Direct Threat: Iran Launches Massive Naval Drill in Persian Gulf, Issues Warning to US Vessels

Iran's Revolutionary Guards commenced a large-scale naval exercise in the Persian Gulf, showcasing sophisticated air defense systems and delivering a "dual message" of regional friendship and stern deterrence to adversaries, primarily the United States.

Iran's Revolutionary Guards launched a major naval exercise on Thursday in the strategic waters of the Persian Gulf, a maneuver explicitly designed to project military strength and send a clear message to regional and international powers. According to official Iranian statements, the primary goal of the drill is to demonstrate the "spirit of sacrifice and resistance" of the nation's forces in the face of any potential threat.

During the extensive exercise, Iranian forces took the assertive step of issuing a "stern warning to American ships" operating in the vicinity. State media emphasized that the drill underscores Iran’s robust "capability to defend its territorial waters," signalling a clear challenge to the sustained presence of U.S. naval assets in the Gulf. 

The drill is notable for featuring advanced, domestically developed air defense and naval systems. The exercise served as a platform to test and display sophisticated technologies designed to maintain operational effectiveness even under intense electronic warfare conditions. (Read More)

Iran’s Guards warn US vessels during drill in Gulf

Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps kicks off naval wargames in the Gulf, issuing warnings to US warships in the area, more than five months after the 12-day war with Israel that briefly drew in American forces. State TV says the drill showcases the “sacrifice and spirit of resistance” of the IRGC’s naval forces “to confront any threat” against Iran following the June war.

Naval units “issued warnings to American vessels present in the region, conveying their firm message,” the report says, though the content of the messages is not immediately clear and US forces in the Gulf do not comment. State media adds that the Guards deployed air-defense systems under electronic-warfare conditions that “were able to detect aerial and maritime targets using artificial intelligence.”

The Gulf, and the strategic Strait of Hormuz at its bottleneck leading to the Sea of Oman, channels about 20 percent of the world’s oil exports each year. On Wednesday, IRGC deputy commander‑in‑chief Ali Fadavi said “no country can diminish the role of the Strait of Hormuz,” vowing the Guards’ protection of the waterway. (Source)

Trump to announce transition to Phase II of Gaza deal, 'Board of Peace' by Christmas - Axios

The report cited two US officials and a Western source familiar with the details.

US President Donald Trump is expected to announce Gaza's "Board of Peace" and the transition to the second phase of the US-backed Gaza deal in the next three weeks, Axios reported on Thursday, citing two US officials and a Western source familiar with the details.

"All of the different elements are pretty well advanced. It's all moving ahead, and the aim is to announce it before people break for the holidays," Axios reported, citing the Western source. The "Board of Peace" will reportedly include approximately 10 Arab and Western leaders and will work alongside an international executive board composed of former British prime minister Tony Blair, Jared Kushner, US envoy Steve Witkoff, and other senior officials from contributing countries.

"The equation will be IDF out of Gaza but Hamas out of power," Axios cited the Western source as saying. "The moment of truth will come in the next few weeks." Mediators are attempting to reach an agreement with Hamas regarding ended its governance of the Gaza Strip and its disarmament, according to Axios. The current discussion will reportedly have the terror group lay down its heavy arms first, and only afterward call for the group's handover of its lighter weapons. (Read More)

IDF troops kill top Hamas battalion cmdr., over 40 terrorists in Rafah tunnels

The IDF said that troops killed over 40 Hamas terrorists who were in tunnels below Rafah in southern Gaza, in an area now under Israeli control.

The IDF said on Thursday that it killed the commander of Hamas's Eastern Rafah Battalion, along with his deputy and inner circle in a Sunday strike. In a Thursday release, the IDF stated that Israeli troops killed Muhammad Jawad Muhammad al-Bawab, commander of Hamas’ Eastern Rafah Battalion, who helped execute the October 7 Massacre and attacked IDF troops in Gaza through the course of the Israel-Hamas War. 

Three additional terrorists, including al-Bawab's deputy, died alongside him. The group was struck by Israeli troops as they exited a terror tunnel in Rafah. The IDF also said that its forces killed over 40 Hamasterrorists who were in tunnels below Rafah in southern Gaza, in an area now under Israeli control.

Around 200 terrorists had been trapped in the tunnels for months, according to Israeli and US officials, although some have since emerged and been killed in clashes with Israeli forces or have surrendered, Israeli media has reported. (Source)

Egyptian official: Israel unilaterally opening Rafah crossing would violate Gaza truce

Diaa Rashwan, head of Egypt’s State Information Service, says in interviews with Arabic media that Cairo has a “veto” against Israel’s decision to reopen the Rafah Border Crossing, and that doing so would be a violation of US President Donald Trump’s 20-point peace plan for Gaza.

The comments come after a source in the SIS, the Egyptian government media agency, was cited in Egyptian media denying Israel’s statement that the crossing would reopen in the coming days for Palestinians leaving Gaza. Trump’s plan says “we will encourage people to stay” in Gaza. “Holding onto the right to stay in Gaza is firmly established in international law, and anything contrary to that would be a war crime,” Diaa is quoted by Egyptian media telling the Cairo News Channel.

Speaking later to Al Jazeera, he says, “the displacement of Palestinians from the Gaza Strip is a red line. “We won’t accept the unilateral opening of the Rafah Crossing in violation of President Trump’s plan,” he says. He also blames Israel for not advancing to the second stage of Trump’s plan for Gaza, and says the failure to progress is “part of the internal political crisis in Israel.” (Source)

Rafah tunnel terrorists in constant contact with Hamas leadership

All Hamas terror cells hiding in Rafah’s tunnels remain in continuous contact with the group’s senior military leadership, contradicting Hamas’ public claim that the cells act independently, Kan News reports.

