ALERT Main Israel/Hamas/Gaza Thread

jward

passin' thru
September 8, 2021
Analysis / The Paradox of Israel’s Military Power


The IDF is a very powerful military machine. However, Israel faces great limits in exploiting its full power due to political and diplomatic reasons.

Israel’s ability to utilize military force largely depends on two connected factors: Domestic and global legitimacy, and threat level. The equation is simple: Israel uses more military power when it faces graver threats and suffers more damage.

Israel used limited force in the face of Palestinian terrorism 20 years ago, until it spiraled out of control. After a deadly string of suicide bombings in March 2002, the IDF raided the West Bank, conquered it quickly, and destroyed terror hubs.

In 2006, a deadly Hezbollah raid triggered the destruction of the group’s Beirut nerve center and long-range rockets. Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah later said that starting the war was a mistake, and avoided repeating it in the past 15 years. The war deeply impacted his worldview and willingness to take risks, according to an Israeli psychological profile.
Assessing Israel’s military power

In Gaza, the gap between the IDF’s strength and the ability to use it is the greatest, because Hamas is relatively weak and the Palestinians enjoy wide global support. In Lebanon, the IDF would use far more force, because Hezbollah is more dangerous and enjoys far less support.

In a broad military conflict with the Iran axis, Israel will be very aggressive and use overwhelming military power.

Analyzing a nation’s military strength could be tricky, as this involves many factors and key information is often classified. But basic analytical pitfalls and errors should be avoided.

Concluding that Israel is “weak” based on a limited conflict in Gaza is a mistake. Similarly, assessing IDF power based on limited use of force against Hamas is a mistake. As shown in the past, misjudging Israel’s military power could be a dangerous move with unexpected results.
 

jward

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Doge
@IntelDoge

31m

The IDF has arrested two more of the escaped prisoners from Gilboa Prison in northern Israel. Zakaria Zabeidi and another prisoner were caught. The hunt continues for two more.
 

jward

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Israel Radar
@IsraelRadar_com

1h

IDF launching military drill in West Bank Sunday, intensive movement of forces & vehicles expected; army says exercise planned earlier but timing raises questions given high tensions on Palestinian front & manhunt for remaining terror fugitives. #Israel
___________
Avi Mayer
@AviMayer

1h

RIGHT NOW: Rocket sirens are blaring in communities in southern Israel near Gaza. If you’re in the area, TAKE COVER IMMEDIATELY.
 

jward

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jward

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Israel Radar
@IsraelRadar_com

2h

#Israel air defense chief addresses war preparations via @WallaNews: Anti-ballistic Arrow missile to be upgraded in coming year to boost protection against direct attacks from Iran; IDF adjusts sensors to detect potential Hezbollah drone strikes from sea
IDF may issue unprecedented security instructions to northern #Israel residents in next war, says Brig. Gen. Gilad Biran, refuses to elaborate; air defense chief adds that David's Sling defense system may be deployed to complement Iron Dome.
 

Housecarl

On TB every waking moment
Posted for fair use.....

Suicide Bombers Take Part in West Bank Ceremony

By Joe Truzman | September 26, 2021 | Jtruzman@fdd.org | @JoeTruzman

242809737_248789957254291_5090952495141498277_n-1024x576.jpg
Credit: Quds News Network

Members of the Fatah-affiliated al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades wore what appears to be explosive-laden vests during a ceremony Friday night in the West Bank town of Jenin in commemoration of several Palestinians who were killed in clashes with Israeli security forces during the previous months.

In addition to the apparent explosive-laden vests, the militants wore a white garb signifying what they believe is a sign of their readiness to meet God as a martyr.

During the ceremony, a militant accompanying the suicide bombers threatened that factions would respond if Israeli forces entered Jenin.

“[We are] here in the Joint Operations Room in Jenin camp. The room consists of the al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades, and Saraya al-Quds. We warn the Zionist enemy against committing any foolishness and entering the Jenin camp, because we will be ready. We warn the Zionist enemy against committing any foolishness and entering the Jenin camp, and we will be ready for any Israeli attack or aggression,” the militant stated.

During the second intifada, Palestinian militant groups publicly paraded suicide bombers as a method of psychological warfare against the civilian population of Israel. However, since the end of the intifada, this practice became less common.

Friday’s exhibition of suicide bombers suggests that Palestinian groups have not given up on this method of terrorism. In 2020, an Israeli internal security service report stated ten suicide bombings had been thwarted by the agency the previous year.

Joe Truzman is a contributor to FDD's Long War Journal.
 

jward

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Analysis / When Will Israel Be Ready to Strike in Iran?

