Iran/Israel/United States: On Ground Updates - July 05, 2012

Iran/Israel/United States: On Ground Updates

A Massive Storm is now Brewing

Thursday, July 05, 2012

.Image Credit IAF

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* The New York Times had the following report posted late Wednesday evening and it goes in part like this. …The Iranians raised the shrill tone a notch on Wednesday, when the air force commander of Iran’s elite Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, which has been conducting the missile tests, said he had contingency plans to hit 35 American bases in the early minutes of any conflict… “All these bases are within the reach of our missiles,” the commander, Brig. Gen. Amir Ali Hajizadeh, was quoted as saying by Iran’s semiofficial Fars news agency. He was also quoted as saying Israel had provided “good targets for us as well.”… The increasingly hostile tone has mirrored pessimism over the lack of visible progress in the nuclear negotiations. [Ya THINK!!!]…

Read this report in full at link below…

Iran Nuclear Talks Areto Continue as Their Tone Heats Up

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* FOX News had the following AP report posted up on their website Wednesday afternoon and it starts off like this… Iran declared Wednesday that it can destroy nearby U.S. military bases and strike Israel within minutes of an attack on the Islamic Republic, reflecting tensions over Iran's suspect nuclear program… The veiled threat came during a military drill that has included the firing of ballistic missiles. The elite Revolutionary Guards, conducting the war games in Iran's central desert, said that the missiles were aimed at mock-ups of foreign military bases…

Read the full report at link below…

Iran threatens swift retaliation on US bases

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* Guardian News reported it this way… Iran is prepared to launch missiles at US bases throughout the Gulf within minutes of an attack on the Islamic Republic, according to a commander of the country's Revolutionary Guards… In an apparent response to reports that the US has increased its military presence in the Gulf, the commander of the Revolutionary Guards' air force said on Wednesday that missiles had been aimed at 35 US military bases in the Gulf as well as targets in Israel, ready to be launched in case of an attack… The semi-official Fars news agency reported Brigadier General Amir Ali Hajizadeh as saying: “We have thought of measures to set up bases and deploy missiles to destroy all these bases in the early minutes after an attack.”…

Read the rest, short video too, at link below…

Iran 'ready to fire missiles at US bases'

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* Columnists Robert Fox has this take on the news and it goes in part like this. …The United States has increased its minesweeper force in the Gulf to eight ships. The UK already has a long-standing patrol of minehunters there. US F-22 Raptor stealth fighter-bombers and F15c bombers have been sent to various bases throughout the region, and two aircraft carrier groups are on standby… Britain has plans for putting a squadron of Typhoon Eurofighters in the Gulf, either in Qatar or the UAE. An infantry battalion can be moved at short notice. A western alliance led by the US, Britain and France is preparing forces to suppress Iran’s coastal anti-aircraft missile batteries and their shore-based anti-ship missiles if there is a sudden flare-up round the Straits of Hormuz… In the past 48 hours, officials in Washington and London have lessened the likelihood that the Iranian military and Revolutionary Guard will try to shut the Straits of Hormuz. But fears have been growing in the past few weeks that Israel may carry out a pre-emptive strike against Iran's nuclear centrifuges - principally those at Natanz…
Read the rest at link below…

Western forces gather as Israel looks set to attack Iran

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Iran Tests Ballistic Missiles as Oil Embargo Takes Effect: US Navy Enters Persian Gulf

About above News Video: Iran has launched several ballistic missiles as part of a military exercise, the country's official news agency IRNA reported. The missiles - which included long-range ones capable of hitting US Navy in the Persian Gulf - successfully hit their targets. The military maneuver coincides with a European Union oil embargo underway since 1 July aimed at applying pressure on the country over its nuclear program. Iran, OPEC's second-biggest producer, is finding fewer countries willing to buy its crude, which could pinch global supplies.

This video posted on YouTube by JewishNewsOne

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POST UPDATE:

Saturday, July 07, 2012

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MINA SALMAN PORT, Bahrain

Tugboats assist the Afloat Forward Staging Base (Interim) USS Ponce (AFSB-I) as the ship pulls into the Kingdom of Bahrain. Ponce is deployed to support maritime security operations and mine countermeasure efforts in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility.
(Image from July 6, 2012)

U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Ashante Hammons

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* GulfNews.com brings us the following report and it goes in part like this… An ageing American Amphibious Naval Ship, converted into a Floating Base, has been equipped with helicopter landing deck, space for troops and more…

Read this report at link below...

