News Digest — 3/7/25
Syria: Dozens Dead In Clashes Between Regime Forces And Assad Loyalists
Fierce clashes in Syria’s Latakia province have resulted in the deaths of at least 28 fighters loyal to ousted President Bashar al-Assad, along with 16 security personnel and four civilians, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported on Thursday (6th).
The battles, described as some of the most intense since Assad fled in December, erupted in and around the town of Jableh and nearby villages, according to the war monitor, which was cited by AFP.
Authorities in Latakia, a stronghold of Assad’s Alawite sect, imposed a curfew until Friday morning (7th) at 10:00 am, according to Syria’s official SANA news.
The UK-based Observatory stated that many of the slain security personnel from Idlib, a rebel stronghold in northwest Syria that played a pivotal role in the country’s 13-year civil war, were against Assad’s rule.
Meanwhile, SANA reported that security forces had captured Ibrahim Huweija, a notorious general accused of orchestrating hundreds of assassinations during the rule of Assad’s father, the late Hafez al-Assad.
Syrian rebels, headed by the Islamist Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham group (HTS), spearheaded the overthrow of Assad in December.
Weeks after Assad’s ouster, Syria’s new authorities initiated a major security operation in Tartus province, targeting remnants of the Assad government, who were accused of orchestrating an attack in which14 policemen were killed.
HTS, the former Al-Qaeda affiliate now leading the government, has pledged to protect minority groups, including the Alawites, who fear Islamist rule. However, reports of sectarian violence have highlighted concerns.
Terrorists Stone Israeli Cars in Gush Etzion, Wounding One
Terrorists threw rocks at several Israeli vehicles traveling on a civilian road in the area of the village of Husan in Gush Etzion, the IDF reported on Thursday (6th)
An Israeli was wounded and taken to the hospital for medical treatment, the IDF said.
“The man, who was approximately 40-year-old and was wounded with glass shards in his upper body, was transported to Shaare Zedek Medical Center in Jerusalem,” Magen David Adom reported.
Security forces began searching the area for the terrorists after the incident.
Just weeks ago, in a similar incident of rock throwing, a woman was wounded, when terrorists threw stones at Israeli vehicles in the vicinity of Ariel. The 27-year-old woman was wounded by glass shards and also transferred to the hospital for medical treatment.
New IDF Chief Pens Biblical Letter Showing Temple In Visit To Western Wall
Israel’s newly appointed IDF Chief of Staff LG Eyal Zamir, made a visit to the Western Wall in Jerusalem, marking one of his first public acts after assuming his role.
The Western Wall, a site of profound historical and spiritual resonance for the Jewish people, served as a fitting backdrop for Zamir to reflect on his new duties.
Following tradition, he composed a note and placed it among the ancient stones, a gesture that blended personal prayer with a public statement of intent as he stepped into one of Israel’s most critical military positions.
The text of Zamir’s note, dated “5th of Adar 5785, March 5, 2025,” and written at the Western Wall – described as “where the Temple once stood” – reveals a leader grounding his mission in both Jewish heritage and strong resolve.
He began by acknowledging the site’s foundational role in Jewish identity, stating, “At the Western Wall, where the Temple once stood, the foundations of the Jewish people were established.”
Zamir then articulated a commitment to action, writing, “We will act with determination and believe in our ability to defend the Land of Israel and protect Jews both in Israel and around the world.”
This reflects Zamir’s strategic priorities–safeguarding Israel’s sovereignty and extending protection to Jewish communities globally–while signaling a proactive stance amid ongoing regional tensions and increased anti-Semitism.
Zamir’s note concluded with a heartfelt prayer and a biblical flourish, blending personal humility with a vision of moral clarity.
He wrote, “I pray for the hostages and for the safety of those who defend our nation, soldiers, security forces, and all who stand guard for Israel,” highlighting his immediate concerns, including the fate of hostages and the welfare of those under his command.
The closing line, “From Zion, the Torah shall go forth,” drawn from Isaiah 2:3, invokes a prophetic hope that Jerusalem will once again be a source of wisdom and peace.
