Is it all planned?
Bibi went to the USA -
when he got back -  Israel launched 2 provocative hit jobs and now it's all on.
The USA is backing it up.



https://www.timesofisrael.com/us-sending-more-fighter-jets-and-warships-to-mideast-amid-threats-from-iran-led-axis/


US sending more fighter jets and warships to Mideast amid threats from Iran-led axis

Pentagon announces it will also keep an aircraft carrier in the region; TV report says Israel is close to reprising the coalition that helped defend against Iranian attack in April
By Agencies and ToI Staff Today, 3:18 am

The US will move a fighter jet squadron to the Middle East and maintain an aircraft carrier in the region, the Pentagon said Friday, beefing up the American military presence to help defend Israel from possible attacks by Iran and its proxies and safeguard US troops.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has also ordered additional ballistic missile defense-capable cruisers and destroyers to the European and Middle East regions and is taking steps to send more land-based ballistic missile defense weapons there, the Pentagon said in a statement Friday evening.

The shifts make good on a promise President Joe Biden made to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. In a call Thursday, Biden discussed new US military deployments to protect against possible attacks from ballistic missiles and drones, according to the White House. In April, US forces intercepted dozens of missiles and drones fired by Iran against Israel and helped down nearly all of them.

US leaders worry about escalating violence in the Middle East in response to recent attacks on Hamas and Hezbollah leaders, which triggered threats of retaliation. Iran also has threatened to respond after Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh was assassinated in Tehran on Wednesday, a day after senior Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr was killed in Beirut.

Israel has claimed responsibility for killing Shukr, but has not officially commented on Haniyeh, whose death Hamas, Iran and their allies have blamed on the Jewish state. Israeli leaders have pledged to kill the leaders over the terror group’s devastating October 7 attack, which sparked the war in Gaza.

Bobby. wrote on Aug 3^rd, 2024 at 2:27pm:

Is it all planned? Bibi went to the USA - when he got back -  Israel launched 2 provocative hit jobs and now it's all on. The USA is backing it up.

Nothing of this risk and scale by any US ally is executed without the green light from the US president.

If it is going to defend an ally - either by actions, diplomatically or both - the US needs lead time to prepare and position itself before the action.

MeisterEckhart wrote on Aug 3^rd, 2024 at 3:20pm:

Bobby. wrote on Aug 3rd, 2024 at 2:27pm: Is it all planned? Bibi went to the USA - when he got back -  Israel launched 2 provocative hit jobs and now it's all on. The USA is backing it up. Nothing of this risk and scale by any US ally is executed without the green light from the US president. If it is going to defend an ally - either by actions, diplomatically or both - the US needs lead time to prepare and position itself before the action.

What if: Iran, Hezbollah, and the Houthis in Yemen hit back before
the 12 warships and aircraft carrier arrive?

The war could start any second now.

https://www.timesofisrael.com/more-airlines-cancel-flights-as-israel-braces-for-potential-attack-by-iran-its-proxies/

More airlines cancel flights as Israel braces for potential attack by Iran, its proxies

Aegean, LOT, ITA, KLM and Wizz Air are latest carriers to suspend Israel routes;
some 400 travelers stuck in Prague for 3 days after foreign crew bails on Arkia


By ToI Staff 2 August 2024, 9:46 pmUpdated at 2:22 am

Greece’s Aegean, Poland’s LOT, Italy’s ITA, the Netherlands’ KLM and Hungarian budget carrier Wizz Air became the latest airlines to suspend their Israel routes Friday, in anticipation of potential attacks by Iran and its regional proxies.

The airlines join major carriers including United, Delta and Lufthansa who have canceled flights to and from Israel over the past two days.

Wizz canceled all flights until August 4, KLM and Aegean  until August 6, LOT until August 9 and ITA until October 26.

Meanwhile, about 400 Israelis marked their third day stranded in the Prague airport on Friday, Hebrew media reported, as regional tensions have led at least 15 airlines to suspend their Israel routes, leaving an estimated 20,000 Israelis with no way home.

The Prague passengers were supposed to return home Wednesday with Israeli airline Arkia. However, the plane and crew were foreign and refused to come to Israel for security reasons.

https://edition.cnn.com/2024/08/02/politics/us-warships-middle-east-brace-iranian-retaliation/index.html

US sending aircraft carrier, warships and fighter squadron to Middle East
as region braces for Iranian retaliation


Oren Liebermann
By Oren Liebermann, CNN
3 minute read
Updated 7:57 PM EDT, Fri August 2, 2024


https://media.cnn.com/api/v1/images/stellar/prod/8565676.jpg

Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) sails the Pacific Ocean.




The US is sending a carrier strike group, a fighter squadron and additional warships to the Middle East as the region braces for an Iranian retaliation to the killing of a senior Hamas leader in Tehran earlier this week.

It is perhaps the largest movement of US forces to the region since the early days of the Gaza war, when the Pentagon sent two carrier strike groups toward the Middle East in a very public warning to regional militant groups not to expand the fighting.

