Al Mayadeen – December 3, 2024
Yemeni, Iraqi Resistance attack three Israeli targets with drones
YAF spokesperson Yahya Saree says two operations targeted Israeli sites in northern occupied Palestine, while one operation targeted a vital site in the Umm al-Rashrash (Eilat) area in southern occupied Palestine.
The Yemeni Armed Forces, in coordination with the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, have carried out three military operations against the Israeli occupation entity within the past 48 hours, YAF spokesperson Brigadier General Yahya Saree announced on Tuesday
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Saree said that two operations targeted Israeli sites in northern occupied Palestine using several drones, while one operation targeted a vital site in the Umm al-Rashrash (Eilat) area in southern occupied Palestine, also using multiple drones.
The three operations successfully achieved their objectives, the YAF spokesperson confirmed.
He said the operations were in solidarity with the Palestinian people and their Resistance fighters, and in response to the Israeli crimes against the Gaza Strip.
Saree underscored that the YAF, alongside the Iraqi Resistance, remains committed to responding to the Israeli crimes against Palestinians in Gaza, reiterating that these operations will continue until the Israeli aggression ceases and the siege imposed on the Strip is lifted.
The announcement came a couple of days after the YAF said they targeted one US destroyer and three US supply ships in the Arabian Sea and Gulf of Aden, in support of the Palestinian people and its Resistance, in response to the Israeli crimes in the Gaza Strip, and in retaliation to the American-British aggression on Yemen.
Saree confirmed in a statement that the Stena Impeccable, Maersk Saratoga, and Liberty Grace ships, belonging to the US Army, as well as an American destroyer, were targeted in a top-tier military operation carried out by the YAF's missile and drone forces.
According to the statement, 16 ballistic missiles, one cruise missile, and one drone were used to carry out the multifaceted operation, achieving precise hits, in both the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Aden.
Al Mayadeen – December 3, 2024
Canada designates Ansar Allah as terrorist over anti-Israel operations
A statement by the Canadian government highlights Ansar Allah's involvement in operations against the Israeli occupation entity.
Canada has designated the Ansar Allah movement, known as Yemen's popular resistance, as a "terrorist entity", citing its operations against Israel and other activities.
Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc announced the designation on Monday, stating that it “contributes to our efforts in fighting terrorism globally and aligning Canada with our allies.”
LeBlanc accused the Resistance group of engaging in "acts of violent extremism and terrorism" and emphasized that Canada would continue to take steps "to curtail the spread of these activities internationally and to counter threats to Canada, its citizens, and its interests around the world.”
The Canadian government also issued a statement describing Ansar Allah as a "militant group" involved in "acts of insurgency" since the early 2000s.
It claimed the movement sought to overthrow Yemen's former leadership, including ex-president Abd Rabbu Mansur Hadi, who resigned in 2014 amid political unrest and later fled to Saudi Arabia.
The statement highlighted Ansar Allah's involvement in operations against the Israeli occupation entity, including attacks on Israeli ships and vessels transporting supplies to "Israel" in response to its war on the Gaza Strip, which has killed over 44,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, since October 2023.
Additionally, Ottawa accused Ansar Allah of maintaining ties with Iran's Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) and the Islamic Resistance in Lebanon - Hezbollah.
Both the IRGC and Hezbollah, already designated as "terrorist entities" by Canada, have denied hierarchical relationships, asserting that anti-terror and Resistance movements in the region operate independently.
Despite their contributions to combating terrorism in the region, both groups remain under Canada's "terrorism" designations.
Al Mayadeen – December 3, 2024
Day 424 of Israeli genocide in Gaza: 44,502 killed, 105,454 injured
Israeli airstrikes and artillery fire have unleashed widespread destruction and loss of life across the Gaza Strip, with attacks targeting residential areas and civilian shelters.
The number of Palestinians killed since the start of the Israeli war on the Gaza Strip has risen to 44,502, in addition to 105,454 injuries since October 7, 2023, the Gaza Health Ministry announced on Sunday
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In its daily report on the 424th day of the genocide, the Ministry noted that Israeli occupation forces committed two massacres against civilians in the Gaza Strip in 24 hours, killing 36 people and injuring 96 others who were transported to hospitals.
