IDF Spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari in an English-language video statement says Lebanon's Hezbollah terror group is "bringing us to the brink of what could be a wider escalation, one that could have devastating consequences for Lebanon and the entire region."

"The Hezbollah terror organization in Lebanon has been escalating its attacks against Israel. Since deciding to join the war that Hamas started on October 7th, Hezbollah has fired over 5,000 rockets; anti-tank missiles, and explosive UAVs from Lebanon at Israeli families, homes, and communities," he says.

"Hezbollah's increasing aggression is bringing us to the brink of what could be a wider escalation, one that could have devastating consequences for Lebanon and the entire region," Hagari continues.

[JUST IN] Thousands of soldiers belonging to the IDF's 'elite' Golani Brigade have arrived at the Northern front, after having left Gaza in the past few weeks; hundreds of tanks, APCs and IFVs have also been transferred to the border with Lebanon

IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi says "the likelihood of war in the north is higher than before."

Speaking to troops in northern Israel, during a drill simulating an offensive in Lebanon, Halevi says the IDF is "increasing readiness for fighting in Lebanon, we have a lot of lessons from the fighting in Gaza, many of them are very relevant to fighting in Lebanon, and there are some that must be adjusted."

"We want to reach a very clear goal in Lebanon, to return the residents to the north, all the communities in the north," he says, referring to some 80,000 displaced Israelis amid the Hezbollah terror group's daily attacks.

"I don't know when the war in the north is, I can tell you that the likelihood of it happening in the coming months is much higher than it was in the past," Halevi says.

"I can tell you that I think we are starting it with many more advantages," he adds.

At least six Houthis killed in purported US-UK Sunday strike on Yemen's Hodeidah Province

At least six members of the rebel Houthi movement Ansar Allah were killed on Sunday in a strike on Yemen's Red Sea coastal province of Hodeidah, which was attributed to combined US-UK forces, the Sky News Arabia TV channel reported, citing sources.

In addition, two advisers to the Lebanon-based Shiite party Hezbollah, which together with Iran provides military and technical support to the Houthis within Yemeni territory, fell victim to a strike on an Ansar Allah facility in Hodeidah.

Earlier, Sky News Arabia reported that one of Ansar Allah's facilities located in northern Hodeidah Province came under attack. The Houthi-owned Al Masirah TV channel claimed that the strike was carried out by US and British warplanes. However, a Pentagon official told TASS that the US-led international coalition did not carry out any strikes on Yemeni territory on Sunday.

ISIS has now claimed responsibility for yesterday's terrorist attacks in the city of Kerman

They say it was carried out with two suicide bombers, by the codenames of 'Omar Al-Muwahhid' and 'Sayfullah Al-Mujahid', killing a large concentration of 'Shia polytheists' near Qasem Soleimani's grave.

Interesting to note that prior to ISIS officially taking credit for the massacre in Kerman, they condemned Hamas and urged Palestinians to give up on nationalism.

As anticipated, the blame for this incident will likely be placed on the underdogs of the Islamic State. However, it is important not to be misled - the members of ISIS are no longer who they used to be, and they would never organize a terrorist attack themselves.

Nevertheless, the possible escalation that may occur in the Middle East, particularly in light of the intense attacks on Iranian proxies in Syria, Lebanon, and Iraq, benefits other actors.

Two U.S. Navy Amphibs Leave Red Sea Despite Houthi Attacks on Shipping

🔶️ The two U.S. Navy amphibs that were deployed to the Red Sea to deter Iranian-allied Houthi rebels have now been withdrawn to the Mediterranean, though attacks by Houthi forces continue unabated.

🔶️ On Thursday, USS Bataan and USS Carter Hall - two-thirds of the Bataan Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) - transited north through the Suez Canal. They are headed to meet up with the third vessel in their unit, USS Mesa Verde, and will reassemble as a full ARG.

🔶️ So far, the Biden administration has chosen not to use these capabilities (or other U.S. Navy and SOCOM assets) to counter the Houthi threat to merchant shipping. Since the beginning of the Israeli operation in Gaza, Houthi rebels have seized one Israeli-linked merchant ship and launched more than 100 drones and missiles at vessel targets in the Red Sea, including U.S. Navy warships.