Signed as “Major General Eyal Zamir,” the note encapsulates his role as a military leader rooted in Jewish tradition, offering a glimpse into how he intends to navigate the complexities of his tenure with faith, determination, and a deep sense of duty.
‘You’re Under Attack By Hamas:’ IDF Chief Launches Term With Surprise Drill
IDF Chief of Staff LG Eyal Zamir marked his first day in office with a visit to the Gaza Strip. However, his visit was more than a symbolic gesture – he staged an unannounced drill at a frontline position near Beit Hanoun.
“You’re under attack by Hamas,” he told the stationed company commander.
During the drill, Zamir simulated an October 7-style assault, moved between positions questioning soldiers on threats to the area, and even operated a machine gun himself. When the drill concluded, he told a company commander from the Netzah Yehuda Battalion, “An attack like this will happen. It’s not a question of ‘if’ but ‘when,’ and you need to be ready,”
Zamir’s opening act was clearly intended to send a message. He is taking charge of an army still reeling from the failures of October 7, a reality exposed in investigative reports. His newly appointed team, as reported by Ynet, will now work to correct the flaws in those inquiries.
Senior military officials describe Zamir as stepping into the role with urgency, knowing time is not on his side. He made that clear to IDF leaders during a late-night personnel meeting, to the soldiers at the outpost, and to municipal leaders he met.
“The war could reignite at any moment,” he told them. “Hamas must be decisively defeated.” In his first official order, he acknowledged the military’s failure on October 7 and vowed to shake up the system.
Zamir also signaled to his General staff – both those staying and new arrivals – that he meant business. Another high-level staffing discussion ran late into the night, beginning at 8:30 pm and dragging into the early morning hours.
A similar meeting on Wednesday night (5th) lasted until nearly 4: am, followed by a strategic briefing just two hours later. “It was a tough discussion,” a senior officer said. “We talked about many fallen soldiers and shared memories of them.”
Unlike performative leadership tactics, Zamis’s relentless pace stems from necessity.
One of Zamir’s key priorities is strengthening the IDF ground forces, including forming a new tank brigade and reinstating reconnaissance units in armored divisions. But to achieve this, he requires more combat soldiers.
During his inaugural speech, Zamir underscored the importance of equal military service across all communities, making it clear he would not rubber-stamp legislation that increases draft exemptions.
At the same time, he used religious language that earned praise in some circles, but he knows he’s walking a fine line with political issues that may prove even more treacherous than those in Gaza.
Preparing For Iran? US Strategic Bomber Joins Israeli Fighter Jets In Air Drill
The Israeli Air Force and the US Air Force conducted a joint aerial exercise this week, aiming to bolster military cooperation and enhance integrated operational capabilities, the IDF said Thursday (6th).
The exercise featured Israeli F-35i and F15i fighter jets flying alongside a US B-52 strategic bomber, practicing coordination in a range of operational scenarios.
The drills were designed to strengthen connectivity between the two forces and improve their ability to address regional threats, the IDF said in a statement.
The joint exercise was conducted under the framework between the IDF and US Central Command (CENTCOM), reflecting the growing strategic partnership between the two militaries, according to the statement.
The exercise comes amid escalating concerns over Iran’s advancing nuclear program. The international Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reported that as of February 8, 2025, Iran’s stockpile of uranium enriched up to 60% reached 274.8 kilograms, marking a significant increase of 92.5 kilograms since November 2024, This level of enrichment is nearing weapons-grade material, intensifying fears that Tehran is approaching nuclear breakout capability.
The inclusion of a US B-52 Stratofortress in the exercise is particularly significant. The long-range heavy bomber, capable of carrying both conventional and nuclear weapons, is a key asset in any potential military strike on Iran’s deeply fortified nuclear facilities.
Iran’s main enrichment sites, including the underground Fordow complex and the Natanz facility, are buried beneath reinforced layers of concrete and rock, making them difficult targets for conventional fighter jets.
