Thursday, November 02, 2023

Hamas leader: ‘We salute all supporting resistance fronts’

This edited statement was issued by the head of the Hamas political bureau, Ismail Haniyseh, on Nov. 1, 2023.

The brutal, criminal, terrorist war against Gaza and its people continues for the 26th day. Our people and fighters face it with full valor and capability, drawing the map of the homeland with their pure blood. They bear what mountains cannot in sacrifices and steadfastness and martyrs, demonstrating patience in the face of wounds and pain.

O people of Gaza, the noble, the sacrificing, the redeeming, the giant heroes who are engaged in this decisive battle between two axes: the axis of freedom-loving and justice-seeking people, and the axis of racism and fascism.

This is a decisive battle between those who believe in human peace, tolerance, and civilized coexistence, and the new Nazis, backed by colonial powers that trample all values for their interests and bloody mentality.

On the 26th day of this heroic epic of our resistance and our people, and facing the genocidal war waged by the new Nazis, we stand in reverence and admiration to the legendary steadfastness of our people despite the enormous bloodshed, the numerous martyrs and wounded, especially from the recent brutal massacres in the Jabalia, Nuseirat, Shati and Fallujah camps, or rather, the extended massacre across the beloved Gaza Strip.

With this steadfastness and determination, and adherence to the homeland, our people have thwarted the enemy’s plans for a new Nakba of displacement and diaspora.

We express our pride in this honorable resistance, which teaches the enemy new military lessons every day, built on the shoulders of faithful men with great courage. The Al-Qassam Brigades and resistance factions fight them on all fronts, heroically confronting their tanks and continuous bombardment.

The enemy begins its ground war in light of a shaky decision and a divided leadership. The heroic fighters make them taste the bitterness of death, inflicting death and the wounded upon them.

We assure the criminal Zionist enemy and those who support it that their futile attempts to cover their failures by committing brutal massacres against unarmed civilians will not save them from a resounding defeat in Al-Aqsa Flood.

You were defeated on the glorious seventh of October, and now you stumble in your ground invasion that you carried out against our brave heroes and our unarmed people. You are gradually announcing some of your losses, but what our Brigades know, and what they will reveal, is much more significant and will shock you, your people, and those who stand behind them.

One of the main reasons for this war is Netanyahu, who leads a right-wing, racist, fascist group and thinks only of how to save himself and his family from imprisonment and accountability, even if it means destroying the entire region.

We warned all the parties we met with before this war that the continued actions of Netanyahu and his fascist government, including their aggressive policies towards the Al-Aqsa Mosque, Islamic and Christian sanctities, settlement construction, and allowing settlers to wreak havoc, would not go unanswered.

We warned them that there would inevitably be an explosion due to these actions, and that efforts should be made to restrain this criminal and his gang. Unfortunately, our calls were ignored, and his allies continued to support and encourage his racist policies.

We warn them again that Netanyahu is willing to destroy everything in the region to save himself and the extremists around him, especially since we have informed the mediators of the need to immediately stop these massacres and genocides.

Demands of Hamas

Hamas has proposed a comprehensive vision starting with a ceasefire, opening the crossings, a prisoner exchange deal, and culminating in the establishment of a political path to the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with Al-Quds as its capital and the right to self-determination. However, Netanyahu is stalling and misleading his public with false promises that we will not allow him to achieve. 

Their successive governments have failed to achieve any of these goals. They are well aware of the findings of their own investigative committees and the miserable failures they reaped after every battle. 

But until this arrogant gang realizes that they have sunk in the sands of Gaza, this will cost them greatly on all fronts, at all levels, including people who are subjected to the same killing and destruction to which our people are exposed to, the last of whom were killed in the Jabalia massacre.

We remind the countries that support this Zionist entity and provide a cover for it to commit this massacre against our people in Gaza, first and foremost the United States, of the need to reverse their outdated colonial policies and demand that they stop providing military support to this fascist government.

We also call on countries supporting the entity to stop obstructing international will, calling for an immediate ceasefire and the opening of crossings, as recently demonstrated in the General Assembly meeting titled “United for Peace.”

