11th consecutive night: CENTCOM hits Iranian hangars and logistics

CENTCOM completes its 11th consecutive night of strikes against Iranian military targets to protect Strait of Hormuz shipping following months of Iranian aggression.

US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced on Tuesday night that, at 8:15 p.m. ET on July 21, it successfully completed the 11th consecutive evening of strikes against Iran which had begun about an hour earlier. According to the statement, CENTCOM assets targeted Iranian military operations centers, maritime capabilities, aircraft hangars, drone storage facilities, and military logistics infrastructure to further degrade Iran's ability to threaten commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.

“Over the past three months, Iran has attacked more than 30 commercial vessels transiting the international waterway vital for regional and global trade. The unwarranted attacks have endan It stressed, “Despite Iranian aggression, the Strait of Hormuz remains open for commercial vessel transit. Since early May, CENTCOM forces have helped facilitate the transit of approximately 900 commercial vessels and 450 million barrels of crude oil."

Iranian media reported earlier that the US strikes were widespread and recorded in Behbahan, Mahshahr, Bandar Abbas, Chabahar, Bushehr and Parchin. Air defense systems were reportedly also active in the Sohanak neighborhood in northeastern Tehran, west of Tabriz and Sirik. The Nournews agency reported that air defense systems in Tehran were activated against “hostile targets." Hours before the latest US strikes, the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, the operational headquarters of the Iranian army, warned the USagainst striking Iran's nuclear facilities. (Read more)

B-1 Bombers On Route: US Heavy Aircraft Take Off From UK Base Following Trump Threat on Iranian Nuclear Mountain

US Air Force B-1 Lancers were documented taking off from RAF Fairford in the United Kingdom shortly after President Donald Trump vowed to hit Iran's secret underground Pickaxe Mountain facility. US Air Force B-1 strategic bombers were observed taking off from RAF Fairford in the United Kingdom shortly after President Donald Trump threatened direct military strikes against Iran's fortified Pickaxe Mountain facility. The departure of the heavy aircraft signals an operational shift as military posture around the ongoing war continues to intensify across multiple theaters.

The heavy bomber launches from British soil coincide directly with growing intelligence reports that Tehran relocated centrifuges and enriched uranium to the subterranean mountain complex. Observers noted the B-1 Lancers departing the military base, though officials have not confirmed whether the flights represent a tactical deployment, a planned operational exercise, or standard training missions. The airborne mobilization followed remarks by Trump regarding reports of Iranian nuclear transfers to the fortified site. The president emphasized that Washington maintains a zero tolerance policy toward Iran acquiring non-conventional capabilities.

"We will hit that site hard, without a doubt," Trump declared. "Iran cannot reach a nuclear weapon, and every site that is nuclear will be hit hard." In addition to threats against underground facilities, Trump highlighted that diplomatic channels remain closed. He noted that Tehran appears eager for negotiations, but specified that the US will not engage without significant concessions from Iranian leadership.

...The strategic bomber departures also come as Israeli defense networks under Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir entered maximum readiness for potential Iranian missile retaliations. Security authorities warn that continued US strikes against critical Iranian infrastructure and senior leadership are expected to trigger direct long-range attacks across the region. (Read more)

Iran avoiding attack on Israel over fears of IDF strikes on regime leaders, expert says

Iran is avoiding a broad, direct attack on Israel because it fears Israeli strikes on senior regime figures and institutions vital to its survival, Iran researcher Beni Sabti told 103FM on Sunday. Sabti, an Iran researcher at the Institute for National Security Studies, spoke with Ron Kofman and Prof. Aryeh Eldad following an Al Hadath report citing an Israeli security source who said that Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei was not in the Islamic Republic.“The strength of the public lies in Tehran, as we saw during the protests, and that is what Iran fears,” Sabti said, explaining Iran’s concern over a possible Israeli attack.

“The Iranian regime fears our involvement because they know that we are going straight to the center. We are targeting the most important part and focusing on senior officials. “They crossed a threshold on Sunday. There may be elements within the Revolutionary Guards that are beginning to pick at us and provoke us, testing how far they can go in angering Israel, and woe to them. There are always rogue elements within rogue elements. It has become like Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad. Let me be clear: Iran has shifted into terror organization mode.”

