Month: November 2023

“Iran said to tell Qatar that expansion of Israel-Hamas war ‘inevitable’,” Times of Israel, 11-10-23.  This is from Press TV, a Iranian state-owned news network, its official name is Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (only media  entity legally authorized to transmit radio and t.v. in the country).  In other words, the FM making these comments really happened.  Remember, Iran has to decide whether to eat humble pie (Hamas is losing to Israel) or to push ahead in its 1979 expansion across the region.

This is why Iran will expand the Hamas war.  They are unable to stop (so far) normalization between Jews (ISR) and Muslims (SA) by the Oct. 7 attacks.  “Netanyahu Still Sees Peace Deal With Saudi Arabia After Gaza Fighting,” Bloomberg, 11-10-23.

China (and Russia) continue to empower Iran for their own purposes.  “Explainer: Iran’s expanding oil trade with top buyer China,” Reuters, 11-10-23.

“Iran Isn’t Impressed by U.S. Airstrikes,” WSJ, 11-10-23.  “The central fact is that Iranian proxies are now routinely trying to kill American service members abroad, while the U.S. is responding by shooting at ammunition.”  …  “The Pentagon said this week that Iranian proxies have attacked U.S. forces in the Middle East with drones or rockets 46 times since Oct. 17—some 24 times in Iraq and 22 more in Syria. Some 56 U.S. service members have been injured. The Pentagon is quick to stress that all have returned to duty, including those sent to Landstuhl in Germany for further evaluation. That’s good to hear, but troops have suffered traumatic brain injuries, in addition to more minor injuries such as shrapnel or perforated ear drums. These troops didn’t sign up to be repeated targets of enemy fire without the ability to respond in kind. The surgical U.S. military strikes in response aren’t making Tehran think twice about hitting American troops. The U.S. on Wednesday dispatched two F-15s to destroy an Iranian weapons locker in eastern Syria. But why would Tehran blink now if it didn’t after similar strikes on weapons depots on Oct. 26?”

“Iran’s Assassins,” 60 Minutes, 11-9-23.

“The Iranian proxy war in Syria against the US, Israel grows – analysis,” Jerusalem Post, 11-9-23.  More than 40 attacks on US forces by Iran-backed militias in Iraq and Syria over the past three weeks.

“Top Hamas official in Tehran discusses relations with Iran and the attack in Israel,” PBS, 11-9-23.

“Nov. 9: Houthis claim missile attacks on Israel; advanced Arrow 3 makes 1st intercept,” Times of Israel, 11-9-23.

“Plight of Iran’s Jews a reminder of its terror against women, minorities – opinion,” Jerusalem Post, 11-9-23.  “Iran’s Jews were forced to protest against Israel’s actions in Gaza. Yet Tehran tellingly turned a blind eye to the Hamas’ horrific crimes against women.”

Iran is widening its pressure against the U.S.  “US forces targeted in broadest Iraq attacks since start of Israel-Hamas war,” Guardian, 11-9-23.

“Normalization with Israel ‘still on the table’: Saudi minister,” Cradle, 11-8-23.  Saudi Arabia still, ultimately, wants relations with Israel.  This is on the Ayatollah and the IRGC’s mind.

Remember, Iran is allied with Russia.  “Moscow’s Support For Iran Worries Israel As Regional Tensions Escalate,” OilPrice.com, 11-8-23.

“U.S. Strikes Iran-Linked Facility in Syria in Round of Retaliation,” NYT, 11-8-23.

“US Reaper drone shot down near Yemen by Iran-backed Houthi rebels, official says,” CNN, 11-8-23.  The MQ-9 Reaper drone was operating in international airspace and over international waters when it was shot down. … The Iran-backed Houthi militants took responsibility.”

“Iran is boosting its terror forces in Syria, Lebanon,” JNS, 11-8-23.  Iran is reinforcing its forces in Quneitra and Daraa, Syria, to open a Golan front.  “Quds Force head Esmail Ghanni is visiting and has set up a joint operations room of Iran, Hezbollah, Iran-backed militias, and Palestinian factions.  Of note, in Gaza, the second largest terror faction after Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, has been creating difficulties for Hamas due to failed rocket launches.  Of the approx. 10,000 rockets fired at Israel, about 800 have been failed launches, and many of those were PIJ’s.  That is approaching 10%, which fall on Palestinians in Gaza.  “One notorious example is the explosion in Gaza’s Al-Ahli hospital parking lot on Oct. 17.  Predictably, there was no shortage of outlets and commentators who rushed to blame Israel without any evidence, before it emerged that PIJ fired the rocket.”  How many of those media outlets like BBC and NYT and Al Jazerra apologized for their mishandling of that story?  Also of note, “PIJ Secretary General Ziyad Nakhleh, who took over in 2018, remotely commanding the organization from Beirut and Damascus, met on Oct. 22 with Hamas’s Salah al-Arouri, who is in charge of terrorism in Judea and Samaria and is deputy head of Hamas’s political bureau, and with Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah.”  All part of the Iranian axis.

