Month: October 2023

The hospital missile strike was a failed missile launch from inside Gaza.  This news will not be carried by any Iranian-based/controlled media.  “Video Analysis Shows Gaza Hospital Hit By Failed Rocket Meant for Israel,” WSJ, 10-21-23.

This blog often points out the irregular activity and policies of the Iranian government, the Regime.  This post now gives opportunity to remind us that the Iranian people are not the Iranian government.  The news story below speaks for itself—everyday Iranians not only disapprove of the Regime’s domestic and foreign policy, they disapprove of the Islamic Republic of Iran’s support for Hamas and Hezbollah and PIJ and other terror groups and proxies.  See “Iranian Football Fans Disrupt Minute Of Silence For Gaza,” Iran International, 10-21-23.

In that Iran participated in the planning of the Hamas attacks, consider that Hamas documents show they intentionally targeted Israeli elementary schools and a youth center.  “Hamas terrorists planned, in notebooks, to take children hostage- report,” I-24, 10-21-23.

“French intel says ‘nothing to indicate’ hospital blast was IDF strike,” i24NEWS, 10-21-23.

Another article about motivation, that Hamas was pushed to attack Israel in part by a desire to stop that country from normalizing relations with Saudi Arabia.  “Biden says Hamas attacked Israel in part to stop a historic agreement with Saudi Arabia,” AP, 10-20-23.

Ordered by Iran toward Israel.  “US Navy destroyers shoot down missiles, drones from Yemen,” ABC, 10-20-23.  See also “U.S. Navy warship intercepts missiles fired by Iran-backed Houthis, Pentagon says,” CNN, 10-20-23.

Public list of assets heading to deter Iran.  “Huge US Naval Force Off Israel Comes With Costs,” CEPA, 10-20-23.

“Iran-backed groups blow up gas pipeline in Syria: Report,” Al Arabiya, 10-20-23.

Al Tanf, at important crossroads protecting against Iran’s shipments to Syria and Lebanon, attacked again.  “US troops in Syria targetted by drones- officials,” Reuters, 10-19-23.

A failure of the UN, and an important reason the Trump Administration backed out of the Obama Administration nuclear deal with Iran.  “How significant is lifting of UN curbs on Iran’s missile programme?,” Al Jazeera, 10-19-23.

“What to know about Hezbollah, the powerful Iran-backed group on Israel’s border,” CNN, 10-19-23.

“Iran’s calculations in the Israel-Hamas war,” Middle East Institute, 10-19-23.

“U.S. warship intercepts missiles fired by Iran-backed Houthis,” Long War Journal, 10-19-23.

“Attacks on U.S. troops in Middle East ramp up as Israel conflict escalates,” Politico, 10-19-23.  “The episodes add a dangerous new element to the fighting in Gaza and deepen fears that Iran might take a more regional  approach to fomenting violence.”

Quote of the Day. “Iran’s reckless choice to continue its proliferation of destructive UAVs and other weapons prolongs numerous conflicts in regions around the world,” said Brian Nelson, undersecretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence.”  See “U.S. issues new Iran-related sanctions -Treasury Dept website,” Reuters, 10-18-23.

Supporting the 2015 Nuclear Deal will almost be Lew’s undoing.  “‘The wrong person’: Senate Republicans slam Biden’s pick for Israel ambassador,” Politico, 10-18-23.

Why does the world allow Iran (and in violation of the UN Charter not to threaten force against other countries) to make these kinds of statements?  They are akin to threatening war against Israel by Iran (and its proxies).  And remember, Iran is the leader of the resistance axis.  “Iran FM warns of imminent ‘preemptive action’ against Israel by ‘resistance axis’,” APF, Times of Israel, 10-17-23.

Thesis is that peace treaties follow wars.  Response is that since 1979 Iran has made war several times, but when has it made peace?  “The Case for Hope in Israel and Gaza. Really,” Washington Monthly, 10-17-23.

“Iran’s Supreme Leader threatens to unleash an unstoppable Muslim force,” i24NEWS, 10-17-23.

Israel should immediately take up Iran’s offer and stop bombing for one day and call Iran’s bluff and Hamas’ bluff (notice that Iran is speaking for Hamas).  Because Iran’s Foreign Ministry is saying that Hamas was ready to release all the hostages if Israel stops its airstrikes, let Hamas carry through.  If it doesn’t, Iran is not telling the truth.  Nor can Iran be believed to speak for Hamas.  See “Iran claims Hamas willing to release hostages if Israel ends airstrikes on Gaza,” Times of Israel, 10-16-23.