Asked why Iran was refraining from launching a broad, direct attack on Israel, Sabti said: “They know that, first and foremost, we focus on individuals, and from our familiarity with them, we truly know how to reach them, as we saw on previous occasions. “If there are no American restrictions, we know how to do the job. We focus on facilities and institutions that are important to the regime’s survival, such as the Revolutionary Guards’ internal security headquarters.” “There are people who do not respect the rule of law and who are truly anarchists, and the Revolutionary Guards are like that,” Sabti said. “There are people who do not respect the law and even enjoy doing so. (Read More)

Iran moved thousands of uranium centrifuges into fortified Pickaxe Mountain - WSJ

The movement of nuclear equipment deep inside Pickaxe Mountain increases concerns that Tehran is working to ensure continued production of uranium enrichment.

Iran transferred thousands of uranium enrichmentcentrifuges to underground facilities deep inside Natanz's Pickaxe Mountain last fall, The Wall Street Journal reported on Monday, citing Israeli and US officials. The centrifuges were transferred to the mountain following the 12-day war in June 2025. During the war, American and Israeli strikes pummeled three of Iran’s main nuclear sites, in an operation the US called "Midnight Hammer."

US and Israeli officials noted that the transfer of sensitive equipment inside the mountain increases concerns that Tehran is working to ensure continued uranium enrichment, even in the event of a large-scale military attack on its soil. Pickaxe Mountain is located south of the Natanz nuclear complex, the site of two of Iran’s uranium enrichment plants bombed in June 2025.

The tunnel facility under construction at Pickaxe Mountain wasn't targeted in either of the wars, according to the Institute for Science and International Security (ISIS), a US-based think-tank focused on nuclear non-proliferation. Satellite imagery shows that the complex was carved to a depth of more than 100 meters below bedrock, making it deeper and more fortified than the Fordow enrichment facility, a highly fortified, underground uranium enrichment facility. (Read More)

CNN: Israel Believes Iran Moved Enriched Uranium, Not Just Centrifuges, Into Pickaxe Mountain

CNN adds new detail to a Wall Street Journal report, saying Israeli intelligence believes Iran relocated part of its highly enriched uranium stockpile, along with thousands of centrifuges, into the fortified Pickaxe Mountain site near Natanz. CNN added a significant new detail Tuesday to a Wall Street Journal report on Iran's nuclear program, saying Israel believes Tehran moved not only thousands of centrifuges but also part of its stockpile of highly enriched uranium into a fortified underground facility known as Pickaxe Mountain.

According to CNN, an Israeli source familiar with the matter said the transfer took place after the twelve day war between Israel and Iran in June 2025, and that Israeli intelligence has been monitoring the site, located south of Tehran near Natanz, for months. Iran currently holds roughly 440 kilograms of uranium enriched to 60 percent purity, just below weapons grade, and removing that stockpile has remained a central war goal for both Israel and the United States.

The Wall Street Journal was first to report Monday that Israeli and American officials believe Iran transferred thousands of uranium enrichmentcentrifuges into tunnels carved deep inside Pickaxe Mountain, according to intelligence Israel shared with Washington. Satellite imagery reviewed by the Journal shows the complex sits more than 300 feet beneath granite bedrock, making it considerably deeper and more fortified than the Fordow and Natanz facilities that were struck last year.

Pickaxe Mountain was not targeted during the twelve day war in June 2025, when American and Israeli strikes hit Iran's three main nuclear sites, nor has it been hit during the more intensive US-Israeli campaign that began on February 28. An Israeli defense official familiar with target selection told the Journal that last year's strikes did not sufficiently damage facilities tied to Iran's weapons program and that additional work remains, including at Pickaxe Mountain. (Read More)

IDF confirms launch of ‘Safe Zone’ pilot program in Southern Lebanon

The Israel Defense Forces on Monday night confirmed the launch of a “Safe Zone” pilot program in Southern Lebanon that will see Israeli troops redeploy from designated areas. “In accordance with the directives from the political echelon, the ‘Safe Zone’ pilot program began today (Monday) in southern Lebanon, in cooperation with the U.S. military (CENTCOM) and the Lebanese Armed Forces,” the IDF stated. “As part of the pilot, teams from the IDF, the U.S. military, and the Lebanese Armed Forces are conducting coordination and planning for the continued implementation of the agreement,” it continued. “The IDF will respond forcefully to any violation of the agreement.”

