Quote:Key Takeaways:

1. Israel said its forces encircled Jabalia as Palestinian militias conducted attacks on the Israeli lines of advance. Israeli forces continued to expand offensive operations into Zaytoun neighborhood south of Gaza city. Israeli forces continued clearing operations in al Shati refugee camp.
   
2. Israel and Hamas negotiated the terms of a draft agreement for limited pauses in fighting and to exchange 50 Israeli prisoners for approximately 150 Palestinian prisoners.
   
3. Palestinian militias conducted five indirect fire attacks from the Gaza Strip into Israeli territory.
   
4. Palestinian militia fighters conducted five attacks on Israeli forces in the West Bank. CTP-ISW recorded four demonstrations in the West Bank.
   
5. Iranian-backed militia fighters, including Lebanese Hezbollah, have increased their attack rate from 12 to 16 attacks daily into northern Israel since Lebanese Hezbollah Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah’s November 11 speech.
   
6. A US military AC-130 gunship struck a Kataib Hezbollah vehicle near Abu Ghraib, Iraq, in response to the Islamic Resistance in Iraq’s November 20 attack on Ain al Assad Airbase. The Islamic Resistance in Iraq—a coalition of Iranian-backed Iraqi militias—conducted four attacks targeting US positions in Iraq and Syria.
   
7. US officials warned that Iran may be preparing to supply advanced short-range ballistic missiles to Russia. Iranian First Vice President Mohammad Mokhber discussed the Israel-Hamas war with Russian presidential aide Igor Levitin in Tehran.
   

(11-22-2023, 09:25 PM)EndtheMadnessNow Wrote: Things have gotten Old Testament strange...err, I guess probably normal for that part of the world...

Israel's Minister of Communications calls on the IDF to cut off the foreskins of Hamas fighters as revenge, as David did with the Philistines in the Tanakh, part of David's story from the First Book of Samuel.


https://twitter.com/shlomo_karhi/status/1725504217148797065

...

I'm assuming this is some kind of victory sign since all the Hamas fighters are already circumcised per Islamic custom, AFAIK.

Quote:His father, Sammy Ofer, was a Romanian-born Israeli shipping magnate and once Israel's richest man. Ofer graduated from Atlantic College, an international boarding school affiliated with the United World Colleges, based in St Donat's Castle, Wales.

He served as an intelligence officer in the Israeli Air Force from 1967 to 1973. He then studied Maritime Law at the University of London.

Quote:He is "one of the most influential shipowners in the industry”, according to Lloyd’s List, ranking among its 100 most influential people, since 2013...

Ofer also regularly attends the World Economic Forum’s annual meeting in Davos.

In June 2023, Bloomberg reported his net worth to be US$20.7 billion.

Ofer is the chairman of Global Holdings, a private real estate holding company specializing in large-scale commercial real estate and high-end residential developments.

Its residential projects include 15 Central Park West, which was described as “the most powerful apartment building in the world” and “the most lucrative”, with quoted apartment sales of approximately $2 billion.

Quote:Shipping

Ofer started his career in international maritime transportation in all the major shipping segments in the 1980s.

He is the chairman of Zodiac Group, a privately held Monaco-based ship owning and chartering (i.e. leasing) company with a fleet of more than 180 vessels. It is the largest operator of vessels under the Red Ensign by tonnage. Ofer has been a director of Royal Caribbean Cruises, the second largest cruise company in the world, since May 1995 and holds a significant stake in the company.

In 2022, Ofer was ranked 7th in the Lloyd’s List Top 100 Most Influential People in the Shipping Industry. According to Lloyd’s List, "the consensus view from those who know Eyal Ofer best is that he is a man who understands the markets with forensic detail". He controls one of the larghest private shipping fleets in the world, and is the third-largest non-operating owner of containerships in the world.

In 2021, a Japanese-owned merchant tanker managed by Zodiac Maritime suffered a drone attack which killed two people. The US military announced that the drone had been produced in Iran.

Energy

Through O.G. Energy, he is involved in energy production, including renewable energy, and the production of green hydrogen. In 2022, he invested in Belgium-based green hydrogen energy startup Tree Energy Solutions (TES), through O.G. Energy. Through O.G. Oil & Gas, the oil and gas arm of Ofer Global's O.G. Energy division, he has exploration and production interests in South East Asia and in Australasia, including a 70% majority stake in New Zealand Oil & Gas (NZOG), acquired in 2017.

In October 2018, O.G. Energy agreed to acquire a 40 per cent stake in Beach Energy’s Otway Basin assets off the south east coast of Australia. In 1990, he also founded OMNI Offshore Terminals, the largest provider of floating production storage and offloading (FSO and FPSO) assets to the offshore oil and gas industry, with headquarters in Singapore.

