Monday, December 23, 2024
Iranian Dissident Group Exposes Regime’s ‘Intensified’ Nuclear Detonation Efforts, Warns of Rapid Dash Toward Bomb
he National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) issued a stark warning during a Thursday press conference, revealing the Islamic regime’s escalated efforts to advance nuclear weapon technologies. This includes significant developments at the METFAZ facility, a critical division of the Organization for Advanced Defense Research (SPND). According to the NCRI’s report, these efforts focus on nuclear detonators, specifically Exploding Bridgewire (EBW) devices, crucial for triggering nuclear explosions. (Read More)
Trump will have ‘almost zero time’ to prevent nuclear Iran
(Dec. 23, 2024 / JNS)
Once he takes office on Jan. 20, President-elect Donald Trump will have very little time to stop Iran’s march to nuclear weapons and no margin for error, according to a report by the Jewish Institute for National Security of America.
The report, released on Dec. 19, calls on the incoming U.S. administration to join Israel in giving Iran “an ultimatum at the outset of the presidency: agree fully and immediately to verifiably dismantle its nuclear weapons program, or invite its imminent and utter destruction.”
The plan also calls for a blend of massive economic and diplomatic pressure, backed by a credible military posture. This would include the implementation of sanctions on Chinese banks and other companies conducting trade with Iran. The report argues that U.S. support for a potential Israeli strike on Iran’s nuclear program is the best way to “build leverage and halt Tehran’s nuclear clock,” and calls for Trump to publicly state that such a strike “is consistent with longstanding U.S. prevention policy. (Read More)
Sullivan: Weakened Iran could make a dash for nuke
(Dec. 23, 2024 / JNS)
The Biden administration is worried Iran could respond to the recent reduction of its conventional military capabilities by rushing to construct a nuclear weapon, U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan warned on Sunday.
“What I found over the last four years is that when good things happen, like Iran being weaker than it was before, there are frequently bad things lurking around the corner,” Sullivan told CNN host Fareed Zakaria.
“If you’re Iran right now and you’re looking around at the fact that your conventional capability has been reduced, your proxies have been reduced, your main client state has been eliminated, Assad has fallen, it’s no wonder there are voices saying: ‘Hey, maybe we need to go for a nuclear weapon right now,'” the outgoing U.S. official continued. “They’re saying it publicly, in fact. They’re saying: Maybe we have to revisit our nuclear doctrine. A doctrine that has said: We’ll have a civilian nuclear program and certain capabilities, but we’re not going for a nuke,” Sullivan noted. “It’s a risk we’re trying to be vigilant about now.” (Read More)
Mossad chief: Go after Iran directly, not the Houthis
Mossad chief David Barnea reccomended in conversations with the political echelon that Israel strike Iran in response to recent ballistic missile attacks by the Houthis in Yemen rather than strike back at the Houthis.
Barnea said that Israel should "go after the head" rather than the arms.
On Saturday morning, 16 people were wounded when a Houthi-launched ballistic missile exploded in Jaffa. The IDF stated, "one projectile launched from Yemen was identified and unsuccessful interception attempts were made. A fallen projectile was identified in the area." The IDF later confirmed that the projectile had fallen in Tel Aviv-Jaffa. The hit created a crater in a playground between two residential buildings. (Read More)
US has decided to increase activity against Houthis, sources tell 'Post'
This decision was made by the US in recent days after it deemed its policy and actions against the Houthis over the last year as “insufficient.”
Sources said that “after the US saw that international companies continued to fear entering the Red Sea’s [shipping route] and that the Houthis continued to fire against Israel and international ships,” it realized that “decisions had to be made.”They added that the US was cooperating with Israel on this issue. (Read More)
Teacher Discovers: Vanished student became Syrian foreign minister
"I've just learned that my doctoral student, Asad Al-Shayebani, has become the new Foreign Minister of Syria," he tweeted.
He further noted: "I asked his Indonesian and Palestinian classmates why he hadn't attended classes for two weeks."
