Threat Matrix 2024

Established in 2001, after the 9/11 attack on America and now in its 23nd year, this thread is designed to identify threats to America, both internal and external, and evaluate the probability of those threats occurring and the extent of potential damage. Discussions may stray into ‘tinfoil’ territory, but the goal is to peel back and confirm information so we can make informed decisions and actions. Incredible as it seems, “tinfoil” conspiracy theories have fast become realities so they can no longer be ignored outright, but must be evaluated and compared to current events.

2023 has been “historic”: Continued inflation Record illegal immigration Record crime Record housing prices and Unprecedented prime lending rate increases. Push to globalize the economy, food production and energy

- 2024 is a political year with all the deep divisions and turmoils that brings. - Political assassinations - The potential for a serious and deep recession - CBDC stripping Americans of their free use of money - Race and other ethnic wars in the US as illegals mark out territory - Continued massive increase in crime - Further movement towards implementing the goals of the WEF via its “global reset” - - Continued combat in Ukraine that could spill out into other parts of Europe - Potential Chinese move on Taiwan – breaking analysis - Israel and Hezbollah/Iran finally directly going at it. - Other political turmoil growing globally over a wide range of issues. - Potential for a wide variety of Black Swan events to create even greater problems. . And this is just a short list.

It has been my pleasure to continue this thread over the past few years. This thread hopefully is continuing the goals of when it started.

For those who care, my posts reflect my scanning of the interwebs to provide me with early warning concerning factors that can endanger my life and family. Yes, I’m what many would call a “prepper”, and proudly accept that characterization.

How can something happening half way around the world affect me personally? Wuhan virus, my friend is but one recent example. I noted it in TM Dec 2019 and was prepared when chaos hit in 2020.

Other events have secondary and tertiary affects that reach us via shortages and inflation – fossil fuel prices are the most common, as well as economic impacts. I simply share news items and often my opinions that shape my actions and preparations.

My posts are broken down into specific topics and regions. I highlight and evaluative opensource reports in those areas in regard to how it will affect the US. Sometimes it feels like trying to drink from a fire hose and I don’t expect this to let up, only increase as the year progresses.

Will we even make it to the 2024 elections without things flying apart? Will the democrats / leftist manage a way to steal the election? Will the US find itself in the early stages of a civil war / national split up? The year promises to be very bumpy, so buckle up and prepare yourselves for what is to come.

Globalism / Great Reset –
Upcoming meetings of importance
- WEF Davos Jan 15-19
- WHO pandemic ‘treaty’ May 2024

*****

CW2 / Domestic violence - Heightened THREAT

Upcoming events of importance
- 18 January 2023, Atlanta, “Day of the Forest Defender,” protests against the Police training facility being constructed

****

Economy-

Upcoming dates of importance
- The Fed next meets on Jan. 30-31.

*****

Military / Strategic Activity / Deployments –

Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin was admitted to the hospital on January 1. The American public was not told of this development until Friday, January 5. More damning is that he was in intensive care for those four days and not able to work.

The White House was not informed until THURSDAY that Austin was hospitalized. This includes National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan.

Congressional leaders also weren’t informed that Austin was in intensive care.

Even senior DOD officials weren’t informed. Austin aides told one senior DOD official that Austin was working from home when in fact he was hospitalized in intensive care.

No one told biden anything.

OBSERVATION - This is a huge breakdown in communications and responsibilities. Not only was the world at war, Austin is in the presidential line of succession. He was AWOL and the only word we get is a lame apology for not doing a better job informing his bosses.

POLITICAL FRONT –

Dates of importance
-January 19 - funding for federal transportation programs, housing and food plans and other resources will expire.
- February 2 - funding for Departments of Health and Human Services, Commerce, Labor, State and Defense will expire

****

Biden / Harris Watch –

Dates to watch -
March 7 - State of the union-

Cyber attacks/warfare – HEIGHTENED ALERT

Pro-hamas protestors shut down most of Seattle yesterday. Multi-hour blockage of I-5 was made worse by multiple other road blockages on feeders and alternative routes. Washington law enforcement was incapable of doing anything until protestors walked away when they were done. No arrests we’re reported. Mixed into the group were Antifa agitators, but violence was minimal on the streets. Downtown, these protestors did property damage to some businesses believed to be favorable to Israel.