The U.S. State Department said on Monday that the Lebanese military launched its first operations to take over control of villages near the Israeli security zone in Lebanon. “Pilot zone operations began in the villages of Froun, Srifa and Zawtar Al-Gharbiya in accordance with the Trilateral Framework and under the auspices of the Military Coordination Group for Lebanon,” State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott stated. “This milestone is a direct outcome of last week’s discussions between Israel and Lebanon in Rome,” he said.

The three villages straddle the Litani River at the edge of the security area that Israel established within Lebanon to combat Hezbollah. Under the agreement that Israel, Lebanon and the United States signed in Washington in June, the establishment of Lebanese-controlled pilot zones is the first step to allow Israel to “progressively redeploy out of the Lebanese territory.” Those redeployments will require “mutual consent” and “the confirmation of successful disarmament of non-state armed groups and dismantlement of their infrastructure” in the pilot zones, per the agreement. (Ed note: The village of Srifa is about 13 miles northeast of the city of Tyre. Can the Lebanese military get it done, or is this another case of letting the fox guard the hen-house?) (Source)

Israel, US, and Lebanon have different visions for pilot zones - and Hezbollah is why - analysis

Lebanon, Israel, and the US all support Lebanese Army pilot zones in the south - but each side appears to have a different idea of what success means and how to deal with Hezbollah.

There appears to be a disconnect between what Beirut, Washington, and Jerusalem expect from the deployment of the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) in proposed pilot zones in southern Lebanon. On paper, all three sides appear to support an increased role for the Lebanese Army. However, they seem to have very different ideas about what that deployment is supposed to accomplish.

On July 20, the US State Department said, “Today, pilot zone operations began in the villages of Froun, Srifa, and Zawtar al-Gharbiya in accordance with the Trilateral Framework [Agreement] and under the auspices of the Military Coordination Group for Lebanon. This milestone is a direct outcome of last week’s discussions between Israel and Lebanon in Rome. “The United States will continue working closely with both parties to implement the Framework to a successful conclusion.”

...Beirut appears primarily focused on using the pilot zones to secure an Israeli withdrawal or redeployment. The concept is clear from Lebanon’s point of view. The LAF deploys soldiers and vehicles, demonstrates that it has a presence on the ground, and then hopes the IDF will keep leaving new areas. Beirut can then say it has fulfilled its obligations.

...There is one major problem with this approach: Hezbollah is barely mentioned by Beirut or its supporters. It is always seen as the “he who shall not be named,” like in Harry Potter. The United States appears to have a more ambitious objective. Washington has invested in the Lebanese Army over the years. The goal of the US is for the Lebanese state to restore its sovereignty.

...That means the army should actually do what an army is supposed to do. It should control territory, secure borders, prevent Hezbollah from operating, and ensure that the state has a so-called monopoly on weapons. That means preventing Hezbollah from stockpiling so many weapons that it basically supplants the army in terms of its powers. In southern Lebanon, this inevitably means dealing with Hezbollah. (Ed note: How do you like that decision? Did Israel just get thrown under the bus again by deal making Presidents?) (Read More)

US-Saudi nuclear deal makes no mention of normalization with Israel, IAEA safeguards - report

The Trump administration plans to submit to Congress a pact with Saudi Arabia to share nuclear power technology that does not include a plan for normalization with Israel or safeguards the US has long said would stop materials from being used in nuclear weapons programs, the New York Times reported on Tuesday. The long-discussed US-Saudi nuclear pact was once envisioned as one part of a broad deal that could lead to recognition of Israel, but Saudi Arabia pulled back from the possibility during the Israel-Hamas war.

The administration is set to submit to Congress within days a document known as a 123 Agreement that will be signed by US Energy Secretary Chris Wright and Saudi energy minister Abdulaziz bin Salman, two sources told Reuters. The two signed a preliminary agreement in Riyadh last year. The White House and US Department of Energy did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The agreement refers to Section 123 of the US Atomic Energy Act of 1954 and is required to permit the US government and American companies to work with entities in the kingdom to develop a multibillion-dollar civil nuclear industry. The agreement does not include the "Gold Standard" that would block the kingdom from enriching uranium and reprocessing spent nuclear fuel, both of which are potential pathways to nuclear weapons, said the sources familiar with the agreement.

