Israel at War: The Day of the Lord is Near: January 12, 2025
Obadiah 1:15
For the day of the LORD is near upon all the heathen: as thou hast done (to Israel), it shall be done unto thee: thy reward shall return upon thine own head.
About 30 years ago, I begin to preach about the Day of the Lord is Near as found in the Book of Obadiah. In my best selling book As America Has Done to Israel, I included a chapter about the Day of the Lord. The Day of the Lord is a reference in the Bible to the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. Obadiah gives a clear indicator to the immanent Second Coming of Jesus Christ. The key event is when Israel enters into an all-out battle with the Palestinians in which none of them survive.
I believe the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, and the subsequent war was the trigger for the battle described in Obadiah. This blog will keep you on the cutting edge of events leading to proving the Day of the Lord is Near and soon Second Coming of Jesus Christ. This can be proved by the Bible.
Obadiah 1:18 And the house of Jacob shall be a fire, and the house of Joseph a flame, and the house of Esau for stubble, and they shall kindle in them, and devour them; and there shall not be any remaining of the house of Esau; for the LORD hath spoken it.
Hamas even named the attack and war they started. It was call: Operation Al Aqsa Flood! This means the Temple Mount in Jerusalem! All the wars triggered by Hamas’ attack are heading towards Jerusalem where God will bring his final judgment on Islam. Incredible events are soon about to unfold, but if you understand Bible prophecy you know how it is going to end.
See my complete preaching and teaching about the Obadiah and the Day of the Lord is Near: McTteachingvideo.com Two of the videos follow:
Zechariah 12:3 And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it.
ISRAEL: Latest Update (The * is for the latest postings)
*Large Majority of Israeli Jews Now Oppose Palestinian State Under Any Conditions
From article:”Among Jewish Israelis polled, 64 percent opposed a Palestinian state under any conditions. When the surveyed Israeli Arab population was included, the numbers opposing a state were smaller but still constituted a majority of 52 percent of Israeli citizens.”
*Israeli officials warn of potential war with Turkey
From article:”The report highlighted what it sees as Ankara’s ambitions to restore Ottoman-era influence in the Middle East, warning that some Syrian factions are aligned with Türkiye. “The threat from Syria could evolve into something even more dangerous than the Iranian threat,” the commission stated.”
*Handcuffing IDF soldiers: How the Gaza war took a new turn abroad
From article:”The legal pursuit of IDF soldiers escalated this week, but it is not new. It has existed for two decades. Lists of Israeli “war criminals” were published after Operation Cast Lead, and the State of Israel understood that it had to fight the phenomenon. A cabinet resolution from 2009 allocated a budget for the issue, and a unit in the Ministry of Justice and an inter-ministerial team were established to deal with this new-old antisemitic trouble.”
*Houthis paying ‘heavy price,’ Netanyahu says after Israeli strikes in Yemen
From article:”Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated on Friday afternoon that “just as we promised, the Houthis are paying, and will continue to pay, a heavy price for their aggression against us,” according to an English translation of his remarks provided by his office. “Today, we attacked terrorist targets of the Houthi terrorist regime along the western coastal strip and deep in Yemen. The Houthis are a proxy of Iran, and they serve the terrorist objectives of the Iranian axis in the Middle East,” he stated. “They constitute a danger to Israel and the entire region, including global freedom of navigation.”
*Preemptive Strikes On Iran Will Be A ‘Real Possibility’ Under Trump
From article:”Iran’s recent nuclear advances give President-elect Trump a crucial decision to make in his first months in office: Try to neutralize the threat through negotiations and pressure, or order a military strike. Trump’s decision in 2018 to withdraw from an Obama-era nuclear deal prompted Tehran to accelerate its nuclear program, such that it’s now a de facto “nuclear threshold state.” Officials and diplomats from the U.S., EU and Israel all told Axios they expect Trump to face an Iran crisis in 2025. Trump and his advisers are planning to quickly return to the “maximum pressure” campaign they conducted against Iran between 2018 and 2020. “Several Trump advisers privately concede Iran’s program is now so far along that the strategy might not be effective. That makes a military option a real possibility.”
*Turkey Outraged At Possible French Presence On Syrian Border This article shows just how aggressive Turkey is over Syria. There is no doubt that at some point Turkey will move to takeover Syria with the plan to confront Israel!
*House Passes Bill To Protect Israeli PM Netanyahu From ICC Prosecution
From article:”One of the first acts of the Republican-led 119th Congress was to pass a bill that would sanction officials attempting to arrest or investigate Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The Israeli leader is wanted by the International Criminal Court for war crimes committed in Gaza.The “Illegitimate Court Counteraction Act” passed on Thursday in a 243 to 140 vote, with 45 Democrats joining the majority of Republicans. Rep. Thomas Massie was the only member of the GOP caucus not to vote in favor of the bill.”
*Mainstream Media Ignoring Ethno-Religious Genocide Under Syria’s New Rulers There is no doubt that Syria is coming under the control of Islamic groups which will resemble the Taliban! It is just a matter of time.
