News Digest — 10/14/24
Massive Casualties: 4 IDF Soldiers Killed, Over 60 Wounded In Hezbollah Drone Attack
Four Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) soldiers lost their lives and seven others sustained severe injuries when a drone detonated in Binyamina, 25 miles southeast of Haifa, on Sunday night (13th).
The unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), launched by the Hezbollah militant group, struck the dining hall of the Golani Brigade’s training base while dozens of soldiers were gathered inside.
In total, over 60 soldiers were wounded with injuries ranging from critical to moderate to light. All those affected were transferred to medical facilities. All families were informed.
The IDF issued a statement saying, “The circumstances of the incident are under investigation. Our hearts go out to the families who have lost their loved ones, and we will continue to support them through this difficult time.”
Magen David Adom (MDA), Israel’s national emergency medical service, later confirmed that they had treated 61 individuals, including three in critical condition, 18 moderately injured, and 31 with minor injuries. An additional nine people were treated for shock.
“We asked the army to help by providing helicopters, as some of the wounded were being evacuated to hospitals in the center of the country,” MDA director-general Eli Bin told local media.
The IDF named Sergeant Omri Tamari, Sergeant Yosef Hieb, Sergeant Yoav Agmon and Sergeant Alon Amitay on Monday morning (14th) as the four soldiers killed during the Sunday evening (13th) drone attack.
Sergeant Tamari came from Nazkeret Batya. Sergeant Heib came from Tuba- az-Zanghariyya (a bedouin town), Sergeant Agmon came from Binyamina Giv at Ada, and Sergeant Amitay came from Ramot Naftali.
All four soldiers were 19 years old and in infantry training when they were killed at the base, the military stated.
It was not immediately clear where the drone came from. According to Israel’s Channel 12 News, two drones approached Israeli territory from the sea.
While one was shot down, the second was not intercepted due to its apparent low altitude. No sirens were activated prior to the attack.
Chief Of Staff At Base Hit By UAV: “You Acted Well Treating And Evacuating The Injured”
IDF Chief of the General Staff, LTG Herzi Halevi, arrived Sunday night (13th) at the Golani Brigade Training Base and conducted an initial inquiry into the UAV strike on the base, which killed four soldiers and injured over 60 others.
During his visit, Halevi spoke with the commanders and medical teams at the base.
“We are at war, and an attack on a training base on the home front is difficult and the results are painful,” Halevi told the soldiers.”
“You operated well to treat and evacuate the wounded and injured. Embrace the bereaved families, accompany the wounded and strengthen the commanders and soldiers.”
“We continue to operate and train for what is ahead. The Golani Brigades recorded many achievements in the war and dealt resolutely with difficult situations – so continue on the path of this legacy,”he stated.
Netanyahu To UN Chief: ‘Get UNIFIL Forces Out Of Hezbollah Strongholds Right Now’
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday (13th) addressed UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres with a call to evacuate UNIFIL soldiers from Hezbollah strongholds in southern Lebanon.
“We are marking one year of the harsh war that was forced on us – the war of redemption against Iran’s axis of evil, which has risen up to destroy us. We are more determined than ever to ensure our future, we are more determined than ever to defeat our enemies,” Netanyahu said.
“In Lebanon, we eliminated Nasrallah and his senior personnel. Our heroic soldiers are destroying Hezbollah’s weapons, command centers and terrorist tunnels. They are fighting forcefully to return our residents in the north safely to their homes. We are not fighting the Lebanese people, we are fighting Iran’s terrorist proxy Hezbollah, which has occupied Lebanon,” he added.
Netanyahu continued, “I would like to appeal directly to the UN Secretary-General: The time has come for you to withdraw UNIFIL from Hezbollah strongholds and from the combat zones. The IDF has requested this repeatedly and has met with repeated refusal, which has the effect of providing Hezbollah terrorists with human shields. Your refusal to evacuate UNIFIL soldiers has turned them into hostages of Hezbollah. This endangers both them and the lives of our soldiers.”
“We regret the harm to UNIFIL soldiers and we are doing our utmost to prevent such harm. But the simplest and most obvious way to ensure this is simply to withdraw them from the danger zone,” he said.
He added in an appeal in English, “Mr. Secretary General, get the UNIFIL forces out of harm’s way. It should be done right now, and immediately.”
Netanyahu then continued in Hebrew, “Unfortunately, several European leaders are applying pressure in the wrong place. Instead of criticizing Israel, they need to direct their criticism at Hezbollah, which is using UNIFIL as a human shield, just as Hamas in Gaza is using UNRWA as a human shield.”
“In Gaza, we are continuing to operate deep in the territory in order to eliminate Hamas and bring about the release of our hostages. Our brave soldiers are now in the heart of Jabalya where they are dismantling Hamas’ strongholds,” he said.
Netanyahu stated, “The 101 of our hostages who are in Gaza have always been our chief concern. We will do everything to bring them, all of them, back home, the living and the deceased. In Judea and Samaria, our forces are acting without respite on the ground and in the air to thwart terrorism. The terrorism there will not win because we will not allow it to. In other arenas, we will continue to take action to ensure Israel’s security,” Netanyahu concluded.
US To Deploy THAAD Defense System To Israel
The US has officially greenlit the deployment of its advanced THAAD system to bolster Israel’s defense against ballistic missile threats.