OBSERVATION - Seattle is one of the major Antifa stronghold cities and it isn’t surprising that they could assist in organizing such a massive traffic shutdown. This is the first major pro-hamas demonstration since the holidays and the use of highway blocking seems to be the tactic they are going to use moving forward for now.

China –
Important dates of notice -
13 January 2024 - Taiwan general election

*****

I’ve noted recent purges in the Chinese military structure. Now some unconfirmed reports are filtering out just how bad things have gotten within the people’s army. Corruption was extensive in the Rocket Force, one of Xi’s top modernization priorities. Missiles reportedly were filled with water instead of fuel and vast fields of missile silos in western China with lids that don’t function in a way that would allow the missiles to launch effectively.

Between serious economic issues and corruption in the key military branches,Xi is finding it difficult to launch an invasion of Taiwan with any level of success. That is why my continued forecast is for them to use the Island blockade tactic.

North/South Korea –

Alert has been issued to residents on the South Korea Island of Yeonpyeong and several other islands on the Country’s Maritime Border with the North telling them to remain indoors, due to artillery fire once again by North Korea near the Islands. This is the third round of artillery fire by NK in as many days.

Russia -

WAR WATCH - into the second year of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine - Feb 24th, 2022

CURRENT ASSESSMENT - Updated Jan 1, 2024

With the end of the Ukraine summer offensive and the ongoing winter mud season, Russia is struggling to gain the initiative on several fronts in easter Ukraine. Russia maintains it attacks to take Adviivka, even in the face of huge losses. Russia continues to launch smaller attacks daily across the front lines.

Russian has been shepherding its stockpile of missiles/drones with the likelyhood of attempting to take down the Ukraine power grid as they did winter 2023. This task has become increasingly difficult as Ukraine adds air defense systems and gets better coverage.

The Russian Black Sea fleet is is essentially impotent and hesitant to deploy into now contested waters. In the latest, large missile / drone attack, the Black Sea fleet was noticeably out of action. In the last half of 2023, Ukraine was able to take out about 20% of the fleet.

While Russia has reportedly about 400K of soldiers in the theater, all evidence indicates that they are poorly trained and equipped. Russian forces are increasingly having to rely on 50’s and 60’s vintage tanks, APCs and other vehicles. Russian large assaults continue to be what are referred to as ‘meat’ attacks - throwing large numbers of lightly armed, foot troops at Ukraine defenses in hopes of overwhelming them. These tactics ‘worked’ at Bakhmut but there Russia still had a superiority in artillery support. Concerted efforts by Ukraine to locate and destroy Russian artillery, combined with wear and tear taking systems out and poor/no ammo has generally caused Russia to lose the edge in artillery firepower.

Russian leadership reportedly planning for a long duration conflict, hoping to wear the Ukraine army down and cause European allies to tire of their support - forcing some sort of cease fire and negotiated peace.

Russia is believed to be trying to muster a force for a winter offensive, once the soils freeze up and permit cross country maneuver. Focus of such an offensive has not solidified but the most likely candidate for one front is the continued attempt to eliminate the salient at Adviivka.

Ukraine –

WEATHER FORECAST – Temps in the single digits to 20s degree F range with on again, off again snow. Lows 0 to the teens.

RUMINT – Postings and reports of numerous covert Ukrainian operations against key Russian facilities in Crimea and other occupied regions. Sabotage of Russian radar, logistics and command are top in reporting.

24 HOUR ROUND UP –
Weather continues to dominate action on the ground.

Ukrainian air defense shot down 21 of 28 Shahed drones. It appears that Dnipro city was the primary target area.

Outlook —

Weather and mud conditions are continuing to dictate ground operations, which are at a low level due to lack of maneuverability cross country and on dirt roads due to the mud. Increasingly cold temperatures will gradually freeze the ground, but this won’t happen for sometime yet.

Expect continued ‘deep game’ action - missiles and drone attacks by both sides on what they consider to be critical targets.

During the summer, Ukraine out gunned Russian artillery by a substantial margin. Now, current operations indicate that Russia has doubled its artillery fire, while Ukraine has dropped substantially, now only about 20% of the Russian fire. The quality of Ukrainian targeting continues to be superior to Russia, however, when dealing with 5 times the volume times become hard.

ISRAEL –

Key overnight developments -

- Israel declares the mission objectives have been met in N Gaza.