“We’ve heard the Supreme Leader loud and clear that he intends to avenge this killing of a Hamas leader in Tehran, and that they want to conduct another attack on Israel,” John Kirby, the strategic communications coordinator for the National Security Council, told CNN. “We can’t just assume that we are also potentially going to be victims of that kind of an attack, so we’ve got to make sure we’ve got the right resources and capabilities in the region.”

On Friday, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin ordered the USS Abraham Lincoln strike group to replace the USS Theodore Roosevelt strike group, which is currently operating in the Gulf of Oman, according to a statement from Pentagon deputy press secretary Sabrina Singh.

In addition, destroyers and cruisers capable of ballistic missile defense will also be sent to the Middle East and the Mediterranean Sea. The statement does not say which warships have been sent, but two US destroyers in the eastern Mediterranean Sea took part in intercepting the barrage of strikes Iran launched against Israel in April.

Austin also ordered the deployment of a fighter squadron to the region, Singh said.

The US already has the USS Wasp amphibious assault ship in the region, which operates with the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, capable of carrying out an evacuation of US citizens in Lebanon should it be ordered.

Bobby. wrote on Aug 3^rd, 2024 at 3:25pm:

MeisterEckhart wrote on Aug 3rd, 2024 at 3:20pm: Bobby. wrote on Aug 3rd, 2024 at 2:27pm: Is it all planned? Bibi went to the USA - when he got back -  Israel launched 2 provocative hit jobs and now it's all on. The USA is backing it up. Nothing of this risk and scale by any US ally is executed without the green light from the US president. If it is going to defend an ally - either by actions, diplomatically or both - the US needs lead time to prepare and position itself before the action. What if: Iran, Hezbollah, and the Houthis in Yemen hit back before the 12 warships and aircraft carrier arrive? The war could start any second now.

To date, Iran has been avoiding war despite provocations.

The US and Israel, no doubt, have calculated that Iran will not risk initiating a war that would be deeply unpopular with the Iranian people and, more importantly, maybe unpopular with the IRGC.

MeisterEckhart wrote on Aug 3^rd, 2024 at 4:30pm:

To date, Iran has been avoiding war despite provocations. The US and Israel, no doubt, have calculated that Iran will not risk initiating a war that would be deeply unpopular with the Iranian people and, more importantly, maybe unpopular with the IRGC.

But:

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/7/31/irans-khamenei-vows-harsh-punishment-for-israel-after-haniyeh-killing

Iran’s Khamenei vows ‘harsh punishment’ for Israel after Haniyeh killing

Supreme leader says avenging Haniyeh’s assassination is Tehran’s duty as Iran announces three days of mourning.



“The criminal and terrorist Zionist regime martyred our dear guest in our house and made us bereaved,” Khamenei said in a statement on Wednesday, adding that “it also prepared the ground for a harsh punishment for itself.”


He said it was Iran’s duty to avenge the assassination of Haniyeh, who was in the Iranian capital for the inauguration of President Masoud Pezeshkian.

“We consider it our duty to avenge his blood in this bitter and difficult incident that happened in the territory of the Islamic Republic,” Khamenei said, as he offered his condolences to Haniyeh’s family and the Palestinian group.

Iran has announced three days of public mourning across the country for Haniyeh.

A funeral ceremony will be held in Iran on Thursday, after which Haniyeh’s body will be transferred to Doha, Qatar, Hamas said in a statement on its Telegram channel.

He will be buried in the Qatari capital on Friday, the group announced.

Israel has yet to comment on the attack but has previously promised to kill Haniyeh and other Hamas leaders after the October 7 attack on southern Israel which led to the killing of about 1,139 people and triggered Israel’s war on Gaza, which has so far killed more than 39,400 people.

Israeli media reported that ministers and officials were told not to comment on Haniyeh’s killing.

Bobby. wrote on Aug 3^rd, 2024 at 4:39pm:

MeisterEckhart wrote on Aug 3rd, 2024 at 4:30pm: To date, Iran has been avoiding war despite provocations. The US and Israel, no doubt, have calculated that Iran will not risk initiating a war that would be deeply unpopular with the Iranian people and, more importantly, maybe unpopular with the IRGC. But: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/7/31/irans-khamenei-vows-harsh-punishment-for-israel-after-haniyeh-killing Iran’s Khamenei vows ‘harsh punishment’ for Israel after Haniyeh killing Supreme leader says avenging Haniyeh’s assassination is Tehran’s duty as Iran announces three days of mourning.

What else would you expect a supreme leader to say after a direct attack and an insult to his nation's national sovereignty by a suspected foreign entity?

Has he declared war on Israel?

MeisterEckhart wrote on Aug 3^rd, 2024 at 4:44pm:

Bobby. wrote on Aug 3rd, 2024 at 4:39pm: MeisterEckhart wrote on Aug 3rd, 2024 at 4:30pm: To date, Iran has been avoiding war despite provocations. The US and Israel, no doubt, have calculated that Iran will not risk initiating a war that would be deeply unpopular with the Iranian people and, more importantly, maybe unpopular with the IRGC. But: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/7/31/irans-khamenei-vows-harsh-punishment-for-israel-after-haniyeh-killing Iran’s Khamenei vows ‘harsh punishment’ for Israel after Haniyeh killing Supreme leader says avenging Haniyeh’s assassination is Tehran’s duty as Iran announces three days of mourning. What else would you expect a supreme leader to say after a direct attack and an insult to his nation's national sovereignty by a suspected foreign entity? Has he declared war on Israel?

