Saturday
Yom Shabbat
24 Tishrei 5785
October 26 2024
UPDATE 4:00 PM ISRAEL TIME
A Recap Of The Attacks On Iran Last Night
Your humble servant thinks that most Israelis and Israeli supporters are probably disappointed in the scope of attacks on Iran last night. Not only was Iranian infrastructure seemingly unscathed, but also Iranian oil and nuclear facilities were not hit.
These seeming “facts” supported by Iranian claims of an unsuccessful Israeli attack have left many with the idea that a golden opportunity was wasted.
But maybe we should consider a few more facts at this hour before jumping to conclusions:
1. 140 Israeli aircraft penetrated Iranian airspace with ease and attacked 20 different sites in the country.
2. We still do not know what all those sites were. The government has clamped a tight lid on such information, and the IDF is certainly not saying. And neither are the Iranians who have already threatened to arrest anyone taking photos of damage and destruction.
3. However, we do know that all of the Russian S300 air defense arrays as well as Iran’s only S400 air defense array were destroyed. In short, Iran is now wide open to be attacked.
4. We also know from satellite photos today that massive fires are burning at missile launch sites, and that all of the ballistic missile launch sites that have been used in Iranian attacks on Israel were hit and likely destroyed. Also ballistic missile production facilities were struck.
The bottom line is that the attacks last night are beginning to look more like a beginning than an end, and it may be that PM Netanyahu is awaiting the result of the American election on November 5th to continue.
As for a possible Iranian response, there seems to be confusion in Tehran.
On the one hand, we have the Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman declaring today: “We will respond to the Israeli attack with all of our strength.”
On the other hand, we have reports from Arab sources that Iran has informed Israel through a “foreign mediary” that there will be no response.
One senior Israeli official speaking off the record this morning said that the government expects an Iranian response given the level of destruction to Iranian ballistic missile facilities.
The bottom line is that no one knows.
On the Ground in the North
Meanwhile the war in the north with Hezbollah rages on. Thus far today Heabollah terrorists have launched ten barrages of missiles (a total of 80 missiles to this hour) and drones at communities all along the Lebanese border from Nahariya to Kiryat Shmona and Metulla, and at communities in the upper and lower Galilee.
The IAF continues hitting Hezbollah assets from the air, and the IDF does the same on the ground. Earlier today a detonation of 400 tons of explosives inside a Radwan command and control center was mistaken for an earthquake.
The IDF spokesman:
“Yesterday (Friday), the IAF struck and eliminated a terrorist cell from Hezbollah’s Aerial Defense Array. The cell had launched a missile toward an IAF aircraft in the area of Kfar Fila, north of the Litani river.
The aircraft was not damaged by the missile.
Overnight, the IAF, acting on IDF intelligence, struck weapons manufacturing sites, command posts belonging to the Hezbollah intelligence headquarters and Hezbollah observation means in the Dahiyeh area of Beirut.”
On The Ground in Gaza
Our soldiers continue being engaged in fierce firefights in both northern Gaza in the Jabaliya area and in southern Gaza in and around Rafiah.
However, the primary focus has shifted at least temporarily (courtesy of Joe Biden) to providing “humanitarian” aid for those residents of northern Gaza who have be ordered to evacuate to the south.
The IDF spokesman this morning:
“The IDF has expanded the humanitarian area in Al-Mawasi. The expanded humanitarian area includes field hospitals that have been established since the start of the war, tent compounds, and shelter equipment, as well as food, water, medicine, and medical equipment that has entered Gaza through coordination between COGAT and the international community.
The IDF will continue to operate to achieve the war objectives, including dismantling Hamas and returning all the hostages.”
On the Ground in Judea and Samaria
From the IDF spokesman a few hours ago:
“This morning, IDF, ISA, and Yamam forces conducted an ISA intelligence-based counterterrorism operation in Tulkarm to eliminate Islam Oda, a terrorist in Hamas’ Tulkarm terrorist network who planned to carry out terror attacks and who had armed additional terrorists to support the execution of terror attacks.
During the counterterrorism operation, the terrorist opened fire at the security forces, who encircled him and returned fire. Oda was eliminated during the exchange of fire.
The forces located weaponry, including compounds used to produce IEDs, in his vehicle.
Oda, together with Zahi Oufi, who was eliminated in an aerial strike in Tulkarm on October 3rd alongside other terrorists, was responsible for planning significant terror attacks that were intended to mark the first anniversary of the brutal October 7th attacks in southern Israel.
Following Oufi’s elimination, Oda was tasked with commanding the terrorist network in Tulkarm and had recently started to plan additional terror attacks.”
And so it goes on this distinctly unpeaceful Shabbat in Israel . . .
UPDATE 4:00 AM ISRAEL TIME
*140 IAF planes are involved in the ongoing attack on Iran.
UPDATE 3:30 AM ISRAEL TIME
Nothing can be confirmed at this hour; however, there are widespread reports that 5 military bases have been attacked, and that ballistic missile sites are being targeted as well.
The second wave of attacks has begun. Not only are sites around Tehran being hit, but also ones in Isfahan and Shiraz.
UPDATE 3:00 AM ISRAEL TIME
IAF planes continue attacking military sites in Iran. Apparently, there are no attacks on Iranian oil or nuclear facilities.
UPDATE 2:00 AM ISRAEL TIME
BREAKING NEWS
The IAF is currently carrying out air strikes on Tehran.
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.