——— GENERAL ——————————-

The Gaza War is entering its 4th month, since the initial terror attacks by Hamas et al on Oct 7th.

——— GAZA FRONT ———————————-
IDF Spokesperson, Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, marking three months into the war:

“We have completed the dismantling of Hamas’ military framework in the northern Gaza Strip and will continue to deepen the achievement, strengthening the barrier and the defense components along the security fence. Now, we are focusing on dismantling Hamas in the central and southern Gaza Strip. We will do this differently, thoroughly, based on the lessons we have learned from the fighting so far.”

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) released footage Friday of a network of Hamas terror tunnels that it found under the Blue Beach Hotel, a luxury resort for Gaza’s elite.

——— LEBANON / HEZBOLLAH——————————-

Sec State Blinken - We are looking for political ways to defuse tension in southern Lebanon

Israeli fighter bombers flew over Beruit overnight in a display of power.

Mortar shell and ATGM launches continue along the Lebanon border with Israel along with Israeli retaliatory air and artillery strikes.

———WEST BANK——————————-

Multiple engagements between West Bank groups and Israeli security forces.

———“ISLAMIC RESISTANCE” ———————————

American defenses shot down a drone that attempted to target the Qasrak base in the Hasakah countryside.

U.S. Central Command announced earlier today that the USS Laboon (DDG-58), an Arleigh Burke-Class Guided-Missile Destroyer operating in the Southern Red Sea was able to Shoot Down a One-Way “Suicide” Drone which had been launched towards the Ship by the Houthi Terrorist Group in Yemen; the Incident resulted in No Damage or Casualties aboard the Ship or any nearby Vessels.

———INTERNATIONAL ——————————-

The Jordanian King confirms Jordan’s complete rejection of the forced displacement of Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza Strip

——— FORECAST ————————-

Israel to continue search and destroy operations across Gaza. They have most of N Gaza cleared and are moving efforts to central and S Gaza.

For now, it seems that escalation of fighting in the north has been tempered. Now back to levels of attack common for the past couple months. Though ‘provoked’, Hezbollah and Iran do not seem to think it is time to unleash the northern war.

Syria -

Sources claim an ammunition convoy of IRGC-Affiliated Syrian militias was targeted by “UAVs”, there are casualties.

Doing better today, many thanks for thoughts and prayers.

Hunkering down this week for a blast of winter. It can’t seem to make its mind up - lots of snow and cold temps or just some snow and arctic temps. I prefer the first but as the weather goes here in the Redoubt, it is a very fickle thing.

Globalism / Great Reset –
Upcoming meetings of importance
- WEF Davos Jan 15-19
- WHO pandemic ‘treaty’ May 2024
*****

German farmers are blocking highways and conducting protests throughout Germany today. They are being joined by truckers around Germany. Polish and Dutch farmers and truckers are also showing support.
They are protesting the increased taxes and regulations that the government is imposing. One of the goals of the government is to put farmers out of business to meet Agenda 2030 targets of the United Nations.

OBSERVATION - Reports that truckers and farmers in Poland and others are joining in support of the protests. Initial indicators are that the German people are supportive of the farmers even though blockages have made their travel very difficult.
WEF/globalist desires to control (limit) food supplies for alleged ‘climate change’ is actually designed to cause famine and deaths that will reduce the human population to what they think is a desirable level - not having anything to do with global warming.

CW2 / Domestic violence - Heightened THREAT

Upcoming events of importance
- 18 January 2023, Atlanta, “Day of the Forest Defender,” protests against the Police training facility being constructed

****
DC U.S. Attorney Matthew Graves is making clear that the DOJ is now going to target Americans who were around the Capitol on J6 but did not enter the building.

OBSERVATION - This would mark a serious escalation in the prosecution of the J6 attendees. It looks to drive a stake into the heart of citizens rights to protest/free speech. If they are successful - and of course the DC courts are fair and just (snark) - citizen pushback will rise.

****

More young Americans are doomsday prepping ahead of the next presidential election over fears of a societal collapse or failed natural disaster response, a survey has found.

Gen-Z, adults born after 1997, is the most likely to be preparing for a disaster with a whooping 40 percent claiming to have spent money on doomsday supplies in the past year, according to a Finder survey.

