Times of Israel – January 1, 2023
At stroke of midnight, Hamas attacks Israel with heavy New Year rocket barrage
Over 20 projectiles target south and center of country as Israelis mark the start of the new year amid sorrow: ‘The minute I start to dance, I feel guilty’
The Hamas group fired at least 27 rockets at the south and center of the country in a barrage timed for midnight as Israelis tried to celebrate the start of the new year.
Air defense systems intercepted 18 rockets and nine fell in open areas.
Sirens sounded in various locations in the center of the country including Rehovot, Ness Ziona, Holon, Lod, and Modiin, as well as Ashdod, Sderot, and other southern towns.
Loud explosions from the intercepts boomed through the sky over Tel Aviv.
The Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, claimed responsibility for the attack from Gaza in a video published on social media, saying it had fired M90 rockets in “response to the massacres of civilians” ostensibly carried out by Israel.
There were no reports of casualties or damage. The municipalities of Rishon Lezion and Ness Tziona later said while there were no direct hits on the cities, some shrapnel did land within their boundaries.
In an English language post to its X (formerly Twitter) feed, the Israel Defense Forces wrote, “While 129 Israelis are still being held captive by Hamas in Gaza, Hamas also decided to start 2024 by launching a barrage of rockets at Israel,” the IDF said. “There is no ‘happy’ New Year until they are all home.”
The Israeli Embassy to the US also commented on X, posting a video of rockets being fired out of the Gaza Strip. “These are not midnight fireworks, but a Hamas rocket attack at Israelis trying to bring in the new year happily,” the embassy wrote.
The IDF’s ground operation in recent weeks has led to a significant decline in the number of rockets launched from Gaza at Israel. The midnight rocket barrage was the first rocket fire at the center of the country in a week and a half.
Military sources said Monday that the rockets fired at central Israel were launched from the south of the Gaza Strip, in the Rafah area, where IDF ground forces have not focused to date. Those fired at southern Israel, they said, were launched from Jabaliya, in northern Gaza, where IDF ground troops have been operating for several weeks.
Seconds after ringing in the new year on a lively street in Tel Aviv, some young Israelis found themselves running for cover. Others kept the party going with a shrug, as missile defense systems intercepted a barrage of rockets overhead.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/at-stroke-of-midnight-hamas-attacks-israel-with-heavy-new-year-rocket-barrage/
Anadolu Agency – January 1, 2024
Death toll in Gaza from ongoing Israeli war surges to 21,978
57,697 Palestinians have been injured by Israeli army in Gaza in nearly 3-month deadly onslaught
The deaths of Palestinians from the nearly three-month devastating Israeli onslaught on Gaza has reached 21,978, the Health Ministry in the besieged enclave said Monday.
Ashraf al-Qudra, spokesman for the ministry, made the statement as Israel's deadly onslaught on Gaza enters its 87th day.
He noted that the number of injured in Gaza has also risen to 57,697, nearly 70% of them women and children.
Al-Qudra also said that 326 medical staff were killed by the Israeli army in addition to destroying 104 ambulances and damaging 150 health centers across the Gaza Strip.
He urged the International Committee of the Red Cross to visit the 99 medical staff arrested by the Israeli army in Gaza and to press for their release.
Al-Qudra also called on international aid groups to send medical teams and medical supplies to Gaza, as well as field hospitals to Gaza to help treat the wounded.
He added that out of the huge number of injured people, only 645 of them have left Gaza to continue their medical treatment outside, with medical supplies in Gaza severely depleted due to Israel's ongoing blockade.
Israel launched a campaign of relentless air and ground attacks on the Gaza Strip following a cross-border attack by Palestinian group Hamas on Oct. 7.
Israel says the Hamas attacks have killed around 1,200 Israelis.
The Israeli onslaught has left Gaza in ruins, with 60% of the enclave's infrastructure damaged or destroyed and nearly 2 million residents displaced amid acute shortages of food, clean water, and medicines.
US strikes kill 10 Houthi rebels attacking ship in Red Sea
The US military said Sunday its Navy helicopters fired at Iran-backed Houthi rebel boats off Yemen that were attacking a cargo ship, with Yemeni sources reporting 10 rebels killed.
The clash in the Red Sea marked a deadly escalation since the United States set up a multinational naval task force in early December to protect the vital shipping lane against Huthi attacks.
The rebels -- who say they are acting in solidarity with Palestinians in the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza -- have repeatedly fired drones and missiles at passing ships in the straits through which 12 percent of global trade passes.
US Central Command said the Navy had responded to a distress call from the Maersk Hangzhou, a Singapore-flagged, Denmark-owned and operated container ship that reported coming under attack for a second time in 24 hours while transiting the Red Sea.
The vessel had earlier been targeted with two anti-ship ballistic missiles. One was shot down by the US military and the other hit the Maersk Hangzhou.