From article:”Initially HTS and other factions, which includes foreign groups such as Chechens and Uyghurs, rounded up individuals and tortured or executed them under the guise that they were former “Assad regime agents”. Now, according to regional reports, the jihadists are dropping even this pretense and are simply taking over Alawite villages. Serious problems and threats are also being reported in the historic ‘Valley of the Christians’ (or Wadi al-Nasara, which lies in Western Syria in Homs governate). Various locations have seen jihadists seeking to impose public segregation of the sexes, Islamic head-coverings, and blanket bans on alcohol…”
Future of the Middle East: What does 2025 hold for Jordan and Egypt
From article:”Jordan and Egypt are both important states in the Middle East, and they have been Israel’s historic peace partners from the 1980s to 1990s. This means that these two countries share certain qualities that are of great importance to Israel and the wider region. Egypt, the most populous country in the area, is a historic center of military power and culture. Jordan, by contrast, is less populated and is a relatively modern country straddling an expanse of desert between Israel, the Gulf, and Syria.”
Convicted Jihadist Who Helped Murder Four Jews Teaches ‘Social Justice’ at Canadian University
From article:”Carleton University in Ottawa, Canada, is employing Professor Hassan Diab, a terrorist who was part of a 1980 terror attack that bombed a synagogue in Paris, murdering four Jews and wounding almost 50 people, wrote The Jerusalem Post. The woke mind virus clearly has infiltrated Canada just as it has The USA. This is a clear case of Cultural Marxist infiltration in the university system. “Diab was convicted in France for his role in the murders, but managed to flee to Canada, though he still faces a life sentence in France, The Jerusalem Post noted.”
Israel must not overlook the threats from Egypt
From article:”Egypt isn’t a genuine friend of the United States and never will be. Egypt is the original home of the Muslim Brotherhood. The majority of Egyptians hate Israel and would gladly discard the peace treaty with Israel if given a choice. That same majority sympathizes with the Muslim Brotherhood. What happened to Bashar Assad in Syria might happen to el-Sisi. A revolution engineered by the Muslim Brotherhood that removes el-Sisi isn’t a farfetched scenario. But in the case of Egypt, billions of dollars of sophisticated U.S. arms and dollars would fall into the wrong hands.”
At anti-Israel rally, Erdoğan’s son says Gaza will win
From article:”Businessman Bilal Erdoğan, 43, said in his speech on Istanbul’s Galata Bridge over the Golden Horn: “Muslims in Syria were determined, patient, and they achieved victory. After Syria, Gaza will emerge victoriously from the siege.”Demonstrators waved Turkish and PLO flags and chanted “Free Palestine” at the rally organized by the National Will Platform, a coalition of more than 300 pro-Palestinian and Islamic groups.”
Trump administration plans crippling sanctions on ICC Wow, what an article! Please take the time to read it.
From article:”President-elect Donald Trump plans to implement devastating sanctions against the International Criminal Court in The Hague immediately after taking office, sources close to the matter disclosed to Israel Hayom. These executive orders could be unveiled as soon as Jan. 21. The sanctions package will target both individual ICC personnel, including judges and prosecutors, and the institution as a whole. The administration intends to classify the ICC as an organization threatening U.S. interests, employing designation procedures similar to those used by the State Department for terrorist organizations globally. This designation will trigger severe restrictions on anyone involved with the court’s operations.
Financial institutions worldwide will be required to terminate relationships with ICC personnel or face U.S. sanctions themselves. Mirroring actions taken against sanctioned Israeli citizens by the outgoing administration, ICC staff will find themselves unable to perform routine banking operations or use credit cards. Their financial activities will be effectively frozen, with exceptions only for essential needs such as food purchases. Furthermore, all U.S.-based assets belonging to ICC employees and the institution will be frozen.”
Iran’s push for a nuclear bomb: ‘A wounded animal is most dangerous’
From article:”“The Iranians have a fundamental strategic problem. They do not know how to plan for unexpected circumstances. They have a plan A but can’t even talk about a plan B or a plan C, because even considering the option that the original plan won’t work would be to question the wisdom of the ayatollah, which is unacceptable,” Grinberg said. “You can see that the Iranian elites are in disarray and are blaming each other, pointing fingers because they know something is wrong, but they can’t point their finger at the only person who is truly responsible.”
Regional developments have placed Iran in the dangerous role of a wounded animal desperately looking for a way out of its predicament. This new reality is particularly menacing considering Iran’s nuclear ambitions. Dueling analytical narratives have emerged regarding Iran’s future, with some arguing that Tehran’s feeble condition will force it to dial back its aggression, and others claiming that it is likely to attempt a nuclear breakout in the near future to secure the regime.”
