Welcome to those who asked to be in the ping list. If you want on the ping, just let me know in the thread or PM.
Globalism / Great Reset –
Upcoming meetings of importance
- WEF Davos Jan 15-19
- WHO pandemic ‘treaty’ May 2024
***
World Economic Forum will be meeting in Davos, 15 – 19 January 2024. The stated theme is ‘Rebuilding Trust’. The 54th Annual Meeting was outlined in a partial release, saying it will “provide a crucial space to focus on the fundamental principles driving trust, including transparency, consistency and accountability.”
OBSERVATION - 2023 was a hard year for the WEF and associated globalists. Though they have managed to push forward on many of its keystone goals, like CBDC, global health and economic controls, they have also faced increasingly stiff pushback from the post wuhan world. The ease at which those draconian wuhan controls were taken by the world are being challenged due to the post-plandemic knowledge that the so called health ‘experts’ were lying through their collective teeth over the jab and alternative treatments along with the destruction of people’s lives for not getting the jab. Now we know the jab is deadly and very probably manufactured to be so. Similar runs for global food control - rioting farmers; elimination of fossil fuels - China and India rejecting recent COP28 restrictions; and growing concerns over the WHO globalist hijacking of govts via ‘health emergencies’, for just a short list.
CW2 / Domestic violence - Heightened THREAT
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is purchasing millions of dollars worth of military-grade equipment, including night vision goggles and other weapons. This in parallel with the substantial spending by the likes of the IRS for similar gear.
OBSERVATION - This raises two very ugly specters that could happen. The first is that these tactical groups in the alphabet agencies will be used to enforce a govt crackdown on the civilian population - possibly from a false flag event and the declaration of martial law some time prior to the elections. The second fear is that this gear and weapons will be handed out to illegals who have been brought here by the left to wage war in ‘red’ areas of the country in an effort to neutralize or tie up those elements response to a govt tyrannical takeover - again associated with the election. All the way back to the Before Years and 0bama, govt has been spending exorbitant amounts of money on items like this and even causing an ammo shortage. I think it is likely the regime / swamp are looking at more ‘reliable’ fighters than the military which the majority of the rank and file would reject to be used for a crack down. Also remember - 0bama called for another armed component equal to the military - for an unstated reason.
Terrorism - Level is HIGH due to increased lone wolf threats.
Follow up on the New Years vehicle loaded with gasoline. The driver has been identified as Michael Avery, a suspected bipolar man from Syracuse. Avery was transported to the hospital with life-threatening injuries
Avery is believed to have been an “emotionally disturbed person,” had rented a hotel room in Rochester, where police conducted a search and recovered a suicide note and journal, according to law enforcement sources.
Investigators are reviewing the journal for any clues into the attack and have interviewed family members who said they believed the suspect had bipolar disorder, though he was never officially diagnosed, according to sources.
Incident has been removed from a potential terror attack investigation by the police and FBI.
***
Al-Qaida is attempting to rejuvenate itself and raise fighters to resume its attack on the US and west. Growth of the internet and various associated communications channels, AQ is looking to more widely disseminate bomb making and other combat doctrine materials for global jihadists. The surge in AQ internet proselytizing began shortly after the Hamas attacks of Oct7 and may be timed to use the heightened jihadist fever those attacks triggered.
Wuhan and other “new” Plandemics – HEIGHTENED ALERT STATUS
Pfizer has completed a 43 billion acquisition of Seagen, a small drug company that treats turbo cancers and barely makes $2 Billion per year.
OBSERVATION - Create the sickness, cash in on the cure.
POLITICAL FRONT –
Release of the Epstine list has been delayed by a women currently identified as #107.
***
Trump filed a lawsuit on Tuesday challenging Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows’ decision to disqualify Trump from Maine’s 2024 ballot.
Biden / Harris Watch –
biden returned from his latest vacation with a sunburn.
Cyber attacks/warfare – HEIGHTENED ALERT
U.S. security officials are warning about the vulnerability of water utilities to cyber threats. This follows a hack of the Aliquippa water authority in western Pennsylvania. The attack was by an anti-Israeli group.
OBSERVATION - Infrastructure attacks are a significant concern. Hostile elements could adjust controls, add too much or too little chemicals to drinking water and contaminate it. Alter sewage treatment. Disrupt and damage the power grid at key nodes, etc. Aliquippa is small potatoes, but an example of potential harm that could be created by an attack.
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.
*****
Economic Impact –
European Union is imposing sanctions on the largest diamond company in Russia, “Alrosa”
Ukraine –
WEATHER FORECAST – Temps in the 20-40 degree F range with on again, off again rain and snow.