We tell them that you are choosing the wrong side of history, present and future. The region will never experience peace and stability until our people achieve their legitimate rights to freedom, independence and return. Enough arrogance, hypocrisy. History has no mercy on anyone.

We salute all the Arab and Islamic nations and the free people of the world for their historic stance in supporting the Palestinian people and the resilient Gaza.

We also salute all supporting resistance fronts, especially in Lebanon, Iraq, Syria and Yemen, for their advanced and declared stance. We reiterate our call for our Arab and Islamic peoples and the free people of the world to continue their roaring movement in the streets around the world, which has bewildered all observers and showcased the position of Palestine and its just cause in the hearts of millions.

It is essential to continue putting pressure on decision-makers, especially in the West, to retract their supportive stances for this Zionist terrorist aggression.

Today, as the Rafah crossing is partially reopened, we emphasize the necessity of the crossing’s continuous operation without interruption in both directions, as it is a purely Egyptian-Palestinian passage.

We assure our people and the proud Gaza that your resistance is steadfast and firm, and it extracts high prices from this enemy for its crimes against you.

We also assure you that the peoples of the nation are boiling and are eager to participate in this glorious battle, which will surely be a dignified victory crowned with the liberation of our land, our sanctities and our triumphant return. “And those who have been wronged will know to which [kind of] return they will be returned.”

Mercy and eternity to the martyrs, speedy recovery to the wounded and giants and heroes. All respect and appreciation to you as you fight on all fronts, and I send a salute of pride to our respected people. Peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah and His blessings.

Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine: ‘Rise, revolt, words no longer work’

This slightly edited statement was released on Oct. 31, 2023, in response to the Israeli Occupation Forces massacre of hundreds of Palestinians at the Jabalia refugee camp in Gaza.















A call from the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine to all the honorable people of our nation and the free people of the world:

“In the face of the flowing blood in Gaza, words no longer work.  Rise… Revolt… Storm the embassies of the aggressor nations… Burn them… Destroy them.

Demand a halt to the flow of oil and gas to countries complicit in the aggression. Time is of the essence, and history is unforgiving… Be assured that the people of Palestine will not let you down.

“O free people, the fascist enemy seeks revenge on the Jabalia refugee camp, as well as the Nuseirat and Shati’ camps, committing horrific massacres, which exceed in brutality what the Nazis did in their dark history, using six tons of destructive U.S. bombs. 

“A tragedy that appeals to human conscience; anyone who remains silent towards this killer is complicit in the genocide and depriving Palestinians of their humanity.

“A morally, politically, and militarily defeated entity wants to claim victory over our Palestinian blood.

“The Jabalia camp is the womb of the revolution and a symbol of Palestinian resilience and resistance, standing first in the battle of honor and duty, a spirit characterized by its strength, steadfastness, and high bravery. 

“With its ground campaign, the enemy wants to cover its inevitable failure with massacres against Palestinian civilians, saluting the men of resistance in their various formations who are facing this aggression, and our steadfast people who reject displacement plans despite the genocidal war waged against them by the enemy.

“Great Gaza, with the stature of its heroes and the blood of its children, is our roots deep in the ground. It will rise from the ashes.

“Verbal stances don’t shoot down planes or prevent missiles from falling on the heads of the innocent. Therefore, we call:

– To expel the ambassadors of aggression.

– A cry of anger and dignity to stop the flow of oil and gas to countries complicit in the aggression.

– It is time to close the U.S. military bases in the Arab countries.

– For the workers’ unions in global ports to refuse to unload or load any weapon shipments from or to the Zionist entity.

“Let us trust in our people, ourselves, our dignity, our freedom, and our right to life.”





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Israeli Air Strikes on Gaza Refugee Camp Could Be War Crimes, Says UN


Curated By: Rohit
News18.com
NOVEMBER 02, 2023
Geneva, Switzerland


A Palestinian man carries a casualty as others conduct search and rescue works at the site of Israeli strikes on houses in Jabalia refugee camp in the northern Gaza Strip. 
(Image: Reuters)

Jabalia Refugee Camp: Civilians and civilian structures must be spared - but death of civilians during a conflict does not necessarily constitute a war crime

Israeli air strikes on the Gaza Strip’s largest refugee camp “could amount to war crimes”, the UN Human Rights Office said on Wednesday while raising concerns about the growing number of disproportionate attacks. Israeli strikes have targeted the Jabalia refugee camp twice in two days, killing and wounding dozens, according to the health ministry in the Hamas-run Palestinian territory.

