Al Mayadeen – November 13,2024
Hezbollah drone strikes Israeli Security Ministry in Tel Aviv
The Islamic Resistance in Lebanon says it targeted the Kirya base, which houses the headquarters of "Israel's" main security institutions.
In a first, the Islamic Resistance in Lebanon - Hezbollah announced that its fighters launched Wednesday an aerial attack using a swarm of high-end one-way drones targeting the Israeli occupation's Security Ministry in the city of Tel Aviv.
In a statement, Hezbollah pointed out that it targeted the Kirya base, which houses the headquarters of "Israel's" Ministry of Security, General Staff, War Management Room, and the Air Force’s war monitoring and control authority.
According to the statement, the drones accurately hit their intended targets. This marks the first time that Hezbollah employed these types of drones in striking Israeli military targets.
The Islamic Resistance said the attack was part of its Khaybar series of operations and under the call "Labbyaka ya Nasrallah" [here we respond to your call, O Nasrallah].
The group also said the operation comes "in support of our steadfast Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip, in solidarity with their brave and honorable resistance, and in defense of Lebanon and its people."
It is noteworthy that since late September, Hezbollah's high-end rockets, missiles, and one-way drones have reached the suburbs of Tel Aviv, targeting Israeli military bases, intelligence headquarters, as well as industrial military companies specializing in the production and development of military equipment and systems used by the Israeli occupation forces in their aggression and violations of the sovereignty of numerous countries in the region.
Al Mayadeen – November 13, 2024
Israeli Army achievements diminishing, Hezbollah's on the rise: Israeli media
Israeli media outlets have confirmed that "Israel has not yet defeated Hezbollah," noting "a decline in its achievements in contrast to the party's growing successes."
The military affairs correspondent for Israel Hayom confirmed to Channel 12 that "Israel has not yet defeated Hezbollah," emphasizing that "the situation is far from over."
He noted that this sentiment is being discussed not only by "settlers in the north and soldiers fighting in southern Lebanon but also by residents of Tel Aviv who entered the fortified areas yesterday."
Channel 12 responded by stating, "There is no doubt that Israel's gains are diminishing over time, while Hezbollah's achievements are on the rise," adding that this shift is "a fundamental reality of war and a well-understood dynamic."
Similarly, strategic advisor Barak Sari told the same channel that "Hezbollah is moving toward a prolonged war of attrition," adding that "Israel is less equipped for this type of conflict, as it seeks to return to normalcy and restore its economy and society."
Our return to the north is still far away: Israeli media
Moshe Davidovich, head of the Front Line Settlements Forum in northern occupied Palestine, described "a bizarre state of calm mixed with extreme panic" caused by the intensity of rocket and drone attacks from Lebanon over the past three days.
Davidovich told "Israel's" Channel 12 that this morning "began with a drone attack, and this has now become routine," noting that "as the days go by, Hezbollah's pressure continues to intensify."
He continued, "We want to bring the settlers back to the north, but calm must be restored first, which has not happened yet and is still a long way off," adding that "the situation remains very sensitive, with tensions running extremely high."
Davidovich also stated that "the north has been in a state of great chaos in recent days," emphasizing that "the army is mistaken regarding the issue of the settlers' return."
In this context, Davidovich pointed out that the settlers "do not feel safe, nor do they believe they can return to their homes, as they feel the mission is far from over."
Lebanese rockets pound occupied north, Tel Aviv
Sirens blasted in tens of settlements in Tel Aviv after three rockets were launched from Lebanon toward central occupied Palestine, the Israeli occupation military spokesperson admitted on Tuesday. As a result, Ben Gurion Airport, which is located in easternmost Tel Aviv, went out of service for over half an hour, according to the Israeli Channel 12.
Simultaneously, sirens also blared in Nahariya in West al-Jalil after rockets launched from Lebanon made an impact in its Industrial Zone, killing two Israelis and wounding two others, Channel 14's correspondent reported. Israeli media then revealed that the casualties were members of the settlement's reserve force.
Israeli media had announced that "Hezbollah's rockets traveled tens of kilometers and forced millions of settlers into shelters."
Tel Aviv is considered the occupation's economic, vital, and political nucleus. Demographically, the city has become a refuge for settlers fleeing from the Gaza envelope, as well as from the north up to Haifa, assuming they would be safe from Resistance rockets.
However, on Tuesday, Hezbollah announced that it had targeted the Tel Nof airbase, south of Tel Aviv, with a barrage of high-end Fadi 6 rockets.
