Date: Thursday, October 31, 2019
To: Friends & Supporters
From: Gary L. Bauer, Director

Israel On Alert

Major General Amikam Norkin, commander of the Israeli Air Force, told graduating officers yesterday that Israel's air defense systems are "on alert" for attacks from Iran. "Even as we speak, Arrow, Patriot, David’s Sling and Iron Dome batteries are on alert," Gen. Norkin said. He also warned that the challenge is "more complicated now," with the addition of "attack drones and cruise missiles."

The Times of Israel reports that IDF strategists believe Iran is preparing to "retaliate" for Israel's aggressive campaign against Tehran's terrorist proxies in Syria, Iraq and Lebanon. They are preparing for a large missile barrage similar to the strike that badly damaged critical Saudi oil facilities last month.

Gen. Norkin's comments come on the heels of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's warning on Monday that Iran was deploying precision-guided missiles in Yemen that are capable of striking Israel.

U.S. & Gulf States Sanction Iran

In related news, the Trump Administration announced yesterday that the United States and six Persian Gulf states -- Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates -- were jointly imposing sanctions on 25 targets affiliated with Hezbollah and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

In announcing the joint sanctions, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin declared:

"[This] coordinated disruption of the financial networks used by the Iranian regime to fund terrorism is a powerful demonstration of Gulf unity. This action demonstrates the unified position of the Gulf nations and the United States that Iran will not be allowed to escalate its malign activity in the region. . . This coordinated action is a concrete step towards denying the Iranian regime the ability to undermine the stability of the region."

In a statement to Reuters, Mnuchin added, "The president couldn't be more clear that we are executing a maximum pressure campaign on Iran. This is about stopping a bad actor."

Israel praised the joint action against Iran. Foreign Minister Israel Katz tweeted, "I welcome the decision by the U.S. and Gulf states to impose additional sanctions on Hezbollah and the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps. . . This is the right way to counter Iranian aggression."

CUFI Action Fund applauds the Trump Administration's continued strong support for our ally Israel and its determination to rein in Iran's rogue regime.