The agreement also does not include the "Additional Protocol," which grants the UN's International Atomic Energy Agency broad and more intrusive oversight of a country's nuclear activities, such as the power to carry out snap inspections at undeclared locations, said the sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive issues. (Ed note: How many times have the Saudi's refused to let the US fly over their land, and continues to refuse to normalize relations with Israel? So let us give them an atomic bomb?)  (Read more)

THE ANCIENT AREA OF ELAM IS THE SUBJECT OF END TIMES PROPHECY!

The ancient territory of Elam, which is in modern-day Iran, is the subject of a latter days apocalyptic prophecy in Jeremiah 49:34-39. Within Elam are the following important nuclear related sites that are strategic US targets.

Isfahan: Iran’s largest nuclear research facility.

Pickaxe Mountain: Suspected location of Iran’s hidden enriched uranium.

Natanz: Iran's primary enrichment facility.

Bushehr: One of Iran’s nuclear reactors.

Shiraz: Iran’s special weapons and missile development facility.

The prophecy foretells of a forthcoming epic biblical disaster.

The details of Jeremiah’s end times Elam prophecy are summarized below.

The Lord declares He will;

1. bring disaster upon them, My fierce anger,
2. destroy from there the king and the officials,
3. break the bow of Elam, at the foremost of their might,
4. bring the four winds From the four quarters of heaven,
5. scatter them  toward all those winds, (worldwide)
6. cause Elam to be dismayed before their enemies (invading forces) and before those who seek their life,

7. send the sword after them Until I have consumed them,
8. set My throne (authority) in Elam,
9. and, (in the latter days) bring back the captives of Elam.

U.S. Goes Nuclear: Iranian Air Defenses Activate Around Bushehr Plant as Strikes Reach Central Isfahan (BUSHEHR)

United States forces have initiated a 10th consecutive night of bombardment targeting military infrastructure across Iran, while Tehran vows to maintain its strategic leverage over the Strait of Hormuz despite strikes hitting near its nuclear facilities. United States Central Command has executed a 10th consecutive wave of heavy aerial strikes against military targets inside Iran. The operation, ordered by President Donald Trump, directly targets Iranian military assets utilized to disrupt international maritime traffic and commercial shipping transiting the Strait of Hormuz.

The latest escalation follows statement confirmation from American officials indicating that destructive strikes will persist until Tehran complies with established security frameworks. Iranian state media confirmed that air defense systems were activated in close proximity to the Bushehr nuclear power plant following incoming air raids. Explosions were reported across multiple major southern port cities, including Sirik, Bandar Abbas, Bandar Lengeh, and Chabahar. Additionally, loud detonations were reported for the first time in the current campaign over Isfahan in central Iran, indicating a major geographic expansion of the bombing campaign.

Despite the sustained aerial campaign, senior Iranian leadership remains resolute regarding its strategic posture in regional waters. Ali Bagheri Kani, Deputy Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, publicly issued a firm warning regarding the disputed maritime choke point. "The leverage of the Strait of Hormuz is of crucial importance to us, and Iran will not retreat from its position on this matter," declared Bagheri Kani during official security briefings.

Security evaluations confirm that US forces are systematically targeting coastal surveillance sites, missile and drone launch positions, and military command facilities throughout southern Iranian provinces. Intelligence assessments indicate that the risk of broader regional conflict continues to escalate rapidly as retaliatory strikes affect allied infrastructure across the Persian Gulf. Iranian officials continue to insist that any resolution must involve an immediate cessation of all foreign military operations in regional airspace. (Source)

US strikes hit Bushehr, Iranian city home to country’s sole civilian nuclear plant (BUSHEHR)

TEHRAN, Iran — US strikes hit several locations in Iran’s southern port city of Bushehr, home to the country’s only civilian nuclear plant, state media reports.

“A few minutes ago, several locations in Bushehr city were hit by the American enemy’s projectiles,” says Bushehr governor Mohammad Mozaffari, as quoted by official state news agency IRNA.  (Source)

NUCLEAR SHOWDOWN IN IRAN

Missiles cloud Mideast skies over the Persian Gulf. Iran shuts down the Strait of Hormuz. Arab oil is choked off to world markets. Hezbollah and Hamas launch scores of missiles into Israel. Terror cells initiate cycles of violence in America. Global economies begin to collapse. Radioactivity permeates the skies over Bushehr’s nuclear reactor. Countless Iranian’s hastily seek refuge into neighboring nations. The Arabian Gulf becomes a cesspool of contamination. Desalinization plants can’t process the polluted waters. A humanitarian crisis burgeons out of control. A disaster of epic biblical proportion has finally arrived in the Middle East!

