Al Mayadeen – September 22, 2024
Hezbollah announces initial response to Israeli massacres in Lebanon
Hezbollah targets the Israeli Rafael Advanced Defense Systems military-industrial complex in an initial response to the massacres committed by the occupation in various Lebanese areas this past week.
The Islamic Resistance in Lebanon - Hezbollah, carried out three operations this morning against targets in occupied Palestine in response to the massacres committed by "Israel" this past week against Lebanese civilians.
In the first operation, the Islamic Resistance targeted the Israeli Ramat David military base and airport with dozens of Fadi 1 and Fadi 2 rockets. It also launched a second operation on the same targets using dozens of Fadi 1 and Fadi 2 rockets.
The Resistance's third operation saw the targeting of the Rafael military-industrial complex at 6:30 a.m. Rafael specializes in electronic equipment and is located in the Zvulun valley, north of the occupied city of Haifa, and was targeted with dozens of “Fadi 1”, “Fadi 2” and "Katyusha" rockets.
The Resistance confirmed that these operations were in support of the steadfast Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip, in support of their Resistance, and as part of the initial response to the brutal massacre committed by the occupation in various Lebanese regions, on Tuesday and Wednesday, when it detonated thousands of pagers and wireless receiver communication devices, commonly known as walkie-talkies.
It is noteworthy that heavy barrages of rockets were launched from South Lebanon toward areas in the southern extremities of northern occupied territories, marking one of the deepest rocket attacks on Israeli targets since the launch of Operation Al-Aqsa Flood.
Sirens sounded across massive areas in the occupied territories, covering an array of 40 km from eastern occupied Palestine to areas north of Jenin in the occupied West Bank. Some of the settlements in which the sirens rang are located nearly 60 km away from the Israeli line of withdrawal from Lebanon.
Explosions were also heard in the vicinity of the Ramat David Airbase on Sunday.
The Israeli military command said that Hezbollah launched 15 333mm long-range rocket artillery shells, which hold an explosive warhead weighing 175 kg, at the Ramat David Airbase in the initial attack.
According to these claims, this would be the first time that Hezbollah has launched this caliber of rockets at Israeli-occupied territories since October 7, 2023. Israeli media reported that only eight out of the 15 rockets were intercepted by air defenses.
Al Mayadeen – September 22, 2024
Hezbollah fires dozens of heavy rockets at Israeli airbase, Haifa
Heavy barrages of rockets were launched from Lebanon toward occupied Palestine, targeting Israeli sites and areas on Sunday.
Heavy barrages of rockets were launched from South Lebanon toward areas in the southern extremities of northern occupied territories, marking one of the deepest rocket attacks on Israeli targets since the start of the Battle of Al-Aqsa Flood.
Sirens sounded across massive areas in the occupied territories, covering an array of 40 km from eastern occupied Palestine to areas north of Jenin in the occupied West Bank. Some of the settlements in which the sirens rang are located nearly 60 km away from the Israeli line of withdrawal from Lebanon.
The large rocket attacks come after a series of Israeli strikes and terror attacks that targeted Lebanese territory and civilians throughout the week.
Explosions were also heard in the vicinity of the Ramat David Airbase on Sunday.
To highlight the scale of the attack, sirens blared across 74 Israeli settlements, according to reports from Israeli media, including in the city of Afula.
The attacks occurred at 1:10 am (local time) and two other barrages were fired at 4:50 am and 5:10 am.
The Israeli military command said that Hezbollah launched 15 333mm long-range rocket artillery shells, which hold an explosive warhead weighing 175 kg, at the Ramat David Airbase in the initial attack.
According to these claims, this would be the first time that Hezbollah has launched this caliber of rockets at Israeli-occupied territories since October 7, 2023. Israeli media reported that only eight out of the 15 rockets were intercepted by air defenses.
However, Israeli media reports also indicate that other areas near Haifa and in the occupied al-Jalil were targeted with nearly 100 rockets.
On Sunday morning, near 7:00 am, multiple salvos of rockets, at least 75, were fired toward northern Haifa, marking the first such attack.
Multiple rockets impacted the Krayot, a densely populated cluster of settlements in northern occupied Haifa.
Israeli media reported that medics rushed to the site of a rocket attack to treat three injured settlers.
Hezbollah announces its operation in response to Israeli aggression
On Sunday, Hezbollah's Military Media Unit announced that its fighters fired dozens of Fadi-1 and Fadi-2 type rockets at the Ramat David Airbase in response to the continuous Israeli onslaughts on Lebanese territory, which led to the martyrdom of several civilians.
In the past few days, Israeli warplanes have launched nearly 50 strikes a day on areas across Lebanon, as well as a treacherous strike that targeted a building in the Southern Suburb of Beirut.
