WAR Regional conflict brewing in the Mediterranean
- Thread starter danielboon
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jward
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Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian
@manniefabian
1h
IDF says it struck an underground Hamas rocket manufacturing facility in the Gaza Strip, in response to the rocket attacks on southern Israel. In total, 4 rockets were launched from Gaza tonight, 1 was intercepted
Joe Truzman
@JoeTruzman
36m
The Nusierat Martyrs site was struck by Israeli airstrikes a short time ago in #Gaza.
View: https://twitter.com/JoeTruzman/status/1548143655868739588?s=20&t=WsdacClUnLbG4DU2ujR_Uw
@manniefabian
1h
IDF says it struck an underground Hamas rocket manufacturing facility in the Gaza Strip, in response to the rocket attacks on southern Israel. In total, 4 rockets were launched from Gaza tonight, 1 was intercepted
Joe Truzman
@JoeTruzman
36m
The Nusierat Martyrs site was struck by Israeli airstrikes a short time ago in #Gaza.
View: https://twitter.com/JoeTruzman/status/1548143655868739588?s=20&t=WsdacClUnLbG4DU2ujR_Uw
jward
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EndGameWW3
@EndGameWW3
Something is going down. First MBS meets with Biden, directly after meets with President Sisi of Egypt… Update: Prince Mohammed bin Salman receives the Egyptian President at Jeddah Airport.
Make room here comes Kuwait to… Prince Mohammed bin Salman receives the Crown Prince of Kuwait at Jeddah Airport
Also part of this anti Iran coalition.
Egypt is part of this new coalition against Iran.
@EndGameWW3
Something is going down. First MBS meets with Biden, directly after meets with President Sisi of Egypt… Update: Prince Mohammed bin Salman receives the Egyptian President at Jeddah Airport.
Make room here comes Kuwait to… Prince Mohammed bin Salman receives the Crown Prince of Kuwait at Jeddah Airport
Also part of this anti Iran coalition.
Egypt is part of this new coalition against Iran.
jward
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The Spectator Index
@spectatorindex
16m
BREAKING: Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince announces the country will seek to increase its oil production capacity to 13 million barrels per day.
jward
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Israel Radar
@IsraelRadar_com
8h
Israel bombed secret Hamas site in Gaza last night used to produce critical rocket components; underground facility uncovered after lengthy intel investigation, attacked with 16 tons of munitions (@WallaNews)
jward
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IDF chief to make unprecedented official visit to Morocco
By ANNA AHRONHEIM
IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Aviv Kohavi will be making an official visit to Morocco on Monday for three days, marking the first time that Israel’s top military officer has visited the country.
Jerusalem and Rabat reestablished ties under the Abraham Accords along with the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Sudan.
In November, the two countries signed a memorandum of understanding that established a solid security cooperation framework formalizing defense relations between them. The MoU allows for increased cooperation in the fields of intelligence, industrial collaboration, military training and more.
Following the signing, relations between the two countries increased tremendously.
In March, IDF Strategy and Third-Circle Division head Maj.-Gen. Tal Kalman, Foreign Relations Division head Brig.-Gen. Efi Dafrin and Operations Division head in the Intelligence Division Brig.-Gen. G. took part in the IDF’s first official visit.
IDF Chief of Staff (Lt.-Gen.) Aviv Kohavi with US CENTCOM general Erik Kurilla, July 17, 2022. (credit: IDF SPOKESPERSON UNIT)
They met with Moroccan military chief Lt.-Gen. Belkhir el-Farouk and senior Moroccan military officers, including the heads of the country’s intelligence and operations directorates in Rabat.
More security collaborations with Morocco?
The IDF staff also discussed the possibility of cooperative efforts with their Moroccan counterparts, including potential collaboration in intelligence and operational training and multinational exercises.
Last month, IDF officers took part in the African Lion military drill alongside the United States, Morocco and several African nations. The head of the Middle East and North Africa Division of the Policy & Political-Military Bureau in the Israel Defense Ministry, who also serves as the defense attaché to Morocco participated in the drill, in addition to two IDF officers.
The drill, which lasted throughout June, included 7,500 personnel from 10 nations, among them Brazil, France and Britain. Observers from NATO were also present – and for the first time, officials from Israel, Ghana and Senegal.
Morocco is also reported to be interested in Israeli weapons systems, including the Barak 8 medium-range surface-to-air missile system.
Manufactured by Israel Aerospace Industries, it is able to shoot down enemy aircraft at a range of 50-70 kilometers. The system is designed to defend naval vessels against a myriad of short-to-long range airborne threats like incoming missiles, planes and drones at both low or high altitudes.
IDF chief to make unprecedented official visit to Morocco
IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Aviv Kohavi will visit Morocco for three days, becoming the first Israeli military officer to visit the kingdom.
www.jpost.com
jward
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EndGameWW3
@EndGameWW3
1/2 Update: Axios: Israeli Defense Ministry officials: The Israeli Defense Minister will discuss joint diplomatic and military steps to increase pressure on the Islamic Republic with the National Security Advisor of the White House
and the head of the CIA during his weekend meetings in the United States.
jward
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Israel Radar
@IsraelRadar_com
1h
#Israel considers preemptive strike on Hezbollah missile & drone arsenal in case of more provocations, debate ongoing; some defense chiefs want to hit Hezbollah before it boosts air defenses; army prepares for possibility of full-scale war (@ynetalerts)
@IsraelRadar_com
1h
#Israel considers preemptive strike on Hezbollah missile & drone arsenal in case of more provocations, debate ongoing; some defense chiefs want to hit Hezbollah before it boosts air defenses; army prepares for possibility of full-scale war (@ynetalerts)
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Home
Defense
July 25, 2022
Strike Mode: IDF Prepares to Hit Back Against Hezbollah
IDF forces (Archive: Gadi Yampel, IDF/CC)
Israeli defense officials are debating a preemptive strike on Hezbollah in Lebanon. Some senior officers want to launch an assault on Hezbollah’s sizeable rocket and drone arsenal if the group continues to provoke Israel over an ongoing gas field dispute, Ynet reports.