Temperatures in Ukraine are expected to drop beginning Jan 6 and onwards, with snow, blizzards and ice. In the northern, central and eastern regions temperature at night are expected to drop to -10 to-15 deg F, and in the northeast down to 18-20 degrees F.
RUMINT – Unconfirmed reports that Russia lost anther Su-34 overnight.
24 HOUR ROUND UP –
Weather continues to dominate action on the ground.
The Russian missile barrage ceases for a day at least. Ukraine targeted Belgorod overnight with the Russian Ministry of Defense claiming air defense shot down 6 Tochka-U missiles and 6 missiles of Vilkha MLRS. Explosions were also reported in Sevastopol, from a claimed shoot down of a missile.
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.
Patriot take down of Russia’s vaunted hypersonic missile is good news for Ukraine and US and bad for Russia. These hits help the computer refine its calculations for the next round being fired at it.
ISRAEL –
Key overnight developments -
- Israeli drone strike took out Hamas #2 leader - Saleh Al-Arouri
- Hezbollah and Hamas vowing retribution for the attack.
——— GENERAL ——————————-
Hamas - We will stop ceasefire talks and prisoner exchanges after the assassination of Al-Arouri. There were unconfirmed reports prior to the hit on Al-Arouri that Hamas as in the process of conceding a lot of its demands on Israel for the release of hostages.
——— GAZA FRONT ———————————-
IDF forces continue their search and destroy operations, moving progressively southward into central and S Gaza. Heavy fighting reported in Khan Younis.
——— LEBANON / HEZBOLLAH——————————-
Israeli drone attack killed several key Hamas leaders - Saleh Al-Arouri, Abu Amer, , Samir Fandi and Azzam Al-Aqraa. Al-Arouri, deputy head of Hamas, was also considered to be the leader of the political side of Hamas and was very closely linked to Iran and Hezbollah. Abu Amer, was head of Hamas operations in southern Lebanon. IAF targeted the Hamas operations center in the heavily Hezbollah affiliated Dahiya district of southern Beirut with reportedly two bombs.
In a coincidence not to be missed by Iran and Hezbollah, the assassination comes on the eve of the anniversary of IRGC Qassem Soliemanis assassination in Iraq.
The Israeli Army announced that they have raised the state of alert on the northern border as a result of taking out Al-Arouri. A senior Israeli official also told Israel is preparing for a significant retaliation by Hezbollah for the Arouri assassination including by launching long range missiles on targets in Israel
Hezbollah said the assassination of Hamas official and commanders in the heart of southern Beirut is a dangerous assault on Lebanon, its people, security, sovereignty and resistance, containing political and security messages, and that “it will not go unanswered”
Lebanon announces that it will submit a complaint to the UN Security Council against the backdrop of targeting Lebanese sovereignty
——— SYRIA / HEZBOLLAH / IRAN———————————-
Hezbollah Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah planned speech today is going ahead despite earlier reports.
The Iranian President: We condemn the Israeli assassination of Saleh Al-Arouri, who was a prominent fighter who defended the rights of his people
———WEST BANK——————————-
Multiple engagements between West Bank groups and Israeli security forces.
———“ISLAMIC RESISTANCE” ———————————
Houthis reportedly launched 3 Anti-Ship ballistic missiles at a commercial shipping vessel near the Bab al-Mandab Strait roughly 33nm off the Coast of Eritrea, causing no damage to the ship or casualties
———INTERNATIONAL ——————————-
UNIFIL: We are concerned about any potential escalation that could have devastating consequences for the population on both sides of the border
***
Danish shipping giant Maersk announced Tuesday that it will halt all shipping through the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden following the weekend attack on one of its vessels from Houthi militants, CNBC reported.
The company’s decision extends the 48-hour pause it implemented on Sunday in the aftermath of the attack by the Yemen-based rebels.
“We have made the decision to pause all transits through the Red Sea/Gulf of Aden until further notice,” the company reportedly told customers in an update.
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 monitor the situation closely day-by-day, but will continue to reroute our vessels until Jan. 9,” the spokesperson for the world’s fifth biggest container liner said in reply to a query.
——— 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.
Yesterday’s assassination strike on Saleh Al-Arouri has kicked the hornets nest. Tightly linked to Iran and Hezbollah, some analysts considered him to be the real leader of Hamas. The strike makes clear that Israel is willing to keep its word at striking Hamas leadership no matter where they are.
Now concerns switch to how serious of a retaliation will Hezbollah launch. If they pull out the heavy rockets, fighting could escalate exponentially with even Iran getting directly involved. The magnitude of the Israeli hit basically guarantees retaliation of some manner, if Hezbollah/Iran is to save face.