With a touch of humor, he added: "I hope he won't give me an excuse for not attending classes and then fail the final exam!"
"Jokes aside, I wish him, his children, and his country long-lasting peace and tranquility," Akskal concluded. (Read More)
Bashar al-Assad's wife files for divorce, seeks to move to UK - report
The British wife of Syria’s deposed president Bashar al-Assad, Asma al-Assad, has filed for divorce after expressing dissatisfaction with her life in Moscow, Turkish and Arab media reported Sunday. She reportedly seeks to move to London.
Asma applied to the Russian court and requested special permission to leave Moscow. Her application is reportedly currently being evaluated by Russian authorities.
Asma is a dual British-Syrian national who was born and raised in London by Syrian parents, the BBC reported. Asma moved to Syria in 2000 and married Assad in the same year at the age of 25. Although his asylum request was accepted, Bashar al-Assad is still reportedly subject to severe restrictions. He is not permitted to leave Moscow or engage in any political activities. (Read More)
Trump threatens to retake control of Panama Canal over excessive charges
President-elect Donald Trump threatened to reassert US control over the Panama Canal, accusing Panama of charging excessive rates to use the Central American passage, which allows ships to cross between the Pacific and Atlantic oceans.
In a Saturday evening post on Truth Social, Trump also warned that he would not let the canal fall into the "wrong hands."
The post was an exceedingly rare example of a US leader saying he could push a sovereign country to hand over territory. It also underlines an expected shift in US diplomacy under Trump, who has not historically shied away from threatening allies and using bellicose rhetoric when dealing with counterparts. "The fees being charged by Panama are ridiculous, especially knowing the extraordinary generosity that has been bestowed to Panama by the US," Trump wrote in his Truth Social post. (Read More)
Sunday, December 22, 2024
Netanyahu to WSJ: Won’t agree to end war before removing Hamas
(Dec. 22, 2024 / JNS)
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in an interview published Friday by The Wall Street Journal that Jerusalem would not forsake its war goal of removing Hamas from power.
“I’m not going to agree to end the war before we remove Hamas,” he said. “We’re not going to leave them in power in Gaza, 30 miles from Tel Aviv. It’s not going to happen.” Editorial writer Elliot Kaufman notes that Netanyahu envisions a partial hostage deal that would see a temporary pause in fighting with the terror group, which comes amid reports of an emerging agreement that would see a staged release of the hostages. (Read More)
Katz: IDF will ‘crush Hezbollah’s head’ if violates Lebanon truce
(Dec. 22, 2024 / JNS)
The Israeli military will “crush Hezbollah’s head” if the Iranian-backed terrorist group violates the ceasefire agreement, Defense Minister Israel Katz said on Sunday during a visit to an IDF position in Southern Lebanon.
“We defanged the snake, and if Hezbollah does not withdraw beyond the Litani [River] and tries to violate the ceasefire, we will crush its head,” Katz said in a statement.
“We will not allow Hezbollah to return to the southern [Lebanese] villages to reestablish the terror infrastructure that poses a threat to the northern [Israeli] communities,” he added. “We will ensure the restoration of security to allow the residents of the north to return safely to their homes,” he said. (Read More)
Its proxies pummeled, Iran is suddenly more vulnerable than ever. Will it go nuclear?
Israel hammered its most powerful proxy, Hezbollah, into stopping its rocket attacks in November after the Lebanese terror group lost its leadership and thousands of fighters.
Days later, Sunni rebels took advantage of Israel’s successes and swept southward from Idlib, ending the Assad family’s half-century of rule in Syria and breaking the land bridge between Iran and Hezbollah.