Reports continue to emerge from Israeli-occupied territories, regarding impacts near and in the targeted airbase.
The Israeli Army Radio's correspondent mentioned that this attack was launched on a target that Hezbollah had displayed in one of its videos two months ago.
Hezbollah's Hoopoe drone had flown over the Ramat David Airbase at a previous time, where it recorded key information about the base.
The Resistance provided details, particularly its aerial specializations and military formations; fighter jets and helicopters, transport and rescue helicopters, naval surveillance helicopters, and electronic warfare offensive systems.
Notably, the video exposed the base's command building and its officials, including its current commander, Colonel Asaf Eishd, in addition to officers' residences, the fortified command building, and the command and control center.
As noted by the correspondent, this exact airbase has come under Hezbollah's fire on Sunday.
More recently, the Israeli Military Censor has imposed restrictions on publishing information about Hezbollah's recent attack on the Ramat David Airbase.
It is worth noting that Hezbollah renewed its rocket attacks on the airbase using the same type of rockets on Sunday dawn. Israeli media reported that at least 5 salvos were fired, which included at least 30 rockets.
Al Mayadeen – September 22, 2024
Hezbollah reveals specs of newly-deployed Fadi-1, Fadi-2 heavy rockets
The Military Media of the Islamic Resistance in Lebanon says Fadi-1 and Fadi-2 are tactical surface-to-surface rockets used in wide-range bombardments, meaning that they are not precision-guided.
The Military Media unit of the Islamic Resistance in Lebanon released a video detailing the specs of the Fadi-1 and Fadi-2 rockets that were launched early Sunday by Hezbollah during its three operations that targeted the Israeli Ramat David military base and airport and the Rafael military-industrial complex, north of the occupied city of Haifa.
The video revealed that Fadi-1 and Fadi-2 are tactical surface-to-surface rockets used in wide-range bombardments, meaning that they are not precision-guided. Both rockets were put into service in the 2006 July War.
Fadi-1
According to Hezbollah's Military Media, Fadi-1, which can be launched from stationary or mobile platforms, is used to disrupt supply routes and target bases far from the frontlines and is also used in extensive bombardment to overwhelm air defense systems.
It is equipped with an 83 kg warhead, has a caliber of 220 mm, is 6 meters long, and has a range of 70 kilometers.
Fadi-2
As for Fadi-2, the video explained that the rocket's warhead is highly explosive, rendering it extremely efficient against fortified sites, infrastructure, and large crowds of enemy forces. It enjoys a 170kg warhead, has a caliber of 302mm, is 6 meters long, and has a range of 100 kilometers.
Hezbollah announced that it carried out the three operations against targets in occupied Palestine as part of the initial response to the brutal massacres committed by the occupation in various Lebanese regions, on Tuesday and Wednesday, when it detonated thousands of pagers and wireless receiver communication devices, commonly known as walkie-talkies.
Field sources speaking to Al Mayadeen confirmed that the rockets launched at the Ramat David Airbase originated from Hezbollah's complex underground "Imad" bases, which host multiple rocket launchers and forces.
Sources said that the Imad 4 base displayed in one of Hezbollah's videos is one of dozens that have "not been affected by all of the enemies' raids."
Our sources emphasized that this attack did not include the use of precision-guided missiles and was only a preliminary response to Israeli aggression.
Al Mayadeen – September 22, 2024
All eyes on battlefield; open-ended battle is on: Hezbollah Deputy SG
Sheikh Naim Qassem vows that the Lebanese support front will persist no matter how long it takes until the Israeli war on Gaza stops.
Last night's operations were merely a downpayment in the open tab battle, indicated Sheikh Naim Qassem, Hezbollah's Deputy Secretary-General, referring to the Lebanese Resistance group's targeting of the Israeli Ramat David military base and airport and the Rafael military-industrial complex, north of the occupied city of Haifa, with dozens of Fadi-1, Fadi-2, and Katyusha rockets.
In his speech during the funeral service of the top Hezbollah commander martyr Ibrahim Aqil (Hajj Abdul-Qader) and martyr Mahmoud Hamad in the Southern Suburb of the Lebanese capital, Beirut, Sheikh Qassem indicated that "we have entered a new phase titled the open-ended battle of reckoning," pointing out that how the group will respond to the latest Israeli aggression on the Southern Suburb of Beirut will not be disclosed.
"Keep your eyes on the battlefield," he said, stressing that Lebanon's support front will expand promising the occupation, "We will kill them and fight them where they expect and where they do not expect."
Regarding the situation on the Lebanese support front, Sheikh Qassem made it clear that this front will continue no matter how long it takes until the war on Gaza stops, underscoring that the Israeli captives will only return through a prisoner exchange deal.