Imam at mosque connected to New Orleans terrorist says Jews exploit usury to dominate economies
From article:”Soudan continued, reciting a line from chapter 5, verse 64 of the Quran, which refers to Jews who were at odds with the Muslims. “And they strive to spread corruption in the land. And Allah does not like corruptors,”
Hundreds March for ‘Intifada’ in NYC Hours After Attacks in New Orleans, Las Vegas
From article:”Attendees chanted “Resistance is glorious — we will be victorious,” “We will honor all our martyrs,” and “Gaza, you make us proud.” They carried signs that said “Zionism is cancer,” “No war on Iran,” and “End all US aid to Israel.” “There is only one solution — Intifada revolution,” they chanted, using a common refrain at anti-Israel rallies in the US. “Intifada,” Arabic for “uprising,” is associated with the Second Intifada, a period of terror attacks in Israel in the early 2000s marked by suicide bombings.”
US OKs More Than $5B in Military Sales to Egypt
From article:”The United States government on Friday authorized the sale of more than $5 billion in military equipment to Egypt, which has become an increasingly close partner in mediating the Gaza crisis despite serious human rights concerns. The State Department informed Congress it had approved the sale of $4.69 billion in equipment for 555 US-made M1A1 Abrams tanks operated by Egypt, $630 million in 2,183 Hellfire air-to-surface missiles, and $30 million in precision-guided munitions. The sale “will support the foreign policy and national security of the United States by helping to improve the security of a Major Non-NATO Ally country that continues to be an important strategic partner in the Middle East,” according to a statement”
Erdogan’s son organizing massive rally to push designs on Jerusalem
From article:”The so-called “protest” is being organized under the banner “Yesterday Hagia Sophia (Constantinople), today the Umayyad Mosque, tomorrow Al-Aqsa.” Hagia Sophia refers to the fact Istanbul’s formerly most famous church, which was in almost constant use for more than 1,000 years from A.D. 360 to 1453, was reverted to its previous use as a mosque in July 2020, and given the title Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque. It had been a Muslim place of worship after the fall of Constantinople in 1453, until it became a museum in 1935. Islam has a rule that if a place of worship was ever once a mosque – even if it has not had the designation for decades or even centuries – it retains its holiness to Muslims in perpetuity. In the Old City of Jerusalem, the Mosque of Omar, which stands in the courtyard of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, exists for this very reason; because Caliph Omar refused to pray in the church knowing its use would one day be forced to change.”
From article:”Hamas called its Oct. 7 invasion of Israel the “Al Aqsa Flood.” Its purpose was to pave the way for the destruction of Israel through the conquest of Jerusalem. Hezbollah’s plans for the invasion of the Galilee presented the coming battle as the battle for Jerusalem, not Haifa. Iran seeks Israel’s destruction to “liberate Jerusalem.” This week, a clip of a speech by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan showed his supporters urging him to “take us to Jerusalem.” He responded: “Patience brings victory.” Erdoğan’s proxies that have taken over Syria have similarly stated that their goal is the conquest of Jerusalem.
Israel’s control over Samaria and Jerusalem is what secures its sovereignty in Jerusalem. If the Palestinians seize control over these areas, then the fall of Jerusalem becomes a foregone conclusion. The military, political and ideological battle for these areas is the battle for Jerusalem. The inevitability of this battle was apparent to anyone listening to what the P.A. has been telling the Palestinians since the 1990s. Every single leader—from Yasser Arafat to Mahmoud Abbas to the last of the minor P.A. officials and terrorists—told us and continue to tell us that they are fighting for Jerusalem.”
From article:”According to Robert Spencer, an expert on Islamist conquest, as well as another news website, “The Islamist movement Muslim Brotherhood has been expanding its influence in France, acting behind the scenes to make the country a caliphate governed by Sharia law, according to the country’s top intelligence official.” Bertrand Chamoulaud, head of the National Directorate for Territorial Intelligence at the French Ministry of the Interior said, “More than 100,000 worshippers attend mosques run by the Muslim Brotherhood”. The Muslim Brotherhood is a radical Islamic group that was a forerunner to Al Qaeda.”
Jamaat-e-Islami leads mass rally in Islamabad supporting Palestinians
From article:”The Jamaat-e-Islami leader alleged that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s policies reflected expansionist ambitions, accusing Israel of committing genocide against Palestinians while many Muslim countries remained silent. Rehman called for unity among Muslim nations to counter what he described as Israeli oppression and urged the international community to take immediate action to halt the violence.”
Internal espionage: How Israeli spies infiltrated Hezbollah for decades This is an outstanding article and please take the time to read it!
From article:”The NYT investigation, based on interviews with more than two dozen current and former Israeli, American, and European officials who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss classified operations, revealed just how extensively Israeli spies had penetrated Hezbollah as part of two decades of methodical intelligence work in preparation for an all-out war that many expected would eventually come. The Israeli spies recruited people to plant listening devices in Hezbollah bunkers, tracked meetings between one top commander and his four mistresses, and had near-constant visibility into the movements of the terror group’s leaders”
Man on the inside? Details of Haniyeh assassination in the heart of Tehran revealed
From article:”The precision and success of the operation reportedly sowed panic in the Iranian leadership, and the commander of the Quds Force, Ismail Qaani, disappeared for three weeks. To this day, the question of who assisted the Mossad in the complex operation remains. “Who could have done it? There are three groups,” explains Ronen Bergman. “Iranian citizens who live in the area, members of the Revolutionary Guards, and Hamas members. It is likely that the Iranians are looking, and Hamas is also looking, in all these different groups.”