Tehran’s vaunted missile arsenal has proven underwhelming as well. Its two massive attacks on Israel this year succeeded in killing one Palestinian man and wounding a 7-year-old Bedouin girl. In response, Israel showed it can carry out airstrikes on sensitive Iranian sites. Israeli Air Force planes also destroyed the Islamic Republic’s state-of-the-art air defense batteries, opening the path to future strikes on sensitive infrastructure. (Read More)
Syrian Kurdish groups on the back foot as power balance shifts - analysis
Part of a stateless ethnic group straddling Iraq, Iran, Turkey, Armenia and Syria, Kurds have so far been among the few winners of the Syrian conflict, controlling nearly a quarter of the country and leading a powerful armed group that is a key US ally in countering Islamic State.
But the power balance has tilted against them since the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) swept into Damascus this month, toppling President Bashar al-Assad, two analysts and a senior Western diplomat told Reuters.
Israel’s got a new neighbor: Turkey's taking over Syria - opinion
“Just as we entered Karabakh and Libya, we will do the same in Israel.” These were the words of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan just six months ago. With the fall of Bashar Assad’s regime and Turkey’s shared border with Syria, Erdogan’s statement – essentially threatening a ground invasion of Israel – carries troubling implications.
“There is nothing we cannot do; we just need to stay strong,” Erdogan declared at a political gathering of his Justice and Development Party (AKP) in Turkey.
Erdogan referred to Turkey’s involvement in aiding Azerbaijan during the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war, as well as its 2020 intervention in Libya’s civil war, where Turkish forces backed the Tripoli-based Government of National Accord.
The dramatic collapse of Assad’s regime this week and the victory of Syrian rebels, some of whom are heavily backed and guided by Turkey, should serve as a wake-up call for Israel’s decision-makers. (Read More)
IDF hits Tulkarem terror cell, killing Iranian-linked Fatah commander
An Israeli Air Force craft attacked a terrorist cell in the western Samaria city of Tulkarem on Thursday afternoon, killing a senior terror leader.
The Israel Defense Forces and Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet) in a joint statement on Thursday evening confirmed that the IAF strike targeted Tareq al-Doush, a local commander of the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, a “military” arm of P.A. leader Mahmoud Abbas’s Fatah party.
“Over the past year, Tareq recruited several operatives who received Iranian funding from headquarters in Lebanon linked to the Maqdah family to promote attacks against Israeli targets,” the statement added, in reference to Munir Maqdah, a senior Fatah operative in Lebanon. (Read More)
Saturday, December 21, 2024
PM reportedly won’t attend Auschwitz liberation anniversary, fearing arrest by Poland
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will avoid traveling to Poland for next month’s events marking the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz Nazi concentration camp, fearing he may be arrested, according to a Polish report on Friday.
The major event is planned for International Holocaust Remembrance Day on January 27 and is expected to be attended by dozens of leaders and heads of state, including Britain’s King Charles.
Polish outlet Rzeczpospolita reported that Israeli authorities have not contacted their Polish counterparts about attending the event, and officials in Warsaw believe the reason is related to Poland’s pledge that it will adhere to the International Criminal Court’s arrest warrant for Netanyahu over possible war crimes in the ongoing conflict with Hamas. (Read More)
16 hurt as Houthi missile from Yemen hits Tel Aviv
(Dec. 20, 2024 / JNS)
Sixteen were lightly wounded overnight Friday when a ballistic missile fired by Iranian-backed Houthi terrorists in Yemen struck a residential area in Tel Aviv’s Jaffa neighborhood at 3:44 a.m. A crater was created in a playground.
Magen David Adom paramedics treated at least 14 people hurt, mainly by shards of glass created by the impact. They were evacuated to Wolfson Medical Center in Holon and Sourasky Medical Center (Ichilov Hospital) in Tel Aviv.Another 14 people were injured on the way to a protected area and seven others suffered from anxiety. Millions of residents in the greater Tel Aviv area entered protected spaces after hearing air-raid sirens. (Read More)
After Damascus meeting, US drops $10 million terror bounty for new Syrian leader
Barbara Leaf, Washington’s top diplomat for the Middle East, made the comments after her meeting with Sharaa in Damascus — the first formal mission to Syria’s capital by United States diplomats since the early days of Syria’s civil war. The country’s new authorities said in a statement. (Read More)
US kills ISIS leader Abu Yusif in precision strike in Syria
US official speaks out on the strike
“As stated before, the United States — working with allies and partners in the region — will not allow ISIS to take advantage of the current situation in Syria and reconstitute," said CENTCOM commander Michael Erik Kurilla.