About 2600 years ago the Hebrew prophets Jeremiah and Ezekiel issued parallel end times prophecies concerning modern-day Iran. Today the rogue country is becoming a nuclear nation and aggressively advancing its hegemony throughout the greater Middle East. Nuclear Showdown in Iran, The Ancient Prophecy of Elam is a non-fiction thriller taking the reader on a journey of discovery through the eyes of the prophets and the minds of today’s key national players.Can anything good come from the evil that is about to befall us? The ancient prophecy of Elam will reveal what God has ordained, what the prophets saw and what you need to know and do now.   (CLICK HERE)

Iran moved centrifuges deep inside Natanz's Pickaxe Mountain in bid to keep nuclear program alive

Iran transferred thousands of uranium enrichmentcentrifuges to underground facilities deep inside Natanz's Pickaxe Mountain last fall, The Wall Street Journal reported on Monday, citing Israeli and US officials. The centrifuges were transferred to the mountain following the 12-day war in June 2025. During the war, American and Israeli strikes pummeled three of Iran’s main nuclear sites, in an operation the US called "Midnight Hammer."

US and Israeli officials noted that the transfer of sensitive equipment inside the mountain increases concerns that Tehran is working to ensure continued uranium enrichment, even in the event of a large-scale military attack on its soil. Pickaxe Mountain is located south of the Natanz nuclear complex, the site of two of Iran’s uranium enrichment plants bombed in June 2025.

The tunnel facility under construction at Pickaxe Mountain wasn't targeted in either of the wars, according to the Institute for Science and International Security (ISIS), a US-based think-tank focused on nuclear non-proliferation. Satellite imagery shows that the complex was carved to a depth of more than 100 meters below bedrock, making it deeper and more fortified than the Fordow enrichment facility, a highly fortified, underground uranium enrichment facility.

Reaching these depths is considered a complex task, even for the most advanced bunker-penetrating bombs in the US arsenal. Tehran claimed that the site is intended solely as a factory for the production and assembly of advanced centrifuges, not as an active enrichment facility. Iranian authorities, however, are preventing International Atomic Energy Agency inspectors from entering the site. (Read More)

'We want land invasion': Iran mouthpiece touts new missile, boasts decades of war prep

Seyed Mohammad Marandi said Tehran introduced a new missile, buried its arsenal underground to withstand US air attacks. 

Tehran has spent decades preparing for — and welcoming — a U.S. ground invasion, a senior Iranian official has claimed, as fresh explosions rocked the region on the eighth day of renewed U.S.-Iran strikes. Seyed Mohammad Marandi, an Iranian American academic identified as a regime "mouthpiece," also boasted that Tehran had just launched a "new missile" while decentralizing and burying its arsenal deep underground to withstand sustained American air campaigns.

"The Americans are planning an invasion. I'm not saying it will necessarily happen. I'm not saying it will necessarily happen in the next few days. But they have plans for an invasion," Marandi, who served as an advisor to Iran's nuclear negotiation team during recent talks with the U.S. in Pakistan, said in an interview with political analyst Glenn Diesen.

Whether they carry them out or not, we'll see. But the Iranians, as you pointed out, the focus of Iranian strikes is on Bahrain and Kuwait, and that's because that's where most American assets have been placed for a ground invasion," Diesen said. Marandi’s comments came as the conflict expanded across western and southern Iran in the run-up to Saturday. Iran also launched missile and drone salvos targeting U.S.-linked facilities in Jordan, Kuwait and Bahrain. Jordanian officials confirmed they intercepted 10 missiles early Saturday, while authorities in Kuwait reported casualties and severe damage to a domestic power and desalination plant. (Read More)

Lebanese military deploys in three 'pilot program' areas, securing Hezbollah-free zones

A pilot program in which Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) troops will enter designated areas in southern Lebanon to verify they have been cleared of Hezbollah operatives and weapons is expected to begin in the near future, two people familiar with the matter told The Jerusalem Poston Monday. Later on Monday, the IDF confirmed that the "Safe Zone" pilot program had begun with cooperation from the US and Lebanese militaries. "As part of the pilot, teams from the IDF, the US military, and the Lebanese Armed Forces are coordinating and planning the continued implementation of the agreement," the military stated.

