The Lotar counter-terror unit practiced hostage saving in an urban area environment.
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War of Independence
The Battle for the Roads
A unique feature characterizing the first phase of the War of Independence up to May (1948) was the "battle for the roads." The vast majority of Palestine's main roads ran through areas populated by Arabs, and by controlling the roads, the Arabs could effectively lay siege to areas of Jewish settlement. In March, having failed to capture Jewish settlements, the Arab forces concentrated on the battle for the roads, while continuing their attacks on outlying districts in the mixed towns and on settlements in the north, the Jerusalem mountains, and the Negev. Nevertheless, a convoy of armored trucks succeeded in making the trip from Negbah to Gat, which had been cut off for a long period, and an Arab arms convoy was ambushed and destroyed near Kiryat Motzkin. In general, the Arabs scored considerable success in the battle for the roads: on March 26 Jewish traffic on the coastal road leading to the Negev came to a complete stop; a convoy on its way back to Jerusalem from the Ezyon bloc was trapped near al-Nabi Daniyal and another, which tried to reach Yehiam, was ambushed and wiped out.
Throughout this period, however, the Jewish defense forces made substantial progress in organization and training. By the end of March, 21,000 men aged 17-25 were under arms. The manufacture of antitank projectiles, submachine guns, and explosives was greatly stepped up, and large quantities of light arms, purchased in Czechoslovakia, were expected to arrive. The yishuv's air force consisted of 30 light planes for reconaissance, transportation, and supply to isolated areas. The Arab forces-both the locally organized National Guard and the volunteers from the Arab states - were also growing.
The war in Ukraine is heating up
Ukraine says one of its soldiers has been killed in the country's east, where fighting between government forces and Russia-backed separatists has flared over the past four days.
The Ukrainian military said on February 1 that nine servicemen and one civilian were also injured in the previous 24 hours.
Ukrainian officials had reported the deaths of seven soldiers in the past few days, the highest casualty toll in weeks.
How World War III could begin in Latvia
Russian President Vladimir Putin has a clear goal and a grand strategy. But it’s not the most realists perceive. Some argue that he is driven by fundamentally rational, defensive goals: NATO expansion appeared threatening and Russia is pushing back. The West expanded its sphere of influence at Russia’s expense, and Russia is now retaliating. That’s why the “Ukraine Crisis Is the West’s Fault,” according to John Mearsheimer.
TRUMP: Defeating ISIS 'will be our highest priority'
Just moments after President Donald Trump was sworn into office, the official White House website was updated with the 45th president's position on foreign policy, which proclaims the defeat of ISIS and other terror groups as his "highest priority."