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The Iran-backed Houthi insurgents resume terrorist attacks against Red Sea shipping after a two-week pause.
The post Houthis Claim Attacks on Three Ships After Two-Week Terror Pause appeared first on Breitbart.
Israel downplayed reported airstrikes against Iran that appeared to hit targets near that country's suspected nuclear program on Friday, seeming to cast the operation as proof Israel could reach the sites, rather than a full-scale attack.
The post Israel Downplays Iran Strikes; Proof of Capability, Rather than Escalation appeared first on Breitbart.
On April 12th, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) seized an Israeli ship near the Strait of Hormuz. While this represents one of the most overt and direct attacks by the IRGC against Israel, it underscores the broader support and training provided by the IRGC to groups like the
Houthis, Hamas, Hezbollah, and other militias and terrorist organizations. This support contributes to the destabilization of the Middle East and poses a threat to both Israeli and U.S. interests in the region.
Established during the Islamic Revolution in 1979, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) stands as a formidable military force in Iran, operating directly under the authority of the Supreme Leader, presently Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Guided by an ideology vehemently opposed to Western influence, particularly directed towards the United States and Israel, the IRGC is renowned for its fervent slogans such as ‘Death to America’ and ‘Death to Israel,’ emblematic of its hostility towards these nations.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) is known for its support of various militias and terrorist groups across the region. Notably, it provides assistance to Hamas in Gaza, furnishing weapons, financial aid, and training to bolster the group’s military capabilities.
Additionally, the IRGC backs Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) in the Gaza Strip, Kata’ib Hezbollah, and Asa’ib Ahl al-Haq in Iraq, as well as Houthi rebels in Yemen. The Houthis are now active in disrupting shipping in the Red Sea.
The IRGC has been designated as a terrorist organization by several countries, including the United States. This designation is significant because the IRGC is an official government entity in Iran, making it one of the few state-backed actors to be labeled as a terrorist organization.
This raises legal questions regarding whether the Iranian government’s support for the IRGC constitutes aid to terrorist organizations, which is prohibited under international convention.
Most Americans have never forgotten nor forgiven the 1979 Islamic Revolution’s seizure of the U.S. Embassy in Tehran and the subsequent hostage debacle, which went on for more than one year. Over the past decade or so, Iran-backed militias have indeed been involved in conflicts in Syria, Yemen, and Iraq, where U.S. soldiers have faced combat, encountered security threats, or lost their lives.
These militias have often been supported, trained, and equipped by the Iranian government or its Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), contributing to instability and violence in these countries.
In response to Iran’s aggression, the US and its allies have launched repeated strikes against Iran-backed groups in Iraq, Syria, and Yemen. Apart from supporting Israel, the US also backs numerous local partners, including the Yazidis, Kurds, Sunni Arab Tribes, Turkmen, Arab Tribal Militias, and Chaldean Christians. Consequently, it could be argued that both the US and Israel have been engaged in a proxy war with Iran for some time.
Retaliating against Iran’s proxies has done little to curb Iran’s aggressive actions. Since October 7th, there have been repeated clashes between American and allied troops against targets in Syria and Iraq, yet Iran’s aggression persists. Despite US and UK bombings in Yemen, Houthi attacks on ships persist.
At this moment, not only are Hezbollah and Hamas attacking Israel, and the Houthis attacking everyone else’s ships, but it also seems that Iran is threatening direct attacks on Israel. President Biden has warned Iran that the US is committed to defending Israel.
After years of limited engagement, Israel’s strategy now appears to aim for the complete elimination of Hamas, while also showing readiness to confront Hezbollah directly in Lebanon.
The proxy model has proven costly for the US, both in terms of lives and finances, yielding no tangible gains, not even peace. Furthermore, China and Russia leverage US failures in the Middle East to caution Taiwan, the Philippines, Ukraine, and Japan about the unreliability of the US as a partner.
