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Iraq legislators say surprise Trump visit violated sovereignty, demand U.S. troop withdrawal 

December 27, 2018

Source: Iraq legislators say surprise Trump visit violated sovereignty, demand U.S. troop withdrawal – MarketWatch

Published: Dec 27, 2018 10:51 a.m. ET

Both blocs in Iraq’s divided parliament call for a vote on the expulsion of U.S. forces in wake of Trump’s brief, ‘arrogant’ trip

By

ASSOCIATEDPRESS

Reuters
President Donald Trump delivers remarks during his first-ever visit with troops in a military zone.

BAGHDAD (AP) — Iraqi lawmakers Thursday demanded U.S. forces leave the country in the wake of a surprise visit by President Donald Trump that politicians denounced as arrogant and a violation of Iraqi sovereignty.

Politicians from both blocs of Iraq’s divided parliament called for a vote to expel U.S. troops and promised to schedule an extraordinary session to debate the matter.

“Parliament must clearly and urgently express its view about the ongoing American violations of Iraqi sovereignty,” said Salam al-Shimiri, a lawmaker loyal to the populist cleric Moqtada al-Sadr.

Trump, making his first presidential visit to troops in a troubled region Wednesday, said he has no plans to withdraw the 5,200 U.S. forces in the country.

Containing foreign influence has become a hot-button issue in a year that saw al-Sadr supporters win the largest share of votes in May elections. Al-Sadr has called for curbing U.S. and Iranian involvement in Iraqi affairs.

U.S. troops are stationed in Iraq as part of the coalition against the Islamic State group. American forces withdrew in 2011 after invading in 2003 but returned in 2014 at the invitation of the Iraqi government to help fight the jihadist group.

But after defeating IS militants in their last urban bastions last year, Iraqi politicians and militia leaders are speaking out against the continued presence of U.S. forces in Iraqi soil.

Qais Khazali, the head of the Iran-backed Asaib Ahl al-Haq militia that fought key battles against IS in north Iraq, promised on Twitter that parliament would vote to expel U.S. forces from Iraq, or the militia and others would force them out by “other means.”

Khazali was jailed by British and U.S. forces from 2007 to 2010 for managing sections of the Shia insurgency against the occupation during those years.

His militia is represented in parliament by the Binaa bloc, a rival coalition to al-Sadr’s Islah. Binaa favors close ties with Iran and is aligned with Tehran on regional political issues.

Trump spent three hours at a U.S. air base meeting with American troops during his visit. The president defended his decision to withdraw 2,000 U.S. forces from neighboring Syria, saying the U.S. military had all but eliminated IS-controlled territory there.

He left without meeting any Iraqi officials, though he spoke to Prime Minister Adel Abdul-Mahdi by phone.

The prime minister’s office said in a statement after Trump’s visit that “differences in points of view” over arrangements led to the scrapping of a face-to-face meeting between the two leaders. Al-Shimiri said Trump’s visit “violated several diplomatic norms.”

 

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Trump’s Rubicon moment in Iraq: Praising America’s ‘warriors,’ ending war

December 27, 2018

Source: Trump’s Rubicon moment in Iraq: Praising America’s ‘warriors,’ ending war – Middle East – Jerusalem Post

Trump described the US withdrawal as deliberate, casting cold water on criticism that it was spur of the moment.

BY SETH J. FRANTZMAN
 DECEMBER 27, 2018 13:36
U.S. and Turkish soldiers conduct the first-ever combined joint patrol outside Manbij, Syria, Novemb

U.S. and Turkish soldiers conduct the first-ever combined joint patrol outside Manbij, Syria, November 1, 2018. Picture taken November 1, 2018. Courtesy Arnada Jones/U.S. . (photo credit: ARMY/HANDOUT VIA REUTERS)

“We like to win, we are going to win,” US President Donald Trump told the troops at Al-Asad airbase in central Iraq. It was his first visit to US forces abroad and comes in the wake of Trump’s decision to withdraw from Syria. It also comes in the wake of the resignation of US Secretary of Defense James Mattis, who was popular with the troops and also the resignation of anti-ISIS envoy Brett McGurk.