The B-52, with its ability to carry Massive Ordnance Penetrators (MOPs)–bunker-busting bombs designed to destroy hardened targets–-would be essential in any operation to neutralize Iran’s nuclear infrastructure. These bombs, weighing up to 30,000 pounds, are specifically designed to penetrate deep into fortified structures before detonating.
In response to regional developments, reports indicated last month that Iran has heightened its defense measures, placing missile defense systems on high alert due to fears of potential joint military action by Israel and the United States.
Why Arabs Don’t Want To Receive Palestinian Ex-Prisoners – Khaled Abu Toameh
Most of the Arab countries are refusing to receive Palestinians released from Israeli prison as part of the US-brokered Israel-Hamas ceasefire-hostage deal. In the past few weeks, Israel released hundreds of Palestinian prisoners in return for Israeli hostages kidnapped in Gaza by Hamas. Many others were released to Egypt, with the hope that other Arab countries would host them. However, the Egyptians have agreed to allow only a handful to remain, while dozens of others are searching for countries that will agree to receive them. With the exception of Qatar and Turkey, most Arab countries have refused to allow in the released prisoners.
The ex-prisoners, many of whom belong to Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), are in Cairo, staying in hotels and hospitals. It seems the Arab states are not eager to provide shelter to Islamist jihadists who could join forces with other terror groups and pose a threat to the regimes that have taken them in. The Jordanians and Lebanese have not forgotten how Palestinians sparked civil wars in their countries in the ‘70s and ‘80s.
The refusal of the Arab countries to play host to the ex-prisoners is seen by many Palestinians and Arabs as yet another sign that the Arab heads of state and governments do not really care about the Palestinians, which largely may be true. It also exposes the big difference between the Arabs’ public support for the Palestinians and their inaction to help them.
The writer, a veteran Israeli journalist, is a senior fellow at the Gatestone Institute and the Jerusalem Center for Security and Foreign Affairs.
“Judea And Samaria” Were In Common Use Until 1948 – Philologos
The largely hilly countryside west of the Jordan River, and south and north of Jerusalem, that was part of the kingdom of Jordan from 1950 to 1967, owes to Jordan its name, the “West Bank.” Disputes over place names are typical of international conflicts involving issues of sovereignty, national identity, and national pride.
The Bible calls the hill country around Jerusalem “Judea and Samaria.” The “West Bank” is the linguistic interloper – and a senseless one too, since most of the territory it refers to is far from the banks of the Jordan River. The term was invented by a Hashemite monarchy ruling east of the Jordan River for the purpose of justifying its annexation of Judea and Samaria.
There simply were no indigenous Arabic place names for the area since its Arab inhabitants never thought of these territories as discrete geographic entities that required names of their own. The Arabs who lived in them identified with the cities, towns, and villages they came from, not with a larger region.
“Judea and Samaria” were, until the mid-20th-century, the standard Christian and European way of referring to the area. The 1st-century CE Jewish historian Joseph Flavius, writing in Greek, wrote, “Now, as to the country of Samaria, it lies between Judea and Galilee.” The 12th-century German pilgrim Theodericus wrote, “On the west Judea extends to the Great [mediterranean] Sea… and to the north it is bordered by Samaria.”
The 14th-century The Travels of Sir John Mandeville states, “Jerusalem is in the land of Judea.” French author Francois-Rene Chateaubriand wrote in 1811, “The plain of Sharon is bordered on the east by the mountains of Judea and Samaria.” Mark Twain wrote in 1869, “We were out of Galilee and into Samaria at last. So, rested and refreshed, we fell into line and filed away over the barren mountains of Judea.”
Old maps of Palestine commonly divided its central mountain range into “Judea” and “Samaria” and a district of Samaria was one of the six administrative districts of British Mandate Palestine. UN General Assembly Resolution 181 of 1947, calling for the partition of Palestine and the creation of a Jewish state, refers to “the boundary of the hill country of Samaria and Judea.” (Mosaic)