Jerusalem’s stability shaken: Rockets from Yemen and Gaza could mark new phase in war – editorial
From article:”This weekend has not been a quiet one for Jerusalem residents. The sudden targeting of Jerusalem from multiple fronts marks a troubling shift in the regional security landscape. After months during which our capital enjoyed relative calm – even as other areas faced continued threats – Jerusalem found itself under attack from both the Houthis in Yemen and Hamas, all within a 24-hour period.”
IDF Arrests 240 Terror Suspects in Gaza Hospital; WHO Condemns Israel, not Hamas
From article:”The United Nations World Health Organization (WHO) condemned the Israeli raid on the hospital, echoing the sensational media coverage in the Arab world and in Europe. It said the transfer of patients from the hospital posed a risk to them. In its statement, however, it said not one word about Hamas and other terrorists using hospitals as bases or weapons storage facilities, a stark violation of international law that places hundreds of lives in danger.
Can secular Israel survive as the country marches into an extreme Messianic Age? – opinion This is a tremendous article from a hardcore Leftist lamenting the growth of religious Judaism in Israel. Israel has to be under the law of Moses when the Tribulation starts!
From article:”But in Israel, according to lawyer Yair Nehorai, religion too often morphs into cult, and extremism is quickly becoming more mainstream. He believes that Messianic Judaism is on the ascendancy and is spurring the judicial reform, is responsible for what he views as the assault on Israel’s liberal democratic bastions like the High Court and press freedom, and is in danger of taking over our police, army, and fragile democracy itself.”
From article:”A 60 Minutes broadcast on Sunday evening confirmed many of the details behind the beeper and walkie-talkie sabotage attack against Hezbollah: the operation began over a decade ago, with the Mossad initially weaponizing walkie-talkies sold to the Iranian-backed proxy terrorist group. The beeper and walkie-talkie attack sent Hezbollah reeling and was credited for giving Israel an extra opening for a bombing campaign that brought the Lebanese terrorist group to its knees.”
Armed for survival: How Oct 7 Hamas massacre transformed gun culture in Israel The Israelis are coming out of their liberal delusion. The for a weapon for protection means they are living in reality and see the danger Israel is in from Islam.
From article:”In the months following the Oct. 7 attack, over 260,000 new gun license applications were submitted – nearly matching the total number from the previous two decades combined. More than 100,000 licenses have already been approved, marking a tenfold increase compared to the previous year.”
From article:”President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan of Turkey repeated a pledge Saturday to conquer Jerusalem during a speech in Mardin, Turkey, raising eyebrows and signaling new tensions in the relationship with Israel. With Turkish forces backing the rebels who over threw the Syrian regime earlier this month, and advancing against U.S.-backed Kurdish forces in northern Syria, there is the potential for even greater friction between Turkey and Israel, which has advanced forces into the eastern Golan and Mount Hermon in an attempt to protect its borders.”
From article:”Iran has covertly accelerated activities to construct nuclear weapons despite publicly declaring that its nuclear program is for peaceful, civilian purposes, a coalition of Iranian opposition groups revealed on Thursday. The National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), which seeks to overthrow the country’s Islamist regime, held a press conference in Washington, DC in which it disclosed what it described as new findings about the Iranian nuclear program. “The Iranian regime is covertly working on the weaponization aspect of its nuclear project to build a warhead, effectively obstructing verification through deceit,” said Soona Samsami, a representative for NCRI in the US.”
Turkey’s Syrian Jihadists Take Over Syria: Kurds, Half a Million Christians Under Intolerable Threat
From article:”Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Al-Jolani are now making all sorts of human-rightsy promises that they know the West likes to hear – just as Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini did before he took over Iran, and as the Taliban did before they quickly demolished 20 years of US human rights progress in Afghanistan. Just as Iran is the Shiite “head of the octopus” whose tentacles consist of Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthis and other assorted militias, so Erdogan is the Sunni “head of the octopus” in Syria. While everyone is busy staring at rival terrorist groups in Syria, it is crucial not to forget for a minute the country backing them: Turkey. Erdogan’s dream has always been “the liberation of Jerusalem”…. A Sunni jihadi Syria provides a conveniently straight path to fulfill that long-term dream.”
From article:”The initial relief within Israel’s defense establishment following the fall of the Assad regime and the withdrawal of Iranian forces in the area has given way to concern over the rise of a Sunni branch of the Muslim Brotherhood, antagonistic toward Israel and backed by Qatar and Turkey. This would carry significant implications. First and foremost, if Turkey decides to arm the rebel forces, it is unclear how Israel will respond and whether it will be able to thwart the transfer of American weapons.”
