Taipei strongly condemned China for launching a military exercise near the island of Taiwan on October 14, 2024. The drill, dubbed "Joint Sword-2024B" by China, has been described by MOFA as a provocative action that challenges the rules-based international order and undermines regional peace and stability.

In a statement released by Taipei, it urged Beijing to "pull back and immediately cease its military provocations." The statement emphasized that this action comes despite recent efforts by Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te to extend an olive branch across the straits, although Beijing believes that the recent presidential election in what it considers a renegade province means a shift away from reconciliation, and considers unification a top priority.

President Lai, in his recent National Day address, had called for China to "act responsibly and work with Taiwan to maintain the prevailing state of peace, stability, and prosperity." However, MOFA notes that China appears to have disregarded this goodwill gesture.

"China remains determined to intimidate the people of Taiwan through military exercises and is attempting to threaten Taiwan's democracy," the MOFA statement read. It accused China of "unilaterally disrupting the status quo of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and throughout the region."

The Chinese military held large-scale exercises around Taiwan and its outlying islands, involving multiple forces, aircraft, and ships, including the Liaoning aircraft carrier and J-15 fighter jets. The Ministry of Defense in Beijing announced that Chinese planes and ships were deployed around the island, with maps published by Chinese state media indicating its forces were positioned around the whole island.

Senior Captain Li Xi, spokesperson for China's People's Liberation Army's Eastern Theater Command, said all branches of the military, including the navy, army, air force, and rocket force, were mobilized for the drills, which were designed to simulate attacking Taiwan by land, sea, and air. The exercises are described as a "decisive warning" to those seeking "independence" for the island.

The drills this week involved troops from the Chinese army, navy, air force, rocket force, and other forces to test their joint operational capabilities, including close sea-air patrols to enhance combat readiness. The Eastern Theater Command released a video titled "Prepared for Battle" on social media, serving as a warning to Taiwan's independence forces and featuring footage of fighter jets and warships positioning themselves.

The exercises were timed to coincide with Taiwan's National Day celebrations, during which President Lai Ching-te emphasized Taiwan's right to self-determination and asserted that China has "no right" to represent Taiwan. In his National Day speech, Lai declared his commitment to "resist annexation or encroachment" by Beijing.

In response to China's military maneuvers, Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense activated "appropriate troops" to "defend freedom and democracy" and protect its sovereignty. The ministry condemned China's military exercises as "irrational and provocative," asserting its preparedness to respond. It dispatched forces to respond without providing details and added that outlying islands were put on high alert.

Taiwan's Defense Ministry deployed its mobile missile and radar groups on land to track the vessels at sea and has also deployed warships to designated spots in the ocean for surveillance against Chinese aggression. As of Monday morning, the ministry had tracked 25 Chinese warplanes, seven warships, and four Chinese government ships, though it did not specify what types of ships they were.

Taiwan's Presidential Office called on China to "cease military provocations that undermine regional peace and stability and stop threatening Taiwan's democracy and freedom." The Taipei government described China's military drills as an "open provocation" and "blatant provocations" that seriously undermine regional peace and stability, asserting its preparedness to respond to what it labeled as a serious threat.

Joseph Wu, secretary-general of Taiwan's National Security Council, said at a forum in Taipei, "Our military will definitely deal with the threat from China appropriately," acknowledging the increasing pressure on Taiwan. He added that threatening other countries with force violates the basic spirit of the United Nations Charter to resolve disputes through peaceful means.

China's Defense Ministry stated that the drills were a response to Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te's refusal to acknowledge Taiwan as part of the People's Republic of China and to concede to Beijing's demands. Senior Captain Li Xi stated, "This is a major warning to those who back Taiwan independence and a signifier of our determination to safeguard our national sovereignty."

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On Monday, American General Charles Brown, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, participated in a tour of the Israel-Lebanon border. Although this is only the second time Brown, the highest-ranking officer in the US armed forces, has visited Israel, he seemed to feel at home here. Brown's host was IDF Chief of Staff Lt.  Gen. Herzi Halevi. In photos distributed by the IDF Spokesperson's Unit, the two can be seen flying comfortably in a helicopter, listening together to a briefing in the northern command operations room, and sitting naturally side by side at the head of the General Staff table. "It's almost as if the IDF has two chiefs of staff," says a former senior military official.

The IDF does indeed have only one chief of staff, but Brown's presence in Israel, and the way he was received here, is a clear expression of the deep, unprecedented military cooperation between Israel and the United States. "A military coalition without a military coalition," is how a source in the defense establishment defines it.