An attack on Israel would present an opportunity for the IDF to hit Hezbollah hard before it bolsters its air defenses with Iran’s help, military officials say. For now, the army is preparing intensively for a clash with Hezbollah, including the worse-case scenario of a full-scale war, the report says.
Meanwhile, growing voices within the army are calling to retaliate for Hezbollah’s next drone launch toward Israel’s Karish gas rig. Possible targets for an IDF strike include Hezbollah sites in Syria or outposts on the Lebanon border, Yediot Aharonot daily reported.
The army is currently considering retaliation options that will not escalate into a serious military clash, the report said. However, Israeli defense chiefs have warned that Hezbollah’s provocations could spark a military conflict in Lebanon in September.
In parallel, military journalist Alon Ben-David warns that Hezbollah is capable of mobilizing its elite Radwan Force within hours to attack Israel. The IDF deploys a limited number of troops on the norther border and relies on its intelligence arms to provide early alert of a surprise attack, he wrote in Maariv daily.
israelradar.com
Defense
July 25, 2022
Strike Mode: IDF Prepares to Hit Back Against Hezbollah
IDF forces (Archive: Gadi Yampel, IDF/CC)
Israeli defense officials are debating a preemptive strike on Hezbollah in Lebanon. Some senior officers want to launch an assault on Hezbollah’s sizeable rocket and drone arsenal if the group continues to provoke Israel over an ongoing gas field dispute, Ynet reports.
An attack on Israel would present an opportunity for the IDF to hit Hezbollah hard before it bolsters its air defenses with Iran’s help, military officials say. For now, the army is preparing intensively for a clash with Hezbollah, including the worse-case scenario of a full-scale war, the report says.
Meanwhile, growing voices within the army are calling to retaliate for Hezbollah’s next drone launch toward Israel’s Karish gas rig. Possible targets for an IDF strike include Hezbollah sites in Syria or outposts on the Lebanon border, Yediot Aharonot daily reported.
The army is currently considering retaliation options that will not escalate into a serious military clash, the report said. However, Israeli defense chiefs have warned that Hezbollah’s provocations could spark a military conflict in Lebanon in September.
In parallel, military journalist Alon Ben-David warns that Hezbollah is capable of mobilizing its elite Radwan Force within hours to attack Israel. The IDF deploys a limited number of troops on the norther border and relies on its intelligence arms to provide early alert of a surprise attack, he wrote in Maariv daily.
Strike Mode: IDF Prepares to Hit Back Against Hezbollah
Israeli defense officials are currently debating a preemptive strike on Hezbollah in Lebanon...
israelradar.com
danielboon
TB Fanatic
EndGameWW3
@EndGameWW3
·
4h
Update: Spokesman for the Turkish presidency: The Turkish operation in the north of Syria may start at any moment, and we will not ask permission from any party.
U.S. troops fixing to get caught up in the middle of the Turkish shitstorm coming to Northern Syria... Biden leaves troops stuck in Syria limbo as Russia, Iran, Turkey escalate
@EndGameWW3
·
4h
Update: Spokesman for the Turkish presidency: The Turkish operation in the north of Syria may start at any moment, and we will not ask permission from any party.
U.S. troops fixing to get caught up in the middle of the Turkish shitstorm coming to Northern Syria... Biden leaves troops stuck in Syria limbo as Russia, Iran, Turkey escalate
jward
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Mohamed Eljarh
@Eljarh
1- Sources on the ground have confirmed to me that staff of oil services giant #Halliburton in western and eastern #Libya have been told to evacuate immediately, and ordered to leave their equipment/tools on sites. The exact reasons are not known. #OOTT
2- Similarly, German oil giant Wintershall is also suspending its operations and temporarily evacuating some staff due to a dispute with AGOCO oil company over accumulating debt. AGOCO recently got 600m LYD but failed to pay Wintershall
4:30 PM · Jul 28, 2022·Twitter Web App
@Eljarh
1- Sources on the ground have confirmed to me that staff of oil services giant #Halliburton in western and eastern #Libya have been told to evacuate immediately, and ordered to leave their equipment/tools on sites. The exact reasons are not known. #OOTT
2- Similarly, German oil giant Wintershall is also suspending its operations and temporarily evacuating some staff due to a dispute with AGOCO oil company over accumulating debt. AGOCO recently got 600m LYD but failed to pay Wintershall
4:30 PM · Jul 28, 2022·Twitter Web App
1-12020
Senior Member
Uh that's not a good sign.
jward
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Israel Radar
@IsraelRadar_com
1h
Israel keeps underground arms depots near Lebanon border for wartime emergencies; secret sites linked via tunnels, contain large array of weapons and intelligence gear to detect & eliminate incoming Hezbollah forces in battle (via@ynetalerts )
@IsraelRadar_com
1h
Israel keeps underground arms depots near Lebanon border for wartime emergencies; secret sites linked via tunnels, contain large array of weapons and intelligence gear to detect & eliminate incoming Hezbollah forces in battle (via@ynetalerts )
jward
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Israel Radar
@IsraelRadar_com
3h
Israel & US launch 4-day naval exercise in Red Sea with eye on Iranian activity in area (@kann_news)
jward
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Avi Mayer
@AviMayer
15h
BREAKING: Israeli airlines have received official approval from Saudi authorities to overfly the kingdom en route to and from any and all destinations; Oman expected to follow suit.
~~~~~~~
Flight to Israel crosses Saudi airspace for 1st time since kingdom opened its skies
Cathay Pacific plane from Hong Kong to Tel Aviv allowed to fly over Saudi Arabia, after Kingdom authorized overflights from all carriers during Biden visit last month
www.timesofisrael.com
jward
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Israel Radar
@IsraelRadar_com
1m
French president Macron warns #Lebanon: Military conflict with Israel to be much more destructive than 2006 war, Lebanon will not survive this (@ynetalerts)
@IsraelRadar_com
1m
French president Macron warns #Lebanon: Military conflict with Israel to be much more destructive than 2006 war, Lebanon will not survive this (@ynetalerts)
jward
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Joe Truzman @JoeTruzman Research Analyst @FDD, @LongWarJournal. Focused on Palestinian jihadist groups and other Middle East non-state actors. |
Hezbollah has issued a statement mourning the death of PIJ commander al-Jabari. The group extends its "deepest condolences and sympathy to the brothers in the Islamic Jihad movement." Hezbollah also expressed support for the actions PIJ will take in response to the killings.
