a matter of time before another attempt to take it out - permanently - is attempted.
Europe / NATO General –
Macron has warned the public that “civil war” awaits France if they fail to vote for his brand of centrist neo-liberalism in the upcoming legislative elections.
The embattled French leader, who’s party is trailing in third place in the snap elections he called, said that the “response of the extreme right” to France’s current problems would lead to insecurity “because it refers people to a religion or an origin, that is what divides them and pushes them towards civil war,” Le Figaro reports.
OBSERVATION - If Macron loses power, the implications of that will reverberate throughout Europe. Many, if not most, are fed up with the invasion of ‘migrants’ from Africa and the middle east and the associated increase in crime and social tensions.
ISRAEL –
——— GENERAL ——————————-
Lest we forget - there are still hostages being held in Gaza.
***
Hamas’s political office denies that Hamas is planning to move its headquarters from Qatar to Baghdad
Gantz: We have the ability to darken Lebanon and degrade a large part of Hezbollah’s capabilities within days.
——— GAZA FRONT ———————————-
Violent clashes between the Hamas and the Israeli army in the Tal Al-Sultan neighborhood, west of Rafah.
Extensive air and artillery strikes in central and northern Gaza.
———WEST BANK——————————-
Extensive Israeli security activity throughout the West Bank region, dozens of arrests.
——— FORECAST ————————-
Continued up tempo operations in the Rafah area as well as air/artillery strikes through the rest of Gaza.
Gantz’s comments about secret weapons and the ability to blackout large portions of Lebanon has cause some to express the question as to does Israel possess a non-nuclear EMP weapon of some kind. The US has experimented with such a weapon for well over a decade now, a device that can generate a high powered EMP pulse over a limited target area.
Success with any kind of a weapon will depend heavily on the vulnerability of targeted systems to such a pulse. Impoverished, the state of Lebanon may not have hardened communications systems - that costs money - that Hezbollah likely piggy backs off of. Destruction of the electronic devices that operate that system could seriously hamper Hezbollah’s command and control in the early stages of any war.
It is also unknown how susceptible Hezbollah electronic systems would be. One target would be the remote launching of rockets. Fry the brains of their newer rockets, preventing the ability to target. Again, comms being fried, leaving hezbollah struggling to coordinate their actions against an Israeli onslaught.
In short, Hezbollah /Iran likely haven’t thought about hardening their systems because they didn’t believe an EMP threat to be a realistic planning consideration.
Now the other side of the coin - is this a bluff by Israel?
Syria -
A MQ-9 Reaper UAV of the U.S. coalition came dangerously close to the Su-34 of the Russian Aerospace Forces in Syria, - Deputy Head of the Russian Center for the Reconciliation of Warring Parties, Major General Yuri Popov
OBSERVATION - Russia beginning to play the games with our drones. Russia has the history of flying dangerously around US and allied aircraft and to say a drone out maneuvered a manned SU-34 is ludicrous.
Thanks for domestic violence to targeted EMP and everything in between. BUMP!
Wait, don't the totalitarian thugs in the FBI have the means to track people by their cellphones? Or is that something they can only do IF the protesters are conservatives? Eff the bast*rds...
Globalism / Great Reset –
Globalists are at it again.
(FO) Denmark is planning to impose a livestock carbon tax beginning in 2030, and the Danish government said it hopes the move will inspire other countries to impose their own livestock carbon taxes.
OBSERVATIONS - Already enraged by demanded reductions in the sizes of herds, these taxes are designed to continue to force farmers to decrease those herds even further. Just like with green energy programs, efforts against cattle et al will only short the people in the long run - creating shortages and in this case, reduce exports to third world countries dependent on farmers for food. Can you say manufactured famine?
CW2 / Domestic violence - Heightened THREAT
July 25 - Protest of Netanyahu’s appearance before congress.
NOTE - I mis-dated the Netanyahu speech to this month.
***
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled 6-3 Wednesday in Murthy v. Missouri that challengers alleging the Biden regime colluded with social-media companies to remove content the government viewed as unfavorable did not have the legal right to sue. Therefore, the court did not rule on the merits of the case.
The High Court determined neither the Louisiana and Missouri attorneys general nor the five private individuals who brought the lawsuit had standing to seek an injunction against any of the government defendants.
OBSERVATION - Plaintiffs not having standing for the case, so the USSC rejects the plea. A common tactic the courts have recently applied for numerous cases - especially those in regards to the challenges to the 2020 election counts. It is a cowardly action for the court to avoid sticky issues. This decision doesn’t mean that the push to stop the regime from censoring our First Amendment rights, only that future plaintiffs have another hurdle to jump to gain court hearing. On the surface, this should have been a slam dunk, but I think politics and pressure from the deep state may be making inroads.
