IDF Kills Hezbollah Leader, Ukraine Strikes Crimea Oil

THE WAR NEWSLETTER — OCT 9 2024

Good morning. Today’s update covers the IDF killing of Nasrallah’s possible replacement and Ukraine’s attack on a major oil depot in Crimea.

Welcome to your daily international conflict briefing.

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Today’s updates:

• 🇮🇱 IDF strike in Beirut kills top Hezbollah leadership - once again

• ⚔️ The not-yet-operational Iron Beam laser defense system

• 🇺🇦 Ukrainian strike hits Crimean oil depot

1 - ISRAEL

1 thing to know

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that after the recent killing of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, recent strikes have killed Nasrallah’s “replacement, and his replacement’s replacement.”

The context 

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made the statement in a public message, saying that Israel has successfully killed Hashem Safieddine, the presumed successor to Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, as well as Safieddine’s potential successors.

Although Hezbollah has not confirmed Safieddine’s death, Israeli forces claim to have targeted him in a bombing strike in Beirut. Netanyahu also urged the Lebanese public to reclaim their country from Hezbollah, reminding them that “Hezbollah will continue to try to fight Israel from densely populated areas at your expense.”

More from the region

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot, and French President Emmanuel Macron have both stated their support for an embargo on arms exports to Israel. Earlier, on Saturday, Macron said that countries should not be providing weapons to Israel that could be used against Hamas in Gaza. 

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Israel needs allies who won’t “place limitations on it that only strengthen the Iranian terror axis.” 

Israel also continues to destroy Hezbollah weapons stockpiles, with strikes overnight targeting drone caches, a terrorist command center, and a weapons factory in Beirut. The IDF warned Lebanese civilians before the strikes.

In the news

• Macron’s arms embargo suggestion

• Nasrallah’s replacement killed

• Iran threatens other Middle East countries not to side with Israel

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TECH SPOTLIGHT: THE IRON BEAM

The Iron Beam is a cutting-edge laser air defense system developed by Israel’s Rafael Advanced Defense Systems. It’s designed to destroy short-range threats like rockets, drones, and mortar bombs by focusing a massively powerful laser on the target for several seconds. 

The Iron Beam uses a pair of high-energy lasers and can intercept airborne targets at a range of up to 6 miles, and, when finally deployed, will work alongside Israel’s existing missile defense systems like the Iron Dome, which intercepts enemy rockets. 

What makes the Iron Beam especially appealing is its cost-effectiveness. Each interception costs around $5, compared to the $100,000+ price tag of missile-based interceptors.

The Iron Beam and it’s sensors don’t work well in cloudy weather, though, and isn’t effective at a longer range. It also struggles with spinning or especially fast-moving targets, since the laser needs to be focused on the target for several seconds before it is destroyed.

What it’s used for

The Iron Beam is still under development, but it’s expected to be deployed by 2025. It may be put into use even sooner due to the nonstop rocket barrages against Israel from Iran-backed terrorist groups such as Hezbollah, Hamas, and the Houthis - as well as Iran itself.

Read a detailed overview here.

2 - UKRAINE

1 thing to know

Ukrainian drone strike sets fire to the largest to oil depot in Russian-annexed Crimea.

The context 

Ukraine claims to have struck the Feodosia oil terminal in occupied Crimea, the largest oil processing site on the peninsula, causing it to catch on fire and force the evacuation of over 1000 nearby residents. This latest attack comes as Russia and Ukraine continue to trade drone and missile attacks, with Russia claiming to have shot down 12 of the 21 drones over Crimea. So far no casualties have been reported.

According to Kyiv, the attacks on Russian energy facilities come as retaliation for constant attacks on their own energy infrastructure, with at least 80% of Ukraine's thermal power generation now destroyed by Russian attacks.

More from the region

Ukrainian officials report that 93 Ukrainian prisoners of war (POWs) have been executed by Russian forces since the invasion began, with 80% of these cases occurring in 2024.

Yuri Bilousov, from Ukraine’s Department for Combating Crimes in Armed Conflict, noted a decline in Russian military discipline and suggested these acts are systemic and condoned by high-ranking officials.

At least 177 Ukrainians have died in Russian captivity, with many more unaccounted for. Despite returning about 3,600 POWs, thousands remain imprisoned, alongside documented cases of severe war crimes, including the execution of 16 POWs near Pokrovsk.

In the news

• Fire at oil depot forces evacuations

• Drone strike causes fire in Crimea

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