🇮🇱/🇺🇸 U.S. Defense Secretary Austin and Israeli Defense Minister Gallant held their Second Phone Call in 72 Hours earlier today.

The calls discussed the "unprecedented Security Cooperation” between the United States and Israel and the need to counter the regional threats.

🇮🇱/🇱🇧/🇮🇷/🇺🇸 US, Israel prepare to face multifront attack as Iran & Lebanon vow revenge

The US Navy has assembled more than a dozen warships across the region’s waterways, including the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt, currently in the Gulf of Oman, and the USS Wasp amphibious ready group with 4,000 embarked sailors and Marines, currently in the eastern Mediterranean.

The Biden administration has pledged to defend Israel should it come under attack. Pentagon officials say the array of warships, fighter aircraft and air defenses across the region are ready.

Three other officials, two Israeli and one American, told Al-Monitor that the Israeli government notified the Biden administration ahead of the strike on Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr in south Beirut on Tuesday.

But high-ranking US military officials in the Middle East were caught off guard by the assassination of Haniyeh. Top US diplomat Antony Blinken said the United States had no foreknowledge or involvement in the assassination.

By Al-Monitor

🇮🇱/🇱🇧 Two pre-emptive Israeli attacks reported in Housh Al-Sayyed Ali town in northern Lebanon near the Syrian border.

📸 Three airstrikes took place, unclear if same location or several on the Lebanese Syrian border.

Two Syrian air defense missiles were fired toward the incoming missiles/jets.

🇮🇱/🇱🇧 President Biden privately demanded in a "tough" call Thursday that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stop escalating tensions in the region and move immediately toward a Gaza hostage and ceasefire deal, two U.S. officials told Axios.

Why it matters: Biden and his top aides are deeply frustrated by the fallout from Israel's assassinations in Beirut and Tehran, which took place less than a week after Netanyahu's first visit to the Oval Office in four years.

Biden also warned Netanyahu that if he escalates again, he shouldn't count on the U.S. to bail him out, the U.S. official added.

By Axios

📹 A new wave of Israeli attacks targets the Lebanese Syrian border, to the Lebanese side close to Housh al-Sayyed Ali

📹 One of the attack destroyed food trucks heading to Lebanon.

🇺🇸 The Pentagon is shifting a TON of assets and firepower to defend Israel

U.S. Secretary Austin has ordered adjustments to U.S. military posture designed to improve U.S. force protection, to increase support for the defense of Israel, and to ensure the United States is prepared to respond to various contingencies.

- To maintain a carrier strike group presence in the Middle East, the Secretary has ordered the USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN Carrier Strike Group to replace the USS THEODORE ROOSEVELT Carrier Strike Group, currently on deployment in the Central Command area of responsibility.

- Additionally, Secretary Austin has ordered additional ballistic missile defense-capable cruisers and destroyers to the U.S. European Command and U.S. Central Command regions.

- The Department is also taking steps to increase our readiness to deploy additional land-based ballistic missile defense.

- The Secretary has also ordered the deployment of an additional fighter squadron to the Middle East, reinforcing our defensive air support capability.

- These posture adjustments add to the broad range of capabilities the U.S. military maintains in the region, including the USS WASP Amphibious Ready Group / Marine Expeditionary Unit (ARG/MEU) operating in the Eastern Mediterranean. 

✍ The longer Iran and Hezbullah take to act, the more assets will available to help defend Israel. Time is ticking.

✍ Just a few points:

- Hezbullah wants and aims to kill some Israeli officers. That's the chance they are looking for but know that even if they have the ability and reach, they don't have the enough speed.

- Iran and Hezbullah are aiming to cause material and human losses, and unlike April 2024, ensure there is loss in Israel. They understand well dettering won't happen when Israel is not being affected.

- Iran and Hezbullah know the task isn't easy at all, and they are still hoping to avoid a regional war

- The US is preparing to help Israel. The news about this clear. Without the US, Israel is in bad shape.

The issue for them is, US can help when they know beforehand. What would happen if a sudden pre-emptive attack happens in the future

- There is a lot of warmongering. Mostly social media children. Hezbullah and IRGC are rather dead silent. No statement or teasers or any BS.

- Attacking airports won't be fruitful. Bases, juicy but which? I'm inclined to hope they targeted the northern command in Safad.

Destroy that HQ, even achieving that, is success beyond success. It's a mistake to attack the Kiryah in Tel Aviv, I think they will abstain.

Bla BLA BLA. Shut up admin. Anyways I'll only cover useful news. Exactly how I abstained today from "airport hacked, trips canceled, few hours and get ready etc etc."

I was right about last time.

And I would like to think they will attack tomorrow maybe. It's Saturday innit.

And Hanieh's last words were to make August 3 a day of remembrance and support for Gaza. Symbolically good timing.

✍ One last thing before I leave for tonight.

Hezbullah isn't going to support Iran like in April by firing a few rockets to engage AD.

Hezbullah will be a corner stone to whatever the attack will be. Sayyed Mehsin is literally Hezbullah's most high ranking official and its official chief of staff. He's a founding father and the man who made Hezbullah what it is.

He's Imad Moghnieh and Mustafa Badreddine! He is as described, Hezbullah's heart.

📸 This morning, an Israeli targeted assassination took place in Wadi Jelo near Al-Bazourieh area in south Lebanon.

🥀 When civil defense arrived, one of its members found out that it was his brother who was targted by Israel and killed.

He said, "no crying allowed"

🥀 In this targeted assassination, Hezbullah mourned Ali Nazih Abd Ali, born in 1984 from the town of Aytit in southern Lebanon, who rose as a martyr on the road to Jerusalem and in defense of south Lebanon.

🇮🇱/🇱🇧 According to the Israeli army, Ali Nazih Abed Ali, a significant member on Hezbullah's Southern Front, in the area of Bazouriyeh in southern Lebanon.

Abed Ali was involved in the activity of the Southern Front, planning and carrying out various activities.

They finally claim his murder will be a significant blow to the capabilities of the Southern Front and Hezbullah in general.

⭕️ Hezbullah takes credit for its second attack today, announcing:

- Attack on Al-Asi base with artillery
- Attack on a house in Meitat settlement, in response to the aggression on Aita al-Shaab village

📸 According to the Lebanese ministry of health, there was one injury as a result of the Israeli attack in Teir Harfa this morning.

No casualties reported in the airstrikes on Kafrkila (overnight) and drone strike in Reb Tlateen either.

📸 Despite news about an attempted targeted assassination on Beirut-Damascus road, it is still unclear.

A technical fault is also suspected.

📸 Sharpnel formation indicates it could be a roadside IED or a drone missile. Identity unclear.

The last such attack in the area murdered a famous Syrian businessman, from Al-Qaterji family.

📸 A new Israeli airstrike is reported in Aita al-Shaab, in addition to a drone strike in Hula

🥀 This afternoon, 9 Palestinian youth were murdered by the Israeli army, including 4 in a drone strike on their car in Tolkrom in the West Bank.

The Palestinians are members of the resistance factions there.