Iran’s Nuclear Resurgence: Is Israel Ready for the Ultimate Threat?

Israel’s security is increasingly threatened by Hezbollah, Iranian proxies, and emerging risks from Syria, Jordan, and Egypt, while its depleted ground forces struggle to adapt. Warnings of a war surpassing the October 7, 2023, attack highlight the urgent need for strategic military overhaul amid Iran’s advancing nuclear and missile capabilities.

Israel’s security landscape is teetering on the edge of a crisis, with warnings that the next war could dwarf the devastation of Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack, which killed 1,200 and took 251 hostages. Senior IDF officers, from generals to company commanders speaking anonymously, admit Israel was unprepared for the Iron Swords War and has suffered a strategic setback against Hamas. 

The IDF’s ongoing campaign, costing 888 Israeli lives by July 2025, highlights vulnerabilities that could prove catastrophic against evolving regional threats. “The next war may be far worse than October 7,” a senior officer cautioned, pointing to the rapid escalation of dangers across multiple fronts.

Hezbollah, despite losses in 2024, including the assassination of leader Hassan Nasrallah, remains formidable with 120,000–200,000 rockets and extensive tunnel networks capable of paralyzing northern Israel. The IDF has deployed a full division to the Lebanese border, fearing Hezbollah’s potential alignment with Iran in a future conflict. 

In Syria, the December 2024 fall of Bashar al-Assad has unleashed jihadist groups and Turkish forces, posing greater risks than the former regime. Along the 300-kilometer Jordanian border, Iranian-backed terror cells are establishing guerrilla bases.
Intelligence also suggests Egypt’s military is preparing for a possible confrontation, while the IDF lacks sufficient forces to counter such a threat. 

In Judea and Samaria, 1,200 terrorist incidents in 2025 underscore a volatile region where the IDF’s ground forces are stretched thin. (Ed note: Anyone else have the feeling that the real battle of Psalm 83 is about to begin?)   (Read More)

Iranian FM: Enrichment is 'dear to us', no plans to stop

Iran’s Foreign Minister says his country refuses to abandon uranium enrichment, calling it a matter of "national pride." Iran will not cease its uranium enrichment activities, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi confirmed in an interview set to air Monday evening on Fox News. Speaking to anchor Bret Baier, Araghchi declared the program a point of "national pride," rejecting US demands that Tehran abandon its nuclear ambitions.

"We cannot give up enrichment because it is an achievement of our own scientists," Araghchi said. "And now, more than that, it is a question of national pride. Our enrichment is so dear to us." Araghchi also acknowledged that US airstrikes last month caused “serious” damage to Iran’s nuclear facilities. However, he declined to specify whether any enriched uranium remained intact.

“Our facilities have been damaged - seriously damaged,” he stated, noting that Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization is still evaluating the full extent of the destruction. For now, all enrichment activities have ceased. Araghchi’s comments come a day after Iran announced it will hold nuclear talks with Britain, France and Germany in Istanbul on Friday. Tehran faces intensifying sanctions and arms restrictions if it fails to reach a nuclear deal by the end of August. It remains unclear whether a future agreement must include the US or only France, Germany, and the United Kingdom. (Read More)

Iran Claims Air Defenses Fully Restored After Devastating Israeli Strikes

Iran claims to have restored its air defense network, damaged by Israeli strikes in June 2025, using domestic systems like Bavar-373 and remaining S-300 batteries. The announcement follows Israel’s reported destruction of a third of Iran’s air defense infrastructure, raising doubts about Tehran’s true capabilities amid ongoing regional tensions.

One month after Israel’s devastating airstrikes in June 2025 crippled Iran’s air defense network, the Islamic Republic claims to have fully restored its capabilities. Rear Admiral Mahmoud Mousavi, deputy for operations in Iran’s regular army, acknowledged the damage, stating, “Some of our air defenses were damaged. This is not something we can hide.” He emphasized the rapid recovery, adding, “Our colleagues have used domestic resources and replaced them with pre-arranged systems that were stored in suitable locations.

We were able to cover the skies using existing and new systems, securing the airspace of our dear Iran. The enemy, despite its desperate efforts, failed to achieve its goals.” The restored network reportedly includes upgraded domestically developed Bavar-373 and Khordad-15 systems, alongside surviving Russian-supplied S-300 batteries. (Read More)

Iran launches satellite rocket in first test since June war

Iran tests the Ghased satellite launch vehicle, previously used by the IRGC, to assess new technologies.
Iran on Monday carried out a suborbital test of its Ghased satellite launch vehicle, marking its first such move since last month’s ceasefire ended a 12-day conflict with Israel, which also included US strikes on nuclear-related sites in the Islamic Republic. The state-run IRNA news agency reported the test was aimed at “assessing some emerging new technologies in the country’s space industry,” adding that the results would be used to enhance Iran’s satellite and space capabilities.

Further details, including the launch site, were not disclosed. The Ghased rocket, which uses both solid and liquid fuel, was first unveiled by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in 2020 and successfully placed a military satellite into orbit, according to The Associated Press. Iran has continued to develop its space program, which Western officials view as a cover for advancing ballistic missile technology.

