**** Official Israel War thread****
- Thread starter EagleHawk
- Start date
Iran Warns Americans Will Be "Hit Hard" If Gaza Ceasefire Not Reached, As CIA Director On Secretive Trip In Region
On Monday Iran's foreign minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian claimed that the United States is desperately seeking an end to the fighting to Gaza, despite Israel being nowhere near dismantling and destroying Hamas at the moment, which is Tel Aviv's stated aim.
The foreign minister said that "the Americans sent us a message in the past three days saying they are are seeking a ceasefire," according to state TV.
This could indeed be the behind the scenes messaging now being advanced as Secretary of State Blinken shuttles between capitals in the region, having most recently met with with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas on Sunday. So far he's on record as seeking a 'humanitarian pause' in the fighting.
More interesting is that the White House has simultaneously dispatched CIA Director William Burns,who arrived in Israel Sunday for top level meetings. Burns will also go to Qatar, and then Jordan and the United Arab Emirates.
As with the Ukraine war, Burns is often sent to crisis spots to relay messaging that the US administration doesn't wish to discuss publicly. This could involve further mediation to get the hostages freed, or working toward some kind of serious ceasefire agreement centered on the hostages' freedom.
This could be what's behind Iran's Monday statement claiming that the US is frantically working toward ceasefire, given also world public opinion is fast turning against Israel, as the death toll mounts - as of Monday surpassing 10,000 deaths in Gaza. Al Jazeera reports:
A US official described to Axios that Burns' trip is to "discuss issues of mutual concern including the situation in Gaza, support for hostage negotiations, and the US commitment to continuing to deter state and non-state actors from widening the conflict between Israel and Hamas." As for world opinion, South Africa is the latest to join a handful of Global South countries which has recalled diplomats from Israel.
Meanwhile, in light of this Iran has ratcheted its threats and messaging aimed at Washington, after its proxy arm Hezbollah has already blamed the US for overseeing the massacres in Gaza. Tehran is now warning that the US will be "hit hard" if it can't press Israel to a ceasefire.
"Our advice to the Americans is to immediately stop the war in Gaza and implement a ceasefire, otherwise they will be hit hard," Iranian Defense Minister Mohammad-Reza Ashtiani was quoted as saying by the semi-official Tasnim news agency on Sunday.
But importantly it remains the the Biden administration's official positions it so say no to ceasefire, reflected in fresh statements by Blinken in Amman:
A US military build-up in the region has continued, after US bases in Syria and Iraq have been targeted by 'Iran-backed' militias over two dozen times, resulting in troop injuries. This new Iranian threat to hit Americans "hard" no doubt is a threat to step up these attacks further, as Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah also warned just days ago in a speech.
The White House could also begin to face more pressure domestically from with within the Democratic base, considering also again the death toll on the Palestinian side has just surpassed the grim 10,000 mark, with by far most of the casualties being civilians. While Biden has emphasized over and over again his "love" and commitment for Israel, the progressive wing of his base will increasingly wield influence on the issue at popular level.
Dozens of American troops sustained injuries following drone attacks on bases in Iraq and Syriaon Oct. 17 and 18, a Pentagon spokesperson told reporters Monday.
The total number of injuries is now 46, Air Force Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder said, more than double the 21 the Pentagon initially reported on Oct. 25.
The Pentagon ordered two strikes on Iran-backed militia facilities in Syria on Oct. 26 in retaliation for the attacks.
In response to overall security concerns in the Middle East, including force protection of U.S. troops, the U.S. has positioned two carrier strike groups in the eastern Mediterranean, along with an amphibious ready group with an embarked Marine Expeditionary Unit, several Air Force fighter squadrons and multiple Army air defense units.
On Oct. 31, the Pentagon announced 300 U.S.-based support troops would deploy to an undisclosed location.
“These additional troops will provide capabilities and explosive ordnance disposal, communications and other support enablers for forces already in the region,” Ryder said.
The total number of injuries is now 46, Air Force Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder said, more than double the 21 the Pentagon initially reported on Oct. 25.
The Pentagon ordered two strikes on Iran-backed militia facilities in Syria on Oct. 26 in retaliation for the attacks.
In response to overall security concerns in the Middle East, including force protection of U.S. troops, the U.S. has positioned two carrier strike groups in the eastern Mediterranean, along with an amphibious ready group with an embarked Marine Expeditionary Unit, several Air Force fighter squadrons and multiple Army air defense units.
On Oct. 31, the Pentagon announced 300 U.S.-based support troops would deploy to an undisclosed location.
“These additional troops will provide capabilities and explosive ordnance disposal, communications and other support enablers for forces already in the region,” Ryder said.
Gaza death toll tops 10,000; UN calls it a children's graveyard
Gaza is becoming a "graveyard for children", U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres said on Monday, amplifying demands for a ceasefire in the enclave, where Palestinian health authorities said the death toll from Israeli strikes had exceeded 10,000.
Hope you all think long and hard about your values and how history will remember this travesty.