The terrorists barricaded in Rafah terror tunnels are in close contact with Hamas leadership, Kan Newsreported, quoting a Palestinian Arab source. Since IDF forces deployed along the "yellow line" separating Israeli forces from Hamas forces in Gaza, Hamas has consistently claimed that the terrorist cells operating in Rafah are acting independently and without guidance from the terror organization’s military leadership.

In fact, all terror cells hiding in Rafah's tunnels are in close contact with Hamas' senior command, Kan stressed. This communication is made possible after the military wing’s brigades altered their deployment following the IDF’s establishment of a fixed line in the area. The Northern Gaza Brigade continues to operate from within Gaza City, while the Rafah Brigade is being directed from Khan Yunis. As a result, the terrorist cells in Rafah are under the direct command of the brigade based in Khan Yunis - which itself receives instructions from Hamas' military wing’s leadership.

Meanwhile, attacks on IDF forces in Rafah continue. On Wednesday, three terrorists emerged from a tunnel shaft and attacked an IDF unit, severely wounding one soldier and moderately or lightly injuring four others. The troops returned fire and killed two of the terrorists, and a helicopter struck nearby compounds where the third terrorist, who fled the scene, was believed to be hiding. (Source)

Hamas Leadership Terrified of Israeli Surprise Attack as Rafah Crossing Announcement Ignites Egypt War

Fear of targeted assassinations and a swift return to war has gripped the Hamas leadership following recent Israeli strikes, even as a contentious announcement to open the Rafah border crossing sparks a diplomatic row with Egypt.

The leadership of the Hamas terror group is reportedly expressing growing concern over the prospect of an Israeli surprise attack, including targeted assassinations of senior figures, and a full-scale resumption of the war. These fears escalated following the elimination of the Zaytun Battalion Commander, Imad a-Salim, and the Hezbollah Chief of Staff, Haitham Ali Tabtabaei, during the ceasefire period.

In light of this tension, Israel’s security establishment anticipates that the moment Hamas senses Israel is losing patience and is close to renewing the war, the terror group will instruct its operatives to transfer the remaining fallen hostages. This move would be intended to apply pressure on Israel to transition to "Stage B" of the agreement.

Hamas leaders are currently working through informal channels to secure commitments that the demilitarization of the Gaza area and the transfer of its government will not actually happen. Despite this, the terror leadership believes the United States is likely to pressure Israel into moving to Stage B, which is expected to include: an Israeli withdrawal from the territory it controls, the establishment of a new tent city in Rafah, the reconstruction of the entire area, and the full opening of the Rafah crossing for pedestrian entry from Egypt, followed later by the entry of goods. (Read More)

5 soldiers wounded, one seriously, in attack on troops in Rafah; PM vows response

Netanyahu says Israel ‘will not tolerate attacks on IDF soldiers’ during ceasefire; gunfight erupted after soldiers encountered terror operatives emerging from tunnel.

Five IDF soldiers were wounded Wednesday afternoon, one of them seriously, in an attack by Palestinian terror operatives on troops stationed in southern Gaza’s Rafah, the military said. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Hamas had violated the truce and vowed a response, saying: “Our policy is clear: Israel will not tolerate attacks on IDF soldiers and will respond accordingly.”

According to the IDF, troops of the Golani Brigade’s reconnaissance unit encountered several terror operatives who emerged from a tunnel in eastern Rafah — an Israeli-held area in the Strip’s south, where dozens of Hamas fighters are believed to be trapped underground. A gunfight then erupted.

The army said a soldier with Golani’s reconnaissance unit was seriously injured in the clash, while three other soldiers — including two from Golani and a non-commissioned officer in the Gaza Division — were moderately injured. A fifth soldier was lightly hurt. In response, the IDF carried out airstrikes and artillery shelling in the area. According to a preliminary military investigation, the incident began as the Golani soldiers spotted a suspicious figure covered in a blanket entering a building. A Namer armored personnel carrier (APC) with troops was dispatched to the area to aid in the search for the suspected terror operative. (Read More)

Israel: Rafah Crossing to open for exits of Gazans; Egypt: We won't allow one-way transit

Cairo denies coordinating with Jerusalem on opening of border; Israel previously insisted on Hamas returning all hostages before allowing passage, but bodies of 2 are still in Gaza

Israel announced on Wednesday that it will reopen the Rafah Border Crossing in the coming days for the exit of Palestinians from the Gaza Strip to Egypt, though Cairo denied it was coordinating with Jerusalem on renewing operations at the facility.

Israel’s Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories, the Defense Ministry body that oversees the flow of people and goods to and from Gaza, said the move is “in accordance with the ceasefire agreement and the directives of the political leadership.”

COGAT said that Palestinians will be able to leave Gaza via the Rafah Crossing in coordination with Egypt, after Israeli security approval, and under the supervision of a European Union delegation — a mechanism similar to one activated in January. 

An Israeli official, who spoke anonymously to the Associated Press to discuss operational plans, said that all Palestinians who want to exit Gaza will be able to exit through Rafah as long as Egypt agrees to receive them, but the crossing won’t be open for people wishing to return to Gaza. The official said the EU still had to make some adjustments to logistics before the crossing could open. (Read More)

Southern Syria on verge of becoming new front against Israel

Terrorist groups are establishing themselves in the area, including Palestinian Islamic Jihad, Houthi-affiliated elements, ISIS and Al-Jamaa al-Islamiya.

Terrorist elements are gathering in southern Syria and are plotting attacks against Israel, according to senior Israeli security sources. This prompted an Israel Defense Forces operation on Nov. 28 in the village of Beit Jinn, south of Damascus. Israeli forces raided the village and arrested three operatives from the Al-Jamaa al-Islamiya organization, who, according to intelligence, were planning attacks against Israel, including rocket fire toward the Golan Heights.

The arrested individuals reportedly admitted during interrogation that their organization is linked to terrorist activities connected to Iran, Hezbollah and Hamas. During the raid, Israeli forces encountered resistance and live fire, resulting in injuries to six IDF soldiers. According to Syrian media, 20 villagers—some armed—were killed in the exchange.