From article:”The Yemeni capital of Sanaa has been controlled for more than a decade by the Ansar Allah organization, also known simply as the “Houthis.” Their slogan – Allahu Akbar, death to America, death to Israel, curse on the Jews, victory for Islam – leaves little doubt about the group’s antisemitic ideology. Even in the context of the current war, as early as October 18, 2023, less than two weeks after the October 7 massacre, a decision was made in Sanaa (or perhaps more accurately in Tehran) to join the multi-tiered war against Israel, not only by firing long-range missiles but also by terrorizing international trade in the Red Sea.”
From article:”The Iranian rial fell to an all-time low on Wednesday, trading at 777,000 rials to the US dollar, a sharp decline from 703,000 in November after Donald Trump‘s victory in the US presidential election. The rial’s stronger value in 2015 during Iran’s nuclear deal, when it traded at 32,000 to the dollar, contrasts sharply with today’s conditions. The 2018 US withdrawal from the accord under Trump reignited sanctions and economic instability.”
From article:””What I ask of you, citizens of Israel, is to exercise patience, to continue demonstrating the resilience you have shown so far, and to strictly adhere to the instructions of the Home Front Command. If you do that, we will take care of everything else.” Netanyahu again stated that the results for the Houthis would be the same as the results of other terror organizations that come against Israel as he concluded his speech.”
From article:”Amichai Chikli, Israel’s Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism Minister, has accused Pope Francis of perpetuating “dangerous blood libel” against Israel and distorting history in a strongly worded letter sent on Thursday.
Chikli also condemned the nativity display as an example of historical distortion, linking it to broader efforts to undermine Jewish historical connections. “It is a well-known fact that Jesus was born to a Jewish mother, lived as a Jew, and died as a Jew,” Chikli stated. “There is no other way to understand this decision than as a deliberate adoption of the Palestinian narrative.” He emphasized Bethlehem’s significance in Jewish history, writing: “Bethlehem is the city where Rachel, our matriarch, died giving birth to Benjamin, and where David, son of Jesse, was born—the same David who became the King of Israel and made Jerusalem its capital.”
From article:”Russia’s involvement in Syria was never just about Assad, experts say. Securing a foothold in the Middle East was a cornerstone of Moscow’s strategy, with the Khmeimim Air Base and Tartus naval facility serving as vital assets for projecting power. However, with Assad now gone, Russia’s assets in Syria are at risk. Rebekah Koffler, strategic military intelligence analyst and author of “Putin’s Playbook,” emphasized the significance. “Syria has been a key theater in the broader proxy conflict between Russia and the U.S. losing Assad represents a strategic defeat for Russia, costing them critical bases in the Middle East and further stretching their military resources as they continue fighting in Ukraine.”
From article:”The answer to such questions is simple. Many Arabs and Muslims are aware that Iran’s mullahs want to use them to export the Iranian “Islamic Revolution” to their countries. They are also aware that Iran wants to use them to expand its control over the Middle East. Iran already occupies three Arab countries – Iraq, Lebanon and Yemen, and until last week, Syria as well – and has brought nothing but death and destruction to the people there.
On a more optimistic note, it appears that a large number of Arabs and Muslims are tired of Hamas and other Palestinian terrorist organizations constantly entangling the Palestinians in pointless and lethal conflicts with Israel. The “betrayal” of Hamas by Arabs and Muslims is a sign that these people are committed to stopping the Iranian regime from using them as puppets in its plan to destroy the “Zionist entity” and take over the Middle East.”
From article:””The Iranians have paid a very high price for operating all their proxies against Israel over the past year,” “Their command has been eliminated, their soldiers and field commanders – many of whom are in Hezbollah, Hamas, and other groups,” Sabati noted. As a result, “Iran is entering the campaign in Syria in a very weak state; it has no means to help Assad’s regime at all.” This double blow is not only about the inability to provide assistance but also about inflicting harm. “They targeted a general and several IRGC members, killed them, and captured the Iranian consulate. On one hand, Iran is unable to assist; on the other, it has become a target itself.”
*Syrian Rebel Leader Tells West ‘Fears Are Unnecessary’ About His Islamist Regime
From article:”Jolani began the interview by saying he now wishes to be known by his birth name, Ahmed al-Sharaa, because he has ostensibly renounced his terrorist past. He changed his name about 20 years ago when he abandoned his study of medicine, walked away from his well-heeled family in Damascus, and embraced jihadi ideology. His terrorist alias, “al-Jolani,” is a reference to the Golan Heights, which have been held by Israel since Syria lost them in the 1967 Six-Day War. Jolani became involved with al-Qaeda when he journeyed to Iraq to commit terrorist attacks against American soldiers. When he returned to Syria after a few years’ imprisonment in Iraq, he joined the Syrian civil war as head of al-Qaeda’s franchise, Jabhat al-Nusra or the “Nusra Front.”
