Monday, December 11, 2023

Global SITREP D4-23: A Greater MidEast War Part III

U.S. CENTCOM and IDF Commanders Meeting

UPDATE 17 December 2023: The commanders of United States Central Command (USCENTCOM) and Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have met for the third time since the war erupted on October 7, 2023. No doubt one of the topics discussed at this meeting is the continued resupply of munitions from the American arsenal and the preparations underway for escalating warfare on Israel's northern front. 

Few are they who believe Hezbollah will accept, or that Iran will allow them to accept, the diplomatic initiative for their forces to withdraw (retreat) north of the Litani River in Lebanon, per UNSC 1701 of 2006. Such a refusal will make a full-scale war in the north inevitable. A second and equally important topic is the initiation of Operation Prosperity Guardian in the Red Sea and strait at Bab al-Mandab against the Iranian Houthi proxy in Yemen. 

As the operation's name implies, global prosperity hangs in the balance with the Houthi attacks on all commercial vessels transiting the Red Sea through the strait. The top four or five global shipping concerns have shut down their commercial vessels from moving through at this strategic choke point. As a result the USS Eisenhower CSG moved from the Persian Gulf into the Gulf of Aden in preparation for possible military action against Houthi military forces. Such action might well follow the heels of U.S. SECDEF Austin's in Israel today and the message he will shortly convey to all willing to listen.



11 December 2023: PM Netanyahu definitively let the proverbial cat out of the bag today:

"First of all we will win in the south and then we will deal with the north. As a first step, we will push Hezbollah beyond the Litani River and later we will also have to take care of the organization itself."

Therefore, Hezbollah is not on a count-down timer to initiate full-scale hostilities with Israel, Israel will initiate its Hezbollah solution in due course. Yet Hezbollah cannot be solved in a vacuum - the IRGC-QF Unit 340 proxies in Syria will also need to be decisively defeated by the IDF. 

Of course this is how the men in charge of Israel's war cabinet, and those in the U.S. government may envision how current events will evolve over time. However, neither of the two allies appear to be cognizant of Isaiah 11:14, a direct statement which is very clear.

With respect to the Gaza operation, the most current interactive graphic available is found on the ISW and Critical Threats webpage. Click on the link if you're so inclined and you can explore the entire Holy Land in exceptional detail, but zooming in and moving the image around with the controls and your mouse.


The above graphic will be used as Israel and the IDF have to "deal with the north" in a military campaign that is all but inevitable. Secular Israelis have some hope pinned on diplomacy by France and the United States who singularly and together still have some influence in Lebanon, albeit not with Hezbollah or the other Islamic terrorist groups in the country. It's extremely doubtful the can convince Hezbollah to move all of its forces north of the Litani River (just north of Tyre on the map). And even this fails to deal with the Hezbollah organization itself, much less the IRGC-QF forces to the immediate east of Galilee and the Golan.

Once again, we're out in front of the issue because a head start is far better than having to play catch up. 

67 comments:

  1. MK Aryeh Deri today:

    "Time is no timeframe. We will act as much as we need to, according to the needs of the army. Of course we do this while conversing daily with the Americans. When we achieve our goals we will stay in Gaza - to keep it demilitarized."

    Also, since the PA cannot control Judea and Samaria, it will be the IDF which will control Gaza.

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  2. Sean, as I re-read Psalm 83, again, it seems to me that this is both imprecatory, ofc, as well as prophetic. But as with all prophecy there are so many layers, and the Jews (I use that as opposed to Israel b/c the land was not always named, but God's Chosen have always been his Chosen) have been under enemy (Satanic) from the very beginning. I can't help but see Hamas and Gaza in a couple of the lines:
    They concoct crafty schemes against Your people,
    And conspire together against Your hidden and precious ones.
    [God has always hidden a remnant of His precious ones for preservation. The hostages, precious ones--tho in peril--are "hidden" by Hamas]
    4They have said, “Come, and let us wipe them out as a nation;
    Let the name of Israel be remembered no more.”
    [As true today as when it was written]


