THE SITUATION:   It's late Thursday, and the key things to look for now, in the Israel/Hamas war, are these:  First, the start of the Israeli ground campaign into Gaza.  The campaign was signaled today when the Israeli defense minister told his troops that they would soon see Gaza from the inside.

Two, the possibility of a second front, which would complicate all plans.  Rocket fire from Lebanon into northern Israel has increased each day for the last two weeks.  The rockets are fired by Hezbollah, a notorious terror organization run by Iran.  Should open war break out between the Hezzies and the Israelis, it could destroy the Lebanese economy and turn the country into a basket case.

Three, and critical to Americans, is the possible involvement of the United States in the fighting.  Just today an American destroyer, the USS Carney, operating in the northern Red Sea, shot down several missiles and drones that were possibly headed for Israel.  From ABC:

The USS Carney, a U.S. Navy guided-missile destroyer in the northern Red Sea, on Thursday shot down multiple missiles and drones launched by Iranian-backed Houthis in Yemen that the Pentagon said were potentially headed toward targets in Israel.

It is the first time in recent memory that a U.S. Navy ship in the Middle East has engaged missiles and drones that were not directly aimed at the vessel.

It's also the first U.S. military action taken to defend Israel in the current crisis and with the U.S. and other countries trying to contain the conflict between Israel and Hamas, the possibility that an Iranian-backed proxy group fired missiles and drones at Israel is sure to increase growing regional tensions.

The ship was in the northern Red Sea on Thursday evening local time when it intercepted three land attack cruise missiles and several drones, Pentagon spokesman Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder said at a press briefing. U.S. officials told ABC News that the Carney had brought down eight drones launched by the Houthis. 

COMMENT:  We will have an active weekend.  If there is another incident regarding the American armed forces, a true crisis involving this country could erupt.  Please note the piece just below, reflecting a similar incident earlier this week.  Not a coincidence, I assume.

October 19, 2023