No but it depends if Iran hits Tel Aviv:

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2024/8/3/israels-war-on-gaza-live-us-sends-ships-jets-to-region-as-tension-soars


Nobody wants this to spiral out of control.

There could just be the slightest, most minute miscalculation that could tip this into an all-out war.
Especially if Iran targets a heavily populated civilian area, and Israel feels the need to respond.
Nobody wants this to turn out to be something bigger, but it could be. And that is why everybody is focused on de-escalation.

https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog-august-03-2024/



NYT: Iran arrests dozens suspected of involvement in Haniyeh assassination

Iran has arrested at least two dozen people over suspected connection to the alleged Israeli assassination of Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran, The New York Times reports, citing two Iranians familiar with the investigation.

Those arrested include senior Iranian intelligence officers, military officials, and staff at the IRGC-run guesthouse, the report says. Iranians fear a major security breach within high-ranking officials made the daring assassination possible.

The Telegraph reported earlier that the Mossad enlisted Iranian security agents to plant explosives in the guesthouse and then remotely detonate it, but a Hamas official in Iran told the Al-Araby Al Jadeed news outlet that an airborne projectile targeted Haniyeh.

https://www.jpost.com/breaking-news/article-813092


Iran warns Hezbollah to deliberately target civilians in response to Shukr assassination

An Israeli official claimed that Iran's attack was predicted to be more extreme compared
to April's and could extend to Israeli interests abroad.


By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
AUGUST 3, 2024 08:46
Updated: AUGUST 3, 2024 09:26


The Permanent Mission of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the United Nations told CBS News in an exclusive on Friday that the Iran-backed terror group Hezbollah would begin deliberately targeting Israeli civilians - claiming that it had not done so until now.

Hezbollah has reportedly decided to increase its targets in attacks in response to the assassination of its commander, Fuad Shukr.

"Until now, Hezbollah and the regime have, in an unwritten understanding, practically adhered to certain limits in their military operations, meaning that confining their actions to border areas and shallow zones, targeting primarily military objectives,"  a spokesperson from the delegation told CBS News. "However, the regime's attack on Dahieh in Beirut and the targeting of a residential building marked a deviation from these boundaries. We anticipate that, in its response, Hezbollah will choose both broader and deeper targets, and will not restrict itself solely to military targets and means."

US deploys jets and warships as Iran threatens Israel

The United States will deploy additional warships and fighter jets to the Middle East to help defend Israel from possible attacks by Iran and its proxies, the Pentagon said.

Tensions remain high in the region over the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Iran and a key commander of the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah.

Missile defence forces were placed on a state of increased readiness to deploy, the Pentagon said, adding that its commitment to defend Israel was "ironclad".

Iran's leader Ayatollah Khamenei has vowed "harsh punishment" against Israel for the assassination of Haniyeh, and declared three days of national mourning.

Thanks for moving and merging that Set.

Greggy doesn't check first before posting.
I was posting the same story.

Maybe they are planning to fly those 70,000 Israeli Jews stuck at Ben Gurion airport clamoring to get out before the sh*t comes down.

Laugh till you cry wrote on Aug 3^rd, 2024 at 6:50pm:

Maybe they are planning to fly those 70,000 Israeli Jews stuck at Ben Gurion airport clamoring to get out before the sh*t comes down.

Maybe they are planning to fly all the Israelis in that have been stranded in Cyprus by Lufthansa clamoring to get into Israel.

Setanta wrote on Aug 3^rd, 2024 at 7:01pm:

Laugh till you cry wrote on Aug 3rd, 2024 at 6:50pm: Maybe they are planning to fly those 70,000 Israeli Jews stuck at Ben Gurion airport clamoring to get out before the sh*t comes down. Maybe they are planning to fly all the Israelis in that have been stranded in Cyprus by Lufthansa clamoring to get into Israel.

Is Bvr's garage overcrowded?

Laugh till you cry wrote on Aug 3^rd, 2024 at 7:38pm:

Setanta wrote on Aug 3rd, 2024 at 7:01pm: Laugh till you cry wrote on Aug 3rd, 2024 at 6:50pm: Maybe they are planning to fly those 70,000 Israeli Jews stuck at Ben Gurion airport clamoring to get out before the sh*t comes down. Maybe they are planning to fly all the Israelis in that have been stranded in Cyprus by Lufthansa clamoring to get into Israel. Is Bvr's garage overcrowded?

Cyprus' airport might be. I'll leave spying on other member's garages up to you.

https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog-august-03-2024/#liveblog-entry-3346477

57min ago


IRGC: Haniyeh slain by short-range projectile, vows revenge ‘at appropriate time, place, and manner’


By Reuters

Hamas’s slain leader Ismail Haniyeh was killed in Tehran by a short-range projectile with a warhead of about 7 kilograms, Iran’s Revolutionary Guards says in a statement.