“Given the high number of civilian casualties & the scale of destruction following Israeli air strikes on Jabalia refugee camp, we have serious concerns that these are disproportionate attacks that could amount to war crimes,” the human rights office wrote on X, formerly Twitter.

For over three weeks, Israel has pounded Gaza in retribution for the worst attack in the country’s history. Hamas gunmen stormed across the border from Gaza on October 7, killing 1,400 people, and taking more than 230 hostages, according to Israeli officials. Israel’s retaliatory bombing campaign has killed 8,796 people, according to Hamas-run Gaza’s health ministry.

Israel said its strikes on Tuesday and Wednesday killed two Hamas military leaders in Jabalia. It said the group had command centres and other “terror infrastructure under, around and within civilian buildings, intentionally endangering Gazan civilians.” Gaza’s Hamas-run government media office said that at least 195 Palestinians were killed in the two Israeli attacks on Jabalia, with 120 still missing under the rubble. At least 777 more were wounded, it said in a statement.

UN chief Antonio Guterres is “appalled over the escalating violence in Gaza, including the killing of Palestinians, including women and children in Israeli air strikes in residential areas of the densely populated Jabalia refugee camp”, his spokesman Stephane Dujarric said Wednesday. “The Secretary-General reiterates that all parties must abide by international humanitarian law, including the principles of distinction, proportionality, and precaution.  He condemns in the strongest terms any killing of civilians,” the UN spokesperson added.

Are War Crimes Being Committed in Israel-Hamas War and How International Law Applies to Conflicts | EXPLAINED


WAR CRIME AND PRINCIPLE OF PROPORTIONALITY

The principle of proportionality referred to by the UN plays a central role in the wars of law defined by the Geneva Conventions. Civilians and civilian structures must be spared — but the death of civilians during a conflict does not necessarily constitute a war crime. Warring parties can launch attacks deemed proportionate on military targets even while knowing that civilians could also be hit.

A crime is committed when an attack is deliberately carried out against civilians, or if the scale of the damage to civilians is excessive compared to the military advantage. The International Criminal Court is the only independent international legal authority that carries out investigations into genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity, but Israel is not a member.

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(With agency inputs)

 

Muslim and Arab Americans feel betrayed by Biden. Can he win back their votes?

Recent polls report a swift and decisive drop in support for the president among Muslim and Arab American voters amid the Israel-Hamas war.

Demonstrators protest the Israel-Hamas war and call for an immediate cease-fire in the conflict as they march in downtown Atlanta, Oct. 20, 2023. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

(RNS) — It was the moment President Joe Biden questioned the severity of the casualties in Gaza. That was the turning point, said columnist and author Wajahat Ali, when Muslim and Arab American voters soured on Biden.

“I have no notion that the Palestinians are telling the truth about how many people are killed. I’m sure innocents have been killed, and it’s the price of waging a war,” Biden said in a White House news conference last week. Biden’s remarks cast doubt on the numbers provided by the Gaza Health Ministry, which is controlled by Hamas and, as of Sunday (Oct. 29), has reported over 8,000 fatalities, including the killing of over 3,000 children.

“I can tell you without a doubt, for many, they were like, ‘I’m done,’” said Ali.


In the days after the news conference, the Gaza Health Ministry released a list identifying nearly 7,000 people it said were killed in Israeli strikes, and Biden began to shift his message, inviting a handful of Muslim, Palestinian and Arab Americans to meet with him. But the damage was done.

“It further erases Palestinian lives even in death,” said Ali. “For many (Arab and Muslim Americans) who aren’t Palestinian, for them, if this administration can’t see what the rest of the world is seeing, the disproportionate violence, and if even in death, Palestinian lives don’t matter, then our lives don’t matter as well, to this administration.”

