US Proxy Wars: Israel Gears Up for Gaza Incursion as Initiative Passes to Russia in Ukraine

Update on the conflict in Ukraine + Middle East for October 17, 2023

– Russia continues overturning what negligible gains Ukraine made during its over 4 month-long offensive in Zaporozhye;

– Russian operations in Avdeevka continue, however no major “offensive” has been announced by Russian military or political leaders;

– Attempts by Russia to exploit possible opportunities along the line of contact are measured, with limitations identified by Russian commanders in stark contrast to Ukraine’s stand-and-fight approach;

– In the Middle East, fighting continues between Israel and Hezbollah in southern Lebanon as Israeli military operations continue to target Gaza;

– Israel has taken action to compel Palestinians to evacuate from northern parts of Gaza in what is likely an attempt to seize the territory and prevent a future return by Palestinians to the area;

– Israel’s continued violation of international law and belligerence toward its neighbors is an unsustainable policy that undermines its own self-preservation, like most US proxies;

– Russia and China are in a better position now than ever to advance the two-state solution and are creating a region in which this solution can actually materialize;

References:

Politico – Putin hammers Ukraine with West distracted by Middle East crisis (October 16, 2023):
https://www.politico.eu/article/leade…

VOA – Russian Military Operations Slacken Near Strategic Town of Avdiivka (OOctober 16, 2023):
https://www.voanews.com/a/russia-retu…

TASS – Russian forces continuing to implement master plan during special op — Shoigu (October 16, 2023):
https://tass.com/politics/1691503

CNN – Russia’s jamming of US-provided rocket systems complicates Ukraine’s war effort (May 2023):
https://edition.cnn.com/2023/05/05/po…

Defense News – Lockheed wins $4.8B guided rockets contract (April 2023):
https://www.defensenews.com/digital-s…

Times of Israel – Hezbollah shoots at IDF posts, fires missile at tank in fresh Lebanon border clashes (October 16, 2023):
https://www.timesofisrael.com/hezboll…

The Telegraph – Israeli tanks with Ukraine-style ‘anti-drone cages’ line up on Gaza border (October 16, 2023):
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-new…

Haaretz – Hezbollah Anti-tank Fire Causing Most IDF Casualties in Lebanon (August 2006):
https://www.haaretz.com/2006-08-06/ty…

NYT – A Disciplined Hezbollah Surprises Israel With Its Training, Tactics and Weapons (August 2006):
https://www.nytimes.com/2006/08/07/wo…

RAND Corporation – Extending Russia (2019):
https://www.rand.org/pubs/research_re…

CSIS – The First Battle of the Next War: Wargaming a Chinese Invasion of Taiwan (2023):
https://www.csis.org/analysis/first-b…

Brookings Institution – Which Path to Persia? (2009):
https://www.brookings.edu/wp-content/…