In the past three weeks, in the shadow of the alert for the Iranian regime's response to the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran, this "coalition" has reached its peak. During this period, the United States Central Command, which oversees the Middle East region and is in daily contact with the IDF, has grown tenfold in terms of its force size: from a fighting force of 4,000 men in routine to about 40,000 fighters, with their equipment, including two aircraft carriers, a nuclear submarine, and hundreds of fighter and reconnaissance aircraft. "This time," says a source in the Defense Ministry, "America has gone out of its way for us."

The conversations between IDF officers and CENTCOM are conducted, of course, only in English. "But it's an English that understands the Middle East," says a source involved in these conversations, "CENTCOM is the partner that's most comfortable to work with. Suddenly you discover that there's someone else analyzing Iran, who knows how the region operates. It's like adding another body to the IDF, expanding its capabilities basket." CENTCOM, by the way, also serves as a liaison body to other armies in the region, those that operate in synchronization with Israel and the US but do not maintain direct connections with the IDF.

The reason for CENTCOM's massive buildup, senior defense and political officials agree, is solely related to Iran. "They didn't come here for Hezbollah," as one of them puts it. The American declarations, from President Joe Biden downwards, aimed at deterring Iran from attacking, were accompanied by operational moves on the ground, which caused Israel's greatest enemy to hesitate. And so, while the ayatollahs calculate their steps, the IDF turned its attention to Lebanon.

Security and political sources in Israel claim this week that the American deterrence had a decisive contribution to halting the Iranian response, and that it allowed the IDF to concentrate its efforts on the northern front, where a successful preemptive strike against Hezbollah's missile and rocket launchers was carried out on Sunday. According to the sources, the Americans were updated about the attack in Lebanon only shortly before the event, mainly so they could prepare to defend their many forces deployed in the area, and did not participate in it themselves.

"We and the Americans are coordinated," says Maj. Gen. (ret.) Yaacov Ayish, former military attaché in Washington, "but it's not that we ask them for permission for every offensive action we take. We update them so they understand the significance of our moves, and take appropriate steps to protect themselves and us. By the way, they don't update us on everything either."

Ayish's words illustrate well the delicate fabric of relations between senior IDF officials and CENTCOM, two armies that have been working side by side in recent years and have developed a unique shared language and brotherhood in arms. However, this brotherhood has limits. For example, IDF officers meeting with senior CENTCOM officials come to these meetings pre-briefed on the information they can share – and vice versa. "It's a complex relationship, with checks and balances, a lot of discretion, and also personal friendships built over years and many joint exercises," says a former senior IDF official who worked extensively with the US military. "This is the infrastructure that enables long-term cooperation."

There's no doubt about the advantages Israel receives from this infrastructure. "Israel is strong and protects itself," Halevi said during the joint tour with Brown this week. "Nevertheless, it's always good to have a strong ally by our side." We saw a resounding testament to this in the "night of missiles" in April when Iran launched a barrage of over 300 drones and missiles toward Israel, which was thwarted in a brilliant air operation led jointly by the IDF and CENTCOM.

However, the partnership with CENTCOM, like any partnership, also has disadvantages. "When the US president sends Brown here, he creates control and commitment," says a former senior IDF officer who knows the political and strategic arena well. "He forces the IDF to update him, he creates close monitoring of the plans, and he understands what the mood is here. In the end, we're talking about a superpower whose goal is control, and it thinks about its own interests. In this relationship, the chief of staff gains, but also loses some of his independence. He understands that there are things he can't do because the Americans are around, and that if we disobey those who are physically protecting us, we'll be in serious trouble."

Unprecedented power

On Monday, August 12, IDF spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari stood in front of the cameras. He did so following persistent rumors circulating in Israel that Iran was planning to attack in the coming hours. Hagari carried a reassuring message for the tense Israeli public, but his words that evening were also directed at another target audience. "We are monitoring what's happening specifically against Iran with all our capabilities," he said, "We are also not monitoring alone, but with the US and with additional partners."

It was no coincidence that Hagari waved the metaphorical American baseball bat several times during his statement. On that tense day, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced that he had ordered the nuclear submarine USS Georgia to be sent to the Middle East, as part of the defense array against Iran. The Georgia joined the battle group of the aircraft carrier Lincoln, which includes destroyers, missile ships, and four fighter squadrons, already on its way to the area. Here, the aircraft carrier Roosevelt awaited it, including more than 4,000 marines and sailors, deployed in combat formation alongside 12 additional warships.