Trump’s decision to go to Iraq the day after Christmas is part of an attempt to change the narrative after being slammed for his reversal of Syrian policy and accusations that he made the decision without consulting the Pentagon or State Department. By speaking at Al-Asad in western Iraq he sought to reach out directly to the American military. This was an important and symbolic speech because it comes at a crux of his foreign policymaking and also mid-way into his administration.

“You’re modern day warriors,” Trump said, praising the troops. Reading from a prepared speech, he sought to emphasize some points, going off the prepared text from time to time.  He listed the various units at Al-Asad, including the 201st Regional Support Group, the 1st Expeditionary Rescue group and the 3rd Cavalry regiment, as well as the special operations group stationed in Iraq. Trump sought to highlight the achievements of the four year war on ISIS, including what he said was the liberation of 20,000 square miles of territory and 3 million civilians. “Because of these gains the service members in Syria can come home,” he said. Trump noted the US initially getting involved in Syria for “three to four months,” which appeared to be a reference to the US supporting the Syrian rebels against Bashar al-Assad’s regime in 2011. For Trump it was one long war that should be ended. “I gave our generals six more months in Syria [in 2016], and that was a year and a half ago, they said they need six more months and another six more months, and another, and I said no.” He said US troops needed “clear objectives,” and that after reducing ISIS-controlled areas by 99%, other countries in the region could do the rest.

Trump described the US withdrawal as deliberate, casting cold water on criticism that it was spur of the moment. He also said the US would stay in Iraq to prevent an ISIS resurgence and to keep an eye on Iran. His emphasis was on America no longer doing all the fighting and funding of conflicts without getting reimbursed. “We aren’t the suckers of the world.” To rounds of applause he said that the US was fighting in areas it shouldn’t be fighting and spending billions on 19 years of war, a reference to the long war since 9/11. “We want to fight where it is meaningful,” he said, noting that anyone who attacked America would suffer consequences like no one has suffered before.

Trump appeared at ease and relaxed with the soldiers. After the speech he also took selfies with them. This is a Rubicon moment for the US President. He sought to use the speech to show that he is in touch with average American demands and to challenge Democrats, who he referenced several times, to build a stronger border wall and also to fund the military better. This is a rare politicization of a speech in front of the troops and it will be noticed back home. He is trying to position himself for the new year when a Democrat-controlled House of Representatives will challenge Trump’s policies. He also wants to shore up supporters and cast doubt on the challenges he has faced from Senators who balk at his Syria policy. Senator Lindsey Graham has been a harsh critic of leaving Syria and abandoning US partners on the ground who helped fight ISIS. He also warned Trump not to follow up with withdrawing from Iraq. “We also must not abandon our Kurdish allies who have fought so hard by our side in Syria.” Trump, however, did not mention those allies, instead saying Turkey would deal with ISIS and the US would be working closely with Turkey. Turkey has vowed an offensive against US Kurdish partners in Syria, setting up a strange scenario in which the US leaves and watches one ally fight another.

The Trump doctrine here is that the US must come first and that these foreign problems are not America’s problem. For instance, Trump was criticized in Iraq for not meeting officials in the government. Iraqi leaders didn’t even seem to know Trump was planning a visit, although Trump’s team reportedly reached out to Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi’s office, the Iraqi leader didn’t want to come to Al-Asad air base and the personal meeting was cancelled. It’s not entirely clear when Trump planned the visit, whether he decided to go after the decision to leave Syria on December 19, or before. National Security Advisor John Bolton, who was one of the few advisors he confided the Syria policy change to before making it, came with him.

Now Iraqi politicians are slamming the visit, especially the pro-Iranian groups. Qais Khazali, a one-time detainee of the Americans who formed a Shi’ite militia and then became a political leader as well, said that Iraq’s parliament should vote to remove US forces from the country. This is no surprising as many of the pro-Iranian parties and groups have opposed the US presence in Iraq, only asking for help against Islamic State, but not wanting a real American involvement. With the exception of the Kurdish autonomous region, much of Iraq is hostile in one way or another to the US presence, either due to historic reasons such as lingering support for Saddam Hussein, or because of US-Iran tensions or perceived US abuses during the 2003-2011 US role in Iraq. In the Kurdish region there were hopes for a Trump visit, even as there is criticism of the US walking away from Kurdish areas in Syria.