The survey of 2,179 US adults was conducted from January 9 to February 17 and has a two percent margin of error. Finder - who has been collecting prepping data since 2017 - asked people if they had spent money preparing for emergencies over the last twelve months.

Across all generations, food and water was the most commonly bought prepping item and 20 percent of Gen-Z preppers purchased toilet paper. According to the latest survey 29 percent of Americans spent money on prepping, up from the roughly 25 percent who did in 2017.
Many doomsday preppers said they are taking precautions ahead of the 2024 election because they are concerned it will bring civil unrest, while others worry the government will botch its response to the next big natural disaster.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12825301/Young-Americans-fearing-2024-election-spark-civil-war-Gen-Z-doomsday-preparations.html

OBSERVATION - Interesting analysis, particularly GenZ activity.

***
Pro-Palestine protesters vandalize and deface a US Military Cemetery in Los Angeles where 85,000 war veterans are buried.

***
Pro-Palestine protesters have launched a coordinated event and shut down three bridges and the Holland Tunnel in New York City. Over 100 arrested and released about 8 hours later.

OBSERVATION - With no holiday events to disrupt, pro-hamas elements making a lot of supporters by blocking roads in major metropolitan areas. Antifa elements were mixed in for support. The backlash is growing against this method of protest as drivers, already dealing with frustrating city driving and traffic, have to put up with this as well. In NYC there were increasing occasions of drivers becoming violent toward the protestors. However, there were no reports of violence initiated by the protestors. I expect to see the violence escalate if these protests continue.

***
More from the pro-hamas gang. Pro-Hamas protesters attempting to storm the tarmac in Dallas Texas where Air Force One is scheduled arrive. Many arrests and police kept the tarmac secure.

OBSERVATION - That these protestors have to go at the sitting democrat president points, in part, the internal civil war between the marxist left and more establishment / moderate democrats. Now pushing by threat of violence to change US policy towards Israel.

Terrorism - Level is HIGH due to increased lone wolf threats.

Numerous law enforcement along with Secret Service personnel responded to the scene at the White House Grounds in Washington, D.C. After an unauthorized vehicle crashed into the northwest side of the White House Grounds gate, an investigation into a suspicious package is underway. Officials are reporting that one individual has been detained. The driver’s name has not been released and prosecutors had not announced any criminal charges as of Monday evening.

***
The ATF says the explosion at the Sandman Signature Hotel in Fort Worth, Texas was caused by natural gas witnesses inside of the hotel said they smelt something like paint burning before the explosion occurred

RUMINT -The suspect is a 44 year old “migrant” named Sahil Omar who caused the “explosion” at Sandman Signature Hotel in Texas.
Authorities don’t know the motive.

OBSERVATION - The odor placed into natural gas (as well as bottled propane) does not smell like burning paint. This as well as other aspects of this incident are causing some to suspect that this was an act of terror. I’ve not seen any more info on Sahil Omar being sought for questioning, so trying to track that down. What is concerning is the ‘migrant’ (ie illegal) aspect.
IF the cause was a natural gas leak in repairs being made to the kitchen - why is there a ‘suspect’ being named? Something isn’t adding up.

Economy-

Upcoming dates of importance
- The Fed next meets on Jan. 30-31.
*****

Military / Strategic Activity / Deployments –

Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., denounced the secrecy surrounding Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin’s hospitalization as “absolutely unacceptable” and called for his resignation Monday.

Austin, who ranks just below President Joe Biden at the top of the U.S. military chain of command, has come under intense scrutiny after it was revealed he withheld that he was hospitalized on New Year’s Day from the president and the public for several days.

OBSERVATION - The seriousness of this breach is beyond measure, as evidenced by MSM silence on the matter. Major player in the national command authority, should something of a military threat were to have happened during those days, we could have been taken out. Double standard too in that this former general would not have tolerated similar actions by any of his subordinates.

Wuhan and other “new” Plandemics – HEIGHTENED ALERT STATUS

Dr. Anthony Fauci arrived in Washington on Jan. 8 to answer questions on how he flipped his position on public policy for masks, how the agency he headed funded risky research in China, and how post-infection immunity was downplayed.

OBSERVATION - Sadly, he will not face criminal prosecution - the deep state has his back. He is vulnerable to civil lawsuits though.

