Israel, US Achieve ‘Major Milestone’ in Long-Range Missile Defense System Test

Israel and the US working together on missile defense. Illustrative. By Joshua Spurlock

Israel’s longest-range missile defense system underwent a successful interceptor test flight by Israel and the United States on Monday, and the sides were clearly excited over the results. “The success of this test is a major milestone in the operational capabilities of the State of Israel and its ability to defense itself against current and future threats in the region,” Israel’s Ministry of Defense said in a press release.

The test was carried out in the middle of the night in central Israel and involved launching a missile interceptor from the system, known as the Arrow-3. That system, the longest-range version of the Arrow—or Hetz in Hebrew—is part of a multilayered missile defense system in Israel that includes the Iron Dome, the David’s Sling and the Arrow-2 systems. The Arrow-3 interceptors were delivered for operational use to Israel last year.

The test of the Arrow-3—which the press release said is “designed to defend against ballistic missile threats outside the atmosphere”—was jointly carried out by the Israel Missile Defense Organization and the US Missile Defense Agency. … Continue Reading

Netanyahu Shows Drone Piece, Asks Iran: ‘Recognize This?’ and Warns Will Act ‘Against Iran Itself’ If Needed

“Recognize this?” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu holds drone piece at the Munich Security Conference. Photo courtesy of Amos Ben Gershom GPO

One week after the Iranians dramatically escalated their conflict with Israel by flying a drone from Syria into Israeli airspace, Netanyahu escalated his own warnings to Iran in dramatic fashion on Sunday. “We will act, if necessary, not just against Iran’s proxies that are attacking us, but against Iran itself,” said the Israeli leader. In comments released by his office, Netanyahu noted that “Israel will not allow Iran’s regime to put a noose of terror around our neck. We will act without hesitation to defend ourselves.”

During his speech to the Munich Security Conference, at which Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif was present, Netanyahu noted that the Iranian diplomat “lies with eloquence” and his country denies its involvement in the drone incident. So to prove his point, Netanyahu brought an actual piece of the drone shot down by Israel with him and held it up to the conference. Said Netanyahu while displaying the drone wreckage, “Mr. Zarif, do you recognize this? You should. It’s yours. You can take back with you a message to the tyrants of Tehran: Do not test Israel’s resolve.” … Continue Reading

Palestinian Terrorists Wound Israeli Soldiers as Gaza Heats Up; Plot to Kill Defense Minister Thwarted

Explosives can kill. Spent Palestinian rocket. Illustrative. By Joshua Spurlock

An explosive device planted near the Gaza border by Palestinian terrorists wounded four Israeli soldiers on Saturday in one of the most serious escalations in that conflict since the last war in 2014, and one day later it was published that a separate Palestinian terror cell was plotting to use explosives to assassinate Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman. The scheming terror cell was arrested—foiling thosee plans.

Meanwhile, in addition to the Gaza bombing attack on IDF soldiers, Harretz reported that a Gaza rocket hit the roof of an Israeli home on Saturday. The IDF Spokesperson Twitter page reported that Israel responded to Saturday’s Gaza attacks with a barrage of strikes on 18 Hamas targets. The conflict wasn’t over Saturday night—the IDF Spokesperson tweeted that sirens sounded in response to another Gaza rocket launched at Israel on Sunday.

IDF spokesman Lt. Col. Jonathan Conricus said on Twitter that two of the four Israeli soldiers hurt in the Gaza attack were wounded severely. Separately, he tweeted that Hamas “regularly organizes riots and ‘demonstrations’ in Gaza and that the explosives were covertly placed near the Gaza security fence during a riot in Gaza. While Hamas hasn’t claimed direct credit, the Israelis repeatedly have said the ruling power in the Gaza Strip is ultimately responsible and the terror group certainly has set a vicious example in the past. “We hold #Hamas responsible for all aggression from Gaza,” he tweeted. … Continue Reading

US to UN: Drone Incursion to Israel ‘Wake-up Call’ that Iran Plans to Stay in Syria

U.S. Ambassador the U.N. Nikki Haley. Photo courtesy of the U.S. Mission to the UN

The Iranian drone that violated Israeli airspace last week was more than just an escalation—it’s a sign that peace in Syria is a ways away according to the United States and regional conflict may be here to stay. Nikki Haley, the US Ambassador to the United Nations, warned the powerful UN Security Council on Wednesday that escalations such as this not only push back on peace but they herald a future in which Iran builds a permanent base in Syria.

“The drone flight is a wake-up call for all of us. Iran and Hezbollah are making plans to stay in Syria,” said Haley in comments posted to the US Mission to the UN website.

“When we look out across the Middle East, we know one thing for certain. When Iran and Hezbollah move in, instability always follows… We can’t offer support for peace on the one hand, and ignore the fact that the chief sponsor of terrorism in the Middle East and its terrorist militia are digging in.” … Continue Reading

Investigation: Turkey Turns ‘Blind Eye’—Sometimes Encourages—Hamas Illicit Activity

Turkish citizen Celim Tekeli, who was arrested for aiding Hamas terrorists. Photo courtesy of the ISA.

A Turkish citizen arrested in Israel for working with Hamas has helped unleash an investigation that led to accusations on Monday that Turkey has been ignoring—and at times enabling—Hamas fundraising and militaristic activity and has even indirectly allowed the terror group opportunity to research weapons for fighting Israel. The delve into the activities of Cemil Tekeli of Turkey found that not only has the law lecturer aided Hamas in his home country—including helping them get visas, set up business and even buy luxury vehicles—but so have some people who had key connections in the Turkish government.

In one example, the Israel Security Agency (ISA) said in the press release that “Turkey contributes to the military strengthening of Hamas” through the SADAT company that was set up at the request of an advisor who is “close to Turkish administration officials.”

Not only can SADAT provide money to Hamas, but an employee of SADAT even assisted senior Hamas officials attend a weapons show in Turkey a few years ago. There, the terrorist organization showed interest in unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), also known as drones. Said the ISA press release, “The company was founded to assist—with funds and war materiel—the creation of the ‘Palestine Army’, the goal of which is to fight Israel.” And it doesn’t end there. … Continue Reading

Iranian Drone Shot Down after Invading Israel; F-16 Crashes in Counterstrike

An air battle erupted over Israel on Saturday. Illustrative. Photo Courtesy of U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Michael Holzworth.

Iran invaded Israeli airspace on Saturday, setting off a miniature air-war involving three nations and ultimately resulting in an Israeli pilot and navigator being injured when their F-16 was shot down in the conflict. It all started when an Iranian drone aircraft flew into Israeli territory from Syria and was subsequently shot down by an Israeli helicopter early Saturday morning, according to a timeline of the day’s fighting posted to IDF Spokesman Lt. Col. Jonathan Conricus’ Twitter page.

In response, Israeli jets hit Iranian targets inside Syria and during that counterstrike an Israeli F-16 was hit in a barrage of anti-aircraft fire. The pilot and navigator ejected from the plane into Israeli territory. By the time it was all over, Israeli jets had launched a “large scale attack” against Syrian air defenses and Iranian targets.

In a separate Twitter post, Conricus said that the Iranian drone—designed after an American drone captured by Iran in 2011—got three-to-four miles into Israeli territory and was observed for one-and-a-half minutes before being taken down. On Sunday, one day after the incident, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu emphasized that the Israeli response was strong and will continue to be. … Continue Reading