Saturday
Yom Shabbat
11 Tevet 5785
January 11 2025
The View from Ashdod
Another surreal night here in Ashdod with huge thunderstorms rolling in from the Mediterranean, coupled with booms from explosions in Gaza, and nonstop whining drones overhead in anticipation of other drones or missiles coming from the Houthis in Yemen (above photo: anonymous photographer–courtesy Tsarfati).
UPDATE 9:00 AM ISRAEL TIME
On the Ground in Gaza
The latest estimates from Israel are that between 45-51 Israeli hostages in Gaza are alive including 5 female soldiers and 15 male soldiers.
On the Yemen Front
A photo of a “Sufa” F16i IAF jet just before takeoff from Ramon AFB yesterday on its way to Yemen (photo: IDF):
Later, in the air approaching Yemen:
From the IDF spokesman last night (emphasis mine):
“A short while ago, with the direction of the IDF Intelligence Directorate and the Israeli Navy, IAF fighter jets struck military targets belonging to the Houthi terrorist regime on the western coast and inland Yemen.
The Houthi terrorist regime has repeatedly attacked the State of Israel, its citizens, and civilian infrastructure in Israel, including UAVs and surface-to-surface missiles. The State of Israel has the right and obligation to defend itself.
The targets that were struck include military infrastructure sites in the Hizaz power station, which serves as a central source of energy for the Houthi terrorist regime in its military activities. In addition, the IDF struck military infrastructure in the Al Hudaydah, and Ras Isa ports on the western coast. The targets struck are examples of the Houthis’ exploitation of civilian infrastructure for its terrorist activities.
The Houthi terrorist regime is a central part of the Iranian axis of terror, and their attacks on international shipping vessels and routes continue to destabilize the region and the wider world.
While the Houthi terrorist regime operates as an independent terrorist organization, it relies on Iranian cooperation and funding to attack the State of Israel and its citizens.”
On the Ground in Lebanon
At least 5 Hezbollah terrorists were killed in an IAF strike on their vehicle in the village of Tirdaba near Tyre. What to outward appearances was a commercial van was in fact a means of transporting mortars and missiles:
The remains of the van with one of the projectiles that was inside circled in red. See how many more “projectiles” you can find in the photo (photo credit: Abu Ali).
From the IDF spokesman:
“Troops of the 769th Brigade continue activities in southern Lebanon to protect the security of the State of Israel and, in particular, the communities of northern Israel.
During searches in a village in southern Lebanon, soldiers discovered a multi-barrel rocket launcher, hundreds of mortar shells, explosive devices, and RPG rifles inside a structure. Anti-tank fire positions and hidden weapons were located nearby.
Troops also found a weapons storage facility containing dozens of shoulder-launched missiles, explosive charges, and extensive military equipment. All the findings were either confiscated or dismantled.”
And so it goes so far this Shabbat morning (with booms from Gaza in the background). We wish all of 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.