POLITICAL FRONT –

Dates of importance
January 19 - funding for federal transportation programs, housing and food plans and other resources will expire.
February 2 - funding for Departments of Health and Human Services, Commerce, Labor, State and Defense will expire
****

The top Democrat and Republican in the U.S. Congress on Sunday agreed on a $1.59 trillion spending deal, setting up a race for bitterly divided lawmakers to pass the bills that would appropriate the money before the government begins to shut down this month. There are essentially no budget cuts of significance and even a 70 billion add-on. Conservatives realizing Lucy pulled the football once again.

***
A co-defendant in the Georgia racketeering (RICO) case against former President Donald Trump claims the Fulton County district attorney “has engaged in an improper, clandestine personal relationship” with the lead prosecutor overseeing the matter.

In a 127-page filing, including a 39-page motion and dozens of pages of exhibits, Roman is asking the court to toss out the charges against him — and to bar both Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis and special prosecutor Nathan Wade from further involvement in the case.

The Roman motion begins by accusing Willis of improperly appointing Wade, who was also part of the process by which the state obtained the grand jury indictments in the case. The defense seeks a court “order striking the special purpose grand jury report and dismissing the criminal indictment in its entirety against Mr. Roman on the grounds that the entire prosecution is invalid and unconstitutional.”
The allegations of impropriety between Willis and Wade are the secondary argument advanced by Roman’s attorney, Ashleigh B. Merchant.

https://lawandcrime.com/high-profile/this-type-of-nepotism-might-be-forgiven-in-the-abstract-trump-co-defendant-demands-da-be-disqualified-over-allegedly-improper-romantic-relationship-with-rico-special-prosecutor/

OBSERVATION - If these allegations are validated - which given the history may well be true, this would strike a blow to her efforts to convict Trump. There is further evidence that Wade coordinated his efforts with the WH.

Biden / Harris Watch –

Dates to watch -
March 7 - State of the union-

****
During a Monday campaign speech in South Carolina, Joe Biden said that the summer of 2020, which saw riots across the nation in the wake of the death of George Floyd, was a “historic movement for justice.”

“After the historic movement for justice in the summer of 2020, I signed the most significant police reform executive order in history,” he told the crowd.

The Insurance Information Institute revealed in the fall of 2020 that property damage claims from the riots had likely surpassed $2 billion, making them the costliest riots in US history.

The Foundation for Economic Education suggested that this total was likely higher, as the $2 billion figure looked only at insured businesses, and 75 percent of businesses are underinsured. Around 40 percent of small businesses have no insurance.

Meanwhile, American cities have been ordered to give more than $68 million to rioters who are said to have suffered injury or infringements on their rights.
https://thepostmillennial.com/biden-says-summer-2020-featuring-george-floyd-riots-was-historic-movement-for-justice?utm_campaign=64487

OBSERVATION - biden in an effort to secure the support of his brownshirt riot squads going into 2024 campaign season. There was no ‘justice’ only anarchy and destruction - all condoned by the regime.

Illegal Immigration –

FOX News is reporting that, President Obrador wants $20 billion for Latin America and he is demanding that Biden give at least 10 million hispanic illegal aliens legal status in America in order to help in curbing the invasion of illegal aliens into the US.

OBSERVATION - Blackmail, pure and simple. biden is desperate to staunch the hemorrhaging poll numbers that are blaming him for the border disaster.

That 10 million has to include those here illegally before biden as nearly 8 million total have crossed during his regime’s time. Most likely some form of green card. Congress will not grant any such level of amnesty so it would be expected that biden would attempt using an executive order to accomplish this - conveniently prior to the elections - in a manner that could afford them to sneak in and vote. The $20 billion would just line the pockets of leftists in central / south america that have been profitably facilitating the illegals migration now.

China –
Important dates of notice -
13 January 2024 - Taiwan general election
*****

North/South Korea –

NK news sources saying that Kim is expecting some sort of nuclear attack from the US, SK and Japan this year.

Russia -

WAR WATCH - into the second year of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine - Feb 24th, 2022

CURRENT ASSESSMENT - Updated Jan 1, 2024

Logistics –
Russia now using jet powered versions of the Shahed drone against Ukraine.

Ukraine –

WEATHER FORECAST – Temps in the single digits to 20s degree F range with on again, off again snow. Lows 0 to the teens.