Israel is still manned strongly enough for action, even with the announced release of Reservists. Those reservists could rebound back with short notice.
Prior to the hit, it was becoming apparent that Hamas was becoming desperate to gain some breathing space with negotiators ready to waive the condition of a final ceasefire and the withdrawal of IDF soldiers from Gaza in their ongoing talks with Israel for a second hostage release. The terrorist group reportedly open to the release of 40 hostages in exchange for 120 prisoners held by Israel, one source said, adding that Hamas had demanded a one-day ceasefire in exchange for each hostage released, but Israel refused.
Hamas has sustained massive losses in leadership, fighters, material and bases of operation. Israel’s offensive plan was one that Hamas didn’t expect and are being taken apart piecemeal.
Iran –
BREAKING - At least 73 killed and 171 wounded following twin blasts at Qassam Soleimani memorial site in the southeastern city of Kerman, Iran.
Iran has labeled the explosions terrorists attacks but has not yet directed blame at anyone specifically.
OBSERVATION - There are plenty of dissidents in Iran that could have pulled this off besides Israeli infiltrators. Most likely Iran will point the finger at Israel and the US as a simple scape goat, especially in light of the hit on Al-Arouri.
Turkey –
Turkey has vowed to block two British Royal Navy ships intended for Ukraine to pass through its waters. Last month, Britain said it would transfer the two minehunter ships to the Ukrainian navy to help bolster its sea operations in its war with Russia.
However, the Turkish presidency’s communications directorate has now said it will not let the vessels through its Bosphorus and Dardanelles straits.
When Russia first waged war on Ukraine in 2022, Turkey sparked an international agreement that blocks the passage of military ships through the passages for those at war.
Yesterday, the NATO member country says it has implemented the 1936 Montreux Convention impartially and meticulously in order to prevent a military escalation in the Black Sea.
OBSERVATION - A legitimate refusal by Turkey who on this point at least is maintaining neutrality.
When hell freezes over I'll trust them.
I’ve started to post upcoming meetings of importance as applicable at the top of subject headers. Allows me to better track upcoming events for related news. I’ll post those section daily even if they don’t have any more specific event being reported.
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
****
Hundreds of Pro-Hamas protesters and other activists are occupying and have shut down the California State Capitol in Sacramento, California. These protesters have disrupted the Assembly session on opening day, demanding a permanent ceasefire and an end to all U.S. military aid to Israel.
OBSERVATION - Couldn’t happen to a better state IMHO. I expect that this kind of political pressures - sit ins and protests in State/Federal buildings - to increase since they’ve lost the visibility of protesting and disrupting holiday events.
Terrorism - Level is HIGH due to increased lone wolf threats.
Multiple bomb threats targeting state capitol buildings across the United States led to evacuations Wednesday morning. At least six state capitol buildings were impacted by the bomb threats, including Connecticut, Georgia, Kentucky, Michigan, Mississippi and Montana. A representative for Kentucky Secretary of State Michael Adams said multiple secretaries of state nationwide received threats in a “mass email,” according to the Lexington Herald-Leader.
OBSERVATION - The intimidation war is on just three days into 2024. You can expect more of this.
Economy-
Upcoming dates of importance
- The Fed next meets on Jan. 30-31.
***
Xerox announced plans to cut 15% of its workforce as part of a plan to implement a new organizational structure and operating model. The company had about 20,500 employees as of Dec. 31, 2022, per an SEC filing, meaning the layoffs will likely affect more than 3,000 employees. Xerox said it will carry out the cuts this quarter.
OBSERVATION - More cuts by major companies, symptomatic of a (pre) recession economy.
***
U.S. Federal Reserve officials appeared increasingly convinced at their meeting last month that inflation was coming under control, with “upside risks” diminished and growing concern about the damage that “overly restrictive” monetary policy might do to the economy, according to minutes of the central bank’s Dec. 12-13 policy meeting.
As a result “almost all participants indicated that...a lower target range for the federal funds rate would be appropriate by the end of 2024,” the minutes said, with “a number of participants” highlighting increased uncertainty about how long strict monetary policy would need to be maintained given the progress achieved on lowering inflation.
The minutes shed little light on when rate cuts might commence.
Indeed participants also noted “an unusually elevated degree of uncertainty” about the outlook, with further interest rate increases still possible.
OBSERVATION - There is still some uncertainty in the Fed on 2024, but it still looks like they are trying to justify rate reductions to assist biden by goosing the economy into looking better prior to the elections.