The Nusra Front drifted away from al-Qaeda and rebranded itself as Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a transformation intended to emphasize that the group was devoted to overthrowing the Assad regime rather than participating in global terrorism. The decisive moment in that transformation reportedly arrived when Jolani’s boss in al-Qaeda, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, created the Islamic State and unilaterally declared the Nusra Front would be part of it. Jolani and those loyal to him resisted, seeking to create a reputation for themselves as more focused and pragmatic than the wild-eyed savages of ISIS.”
From article:”The Jerusalem Post has learned that senior Republican officials have cautioned Israel against pursuing annexation as Trump prepares to take office on January 20. “This would be a mistake,” one of the Republican officials was quoted as saying. “Israel is in a difficult international situation, and such a move will only do damage.” Trump and his Republican allies are prioritizing other Middle East objectives, including reviving the Abraham Accords, securing normalization between Israel and Saudi Arabia, and maintaining pressure on Iran, the sources said. Trump believes that focusing on annexation could detract from these broader strategic goals, they said. In recent weeks, calls for annexation have intensified. Several coalition members, including Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, have reignited the debate.”
From article:”Far from being a straightforward struggle between regime forces and rebels, it has become a tangled web of overlapping allegiances, ethnic and religious tensions, and geopolitical rivalries. The war has turned Syria into a battlefield for local, regional, and international actors, each pursuing conflicting interests. At the heart of Syria’s complexity lies the sheer number of actors involved. On one side are regime loyalists, led by President Bashar al-Assad (now deposed) and supported by external powers like Russia and Iran. On the other side, a kaleidoscope of rebel groups battles both the regime and, in some cases, each other. These include Turkish-backed groups like the Free Syrian Army (FSA), now rebranded as the Syrian National Army (SNA), and Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a former al-Qaeda affiliate that now seeks to present itself as a more moderate opposition force.”
From article:”Defense Minister Israel Katz on Sunday said that the new rulers of Syria are “pretending” to be more moderate but present an increased danger to Israel. He said this is true “despite the moderate vision which the Syrian rebel leaders are presenting.”
From article:”If Jordan succumbs to Iran’s designs, it would create yet another front against Israel. Kata’ib Hezbollah, the leading Iran-backed terrorist group in Iraq, has pledged to arm 12,000 Jordanian volunteers if they would embrace the anti-Israeli “resistance.” Hamas official Khaled Mashaal also has been broadcasting to Jordan messages urging Jordanian citizens to join the “resistance.”
From article:”The 603rd Battalion of the IDF’s Combat Engineering Corps has reached Tel Hadar, the deepest point in Syria that Israeli forces have entered—10 kilometers from the Israeli border and just over 20 kilometers from Damascus.
From article:”Gen. Mazloum worries about what would happen if the U.S. pulled its forces out of Syria right now. “We saw that the Russians – they have no further leverage in the country – same for the Iranians. So if now U.S. troops withdraw from Syria that will bring a vacuum.” He added the following warning: “We expect those Islamists, different factions to unite, to fight with ISIS and that will bring back tougher extremists, terrorist organizations back to the country.” The SDF Commander fears another bloody civil war could start if the new Syrian government in Damascus does not include different minority groups, like the Syrian Kurds.”
From article:””Obama made it clear to me that U.S. policy was going to take a sharp turn against the ideas I believed in,” Netanyahu recounted of his interactions with the U.S. in the early days of the Obama administration. “He saw Iran not as a threat but as an opportunity and saw a vital need for us to return to the ’67 lines and establish a Palestinian state here.” “I had to face great pressure to create a Palestinian state,” Netanyahu said. “[Obama] demanded it during the first meeting, he said: ‘Not even one brick will you build over the Green Line.’ I responded: ‘Half of Jerusalem is over the Green Line; for instance, the Gilo neighborhood.’ Obama said: ‘Gilo too.’ He demanded a total construction freeze, massive pressure. I had to deal with this, I had to deflect it, and it was no small matter.”
Netanyahu called to mind a disagreement with then-Secretary of State John Kerry, who was urging Israeli forces to withdraw from Judea and Samaria. “Kerry explained to me that my fear of placing security in Judea and Samaria in Palestinian forces’ hands was unfounded because the Americans were training Palestinian forces and we could withdraw.”
From article:”Singling Iran out appears to be a message to Tehran’s theocracy – that their meddling is over, their easy land access to their mega proxy Hezbollah in Lebanon is over, their support for Syrian Hezbollah is over, and gone too is the home they once had for Iran’s weapons stockpiles. But it is a message Jolani will know is being heard in Tel Aviv and Washington, where he is considered to be a member of a proscribed terrorist organisation with a $10 million dollar bounty on his head. A message that says to them, ‘your interests are understood in the new Syria,’ and an understanding on his part that these are the powers capable of bringing him down.”