Several Palestinians were killed and wounded this morning in Israeli airstrikes across various areas of the Gaza Strip.
Three members of the al-Masri family were martyred in an airstrike on the main street of Beit Lahia, in the northern Gaza Strip, while they were en route to check on their homes.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Gaza reported that eight more people were killed in an attack targeting a home and shelters for forcibly displaced persons in Beit Lahia, northern Gaza.
Our correspondent also reported Israeli artillery fire on residential homes in the eastern al-Shuja'iyya neighborhood of Gaza City, as well as gunfire from Israeli drones, including a quadcopter. Additionally, Israeli naval vessels targeted the coastline of Gaza City.
In southern Gaza, a four-story residential building was hit, resulting in casualties and sparking rescue efforts to save those trapped under the rubble.
Further south, a Palestinian was killed in an airstrike on the al-Nasr neighborhood, north-east of Rafah, while Israeli artillery also shelled areas in northern Khan Younis.
Late Monday, the Israeli military issued evacuation orders for several areas in al-Qarara, north of Khan Younis, including Abu al-Ajeen, Abu Holi, the mills, and northern al-Qarara. However, no area in Gaza is deemed safe, as Israeli bombardment has spread across the entire region, and the siege continues.
Israeli strikes intensify across Gaza, targeting hospitals
Al-Awda Hospital in northern Gaza came under direct attack as Israeli artillery shelled its fifth floor, while quadcopters dropped bombs in the hospital courtyard, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis.
An Israeli airstrike struck the densely populated al-Rimal neighborhood in western Gaza City, resulting in the killing of one Palestinian and injuries to two others. The area, known for its residential buildings and bustling streets, has become a scene of devastation, as the attack further underscores the escalating toll on civilians amid ongoing aggression.
Meanwhile, two Palestinians were killed and several others were injured in an airstrike targeting a gathering of civilians in Jabalia, northern Gaza Strip.
Gaza Civil Defense reported that its rescue teams were subjected to Israeli artillery fire east of Rafah while attempting to save the injured trapped under the rubble.
Al Mayadeen – December 3, 2024
Israeli drone strike on Syria's Damascus airport road kills one
The Syrian Arab News Agency says a car exploded after it was targeted in an Israeli aggression on the road to Damascus International Airport.
One person was killed as a result of an Israeli drone attack targeting a vehicle on the Damascus International Airport road near the Aqrabah Bridge, Al Mayadeen’s correspondent reported Tuesday, adding that the assault caused material damage at the site.
"A car exploded after it was targeted in an Israeli aggression on the road to Damascus International Airport," the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) confirmed, citing a police source.
Damascus' Ministry of Foreign Affairs has repeatedly condemned Israeli assaults on Syrian territory, asserting that the occupation’s aggressive actions and its ongoing targeting of civilian areas are "a consequence of the lack of serious action to restrain it."
The Ministry also renewed its call for the United Nations to "urgently take firm measures to stop the aggression and hold its perpetrators accountable."
In November, "Israel" carried out a massive aggression on Syria, targeting Tadmor, mainly striking residential buildings and resulting in scores of fatalities and injuries.
At least 36 people were killed and 50 others were injured as the Israeli military launched an aerial aggression from the direction of the al-Tanf area, targeting a number of buildings in the city of Tadmor in the Syrian desert, a military source revealed.
Israel-engineered terrorism in Aleppo shows Syria's key role in Axis of Resistance
By Ghadir Khumm
Following the cessation of Israeli hostilities in Lebanon with a ceasefire on November 27, residents of south Lebanon, along with those from other affected regions, were finally able to return to their homes.
However, certain border villages and towns have been classified as "high-risk" areas due to heightened security concerns, rendering them inaccessible for the time being. 
There have even been reports about Israeli occupation forces stationed at the border opening fire at Lebanese people who tried to return to their homes after the ceasefire.
Meanwhile, a ceasefire in Lebanon coincided with the intensification of violent aggression in western Aleppo, where the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) is currently engaged in confrontations against Israel-backed Takfiri terrorists incorrectly described in mainstream media as Syrian “rebels.”