Iran has several times tried to launch satellites into space. In September of 2024, the Islamic Republic claimed it successfully launched a satellite into space with a rocket built by the Revolutionary Guard. A year earlier, Iran launched another satellite using a rocket developed by the IRGC.In January of 2022, a top Iranian official claimed that Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard had launched a solid-fuel satellite carrier rocket into space and that the test was successful. A month earlier, Iran claimed it had successfully launched three research satellites into space. According to Ahmad Hosseini, a Defense Ministry spokesman, the rocket used was a Simorgh.    (Ed note: Why a 'solid-fuel' rocket? Because it will travel a long distance, going into space, probably carrying an atomic bomb, and travel to the USA. Iran doesn't need such a rocket for the Middle East.)  (Read More)

Videos expose the Syrian regime’s ethnic cleansing of Druze

The newly formed Islamist regime in Syria, established as former Al-Qaeda commander Ahmed al-Sharaa—also known as Abu Mohammad al-Julani—was named Syria’s transitional president on Jan. 31, 2025, following the ousting of former Syrian President Bashar Assad, has wasted no time in revealing its true nature. Despite initially pledging to form an inclusive transitional government, the regime has unleashed a brutal campaign of violence that bears all the hallmarks of ethnic cleansing, targeting the country’s Druze minority.

This month, that campaign intensified dramatically. According to the U.K.-based Syrian Observatory of Human Rights (SOHR), more than 1,000 people have been killed in recent clashes, including 336 Druze fighters and 298 civilians, 194 of whom were “executed by gunmen affiliated with the Ministries of Defense and Interior.”

Following a brutal military onslaught on the Druze-majority Syrian city of Sweida, a new ceasefire was announced by the government and some Druze leaders on July 16 after several Israeli airstrikes targeted Syrian army headquarters in Damascus, aiming to protect the Druze population. The ceasefire was not respected by the Arab clans that joined forces with government troops in their attempt to occupy Sweida.

Pro-government Syrian Arab clans have joined the government in their fight against the Druze minority. Thousands of Arab clan militants joined their allies in attacking the Druze, claiming that the Arab clans are in duress. The Supreme Council of Arab Tribes in Syria declared a call to arms on July 18 to occupy Sweida and defeat the Druze. (Read More)

Peace with Egypt Was a Lie – And Jews Paid in Blood

In April 1982, as Israel implemented its peace treaty with Egypt, soldiers carried Torah scrolls out of synagogues in Yamit – an Israeli town in northeastern Sinai, just below the Gaza border, established after the 1967 Six‑Day War to anchor Israel’s hold on the peninsula – then loaded crying families onto buses and bulldozed every home so no Israeli footprint would remain. Under the 1979 Egypt–Israel Peace Treaty, Israel was required to withdraw completely from the entire Sinai Peninsula – territory roughly three times the size of pre‑’67 Israel – in return for Egypt’s formal recognition of Israel, an end to the state of war, and a demilitarized buffer to be monitored by an international force. Israeli leaders urged the nation to swallow the pain, promising that peace with Egypt would save lives and was worth the price.

It’s time to revisit the narrative. After October 7 – and after years of Hamas rocket fire, industrial tunnel‑building, Iranian weapons pipelines, and terror cash flowing through the Sinai–Gaza border under Egypt’s watch – we have to reopen the file. Egypt received all of Sinai; in return it was meant to keep that vast buffer largely demilitarized and to prevent its territory from being used to arm those firing on Israel. Yet that is precisely what Egypt enabled. The rockets, explosives, and trained killers that Hamas used to murder 1,200 Jews on October 7 moved in large part through Egyptian territory. Egypt has Jewish blood on its hands. 

What if the lesson broadcast across the Middle East in 1979–82 was not Israeli courage but Israeli weakness? What if the message heard by Israel’s Arab enemies in Judea, Samaria, and Gaza was: Push hard enough, add American pressure, and ultimately, Israel will uproot Jews from their homes. Land is negotiable. Borders are soft. Push hard enough and long enough, and eventually the Jews will fold.

...Meanwhile, the Philadelphi Corridor – the thin strip of land where Sinai touches Gaza – became a smuggling superhighway. Decades of tunnels, pipes, and bribed checkpoints let rifles, anti‑tank missiles, explosives, rockets, drones, and cash stream into Hamas hands. Intelligence veterans have long flagged Egyptian officers looking the other way. After the massacre, IDF units mapping Gaza’s underground network traced supply lines back toward Egyptian soil. A peace partner does not allow an arsenal to be built mere meters from its side of the fence.

...“You shall take possession of the Land and settle it.” (Numbers 33:53.) “You are crossing the Jordan to possess the Land.” (Deuteronomy 11:31.) “You shall smite them. You shall utterly destroy them; neither shall you make a covenant with them (Deuteronomy 7:2). And to Israel’s leaders: do not send the nation back toward dependence on Egypt for horses and chariots, for “You must never return that way again” (Deuteronomy 17:16). God could not have been more clear: Israel’s leaders must not trade away strategic and holy ground. It will only lead to servitude and bloodshed. (Ed note: A long, but very strong and intelligent article.) (Read More)

Egyptian Terrorism Exposed

A new strategic analysis reveals how Egypt has used Gaza as a deniable weapon against Israel for over 75 years - not as a mistake, but by design. For decades, global diplomacy and Israeli defense strategy have framed Gaza as a local problem. It has been portrayed as a small, volatile enclave driven by internal poverty and extremism. This framing is dangerously incomplete. Gaza is not an isolated island of chaos. It is a calculated extension of Egyptian regional policy. Behind every major escalation from Gaza stands a border out of Israeli control and a neighboring state whose role is largely ignored. That state is Egypt.

