Air Raid Sirens Sound Across Country Inc. Jerusalem

Wires reporting air raid sirens sounding across the country, including near Jerusalem. While the IDF claimsthat it has restored Israeli control over border towns near the Gaza strip, the prospect of continued rocket attacks from Gaza and Lebanon into Israel remains a significant security concern. The longer the rocket attacks go on, the more that Israel's US-supplied 'Iron Dome' security system will be depleted, risking a significant increase in civilian casualties.

• The rocket attacks come as the IDF confirms 'Operation Swords of Iron', which will see 300k military reservists called up to fight. The role of military reservists has been in focus in recent months, with the gov'ts controversial judicial reforms seeing some reservists threatening to refuse to report for duty to display their dissatisfaction. However, with Israel now facing a generational threat to its security there is little question of any refusal to serve among reservists.
• The depletion of Israel's stocks of ammunition and missiles comes at a dangerous time. The Biden administration in the US has committed to providing Israel with requisite arms, and there are sizeable stockpiles of US munitions in Israel that Washington could allow the IDF to utilise.
• However, if the conflict proves prolonged and these supplies run low, it could prove difficult to get any assistance package through the House of Representatives given the removal of Speaker Kevin McCarthy and the uncertainty as to who could fill the chair and when.