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| Image: Ariel Hermoni, Israel Ministry of Defense |
UPDATE 5 April 2023: Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff (CoS) General Herzi HaLevi has finally spoken openly about Israel's capability to launch a campaign of "overwhelming" strikes against Iran's nuclear weapons and delivery systems programs without the involvement of American forces. CoS HaLevi stated that Israel is fully prepared to execute such a campaign at this time. Anyone who thinks that an Israeli military move against Iran's nukes and missile delivery systems would be a "one and done" type of operation had better think again. Such military action will be an extended campaign in every sense of the word.
Notwithstanding the U.S. Biden Administration's open hostility to Israel's duly elected Likud-Religious Zionist coalition government, HaLevi acknowledged that having the U.S. military on Israel's side would be beneficial, it is not a necessity. Both nations are opposed to the apocalypse-minded Twelver's nuclear weapons and missile systems, and a U.S. Biden Administration failure to act preemptively would make the botched Afghanistan and JCPOA revival pale to virtual insignificance. So, Israel acting unilaterally following a promised notification to US CENTCOM of its intent to launch, may actually force the U.S. to commit to joint action.
CoS HaLevi also made clear that Israel's civil situation, as well as continuous gun and knife attacks against IDF soldiers and civilians in Judea and Samaria, both in concert with Iran's unrelenting nuclear enrichment activities, makes an Israeli preemptive campaign more rather than less likely in the coming days. The confrontation between flash-bang grenade tossing police forces and Islamic radicals holes up inside the Al-Aqsa Mosque yesterday quickly escalated into a total of 18 HAMAS rockets being launched into southern Israel in at least three salvos. No deaths or serious damage resulted from the rocket fire. The IAF and Israeli tanks immediately responded with punishing strikes against terrorist targets within Gaza and border observation towers.
Israel's Security Cabinet may have just convened as requested by NATSEC Advisor Itamar ben Gvir.
3 April 2023: Last evening Arutz Sheva published the comments made by Defense Minister Yoav Gallant during his tour of the Etzion Regional Brigade whose AOR is around Bethlehem. Accompanying DM Gallant on this tour were the Commander of the Judea and Samaria Division, the CoS of Central Command and the Commander of the Shaked Battalion, Givati Brigade. The presence of these elite combatant commanders is indicative of the seriousness military situation Israel is currently facing; it's open publication in unclassified public media serves as I&W (Indication and Warning).
The situational assessment DM Gallant provided these commander with yesterday follows:
"All our fronts are tense. The Iranians are extending their outreach to Judea, Samaria, and Gaza and attempting to entrench themselves in Syria and Lebanon. We will not allow the Iranians and Hezbollah to harm us. We have not allowed it in the past, we won’t allow it now or anytime in the future. When necessary – we will push them out of Syria to where they belong – and that is [in] Iran."