Trump’s visit wasn’t about Iraq or the Middle East. It was primarily about Trump and US forces. In this sense it feels like a Rubicon moment because that is when the Roman leader Caesar decided to cross into Italy with his army to oppose the meddling politicians in Rome. Trump wants to leverage his Iraq visit to tone down criticism at home, and show that while he may not make friends in major media, he has the support of average Americans. This has been his narrative from the beginning, seeking to challenge the status quo and also to question US commitments abroad and whether the US is paying too much and doing too much for foreign countries. In the region the visit will be judged as Trump sticking by his Syria decision and seeking to reduce the US footprint. This will encourage Russia, Turkey and Iran to continue to pursue their agendas in Syria and perhaps to leverage anger in Iraq over Trump’s visit to pressure the US in Baghdad as well. With McGurk gone a key US official who worked on Iraqi coalition politics and smoothing relations between Baghdad and Saudi Arabia, is no longer working on the Iraq file. Trump’s team may now find that leaving Syria causes another domino to teeter.

 

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Israeli-built wings for new F-35 will make jets invisible to radar 

December 27, 2018

Source: Israeli-built wings for new F-35 will make jets invisible to radar – Israel News – Jerusalem Post

The production line, which will last around 20 years, is expected to generate revenues of over $2.5 billion during the next 10-15 years.

BY ANNA AHRONHEIM
 DECEMBER 27, 2018 12:14
The F-35 stealth fighter jet on the tarmac at Berlin Air Show

The F-35 stealth fighter jet on the tarmac at Berlin Air Show. (photo credit: ANNA AHRONHEIM)

Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) has launched a new production line for the outer wing set of the F-35 stealth fighter key component to make the advanced fighter jet invisible to radar, the company announced.

“The construction of the new production line significantly upgrades IAI’s technological capabilities, automation and robotics, and will enable the company to establish itself as a major player in the military and civilian aerostructures,” read a statement by IAI.

The production line, which will last around 20 years, is expected to generate revenues of over $2.5 billion during the next 10-15 years.

Deliveries of the outer wing sets are expected to start at the beginning of 2019, and include in the first phase about 700 kits with potential for further orders. According to a 2016 statement by the company, the production line is scheduled to build a total of 811 pairs of F-35A wings by 2034.

The sets will be manufactured using state-of-the-art technology which includes a unique composite layer of materials called AFP (Automatic Fiber Placement) which are three millimeters thick threads that eventually become one unit that in the end creates the least for the wings that gives them the ability to evade radar detection.

IAI’s board of directors approved the construction of the new production line in 2015 following a decision by the plane’s maker, Lockheed Martin, to expand the production of the sets and chose IAI as the subcontractor.

“The opening of the production line constitutes a significant milestone in the realization of the company’s strategy for building advanced capabilities in the field of composite materials manufacturing technology. Thanks to this move, IAI will belong to a ‘limited club’ of companies with these manufacturing capabilities,” said IAI Vice-President Shlomi Karako at the launch.

The expansion of IAI’s collaboration with Lockheed Martin “is another proof of the deep partnership and trust” the American manufacturer has with Israel’s leader in defense production, said Lockheed Martin Israel’s CEO, Joshua “Shiki” Shani, adding that “The precision, technological components, personnel and manufacturing quality needed for the wings of the F-35s require the highest standards. IAI has proven its capabilities in the production line in the hundreds of wings produced so far, and we expect to commence operations in their coating field, which is another layer in the overall manufacturing process of the F-35 aircraft. ”

The F-35s have components built by several Israeli defense companies including Elbit System-Cyclone that built the center fuselage composite components and Elbit Systems Ltd which manufactured the helmets worn by the pilots.

Israel’s Air Force currently has 14 F-35Is and is expected to receive a total of 50 planes to make two full squadrons by 2024. The IAF is set to decide in the coming months between purchasing a third squadron of F-35 jets or Boeing’s latest F-15I.

 

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Israel is doing very well defending itself, Trump says

December 27, 2018

Source: Israel is doing very well defending itself, Trump says – Israel Hayom

During Trump’s first visit to an active combat zone, president tells U.S. troops in Iraq that “America shouldn’t be doing the fighting for every nation on earth, we’re not the suckers of the world” • “We are going to take great care of Israel,” he says.