Other commentators have explained the negative effects of the belt and road project.  Iran’s Tasnim News Agency reports that “Iran Says ‘One Belt-One Road’ Initiative To Spur Economic Ties With China,” Tasnim, 11-8-23.

“Afghan Refugees In Iran Complain Of Intensified Deportations, Harassment,” NDTV, 11-8-23.

“Iran jails French national for 5 years, family says: ‘Was just travelling…’,” AFP, 11-8-23.  “Arnaud is one of at least a dozen foreign nationals held by Tehran in what activists and Western governments have described as a deliberate hostage-taking strategy aimed at extracting concessions from the West.”

It takes a lot of chutzpah to claim something that no one else in the world believes.  It started openly in 2011 when Syria needed help as its civil war began.  The IRI has given Syria billions of cash, weapons, training, you name it.  Attacks against U.S. soldiers in Iraq began in 2003.  “Iran says ‘never been involved’ in attacks on US forces in Iraq, Syria,” Rudaw, 11-8-23.

“Tehran predicts Russia-China-Iran triangle of power – analysis,” Jerusalem Post, 11-8-23.

I want to use the occasion of this article to state (has anyone else said this?) that it is not the Israel-Hamas War.  It is instead the Hamas-Israel War.  Hamas started the war, Israel is acting in self-defense, retaliation, and to defeat Hamas as a terror organization.  “Iran’s Raisi to Attend Summit in Saudi Arabia on Sunday,” WSJ, 11-8-23.

“Iran-backed groups threaten to expand Gaza war as they step up attacks on Israel and U.S.,” NBC, 11-7-23.

“Iran begins diplomatic offensive against Israel and US,” Jerusalem Post, 11-7-23.

“US officials blast Iran, accusing it of forcing its Jews to hold anti-Israel rallies,” Times of Israel, 11-7-23.

“Inside story: The secret Arab visitors in Iran and the ‘liberation’ of Jerusalem,” Amwaj, 11-7-23.

“Iran: UN body highlights serious violations of civil and political rights,” FIDH, 11-7-23.

“Iran’s interests are trumping the Palestinian tragedy,” Financial Times, 11-7-23.

U.S. troops at Ain al-Asad air base in Iraq’s Anbar Province and at three  bases in Syria shot down six one-way attack drones since Friday. Two of the Syria bases were al-Tanf and Tal Baydar. Iran is maintaining attacks through the proxies. “New attacks hit US bases in Iraq, Syria as Iran ups threats over Gaza,” Al Monitor, 11-6-23.

“Hamas planned for massacre during Passover, Iran forced delay – report,” Jerusalem Post, 11-5-23.  Notice that the Regime ultimately called the shots (excuse the pun).

Pretend for just a minute that Iran didn’t have any part of the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks.  Wouldn’t the world still be objecting to the present meeting of the Supreme Leader and the head of Hamas?  Reuters certainly isn’t making this point.  “Iranian state media confirm meeting between Khamenei, Hamas’ Haniyeh in Tehran,” Reuters, 11-4-23.

Quote of the Day:  “This is like granting Bin Laden a Nobel Peace Prize.”  Naftali Bennett, Israel’s former PM.  “Why did the United Nations hand a human rights job to Iran’s ambassador?,” Spectator, 11-2-23.

“Iran limiting jailed Nobel winner’s medical care over hijab refusal: family,” AFP, 11-2-23.  So cruel.

Why, if Iran is not involved with Hamas’ actions, were these talks held in Iran?  “Thailand held direct hostage talks with Hamas in Iran,” Times of Israel, 11-2-23.

“Iran’s MuddyWater Targets Israel in New Spear-Phishing Cyber Campaign,” Hacker News, 11-2-23.