RUMINT – Reports that Turkey will allow some NATO warships through the Bosporus into the Black Sea.

24 HOUR ROUND UP – Today more like 48 hour update
Weather continues to dominate action on the ground.

Sunday Russia fired 59 missiles/drones were recorded.

Shot down:
8/8 Shahed drones
0/4 Kh-47M2 aeroballistic
18/24 Kh-101/55/555 air launched
0/7 S-300/400 ballistic
0/8 Kh-22 anti-ship
0/6 Iskander-M ballistic
0/2 Kh-31P anti-radar

Overnight Ukrainian Air Defenses 🇺🇦 shot down only 18 of 51 missiles (35%) fired by Russia

0/4 or (0%) of Kinzhal Missiles
18/24 or (75%) of X-101 Missiles
0/8 or (0%) of Kh-22 Missiles
0/6 or (0%) of Iskander-M Missiles
0/2 or (0%) of Kh-31P Missiles
8/8 or (100%) of Shahed Drones

Ukraine drone hit fuel reservoir at Oryolnefteprodukt oil depot in Oryol

Kherson Axis -

Ukrainian forces repelled another large scale assault on Krynky today destroying 5 tanks and several armored vehicles of Russian forces. Ukraine has a pretty small force in Krynky but is eating Russian forces in large part due to having control of the UAV airspace permitting identification and targeting of Russian forces early. Second, the heavy Russian Su-34 losses are keeping their air assets out of the fight. Ukraine has also set up excellent defensive points that force Russia to break from tree cover and try to cross a large open field - turkey shoot for ATGMs, which is also loaded with anti-tank/armor mines.

Russian Territory –
In the Sverdlovsk region in Russia, an explosive device was detonated on the railway tracks near an oil depot in Nizhny Tagil. According to Russian media, an explosive device went off under the tank. Another explosive device was found near the site of the explosion.

Damage and injuries in Belgorod by debris as result of air defense activity.

Outlook —

Expect continued ‘deep game’ action - missiles and drone attacks by both sides on what they consider to be critical targets.

Intel analysts have come up with some numbers as to what the current Russian supply of missiles runs as of January 8, 2024

74 Kinzhal Ballistic Missiles
190 Iskander-M Ballistic Missiles

134 X-101 Cruise Missiles
184 Kalibr Cruise Missiles
104 Iskander-K Cruise Missiles

140 Kh-22 Soviet Anti-Ship Missiles

~828 Long range missiles in total

Now remember, these numbers are an estimate based on usage plus the estimated production capability to replace those launched. It doesn’t include the Shahed drones. At the current rate of fire, roughly 50-100 missiles per day, Russia could sustain these attacks for about 8 to 18 days, longer when mixing in Shahed drones.

Speaking of Shahed drones, the first of Iran’s next version - one with a jet engine replacing the propeller, have been found in Ukraine. The Shahed-238’s significantly greater cruising velocity, will seriously degrade the ability of Ukrainian optically-directed AAGs, which have played a key role in defeating the Shahed-136s. Increased velocity however comes at the cost of range, so their usage will likely be limited to areas closer to the front line unless Russia resumes executing raids from Belarus. They will also be available in fewer numbers due to increased cost and decreased producibility.

Finally, it appears that Russia has fine tuned its target set based on previous attacks. It is using weapon systems that have higher probabilities of success against civilian infrastructure targets - such as missiles against areas lacking Patriot ADA systems and the like. The previous attacks permitted Russia to gauge the Ukraine ADA coverage and permit target / method selection for maximum probably of success.

ISRAEL –

Key overnight developments -

- Israel takes out more Hezbollah senior leadership.

- IDF pulling down forces in N Gaza, focusing more on S Gaza and Khan Younis.

- Hamas released photos of 4 young Israeli women, showing signs of being beaten.

——— GENERAL ——————————-

The leader of Hamas, Ismail Haniyeh, calls for Muslim countries to supply weapons to the fighters of the Palestinian Islamist movement, at war against Israel in the Gaza Strip.
NOTE - Haniyeh issued the call while safely and luxuriously bedded down in Qatar.

Hamas release of images of 4 hostage, all young women, is disturbing in that their heads/faces are clearly been beaten and bloodied. In previous releases, Hamas has tried to show that they are taking ‘good care’ of the hostages. This release shows just the opposite.