News Agencies and Israel Hayom Staff

“We give Israel $4.5 billion a year and they’re doing very well defending themselves, if you take a look,” U.S. President Donald Trump told reporters Wednesday during a previously unannounced trip to Iraq.

Defending his recent decision to pull all U.S. troops out of Syria, a move that sparked broad concern among U.S. allies, including Israel, Trump went on to say that he had informed Israel of the move. Using a nickname for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Trump said, “I don’t see it. I spoke with Bibi. I told Bibi.”

“We’re going to take good care of Israel. Israel is going to be good. But we give Israel $4.5 billion a year. And we give them, frankly, a lot more money than that, if you look at the books – a lot more money than that. And they’ve been doing a very good job for themselves,” Trump added.

In an effort to dispel concerns voiced by Israeli officials, including the fear that Israel will have to combat the encroaching Iranian presence in Syria without U.S. forces, the American president went on to add that “I’m the one that moved the embassy to Jerusalem. I was the one who was willing to do that. So that’s the way it is. We are going to take great care of Israel.”

In a speech to troops, Trump doubled down on his decision to withdraw from Syria, reiterating the argument that America’s military power is being exploited by other nations.

“America shouldn’t be doing the fighting for every nation on earth, not being reimbursed in many cases at all. If they want us to do the fighting, they also have to pay a price,” Trump said. “And sometimes that’s also a monetary price, so we’re not the suckers of the world.”

“We are no longer the suckers, folks. And people aren’t looking at us as suckers,” Trump declared.

The surprise visit to meet with American troops in Iraq on Wednesday was Trump’s first journey to an active combat zone since taking office in Jan. 2017.

The president, who was joined by first lady Melania Trump, spent three hours on the ground with U.S. forces stationed at the al-Asad Airbase, 110 miles northwest of Baghdad, and met with the U.S. ambassador and commanders on the ground.

The base, in Anbar province, became one of the most important bases for U.S. Marines after the 2003 U.S. invasion of Iraq. Since U.S. forces returned to Iraq in 2014, the base has played an important role in the fight against the Islamic State group because of its location.

Trump said the U.S. would remain in Iraq, adding that “In fact, we could use this as the base if we wanted to do something in Syria.”

He assured reporters that many people will start seeing things on Syria the same way he does.

Reuters
President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump greet military personnel in Iraq

Trump made the decision to withdraw forces from Syria abruptly last week, against the advice of top aides and commanders, including Defense Secretary James Mattis, who resigned the next day.

“I think a lot of people are going to come around to my way of thinking. It’s time for us to start using our head,” he said.

Meanwhile Wednesday, a scheduled meeting between Trump and Iraqi Prime Minister Adil Abdul-Mahdi was canceled. White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said the meeting did not take place because the invitation was made only two hours in advance and the Iraqi prime minister was unable to get to the base in time.

 

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‘Israel will continue to counter Iranian entrenchment in Syria’ 

December 27, 2018

Source: ‘Israel will continue to counter Iranian entrenchment in Syria’ – Israel Hayom

Prime Minister Netanyahu praises capabilities of Israeli Air Force following reported Israeli strike in Syria • Syrian Foreign Ministry compares Israel to al-Qaida-linked groups • Lebanon to submit a Security Council complaint over “dangerous Israeli violations.”

News Agencies and Israel Hayom Staff

Israelis are standing steadfast on their red lines in Syria and everywhere else, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Wednesday.

Speaking at a graduation ceremony for a new class of Israeli Air Force pilots, Netanyahu made no direct reference to specific attacks in Syria or Moscow’s criticism of a strike Tuesday, which Syrian state media said hit unspecified targets near Damascus, wounded three Syrian soldiers.

Netanyahu also repeated his pledge that Israel would not allow Iran to establish a permanent military presence in Syria and that the U.S. withdrawal from Syria would have no effect on Israeli activities in the neighboring country.

During the more than seven-year war in neighboring Syria, Israel has grown deeply alarmed by the expanding clout of arch-enemy Iran, a key ally of Syrian President Bashar Assad. The IAF has struck dozens of Iranian military targets and convoys transferring arms to Lebanon’s Iran-backed Hezbollah movement.

The prime minister reiterated Israel’s intention to prevent “Iranian military entrenchment, which is directed against us” in Syria.