Gaza is not Israel's south. It lies just 60 kilometers from Tel Aviv and 85 from Jerusalem. In strategic terms, that is the heart of the country. Historically, Gaza has served as the primary military and trade corridor into the land of Israel. Three intercontinental routes meet in Gaza. One is the ancient sea road from the Nile to the Mediterranean ports. Another is the coastal axis from northern Egypt to the Israeli center. The third is the incense route from Arabia to the plains of Israel.

Control over Gaza means control over the arteries that lead to Israel’s demographic and industrial core. To lose Gaza is to open the gates to the country’s most populated areas. From 1948 to today, with the exception of a brief period between 1967 and 1993, Egypt has used Gaza as a tool against Israel. Even during those years, its ideological fingerprints remained. Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad were both born out of Egyptian political thought. (Read More)

Report: Israel delivered medical aid to Sweida last night in coordination with US

Israel delivered humanitarian aid and medical equipment to the Druze-majority Sweida province overnight in coordination with the US, the Kan public broadcaster reports, after the Health Ministry announced yesterday evening that it was preparing to do so.

According to the report, Israel coordinated the delivery with the US, which in turn coordinated with the Syrian government. Kan says that it is unable to provide any further information on how the operation was carried out at this time.

The Health Ministry said on Saturday evening that Israel’s security forces would deliver medical equipment and medicine to a hospital in Sweida that had been heavily damaged during deadly sectarian violence, as soon as it had received clearance to do so from all relevant authorities.

“Our brotherhood with the Druze community is well known, but beyond that, we are committed to a ‘covenant of life.’ We cannot stand idly by when members of the community — inside or outside Israel — are in danger,” Health Minister Uriel Buso said of the decision. (Source)

The Jews intervened to stop a genocide in Syria; cue the outrage

Instead of gratitude, the world erupts in fury—not at the child-raping savages, but at the one country that dared to stop them. It was a textbook atrocity—if, of course, schools still allowed textbooks that teach the truth about the Middle East. Villages were overrun. Families were burned alive. Young girls were gang-raped while their parents were forced to watch.

Syria’s terrorist warlord-in-chief—currently being feted thanks to his Western-suited charm offensive—is a Salafi-jihadi alum of both al-Qaeda and ISIS. Naturally, progressive fanboys—and gals—hold him up as a savior. Meanwhile, his jihadi stormtroopers went right back to their old tricks: massacring Druze, Christians, Alawites, Kurds—anyone who doesn’t fit the caliphate’s approved demographic.

The world responded as it always does: with apathy and silence. Not even a hashtag. Arabs slaughtering Arabs? Who cares? And then Israel acted. Precision strikes. Rapid deterrence. Moral—and operational—clarity. The result? A ceasefire. A grudging, fragile halt to the sectarian slaughter. Suddenly, other nations take note, and the Syrian regime decides—how quaint!—that perhaps massacring minorities isn’t worth the fallout. A few targeted attacks from the IDF and Damascus rediscovers its ability to say, “Enough!” (Read More)

Watch: Gazans swarm aid truck, cheer the IDF

IDF's Arabic-language spokesman publishes footage showing Gazans surrounding an aid truck as IDF soldiers stand by, with the crowd later cheering them. Extraordinary footage from Gaza: IDF Arabic-language spokesman Avichay Adraee on Sunday evening released video showing Gazans surrounding an aid truck while IDF soldiers stand aside. Later, the crowd can be seen cheering the soldiers.

“This is how Hamas’s lies collapse,” Adraee wrote. “In the video, IDF soldiers are seen standing just a few meters from where Gazans are receiving humanitarian aid. Not a single shot was fired. There was a clear decision not to open fire. The reaction of the Palestinians stems not from fear - but from hope.”

“Those who live by Hamas’s lies know that our soldiers and our presence are a source of hope. There is no starvation, no deliberate killing, no harm to those seeking aid. What exists is Hamas propaganda spreading falsehoods in a desperate attempt to salvage the organization from total defeat,” Adraee emphasized. (Source)

IDF to operate in new areas in Gaza, urges Deir al-Balah residents to leave

The military urged residents of the southwestern part of Deir al-Balah to immediately move south to the Al-Mawasi humanitarian zone. The Israel Defense Forces issued an evacuation order for Deir al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip on Sunday for the first time since the start of the war sparked by Hamas’s Oct. 7, 2023, cross-border massacre.

“The IDF continues to operate with great force to destroy enemy capabilities and terrorist infrastructure in the area, expanding its activities to an area where it has not previously operated,” Lt. Col. Avichay Adraee, head of the Arab Media Branch in the IDF Spokesperson’s Unit, stated in an X post on Sunday morning.

Adraee in the notice urged residents of the southwestern part of Deir al-Balah to immediately move south to the Al-Mawasi humanitarian zone. The IDF is continuing to press ahead with its ground operations across Gaza as part of “Gideon’s Chariots,” a campaign with the stated goal of dismantling Hamas’s remaining military capabilities, taking control of key areas in Gaza and securing the release of 50 remaining hostages.   (Read more)

'Taking revenge': Islamic regime expands aggressive crackdown on Iranian civilians

A domestic security crackdown in Iran following the war with Israel has left locals believe "the Islamic regime was "taking revenge on its citizens after being defeated by Israel." The Islamic regime in Tehran has significantly increased its repression of Iranian citizens following the 12-day war with Israel, the Telegraph reported on Monday, citing locals civilians and former security officials. According to former intelligence official Abdullah Shahbazi, that the domestic security crackdown in Iran had become so intense, top officials "change safe houses every night and avoid using phones, fearing assassination. "What became clear to all of us is that there is prolonged ground activity by the Mossad network inside Iran," he told the British news outlet.

