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7 suspects arrested in Sri Lanka over Easter Sunday bombings

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Country imposes strict nationwide curfew, blocks social media after 8 blasts kill over 200 people, injure hundreds By AGENCIES and TOI STAFF Today, 3:28 pm 0 117 shares Sri Lankan Special Task Force (STF) personnel are pictured outside a house during a raid — after a suicide blast killed police officers searching the property — […]

2/3 of Americans now believe Jews face discrimination in US

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Pew survey shows massive increase in number of Americans who believe Jews face discrimination in the US. David Rosenberg, 21/04/19  Nearly two-thirds of Americans believe Jews face discrimination in the US, a new survey revealed recently, marking a significant increase over the past few years. According to a survey conducted by the Pew Research Center, […]

India approves ’emergency purchase’ of Israeli-made SPIKE Missiles

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RAFAEL Advanced Defense Systems says “no comment” on India reports to purchase 240 ATGMs and 12 launchers. By Anna Ahronheim April 21, 2019 12:20 The Indian Army has approved the “emergency purchase” of 240 SPIKE anti-tank guided missiles made by Israel’s Rafael Advanced Defense System to meet immediate operational requirements, Indian media has reported. The […]

Netanyahu, world leaders voice support for Sri Lanka after Easter bombings

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Officials around the globe condemn deadly attacks that left over 190 dead and hundreds more wounded By TOI STAFF and AGENCIESToday, 2:29 pm  0 1shares Sri Lankan security personnel and investigators look through debris outside Zion Church following an explosion in Batticaloa in eastern Sri Lanka on April 21, 2019. (LAKRUWAN WANNIARACHCHI / AFP) Leaders from around the world […]

Nigeria: Jihad against Christians

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Uzay BulutApril 21, 2019 at 5:00 amhttps://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/14067/nigeria-jihad-christians The current violence, which has been getting worse since early 2017, “is slightly different, in that it is a series of targeted attacks on Christian communities attempting to displace farmers and take land for herders.” — Nathan Johnson, International Christian Concern, Regional Manager for Africa. “Christians in Nigeria […]

The new proxy war in Syria: Iran and Turkey vs. Saudi Arabia and Russia

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Leith Aboufadel .td_uid_6_5cbc4faee5ab4_rand.td-a-rec-img{text-align:left}.td_uid_6_5cbc4faee5ab4_rand.td-a-rec-img img{margin:0 auto 0 0} BEIRUT, LEBANON (1:10 P.M.) – As if the Syrian Conflict couldn’t get any more complicated, a new proxy war is brewing between several foreign powers in the northern part of the country. Speaking from Damascus on the condition of anonymity, a government source told Al-Masdar that two new […]

Sri Lanka intel warned of Muslim attack on churches

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Officials warned previously that terror elements, including radical Islamic group NTJ, would carry out suicide attacks at certain churches. Arutz Sheva Staff, 21/04/19 victim of attack at St. Anthony’s shrine Reuters Intelligence officials in Sri Lanka warned that terrorist elements, including the radical Islamic organization NTJ, would carry out a suicide attack in certain churches […]

8th explosion hits Sri Lanka’s commercial capital – reports

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Edited time: 21 Apr, 2019 09:49 An eighth explosion has rocked Colombo, Sri Lanka’s largest city and commercial capital, shortly after about 160 people were killed in seven blasts that hit hotels and churches. The eighth blast has been reported by AFP citing Sri Lankan police.No details regarding its target or casualties have been shared […]

Sri Lanka terror has hallmarks of previous attacks

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It is hallmark of our era that when it comes to mass murder and coordinated terror attacks that we have a long list to choose from when looking at past experiences. Seth J. Frantzman April 21, 2019 11:27 A coordinated series of attacks on churches and hotels in Sri Lanka conjures up memories of previous […]

7th explosion reported near Sri Lanka’s largest city – police

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Published time: 21 Apr, 2019 08:45 Edited time: 21 Apr, 2019 08:51 Get short URL A new explosion has been reported in Sri Lanka, following six blasts in churches and hotels earlier on Sunday, according to police. It his in the Dehiwala suburb of the capital Colombo. DETAILS TO FOLLOW

Abbas to Meet Sisi, Arab FMs in Cairo in Bid to Torpedo US Peace Plan

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Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas is traveling to Cairo Sunday to hold consultations with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi. The consultations are geared toward shoring up Arab support ahead of the prospective release of the much-anticipated US peace plan that Ramallah has repeatedly rejected out of hand. Abbas will also attend a meeting of Arab […]

Iraq Summit Gathers Regional Leaders to Discuss Ongoing Conflicts

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Iraq hosted a summit over the weekend that brought together top officials from Turkey, Jordan, Kuwait, Syria and, most notably, Sunni Saudi Arabia and Shi’ite Iran, which support opposite sides in brutal proxy wars throughout the Middle East. Analysts view the conference as an attempt by Baghdad to recast itself as a neutral intermediary following […]