If anyone had any doubt about America's intentions, Biden came and expressed them in his own voice. The day before Hagari's statement, Biden was caught leaving a church in his hometown of Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. When asked what his message to Iran was, the president responded with one word that has become associated with him: "Don't."

The aircraft carrier Lincoln finally reached its destination on Aug. 22 and was subordinated to CENTCOM. Two days later, Brown arrived for a surprise visit to the Middle East, which included meetings in Jordan and Egypt. It seems this was the last piece in the puzzle that the IDF was waiting to complete. The next day, Aug. 25, about 100 Air Force planes took off for the strike in Lebanon.

Middle Eastern English

The American buildup in the region was done in full coordination with the IDF. On Aug. 9, General Michael Kurilla, commander of the Central Command, arrived in Israel for the second time in a week for a meeting with Halevi. In parallel, meetings were held between the heads of IDF branches and some of the General Staff with their counterparts in CENTCOM. The deputy chief of staff and coordinator of the connection with CENTCOM, Israeli Deputy Chief of Staff Maj. Gen. Amir Baram, also met with his American counterpart for coordination talks and intelligence updates. These numerous meetings were coordinated by the Tevel Division in the IDF's strategy department, responsible for liaising with foreign armies. "There's a close operational dialogue here," says a senior military source, "they don't just throw ships in the sea and planes in the air for no reason."

From the meetings between the generals and admirals, operational guidelines flowed to the joint working groups, at the level of brigadier generals and colonels, who worked together to formulate action plans and divide areas of responsibility. The conversations were held remotely, using encrypted video systems, and sometimes face-to-face, in joint operations rooms. These Israeli-American meetings, says a source who participated in them, are conducted as equals, in an open manner and without unnecessary formalities of respect. And yes, sometimes there are disagreements that escalate into shouting.

The conversations between IDF officers and CENTCOM are conducted, of course, only in English. "But it's an English that understands the Middle East," says a source involved in these conversations, "CENTCOM is the partner that's most comfortable to work with. Suddenly you discover that there's someone else is also studying Iran, who knows how the region operates. It's like adding another body to the IDF, expanding its capabilities basket." CENTCOM, by the way, also serves as a liaison body to other armies in the region, those that operate in lockstep with Israel and the US but do not maintain direct connections with the IDF.

"Cooperation with CENTCOM is a strategic asset for Israel," says former head of IDF Military Intelligence, Maj. General (ret.) Amos Yadlin. "Think about it: the US has only seven aircraft carrier battle groups in total, of which only three or four are operational at any given time. In other words, half of the active American aircraft carriers are currently in our region. There's no doubt that this is part of the reasons why the Iranians decided to delay, and perhaps even cancel, their attack. From this perspective, it's very important that they don't see only Israel facing them, but also the US."

A Defense Ministry source adds, "Putting another aircraft carrier here is a significant statement to the region. America knows how to convey its messages well. The Americans have superpower capabilities, and it's good that they're on our side."

However, the US not only has superpower capabilities but also superpower interests. Alongside the military meetings, diplomatic contacts were also held in recent weeks to discuss these interests. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke on the phone with Biden and met with Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who also met with Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, who in turn maintained an open channel with Austin. The defense minister's office also spoke with Brett McGurk, the National Security Council's envoy to the Middle East, and with Amos Hochstein, who was in charge of relations with Lebanon on behalf of the administration.

What was sewn in these diplomatic talks trickled down to the military level. Kurilla, who reports directly to Biden, received his instructions from the administration in Washington. Halevi received his instructions from Jerusalem. According to sources familiar with the details, one of the instructions that flowed from the Israeli political echelon to the IDF was to slightly reduce the response against Hezbollah from what was originally planned. "The Americans prefer the region to be quiet and without wars. That's the starting point," explains a security source, "but they also understand our need to defend ourselves. There's always an inherent tension within this system."

Air defense commander Brig. Gen. Ran Kochav, former spokesperson for the IDF said, "The United States of America has been giving a masterclass in strategy here in recent weeks. When they send aircraft carriers here, a nuclear submarine, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs arrives, Biden says 'don't' and everyone is busy explaining to the Iranians and Hezbollah that they should be careful, there's no doubt that it affects and deters, and to some extent helps to 'get them down from the tree'. But it's important to remember that the US is doing all this from its own interests – preventing a regional war. When Biden says 'don't' to Iran, he's also saying 'don't' to Israel."