He affirmed that the Lebanese support front is prepared for all military possibilities, stating, "You will see the results" and adding that "threats will not stop us, and we do not fear even the most dangerous scenarios."
Addressing the Israelis, Sheikh Qassem said, "You will die of fear, your economy will collapse, and you will not achieve your goals."
"You have brought the Palestinian Resistance to the global stage," he added.
Sheikh Qassem indicated that "Israel committed three painful war crimes against us, representing the highest degree of savagery we have ever witnessed."
He said that by targeting the leaders of Hezbollah's elite Radwan Force, the Israeli occupation sought to cripple the Resistance, incite its support base, and stop the Gaza support front, asserting that the Resistance fighters thwarted these plans.
Hezbollah's Deputy Secretary-General said that "Israel" intended to kill 5,000 people in the Pager massacre but failed to do so, emphasizing, "We have returned stronger, and the battlefield will bear witness to this."
Elsewhere, Sheikh Qassem accused the United States of being "immersed from head to toe in Israeli genocide," asserting that "its deception is of no use."
The Islamic Resistance in Lebanon - Hezbollah laid to rest commander martyr Aqil and martyr Hamad at Rawdat al-Hawraa Zainab in the Ghobeiry area of the southern suburbs, where they and a group of their comrades were killed during an Israeli aggression that targeted a residential building on Friday afternoon.
The funeral ceremonies saw the large participating masses raising chants against the Israeli occupation and the United States, in addition to chants in support of the Resistance and Hezbollah's Secretary-General, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah.
Al Mayadeen – September 22, 2024
Sri Lanka elects Marxist Dissanayake as president to save economy
Dissanayake has secured 5.6 million votes, or 42.3% of the total, a major improvement from the 3% he garnered in the 2019 presidential election.
Sri Lankans elected Anura Kumara Dissanayake as their new President on Sunday, entrusting him with combatting corruption and strengthening the country's fragile economic recovery following its worst financial crisis in decades.
Dissanayake ran under the banner of the National People's Power alliance, which includes his Marxist-oriented Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) party.
Dissanayake, 55, maintained a strong lead throughout the vote count, ultimately defeating incumbent President Ranil Wickremesinghe and opposition leader Sajith Premadasa.
"We believe that we can turn this country around, we can build a stable government... and move forward. For me this is not a position, it is a responsibility," Dissanayake said after his victory was confirmed following a second round of vote counting.
The election was seen as a test for Wickremesinghe, who managed to guide the heavily indebted nation through a delicate economic recovery. However, the austerity measures that accompanied this process angered many voters, and Wickremesinghe finished third with just 17% of the vote.
"Mr. President, here I handover to you with much love, the dear child called Sri Lanka, whom we both love very dearly," Wickremesinghe, 75, told Dissanayake in a statement conceding defeat.
Dissanayake secured 5.6 million votes, or 42.3% of the total, a major improvement from the 3% he garnered in the 2019 presidential election. Premadasa followed with 32.8%.
For the first time in Sri Lanka’s history, the presidential election was decided by a second vote count after none of the candidates achieved the required 50% in the first round.
Under the country’s electoral system, voters rank their top three choices. If no candidate secures a majority in the initial count, a second round is conducted, with the top two candidates facing off based on preferential votes.
Approximately 75% of the 17 million eligible voters participated, according to the election commission.
This was the first election since Sri Lanka's economy collapsed in 2022 due to a severe foreign exchange shortage, leaving the country unable to import essential goods like fuel, medicine, and cooking gas. The economic crisis led to widespread protests and forced then-President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to flee and eventually resign.
Dissanayake presented himself as the candidate for change, appealing to those burdened by austerity measures tied to a $2.9 billion International Monetary Fund (IMF) bailout. He promised to dissolve parliament within 45 days of taking office and seek a fresh mandate for his policies through general elections.
Despite concerns among investors about his pledges to cut taxes and restructure $25 billion in debt, Dissanayake showed a more appeasing tone during his campaign, assuring that all reforms would be conducted in consultation with the IMF and that he remained committed to debt repayment.
He will now face the challenge of ensuring Sri Lanka adheres to the IMF programme through 2027 to achieve stable economic growth, restore market confidence, manage debt repayment, attract investment, and lift a quarter of the population out of poverty.
Daily Sabah – September 22, 2024
From Indian Ocean to Aden, Turkish navy boosts strategic presence
by Betül Usta
The Turkish navy is strengthening its role in global and regional security by expanding its operations in the Indian Ocean and the Gulf of Aden, contributing to the strategic and commercial security of the region
Focused on five key areas including energy, maritime trade routes, global economy, security of the Black Sea and Eastern Mediterranean, Türkiye aims to bolster its deterrent capabilities and protect its national interests. Enter the Turkish Naval Forces Command, now enhanced with locally-made weapons and vessels.