‘Floating base’ deploys to Gulf: US Navy

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* Reuters had this report posted on their website late Saturday morning and it goes in part like this. …Four U.S. minesweepers arrived in the Gulf last month to bolster the Fifth Fleet and ensure the safety of shipping routes in a waterway through which 40 percent of the world's seaborne oil exports flow… They arrived amid a flaring war of nerves between the United States and Iran over Tehran's disputed nuclear energy program and Iranian threats to block the Strait of Hormuz, the slender oil shipping channel out of the Gulf, in retaliation for a new European Union ban on its oil exports… The four minesweepers were ticketed for a seven-month deployment in an area of operations that includes the Gulf, Gulf of Oman, Red Sea and parts of the Indian Ocean…

Read the full report at link below...

US beefs up Gulf naval force amid tension with Iran

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* YNETNews.com reports… Top commander says Iran won't shut strategic waterway, unless its interests are compromised…

General: Iran to close strait if threatened

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AubreyJ………

ROMNEY2012

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Israel: On Ground Updates - March 12, 2012

Over 200 Rockets Fired at Israel

-- Image credit – IDF --

Over One Million Israeli Civilians under Attack-

IAF Targets Rocket Launching Site-

Terrorists Fire from within Residential Area-

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* Regular Updates and more continue to be forthcoming…

HERE

Date: March 12, 2012 -- Author: IDF Website

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Islamic Jihad Rocket Depot Targeted in Jabalya

More than 160 rockets were fired from the Gaza Strip, and struck major population centers in southern Israel, in the last 71 hours. More than 1,000,000 Israelis are under the threat of rocket fire… In response to these terror attacks, a rocket depot used by the Islamic Jihad's rocket launching infrastructure in Jabalya was targeted. As can be seen, the initial attack on the ammunition caused secondary explosions.

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Iron Dome Shoots Down Rockets from Gaza

The Iron Dome Anti-Missile Defense System has so far intercepted 28 missiles of the 31 attempts it engaged in--a 90% success rate. Overall, more than 130 rockets were launched from Gaza into Israel in the last two days, of which approximately 80 landed in Israeli soil. Video was courtesy of Ynet News.

Above videos posted on YouTube by idfnadesk.

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AubreyJ………

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Israel: On Ground Updates - October 30, 2011

Defense Minister Ehud Barak: "We will do everything to defend Israeli civilians" -- Over 30 projectiles fired at Israel in past day

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Date: 10/30/2011, 9:00am      Author: IDF Website

Over 30 rockets and mortars were fired from the Gaza Strip at Israeli communities over the past day. Rockets and mortars struck Ashdod (population of over 200,000), Ashkelon (population of 113,000), Gan Yavne (population of 19,000) and the Eshkol Regional Council, killing one person and injuring approximately 20, most suffering from shock. Several buildings, including a school, were damaged in the attacks. A hit was confirmed, and the rocket launch attempt was thwarted.

15:15 - A short while ago, an IAF aircraft targeted a terrorist squad in the southern Gaza Strip that was preparing to fire rockets at Israel.

14:02 - IDF Spokesperson, Brig. Gen. Yoav (Poly) Mordechai told IDF Website that "the IDF is not waiting for any decision by Islamic Jihad. The chief of staff ordered the IDF to prepare for a number of responses which were approved by the government. During the day, the chief of staff updated the defensive deployments on the ground and in the air and he approved a number of operational responses which sharpened the IDF's response. There are plans for targeted strikes on terrorist infrastructure - and more. Until now, the IDF has targeted the weapons production and firing capabilities of Islamic Jihad, including an official in the group who was responsible for these matters."

13:00 - Defense Minister, Ehud Barak completed a situation assessment meeting with the Deputy Chief of the General Staff, Maj. Gen. Yair Naveh and other security and intelligence officials. During the meeting Barak was presented with further operational plans in Gaza. "We will do anything to defend Israeli civilians. I advise the Hamas and Islamic Jihad terrorist organizations not to test or capabilities," he said.