According to the report, Tehran had changed its appearance overnight since a US-brokered ceasefire ended a two-week war with Iran, with the Iranian capital now being regularly patrolled by armed forces from the IRGC and the Basij militia. Police are reportedly regularly raiding homes and arresting citizens without apparent cause. Jawad, a 36-year-old software engineer living in Tehran, told the Telegraph that since the end of the war, he has had to wake up half an hour earlier every morning just to pass through the chain of checkpoints on his way to work.

He said, "They stop me at the same checkpoint every day - armed, at every square. They randomly gather people just to instill fear." Authorities claim to have uncovered Mossad spy networks operating within the country, and as part of this, hundreds of residents were arrested on charges of collaborating with Israel. At least six have already been executed in what human rights organization Amnesty International described as "trials conducted absurdly and unfairly."
(Read More)

Engineering equipment, fuel tanks, and vessels: IDF strikes key Houthi port

IDF strikes military targets at Houthi-controlled Hudaydah port after identifying efforts to restore infrastructure used for attacks on Israel, maritime terrorism. The IDF on Monday morning struck and dismantled military infrastructure belonging to the Houthi terrorist regime at the Hudaydah port. Among the military infrastructure struck were engineering vehicles used to reestablish the port's infrastructure, fuel containers, naval vessels used for military activities and force against the State of Israel and vessels in the maritime zone adjacent to the port, and additional terror infrastructure used by the Houthi terrorist regime.

"The port has been used, among other things, to transfer weapons from the Iranian regime, which are then used by the Houthi terrorist regime to execute terrorist attacks against the State of Israel and its allies," the IDF revealed. "The IDF has identified the continuous efforts and actions of the Houthi terrorist regime to reestablish terrorist infrastructure at the port, and as such, the components used to advance these efforts were struck.

"The Houthi terrorist regime exploits the maritime zone for the use of force and to carry out terrorist attacks against passing vessels and global maritime trade. The targets struck demonstrate how the Houthi terrorist regime utilizes civilian infrastructure for military and terrorist purposes."

The IDF also stressed that it "will operate decisively against the repeated attacks of the Houthi terrorist regime against Israeli civilians, and remains determined to continue operating against any threat posed to the civilians of the State of Israel, wherever it is required." (Read More)

Jordan refuses to open humanitarian corridor for Druze in southern Syria

Jordan refuses to open humanitarian corridor for Druze in southern Syria

Jordan has refused to open its borders as a "humanitarian corridor" for the Druze population in Syria's southern province of Sweida.This refusal comes amidst ongoing clashes between Druze and Bedouin tribes in the region, which have caused a significant humanitarian crisis, displacing tens of thousands of people. 

 
The context of the refusal. 

The ongoing violence in Sweida has resulted in a critical humanitarian situation, with health facilities overwhelmed, medical supplies dwindling, and essential services disrupted.
There have been calls for the opening of humanitarian corridors to allow for the evacuation of civilians and the wounded, and to enable the delivery of much-needed aid.
Despite these calls, Jordan has maintained its stance against opening its borders for a humanitarian corridor. 

 
Jordan's policy towards Syrian refugees
Jordan has been a major host country for Syrian refugees since the beginning of the Syrian conflict in 2011, hosting about 1.3 million Syrians according to the latest Jordanian Census (December 2015), although only about half are registered with the UNHCR as refugees.
While Jordan has provided some services and employment opportunities for Syrian refugees, it has also faced challenges due to the influx of refugees, including pressure on resources and public services. Jordan's policies towards Syrian refugees have shifted over time, including periods of stricter border controls and limitations on services. 

Potential reasons for the refusal
Jordan may be concerned about the potential for further destabilization in the region and the security implications of a large-scale influx of people from a conflict zone. The country may also be facing its own challenges with managing its existing refugee population and may be reluctant to take on additional burdens. Jordan's relationship with the new Syrian government, which came to power after the fall of the Assad regime in December last year, may also play a role in its decision-making. 

This situation highlights the complex challenges associated with humanitarian crises and refugee movements in the context of regional conflicts and political dynamics.  (Ed note: This commentary was taken from an "Google AI Overview" as no news agencies have written about it as yet.)

Russians killed in Syria: Chaos and power struggles

Severe incidents between Islamist militias and Russian forces have resulted in the deaths of soldiers. The Israeli Defense Forces are closely monitoring attempts by Al-Julani to expand his control into Latakia and the Syrian coast. In recent months, jihadist Islamist militias have clashed with Russian soldiers stationed in western Syria, according to Western sources familiar with the details, who spoke to Galei Tzahal (IDF Radio).

These incidents occurred in May, about two months ago, during which at least five Russian soldiers were killed in violent confrontations with jihadist militias, according to the sources. Russia has not publicly announced these incidents, and they have remained off the radar until now.

The Islamist militias that succeeded in targeting Russians in western Syria are militias that were used by Al-Jolani's forces in their attempt to seize power in Syria. However, it is still unclear what the relationship is between the Syrian president's regime and these militias, and it is unknown whether the attacks on the Russians were directly orchestrated by the regime.