Israel’s new strategy of directly and unequivocally destroying the bad guys is the one that no leader has dared try up until now. But it makes the most sense. And it would seem that the most logical step would be to cut the head off the snake, in a direct conflict with Iran.
Those who oppose a direct conflict with Iran often say that it would trigger a world war. But the reality is, there are only three major armies in the world capable of waging war overseas: the US, Russia, and China.
And it would not be in either Russia or China’s interests to go to war with the US over Iran. If they wanted a war with the US, there are a million other pretexts they could have come up with, but neither country has a mutual defense agreement with Iran.
If the US and Iran went to war, Russia and China would condemn the US actions. They would bring a resolution to the UN Security Council, and the US would veto it. A war would destabilize the Iranian government, nullifying its ability to support terrorist groups.
At the same time, Iran’s support for China with cheap oil, and Iran’s support for Russia with cheap drones, would also evaporate, bringing an end to the Ukraine War much closer.
The post Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC): Terrorists Supporting Terrorism appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.
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Sure, here's a proper attribution for the image: "Photo by Mohammad Sadegh Heydari, sourced from [YPA.ir](http://www.ypa.ir/media/k2/galleries/517/02.jpg). Image depicts the Army of the Guardians of the Islamic Revolution exhibiting its main battle tanks during the Sacred Defence Week parade on September 21, 2012. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license."
Israelis awoke Saturday morning to peace and quiet, wondering whether a much-touted Iranian attack will actually happen, or whether it was just a bluff.
The post Israel Wonders Whether Much-touted Iranian Attack Will Actually Happen appeared first on Breitbart.
The UN, rather than demanding the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages and bodies, called for a ceasefire in Gaza during Ramadan, the Muslim holy month. However, Hamas showed no such restraint, attacking Israel on October 7th, coinciding with the Jewish holy day that marks the transition from Shemini Atzeret, concluding the Sukkot festival, to Simchat Torah, a celebration of the completion and restarting of the annual Torah reading cycle. While the Pro-Palestine camp calls for an immediate ceasefire, Hamas is still holding hostages and refusing to release the bodies of those killed, including US citizens.
More than 250 hostages were captured or killed on October 7th. Israeli authorities have confirmed that at least 33 of the remaining 129 hostages are dead; however, there is evidence that most, if not all, have been murdered. Meanwhile, the bodies have not been returned. The Israel Defense Force (IDF) says that by withholding the bodies and refusing to confirm if hostages are alive or dead, Hamas is psychologically torturing the victims’ families.
By definition, this act of torture against innocent civilians, who in some cases do not even live in Israel, is an act of terrorism.
Both of Iris Weinstein Haggai’s parents, who were US citizens, were killed by Hamas on October 7th. However, Hamas has yet to release the bodies. Consequently, the grieving family has been unable to hold Shiva for their loved ones.
Shiva is a week-long mourning period observed by Jewish families following the death of a close relative, during which mourners gather to comfort the bereaved, recite prayers, and reflect on the deceased’s life. It has been described as “a time for spiritual and emotional healing.” Without the bodies of the deceased, holding Shiva becomes problematic, as the physical presence is a central aspect of the mourning process, providing closure and allowing for traditional funeral rites to be performed.
The family held a small gathering to honor the memory of the dead. However, the rabbi in attendance said that he was at a loss, as there was no prayer to address this horrific situation. He stated, “There’s nothing that really speaks to this. This is not normal.”
The family of Iris Weinstein is not alone in this dilemma; several other American families already know their relatives were killed by Hamas or are waiting for confirmation that those still held in captivity are dead. Without confirmation of death and without a body, the loss remains an open wound that the families cannot begin to overcome.
The inability to hold Shiva due to the absence of the bodies is deeply traumatic for the Jewish families affected. This is akin to the universal human need for a wake or ceremony in the presence of the deceased, allowing the family to come to terms with the loss before laying their loved ones to rest—a fundamental aspect across cultures worldwide.