POLITICAL FRONT –
Release of the Epstein list finally did come out after a short court hold. The expected participants were named - except Trump who never visited the island or Epstein’s NM ranch where the child abuse occurred. Leftist apologists and the MSM have spent the overnight hours circling the wagons. The aftershocks will be severe.
***
biden released his first ad for the presidential campaign. Basically, half of America is a threat to America and need to be eliminated.
It appears that he is planning to make this the central theme of his campaign and will follow that narrative when he gives his Jan 6 speech from Valley Forge. His projected hate filled rhetoric serves a second purpose of dehumanizing republicans and in specific, Trump supporters - waving the flag for leftist violence in order to protect ‘democracy’. So called ‘white supremacy “ is the codeword.
Illegal Immigration –
Can cross reference the following to Terrorism as well as CW2 -
Border Patrol estimates that the cartels are earning $32 million a week from illegal aliens in the Del Rio, Texas sector alone.
OBSERVATION - This is one of the under the radar issues of the illegal immigration brought into the country by biden. Law enforcement has its hands full dealing the the massive increase in crimes from just the illegals themselves, they find themselves undermanned and under gunned to face the cartels.
China –
Four Filipino navy vessels and the Carl Vinson Strike Group are conducting the patrols in the South China Sea, an area that China claims as its own. Filipino state media and USNI only identify three of the four Filipino vessels. Two of the Filipino vessels are the largest surface warfare class in their fleet. Associated with these maneuvers is a probable resupply mission to the Second Thomas Shoal this week, according to Chinese media. Previous resupply missions have been harassed by Chinese naval elements, most recently using water cannons to attack and disable Philippine vessels.
OBSERVATION - Recent treaties/agreements between the US and Philippines cover US support of Philippine territories in the S China Sea region. If US vessels show up, it will be a big show of muscle counter to the Chinese presence and could result in some form of combativeness such as ship ramming and high pressure water cannons directed towards US ships. A nasty game of chicken could result in some degree of combat.
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.
*****
Logistics –
Wall Street Journal: Russia is moving forward with its plans to purchase Iranian ballistic missiles.
These missiles would be the relatively short range variety. Russia has been negotiating for missile/drone systems from Iran for over a year now.
Russian Personnel Issues –-
Unconfirmed reports that Russia is using an increased number of women on the front lines. Allegedly, these women have been recruited from penal/prisions with the same offers of convictions being pardoned as the men.
Ukraine –
WEATHER FORECAST – Temps in the 20-40 degree F range with on again, off again rain and snow.
Temperatures in Ukraine are expected to drop beginning Jan 6 and onwards, with snow, blizzards and ice. In the northern, central and eastern regions temperature at night are expected to drop to -10 to-15 deg F, and in the northeast down to 18-20 degrees F.
Relatively slow night for Ukraine ADA, shooting down 2 Shahed drones. However, explosions were reported in Kryvyi Rih and Kropivnitsky after suspected ballistic missile launches from occupied Crimea.
Followup on yesterday’s Rumint - Russia apparently did lose anther Su-34. An Su-34 aircraft of Russian Air Forces caught fire at Shagol airfield near Chelyabinsk last night
24 HOUR ROUND UP –
Weather continues to dominate action on the ground. Very little other action of any significance.
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.
The advent of cold weather is one that for the past couple winters has caused Russia serious logistical problems. The soldiers are poorly equipped with warm clothing and warm shelter. This will increase the spread of diseases and lower morale. This will also increase Russian use of buildings to hunker down in large numbers - ripe for Ukrainian targeting.
ISRAEL –
Key overnight developments -
- Israel takes out 4 Hezbollah leaders in overnight airstrikes.
- Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah specifically threatening Israel.
- US struck Iranian backed militia leader in Bagdad (see Iraq below)
——— GENERAL ——————————-
Israel [says] Hamas has been training children to join their campaign of terror and has even deployed the youngsters to the frontlines to “deliver messages and ammunitions.”
“During the ongoing war, Hamas has positioned children on the frontlines, sending them to deliver messages and ammunition while its operatives hide in shelters.”
They have also been used as scouts, being able to get close to Israeli units and then reporting to Hamas et al elements who attack shortly thereafter.
——— GAZA FRONT ———————————-
IDF forces continue their search and destroy operations, moving progressively southward into central and S Gaza. Heavy fighting reported in Khan Younis.
——— LEBANON / HEZBOLLAH——————————-
Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah spoke on Wednesday evening … Hezbollah leader explicitly threatened Israel, saying, “If the enemy thought of starting a war on Lebanon, then it will be a war without a ceiling, without borders, without rules. He knows what I mean. Our missiles and our ability and our means, it is enough just to mention that because we are not afraid of war. Those who think of fighting with us – the war with us will be very, very expensive. If there is a war on Lebanon, then we will go all the way without rules.