Senior political sources said that following the incident, Israel conveyed stern messages to the Syrian regime under Ahmad al-Sharaa via the United States, asserting that it will not tolerate the establishment of terrorist organizations in southern Syria and that it is Damascus’s responsibility to stop such groups—or else Israel will act. (Read More)

IDF issues urgent evacuation warning in southern Lebanon ahead of strikes on Hezbollah

Adraee's announcement on X/Twitter was accompanied by a map showing the locations of upcoming strikes.

IDF Arabic-language spokesperson Avichay Adraee issued an urgent evacuation notice to residents of southern Lebanon on Thursday, saying that Israeli strikes on Hezbollah targets were imminent. "The IDF will attack military infrastructure belonging to the terrorist Hezbollah in various areas of southern Lebanon in the near term to address the prohibited attempts by Hezbollah to rebuild its activities in the region," Adraee said, warning that remaining in the area would expose individuals to danger.

Adraee's announcement on X/Twitter was accompanied by a map showing the locations of upcoming strikes. The notice pertained to the villages of Jibaa and Mahrouna and stated that residents were required to evacuate to a distance of at least 300 meters away from the designated target areas. (Ed note: Mahrouna is about 11 miles from Tyre, and Jibaa is about 36 miles from Tyre.) (Read More)

Riding the waves, Gaza border survivors meet fears head on by learning to surf

One in three survivors of the massacre at Nir Oz are surfing with HaGal Sheli, which has served thousands of Gaza border locals and recently opened a center at Zikim Beach.

One stormy day, months after Rotem Lev Ari spent 12 hours hiding from Hamas terrorists in a safe room with her partner and two young children, she went to the beach with her surfboard. Lev Ari, still learning the sport, didn’t want the rain to stop her. But when a teacher told her to take a break, it made her realize something pivotal about how she had processed the experience of October 7, 2023.

“I was fighting the waves, determined to beat them,” she recalled to The Times of Israel. “A surf guide said, ‘You know, you can come out of the sea and go back in again later.'”  She continued, “I got out and said to myself, ‘I’m not in the protected room anymore, and nobody’s shooting at me.’ The fact I could come out helped me repair, to understand that life doesn’t have to be just about war, and that we can move forward.”

A big part of moving forward, for Lev Ari and other survivors of October 7, has been learning to surf with the HaGal Sheli (My Wave) nonprofit, which offers trauma therapy through surfing. Originally founded to serve at-risk youth, the organization has helped thousands of Gaza border residents process the impact of October 7, beginning in the days after the onslaught. It is now increasing its capacity in the south and inaugurating a new surf center at Zikim Beach, a site of the massacre that reopened to bathers last month.

“Riding the waves helps you to be present in the moment and understand that after every fall, you can get back up again,” said co-founder Yaron Waksman. “There are all the reasons for mourning and crashing, and saying ‘Why me?’ and there’s room for that, but the waves will keep coming, like opportunities, and you can choose whether to grab them, to act, to try.” (Ed note: "Let's go surfing now, everybody's learning how..." And it's proving to be great therapy. Dude, surf's up!)   (Read More)

'Hezbollah disarms or Israel acts': Netanyahu, Ortagus meet as Israel-Lebanon tensions flare

The talks come one year after a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, which Israeli officials say is eroding.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday met with US President Donald Trump’s envoy for Lebanon affairs, Morgan Ortagus, in Israel as border tensions with Lebanon intensify, according to Israeli officials. Defense Minister Israel Katz and IDF Intelligence Chief Maj. Gen. Shlomi Binder joined the meeting. The talks come one year after a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, which Israeli officials say is eroding. “If there is no dramatic change by the end of the agreement period, another round of fighti ng in the north is almost inevitable," a security official told The Jerusalem Post.

Senior Israeli officials say Lebanon’s government and army are not taking sufficient steps to disarm Hezbollah, warning that the group has grown its ranks and replenished missiles and rockets smuggled from Syria.

Another security official said Israel has plans for every scenario. “There is already a prepared plan for every type of operation,” the official said. In both Jerusalem and Washington, December 31 is being discussed as a deadline after which Israel and the United States will reassess options.

Representatives of the countries overseeing the ceasefire’s implementation are due to meet on Wednesday in Naqoura. Ortagus is expected to attend the session, then travel to Beirut to convey a message from senior Israeli officials. The message, according to officials, is direct: “Either Hezbollah disarms, or Israel will be forced to act.”

Israeli and Western frustration over Hezbollah’s disarmament pace has grown in recent weeks, alongside reports of increased activity along the frontier and debate over UNIFIL’s role. The ceasefire’s first anniversary has sharpened scrutiny of whether Beirut is enforcing commitments to keep Hezbollah’s weapons away from the border. (Source)

US Envoy Stunned: The Classified Evidence That Proves Hezbollah Is Preparing for All-Out War

As a critical deadline looms in Lebanon, Israel warns American officials about Hezbollah's alarming rearmament pace, escalating fears of a potential Israeli strike.

Morgan Ortagus, the envoy dispatched by President Trump to Lebanon, arrived in Israel today (Tuesday) for a series of high-stakes meetings, including sessions with the Prime Minister and the Minister of Defense. The head of Israel's Military Intelligence Directorate (AMAN), Major General Shlomi Binder, was also present. The American delegation is urgently attempting to halt a regional deterioration and prevent the complete collapse of the current ceasefire arrangement.

During the meetings, Israeli officials presented the American envoy with detailed intelligence concerning Hezbollah’s intense efforts to rebuild and rearm. Israel provided a comprehensive dossier of evidence, arguing that the Lebanese Army is neither capable nor willing to enforce the violations committed by Hezbollah. A senior Israeli official, speaking anonymously to the press, stressed the need for international cover: "Israel needs American legitimacy for any step that may be decided upon."