    So pursue them with Your tempest
    [IDF with a vengeance]

    And terrify them with [the violence of] Your storm.
    16Fill their faces with shame and disgrace,

    [terrorists who raised their weapons and shouted in victory two months ago are now laying down their weapons and surrendering in their underware]

    That they may [persistently] seek Your name, O LORD.
    [Amen, our prayer that enemy and friend alike will find the true God]

    17Let them be ashamed and dismayed forever;
    Yes, let them be humiliated and perish,
    [Yes, may they all surrender in humiliation of their acts--or, if unwilling to repent--perish]

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hmewrdbd,
      I agree! Layers upon layers, with deeper meaning in the precise words used (i.e. Divinely inspired text). I noted a long time ago that IAF aircraft are named in Psalm 83 (F-16I Sufa and F-15I Ra'am [Tempest and Storm] for example).

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    2. Tempest and Storm! I had no idea. My dad was an F100 pilot back in the day (career AF), so I especially like these names, right out of Scripture, for the IAF jets. They have played (as all factions of the IDF) an amazing role. The Israeli military/technological/intelligence apparatus is unsurpassed. That's what makes the upper level dismissal of the warnings so confounding. God. For His purposes. Israel's enemies were due a reckoning, but what an awful way to get there.

      Delete
  3. There's been another attack in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait on a commercial vessel per the UKMTO. Fire on board, all crew reported safe.

    There are reports of explosions at an inlandHouthi base and the sound of foreign jets overhead. This may be the first indication of an allied intervention against the Houthi rebels and in support of Yemen's legitimate government. Been anticipating such.

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    Replies
    1. Just hours after making this comment the news broke that the U.S. and Coalition allies have invited the internationally recognized government of Yemen to join the military coalition against the Houthis. Yemen has accepted the invitation.

      Delete
  4. RADM Daniel Hagari:

    "The story of Hanukkah is a story of survival.
    When faced with destruction, the Maccabees fought.
    They sacrificed their lives so that we could survive.

    Now it's our turn.
    "

    Perhaps without knowing, or perhaps in alluding to it, RADM Hagari confirms the crux of Asaph's Psalm 83 - the IDF knows that this war in 2023-24 AD is an existential war just as the Maccabean revolt was an existential war against the Seleucid Empire under Antiochus IV Epiphanes (forerunner Antichrist) in 167-66 BC.

    Talk about the past as a prologue! There's a definitive reason why the image at the head of this SITREP is the symbol of the IDF. The IDF (a mighty army) knows and fully understands the mission before it - believe it or not, it is what it is.

    And since after this war, unlike the Maccabees there is no Temple to rededicate, it might be the time for construction of the 3rd Temple to begin so that it is completed and dedicated after Ezekiel 38-39, and in time for the 42-month ministry of the Two Witnesses.

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  5. Things picking up pace... keep Jeremiah 49:23-27 in mind.

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  6. As a brief aside from my research:

    Why is Christmas Day on 25 December?

    It is probably directly related to the Maccabean revolt against the Seleucids under Antiochus IV Epiphanes.

    167-166 saw the Maccabees under the leadership of the Levite priest Matityahu from Modi'im, and his son Judah, defeat the Seleucid Greek armies and drive them from Jerusalem and the Temple.

    After many months of cleansing and restoration the Temple was rededicated to YHWH God on
    25 December 165 BC.

    This is when the first Hannukah occurred, the ever since 'Festival of Lights' in Judaism.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I believe Jesus (the light of the world) was conceived on Hannakah (feast of lights) and was born on feast of tabernacles.

      Delete
    2. Yup, I think as you do. It also matters not one iota when an individual believes our Lord was born, as long as he or she believes He is Yeshua HaMashiach, the living Son of God.

      Delete
  7. I was unaware of that. Thanks for sharing.

