Yom Shabbat
Saturday
3 Tishrei 5785
October 5 2024
UPDATE 5:00 PM ISRAEL TIME
*The burning question of the moment seems to be “did we kill Gen. Esmail Kaani, Commander of the Iranian Quds Force?”
Apparently, there is strong reason to believe that Kaani–the general who replaced Qasem Soleimani–was in the same bunker that was blown to pieces two days ago.
But, as we previously noted, it could take weeks to remove the rubble and find out who is underneath. And by the way, Israel is refusing to let any rescue personnel come to the site.
All in all, this could just be another case of Israeli wishful thinking.
*Hezbollah missile targets since 8:05 am this morning: Tzfat, Hatzor HaGlilit, Amiad, Amuka, Dalton (11:30); Arab al-Aramshe, Idmit (12:31); Haifa, Carmel, Kfar Biyalik, Yagur (13:26); Shorashim, Nachaf, Lapidot, Majd al-Krum, Deir al-Asad (14:09); Dovev (14:41); Kerem Ben Zimra, Baram (14:52); Metulla, Dafna, Ghajar, Ma’ayan Baruch, Snir (14:55); Metulla, Misgav Am (16:26); Yuvalima, Yasur, Sakhnin, Moreshet, Koranit (16:44).
As of this hour, around 100 missiles have been launched; a number of Israelis were wounded in these attacks; none have life-threatening injuries.
UPDATE 11:30 AM ISRAEL TIME
A mixture of news this morning:
*IAF aircraft struck Tripoli, Lebanon for the first time during the night killing Said Atullah Ali, a senior Hamas official who served as a field commander.
*The IAF targeted a Hezbollah leader early this morning in Dahiya. Who was targeted is unknown at this hour, but it is doubtful that he escaped:
*Israel continues to cut off the weapons lifeline from Iran-Syria to Lebanon. From the IDF Spokesman today:
“Fighter jets of the Air Force, under the precise intelligence guidance of the Intelligence Division, attacked an underground tunnel that crosses the territory of Lebanon into the territory of Syria, about 3.5 kilometers long, and which is used by Hezbollah to transfer weapons and store them in an underground route.
The infrastructure was operated by Unit 4400, the unit responsible for transferring weapons from Iran and its affiliates to Hezbollah in Lebanon.In the attack, military buildings, weapons warehouses and other terrorist infrastructure were destroyed.
In addition, an infrastructure was attacked tonight at the “Matsana” border crossing between Syria and Lebanon. Weapons were transferred to Hezbollah in this infrastructure.“
*Perhaps an explanation of some of the booms we hear coming from Gaza: the IDF just issued this order for the residents in Nuseirat (colored areas) to immediately evacuate because of Hamas terrorists therein:
Meanwhile, the IDF continues building up the newly paved Philadelphi corridor with guardposts:
UPDATE 9:00 AM ISRAEL TIME
The View From Here In Ashdod
Another night of heavy bombing down in Gaza judging from the constant “booms” here in Ashdod. Those booms haven’t stopped this morning and are continuing even as I type this sentence. Heading in the opposite direction to the north, another squadron of planes just roared overhead.
On the Ground in the North
*Hezbollah missiles have already struck Israel this Shabbat morning along the Lebanese border at Kfar Yuval (02:13), in the northern and southern Golan at Ortal, Bashan, Merom Golan, and Ein Zivan (03:09), and in the Wadi Ara-HaAmakim area at Nazareth, Bethlehem of Galilee, Migdal HaEmek, and Megiddo (08:05).
*Israel has confirmed the death of Hashem Safi Al-Din in the massive bombing of Hezbollah Intelligence Headquarters two nights ago. Al-Din was the head of the Hezbollah Executive Council and presumed replacement for Hassan Nasrallah.
Another confirmed dead is Hussein Ali Hizma who was Hezbollah’s head of military intelligence.
It is still unknown how many other members of the Executive Council died along with Al-Din and Hizma because it may take weeks to dig out the dead from under the rubble created by 83 tons of bombs.
By the way, Naim Qassen, deputy secretary-general of Hezbollah since 1991, submitted his resignation yesterday. He has no desire to end up under another pile of rubble.
The Attack in Yemen Last Night
It turns out that it was a British-American attack after all. Apparently, the Biden Administration which has come under intense criticism of late because of not going after the Houthis following attacks on US Naval vessels, decided to act.
There is no news about whether the Houthi leader, Abdel Malik al-Houthi, was eliminated.
The IAF Attacks in Syria
IAF planes hit Hezbollah supply lines in western Syria last night as well as targets in Damascus.
Apparently, these attacks caused the Iranian foreign minister to cancel his planned trip to the Syrian capital.
There is also news this morning that Hezbollah’s elite Radwan force which has been heavily attacked by the IDF in southern Lebanon is repositioning itself across the border among Syrian forces. If they think that this will somehow protect them, they are seriously mistaken.
We wish our soldiers and you dear readers:
SHABBAT SHALOM!!
A student from Malawi, who had worked with an Israeli health volunteer in his country battling AIDS, came up to us as we walked down the street in the UC-Davis Picnic Day Parade and wanted to carry the Israeli flag.