According to Brig. Gen. (res.) Assaf Orion, senior researcher at the Institute for National Security Studies, "The US is our closest partner, with shared values and a similar – but not identical view – of the problems – and of course differences in policy. The IDF and CENTCOM are each subordinate to a different government and serve a different policy. In some things, the interests are shared, and in others, they differ. The threats on our borders, for example, are much more severe in Israel's eyes than in the US's eyes. Our approach is more offensive, and the US is a large power that doesn't rush into conflicts. These are tensions that need to be managed."

When asked whether the IDF has to make concessions to adapt to CENTCOM's interests, Orion says, "In life, there are constraints. You can't tell the US 'put your credit card here and send half an army here, back me in the UN and help me with ammunition', without giving up something. Sometimes you need to argue about things, but in the end, what the US gives us on the military, security, and strategic level is priceless. When your current challenge is dealing with Iran on its way to nuclear weapons and with all the axis of resistance it has built around us, you understand that an anti-coalition of Israel must be part of the equation, and the US has a central role in the ability to form such a coalition. As Churchill said, there's only one thing worse than fighting with a coalition – fighting without a coalition."

When interests collide

We saw the Israeli-American coalition perform a virtuoso defense during the "night of missiles" in April, and in recent weeks, we've witnessed it projecting its strategic power. Even at the intelligence level, there's a close connection between the US and Israel, and according to some reports in the Israeli media, the US provided Israel with advance intelligence for the strike in Lebanon. However, on one issue, the two allies prefer to act completely separately: offense.

According to a security source, Israel tends not to update the US in advance about strikes it carries out, partly to leave the Americans room for denial. "We give them a warning, but not much in advance," the source says, "They know you're going to do something, but you don't confirm with them exactly how, how much, and why, just general lines. It's also convenient for them."

Yadlin, who, as mentioned above, is the former head of IDF Military Intelligence, added, "On the issue of defending the State of Israel, the Americans stand behind us one hundred percent. They less like our offensive initiatives, which in their view could deteriorate the Middle East into a regional war. The American strategic goal, in a global view, is de-escalation in the Middle East. From their perspective, there are two arenas with much higher priority – the Pacific arena against China and the European arena against Russia. Israel is an independent country and acts according to its interests, but it needs to take into account all the risks and try to minimize them. One of the risks is that the Americans won't give us the political Iron Dome and the logistical and operational support they provide us, as long as it's about direct defense of Israel."

Similarly, Kochav said, "The Americans came with all their might to the region under a defensive logic or idea, not to attack in Iran or Lebanon. An attack is a completely different opera. I don't see an American plane attacking in Lebanon, for example, in the foreseeable future. By the way, CENTCOM attacks in Yemen almost every week, but it operates in that arena separately from the IDF. Even when Israel bombed in Yemen, it did so independently, Israeli, blue and white. Although in coordination with the Americans, but without the involvement of their fighter jets."

Still, the friction between the IDF and CENTCOM, at the operational level, and even more so at the personal level, sometimes forces Israel to be flexible. Brig. Gen. (res.) Nitzan Nuriel, former head of the foreign relations division in the Operations Directorate and who was responsible for joint exercises with the US for years, illustrates this with a story.

"When preparations are made for joint exercises, dozens of American officers come to Israel, staying in hotels in Tel Aviv," he says. "On one occasion, during their stay in the country, Israel went out for a targeted raid in Gaza. The operation didn't require any coordination or update with the Americans, but on a personal level, those officers expect us to update them in advance about the assassination, because the response to it could endanger them. What happens when you update someone? They can tell you 'it doesn't suit me'. There's a slippery slope here, which isn't related to the operational world at all, but to the friendship and openness that exists between partners. The moment someone is your partner around the table, you automatically add restrictions on yourself."

Ayish agrees, "There's no cooperation that doesn't impose constraints on you. From the moment I need to consider another player, it's a constraint, even at the most basic technical level. Take, for example, the American forces currently in our area. When you build an attack plan for Lebanon and map out your electronic warfare actions, you might disrupt their radars and missile defense systems, which ultimately are supposed to serve you."

When asked whether the IDF has to make concessions to adapt to CENTCOM's interests, Orion says, "In life, there are constraints. You can't tell the US 'put your credit card here and send half an army here, back me in the UN and help me with ammunition', without giving up something. Sometimes you need to argue about things, but in the end, what the US gives us on the military, security, and strategic level is priceless. When your current challenge is dealing with Iran on its way to nuclear weapons and with all the axis of resistance it has built around us, you understand that an anti-coalition of Israel must be part of the equation, and the US has a central role in the ability to form such a coalition. As Churchill said, there's only one thing worse than fighting with a coalition – fighting without a coalition."