Analysis / When Will Israel Be Ready to Strike in Iran? 1

Is Israel ready to strike in Iran? (Archive: Pixabay)
Prime Minister Naftali Bennett says that Israel will be taking action to stop Iran’s nuclear project. The IDF says that operational planning for a strike is advancing rapidly.
Senior officers and some analysts claim that Israel is capable of crippling Tehran’s nuclear program. But others say that the IDF needs to bolster its military power, and that this will take years.
The persistent chatter about IDF strike preparations is sometimes dismissed or ridiculed. Israeli warnings are often seen as a form of psychological warfare with little substance. But the cumulative effect can create confusion, anxiety, and complacency on the Iranian side.
Statements and reports about IDF preparations may prompt the Iranians to invest resources in extra defenses or more intelligence collection. Conflicting information could make it harder to assess Israeli readiness. Seemingly empty threats could suddenly turn into real action.
At the end of the day, the big question remains: How close is Israel to staging a massive assault on Iran’s nuclear sites? The answer is a closely guarded secret, but there are some hints.

Air Force in stealth mode?
The Israeli Air Force has been quiet in recent months about operational training for a strike in Iran, in contrast to earlier trends. While foreign armies and civilian observers can monitor some aerial action, the media silence suggests that the IDF is keeping a lower profile about its strike preparations and focus.
Back in April, the Air Force revealed that it deployed fighter jets and spy planes in Greece to train for missions in remote locations. In February, the military censor cleared information on transport aircraft training in India.
Earlier reports detailed other drills and training sessions to prepare for long-range strike operations. The IDF also revealed that it was practicing for rescue missions in enemy territory. Senior officers indicated that Iran was the focus of such exercises.
Air Force training for strike (Archive: Eden Briand, IDF/CC)
But similar reporting on the official Air Force website and elsewhere has been minimal in the last few months regarding Iran-linked training maneuvers.
The new silence comes as top defense officials say that Israel is accelerating its plans for a strike on Iran’s nuclear project. However, these statements tend to be general and offer no specifics.
One way or another, it appears that the Air Force has entered a new, more sensitive phase in its preparations for a strike.

The general’s message
Major General Tal Kalman is no ordinary officer. The ex-fighter pilot heads the IDF’s Strategy and Third-Circle Directorate, which focuses on Iran. In this role, Kalman is familiar with the entire array of operational planning against Tehran. His recent interview with Maariv daily deserves close attention.
The IDF is preparing for a broad military campaign against Iran beyond a pinpoint strike on its nuclear project, the high-ranking officer said. The army will aim to strike key Iranian assets as part of this plan and gravely hurt the regime, he added. This suggests that Israel’s strategy may be different than previously assumed.
Notably, an Israeli strike on Iran will almost certainly trigger a large war. However, most experts agree that Israel can delay Tehran’s nuclear progress but not fully eliminate it. In other words, an operation that only targets Iran’s nuclear program may not be worth the price.

The logic is simple: If an all-out war is inevitable, it should be used to inflict as much damage as possible and weaken the Iranian regime. This would call for a wider military attack than a strike on nuclear facilities.
Preparations for a mega-assault naturally require longer planning, more munitions, and a larger military buildup. If Israel chooses this route, the timeline for launching a strike will be further delayed.

For now, Israel’s precise strategy and timing will remain a top secret, but astute observers will likely detect some hints. IDF plans for a strike on Iran’s nuclear project may be in advanced stages, but preparations for a larger war could take some time. The ultimate decision on when and what to strike will depend on Iranian progress, the perceived threat level, and on Israel’s strategic aims.
Analysis / When Will Israel Be Ready to Strike in Iran?
 

jward

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Israel launches air raids on Gaza after rocket fire​


Al Jazeera​




Powerful explosions shake buildings and light up the night sky as Israel bombs Gaza.
The Israeli military has launched air raids on the besieged Gaza Strip, as fears over escalating violence continue in the region.

The attacks early on Thursday come in the wake of a deadly Israeli raid in the occupied West Bank city of Jenin last week.
The raid, in which nine Palestinians were killed, was followed by Palestinian attacks targeting Israelis over the weekend, including a shooting in occupied East Jerusalem in which seven Israelis were killed.
The unrest has also triggered exchanges of fire between Israeli forces and Palestinian groups in Gaza.
This included rockets fired from the blockaded strip on Wednesday night. No Palestinian group has claimed those launches.

The Israeli military said its air raids hit rocket and weapon production sites used by Hamas, the group that governs Gaza.
After the raids, the AFP news agency reported new rounds of rockets fired from Gaza and explosions that shook buildings and lit up the night sky over Gaza.

Air raid sirens meanwhile sounded in Israeli areas.
There were no immediate reports of serious casualties.
The armed unit of the left-wing Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine said it had launched rocket salvos at Israel early on Thursday in response to the air raids and the “systematic aggression” against Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails.

 
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