Prior to her meeting with the Prime Minister and Minister of Defense, the American envoy also met with Foreign Minister Gideon Saar. Saar laid out Israel's assessment of the Iran-backed terror group: "The terrorist organization is arming itself at a pace much faster than it is disarming. The responsibility lies with the Lebanese government." (Read More)

'Disconnected from reality': UNGA calls on Israel to withdraw from Golan Heights

Ambassador to the UN Danny Danon said that the vote proved how the General Assembly was "detached... from reality."

The United Nations General Assembly approved a resolution calling on Israel to withdraw from the Golan Heights in a Tuesday vote. Some 123 countries voted in favor of the resolution, seven voted against it, and 41 abstained. Ambassador to the UN Danny Danon later called the vote a farce in a post on X/Twitter.

"The UN General Assembly once again proves how disconnected it is from reality. Instead of addressing the crimes of the Iranian axis and the dangerous activities of militias in Syria, it demands that Israel withdraw from the Golan Heights - a vital defense line that protects our citizens," he wrote. "Israel will not return to the 1967 lines and will not abandon the Golan. Not now, not ever."

The Syrian Foreign Ministry added that the resolution "also reflects the genuine diplomatic efforts calling for Israel’s withdrawal from the entirety of the occupied Syrian Golan to the June 4, 1967 line, and confirms once again that acquiring land by force is illegitimate and violates international law, particularly the Israeli annexation measures in the occupied Syrian Golan." (Read More)

Smotrich praises Netanyahu for reported backing of Judea, Samaria outposts

"Together, we will kill the idea of a Palestinian state," said the Israeli finance minister.

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich on Wednesday praised Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over his reported support for farming outposts in Judea and Samaria. Smotrich thanked the prime minister “for supporting the revolution we are carrying out in Judea and Samaria, among other things through the establishment of 132 outposts that protect 700,000 dunams [173,000 acres] from illegal Arab encroachment.”

“Together, we will kill the idea of a Palestinian state and ensure that Jews will be able to live and move about in safety everywhere,” he concluded. Netanyahu has led an unprecedented drive to expand control of Judea and Samaria, approving some 50,000 housing units and over 50 new Jewish communities since late 2022. Smotrich was responding to a Ynet report revealing the summary of a recent Cabinet discussion, according to which Netanyahu expressed support for legalizing Jewish farms in Judea and Samaria as part of what he described as “a positive response to Palestinian activity in the area.”

While many of the farming outposts in Judea and Samaria are built without permission, Ynet noted, their pastures are often legal and officially allocated to them by the Israeli Defense Ministry’s Civil Administration, which Smotrich oversees. (Read More)

'Inflaming tensions': Bedouin mayor slams Ben-Gvir's unauthorized visit after meeting cancellation

National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir is expected to visit the Bedouin town of Lakiya in southern Israel on Tuesday night as part of Israel Police's new directive to combat crime in the Negev, despite the cancellation of a planned meeting between him and Council Head Sharif al Asad.

The unauthorized visit follows weeks of sharp clashes between the two and criticism Ben-Gvir faced during his previous trip to the town. “We don’t need a meeting in order to come to the locality,” sources close to Ben-Gvir said, explaining that the MK is set to arrive with senior police commanders to review the ongoing implementation of the operation.

Their last meeting ended with Asad accusing Ben-Gvir of coming “to inflame tensions." At the same time, Ben-Gvir claimed that he was allowed to visit “any locality where there are shootings and criminal activity.” The two later agreed to meet again, but that meeting was also canceled, leading Ben-Gvir to now visit the town without coordinating with the council.

Last week, Ben-Gvir and Police Commissioner Daniel Levi visited Lakiya to oversee the installation of concrete barriers and checkpoints in the town as part of the Southern District’s new directive. During the visit, MK Walid al-Hawashla (Ra’am) confronted Ben-Gvir, calling him “a racist" who only "came to provoke.” “Governance is returning," Ben-Gvir sharply responded, "And we are the landlords.”  As part of the operation, Israel Police has increased its patrols, restricted the movement of suspected criminals, and searched for weapons stolen from the IDF. (Read More)

Egypt and EU stepping up preparations to dispatch Palestinian police force to Gaza

Diplomats push back at claim Hamas members to be part of new body, as Cairo trains thousands of recruits and Brussels looks to join effort, possibly influence postwar Strip.

Egypt and the European Union are preparing to expand training of Palestinian police for deployment in Gaza under US President Donald Trump’s 20-point peace plan for the Strip, two diplomats and a foreign official briefed on the issue have told The Times of Israel. The force, like many components of the US framework, remains largely aspirational, said the officials, who included an Arab and a European diplomat. They noted that its size, composition, command structure, deployment zones, and responsibilities have yet to be finalized.

But with the Trump plan now backed by a United Nations Security Council resolution, and as officials await the transition to its second phase, Cairo and Brussels are increasingly focused on building out the police force — mainly by training Palestinian officers ahead of deployment. The Security Council resolution authorizes the establishment of a temporary International Stabilization Force in Gaza to help secure the border, ensure demilitarization, protect civilians and humanitarian operations, and support and work alongside “the newly trained and vetted Palestinian police force.”

Before the war, Gaza was policed by an estimated 5,000 to 10,000 officers serving under the auspices of Hamas, which has controlled the Strip since 2007, but is supposed to cede power under the Trump plan. In its place, the international community is seeking to install an armed Palestinian force tasked with day-to-day law enforcement among the Strip’s approximately two million inhabitants. (Read More)

Israel's Arrow 3 goes live in Germany, submarine deal sees new progress

Progress on submarines, Arrow defense, and AI cooperation signals Israel-Germany ties remain strong despite recent tensions from the war.

BERLIN, GERMANY - With Germany about to deploy its Arrow air defense system, sold to it by Israel, for the first time this week, the Israeli Defense Ministry has made new progress regarding submarines Berlin is providing to Jerusalem, which according to foreign reports, have nuclear weapons capabilities, the Jerusalem Post has learned.