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    Replies
    1. There are so many differing "origin of Christmas myths," some of them even from alleged Christian origins, that one cannot shake a stick at all of them.

      A deep dive into the Jewish origins of Christianity was, pardon the pun, very illuminating.

      Delete
  8. Bibi Netanyahu, if he has any integrity, will tell Joe Biden to take a flying leap regarding Biden's demand that Bibi change his cabinet. Period.

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    Replies
    1. I seriously hope he does the right thing...he has a spotty history of doing the right thing. I think if he caves, he'll be replaced during the next election

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    2. It'll be the Lord's doing for Bibi to survive politically, as it always is.

      Delete
  9. Israel hit very hard at both the Syrian Army in Syria and Hezbollah in Lebanon today.

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    1. Again this morning (Wednesday) IDF armor and strike aircraft attacked positions of the Syrian Army.

      A couple possibilities for this rocket fire coming to Israel from the Syrian Army bases.
      1.) Hezbollah and IRGC Unit 304 proxy militia wearing Syrian Army uniform/insignia - or -
      2.) the Syrian Army has joined Hezbollah and IRGC Unit 304 proxy militia (Iraqi Shi'a) in their attacks on Israel.

      HAMAS executed an ambush on IDF in Shejaiya area of Gaza using IEDs in very close quarter battle (CQB). These battles are inside buildings at point-blank ranges of less than 6 feet in some cases. The IAF then conducts missile strikes to level the building. The CQB tactic is needed to secure battlefield intelligence.

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  10. We've long danced around the elephant in the room, but it's become impossible to ignore any longer.

    The elephant is Israel's near total dependence upon America for its military needs. We're talking billions upon billions of dollars every year. It hamstrings Israel in making national security decisions.

    Prophetic implications are huge.

    It's the reason why the Biden Administration recently dared to instruct Netanyahu he had to remove the Religious Zionists within Likud's governing coalition. Israel's sovereignty appears heavily compromised because of this.

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  11. Syria still possesses a Chemical Warfare (CW) arsenal.

    Since the regime of Bashar al-Assad first killed his own citizens with CW attacks in 2012 it has continued these attacks killing well over 1,500 civilians, and since 2015 under Russian military protection and blessing. This has occurred with impunity for the al-Assad regime with zero international repercussions.

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  12. The IDF has a target date for war against Hezbollah. Preparations are in progress, but Gaza is the immediate priority.

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  13. A senior HAMAS official has called on the muslim faithful to target Americans and Britons everywhere.

    In this holiday season be aware of your surroundings; be alert for suspicious activity and/or persons.
    See something, say something, let LE handle it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. There was an advisory of this type from FBI and DHS about a week ago or so, but given their anti-patriot "activities" in very recent years the advisory was ignored. Given the wide open southern border since 2021 there could be legions of terror-minded actors all over the USA, so a vigilent PSA is a good idea.

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  14. Breaking News: (hopefully not fake news) The Globalist NYT published a report this afternoon saying the Biden Administration has informed Israel the IDF must end combat operations in Gaza by 31 December (17 days from now). These are the same people who capitulated to the islamist Taliban in the Afghanistan debacle.

    Israel's war cabinet, on live Israeli TV earlier today, informed NSA Jake Sullivan that the IDF must continue (lower intensity) operations in Gaza for months to come.

    It was also announced a short while ago that SECDEF Austin and the new C-JCS General Charles Q. Brown (CQB??) will go to Israel next week.

    Israel must act in their sovereign national security interest. God has Israel's back, not the globalist US Administration.

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  15. Israel must be in a position where they know absolutely that their hope and deliverance comes from Hashem and no other. Whatever happens going forward, we who are watching know with absolute certainty that Israel will survive and that those who seek her destruction will themselves be destroyed.

    Seeing multiple reports of Rabbi's seeing exponentially increased interest from diaspora Jews 'leaning in' to their (previously dormant) faith. Secularism being replaced with geometrically increasing religious fervor.

