The sad news released last night was that 4 hostages were killed while held by Hamas, apparently by Israeli strikes that killed a Hamas division commander. Hamas may not have dropped the bomb, but I see them as entirely responsible; first, because the hostages should have been released over 3 months ago, and second, because they used the hostages as ‘human shields’ to avoid Israeli attacks.
The “exchange’ that Qatar worked out with Hamas was to provide need medications for hostages in Hamas custody. The details include providing Hamas with 1000 cartons of medications for each one that will go to the hostages. This is one more example of how Hamas gets others to foot the bills for their violations. International law says that the captors are solely responsible for the health and welfare of their prisoners. If they cannot do so, them they ought to release them (as they should have done, long ago).
The US Navy reported that 2 SEALS were lost during an operation to intercept an arms shipment bound to Yemen from Iran. Sorry that they were killed. Glad the munitions didn’t get through.
Iran and Pakistan are facing off because of an Iranian attack on a reported ‘terrorist’ installation in Pakistani territory. Diplomatic ties have been cut between the two countries (ambassadors expelled or recalled). The Pakistani army has sent additional troops to the Iranian border. Pakistani warships had already been sent to sea because of the Houthi attacks on shipping. Watch for the media to trot out the “wider war” scare. It really is something to fear in this case. Pakistan already has nuclear weapons, and Iran has been said to be only about a week away from having all the components needed for making one. Iran might even try to use this as an excuse for proceeding with their project. A similar idea of having a potential adversary who also already had nuclear weapons resulted in India building one to offset China, and Pakistan building hers to offset India.
Wetherhorn 