11:00 - Home Front Command Chief, Maj. Gen. Ido Eizenberg, visited the region hit by the Gaza rockets in the city of Ashdod and spoke with the people living there. Maj. Gen. Eizenberg said that "the Home Front Command instructions save lives, we send out warning before every rocket hits."

08:45 - The Chief of the General Staff, Lt. Gen. Benny Gantz is holding a situation assessment at the Southern Command operations room controlling the IDF's response to the escalation of violence in the south.

08:00 - IDF Spokesperson, Brig. Gen. Yoav (Polly) Mordechai said to the IDF that "the Chief of Staff completed a situation assessment after midnight and concluded that the IDF is preparing for a fierce response based on several levels of operations. We will examine the developments based on facts in the field and not any declarations. The IDF is prepared both in terms of defense and offense in order to defend communities in the south."

07:04 - The Iron Dome anti-missile system successfully intercepted two rockets fired from Gaza at Israeli communities in the south.

05:20 - 13 people lightly injured from the rocket fire were brought to the Barzilai health center, 10 were released to their homes and three are still in emergency care.

04:34 - Overnight, IAF aircraft targeted six terror activity sites in the Gaza Strip. Three rocket-launching sites and one terror tunnel were targeted in the northern Gaza Strip, and in the southern Gaza Strip two terror activity sites were targeted. Both Direct and secondary explosions were reported.

10/29/2011

23:35 - IDF Spokesperson Brig Gen. Yoav (Polly) Mordechai assessed that the Islamic Jihad was severely hurt from the IDF's attacks in response to the rocket fire. Brig. Gen. Mordechai said, "The attacks killed ten terrorists including Sheikh Ahmed Halili an elite Jihad member, and injured more. Overnight we will carry out additional operations. The Hamas terrorist organization has not responded so far and we will examine to what extent it is attempting to thwart this round, as the ruling body in the Gaza Strip."

22:50 - IAF aircraft targeted a terrorist squad in the northern Gaza strip that was preparing to launch rockets at Israeli communities. Additionally IAF aircraft targeted two armed rocket launchers in the southern Gaza Strip. Hits were confirmed.

22:15 - IAF aircraft target a terrorist preparing to launch rockets at Israel in the southern Gaza Strip. Hits were confirmed.

22:10 - IAF aircraft target terrorist squad responsible for firing rockets at communities in southern Israel. Hits were confirmed.

20:40 - The Chief of the General Staff, Lt. Gen. Benny Gantz held a situation assessment in response to the renewed rocket fire from Gaza. The assessment was held with the operational general staff including representatives from the Intelligence Corps, the Southern Command, the Home Front Command, the IAF and the Operations Directorate.

14:15 - In a joint IDF and the Israel Security Agency, IAF aircraft attacked a cell of terrorists preparing to fire long-range rockets from the southern Gaza Strip. This same terrorist cell was responsible for the rockets fired at the Be'er Tuvia Regional Council last Wednesday. Hits were confirmed and the launching attempt was thwarted.

The Home Front Command instructed the civilians to enter safe rooms for at least ten minutes when an alarm sounds. Additionally, any gathering of over 500 in southern Israel is to be cancelled. Further instructions including school system operation are forthcoming.

The IDF will not tolerate any attempt to harm Israeli civilians and IDF soldiers, and will continue to operate with strength and determination against anyone who uses terror against the State of Israel. The Hamas terror organization is solely responsible for any terrorist activity emanating from the Gaza Strip.

Above video posted on YouTube by idfspox1 - Above report/image/video by IDF

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AubreyJ………

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ISRAEL: Sderot hit by massive rocket offensive – Braces For More Attacks

ISRAEL:

Sderot hit by massive rocket offensive

Braces For More Attacks
Tuesday, January 15, 2008

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>>> YNETNews.com brings us this report today and it goes in part like this... More than 30 rockets were fired at southern communities Tuesday afternoon and evening. Most of the rockets targeted the southern town of Sdeort, prompting municipal officials to convene an emergency meeting to decide on the next moves in the rocket-stricken town...
Read this troubling report in full at link below...
Sderot braces for more rockets

>>> IsraelNationalNews.com has this take...
The enemy in Gaza kept firing anti-civilian terror rockets at Sderot and the Gaza perimeter late Tuesday evening, bringing the reported total of such rocket strikes to 25 Tuesday. The enemy fired another 25 mortar rounds at Israel as well...
Enemy Fires 50 Rockets and Shells at Israel Tuesday, 5 Injured