The IDF has targeted a rocket launch site in Khan Yunis.
My latest piece on today's security event unfolding in Gaza.
Rumors say PIJ and other Palestinian factions will respond to Israel's military operation at 9 p.m. local time which is 8 minutes from now. The 9 p.m. time is symbolic due it coinciding with the time rockets would be launched under the orders or former PIJ commander Abu al-Atta.
Palestinian militant groups have begun their response. Red Alerts have been issued for Ashkelon and Ashdod.
Major response ongoing by Palestinian militant groups.
Iron Dome Tamir interceptors launched in response to rocket attack from Gaza.
Iron Dome Tamir interceptors launched tonight.
Red Alert issued south of Tel Aviv.
Rockets launched by Palestinian militant groups in Gaza towards Israel.
A missile barrage fired by Palestinian militants in Gaza towards Israeli communities a short time ago.
Sirens can be heard in Tel Aviv as rocket alerts have been issued just south of the city.
Palestinian Islamic Jihad statement: "As part of its initial response to the crime of assassinating the great commander, "Taysir al-Jabari" and his martyred brothers... Saraya al-Quds bombarded Tel Aviv, the central cities and its surroundings with more than 100 missiles."
A rocket fired from Gaza a short time ago towards Israel.
The bodies of several Palestinian Islamic Jihad militants killed today in an IDF targeted operation.
Barrage of rockets fired by Palestinian militants from what appears to be a civilian area in the Gaza Strip.
Ahskelon under rocket alert.
Much of today's events stem from the uptick in militant activity in the West Bank led by Islamic Jihad. @FDD's @LongWarJournal has been closely monitoring the activity since last yr. I invite those who are interested to read our reports to understand what's led to this conflict.
View from Gaza where rockets fired by Palestinian groups are intercepted by Iron Dome Tamir interceptors.
• • •
Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to force a refresh
Please see source for many embedded videos and updates
View: https://twitter.com/JoeTruzman/status/1555589828485341184
Last edited:
jward
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Faytuks News Δ
@Faytuks
Breaking: Israel has informed Egypt that it refuses to stop the attacks in Gaza; wants to achieve its goals in the operation. (@Aurora_Knish)
~~~~~~~~~~
Israel has drawn up a list to assassinate a number of military faction leaders, sources - Al Hadath
View: https://twitter.com/Faytuks/status/1555672321628803072?s=20&t=r7YbwjLu-1AE0G-V4nXdQg
jward
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Insider Paper
@TheInsiderPaper
1h
JUST IN Barrage of rockets fired from Gaza towards Israel
View: https://twitter.com/TheInsiderPaper/status/1555661459669008385?s=20&t=r7YbwjLu-1AE0G-V4nXdQg
jward
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Gaza Report - اخبار غزة
@gaza_report
1m
The fighting enters the 12th hour: - Intensive Egyptian efforts to bring a truce are welcomed by Israel, and Hamas does not join hostitilies, leaving a window - Sporadic strikes by Israel & attacks by the Jihad in the morning hours but Israeli planes reenter the atmosphere now
@gaza_report
1m
The fighting enters the 12th hour: - Intensive Egyptian efforts to bring a truce are welcomed by Israel, and Hamas does not join hostitilies, leaving a window - Sporadic strikes by Israel & attacks by the Jihad in the morning hours but Israeli planes reenter the atmosphere now
jward
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Joe Truzman
@JoeTruzman
Palestinian Islamic Jihad has released video of rocket attacks against Israel that it has launched since yesterday.
View: https://twitter.com/JoeTruzman/status/1555964265852309506?s=20&t=A4rUbFLQNxdjVKJgOKmVmw
Part two of the video.
View: https://twitter.com/JoeTruzman/status/1555964695814610950?s=20&t=A4rUbFLQNxdjVKJgOKmVmw
Part three of the video.
View: https://twitter.com/JoeTruzman/status/1555964809278939137?s=20&t=A4rUbFLQNxdjVKJgOKmVmw
jward
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Mark Dubowitz
@mdubowitz
58m
Ahead of recent Gaza conflict, and as it unfolds, @FDD experts EKrivine and JoeTruzman providing important context and analysis:
https://thehill.com/opinion/international/3591113-disrupting-palestinian-islamic-jihad-a-smart-play-by-israel/
https://fdd.org/in_the_news/2022/08/05/israel-targets-pij-commander-in-gaza/
https://longwarjournal.org/archives/2022/08/idf-targeted-operation-eliminates-palestinian-islamic-jihad-commander.php https://townhall.com/columnists/eniakrivine/2022/07/15/hamas-wants-to-rule-the-west-bank-n2610288
And regular updates from @JoeTruzman @JSchanzer
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Disrupting Palestinian Islamic Jihad a smart play by Israel
Enia Krivine, opinion contributor
5-6 minutes
AP Photo/Fatima Shbair
Rockets fired by Palestinian militants toward Israel, in Gaza City, Friday, Aug. 5, 2022. Palestinian officials say Israeli airstrikes on Gaza have killed at least 10 people, including a senior militant, and wounded 55 others.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) launched a military campaign Friday against Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), a U.S.-designated terrorist group, in Gaza. The campaign, known as Operation Breaking Dawn, is designed to decapitate the Gaza wing of Iran-aligned PIJ, which has held large swaths of the Israeli population hostage for the past four days by threatening attacks against Israel.
The PIJ threats began earlier this week after the IDF arrested Bassem al-Saadi, the leader of the group’s West Bank wing, in Jenin. Israel alleges that al-Saadi not only spearheaded an ongoing military buildup of PIJ operatives in the West Bank, but also served as a driving force for radicalization in the region. Israel wanted to put a stop to al-Saadi’s efforts but could not rely on the Palestinian Authority to carry out the task: The presence of Hamas and PIJ in Jenin has made the city an inhospitable place for Palestinian Authority security forces.
Following al-Saadi’s arrest, PIJ placed its fighters on high alert. In a haphazard roadside press conference, PIJ militants announced in Hebrew that they were awaiting instructions from the PIJ’s central leadership in Gaza. They added that if PIJ launches a war from the coastal enclave, they would do the same in the West Bank. Operation Breaking Dawn aims to deter such a conflict.
