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New images show damage at Damascus International Airport from Israeli strike

May 14, 2018

Some more pretty pictures that will warm your heart.

Also, this article states that the operation was called “Operation House of Cards” – first time I have read that anywhere.

Other pictures previously blogged about here:

Everything Destroyed: IDF Releases Aerial Images of Attacked Iranian Targets

https://www.timesofisrael.com/new-images-show-damage-at-damascus-international-airport-from-israeli-strike/

New images show damage at Damascus International Airport from Israeli strike

Satellite pictures reveal abandoned ‘Glass House’ building, believed to be headquarters of Iran’s military operations in Syria

Satellite image allegedly showing damage to buildings at Damascus International Airport caused by a May 11 Israeli airstrike, released by ImageSat International, on May 13, 2018. (ImageSat International)

Satellite image allegedly showing damage to buildings at Damascus International Airport caused by a May 11 Israeli airstrike, released by ImageSat International, on May 13, 2018. (ImageSat International)

Fresh satellite photos released Sunday show the damage caused to Syria’s airport in Damascus by the series of Israeli airstrikes last week, when the IAF hit over 50 Iranian targets in the war-torn country.

The Israeli strikes, the largest air force operation in Syria in over 40 years, came in response to an Iranian rocket barrage at the Golan Heights last week and Israel warnings that it would not tolerate Tehran’s attempts to entrench itself militarily on Israel’s northern border.

Before and after photos of the May 10 attack show the destruction of storage facilities near the airport, as well as the disappearance of all activity around one building, which reportedly housed the headquarters for Iran’s military operations in Syria.

Among the buildings featured in the images are a warehouse located just 500 meters (1,640 feet) from the main terminal and a building the company identified as the so-called “Glass House” — a five-level command complex from which Iran reportedly coordinated its military campaign in Syria.

Iran, along with Russia, is helping the Syrian regime suppress a bloody insurgency, now in its eighth year.

In the September photo the Glass House is surrounded by vehicles indicating it was busy with activity, whereas the image from May 11 shows the area around the damaged building empty. According to ImageSat, that indicates the building was “abandoned.”

Israeli F-15 and F-16 fighter jets bombed over 50 Iranian targets throughout Syria as the Israel air force carried out an extensive campaign, dubbed “Operation House of Cards,” to try to destroy Iran’s military presence in the country, the army said last Thursday.

Among the targets were a weapons depot in the international airport in Damascus, as well as positions, observation posts, and arms placed in the buffer zone on the Israel-Syria border.

The sorties came after Iran fired 20 missiles toward Israel just after midnight on Thursday morning. Four of the missiles were knocked down by the Iron Dome air defense system and the rest failed to reach Israeli territory, according to the IDF.

The overnight exchange was the largest-ever direct clash between the Iranian forces and the IDF, and appeared to be the largest exchange involving Israel in Syria since the 1973 Yom Kippur War.

At least 23 fighters were killed, according to the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, including five Syrian regime troops and 18 other allied forces.

The monitor said the regime troops killed in the strikes included an officer, adding that the other casualties included Syrians and foreigners, without specifying their nationality.

The military said it also targeted a number of Syrian air defense systems — SA-5, SA-2, SA-22, and SA-17 batteries — that had fired at Israeli planes, despite the military’s Arabic-language spokesperson explicitly warning earlier that “any Syrian involvement will be met with the utmost severity.”

Syria’s military denied the Observatory’s report, saying the Israeli airstrikes killed three people and wounded two others, destroyed a radar station and an ammunition warehouse, and damaged a number of air defense units.

In the days and weeks before the Iranian barrage, defense officials had warned that Israel would respond aggressively to any attack from Syrian territory.

Tehran has repeatedly vowed revenge after the T-4 army base in Syria was struck in an air raid — widely attributed to Israel — on April 9, killing at least seven members of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps, including a senior officer responsible for the group’s drone program.

Israel has committed to preventing Iran from establishing forward bases in Syria, fearing they could be used to launch strikes against the Jewish state, and also to prevent advanced weapons from reaching Iran’s Lebanese proxy, the Hezbollah terror group. A number of deadly air strikes against Syrian targets which reportedly destroyed Iranian military assets, have been attributed to Israel.

