Today In Israel: Situation Including Syria

 Nadene Goldfoot                                              

Benjamin Netanyahu (born October 21, 1949, Tel Aviv [now Tel Aviv–Yafo], Israel) is an Israeli politician and diplomat who served as his country’s prime minister three times (1996–99, 2009–21, and 2022– ) and is the longest-serving prime minister since Israel’s independence.  Trump has berated him for taking so long to win a war against all the terrorists and says Jolani-terrorist President of Syria could do it much better.  Trump admires Jolani.  Oy vey;  we have Syria now wanting to free themselves of a terrorist government, which is a good thing. I even have a Syrian for the job: 

A Syrian waiting to work with Israel  for the job of Syrian President  a genius at that; inventor, college educated  and I wrote about him

This is an uneasy period for all Israelis because of the shaky international diplomats involved.  The bare bones peace deal between the USA and Iran is not matching ideas.  Along the Northern Front and in Judea-Samaria and inside Israel's own problems, it's a wonder Netanyahu must make many decisions or ride it out. 

 Northern Border and Lebanon (from The Times of Israel)

Withdrawal Disputes: Israel and Lebanese officials have denied U.S. claims that Israel withdrew some of its troops from southern Lebanon as a goodwill gesture . Israeli officials have vowed not to withdraw until Hezbollah is fully disarmed . 

ISIS terrorist shot in/over Syria by USA

Ceasefire Friction:( from The Hindu)  Despite a broader ceasefire agreement brokered between the U.S. and Iran, Israeli intelligence and military leaders have indicated they are likely to continue targeted strikes to suppress Hezbollah . Skirmishes and fatalities involving IDF troops and Hezbollah operatives continue to be reported. 

Gaza and the West Bank

 (from The Times of Israel)Ongoing Military Operations: Israeli military actions continue in Gaza and the West Bank, with recent strikes reported in areas such as al-Mawasi, resulting in Palestinian casualties . 

International Scrutiny:

from (CNN) A UN commission of inquiry recently published a

 report accusing Israel of deliberately targeting children. Israel 

vehemently rejected these allegations, dismissing the report. 

(UN is not to be believed, backing Palestinians 100% usually) 

• West Bank Tensions:

Domestic Situation: (from Haaretz) Tensions remain elevated due to continued military raids, settler-related incidents, and disputes over outpost evacuations. 

• Military Draft Protests: (from Middle East Report)  Ultra-Orthodox (Haredim) communities are engaging in widespread protests that are disrupting traffic across Israel as they oppose mandatory military conscription . 
  
• Broader Geopolitics: (from i24 News) The wider Middle East remains volatile, as Iran has directly threatened Israeli forces, and U.S. officials are attempting to finalize further peace and nuclear inspection protocols.

Resource: AI and others

American CENTCOM Forces Kill Senior ISIS Leader in Syria

 Nadene Goldfoot                                         

                      

CENTCOM Forces Kill Senior ISIS Leader in Syria

USCENTCOM

TAMPA, Fla. — U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) forces conducted an airstrike in northwest Syria, June 19, that resulted in the death of a senior ISIS leader.The precision strike killed Ali Husayn al-‘Ulaywi and is part of ongoing U.S. efforts to disrupt and eliminate terrorists seeking to attack Americans abroad or the U.S. homeland. CENTCOM forces continue to work alongside regional partners. Despite its defeat in Syria in 2019, sleeper cells linked to ISIS remain active and have been claiming attacks against the country’s new authorities following the December 2024 fall of the five-decade Assad family rule.  So they are thriving in Syria.     

ISIS Arms  came from Looting State Armories: Up to 90% of ISIS’s small arms and ammunition consisted of Warsaw Pact-caliber weapons originating from China, Russia, and Eastern Europe. These were captured from Syrian military bases and Iraqi arsenals, particularly after ISIS overran the city of Mosul in 2014, seizing tens of thousands of machine guns, rockets, and thousands of U.S.-made Humvees.

In Syria, ISIS operates as a decentralized insurgency through hidden sleeper cells rather than controlling territory . The group primarily conducts guerrilla-style attacks—such as ambushes, IED bombings, and targeted assassinations —against military convoys, infrastructure , and rival political groups.

In an audio message released in February, IS spokesman Abu Huzaifa al-Ansari called on IS followers around the world to attack Jewish and Western targets as they have in past years.

The U.S. military last conducted strikes against IS targets in Syria in February in retaliation for an ambush in December that killed two U.S. soldiers and one American civilian interpreter. Central Command said then that at least 50 members of IS had been killed or captured.

The tragic murder of Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl,  was kidnapped and beheaded by extremists in Pakistan in 2002. Before his death, he was forced to address the camera, where he proclaimed, "My father is Jewish, my mother is Jewish, I am a Jew." We were first told he was beheaded by ISIS as they beheaded so many.                                    

“CENTCOM and our partners remain committed to rooting out remaining remnants of ISIS to ensure its enduring defeat,” said Adm. Brad Cooper, CENTCOM commander. “We will continue to defend the U.S. homeland, our service members, and allies and partners across the region.”

CENTCOM stands for United States Central Command. It is a major unified combatant command in the U.S. Department of Defense, responsible for U.S. military operations, strategy, and cooperation across a 21-nation region spanning the Middle East, Central Asia, and parts of South Asia.  Current Commander: Admiral Brad Cooper.

Key Background

• Formation: Established on January 1, 1983, under President Ronald Reagan to ensure a dedicated force to protect vital energy corridors and stability following events like the Iranian Revolution and the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan.
• Operations: Historically responsible for major campaigns including the Gulf War, the War in Afghanistan, the Iraq War, operations against ISIS (Operation Inherent Resolve), and the multi-national efforts against Iranian proxy networks. 

For the latest operational updates and official press releases from the region, you can visit the U.S. Central Command Official Website or follow the U.S. Central Command X Feed.

Resource:

https://abcnews.com/International/wireStory/senior-islamic-state-leader-killed-us-airstrike-northwest-134172167

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