——— GAZA FRONT ———————————-
Major guided rocket production plant discovered underground in Gaza City were Hamas was in the process of creating guided missiles using Iranian technology.

Khan Younis under heavy air and artillery fire as IDF forces continue their search and destroy operations.

——— LEBANON / HEZBOLLAH——————————-

Israeli Officials have now claimed responsibility for the strike on Southern Lebanon earlier yesterday which resulted in the assassination of top Hezbollah Commander for the “Redwan” Special Operations Force, Wissam al-Tawil.

An Israeli bombing targeted a car near the funeral site of Hezbollah leader Wissam Al-Tawil in southern Lebanon

Hezbollah announced the targeting of the northern command headquarters of the Israeli army with a drone of some kind. IDF says base took minor damage, but is operating as usual

——— SYRIA / HEZBOLLAH / IRAN———————————-

On Monday, the IDF eliminated Hassan Hakashah in Beit Jinn in Syria. He was a central figure responsible for rockets fired by Hamas from Syrian territory toward Israel in recent weeks.

Since the beginning of the war, Hakashah directed Hamas terrorist cells which fired rockets from Syria toward Israeli territory.

The IDF stated “We will not allow terrorism from Syrian territory and hold Syria responsible for all activity emanating from its territory. The IDF will continue to act against any threat posed to the State of Israel.”

“Israel is telling (Syrian President Bashar) al-Assad: you are allowing Iranians and Hezbollah to transfer weapons and entrench themselves - so we will disrupt your lifeline and you will find yourself in a tight spot.” - Reuters

Reuters is reporting that Israel has shifted to directing “more deadly” strikes against targets linked to Iran in Syria

OBSERVATION - Israel is stepping up its targeted attacks on Hamas and now in particular Hezbollah key leadership.

———WEST BANK——————————-

Multiple engagements between West Bank groups and Israeli security forces.

———INTERNATIONAL ——————————-

The official spokesman of ISIS, Abu Hudhayfa al-Ansari, has released a speech condemning Hamas for sacrificing the people of Gaza on the altar of Iran’s “regional project”

***
Germany’s Hapag-Lloyd will continue to divert its vessels away from the Suez Canal and around the Cape of Good Hope for security reasons, a spokesperson for the company said Tuesday.

“We deem the situation still dangerous,” the spokesperson for the world’s fifth-biggest container liner said. “We have daily re-assessments and will have next decisions taken Monday Jan. 15.”

——— FORECAST ————————-

Israel to continue search and destroy operations across Gaza. They have most of N Gaza cleared and are moving efforts to central and S Gaza.

Israel and Hezbollah continue their dangerous game of chicken, with escalations on both sides. Units coming out of N Gaza for rest and refit combined with deep reserve forces leave Israel still strong for any kind of preemptive attack by Hezbollah. But from the propaganda, Hezbollah doesn’t want to be the initiator of such an attack, as they’ve been working the propaganda preparation as the ‘peaceful’ force, and a preemptive attack would serve to fully justify Israel’s counter attack. With the Gaza operation still several months, at the very least, before Hamas has been rooted out and any remaining hostages freed, I don’t see Israel launching any full on offensive before then. That is unless Hezbollah pulls the trigger first.

Saudi Arabia –

Sec State Blinken meeting with the Saudi Crown Prince at the royal camp in the Saudi city of Al-Ula. Blinken discussed with the Saudi Crown Prince efforts to reduce regional tension, including deterring Houthi attacks in the Red Sea.

Syria -

Reuters, citing intelligence sources - Jordanian planes bomb drug dealers linked to Iran inside Syria

OBSERVATION - The destruction of Syria’s integrity due to the civil war has created a vacuum that many elements are seeking to exploit. This is about the third time in a week that Jordan has attacked Syrian linked drug dealers in S Syria. Illegal drugs have become a serious problem for Jordan as well as Israel and Egypt.

Turkey –

See Ukraine - Rumored reports that Turkey will allow some NATO warships through the Bosporus into the Black Sea.

OBSERVATION - Speculation is that Turkey will allow ‘defensive’ vessels such as mine sweepers to pass. Turkey is already under the microscope due to allowing Russian shipments of arms and material thru the Bosphorus. Reports also that the move may also be linked to Turkey getting F-16s.

Mexico -

See Illegal Immigration above

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