There is now a well organised and defined system in Israel to stay safe. The Home Front send out various warnings before the siren is sounded to enter a safe place.
There are two types of safe places. Firstly in the newer buildings, it is law that each dwelling has a safe room called a Mamad. It is a concrete, steel reinforced room with a heavy metal shutter that protects the occupants from most missiles attacks. During peace times it functions as any other room, and in the newest houses it has a special air conditioning unit that would protect against a chemical weapon attack..
In the older areas there are communal shelters called Miklat, which are shelters built underground .They are shared, by perhaps a few buildings, so can get very crowded and people have to run to them. In many areas that have not been previously effected by missiles, they are in poor condition, smelly and the electricity is not always working.
Tragedy hit in Petah Tikvah when despite being in their mamad an elderly couple were killed from a direct hit on an apartment building yesterday. Such is the power of the missiles that Iran is directing at densely populated areas, that even a steel enforced room does not offer sufficient protection from a direct hit.
Tel Aviv, Bnei Brak and Haifa also suffered direct hits and the death toll yesterday was eight people. Babies and children were rescued from the rubble of destroyed apartment blocks, the youngest being only four days old .
The total death toll now stands at 24 and with over 600 injuries. The young and the old are the most vulnerable as it may be difficult to make it to the safe room in time and most deaths, except for the two yesterday, have been people not in a safe room.
There is an appeal in Israel for blood. I understand that even Brits can now donate blood and they especially want type O , that is universal.
AlJazeera were banned from Israel a while ago, but it seems they have sneaked back in and were caught broadcasting about the sensitive oil site that the missile in Haifa had hit, hence aiding the enemy. They have been caught, among other foreign journalists illegally broadcasting.
A video has been circulating showing the Iranian news channel broadcast being hit while threatening Israel. In turn, Iran has threatened both channel 12 and 13, so when there is a siren in their area the broadcasters will go immediately to a shelter.
Israel Hayom, reports that the IAF have destroyed the headquarters of the Revolutionary Guards that was housed in a university in Tehran.
The 50 Israeli fighter planes that attacked over 100 military sites last night returned home safely. They are mostly destroying the missile launchers, but have destroyed up to 20 ballistic missiles. Destroying the launchers is the first step to stop the attacks.
It is thought that Iran has a stockpile of around 2,000 ballistic missiles, that they clearly intend to use against civilian populations in Israel. Around half of the UAV’s (drones were destroyed) .They also destroyed 2 F-14 planes making the skies safer for our boys to finish the job.
The job is to destroy Iran’s nuclear programmes since it was proved that they were only days from making a nuclear weapon, which was intended to obliterate the Jewish State, and to threaten her neighbours and destabilise the western world. . Iran are the biggest state sponsors of terror in the world.
Iran has an enrichment facility at Natanz and the IAEA chairman thinks there is a possibility that all the centrifuges were destroyed. We do not know and must await further tests. It is thought the backup files were destroyed and a while back Israel took procession of the primary files. As Iran’s nuclear scientists are no more, they will struggle to reinstate this facility in the near future.
The Fordow enrichment plant lies up to 80 metres underground. Israel may need the help of the USA to destroy this deeply buried facility, as the US has huge bunker bombs that could bring the war to a much quicker end.
Trump has gone to Washington and a US official told i24 news that they are preparing to join the war. There is opposition within the administration, but 68 retired Generals and Admirals demand in a letter that the US helps Israel. This could save many lives both in Israel and Iran. Trump broadcasted on his Truth Social that everyone should evacuate Tehran! Thousands are fleeing in panic.
Israel has no argument with the people of Iran and very much hopes that they take this opportunity while the regime is on its knees, without friends, to overthrow the government and take control of their country and join the nations of the world that want peace and security.
Around 100,000 Israelis are stuck overseas and ElAl were quick and smart moving all their planes and crew overseas, so that when the skies are safer they can start to ferry people home. It is not yet safe yet for anyone to return home as Iran is promising an unprecedented attack on Israel .
France, Germany and China have told their citizens and embassy staff to leave Israel any way they can. Some people are leaving via Jordan and Egypt. Visa on departure is available from the southern borders in Eilat. There are Easy Jet flights from Sharm in Egypt and flights from Amman. Israelis are warned not to leave through Arab countries.
A 28 year old soldier has fallen in Gaza in a booby trap. Meanwhile, we continue to feed the enemy with over 400,000 food packages delivered .
Some divisions have been moved to the Jordanian and Egyptian border to prevent infiltration. Hamas will fall without the support of Iran so this war will hopefully bring all the proxy wars to a swift end.
53 hostages remain in Gaza, 31 are confirmed murdered.
10,000 remain displaced from October 7th and tens of thousands more are joining them as their homes are destroyed.
I think our prayers today are not only for the safely of our soldiers , airmen and seamen and woman, and the people of Israel. but for Trump to be given the courage to join the war and help to destroy what is a threat to the whole of humanity.
Kind Regards
Carolyne Davis