The navy is deploying modern submarines and enhancing its air defense with the TF-2000 frigate. Advanced technologies such as electronic warfare systems and directed energy weapons are also in the making.
As global and regional crises unfold, the navy helps Türkiye to meet its commitment to maintaining security and peace while fulfilling its international responsibilities. Embracing the doctrine of being effective and powerful at sea as its predecessor Ottomans were once, the Republic of Türkiye in the past two decades has developed an independent defense industry capable of operating in open waters, thereby shifting geopolitical balances in its favor.
The navy plays a critical role in ensuring the security of maritime trade routes in the Eastern Mediterranean, the Black Sea and the Aegean Sea, promoting regional stability. By actively participating in operations against piracy and terrorism in international waters, Türkiye contributes to the safety of global maritime trade, ensuring the uninterrupted flow of shipping traffic. Efforts are also underway to enhance the capabilities of the navy of Somalia and establish a naval task force.
Türkiye’s strategic location makes it pivotal in the transportation of energy resources. The navy is tasked with securing undersea pipelines and other critical infrastructure. As part of seismic research activities in Somalia's maritime jurisdiction, the Turkish navy plans to escort and protect the Oruç Reis research vessel active in exploration in the Mediterranean.
NATO, beyond
The Turkish navy also actively engages in maritime security operations within NATO and other international coalitions, helping to uphold international maritime norms and enforce shipping regulations.
Türkiye is meanwhile working to create a cooperative environment in the Black Sea with other littoral states to mitigate destabilizing developments as the Russia-Ukraine conflict overshadows the region. The Black Sea is also becoming a new hub of Türkiye’s own energy interests after the discovery of natural gas reserves.
Further south, the navy is vigilant on the conflicting interests of the countries off the divided island of Cyprus where Türkiye is a guarantor state for the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). Hydrocarbon exploration work off the island put Türkiye at odds with Greek Cypriots and Greece in recent years as all claim rights in the Mediterranean. Türkiye repeatedly pledged to protect the rights of the Turkish Cypriot community on energy resources. Further west of Cyprus, the navy has two frigates stationed off the coast of Libya and provide air defense support.
In the past two decades, Türkiye reached a milestone by designing and producing its own warships. The TCG Heybeliada, the first indigenous corvette, was commissioned in 2011, followed by projects for indigenous frigates and destroyers. The ADVENT combat management system, developed domestically, represents a significant achievement, enhancing the capabilities of the Turkish navy.
To address potential future threats, the navy is updating its roadmap based on risk analyses, focusing on asymmetric threats such as piracy, terrorism and cyber risks. The development of unmanned maritime and aerial vehicles, along with enhanced cyber defense systems, is prioritized.
As Türkiye adapts to evolving maritime challenges, ongoing modernization efforts include upgrading naval technology, enhancing training for personnel and reinforcing preparations against asymmetric threats. Ensuring the safety of undersea resources, particularly energy lines in the Eastern Mediterranean, remains a top priority for the Turkish navy.
Last month, the country commissioned its first of planned six Reis-class submarines in a ceremony held in the southwestern province of Muğla as President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan announced plans for the country to bolster its naval capabilities further through an indigenous submarine project. “Submarines are the primary strategic elements of our naval forces. The TCG Piri Reis, which has been commissioned today, is the first of our six submarines that have an air-independent propulsion system,” Erdoğan said addressing the opening of Akyaz Shipyard Command and naval platform delivery ceremony. The Piri Reis submarine, the first of its class, was launched in 2019, having a length of 68.35 meters (224.25 feet) and a capacity of 40 personnel. As part of his opening remarks, the president stressed the need to maintain a "strong and effective navy" to safeguard Türkiye’s peace and security, both within its territorial waters and in far-flung regions. "We are aware that to live peacefully in our lands, we must have a strong and effective navy both in our Blue Homeland and in distant geographies,” said Erdoğan, using a phrase to denote Turkish territorial waters. Stating that Ankara has done revolutionary work on the defense industry for the last 22 years, during the Justice and Development (AK) Party’s decades in power, he said Türkiye plans to commission two submarines over the next two years, the Hızır Reis in 2025 and Murat Reis in 2026. "We will strengthen our navy by commissioning all submarines within the project by 2029," he stressed.
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The Journal of America Team:
Editor in chief:
Abdus Sattar Ghazali
Senior Editor:
Prof. Arthur Scott
Special Correspondent
Maryam Turab