Trying to grieve and honor the life of a deceased family member before getting the chance to bury their bodies is the wrenching position that numerous families of the hostages abducted by Hamas now find themselves in. So far, three American hostages have been confirmed dead, but Hamas is attempting to use the bodies and the hostages as bargaining chips. However, they have notified negotiators that they are unable to locate the 40 hostages they would need to release to begin a ceasefire.
One theory suggests that Hamas does not want to release the female hostages because they are pregnant, verifying irrefutably that they were raped. Another theory is that the hostages are dead, or that fewer than 40 remain living who meet the criteria of being female, aged, and wounded.
Hamas had already been granted a pause in the fighting back in November, during which it had agreed to release female hostages. Later, Hamas claimed they could not find the hostages, and the ceasefire broke down when Hamas launched another attack on Israel.
A statement released by the White House after a meeting with American families of hostages taken by Hamas states, “The Vice President underscored that President Biden and she have no higher priority than reuniting the hostages with their loved ones.” However, there has been no pressure by the US to force Hamas to release the hostages. The White House has also neglected to exert pressure on China to cease its support of Iran, and has taken no action to discourage Iran from supporting Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis.
The vice president’s claim of making this issue a priority was not substantiated by a White House Proclamation on U.S. Hostage and Wrongful Detainee Day, which mentioned Gaza only once and did not mention Hamas at all.
And while not enough has been done to release the hostages, almost nothing has been done to recover the bodies of the slain so that families can get closure.
The post Hamas Refuses to Release Hostages or Bodies of the Dead appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.
posters_of_hostages_taken_by_hamas_during_the_2023_attack_on_israel
Posters of hostages taken by Hamas during the 2023 attack on Israel" is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Image sourced from Wikimedia Commons
A proportional response means it will happen again and again until Israel is destroyed.
The liberals want Israel to “show restraint.” The most unthinking are those calling for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire. As long as Hamas continues to exist, this war can never end. A ceasefire would be followed by countless billions in developmental aid flowing from the globalist establishment into Gaza. It would be a huge win for Hamas. Terrorist attacks against Israel would continue. And if Israel reacted again in the future, they would immediately be attacked by the globalists. Both Hezbollah and Hamas will continue to attack Israel, provoking, wounding, occasionally killing, and the world will continue telling Israel to restrain itself.
The Covenant of Hamas clearly states Hamas’s goal of killing all of the Jews and eliminating Israel. “HAMAS” is an Arabic acronym for the Islamic Resistance Movement. The movement issued the Covenant of HAMAS on August 18, 1988. Hamas, an extremist fundamentalist Islamic organization, has been designated a terrorist organization by the US and many Western powers. The group was elected as the official authority in Gaza in 2006.
Hamas operates with the expressed intent of destroying the State of Israel through Jihad (Islamic Holy War). The HAMAS Covenant states: ‘The Islamic Resistance Movement is a distinguished Palestinian movement, whose allegiance is to Allah, and whose way of life is Islam. It strives to raise the banner of Allah over every inch of Palestine.’ (Article 6). This suggests that not only does Hamas seek to eradicate Israel in Gaza, but also in the territory currently known as Israel, as well as the West Bank, where Hamas holds no authority.
Article 7 of the Hamas Covenant is interpreted as a call for genocide against Jews: “The Day of Judgment will not come about until Muslims fight Jews and kill them. Then, the Jews will hide behind rocks and trees, and the rocks and trees will cry out: ‘O Muslim, there is a Jew hiding behind me, come and kill him.'”
There is no way to negotiate with a group whose aim is genocide. Liberals calling for compromise are actually just calling for Israel’s capitulation. What compromise would be possible? Hamas wants to kill 100% of the Jews. Should the two parties haggle and agree for Hamas to kill 40% instead? Given Hamas’s genocidal intent, there is no way that the two sides can coexist.
The two-state solution is complete nonsense. Gaza and the West Bank are not contiguous; they cannot be a single country. It would be impossible for Israel to ensure its security because they would be pressured by globalists to not impede Palestinians passing through Israel from one state to the other.
The liberals keep stressing that Gazaa and the Palestinians are not Hamas. However, there appears to be no anti-Hamas movement in Gaza. There is no anti-Hamas resistance. The Gazans looked very happy when they were celebrating after the October 7th attack on Israel. So, it is unclear how the liberals see Hamas as distinct from Gaza. And if they are distinct, why have the liberals not condemned Hamas? There don’t seem to be protests in the US or Europe stating “We support Gaza, but condemn Hamas.”
Even the liberals, even the Queers for Palestine are refusing to condemn Hamas. If they do not differentiate between Hamas and Gaza, then why should everyone else?
Iran and Qatar must also be held accountable for their support of Hamas and other militias. Qatar has provided financial and political support to Hamas, and Hamas’s political leader, Ismail Haniyeh, was based in Qatar for a period. Additionally, Qatar has hosted a Hamas office, which serves as a political bureau and facilitates communication and coordination with the international community. This office has been involved in diplomatic efforts and media relations on behalf of Hamas.
Right now, the Houthis, an Iran-backed militia, are disrupting global shipping. Hezbollah is also ratcheting up their harassment of Israel, firing missiles into Israeli territory and trying to instigate a war. Given Israel’s current posture of seeking a military solution to finally end these insurgencies, Hezbollah may get the war they are asking for.
The world must not just sit on the sidelines, but should take an active role in targeting Iran, destroying the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) preventing China from supporting Iran economically, and disabling Iran’s ability to fund and train regional militias. This would decrease China and Russia’s access to oil and drones, respectively, which would help the US achieve foreign policy objectives in Asia, as well as in Ukraine.
One way to alleviate the burden on American taxpayers funding Ukraine would be to end the war. If China’s support for Russia were cut, the end would come much sooner. If Russia did not have Iranian drones, that would also help level the field and bring the end nearer.
Attacks on Iran would also serve to destroy Iran’s nuclear ambitions.
The only way that Israel can survive is to eliminate Hamas. The only way for the region to be stabilized is for Iran’s destabilizing force to be eliminated.
The post Finishing Hamas: The Only Way the War Can End appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.
Smoke and flames billow after Israeli forces struck a high-rise tower in Gaza City
Smoke and flames billow after Israeli forces struck a high-rise tower in Gaza City, October 7, 2023. Palestinian militants have begun a "war" against Israel which they infiltrated by air, sea and land from the blockaded Gaza Strip, Israeli officials said, a major escalation in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Photo by Ali Hamad apaimages
Deputy Treasury Secretary Wally Adeyemo inadvertently admitted to Congress on Tuesday that the $6 billion that the Biden administration unfroze for Iran last year in exchange for the return of five American prisoners likely went to fund violent activity.
The post Senior Biden Treasury Official Admits $$ for Iran Goes Towards Violence, Not Humanitarian Needs appeared first on Breitbart.
On Friday’s broadcast of MSNBC’s “Inside with Jen Psaki,” Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA) stated that Israel has to allow more aid into Gaza and its war “shouldn’t be seen as a war against Palestinians or a war against Gazans.” He
The post Kaine: Israel Is ‘Creating Such an Escalatory Pressure’ in Middle East appeared first on Breitbart.
Iran-backed militia groups in Iraq, Syria, Yemen, and Lebanon have reportedly been holding “secret strategy sessions” with Hamas in Lebanon.
The post Iran’s Terrorist Militias Hold Secret Meetings with Hamas in Lebanon appeared first on Breitbart.
A spokesman for the Yemeni Houthi terrorist organization identified the Panamanian-flagged, Chinese-owned-and-operated Huang Pu as one of several ships it attempted to bomb in the past 24 hours, incorrectly identifying it as "British."
The post Houthis Finally Admit to Bombing Chinese Ship, Claim It Is British appeared first on Breitbart.
Vaunce News 