With tensions rising, PIJ leader Ziyad al-Nakhaleh traveled to Tehran, where he met on Wednesday with President Ebrahim Raisi, among others. PIJ is heavily dependent on Iran for both financial and military support. Its actions are likely to reflect the priorities of Tehran’s clerical regime more than those of the Palestinians.
Historically, PIJ has not responded militarily to Israeli arrests. However, the incarceration of al-Saadi struck a nerve, and the terror organization threatened violence against Israel. Nevertheless, while the PIJ remains the second most powerful organization in Gaza, Hamas exercises far greater authority and may ultimately decide whether to approve retaliation beyond the dozens of rockets PIJ fired.
In anticipation of a PIJ military response out of Gaza, the IDF took defensive measures, closing roads in southern Israel, locking down communities in proximity to the strip, and halting train services in the south of the country. On Friday morning the IDF canceled weekend leave for combat soldiers and ordered reinforcements for the IDF Gaza Division.
While PIJ does not pose an existential threat to Israelis, PIJ can do significant damage, and on Friday evening sirens could be heard throughout Israel, sending hundreds of thousands of Israelis into bomb shelters.
This episode that began with the arrest of a PIJ leader in Jenin, provides a revealing glimpse into a dangerous landscape where the Palestinian Authority is losing its grip on the West Bank and increasingly relying on the IDF to maintain stability there.
The IDF has seen increased activity in Jenin and other West Bank cities this year following a spate of terror attacks in Israel between March and May that killed 19 Israelis. The goal of the IDF operations in the West Bank was to clamp down on terrorist activity originating from the area. Since the beginning of 2022, the IDF has arrested or killed dozens of Palestinian militants, with a significant number of the casualties occurring in Jenin. IDF incursions into the West Bank carry risk and can lead to operational errors and inadvertent escalation.
When 87-year-old Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas finally steps down — either voluntarily or due to incapacitation — the least-bad choice for the United States and Israel is for the Fatah party to continue its rule of the West Bank. However, given Fatah’s weak hold and antagonistic relationship with Hamas and PIJ, it seems increasingly likely that the area will dissolve into chaos, as armed factions battle for control, with the IDF having no choice but to step into the fray, potentially leading to new spirals of violence in the West Bank and Gaza.
Congress and the Biden administration should support the IDF’s counterterrorism operations and insist that Israel has a right to defend itself against terror. These IDF operations are necessary not only to tamp down ongoing violence, but also to remove the most threatening players off the chess board for the looming Palestinian succession battle in the West Bank. In so doing, the campaign ultimately advances stability in the region as well as U.S. and Israeli interests.
Enia Krivine is the senior director of the Israel Program and the National Security Network at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies. Follow Enia on Twitter at @EKrivine.
thehill.com
@mdubowitz
58m
Ahead of recent Gaza conflict, and as it unfolds, @FDD experts EKrivine and JoeTruzman providing important context and analysis:
https://thehill.com/opinion/international/3591113-disrupting-palestinian-islamic-jihad-a-smart-play-by-israel/
https://fdd.org/in_the_news/2022/08/05/israel-targets-pij-commander-in-gaza/
https://longwarjournal.org/archives/2022/08/idf-targeted-operation-eliminates-palestinian-islamic-jihad-commander.php https://townhall.com/columnists/eniakrivine/2022/07/15/hamas-wants-to-rule-the-west-bank-n2610288
And regular updates from @JoeTruzman @JSchanzer
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Disrupting Palestinian Islamic Jihad a smart play by Israel
Enia Krivine, opinion contributor
5-6 minutes
AP Photo/Fatima Shbair
Rockets fired by Palestinian militants toward Israel, in Gaza City, Friday, Aug. 5, 2022. Palestinian officials say Israeli airstrikes on Gaza have killed at least 10 people, including a senior militant, and wounded 55 others.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) launched a military campaign Friday against Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), a U.S.-designated terrorist group, in Gaza. The campaign, known as Operation Breaking Dawn, is designed to decapitate the Gaza wing of Iran-aligned PIJ, which has held large swaths of the Israeli population hostage for the past four days by threatening attacks against Israel.
The PIJ threats began earlier this week after the IDF arrested Bassem al-Saadi, the leader of the group’s West Bank wing, in Jenin. Israel alleges that al-Saadi not only spearheaded an ongoing military buildup of PIJ operatives in the West Bank, but also served as a driving force for radicalization in the region. Israel wanted to put a stop to al-Saadi’s efforts but could not rely on the Palestinian Authority to carry out the task: The presence of Hamas and PIJ in Jenin has made the city an inhospitable place for Palestinian Authority security forces.
Following al-Saadi’s arrest, PIJ placed its fighters on high alert. In a haphazard roadside press conference, PIJ militants announced in Hebrew that they were awaiting instructions from the PIJ’s central leadership in Gaza. They added that if PIJ launches a war from the coastal enclave, they would do the same in the West Bank. Operation Breaking Dawn aims to deter such a conflict.
With tensions rising, PIJ leader Ziyad al-Nakhaleh traveled to Tehran, where he met on Wednesday with President Ebrahim Raisi, among others. PIJ is heavily dependent on Iran for both financial and military support. Its actions are likely to reflect the priorities of Tehran’s clerical regime more than those of the Palestinians.
Historically, PIJ has not responded militarily to Israeli arrests. However, the incarceration of al-Saadi struck a nerve, and the terror organization threatened violence against Israel. Nevertheless, while the PIJ remains the second most powerful organization in Gaza, Hamas exercises far greater authority and may ultimately decide whether to approve retaliation beyond the dozens of rockets PIJ fired.
In anticipation of a PIJ military response out of Gaza, the IDF took defensive measures, closing roads in southern Israel, locking down communities in proximity to the strip, and halting train services in the south of the country. On Friday morning the IDF canceled weekend leave for combat soldiers and ordered reinforcements for the IDF Gaza Division.
While PIJ does not pose an existential threat to Israelis, PIJ can do significant damage, and on Friday evening sirens could be heard throughout Israel, sending hundreds of thousands of Israelis into bomb shelters.