According to a former senior Israeli Air Force official, "In the end, the State of Israel is a sovereign and independent state, and it decides for itself how it defends itself. This is a principle that the Americans respect, even if they don't always like what we do. There are those who imagine that we need to get approvals from them. The answer is absolutely not. We act according to our needs where and when necessary, but because they're moving around in this area, certainly mechanisms need to exist to prevent friction. They're essential. In the end, you can find yourself in the same space, when they don't know about you and we don't know about them, and as a result, very bad things can happen. There's very important cooperation here, which has developed beautifully and progressed, and this doesn't contradict the fact that Israel reserves the right to defend itself."

When asked about the timing of notifying American counterparts prior to Israeli Air Force operations in Lebanon, like the one this week, the Air Force official explained that there's no fixed protocol.

"It's related to many components, so there's no definitive answer to this. It's completely clear that the American administration knew and also understood that Israel was going out to attack, but that doesn't mean they approved it. There are no pre-written rules stating that we notify them two days in advance of what we're about to do. Everything depends on context. But beyond that, remember that the Americans have a lot of forces deployed in the area, so they can identify movements that Israel is making. They know what's happening on the ground even without us telling them."

From EUCOM to CENTCOM 

Until January 2021, military cooperation between Israel and the US was based on working relationships between the IDF and EUCOM, the Pentagon's European Command. Ahead of the signing of the Abraham Accords, the Americans decided on their own initiative to transfer Israel to CENTCOM's responsibility, a move that Israel welcomed with open arms and which opened up for the IDF the possibility of cooperating more closely not only with the Americans but also with the moderate countries in the region. Shortly after, Kurilla was appointed as CENTCOM commander, which deepened the relationships even further.

"Kurilla's personal contribution is dramatic," Kochav says. "He's very committed to this mission, he's very offensive, and his standing in the Pentagon, in Washington, and among the administration is very significant." 

According to a source in the Defense Ministry, Kurilla "is a very pro-Israel figure, and he has an excellent relationship with Herzi and with the army in general." 

Kurilla also went down for a tour of Kibbutz Nahal Oz and the nearby outpost, was deeply impacted by the atrocities Hamas committed there, and came out shocked. "Kurilla is fully aware of what happened on Oct. 7," a source who spoke with him recently says.

There's no doubt that this personal identification also contributes to the relationship between CENTCOM and the IDF. It adds to the phone calls that take place between Kurilla and Halevi, almost on a daily basis, and to CENTCOM commander's frequent visits to Israel, especially since the outbreak of the war. "The joke in the system," says a security source, "is that Kurilla needs to get his own office in the General Staff building. That's how consolidated CENTCOM and the IDF are."

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The IDF announced Saturday evening the deaths of two soldiers in the northern Gaza Strip. They were named as Staff Sgt. Yair Avitan, 20, of the Paratroopers Brigade's 890th Battalion, from Ra'anana; and Sgt. First Class (res.) Yakir Shmuel Tatelbaum, 21, of the 7th Armored Brigade's 77th Battalion, from Ma'ale Adumim.

Avitan leaves behind his parents and three younger siblings. He grew up and went to school in Ra'anana, graduating from the Amit Kfar Batya scientific-technological High School. He was buried at the Ra'anana military cemetery.

Shirit Avitan Cohen, Israel Hayom political commentator and Avitan's aunt, eulogized her nephew, "My sweet nephew fell in Gaza on Friday. Our Yair, you didn't even need to be in Gaza, but you insisted, so strongly insisted, on participating in this just war for our people. How worried we were every time you were there. Your grandparents lit trays of candles for you. Prayers to all the righteous just for you to return safely, and this time you didn't come back. There are no words to console your absence."

Ra'anana Mayor Chaim Broida said, "Our hearts break upon learning of the fall in battle of Staff Sgt. Yair Avitan, a son of our city, salt of the earth, who risked his life in defense of the country's security. The Ra'anana community shares the pain of the Avitan family, embraces them, and surrounds them in their difficult hour."

Tatelbaum was a student of Warrant Officer (res.) Elon Weiss, who fell in Gaza two weeks earlier. At the time, he wrote of his teacher, "The heart is broken. Elon Weiss, Teacher Elon. A great educator I had the privilege to know – so pleasant and right for his students and those around him. How I loved to joke with you at school, on trips, after classes, trying to annoy you as much as possible. A teacher loved by everyone without exception."

The deaths of Avitan and Tatelbaum bring the toll of the IDF ground operation to 318.

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The IDF announced Thursday the death of a soldier in a Hezbollah tank on a military post in the north.

He was named as Staff Sgt. Haim Sabach, 20, of the Border Defense Corps' 869th Combat Intelligence Collection Unit, from Holon.