However the long term repercussions of this decisive indecision will be huge in that it opens wide the door for future censorship efforts and operations by the regime as we enter the most contested part of the election cycle in addition to all the other bombs lurking out there - from economic collapse, to WW3, to a plethora of other items.
***
Ngo on x -
“Antifa are making plans to try to shut down an evangelical Christian worship event in Portland on July 13. Last year they were recorded harassing black and brown worshippers in public. This account says they have to come up with propaganda or lies to “make the march look bad.””
OBSERVATION - Portland is the Mecca for Antifa and its followers, they will not stand for any interlopers. Given the spineless resolve of the city govt to protect its citizens, this Antifa action could get very violent.
Economy- MODERATE Threat - as of June 26, 2024
Threat status upgrade due to increasing evidence that the economy may have or has already reached a tipping point towards a more clearly defined recession, at a minimum.
Reports that the housing market is still staggering from high prices and high interest rates.
News that RV sales have improved. My take is that this is in response to the broad inability of the working class to get a home/apartment at a reasonable price. For a couple with potentially few kids, RV/trailers are priced more reasonable and in some cases provide more living space than apartments. Lower costs offset higher interest rates.
Military / Strategic Activity / Deployments –
H.R. 8774, or the “Department of Defense Appropriations Act,” the House was given notice that if the bill arrives on his desk, Biden will veto it because it isn’t gay or inclusive enough.
POLITICAL FRONT –
Jun 27 - first debate
July 15 RNC convention in Milwaukee, WI
August 19 DNC convention in Chicago, IL
***
Considerable attention is being directed towards tonight’s debate. Polling going into the debate suggest that poll Americans are yearning for substance on the leading issues that affect them personally, and not the law fare and character assassinations. Voters are leaning towards voting from their pocketbooks.
Rumors that per-debate Trump will announce is VP pick - an act designed to derail/deflate biden’s attacks.
Biden / Harris Watch –
Two judges hit the pause button on Monday, blocking Biden’s latest attempt to cancel student loans under the fancily named “Saving on a Valuable Education” (SAVE) repayment plan.
SAVE was supposed to kick off on July 1. However, Kansas and Missouri led the charge against Biden’s plan with multi-state lawsuits this spring.
The SAVE plan was set to “cancel” at least $156 billion in student loans, and by “cancel” they mean shifting that burden to taxpayers.
Missouri’s lawsuit claims this plan would hit American taxpayers with a $475 billion bill over the next decade.
https://notthebee.com/article/joe-bidens-latest-student-loan-scam-halted-by-federal-judges
OBSERVATION - biden continues to demonstrate his regime is lawless.
Illegal Immigration –
There are reports that the Texas National Guard using pepper balls against illegal border crossers.
Migrants at the border say they are being shot at with pepper balls by the Texas National Guard. The pepper ball guns are considered to be non-lethal. They shoot out a chemical that irritates people’s noses, eyes, and throats. Texas officials say that the pepper balls aren’t supposed to be shot directly at people, there have been complaints from migrants that they have been hit by pepper balls, which cause welts and bruises.
OBSERVATION - Texas’ efforts have reportedly reduced the flow of illegals into the state by nearly 80%. As border barriers improve, these numbers are expected to continue downward. TX also has been cleared by the USSC to continue to arrest illegals for being here illegally, action that is also deterring additional crossing. IMHO, pepper balls is a very good choice at keeping the illegals away.
China –
(FO) Taiwan’s annual exercise will take place from 22 to 26 July. For the first time, the new decentralized command structure will be used to practice blockade-breaking at night and during the day. Due to national security concerns, the exercise will also have minimal media exposure for the first time. Taiwan’s military says this is explicitly in preparation for war with China.
OBSERVATION - Note the key change in scenario planning - blockade breaking vs defeating an amphibious assault. That scenario is gaining greater credibility given recent Chinese exercises around Taiwan.
North/South Korea –
North Korea claims to have successfully launched a hypersonic missile yesterday. However observers in S Korea and Japan report that the test apparently failed early Wednesday. South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said the launch originated outside Pyongyang, and Japan’s defense ministry also said it detected a launch.
The south’s intelligence agencies are reportedly investigating, with officials saying it may have been a hypersonic missile that exploded midair. While there are no reports of damage, missile fragments were scattered up to 250 kilometers away, regional reports say. Japan said that before it failed the missile reached an altitude just over 60 miles and traveled a distance of 124 miles.
