Watch: IDF seizes Hezbollah weaponry on northern front as Gaza operations intensify

The military is continuing operational activities throughout the Gaza Strip and southern Lebanon to meet their goal of eliminating terror organizations Hamas and Hezbollah, striking hundreds of terror targets in a single day, the IDF announced early Tuesday morning.

Operational activities in southern Lebanon aim to dismantle Hezbollah's critical points of terror infrastructure, leading IDF ground troops and IAF fighter jets to work in conjunction between close-quarters combat and airstrikes.

In this action, troops have located and destroyed large quantities of Hezbollah weaponry.

According to the IDF, in the last day, collaborative efforts between ground forces and the IAF have led to more than 200 Hezbollah terrorist targets deep into Lebanese territory have been destroyed. This includes but is not limited to terrorist cells, anti-tank missile posts, and surface-to-surface missile launchers.

As northern front remains heated, Gaza operations continue

As operations on Israel's northern front with Lebanon continue into its third week, the military is proceeding in Jabaliya-based activities against Hamas in the Gaza Strip, eliminating dozens of terrorists in the last day.

Troops eliminated a terror cell after the group launched anti-tank missiles toward them. Additionally, the military identified and destroyed a Hamas launcher that was used to fire on the Israeli public. WATCH

Gallant tells hostage families no deal on the horizon, Hamas hoping for regional war

Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on Monday told hostages’ family members that there is no end in sight to the impasse between Israel and Hamas on negotiations to free their loved ones, explaining that Hamas chief Yahya Sinwar is watching the escalations on the Lebanese and Iranian fronts and hoping his long-sought regional war will finally materialize.

“There’s stagnation, and I don’t see progress right now in this period, I’m very sorry to say,” the defense minister told families, as heard in a recording aired by the Hebrew press.

“There’s been a hardening on the part of Hamas,” he said, adding that the terror group is monitoring Israel’s fight against Hezbollah and its ramped-up threats against Iran, and hoping “something will happen that will serve them.”

The comments came some two weeks into an Israeli ground offensive in southern Lebanon against the Hezbollah. The terror group began attacking Israeli military posts and border communities on October 8, 2023, with rockets and fighter drones, declaring its solidarity with Hamas and causing the displacement of tens of thousands of Israelis from their homes in the north. Israel has vowed to make it safe for those residents to return home.

According to the Ynet news site, Gallant told the families on Monday that if an opportunity arose to advance a hostage deal by linking the Lebanese and Gazan fronts, Israel would take it. Until now, Israel has sought to separate the two theaters after a year in which Hezbollah had insisted it would not stop attacking Israel without a deal to end the war in Gaza. READ MORE

54% of Americans say Israel must attack Iran’s nuclear weapons programs

A new Harvard Harris survey was conducted online within the US from October 11-13, 2024 among 3,145 registered voters. Respondents for this poll were recruited through opt-in, web-panel recruitment sampling.

Results are weighted for age within gender, region, race/ethnicity, marital status, household size, income, employment, education, political party, and political ideology where necessary to align them with their actual proportions in the population.

Thirty percent of voters believe that the US is on the right track; 10% in economy, while just under half of voters say that their personal situation is getting worse. 60% of voters agree price rises and inflation have proven to be sticky.

President Joe Biden has the support of 42% of voters, with approval of his handling of racial equity, stimulating jobs, abortion and climate change. Voters are split on approval of Harris, though almost 90% of Democrat voters approve of the job she is doing as VP.

In Israel-related matters, 60% of voters continue to follow the Israel-Hamas war closely; with 81% of voters overwhelmingly support Israel over Hamas.

Nearly 70% of voters say they only favor a conditional ceasefire with Hamas based on release of hostages and Hamas leaving power, with 80% saying that Hamas should be removed from Gaza.

A majority of voters say Hezbollah is a terrorist organization, with double the number of voters supporting Israel’s recent strikes on Hezbollah leadership in Lebanon.

Nearly 75% of voters view Iran as a regional sponsor of terror in the Middle East, blaming it, rather than Israel, for the escalating conflict in the region and 60% believe Israel is justified in responding to Iran’s recent missile attack.

A slight majority (54%) supports Israel striking Iran’s nuclear weapons programs as a response to the recent attack. Israel National News - Arutz Sheva

UN insists: UNIFIL peacekeepers will stay in all positions in Lebanon

United Nations peacekeepers will remain in their positions in Lebanon, despite calls from Israel for them to relocate amid escalating clashes between Israel and Hezbollah, the UN peacekeeping chief stated on Monday, after five peacekeepers were injured during the ongoing conflict, AFP reported.

