Last night, the Israeli Air Force intercepted five drones launched from Iraq and two more from Lebanon. Iran’s proxies have launched more than 100 drones at Israel in October alone, along with countless more rocket and missile attacks.
As Israel defends its people from these continued attacks, the country is also bracing for further attacks from Iran — either directly again or coordinated through one of its terrorist proxies to avoid an Israeli response.
Israel is at a "high level of readiness" as its latest intelligence indicates a major attack could come before the U.S. elections on Tuesday, as a senior Iranian military official has said.
Following reports yesterday of a potential attack from Iraqi territory, the head of Iran’s main terror proxy in Iraq was seen in Tehran.
Falih Al-Fayyadh, the Chairman of the Iranian-backed Popular Mobilization Forces in Iraq, was pictured with Brigadier General Esmail Qaani, the commander of Iran’s elite IRGC’s Quds Force, which is responsible for Iran’s terror operations around the world.
Meanwhile, Kamal Kharrazi, a senior adviser to Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, told Iranian state TV that the regime is considering changing the regime’s "nuclear doctrine" and expanding the range of its missiles.
"We now have the technical capabilities necessary to produce nuclear weapons… Only the supreme leader’s fatwa currently prohibits it," Kharrazi said.
Iran is a global threat, on the cusp of developing nuclear weapons and working to develop missiles capable of reaching America. Read this AIPAC memo we sent to congressional offices this week on Israel’s fight against America’s enemies.
Israel’s ability to address these threats is possible thanks to our work together to ensure Israel has the advanced American weapons systems it needs, purchased with billions in U.S. security assistance that we lobby for every year.
Thank you for your commitment to AIPAC and to ensuring America always stands with our ally Israel.
This week, the Israeli Knesset overwhelmingly adopted legislation barring Israeli cooperation with UNRWA, beginning in three months. AIPAC successfully lobbied Congress to ban U.S. funding for UNRWA earlier this year until March 2025.
UNRWA has proven to be a deeply problematic entity for years. It has directly and indirectly supported terrorism that has brought immeasurable suffering to both the Palestinian and Israeli people.
Since October 7, UNRWA’s direct linkage to Hamas has been made abundantly clear.
UNRWA is fatally flawed and beyond reform or repair. The United States must institute a plan that permanently ends American funding for UNRWA and urges our allies to do the same. Humanitarian aid to the Palestinians must be delivered through an alternative mechanism that promotes peaceful coexistence with Israel and is not indifferent to terror.
Watch this new AIPAC video below to learn more about this week's decision by the Knesset.
Israel Continues Operations Against Hezbollah
This week, the IDF continued to target Hezbollah leaders and destroy Hezbollah's terror infrastructure in Lebanon, taking out weapons depots, launch sites, and intelligence hubs.
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said Tuesday: "We eliminated Hezbollah’s political and military chain of command and control in the most impressive way possible. I estimate the remaining missile and rocket capability at around 20 percent, and even that isn’t organized in the way it used to be organized, in a way that [Hezbollah] can fire [large] barrages."
Gallant’s estimate indicates the terror organization still has approximately 30,000 rockets and missiles at its disposal.
The IDF estimates that around 2,000 Hezbollah terrorists have been killed since Hezbollah began attacking Israel on October 8, including 1,200 who have been killed since the Israeli ground operation in southern Lebanon began about a month ago.
The United States must continue to support Israel's operation to degrade Hezbollah and destroy its terror infrastructure, allowing Israeli civilians to safely return to their homes in the north.
Israel, U.S. Discuss Potential Ceasefire in Lebanon
Senior White House envoys Amos Hochstein and Brett McGurk were in Israel this week to attempt to reach a diplomatic solution to end the conflict with Hezbollah in Lebanon and return the 80,000+ displaced Israelis back to their homes in the north.
Meanwhile, at least eight more people in Israel were killed this week, and many more injured, in Hezbollah rocket, missile and drone attacks. This week alone Hezbollah launched more than 200 projectiles into Israel.
According to Israeli reports, the current Israeli diplomatic proposal includes:
Expansion and full implementation of U.N. Security Council Resolution 1701 (click here to read an AIPAC background memo on UNSCR 1701).
Increased deployment of the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) at the border with Israel, and inclusion of more reliable countries in UNIFIL.
An international oversight and enforcement mechanism where violations can be reported.
Freedom of operation for the IDF if the LAF and UNIFIL fail to respond to violations of the agreement.
Prevention of Hezbollah rearming in the future.
A 60-day ceasefire during which the agreement would be finalized.
America must continue to stand with Israel as it confronts this Iranian-backed threat and ensure any diplomatic solution does not allow Hezbollah to once again rearm and threaten Israeli civilians.
Israel is Facilitating Humanitarian Aid to Gaza
Israel is continuing to surge humanitarian aid into Gaza, as it has over the past year.
On Wednesday alone, 143 humanitarian aid trucks entered Gaza, while approximately 670 trucks-worth of aid were awaiting distribution within Gaza by aid agencies.
Over the month of October, nearly 20,000 tons of food aid have entered Gaza, in addition to shelter supplies, fuel, and medical assistance.
12 bakeries are currently operational in Gaza: four in northern Gaza and eight in southern Gaza, producing close to three million pita loaves a day.
Since October 7, Israel has facilitated the entry of more than one million tons of aid into Gaza.
Israel is going to unprecedented lengths to provide humanitarian aid to Gazans even as Hamas continues to divert that aid, launch attacks on Israeli forces and hold 101 hostages. The United States must increase the pressure on Hamas to surrender and release all the hostages.
U.S. Marine Corps Tests Iron Dome
In a significant step for U.S.-Israel defense cooperation, the U.S. Marine Corps successfully completed its first live-fire test of an air-defense system incorporating Israel’s Iron Dome.
The system combines American and Israeli technology: U.S.-made radar and command-and-control systems, alongside Israel’s Iron Dome interceptor and mobile launcher.
"The Iron Dome system continues to save lives," Director of the Israel Missile Defense Organization Moshe Patel said. "The Marine Corps live-fire test provides another proof of the Iron Dome interceptor's capability... The Defense Ministry welcomes all air defense cooperation with U.S. military branches."
Former hostage Erez Kalderon celebrated his bar mitzvah this week in Israel. Tragically, his father was not by his side. He is still held captive in Gaza.
Israel has responded to Iran’s unprecedented ballistic missile attack, acting to degrade the Iranian threat and deter future attacks.
Buy pro-Israel t-shirts, hats, bottles, bags and more at the new AIPAC store! Use code SOCIAL10 for 10% off your order.
More than 150 runners have signed to run in the NYC Marathon on Sunday in honor of 5 hostages still in Hamas captivity.
Tell Congress: Stand with Israel As it Responds to Iran
Israel has responded to Iran’s unprecedented ballistic missile attack, acting to degrade the Iranian threat and deter future attacks.
TAKE 20 SECONDS: Urge your elected officials to publicly and unequivocally support Israel’s right to defend itself, ensure Israel has the weapons needed to keep its people safe, and call to increase the pressure on Iran.
The mission of AIPAC is to encourage and persuade the U.S. government to enact specific policies that create a strong, enduring and mutually beneficial relationship with our ally Israel.
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