"ISIS has the intent to break out of detention the over 8,000 ISIS operatives currently being held in facilities in Syria," he continued. "We will aggressively target these leaders and operatives, including those trying to conduct operations external to Syria." (Read More)
Documents captured from Hamas reveal Iran's complex weapons smuggling network
Iran's weapons smuggling routes to Syria, Lebanon and the West Bank were revealed by documents recently captured from Hamas, according to a new study by the Maj.-Gen. Meir Amit Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center.
The documents revealed details on the collapse of a Hamas smuggling network in Jordan and how the terror organization and the Islamic Republic attempted to transfer weapons to the West Bank in an effort to ignite another front against Israel.
The United States, Israel, and Jordan have also taken major steps to prevent these smuggling operations, the documents revealed, alongside Russian involvement. Additionally, Russia secretly worked to limit smuggling in the Syria-Jordan-Israel border triangle. (Read More)
‘The Sunnis can smell blood’
(Dec. 20, 2024 / JNS)
A few months ago, some of the rebel leaders in Syria contacted Mordechai Kedar, a renowned Israeli scholar of the Middle East, specializing in Arab culture. They proposed that he come to the Idlib region in northwestern Syria, where they had been spearheading their activity and preparations for the final push towards the great revolution.
“Come to Turkey, and we’ll pick you up from there,” they suggested. Kedar was keen to meet them. His contacts sought coordination and ties with Israel. They saw in Kedar, a feisty academic with whom they were familiar from his frequent appearances on the Qatari TV channel Al Jazeera, a potential go-between between themselves and the Israeli establishment. (Read More)
Friday, December 20, 2024
Hundreds Stage Women’s Rights Protest in Jihadi-Conquered Damascus
Assad fled the country in between December 7 and 8 after Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a Sunni jihadist terror organization, surrounded Damascus. Syria had been in a state of civil war since 2011, when Assad’s decision to violently repress protests for expanded human rights prompted the emergence of a slew of militias intent on toppling him. In addition to the war between Assad and the Syrian opposition, several other militant actors surfaced with other goals, such as the Islamic State terrorist organization, which attempted to establish a “caliphate” in Raqqa.
The leader of HTS, Ahmed al-Sharaa (previously known as Abu Mohammed al-Jolani), has endeavored in the aftermath of the fall of the Assad regime to address global concerns that he, too, will attempt to establish an Islamist caliphate in the entirety of Syria, changing his wardrobe to Western-style suits and discussing the creation of an “inclusive” government. Sharaa has claimed that his group will not persecute Syria’s many ethnic and religious minorities, such as the Christians and the Kurds, and that HTS will respect women – but has also defended Islamist governance and called those who oppose it ignorant. (Read More)
'Israel bragging about conquering the Syrian Hermon damages cooperation,' Arab diplomat warns
"Israel bragging about conquering the Syrian Hermon damages efforts to promote cooperation in the region,” an Arab diplomat warned in a conversation with The Jerusalem Post, amid growing criticism of Israeli statements regarding its prolonged presence on the mountain.
Arab diplomats have expressed concern that Israel’s actions and rhetoric regarding Mount Hermon, including recent comments by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz, could harm normalization efforts with Arab nations. (Read More)
IDF extends urban renewal legislation to Judea and Samaria
(Dec. 19, 2024 / JNS)
Israel Defense Forces Central Command head Maj. Gen. Avi Bluth on Sunday extended to Judea and Samaria urban renewal legislation previously only in effect within Israel’s 1949 armistice lines.
The order could spur a surge in building in the region, including but not limited to the recognized cities such as Modi’in Illit, Beitar Illit, Ma’ale Adumim and Ariel.