On Sunday (13th), a Pentagon spokesperson released a statement declaring, “At the direction of the President, Secretary Austin authorized the deployment of a Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) battery and associated crew of US military personnel to Israel to help bolster Israel’s air defenses following Iran’s unprecedented attacks against Israel on April 13 and again on Oct. 1.”
The addition of the THAAD battery will significantly enhance Israel’s integrated air defense network. This action reaffirms the United States’ unwavering commitment to Israel’s security and the protection of American citizens in Israel from potential ballistic missile attacks by Iran and its affiliated groups.
“This is not the first time the United States has deployed a THAAD battery to the region,” the statement read. “The President directed the military to deploy a THAAD battery to the Middle East last year following the Oct. 7 attacks to defend American troops and interests in the region. The United States previously deployed a THAAD battery to Israel in 2019 for training and an integrated defense exercise.”
Earlier Reporting by the Wall Street Journal revealed that this deployment of US forces and cutting-edge defense technology to Israel is part of a broader American effort to enhance regional defense capabilities. Should Iran retaliate against an Israeli operation, it would mark the third instance this year of Iranian aggression towards Israeli territory.
The Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system, a product of Lockheed Martin, represents the pinnacle of defense technology against short, medium, and long-range ballistic missiles.
With an impeccable track record of 100% success in flight test interceptions, THAAD is capable of neutralizing threats both within and beyond the Earth’s atmosphere. The system comprises five key elements: launch vehicles, radar systems, a command and control unit, and support equipment.
Former Lebanese PM Accuses Hezbollah Of ‘Hijacking’ His Country, Says Iran Should ‘Stay Out’ Of Lebanon’s Affairs
Former Prime Minister of Lebanon, Fouad Siniora, laid the blame for the recent conflict at the feet of Hezbollah who has “hijacked” and “destroyed” his country along with Iran, which Siniora feels should “stay out” of Lebanon’s affairs.
Siniora, who was premier during the Second Lebanon War in 2006, had harsh words for Israel regarding deaths in Gaza and Lebanon but mainly blamed the war on Hezbollah, which he thought had a ruinous effect on his country.
Speaking to Sky News on Saturday (12th), Siniora blamed the terror group for the war.
“It is known without any doubt,” Siniora said that “Hezbollah initiated this war, just as they did in 2006 – Hezbollah started the conflict both then and now.”
“You cannot rule a country when you have two states: the state of Hezbollah, which runs things through its power, and the actual state of Lebanon, whose authority has diminished,” he explained.
“This is an opportunity for the Lebanese state to reclaim its authority. With Hezbollah weakened, we must seize the moment to bring the country back to proper governance. If we continue to be hijacked by Hezbollah, there will be no future for the Lebanese people,” he warned.
Siniora also strongly criticized Iran for backing and strengthening Hezbollah and urged the Islamic Republic to stay out of Lebanon’s affairs.
“By all means, Iran’s presence has been spoiling the country. It has interfered with Hezbollah and others, leading us to this situation. Lebanon can not afford to let Iran continue to meddle, not only directly but through its tentacles in Syria, Iraq, Yemen, and beyond,” he said.
With the bombardments and the displacement of civilians, Siniora despairs that Iran and Hezbollah are ruining the country, which is fast becoming a “total failure.”
He cautioned, “if we don’t take the proper steps to stop this crisis, Lebanon will fail. Let me be clear: Lebanon is already a failed state, but there is always a way to save it.”
What Israel’s Response To Oct. 7 Is All About -Uriel Heilman
Five times over the past few weeks, rocket attacks from distant lands have sent me running for the bomb shelter in my home in central Israel. When Israel came under attack from about 200 Iranian missiles two weeks ago, I huddled together with my wife and children and we sang songs while air raid sirens blared outside our shelter and the room shook from the booms of Israel’s missile interceptor defense system.
Just days before that, we had rocket attacks on two successive days by Houthi militants in Yemen – the second while my three older children were with friends at a local park on a Saturday afternoon with nowhere to shelter, so they ran to a nearby wall and covered their head with their hands.
Meanwhile, residents of northern Israel have been under incessant attack from Hezbollah since Oct. 8, 2023, displacing more than 60,000 Israelis. Many of their hometowns lie in ruins as a result of attacks by Hezbollah rockets, drones and anti-tank weapons. Nearly 50 Israelis have been killed there.
The root of the conflict in the Middle East is painfully simple: Israel’s foes refuse to accept it. It has been that way since Israel’s establishment in 1948. Israel’s enduring enemies want to reverse the outcome of Israel’s 1948 War of Independence and wipe Israel off the map. What choice does Israel have other than to fight?
Israel does not covet territory in Lebanon, Yemen, Iran, Iraq or Syria. Israel wants to live in peace with these countries. But they refuse to give up on their dreams of annihilating the Jewish state. So Israel must respond to their attacks, ensuring they never become capable of destroying it. That’s what Israel’s response to Oct, 7 is all about.
The rest of the world should applaud Israel and offer it greater operational and intelligence support because these rogues threaten us all. In Israel, we understand that peace will come only when the country’s enemies accept that Israel is here to stay. Until then, Israel must be strong – and continue to degrade those sworn to its destruction. (USA Today)