"The decision was made that UNIFIL would currently stay in all its positions in spite of the calls that were made by the Israel Defense Forces to vacate the positions that are in the vicinity of the Blue Line," said UN peacekeeping chief Jean-Pierre Lacroix, according to the report.

"I want to emphasize that this decision still remains," Lacroix added, noting that the plan was reaffirmed earlier on Monday by Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

Meanwhile, the UN Security Council unanimously expressed "strong concerns" following the recent incidents in which UNIFIL personnel were injured.

"Against the backdrop of ongoing hostilities along the Blue Line, the members of the Security Council expressed their strong concerns after several UNIFIL positions came under fire in the past days," said Switzerland’s UN ambassador, Pascale Baeriswyl, who holds the council’s rotating presidency. "Several peacekeepers have been wounded."

In a statement that did not specifically mention Israel, the 15 council members "urged all parties to respect the safety and security of UNIFIL personnel and premises. They recalled that UN peacekeepers and UN premises must never be the target of an attack."

UNIFIL has accused Israel in recent days of deliberately targeting its peacekeepers in Lebanon.

The IDF has stressed that the IDF instructed UNIFIL personnel to enter into protected spaces before the strikes and added and explained that Hezbollah deliberately operates with the intent to harm Israeli civilians from civilian areas and near UNIFIL posts.

On Sunday, the IDF Spokesperson’s Unit said that a large barrage of anti-tank missiles was fired toward IDF troops in southern Lebanon.

During the attack, two IDF soldiers were severely injured and multiple other soldiers were lightly and moderately injured. Their families have been notified, said the IDF.

“An initial review showed that an IDF tank that was trying to evacuate injured soldiers while still under fire backed several meters into a UNIFIL post. Once the enemy fire stopped, and following the evacuation of the injured soldiers, the tank left the post,” it added.

“During the incident, a smoke screen was used to provide cover for the evacuation of the injured soldiers. IDF soldiers maintained coordination with UNIFIL. Throughout the entirety of the incident, no danger was posed to UNIFIL forces by the IDF activity,” the IDF stressed.

Later on Sunday, the IDF revealed that over the past month, approximately 25 rockets and missiles have been launched at Israeli communities and IDF troops from Hezbollah’s terrorist compounds embedded near UNIFIL posts in southern Lebanon, exploiting their proximity to UN forces. One of the attacks resulted in the deaths of two IDF soldiers.

On Monday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded to accusations that the IDF has targeted UNIFIL forces in southern Lebanon, calling these accusations "completely false."

"The charge that Israel deliberately attacked UNIFIL personnel is completely false," Netanyahu stated. "It's exactly the opposite. Israel repeatedly asks UNIFIL to get out of harm's way. It repeatedly asked them to temporarily leave the combat zone, which is right next to Israel's border with Lebanon."

"In fact," he said, "on the day that Israel began its ground operation next to our border with Lebanon, we asked them specifically, 'Please leave this area so you're not harmed.'"

Netanyahu declared that "Israel is not fighting UNIFIL, it is not fighting the people of Lebanon. It is fighting Iran's proxy Hezbollah, which uses Lebanese territory to attack Israel. Hezbollah attacked Israel last year without any provocation on October 8th, a day after the Hamas massacre, and it's continued to attack us ever since by launching over 10,000 rockets and missiles at Israel." Israel National News - Arutz Sheva

US urging American citizens to leave Lebanon immediately

The US Embassy in Beirut is urging American citizens to leave Lebanon immediately as the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah worsens.

"US citizens in Lebanon are strongly encouraged to depart now," read a notice issued by the embassy on Monday and quoted by The New York Post.

"US citizens who choose not to depart at this time should prepare contingency plans should the situation deteriorate further," the notice added.

So far, only 1,100 of the estimated 86,000 Americans residing in Lebanon have left, according to the State Department. Since September 27, the US has arranged for thousands of seats on flights for those seeking to evacuate. However, the embassy cautioned that these flights "will not continue indefinitely," and urged those remaining in Lebanon to act swiftly.

Officials also emphasized that those who decide to stay should not count on US government assistance for evacuation later.