The move was a joint project of the Construction and Housing Ministry, the Defense Ministry and its Civil Administration, the Authority for Urban Renewal, the Israel Tax Authority and other Israeli agencies. The directive “opens the door for companies and entrepreneurs to promote urban renewal, [including] renovation and construction projects in a new market—within the scope of the Israeli local authorities in Judea and Samaria,” according to a statement from the Construction Housing Ministry. (Read More)
IDF estimates: Iran will attempt to increase terror in Judea and Samaria
At the same time, the IDF Central Command is perturbed by the escalations in the eastern front. After years of relative quiet, over the past few months, there have been four terror attacks in the area and several attempted cross-border attacks from Jordan.
In one instance last month, two terrorists infiltrated Israel from Jordan and reached the Israeli community of Petza'el in the Jordan Valley. The two admitted during their interrogation that they came to carry out a terror attack in central Israel. (Read More)
Guterres: 'Israeli airstrikes are violations of Syria's sovereignty'
"Extensive Israeli air strikes continue. These are violations of Syria's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and they must stop," he declared during a press conference on Thursday.
Israel began launching strikes following the fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime, targeting strategic weapons and military infrastructure to prevent them from falling into the wrong hands.
"Syria's sovereignty, territorial unity, and integrity must be fully restored, and all acts of aggression must come to an immediate end," Guterres said.
Regarding the buffer zone between Israel and Syria, which the IDF entered after the regime collapsed, he stated: "Let me be clear: There should be no military forces in the area of separation other than UN peacekeepers – period. Israel and Syria must uphold the terms of the 1974 Disengagement of Forces Agreement, which remains fully in force." (Read More)
Putin says Israel is main beneficiary of events in Syria, doubts IDF will withdraw troops
Putin condemns Israel’s seizure of territories in Syria and said he feels that Israel has no intention of withdrawing its troops from Syria.
“We hope that Israel will at some point leave the territory of Syria. But now it is bringing in additional troops,” Putin says at his annual end-of-year press conference. (Read More)
Moscow should have invaded Ukraine before 2022,' Putin says
"Such a decision, which was made at the beginning of 2022, should have been made earlier," Putin said at a marathon press conference. He added that it should have been "necessary" to prepare for the operation but that Russia couldn't "endure" the situation.
"The events in Crimea were spontaneous, and the events of 2022 were also started without any special preparation. Why did we start? Because it was no longer possible to stand still and endure, waiting for the situation to worsen for us," Putin claimed, as reported by TASS. (Read More)
Beersheba: Cultural and tourism hubs as economic growth accelerators
In recent years, Beersheba, the capital of the Negev, has increasingly become a sought-after metropolis, offering diverse opportunities in housing, employment, and investments. The city combines the construction of new neighborhoods with urban renewal in older areas, as part of a strategic vision to provide solutions for all demographics: young couples, families, students, new immigrants, and even senior citizens.
The city has benefitted from agreements with the Construction and Housing Ministry, which provided resources and tools for developing the housing sector, including the construction of tens of thousands of apartments in new neighborhoods. For instance, the Pisgat Ramot neighborhood, located near the hi-tech park and Ben-Gurion University, is set to have around 3,700 housing units, including assisted living and long-term rental housing. Additionally, the Rakafot neighborhood, expected to offer around 4,000 housing units in the city’s northern area, combines diverse living options with a rural character. (Read More)
Thursday, December 19, 2024
First Israeli-built quantum computer now in operation
The 20-qubit quantum computer was developed under the leadership of the Israel Innovation Authority, Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), Hebrew University, and Yissum, the university’s technology transfer company.
This collaboration has established a superconductor-based quantum computerinfrastructure alongside a robust development and integration environment. The computer will support both defense and civilian applications.
The global race for “quantum supremacy” has accelerated in recent years with groundbreaking discoveries in the field.
