Shut 'em all down.

Hi Global Recap readers,

It truly seems that we might end this year with a bang—not the stock market skyrocketing inside one of Elon’s rockets, but a bang that could lead to global participation in a world war. 🚀

• I don’t like to make predictions, especially if they turn out to be wrong, which is why I prefer not to dwell too much on doom and gloom.

• However, with South Korea potentially sending troops to Ukraine to deal with North Korean soldiers, North Korea testing its most advanced ICBM yet, and Iran gearing up to attack Israel again, the outlook isn’t looking very promising.

Oh yes, speaking of which… 👇

🇮🇷 IRAN
Iranian Leader Orders Retaliation

Iran's supreme leader has directed his military to prepare a retaliatory attack against Israel, according to reports. It seems the mullahs are feeling the heat after the recent Israeli airstrike, even though they attempted to downplay its significance.

Khamenei's Orders

Khamenei has instructed Iran's Supreme National Security Council to draw up plans for a retaliatory strike.

• The decision came after Khamenei was briefed on the extent of the damage from Israel's recent airstrikes.

• Iranian officials are reportedly compiling lists of potential Israeli military targets.

• Khamenei felt the deaths of Iranian soldiers and the scale of the Israeli attack necessitated a response.

So wait… it was a significant attack? I swear I remember reading pro-Iranian accounts online laughing at it and praising Iranian air defense capabilities.

Like this guy: 👇

Timing of the Attack

However, Iran is said to be holding off on the retaliation until after the US election on November 5. However, some other reports suggest Iran could strike before the election, as Israeli intelligence is bracing for an imminent attack.

So which is it?

• Tehran apparently wants to avoid boosting former President Trump's chances against Kamala Harris.

• The attack could involve a barrage of ballistic missiles and drones launched by Iran-backed groups in Iraq.

How Iran Will Respond

Iranian officials have promised a "harsh" and "unimaginable" response to Israel's attacks.

• A senior Khamenei aide said the recent Israeli strikes were a "desperate move" that will be met with regret.

• The head of the Revolutionary Guards warned of an "unimaginable" retaliation against Israel.

• Iran has claimed its air defenses thwarted much of the Israeli airstrikes, despite admitting some damage.

Israel's Confidence

Israeli leaders are expressing strong confidence following their recent airstrikes on Iran.

• Prime Minister Netanyahu boasted that Israel now has "greater freedom of action in Iran than ever before."

• The IDF has established new units to enable "repetitive actions" against Iran. This of course suggests that Israel is looking for a prolonged conflict with Iran.

🇩🇪 GERMANY
Iran Consulates: Shut Down

Germany has ordered the closure of all three Iranian consulates in the country following the execution of an Iranian-German prisoner.

Jamshid Sharmahd's Execution

Jamshid Sharmahd, a 69-year-old Iranian-German national, was executed in Iran on “terrorism charges.” His trial was widely criticized as a sham by Germany, the US, and human rights groups.

• Sharmahd was kidnapped in Dubai in 2020 and taken to Iran, where he was put on trial.

• Iran accused him of planning a 2008 mosque attack that killed 14 people and plotting other assaults.

• His family disputed the allegations and had worked for years to secure his release.

Germany's Response

In response to Sharmahd's execution, Germany is taking a strong diplomatic stance:

• The German Foreign Minister announced the closure of all three Iranian consulates in the country.

• This leaves Iran with only its embassy in Berlin, a major downgrade in diplomatic relations.

• Germany had already expelled two Iranian diplomats last year over Sharmahd's death sentence.

Escalating Tensions

The move signals a significant deterioration in Germany-Iran relations:

• German officials said Iran's government "knows above all the language of blackmail, threat and violence."

• The EU foreign policy chief warned that Sharmahd's execution "is seriously harming relations between Iran and the European Union."

• Germany is also pushing for Iran's Revolutionary Guard to be designated as a terrorist organization.

Looks like Germany is done playing nice with Iran.

🇰🇵 NORTH KOREA
North Korea Launches New ICBM

North Korea has test-fired a new intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) capable of reaching the US mainland.

