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Israel’s Security Minister Calls for Targeting Hamas, 'Jihad' Officials

A Palestinians protester attaches an incendiary device to a kite before trying to fly it over the border fence between Gaza and Israel on May 4, 2018. (AFP)
A Palestinians protester attaches an incendiary device to a kite before trying to fly it over the border fence between Gaza and Israel on May 4, 2018. (AFP)
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Israel’s Security Minister Calls for Targeting Hamas, 'Jihad' Officials

A Palestinians protester attaches an incendiary device to a kite before trying to fly it over the border fence between Gaza and Israel on May 4, 2018. (AFP)
A Palestinians protester attaches an incendiary device to a kite before trying to fly it over the border fence between Gaza and Israel on May 4, 2018. (AFP)

As Israeli military and political officials are increasingly threatening to launch a new military operation against the Gaza Strip, Israeli tanks were seen moving from the central and southern bases to the vicinity of the coastal enclave, accompanied by trucks carrying dozens of batteries for the “Iron Dome” anti-missile defense system.

Military sources in Tel Aviv said the military move was intended to demonstrate to Hamas and “Islamic Jihad” leaders how serious the threats were, and that they had a last chance “to stop the firing of incendiary kites and explosive balloons.”

Although political sources have confirmed that Arab and international efforts were currently focused on preventing the deterioration of the situation into a war, Israeli political leaders continue to threaten Hamas and other factions.

Israeli Internal Security Minister Gilad Erdan revealed on Thursday the possibility to launch a major military operation in Gaza in “the next few months” with the aim to deter Hamas.

He noted that a large-scale operation against Gaza in the next weeks or months was very likely and that it would be aimed to stop Palestinian factions from firing rockets on southern Israel.

The minister also called for returning to the policy of assassination of Hamas and “Islamic Jihad” officials, and “whoever launches incendiary kites.”

The Israeli foreign ministry has launched a global media campaign to reproach Hamas and the rest of the armed factions in order to gain international public support in the event of the deterioration of the situation and the eruption of war.

The Israeli army has also begun targeting kite launchers, while in the past it used to fire missiles in a way that does not kill any of them.

A military spokesman announced on Thursday that his forces bombed a site in the southern Gaza Strip near where a group of young men were preparing to launch incendiary kites.

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Syrian Opposition Leader Says Lebanon Truce Opened Door to Aleppo Assault

An anti-regime fighter tears off a poster depicting Syrian President Bashar al-Assad (L) and his brother Maher at the airport in the northern Syrian city of Aleppo on December 2, 2024. (AFP)
An anti-regime fighter tears off a poster depicting Syrian President Bashar al-Assad (L) and his brother Maher at the airport in the northern Syrian city of Aleppo on December 2, 2024. (AFP)
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Syrian Opposition Leader Says Lebanon Truce Opened Door to Aleppo Assault

An anti-regime fighter tears off a poster depicting Syrian President Bashar al-Assad (L) and his brother Maher at the airport in the northern Syrian city of Aleppo on December 2, 2024. (AFP)
An anti-regime fighter tears off a poster depicting Syrian President Bashar al-Assad (L) and his brother Maher at the airport in the northern Syrian city of Aleppo on December 2, 2024. (AFP)

Syrian opposition fighters began preparations to seize Aleppo a year ago, but the operation was delayed by war in Gaza and ultimately launched last week when a ceasefire took hold in Lebanon, the head of Syria's main opposition abroad told Reuters.

The factions were able to seize the city and parts of neighboring Idlib province so quickly in part because Hezbollah and other Iran-backed fighters were distracted by their conflict with Israel, Hadi al-Bahra said in an interview on Monday.

The Turkish military, which is allied with some of the opposition and has bases across its southern border in Syria, had heard of the armed groups' plans but made clear it would play no direct role, he added.

The assault in northwestern Syria was launched last Wednesday, the day that Israel and Lebanese armed group Hezbollah began a truce ending more than a year of fighting.

"A year ago they started really training and mobilizing and taking it more seriously," said Bahra, president of the National Coalition of Syrian Revolution and Opposition Forces, the internationally-recognized Syrian opposition.

"But the war on Gaza ... then the war in Lebanon delayed it. They felt it wouldn't look good having the war in Lebanon at the same time they were fighting in Syria," he said in his Istanbul office, in the first public comments on the fighters’ preparations by an opposition figure.

"So the moment there was a ceasefire in Lebanon, they found that opportunity ... to start."

The opposition operation is the boldest advance and biggest challenge to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in years in a civil war where front lines had largely been frozen since 2020.

Syrian and allied Russian forces have launched counter attacks, which Bahra said are "destabilizing" Aleppo and Idlib and pose the biggest risk to civilians, given the earlier opposition advances had sought carefully to avoid such casualties.

IRAN, RUSSIA

The opposition retaking of Aleppo also paves the way for hundreds of thousands of Syrians displaced elsewhere in the country and in Türkiye to return home, Bahra said.

"Due to the Lebanese war and decrease in Hezbollah forces, (Assad's) regime has less support," he said, adding Iranian militias also have less resources while Russia is giving less air cover due to its "Ukraine problem".

Damascus, which is also backed by Iran, did not immediately comment on whether the opposition sought to avoid casualties and whether it risks destabilizing the region with air raids. Assad has vowed to crush the fighters and has launched air raids.

Iran-backed Hezbollah did not immediately comment on whether its war with Israel opened the door to Syrian opposition advances in Aleppo, where it also has personnel.

Tehran has pledged to aid the Syrian government and on Monday hundreds of fighters from Iran-backed Iraqi militias crossed into Syria to help fight the factions, Syrian and Iraqi sources said.

A Turkish defense ministry official said last week that Ankara was closely monitoring the mobilization and taking precautions for its troops.

The opposition fighters are a coalition of Türkiye-backed mainstream secular armed groups spearheaded by the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham group that has been designated a terrorist outfit by Türkiye, the US, Russia and other states.

Bahra's coalition, which does not include HTS, represents anti-Assad groups including the Türkiye-backed Syrian National Army or Free Syrian Army, which took territory north of Idlib over the last week.

It holds regular diplomatic talks with the United Nations and several states.