This episode that began with the arrest of a PIJ leader in Jenin, provides a revealing glimpse into a dangerous landscape where the Palestinian Authority is losing its grip on the West Bank and increasingly relying on the IDF to maintain stability there.
The IDF has seen increased activity in Jenin and other West Bank cities this year following a spate of terror attacks in Israel between March and May that killed 19 Israelis. The goal of the IDF operations in the West Bank was to clamp down on terrorist activity originating from the area. Since the beginning of 2022, the IDF has arrested or killed dozens of Palestinian militants, with a significant number of the casualties occurring in Jenin. IDF incursions into the West Bank carry risk and can lead to operational errors and inadvertent escalation.
When 87-year-old Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas finally steps down — either voluntarily or due to incapacitation — the least-bad choice for the United States and Israel is for the Fatah party to continue its rule of the West Bank. However, given Fatah’s weak hold and antagonistic relationship with Hamas and PIJ, it seems increasingly likely that the area will dissolve into chaos, as armed factions battle for control, with the IDF having no choice but to step into the fray, potentially leading to new spirals of violence in the West Bank and Gaza.
Congress and the Biden administration should support the IDF’s counterterrorism operations and insist that Israel has a right to defend itself against terror. These IDF operations are necessary not only to tamp down ongoing violence, but also to remove the most threatening players off the chess board for the looming Palestinian succession battle in the West Bank. In so doing, the campaign ultimately advances stability in the region as well as U.S. and Israeli interests.
Enia Krivine is the senior director of the Israel Program and the National Security Network at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies. Follow Enia on Twitter at @EKrivine.
Disrupting Palestinian Islamic Jihad a smart play by Israel
The Palestinian Authority is losing its grip on the West Bank and increasingly is relying on Israel to maintain stability there.
thehill.com
jward
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[URL='https://twitter.com/JasonMBrodsky']Jason Brodsky
@JasonMBrodsky[/URL]
11m
Today the secretary-general of #Iran-backed #Hezbollah Hassan Nasrallah says that Hezbollah is following up on the developments in #Gaza round the clock and is in contact with PIJ and #Hamas in Gaza. Shades of May 2021. 1/2
Nasrallah recently personally revealed that it shared intelligence with the Palestinian factions through the joint operations room during Operation Guardian of the Walls. IRGC reportedly participated as well. 2/2
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
FJ
@Natsecjeff
This is a significant early victory for Israel. It has wiped out entire senior leadership of Iran-backed Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ). Amazing!
4:29 PM · Aug 6, 2022·Twitter for Android
@JasonMBrodsky[/URL]
11m
Today the secretary-general of #Iran-backed #Hezbollah Hassan Nasrallah says that Hezbollah is following up on the developments in #Gaza round the clock and is in contact with PIJ and #Hamas in Gaza. Shades of May 2021. 1/2
Nasrallah recently personally revealed that it shared intelligence with the Palestinian factions through the joint operations room during Operation Guardian of the Walls. IRGC reportedly participated as well. 2/2
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
FJ
@Natsecjeff
This is a significant early victory for Israel. It has wiped out entire senior leadership of Iran-backed Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ). Amazing!
4:29 PM · Aug 6, 2022·Twitter for Android
jward
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Terror Alarm
@terror_alarm
#BREAKING: Yemeni Houthis mobilizing troops to attack the Jewish State: "We are waiting for the final order (Probably from Iran) to enter the war against Israel."
View: https://twitter.com/terror_alarm/status/1556000442072588292?s=20&t=A4rUbFLQNxdjVKJgOKmVmw
@terror_alarm
#BREAKING: Yemeni Houthis mobilizing troops to attack the Jewish State: "We are waiting for the final order (Probably from Iran) to enter the war against Israel."
View: https://twitter.com/terror_alarm/status/1556000442072588292?s=20&t=A4rUbFLQNxdjVKJgOKmVmw
jward
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Gaza Division commander says IDF has ‘many’ more Islamic Jihad targets to hit
Today, 8:32 pm
Brig. Gen. Nimrod Aloni speaks to Channel 12 news near the border with the Gaza Strip, August 4, 2022. (Screengrab)
The chief of the military’s Gaza Division in an interview with Channel 12 news says the IDF has “many” more Palestinian Islamic Jihad targets to hit.
“I see no reason to change the operational plan,” says Brig. Gen. Nimrod Aloni.
“This is an operation against PIJ — It’s been clear that we are focused on PIJ, at no stage was Hamas part of the picture,” he says. “Hamas also chose, wisely, I’d say, not to get involved.”
Asked about when the operation will end, Aloni said “whenever it is decided by the political echelon, we’ll of course stop.”
“Already at this stage, the moral and certainly the physical blow to PIJ, which thought it could get away with threatening the Gaza envelope area — the blow to commanders and activists, that it wasn’t ready for — already at this stage has heavily influenced the group and will complicate its activities in the future,” Aloni says.
www.timesofisrael.com
Today, 8:32 pm
Brig. Gen. Nimrod Aloni speaks to Channel 12 news near the border with the Gaza Strip, August 4, 2022. (Screengrab)
The chief of the military’s Gaza Division in an interview with Channel 12 news says the IDF has “many” more Palestinian Islamic Jihad targets to hit.
“I see no reason to change the operational plan,” says Brig. Gen. Nimrod Aloni.
“This is an operation against PIJ — It’s been clear that we are focused on PIJ, at no stage was Hamas part of the picture,” he says. “Hamas also chose, wisely, I’d say, not to get involved.”
Asked about when the operation will end, Aloni said “whenever it is decided by the political echelon, we’ll of course stop.”
“Already at this stage, the moral and certainly the physical blow to PIJ, which thought it could get away with threatening the Gaza envelope area — the blow to commanders and activists, that it wasn’t ready for — already at this stage has heavily influenced the group and will complicate its activities in the future,” Aloni says.