Defense Ministry Director-General Amir Baram flew to Germany on Monday night where he will later participate in officially unveiling and deploying the Israeli-supplied Arrow 3 missile defense system later this week. The Post reported on Sunday that the ceremony and the unveiling were imminent for later this week and will be in attendance at the ceremony. This $3.6 billion deal will be the first time that the Arrow 3 will be deployed outside of Israel. Continued movement on the issue comes on one hand as Berlin continues to buy weapons from Israel, while at the same time it is removing a temporary, but lengthy, weapons sales ban on Jerusalem over the recently concluded Israel-Hamas War.

The Post learned back in 2024 that IMDO Director Mr. Moshe Patel, “Arrow 3” Project Head for Germany Colonel Carsten Koepper, and IAI’s Missiles and Space Division Head Mr. Guy Bar Lev were the lead parties, while the discussions also included representatives from IAI’s MLM Division and Elta. (Ed note: The upgraded version of the existing Dolphin-class submarines are diesel-electric, and those Dolphin-class submarines are capable of carrying nuclear-armed cruise missiles.) (Read More)

Trump Sends Israel Fierce Warning: "Do Not Interfere" with Syria’s Development

U.S. President Donald Trump publicly warned Israel not to interfere with the development of Syria's new regime, calling on Jerusalem to hold a "genuine dialogue" days after an IDF operation in southern Syria resulted in seven wounded soldiers.

In a stark and unprecedented message directed at Israel, United States President Donald Trump warned Jerusalem not to take any action that could "interfere with the development of Syria" into a prosperous state. The warning, delivered via social media and coinciding with a diplomatic visit by a U.S. envoy to Damascus, comes in the wake of a fierce firefight last week in southern Syriawhere six IDF soldiers were wounded.

President Trump stated that the U.S. is "very pleased" with the results achieved in Syria following the fall of the Assad regime, which he attributed to "hard work and determination." He stressed that Washington is working to ensure the Syrian government "continues to do what is expected of it," callig it "significant" for building a "real and prosperous nation."

Trump called on Israel to enter into a "strong and genuine dialogue" with Syria, arguing that this is a "historic opportunity" for "peace in the Middle East." He specifically praised Syria’s new president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, saying he is "working diligently to ensure good things happen" and to establish a "long-term and prosperous relationship" between the two countries. (Read More)

BREAKING: Trump Invites Netanyahu to White House Amid Syria Warning

President Trump invited Prime Minister Netanyahu for a White House meeting "in the near future," an urgent summit set against the backdrop of Trump's public warning to Israel on Syria and Netanyahu's controversial request for a presidential pardon.

President Donald Trump has issued a high-stakes invitation to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for a meeting at the White House "in the near future," the Prime Minister's Office announced tonight (Monday). The phone call between the two leaders arrives at a politically explosive moment, immediately following Trump's public warning to Israel about its military activities in Syria and coinciding with Netanyahu's controversial legal moves at home.

The repeated invitations, if Netanyahu attends, it will be his fifth visit to the White House since Trump's re-entry to office, signal an active, direct channel focused on Israel’s war strategy and regional realignment. The last meeting occurred in October, following the signing of a hostage agreement.

Despite the complex political undercurrents, the Prime Minister's Office stated that the two leaders focused their conversation on key strategic objectives: This focus on expanding peace agreements, widening the circle of Arab and Muslim countries normalizing with Israel, suggests the White House summit could precede a major diplomatic push. Rushed "near future" summits often precede significant policy moves, such as a new Gaza blueprint, a ceasefire package, or a normalization breakthrough. (Read More)

Trump speaks to Netanyahu, warns Israel not to ‘interfere’ in Syria

Days after deadly Israeli operation in southern Syria, US president says he hopes two countries can ‘have a long and prosperous relationship,’ invites PM to visit White House.

US President Donald Trump warned Israel via social media on Monday against destabilizing Syria and its new leadership, shortly before holding a phone conversation with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. “It is very important that Israel maintain a strong and true dialogue with Syria, and that nothing takes place that will interfere with Syria’s evolution into a prosperous State,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform, days after a deadly operation by Israeli forces in the south of the country.

Trump said he was “very satisfied” with Syria’s current performance under former Islamist rebel President Ahmed al-Sharaa, who made a historic visit to the White House in November. The US president said Sharaa “is working diligently to make sure good things happen, and that both Syria and Israel will have a long and prosperous relationship together.” 

He added that the United States was “doing everything within our power to make sure the Government of Syria continues to do what was intended” to rebuild the war-torn country. Good relations between Syria and Israel would add to his efforts for a wider Middle East peace following the fragile Gaza ceasefire in October, said Trump. Shortly after the social media post, Netanyahu’s office said the prime minister held a phone call with Trump. (Read More)

Syrian President al-Sharaa Faces Likely Assassination, Sparking Fears of ISIS Resurgence

Amid Syria’s spiraling chaos, Israeli intelligence warns that the assassination of President Ahmad al-Sharaa could unleash ISIS and extremist factions, turning the north into a tinderbox of terror. Power vacuums, jihadist resurgence, and looming bloodshed threaten Israel’s borders.

Amid escalating instability in post-Assad Syria, Israeli security agencies have assessed the assassination of Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa, also known as Ahmed al-Sharaa or Abu Mohammad al-Jolani, as "highly likely" at the hands of internal opposition elements. A senior Israeli official has issued a stark warning: "We need to prepare for the possibility that extremist groups like ISIS and others may take control of Syria if al-Sharaa is assassinated."

This alarming development reflects growing concerns that an internal collapse could pave the way for jihadist organizations to expand their influence along Israel's northern border. Recent reports from Israeli media and security analyses in November and December 2025 highlight a heightened risk, focusing on threats from extremist factions, internal opposition, and potential power vacuums that could empower groups like ISIS.

