Gallant Blames Netanyahu for Failed Negotiations, Calls Victory Claims Nonsense /  5.4 Magnitude Earthquake in Homs Shakes Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Palestine, and Iraq

Albinaa’ Newspaper Headlines August 13, 2024

The political editor wrote

Amid rising concerns about a potential Iranian strike against the occupying entity in response to the assassination of Hamas Political Bureau Chief Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran two weeks ago, U.S. and Israeli officials are on high alert. The anticipated timing of the strike is speculated to occur between today and next Tuesday. A joint statement from the U.S., Germany, France, the UK, and Italy warned Iran and the resistance forces against launching any attacks on “Israel,” pledging their support for its defence.

U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and U.S. National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby have all emphasised the serious preparations underway to counter the potential threat. According to American media reports, intelligence assessments have described the looming danger as a significant attack. In response, Austin has restructured the deployment of U.S. forces, adding an aircraft carrier and a nuclear submarine to bolster the military presence in readiness for any imminent Iranian action.

Commentators on Hebrew television channels suggest that the potential threat from Hezbollah is seen as more pressing than an Iranian retaliation. This is largely due to the geographical proximity that limits U.S. forces from aiding in repelling Hezbollah’s strikes. The occupying entity’s ability to counter such attacks has already shown its limitations, and this would be further strained if Hezbollah were to deploy more advanced weaponry and launch a larger wave of modern assault drones and precision missiles simultaneously.

Amid growing concerns over the potential impact of Hamas’s recent leadership shift following the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh, occupying entity’s Defense Minister Yoav Gallant made a striking statement. Gallant acknowledged that the election of Yahya Sinwar as Hamas’s new leader has significantly strengthened the group’s negotiating position, countering the occupying entity’s hopes of weakening Hamas through targeted killings. He warned that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s claims of an imminent, absolute victory are mere rhetoric. Gallant also admitted that previous opportunities for a diplomatic resolution were missed, a failure for which his government bears responsibility.

In a separate development, the Levant region experienced a 5.4 magnitude earthquake with an epicentre in Homs, which was felt across Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, Palestine, and Jordan.