Gaza Division commander says IDF has ‘many’ more Islamic Jihad targets to hit
* * *
www.timesofisrael.com
jward
passin' thru
ELINT News
@ELINTNews
5h
#UPDATE: Latest data from Gaza escalation: 780 rockets launched, 180 fell short in Gaza, 330 hit open areas and were not intercepted, 270 interceptions heading for populated areas, with near 97% Iron Dome success rate- the highest ever.
jward
passin' thru
Iron Dome passes another Gaza war missile test
Stephen Bryen
6-7 minutes
If there is one thing clear as war breaks out in southern Israel and the Gaza strip, it is that Israel’s Iron Dome missile defense system works and works in spectacular fashion. Faced with the launch of over 70 missiles, many of them simultaneously, the Iron Dome interceptors picked them off quickly, one by one.
Video shows Iron Dome systematically destroying a huge swarm of Gaza-launched missiles on the night of August 5, 2022.
Iron Dome and many of Israel’s other missile defense systems, particularly Arrow, owe a lot to Dr. Uzi Rubin. Rubin served as the first head of Israel’s Ballistic Missile Defense Organization from 1991 to 1999.
This was the formative period when Israel modernized its air defenses as missile threats grew. Recall that it was 1990 to 1991 that the first Iraq War broke out.
Iraq fired 42 Scud missiles into Israel from January 17-23 February 1991. While few of them hit their targets, the reality of a missile threat to Israel became clear. US-supplied air defense systems, especially the Patriot, were not effective in stopping the Scud attacks.
While the US started working on improvements to Patriot – a process that is ongoing – Israel mostly had to strike out on its own to confront threats coming from Syria and Iran as well as terrorist organizations Hamas and Islamic Jihad in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon and Syria.
As Iran moves ahead on developing nuclear weapons that will eventually be part of their missile arsenal, the challenge has become existential for Israel and the region.
Rubin led the missile defense effort in Israel that has led to Iron Dome, David’s Sling, Arrow, Arrow 2, Arrow 3 and now Arrow 4, the latter thought to be an exoatmospheric long-range interceptor.
Rubin remains active as an advisor to Israel’s defense organizations and as an analyst at the Begin-Sadat Center for Strategic Studies, where he publishes and lectures extensively on the evolving regional and global threat.
Germany is acquiring Israel’s Arrow 3 for its national defense missile shield.
Iron Dome is optimized against short-range rockets and missiles, as well as cruise missiles. It was tested in June at the US White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico by the US Army together with Israel’s Missile Defense Organization. The test also demonstrated that Iron Dome operated effectively “within the US AMD [air and missile defense] architecture.”
For the past two years, after two Iron Dome systems were purchased by the Army, US Army officials argued that the system did not work with US Army systems including radars and communications. The White Sands test, where Iron Dome destroyed all fired targets, demonstrated that the system can be readily integrated with US components.
The US Army is fixated on the “NIH”, or Not Invented Here, syndrome. The US Army has killed all competitors to Patriot, including by rejecting any role in the US for the US-European MEADS (Medium Extended Air Defense System), essentially walking away from a previously agreed consortium and a US$2 billion investment.
Meanwhile, the US Marine Corps carried out their own Iron Dome tests at White Sands. According to a report by Seth Frantzman, the test “involved the Marine Corps’ Medium-Range Intercept Capability (MRIC) prototype hitting several simultaneously-launched cruise missile representative targets coming from different directions and angles at White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico.”
Tamir Missiles are used in the Iron Dome air defense system. Image: Twitter
As a result of the testing, the US Marines decided to invest in the technology. The Marines were especially interested in the Iron Dome Interceptor’s missile known as Tamir.
But an emerging deal includes other elements of the Iron Dome system that can be integrated with US Marine’s fielded components including the AN/TPS-80 ground/air task-oriented radar system and the G/ATOR Common Aviation Command and Control System.
Related Israeli air defense systems and components also are gaining traction in the US. Israel’s deployed “Stunner” missile, built by Rafael in Israel and Raytheon in the US, has been rebadged as SkyCeptor. The hit-to-kill missile, which features advanced electro-optical and infrared sensors and also an AESA radar onboard, can now be used on Patriot launchers.
Romania is now producing the missile under license for its Patriot air defense system. Likewise, Poland will also be manufacturing SkyCeptor missiles for its Patriots. Raytheon is offering Poland a booster rocket to significantly extend the missile’s range.
SkyCeptor has a more advanced sensor package compared to most Patriot missiles, significantly at one-fourth the cost.
It is very likely that a number of Israeli air defense systems, or upgrades to existing air defenses, will find customers among the Gulf States, possibly including Saudi Arabia. The UAE and Saudi Arabia have bought air defenses from a number of countries including the US (Patriot and THAAD), France (Crotale), and Switzerland (Oerlikon).
The UAE has procured the South Korean system known as KM-SAM Cheongong II (Iron Hawk), which was developed in partnership with Russia’s Almaz-Antey (officially JSC Concern VKO), its premier air defense system developer, and Fakel (P D Grushin Machine-building Design Bureau). Its interceptor missile is a copy of Russia’s 9M96 which is used on Russia’s Triumf S-400 air defense system.
Israel has a growing defense relationship with Gulf countries thanks to the Abraham Accords in the case of the UAE and a parallel warming of ties between Saudi Arabia and Israel.
asiatimes.com
Stephen Bryen
6-7 minutes
If there is one thing clear as war breaks out in southern Israel and the Gaza strip, it is that Israel’s Iron Dome missile defense system works and works in spectacular fashion. Faced with the launch of over 70 missiles, many of them simultaneously, the Iron Dome interceptors picked them off quickly, one by one.
Video shows Iron Dome systematically destroying a huge swarm of Gaza-launched missiles on the night of August 5, 2022.
Iron Dome and many of Israel’s other missile defense systems, particularly Arrow, owe a lot to Dr. Uzi Rubin. Rubin served as the first head of Israel’s Ballistic Missile Defense Organization from 1991 to 1999.
This was the formative period when Israel modernized its air defenses as missile threats grew. Recall that it was 1990 to 1991 that the first Iraq War broke out.
Iraq fired 42 Scud missiles into Israel from January 17-23 February 1991. While few of them hit their targets, the reality of a missile threat to Israel became clear. US-supplied air defense systems, especially the Patriot, were not effective in stopping the Scud attacks.
While the US started working on improvements to Patriot – a process that is ongoing – Israel mostly had to strike out on its own to confront threats coming from Syria and Iran as well as terrorist organizations Hamas and Islamic Jihad in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon and Syria.