The missile carrying the reported intermediate-range hypersonic missile, the Hwasong-16B, uses solid fuel.
OBSERVATION - Some initial reports said NK tested a MIRV warhead and not a hypersonic one. From photos, the reported warhead is a glide variety, adjusting its final flight path once it returns into the atmosphere.
Japan –
The Japanese yen fell below 160 against the U.S. dollar on Wednesday, its lowest point in more than 37 years as Tokyo scrambled to determine what appropriate intervention measures to take.
The record fall of the yen follows Japanese and South Korean national forecasters expressing alarm on Tuesday after the depreciation of their currencies. The United States had placed Japan on its watch list of currency manipulators last week.
https://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2024/06/26/Japan-yen-falls-low-dollar/2521719416275/
OBSERVATION - A weakened Yen can make Japanese products less expensive for the US while making imports to Japan more expensive. Japan is heavily reliant on imports.
Russia -
*****
The Kremlin said on Thursday that Russia is considering a possible downgrading of diplomatic relations with the West due to the deeper involvement of the United States and its allies in the Ukraine war, though no decision has yet been made.
“The issue of lowering the level of diplomatic relations is a standard practice for states that face unfriendly or hostile manifestations,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters when asked about the possibility of such a move.
“Due to the growing involvement of the West in the conflict over Ukraine, the Russian Federation cannot but consider various options for responding to such hostile Western intervention in the Ukrainian crisis.”
https://www.newsmax.com/newsfront/russia-diplomatic-ties/2024/06/27/id/1170316/
NUCLEAR THREATS –
Medvedev says America will burn following Crimea missile incident blamed on United States.
Russian Personnel Issues –-
Growing evidence that N Korea is sending (or preparing to send) troops to fight for Russia in Ukraine.
OBSERVATIONS - Importing another military force/army can create a whole lot of challenges for Russian command and control. Language and command conflicts are a high possibility for problems.
Ukraine –
WEATHER FORECAST – Temperatures continue in the 70 - 80s and fair.
24 HOUR ROUND UP –
Ukrainian air defense shot down 23 Shahed drones, 4 Kaliber cruise missiles and Kh-59/69 missile. Explosions were reported in Kolomyya and in the Khmelnitsky region of western Ukraine.
Russia continues to press attacks all along the eastern front from Kupyansk south to Soledar. Russia also pressing the attack in the Ocheretyne area.
Outlook —
Introduction of N Korean force will not be a game changer for Moscow. It will likely cause more problems than it will solve as difficulties arise from integrating them into the Russian war machine in Ukraine. They likely will be given rear area tasks and not placed forward into the meat grinder on the front. The last thing putin needs at this time is to explain why the NK forces were chewed up and spit out attacking Ukrainians. No info that i’ve seen to indicate what other equipment the NK contingent will deploy with - tanks? Apcs? truck? etc.
How Russia is maintaining its forces on the front suggests that they have increasingly been regular military elements from stations in the country’s periphery. These forces were initially kept in place as part of the Russian overall defensive scheme. Now with the casualties (dead and wounded) exceeding 500,000 and a relatively limited number of conscripted and volunteer soldiers, Russian is depleting these other forces just like they are depleting their mothballed tank/armor/artillery/truck elements. Russia may soon have to reignite new rounds of forced conscription to maintain war efforts.
Also reaching the red line are Russian air defense losses. Reports now indicate that the last S300/400 units in the Russian far east have been moved to the Ukraine theater, and its only S500 operational battery moved to Crimea. Add to it the demands for ADA to protect soft targets like petroleum related facilities and military related bases are forcing the system hard. The upgrades to the Ukraine Neptune missiles now places Moscow in the cross hairs of a more powerful and more difficult to intercept munition.
Bottom line - more of the daily, small unit meat attacks across much of the eastern front, with very little if any coordination laterally or adequate armor support. These attacks may gain some ground for Russia, but at an extremely high cost. Russian has been losing well over 1000 (KIA/wounded) on a daily basis for several months now and is losing the capability of pressing stronger offensive actions.
Europe / NATO General –
Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, has been officially approved for the position of Secretary General of NATO. Under his government, The Netherlands provided Ukraine with a lot of military aid. Rutte is known as a strong ally to Ukraine.
***
Poland, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia will build a 700-kilometer defense line for €2.5 billion on the border with Russia and Belarus, — Reuters
The project aims to protect the bloc of 27 countries and will therefore require financial support from all EU members.