    God is also operating on a much shorter fuse than previously - case in point; that Turkish parliamentarian who collapsed at the microphone immediately after cursing Israel in Turkish Parliament (yesterday I believe?); has since died.

    God is not mocked - tremble for those who curse His people.

    Bro. Steve

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    Replies
    1. Bro Steve.
      I saw the live footage of the guy suffering a heart attack IMMEDIATELY after cursing Israel. I personally think it may have been Genesis 12:3 in action. I can't prove it, but I think that's what happened

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    2. Agree 100% Bro. Jon. I also believe (my opinion) that the man concerned was effectively mocking Hashem by invoking 'gods' judgement on Israel and his political protagonists (i.e. since he was clearly referencing the moon god of the muslims). This would then intersect with Gal 6:7.

      There was a viral video a little over a year ago of a female 'comedian' in the States who collapsed on stage - just like the Turkish guy - right after making a mocking dual reference to both the number of mRNA jabs she'd had and a direct reference to our Jesus. She survived - apparently without learning any lesson from the experience.

      To quote Bro. Sean - the Church Age is drawing to a close, and God is turning his attention back to Israel. To me, that also means that the 'grace' paradigm is also changing. OT Israelites had to settle accounts with God every year and ask for another year of life. God also slew people on-the-spot for serious disobedience. As all of us here in ET know, sin is very serious business with our God.

      I fully (and sadly) expect to see an increasing amount of this type of individual direct judgement event going forward from now. Concurrently, we are watching this principle happen collectively in real time with Israel's enemies. 'Buckle up & look up' (with an eye on Israel).

      Thanks for your feedback Brother.

      Bro. Steve

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  16. I have no doubt that Israel will continue the fight to destroy HAMAS, PIJ and the other terrorists in Gaza for more than the coming few months, albeit in lower intensity.
    And at some point in 2024 the IDF will of necessity turn its most capable military might against the enemies on the northern front.
    In Judea and Samaria the terrorist base has been getting dismantled piece by piece over the past 70 days. Perhaps 4,000+ terrorists are now disarmed and in Israeli custody, with an eye across the border in Edom and Moab. Jerusalem remains a flash-point.
    No nation or group of nations can withstand against the sovereign will of the LORD God.

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    Replies
    1. The IDF has begun executing the plan to cut off the Gaza terrorist groups from escape into Egyptian Sinai.
      In Rafah and along the Gaza side of the border the "cut off and kill" mission is in progress.

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  17. Tragedy in Gaza. Three male Israeli hostages escaped from HAMAS. They ran towards IDF soldiers who misidentified them as terrorists and shot them.

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    Replies
    1. Very sad - that fellow who stopped that bus stop attack couple of weeks ago in East Jerusalem was also killed by FF.

      I see that there is some discussion around Israel's Hannibal Directive and its real world application from Oct 7th going forward.

      Bro. Steve

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    2. "Friendly Fire" is never, ever friendly.

      The hero, Yuval Doron Kastelman, 38, had already killed the two PA terrorists before two IDF reservists arrived on the scene. These two reservists did not operate in a professional manner as Kastelman had disarmed, was on his knees in full surrender (hands raised) when he was shot and killed. Video proves this correct.

      The references to the verboten 'Hannibal Protocol' are largely from leftist Israeli media (i.e. Ha'aretz) with a political agenda. For this reason alone I've never touched it over the past decade.

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    3. Bro Sean; Thanks so much for clarifying. I found the whole (HD) idea disturbing to say the least. YBIC, Steve G.

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    4. There's a lot of what is called 'misconduct' in Israel's left-wing media, but what these types of events really do indicate is a lack of following specific battlefield protocols by a small number of IDF troops. A failure in combat train-ups of trigger-happy reservists mostly.

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  18. Sean, this just posted on Bubbanews Telegram channel:

    "HUGE. This week, Congress passed the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) which includes the "Expediting Israeli Aerial Refueling Act of 2023."