Tehran’s revenge for the attack will be “severe and [taken] at an appropriate time, place, and manner,” the statement says, blaming Israel — “the adventurous and terrorist Zionist regime” — for his death.

That's three stories so far - Israeli Air Force got the bastard... a bomb was planted in his flat ages ago ....  now someone offed him with a shoulder-launched missile...

Any which way he's now a good Islamist Gazan....

Also looks like no one can get in or out of Israel except by road.
All the airlines are shut down.


https://www.timesofisrael.com/iran-warns-hezbollah-will-strike-civilian-targets-deeper-in-israel-as-war-fears-heighten/

Iran warns Hezbollah will strike civilian targets deeper in Israel as war fears heighten

Tehran says it expects group to carry out ‘broader and deeper’ strikes in the wake of killing of Fuad Shukr; IDF strike kills ‘a main terrorist’ in Hezbollah’s southern command
By Agencies, Emanuel Fabian

and ToI Staff Today, 1:49 pm




https://www.timesofisrael.com/more-airlines-cancel-flights-as-israel-braces-for-potential-attack-by-iran-its-proxies/

More airlines cancel flights as Israel braces for potential attack by Iran, its proxies

Aegean, LOT, ITA, KLM and Wizz Air are latest carriers to suspend Israel routes; some 400 travelers stuck in Prague for 3 days after foreign crew bails on Arkia.



Greece’s Aegean, Poland’s LOT, Italy’s ITA, the Netherlands’ KLM and Hungarian budget carrier Wizz Air became the latest airlines to suspend their Israel routes Friday, in anticipation of potential attacks by Iran and its regional proxies.

The airlines join major carriers including United, Delta and Lufthansa who have canceled flights to and from Israel over the past two days.

Wizz canceled all flights until August 4, KLM and Aegean  until August 6, LOT until August 9 and ITA until October 26.

https://x.com/IranIntl_En/status/1819455545461645566


Iranian TV


"In coming hours, the world will witness extraordinary scenes and very important developments,"
an Iranian state TV anchor said in a live program focused on Tehran's retaliation against Israel
over the assassination of Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c80xxeqel5po

It would seem like a wider war is now  unavoidable.

It's a good bet that Israel intends to end its existential threat from Shia Islamists.

In this, they will have the full (although mostly covert) support of all Sunni Muslim regimes in the region.

Well - the war hasn't started yet -

when will Iran and its proxies strike Israel?

Is this the battle order?

https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/640x480q70/923/zWMGMb.png

tallowood wrote on Aug 4^th, 2024 at 9:45am:

Is this the battle order? https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/640x480q70/923/zWMGMb.png

A version large enough to read:

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GUAWAo6WsAAZH8-.jpg

https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog-august-4-2024/

2 hours ago -

Report:

Israeli, US officials expect Iran could attack as early as tomorrow


Officials in Washington and Jerusalem expect Iran and its proxies could attack Israel as early as tomorrow, according to the Axios news site, in retaliation for the killings of Hezbollah military chief Fuad Shukr and Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh last week.

Gen. Michael Kurilla, head of the US Central Command, reportedly arrived in the Middle East yesterday, on a planned trip that coincides with defense preparations for a threatened Iranian strike.

The Pentagon said on Friday that it was moving a fighter jet squadron to the Middle East and maintaining an aircraft carrier in the region beefing up the American military presence to help defend Israel and safeguard US troops.

Israel and the US are coordinating a regional and international coalition to thwart potential attacks, as was the case when Iran fired hundreds of drones and missiles at Israel on April 13-14.

The Iranian retaliation is expected to be similar to that attack, though particularly larger in scope and in coordination with Hezbollah in Lebanon.

https://www.jpost.com/breaking-news/article-813150


Iran expected to attack Israel as early as Monday, US officials arrive in Middle East - report


Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps said on Saturday that revenge will be “severe and at an appropriate time, place, and manner,” blaming the “terrorist Zionist regime” for Haniyeh’s death.

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
AUGUST 4, 2024 04:19
Updated: AUGUST 4, 2024 10:35

The Iranian attack on Israel in response to the assassination of Hamas political bureau leader Ismail Haniyeh in Iran last week is expected to come as early as Monday, three US and Israeli officials told Axios reporter Barak Ravid on Sunday.

Michael Erik Kurilla, commander of US Central Command, arrived in the Middle East early Sunday morning amid  Hezbollah and Iran's threats against Israel, Walla reported on Sunday, citing two senior US officials.

The aim of the visit, which was planned before the current escalation, is to prepare a coalition to counter such threats, the report added.
Israel on high alert at Iran threatens revenge

Several Iranian officials vowed that the country would avenge Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh’s assassination, as Israel remains on high alert for a potential attack and the United States is sending additional forces to the region.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps said on Saturday that revenge will be “severe and at an appropriate time, place, and manner,” blaming the “terrorist Zionist regime” for Haniyeh’s death.

In addition, the Permanent Mission of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the United Nations told CBS News in an exclusive on Friday that Hezbollah would begin deliberately targeting Israeli civilians – claiming that it had not done so until now.