The Huthis had then fired on US helicopters, which "returned fire in self-defence", sinking three of four small boats that had come within 20 meters (65 feet) of the ship, according to the CENTCOM statement.
It said the crews of the three vessels were killed while a fourth boat fled the area.
"Ten Huthis were killed and two were wounded in the US strike on Huthi boats that tried to stop a vessel in the sea off Hodeida," said a source, who asked not to be named, at Yemen's rebel-controlled Hodeida port.
Another port source, also requesting anonymity, said that "four survivors have arrived in Hodeida with two wounded who were taken to hospital".
Maersk suspended the passage of its vessels through the Red Sea strait for 48 hours after the latest of about two dozen attacks by Huthis on international shipping in six weeks.
The cargo ship, en route from Singapore to Egypt's Port Suez, had made an earlier distress call after it was struck by the Huthi missile.
CENTCOM said that assault was the 23rd illegal attack by the Huthis on international shipping since November 19.
The vessel appeared to be undamaged and "was able to continue its transit north", Maersk, one of the world's largest shipping companies, said in a statement.
The cargo ship was then fired on by four Huthi rebel vessels that attempted to board the vessel, according to the shipping company.
"In light of the incident -- and to allow time to investigate the details of the incident and assess the security situation further -- it has been decided to delay all transits through the area for the next 48 hours," it added.
Regional tensions have spiked since the outbreak of the Gaza war.
Israel has been pounding the besieged Palestinian territory relentlessly since the Hamas militant group launched an unprecedented attacked on October 7.
That attack killed about 1,140 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on Israeli figures.
Israel's bombardment of Gaza and a ground offensive have killed 21,672 people, mostly women and children, according to the health ministry in Gaza.
US forces in Iraq and Syria have also repeatedly come under fire from drone and rocket attacks that Washington says are being carried out by Iran-backed armed groups.
And Israel has traded regular cross-border fire with the Iran-backed Hezbollah movement in Lebanon.
US Navy helicopters fired on Iran-backed Huthi rebels attempting to board a cargo ship off Yemen Sunday, the military said, with the rebels reporting 10 fighters dead or missing.
The clash in the Red Sea marked a deadly escalation since the United States set up a multinational naval task force in early December to protect the vital shipping lane against attacks by the Huthis, who control the Yemeni capital Sanaa and much of the country's Red Sea coast.
The rebels -- who say they are acting in solidarity with Palestinians in the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza -- have repeatedly fired drones and missiles at passing ships in the seaway through which 12 percent of global trade passes.
US Central Command said the navy had responded to a distress call from the Maersk Hangzhou, a Danish-owned container ship that reported coming under attack for a second time in 24 hours while transiting the Red Sea.
The vessel had earlier been targeted with two anti-ship ballistic missiles. One was shot down by the US military and the other hit the Maersk Hangzhou.
The Huthis had then fired on US helicopters, which "returned fire in self-defence", sinking three of four small boats that had come within 20 metres (yards) of the ship, according to the CENTCOM statement.
It said the crews of the three vessels were killed while the fourth boat fled the area.
Huthi military spokesman Yahya Saree confirmed in a statement on X that 10 members of the group's naval forces were "killed or missing" in the US strike.
Saree said the Maersk was attacked as part of the rebels' campaign to stop Israeli or Israel-bound vessels from transiting the Red Sea.
"Yemen's naval forces once again remind all countries of our advice not to be drawn into American plans aimed at sparking a conflict in the Red Sea", saying the Huthis are determined to confront "any aggression against our country and our people".
Maersk suspended the passage of its vessels through the Red Sea for 48 hours after the latest of about two dozen attacks by Huthis on international shipping in the past six weeks.
The cargo ship, en route from Singapore to Egypt's Port Suez, had issued an earlier distress call after it was struck by the Huthi missile.
CENTCOM said that assault was the 23rd illegal attack by the Huthis on international shipping since November 19.
The vessel appeared to be undamaged and "was able to continue its transit north", Maersk said.
The cargo ship was then fired on by four Huthi rebel vessels that attempted to board the vessel, according to the company, one of the world's largest shipping firms.
"In light of the incident -- and to allow time to investigate the details of the incident and assess the security situation further -- it has been decided to delay all transits through the area for the next 48 hours," it added.
Regional tensions have spiked since Palestinian militant group Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, killing around 1,140 people, most of them civilians, according to an AFP tally based on Israeli figures.
In response, Israel vowed to eliminate Hamas from Gaza and launched a devastating offensive that has killed 21,672 people, most of them women and children, according to the Hamas-run territory's health ministry.
US forces in Iraq and Syria have repeatedly come under fire from drone and rocket attacks that Washington says are being carried out by Iran-backed groups.