    This authorization will finally transfer USA KC-46A AERIAL REFUELING TANKERS ✈️ to Israel.

    WHY IS THIS HUGE?

    The USA has the necessary capability to target Iran’s nuclear facilities, but WON'T. The KC-46A tanker will provide the single greatest boost to Israel by enhancing Israel’s ability to launch a preemptive
    strike against Iran and its ☢️ nuclear facilities.

    Israel will now get the Refueling Aircraft they have needed for the COMING ATTACK on IRAN with Elam in the crosshairs 🎯 (Jeremiah 49:35-37) the Elam area not only contains The Bushehr Nuclear ☢️ Plant, but the mountain range and coastline contains Irans long range ICBM's that can hit Israel in 400 seconds/6.66 minutes.

    The new tankers can refuel 3 Israeli jets simultaneously in 3-4 MINUTES and has cutting-edge defensive systems that Israel wants & needs for this attack."

    Interesting numbers re Iran's time to strike Israel with ICBMs

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hmewrdbd,
      I did not get overly excited about the NDAA because of the inherent timeline involved.

      "The “Expediting Israeli Aerial Refueling Act of 2023” requires the Department of Defense to expedite training for Israeli pilots and mechanics on Boeing’s KC-46A aerial refueling tankers before they are delivered to Israel. It also requires the Secretary of Defense to brief Congress on its efforts to expedite delivery of KC-46 aircraft to Israel, and on the potential costs and benefits of surging United States KC-46 aircraft to Israel prior to the delivery of the planes Israel has purchased."

      Expedited means no earlier than 2025 but not later than 2028 for the completion of training for IAF crew and maintenance personnel and the surging of one (1) forward deployed KC-46A aircraft of the USAF to Israel.

      Delete
    2. However, the LORD God will see to it in His way; He will bring the sword to bear.

      Delete
  19. This needs to be stated clearly for the record here.

    The October 7 Nova Festival on the Gaza border was a hedonistic, idolatrous heathen-like rave. It had nothing whatsoever to do with honoring the God of Israel, or His Commandments.

    Nova was more akin to the golden bull worship as Moses ascended the mountain of God. There was even a giant idol of a Buddha mounted on top of a pavillion there. This was an in-your-face example of apostate Israel in disbelief.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sean, I haven't looked into this music festival to see what was going on but I figured they weren't there singing "Jesus Loves Me and Amazing Grace".

      Delete
    2. Amen Brother!!! I thought exactly the same thing. Idolatrous and sexually immoral - right in Gods land. Judgement begins at home. Bro. Steve

      Delete
  20. Significant engagement across the northern border, heavy IAF airstrikes and IDF artillery barrages this morning.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Western allies have launched "Operation Prosperity Guardian" to deal with the Houthi (Iranian) threat to freedom of navigation in the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandab Strait choke point. In the first battle the destroyer USS Carney DDG-64 engaged and shot down 14 UCAV drones yesterday.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The Eisenhower CSG (CSG-2) is now cruising in the Gulf of Aden off the coast of Yemen. Allied commanders have been given options for potential (probable) strikes against the on-shore Houthi military forces.

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    2. This advance notice as of sunset EST 18 NOV being reported on most MSM news stations.

      36 hours advance notice is pretty good.

      Delete
  22. The French FM called upon Israel to do everything in its power to avoid war with Hezbollah in Lebanon.

    Really? Like France did 84 years ago to avoid war with Nazi Germany and which resulted in the Nazi military conquest and occupation of France? Is there a genuine difference in the French worldview between Nazis and Hezbollah jihadists?

    btw, France today is over run with jihadists. Learn much?

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  23. Another alleged IAF strike tonight on a Hezbollah base in southern Damascus, Syria.

    Interestingly, Bashar al-Assad is being referred to in a recent media report as "The King of Rubble."

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  24. The prophetic text of Ezekiel 38:11 (and other similar phrases in this chapter) will not be fulfilled until Hezbollah in Lebanon along with Shi'a militias and Syrian forces are reduced to nothing by military force.