These terrorist groups, operating in Syria under the umbrella of Hayat Tahrir Al Sham, are supported by the Israeli regime and Western powers and represent a broader geopolitical dynamic at play.
The Zionist entity’s recent disgraceful defeat in southern Lebanon after nearly 70 days of unchecked aggression, marked by its inability to penetrate Lebanese territory due to Hezbollah’s adept military maneuvers, prompted a strategic recalibration.
To salvage its already tattered image, the Israeli regime is now pursuing new fronts of war, aiming to disrupt critical supply chains facilitating the transfer of arms to the Lebanese resistance.
This escalation follows a pointed warning from the Zionist entity’s Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, telling him “You’re playing with fire.”
Netanyahu’s statement, made in the aftermath of the ceasefire in Lebanon and admission of defeat against Hezbollah, directly references Syria’s crucial role in helping the Axis of Resistance.
Syria’s role in the Axis of Resistance
Syria plays a pivotal role within the Axis of Resistance, serving as a key supporter of both Hezbollah and Palestinian resistance factions by facilitating the transfer of weapons and resources. 
Beyond its logistical contributions, Syria also hosts critical research facilities in the city of Aleppo, underscoring its strategic importance to the broader resistance network. Furthermore, Syria remains a frontline state in the struggle against Western-backed proxies, which aim to gain control of Aleppo and undermine President Bashar al-Assad’s democratically-elected government in Damascus.
These dynamics highlight Syria’s dual role as both a logistical hub and a steadfast actor in resisting external attempts to destabilize the region.
Syria’s arms depots, consisting of domestically manufactured weapons as well as supplies procured from other countries, have been instrumental in supporting Hezbollah’s operations in Lebanon.
Over the last decade, Syrian research facilities and scientific research centers dedicated to weapons development have been repeatedly targeted by the enemy.
This has included airstrikes on strategic sites and the targeted killings of key personnel involved in coordinating arms transfers. In recent weeks, these attacks have intensified, signaling a deliberate effort to weaken Syria’s military infrastructure and its role in sustaining the resistance.
At the same time, resistance forces are positioned in Aleppo to counter the growing threat of enemy-backed proxies in and from northern Syria. These proxies are attempting to overextend the resistance and cut off essential supply routes, further illustrating the interconnected nature of the regional war.
Why did Syria refrain from entering war?
The argument that Syria did not enter the war against the Zionist regime is rooted in the complex realities of its domestic and regional circumstances.
Syria refrained from direct involvement alongside Hezbollah or Palestinian resistance factions because it is deeply engaged in its own internal battles, fighting terrorist forces within its borders. Despite this, Syria has continued to serve as a critical supplier of weapons to the resistance front.
For instance, when Hezbollah targeted the Israeli regime’s Tel Nof airbase, it used a modified version of the 302-mm Syrian M-302 Khaibar-1 Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) with a declared range of up to 225 km, referred to as the “Fadi-6.”
This adaptation, provided by Syria, included extending the rocket's range and reducing the warhead's weight, resulting in a total weight of 650 kg and a 140 kg warhead.
Additionally, a military video released by Hezbollah on November 3 highlighted its underground facilities and reinforced its commitment to resistance.
“We will not leave the battlefield... We will not lay down our weapons," it stated.
The footage showcased “Fadi-4” rockets, derived from Syria’s Khaibar-1, alongside AKS-74U carbines, further demonstrating Syria’s contributions to the Lebanese resistance’s arsenal.
There have also been repeated discoveries of weapons by the IOF during their infiltration of warehouses and buildings in southern Lebanon. Among these findings were weapons of Russian origin, previously identified as being used by the Syrian Arab Army.
These discoveries further underscore Syria’s deep involvement and unwavering support for Hezbollah, demonstrating the extent of its commitment to the resistance.
Israel’s terror operations in Syria (2022–2024)
Between 2022 and 2024, Israel’s operations in Syria largely focused on dismantling the country’s air defenses, radar systems, and military research facilities.
It systematically targeted critical components of Syria’s military infrastructure, including scientific research centers, defense laboratories, and weapons depots. These sites are essential for Syria’s military development and strategic capabilities.