Technology

Ofer has interests in technology companies through single LP VC fund O.G. Venture Partners, the tech investment arm of Ofer Global. Its $150 million Fund I launched in 2017 to invest in early growth start-ups with disruptive technologies, including LendBuzz, WSC Sports, BlueVine, Bringg, Paxos, Connecteam, Elementor, Coralogix, Candivore and SuperPlay. In 2022, Ofer stated that "Technology has become the global economy’s central nervous system" at the launch of O.G. Venture Partners $400 million Fund II, continuing his focus on early growth stage investments in software tech start-ups.

Arts

Ofer is listed among the top 200 collectors in the world of contemporary, modern, impressionist and post-impressionist art by ARTnews. He inherited half of an extensive collection from his father, including masterpieces by Vincent van Gogh and Pablo Picasso, and continues to expand a significant collection. He is associated with several Arts institutions and is a founding member of the Circle of Friends of Fondation Giacometti in Paris. He is a trustee and serves on the permanent acquisitions committee for the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York.

Philanthropy

Ofer is a supporter of artistic, educational and cultural institutions – including the Tate Modern and the National Maritime Museum in the UK and the Tel Aviv Museum of Art – through the Eyal & Marilyn Ofer Family Foundation, which continues his family's philanthropic tradition. Ofer is chairman of the Foundation.

Ofer was one of the donors to the Gloriana during the Diamond Jubilee of Elizabeth II in 2012.

In 2020, the Eyal Ofer Heart Hospital opened with financial support from Ofer for the Rambam Health Care Campus, which built the new cardiology hospital.

Personal life

He is married to Marilyn Ofer, and they have four children. They reside in Monte Carlo, Monaco. In 2008, they resided in west London and had a home in Herzliya Pituah near Tel Aviv. He also owns an apartment at 15 Central Park West, a building he developed located on the Upper West Side of Manhattan in New York City.

Wiki

Quote:U.S. Central Command
@CENTCOM

On Nov. 26, the USS MASON (DDG 87), with allied ships from our coalition counter-piracy task force (TF 151), and associated aircraft responded to a distress call from the M/V CENTRAL PARK, a commercial vessel, that they were under attack by an unknown entity. Upon arrival, coalition elements demanded release of the vessel. Subsequently, five armed individuals debarked the ship and attempted to flee via their small boat. The MASON pursued the attackers resulting in their eventual surrender. The crew of the M/V CENTRAL PARK is currently safe.

At approximately 0141 on Nov. 27 Sanaa time, two ballistic missiles were fired from Houthi controlled areas in Yemen toward the general location of the USS MASON (DDG 87) and M/V CENTRAL PARK. The missiles landed in the Gulf of Aden approximately ten nautical miles from the ships. The USS MASON (DDG87), which is part of the Dwight D. Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group, was concluding its response to the M/V CENTRAL PARK distress call at the time of the missile launches. There was no damage or reported injuries from either vessel during this incident.

“Maritime domain security is essential to regional stability,” said Gen. Michael Erik Kurilla, USCENTCOM commander. “We will continue to work with allies and partners to ensure the safety and security of international shipping lanes.”

https://twitter.com/CENTCOM/status/1728982985238843665

Quote:USS Mason (DDG 87) finds herself in the thick of it again - this time with an assist (this is a big deal BTW), it appears by the Japanese Navy who are there as part of CTF-151;

UKMTO put the Central Park's location over 60 kilometers (35 miles) south of Yemen's coast, some 80 kilometers (50 miles) east of Djibouti and around 110 kilometers (70 miles) northeast of Somalia in the Gulf of Aden, a key shipping route.

    …attackers seized the Liberian-flagged Central Park, managed by Zodiac Maritime, in the Gulf of Aden, the company, the U.S. and British militaries and private intelligence firm Ambrey said.

    Early Monday morning, Zodiac said the vessel carrying phosphoric acid and its crew of 22 sailors from Bulgaria, Georgia, India, the Philippines, Russia, Turkey and Vietnam were “unharmed.”

As usual, Jennifer Griffin give a good executive summary of the action, but this is what I found most interesting;



...
CTF-151 has been a great opportunity for naval forces around the world to hone their ability to operate with other nations on a global basis, not just the ones who support the international order. The People Republic of China’s People’s Liberation Army Navy has used it more than almost any other to show the flag, get her nose under all sorts of tents, and to steal, build, and spy for the good of the CCP.

The note about the PRC ships not responding it telling. CTF-151 is a counter piracy force. If you are not going to respond to cries for help from merchantmen from piracy, then why are you actually there? Well, see the prior paragraph.

American Naval Forces (with a Japanese assist) Capture Pirates

Quote:Key Takeaways:

    Hamas has used increasingly sophisticated tactics against Israeli forces in the Gaza Strip since the humanitarian pause ended on December 1.

    Iran and its so-called “Axis of Resistance” are exploiting the Israel-Hamas war to support their objective of expelling US forces from the Middle East.

    The Houthi movement likely attacked three commercial vessels and possibly a US Navy vessel around the Bab al Mandeb.

    Israeli forces began ground operations into the southern Gaza Strip. Palestinian militias targeted Israeli forces along Israeli lines of advance in the southern Gaza Strip using direct and indirect fire.