Also, keep in mind that it has deployed troops to Ukraine to fight alongside Russian forces.

This is not going to end well…

Missile Details

The new ICBM is said to be more “agile” and to last longer than previous models. 😏

• The missile was launched on a high angle to avoid neighboring countries.

• It had a flight duration of 86 minutes and reached an altitude of over 4,350 miles.

• North Korea claims the launch "exceeded" the characteristics of its previous ICBM tests.

The US might not be so far out of reach…

Timing and Motivation

The launch was timed to coincide with the US election and, of course, North Korea’s deployment of soldiers to fight alongside Russians in the war in Ukraine.

• The US Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated that around 8,000 North Korean troops are stationed in Russia’s Kursk border region and are expected to join Moscow’s war against Ukraine in the “coming days.”

• North Korea likely hopes to strengthen its bargaining power with the new administration.

• South Korea believes the timing was intentional to send a message to the US and its allies.

International Reaction

The US, South Korea, and Japan strongly condemned the launch.

• They issued a joint statement urging North Korea to "immediately cease its series of provocative and destabilizing actions."

• The US Indo-Pacific Command said the launch "does not pose an immediate threat" but that they are monitoring the situation.

🇱🇧 LEBANON
Seven Killed by Hezbollah Rockets

A deadly rocket attack by Hezbollah in northern Israel has left seven people dead and many more injured. This is one of the deadliest days in the region since the conflict began last year.

So, no ceasefire?

The Attacks

Two separate rocket strikes in northern Israel killed five people in an agricultural area near the town of Metula and two more near Haifa.

• First attack killed five people in a farming region near the northern town of Metula.

  • Four foreign nationals, likely migrant workers on Israeli farms.

  • One was a 46-year-old Israeli citizen named Omer Weinstein.

• The second attack on an olive grove near Haifa killed a 60-year-old woman and her son in his 30s.

• At least 80 rockets were fired from Lebanon by mid-afternoon on Thursday.

• Israel's military responded to the rocket attacks with retaliatory strikes

Escalating Conflict

The attacks are part of an ongoing conflict that escalated into full-blown war last month.

• Israel launched heavy air strikes across Lebanon and killed Hezbollah's top leaders.

• Israeli ground forces then pushed into Lebanon at the start of October.

• Hezbollah has been firing rockets, drones and missiles into Israel since the war began.

🇪🇸 SPAIN
Deadly Floods Devastate Eastern Spain

The death toll from the devastating flash floods in eastern Spain has reached 158, making it one of the worst storm-related disasters in Europe in over 50 years.

Rescue teams are still on the lookout for those missing as the region deals with the aftermath.

Context: Unprecedented Rainfall

A year's worth of rain fell in just 8 hours in parts of the Valencia region on Tuesday.

• The extreme weather event has been described as a "tragedy" and Spain's worst flood-related disaster in modern history.

• Meteorologists attribute the intensity of the storms to the impacts of human-driven climate change.

• Prior to this, major flood disasters in Europe include 185 deaths in Germany in 2021 and nearly 500 fatalities in Portugal in 1967.

Rescue and Recovery Efforts

Rescue teams have been working tirelessly to search for the missing and aid affected communities.

• The bodies of 8 people, including a local policeman, were discovered trapped in a garage on the outskirts of Valencia.

• Thousands of residents have been seen crossing a bridge to the city center to stock up on essential supplies like water and toilet paper.

• Opposition politicians have accused the central government of acting too slowly to warn residents and deploy rescue resources.

Devastated Infrastructure

The floods have caused widespread damage to the region's infrastructure.

• Bridges, roads, and rail tracks have been swept away, and farmland producing two-thirds of Spain's citrus crops has been submerged.

• About 50 miles of roads have been seriously damaged or made impassable, with many blocked by abandoned cars.

• It's estimated it will take 2-3 weeks to restore the high-speed train connection between Valencia and Madrid.

2024 is turning out to be a highly eventful year, filled with elections, wars, and climate disasters worldwide.