The US has several times updated its travel advisory to Lebanon in recent weeks, amid the tensions in the region.

In late September, following the elimination of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in an Israeli air strike in Beirut, the State Department directed family members of non-mission personnel to depart Lebanon and granted permission for family members of mission employees and non-essential staff to leave as well.

A week prior, the US State Department updated its travel advisory to Lebanon to urge US citizens “to depart Lebanon via commercial options while still available.” Israel National News - Arutz Sheva

Multi-front capitatulation in 72 hours

Yediot Aharonot reported Tuesday morning that in the last 72 hours, Israel has conceded on three fronts - Beirut, Iran, and humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip.

Beirut

The IDF has not attacked Beirut since last Thursday. In the last attack in west Beirut, dozens of people were killed and injured.

Kan reported Monday night that the instruction was passed on in writing on Friday morning, a day after the last attack. It was also reported that the ministers of the political-security cabinet were excluded from the decision to refrain from attacks in Beirut. Sources in the cabinet said the decision was not brought for approval in recent discussions, and they first heard about it from the media.

According to the sources, if the attacks in Beirut are not renewed, ministers will demand answers from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and security officials at the upcoming cabinet meeting.

Iran

On Monday night, the Washington Post reported that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu informed the United States that Israel would not attack oil or nuclear facilities in Iran.

The Israeli response will be coordinated with the Americans to prevent a situation where the step influences the elections in the United States, indicating that Netanyahu understood that an attack in Iran might change the picture of the presidential race in the US.

The Prime Minister's office responded to the report: "We are listening to the opinions of the American administration, but we will make our final decisions based on Israel's national interests."

Humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip

Political officials instructed Monday to renew the entry of humanitarian aid to the northern strip. 30 trucks of flour and food entered yesterday from Ashdod Port through the Erez Crossing to the northern strip, after two weeks in which aid was not entered into the area.

The decision was made following heavy American pressure exerted by figures worldwide, including US Vice President Kamala Harris, who demanded that Israel renew the entry of food to the northern strip.

"30 trucks containing flour and food from the WFP organization passed from Ashdod Port through the 'Erez West' crossing," noted the IDF. The unit that transferred the aid was the Coordination of Government Activities in the Territories.

"The IDF, through COGAT, will continue to act in accordance with international law to enable and facilitate the humanitarian response to the Gaza Strip," said the army. Israel National News - Arutz Sheva

Running low: Israel facing looming air defense shortage

A Financial Times report indicates that the air defense stockpiles of both Israel and the USA are rapidly running out.

In Israel, despite multiple layers of interceptor systems and a continually refined AI to ensure they are fired with maximum effect, the aerospace industry has been working significant overtime to keep production in line with demand.

One official stated that the factories were working 24/7, an unusual decision in light of the commanding trend in Israeli industry to stop production over Shabbat (the Sabbath).

The USA has recently begun shipping THAAD interceptor batteries to supplement Israel's defenses, but the continual demand has begun to wear on American suppliers as well. With Ukraine also still calling out for defense aid, American suppliers have been warning that America will soon have to choose which ally to protect.

The choice will also affect Israeli defense officials as they try to protect multiple regions of the country. One official stated that if the course of the war continues, especially in light of Iran's threats of retaliation for an expected Israeli attack, Israel would soon need to decide which areas to prioritize over others for interceptor deployment. Israel National News - Arutz Sheva

40 countries contributing to UN’s Lebanon peacekeeping force condemn ‘attacks

Forty nations that contribute to the UN peacekeeping force in Lebanon said Saturday that they “strongly condemn recent attacks” on the peacekeepers.

“Such actions must stop immediately and should be adequately investigated,” said the joint statement, posted on X by the Polish UN mission and signed by nations including leading contributors Indonesia, Italy and India.

Other signatories include Ghana, Nepal, Malaysia, Spain, France and China — all countries that have contributed several hundred troops to the force.

At least five peacekeepers have been wounded in recent days as Israel takes its fight against the Hezbollah terror group into southern Lebanon.

The peacekeeping mission, UNIFIL, has accused the Israeli military of “deliberately” firing on its positions. READ MORE

Netanyahu’s ‘day after’ plan

Caroline B. Glick is the senior contributing editor of Jewish News Syndicate and host of the “Caroline Glick Show” on JNS. She is also the diplomatic commentator for Israel’s Channel 14, as well as a columnist for Newsweek. Glick is the senior fellow for Middle Eastern Affairs at the Center for Security Policy in Washington and a lecturer at Israel’s College of Statesmanship. She appears regularly on U.S., British, Australian and Indian television networks, including Fox, Newsmax and CBN. She appears, as well, on the BBC, Sky News Britain and Sky News Australia, and on India's WION News Network.