🔶️ Saudi Arabia has reportedly urged the White House to refrain from striking Houthi launch sites, for several reasons. The Houthi movement is closely tied to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, and it receives substantial financial and material support from Iran. Attacking Houthi units on the ground could scuttle ceasefire talks between Saudi leaders and Houthi forces, and simultaneously set back Saudi attempts to normalize relations with Iran. The Houthis also have the capability to retaliate by launching missiles at Saudi oil infrastructure, and have done so in the past.

🔶️ USS Bataan and Carter Hall may have a different mission now in the Mediterranean. The carrier USS Gerald R. Ford has had her deployment in the Mediterranean extended twice already in order to maintain deterrence against Iranian-aligned militants in Syria and Lebanon. The reconstituted Bataan ARG might have enough firepower to relieve Ford on station off Israel, allowing allow the carrier to go home at last (as previously planned, noted USNI). The carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, which was originally scheduled to relieve Ford, is needed in the Gulf of Aden to assist in countering the Houthi drone threat.

"Hamas tried to evacuate its people using ambulances through the Rafah crossing, " syas Senior American official

In a press briefing, the official said that the Hamas ploy led to a delay in evacuating the wounded and foreign citizens from the Gaza Strip to Egypt.

A senior official in the White House held a press briefing on the night between Friday and Saturday (Israel time) and said that Hamas tried to smuggle its people into Egypt, which delayed the removal of the foreign citizens and the wounded Palestinians out of Gaza.

According to the source, a third of the group that had to go to Egypt were Hamas terrorists, contrary to the agreement, and "this was not acceptable to the Egyptians, nor to us Americans, nor to Israel," according to him.

According to the source, there is an "intensive process" for the release of the hostages in Gaza and according to him it is a "difficult, complex and time-consuming" process.

The official added that "an active process is taking place in various directions, including indirect involvement to find a framework that will lead to the removal of the abductees from Gaza."

By referring to the "framework", the official referred to the release of Nathalie and Yehudit Ra'anan on October 20 and the intention to check whether it would be possible to see similar actions, but emphasized that the release of all the abductees would be "very difficult".

The senior official also said that a significant lull in the fighting would be required to help free the abductees and added that a "very serious and active" dialogue is taking place on the issue, but they have not yet reached an agreement on the issue.

In response to the speech by the Secretary General of Hezbollah, the official said that he does not intend to comment on the content of the speech, but that the US continues to be in regular contact with the Lebanese government so that the war does not spread to Lebanon, which would be a complete disaster for the country.

#Hezbollah Hassan #Nasrallah delivers speech on Israel-Hamas conflict

People gather at Tahrir square in central Baghdad to listen to Secretary-general of Hezbollah, Hassan Nasrallah. This speech matters because the secretary general of Hezbollah is considered by many to be the single most powerful individual in Lebanon, with as many as 100,000 fighters at his disposal.

Tensions Rise in Israeli-Palestinian Conflict Zone
Updates as of October 27, 2023 - 20:00Z

By evening, rumors began circulating online that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) had launched a ground operation in Gaza Strip. However, the reality is slightly different: the IDF has been conducting ground operations, specifically raids, in the enclave for the past two days with varying degrees of success.

The intensity of IDF airstrikes has significantly increased, and internet and mobile communications have been completely cut off in the enclave. While this may not mark the start of a full-fledged ground operation, the IDF has the option to claim that they haven't even begun if needed. Nonetheless, all the conditions for a ground operation have been set, but only time will tell if it has indeed commenced.

In response, Palestinian groups, including Hamas and its allies, have also become more active. They are launching attacks on Ashkelon, Tel Aviv, and settlements along the Gaza Strip border.

Regarding the raids, the Israelis faced setbacks. In the morning, Israeli special forces attempted to enter the enclave at Magazi and Breij, but were ambushed by the Palestinians. Additionally, Israeli troops landed on the beach near Rafah, engaged with the Palestinians, and were eventually forced to retreat.

Meanwhile, on the Israeli-Lebanese border, Hezbollah and the IDF continue to exchange blows. The IDF is actively burning the undergrowth in southern Lebanon to hinder the movement of their opponents near the borders.

Journalists from Lebanese publication Al Mayadeen also reported an attack on the Israeli Dahlak military base in Eritrea, but did not provide further details.