OBSERVATION - This defensive line will be more towards prevention of migrants entering these state under Russian/Belarus guidance. A singular line of defense in today’s world can be breached by properly trained forces in a short order. Fixed defenses as seen in Ukraine work when established in depth, forcing attackers to face multiple, sequential defensive lines and positions.
ISRAEL –
Key overnight developments -
- biden reportedly is still holding / slowing delivery of key munitions.
——— GENERAL ——————————-
Lest we forget - there are still hostages being held in Gaza.
***
Biden’s top aides told the visiting Israeli defense chief this week that Washington is maintaining a pause on a shipment of heavy bombs for Israel while the issue is under review, a senior U.S. official said on Wednesday.
The official, briefing reporters about national security adviser Jake Sullivan’s meeting with Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, said the allies remain in discussions about the single shipment of powerful munitions, which was paused by Biden in May over concerns they could cause more Palestinian civilian deaths in Gaza.
Without providing specifics, the official said other U.S. weapons will continue to flow to Israel as it battles Hamas militants in Gaza and faces Lebanese Hezbollah fighters on its northern border, where escalating hostilities have spurred fears of a wider regional conflict.
https://www.newsmax.com/world/globaltalk/bombs-israel-civilian/2024/06/26/id/1170255/
——— GAZA FRONT ———————————-
Internal wars are breaking out between Hamas and the Abu Amra clan. Evidence that much of Hama’s power base has been eroded and that the clans are rising to fill the power void. Israel in general has indicated that it would prefer clan rule over Hamas in a post war scenario.
——— LEBANON / HEZBOLLAH——————————-
Growing reports of a buildup of forces, equipment and vehicles by Israel near the Lebanese border. European countries are calling on citizens to evacuate Lebanon.
(FO) Hassan Nasrallah, Secretary General of Hezbollah, claims 100,000 foreign fighters have come from Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, and Pakistan specifically to help the war effort. He did not give a timeline for how long they have been coming in but noted that many had already served together in Syria’s civil war.
OBSERVATION - Given the extensive Israeli intelligence network in lebanon, it is highly probable that they know where these forces are being bunked /staged at should they exist at all. I think it is highly probable that fighters from these areas have worked their way to Lebanon/Syria, but not in the numbers Nasrallah is boasting.
——— SYRIA / HEZBOLLAH / IRAN———————————-
Israel carried out airstrikes on area of S. Zeinab (S Eastern Damascus). A Foundation (”Jihad Al-Bina”) under Hezbollah control was bombed. 2 were killed: a Syrian Hezbollah fighter from Nubul-Zahraa & a woman. A radar was also destroyed in Suwayda province
———WEST BANK——————————-
An Israeli soldier was killed and 17 others were injured in a bomb explosion and shooting in the Jenin refugee camp in the West Bank. Violent clashes between Palestinian militants and Israeli security forces in the center of the city of Jenin.
——— FORECAST ————————-
Israeli commanders keep noting that the bulk of the operations in Gaza are fast coming to a close and the focus is being shifted toward Hezbollah and the north. Since Hamas is so popular among the Gazan “civilian” population, it appears that they are not having too much difficulty getting volunteers to replace losses. However, reconstitution efforts only bring Hamas into the open where IDF can identify, isolate and eliminate vast numbers of them.
I expect to see more clashes between Hamas and clans. Hamas violently put them down when they took power some 18 years ago and grudges die hard among arabs. Israel likely will provide support the clans in exchange for more peaceable relations, as a mechanism to help mitigate Hamas in the future.
Clock winding down on actions in Lebanon. The general consensus of observers and OSINT elements still favor an August time frame at the earliest. israel likely to conduct a major call up of reserve forces within a couple weeks on a kick off date. I’m told that Reservists cannot remain called up for more than 3 months, so a later call up would maximize available forces for the initial push.
Finally, hamas affiliated terrorists in the West Bank are growing bolder and more coordinated in pushing back on Israeli Security forces. Recent action in Jenin indicate growing strength of the resistance.
Iran –
Iranians are set to vote in a snap presidential election on Friday to choose a successor to Ebrahim Raisi, who died in a helicopter crash last month.
While the president manages day-to-day government affairs, real power over key issues such as Iran’s nuclear program and foreign policy rests with the supreme leader.
Analysts suggest Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei seeks a fiercely loyal president who will align with his views. Khamenei, 85, has held his position since 1989.
Out of 80 applicants, the Guardian Council – a body of clerics and jurists under the supervision of Khamenei – approved six candidates for the election: five from Iran’s conservative political camp and one associated with the reformist camp.
