Tensions continue to rise as Hezbollah’s secretary-general, Hassan Nasrallah, uses both words and actions to try to get a rise out of Israel. Not only has Israel had to deal with Nasrallah’s fiery rhetoric, but intentional incidents have also been taking place along the Lebanon/Israel border.
An attempt by Hezbollah to damage the security fence last Friday resulted in the wounding of several members of the terrorist organization when Israeli security employed non-lethal means to repel them.
These incidents will continue to escalate until one side or the other goes all in. Prime Minister Netanyahu should be the one to make a preemptive first strike. Otherwise, Israel will be put in reactive mode having to clean up the damage and loss of life that Hezbollah will cause.
Health Scare for Netanyahu
The Israeli press went crazy on Saturday as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was admitted to Sheba Medical Center in Ramat Gan, Tel Aviv. Many members of the media were very disappointed when he was subsequently released the next day having been only diagnosed with dehydration.
In Your Inbox
Sorry, all you protesters and naysayers, 73-year-old Bibi was given a clean bill of health by the medical team, so you’re going to have to put up with him and his judicial reform for a while longer.
Israeli President Meets with US President
On Tuesday, Israeli President Isaac Herzog joined US President Joe Biden for a meeting in the White House. Biden emphasized America’s commitment to Israel, while reiterating the concerns his administration has over Prime Minister Netanyahu’s judicial reforms. The two also discussed the US president’s commitment to a two-state solution and his disagreement with the expansion of Israeli settlement in the West Bank. For his part, President Herzog thanked Biden for being “a huge friend” of Israel.
The day before this visit, Biden and Netanyahu had a phone conversation in which many of the same topics were discussed. That call included an invitation for an official visit by the prime minister to Washington later this year.
Israeli Missiles Strike in Syria
Early Wednesday morning, a barrage of Israeli missiles hit Iranian-backed militia targets near Damascus, Syria. Two of Iran’s proxy soldiers were reportedly killed, as was one Syrian soldier. The targeted building sustained damage.
US and Iran Build Up for Conflict in Syria
Both the US and Iran appear to be preparing for conflict in Syria. A large number of US troops are being sent to Syria and the Persian Gulf. To counter, Iran is deploying an extensive array of Quds Forces, Syrian army, and the Shia Afghanistan “Fatemion” brigade. The intended point of conflict appears to be the Tehran-Beirut “corridor”. Meanwhile, the US is also sending a warship and more fighter jets to the area around the Strait of Hormuz.
Russia and Iran Feuding
Tehran was none too happy when a joint statement was released last week by Moscow and the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council encouraging negotiations to resolve the dispute over three islands in the Strait of Hormuz – Abu Musa, the Greater Tunb, and the Lesser Tunb. Iran considers these islands to be an eternal possession of their country, and they resent the interference by Putin’s government.
Never one to miss an opportunity for pettiness, Iran announced on Tuesday that they do not recognize the annexation of any Ukrainian territories by Russia, and they feel that the conflict needs to end immediately. Maybe if Iran stopped supplying attack drones to their erstwhile Russian friends this conflict would have a better chance of ending sooner rather than later.
Suicide Boat Blows Crimea Bridge
A bridge connecting Crimea to the Russian mainland that was spectacularly damaged in a video that went viral last October was once again attacked early Monday morning. The 12-mile-long Kerch Bridge was damaged when Ukrainian naval drones exploded underneath the span. Two people were killed, and their daughter was wounded in the strike. Russian President Vladimir Putin vowed retaliation for the “terrorist attack”.