From article:”Assad’s fall might put Jordan in increasing danger, albeit for different reasons. Jordan, after all, does not have a conscript army, and its Special Forces are elite and, for tribal reasons, more loyal to the king. King Abdullah II is much like Mikhail Gorbachev, the last Soviet premier: much more popular abroad than at home. Jordanians grumble about the king and his wife’s wasteful spending. Just as Russia supported Syria until it no longer could, the Gulf states underwrite Jordan. The question then becomes whether there is any scenario when they no longer can or choose not to. Add into the mix Iran seeking actively to undermine Abdullah II by supporting radical Islamist factions, Turkey willing to support Jordan’s Muslim Brotherhood, and now Syrian Islamists on Jordan’s border, and the future looks challenging for the Hashemites. Israel saved the Hashemite monarchy before and would likely do so again. Regardless, Abdullah II now survives on external safety nets rather than his own base, which is hardly a formula for a successful future.”
From article:”Iran’s increase in the amount of uranium enriched to up to 60 percent purity is “extremely serious,” unjustified for civilian purposes, and contradicts Tehran’s statements regarding credible nuclear negotiations, a Western diplomatic source was quoted by Reuters as saying on Saturday. “These measures have no credible civilian justification and could, on the contrary, directly fuel a military nuclear program if Iran were to take the decision,” the unnamed official said. “They are in contradiction with Iran’s declarations on its willingness to return to credible negotiations.” The International Atomic Energy Agency later confirmed in a confidential report to member states that Iran was speeding up uranium enrichment, a process that refines the raw material so that it can be used as fuel in civil nuclear power generation or, potentially, nuclear weapons.”
From article:”Syrian rebels seized the capital Damascus unopposed on Sunday after a lightning advance that sent President Bashar al-Assad fleeing to Russia after a 13-year civil war and six decades of his family’s autocratic rule. In one of the biggest turning points for the Middle East in generations, the fall of Assad’s government wiped out a bastion from which Iran and Russia exercised influence across the Arab world. Moscow gave asylum to Assad and his family, Mikhail Ulyanov, Russia’s ambassador to international organizations in Vienna, said on his Telegram channel. His sudden overthrow, at the hands of a revolt partly backed by Turkey and with roots in jihadist Sunni Islam, limits Iran’s ability to spread weapons to its allies and could cost Russia its Mediterranean naval base. It could allow millions of refugees scattered for more than a decade in camps across Turkey, Lebanon and Jordan to finally return home.”
From article:”In a rapid and calculated move, elite IDF units—special forces, armored brigades and paratroopers—have deployed to critical points across Syrian territory, including the summit of Mount Hermon and areas beyond the Golan Heights buffer zone. These operations, executed without resistance following the hasty retreat of Assad’s forces, aim to secure key positions ahead of advancing Syrian rebel groups. IDF plans to continue these maneuvers in the coming days to strengthen its foothold in the region.
Meanwhile, the Israeli Air Force is unleashing waves of strikes across Syria, including precise hits on Damascus. Among the reported targets is the “Security Quarter” in the Syrian capital, home to Assad regime intelligence facilities and customs offices. Sources told Reuters that Israel also struck Syria’s main military research center, which Iran allegedly used for missile development.IDF has described its actions as a temporary defensive deployment in the buffer zone, prompted by sightings of unidentified armed Syrians over the weekend. “We are working to neutralize threats in Syria, where the situation is currently chaotic,” the IDF said. “We’ve been closely monitoring developments and coordinating with other forces in the region to avoid unnecessary friction.” IDF emphasized its ongoing strikes in Syria, designed to remove immediate threats to Israel. “Iranian influence in the region has weakened, and the Shiite axis has fractured,” the army explained. “We are witnessing a monumental and dramatic shift. An Islamist force has risen in Syria, and we are closely observing its evolution.”
From article:”U.S. president-elect Donald Trump said on Sunday that Syrian President Bashar Assad had “fled his country” after losing the backing of Russia. “Assad is gone,” he said on his Truth Social platform. “His protector, Russia, led by Vladimir Putin, was not interested in protecting him any longer. Russia had no reason to be there in the first place. They lost all interest in Syria because of Ukraine. Russia and Iran are now in a weak position, one, because of Ukraine and a bad economy, and two because of Israel and its success in fighting.”
From article:”Netanyahu labels Assad’s fall a ‘milestone’ for Israel: “The Assad regime is a central link in Iran’s axis of evil – this regime has fallen.”Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stood along the Syrian border with Israel on Sunday afternoon, hailing the end of Syria’s Bashar al-Assad’s 14-year rule and claiming Israel’s “blows inflicted on Iran and Hezbollah” had a direct impact on the Syrian revolution.On a visit to the area near the border with Syria, the prime minister said he had ordered Israeli forces to seize areas in the buffer zone to ensure Israel’s security and said: “We will not allow any hostile force to establish itself on our border.”