As Iran moves ahead on developing nuclear weapons that will eventually be part of their missile arsenal, the challenge has become existential for Israel and the region.
Rubin led the missile defense effort in Israel that has led to Iron Dome, David’s Sling, Arrow, Arrow 2, Arrow 3 and now Arrow 4, the latter thought to be an exoatmospheric long-range interceptor.
Rubin remains active as an advisor to Israel’s defense organizations and as an analyst at the Begin-Sadat Center for Strategic Studies, where he publishes and lectures extensively on the evolving regional and global threat.
Germany is acquiring Israel’s Arrow 3 for its national defense missile shield.
Iron Dome is optimized against short-range rockets and missiles, as well as cruise missiles. It was tested in June at the US White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico by the US Army together with Israel’s Missile Defense Organization. The test also demonstrated that Iron Dome operated effectively “within the US AMD [air and missile defense] architecture.”
For the past two years, after two Iron Dome systems were purchased by the Army, US Army officials argued that the system did not work with US Army systems including radars and communications. The White Sands test, where Iron Dome destroyed all fired targets, demonstrated that the system can be readily integrated with US components.
The US Army is fixated on the “NIH”, or Not Invented Here, syndrome. The US Army has killed all competitors to Patriot, including by rejecting any role in the US for the US-European MEADS (Medium Extended Air Defense System), essentially walking away from a previously agreed consortium and a US$2 billion investment.
Meanwhile, the US Marine Corps carried out their own Iron Dome tests at White Sands. According to a report by Seth Frantzman, the test “involved the Marine Corps’ Medium-Range Intercept Capability (MRIC) prototype hitting several simultaneously-launched cruise missile representative targets coming from different directions and angles at White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico.”
Tamir Missiles are used in the Iron Dome air defense system. Image: Twitter
As a result of the testing, the US Marines decided to invest in the technology. The Marines were especially interested in the Iron Dome Interceptor’s missile known as Tamir.
But an emerging deal includes other elements of the Iron Dome system that can be integrated with US Marine’s fielded components including the AN/TPS-80 ground/air task-oriented radar system and the G/ATOR Common Aviation Command and Control System.
Related Israeli air defense systems and components also are gaining traction in the US. Israel’s deployed “Stunner” missile, built by Rafael in Israel and Raytheon in the US, has been rebadged as SkyCeptor. The hit-to-kill missile, which features advanced electro-optical and infrared sensors and also an AESA radar onboard, can now be used on Patriot launchers.
Romania is now producing the missile under license for its Patriot air defense system. Likewise, Poland will also be manufacturing SkyCeptor missiles for its Patriots. Raytheon is offering Poland a booster rocket to significantly extend the missile’s range.
SkyCeptor has a more advanced sensor package compared to most Patriot missiles, significantly at one-fourth the cost.
It is very likely that a number of Israeli air defense systems, or upgrades to existing air defenses, will find customers among the Gulf States, possibly including Saudi Arabia. The UAE and Saudi Arabia have bought air defenses from a number of countries including the US (Patriot and THAAD), France (Crotale), and Switzerland (Oerlikon).
The UAE has procured the South Korean system known as KM-SAM Cheongong II (Iron Hawk), which was developed in partnership with Russia’s Almaz-Antey (officially JSC Concern VKO), its premier air defense system developer, and Fakel (P D Grushin Machine-building Design Bureau). Its interceptor missile is a copy of Russia’s 9M96 which is used on Russia’s Triumf S-400 air defense system.
Israel has a growing defense relationship with Gulf countries thanks to the Abraham Accords in the case of the UAE and a parallel warming of ties between Saudi Arabia and Israel.
Iron Dome passes another Gaza war missile test
If there is one thing clear as war breaks out in southern Israel and the Gaza strip, it is that Israel’s Iron Dome missile defense system works and works in spectacular fashion. Faced with th…
asiatimes.com
jward
passin' thru
Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian
@manniefabian
Defense Minister Gantz: "Also in the future, if necessary, we will launch a pre-emptive strike, in order to protect the citizens of Israel, its sovereignty and its infrastructure. This is true on every front. From Tehran to Khan Younis."
View: https://twitter.com/manniefabian/status/1556690333089599493?s=20&t=ATYbDDprWx0Ye_00rA4lIA
@manniefabian
Defense Minister Gantz: "Also in the future, if necessary, we will launch a pre-emptive strike, in order to protect the citizens of Israel, its sovereignty and its infrastructure. This is true on every front. From Tehran to Khan Younis."
View: https://twitter.com/manniefabian/status/1556690333089599493?s=20&t=ATYbDDprWx0Ye_00rA4lIA
jward
passin' thru
Israel Radar
@IsraelRadar_com
1m
Israel used several high-percision bombs to eliminate Islamic Jihad terror chiefs, hitting multiple apartments to prevent escape but minimizing civilian toll (@WallaNews). This strike method entails superb intel plus highly complex planning & execution.
@IsraelRadar_com
1m
Israel used several high-percision bombs to eliminate Islamic Jihad terror chiefs, hitting multiple apartments to prevent escape but minimizing civilian toll (@WallaNews). This strike method entails superb intel plus highly complex planning & execution.
jward
passin' thru
Israel Radar
@IsraelRadar_com
Gaza battle in numbers (via @N12News):
-55 hours of fighting
-Iron Dome success rate 97%
- 170 Islamic Jihad targets bombed Overall good result for #Israel, bad weekend for terrorists.
3 highlights of Gaza military op:
1. #Israel uses superb intel & strike abilities to eliminate terror chiefs
2. Islamic Jihad rocket fire highly ineffective (1,000 rockets, 0 deaths in Israel)
3. Hamas stays out of fight, still recovering from 2021 war
ELINT News
@ELINTNews
5h
#UPDATE: Latest data from Gaza escalation: 780 rockets launched, 180 fell short in Gaza, 330 hit open areas and were not intercepted, 270 interceptions heading for populated areas, with near 97% Iron Dome success rate- the highest ever.
jward
passin' thru
EndGameWW3
@EndGameWW3
Not surprised... Update: The Wall Street Journal: The European Union suggested making major concessions to Iran in order to revive the nuclear deal.
jward
passin' thru
Israel Radar
@IsraelRadar_com
5h
Terror attack in Jerusalem: 8 wounded, 2 seriously as terrorist goes on shooting rampage in Old City overnight; victims include 4 tourists from US, pregnant woman; security services launch manhunt for assailant (via
@ynetalerts
)
Joe Truzman
@JoeTruzman
3h
The terrorist who shot at passengers on a bus in Jerusalem's Old City turned himself in. His name is Amir al-Sidawi.