Despite the fall of Assad's regime, Russia continues to maintain a military presence in Syria, although much smaller, in the western regions of Latakia. Most of the military forces, equipment, and weapons were withdrawn from Syria following Assad's fall. The unusual clashes, in which even Russian soldiers were hurt, further highlight the chaos in many parts of Syria and underscore that Al-Jolani's regime effectively controls only a small part of Syria's territory, while anarchy prevails in many other regions. (Ed note: This event occurred in May, but it shows the chaos and asks the questions, who's in control in Syria, and what are Al-Julani's intentions in that country?)  (Read More)

Bedouins overwhelm Druze defenses in southern Syria

According to a diplomatic source, Israel agreed to allow Syrian regime interior forces to enter the area to maintain order. The war in southern Syria took additional dramatic turns as a massive offensive by Bedouin and Arab tribal militias of Syria pushed Druze forces back toward Sweida city, with an enormous wave of tribal fighters recruited from across the country flooding the southern province. According to a diplomatic source, Israel agreed to allow Syrian regime interior forces to enter the area to maintain order. It remains unclear at this stage what type of force is involved and the scope of the entry.

The tribal fighters were recruited after the Council of Sheikhs of the Bedouin tribes last night called for general mobilization and went into battle against Druze militias in the southern Sweida province. The tribal militias succeeded in capturing at least three large Druze villages, and fighters began setting fire to houses belonging to Druze residents. Thousands of civilians fled the battle zone, northwest of Sweida city.

So far, no Israeli involvement in the developing fighting in the south has been recorded, and it remains unclear whether Israel will assist its Druze allies as it did against the Syrian regime. Damascus denied reports that regime forces would advance back into the Sweida area to enforce order and said they were abiding by ceasefire terms. (Read More)

US Syria envoy warns trust in new Syrian regime is fractured due to internal clashes

US Ambassador to Turkey and Special Envoy for Syria Tom Barrack warned that President Donald Trump’s lifting of sanctions and the international community’s cautious support of Syria’s new regime are at risk due to Syria’s current conflict, which has undermined the government’s authority, in a post on X on Sunday. “President Trump’s decision to lift sanctions was a principled step, offering the Syrian people a chance to move beyond years of unimaginable suffering and atrocities,” Barrack began.

“The international community has largely rallied behind the nascent Syrian government, watching with cautious optimism as it seeks to transition from a legacy of pain to a future of hope. “Yet, this fragile ambition is now overshadowed by profound shock, as brutal acts by warring factions on the ground undermine the government’s authority and disrupt any semblance of order,” Barrack continued. He called on all factions to “immediately lay down their arms, cease hostilities, and abandon cycles of tribal vengeance.” 

 “Syria stands at a critical juncture - peace and dialogue must prevail - and prevail now,” he concluded. On Saturday, Barrack met with SDF General Commander Mazloum Abdi to discuss the situation in Syria and stressed the urgent need to restore calm and stability, according to the US Embassy in Syria.They also discussed steps towards integration into a unified Syria and agreed that the time for unity is now. (Read More)

Syria’s Sharaa urges Bedouin to honor truce with Druze, slams Israeli intervention

FM Gideon Sa’ar accuses Syrian leader of ‘glorifying jihadists’ and victim blaming, says global community ‘has a duty to ensure the security and rights’ of Syria’s minority groups. Syria’s interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa urged Sunni Muslim Bedouin tribes Saturday to “fully commit” to a ceasefire aimed at ending clashes with Druze-linked militias that left hundreds dead and threatened to unravel the country’s post-civil-war transition.

The remarks came as government forces, who were initially sent to restore order but effectively sided with the Bedouins against the Druze, were redeployed to halt renewed fighting that erupted late Thursday in the southern province of Sweida. The violence also drew airstrikes against Syrian forces by neighboring Israel before a truce was reached.

In his second televised address since the fighting started, Sharaa blamed “armed groups from Sweida” for reigniting the conflict by “launching retaliatory attacks against the Bedouins and their families.” He also said Israeli intervention “pushed the country into a dangerous phase.”

srael had launched dozens of airstrikes on convoys of government fighters and struck the Syrian defense ministry headquarters in central Damascus, saying it was acting in support of the Druze, who form a substantial community in Israel and are seen as a loyal minority, often serving in the Israeli military. Reports have surfaced of Syrian government-affiliated fighters executing Druze civilians and looting and burning homes over four daysof violence. (Ed note: Keep one eye on the wars happening in Syria. Remember Isaiah 17, and welcome to the End Times.)   (Read more)

Despite ceasefire, Syria fighting continues as Bedouin tribes converge on Druze stronghold

The fighting in the Druze town of Suwayda (Suweida) in southern Syria continued on Saturday, as Bedouin tribes continued attacking the town despite a ceasefire that was agreed to by the government of President Ahmad al-Sharaa.

According to reports and the authorities, the government’s security forces did not join in the renewed fighting on Saturday, but deployed to the outskirts of the Druze stronghold.After the Israeli Air Force carried out over 160 airstrikes against government troops over the past week in support of the Druze, an Israeli official told media outlets that “Israel has agreed to allow limited entry of the (Syrian) internal security forces into Suwayda district for the next 48 hours.”

