Israel: War With Hezbollah Seems Close, Hurricane Maria Following Irma's Path

Israel fighting in Syria and war with Hezbollah in Lebanon seems close

In November, 2015, Israeli officials believed that the Lebanese terrorist group Hezbollah has amassed around 150,000 rockets, including a number of long range Iranian-made missiles capable of striking Israeli cities from north to south. The estimates represent a 50 percent increase in the group’s weapons stockpiles since May, 2017 when a senior Israeli intelligence official put the number at 100,000.

Since the 2006 war, Hezbollah has built up its store of advanced weaponry with help from the Syrian regime and its Iranian sponsors. In 2016, the group commanded an estimated 20,000 active troops and 25,000 reservists, making it comparable to a medium-sized army.

Hezbollah, Iran and Syria are parts of the same opponent

Syria accused Israel on Thursday of bombing a military site that has been linked to the production of chemical weapons,Missiles versus anti-missiles and air force

Israel has the Iron Dome, Arrow and David Sling anti-missile batteries deployed throughout the country. Israel should be completely defended against aerial threats.

Designed to intercept medium- to-long-range rockets, as well as cruise missiles fired at ranges between 40 to 300km, David’s Sling complements the Iron Dome system, designed to shoot down short-range rockets, and the Arrow system, which intercepts ballistic missiles outside the Earth’s atmosphere.

Iron Dome has proven itself since it went into service in April 2011, with a successful interception rate of 85% of projectiles fired toward Israeli civilian centers since its first deployment.

With one David’s Sling interceptor missile costing $1 million, $100,000 for one Iron Dome interceptor missile and $3 million for one Arrow interceptor missile, the economic cost of destroying the hundreds of thousands of rockets aimed at Israel is astronomical.

Maria, following Irma's path, is now a Category 1 hurricane

Hurricane Maria is forecast to rapidly strengthen over the next two days as it takes aim at Caribbean islands devastated by Hurricane Irma just days ago. 

The storm is expected to be a major hurricane when it hits the Leeward Islands over the next few days, intensifying to a Category 4 hurricane in 48 hours, according to the National Hurricane Center's latest update.

As of Sunday at 11 p.m. ET, Maria was about 100 miles (165 kilometers) northeast of Barbados and about 210 miles (340 kilometers) east-southeast of Dominica, the center said. It had strengthened into a Category 1 hurricane with winds of 85 mph, and is forecast to continue moving toward the eastern Caribbean at 13 mph.

"Maria continues to strengthen and is expected to be at major hurricane intensity when it affects portions of the Leeward Islands over the next few days, bringing dangerous wind, storm surge and rainfall hazards," the hurricane center said.

Maria is one of three storms churning in the Atlantic Ocean, but it poses the most danger to the hurricane-battered Caribbean. 

Maria has prompted a hurricane warning for Martinique, Guadeloupe, Dominica, St. Kitts, Nevis and Montserrat. A tropical storm warning is in effect for Antigua and Barbuda, Saba, St. Eustatius and St. Lucia. A warning is typically issued 36 hours before the anticipated first occurrence of tropical-storm-force winds. 

The warning means that tropical storm conditions are expected within 36 hours.

A hurricane watch is in effect for the US Virgin Islands, the British Virgin Islands, St. Maarten/St. Martin, St. Barthelemy and Anguilla -- many of which were devastated when Irma blew through the Caribbean, killing 44 people. A hurricane watch is typically issued 48 hours before the anticipated first occurrence of tropical-storm-force winds.

"Maria is likely to affect the British and US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico by mid week as a dangerous major hurricane," the NHC said.

Torrential rainfall could cause deadly flash flooding and mudslides. Maria could dump 6 to 12 inches of rain across the Leeward Islands -- including Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands -- through Wednesday night.

Hurricane Jose

Meanwhile, Hurricane Jose is maintaining its intensity as it churns north, threatening "dangerous surf and rip currents" along the US East Coast in the next few days, the hurricane center said. 

Late Sunday, the Category 1 hurricane was about 305 miles (490 kilometers) southeast of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, and moving north at 9 mph. 

Hurricane #Maria Advisory 7: Maria Forecast to Become a Major Hurricane as it Moves Near The Leeward Islands. https://t.co/VqHn0uj6EM

— NHC Atlantic Ops (@NHC_Atlantic) September 18, 2017

While the center of Jose is expected to stay off from the US East Coast, "swells generated by Jose are affecting Bermuda, the Bahamas, and much of the US east coast," the NHC said. 

"These swells are likely to cause dangerous surf and rip current conditions for the next several days in these areas."

The hurricane center said that Jose would produce heavy rain as it passes near southern New England and the mid-Atlantic on Tuesday and Wednesday, but that based on current forecasting the risk of flooding would be "limited in scope."