(JNS) Almost immediately after the Hamas-led Palestinian invasion of Israel last Oct. 7, the Biden-Harris administration began demanding that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu present his “day after” plan for Gaza. Netanyahu insisted that the day after had to wait until the war was won.

But over time, Netanyahu began explaining contours of his post-war plans. They included the de-Hamasification of Gaza and permanent Israeli military control over Gaza. Since genocidal Jew-hatred and the goal of annihilating Israel is shared by Hamas and the U.S.-supported Palestinian Authority, Netanyahu insisted the P.A. cannot succeed Hamas in running Gaza.

The Biden-Harris administration didn’t like Netanyahu’s plans. But since they made sense to the vast majority of Israelis, and because 80% of Americans consistently told pollsters that they support Israeli victory, rather than fight Netanyahu, the administration maintained an outward stance of supporting Israel while using the U.S.’s formidable leverage over Israel to inhibit or block Israel from carrying out operations that would fundamentally change the strategic reality on the ground permanently, enabling the implementation of Netanyahu’s “day after” plans. (And save Israelii lives, ed.)

The administration’s demand for a “day after” plan wasn’t a request for an actual plan. The administration was demanding an Israeli commitment not to seek to use the war to fundamentally change the strategic realities on the ground that existed on Oct. 6, 2023. The U.S. wanted those conditions, which enabled Hamas to build its army of genocide, to continue to exist at the end of the war. And it wanted Netanyahu to accept this condition, which if accepted would block all prospects for Israeli victory. READ MORE

25 Hezbollah launches at Israel from near UNIFIL positions in past month

The IDF revealed on Sunday that over the past month, approximately 25 rockets and missiles have been launched at Israeli communities and IDF troops from Hezbollah’s terrorist compounds embedded near UNIFIL posts in southern Lebanon, exploiting their proximity to UN forces. One of the attacks resulted in the deaths of two IDF soldiers.

According to the IDF, Hezbollah uses compounds located above and below ground to carry out terrorist attacks against the State of Israel.

The military noted that during its limited, localized, targeted ground raids based on precise intelligence in southern Lebanon, the troops of the 146th Division located hundreds of weapons, including firearms, grenades, and rocket launchers aimed at Israeli territory. These weapons were stored inside underground compounds located from a few dozen meters up to a few hundred meters from UNIFIL posts situated near the Blue Line.

"UNIFIL in southern Lebanon was deployed to implement UN Security Council Resolution 1701 and prevent the presence of Hezbollah armed operatives south of the Litani River. However, both the State of Lebanon and the international community have failed to implement Resolution 1701, despite repeated requests to do so," the IDF stated.

"For years, Hezbollah has embedded itself in southern Lebanon in grave violation of UN Security Council resolutions. The organization has stockpiled large quantities of weapons aimed at Israeli civilians over the years and has deliberately built up its attack infrastructure near UNIFIL posts," it added.

The IDF stressed that its targeted raids are only directed against Hezbollah, and the troops’ activities are not directed at UNIFIL posts, forces, or infrastructure. On Thursday, September 30th, prior to the start of the operation, IDF representatives submitted a request to the organization to move its personnel away from posts located within five kilometers of the Blue Line, as this area would become an active combat zone.

The IDF noted that it maintains continuous communication with UNIFIL to avoid, as much as possible, any harm to UNIFIL personnel in the area and will continue to do so, despite the complexities of the UNIFIL's presence inside the combat zone. WATCH

Tehran's hidden message: Why an Iranian official visited war-struck Beirut - analysis

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf piloted a plane that flew to Lebanon on Saturday.

The trip is important for a variety of reasons. First of all it is symbolically important that the Iranian felt comfortable flying into Beirut despite the war and the recent deaths of several Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps members over the last year. In addition, his decision to fly the plane himself on part of the trip showcased a kind of bravado and Iranian attempt to grab headlines in the region.