Another fighter sustained light injuries in the attack that occurred near Malkia.

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IDF officer Lt. Lidar Peretz, who died in a tragic work accident in the Tzeelim training facility in the north, will be laid to rest on Friday in Tel Aviv.

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Peretz, from Or Yehuda, was killed after being crushed by a falling container at her army base. The IDF said in a statement that Peretz was confirmed dead at the scene and that another soldier, a male, was also slightly injured in the incident.

Video: Hezbollah footage if IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi and other military officials on the Lebanese border

The military also said it launched an investigation into the accident, with findings to be presented to the Military Prosecution for evaluation. It also appointed a panel of experts to investigate the incident, led by the head of the Logistics Directorate, Maj. Gen. Mishel Yanko, head of the Northern Command, Maj. Gen. Ori Gordin, and senior logistics officer Col. Moshe Artzi.

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IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi said behind closed doors this week that public discourse on the judicial reform was "harming and dividing" the military, Israel Hayom has learned. 

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Instead of focusing on operations and training, senior military officials have almost exclusively been preoccupied with the impact of the controversial legislation and the ensuing protests on the IDF. Whoever met Halevi could not help but notice the look of concern on his face. 

Video: Anti-judicial reform protests in Haifa. Credit: Michel Makhoul

As of Thursday, the number of reservists who said they would cease their volunteer service did not exceed critical mass. The IDF checks on these numbers daily. However, the figure is increasing daily, with several dozen joining in protest of the judicial reform daily. This is particularly noticeable in the IAF, and to a lesser extent in other units. 

The IDF estimates that unless the reasonableness bill is altered, this trend will continue especially as the Knesset prepares to pass for the second and third hearings, which will make the bill into law. In such a case, hundreds of more reservists are expected to cease their volunteer service, including possible requests from career officers to discharge or not renew their contracts. 

Such a potential decrease in the number of service members might negatively impact the IDF, the IAF in particular – information that has been relayed to Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. 

As mentioned above, there is also concern that the public discourse, and in particular the criticism of IAF reservists who announced they would cease their volunteer duty, would harm the military. Cohesion within the IDF is the foundation of its strength. Once that cohesion is broken, and each individual or unit is only out for oneself, the army will be significantly weakened. 

The issue has been mentioned by senior IDF officials in every conversation with the political echelon and the units and should serve as a wake-up call to the entire public. 

The systematic way in which society has been coming apart in recent months is destructive not only in civilian aspects but military and security ones as well. Even those who oppose seizing to serve cannot ignore the responsibility the government has toward all its citizens, including those who did not vote for it. It will not escape said responsibility if the feared estimates come true and the situation exacerbates. 

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Israeli forces on Wednesday carried out the first targeted air strike in years to eliminate a terror cell in the West Bank city of Jenin, a known Islamic stronghold.

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The IDF and the Shin Bet security agency issued a joint statement confirming the attack on a car with three terrorists inside – Muhammad Awais, 28, Ashraf a-Saadi, 17, and Suhaib al-Ghoul, 27. They were identified as two operatives of the Jenin battalion of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad terrorist group and a member of Fatah's Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigades.

"A short while ago, following precise intelligence of the Shin Bet, IDF soldiers identified a terrorist cell inside a suspicious vehicle, after the cell carried out a shooting near the town of Jalamah," the statement said. "The terrorist cell carried out a number of shooting attacks against settlements throughout Judea and Samaria lately. After identifying the terrorist cell, an IDF drone fired toward the cell and thwarted them."

The IDF spokesman, Brig. Gen. Daniel Hagari, said that this type of attack hasn't been used by the Israeli military since 2006.

"We opened fire from a Zik-type drone of the artillery corps at the vehicle after firing at the crossing. There were three people and three weapons in the vehicle, their identity is currently being investigated by the Shin Bet. This type of thwarting was last time used in 2006," he said.

The PIJ vowed to avenge the deaths of their operatives.

Defense Minister Yoav Gallant praised the security forces who carried out the attack, reiterating that Israel will take a "proactive approach" in the fight against terrorism and "will pursue and catch our enemies. According to Palestinian reports, the IDF had entered Jenin, with gunfire heard in the area.

The air strike comes a day after a terrorist shooting attack killed four Israeli civilians near the village of Eli.

This article was first published by i24NEWS.

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Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant visited an Israel Defense Forces induction base on Tuesday.

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The trip to the Tel Hashomer Base in Ramat Gan, outside Tel Aviv, comes amid the phenomenon of soldiers refusing to serve over the government's judicial reform program. Hundreds of reservists in elite units announced on Sunday that they would not be reporting for duty.