The feelings of betrayal and grief circulated on social media and on WhatsApp were reflected in recent polls that report a swift and decisive drop in support for Biden among Arab American and Muslim American voters. A new poll from the Arab American Institute, which surveyed 500 Arab American voters between Oct. 23 and Oct. 27, found that support for Biden in the upcoming election had plummeted to 17% (it was 59% in 2020). James Zogby, founder and president of the Arab American Institute, called the results of the poll “shocking” in a Tuesday news conference.

“It is unlike anything I have ever seen before,” said Salima Suswell, Pennsylvania executive director for Muslim American civic engagement organization Emgage, in reference to current Muslim American attitudes toward the president. “And it’s actually kind of frightening to think about what the alternative could be.” She recalled former President Donald Trump’s ban on immigrants from Muslim-majority countries, a policy Trump said he would expand if reelected. “As a Black Muslim, it’s scary to think we could have someone who would do that in office again.”

It isn’t just support for Biden that has slumped, according to the poll, but identification with the Democratic Party. The poll found that only 23% of Arab American voters now identify as Democrats, down 17 percentage points since April 2023, with 32% identifying as Republican and 31% as Independents. It’s the first time in the Arab American Institute’s 26-year history that a plurality of Arab American voters didn’t align with the Democratic Party.

Zogby attributes the downturn to Biden’s statements and actions amid the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas. Sixty-seven percent of Arab American voters reported a negative view of Biden’s response to the current crisis, and 68% said the U.S. should call for a cease-fire, per the poll’s findings.

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Protestors gather during a pro-Palestine demonstration demanding a cease fire on Saturday, Oct. 28, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/Andres Kudacki)

Protesters gather during a pro-Palestine demonstration demanding a cease-fire on Oct. 28, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/Andres Kudacki)

Shadin Maali, director of operations for Emgage and a Palestinian American, described a sense of betrayal over Biden’s support for Israel’s attack on Gaza, as well as America’s decision to veto the United Nations resolution for a cease-fire.

“Absolutely, we feel a sense of, we mobilized for you,” said Maali. “Now you totally disregard the thousands of votes that were engaged on your behalf.”

A poll released on Oct. 20 from the firm Cygnal, which had over 2,020 participants (and 150 Muslim participants), also found a drop in support for Biden among Muslim Americans, but not one as drastic as the dip among Arab Americans reported by AAI. Cygnal’s poll found that 44.6% of Muslim Americans reported being less supportive of Biden’s leadership since the Hamas attacks, a 13-point difference from those who reported being more supportive (31.9%). When asked about their attitude toward Biden, similar numbers reported an unfavorable view (45.8%) as a favorable one (45%).

“I believe it was dropped, but it’s difficult to believe it’s that much of a drop,” said Brent Buchanan, president and founder of Cygnal, about the decrease in Muslim and Arab American support. “We have Joe Biden, a week after the terrorist attack of Hamas on Israel, at almost even — that means the same number of people who say favorable as unfavorable among Muslim Americans.” 

While substantive data on current Muslim American and Arab American attitudes toward Biden is limited, anecdotal evidence of a downturn tracks with Biden’s sagging approval ratings, which sank 4 points since last month, and 11 points among Democrats, according to a recent Gallup poll. Ali noted that younger people seem especially skeptical of the president, with approval ratings of 35% and 34% among people ages 18-34 and 35-54, respectively, as compared with an approval rating of 42% among those 55 and older

One year out from the 2024 election, plenty could change before voters take to the polls. But with significant populations of Muslims and Arab Americans in battleground states such as Michigan, Pennsylvania, Arizona and Ohio, experts say Biden can’t afford to take the Muslim and Arab American vote for granted.

A recent pro-Palestinian demonstration in Philadelphia. (Photo by Asiyah Jones)

A recent pro-Palestinian demonstration in Philadelphia. (Photo by Asiyah Jones)

“In Pennsylvania specifically, Black Muslims were instrumental to Biden’s victory in 2020,” said Suswell. “But now, I have heard from many Muslims in the African American community that they will not be voting for Biden in 2024 due to his disregard and lack of empathy for Muslims who are suffering in the Middle East.”



Muslim and Arab American voters who feel scorned by Biden aren’t likely to flock to Trump, according to those interviewed by Religion News Service, but they may feel strongly enough to vote for an independent candidate or to sit out the election altogether. Zogby predicted it would be a “hold your nose election” for many Arab Americans at this point.

