Israel has reportedly agreed to delay its plans for a ground invasion of the Gaza Strip at the Biden administration’s request so that the US can deploy air-defense systems throughout the Middle East to protect American soldiers in the region.
Summary
Israel has reportedly agreed to delay its plans for a ground invasion of the Gaza Strip at the Biden administration’s request so that the US can deploy air-defense systems throughout the Middle East to protect American soldiers in the region.
- The Pentagon plans to deploy air defenses to protect US troops in Iraq, Syria, Kuwait, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, as first reported by the Wall Street Journal.
- The IDF is also using the delay to allow humanitarian aid into Gaza, “improve its intelligence and degrade Hamas’s defenses before a land assault, as well as diplomatic efforts to free more of the hostages held by Hamas.”
- US bases have been targeted by 14 rocket and drone attacks from Iranian proxy forces in the region. Several troops have reported traumatic brain injuries. More than 20 Americans have been injured in the attacks.
- Another contributing factor to the delay is widespread fears of a multi-front conflict. Israel is worried Hezbollah, the Iran-backed terrorist group that effectively controls southern Lebanon, will launch an attack when Israel invades Gaza. Additionally, Iranian weapons have been flowing into the West Bank, raising concerns a third front could yet open along Israel’s eastern frontier.
- In the interim, Israel has conducted a bombing campaign across southern Gaza. The Israeli airstrikes are targeting terrorist havens, the tunnel network, and other key military targets like command posts and weapons depots. Hamas has not ceased launching rocket attacks on Israel and has continually launched indiscriminate rocket attacks since the beginning of the war.
- The delay has not stopped criticism of Israel from the usual corners, namely the United Nations. UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said, “It is important to also recognize the attacks by Hamas did not happen in a vacuum” while calling for a ceasefire, infuriating the Israeli Foreign Minister.
- Foreign Minister Eli Cohen responded, “In what world do you live?” and Israeli Ambassador to the UN Gilad Erdan called for Guterres’ resignation. Israel has now said it will block visas for UN officials in protest of Guterres’ remarks.
- Underscoring the multi-dimensional nature of the threats against Israel, Hezbollah convened a conference with senior leaders of Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad in Beirut. On the same day, Israel launched airstrikes at targets in Syria, which also shares a border with Israel.
- Axios reported Secretary of State Antony Blinken asked the prime minister of Qatar to intervene regarding Al Jazeera’s coverage of the Israel-Hamas War. Qatar funds Al Jazeera and has direct control over the outlet’s editorial line. Blinken is reportedly concerned Al Jazeera’s anti-Israel coverage could inflame regional tensions.
- CNN covered fears in the Arab world of another Palestinian exodus caused by the Israeli military response to the Hamas terrorist attacks. Both Egypt and Jordan have refused to accept Palestinian refugees and have said any “expulsion” would be met with conflict.
- President Joe Biden dismissed the casualty claims from the Hamas-controlled Gaza Health Ministry, according to the New York Times. Biden said he had “no confidence” in their numbers. The Health Ministry claims more than 6,500 people have died in Gaza since Oct. 7.
- According to Fox News, the US began conducting live-fire exercises in Iraq and Syria in response to 14 attacks against American forces in the region between October 17 and October 24. Eleven attacks were in Iraq and three were in Syria, leaving 24 Americans injured.
- The New York Post covered the vile note found on the corpse of a Hamas terrorist encouraging him to remove the head, hearts, and livers of Jews. It reads in part, “You must sharpen the blades of your swords and be pure in your intentions before Allah. Know that the enemy is a disease that has no cure, except beheading and removing the hearts and livers. Attack them!”
- The Wall Street Journal reported hundreds of Hamas terrorists received specialized training in Iran in the weeks before the Oct. 7 terrorist attacks. According to the Journal, about 500 Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad terrorists trained under the Quds Force, the elite branch of the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
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© Dominic Moore, 2023