@IsraelRadar_com
5h
Terror attack in Jerusalem: 8 wounded, 2 seriously as terrorist goes on shooting rampage in Old City overnight; victims include 4 tourists from US, pregnant woman; security services launch manhunt for assailant (via
@ynetalerts
)
Joe Truzman
@JoeTruzman
3h
The terrorist who shot at passengers on a bus in Jerusalem's Old City turned himself in. His name is Amir al-Sidawi.
jward
passin' thru
Guy Elster
@guyelster
3h
#BREAKING Israeli planes attacked Tartus, according to several reports
Syria army says 3 soldiers killed, 3 wounded in Israeli strikes
@guyelster
3h
#BREAKING Israeli planes attacked Tartus, according to several reports
Syria army says 3 soldiers killed, 3 wounded in Israeli strikes
I wonder how close the strike was to the Russian facilities in the area?
EndGameWW3
@EndGameWW3
Not surprised... Update: The Wall Street Journal: The European Union suggested making major concessions to Iran in order to revive the nuclear deal.
I guess everyone in Brussels and Strasberg has forgotten what appeasement brings.....
jward
passin' thru
https://twitter.com/EndGameWW3
EndGameWW3
@EndGameWW3
21m
Israeli strikes hit Iranian targets near Russia's Mediterranean bases
AMMAN, Aug 14 (Reuters) - Israel hit Iranian targets in a series of strikes on Sunday near the ancestral home region of Syrian President Bashar al Assad, and close to Russia's main Syrian bases on the Mediterranean coast, regional intelligence and Syrian military sources said.
The Syrian army earlier said three servicemen were killed and three were wounded in two simultaneous Israeli attacks south of the province of Tartous, and another on the capital of Damascus. It gave no details of the specific locations.
The strikes on the northeastern outskirts of Damascus hit outposts run by Lebanon's pro-Iranian Hezbollah group, two Syrian military defectors familiar with the region said.
A Syrian army officer in the Tartous coastal region told Reuters on condition of anonymity an Iranian base near the village of Abu Afsa, south of the port city was targeted alongside an air defence and radar station nearby.
Israel has staged hundreds of strikes against alleged Iranian targets in recent years, but has mostly avoided hitting the coastal provinces where Russia's main military assets are concentrated.
The latest strikes are part of an escalation of what has been a low-intensity conflict whose goal was to slow down Iran's growing entrenchment in Syria, Israeli and regional military experts say.
The strikes were close to the Russian navy's only Mediterranean base in the port of Tartous where Russian warships are docked, while Moscow's major Hmeimim air base is also in nearby Latakia province.
Russia's intervention alongside Iran helped turn the tide in favour of Assad in an over decade old conflict.
The coastal areas are inhabited mainly by Assad's minority Alawite sect that dominates the higher echelons of power in the security force and army.
Russian forces in Syria regularly turn a blind eye to Israeli air strikes against suspected Iranian-sponsored deployments and arms transfers.
But tensions have mounted between Israel and Russia over the former's condemnation of the Ukraine war and the latter's scrutiny of a Jewish emigration agency. read more
Israel last month said its military jets came under Russian anti-aircraft fire over Syria in May but they missed their target, describing the confrontation as a "one-off incident read more
Syria blamed Israel for major strikes on its main international airport in Damascus last June that heavily damaged runways and forced a halt for several weeks to flights.
Israeli defence officials say the civilian airport has been used regularly by Iran to transport weapons and militias.
EndGameWW3
@EndGameWW3
21m
Israeli strikes hit Iranian targets near Russia's Mediterranean bases
Israeli strikes hit Iranian targets near Russia's Mediterranean bases
By Suleiman Al-KhalidiAMMAN, Aug 14 (Reuters) - Israel hit Iranian targets in a series of strikes on Sunday near the ancestral home region of Syrian President Bashar al Assad, and close to Russia's main Syrian bases on the Mediterranean coast, regional intelligence and Syrian military sources said.
The Syrian army earlier said three servicemen were killed and three were wounded in two simultaneous Israeli attacks south of the province of Tartous, and another on the capital of Damascus. It gave no details of the specific locations.
The strikes on the northeastern outskirts of Damascus hit outposts run by Lebanon's pro-Iranian Hezbollah group, two Syrian military defectors familiar with the region said.
A Syrian army officer in the Tartous coastal region told Reuters on condition of anonymity an Iranian base near the village of Abu Afsa, south of the port city was targeted alongside an air defence and radar station nearby.
Israel has staged hundreds of strikes against alleged Iranian targets in recent years, but has mostly avoided hitting the coastal provinces where Russia's main military assets are concentrated.
The latest strikes are part of an escalation of what has been a low-intensity conflict whose goal was to slow down Iran's growing entrenchment in Syria, Israeli and regional military experts say.
The strikes were close to the Russian navy's only Mediterranean base in the port of Tartous where Russian warships are docked, while Moscow's major Hmeimim air base is also in nearby Latakia province.
Russia's intervention alongside Iran helped turn the tide in favour of Assad in an over decade old conflict.
The coastal areas are inhabited mainly by Assad's minority Alawite sect that dominates the higher echelons of power in the security force and army.
Russian forces in Syria regularly turn a blind eye to Israeli air strikes against suspected Iranian-sponsored deployments and arms transfers.
But tensions have mounted between Israel and Russia over the former's condemnation of the Ukraine war and the latter's scrutiny of a Jewish emigration agency. read more
Israel last month said its military jets came under Russian anti-aircraft fire over Syria in May but they missed their target, describing the confrontation as a "one-off incident read more
Syria blamed Israel for major strikes on its main international airport in Damascus last June that heavily damaged runways and forced a halt for several weeks to flights.
Israeli defence officials say the civilian airport has been used regularly by Iran to transport weapons and militias.