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Washington Post says Tehran hoping to increase US casualties, working with Russia to try and drive American forces out of the region
The Times of Israel is liveblogging Thursday’s events as they happen.
Intel leak shows Iran arming Syria groups with roadside bombs to target US forces
Iranian advisers are in Syria arming terror groups there with powerful roadside bombs to step up attacks on US forces there, the Washington Post reports.
The report, citing leaked documents and intelligence officials, say this is part of a move by Iran, in cooperation with Russia, to try to drive the US from the region.
The report says elite Quds Force unit members are equipping and training local groups with “powerful armor-piercing roadside bombs intended specifically to target US military vehicles and kill US personnel.”
The report says groups have already tried unsuccessfully to carry out such attacks, including in February when US-allied Kurdish fighters in northeastern Syria seized three bombs.
OECD warns Israel facing doctor shortage
Israel could soon face a shortage of doctors, says a report released today by the 38-member Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
The report says shortages could be faced as early as 2025 and points out that the country does not have a proper system in place to manage manpower in the medical profession.
“There is a need to move away from crisis management mode to establish a more permanent governance structure,” the report says.
It also calls on Israel to increase the number of medical students and accredit an additional new medical school.
Anti-government protester confronts Minister Akunis at LA swimming pool
An anti-government protester confronts Science and Technology Minister Ofir Akunis as he eats a meal by the swimming pool of a Los Angeles hotel.
In a video posted to social media, the activist shouts at Akunis, “It is still an embarrassment” as security guards try to keep him away.
“You stole, you lied, we will not leave you alone,” he shouts.
Switching to English, he calls on Americans eating with Akunis to “educate yourselves.”
“This is not a chichi event, we are about to lose the country.”
Akunis pulled out of a Los Angeles event yesterday amid a protest at the venue against the government’s contentious planned judicial overhaul.
הפתעה לאופיר אקוניס בלוס אנג׳לס בבריכה.
חובה לרדוף את פושעי ההפיכה ועוזריהם בכל מקום! ???? pic.twitter.com/9KZvHIpEIH
— קומי ישראל ????????????️???????? (@kumiiisrael) June 1, 2023
Police open fire on suspicious motorcyclist in Ramat Gan
Police in the central city of Ramat Gan say that forces opened fire on a suspicious motorcyclist after he refused to stop for a check.
Police say the rider tried to get away at high speed and officers, who were endangered, opened fire at the bike’s wheels but missed.
During the attempt to flee, the motorcycle hit a bystander, moderately wounding him.
Police are carrying out searches for the motorcyclist.
New commander appointed to IDF commando brigade
Col. Omer Cohen takes command of the military’s Oz Brigade, also known as the Commando Brigade, replacing Col. Meni Liberati, who held the position since August 2021.
The brigade brings four of the army’s elite units — Egoz, Rimon, Maglan and Duvdevan — under one roof, with the goal of cutting away inefficiencies and allowing for greater cooperation. It was formed in 2015 under the Central Command’s 98th Division.
During a ceremony at the army’s Beit Lid base east of Netanya, 98th Division Commander Brig. Gen. Dan Goldfus lauds Liberati for his work as the unit’s leader during the past two years.
“Meni, you are completing two years commanding [the unit], in which you impeccably and inspiringly led an unprecedented number of operational activities with exceptional quality. You dealt with difficult incidents — operational and non-operational — with dignity, with extraordinary self-criticism, you knew how to embrace, strengthen, raise your head, be devoted, and lead everyone forward,” Goldfus says.
The “difficult non-operational incident” Goldfus was likely referring to was a deadly case of friendly fire in the Egoz unit in January 2022.
Liberati will be taking a break from military service for academic studies.
Cohen, the new commander, previously led the Duvdevan unit.
Two Palestinians indicted for infiltrating from Gaza
Two Palestinian men from the Gaza Strip who attempted to infiltrate into Israel in late April have been indicted.
One of the men, Baha Abu Dahr, 31, is also accused of being a member of the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (DFLP) terror group.
According to the indictment, on April 30, Abu Dahr and his neighbor from the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis, Yasser Abu Madif, arrived at the border with bolt cutters and a Palestinian flag.
The pair cut through the first fence, before being detained by Israeli troops in the buffer zone.
The indictment said Abu Dahr joined the DFLP in 2007, and until 2014 was involved in guard duties in the event of an Israeli incursion. Between 2012 and the date of his arrest, Abu Dahr would observe Israeli military activity on the border and report his findings to DFLP commanders, the indictment read.
Abu Dahr is charged with membership in a terror group, weapons offenses, providing information to the enemy, infiltration, and damaging property.
Abu Madif is only charged with infiltration and damaging property.
Palestinians in the Gaza Strip frequently attempt to illegally enter Israeli territory, often with hopes of fleeing the beleaguered enclave.
Russia says it thwarted a Ukrainian ‘invasion’ attempt
Russia says it had used jets and artillery to thwart an attempt by Ukrainian troops to “invade” its southwestern Belgorod region.
“At about 3:00 am (0000 GMT), Ukrainian units comprising up to two motorized infantry companies, reinforced with tanks, attempted to invade,” the Russian defense ministry says.
Moscow used jets and artillery to repel the attacks and prevent Ukrainian troops from crossing over into Russia, the ministry adds.