“We will act against it, vigorously and continuously,” Netanyahu said.

The prime minister praised the capabilities of the IAF, which he called “unmatched.”

The Syrian Foreign Ministry on Wednesday condemned Israel for carrying out a strike on Christmas Day, which it called a public holiday, although only 10% of the country’s population is Christian.

According to the Syrian military, the attacks were designed to “terrorize the Syrian people on such an occasion,” adding that its actions did not differ from that of the al-Qaida-linked groups in Syria.

Lebanon also condemned on Wednesday Israeli strikes on Syria from Lebanese airspace and said Lebanon supported Syria’s right to defend its sovereignty.

Lebanese Foreign Minister Gebran Bassil has instructed Lebanon’s envoy to the U.N. to submit a complaint to the Security Council against the “dangerous Israeli violations that threaten stability in the region,” the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

 

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Israel: Iran operating on Syrian border, despite Russian assurances –

December 27, 2018

Source: Israel: Iran operating on Syrian border, despite Russian assurances – Israel Hayom

Israeli official confirms responsibility for airstrikes in Syria overnight, saying Israel targeted Iranian arms transfers to the Hezbollah • Russian Defense Ministry calls Israeli strike “provocative,” says it directly threatened two civilian airliners.

Associated Press and Israel Hayom Staff

An Israeli security official on Wednesday confirmed responsibility for overnight airstrikes in Syria, saying the air force had hit a series of targets involved in Iranian arms transfers to the Hezbollah militant group.

Russia had criticized the airstrike, saying it endangered civilian flights. The comments highlighted the increasingly tense relations between Israel and Russia, which have grown strained since the September downing of a Russian plane by Syrian forces responding to an Israeli raid.

The Israeli official said the air force had attacked several Iranian targets in three main locations late Tuesday and early Wednesday. He said the targets were primarily storage and logistics facilities used by archenemy Iran to ship weapons to Hezbollah, an Iranian-backed Lebanese group that fought Israel in a 2006 war.

The Israeli official said it was the Syrian air defenses that endangered the civilian aircraft, by firing 30 missiles in response to the airstrike. He also asserted that Iranian forces were operating less than 80 kilometers (50 miles) from the Israeli border, contrary to Russian assurances to keep the Iranian presence from encroaching on Israel’s borders.

The official spoke on condition of anonymity under standard Israeli security protocols. The military has not commented on the incident.

Earlier Wednesday, Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov said that six Israeli F-16 jets launched a “provocative” raid while two civilian airliners were preparing to land in Damascus and Beirut, posing a “direct threat” to the aircraft.

Lebanon’s acting Transportation Minister Youssef Fenianos confirmed Konashenkov’s account, saying the two airplanes in Lebanese airspace “narrowly” escaped Israeli warplanes, averting a “human catastrophe.” Fenianos said Lebanon plans to submit a complaint to the U.N. Security Council.

Konashenkov said the Syrian military didn’t fully engage its air defense assets to avoid accidentally hitting the passenger jets. He added that Syrian air traffic controllers redirected the Damascus-bound plane to a Russian air base in Syria’s coastal province of Latakia.

Konashenkov said Syrian air defense forces shot down 14 of the 16 precision-guided bombs dropped by the Israeli jets, while the remaining two hit a Syrian military depot 7 kilometers (4 miles) west of Damascus, wounding three Syrian soldiers.

The Israeli official said the Israeli jets hit all their targets, in some cases causing secondary explosions – an indication that weapons were stored within the target site. He said the strikes also destroyed a Syrian anti-aircraft battery.

In recent years, Israel has acknowledged carrying out scores of airstrikes in neighboring Syria, most believed to have been aimed at suspected Iranian arms shipments to Hezbollah. Iran and Hezbollah have sent forces to Syria to bolster President Bashar Assad, who appears close to victory after a devastating seven-year civil war.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly said Israel would not allow Iran to establish a permanent military presence in postwar Syria. But efforts to ensure this goal were complicated by the Sept. 17 downing of the Russian reconnaissance aircraft by Syrian fire.

Russia, which also backs Assad, blamed Israel for the friendly-fire mishap and reportedly scaled back a channel of communications that had previously allowed the two air forces to coordinate and avoid unintended clashes.

