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Kohavi Orders Acceleration of Plans to Attack Hamas, Islamic Jihad Rocket Stockpiles

Israel to accelerate plans for a possible broad attack on the rocket stockpiles of Hamas and Islamic Jihad in the Gaza Strip (AFP)
Israel to accelerate plans for a possible broad attack on the rocket stockpiles of Hamas and Islamic Jihad in the Gaza Strip (AFP)
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Kohavi Orders Acceleration of Plans to Attack Hamas, Islamic Jihad Rocket Stockpiles

Israel to accelerate plans for a possible broad attack on the rocket stockpiles of Hamas and Islamic Jihad in the Gaza Strip (AFP)
Israel to accelerate plans for a possible broad attack on the rocket stockpiles of Hamas and Islamic Jihad in the Gaza Strip (AFP)

Israeli Chief of Staff Aviv Kohavi has ordered the military to accelerate plans for a possible broad attack on the rocket stockpiles of Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad.

Citing unnamed sources in the General Staff’s Planning Directorate, the Walla news site said that the plan is aimed at significantly reducing the ability of Hamas and Islamic Jihad to target Israel with rockets in the early stages of a future conflict in the Gaza Strip.

The two organizations are working to replenish their rocket supply following the 11-day fight in Gaza this May between Israel and the Palestinian factions in Gaza Strip.

Military officials acknowledged that due mostly to a lack of precise intelligence, the Israeli army was unable to destroy the lion’s share of the armed groups’ existing arsenals of rockets.

General Staff officers regarded intelligence on the various rocket stockpiles in the Gaza Strip as a major weakness, some defining it as a failure.

The May clash saw at least 4,000 rockets and mortar shells fired towards Israel.

The rockets represent a spearhead to the two movements in any conflict with Israel, succeeding in spreading fear among civilians and paralyzing normal life as the Iron Dome fails to intercept all missiles.

Israel says that Hamas uses civilians’ institutions and houses as locations to store and launch missiles from, but Hams denies this.

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Iraqi Kurdistan: Assailant of Assyrian Celebration Attack Affiliated with ISIS

 Akitu holiday celebrators carrying a flag for the Assyrians in Iraq (AP). 
 Akitu holiday celebrators carrying a flag for the Assyrians in Iraq (AP). 
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Iraqi Kurdistan: Assailant of Assyrian Celebration Attack Affiliated with ISIS

 Akitu holiday celebrators carrying a flag for the Assyrians in Iraq (AP). 
 Akitu holiday celebrators carrying a flag for the Assyrians in Iraq (AP). 

Authorities in Duhok, in Iraq’s Kurdistan region, announced on Wednesday that the attack carried out by a Syrian national during a Christian celebration in the city was an “act of terrorism.”

On Tuesday, the attacker infiltrated a gathering of Syriac Christians celebrating the Akitu festival in central Duhok. He then pulled out an axe and attacked a young man, a 70-year-old woman, and a security officer.

Videos circulating on local media platforms showed a group of people apprehending the attacker, who was seen making hand gestures and shouting “Islamic State.” Shamon Shlimon, the deputy governor of Duhok, stated that initial investigations revealed the attacker was a Syrian national and that given the slogans he shouted, “it is clear that the attack was an act of terrorism.”

Later, security sources confirmed that the assailant admitted to police that he belonged to a terrorist organization.

The Kurdistan Regional Security Council later announced that the attacker was affiliated with an ISIS-linked group. In a press statement, the council said: “While the people of Duhok were celebrating Akitu, an individual holding extremist ISIS ideologies attacked citizens in the market with a sharp weapon.”

The Kurdistan Regional Presidency condemned the “criminal attack,” affirming that it would not tolerate any actions that undermine the culture of coexistence, acceptance, and tolerance.

In a statement on Wednesday, the presidency said it was “closely following” the investigation into the “criminal attack” in Duhok, assuring that the perpetrator will face legal consequences.

This is the first attack of its kind in Duhok. Chaldeans and Syriacs celebrate Babylonian-Assyrian New Year (Akitu) every April 1. During the recent attack, more than 8,000 people were present, half of whom were from outside the Kurdistan region, according to local reports.

The Akitu festival features celebrations, cultural and artistic events, and recreational activities, including traditional dances.