If Iran attacks Israel, they take what they get.

I'd say that bloke's demise was the result of his own personal choices and actions.......

https://www.timesofisrael.com/iran-said-to-dismiss-us-arab-nations-calls-for-restraint-even-if-it-sparks-war/

Iran said to dismiss US, Arab calls for restraint — even if it sparks war

US warns Iranian attack will hamper relations with West; Israel bracing for multi-day assault; Netanyahu consulting with defense chiefs, considering ‘preventative measures’
By ToI Staff Today, 9:51 pm

Iran has rejected attempts by the US and Arab nations to de-escalate tensions in the Middle East, as Israel braces for an attack from the Islamic Republic and the Lebanese Iran-supported Hezbollah, saying they would strike the Jewish state even if it means war, the Wall Street Journal reported on Sunday.

Tensions between Israel and Iran have escalated since Wednesday, when Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh was killed in Tehran in an attack Iran blamed on Israel, vowing to retaliate.

According to the Wall Street Journal report, foreign ministers from Jordan and Lebanon traveled to Iran in an attempt to diffuse the situation, but Iran told the Arab diplomats that it was set on striking back against Israel and “it didn’t care if the response triggered a war.”

Israel is preparing for the possibility of an Iranian-led attack that
would include missiles being fired at Israel over the course of multiple days,
according to a Sunday NBC report, citing an unnamed Israeli official.

The attack may be on 12th August.
'Tisha B'Av is an annual fast day in Judaism, on which a number of disasters in Jewish history occurred, primarily the destruction of both Solomon's Temple by the Neo-Babylonian Empire and the Second Temple by the Roman Empire in Jerusalem. Tisha B'Av marks the end of the three weeks between dire straits and is regarded as the saddest day in the Jewish calendar, and it is thus believed to be a day which is destined for tragedy'.

https://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-could-preemptively-strike-iran-if-intelligence-shows-attack-is-imminent-report/


Israel could preemptively strike Iran

if intelligence shows attack is imminent
In meeting with PM, defense officials weigh options,
say preventative action only possible if there is absolute certainty
that intelligence on Iran’s intentions is accurate.

https://www.jpost.com/breaking-news/article-813352



AUGUST 5, 2024 12:56

Updated: AUGUST 5, 2024 14:46



Iran has issued a NOTAM, a notice alerting an aircraft of dangers en route,

for the center, west, and northwest of the country, advising aircraft to change their routes.
Attack may occur Monday, sources say


Attack may occur Monday, sources say

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a G7 conference call on Monday that an attack carried out by Iran and Hezbollah against Israel could begin as early as Monday.

The Jews can't stop say 3,000 rockets -
they were able to stop only 300 last time with the help of 5 other countries.
Hezbollah has 150,000 rockets.
The Jews will run out of interceptor rockets and then be defenceless.
Iran has advanced rockets with decoy warheads too.
Bibi has underestimated Iran.
Tel Aviv will be on fire.

Will Israel have to use nukes to try and stop Iran? -
or will they just sit there and watch Tel Aviv reduced to rubble?

Is this WW3?

Heads up for Hezbollah starting WW 3 - it won't be Israel - it will be the mad Arabs who start WW 3.  Just can't help themselves ....

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/world/israel-s-iron-dome-intercepts-barrage-of-missiles-from-hezbollah/vi-AA1ofQXi?ocid=winp2fptaskbar&cvid=d24805be71b74e9cda0cc7035a9a373a&ei=7#details

Sergei Shoigu, the secretary of Russia's security council arrived in Tehran on Monday for talks with Iranian leaders including the president and top security officials as the Islamic Republic weighs its response to the killing of a Hamas leader.
Russia has condemned the killing of Ismail Haniyeh, leader of the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, in Iran last week and called on all parties to refrain from steps that could tip the Middle East into a wider regional war.

https://img.freepik.com/free-vector/orthodox-jew-christian-priest-muslim_625341-359.jpg

https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-813484

'Complex, surprising, and powerful': Arab experts analyze looming Iranian attack

'It seems that Iran has also begun a psychological and propaganda war against Israel.'

By MAARIV
AUGUST 6, 2024 11:36
Updated: AUGUST 6, 2024 12:13


Sedghian added,  "It seems to me that the answer to this question is currently the million-dollar question. What will the Iranian response look like, and when? To what extent and at what level? It is not easy to get answers to these questions from Iranian sources. However, the Iranians speak emphatically about a strong and surprising response that will renew Iranian sovereignty, which was violated by Israel when it [assassinated] their guest, Haniyeh."

"The Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces, Mohammad Bagheri, said that the Iranian response would be powerful enough to make Israel regret [its actions]. Other senior officials, whether from the Revolutionary Guards or politicians, speak in this tone as well," he added.

"What will it be like when, at what level? The information indicates that the Iranian response will be a complex one, meaning that the response will be simultaneous, perhaps from Iran because its sovereignty was violated, from Lebanon because it was attacked at its core – Hezbollah was attacked at its home base in Dahiya – and from Yemen where the Hodeidah port was attacked, which concerns the Houthi movement," Sedghian added.

"It seems to me that the response will be complex, surprising, and also powerful, but how and when, only Allah and those in the know, of whom I am not one, know," he concluded.

https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog-august-6-2024/


5 injured, one critically, as Hezbollah drone impacts near northern city of Nahariya



Officials now say 6 hospitalized after Hezbollah drone attack, including 2 suffering anxiety attacks

Officials are now saying at least six people have been hospitalized following the Hezbollah drone attack on northern Israel, including four who suffered shrapnel injuries and two who suffered acute anxiety attacks.

Prof. Masad Barhoum, director of the Galilee Medical Center in Nahariya, tells Channel 12 news that the hospital is treating six people, including the critically injured individual.

He says three others are lightly injured, while two are being treated for acute anxiety attacks.


Seven people have been hospitalized after a drone impacted Highway 4 near the town of Mazra’a in the Western Galilee.

One of the wounded, who arrived with shrapnel injuries, is in critical condition and is being treated at Galilee Medical Center, a hospital spokesperson says. Two of them weren’t hit by the drone of shrapnel, and are being treated for acute anxiety attacks.

Eyewitness Maor Amsallem tells The Times of Israel that he was driving north when he heard the sirens. He pulled to the side of the road and saw the drone about 7 meters (23 feet) above him explode and hit a car driving south.

“Glass shattered,” Amsallem says. “I heard endless screams. I saw people wounded. I never saw anything like that. I’m still shaking.”

“After the explosion, drivers got into accidents as they panicked,” says Khader Shakair of Netivei Israel’s Operations and Maintenance Division, who arrived soon after the explosion.

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/world/israel-preparing-to-cut-head-off-the-snake-of-iran-as-expert-issues-huge-warning/ar-AA1ojLfC?ocid=winp2fptaskbar&cvid=8d1e54955f834ca98041c9047123b5d8&ei=36

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/world/yahya-sinwar-mastermind-of-october-7-attacks-chosen-as-new-hamas-leader/ar-AA1olDiP?ocid=winp2fptaskbar&cvid=e1332f03b01e4d15ca442d392acd030b&ei=6#comments

"Yahya Sinwar, mastermind of October 7 attacks, chosen as new Hamas leader"

Well - clearly the gloves are off.... Go, Israel!!  Finish 'em of!

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/longform/2023/10/9/israel-hamas-war-in-maps-and-charts-live-tracker

Al Jazz Era has no trouble saying it was Hamas who started this off with a vicious attack.  They refer to people killed and children killed - they do not say how many people and children were fighters or support staffers.

Up to two million Gazans have accepted the opportunity of safe passage out of the fighting.... at one report 50,000-100,000 in one day ....what keeps the rest there?  We know some were murdered by Hamas as traitors for being silly enough to go down to HQ and ask for guarantee of free passage out for their families.  I guess terror works, eh?

Innocent civilians can get out if they wish and are actually allowed to by Hamas.

https://media1.tenor.com/m/59AOmo6T1dQAAAAC/mike-and-dave-need-wedding-dates.gif

Well considering the Middle-East has always been and always will be the MILITARY region of the world.

tallowood wrote on Aug 6^th, 2024 at 8:46am:

Sergei Shoigu, the secretary of Russia's security council arrived in Tehran on Monday for talks with Iranian leaders including the president and top security officials as the Islamic Republic weighs its response to the killing of a Hamas leader. Russia has condemned the killing of Ismail Haniyeh, leader of the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, in Iran last week and called on all parties to refrain from steps that could tip the Middle East into a wider regional war.

Tehran also pressed Moscow for the delivery of Russian made Sukhoi Su-35 fighter jets, the two Iranian sources, privy to the meeting in Tehran, the sources told Reuters.

Also according to The NYT:Iran has requested advanced air defense systems from Russia as it prepares for a possible war with Israel.

Russia and China have an interest in causing the USA to overextend itself.

The big question is whether Russia would participate in a regional ME war.

The world is currently on the brink of WW3.

As for WW3: The  Russian army taking control of New York.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=REvPbrrqaVs

The regime wishing for World War 3 is Iran.

Not only are they wishing for it to happen, they believe it religiously. Israel has sought peace. This is evident by the peace agreements they reached with Jordan and Egypt where they handed back land which they won during defensive wars.

They also wanted peace with the Palestinians. Various proposals have been put forward over the decades with the Palestinians rejecting.

It has really been in the last 15 years where Israelis have more and more moved on. They see a peace agreement as never eventuating.

BREAKING: US Deploys F-22s as Iran Readies for War!


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yP6samkKBd0

MattE wrote on Aug 7^th, 2024 at 3:13pm:

The regime wishing for World War 3 is the Iran. Not only are they wishing for it to happen, they believe it religiously. Israel has sought peace. This is evident by the peace agreements they reached with Jordan and Egypt where they handed back land which they won during defensive wars. They also wanted peace with the Palestinians. Various proposals have been put forward over the decades with the Palestinians rejecting. It has really been in the last 15 years where Israelis have more and more moved on. They see a peace agreement as never eventuating.

What about a two state solution ?? Nut and bolt head doesn't want it. The jews knocked off the only person they could have negotiated a peace deal. :(

Sir lastnail wrote on Aug 7^th, 2024 at 3:31pm:

MattE wrote on Aug 7th, 2024 at 3:13pm: The regime wishing for World War 3 is the Iran. Not only are they wishing for it to happen, they believe it religiously. Israel has sought peace. This is evident by the peace agreements they reached with Jordan and Egypt where they handed back land which they won during defensive wars. They also wanted peace with the Palestinians. Various proposals have been put forward over the decades with the Palestinians rejecting. It has really been in the last 15 years where Israelis have more and more moved on. They see a peace agreement as never eventuating. What about a two state solution ?? Nut and bolt head doesn't want it. The jews knocked off the only person they could have negotiated a peace deal. :(

There are speculations that he was knocked off by IRGC for that very reason.

Sir lastnail wrote on Aug 7^th, 2024 at 3:31pm:

MattE wrote on Aug 7th, 2024 at 3:13pm: The regime wishing for World War 3 is the Iran. Not only are they wishing for it to happen, they believe it religiously. Israel has sought peace. This is evident by the peace agreements they reached with Jordan and Egypt where they handed back land which they won during defensive wars. They also wanted peace with the Palestinians. Various proposals have been put forward over the decades with the Palestinians rejecting. It has really been in the last 15 years where Israelis have more and more moved on. They see a peace agreement as never eventuating. What about a two state solution ?? Nut and bolt head doesn't want it. The jews knocked off the only person they could have negotiated a peace deal. :(

There have been proposals in the past put forward for a two state solution which have been rejected by the Palestinians for various reasons, but mainly issues they know would cause the State of Israel to more or less no longer exist.

For example, the proposal put forward at the summit by Clinton with Yasser Arafat and Ehud Barack where the Palestinians would get 100 percent of the Gaza Strip, almost 100 percent of the West Bank (other than a handful of large, established settlements on the border, compensated via land-swapping) and East Jerusalem (other than the Jewish Quarter and the Western Wall), was rejected by Arafat because it didn't include the "right of return".

Israel will never agree to a right of return. The Palestinians know this. To do so would mean the demographic destruction of the State of Israel.

Good proposals have been put on the table.

Israelis over the past 30 years have seen these proposals come and go and now are no longer interested. They have moved to the right in a big way.

https://youtu.be/5LIjt_3ybyA

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/world/more-than-1-000-uk-troops-on-standby-to-evacuate-britons-from-lebanon-as-fears-of-all-out-middle-east-war-grow/ar-AA1onHN1?ocid=winp2fptaskbar&cvid=c178c0f0801a43d7a1009d2acbc28a61&ei=40

Fine time to be a Royal Marine, eh?

https://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-said-to-believe-hezbollah-will-respond-before-iran-to-deaths-of-terror-chiefs/



Israel said to believe Hezbollah will respond before Iran to deaths of terror chiefs


CNN says Lebanese terror group seems increasingly set to launch attack ‘independent’ of its Iranian patron; Israel reportedly warns of disproportionate response if civilians hurt


By ToI Staff and Agencies Today, 5:03 am



Israeli officials increasingly believe it will be Hezbollah, rather than Iran, that will be first to launch a major attack on Israel in the coming days, according to Hebrew media reports Wednesday.

Citing two sources familiar with intelligence on the matter, CNN reported that Hezbollah appears increasingly set to act against Israel “independent” of an expected Iranian response to the recent killings of the Lebanese terror group’s top military commander Fuad Shukr in Beirut and Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran.

One of the sources said Hezbollah was moving at a faster clip than Iran in readying an attack, which it looks to launch in the coming days. According to the US news network, multiple officials said Iran seems to still be hashing out its retaliation plans, with one US military official quoted as saying Tehran has already made some — but not all —
of the expected preparations for a large-scale attack against Israel.

The second source said that unlike Iran, Hezbollah can likely initiate an attack with few to no advanced signs as Lebanon border Israel. The source added that it’s unclear how or if the Islamic Republic and its Lebanese proxy are cooperating on a potential attack, and that some officials believe they may not be on the same page about how to proceed.

Meanwhile, an unsourced report by Channel 12 news said Israel has conveyed to both Hezbollah and Iran that any harm to civilians in Israel during their promised retaliation for the killing of top terror leaders will be a red line, which will lead to a disproportionate response.

There are reports Iran my be getting cold feat on the massive retaliation it threatened. Having left it too long, allowing Israel along with the United States to mobilise major defensive and offensive systems, means any response from Iran may actually prove to be more embarrassing for the regime.

Iran closed it's airspace declaring military drill on Thursday .

Quote:

Chief of the General Staff of the Israeli army Herzi Halevy visited Tel Nof Air Force Base today, along with the base commander, Lt. Col. Ariel Dayan, and other commanders. Halevy said: "I see readiness at its peak, both offensively and defensively. We are ready to carry out a very fast attack anywhere in Lebanon, anywhere in Gaza, anywhere in the Middle East, above and below ground."

https://iili.io/daLch0b.md.jpg

The language from the Iranians over the last 48 hours comes across as them attempting to crawl back their bellicose language.