Qalibaf arrived in Beirut on Saturday morning and met with Lebanon’s parliament speaker Nabih Berri, who is the head of Amal and has also spoken to US officials in the past, meaning he is a kind of key powerbroker in Lebanon now. He is a power broker because he is Shi’ite and can thus also speak on Hezbollah’s behalf when speaking to the West. When he speaks to Iran, he does so as a key component of Lebanon’s parliament. Lebanon does not have a president, which has meant that more spotlight falls on Berri and also Prime Minister Najib Mikati.

Iranian state media noted that “Qalibaf is the second Iranian official to visit Lebanon since Israel started its intense airstrikes on the Arab country late last month. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi visited Lebanon on October 4 for talks with top officials there.” The same report notes that Berri is heading for Geneva “where he is scheduled to attend the 149th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) taking place on October 13-17.”

Qalibaf said Iran is ready to aid Lebanon. “He said that he has conveyed the message of Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei to the people of Lebanon,” Iran’s state media noted. He also toured areas that had been bombed in Beirut. READ MORE

US may send Israel THAAD missile defense, as Iran seeks to ward off Israeli retaliation

The US is mulling sending Israel an advanced anti-ballistic missile defense system operated by American troops to protect the country in case of an Iranian reaction to an expected Israeli reprisal attack, an US official said Saturday.

Israel has vowed to respond after Iran lobbed some 200 ballistic missiles at Israel on October 1, with the US seeking to coordinate with Jerusalem and temper its retaliation. A weekend report indicated that US officials think Israel has narrowed down its list of possible targets.

With Iran saying it will reply to any retaliatory action in kind, reports in Hebrew-language media over the weekend claimed that Washington was set to deploy Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) air defense batteries to beef up Israel’s ability to fend off ballistic missiles, which Tehran’s proxies have also launched at Israel in recent months.

A US official speaking to The Times of Israel on condition of anonymity confirmed US President Joe Biden’s administration was considering transferring the systems to Israel, but said no decision had been made yet.

The US has a wide range of missile defense systems arrayed across the Middle East and Europe, including Patriot systems. Officials have been discussing for months what types of air defense systems to deploy to the region and where to put them. Any move of a THAAD to Israel would involve the deployment of soldiers to operate the complex system. READ MORE

US urges Israel to quickly pivot from military offensive to diplomacy in Lebanon

The US on Sunday urged Israel to shift focus from its military offensive in southern Lebanon to a diplomatic solution as soon as possible, while France called on Hezbollah to stop its rocket fire on Israel and accept a ceasefire.

The diplomatic pressure came as Hezbollah fired more than 300 missiles, rockets and drones at Israel over Yom Kippur, Judaism’s holiest day, which ended at nightfall Saturday.

Meanwhile, Israel pushed forward with its military offensive in southern Lebanon, amid mounting international criticism over several incidents where UN peacekeepers were hit.

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin spoke with Defense Minister Yoav Gallant during which he “reinforced the need to pivot from military operations in Lebanon to a diplomatic pathway as soon as feasible,” according to the Pentagon statement released early Sunday.

The US readout said that Austin expressed “deep concern” about reports that Israeli forces had fired on UN peacekeeping positions in Lebanon in recent days and urged Israel to ensure safety for them and the Lebanese military. READ MORE

Austin to Gallant: Israel needs to pivot to diplomatic pathway in Lebanon

US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin spoke with Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on Saturday and “expressed his deep concern about reports that Israeli forces fired on UN peacekeeping positions in Lebanon as well as by the reported death of two Lebanese soldiers,” Pentagon Press Secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder said in a statement summarizing the call.

“The Secretary strongly emphasized the importance of ensuring the safety and security of UNIFIL forces and Lebanese Armed Forces and reinforced the need to pivot from military operations in Lebanon to a diplomatic pathway as soon as feasible,” the statement added.

“Secretary Austin also raised the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza and stressed that steps must be taken to address it. The Secretary reaffirmed the United States' unwavering, enduring, and ironclad commitment to Israel's security,” the Pentagon said.

Finally, Austin “acknowledged Yom Kippur and the need to bring back all hostages to their families as soon as possible.”

The conversation came a day after the IDF said its forces fired at a threat near a UNIFIL position in southern Lebanon, and acknowledged that the post was hit, wounding two UNIFIL personnel.

The IDF noted that, “hours before the incident, the IDF instructed UNIFIL personnel to enter into protected spaces and remain there. This instruction was in place at the time of the incident.”

