Special to WorldTribune.com JERUSALEM — Israel, preparing for an imminent regional war, has decided to extend the term of its military chief. The government has recommended the extension of the term of Israeli Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Benny Gantz. Under the proposal, Gantz would serve an extra year and head the military through 2014. […]
Special to WorldTribune.com TEL AVIV — Israel’s military has closed an international airport amid fear of a major rocket strike from Egypt. The military ordered the temporary shutdown of Eilat International Airport, a leading tourist destination. On Aug. 8, the airport was closed for two hours amid the threat of rocket attacks from Egypt’s Sinai […]
Special to WorldTribune.com TEL AVIV — Israel’s military, in what has been termed a drastic step, has canceled reserve operations for 2013. Officials said the order by Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Benny Gantz came in wake of what was termed deep cuts in the military budget over the next 18 months. The officials said […]
Special to WorldTribune.com TEL AVIV — Israel Air Force commander Maj. Gen. Amir Eshel issued one of the starkest warnings of an imminent war that could include Hizbullah and Syria. In an address to a combat air conference, Eshel said Israel, already engaged in a shooting war with Syria, faces a range of low- and […]
Special to WorldTribune.com NICOSIA — Israel and Syria have been engaged in an increasingly bitter border war. Western diplomatic sources said Israeli and Syrian forces were battling on a nearly daily basis along the Golan Heights. They said the fighting often began with Syrian Army or proxy attacks on Israel Army outposts and vehicles. “At […]
Special to WorldTribune.com TEL AVIV — The Israel Army has been enhancing its security barrier along the Golan Heights. Military sources said the Army has been installing advanced systems along the Syrian frontier of the Golan Heights. They said the systems were meant to track people and vehicles at least five kilometers into Syria. “This […]
Special to WorldTribune.com Geostrategy-Direct.com WASHINGTON — The U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff has reported differences with Israel in the interpretation of intelligence on Iran’s nuclear program. Officials said the U.S. intelligence community regarded the latest information as supporting Washington’s position that Teheran could still be swayed by economic sanctions while Israel concluded that Iran was […]
Special to WorldTribune.com TEL AVIV — In a major policy reversal, the Israeli military has agreed to recruit thousands of Orthodox Jews in separate units in a bid to increase combat manpower. Military sources said Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Benny Gantz approved a plan to recruit thousands of so-called Haredim, or highly devout Jews, […]
Special to WorldTribune.com TEL AVIV — Israel’s military has been concerned over the prospect of an Al Qaida takeover of Syria. The military’s Northern Command has been drafting contingency plans for the collapse of the regime of Syrian President Bashar Assad. Officials said the plans were based on the assessment that Assad’s ouster would result […]
Special to WorldTribune.com TEL AVIV — Israel’s military, preparing for war with Iran, has been threatened by unrest from the huge reserve forces. Military sources acknowledged that combat reservists were expressing increasing bitterness over the lack of government support. They said the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly withdrawn from pledges to bolster […]