“Iranian commander in Lebanon to coordinate with Hezbollah – report,” Jerusalem Post, 11-2-23.  “The commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Quds Force, Esmail Qaani, visited Lebanon to coordinate with Hezbollah concerning the conflict with Israel on Wednesday, the Lebanese al-Jadeed news reported on Wednesday.”

The Yazdani family has had their lives ruined by the Regime.  First, the son is shot.  Then his mother is unfairly sentenced to more than a decade behind bars.  For nothing.  “Iranian mother jailed for 13 years after denouncing death of son shot at protest,” Guardian, 11-2-23.

“Israel Warns An Elite Iran-Backed Unit is Now in Lebanon to Join War,” Newsweek, 11-2-23.  The Imam Hossein Division has arrived in southern Lebanon to aid Hezbollah.  It is overseen by the Quds Force (of the IRGC), and is considered Iran’s “most elite fighting force in Syria.”  The group has precision-guided munitions and both armed and surveillance drones.  It is comprised of combat, special forces and logistics departments, with a force of thousands of fighters, mostly Syrians, but from Afghanistan, Lebanon, Pakistan, Sudan, and Yemen.

Good article.  One additional point that should be made—Iran is really a proxy for Russia.  “The Iran-Russia Military Axis,” WSJ, 11-2-23.

“After Years of Vowing to Destroy Israel, Iran Faces a Dilemma,” DNYUZ, 11-1-23.  “Still, Iran does not want regional war, which carries risks for the nation and its religious rulers.  …  The military capabilities of its allies could be significantly diminished by a protracted battle with Israel, and even more so if the U.S. military enters the fray.  The Islamic Republic views the militias as its extended arms of influence, able to strike while affording Tehran a measure of deniability.  They give Iran leverage in international negotiations and a means of tilting the balance of power in the Middle East away from archenemies like Israel and the United States, and rivals like Saudi Arabia.  But if Iran does nothing, its fiery leaders risk losing credibility among constituents and allies.  Some Iranian hard-line conservatives have questioned why Iran’s actions are not matching its rhetoric to “free Al Quds,” or Jerusalem, from Israel’s rule.”  Another way of saying this is that Israel won’t attack first.  Iran doesn’t want to be seen as the aggressor but acting in self defense.

This same article, originally from the NYT, was criticized for seeming to incite Iran to attack through Hezbollah or otherwise.  Also, the “Times was widely panned over its botched coverage of the explosion that occurred at Gaza’s Al-Ahli Baptist Hospital, running Hamas’ narrative that Israel bombed the building through an airstrike killing over 500 civilians. Subsequent reporting and intelligence found it was an explosion in the hospital’s parking lot stemming from a misfired rocket fired by Hamas ally Islamic Jihad, resulting in a death toll a fraction of what the Hamas-controlled Gaza Ministry of Health had first alleged. The following week, The Times published an editor’s note admitting it relied “too heavily” on Hamas’ word.”

“Iran’s Khamenei calls for boycott of Israel amid Gaza bombardment,” Al Jazeera, 11-1-23.  Good luck on getting all Muslim countries to stop selling oil and food to Israel.  Already Turkey won’t go along.

“Executions in Iran are up 30%, a new United Nations report says,” AP, 11-1-23.“Iran is carrying out executions “at an alarming rate,” putting to death at least 419 people in the first seven months of the year, the United Nations chief said in a new report. That’s a 30% increase from the same period in 2022. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said in the report to the U.N. General Assembly on the human rights situation in Iran that seven men were executed in relation to or for participating in nationwide protests, sparked by the September 2022 death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, who was picked up by the morality police for her allegedly loose headscarf in violation of Iran’s Islamic dress code. In all seven cases, information received by the U.N. human rights office “consistently indicated that the judicial proceedings did not fulfil the requirements for due process and a fair trial under international human rights law,” Guterres said. “Access to adequate and timely legal representation was frequently denied, with reports of coerced confessions, which may have been obtained as a result of torture.””

“Turkey, Iran FMs warn over Israel’s expansion of Gaza war, disagree on oil boycott,” Al Monitor, 11-1-23.

“U.S. officials hold their breath for Iranian cyberattacks,” Politico, 11-1-23.

“Hamas leaders feel betrayed by Iran and Hezbollah,” JNS, 11-1-23.

“FBI Director Wray on Iran and the Rising Jihadist Threat,” National Review, 11-1-23.