According to the French AFP news agency, Bedouin and tribal fighters, many of which joined the fighting from other parts of the country, pushed into Suwayda from the west on Saturday as reports of burning houses and new atrocities circulated on social media, where they are hard to verify. (Read More)

Why Israel is bombing Damascus to defend the Druze

Opinion: Little-known outside the country, Israel’s 'blood covenant' with the Druze—Arabic-speaking but neither Arab nor Muslim—explains Jerusalem’s rare strikes on Syria to protect Druze tribes, even amid fears of igniting a wider conflict. Supporters of Israel worldwide, including a great many Jews, have little notion of who the Druze are, much less Israel’s "blood covenant" with them. 

Few would know that, though Arabic-speaking, the Druze do not uniformly consider themselves Arabs. And while adhering to a monotheistic faith which broke away from Islam in the early Middle Ages, they are neither Muslims. Foreigners who claim to know Israel would be surprised to learn of the prominent role played by Druze in every aspect of Israeli society – not only in the military but in academia, politics, business and the media.

Indeed, the first awareness of the Druze for many outside of Israel came on July 27, 2024, with the murderous Hezbollah rocket attack on the Golan Druze village of Majdal Shams that killed 12 children. Even then, those watching the funerals from abroad might’ve been just as surprised to see the absence of Israeli flags that traditionally drape the coffins of terror victims and to learn that the majority of the roughly 30,000 Druze who live on the Golan Heights are not citizens of Israel. They fear that Israel will someday forfeit the Golan in a peace deal and so retain their Syrian citizenship.

If all of the above is not sufficiently confusing for non-Israelis, totally bewildering has been Israel’s decision to battle the Syrian army and even bomb Damascus in defense of Druze tribes located 100km from our northern border. As someone who defends Israel regularly in the foreign press, it’s challenging to describe this situation in a seven-second soundbite. Already fighting on multiple fronts, people understandably ask, why would Israel want to open an additional front with a nation that purportedly seeks peace with us? (Read More)

Scoop: Israel seeks U.S. help on deals to move Palestinians out of Gaza

The director of Israel's Mossad spy agency visited Washington this week seeking U.S. help in convincing countries to take hundreds of thousands of Palestinians from Gaza, two sources with knowledge of issue tell Axios.

The spy chief, David Barnea, told White House envoy Steve Witkoff that Israel has been speaking in particular with Ethiopia, Indonesia and Libya.

Why it matters: The Israeli government's goal of removing much of Gaza's population is hugely controversial. While Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu'sgovernment claims such a "relocation" would be "voluntary," U.S. and Israeli legal experts have labeled it a war crime.   

Behind the scenes: In their meeting earlier this week, Barnea told Witkoff that Ethiopia, Indonesia and Libya had expressed openness to receiving large numbers of Palestinians from Gaza, the two source say.

• Barnea suggested that the U.S. offer incentives to those countries and help Israel convince them.
• Witkoff was non-committal, and it's not clear if the U.S. will actively weigh in on this issue, one source said. 
• The White House, the Israeli Prime Minister's Office, and the foreign ministries of Ethiopia, Indonesia and Libya did not respond to requests for comment prior to publication.  

Flashback: In February, President Trump proposed the removal of all two million Palestinians from Gaza to rebuild the enclave. 

But the White House cooled on the idea after getting significant pushback from Arab countries, U.S. officials say, and it hasn't gone anywhere.   (Read More)

Hamas official: 'Ceasefire talks progressing, but US pressure on Israel is key'

Senior Hamas figure says realistic compromises have been presented, but final agreement hinges on US influence over Israel, Israeli withdrawal from Gaza is a precondition for progress. A senior official in the Hamas terror organization, who is closely involved in the indirect ceasefire negotiations between Israel and Hamas currently taking place in Doha, Qatar, stated that realistic compromise proposals have been presented. However, the official noted that reaching an agreement depends on the position of the United States, which has the leverage to pressure Israel.

Speaking to the newspaper Asharq Al-Awsat, the Hamas official said the IDF's redeployment maps presented by Israel are a positive step and could help create a more conducive political atmosphere for reaching an agreement. He added that the negotiations are at a sensitive stage, with both sides discussing various details and conditions.

According to the official, Hamas seeks an end to what he termed “aggression” and “annihilation,” and is aiming for a comprehensive deal that would include the release of ten hostages in exchange for the release of security prisoners. He further stated, “Any real progress must be based on a clear Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, as this is a non-negotiable condition.” (Source)

Report: Israel, US pondering 'additional strikes' on Iran as intel shows partial success

According to officials speaking with NBC News, while the Fordo site is likely destroyed, two other facilities less damaged than reported and enrichment could resume in months. Trump administration officials developed an "all-in" plan to "truly decimate" Iran's nuclear capabilities through weeks of sustained bombing of six sites, but the president rejected it 

 
A fresh US intelligence evaluation has determined that American airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities achieved only partial success, with one of three targeted enrichment sites suffering complete destruction while the remaining two facilities sustained damage that may permit nuclear enrichment activities to resume within several months, according to five current and former US officials familiar with the assessment who spoke to NBC News.

The evaluation, which forms part of the Trump administration's continuing efforts to assess Iran's nuclear program status following the facility strikes, was presented to certain US legislators, Defense Department personnel and allied nations in recent days, four of those sources confirmed to NBC News.