Tel Aviv has been targeted five times during the past week, with four of the operations carried out by Hezbollah. These included the targeting of the Tzrifin base near Ben Gurion Airport, the Bilu base of the reserve paratrooper brigade in the south, and the Tel Nof airbase in the south twice.
Al Mayadeen – November 13, 2024
Israel records 321 injuries in one week, 22,000 since Oct. 2023
The injuries were distributed across several hospitals, including Ziv in Safad, Rambam in Haifa, Carmel, and others.
The Israeli Ministry of Health announced that it has recorded 321 injuries since its last update on Thursday, November 7.
Among these, 21 cases were registered in the north of occupied Palestine (within the last 24 hours), and 202 injuries have been recorded since the last update, the ministry indicated.
It indicated that the total number of hospital admissions since October 10, 2023, has reached 22,047.
The injuries were distributed across several hospitals, including Ziv in Safad, Rambam in Haifa, Carmel, and others.
It is noteworthy that "Israel" only announces a fraction of its human and material losses, due to the strict confidentiality imposed by the Israeli Military Censorship Unit.
Meanwhile, the Palestinian Resistance in Gaza and the Lebanese Resistance in southern Lebanon affirm that their daily operations are causing numerous casualties and injuries among the ranks of the Israeli occupation forces.
Just yesterday, the Islamic Resistance in Lebanon highlighted that Hezbollah's field observations since October 1, 2024, showed that Israeli losses include over 100 fatalities and 1,000 injuries among officers and soldiers.
Israeli media also reported Tuesday that 24 Israeli soldiers have been eliminated in northern Gaza since the beginning of November.
Entire Israeli division killed, injured throughout war: Ex-General
Military experts, who have previously held senior positions in the Israeli occupation military, confirmed that the war has come at a heavy cost, "one that is beyond what the soldiers of the Israeli army can bear."
Former Major General Noam Tibon, who served as the commander of the Israeli military's Northern Corps, said in early November, "Unfortunately, the Israeli army is not telling the truth. We are short of 10,000 soldiers in this war, the equivalent of a full division."
The Israeli occupation military has also lost another division, between killed and wounded, throughout the war, Tibon told the Israeli Channel 12.
Severe shortages in manpower within the Israeli occupation military have been reported, with reports revealing major reductions in combat soldiers, while the Israeli government drafts the exemption of the Haredi community from military service.
The Israeli Security Ministry's Rehabilitation Department recently revealed that it has received at least 12,000 occupation soldiers since the start of the war in October 2023, including those diagnosed and suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
Approximately 43% of the 12,000 troops suffer from PTSD, while 14% have sustained moderate to severe injuries, including 23 cases with severe head trauma, 60 cases of amputation, and 12 who permanently lost their eyesight.
The former commander of the Northern Corps previously said that over 800 soldiers were killed, around 12,000 wounded, and thousands were suffering from shock since the beginning of the war.
https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/-israel--records-321-injuries-in-one-week--22-000-since-oct
Press TV – November 13, 2024
Hezbollah is not only intact but stronger than ever, inflicting blows on Zionist entity
By Wesam Bahrani
It has been over 40 days since Hezbollah resistance movement leader and revered icon of the Axis of Resistance Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah attained martyrdom after decades of struggle.
Throughout more than a year of relentless American-Israeli genocidal war against Gaza, Seyyed Nasrallah, without a shade of doubt, demonstrated his unwavering courage and commitment to the Palestinian cause and literally walked the talk.
At a time when Arab leaders were still bamboozled and unsure about how to react, Sayyed Nasrallah ordered his resistance fighters to join Operation Al-Aqsa Flood (Storm) on October 8.
Years ago, when the US offered security guarantees to Hezbollah in exchange for the Lebanese resistance movement severing ties with Palestinians, he resolutely responded:
"You offer us security while Palestine, its people, al-Quds, and al-Aqsa Mosque have no security. Damn you and damn your security (guarantees)."
This declaration came almost 24 years ago, soon after Hezbollah had famously forced Israeli occupation forces out of Lebanon.
Other Arab leaders, except for Syria, fell into these so-called “security assurances.”
"The Americans even informed us that you can continue backing the Palestinians and their resistance in public. That's why you hear some (Arab) rulers publicly supporting the Palestinians," the late Hezbollah leader noted almost a decade ago.
Today, following the year-long genocidal war on Gaza, which has killed nearly 43,700 Palestinians, Sayyed Nasrallah’s words resonate more powerfully than ever.
But he left behind more than wise words. He left a Lebanese resistance that has made him, and many around the world, incredibly proud with their pro-Palestine operations.