While Ali is firm in his convictions that “a vote for Trump, a vote for a third party or sitting out” would be “more disastrous” than a vote for Biden, he also pointed out that Arab Americans and Muslim Americans upset with Biden aren’t “irrational or self-destructive.”

“They are very aware of how terrible Trump is,” said Ali, pointing to Trump’s Islamophobic policies. But they also feel that to vote for Biden is “to be party to an administration that’s allowing genocide, ethnic cleansing or collective punishment.”

Salima Suswell. (Photo courtesy Emgage)

Salima Suswell. (Photo courtesy of Emgage)

In recent days, Biden has been working to regain trust with Muslim and Arab American voters. But in addition to meaningful dialogue with these groups, Maali said the only real way to regain trust is for the administration to push for de-escalation in the region and a political resolution to the crisis, rather than a military on

Suswell agreed, saying she’d like to see Biden call for a cease-fire.

“In large part, Muslim Americans agree on the sanctity of all human lives, and unequivocal condemnation of violence regardless of faith,” she said. “And we call for a cease-fire not only because of the casualties of Muslim and Palestinian lives in Gaza, but also because of all civilians who have been casualties of this humanitarian crisis.”



This story has been updated to correct the quote: “Black Muslims were instrumental to Biden’s victory in 2020.” A previous version said “are instrumental.” 

AMAZING BUT TRUE
Republicans join Democrats to block censure resolution against Rep. Rashida Tlaib


A censure resolution against Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., was blocked in the U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday after 23 Republicans joined Democrats in the 222 to 186 vote. The censure resolution was introduced following Tlaib's harsh criticism of Israel in the wake of last month's deadly Hamas attacks. 
File photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI | License Photo

Nov. 1 (UPI) -- House Republicans voted with Democrats on Wednesday to block a resolution that would have censured Democratic Rep. Rashida Tlaib of Michigan for harsh statements against Israel in the wake of last month's deadly Hamas attacks.

The resolution, which was introduced by GOP Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, was tabled in a procedural motion vote of 222 to 186, as 23 Republicans joined Democrats to keep the disciplinary resolution from reaching the House floor.

Greene's censure resolution accused Tlaib, who is the first Palestinian American woman to serve in Congress, of "leading an insurrection" in an anti-war protest last month at the Capitol, which ended in hundreds of arrests.

Pro-Israel Democrats called Greene's description of the peace protest and Tlaib's role in it "inaccurate." The protest, on Oct. 18 in the rotunda of the Cannon House office building, was organized by the groups Jewish Voice for Peace and IfNotNow who were calling for a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war.

"Thank you to our Jewish allies from across the country who joined in solidarity to call for a ceasefire now. Chanting 'not in our name,'" Tlaib wrote last month in a post on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter.



Greene accused Tlaib and the protesters of "antisemitic activity, sympathizing with terrorist organizations and leading an insurrection at the United States Capitol Complex," according to remarks on the House floor last week.

While more than 300 people were arrested for illegally protesting at the event, as demonstrations are not allowed inside congressional office buildings, some lawmakers questioned Greene's "insurrectionist" wording and its comparison to the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol following former President Donald Trump's election loss.

Since the deadly Hamas attacks in Israel on Oct. 7, and the start of the Israel-Hamas war, Tlaib has condemned violence on all sides while accusing Israel of committing genocide against Palestinians. Greene's censure resolution listed Tlaib's statement on Oct. 8.

"The failure to recognize the violent reality of living under siege, occupation, and apartheid makes no one safer. No person, no child anywhere should have to suffer or live in fear of violence," Tlaib said, one day after Hamas's attacks. "We cannot ignore the humanity in each other. As long as our country provides billions in unconditional funding to support the apartheid government, this heartbreaking cycle of violence will continue."