From article:”Israeli officials, who are following the events very closely, were surprised by the ease with which the rebels captured more and more key territories. The surprise is greater when considering Assad is supported by powers such as Russia and Iran, but both countries are evacuating civilians from the region, including senior Iranian Revolutionary Guards commanders. In other words, everyone who mobilized a little less than a decade ago to save the Assad regime quickly realized that the game was up.”
From article:”Wallace told The Sun: “I think if you were advising the Ayatollah right now, you would say, ‘our proxies are in danger, they’re crumbling, we have to beat a hasty retreat’. “I think they [Iran] are defending that same hegemony to prevent the fall of their fragile empire.” Iran has been weakened so much by corruption, its economy, and the conflict with Israel that it now can’t protect its proxy pals. He said the Syrian rebels had seen Assad’s “house of cards” and Iran’s weakness as a chance to strike.”
In Fight for Syria, a Battle for Domination of the Entire Middle East
From article:”“Syria is the barometer for how power dynamics in the region are changing,” said Mona Yacoubian, head of the Middle East and North Africa Center at the United States Institute of Peace in Washington. “It is in for a period of chaos in a region that is already on fire.” Israel’s strategists refer to Syria as the “hub of hubs,” which has served as a supply conduit for men and arms to places like southern Lebanon. There, Hezbollah, Iran’s main regional ally, held sway before Israel decimated the group’s ranks by assassinating its longtime leader and much of his top echelon. Israel also launched direct attacks on strategic air defenses in Iran.”
From article:”The militants’ lightning advance has been unprecedented – seizing key cities, towns, and now parts of the capital as regime collapses. A statue of Assad’s father Hafez was toppled in Damascus’ eastern suburb of Jaramana, footage on social media shows. Protesters ripped the head off the giant bust, just six miles from the centre of the city, before attacking posters of Assad and demanding security forces leave the area.Assad’s family has fled to Russia and Egypt has asked the tyrant to form a government in exile.”IDF announces aerial and ground reinforcements in Golan Heights
From article:”Due to the ongoing internal conflict in Syria, the IDF has announced it is reinforcing aerial and ground forces in the Golan Heights, which borders Syria. This follows a situational assessment carried out on Thursday and Friday by the IDF General Staff and Northern Command. IDF troops are deployed along the border and the IDF is monitoring developments.”
From article:”Israel showed the “power” of the F-35 stealth fighter jet during its late October retaliatory strikes against Iran, Britain’s top military officer said on Wednesday. Adm. Tony Radakin, the UK’s chief of defense staff, disclosed that Israel used its F-35s to carry out the widespread October 26 strikes against military sites across Iran, including air-defense systems and missile-manufacturing facilities.”
Who is Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, the Islamist rebel leading the Syrian advance?
From article:”In an official message Thursday after its fighters entered Hama, the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) Islamist militant group shared a message that was signed Ahmed al-Sharaa — the birth name of a rebel leader better known by his nom de guerre, Abu Mohammed al-Jolani. The move marks a broader shift for Jolani. Once a shadowy figure who rarely showed his face, Jolani served time in a U.S. prison in Iraq before becoming the commander of an al-Qaeda affiliate in Syria’s brutal, multipronged civil war. Even now, there is a $10 million U.S. reward for information that leads to his capture.”
Syrian Rebels’ Lightning Offensive Zeroes In onMajor City
From article:”Syrian government forces withdrew from the city of Hama on Thursday, handing the rebels another victory after they seized Aleppo last week. The rebel advances have exposed the weakness of the Assad regime and raised the stakes for his main patrons, Russia and Iran, which have helped keep him in power.”
Turkey-Backed Militias Trap 15,000 and Engage in ‘Ethnic Cleansing’ in Syria
From article:”The Syrian National Army (SNA), an amalgam of various militias supported by the Turkish government, announced a military campaign in Syrian Kurdistan this week shortly after Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a jihadist outfit with ties to al-Qaeda, conducted a surprise siege of Aleppo, the second-largest city in Syria. The dictatorship of Syrian leader Bashar Assad lost control of Aleppo last week; reports on Thursday indicate it may have also lost control of the city of Hama.”
Iran-Backed Iraqi Militias Enter Syria to Reinforce Government Forces
From article:”At least 300 fighters, primarily from the Badr and Nujabaa groups, crossed late on Sunday using a dirt road to avoid the official border crossing, two Iraqi security sources said. “These are fresh reinforcements being sent to aid our comrades on the front lines in the north,” a senior Syrian military source said, adding the fighters had crossed in small groups to avoid airstrikes.”
Trump demands immediate release of Oct. 7 hostages, says otherwise there will be ‘HELL TO PAY’
From article:”“Please let this TRUTH serve to represent that if the hostages are not released prior to January 20, 2025, the date that I proudly assume Office as President of the United States, there will be ALL HELL TO PAY in the Middle East, and for those in charge who perpetrated these atrocities against Humanity,” Trump wrote in a post on his Truth Social site. He added that, “Those responsible will be hit harder than anybody has been hit in the long and storied History of the United States of America. RELEASE THE HOSTAGES NOW!”
