Israeli Consul Review. Ormand Safe. Monica American Thinker Approves Two Essays. More

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Israeli Consul Updated Report (Edited.)

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Iran Launches First-Ever Direct Attack Against Israel; Fires Over 300 Drones and Missiles Iranian drones and missiles are intercepted by the IDF Aerial Defense Array over the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem.

Last night (April 13), the Islamic Republic of Iran initiated a direct attack against the State of Israel. Together, Iranian forces in Iran, as well as Iranian terror proxies in Iraq, Yemen and Lebanon, fired over 300 drones and missiles of various types at Israeli cities and towns.  Schools across Israel were closed, gatherings of over 1,000 people were prohibited and millions of Israelis were forced to seek shelter. As Iranian drones and missiles rained down on Israel, in Tehran, members of Iran's parliament celebrated the attack, chanting "Death to Israel!" (video below): Fortunately, the Iranian attack was countered by the aerial and technological superiority of the IDF, along with a coalition of nations including the United States, the United Kingdom, France and additional countries.The result of these defensive measures was 99% of the drones and missiles fired by Iran towards Israel were intercepted, an act which IDF Spokesperson RADM. Daniel Hagari classified as a "significant strategic achievement." An IAF fighter jet returning to Nevatim Air Force Base after operating in the air during Iran's direct attack against Israel - April 13, 2024.

Of the approximately 170 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) that Iran launched, zero crossed into Israeli territory. Dozens of these UAVs were intercepted by Israeli Air Force (IAF) fighter jets, the IDF Aerial Defense Array, and the aerial defense systems and aircraft of our partners. Below is footage of IAF fighter jets intercepting Iranian UAVs:

Of the more than 30 cruise missiles Iran launched, none crossed into Israeli territory. 25 of them were intercepted by IAF fighter jets outside the country's borders. Of the over 120 ballistic missiles Iran launched, the majority were intercepted by the IAF, with a few falling into Israeli territory. These missiles fell at the Nevatim Air Force Base, causing only minor damage to infrastructure. The base is still operational and is continuing to carry out its missions. Iran hoped to incapacitate the base and thus impair our aerial capabilities, but the Ayatollah regime failed. In addition to intercepting the over 300 missiles and drones launched by Iran and its terror proxies, IAF fighter jets struck Hezbollah targets across Lebanon, including those occupied by the terror organization's elite Radwan Unit. Unfortunately, Iran's attack did result in a 10 year-old-girl being severely injured by shrapnel. No other casualties have been reported at this time. During the attack, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke with U.S. President Joe Biden (pictured above) after convening the War Cabinet at the Kirya in Tel Aviv. The U.S. reaffirmed its "ironclad commitment" to Israel's security and condemned Iran's brazen attack (more information on this below). According to RADM. Hagari, the IDF remains "prepared and ready for further developments and threats," given that "Iran committed a very serious act tonight, pushing the Middle East towards escalation." He affirmed: "We will do everything necessary to protect the security of the civilians of the State of Israel."

U.S. President Biden Condemns Iran's Attack and Reaffirms "Ironclad" Commitment to Israel's Security Below is U.S. President Joe Biden's full statement regarding Iran's direct attack against Israel. President Biden condemned Iran's attacks "in the strongest possible terms" and reaffirmed "America's ironclad commitment to the security of Israel." Today, the White House's National Security Council Spokesperson, John Kirby (pictured above), lauded Israel's defense against Iran: “This morning is just an incredible military achievement by Israel and quite frankly the United States and other partners that helped Israel defend itself against more than 300 drones and missiles. It’s just an extraordinary example of military superiority that Israel demonstrated to the world last night.” In parallel with the White House, the U.S. State Department condemned Iran's brazen attack on Israel. According to U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken (pictured above): "The United States condemns Iran’s attack on Israel.  As the President said, our commitment to Israel’s security against threats from Iran is ironclad."

Iran's Ayatollah Regime: The World's Leading State-Sponsor of Terror Members of Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps. As part of its campaign to destroy the State of Israel, Iran's Ayatollah regime has for years sponsored and directed terror proxies such as Hamas, Hezbollah and the Houthis. More recently, the regime launched a direct attack on Israel, firing over 300 drones and missiles. As Iran continues to destabilize the Middle East, the Ayatollah regime furthers its reputation as the world's leading state-sponsor of terror. The regime has proven that it is a significant threat to the State of Israel and other free and democratic nations around the world. To learn more, click HERE.

Stories of the Hostages

Pictured above is Doron Steinbrecher (30). She is still being held captive by Hamas in Gaza.