Watch: The new Israeli ‘We Are the World’

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30 of Israel’s greatest artists sing of their love for the land and people of Israel. Arutz Sheva Staff, 21/04/19  More than 30 of Israel’s famous artists and performers gathered for a special project with a message of unity and love for Israel The “Shevat Achim VeAchiyot (brothers and sisters sitting together) project was conceived […]

Hezbollah Leader: “the possibility of a war with Israel is very high this summer and I may no longer be with you”. Posted on 20/04/201920/04/2019 by Elijah J Magnier By Elijah J. Magnier: @ejmalrai Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah held a private meeting this week with his top military commanders in which he warned them to prepare for a hot Summer because Israel plans to launch a surprise war against Lebanon. Sayyed Nasrallah has asked his men to share the reality of the situation and the possibility of war when briefing their men, families and people in the villages and cities in which Hezbollah operates. He also prepared them for the likelihood of his assassination and the killing of Hezbollah’s first line of command in the event of such a war and that they will have to run the war on their own, as they were trained for. “I may not remain among you for very long; it is possible that the entire first level of leadership could be killed, including myself. Israel may succeed in assassinating many leaders and commanders. The death of some key personalities will not be the end of Hezbollah, because the party doesn’t rely merely on individuals but rather on the entire society that is an essential part of its existence”, said Sayyed Nasrallah to the gathering. He added that “measures and procedures have already been taken to be ready even if this extreme case (the killing of top leaders including Sayyed Nasrallah himself) happens.” The team protecting the leader of Hezbollah imposes tight security procedures on any visitor, regardless of rank or function. No mobile phones or personal rings or belongings are allowed; they must be removed before reaching the meeting place. Commanders gather in different locations and are transported in black curtained buses, in small number, for security reasons. At the end of the meeting, his personal security team leaves the place with Sayyed Nasrallah first and the gathering leaves afterwards, driven back to their desired destination. “There are strong indications that this war will take everybody by surprise, like the 2006 war. Nevertheless, (the Israeli Prime Minister Benyamin) Netanyahu is preparing himself, unlike (the former PM Ehud) Olmert who was hesitant, when the unprepared Israeli political decision was caught out in July (2006). Israel can surprise us all like it did in Gaza in 2008 with the objective of removing the threat on its borders once and for all. This is what our people (Hezbollah’s allies) should know, and they should from now on be prepared for the worse-case scenario”, Sayyed Nasrallah said. Hezbollah believes Netanyahu has a unique opportunity to attack Hezbollah after forming his government, because Israel may not again enjoy a president in Washington like Trump who offers him (Netanyahu) unlimited support. Hezbollah estimates that, in case of war, Israel will dislodge and relocate all Israeli settlements and villages bordering Lebanon from Naqoura to the Shebaa Farms. Israel would do this to prevent Hezbollah from crossing the borders and taking Israeli hostages. In this case, Hezbollah believes Israel would allow the militants to move in and encircle them from behind. This is called a mobile defensive strategy, with the aim of destroying the attacking forces. “This is the first time Sayyed Nasrallah has offered such a bleak perspective, raising the chances of war with Israel from 50/50 to 70/30”, said a knowledgeable source. No one within the Hezbollah leadership knows exactly when and how hard the next war with Israel will be. The first expectation is simple:Israel is expected to destroy between 1000 and 2000 objectives in the first days of the war.The Israeli military command believes it is possible to eliminate the threat from Hezbollah, Sayyed Nasrallah believes. There is no doubt that Israel will start a war immediately if Sayyed Nasrallah is located. Domestic opinion in Israel would likely be able to digest a war for this price regardless of Hezbollah’s deadly retaliation. Sayyed Nasrallah’s pessimistic expectation comes as a warning for his commanders to take all precautions and stay on alert for a sudden war, and to inform the people they are living with. He believes the Israelis, the USA, the British and many Arab states could all participate in the forthcoming war, which gives an indication of how destructive the next round is expected to be. Moreover, Lebanon is going through a grave economic crisis in which the population can hardly afford a devastating war. The Middle East is entering a new configuration, with Israel expanding its relationship with Arab countries and certain to benefit from their financial and intelligence support in the case of war against Iran’s partners in Lebanon. As far as Hezbollah is concerned, its arsenal seems sufficient. Its precious missiles are enough to sustain a long war against Israel with hundreds of rockets and missiles launched daily. Hezbollah has made sure no missiles are located next to civilian facilities to avoid casualties and financial losses. Sources believe the underground work in the south of Lebanon has become like the tunnels under Paris, similar to Gruyere cheese. Financially, Hezbollah is no longer in need of a high budget since its presence on the front line in Syria is significantly reduced.  