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ISW News Roundup - December 30, 2008
Dec 30, 2008 - Anonymous
Israel - Hamas Conflict
On Saturday, December 27, the Israeli Air Force began conducting a widespread and protracted aerial bombardment of Hamas' infrastructure and personnel in the Gaza Strip in response to rockets launched into Israel by militants. The attacks have left hundreds dead and wounded. While these air raids are conducted, Israel is amassing troops along its border in preparation for a possible ground incursion into Gaza in the coming days. Please refer back to the ISW website for more updates on this ongoing operation.
Washington Post - Israel Rejects Truce, Presses on With Gaza Strikes, by Griff Witte and Sudarsan Raghavan
Reuters - Gaza aid boat damaged by Israelis reaches Lebanon
Reuters - Israel rejects truce, presses on with Gaza strikes, by Nidal al-Mughrabi
International Herald Tribune - Red Cross sending 10 tons of medical aid to Gaza, from AP
Agence France Presse - Israeli Gaza 'massacre' must stop, Syria's Assad tells US senator
Agence France Presse - Israel shuns truce calls on Day Four of Gaza blitz
Agence France Presse - Egypt says border to stay shut until Abbas back in power
Associated Press - Hezbollah watches for now as Israel hits Hamas, by Sam F. Ghattas
LA Times Blog - Hezbollah says it won't provoke Israel clash over Gaza, by Raed Rafei
New York Times - On Fourth Day of Gaza Battle, No End in Sight, by Ethan Bronner and Taghreed El-Khodary
New York Times - Hamas Credo Led It to End Cease-Fire, by Stephen Farrell
New York Times - A Captured Israeli Soldier Figures in Military Assessments and Political Calculus, by Isabel Kershner
Wall Street Journal - Warplanes Slam Hamas Targets as Israeli Troops Mass at Border, from AP
LA Times - A primer on Gaza, Israel, and some of the key factors behind the current violence, by Michael Muskal
Iraq Security and Reconstruction
UPI - Iraq's milestone for new year
Times Online UK - Iraq death toll plummets, by Deborah Haynes
Washington Post - Canadian citizen charged with spying for Iraq, by Carolyn Thompson
New York Times - American Exit Increases Optimism in Falluja, by Timothy Williams
Reuters - US pull-back from Iraq will hit private contractors, by Missy Ryan
Reuters - Iraq and Britain hope to seal troop deal by year end
Defenselink Mil - Training Opens Doors for Former 'Sons of Iraq', by Army Sgt. David Hodge
Defenselink Mil - 2,000 Iraqis Return to Eastern Baghdad, Reclaim Homes, from AFPS
Associated Press - Iraq to offer 10 fields in 2nd oil licensing round, by Sinan Salaheddin
Associated Press - Shoe-throwing Iraqi journalist's trial postponed, by Sinan Salaheddin
Afghanistan and Pakistan
New York Times - Rash of Bombings in Afghanistan, by Adam B. Ellick
Wall Street Journal - Afghan Roadside Bombings Rise Sharply, by Yochi J. Dreazen
Associated Press - Pakistan Closes NATO Supply Route Amid Anti-Militant Offensive
Associated Press - US: Roadside bombs in Afghanistan double in 2008
Long War Journal - Pakistani military continues to withdraw from tribal areas, by Bill Roggio
Long War Journal - Pakistan shuts down NATO supply line through the Khyber Pass, by Bill Roggio
US News and World Report - No Longer the Forgotten War, Afghanistan Will Be a Hard one for Obama to Win, by Anna Mulrine
Iran
New York Times - Rare Suicide Bombing in Iran Kills 4, by Nazila Fathi
Middle East Times - Iran Activating Its Proxies, by Oliver Guitta