133 individuals remain in Hamas captivity. They have spent the past 190 nights as hostages after being brutally kidnapped to Gaza. Each day, we will be highlighting their stories, until they are all released. Please do your part by sharing THIS POST and in calling for the immediate release of all the hostages. To learn more about the hostages still in captivity and to raise awareness and share their stories, please visit THIS WEBSITE. ++++++++++  Monica is another editor for The American Thinker.  She initially rejected my two essays because she urged me to separate them, make them standalones, longer and resubmit. I did and now she  has accepted them both and is going to publish them. This old dog is still learning even at 91. +++ Very nice, Richard, thanks for getting back to us. I'll post this one now, and the abortion one for tomorrow. Thanks for this contributions! best regards, Monica ++++ Here's How We Know the U.S. Military Is VERY Worried About WWIII After Iran's Attack on Israel By VICTORIA TAFT  After the missile and drone attack launched by Iran against Israel on Saturday, one can assume the Pentagon is concerned about an expansion of this hot war.  The question of how much Joe Biden and his puppet master, Barack Obama, care remains unanswered, however (where is that Rashid Khalidi tape anyway, LA Times?).  Biden's persistent undermining of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the president's political left flank calling for Bibi's ouster during a war have been politically punctilious, outrageous, and deflating. They telegraph the administration's antipathy toward the Israeli leader and desire for him to fail in his country's quest for survival.  After all this, you can understand why many question Biden's alleged "ironclad" support of the Jewish state.  Whether Biden takes this missile attack against Israel seriously is one question, but there's little question the Pentagon is on full alert about the possibility of World War III breaking out.  How do we know this? Not because of any national address by the President of the United State of America. Though he came back to the White House for his situation room photo op, he's been silent on the matter.  Indeed, Joe's been silent about the issue of World War III and his stupidity in helping us get to the precipice.  How seriously has the Pentagon brass treated this potential world-changing event?  We are informed by the "good old Pentagon Pizza index." This "FOODINT" (food intelligence) index is a way to assess if the American Military Industrial Complex is on full alert and arrayed to spend long hours watching the world on the brink of WWIII.  The Papa John's Pizza Index gives the game away. When you live near a military installation, as I have,  you quickly learn the telltale signs of deployment or heightened alert. I'd tell you what they are, but then I'd have to kill you. Loose lips sink ships.  It's good to know, however, that the Pentagon is double-timing it to keep an eye on the mullahs trying to kill the Jews. It's not like Iran's "supreme leader" didn't tell the world his plans or anything.  Ramadan ended and Khamenei warmed up the drones. Joe Biden's horrible "leadership" set up Israel for this. Pain for American car owners will come next.  ++++ MIDDLE EAST Iran Threatens US With Larger Attack - Epoch Times I READ MORE +++++++++++++++++++ Response from my Israeli friend, Michael Ormand,  who publishes: "Good News Israel." +++ Many thanks.  It was a worrying night, but more of a test rather than an all-out attack.  It will have taught both sides some lessons.  Let's hope that the "good guys" get more out of this than the villains.  Best regards Michael +++ The friendly leopard keeps changing his spots. +++ Biden Keeps the Billions Flowing to Iran Choosing not to enforce oil sanctions finances Tehran’s terrorism. By The Editorial Board You’d think the Biden Administration would have realized by now that enriching the Iranian regime is a dangerous mistake. You’d be wrong. Relaxed U.S. enforcement of oil sanctions continued through October, refilling Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei’s coffers even after the Oct. 7 slaughter and the more than 40 attacks on U.S. troops by Iran’s proxies in the weeks since. Iran exported nearly 1.4 million barrels of oil per day in October, sustaining its average for 2023. This is up 80% from the 775,000 barrels per day Iran averaged under the Trump Administration’s “maximum pressure” strategy, according to United Against Nuclear Iran, the group of former U.S. Ambassador Mark Wallace and Sen. Joe Lieberman, whose Tanker Tracker generates the best public data we have. The Iranian surge in oil exports since President Biden took over has brought Iran an additional $32 billion to $35 billion, according to the Foundation for Defense of Democracies. The calculations are tricky, but the cause of the Iranian windfall is clear: As part of Mr. Biden’s quiet diplomacy with Iran, the U.S. has curtailed sanctions enforcement. Customers and middlemen have concluded the risk is low and the discount on Iran’s oil is too good to pass up. This transfer of funds to Iran is cumulatively more significant than the President’s recent $6 billion ransom payment in return for five hostages. And it keeps growing, even as the money fails to moderate Iranian behavior. Instead it finances Iran’s aggression abroad via proxies such as Hamas in Gaza, Hezbollah in Lebanon, the Houthis in Yemen and the front groups in Iraq and Syria that shoot at American bases almost daily. In 2020 the State Department assessed that Iran sends $100 million a year to Palestinian terrorist groups, arming and training them to attack Israel and murder its civilians as Hamas did Oct. 7. Last year Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh said that his group receives $70 million from Iran, plus long-range rockets. Citing an Israeli security source, Reuters reports that Iran’s funding for Hamas ballooned in the past year to $350 million. Hamas’s new capabilities took Israel and the U.S. by surprise, but they didn’t come from nowhere. About 70% of Iran’s oil exports are to China, which helps explain the blossoming Russia-China-Iran axis challenging world order. Iran sends China cheap oil and Russia new military drones. It may export missiles too, now that the Biden Administration allowed international missile sanctions to lapse. In return, Iran receives the money and diplomatic cover it needs to advance its war on the U.S. and Israel. Russian military support in Syria shields Iranian arms transfers, and the potential for nuclear cooperation should keep Western policy makers up at night. If the Biden Administration wants to limit the flow of oil money to Tehran, it knows what to do: enforce the law and sanction the complicit banks, purchasers, insurers, tankers, ports and other players that facilitate the trade. Does the President have the will to break from his strategy of appeasement? ++++