Gaza death toll tops 10,000; UN calls it a children's graveyard
Gaza is becoming a "graveyard for children", U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres said on Monday, amplifying demands for a ceasefire in the enclave, where Palestinian health authorities said the death toll from Israeli strikes had exceeded 10,000.www.reuters.com
Hope you all think long and hard about your values and how history will remember this travesty.
History will remember October 7 for the genocide, the brutality, and the ethnic cleansing that Hamas perpetrated on Israelis and non-Israelis alike. They are animals supported by fanatics.
Hamas provided figures cannot be trusted. They lie for political gain. Any UN bureaucrat, including the Secretary General, who believes Hamas’s lies is a fool. He is getting played.
Last edited:
hopefully, destroyed while still inside the mosque.
(seriously though, i take that back)
When I state the Palestinians, not just Hamas, do NOT want peace, I mean it. They only want the destruction of Israel and dead Jews. Here is an example of when they tell the truth.
“A single death is a tragedy, [10,000] deaths are a statistic.” - StalinGaza death toll tops 10,000; UN calls it a children's graveyard
Gaza is becoming a "graveyard for children", U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres said on Monday, amplifying demands for a ceasefire in the enclave, where Palestinian health authorities said the death toll from Israeli strikes had exceeded 10,000.
Hope you all think long and hard about your values and how history will remember this travesty.
Folks around here didn’t give a shit when the Obama admin helped the Saudis starve a few hundred thousand Yemenis who weren’t down with international regime change efforts in their country, you think they’ll weep for the Palestinians raised on this strip of earth from the crib to exterminate Jews?
I don’t think you answered when I asked how can Israel reconcile with Hamas when their charter calls for the eradication of the Jews? What compromise is possible from that stance?
Gaza death toll tops 10,000; UN calls it a children's graveyard
Gaza is becoming a "graveyard for children", U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres said on Monday, amplifying demands for a ceasefire in the enclave, where Palestinian health authorities said the death toll from Israeli strikes had exceeded 10,000.
Hope you all think long and hard about your values and how history will remember this travesty.
Opinion: I’m an expert in urban warfare. Israel is upholding the laws of war
Opinion by John Spencer7 minute read
Updated 6:37 AM EST, Tue November 7, 2023
Editor’s Note: John Spencer is chair of urban warfare studies at the Modern War Institute (MWI) at West Point, codirector of MWI’s Urban Warfare Project and host of the “Urban Warfare Project Podcast.” He served for 25 years as an infantry soldier, which included two combat tours in Iraq. He is the author of the book “Connected Soldiers: Life, Leadership, and Social Connection in Modern War” and co-author of “Understanding Urban Warfare.” The views expressed in this commentary are his own. View more opinion on CNN.
CNN —
All war is hell. All war is killing and destruction, and historically civilians are inordinately the innocent victims of wars. Urban warfare is a unique type of hell not just for soldiers, who face assaults from a million windows or deep tunnels below them, but especially for civilians. Noncombatants have accounted for 90% of casualties per international humanitarian experts in the modern wars that have occurred in populated urban areas such as Iraq’s Mosul and Syria’s Raqqa, even when a Western power like the United States is leading or supporting the campaign.
The destruction and suffering, as awful as they are, don’t automatically constitute war crimes – otherwise, nearly any military action in a populated area would violate the laws of armed conflict, rules distilled from a complicated patchwork of international treaties, court rulings and historic conventions. Scenes of devastation, like Israel’s strikes on the Jabalya refugee camp in northern Gaza earlier this week, quickly spark accusations that Israel is engaging in war crimes, such as indiscriminately killing civilians and engaging in revenge attacks. But war crimes must be assessed on evidence and the standards of armed conflict, not a quick glimpse at the harrowing aftermath of an attack.
Hamas forces indisputably violated multiple laws of war on October 7 in taking Israelis hostage and raping, torturing and directly targeting civilians, as well continuing to attack Israeli population centers with rockets. Years of intelligence assessments and media reports have shown that Hamas also commits war crimes by using human shields for its weapons and command centers and by purposely putting military capabilities in protected sites like hospitals, mosques and schools.
On the other hand, nothing I have seen shows that the Israel Defense Forces are not following the laws of wars in Gaza, particularly when the charges that the IDF is committing war crimes so often come too quickly for there to have been an examination of the factors that determine whether an attack, and the resulting civilian casualties, are lawful. The factors that need to be assessed are the major dimensions of the most commonly agreed to international humanitarian law principles: military necessity, proportionality, distinction, humanity and honor.
(Continues)
Last edited:
A
anon_b29nm7v7dwp6r
Guest
The recent statements I have seen from Obama on the pod save America podcast are really disappointing.
I don’t see how so many liberals are siding with the terrorists….its disgusting.
We have MAGA on the right, and Pro HAMAS on the left….this country should be ashamed of itself.
I don’t see how so many liberals are siding with the terrorists….its disgusting.
We have MAGA on the right, and Pro HAMAS on the left….this country should be ashamed of itself.
No matter where you stand in terms of sides, it is tragic.Gaza death toll tops 10,000; UN calls it a children's graveyard
Gaza is becoming a "graveyard for children", U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres said on Monday, amplifying demands for a ceasefire in the enclave, where Palestinian health authorities said the death toll from Israeli strikes had exceeded 10,000.