Their foreign minister just said that Israel lacks the "capacity and the strength" to start a war with Iran. But wasn't it Iran saying they would be the ones to retaliate and deliver a crushing punishment?

I could be wrong.

I suspect if there is a direct response from Iran it'll be much the same as last time. They need something to save face. They know they are weak and they know the biggest threat is from within Iran. They know Israel operated off the information and assistance of Iranians among their ranks. Who will be next?

On the other hand Hezbollah could be more unpredictable.

Laugh till you cry wrote on Aug 7^th, 2024 at 12:20pm:

The big question is whether Russia would participate in a regional ME war.

On this occasion, I remembered the following response from the Russian leadership:


"Meeting with heads of international news agencies

June 5, 2024 - 23:15 - St Petersburg

ANSA Deputy Editor-in-Chief Stefano Polli (retranslated): Thank you.

Good evening, Mr President.

Thank you for organising this meeting. I would like to ask a question about the latest events in Ukraine. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg proposed that Ukraine be given the opportunity to hit targets on Russian territory with weapons supplied from Europe. European countries and the United States agreed with this idea. Not all of them, but the United States did. At the same time, there is a discussion in some countries about sending military advisers and instructors.

I would like to ask you to comment on these two decisions and what Russia’s reaction to them will be. Thank you.


Vladimir Putin:

There is nothing new in terms of having advisers and instructors. They are present in Ukraine. Unfortunately for them, they suffer losses. I know this for sure. This is not done on purpose, but losses happen during hostilities. However, the European countries and the United States prefer to keep it secret. This is first.

Second, as for long-range precision weapons. We need to divide this topic into two parts.

First, conventional weapons: a multiple-launch rocket system, a long-range of 70 kilometres or something similar. It has been used for a long time. In fact, Ukrainian military personnel can do this on their own. And as for advanced high-tech, high-precision and long-range weapons, such as the British Storm Shadow or the American ATACMS, or French missiles, what can we say? I have also spoken about this, by the way, when I left Uzbekistan.

ATACMS: 300 kilometres. How are they used and how are they transported? They handed over a missile system (the Pentagon, the Americans did). But how is it used? Ukrainian military personnel cannot do everything on their own and launch strikes with this missile. They are simply technologically unable to do this because it requires satellite reconnaissance; then, based on satellite reconnaissance data (and this is American satellite reconnaissance), a flight mission is formed and then entered into the missile system. And then the soldier who is next to it does it simply automatically: he presses the buttons. He may not even know what will happen next.

What can the Ukrainian military – not the ones who are just sitting there and pressing buttons – but the higher-ranking ones do when it comes to target assignment? They can identify a target that is a priority for them. But they are not the ones who decide whether a particular target should be hit, because, to reiterate, a WTA (weapon target assignment) is formed and effectively entered only by those who supply the weapons. If we are talking about ATACMS, then the Pentagon is doing it. If it is Storm Shadow, then the British are. It is even more straightforward in the case of Storm Shadow, because the target assignment is entered automatically, without the involvement of the military personnel on the ground. The British do it, that is all there is to it.

And when the Bundeswehr military were pondering an attack on the Crimean Bridge or other targets, they were thinking for themselves. No one was doing it for them, right? They were going to do it. The same goes for the French specialists. Western specialists do it.

We have no illusions about it. How are we supposed to respond?

First, we will, of course, improve our air defence systems. We will be destroying their missiles.

Second, we believe that if someone is thinking that it is possible to supply such weapons to a war zone in order to deliver strikes at our territory and to create problems for us, why can we not supply our weapons of the same class to those regions around the world where they will target sensitive facilities of the countries that are doing this to Russia? The response could be symmetrical. We will give it a thought.

Third, sure enough, such actions will wreck international relations, which have already hit rock bottom, and undermine international security. Ultimately, if we see that these countries are being embroiled into a war against us, and this constitutes their direct involvement in the war against the Russian Federation, we reserve the right to respond in kind. Generally speaking, this path may lead to serious problems. I think that covers it all. If you have any leading questions, please go ahead. But I do not think I can add anything to what I just said."


As far as I understand, if Western countries continue to escalate the situation in Ukraine or in other places near Russia, they may receive a counter-response from Russia.

RussiAnVetEraN wrote on Aug 11^th, 2024 at 6:40am:

Ukrainian military personnel cannot do everything on their own and launch strikes with this missile. They are simply technologically unable to do this

'The R-360 Neptune is a subsonic, long-range cruise missile that was developed by Luch Design Bureau, a Kyiv-based defense manufacturer. Ukraine has used this munition in the past to strike high-value Russian targets. Early in the war, Ukraine used the Neptune to sink the guided-missile cruiser Moskva, once the flagship of the Russian Black Sea Fleet.
Analysts at the Washington, DC-based Institute for the Study of War think tank noted that both Neptune missile strikes have occurred in areas of Russian territory that are within the range of Ukraine's ATACMS.'