And Israel has traded near-daily cross-border fire with the Iran-backed Hezbollah movement in Lebanon.
https://www.yenisafak.com/en/news/us-strikes-kill-10-huthi-rebels-attacking-ship-in-red-sea-3675440
Istanbul rally honors Turkish soldiers killed in Iraq, stands with Gaza
Thousands of people gathered on Monday in mosques in Türkiye’s top metropolis Istanbul for Gaza as it suffers under Israeli bombardment and to condemn terrorism weeks after PKK attacks martyred a dozen Turkish soldiers in northern Iraq.
The event titled "Mercy for our martyrs, support for Palestine, curse on Israel” in mosques during the morning prayers was organized by the Turkish Youth Foundation (TÜGVA) and the National Willpower Platform.
With the participation of 308 nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), attendees gathered in the courtyards of Hagia Sophia Mosque, Eminonu New Mosque, Sultanahmet Mosque and Suleymaniye Mosque after morning prayers. The participants rallied in the mosque courtyards, offering prayers for the martyrs and Palestinians who lost their lives in Israeli attacks.
The participants assembled in Hagia Sophia Square after the prayers and chanted slogans such as "Martyrs never die, the homeland will not be divided," "Collaborator traitors will be held accountable, killer Israel will be held accountable," "Killer Israel, get out of Palestine," "Our blood, our lives sacrificed for Al-Aqsa," and "Greetings to Hamas, resistance will continue."
Minister of Youth and Sports Osman Aşkın Bak, former Turkish Parliament Speaker Mustafa Şentop, and the president of the Board of Trustees of the Foundation for the Dissemination of Knowledge and a member of the High Advisory Board of TÜGVA, Bilal Erdoğan, were among the participants.
Prayers were also offered for the 12 Turkish soldiers killed in the Claw-Lock Operation zone in northern Iraq and for those killed by Israeli attacks in Gaza.
After the prayers, the participants began marching toward the Galata Bridge, carrying signs in Turkish, Arabic and English.
Pro-Palestine rallies have been a staple of big Turkish cities since Israel began pounding on the blockaded Gaza Strip on Oct. 7, killing over 20,000 people, in retribution for a Hamas incursion on southern Israel. Starting as early as the same day in front of the Israeli Consulate in Istanbul, Turkish citizens have joined millions around the world in almost weekly protests against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government over the past two months.
Türkiye has been a staunch defender of the Palestinian cause and continues diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict. President Erdoğan too has called for an independent Palestinian state and spearheads efforts for a lasting truce.
Turkish Armed Forces add new UAV to reconnaissance capabilities
The BAHA, an autonomous sub-cloud unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) developed by Turkish defence company HAVELSAN, entered the inventory of the Turkish Armed Forces.
HAVELSAN, a software and systems company in the defence sector, has been developing unmanned land, air and sea vehicles within the scope of its "digital unity" concept, introducing unmanned systems such as the BARKAN unmanned ground combat vehicle and the BAHA unmanned aerial vehicle in the same year to address future operational needs domestically and internationally.
The BAHA, which has been developed to meet the needs of modern armies, was put into service after the completion of tests.
It is an independent sub-cloud UAV equipped with vertical take-off and landing capabilities, complete autonomy in mission execution, a modular structure facilitating the integration of diverse payloads, and numerous other adva nced functionalities.
The BAHA serves as a vertically capable fixed-wing sub-cloud autonomous aircraft. It utilizes a petrol engine for horizontal cruising and employs electric motors for vertical takeoff and landing.
Mission-ready within minutes
With the ability to execute missions at altitudes of up to 15,000 feet, the BAHA boasts a maximum flight duration of six hours with the petrol engine (two hours using an electric motor) and covers a range of up to 80 kilometres (49.7 miles).
In addition, it features a 5-kilogram (11-pound) payload capacity and a 3.7-metre (12-foot) wingspan. The system, designed for quick installation by two individuals and operation by a single person, can be mission-ready within minutes.
Tested in various regions, challenging climates, and operational conditions, the system has been improved based on feedback from security forces.
The BAHA can be used in various tasks such as tracking, detection, area protection, intelligence, electronic warfare, coastal and border security, energy transmission and oil-gas pipeline inspection, combating smuggling and terrorism, public order, narcotic plant detection, settlement thermal measurement, forest fire management, post-disaster assessment, bilge and environmental pollution detection, agricultural applications, and cartography.
Contributing to search and rescue efforts after earthquakes
The BAHA was utilised in search and rescue activities carried out after the February 2023 earthquakes in Türkiye’s Kahramanmaras province, providing image support to teams.
With its ability to perform sub-cloud flights, meeting the need for images in moments when obtaining images with UAVs was difficult due to adverse weather conditions, the BAHA contributed to obtaining initial information about inaccessible settlements.
HAVELSAN, achieving export successes in Africa and Central Asia with the BAHA this year, also made it available for use by security forces domestically after successful tests.
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The Journal of America Team:
Editor in chief:
Abdus Sattar Ghazali
Senior Editor:
Prof. Arthur Scott
Special Correspondent
Maryam Turab