“Hamas, Iran leaders agree to ‘continue cooperation’ after attack on Israel,” Reuters, 10-15-23.

“US sends second aircraft carrier to east Mediterranean to deter Iran, Hezbollah,” AFP, Times of Israel, 10-15-23.

This is such a smoking gun of what Iran will do through Hezbollah (so many countries acknowledge that Hezbollah is armed/funded/weaponized/controlled by Iran).  And remember, it was FM Amirabdollahian himself that reporting has shown (i.e., 10-8 WSJ) was involved in planning the barbaric Hamas attacks against Israel.  See “Iran’s foreign minister warns Israel it could suffer ‘a huge earthquake’,” AP, 10-14-23.

“Iran’s next steps in Israel-Hamas conflict could determine whether war engulfs region,” The Straits Times, 10-13-23.

“Hamas Attack on Israel Brings New Scrutiny of Group’s Ties to Iran,” NYT, 10-13-23.

“America’s Middle East Imperative: Contain Iran,” WSJ, 10-13-23.

Background story.   “What is Hamas? What to know about its origins, leaders and funding,” PBS, 10-13-23.

“Five things to know about the $6 billion Iran deal now back in spotlight,” The Hill, 10-12-23.

“In first, Saudi Arabia’s bin Salman speaks to Iran’s Raisi about Israel-Hamas war,” Times of Israel, 10-12-23.

This news just broke.  “U.S., Qatar agree to stop Iran from tapping $6 billion fund after Hamas attack,” Washington Post, 10-12-23.  My first thoughts–the $6 billion was an immoral act–paying blackmail to terrorists, was unsustainable (remember the $400 million per head from the Obama hostage deal?) for future hostage payments, and was unneeded–the U.S. agreed to a person to person number of prisoners with Iran (that is the maximum that should ever be agreed, a one for one swap).  So freezing the $6B is the first step, the second is that Pres. Biden needs to declare the payment is cancelled.  Iran’s support of the Hamas attack has cost them.

“Hamas Invasion Rewrites Rules in Middle East,” WSJ, 10-12-23.  Another interesting quote–“At a very strategic level, Hezbollah and Iran are not very interested, as yet, to jump into this fight,” said Emile Hokayem, a senior fellow for Middle East security at the International Institute for Strategic Studies. “The fundamental calculus for Iran still holds: Hezbollah is such a unique and powerful instrument of its security policy that it’s not going to waste it on this war. Hezbollah is to be used and deployed when the regime in Iran, its very existence, is threatened.”

Back to talk face-to-face with Hezbollah’s Nasrallah in a soundproof room.  “Iran’s foreign minister to travel to Lebanon to discuss Israeli-Palestinian conflict,” Al Arabiya, 10-12-13.

Is the Regime calling for military allies?  “Iran calls on Islamic, Arab countries to confront Israel over its war on Hamas,” Times of Israel, 10-12-13.

This post records a quote from a portion of an article to capture what is called a shill’s statement (critics delve into this further).  And consider the logic—You can’t trust the U.S. if it breaks its words twice.  Well, considering how many times Iran has broken its word in the Middle East (think solely about how it treats other countries with regard to Hormuz passage), the score of Two to Multitude seems an indicator of why countries prefer to deal with the U.S.  Here’s the article, “US reportedly persuaded Qatar to halt $6bn to Iran in breach of deal,” Guardian, 10-12-23.  “Trita Parsi, of the Washington-based Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, said re-freezing the funds would signal acceptance of this argument and warned that it could kill any future US-Iran diplomacy. “This would be the second time in five years that the US has reneged on an agreement with Iran,” said Parsi. “But the last time was the Trump administration pulling out of the JCPA nuclear accords agreed with Barack Obama. This is very different – it’s Biden’s own deal that he made four weeks ago. “Even if we accept that the JCPA is dead, it doesn’t mean that some kind of agreement down the road cannot be pursued. However, reversing after four weeks on this issue makes it very difficult to have any diplomacy going forward, because the image in Iran is that the US is a serial betrayer of any agreement it signs.””