Hope you all think long and hard about your values and how history will remember this travesty.
The whole thing is tragic regardless of embellished numbers. There is no doubt Palestinian civilians are being killed, which includes children.
Liberals aren't siding with terrorists. We're siding with Palestinians who just want to live freely without getting shot and bombed by Israel.
hawkeyetraveler
HB Heisman
How’s the view from your soapbox?Gaza death toll tops 10,000; UN calls it a children's graveyard
Gaza is becoming a "graveyard for children", U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres said on Monday, amplifying demands for a ceasefire in the enclave, where Palestinian health authorities said the death toll from Israeli strikes had exceeded 10,000.
Hope you all think long and hard about your values and how history will remember this travesty.
No one wants war on this site as far as I can tell. Many of us, me included, believe that when war is brought upon you that you must fight to finish it. Thus my support of Israel. Of course they should minimize innocent casualties wherever possible and of course any war crimes should be prosecuted. But Israel still must finish it.
You seem to only blame Israel, but who is really to blame? Everyone, but most especially Hamas. ALL parties have blood on their hands, but the current situation is a direct result of Hamas atrocities.
- Hamas started the war. The status quo before October 7 wasn’t great, but it was a lot better than the current situation
- The ”innocent” Palestinians could have done something about their doom cult Hamas leaders. They could have risen up. They could have advocated more vociferously for free elections. They could have beseeched Arab nations to help remove Hamas. Many (not all, but many) of the “innocents” aided and abetted the Hamas terrorists. And for those of adult age that didn’t? Through inaction they have absolutely enabled the Hamas terror regime to sustain itself.
- Israel should have operated more humanely over the past several years. They contributed to the climate of violence. BUT they did not initiate hostilities.
- The Arab states have tolerated the prior stalemate for too long. They could have welcomed Palestinians into their land, offered citizenship and kinship. As far as I can tell they only offered some small amount of aid and in the case of Iran, a helluva lot of weapons.
Your words are way too little and way too late. So get off your high and mighty soapbox and recognize that war is hell, but Israel must finish Hamas. They should protect innocents to the greatest degree possible of course, but they must finish it. The real shame is that any of the parties above could have done a lot more to prevent it.
Absolutely. No one 'wants' to see innocents killed or suffering, but it's a sad reality that happens when armed conflict is initiated, particularly when innocents are the initial target.
I haven't seen this before, but Netanyahu has said that he foresees Israel maintaining a security presence in Gaza after Hamas is defeated.
https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-news-11-7-2023-6e1425d218de6a73f8a51e4c036cfd39
https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-news-11-7-2023-6e1425d218de6a73f8a51e4c036cfd39
Any idea when the terrorists you support plan on releasing the hostages they took?
Any update on that little issue?
If the terrorists gave up their hostages and surrendered their weapons in Gaza there’d be a ceasefire.
Last edited:
What about Israelis who want to live freely and without getting shot and bombed by Gaza. Your argument would have validity if the palestinians weren't on the side of hamas.
After what happened It makes sense. Until the palestinians can show they can live violent free they're going to need a baby sitter to watch over them. Based on history, Israel will probably never be able to leave.
This is explains why so many college students seem to have lost their grip on reality. $13B can buy a lot of influence.
A
anon_b29nm7v7dwp6r
Guest
Yeah and as someone else said….what about the Israelis that just want to live in peace in their communities and attend music festivals….there was a cease fire in place on 10/7…why was that broken?
Palestinians voted Hamas into power all that time ago….do I feel bad for the innocent Palestinians that don’t support Hamas and lost their lives? Sure….but unfortunately war isn’t clean….bombs and soldiers can’t stop to quiz folks on where their loyalties truly lie…and Hamas doesn’t get to slaughter over 1,400 innocents….then run and hide behind civilians….thats not how it works.
Peace From River To Sea
Today is the end of the first month of Israel’s nightmare.
ewerickson.substack.com
“Notice that the people who support a ceasefire are not calling for the release of the Israeli hostages and for Hamas to surrender.”
A
anon_b29nm7v7dwp6r
Guest
Weird, Qatar funds anti-semitism on American college campuses. Liberals say, “Nothing to see here!”
Gaza isn't bombing or shooting anyone. Gaza is a city.
70% of Palestinians weren't even alive when Hamas was voted into power
Israel is a multi billion dollar war machine that oppresses and steals land.
Ok, the Gaza Strip is bombing and shooting people, is that better.
I didn't know it was a requirement for people to be born before hamas took power in order for them to support hamas. That''s a weird thing to say.
Wow, someone has let his true colors show. So you do hate Jews and that's why you're supporting terrorists?
I'd call this an untenable situation then. Might as well just make the decision now to remove the Palestinians from Gaza and send them somewhere else. Iran should take them in, they care so much about those people. It's obvious long term coexistence in the same land is not going to work and will only result in bloodshed.
Conflating Israel with Israelis is already a stretch. Conflating Israel with Jews is even more wild.
It is untenable. Israel should just leave.
Good luck with that.
A
anon_b29nm7v7dwp6r
Guest
Similar threads