The current Zionist war on Lebanon surpasses even the 2006 war, which lasted 33 days.
Back then, Israeli occupation forces penetrated more than ten kilometers into Lebanon—though Hezbollah had planned ambushes within Lebanese territory, forcing the occupying forces to retreat quickly from towns like Bint Jbeil.
Now, nearly a month and a half into another attempted ground invasion, the occupation forces are merely shifting meters at the border, failing to secure a single Lebanese village.
On at least three occasions since last September, Hezbollah has successfully repelled Israeli occupation forces at the strategic village of al-Khiam, leaving the occupation humiliated.
This costly stalemate has compelled Israel to seek “indirect” political negotiations, although Lebanon remains uninvolved, with US envoy Hochstein absent from Beirut.
It’s a failed ground invasion by all measures, even admitted by the Israeli media outlets.
Further evidence of defeat may be seen in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's unceremonious dismissal of Yoav Gallant, pointing to increased fissures and disintegration of the regime.
Unlike Netanyahu, Gallant, with his military background, recognized that a ground invasion of Lebanon was suicidal for Israeli troops—something Netanyahu could not accept, despite mounting Israeli military casualties at the border.
Gallant also noted Israel’s setbacks in Gaza, particularly in the northern part of the blockaded territory around Jabalia, which continues to resist despite intense bombardment.
Netanyahu isn’t the only one unwilling to yield. Palestinians and Lebanese also remain defiant and resolute, unbowed by American-Israeli attempts to turn them against the resistance.
The resilience in Gaza’s north is deeply moving. Despite continuous bombings, Palestinians prefer to die in their homes rather than be forced to other areas and get burned alive at a hospital shelter.
A brave Palestinian woman who declared, “I will use this white cloth as a shroud for my children, but never wave it as a flag of surrender,” speaks for all Palestinians and Lebanese.
The Palestinian resistance continues to claim Israeli military casualties in Gaza, despite heavy bombardment, a commitment that Hezbollah mirrors by maintaining its support for the besieged territory, its people, and its resistance.
Hezbollah's strength dispels any doubt about its future after Sayyed Nasrallah’s martyrdom. His leadership endures, with Hezbollah carrying forward his plans with renewed resolve.
"In any future war if you bomb Lebanon's power plants, airport, sea ports. We will bomb your power plants, airports, and sea ports in occupied Palestine," Nasrallah said in one of his final speeches.
Today, Hezbollah has put this formula into action, striking targets deep inside the occupied Haifa port and Ben Gurion Airport. With each move, Hezbollah stays a step ahead.
Sayyed Nasrallah vowed unbreakable and unshakeable support for Gaza, a promise Hezbollah has kept more than 40 days since his martyrdom in an Israeli bombing.
“No settlers will return to northern occupied Palestine until a ceasefire is reached in Gaza,” he declared in his final speech. Hezbollah’s missiles have since forced even more settlers to depart.
Importantly, Hezbollah has used only a fraction of its military resources, holding reserves for various scenarios, including potential US intervention—a contingency that Sayyed Nasrallah himself prepared the Lebanese resistance to meet.
“My brother, my dear one, a source of pride for me,” declared Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, in a heartfelt and beautiful tribute to Sayyed Nasrallah.
Sayyed Nasrallah ensured that Hezbollah will forever be a thorn in the side of the Israeli regime and that the struggle shall continue until the liberation of occupied territories.
Wesam Bahrani is an Iraqi journalist and commentator.
Al Mayadeen – November 13, 2024
Trump's new term targets Iran, backs Israel, confronts China head-on
A Bloomberg report suggests that the anticipated appointment of Florida Senator Marco Rubio as Trump's Secretary of State signals a hardline approach, especially toward China.
The outlines of Donald Trump's prospective foreign policy are coming into sharper focus, just days after his return to the White House, Bloomberg reported on Tuesday.
With key appointments expected to shape the administration's international stance, Trump's priorities appear to target Iran, China, and the Middle East in ways that contrast with the previous administration's strategies.
Rubio to assume Sec. of State role
The anticipated appointment of Florida Senator Marco Rubio as Secretary of State signals a hardline approach, especially toward China, the report highlighted.
Rubio, a staunch critic of Beijing and sanctioned twice by Chinese authorities, aligns with Trump's plan to impose tariffs up to 60% on Chinese imports, a move expected to disrupt trade between the two largest economies.
Joining Rubio in top security roles are combat veteran Mike Waltz as National Security Advisor and Congresswoman Elise Stefanik as US Ambassador to the United Nations, both of whom share Rubio's sharp stance on China.