"Today, you are, in effect, becoming soldiers. We have no country without an army. We have no country without soldiers who are recruited for service. You are being recruited to defend our heritage," Netanyahu said during the induction ceremony of recruits for the Golani infantry brigade and for other combat soldiers who will be posted at borders and crossings.

Netanyahu and Gallant handed the young soldiers military equipment and IDF uniforms, and took questions from the recruits.

"You need to be proud of yourselves and go to basic training with your heads held high," said Gallant.

"You must remember a central thing: Today you are becoming part of the defense force of the people of Israel and the State of Israel. With every passing day you will take an additional step towards the goal, and together with those who will become your platoon, company and lifelong friends, you will overcome the difficulties and meet the challenges," the defense minister continued.

Other senior officials at the ceremony included National Security Director Tzachi Hanegbi, the prime minister's Chief of Staff Tzachi Braverman and Military Secretary Maj. Gen. Avi Gil, IDF Planning Directorate head Maj. Gen. Yaakov Banjo, IDF Manpower Directorate head Maj. Gen. Yaniv Asor and the commander of the recruitment center, Col. Alon Matzliach.

 Reprinted with permission from JNS.org.

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A little over a year ago, on April 7, 2022, a Palestinian gunman who infiltrated Israel from Jenin shot and killed three Israeli civilians on Tel Aviv's bustling Dizengoff Street, before being shot dead by police in Jaffa hours later. In an eerily similar terrorist atrocity committed on March 9, a Palestinian terrorist who infiltrated Israel from Nil'in in Judea and Samaria, commonly known as the West Bank, committed another atrocity on Tel Aviv's Dizengoff Street, shooting and wounding three Israeli civilians, one critically.

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Yet in between these two events was a rolling Israel Defense Forces security operation called "Operation Breakwater," which has made significant achievements in fighting terrorism in Judea and Samaria, but has not extinguished the wave of violence, as the latest attack demonstrates.

On March 12, IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi and the Commanding Officer of IDF Central Command, Maj. Gen. Yehuda Fox, who is responsible for Judea and Samaria, spoke at an event honoring the forces participating in the ongoing operation.

"The IDF is carrying out 'Operation Breakwater with the assistance of a large and high-quality reserve force that works alongside active-duty forces. Fifty-six reserve battalions were summoned and arrived to carry out the terrorism-fighting mission," said Halevi.

Maj. Nir Dinar, head of the IDF's International Press Department, told JNS in recent days that the operation had a number of main focuses. The first, he said, is boosting the number of reinforcements and battalions operating in Judea and Samaria. The second is increasing the number of arrest operations, primarily in the Nablus and Jenin areas, where the Palestinian Authority has largely lost control.

For roughly six months prior to the outbreak of the terror wave last March, the IDF almost totally refrained from entering those areas, in an attempt to allow the PA to take control. The result, however, was a series of deadly attacks in Israeli cities, prompting the IDF to work tirelessly in Jenin and Nablus to track down, pursue and reach the terrorists.

"Our first duty is to our citizens. Security operations are occurring almost every day," said Dinar.

In 2022, 33 Israelis lost their lives in terrorist attacks, while so far this year, after just three and a half months, the Israeli casualty number already stands at 14. Nevertheless, Dinar stressed, "Hundreds of people – civilians and IDF soldiers – have been saved as a result of these security operations."

Some 70 Palestinians – most of them armed terrorists but also a minority of civilians – have been killed in firefights between the IDF and Palestinian gunmen during Judea and Samaria security operations in 2023 so far. Last year, the number of Palestinian casualties stood at over 140, according to media reports – the highest since 2004.

"Operation Breakwater" is fueled by intelligence, Dinar said. "So long as there is intelligence of terrorist plots, there will be counter-terrorist operations," he added.

However, the operation has taken a significant toll on the IDF's readiness with regard to other arenas. The sending of dozens of back-up battalions to Judea and Samaria, including reserves who joined conscripted units, has come at the expense of training and preparedness to combat enemies like Hezbollah.

Dinar acknowledged that there have been fewer drills this past year, as ground forces deal with counter-terrorism and policing operations instead.

One of the vulnerabilities exposed during the start of last year's terror wave was the fact that the Judea and Samaria security barrier was filled with gaps.

