Capt.(Dr.) S G Naravane on LinkedIn: The Next Israel-Iran Fight Could Be in Cyberspace (2024)

The Iranian-Israeli Cold War is Turning HotIsrael and the United States cannot afford to dismiss Iran’s escalatory strike on Saturday as a mere demonstration.by Ilan BermanAPRIL 16, 2024

Tehran’s Retaliation LogicThe primary objective of Iran’s April 13 strike could have been to restore what they perceive as deterrence with Israel rather than initiate further escalation.by Arman MahmoudianAPRIL 16, 2024

Beijing Walks a Fine Line in the Middle EastIran’s attack on Israel has undermined some of China’s diplomatic credibility in the region.By James PalmerAPRIL 16, 2024

https://lnkd.in/dyJs7kpKPro-Palestinian protests across U.S. could foreshadow a summer of upheavalRecent demonstrations pose a challenge for President Biden and have sparked debate over whether some activists’ tactics might undermine public support for their movement.By Tim CraigAPR 16 2024

Israel, Iran Seek Deterrence but Risk EscalationEach country wants to avoid looking weak, and that is raising the risk of a regional warBy Dov Lieber and Summer SaidUpdated April 16, 2024 4:04 pm ETTEL AVIV—Israel’s military has long followed a clear policy: When enemies strike, hit back so hard they won’t do it again. That deterrence is no longer working.Iran, after launching a massive missile-and-drone attack on Israel over the weekend, is threatening to strike again if Israel retaliates. Lebanese militia Hezbollah fires at Israeli forces almost every day despite frequent poundings by Israel. And Hamas continues to launch rockets at Israel even after being bludgeoned following its Oct. 7 attacks, which killed 1,200 people, according to Israeli officials.

Israel Has No Choice but to Strike Back Against IranThose urging restraint after Tehran’s attack are following the same failed strategy that produced catastrophe on Oct. 7.By Elliot KaufmanApril 16, 2024 12:55 pm ETWhat if the Oct. 7 invasion had been “intercepted”? Imagine the same Hamas attack but better Israeli defense, with more than 90% of the terrorists stopped before the border or shortly thereafter, and only minor Israeli casualties. President Biden would probably have done then what he is doing now, in the aftermath of Iran’s intercepted attack: urge Israel not to respond in any serious way. Let Hamas live to try it again.To learn the lessons of Oct. 7 is to reject that advice after the long night of April 13. Israel will respond to Iran, it announced Monday. It has learned the hard way that air defenses don’t relieve you of the duty to subdue a determined attacker. Hamas’s intent to slaughter Israelis was hardly a secret, but Israel allowed it to survive and grow stronger because its rockets could be intercepted.

Biden Winks at Iranian Oil ExportsWill he support House sanctions on Chinese firms that buy Iran’s oil?By The Editorial BoardApril 16, 2024 5:36 pm ETTreasury Secretary Janet Yellen said Tuesday that “all options” are on the table to disrupt Iran’s terror financing. Great, and we hope this means the Administration will welcome the 383-11 vote in the House Monday to expand sanctions against Chinese financial institutions that buy Iranian oil.It's no secret the White House has been reluctant to stiffen sanctions against Iranian oil lest prices rise before the November election. The Administration has looked the other way as Chinese “teapot” refineries have imported an increasing amount of Iranian crude at a discount.Iran’s oil production plunged after the Trump Administration withdrew from the 2015 nuclear deal and imposed its “maximum pressure” campaign. But during President Biden’s attempted rapprochement, Iranian crude exports have climbed by about a million barrels a day. That’s about as much as U.S. crude exports have increased under Mr. Biden.China accounts for nearly all of Iran’s 1.6 million barrels a day in exports, providing Tehran with $35 billion to $45 billion a year to finance attacks on Israel and its network of terrorist proxies. This blood money also supports Iran’s production of drones, which Russia uses to attack Ukraine. China is a linchpin in this axis of terror, which it hasn’t tried to disguise.

USC Cancels Valedictorian’s Commencement Speech Over Safety ConcernsAsna Tabassum, a Muslim student, was criticized for online activity; university says debate over valedictorian ‘has taken on an alarming tenor’By Nicholas Hatcher and Tali ArbelUpdated April 16, 2024 5:17 pm ETThe University of Southern California canceled the commencement speech of its valedictorian, a Muslim student, citing what it described as security concerns amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.In a letter published Monday to the USC community, Provost Andrew Guzman said discussion over the selection of the school’s valedictorian “has taken on an alarming tenor” in recent days. Asna Tabassum, USC’s 2024 valedictorian, was slated to deliver a speech at the university’s 141st commencement ceremony on May 10.

Musk’s Starlink Cracks Down on Growing Black MarketUsers who access the satellite internet service in Sudan, Zimbabwe and South Africa, where it hasn’t been authorized, receive notice they will be disconnectedBy Nicholas Bariyo in Kampala, Uganda,Gabriele Steinhauser and Alexandra Wexler in Johannesburg and Micah Maidenberg in WashingtonUpdated April 16, 2024 3:12 pm ETElon Musk’s SpaceX has begun a crackdown on users who are connecting to its Starlink high-speed internet service from countries where it hasn’t been authorized—taking steps to close an expanding black market for the company’s satellite kits highlighted by a recent Wall Street Journal investigation.Starlink customers in Sudan, Zimbabwe and South Africa have received email notifications from the company in recent days, warning that their access to the service would be terminated by the end of the month. The emails, viewed by the Journal, noted that using Starlink in areas where it hasn’t been approved by local regulators was against the company’s terms of service.