Russia also sent Syria sophisticated S-300 anti-aircraft missiles despite Israeli objections, though the Israeli official said an older system was fired at the Israeli planes in Wednesday’s incident.

Israeli officials have also expressed concern about U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent decision to withdraw U.S. forces from Syria. Until now, the U.S. presence in Syria has given Israel an extra element of protection.

Speaking at a military ceremony Wednesday, Netanyahu said the U.S. withdrawal would not change his policy.

Although he did not directly mention the airstrikes, he said Israel’s air force has unmatched capabilities and can reach areas “near and far, very far.”

“We are not prepared to accept the Iranian military entrenchment in Syria, which is directed against us,” Netanyahu told a new class of air force pilots during a graduation ceremony. “We will act against it vigorously and continuously, including during the current period.”

At the same graduation event, Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Gadi Eisenkot praised the army’s “many important accomplishments,” including “thwarting the expansion of Iranian influence.”

The Syrian Foreign Ministry accused Israel of exacerbating the crisis in the country and standing in the way of the government’s war on terrorism.

In messages sent to the U.N. secretary general and the president of the Security Council, the ministry said the Israeli airstrike wouldn’t have been launched if it wasn’t for what it called “unlimited” U.S. support for Israel.

The Britain-based war monitor group Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said Tuesday’s strike targeted three positions south of Damascus that are arms depots for Hezbollah and Iranian forces.

 

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Israel has no choice but to operate in Syria 

December 27, 2018

Source: Israel has no choice but to operate in Syria – Israel Hayom

Moscow’s ire over the latest reported Israeli strike in Syria is fueled by the strategic behind-the-scenes struggle between Russia and the U.S., in which Israel is merely a pawn • Israel retains certain operational leeway in Syria that allows it to act.

Yoav Limor

A reported Israeli strike in Syria on ‎Wednesday ‎was, according to foreign media reports, a clear ‎signal that despite the strategic changes in the ‎region, Israel will continue to adhere to its declared policy of ‎preventing Iran from entrenching itself militarily ‎in the war-torn country, and preventing Tehran ‎from arming Hezbollah, its regional proxy, with ‎advanced weapons. ‎

Wednesday’s strike, which reportedly targeted several ‎Hezbollah ‎leaders as well as Iranian ‎ammunition ‎depots near ‎Damascus, was the largest raid since the ‎Sept. 17 incident in which a Russian reconnaissance ‎plane was downed by Syria aid defenses responding to an Israeli airstrike.‎

Russia was furious over Wednesday’s operation, ‎saying the strike placed civilian aircraft in harm’s ‎way, but foreign media reports have quoted unnamed ‎officials as saying that the Russians were informed in advance ‎of the raid through the operational hotline Israeli ‎and Russian forces in Syria maintain.

If this was indeed the Israeli Air Force’s ‎handiwork, Russia’s castigation is likely intended ‎for several ears: first, for the Syrians, who must ‎be wondering why Moscow allows Israel to continue ‎operating freely in their airspace; second, for ‎leaders near and far, with the aim of reaffirming ‎Russia’s status as the dominant superpower in the ‎Middle East; and third – and most important – for ‎Israel, which again learned that the Kremlin is no ‎longer willing to turn a blind eye to such ‎operations and may, in the future, translate its ‎disapproval into various measures on the ground.‎

The Russian claim that Syrian air defenses ‎intercepted most of the IAF’s missiles should, as ‎usual, be taken with a big grain of salt. Syrian air ‎defenses did launch dozens of missiles at their ‎targets, so it is reasonable to assume they were at least somewhat successful, but Moscow’s sweeping claim is likely motivated by an effort to prove that Russia’s S-‎‎300 missile defense systems provided to Syria are ‎superior to American defense systems. ‎

This is a struggle between the superpowers in which ‎Israel is merely a pawn and one where no punches – ‎even half-truths – are pulled.‎ This has created a delicate equation that requires ‎Israel to tiptoe between the lines, especially given ‎U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision last week to ‎withdraw of all American troops from Syria. ‎

Israel will undoubtedly have to counter Iranian and ‎Hezbollah moves in the future – perhaps even in the ‎very near future. Moscow will no longer be as ‎sympathetic to such action and it falls to Israel to ‎spare no effort to foster the necessary ‎understandings so as to avoid mistakes, and ‎especially to avert a situation where an offensive ‎move devolves into a strategic problem.‎