Multiple Israeli outlets and think tanks report that security agencies view al-Sharaa's assassination by internal opposition or extremist factions as a significant threat. For example: Israeli Channel 14 reported in early December 2025 that security officials assess the assassination by "opposition groups" within Syria as "very likely." This phrasing echoes other citations of the channel, describing it as "highly likely" by opposition factions. (Read More)

US said to warn Iraq that Israel will strike militias that seek to aid Hezbollah

Envoy Tom Barrack meets newly reelected PM in Baghdad, reportedly warns him to crack down on Iran-backed groups and stay out of regional conflicts.

US envoy Tom Barrack reportedly warned Iraq’s leader on Sunday that Israel could carry out strikes on militias in Iraq if they seek to aid Lebanese terror group Hezbollah. Barrack, the US ambassador to Turkey and special envoy on Syria, met with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani in Baghdad. In a statement, Sudani’s office said the pair discussed “preventing any further escalation in the region,” and that Barrack stressed Iraq’s “constructive and essential role” in such a goal.

The state-owned Saudi Al-Hadath TV network reported Monday that Barrack warned Iraq of a “harsh Israeli strike,” if Iraqi factions seek to intervene in support of Hezbollah. Citing sources, the station said Barrack told Baghdad that Israel’s operations in Lebanon will “continue until Hezbollah is disarmed.”
According to The New Arab news outlet — citing its Arabic-language sister site — Barrack warned Sudani to stop Iraqi groups from providing Hezbollah with military and financial support.

Citing an Iraqi source, the website said Barrack’s visit to Baghdad was designed to pass on the Trump administration’s positions on the current situation in both Syria and Lebanon. “The Americans don’t want Iraq to interfere in the affairs of Syria or Lebanon, specifically the armed factions allied with Iran,” the anonymous source told the news site. (Read More)

Tehran, Running out of Water, Faces ‘Alarming’ Pollution in

The air quality index in Tehran has deteriorated to “unhealthy” and “alarming” levels, according to both outside experts and the Iranian government, which advised city residents to remain indoors last week.

“Elderly people and children, along with cardiovascular and respiratory patients, should remain in their homes as much as possible,” Tehran Air Quality Control said in its latest advisory. Government agencies and businesses in the national capital were asked to reduce staffing and allow employees to work from h me, while schools across the city were closed.

Restrictions have been placed on trucks and automobiles within Tehran to reduce emissions. This had the unusual side effect of filling the streets with women riding on motorbikes, because it was impossible for men to drive them around in cars, as normally required by Iran’s repressive Islamist cultural regulations.

A deputy for Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian admitted that “air pollution will kill if it becomes any more than this.” The director of emergency services for Tehran said on Monday that least 357 people died from causes related to air pollution over the past eight days. The director said his agency fielded thousands of emergency calls from people who found it difficult to cope with the toxic atmosphere. (Read More)

How campus antisemitism is spurring a new wave of US college graduates to move to Israel

One expert says students are increasingly deepening their networks in Jewish and Israel-focused circles to ‘simply be with people who get it,’ often opening the path to immigration.

NEW YORK — Night after night, Columbia University student Sonya Poznansky fell asleep to the sound of her peers chanting to “globalize the intifada,” a mantra that at best brings back images of the bloody Palestinian uprising of the early 2000s, and at worst can be interpreted as a call to repeat the violence against Jews worldwide.

“In those moments, I kept thinking about my great-grandmother, who left Poland in 1925. What signs did she see that made her feel there wasn’t a future for her family there?” she said. Upon graduation, Poznansky reached the same conclusion her great-grandmother did: she decided to move to Israel. For many American college students, a recent uptick in already high campus hostility to Israel and Jews is shaping a new wave of aliyah, Hebrew for immigration to Israel, turning an embattled student identity into a commitment to build a life in the Jewish state.

According to Nefesh B’Nefesh, an organization that assists Diaspora Jews in making the move, 782 North Americans aged 20–25 made aliyah in 2024, a 24% increase from 2023. The organization also reports a notable increase in university graduates enlisting in the IDF after the Hamas-led onslaught of October 7, 2023. Masa Israel Journey — a nonprofit backed by the Israeli government that places Jewish young adults in immersive study, service, and internship programs in Israel — says early registrations for its programs are up roughly 32% from this time last year. Since October 7, the organization has welcomed nearly 2,000 fellows from the United States into post-graduate programs. (Ed note: Above Columbia graduate Chloe Katz holds a sign reading, 'The Jewish nation lives on." This can't be good for America. As our young Jewish college graduates leave the US, a Bible verse comes to mind that God once told a man named Abram, Genesis 12:3, "And I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you, I will curse..." That vow to Abram is still in effect unto this day. Also see the two articles below this one.)     (Read More)

Fewer and fewer Americans support Israel. Will their next president?

2028 is three long years away, but with criticism of Israel, antisemitism and isolationism rising, US candidates may be turning away from the longtime alliance.

About a month ago, as JD Vance was fresh off a trip to Israel, a young man at the University of Mississippi asked him why the US still supported the Jewish state. Wearing a Make America Great Again hat, the man accused Israel of “ethnic cleansing in Gaza,” then drew applause when he added, “Not only does their religion not agree with ours, but also openly supports the prosecution of ours.

An American vice president of a different era may have rebutted the age-old canard that Judaism supports the “prosecution” of Christianity, or at least noted that the US is a multifaith democracy where Jews are equal citizens, before reiterating that Israel is and has long been a staunch ally. Vance did none of that. Instead, he stressed that Israel was not “controlling” President Donald Trump and boasted that Trump achieved the Gaza ceasefire by “being willing to apply leverage” on Israel. He added, “What I am not okay with is any country coming before the interests of American citizens.”

Weeks earlier, Vance’s predecessor, Kamala Harris, was asked by an ABC reporter whether Israel had committed genocide in Gaza. The Democrats’ 2024 presidential nominee answered that she deferred to the courts. But she cited the high civilian death toll in Gaza before saying, “We should all step back and ask this question and be honest about it, yeah.”