Don’t be Hamas’ puppets, IDF tells Gazans

May 14, 2018

The IDF has alot of experience in doing this – other instances I am thinking of are when forewarning of attacks (with phone calls and “roof knocking” being the follow up warning methods).

Wonder if anyone collects all these different leaflets? Bit like collecting stamps…

Very few militaries in the world go to this length in trying to prevent casualties amongst the enemy.

Don’t be Hamas’ puppets, IDF tells Gazans

https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5259961,00.html

Ahead of the expected riots amid US Embassy opening in Jerusalem and Nakba Day events, Air Force drops leaflets in Gaza warning strip’s residents to keep away from border fence; ‘Hamas is using you to conceal its failures and is endangering you and your family members,’ one of leaflets reads.
Israel Air Force planes dropped leaflets in the Gaza Strip on Monday morning ahead of the expected riots amid US Embassy opening in Jerusalem and the Nakba Day events, warning residents to keep away from the border fence, to refrain from vandalizing it or from carrying out terror attacks and not to serve as Hamas’ tool.

The IDF Spokesperson’s Unit said in a statement that the army was prepared for any scenario: “The IDF won’t allow any damage to the security infrastructure and the fence defending Israel’s citizens and will act against anyone operating against Israel’s security.”

An IDF leaflet warning Gaza residents (Photo: AFP)

An IDF leaflet warning Gaza residents (Photo: AFP)

 

One of leaflets read, “To the protestors, you are taking part in violent protests that are putting your life in danger. Hamas is using you to conceal its failures and is endangering you and your family members. The IDF is prepared for any scenario and will act against any attempt to target the security fence or to threaten the forces or Israel’s citizens. Hamas is using you. Don’t be its puppets. Stay away from the fence and beware terror operators and violent rioters! Take care of yourselves and work to build your future!” [fat chance of that – Ed.] 

Another leaflet stated, “Hamas said it was going to improve the infrastructure in the Gaza Strip. Has that been done? Hamas said it was going to built new medical and educational centers. Has that been done? Hamas said it would take care of civil affairs. Has that been done? Hamas said that participating in protests would improve your lives. Do you think that will happen?” [this sounds a better approach towards changing the minds of Gazans – Ed.] 

The leaflets were signed by the IDF Headquarters. 

The army is preparing for the arrival of dozens of Palestinians, including children, at points of friction along the Gaza border Monday. They are expected to try torch heavy equipment, target security infrastructures on the fence and kidnap IDF soldiers during the riots.

According to estimates, thousands of them will try to break through the security fence, which has not been crossed so far despite many attempts since the start of the “March of Return” campaign about a month and a half ago.

Article continues at link here:

https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5259961,00.html

 

 

 

Trump to address Jerusalem embassy opening by video

May 13, 2018

Sounds like Trump won’t be physically present at the opening (although his daughter will).

http://www.middleeasteye.net/news/trump-address-jerusalem-embassy-opening-video-716095125

US President Donald Trump will address around 800 US and Israeli dignitaries at the ceremonial opening of the American embassy in Jerusalem by video on Monday, the US ambassador said.

“People have been working literally around the clock in getting ready for our opening dedication ceremony on Monday. We’ll be ready,” said David Friedman.

“The president, from my side of things, will be addressing the audience by video,” he said.

It was not immediately clear from Friedman’s comment, on a call with reporters, whether Trump would speak via a live videolink or a pre-recorded address.

Trump announced in December that the US would move its embassy to Jerusalem and recognise the city as the capital of Israel.

In Israel the decision was warmly welcomed but it caused dismay amongst Palestinians and in many world capitals.

Only Romania, Paraguay and Guatemala have announced similar moves since Trump’s decision.

The Israeli army said it would almost double the number of troops surrounding the Gaza Strip and in the occupied West Bank to tackle Palestinian protests against the US embassy opening.

Three additional infantry brigades will be deployed next week, two around the Gaza Strip and one in the West Bank, army spokesman Jonathan Conricus told reporters on Saturday.

more at the full article here

http://www.middleeasteye.net/news/trump-address-jerusalem-embassy-opening-video-716095125