Iran Unveils "Missile City"; Threatens Israel Over Ship Blast | Watchman Newscast

March 15, 2021 | Watchman Newscast, host Erick Stakelbeck breaks down important recent developments in the Middle East, including: 1) Iran says it has "the right to retaliate" to an explosion last week aboard one of its cargo ships in the Mediterranean--the latest volley in the "Tanker Wars" between Israel and Iran. 2) Israel unveils a groundbreaking new mortar called "Iron Sting" that has incredible accuracy. 3) An Israeli Major General says Hezbollah will hit Israel with 2,000 missiles and rockets per day in the next war. 4) Iran just released footage of an underground "missile city" that showed rows of cruise and ballistic missiles and "electronic warfare" equipment.  #Israel​ #Iran​ #IronSting 

ERICK STAKELBECK: Today on the newscast, "The Tanker Wars" continue as Iran blames Israel for yet another explosion at sea, and vows to retaliate, plus, Iran unveils a new missile city, while Israel debuts a groundbreaking new weapon. The Middle East never sleeps get all the breaking news.  

Hey folks, Erick Stakelbeck here, welcome to 'The Watchman Newscast". Yet  another  very busy weekend in the Middle East. We have an update for you on, "The Tanker Wars", the ongoing sabotage at sea between Israel and Iran. Today, on March 15th,  an Iranian official said, that Iran has the right to respond to the latest in this series of explosions aboard cargo ships, this one came last week, aboard an Iranian cargo ship, in the Mediterranean Sea. There was no major damage caused, but there was an explosion aboard this Iranian ship, and now the Iranian regime says they have the right to respond.

Now a little bit of background here folks, on Friday, March 12th, newscast, we told you about a wall street journal report last week, saying that, Israel has targeted at least 12 Iranian vessels at sea over the past two years. Now, these Iranian ships were reportedly carrying oil and weapons to Iran's close ally, Syria, and the Assad regime.  Israel's concern is that not only will the weapons be used by terror organizations like Hezbollah to target Israelis, but also that the profits from the oil will go to fund terrorist acts and terrorist organizations.  So, Israel reportedly has taken action using mines to harm these Iranian vessels. None of them has been sunk, there have been no casualties. At least two of the Iranian ships have had to turn back and head to Iran, but Israel clearly sending a message, and yet another  reportedly explosion in the Mediterranean last week. Now Iran is calling for retaliation, the thing is you could say, that Iran has already retaliated in a sense.

We've told you, here in the newscast, about the "MV Helios Ray", that's the Israeli-owned cargo ship, that was struck by what the Israelis believe was an Iranian mine just last month on February, 25th, in the gulf of Oman, so this is going back and forth. Now the war at sea, the shadow war at sea, you could call it, "The Tanker War". Many of these Iranian vessels were apparently carrying oil, but this continues now. Iran is vowing retaliation, it's a bit of a new front, I guess you would say, the front at sea between Israel and Iran, and now, cargo ships being targeted on a regular basis. We will continue to keep an eye on this for you. 

In the meantime Israel unveils a what they're calling, a groundbreaking new weapon this weekend it is called, "Iron Sting", not to be confused with Iron Dome, The anti-missile defense system. "Iron Sting" is a mortar, and the Israel Defense Forces say, it is groundbreaking, because of its accuracy it can be used in urban warfare and limit the amount of civilian casualties.

Remember, Hamas and Hezbollah, they're all about urban warfare, fighting in close quarters in urban areas among civilians. They do it intentionally to all the pro-Hamas and Hezbollah commenters out there who praise them as freedom fighters. These are people who intentionally use women and children as human shields.  Israel has very strict rules of engagement many times they will turn back,  they do not want to harm civilians. Hamas and Hezbollah don't care about human life, so they have no hesitation in putting women and children in front of them, and seeing them dead. That's who they are folks they are terrorists, they are not freedom fighters.

You know, I'll never forget being on the Lebanon border a few years ago. I've been there many times, but on the Israel-Lebanon border, and that's where Hezbollah lives and breathes, right there in southern Lebanon along Israel's northern border. It's a beautiful countryside there, it truly is, but you wouldn't know what's lurking beneath in those homes in southern Lebanon. I was with a former Israeli intelligence analyst who agreed, he said, "It looks beautiful right,  but inside those homes are Hezbollah fighters, who have literally taken over those civilian homes, and store weapons, rocket missiles, in those homes, in southern Lebanon. So that's what Israel is dealing with, and because they have such strict rules of engagement, and because they actually have regard for human life, they are developing weapons that will severely limit and reduce any possibility of civilian  casualties.

Iran on the other hand, and Hezbollah on the other hand again, no hesitation in killing civilians an Israeli major general said just today at a conference in Israel today Monday March 15th, that in the next conflict with Hezbollah here on the newscast we've called the great northern war the coming great northern war in that conflict Hezbollah Iran's most lethal proxy based in southern Lebanon from that base will be able to target Israel with some 2,000 rockets and missiles per day in the next conflict.

Now, folks rewind to the 2006 war between Israel and Hezbollah. Hezbollah did have that volume of rockets and missiles launched at Israel on a daily basis, many probably hundreds per day, that was enough to essentially shut down a large area of northern Israel. Israelis were living in bomb shelters for weeks, great cities like, Qiryat Shemona in northern Israel. Israelis were driven underground into bomb shelters because of this constant barrage of Hezbollah rockets raining down. Well at this time around obviously since 2006, Hezbollah has more than replenished that rocket and missile stockpile. According to most estimates, at least 150,000 rockets and missiles pointed at every inch of Israel, so this time around 2,000 per day. This major general heads up the Israeli home front command this is their main task to defend the home front and to prepare for future conflicts like this.

Again, folks, this is coming, these missiles and rockets from Hezbollah, will intentionally, target Israeli civilians, they have no rules of engagement to terrorist organizations, so that is coming. It will put Israel against Hezbollah, and the Iranian Regime to the north in southern Lebanon, and in Syria. It's a question not of if, but when. No one wants to see it come, but we are realistic the Israelis Israeli officials, that I've interviewed are certainly realistic about this. That day of reckoning is coming to Israel's north with Hezbollah and the Iranian Regime.

In the meantime, along those lines, Iran, also again a busy few days right. Today, Monday, March 15th, big news, coming out today, out of the Middle East. Iran unveiled a "Missile City", featuring, basically the footage released by the Iranian revolutionary guards corps, which is the elite vanguard of the Iranian Regime. Right now, they control the nuclear weapons program that finances much of the weaponry the missile program. I compare them to the Gestapo under the Nazi Regime, but perhaps even more influential is the Iranian revolutionary guards corps.  They unveiled this, "Missile City", featuring those on the footage, they released of missiles cruise missiles rockets tools for what they say are is electronic warfare as well.

This is not a novelty folks, Iran over the past, probably the past six or seven months, has released several videos showing what they call, "Missile Cities". Now, apparently these are underground "Missile Cities", and many of them reportedly dot Iran's Persian Gulf coastline.

Now folks, if you think none of this matters, the middle east is thousands of miles away from where you live, it does not affect you. Think again, because what happens in the Middle East does not stay in the Middle East. Events unfolding in that region, right now, will profoundly affect all of us, no matter where we live. Look no further than a story we reported last week here on the newscast. The Houthi rebels in Yemen Iran backed of course, targeting Saudi oil facilities. 

Now, you take some of those Saudi oil facilities offline you will have a major, major increase in gas prices. In the United States where I live, and really around the world, it will have a profound impact on the "Global Economy".  Remember, we are all interconnected, right now, to the economically across the globe for better or for worse, and such an attack can have a major, major, ripple effect, around the world. 

So, we need to be concerned about this, you know the Bible says, my people perish for lack of knowledge, that's why we do what we do here at "The Watchmen Newscast", we try to be watchmen on the wall for you for such a time as this, and we really truly appreciate you tuning in every day  Monday through Friday.

We will continue to lift Israel up in our prayers, but before I leave, be encouraged. I know we're talking about wars and rumors of wars, and  that's what the gospel of Matthew talked about, in these days that we are living, but God Almighty still sits on the throne.  I say it every single day here on the newscast,  but I just want to remind you God is on the Throne, he's covering his people, and He will cover His land, the land of Israel, because He neither slumbers, nor sleeps. Be encouraged, stay true to the Lord, keep praying for the peace of Jerusalem, and I'm praying for all of you, and I appreciate all of you here at "The Watchman Newscast". So, until tomorrow "God Bless You" and remember "Never Hold Your Peace".  

Israel Targets Iranian Ships Funneling Arms and Oil to Syria | Watchman Newscast

March 12, 2021 | On today's Watchman Newscast, host Erick Stakelbeck breaks down reports that Israel has used mines to target at least 12 Iranian vessels at sea since 2019. The Iranian ships were reportedly in route to Syria to deliver oil and weapons. Israel believes that profits from oil sales could go to fund Iran's terror proxies around the region. Iran, likewise, recently targeted an Israeli cargo ship in the Gulf of Oman. The latest revelations show that the covert war between Israel and Iran that continues to intensify--and in a new arena, at sea.

#Israel​ #Iran​ #Syria 

Today, on the newscast a big story, and a new front in the "Shadow War" between Israel and Iran. As Israel reportedly strikes Iranian vessels at sea. What were these Iranian ships carrying and why did Israel feel the need to act. Get all the breaking details coming up.

Hey folks, Erick Stackelbeck here, Welcome to the "Watchman Newscast'' once again. The Behind-the-Scenes Covert War, between Israel and Iran, is coming out into the open. Last night, Thursday, March 11th, the Wall Street Journal published an explosive report detailing how Israel over the past two years has bombed at least 12 Iranian vessels at sea. 

Now, some background here, these Iranian vessels were bound for both Iran and Syria. Obviously close allies and both mortal enemies of Israel. These ships were according to the Wall Street Journal, and according to U.S., and Regional Officials, that's who gave this information to the journal. These ships were reportedly carrying oil in most cases, but also weapons shipments to the Assad regime and various Iranian-aligned terror factions inside Syria.

Now, Israeli officials are not commenting on this Wall Street Journal report, and they will not comment on this report. But, folks it seems very, very likely that this did indeed go down. Israel used mines to apparently halt these ships as they were making their way to Syria in the Red Sea Region, and in other areas in the region. 

These ships were targeted, Iranian vessels again, and at least 12 of them  according to this explosive, no pun intended, report in the Wall Street Journal yesterday using mines, and stopping that flow of illegal oil coming from Iran to Syria, folks. Illegal in two ways, number one, the Iranian regime is looking to Skirt Sanctions. U.S. Sanctions, that were enforced by the Trump administration, and the Biden White House has yet to lift. They say, they're not going to lift, but I fear that, yes, they will lift them. We're keeping a close eye on that.

So, but, Iran has been trying to get around those U.S. Sanctions, which have really crippled the Iranian economy. They're selling oil to various Rogue Regimes around the World, and one of their destinations has been their good buddies in Syria, that's number one. Number two, Syria, is getting around International Sanctions against their Regime, so it's illegal on two levels for Iran to be bringing this oil into Syria, that's number one.

Number two, Israeli Officials believe that this "Oil Revenue" can be used to fund Terror organizations, Iran's Proxies. Look, Hezbollah, obviously chief among them, and various Radical Shia Militias in Iraq and Syria, of course Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad in Gaza. What about the Houthis in Yemen, the entire Gamut of Iran's Terror Proxies can be funded through Oil profits.

Now, who knows the range of weapons that Iran has been trying to transit on the way to Syria. Obviously, Iran and Hezbollah are entrenched in Syria and they are trying to set up the base from which they can strike Israel on a regular basis. So we don't know what kind of weapons were on these ships, but folks, one thing stands out to me, "Precision Guided Munitions", PGM'S for short. We've talked about them here in the newscast many times, and what a concern they are for Israel. Precision Guided Munitions or Missiles do exactly what their name implies,  they give greater accuracy to missiles, so you're going to hit your target.

Iran has been desperately, trying to equip Hezbollah, in particular, with these PGM's. So that Hezbollah is not just really without a specific destination,  and that's dangerous enough, by the way, just firing them into an area. They have a pretty good chance of causing a great deal of carnage, and they have in the past.  But, Precision Guided Munitions, you will hit your target with precision. So Iran has been trying to send PGM parts to Hezbollah that Hezbollah can then assemble once they arrive so Israel stopping the oil and the weapons.

None of these Iranian ships have been sunk a few of them had to turn back at least two of them had to turn back to Iran after the bombs, or the mines went off, but none of them sunk and no casualties reportedly. This has been going on for quite a while now think back to the summer of 2020, last summer, where there was a series of explosions inside Iran, targeting Iran's nuclear weapons facilities, and its Ballistic Missile Factories.

Now this went on for weeks in June and July of 2020, a "Sabotage Campaign", and you could say, that this what's happening at Sea has been an extension of that "Sabotage Campaign" beyond Iran's borders. Again, it's been going on since 2019, so it's been happening for a while. But, that Sabotage Campaign was serious last summer, and then Natanz Nuclear Facility was also hit and severely damaged. 

That's a key facility for Iran's nuclear program now obviously Israel never claimed responsibility for any of this sabotage nor will they claim responsibility for the Iranian ships that have been hit at sea over the past two years. But, you can bet,  that Israel was heavily involved in this sabotage campaign against Iran's  Nuclear and Ballistic Missile Programs last summer. And of course the  assassination the takeout of Iran's nuclear weapons mastermind, the Iranian scientist, Mohsin Proxlisaty, back in late November. So folks, this has been going on for a while now. So, this report in the Wall Street Journal, while a big deal, was really no surprise, we've seen this, Covert War, happening for some time on both sides. 

That brings me to the second point to remember here, hey, in the past few weeks we've talked about it here on the Watchman Newscast. Of two instances in particular that I'm thinking of. Number one, a few weeks back, late February, actually, two weeks ago today, the MV Helios Ray. It's an Israeli-owned Cargo Ship which was struck with a mine in the Gulf of Oman, as it traveled it was leaving the Middle East, going from Saudi Arabia to Singapore. 

Again, it's a Cargo Ship it was carrying cars apparently bound for Singapore, and it has not stopped, because an explosion occurred on this Israeli Cargo Ship forming four large holes in the ship. The Israelis say, Look, Iran was behind this, so this is not a one-sided type thing. Don't get that idea please, Iran has been  carrying out plenty of Covert Activities against Israel as well.

And that's not even mentioning Iran's Proxies how they've employed Hamas,  Palestinian, Islamic, Jihad, Hezbollah, Shia Militias against Israel for years in what hasn't been too shadowy at all it's been very out front when these Terror  Organizations with prodding from the Iranian regime are firing rockets at Israel on a regular basis, so this has two sides to it. Some of our commentators sometimes say. Look at the big bully Israel picking on Iran folks, it couldn't be further from the truth. Israel is preemptively and defensively acting to protect its Citizens.

So we had the Helios Ray incident, and then we reported on the newscast last week about, this very strange incident to say the least of tons, and tons, hundreds of tons, of sticky black tar washing up a massive oil spill washing up on Israel's  Mediterranean Shore. Israel had to shut all of its Beaches for a time and now a massive cleanup effort even involving the Israel Defense Forces.  Israel was trying to locate, and pinpoint, the source of this Oil Spill and they did. Guess what? It was a ship that had docked in Iran, off the coast of Iran, traveled from Iran to Syria, and then from Syria on its way back to Iran. But, it made a Pit Stop off the Coast of Israel and for two days reportedly dumped oil off the coast of Israel.

An Iranian Ship Dumping Oil Off the Coast of Israel, doesn't seem like a coincidence to me. Israel's Environmental Minister said, "This was Iranian  Environmental Terror", but on the other hand, there's been a lot of back and forth, and there's been no definitive conclusion. Here the key point to make Israel's Defense Minister says, Hey, We don't know if this was Intentional. So, there's been some back and forth, was it an Intentional Act, was it not? And now that we have this report emerging in the, Wall Street Journal, perhaps Israel was mum about this Oil Spill at Sea for a good reason. But, we at the "Watchman News Cast" are keeping a very close eye on this for you folks.

Again, the Middle East is a "Tinderbox" and any incident seemingly small,  or large could set off a Broader Regional War. I hate to say that, but I do not  exaggerate,  it is a fact. We will continue to lift Israel up in our prayers and we know that the God of Israel neither slumbers nor sleeps, and that He is still on the Throne. So we will continue to be encouraged, and have peace about this situation. 

But , here at the "Watchman Newscast", this is why we do what we do. We want to bring you "Frontline Reports" of what's really going on in the World's most Pivotal and Chaotic Region and how it affects you no matter where you live. So, thanks so much for joining us here every day, Monday through Friday, and until next time, God Bless You, and remember, "Never Hold Your Peace". 

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