    (This includes all of their long-range ballistic missile forces which easily hurdle mountains in posing a strategic threat to a peaceful people dwelling in security and safety.)

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  25. Before the sun sets today in the USA the full meaning of the current Eschatology Today multi-part series of "A Greater MidEast War" will become an established fact.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Now a fact.

      This is the large international military coalition we've expected to arise for several years.

      Delete
  26. A couple observations:

    1.) 11 months ago when Gen. Herzi Halevi became the IDF Chief of Staff (COS) we had a premonition that his promotion would be a most sigificant event in Israel's military history. This has proven to be more than mere premonition, but exceptionally prescient.

    2.) It's a sad fact that the Simchat Torah War in Gaza has proven the utter corruption and compromise of the United Nations (UN) and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). They've been exposed as shamefully useless and feckless "humanitarian" organizations.

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    1. It has also brought out into the light the amount of antisemitism there is in all societies.

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    2. Yes, it has exposed most of all the institutionalization of antisemitism, especially in the bastion of elites of Ivy League universities and among under-20 American youth indoctrinated by the Left in public schools.

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    3. Even though there is an increase in anti-semitism around the world doesn’t the Bible basically indicate this would be the case to drive the Jews back to Israel before the tribulation starts?
      Zoe

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    4. Zoe,

      How did the LORD God get Pharoah of Egypt to let Moses people go?

      He sent ten plagues upon Egypt.

      How does the LORD God say He would bring all Israel back into the promised land?

      He is not specific about how He will do it, just that He will do it. ("I will do it") The details are found in Ezekiel 37.

      Delete
  27. Ever wonder how all of the war materiel was transported into Gaza to arm the various jihadi terror organizations?

    The former head of COGAT, Col. Grisha Yakubovich, just informed the world that there were 1,000 tunnels along the entire length of the Egypt-Gaza border. These tunnels are large enough for trucks, buses and all manner of transportation to pass into Gaza undetected. The method of cooperation between Egypt and HAMAS is now known to Israeli intelligence as "the three monkey's" - hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil.

    In coming post-war discussions this knowledge is why Israel will insist absolutely that the IDF will have sole security responsibility in Gaza.

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  28. Military action against the Houthis in Yemen is imminent...

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  29. The Hebrew word for violence is 'hamas.' Genesis 6:11

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  30. Multiple rocket impacts reported in Kiryat Shmona, Israel that were fired from Syria. Both Hezbollah in Quneitra and Iraqi Shi'a militia in Dara'a are under heavy return fire from the IDF.

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    Replies
    1. The in-flight time of rockets in the north is so short that Red Alert warnings are received by civilians after the rockets have impacted.

      There's little to nothing to stop war escalation on the northern front from going full-scale at no notice. Isaiah 17.

      Delete
  31. Within US CENTCOM military responsibility for the Red Sea is under CTF-153 (United Kingdom, Bahrain, Canada, France, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Seychelles and Spain).

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  32. Today the Royal Jordanian Armed Forces (air and land) attacked IRGC militias in southern Syria who are trafficking drugs into the kingdom.

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  33. My response to Zoe above received zero attention from anyone.
    Therefore, I would like to reframe my response to make the most important point.

    Why has God been returning Israel to the land He promised to them by eternal covenant?

    Again, the one and only correct answer is provided by God through His prophet Ezekiel in chapter 37.

    That answer is one extremely profound, all-encompassing sentence found in Ezekiel 37:23.

    ISRAEL IS BEING RETURNED TO THE LAND OF ISRAEL IN PREPARATION FOR THEIR REDEMPTION!

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  34. The US has formed an International Coalition of 10 Nations to fight Iran's Houthi proxy in Yemen, the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandab Strait.

    This concludes Global SITREP D4-23.

    ReplyDelete
  35. Colorado successfully removed trump from the ballot

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  36. Thanks for all the prayers. Moving on to D5:23.

    ReplyDelete

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