Harris came close to becoming president last year. Vance may well take the White House in 2028. And they are not alone. Two months ago, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called Trump Israel’s “greatest friend.” But as the Democratic Party becomes increasingly critical of Israel, the Republican Party becomes increasingly isolationist, and antisemitism spreads on the American left and right, it’s becoming more and more plausible that the next US president will not be pro-Israel — at least as the term has long been understood. (Read More)

The Next Great Ingathering? Israel Practices For Emergency Aliyah

The images are haunting: runway lights cutting through the night, aircraft descending one after another, and streams of exhausted families stepping onto Israeli soil--some trembling, some silent, all fleeing a world that has turned suddenly hostile. In Israel's latest national emergency drill, this was not fiction. It was a sober rehearsal for a future the government fears may be closer than anyone wants to admit.

Because something remarkable--and unsettling--is happening simultaneously across the West. Antisemitism is rising at a velocity not seen in generations. Jewish life in once-safe cities is being shaken to its core. And for the first time in decades, major governments are openly warning their Jewish citizens to hide their identities, avoid public gatherings, or prepare for evacuation.

Against this backdrop, Israel ran a full-scale absorption drill in Ramla simulating a mass emergency aliyah: tens of thousands of Jews fleeing collapsing security conditions abroad. It was the kind of operation we once associated with history books--not modern Europe, North America, or the digital age. But Israel is preparing for exactly that.

The scenario was intentionally extreme: 800 new arrivals per day, every day, for two weeks. No warning. Papers incomplete. Some unsure whether they even qualified under the Law of Return. Many traumatized. All needing immediate housing, food, schooling, medical attention, work placement, and security. (Ed note: "It was a sober rehearsal for a future the government fears may be closer than anyone wants to admit." End Times?) (Read More)

Iron Beam laser defense system set for IDF launch

Israel’s Iron Beam (“Magen Or” in Hebrew) laser defense system will begin defending against aerial threats at the end of the month, the country’s Defense Ministry announced on Monday.

“With development complete and a comprehensive testing program that has validated the system’s capabilities, we are prepared to deliver initial operational capability to the IDF on Dec. 30, 2025,” said Brig. Gen. (res.) Daniel Gold, head of the Directorate of Defense Research and Development at the Defense Ministry.

Speaking at the International DefenseTech Summit at Tel Aviv University, Gold said the system was a complement to the Iron Dome, David’s Sling and Arrow air defense systems, and “is expected to fundamentally change the rules of engagement on the battlefield.”

The system uses a 100-kilowatt laser to intercept rockets, mortars and UAVs at a range of more than 6 miles (10 kilometers), at a fraction of the cost of traditional interceptors. The estimated cost per firing is about $2 to $5, compared to $40,000 to $80,000 for a single Iron Dome interceptor. The Iron Beam—to be renamed “Ohr Eitan” (“Eitan’s Light”) after Eitan Oster, who fell in battle in Lebanon and whose father was one of its developers—will be integrated into the Israel Defense Forces’ air defense array. (Read More)

Iran and Turkey agree to build key trade rail link along ancient Silk Road

Iranian FM says line will be strategic gateway between Asia and Europe; $1.6 billion project for 200 kilometers of track will take 3-4 years to complete.

TEHRAN, Iran — Iran and Turkey have agreed to begin constructing a new joint rail link to serve as a strategic gateway between Asia and Europe, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Sunday. The planned route, known in Iran as the Marand–Cheshmeh Soraya railway transit line and running towards Turkey’s Aralik border region, will cover around 200 kilometers (120 miles). It will cost roughly $1.6 billion and is expected to take three to four years to complete, Iranian authorities have said.

Earlier this month, Iran’s transport minister Farzaneh Sadegh said the rail line would transform the southern section of what was once the Silk Road into an “all-rail corridor ensuring the continuity of the network between China and Europe.” It would also ensure “fast and cheap transport of all types of cargo with minimal stops,” she added.

At a joint press conference on Saturday with his Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan, Araghchi said “emphasis was placed on the need to remove barriers to trade and investment between the two countries.” “The two countries also stressed the importance of the rail link… in the region and expressed hope that the construction of this line can start as soon as possible,” he added.

The ancient Silk Road was a vast system of trade routes that for centuries linked East Asia to the Middle East and Europe, facilitating the flow of goods, culture, and knowledge across continents. In 2013, China announced the construction of the “Belt and Road Initiative,” officially known as the “New Silk Road” — a project that aims to build maritime, road, and rail infrastructure to boost global trade. Iran has been seeking to expand infrastructure and trade with neighboring countries as part of efforts to revitalize an economy strained by decades of international sanctions. (Ed note: Hey, can anyone else see troops coming to Ezekiel 38/39 on that train? Welcome to the End Times.)  (Source)

As Trump and Saudi prince heat up ties, Israel normalization left out in the cold

MBS notched important gains in Washington, rehabilitating Riyadh after it was sidelined by Israel and Qatar and likely stiffening the kingdom’s price for joining the Abraham Accords.

Sitting alongside the US president, the gold trim of his robes matching the molding of Donald Trump’s Oval Office, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman radiated regal confidence.

Smiling easily, the kingdom’s 40-year-old de facto leader delighted Trump by announcing a nearly $1 trillion investment in the US economy. Trump patted the powerful Saudi prince’s shoulder repeatedly, and angrily defended the royal known as MBS in the face of hostile questions about his record from the Washington press corps. Behind the elaborate trappings, the warm physical contact, and the smiles, it was an uneasy MBS who came to Washington this month. 

His grand economic plans, on which he is staking the future of the kingdom, are nowhere close to where he wants them to be. The kingdom finds itself on the back foot while Saudi Arabia’s rivals are driving events in the Middle East. MBS came to Washington to try to reassert the oil-rich kingdom’s position in a region that’s been leaving it behind, and in that regard, the visit was a marked success, consolidating much of what was promised during Trump’s visit to Riyadh in May and cementing the crown prince as one of Trump’s top allies in the region.