On March 2, the IDF announced that 12 kilometers of a new security fence were completed as part of "Operation Breakwater." Led by the IDF's Judea Brigade, the construction effort "has led to a substantial decrease in the number of illegal infiltrations into Israel. In the past few weeks alone, security forces have turned away over 150 vehicles and apprehended over 600 suspects attempting to infiltrate into Israeli territory illegally," said the IDF.

"As part of the operation, Combat Engineering Corps battalions and the Heavy Machinery Unit operated over 60 dedicated tools. Additionally, two military posts were established and security forces were stationed permanently in the area in order to prevent illegal crossings and strengthen the defense of the State of Israel. The Central Command's Engineering Array continues to operate in the area to improve and strengthen the security fence," it stated.

Brig. Gen. Avi Bluth, commanding officer of the Judea and Samaria Division, said that his division "has undergone a transformation since the beginning of Operation Breakwater. The construction of the security fence, the expansion of freedom of action and the significant thwarting [of terrorist attacks] – these provide protection. We transformed the reality in Judea and Samaria. We reduced the number of infiltrators who illegally entered the State of Israel from hundreds to just a few per day and reduced the scope of terrorism and crime in the area."

Further north, the Israeli Defense Ministry and IDF Central Command are constructing a new 45 kilometer-long security barrier separating the State of Israel from northern Samaria.

Dedicated battalions have been in position along the barrier to prevent infiltrations.

"We can say that the number of infiltrations has decreased by hundreds of percent," said Dinar said, "from tens of thousands per month down to tens."

"Turning the fence into a wall is a part of this initiative, similar to the Gaza barrier," he added.

Looking ahead, the Israeli defense establishment has identified some willingness by the PA to try and regain control in Nablus, although this willingness is tempered by the ongoing chaotic and unstable reality that has sapped the motivation of the PA's security forces at this time.

The Israeli defense establishment continues to assess that a strong PA on the ground is a core Israeli security interest, as this saves the IDF resources and prevents it from having to directly police and manage Palestinian cities.

Beyond the terrorist hornet's nests of Jenin and Nablus, the PA is still in control of much of its territory at this time – a situation the Israeli defense establishment is interested in preserving.

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Still, the horizon is filled with dark storm clouds. With Ramadan, a highly combustible period, around the corner, radical incitement to terrorism and violence flooding Palestinian social media, largely fueled by Hamas, tensions high in Jerusalem and the Temple Mount flash point, the PA's continued weakness, and this month's terrorist shooting in Tel Aviv, the Palestinian arena looks to be on the verge of another escalation.

The February 26 riot by Israeli youths in Huwara, in which they set conducted arson attacks on Palestinian homes in revenge for the murder of Israeli brothers Hallel Menachem and Yagal Yaakov Yaniv, aged 21 and 19, as they drove through the village, has also called into question the IDF's ability to deal with and manage such incidents.

Two Israeli suspects remain in administrative detention in connection with the Huwara riot. The Israel Police has, meanwhile, launched an investigation into the shooting death of a Palestinian man in the nearby village of Za'atra that same night.

Communal friction between Jews and Palestinians in Area C of Judea and Samaria is another trigger point that threatens to contribute to the escalation.

The coming year will see the IDF working hard to contain Palestinian terrorism, and to try and prevent further destabilization of the area.

Reprinted with permission from JNS.org.

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At least 11 Russian soldiers were killed Saturday in a shooting incident that underlined the challenges posed by Russian President Vladimir Putin's hasty mobilization, just as Ukrainian troops pressed an offensive to reclaim the areas in the country's south that were illegally annexed by Moscow.

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The Russian Defense Ministry said two men opened fire at volunteer soldiers during a target practice session in western Russia, killing 11 of them and wounding 15 others before being killed themselves. The ministry called it a terror attack. It is unclear if the massacre was part of the ongoing protest against the call up fo hundreds of thousands of troops in Russia, a controversial move announced by Russian President Vladimir Putin in late September.

Russia has lost ground in the nearly seven weeks since Ukraine's armed forces opened their southern counteroffensive. This week, the Kremlin launched what is believed to be its largest coordinated air and missile raids on Ukraine's key infrastructure since Russia's invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24.

In the continuation of those attacks, a missile strike Saturday seriously damaged a key energy facility in Ukraine's capital region, the country's grid operator said. Following mounting setbacks, the Russian military has worked to cut off power and water in far-flung populated areas while also fending off Ukrainian counterattacks in occupied areas.

In the Zaporizhzhia region, Gov. Oleksandr Starukh said the Russian military carried out strikes with suicide drones from Iran and long-range S-300 missiles. Some experts said the Russian military's use of the surface-to-air missiles may reflect shortages of dedicated precision weapons for hitting ground targets.

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