On Wednesday night, Greene blasted the House vote in a post on X and included a list of the "feckless Republicans that voted WITH Democrats to table my censure resolution against Rashida Tlaib," Green wrote. "This is why Republicans NEVER do anything to stop the communist Democrats or ever hold anyone accountable!"
Fox News Host Sean Hannity Believes He Can Stop Mass Shootings With His Martial Arts Skills

By Anaam
Oct 27, 2023

Cover Image Source: Getty Images | Photo by Roy Rochlin

Following another devastating mass shooting, which took place in Lewiston, Maine, and resulted in 18 fatalities and 13 injuries, the topic of gun violence in the US has once again gained attention. In response to these horrific incidents, many Americans are calling for tougher gun regulations. However, Fox News host Sean Hannity has adopted a different approach, speculating that he could use his Mixed martial arts (MMA) expertise to personally intervene and avert a mass shooting. This claim has drawn a lot of criticism and incredulity, and it has also highlighted the nation's ongoing discussion about gun control.

In a recent segment of his Fox News program, while in conversation with Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley, Hannity talked about the inclination to politicize mass shootings. He voiced his disapproval of this politicization, saying that these tragic incidents would not result in the lives of the dead being restored. "I always ask the question, when something like this happens, what is your plan? What do you do?" he said. "I train in Mixed Martial Arts; I’ve been a big believer in the Second Amendment for a long time, with the prayer that I never would have to use it."



Many people don't believe Hannity when he says that his MMA background and support of the Second Amendment will protect him from a semi-automatic rifle-wielding mass shooter. Even the mixed martial arts community has swiftly mocked his remarks, emphasizing the stark difference between stopping a heavily armed attacker with your bare hands and fighting back, reports Rolling Stone.

Additionally, Hannity's suggestion's unrealistic nature has been brought up by critics. They stated how this is one of the best examples of how supporters of gun rights frequently use improbable scenarios to divert attention from the grim reality of the ongoing national crisis is when they invoke the image of a single person valiantly stopping a mass shooter with martial arts skills while ignoring the larger issue of gun violence.



Hannity's remark exposes a baffling mindset among right-wingers. Instead of admitting the urgent need for reasonable gun control measures, he gives in to the illusion that, in the right situation, a well-prepared hero can stop a mass shooting on their own.

People have taken to social media to express their worries. Republicans’ new plan to stop mass shootings: Karate chop the AR-15s," MSNBC contributor Brian Tyler Cohen noted on X, reports Salon. Rep. Sean Casten said, "There is something so dysfunctional about saying ‘We could live in communities where you don’t have to worry about getting shot, but I’d prefer to keep the guns and fight my way out’.'" "You’re not Josey Wales. You’re just a rich dude with a Fox News gig. To thine own self be true," he added, per Independent.



But the bigger problem here isn't just Hannity's claim; it's also the larger conversation about gun control in the US. Even though Hannity's comments are extreme and easily discounted, they are representative of a larger issue in American politics. Strong pro-Second Amendment groups and politicians frequently hamper the gun control debate by opposing any attempts to tighten laws governing firearms.


According to recent polls by CNN and SSRS, the majority of Americans support tougher gun regulations; this support has increased after mass shootings. However significant reform is still elusive due to the influence of Second Amendment absolutists and their political supporters.
What’s the new nuclear bomb that US is likely to develop? How powerful will it be?

Story by Gauri Ghadi •
 Firstpost

Two wars have engulfed the world – the one between Israel and Hamas and the other between Russia and Ukraine. While the United States has not been directly involved in the conflict it has picked sides – Washington is Jerusalem’s strongest ally and it has backed Kyiv. In West Asia, there is fear of wider conflict and questions have been raised: Will there be a World War III? Amid the rising tensions, reports have emerged that the US is attempting to upgrade its nuclear arsenal, which includes a plan to modernise its main nuclear gravity bomb.

Why is the US developing a new nuclear bomb?

The country is looking at developing a new variant of its nuclear bomb. It’s called the B61-13, which is based on the design of the already-existing B61-12, according to a report in The Eurasian Times.

The US defence department has reportedly unveiled plans for the development of the B61-13 munition. It is seeking Congressional authorisation and approval for it.

“The B61-13 will strengthen deterrence of adversaries and assurance of allies and partners by providing the President with additional options against certain harder and large-area military targets,” according to a document titled “Fact Sheet on B61 Variant Development” released by the Pentagon, the headquarters of the US Department of Defense.