NBC News has also discovered that US Central Command had formulated a far more extensive plan to attack Iran that would have involved targeting three additional locations in an operation spanning several weeks rather than a single evening, according to one current US official and two former US officials. (Read More)

Hezbollah leader: US efforts to disarm us meant to legitimize Israeli strikes

Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem accuses the US of pressuring Lebanon to disarm Hezbollah to benefit Israel. He claims Israel violated the ceasefire 3,800 times, while Hezbollah upheld its commitments.
Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem on Friday evening addressed the pressure the United States is exerting on Lebanon to disarm the organization.

n a speech, Qassem claimed that the purpose of this pressure is to "appease Israel and meet its demands," while legitimizing Israeli strikes on Lebanese territory. Qassem stated, “If some choose to accept this humiliation, that is their affair. We will not accept humiliation. We have sacrificed greatly, and Israel will not take our weapons.” 

He argued that the core issue is not the disarmament itself but the intention behind it: “This is a step toward Israeli expansion. Our weapons are an obstacle because they allowed Lebanon to stand on its feet and prevented Israel from expanding.” Later in his remarks, Qassem responded to claims linking Hezbollah’s arms to the question of an Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon.

“Some ask how Israel can withdraw from southern Lebanon if Hezbollah remains armed, but it is Israel that is attacking. Why does it strike Syria when there is no threat? Under the pretext of Israel’s security, there is no place that has not been occupied, attacked, or searched.” (Read More)

EU’s First Ban: Israeli Ministers Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben Gvir Banned From Slovenia

Slovenia has become the first EU nation to ban Israeli ministers Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben Gvir, citing their inflammatory statements as incitements to violence against Palestinians. The decision, met with both support and accusations of bias, highlights tensions over Israel’s ongoing conflict with Hamas.
Slovenia announced a historic decision to bar Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir from entering its territory, marking the first such move by a European Union member state. 

The Slovenian government declared both ministers “persona non grata,” accusing them of inciting “extreme violence and serious violations of the human rights of Palestinians” through what authorities described as “their genocidal statements.” Foreign Minister Tanja Fajon, speaking after a cabinet session, emphasized the decision’s intent to pressure Israel to end its military operationsin Gaza, where 888 Israelis have died since the October 7, 2023, Hamas massacre that killed 1,200 and took 251 hostages.

The move follows international criticism of Smotrich and Ben Gvir, key figures in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition, known for their far-right views. In June 2025, the UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Norway imposed sanctions on the ministers for inflammatory remarks, including Smotrich’s call to “wipe out” Palestinian villages and Ben Gvir’s advocacy for cutting humanitarian aid to Gaza during wartime. (Read more)

Netanyahu vows no Syrian forces south of Damascus, as Bedouins, Druze fight despite truce

Bedouin commander says ceasefire only applies to Damascus government, declares offensive with aim to free Bedouins held by Druze, after regime’s retreat during IDF strikes. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Thursday that Israel will continue to use military means to enforce its two red lines in Syria — the demilitarization of the area south of Damascus, near Israel’s border, and the protection of the country’s Druze minority there.

Netanyahu said the Damascus regime, led by President Ahmed al-Sharaa, violated both those red lines in recent days. “It sent an army south of Damascus, into the area that should be demilitarized, and it began to massacre the Druze. We could not accept this in any way,” he said in a video statement.

The premier added that the ceasefire Sharaa announced in southern Syria’s Druze-majority Sweida province, which included the withdrawal of regime troops, “was achieved through force. Not through requests, not through pleas — through force.”“We acted, and we will continue to act as necessary,” Netanyahu promised.    (Read More)

Syrian Bedouins launch new offensive against Druze in Sweida: 'Truce does not apply to us'

Commander says ceasefire applied only to government forces, adding that they were trying to free detained Bedouins held by Druze armed groups in recent days; U.S.-brokered ceasefire had halted fierce battles in Sweida after 500 dead in days of bloodshed between Druze fighters, Bedouin militants, regime forces; hospitals collapsed under the toll as residents emerged to looted homes, scorched streets and mass graves.

Syrian Bedouin fighters launched a new offensive Thursday in the southern province of Sweida against Druze fighters, defying a truce announced the previous evening aimed at ending days of deadly clashes, a Bedouin military commander said. The commander said the ceasefire applied only to government forces, not Bedouin fighters, who said they were trying to free detained Bedouins held by Druze armed groups in recent days.

Residents in the southern Syrian city of Sweida, home to the country’s largest Druze community, began emerging Thursday to survey widespread destruction after five days of brutal fighting between Druze fighters, Bedouin militants and Syrian regime forces. More than 500 people were killed in the clashes, which included reports of massacres and acts of humiliation against Druze civilians by Sunni jihadist gunmen.  (Read More)

Europe warns Iran: Resume diplomacy or face sanctions

France, Britain, and Germany issue a stern warning to Iran, demanding immediate resumption of nuclear diplomacy and threatening to reinstate UN sanctions by summer's end if "concrete progress" towards a nuclear deal isn't made. France, Britain, and Germany have delivered a direct message to Tehran, demanding an immediate return to diplomatic efforts concerning its nuclear program, Reuters reported on Thursday.

The three European nations, known as the E3, warned that a failure to demonstrate "concrete progress" by the close of summer would result in the restoration of United Nations sanctions against the Islamic Republic, according to the report. The ultimatum was conveyed during the first joint call between the foreign ministers of the E3 and the European Union's foreign policy chief, and Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi. This diplomatic exchange follows mid-June airstrikes carried out by Israel and the United States targeting Iran's nuclear infrastructure.