In early November 2024, for example, Israel launched an attack on a scientific research facility and defense laboratories of the Syrian Arab Army near Al-Safira in the Aleppo countryside.
These facilities are not only critical bridges for the transfer of weapons but also central to Syria’s broader role in supporting the resistance. Syria’s scientific research centers, defense laboratories, and military manufacturing facilities form the backbone of its defense capabilities, enabling the production of weapons ranging from bullets to missiles and artillery.
Humiliation in Lebanon fuels Zionist-proxy violence in Syria
Israeli regime’s recent actions can be characterized as defeatist, reflecting its acknowledgment of losing the war in Lebanon against the Lebanese resistance before it even began.
Its escalations in Syria are not only attempts to regain some semblance of control but are also aimed at undermining Hezbollah’s resistance capabilities.
However, the SAA remains steadfast in its defense of the Syrian people and its support for the Axis of Resistance. The freedom fighters in Syria are deeply loyal to President Bashar al-Assad and inspired by the martyrdom of iconic leaders such as Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah.
Over the past decade, Syria has significantly bolstered the resistance in Lebanon, including advancements in drone and missile technology for Hezbollah.
In parallel, an intense propaganda campaign against the SAA is in full swing, similar to those launched against the Arab country beginning in 2011.
Such efforts aim to delegitimize Syria’s role in the resistance axis and weaken its influence.
Yet, history demonstrates that when an enemy resorts to these strategies in the aftermath of a defeat, it is often only a matter of time before it faces another failure.
Syria’s resilience and its strategic alliances continue to thwart the Tel Aviv regime’s attempts to destabilize the region, and the enduring battle for a liberated Palestine continues.
Ghadir Khumm is a university student in Canada pursuing a master’s degree. She focuses on postcolonial studies, dedicates her time to international relations, and crafts insightful political analyses on global issues.
Daily Sabah – December 3, 2024
Turkish defense industry seals new export record even before year-end
Türkiye’s defense and aerospace industry has achieved nearly $5.8 billion (TL 201.55 billion) worth of exports this year as of November, the new highest annual sales ever, having a month left to further build on the peak.
The sector’s outbound shipments rose by 19% year-over-year from January through November to almost $5.76 billion, according to data from the Turkish Exporters Assembly (TIM).
Over the past 12 months, exports grew by 18.4% year-over-year, totaling $6.48 billion, the data showed.
Driven by combat drones, defense exports reached a record $5.5 billion in 2023, renewing the previous peak of $4.4 billion in 2022.
Officials earlier estimated the figure could approach $7 billion by the end of 2024.
In November alone, defense and aviation industry exports reached $637 million, marking a 32.3% increase compared to a year ago.
“Our defense industry is continuously growing, developing and strengthening. With our broad, skilled and dynamic ecosystem, proven systems in the field and ever-increasing export potential, we are showing the world that Türkiye is now a significant player in the big leagues,” Haluk Görgün, the head of the Presidency of Defense Industries (SSB).
Görgün highlighted that defense industry companies have become capable of exporting to the entire world, having managed to sell their products to 178 different countries in 2024.
Türkiye has injected billions of dollars over the past two decades, which has helped it transform from a nation heavily reliant on equipment from abroad to one where homegrown systems now meet almost all of its defense industry needs.
For years, Ankara has voiced frustrations over its Western allies' failure to provide adequate defense against missile threats despite Türkiye being a NATO member.
The investment drive prompted the development of a range of homegrown air, land and marine platforms, which eventually helped Türkiye seal billions of dollars worth of export deals in recent years.
That helped lower Türkiye's foreign dependency in the defense industry from around 80% in the early 2000s to some 20% today.
Anadolu Agency – December 3, 2024
206 priceless archaeological, heritage sites destroyed by Israel in Gaza: Palestinian official
‘Israel targeting these sites reflects systematic strategy to obliterate Palestinian identity,' says Ismail Thawabteh
The Israeli army has destroyed and vandalized 206 priceless archaeological and heritage sites amid its genocidal war on the Gaza Strip, a Palestinian official said on Tuesday.