>>> SKY News has this report...
Israel is bracing itself for escalating attacks from Hamas after the bloodiest day of fighting in Gaza for more than a year. 19 Palestinians were killed in clashes with Israeli ground troops tanks and helicopters. It began as a covert Israeli ground operation against rocket launchers... But when Israeli troops were spotted by Palestinian fighters, an intense battle ensued... Israeli reinforcements were backed up by tanks and helicopter gunships... Among the dead was the son of Mahmoud al-Zahar, the hard man of Gaza and one of Hamas's most powerful leaders...
Read this report in full at link below...
Israelis Kill Son Of Hamas Leader
Has photo

>>> EuroNews.net has this video report HERE

Confiscated Insurgent Rocket Footage - August 08, 2007

About Video from Iraq:
Confiscated Insurgent Rocket Footage

Wednesday, August 08, 2007

Video posted on YouTube by AubreyJ
Dramatic confiscated video produced by Iraqi insurgents... and captured in a raid this week by U.S. troops... shows a battery of 49 sophisticated Iranian-made rocket launchers firing on American positions in Nahrawan, east of Baghdad. Scenes include the rockets lined up on launchers, the rockets being prepped and fired.

Video Location: Baghdad, Iraq
Submitting Unit: Multi-National Division-Central
Size: 14.55 MB
Length: 9:33
Date Taken: 8-08-2007
Video and Info courtesy of DoD - DVIDS

Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah: Hizbullah Rockets Can Hit Any Point In Israel, Including Tel Aviv

TheAge.com.au website brings us this story. It goes in part like this... Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Mark Regev said Hezbollah's rearmament "is a direct and grave violation of UN Security Council resolution 1701," which ended last year's war... "The international community must hold accountable those governments, namely Syria and Iran, who by supplying weapons to Hezbollah are deliberately trying to undermine the United Nations, the Lebanese government and peace and stability in the region," he said...
Read the full story at link below...
Hezbollah says rockets can hit Tel Aviv

>>> AlBawaba.com has this take... Hizbullah fighters possess an arsenal of rockets that can reach "any point" in the state of Israel, including Tel Aviv, the movement's leader said Monday in an interview... "We could absolutely reach any corner and any point in occupied Palestine," Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah told pan-Arab Al-Jazeera satellite TV channel and Hizbullah's Al-Manar television...
Read story in full at link below...
Nasrallah: Hizbullah rockets can hit Tel Aviv

34 Iranian 107mm rockets s- 46 rocket launchers found in Iraq 7-12-07

34 Iranian 107mm rockets-

46 rocket launchers found in Iraq 7-12-07

About Video: Video footage of 34 Iranian 107mm rockets and 46 rocket launchers in Iraq which were destroyed before the enemy could fire them. Scenes include aerial footage from the AH-64.

Video Location: IQBaghdad
Unit Involved: • Headquarters 3rd Infantry Division (Ft. Stewart)
Submitting Unit: Headquarters, 3rd Infantry Division Public Affairs

Length: 2:51
Date Taken: 07-12-2007

(Video Footage and Info taken from the DVIDS website - Posted on YouTube by jerdew )

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

RELEASE No. 20070714-05

July 14, 2007
Rockets aimed at FOB Hammer found, neutralized

Multi-National Division – Center PAO

FORWARD OPERATING BASE HAMMER, Iraq - After several rockets hit FOB Hammer on July 11, the 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team maneuvered to find the source of the attack.

Early on July 12, the 3rd HBCT’s unmanned aerial vehicle located 46 rocket launchers in the northern section of Besmaya Range Complex aimed at FOB Hammer. Thirty-four of the launchers were armed with Iranian 107mm rockets. The Besmaya Range Complex is adjacent to the Coalition Force base.

Soldiers of the 789th Explosive Ordnance Disposal team, currently attached to the 3rd HBCT, immediately responded to the site.

According to Capt. Justin Gerken, from Red Wing, Minn., commander of the 789th EOD team, 12 of the 46 rockets had already been used to attack FOB Hammer the day prior. EOD Soldiers were able to determine that the rockets originated from Iran after analyzing the unexploded ordnance.

The 789th EOD team was successful in neutralizing the remaining rockets.