October 402, 2023, "The War"
My 290th post on The War
Today’s Image
Say hello to the female jet fighter pilots who alongside their male counterparts in some of the most daring missions in this war. Two of them were part of the team that carried out the recent mission to Iran, destroying all their air defense systems. There is a video you can watch that includes some glimpses of the pilots before taking off on October 26 for their missions in Iran. It is a bit overdramatic for my taste. As of now there are five female jet fighter pilots serving in the IAF. There are other female pilots flying helicopters and other aircraft. The total number is not disclosed by the IDF. But there are also dedicated female tank squadrons and some mixed infantry units as well. This article describes how one of the women has been promoted to become a squadron commander of an F-35 squad. I find all this ironic. Here are Israeli women conducting an extremely complex and dangerous air mission over the skies of Iran. This is a country which imprisons and tortures women for wearing the wrong clothes in public.
Casualties
The IDF announced the death of Sgt. Ariel Sosnov Sasonov - 20 (Z’’L) who died resulting from injuries sustained when his unit, in Israel, came under rocket fire from Hezbollah in Southern Lebanon. The government announced the name of the civilian victim from yesterday’s rocket fire from Lebanon - Assaf Sadeh - 18 (Z’’L).
Rockets & Missiles & Drones
One rocket was fired from Gaza into Israel today near a border community. It was intercepted by Iron Dome.
More than 120 rockets were fired today by Hezbollah. About 30 were launched towards the Northern city of Haifa and another 20 into the Western Galilee area in Israel’s north. No injuries were reported and there was damage to several cars. Some of the rockets were neutralized by air defenses, but most landed in open areas. Earlier this afternoon Hezbollah launched a barrage of 40 rockets towards Haifa. No injuries or damage was reported from this attack.
Hezbollah fired a drone into the very northern tip of Israel. It was neutralized by aerial defenses. In this attack, an 85 year old man was lightly wounded due to falling shrapnel.
Lebanon Operations
Early this evening IDF fighter jets struck a Hezbollah command center located in the coastal city of Tyre in Southern Lebanon. The facility was used to launch and operate the air borne kamikaze drones that have been used so effectively by Hezbollah so far in this war. In a separate operation, fighter jets destroyed several weapon storage facilities as well as rocket launching sites in Southern Lebanon today.
Last night IDF fighter jets struck buildings in Southern Beirut that were being used by Hezbollah for command centers. Civilians were given time in advance of the raid to evacuate. IDF fighter jets were also active in the Eastern part of Lebanon bordering with Syria last night and this morning in Southern Lebanon.
Gaza Operations
Active infantry operations continue in the North Gazan community of Jabaliya. The IDF announced yesterday that more than 900 armed Hamas Combatants were killed during the two week long operation, along with many arms storage facilities, rocket launchers and a few makeshift rocket manufacturing/assembly facilities. The IDF announced today that its forces will now move into Beit Lahiya, a neighboring town in Gaza. There are about 4,000 civilians in Beit Lahiya and all are being given safe passage to the humanitarian zone.
During operations in Southern Gaza, operations are also continuing. Infantry units operating in the area uncovered two large tunnels, each about two km in length. During the operations IDF units encountered armed Hamas Combatants and engaged them. Some were killed in close combat and others by called in missile fire. Some of the killed Hamas operatives were identified as having participated in the October 7 attack on Israeli soil. Today, the IDF blew up these tunnels. You can view a video of the operations here.
IDF/Government
The firing of Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on Tuesday was contested in court today, but the Supreme Court after hearing the circumstances announced that it had no jurisdiction in the event. Today is Gallant’s last day and the new Defense Minister Israel Katz is to be approved by the Knesset tomorrow. There are reports today in the press that Gallant me with representatives of the hostage families today, telling them that in his view as well as those of the other top military professionals reporting to him there was no security reason for remaining in the Philadelphi Corridor along the Gaza border with Egypt. According to these second hand reports, he also told the families that there is nothing left to do in Gaza. All the major achievements have been achieved.
News reports are continuing on the high profile case of deliberate leaks of classified military documents to Western Press out o the Prime Minister’s Office. So far five people have been arrested and remain in custody. While details are still vague, it appears that the information available to those arrested was extremely sensitive.
Using some of the aid money granted by the Biden Administration and Congress, Israel placed orders for more F-15E fighter jets from Boeing/McDonnell Douglas.
Aid
COGAT reports that 119 aid trucks entered Gaza yesterday and unloaded their cargo in the staging areas. Most entered from the south but 22 came in from the northern border crossing. Aid from 675 trucks remains in the staging areas waiting to be distributed.
International
There was a minor international faux pax today resulting from the visit by French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot. He had requested, in advance, for the ability to visit the church Eleona Domain today that is located on the Mount of Olives. IDF border security staff detained two French guards that were sent to the church in advance of the visit when they refused to present their credentials. France claims that the church is outside the administration of Israel as it was under some international treaty. Once everything was cleared up the minister was notified that he could visit but then announced that he would refuse under the circumstances.
Before this incident the French Foreign Minister met with Israel’s Foreign Minister Israel Katz (soon to be replaced by Gideon Sa’ar). Israel listed its conditions or a ceasefire in Lebanon. The two countries agreed that moves need to be made to enable an independent Lebanon to emerge that can displace Hezbollah’s forces with the Lebanese Army. They also agreed on the need to keep Iran from developing Nuclear Weapons.
And In Your Copious Spare Time…
Here is an assessment of the rampant corruption within UNRWA from Carrie Filipetti, a former aid to former Ambassador Nikki Haley. It is pretty condemning.
Qatar’s campaign to buy its way, through bribes, in getting what it wants seems to extend way beyond hosting the World Cup Games. It is at the basis of the investigation in the US into former New Jersey Senator Bob Menendez, previously chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. This article describes how rampant it is in Europe.
This article provides greater details on the tunnel complexes built by Hezbollah underground throughout Lebanon. The IDF has deployed infantry in the Southern Lebanon for the main purpose of uncovering them and then destroying them.