Note - Nasrallah spoke from an unlocated underground bunker somewhere in Lebanon.
Within hours after the Nasrallah speech, Israel has conducted another major airstrike on Lebanon, this time against a residential building which housed Hezbollah members.
“Two security sources told the Reuters news agency that four Hezbollah members were killed in the attack on what had been described as a residential building,” Al Jazeera reports. Importantly, “It brings the number of Hezbollah members killed on Wednesday to nine”
OBSERVATION - Israel is upping the ante by increasingly targeting Hezbollah leadership in addition to key operational sites in S Lebanon. Some suggest that Israel is trying to get a response from Hezbollah/Iran that Israel can use to justify a wider attack on Hezbollah.
***
Canada, Germany and Sweden have called on their citizens to immediately leave Lebanon
———WEST BANK——————————-
Multiple engagements between West Bank groups and Israeli security forces.
———“ISLAMIC RESISTANCE” ———————————
The United States, Australia, Bahrain, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, New Zealand, Singapore, and the United Kingdom released a Joint-Statement today in what is now seen as a “Final Warning” to the Houthi Terrorist Group in Yemen; that if they do not Immediately halt their attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea and their unlawfully detaining of vessels alongside their crews, then they will bear the responsibility and consequences of their actions.
——— 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.
The latest attacks by Israel targeting high level Hezbollah officers in Lebanon in addition to the Hamas 2d in command has continued to place increasing pressure on Hezbollah and Iran’s supporters to do something big in retaliation. Iran/Hezbollah, angered, do not appear to be ready to bite at that bait as Israel would use it to bring the hammer down on S Lebanon’s Hezbollah network. As long as Hezbollah holds their fire though, Israel will continue to go after key leadership as well as facilities critical to any Hezbollah response to the eventual fight. A very dangerous plan by Israel, but one they have already readied its contingency on.
Israel is most likely getting a lot of help from Lebanese - as Hezbollah has created a lot of enemies among the population. This is making Israel’s current targeting up to date and timely.
The coalition pulled together to oppose Houthi attacks on shipping has reached a critical point of having to either fish or cut bait. Since their announcement there have been no attacks on shipping, but this is likely due to Houthi evaluating the situation and likely dispersing its assets to minimize losses should they be attacked. As it stands, any attack would be essentially limited to the naval assets at hand, perhaps some USAF aircraft who’ve been designated to support US forces in Iraq and Syria thrown in. IMHO if this is the strike package , it is way too small. US strategic bombers should be used as well to create a very big bang - the only language radical islamists seem to understand in the region. The Houthi fought Saudi Arabia to essentially a standstill because SA couldn’t muster the massive strike necessary to put Houthi efforts down. Any ‘standard’ US strike package may well be inefficient and see a Houthi counter attack by its assets shortly after any strike - just to show how weak the attack was. Strength/power is what is recognized in the region.
Iran –
BREAKING - Iran has not officially attributed the twin blasts at Qassam Soleimani memorial site in the southeastern city of Kerman, Iran to any specific group. Reports that the first blast was initiated by a suicide bomber then the second on a timer. Some suspension that ISIS was involved.
Iraq -
Overnight there was an airstrike believed to have been from coalition / US forces on the PMF logistics headquarters, Central Baghdad.
According to Reuters - according to Iraqi police sources: At least two pro-Iranian faction fighters were killed and five others were wounded in Baghdad. Iraqi factions confirm that one of dead was “Abu Taqwa”, commander of the Iranian backed 12th Brigade in the Al-Nujaba Movement. The airstrike targeted a car carrying Mushtaq Talib Al-Saeedi (Abu Taqwa).
The Iraqi Ministerial Council for National Security went into an emergency meeting headed by Al-Sudani following the attack.
Prime Minister of Iraq - The international coalition led by Washington bears responsibility for the “unprovoked” attack on Iraqi security forces. The international coalition led by Washington bears responsibility for the “unprovoked” attack on Iraqi security forces. The Iraqi Prime Minister also stated that targeting a security headquarters in Baghdad today is a dangerous escalation and attack on Iraq
Security forces closes all roads to the U.S. embassy in Baghdad and security increased in general around the Green Zone.
OBSERVATION - Potentially dangerous development. Iranian backed militias have been taking increased pot shots at US / Coalition forces in Iraq since the start of the Gaza War. US response has been rather anemic. This strike OTOH is bold.
Heavily Iranian backed PM Al-Sudani announced last month he would see to it that all coalition and in specific US forces are removed from the country - signaling that Iraq will be falling deeper under Iran’s overall influence and control.