The modernisation is part of America’s effort to upgrade its nuclear stockpile, which includes missiles, warheads, submarines and more. “As the security environment evolves, it is necessary for us to consider nuclear force adjustments to assure our ability to achieve deterrence and other objectives,” the press release says.



An empty B61 thermonuclear bomb at the National Atomic Testing Museum in Las Vegas in 2005. The B61 family of bombs have been in service with the American military since 1968. File photo/AP© Provided by Firstpost

“The United States has a responsibility to continue to assess and field the capabilities we need to credibly deter and, if necessary, respond to strategic attacks, and assure our allies,” said John Plumb, assistant secretary of defence for space policy.

“The B61-13 represents a reasonable step to manage the challenges of a highly dynamic security environment. While it provides us with additional flexibility, production of the B61-13 will not increase the overall number of weapons in our nuclear stockpile,” he clarified.

Related video: How powerful is Biden’s new nuclear bomb? (FOX News)
Duration 2:27  View on Watch
1:08


The new bomb would replace some of the B61-7s in the current nuclear stockpile and have a yield similar to the B61-7, which is higher than that of the B61-12, according to the US defence department.

Also read: Why countries just can’t bring themselves to give up nuclear weapons

What are the B61 bombs?

The B61 is a gravity bomb. This means that when it is dropped from an aircraft it falls on its target by gravity. It has been in service with the American military since 1968 and over the years several versions have been developed.

According to The Washington Post, the B61 was created after the Cuban missile crisis. The US air force was interested in the possibility of dropping nukes from low-flying aircraft at high speeds, the report says quoting from the second volume of Chuck Hansen’s “Swords of Armageddon.” The B61 could be used as a “tactical” or “nonstrategic” nuke on a battlefield, against a forward military target, as opposed to a “strategic” obliterating strike, behind enemy lines, on a seat of government or city.

Each of these bombs is about the “length of two refrigerators laid down end to end and as heavy as the average adult male musk ox. The bombs are slender and pointy and a little more than a foot wide,” The Post report says.



A B-2 spirit bomber from Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri, drops a B61-11 bomb casing during an exercise in this undated photo. Reuters© Provided by Firstpost

The B61-12 is the latest variant of the B61 family, which was developed to improve the nuclear capabilities of the US air force and its allies. The first production unit of the B61-12 bombs was completed in 2022.

The bomb’s new guided tail kit is designed by Boeing. This gives it additional manoeuvrability and the appearance of more precision. It has different yields from 0.3 kilotonnes to 50 kilotonnes (kt), according to the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN), the winner of the 2017 Nobel Peace Prize.

How powerful will the B61-13 be?


The B61-13 will have a yield similar to the B61-7. Analysts Hans Kristensen and Matt Korda claim in a post on the Federation of American Scientists website that the B61-7 can have a 360-kilotonne detonation.

In comparison, the bomb dropped on Japan’s Hiroshima was 15 kilotonne and that on Nagasaki was 25. The B61-13 is 24 times larger than the Hiroshima bomb, according to a report on Fox News.



Hiroshima was the first place on Earth to be attacked by an atomic bomb. If the US develops the B61-13, it will be 24 times stronger than the bomb dropped on the Japanese city.
 File image/AFP© Provided by Firstpost

The Pentagon fact sheet says the “B61-13 will replace some of the B61-7s in the current stockpile”, pending Congressional authorisation and appropriation. It “will not increase the overall number of weapons in the U.S. stockpile. The number of B61-12s to be produced will be lowered by the same amount as the number of B61-13s produced”.

The cost of producing the B61-13 is not known. But it is expected to cost the US government several billions. The US National Nuclear Security Administration in 2018 estimated that the programme for the B61-12 nuclear bomb would cost about $7.6 billion but an independent estimate put the cost at $10 billion.

How will the B61-13s be deployed?

It is now clear which aircraft will be used to carry these bombs. Kristensen and Korda say in a post on the Federation of American Scientists website that since targets requiring high-yield gravity bombs are probably small, a minimal number of such bombs will be produced – an order of 50 weapons.

The B61-13 bomb will be reserved for use only the the US military. It will not be sold to American allies, especially in NATO, the report says.

With inputs from agencies