"Palestinian archaeological and heritage sites were not spared from destruction, vandalism, looting and theft by the Israeli occupation army," Ismail Thawabteh, the head of Gaza's Government Media Office, told Anadolu.
He said some of the sites were completely destroyed, while others took severe damage.
“Israel's targeting of these sites reflects a systematic strategy to obliterate the Palestinian identity,” he added.
Prominent among archaeological sites targeted by the Israeli army in Gaza are the Great Omari Mosque, Byzantine Church in Jabalia, Shrine of Al-Khadir in the central Gaza city of Deir al-Balah, and Blakhiya Byzantine cemetery (the Anthedon of Palestine) in northwestern Gaza City.
Also on the list are also the Greek Orthodox Saint Porphyrius Church, 400-year-old Al-Saqqa House, and Sayed al-Hashim Mosque, one of the oldest mosques in Gaza.
Some of the ancient and archaeological sites destroyed by the Israeli army date back to the Phoenician and Roman eras, while others date from between 800 BC and AD 1400, and some more recent ones were built 400 years ago.
Gaza is an ancient and historic city that came under the rule of several empires and civilizations, including the Egyptian pharaohs, the Greeks, Romans, and Byzantines, and then Ottoman rule in the Islamic era, among others.
“These criminal acts aim to harm the Palestinian people, their history and culture,” Thawabteh said
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Israel, he said, seeks “to obliterate the Palestinian cultural heritage, break the will of the Palestinians and consolidate the occupation as part of a plan to empty the land of its people and impose a new reality."
Since launching its genocidal war on Gaza following a Hamas attack in October 2023, Israel has killed over 44,400 Palestinians, most of them women and children, and injured more than 105,000, according to official figures.
The second year of the genocide in Gaza has drawn widespread international condemnation, with starvation tactics and blocking humanitarian aid deliveries denounced as deliberate attempts to destroy the entire population.
Last month, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, accusing them of war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.
Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) for its actions in Gaza, which have drawn mounting international condemnation.
India's Religious Minorities Face Existential Crisis
Pieter Friedrich’s speech given at the UN 17th session forum on minority issues
[Pieter is a US-based independent journalist and author specializing in analysis of current and historical affairs in South Asia, with a particular focus on the issue of India’s Hindu nationalist movement and its influence on sociopolitical events in America.]
I represent a coalition of U.S. NGOs, including International Defenders Council, the Federation of Indian-American Christian Organizations of North America, the New York State Council of Churches, and more — and I speak as a journalist who experienced transnational repression when RAW, India’s external intelligence agency, targeted me in 2021.
Understanding representation of India’s religious minorities in the media requires knowing what India’s media won’t tell you about how they’re treated.
Understanding how they’re treated is best prefaced by last year’s assassination plots against North American Sikhs. A Canadian Sikh was assassinated at his place of worship while a plot against a U.S. Sikh was foiled. India's RAW is implicated in both plots. These Sikh activists fled violence after the 1984 Sikh Genocide, the 40th anniversary of which was this month, and yet they could not find safety even abroad.
The transnational repression they faced is driven by India’s current autocratic direction, which is guided by a Hindu nationalist ideology that targets Christians, Muslims, Sikhs, and others, creating an existential crisis for India’s religious minorities.
Ongoing anti-Christian violence in Manipur is a prime example, as hundreds of churches have been torched and hundreds of Christians massacred.
Throughout India, mosques and churches are invaded or demolished, mobs lynch minorities, homes and businesses of minorities who criticize the regime are bulldozed, “anti-conversion” laws criminalize the act of changing religions, and public calls for genocide of Indian Christians and Muslims, made by speakers linked to the ruling party, are now commonplace.
The Indian government’s embrace of majoritarian rule is pushing religious minorities to the brink. Prime Minister Narendra Modi exemplified that this year by crossing the church/state boundary and assuming the role of a priest to inaugurate a temple built on the ruins of a mosque which was demolished by a Hindu nationalist mob.
Ensuring representation of India’s religious minorities in any space — in fact, even its existence at all — is not only an urgent issue, but has now, as seen with these assassination plots, become a global issue.
So we ask the Special Rapporteur on Minority Issues to conduct a country visit to India.
