Dr. Isabel Weiss 🇪🇺🇩🇪

Visited today the Kibbutz Kfar Azza in #Israel at the #Gaza border. Around 70 #Hamas militants attacked this community massacring innocent residents and abducting several hostages. The reality on the ground is devastating & should not be forgotten! @AJCTAI @IDF @IsraelinGermany

Israel's in development high-powered laser interception system, dubbed Iron Beam, is expected to be operational within a year, the director general of the Defense Ministry says. "The first capability of the ground laser system... is expected to enter operational service in a year from today," Eyal Zamir says during the signing of a NIS 2 billion ($535 million) contract with the manufacturers Rafael and Elbit. The Iron Beam is designed to work in tandem with systems like Iron Dome and shoot down smaller projectiles. The agreement between the ministry and Rafael and Elbit will "significantly increase" the rate of production "in order to supply the laser systems on time and at a high rate," a statement says.

An interesting geopolitical development: Saudi Arabia Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is not attending the BRICS summit in Russia (Oct. 21-24 in Kazan), the Kremlin said. All other members of the group are expected to be represented at head of state / government level | #OOTT

Immensely detailed Middle East oil asset map and infographic from @SPGCI.

October 7, 2023 A year of pain, grief, sadness, rage and disbelief in #Israel and the #MiddleEast. Until today about 100 people, - children, women and men are still in captivity and need to return home #BringThemHome #RememberOctober7

Israelis marked the first anniversary of the Hamas attack that sparked a war and global protests. President Isaac Herzog led a memorial at Re'im, where over 360 were killed at a music festival, starting with the last track played a year ago reut.rs/47Wyye2

US strikes Houthi targets in Yemen as fears grow of wider Mideast war on.ft.com/3zMIOsG

Several Ballistic Missiles fired by Iran against Israel were Intercepted by a Group of U.S. Navy Arleigh Burke-Class Guided-Missile Destroyers operating in the Eastern Mediterranean, including the USS Arleigh Burke (DDG-51), USS Cole (DDG-67), and USS Bulkeley (DDG-84).

Terror Shooting #attack in Jaffa/ #TelAviv . Police say 8 civilians were murdered, 7 wounded

Middle East braces for Iran’s next move after Israel’s killing of Hezbollah leadership time.com/7026630/iran-r…

In terms of threats, the war with #Hezbollah is far from over. It remains a powerful adversary threatening #Israel. But the severe blow to Hezbollah also presents an opportunity for the #Lebanese people to break free from its grip nytimes.com/2024/09/28/wor…

New: Additional US troops have been deployed to Cyprus amid sharply rising tensions btw Israel & Hezbollah; they're preparing for range of contingencies including a possible evacuation operation from Lebanon for US citizens should a full-blown war erupt. cnn.com/2024/09/25/pol…

Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corp unveils new domestically manufactured drone named "Shahed 136 B" Iran's IRGC unveils new domestically manufactured ballistic missile named "Jihad" #Iran #IRGC @PressTV #Breaking

Significant Damage to the Lower Floors of a High-Rise Residential Building in the Lebanese Capital of Beirut, in the what the Israeli Air Force is calling a “Targeted Strike” against Hezbollah.

IMPORTANT 🚨 This is a developing story, and all information is preliminary, with numbers and info subject to change. Roughly an hour ago, Hezbollah’s encrypted pager devices began simultaneously, exploding across Lebanon, including in Damascus. Initial reports from Lebanon estimate around 1,000+ casualties so far. Hezbollah has instructed all its militants to immediately discard their pagers, calling this the most significant security breach they’ve ever encountered. Iran's Mehr news agency reports that Mojtaba Amani, Iran's ambassador to Lebanon, was injured when a pager exploded.

This week, US Secretary of State @SecBlinken revealed that #Iran has delivered close range ballistic missiles (CRBMs) to #Russia. @Mark_N_Katz explains why Iran sold missiles to Russia and how it might impact the war on #Ukraine. atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/new-atla…

Greece is leading an effort to empty and tow away an oil tanker that was attacked last week in the Red Sea trib.al/JZ2CkQC

A second Navy aircraft carrier, the USS Abraham Lincoln, arrived in the Middle East on Wednesday escorted by guided missile destroyers, the U.S. Central Command said. cbsn.ws/4cR79eF

Bei #CapacityBuildingIraq finden regelmäßig Base-Defense-Exercises statt. Gemeinsam mit den internationalen Partnern trainierte die #BundeswehrimEinsatz die Maßnahmen nach einem simulierten Drohneneinschlag. Die Versorgung der Verletzten stand hierbei im Mittelpunkt.

I called Israeli Minister of Defense Gallant on Sunday to reiterate our commitment to take every possible step to defend Israel and noted the strengthening of U.S. military force posture and capabilities throughout the Middle East. Reinforcing this commitment, I have ordered the USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN Carrier Strike Group, equipped with F-35C fighters, to accelerate its transit to the Central Command area of responsibility, adding to the capabilities already provided by the USS THEODORE ROOSEVELT Carrier Strike Group. I also ordered the USS Georgia (SSGN 729) guided missile submarine to the Central Command region. (1/2)

Good overview of increased US military presence in the Middle East 👉🏼 cfr.org/article/mappin… #middleeast #us #Israel #Iran #escalation #deterrence