Eye on Extremism

October 11, 2023 

The New York Times: Along Israel’s Borders With Lebanon And Syria, Clashes Raise Fears Of Another Front

“Shelling sounded out along Israel’s volatile northern border with Lebanon for a third consecutive day Tuesday, stoking fears on both sides of a repeat of 2006, when Israel fought a bloody monthlong war with Hezbollah, the Shiite group committed to the destruction of the Jewish state. Although paling in comparison to the fighting that has taken place around Gaza, in the country’s southwest, the continued clashes on Israel’s northern border have deepened unease over the possibility that the conflict — already the broadest invasion in 50 years — could spread to multiple fronts. There were signs late Tuesday that could happen: The Israeli Army said it had identified a number of launches from Syria into Israeli territory, the first time that fire had been exchanged across that border since fighting erupted on Saturday. There were no immediate reports of casualties. The Israeli military said the projectiles apparently fell in an open area and that it had been firing artillery and mortar shells in return. Along the Israel-Lebanon border, the day had begun with residents assessing the aftermath of clashes Monday, when Palestinian Islamic Jihad, an armed group based in Gaza, sent fighters into Israel, two of whom died. Funeral processions were held in southern Lebanon for three Hezbollah fighters also killed amid the skirmish by Israeli shelling.”

NBC: U.S. Investigating Whether Iran Gave Advanced Training To Hamas Militants

“American officials are investigating whether some of the Hamas militants who carried out an unprecedented attack on Israel received advanced training from Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, according to current and former U.S. officials. They are also examining whether Hamas used recent Palestinian protests along the Gaza border fence as cover to place explosives that were later used to breach the Israeli barrier. The advanced training and placement of explosives, if confirmed, would be the latest example of decades of support that Iran has provided to Hamas. The attack, which was far more sophisticated than past Hamas operations, would not have been possible without the decades of funding, weapons and training Iran has supplied to the militant group, current and former U.S. officials say. “Hamas could not be a fraction of the group that it is — neither a political, social or religious entity nor a terrorist and militant entity — without Iran’s financial support, provision of weapons and training,” said Matthew Levitt, a former senior official in the Treasury and State departments who focused on counterterrorism.”

Yemen

Reuters: Yemen's Houthis Warn They Will Fire Missiles, Drones If US Intervenes In Gaza Conflict

“Yemen's Houthi leader Abdel-Malek al-Houthi said on Tuesday that if the U.S. intervenes in the Gaza conflict directly, the group will respond by firing drones and missiles, and take other military options. "There are red lines when it comes to Gaza," he said, adding that the Houthis were ready to coordinate with other groups and intervene.”

Lebanon

Reuters: Israeli Shelling Hits South Lebanon After Hezbollah Rocket Fire

“Israeli shelling hit southern Lebanese towns on Wednesday in response to a fresh rocket attack by powerful armed group Hezbollah, as cross-border violence extended into a fourth day. Hezbollah said it had fired precision missiles at an Israeli position in response to the killing of its members in Israeli shelling earlier this week, pledging "decisive" responses to attacks on Lebanese territory, especially deadly ones. The Israeli military said it was attacking Lebanon after one of its northern positions near the Israeli town of Arab al-Aramshe was targeted with anti-tank fire on Wednesday. It did not immediately provide details on casualties. A Lebanese security source said Hezbollah fired two precision missiles into Israel, which the group considers its sworn enemy. Residents of the southern Lebanese town of Rmeish said Israeli shelling hit nearby. A security source told Reuters that Israeli artillery rounds were hitting the rocket launch point around Dhayra, across from Arab al-Aramshe. Lebanese in those towns say the recent violence has brought back memories of the summer of 2006, when Iran-backed Hezbollah and Israel fought a brutal month-long war.”

Middle East

The U.S. Sun: 'VOICE OF TERROR' Who Is Mohammed Deif? One-Eyed Hamas Chief Dubbed ‘The Guest’ Who Dodged Israeli Bombs To Send Killers To Slaughter

“…The decision for Hamas to take at least 100 Israeli hostages, Sir Ivor Roberts states would have "carefully planned" by Deif "with the aim of securing the release of thousands of Palestinians". The adviser to the Counter Extremism Project (CEP) said: "He knows full well that Israeli public opinion will put pressure on the government to pay a very heavy price in numbers of prisoners they're prepared to give up for even one Israeli". He added that Deif now wields a "tremendous bargaining tool". “

Reuters: How An Israeli Kibbutz 'Paradise' Turned Into Hell In Hamas Attack

“A baby's crushed crib lying outside a burnt-out home. Corpses strewn on streets. Body bags lined up on an outdoor basketball court. The stench of death everywhere. Just a few days ago this was the sleepy, scenic kibbutz of Kfar Aza, an Israeli farming community of about 750 people, many of them families with young children. Now it's become a charnel house after Hamas gunmen burst out of the Gaza Strip on Saturday and laid waste to the village. "Mothers, fathers, babies, young families killed in their beds, in the protection room, in the dining room, in their garden," Israeli Major General Itai Veruv said on Tuesday, the seasoned soldier visibly shaken as troops went door-to-door to collect the bodies of residents killed in their homes. "It's not a war, it's not a battlefield. It's a massacre," Veruv said. Some victims were decapitated, he added. "I've never seen anything like this, and I've served for 40 years."”

ABC: 'No One Feels Safe': Palestinians In Fear As Israeli Airstrikes In Gaza Kill At Least 490 Women And Children

“Hundreds of targets have been hit in Gaza by Israel following the Saturday incursion from Hamas terrorists, the group that controls the Palestinian territory of Gaza. More than 200 targets were struck in Gaza by Israeli forces in just one day, according to authorities. In Gaza, at least 950 people have died -- among them 260 children and 230 women -- and another 5,000 have been wounded since Saturday, according to the latest numbers from Palestinian officials. In Israel, at least 1,200 people have been killed and 2,900 others injured. Palestinians in the Gaza Strip say they are living in fear as Israel retaliates for the actions of the militant terrorist group, with nowhere for them go. There are no bomb shelters for Palestinians to hide from airstrikes. An Israeli airstrike hit nearby the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and Gaza on Tuesday for the second time in two days, according to the the interior ministry in Gaza said. "Gaza is a closed zone. There's nowhere people can evacuate to -- there's no shelters," said Laila El-Haddad, 45, a Palestinian-American living in Maryland whose family is currently in Gaza.”

United Kingdom

The Guardian: Four British Men Freed By Taliban After Being Held In Afghanistan

“Four British nationals who were held in Taliban custody in Afghanistan have been released and are to return to the UK on Tuesday. The Presidium Network, a British not-for-profit organisation that works in conflict zones and has assisted the men, named three of them as Kevin Cornwell, a charity medic; Miles Routledge and Ian Purchase. The other cannot be named for legal reasons. The men were all detained over allegedly breaking the country’s laws earlier this year. A Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) spokesperson said the UK government “regrets this episode”. They said: “On behalf of families of the British nationals, we express their apologies to the current administration of Afghanistan for any violations of the laws of the country.” Scott Richards, co-founder of the Presidium Network, said the men were returning to the UK on Tuesday. Richards wrote on X (formerly known as Twitter): “Mr Cornwell and the three other British nationals, which includes Miles Routledge have been released and have left Afghanistan. They are coming home! Thank you to everyone for their support of these men during this difficult period. We are all relieved.”

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