For these reasons, would Israel tolerate the presence of a highly trained, organised and irregular army on its borders when the Prime Minister Netanyahu has changed his military strategy? Sayyed Nasrallah believes Netanyahu is no longer following David Ben Gurion’s policy of being content to move the battle into the enemy’s territory. He is taking the initiative to eliminate threats anywhere in the region. Under Netanyahu, the Israeli Air Force bombed Iraq (Hashd al-Shaabi Iraqi security forces) on the borders with Syria. Every time he perceived the presence of a sophisticated arms shipment he bombs it immediately regardless of the consequences. He has destroyed warehouses and arms manufacturers in Syria to cripple the Syrian army. Not only that, Netanyahu is now living in a world where the Arab armies are absent or destroyed: they represent no danger to the existence of Israel. For Israel, the only remaining threat is Hezbollah. Why would Netanyahu put up with such a menace on his borders? Russia, a superpower present in Syria and looking to gain a foothold in Lebanon, is not expected to react against Israel on the ground. Maybe at the UN, yes. But it is to the advantage of Russia to see Syria weaker and not dependant on a strong ally like Hezbollah. Russia can make a deal with the US over Syria – once Hezbollah is eliminated or weakened enough – to remove President Assad from power in exchange for regaining control of Idlib and re-taking the North-East currently under US occupation. Washington would be thrilled with such an option and Trump would be happy with a similar outcome ending the presence of his forces in Syria. But why this sudden pessimism and increase likelihood of war in Lebanon?  Hezbollah is watching the movements of the US Air Force and Navy in the region, the behaviour of Netanyahu with Gaza (giving the Palestinians what they want to keep them – with Egypt as a guarantor – quiet in case of war against Hezbollah), the US’s unlimited support presenting a unique opportunity for Israel to take what it wants, Arab support for Netanyahu, the classification of Hezbollah as a terrorist country by more countries, the repeated warnings of the US establishment to Lebanon against embracing Hezbollah, the enmity against Iran by the Arab states and the tightening of sanctions on the Levants, the “Deal of the Century” scheduled for this summer and the extreme right-wing victory in Israel. But how will Hezbollah and Iran react? Both are on the defensive and are not expected to take the initiative and attack first. Iran may develop its nuclear capability and surprise the world with an ultimate step to turn the tables and stop the war.But Hezbollah is not going to sit and watch. Measures are being taken to counter Israel’s bank of objectives. Hundreds of locations have been emptied and abandoned around the country. Its military leadership has been distributed and delegated and reserves have been prepared for the worse-case scenario. Lebanon may not be far at all from paying the price. In 2008, Hezbollah occupied the capital Beirut when the government wanted to disrupt its communication system. It can do much more if there is a danger to its entire existence. This is the pessimistic view that Hezbollah’s commanders are preparing for: they are preparing for the worst. It could well be that Israel is not preparing a military war and is happy to see the US working on its behalf– through economic sanctions on Lebanon, Syria and Iran. But the summer is not far away, a perfect time for Israel to start a war while the sky is clear. Will the Lebanese be able to enjoy a peaceful summer this year or should they instead be preparing to become refugees? Proof-read by:  Maurice Brasher & C.G.B This article is translated for free to many languages by volunteers so readers can enjoy the content. It shall not be masked by Paywall. I’d like to thank my followers and readers for the confidence and support. If you like it, please don’t feel embarrassed to contribute and help fund it for as little as 1 Euro. Your contribution, however small, will help ensure its continuity. Thank you. Share this:EmailTweetPrintPocketTelegramLike this:Like Loading… Categories: Articles in English Leave a Reply Cancel reply This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed. Published by Elijah J Magnier Veteran War Zone Correspondent and Senior Political Risk Analyst with over 35 years’ experience covering the Middle East and acquiring in-depth experience, robust contacts and political knowledge in Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Libya, Sudan and Syria. Specialised in terrorism and counter-terrorism, intelligence, political assessments, strategic planning and thorough insight in political networks in the region. Covered on the ground the Israeli invasion to Lebanon (1st war 1982), the Iraq-Iran war, the Lebanese civil war, the Gulf war (1991), the war in the former Yugoslavia (1992-1996), the US invasion to Iraq (2003 to date), the second war in Lebanon (2006), the war in Libya and Syria (2011 to date). Lived for many years in Lebanon, Bosnia, Iraq, Iran, Libya and Syria. View all posts by Elijah J Magnier Post navigation PreviousLe leader du Hezbollah : “Israël va sans doute nous attaquer cet été et vous pourriez me perdre”.NextIl leader di Hezbollah: “ la possibilità di una guerra con Israele in estate è altissima e io potrei non essere più con voi”

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Posted on 20/04/2019 by Elijah J Magnier By Elijah J. Magnier: @ejmalrai Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah held a private meeting this week with his top military commanders in which he warned them to prepare for a hot Summer because Israel plans to launch a surprise war against Lebanon. Sayyed Nasrallah has asked his men to share the reality […]