A French diplomatic source, speaking after the call, confirmed to Reuters that the ministers urged Iran to "resume diplomatic efforts immediately to reach a 'verifiable and lasting' nuclear deal." The confirmation comes several days after the Guardian reported that the European Union is poised to begin the process of reinstating UN sanctions on Iran, with an August 29 deadline set for Tehran to show progress on its nuclear program. (Read More)

Tehran’s Bold Move: Russian Jets and Nukes for a US Showdown

Iran is intensifying its military buildup, including Russian fighter jets and European missile components, while boosting defense spending to prepare for a potential decade-long conflict with the US and Israel. Despite setbacks to its nuclear program, Tehran’s leadership remains defiant, signaling readiness for confrontation through strategic rearmament.

Iran signaled its intent to prepare for a prolonged war with Israel and the United States, with top commanders and lawmakers rallying behind a massive military buildup. Brigadier General Mohammad Reza Ashtiani, Deputy Chief of Staff, declared, “We have enough supplies to wage war for 10 years if necessary,” emphasizing Iran’s resolve to strengthen its military and nuclear ambitions despite recent setbacks. 

“We are prepared for confrontation,” he added, reflecting Tehran’s belief that a clash with Western powers is inevitable. On July 6, Iran’s National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, with 120 lawmakers’ support, endorsed a bill to significantly boost defense spending for the IRGC, Army, and Defense Ministry. State media confirmed the legislation’s backing by senior defense and intelligence officials, signaling unified regime commitment.


Iran’s strategy extends beyond domestic funding. A senior IRGC official announced the purchase of Russian Sukhoi-35 fighter jets, a major upgrade to Iran’s aging air force, enhancing its capability to counter Israel’s F-35s. Though details on numbers and delivery remain undisclosed, the deal underscores deepening Iran-Russia ties. Additionally, German intelligence reports highlight Iran’s covert efforts to acquire missile components from Europe through third-party networks, with activity described as “high, and on the rise.” (Read Moew)

Iran rushing to rearm Mideast terror proxies after IDF, US strikes on Tehran - WSJ

Despite the denials from Tehran, there is mounting evidence that Iran continues to send military aid to these groups, demonstrating its determination to retain influence over its militia allies. Despite significant setbacks following Israeli strikes that killed key military leaders and US attacks on its nuclear facilities, Iran is accelerating efforts to rearm its militia allies across the Middle East, according to a Wall Street Journal report published on Friday.

However, Tehran has vehemently denied these allegations, with Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baqaei calling claims of weapons shipments to Yemen “baseless.” The US and Israeli strikes on Iranian assets this spring have taken a toll on Tehran's regional influence. Yet, Iran is moving quickly to replenish its stockpiles and continue supporting proxy groups in the region, particularly the Houthis in Yemen and Hezbollah in Lebanon. Despite the denials from Tehran, there is mounting evidence that Iran continues to send military aid to these groups, demonstrating its determination to retain influence over its militia allies.

This week, forces aligned with Yemen’s internationally recognized governmentintercepted a large shipment of advanced military equipment, including missiles, drone parts, and warheads, intended for the Houthi rebels along the Red Sea coast. The seizure was carried out by the National Resistance Force, a coalition of military groups aligned with the Yemeni government. (Read More)

French, Saudi leaders bow out of own UN summit amid political headwinds

A United Nations summit set for the end of the month with the goal of establishing a Palestinian state is off to a shaky start. Originally scheduled for June but delayed by Israel’s operation against Iran, it’s now reported that the co-hosts will be no-shows. Le Monde reported this weekend that neither of the conference’s conveners, French President Emmanuel Macron nor Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, will attend, though earlier reports said they had planned to appear at the summit.

The two leaders may have encountered political headwinds, most significantly from the United States. On June 10, a week before the summit’s original scheduled date (June 17-20), the United States sent a cable warning other countries against participating, stating that those taking “anti-Israel actions” following the conference would be considered to be acting against U.S. foreign policy interests, Reutersreported.

“The United States opposes any steps that would unilaterally recognize a conjectural Palestinian state, which adds significant legal and political obstacles to the eventual resolution of the conflict and could coerce Israel during a war, thereby supporting its enemies,” the cable read. (Read More)

Israel to boost defense spending by NIS 42 b. in light of multi-front wars

The Director-General of the ministry, Maj.-Gen. Amir Baram said that this move would allow the ministry to replenish consumed stocks of weapons and ammunition. Israel will raise its defense spending by 42 billion NIS ($12.5 billion) this year and in 2026, the Finance and Defense Ministries said on Thursday, citing the country's security challenges.

 The budget agreement will enable the Defense Ministry to "advance urgent and essential procurement deals critical to national security," the ministries stated in a press release. A long-term buildup plan starting in 2027 will be developed, per Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's instructions, to "strengthen readiness and technological superiority against [distant] threats," the ministry said.

Additionally, mechanisms for the oversight of the defense budget will be strengthened, according to the statement. The Director-General of the ministry, Maj.-Gen. Amir Baram said that this move would allow the Defense Ministry to replenish consumed stocks of weapons and ammunition. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, Defense Minister Israel Katz, and Finance Ministry Director-General Ilan Rom all welcomed the increase in defense spending. "The challenges ahead are complex, in distant and close arenas, against enemies who openly declare their intent to destroy us. For this, absolute military, technological, and operational superiority is required," Katz said. (Source)