This is not impossible, and it seems that Israel can ‎still maintain the necessary operational leeway, as ‎long as it maintains prudence and engages in selective action, ‎as it has been doing in recent months.‎

Meanwhile, the mounting tensions with Syria are ‎offset by a relative calm on the Israel-Lebanon ‎border, as Israel’s countertunnel operation seems ‎to be nearing its end. ‎

Operation Northern Shield, launched on Dec. 4 with ‎aim of detecting and destroying a network of ‎Hezbollah terror tunnels snaking under the border, ‎has so far unearthed five underground passageways ‎breaching Israeli territory.‎

Defense officials believe the operation will be ‎completed within two weeks, at which point the IDF ‎will refocus its attention on completing the new ‎border fence and Hezbollah will undoubtedly try to ‎compensate for its loses by devising new ways to ‎‎”conquer the Galilee” in the next war.‎

The IDF is convinced that Hezbollah will not waste ‎any more resources on digging tunnels, but rather ‎look for new ways to challenge the Israeli military ‎in the northern sector. ‎

One of the things to look out for is whether the ‎Shiite terrorist group will accelerate its ‎precision-missile development program in Lebanon, ‎something that would cause tensions in the sector to ‎spike and may even trigger another war. ‎

Israel must meet this possibility fully prepared ‎both militarily and diplomatically, meaning it must ‎also ensure it has international legitimacy to act. ‎This is another key reason to resolve, or at least ‎downplay, the ongoing disagreements with Russia. ‎

 

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The war in Gaza is not over 

December 27, 2018

Source: The war in Gaza is not over – Israel Hayom

Minister Yoav Gallant

Exactly a decade ago, on Dec. 27, 2008, Hamas staged ‎a show of power in the Gaza Strip, parading hundreds ‎of terrorists in Gaza City. A surprised Israeli ‎airstrike, which fired five missiles on them, killed ‎about 90 terrorists, triggering the beginning of ‎Operation Cast Lead, which saw Israel strike all ‎Hamas headquarters in Gaza, as well as its rocket ‎launching systems and hundreds of terrorist assets ‎and sites.‎

On the Israeli side, ground, air and naval troops ‎fought for three weeks with aim of eradicating key ‎terrorist hubs across the Gaza Strip.‎

The operation was launched following three years ‎during which some 10,000 rockets and mortar shells ‎were fired on Israel’s south and dozens of terrorist ‎attacks were carried out nationwide. ‎

The IDF’s Southern Command was tasked with attacking ‎terrorist infrastructure in the Gaza Strip, ‎inflicting significant damage to Hamas and ‎bolstering Israeli deterrence, and this mission was ‎accomplished in full: More than 700 terrorists were ‎eliminated and all Hamas headquarters were ‎destroyed. ‎

As the commander of the operation, I recommended to ‎my superiors that Israel should make the most of ‎this success and expand the campaign by allowing ‎Southern Command forces to seize control of Gaza ‎City bring Hamas to its knees by either eliminating ‎terrorist or capturing them. My recommendation was ‎denied. ‎

The main factors that rendered Operation Cast Lead ‎successful were careful and secret preparation, ‎operational integration within the IDF, cooperation ‎between the military and Shin Bet security agency, ‎the force demonstrated by the troops on the ground, ‎quality intelligence, accurate aerial strikes, ‎operational and logistical continuity and a ‎resilient homefront.‎

But above all, it was IDF fighters and commanders, ‎who acted with determination, dedication and ‎professionalism, and courageously carried out their ‎missions. Ten soldiers and three civilians were ‎killed in the operation and we all owe them a great ‎debt of gratitude.‎

A decade later, everyone recognizes the important ‎contribution Operation Cast Lead had to the south’s ‎security, as it dealt Hamas a crippling blow. We may ‎still have that advantage, but the war for our home ‎is not over. ‎

In recent years, Hamas’ terrorist routes have been ‎shuttered, one by one, via restrictions on land ‎movement, a maritime blockade, counter-tunnel ‎warfare and the effective protection provided by the ‎Iron Dome air defense system. Operation Cast Lead ‎and the reality that followed on the ground have ‎forced Hamas to rethink its strategy.‎