“The IDF is in contact with UNIFIL for coordination purposes and will continue to do so. The IDF is continuing to examine the circumstances of the incident.”

“The Hezbollah terrorist organization deliberately operates with the intent to harm Israeli civilians from civilian areas and near UNIFIL posts, thereby endangering UNIFIL personnel,” said the IDF.

Friday’s incident marks the second time in two days that UNIFIL has said that its personnel were hit by Israeli fire.

UNIFIL has asserted that the attacks were deliberate, with some UNIFIL officials claiming that Israel seeks to drive the UN out of Lebanon.

A US National Security Council spokesperson commented on Thursday’s incident, saying, "We understand Israel is conducting targeted operations near the Blue Line to destroy Hezbollah infrastructure that could be used to threaten Israeli citizens. While they undertake these operations, it is critical that they not threaten UN peacekeepers’ safety and security. We reached out immediately to our Israeli counterparts about it and pressed them for more details."

UNIFIL, which acts as a buffer between Lebanon and Israel and operates near the border, works to implement Resolution 1701, which ended the Second Lebanon War in 2006 and which has been repeatedly violated by Hezbollah. Israel National News - Arutz Sheva

Report: Israel will not attack Iran's nuclear sites

American officials believe Israel has narrowed down the list of targets it will strike in retaliation for Iran's massive ballistic missile attack two weeks ago and will not strike any of Iran's nuclear facilities, NBC News reported.

According to the report, Israel is planning to strike Iranian military and energy infrastructure sites. However, a final decision on which sites to strike has not yet been made.

On October 1, Iran launched 181 ballistic missiles at Israel in the largest ballistic missile attack in history. The vast majority of the missiles were intercepted, though the attack sent millions of Israelis into bomb shelters.

US President Joe Biden has stated or hinted at his opposition to Israel striking Iran's nuclear facilities or fields. The day after Iran's attack, Biden stated, “The answer is no," in response to a reporter's question about whether he would support an Israeli strike on Iran's nuclear sites. He added that while Israel has the right to respond to the attack, it should do so “proportionally” without elaborating on what that means.

At another press briefing, Biden stated, "If I were in their shoes, I'd be thinking about other alternatives than striking oilfields."

Sources have told CNN that Tehran is "extremely nervous and has been engaging in urgent diplomatic efforts with countries in the Middle East" to determine whether it is possible to either reduce the scope of Israel's response, or to garner aid in protecting Tehran.

The source added that Iran is very concerned about Israel's relation due to the "uncertainty about whether the US can convince Israel not to strike Iranian nuclear sites and oil facilities," as well as from the blows that Hezbollah, Iran's most powerful proxy in the Middle East, has sustained in Israel's operation in southern Lebanon. Israel National News - Arutz Sheva

240 terror targets in Gaza and Lebanon struck in last day

Overnight, the 36th Division continued its limited, localized, and targeted operational activity in southern Lebanon against Hezbollah terror targets and terrorist infrastructure in the area. As part of the activity, the IAF struck Hezbollah launchers, anti-tank missile posts, weapons storage facilities, and additional terror targets.

The IDF stated that troops continue to operate in southern Lebanon to dismantle terrorist infrastructure. Over the past day, the troops eliminated dozens of terrorists, exposed tunnel shafts, and located numerous weapons including launchers, anti-tank missiles, munitions, and more.

Over the past day, the IAF has struck approximately 200 Hezbollah targets deep in Lebanon and southern Lebanon, including terrorist cells, launchers, anti-tank missile posts, and terrorist infrastructure sites.

Simultaneously, the IDF stated, over the past day, IDF troops continued to operate throughout the Gaza Strip and have struck approximately 40 terror targets and eliminated dozens of terrorists.

In the area of Jabaliya, IDF troops struck the launcher from which projectiles were fired toward the area of Ashkelon yesterday (Saturday).

In addition, over the past day, the troops eliminated dozens of terrorists and located explosives, grenades, and additional weapons in the area.

Furthermore, IDF operational activity continues in southern Gaza. Over the past day, the troops eliminated a number of armed terrorists, and they identified and eliminated a terrorist cell armed with an RPG adjacent to the troops operating in the area by means of an IAF aircraft. WATCH

Netanyahu to UN chief: 'Get UNIFIL forces out of Hezbollah strongholds right now'

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu today (Sunday) addressed UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres with a call to evacuate UNIFIL soldiers from Hezbollah strongholds in southern Lebanon.