Israel is now among the leading nations building quantum infrastructures and computers that promise to revolutionize computing across research, defense, industry, and more. IAI has invested substantial resources into its quantum efforts, establishing itself as a major player in the field with the unveiling of Israel’s first blue-and-white quantum computer. (Read More)
Will Syria become a battleground between Turkey and Israel?
(Dec. 19, 2024 / JNS)
Israel’s relationship with Ankara has been characterized by fluctuations over time, marked by periods of cooperation and tension. However, Turkey’s recent posture, particularly in the aftermath of the Hamas-led massacre on Oct. 7, 2023, has been increasingly antagonistic and inconsistent.
Turkey, although a NATO member, has facilitated activities that undermine Israel’s security and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan publicly supports groups with terrorist affiliations. For example, in July, Israel thwarted a Hamas attack orchestrated from within Turkey and Turkey now hosts the Hamas leaders who were forced out of Qatar.
Erdoğan has frequently called on Israel to refrain from military actions in Lebanon and Syria. Yet, Turkey itself appears ready to launch a military operation in Syria targeting Kurdish groups. Additionally, Erdoğan supports the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) terrorist group, led by Abu Muhammad al-Julani (who now goes by his real name, Ahmed al-Sharaa). (Read More)
Israel Hits Houthis in Yemen; Strikes Capital, Sana’a, for First Time
The ballistic missile was the seventh fired at Israel by the Houthis in recent weeks, in addition to five drone launches. Sirens were heard just after 2:30 in the morning in the Tel Aviv metropolitan area, due to the danger of shrapnel fragments continuing the missile’s trajectory and spreading out across the targeted area. No injuries were reported. (Read More)
Netanyahu: 'Houthis are learning and will learn that whoever hurts Israel will pay'
According to Netanyahu, "We did this in response to the Houthis' repetitive attacks on civilian targets in Israel. Last night, they attacked a school in Ramat Gan.
"They don't attack just us, they attack the entire world. They attack the international shipping and trade routes. So when Israel operates against the Houthis, it works for the entire international community. The Americans understand this well, and so do many others." He further stated: "After Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Assad regime in Syria, the Houthis are almost the only arm that the Iranian axis of evil has left. They are learning and they will learn that those who hurt Israel - pay a very heavy price." (Read More)
IDF hits Houthi terror targets in Yemen after missile fired at central Israel
The Israel Defense Forces overnight Wednesday struck Houthi targets in Yemen, after the military intercepted a missile over central Israel fired by the Iranian-backed terror group.“Over the past year, the Houthi terrorist regime has been operating with the direction and funding of Iran, and in cooperation with Iraqi militias, in order to attack the State of Israel and Israeli civilians,” according to an IDF statement.
“The conducted strikes degrade the Houthi terrorist regime, preventing it from exploiting the targets for military and terrorist purposes, including the smuggling of Iranian weapons to the region. “The IDF is determined to continue operating against all threats posed to the citizens of the State of Israel, wherever necessary,” added the military. (Read More)
Erdoğan: 'Turkey is bigger than Turkey, we can't limit ourselves'
Speaking at the Scientific and Technological Research Council (TÜBİTAK) and Turkish Academy of Sciences (TÜBA) Awards Ceremony at the Beştepe National Congress and Culture Center, the President stated: "Every incident that has occurred in our region, especially in Syria, recently reminds us of this fact; Turkey is bigger than Turkey. As a nation, we cannot limit our horizon to 782,000 square kilometers."
According to him, "Just as a person cannot escape his destiny, Turkey and the Turkish nation cannot escape or hide from their destiny. As a nation, we have to see the mission that history has assigned to us and act accordingly. We see this, we do not turn a deaf ear to the calls."Erdoğan continued: "Those who ask, 'What is Turkey doing in Libya and Syria?' may not be able to comprehend this mission.
Those who do not know how Turkey has changed may have difficulty understanding the course of events. We leave them alone with nonsense. No matter what we tell those who have abandoned their empathy with their nation, it is useless. We will not waste time with them, we will focus on our goals." (Read More)
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