But by helping add muscle to Saudi Arabia and boosting its stature in the Middle East, the White House may have also raised the price on long-sought normalization between Riyadh and Jerusalem. (Read More)

Rubio sees progress in Florida talks with Ukraine, needs more work to reach deal

United States and Ukrainian officials held what both sides called productive talks on Sunday about a peace deal with Russia, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressing optimism about progress despite challenges in ending the more than 3-year-long war.

"We continue to be realistic about how difficult this is, but optimistic, particularly given the fact that as we've made progress, I think there is a shared vision here that this is not just about ending the war ... it is about securing Ukraine's future, a future that we hope will be more prosperous than it's ever been," Rubio said in Florida, where the talks were being held.

Rubio said the aim is to create a pathway that leaves Ukraine sovereign and independent. The discussions follow roughly two weeks of negotiations that began with a US blueprint for peace. Critics said the plan initially favored Russia, which started the Ukraine conflict with a 2022 invasion.

pecial envoy Steve Witkoff and US President Donald Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, were also present representing the US side. Witkoff is expected to meet Russian counterparts later this week.

"There are a lot of moving parts, and obviously there's another party involved here that will have to be a part of the equation, and that will continue later this week, when Mr. Witkoff travels to Moscow," Rubio said.  (Read More)

Ex-CIA station chief warns Putin using talks to gain leverage as Ukraine delegation meets top Trump officials

Former CIA Moscow station chief warns Russia's strategic objectives haven't changed despite peace talks.

Russian President Vladimir Putin may be using negotiations over the war in Ukraine to gain more favorable positioning on the battlefield and among global leaders, but a former high-ranking CIA official doubts whether Russia is really interested in peace. "Russia's going to continue this war, and their strategic objectives — which is to topple the government of Ukraine — those haven't changed much," said Dan Hoffman on "Fox & Friends Weekend." Hoffman used to serve as the CIA station chief of Moscow, making him the highest-ranking CIA official in Russia at the time.

"Putin likes to talk, he likes to negotiate because he feels like he could influence the United States not to pursue sanctions, further sanctions on Russia, and to hold on giving Ukraine military equipment like Tomahawk missiles," Hoffman said. "But I don't see Russia very interested in negotiating. However, it's still worth pursuing, and good on the Trump administration for trying."

Despite his skepticism, Hoffman emphasized the importance of the meeting between a Ukrainian delegation and United States representatives, including Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, happening in Florida on Sunday. "I think these meetings are really important, not just for the United States and Ukraine to discuss the peace process and the upcoming trip from Special Envoy Witkoff to Russia, but also for the Ukrainians to share battlefield updates, what they're seeing on the ground, how they see the war going and the potential for a future deal in the making," Hoffman said. (Read More)

Syria celebrates regime’s collapse while clashes flare near the Israeli border - analysis

'From the walls of Aleppo, we saw Damascus liberated, and from the walls of this citadel, we saw the fighters in the heart of Damascus. For us, Aleppo was the gateway to entering all of Syria.'

Syria is focusing on the anniversary of the offensive that began in late November 2024, which led to the fall of the Assad regime on December 8, 2024. The Syrians are celebrating a victory. They do so amid the tensions with Israel that continue to dominate southern Syria near the Golan. A deadly raid last week in the village of Beit Jinn led to the death of several Syrians and wounding of Israeli soldiers. However, Damascus is focused elsewhere. It is celebrating the liberation of Aleppo from Assad’s rule, which occurred a year ago.

The Syrian state media SANA noted that “Syrian provinces witnessed widespread mass gatherings on Friday marking the first anniversary of the Liberation Battle, ‘Deterring the Aggression,’ reaffirming national unity and rejecting division. The goal of Syrians now is to rebuild the country. They also know there are hurdles. They know that the new Syrian government has tensions with the Druze in Sweida. There are also tensions with the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces in eastern Syria, a force largely led by Kurds.

Syrians in the major cities of Aleppo, Hama, Homs, and Damascus are trying to focus on celebrating this week. “Participants emphasized their commitment to Syria’s territorial integrity and condemned all forms of division and separatist projects. They expressed solidarity with the residents of Beit Jinn in the Damascus countryside, who were targeted early Friday by a "cowardly Israeli attack that claimed the lives of 13 civilians, injured dozens, and caused significant material damage,” SANA noted.

As such, some Syrians have been chanting sectarian slogans. The tensions with Israel could boil over. There have also been recent clashes between Bedouin and Alawites in Homs. These are complex times for Syria. Critics say that the leadership in Damascus, largely made up of the Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham members who swept Assad from power last year, is not doing enough to protect and incorporate minorities. (Read More)

Khamenei: Iran defeated US, Israel in June’s 12-Day War

“The U.S. and the Zionist regime came and perpetrated malicious acts. They took a beating and left empty-handed,” said the Islamic Republic's leader.

Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei on Thursday night delivered a blistering broadside against the United States and Israel, accusing the allies of committing global crimes and claiming Tehran emerged victorious from the 12-day conflict in June. “The Zionist regime’s attacks on Lebanon, its aggressions against Syria, and its crimes in the West Bank and Gaza are all carried out with the U.S.’s backing. And due to these actions, the U.S. has truly become despised,” Khamenei said in a televised address.

Regarding the war against Hamas—which he called “one of the most significant tragedies in the history of our region”—Khamenei asserted that “the Zionist regime has been severely disgraced. And the U.S. stands beside that oppressive regime in its infamy and disgrace.

“People around the world know that if the U.S. hadn’t been involved, the Zionist regime wouldn’t have been capable of committing such extensive atrocities in Gaza,” he added. Addressing the aerial conflict in June, Khamenei claimed the United States and Israel suffered losses “far greater than the material damageinflicted on our country. “According to some accounts, the Zionist regime had planned and prepared for this war for 20 years. There were 20 years of planning to start a war in Iran and to incite the people so they would fight the system. But the situation turned against them, and they failed,” he said. (Read More)