These appointments suggest that Trump's administration sees China as the US' foremost strategic adversary, with plans to increase economic pressure and counter Beijing's influence globally.
Greenlight to Netanyahu
Trump's position on the Middle East has also become clearer. The President-elect has reportedly signaled to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a green light to continue the war on Gaza and Lebanon.
Unlike the Biden administration, Trump's team is unlikely to press "Israel" on civilian casualties, favoring instead what sources describe as a "do what you have to do" approach.
Analysts believe Trump's stance could further solidify US-"Israel" relations but may challenge diplomatic ties with Gulf states that are seeking to ease tensions with Iran.
Abraham Accords
Bloomberg also suggested that Trump's foreign policy team will also look to expand the so-called "Abraham Accords", the landmark agreements brokered during his first term that normalized relations between "Israel" and several Arab nations.
Yet, the road to including Saudi Arabia may prove challenging; Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman has indicated that progress toward a Palestinian state is a prerequisite for normalization.
Bin Salman's recent statements condemning the situation in Gaza as "genocide" reveal potential friction ahead as the US seeks to align regional powers on a shared platform, the report noted.
Ukraine war to continue?
In addition to focusing on the Middle East, Trump's administration is expected to pursue a swift resolution to the war in Ukraine, with insiders suggesting that as Secretary of State, Rubio may support a negotiated settlement.
Such an approach could involve Kiev making concessions on territories, a strategy some in Washington view as essential to refocus US efforts on China.
https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/trump-s-new-term-targets-iran--backs--israel---confronts-chi
Al Mayadeen – November 13, 2024
Yemen targets USS Abraham Lincoln, destroyers, thwart assault on Yemen
The spokesperson of the Yemeni Armed Forces says Yemeni forces struck the US aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln while it was preparing for operations against Yemen.
In response to the ongoing US and British aggression against Yemen and in support of the Palestinian and Lebanese people, the Yemeni Armed Forces (YAF) announced Tuesday two major military operations targeting US naval assets in the regio
n.
According to YAF spokesperson Brigadier General Yahya Saree, the operations were successfully conducted over an eight-hour period with missiles and drones, inflicting significant damage on American warships.
The first operation targeted the US aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln in the Arabian Sea. Using a combination of cruise missiles and drones, Yemeni forces struck the vessel while it was reportedly preparing for operations against Yemen. The statement said the operation thwarted an impending American aerial assault, achieving its objectives without interruption.
The second operation targeted two US destroyers in the Red Sea with ballistic missiles and drones, again claiming successful strikes against the vessels.
In light of these events, the Yemeni Armed Forces held the US and the United Kingdom accountable for turning the Red Sea region into a zone of military tension, warning of the consequences for maritime navigation in the area.
The statement highlighted that the US and British military support for the Israeli occupation, particularly amid ongoing aggression against Yemen, would not deter Yemeni forces from exercising their legitimate right to self-defense.
The Yemeni Armed Forces vowed to continue their operations against all hostile threats in the Red and Arabian seas and beyond, as long as attacks against Yemen persist.
The Yemeni forces emphasized that their military actions would only cease with an end to the aggression on Gaza and the lifting of the blockade, as well as a cessation of hostilities against Lebanon.
US, UK were preparing for aggression
A high-ranking source speaking exclusively to Al Mayadeen confirmed that US and British military formations, including swarms and combat units, were launched toward Yemen on Monday, but were successfully repelled by the Yemeni Army. The source noted that the advancing forces were forced to retreat following a decisive response from the Yemeni military.
The source further revealed to Al Mayadeen that the US and British forces had been preparing for a large-scale offensive against Yemen, but the operation was thwarted by a precise and strategic military action carried out by the Yemeni Army. The source emphasized that the operation, which was described as "highly accurate," had effectively disrupted the enemy's plans.
According to the source, the military operation was not only a defensive maneuver but also an intelligence-driven, highly targeted strike. The Yemeni forces, the source explained, had meticulously analyzed the battlefield, allowing them to anticipate the movements of the enemy and preemptively strike with precision.
The source stressed that the Yemeni Army's approach to operations is deeply rooted in thorough intelligence gathering and careful analysis of the operational theater. This enables the Yemeni forces to stay one step ahead of their adversaries, ensuring they remain prepared for any future threats.
Aggression on Yemen endures
Yemeni media outlets reported on Tuesday, before sunrise, that the American-British aggression warplanes launched three airstrikes on the al-Fazah area in the al-Tuhayta district, south of the Hodeidah governorate.