"We are marking one year of the harsh war that was forced on us – the war of redemption against Iran's axis of evil, which has risen up to destroy us. We are more determined than ever to ensure our future; we are more determined than ever to defeat our enemies," Netanyahu said.

"In Lebanon: We eliminated Nasrallah and his senior personnel. Our heroic soldiers are destroying Hezbollah's weapons, command centers and terrorist tunnels. They are fighting forcefully to return our residents in the north safely to their homes. We are not fighting the Lebanese people, we are fighting Iran's terrorist proxy Hezbollah, which has occupied Lebanon," he added.

Netanyahu continued, "I would like to appeal directly to the UN Secretary General: The time has come for you to withdraw UNIFIL from Hezbollah strongholds and from the combat zones. The IDF has requested this repeatedly and has met with repeated refusal, which has the effect of providing Hezbollah terrorists with human shields. Your refusal to evacuate UNIFIL soldiers has turned them into hostages of Hezbollah. This endangers both them and the lives of our soldiers."

"We regret the harm to UNIFIL soldiers and we are doing our utmost to prevent such harm. But the simplest and most obvious way to ensure this is simply to withdraw them from the danger zone," he said.

He added in an appeal in English, "Mr. Secretary General, get the UNIFIL forces out of harm's way. It should be done right now, immediately."

Netanyahu then continued in Hebrew, "Unfortunately, several European leaders are applying pressure in the wrong place. Instead of criticizing Israel, they need to direct their criticism at Hezbollah, which is using UNIFIL as a human shield, just as Hamas in Gaza is using UNRWA as a human shield."

"In Gaza: We are continuing to operate deep in the territory in order to eliminate Hamas and bring about the release of our hostages. Our brave soldiers are now in the heart of Jabalya where they are dismantling Hamas's strongholds," he said,

Netanyahu stated, "The 101 of our hostages who are in Gaza have always been our chief concern. We will do everything to bring them, all of them, back home, the living and the deceased. In Judea and Samaria: Our forces are acting without respite on the ground and in the air to thwart terrorism. The terrorism there will not win because we will not allow it to. In other arenas: We will continue to take action to ensure Israel's security.

"There are moments during the war when one simple rule must be adhered to, and I request that all ministers adhere to this rule: Say little and do much. With G-d's help, we will do this and we will succeed," Netanyahu concluded. Israel National News - Arutz Sheva

Moscow expands ties with Tehran, as Israel weighs retaliatory strike on Iran

Moscow and Tehran are expanding their ties, Russian President Vladimir Putin told his Iranian counterpart Masoud Pezeshkian on Friday, as Israel continued to weigh a retaliatory military strike on the Islamic Republic.

"We actively work together in the international arena, and our assessments of current events in the world are often very close," Putin told Pezeshkian, according to the TASS news agency, as the two men met in the Turkmen capital of Ashgabat.

Pezeshkian, according to IRNA, noted that Iran and Russia had significant complementary capacities and could assist each other. "Our positions in the world are much closer to each other than to others," he was quoted as telling the Russian leader.

Putin was cited by TASS as telling Pezeshkian that economic ties between Moscow and Tehran were on the up. Tehran has deepened its cooperation with Moscow since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine two years ago, particularly with respect to military weapons, including ballistic missiles and armed drones.

The European Union plans to designate individuals or organizations for sanctions over the Iranian transfer of ballistic missiles to Russia, a high-ranking EU official said on Friday. READ MORE

The IDF says it intercepted two rockets over the Haifa area a short time ago.

 

The Times of Israel is liveblogging Saturday’s events as they happen.

3min ago

Some 35 rockets fired in barrage that triggered sirens in Acre and surrounding communities, IDF says

Some 35 rockets were fired from Lebanon toward northern Israel a short time ago, the Israel Defense Forces says.

The military says some of the rockets were intercepted.

The barrage triggered sirens in Acre and the surrounding communities.

2hr ago

IDF intercepts 2 rockets over Haifa area

The IDF says it intercepted two rockets over the Haifa area a short time ago.

3hr ago

Some 30 rockets launched at Israel from Lebanon; no casualties

The army says some 30 rockets were launched at Israel from Lebanon in the past hour. There are no reports of damage or casualties.

3hr ago

Rocket sirens sound in several northern communities

Rocket sirens are sounding in Metula, Kfar Giladi and a number of other northern communities.