The balance of power between the IDF and Hamas is ‎‎1,000 to 1, meaning that in any future ‎confrontation, Israel will overcome Hamas. In view ‎of the numerous security challenges Israel faces, it ‎is our duty to act responsibly and discreetly. ‎

Knowing the enemy Israel is preparing for future ‎campaigns, but if we are forced into battle, we will ‎be the ones to determine its timing. ‎

We are a peace-loving nation but at this time, we ‎cannot afford to lay down our sword. We remain ‎vigilant and ready to defend ourselves, on every ‎front, at all times.‎

Yoav Gallant is the construction and housing minister.

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Satellite images reveal Iranian facility destroyed in Syria strike 

December 27, 2018

Source: Satellite images reveal Iranian facility destroyed in Syria strike – Israel Hayom

Report issued by satellite imaging company ISI shows extensive damage to site targeted in airstrike near Damascus, largely attributed to Israel • Image caption says site, believed to be an Iranian weapons depot, was “completely destroyed” in the strike.

An intelligence report issued by the satellite imaging company ImageSat International (ISI) on Thursday revealed the aftermath of the recent airstrikes in Syria, largely attributed to Israel.

According to reports, the target of the airstrikes was an Iranian weapons depot near Damascus. The satellite images unveiled Thursday showed extensive damage to the targeted site. A caption on the satellite imagery indicates that the site was “completely destroyed.”

ImageSat International

London-based war monitor Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said Wednesday that three weapons facilities, belonging to Iran and Hezbollah, had been targeted outside Damascus overnight between Tuesday and Wednesday.

The ISI report included a survey of the targeted area, focusing on a reported Iranian weapons facility inside the Division 4 camp. The report further concluded that there was no evidence of attacks on the airport in Damascus or in Al-Kiswah.

 

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First Ethiopian IAF combat pilot

December 27, 2018

Source: First Ethiopian IAF combat pilot

Lt. Y. is the first member of Israel’s Ethiopian community to earn IAF combat wings; PM Netanyahu and IAF Commander expressed their pride during the course’s graduation ceremony.
Yoav Zitun|Published:  12.26.18 , 21:16

For the first time in the history of the Israeli Air Force, a cadet from the Ethiopian community was awarded his pilot wings on Wednesday, and is to start his active duty as a combat navigator.

“Being a member of the air squadrons and serving in one of the IDF’s most significant units is for me a great honor,” said Lieutenant Y, whose identity remains undisclosed, as with all IAF pilots.

“When I began the course I encountered some prejudice, but it wasn’t different to the kind other people face when they enter a new and judging environment, “said Lieutenant Y. “But I later discovered that I was surrounded by ordinary people… and I understood that I have a place in which I can develop and grow.”

Lt. Y. (Photo: IDF Spokesman)

Lt. Y. (Photo: IDF Spokesman)

“As the course concludes, I have mixed feelings,” he continued. “On the one hand it is nice to finally receive our wings after three intensive years of training; on the other hand, it is only the beginning of the journey.”

177th pilot's course graduation ceremony at the Hatzerim Air Base. (Photo: Motti Kimchi)

177th pilot’s course graduation ceremony at the Hatzerim Air Base. (Photo: Motti Kimchi)

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu congratulated the new pilots for completing the tedious course during a speech at the 177th pilot’s graduation ceremony, that took place at the Hatzerim Air Base near the city of Be’er Sheva.

Netanyahu then asserted Israel’s determination to prevent the entrenchment of Iranian forces in Syria, and expressed his trust in the IAF.

(Photo: Motti Kimchi)

(Photo: Motti Kimchi)

“The nation of Israel depends on you and I put my faith in you,” the prime minister said. “My mind is always on our pilots. During the wee hours of the morning, I sit near the telephone waiting to hear from my military secretary that an operation was successful and that all our pilots returned home safely.”  Both Netanyahu and Air Force Commander Maj. Gen. Amikam Norkin made statements referring to the IDF’s operation in Syria Tuesday night. Norkin also welcomed the first Ethiopian to complete the course: “Distinguished members of the Ethiopian community are here today, Kessoch, academics and public figures; your presence sends an important message…. I am proud of you Lieutenant Y.

 

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