On Monday, the American-British coalition also launched an aggression on Yemen, launching a total of nine airstrikes on the Saada and Amran provinces.
Seven of the airstrikes heavily raided Amran's Bart and Sufyan junction, whereas two airstrikes targeted al-Rahba in the al-Safraa province, Saada governorate.
Yemeni military sources confirmed to Al Mayadeen that no military losses were recorded.
This follows the US-British coalition launching 10 airstrikes on the Yemeni capital, Sanaa, and Amran province. In detail, the coalition conducted three airstrikes Sunday dawn targeting the al-Hafa and al-Nahdayn areas in the south and east of the capital.
US court rules Ten Commandments law ‘unconstitutional’
The Louisiana bill targeting public schools and universities violates religious freedoms, a federal judge has ruled
A federal court in the US state of Louisiana has declared unconstitutional a law requiring that Christianity’s Ten Commandments be displayed in all public schools across the southern state by the new year. The statute was previously praised by US President-elect Donald Trump.
The legislation, enacted in June by Louisiana’s Republican governor Jeff Landry, requires all state-funded primary and secondary schools, as well as universities, to post the commandments in “large, easily readable font” in every classroom by January 1, 2025. Louisiana is the only US state to have adopted such a law.
Trump commended the law at the time, describing it as a possible “first major step in the revival of religion, which is desperately needed in our country.”
Tuesday’s blocking of the statute, which comes just days after Trump’s re-election, was made by Federal Judge John deGravelles, an appointee of former Democratic President Barack Obama.
Judge deGravelles described the law as “unconstitutional on its face,” as well as “discriminatory” and “coercive.” He added that the statute violated the religious rights of people who opposed such displays.
The Ten Commandments is the Biblical set of principles seen as the essence of Christianity. Proponents of the Louisiana law argued it would reinstate a former relic of “state and national history, culture, and tradition” in the state’s public education spaces.
The legal challenge to the statute was launched by a multi-faith group of several Louisiana families shortly after its adoption. The plaintiffs, among whom were Jewish, Christian, and non-religious families, cited a 1980 US Supreme Court decision voiding similar legislation in another southern state, Kentucky.
The court ruled at the time that the separation of church and state guaranteed by the US Constitution bars public schools from posting the Ten Commandments in classrooms.
Another southern state, Oklahoma, is facing similar lawsuits over a requirement that the Bible be part of lesson plans in public schools and be stocked in every classroom.
https://www.rt.com/news/607575-us-ten-commandments-unconsitutional/
Islamic leaders in another Russian region ban niqab
Religious authorities in Karachaevo-Cherkessia have joined those in Dagestan in cracking down on the face-covering Muslim garment
Islamic authorities in Karachaevo-Cherkessia, a Muslim-majority region in southern Russia, have banned the wearing of the niqab, citing risks posed by the practice to security and sectarian tolerance.
The decision of the Spiritual Muslim Board, or Muftiate, was published on Thursday and follows a similar move this week in Dagestan, a Russian republic located further to the east in the Caucasus Mountains.
The niqab is a type of garment worn by women in some parts of the world which covers the body and face, except for the eyes. A statement of the board released alongside the order explained that it should not be confused with the hijab, or clothes that Muslims must wear under Islamic law.
“Banning the hijab is not possible, and we are not discussing that. Russian law does not restrict the wearing of the hijab and explicitly allows it, when taking a photo for an ID,” it said.
The Muftiate denounced people who claim that the niqab is mandatory in Islam, stating that the false claim is “introducing strife and division into society.” Under current circumstances, the garment and similar items that fully cover the face “inflict practical harm to Muslims and threaten discontent in relations between religions and ethnicities” in Karachaevo-Cherkessia.
The new rule will remain in place “until the identified threats are eliminated and a new ruling by Islamic scholars is issued.”
Russia’s federal and regional officials have previously argued against the niqab on security grounds. Some religious experts have linked the garment with Wahhabism, a type of Sunni Islam popular in Saudi Arabia and Qatar. It dictates particularly strict rules of behavior, including a more restrictive dress code, compared to other sects. Some of the most notorious jihadist organizations in the world adhere to Wahhabism.
The debate over the niqab in Dagestan was invigorated after a high-profile terrorist attack last month, which resulted in the deaths of 20 people, including a dozen police officers. The militants targeted Christian and Jewish places of worship in their murderous spree of violence.
https://www.rt.com/russia/600473-niqab-ban-karachaevo-cherkessia/