The six candidates are -
1 Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf: A former Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) commander, Ghalibaf is the current speaker of parliament. Seen as a close ally of Khamenei, Ghalibaf has previously run unsuccessfully for president. As Tehran’s mayor, he helped suppress the 2009 protests against alleged election fraud and has a history of quelling dissent.
2 Saeed Jalili: A 58-year-old ultra-conservative politician and former senior nuclear negotiator, Jalili is also considered close to Khamenei. Known for his hardline stance, he earned the nickname “The Living Martyr” after losing a leg in the Iran-Iraq war. Jalili opposes negotiating with the West over Iran’s nuclear program and has targeted rural voters in his campaign. He ran in Iran’s 2013 presidential election and registered in 2021 before withdrawing to support Raisi. Current CIA director Bill Burns, who dealt with Jalili in negotiations in the past, has described him as “stupefyingly opaque” in talks.
3 Masoud Pezeshkian: The only candidate not from the conservative camp, Pezeshkian, an Azeri lawmaker, is associated with the reformist camp and has served as a health minister and parliament member. His campaign focuses on youth, women, and ethnic minorities, but his chances are slim given the widespread voter apathy. The 69-year-old heart surgeon, who was barred from running in the 2021 presidential election, has said he wants to renegotiate with the West to try and restart some version of the 2015 nuclear deal.
4 Mostafa Pourmohammadi: The only cleric in the race, Pourmohammadi has a controversial history, including alleged involvement in the execution of political prisoners in 1988. He has never addressed these allegations publicly. Pourmohammadi served as interior minister from 2005 until 2008. He is considered a long-shot candidate with minimal chances of being elected.
5 Alireza Zakani: The current mayor of Tehran, Zakani, 58, aims to boost Iran’s economy through non-dollar-based trade and added-value oil products. He has promised free healthcare and cash payments but has provided few details on achieving these goals. He withdrew from the 2021 presidential election to back Raisi. Zakani has said he believes Iran can neutralize the effects of international sanctions but should pursue a diplomatic solution. Despite his ambitions, Zakani is also seen as a minor candidate in the race.
6 Amirhossein Ghazizadeh-Hashemi: The incumbent vice president and head of the Martyrs’ Foundation, Ghazizadeh-Hashemi previously received low votes in the 2021 presidential election. He is viewed as another candidate with little chance of winning.
The three frontrunners are considered to be Ghalibaf, Jalili and Pezeshkian.
Many Iranians are expected to abstain from voting due to limited choices, ongoing crackdowns, and declining living standards.
OBSERVATION - Khamenei is driving the selection, so who ever is “elected” will be a follower. Who ever it is, they will face a steep power curve to readjust the nation’s military and political response towards Israel as Iranian proxy forces face serious fighting. With the disastrous missile / drone attack against Israel and the limited but sharp response back, Iran has to be reconsidering its options. First and foremost now appears to be an effort to accelerate its nuclear weapons program. While appearing to be able to have ample weapons grade uranium within a short notice, the construction of a device and the further scaling of that device into a deliverable warhead are major obstacles.
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OSINT suggest indicates Iranian activities in recent months to shorten time needed to build nuclear bomb; dozens of scientists in Iran are reportedly working on aspects of weaponization, carried out computer tests pertaining to nuclear devices.
OBSERVATION - Computers in many ways have superseded the conduct of physical tests in the development of nuclear weapons. However computer simulations are only simulations and that actual tests on materials and designs are still needed at many levels.
Central / South America General-
A coup was attempted yesterday by a military general and supportive military elements. The attempt was quickly ended by a massive response by the Bolivian people to the call for help from the country’s president.
General Juan José Zúñiga, the military officer commanding the troops that seized central La Paz, declared that he recognized President Arce “for the moment,” but he also hinted at a potential change in cabinet and ministers.
“We are going to recover this homeland,” General Juan José Zúñiga said from Murillo Square after it was taken by troops. An elite has taken over the country; vandals have destroyed the country,” Gen. Ziga said. “The army intends to restore true democracy.”
On Monday, the military chief made an appearance on television and stated that he would arrest left-wing former President Evo Morales if he ran for office again next year.
Morales, who resigned as president and was replaced by Áñez in the midst of protests over accusations of vote-rigging in the 2019 election, urged proponents of democracy to go on strike and block roads.
OBSERVATION - Political turmoil in Central and South America has been growing over the past year as major political shifts have occurred. A lot of the regional instability is due to an absence of an engaged US foreign policy that has leaned to the left.