    The IDF Arabic-language spokesperson posted specific evacuation orders covering areas of Khan Younis.

    Israel recalled its negotiators from Qatar after reaching a “dead end” in ceasefire talks.
    Palestinian militias in the Gaza Strip conducted 21 rocket attacks into Israel.
    Palestinian fighters clashed with Israeli forces in seven towns across the West Bank.
    Lebanese Hezbollah claimed seven attacks into northern Israel, targeting Israeli forces, including one attack that wounded 11 Israeli soldiers and civilians.

    The Islamic Resistance in Iraq resumed its attacks on US forces after the humanitarian pause in the Gaza Strip ended on December 1. The Islamic Resistance in Iraq said that five of its fighters died in battle.

    The two IRGC general officers killed in Israeli airstrikes in Syria on December 2 were members of the IRGC Quds Force Unit 340, according to Israeli media.

Hamas has used increasingly sophisticated tactics against Israeli forces in the Gaza Strip since the humanitarian pause ended on December 1. Hamas and other Palestinian militias have used explosively formed penetrators (EFP) five times since December 1.[1] These attacks mark a noteworthy increase in the use of EFPs in the Israel-Hamas war. Hamas claimed that it used EFPs only twice prior to December 1, and Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) claimed no EFP attacks prior to December 2.[2] Hamas separately conducted a complex ambush targeting Israeli forces northeast of Khan Younis on December 3 (see below). Hamas also released a video on December 2 showing its force launching three one-way attack drones targeting Israeli forces in the northern Gaza Strip.[3] The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have not confirmed that Hamas is employing these systems or tactics against its forces.

CTP-ISW is considering two possible hypotheses to explain this shift in tactics. Neither of these hypotheses are mutually exclusive.

Hamas and the other Palestinian militias have shifted from conducting a delaying operation to conducting a deliberate defense meant to attrit and degrade the Israeli will to continue the ground operation into the Gaza Strip. CTP-ISW previously assessed on November 14 that Hamas and other Palestinian militias were conducting a delaying operation in the northern Gaza Strip.[4] Hamas likely sought to avoid a decisive defeat by preparing for a ”long war” that Hamas hoped would compel Israel to agree to a permanent ceasefire and thereby preserve Hamas as a governing body and military force.[5] The delaying operation was also likely meant to provide Hamas time to move its leaders and military materiel from the northern Gaza strip to the southern part of the strip. A delaying operation intentionally does not involve committing forces decisively to fighting. The shift in tactics suggests that Hamas and Palestinian militias are preparing to become decisively committed to defending against the Israeli ground operation. Israeli officials emphasized during the humanitarian pause that they would continue pursuing the destruction of Hamas.[6]

Hamas and the other Palestinian militias are using new tactics based on lessons learned during the past month of fighting in the Gaza Strip. Israeli forces are not using main roads when advancing, instead opting to create new avenues of movement.[7] Hamas and the other Palestinian militias could have learned how to more effectively counter this Israeli approach, for instance.

Quote:Hans Kristensen, director of the Federation of American Scientists’ Nuclear Information Project, told The Times that he estimates there are most likely 25 to 50 nuclear-capable Jericho missile launchers at the base. According to experts and declassified U.S. government documents [PDF], Israel’s Jericho missiles are equipped to carry nuclear warheads.

Those warheads are most likely kept in a separate location away from the base and thus were not under threat during the attack, said Mr. Kristensen, who has studied the base.

(12-04-2023, 08:35 PM)Bally002 Wrote: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=omnbJtyUiTY


This is the Aussie sky news current perspective.

I am unsure as to the veracity of this but seems legit.

Is the U.S. still sending money to Iran?

I'd like some thoughts,

Kind regards,

Bally

Quote:According to the report, the IDF “finished assembling large seawater pumps roughly one mile north of the Al-Shati refugee camp around the middle of last month. Each of at least five pumps can draw water from the Mediterranean Sea and move thousands of cubic meters of water per hour into the tunnels, flooding them within weeks.”

The report says that Israel presented the plan to the United States last month, and its feasibility and impact on the environment have since been debated. The report said that U.S. officials believe that Israel hasn’t made a final decision to move ahead, nor has it ruled the plan out.

Egypt has, on multiple occasions in the past decade, used these tactics to destroy tunnels that cross from Gaza into the Sinai Peninsula, primarily used for smuggling. Using seawater pumps, Egypt flooded several Gaza tunnel networks in 2013 and 2015, successfully rendering them unusable for use by smuggling operations.

Though flooding has worked to destroy Gaza tunnels in the past, with international attention fixed firmly on the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza, Israel faces a more difficult decision whether they should proceed with this plan.

Israel Debating Using Seawater to Flood Gaza Tunnels, Report Says

(12-05-2023, 08:20 PM)EndtheMadnessNow Wrote:

(12-06-2023, 12:17 AM)xuenchen Wrote: "from the river to the sea"

(12-04-2023, 07:26 PM)EndtheMadnessNow Wrote: