08/16/2024 伊朗正在寻求与两家中国卫星公司建立合作伙伴关系,以扩大其远程监视和情报收集的能力,可能包括以色列和整个中东军事目标的高分辨率图像。与中国的这项协议可以为伊朗提供增强的弹道导弹瞄准能力以及检测即将发生的袭击的预警系统。伊朗还可能向胡塞叛军、叙利亚和伊拉克民兵等盟友提供卫星情报。伊朗此前曾向这些组织提供从中国购买的卫星图像. (The Jerusalem Post, 08/17/2024)
Why has Iran waited this long to attack Israel for Haniyeh’s death? | What’s Iran’s game plan?
A few stories were summed up here about the development of the Israel-Hamas War and Iran's threat of retaliation:
10/07/2023-today Hamas launched a bloody surprise attack on Israel, killing 1,200 Israelis and taking some 250 more hostages. War between Hamas and Israel began. Israel has responded by razing much of the Palestinian enclave of Gaza that Hamas governs, killing nearly 40,000 people, which does not differentiate Hamas militants from civilians. (UPI News, 08/12/2024)
10/2023-today The United States has been mediating a cease-fire in the war, pushing Israel and Hamas to come to an agreement. Amid worries of an Iran retaliatory attack. Hamas is an Iran proxy militia. (UPI News, 08/12/2024)
06/17/2024 Massive amounts of recently acquired advanced Chinese military equipment and weapons technology were found in Gaza by the Israel Defense Forces. Also, two tunnel engineers from China's People's Liberation Army were discovered by the IDF. (Newsweek, 06/17/2024)
07/25/2024 China hosted reconciliation talks among 14 Palestinian factions, the Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said the agreement was “dedicated to the great reconciliation and unity of all 14 factions.” Wang further said, “an agreement has been reached on post-Gaza war governance and the establishment of a provisional national reconciliation government.” In 1993, a coalition of parties (PLO) that signed a peace treaty with Israel in 1993 and formed a new government in the Palestinian Authority (PA). Hamas is not part of the PLO. (CNN 07/25/2024)
07/31/2024 Ismail Haniyeh, the political leader of Hamas, was assassinated along with his personal bodyguard in the Iranian capital Tehran by an apparent Israeli attack. (The New York Time, 08/01/2024)
08/06/2024 Iranian officials say Russia has begun delivering advanced air defense and radar equipment to Iran. (The Times of Israel, 08/06/2024)
08/11/2024 China's foreign minister, Wang Yi, spoke over the phone with his Iranian counterpart, acting foreign minister Ali Bagheri. He said, "China firmly opposes and strongly condemns the assassination, viewing it as a severe violation of the basic principles of international relations, a serious infringement on Iran's sovereignty, security and dignity and a direct disruption of the Gaza cease-fire negotiations, impacting regional peace and stability." Wang further said that China supports Iran's position of self-defense. (UPI News, 08/12/2024)
08/14/2024 Manila signed a US$114 million contract with Israel's Elbit Systems for acquiring a pair of ATR 72 aircraft adapted for military use. (AEROFLAP, 08/14/2024) China claims nearly all of the South China Sea, overlapping maritime claims of the Philippines and a few other SEA countries. In 2016, a Hague-based tribunal said China’s claims had no legal basis, a decision Beijing has rejected. Tensions exist between China and Philippines. (The Guardian, 07/22/2024)
08/16/2024 Iran is pursuing partnerships with two Chinese satellite companies, as it seeks to expand its capability for remote surveillance and intelligence gathering, potentially including high-resolution images of military targets in Israel and across the Middle East. This deal with China could supply Iran with enhanced targeting capability for its arsenal of ballistic missiles as well as early warning systems to detect impending attacks. Iran might also supply satellite-derived intelligence to allies such as Houthi rebels, Syrian and Iraqi militias. Iran has previously provided such groups with satellite imagery purchased from China. (The Jerusalem Post, 08/17/2024)
Why has Iran waited this long to attack Israel for Haniyeh’s death? | What’s Iran’s game plan?
NATO member Poland paid tribute on August 15, 2024, to its historic 1920 victory over the Red Army by honoring fallen Poles and showing off modern tanks and other equipment that it hopes will deter the threat it sees in modern-day Russia. More than 2,500 Polish troops, joined by dozens of allied soldiers, rode in military vehicles, or flew in fighter jets and helicopters in Warsaw on the Armed Forces Day holiday. Polish Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz wrote a letter to soldiers, stating that the holiday is a reminder of “the most glorious episodes of the Polish army, of the price of independence and freedom.” (AP, 08/15/2024)
Poland’s history is rich and complex. Here’s a concise overview:
Early State: Poland emerged in the late 10th century. The Poles, a West Slavic people, inhabited a land covered by forests. Clans grouped into tribes, and dukes transformed tribal organization into territorial units. Mieszko I, the first ruler of the Polanie tribe, is considered the founder of the Piast dynasty.
Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth: In the 16th century, the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth became Europe’s second-largest state after Russia. It was a powerful entity that spanned vast territories.
Partitions and Independence: However, Poland faced challenges. During the Partitions of Poland (1772–1918), it disappeared from the map, divided among Russia, Prussia, and Austria. It regained independence in 1918 but suffered during two world wars.
Holocaust and Soviet Rule: Tragically, Poland’s historically strong Jewish population was nearly annihilated during the Holocaust. After World War II, Poland became a Soviet satellite state.
Solidarity and Democracy: Labor turmoil in 1980 led to the formation of the independent trade union Solidarity, which played a crucial role in Poland’s transition to democracy in 1989.
Polish Armed Forces Day: Poland demonstrates power | German News 15.08.2024