Two Iranian generals are killed. Tehran threatens retaliation. Israel probably wants a huge arms package from the USA. More information in the news blog.
The most important things at a glance
Hamas: Israeli airstrike kills five NGO workers
1:06 a.m.: The Hamas government media office reports the deaths of charity workers following an Israeli airstrike. As a result, at least five employees of the organization “World Central Kitchen” are said to have been killed in Deir al-Balah in the center of the Gaza Strip. According to a spokesman for the Hamas government, those killed included people from Poland, Australia and a British citizen. A Palestinian also died. The Israeli military and the World Central Kitchen organization have not yet commented on the incident.
Insider: USA is considering billions in military aid for Israel
0.40 a.m.: According to insiders, the government of US President Joe Biden is considering releasing an $18 billion arms package for Israel. The package included F-15 aircraft and ammunition, among other items, three people familiar with the matter said. A sale of 25 F-15 jets from Boeing to Israel has been under consideration since an Israeli request in January 2023, one of the insiders said.
USA: Meeting with Israel on planned Rafah offensive
12:10 a.m.: Representatives of the US government and the Israeli leadership are expected to meet next week to discuss Israel’s planned ground offensive in the city of Rafah in the Gaza Strip. After a video link with representatives from both sides, the White House released a joint statement on Monday promising a face-to-face meeting next week. Further details initially remained open.
High-ranking representatives of both governments discussed Israel’s planned ground offensive in Rafah via video conference. The statement said the conversation lasted two hours and was constructive. The US side included National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan and Secretary of State Antony Blinken. The Israeli side included National Security Advisor Zachi Hanegbi and Minister for Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer.
The statement said both sides shared the goal of defeating the Islamist Hamas in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip. “The US side expressed concerns about various approaches in Rafah.” The Israeli side, in turn, has agreed to take these concerns into account and to hold further discussions.
Activists: Attempted attack on US troops in Syria
0 a.m.: According to activists, pro-Iranian militias from Iraq attempted to attack US troops in southeastern Syria with a drone late Monday evening. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported the drone was shot down by US troops. Initially, no group claimed responsibility for the attack on the Al-Tanf military base used by US troops near the Jordanian and Iraqi borders. It remained unclear whether there was any damage or injuries. The US military did not initially comment on the incident.
According to information from Tehran, two generals of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) were previously killed on Monday afternoon in a suspected Israeli air strike in the Syrian capital Damascus. Five other IRGC members were also killed. Iran blames Israel for the deadly attack on the consular section of the Iranian embassy in Damascus.
USA: Weapons deliveries to Israel sometimes take a long time
11:35 p.m.: Faced with calls for restrictions on American arms sales to Israel, the US State Department has emphasized that these are very long-term in nature. Arms deliveries to the country sometimes take several years, said ministry spokesman Matthew Miller on Monday in Washington. He was responding to the question of why the US government recently decided to approve new arms deliveries to Israel despite criticism of Israel’s military actions in the Gaza war. Miller evaded the specific question and instead referred to the decades-long security partnership with the State of Israel.
The country is surrounded by actors who are bent on its destruction, not only Hamas, but also Iran and its proxies, such as the Lebanese Hezbollah militia. “We believe that Israel has every right to defend itself against these opponents.” That’s why there are billions of dollars in aid from the USA every year. Not all of the aid is always accessed in one year. The Israeli government is requesting certain weapons. The US government then decides whether this is appropriate and informs Congress of any possible deals. Sometimes it takes years for the requests to actually be fulfilled, Miller said. Such requests were made before and after the attack by the terrorist organization Hamas on October 7th.