Today, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz warned that Lebanon itself would be to blame if it doesn’t enforce the ceasefire agreement with Hezbollah.
Speaking at Israel’s northern border with IDF officers, Katz said, “If they don’t do it and this whole agreement collapses, then the reality will be very clear. First of all, if we return to war we will act strongly, we will go deeper, and the most important thing they need to know is that there will no longer be immunity for the state of Lebanon.”
Katz’s comments come the day after Hezbollah violated the agreement by firing mortars into Israel. The IDF responded with airstrikes against Hezbollah sites.
Also today, Israel conducted an intelligence-based strike in Damascus targeting Hezbollah’s representative to the Syrian military, Salman Nemer Jamaa. “The Syrian regime has actively supported Hezbollah, enabling weapon smuggling to Lebanon and, by that, endangering Syrian and Lebanese civilians. Jamaa was a key Hezbollah figure supporting these operations,” the IDF said.
Meanwhile, the committee created by the ceasefire agreement to monitor Hezbollah’s and Lebanon’s compliance with the agreement is expected to meet for the first time on Thursday.
America must stand with our ally as it defends its people against these Iranian-backed threats, ensure it has the resources needed to do so, and increase the pressure on Lebanon and Hezbollah to honor the agreement.
Iran helps Assad regime as Israel fears chemical weapons
The IDF said yesterday that it is closely following events in Syria and will work to ensure Iran and its terrorist proxies do not use the recent chaos to further threaten Israel.
IDF spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said that “Syria belongs to the Syrians” and “what is happening in Syria concerns Syria and not Israel” — but the IDF “will make sure that Iran does not smuggle weapons to Lebanon and Hezbollah,” as it has tried to do over the past week.
Israel is also preparing for the possibility that Syrian rebels or Iranian militias operating in Syria could gain access to sensitive Syrian weaponry — including chemical weapons — that they could use against Israel.
Meanwhile, Iran is doubling down on its support for Bashar al-Assad as his regime confronts the rebel offensive launched last week.
This week, Iran sent at least 300 additional Iranian-backed terrorists from Iraq to join the fighting in Syria — where the regime already controls around 40,000 fighters, according to IDF estimates.
“Our military advisers were present in Syria, and they are still present,” Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman stated clearly yesterday — the same day Iran’s foreign minister met with Assad in Damascus.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian also held a phone call yesterday to reaffirm and coordinate their support for Assad. Iran and Russia have been among Assad’s closest allies since the civil war began in 2011.
As U.S. National Security Council Spokesperson Sean Savett said on Saturday, “The Assad regime’s ongoing refusal to engage in the political process outlined in UNSCR 2254, and its reliance on Russia and Iran, created the conditions now unfolding, including the collapse of Assad regime lines in northwest Syria.”
Omer Neutra memorial service held in New York
Today, thousands gathered for the memorial service for Omer Neutra, the 21-year-old American-Israel taken hostage by Hamas and pronounced dead by the IDF yesterday. Hamas still holds his body in Gaza.
At the service, Omer’s mother, Orna, eulogized her son, "My strong smiley boy. I pled for a sign of life. I didn't get any. Instead, we received signs of hope and love from all over the world."
Ronen, Omer’s father, added, "We spoke about you in so many places. Telling Omer's story. The hostages’ story. We called on world leaders to save Omer, to save the others. We were told Omer gave courageous commands to other soldiers and saved their lives. Omer, you are a hero.”
At the service, Orna was comforted by Rachel Goldberg-Polin, whose son Hersch was killed earlier this year while being held captive by Hamas (pictured below).
New York Governor Kathy Hochul, Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, and family members of other hostages from both America and Israel also joined the Neutra’s in memorializing Omer. Governor Hochul ordered flags to be lowered to half-mast today across New York State facilities in his honor.
Blinken and Dermer meet in D.C.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken met yesterday with the Israeli Minister of Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer.
According to a State Department readout, they discussed the ceasefire in Lebanon, the humanitarian situation in Gaza, and the post-war plan for Gaza.
Blinken “reiterated the importance of bringing all of the hostages home and ending the war in Gaza” and “reaffirmed the United States’ ironclad commitment to Israel’s security against threats from Iran and Iran-backed proxy groups.”
Picture of the Day: President Herzog thanks AIPAC CEO Howard Kohr
Today, Israeli President Isaac Herzog honored AIPAC CEO Howard Kohr, who is retiring at the end of the year, with a certificate of appreciation and a unique pen decorated with a nano-chip including the entire Hebrew Bible.
President Herzog said, “Thank you for all you have done to deepen the bond between the U.S. and Israel, to strengthen the Jewish people, and to elevate the State of Israel.”
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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