Also on Monday, the US State Department said operations in pilot zones had begun in the villages of Froun, Srifa, and Zawtar al-Gharbiya in southern Lebanon “in accordance with the Trilateral Framework and under the auspices of the Military Coordination Group for Lebanon.” No deadline had been given for the LAF’s demilitarization of pilot zones, an Israeli official told the Post, adding that further implementation is contingent on the success of the initial mobilization.

Meanwhile, talks between Israel and Lebanon on the topics of normalization and demilitarizing Hezbollah are expected to resume at the beginning of August, the Post has learned. The development follows last week’s meeting in Romebetween the Israeli and Lebanese delegations, which were led by Israeli Ambassador to the US Yechiel Leiter and Lebanese Ambassador to the US Nada Hamadeh Mouawad under the auspices of senior US officials. (Read More)

Houthis declare immediate naval blockade on Saudi Arabia

Iranian-backed rebel group claims it will exact 'eye for an eye, blockade for blockade' against Saudi Arabia.

The Iran-backed Houthi rebel movement announced on Monday that it was imposing an immediate naval blockade on Saudi Arabia, marking one of its most significant threats against the Kingdom since the fragile truce that largely halted cross-border fighting in 2022 In a televised statement, Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree warned that any further Saudi military action would be met with an overwhelming response.

“The Houthi forces announce a maritime embargo against the Saudi enemy, based on the equation of ‘an eye for an eye,’ which enters into force immediately upon the publication of this statement," Saree said. “In addition, we affirm our people’s right to respond to a blockade with a blockade, and to respond to any escalation with escalation." The Houthis did not provide operational details on how they intend to enforce the blockade. However, the announcement immediately raised concerns over maritime security in the Red Sea and the Bab el-Mandab Strait, one of the world's most strategically important shipping lanes linking the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden and the Suez Canal.

The declaration follows a sharp deterioration in tensions between the Houthis and Saudi Arabia. According to regional and international media reports, the Houthis recently accused Saudi Arabia of carrying out airstrikes on Sana'a International Airport. The internationally recognized Yemeni government, backed by Riyadh, acknowledged responsibility for the operation, saying it was intended to prevent the arrival of an Iranian aircraft. (Read more)

The Washington Summit Blockade: Vice President Vance Acts to Prevent Netanyahu Meeting With President Trump

Vice President JD Vance and top White House aides are actively maneuvering to block a face to face meeting between President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over concerns regarding Iran policy. Senior political officials in Jerusalem have revealed an intense diplomatic struggle unfolding behind the scenes between Washington and Israel. Aides surrounding United States Vice President JD Vance are actively working to derail a planned official summit between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Donald Trump. Israeli diplomatic sources indicate that White House staff fear Netanyahu will use a direct meeting to lobby Trump into adopting a significantly more hawkish operational posture against Iran.

The urgent push from Netanyahu's office to organize the high level encounter is tied directly to his scheduled travel plans to the United States next week. The prime minister intends to attend the official funeral services for the late Senator Lindsey Graham, currently scheduled for July 27. However, officials in Jerusalem firmly emphasize that Netanyahu has no intention of landing in Washington without a finalized, fully confirmed meeting on the president's official schedule.

Netanyahu previously canceled a planned trip to the United States after White House staff expressed annoyance over perceived attempts by Israeli diplomats to force an unconfirmed meeting. Despite the internal resistance within the White House administration, Israeli officials maintain that the personal relationship between Netanyahu and Trump remains strong. Envoy Aryeh Lightstone, an advisor to Steve Witkoff, is scheduled to meet with Netanyahu in Jerusalem to navigate the complex diplomatic arrangements. Concurrently, Vice President Vance has escalated his public critique of Israeli security policies during an extensive three hour appearance on the Joe Rogan podcast. Vance leveled serious accusations against Israeli intelligence agencies, alleging historical ties to convicted offender Jeffrey Epstein based on media reports. (Ed note: Vice President JD Vance and Israeli officials have had a widely publicized rift over U.S. diplomacy and negotiations with Iran, with Vance previously telling Israeli critics that Trump is their "only powerful ally" left.)  (Read more)

Secretive Dolphin Submarine in Plain Sight: Israel's Silent Warning to Tehran | WATCH

An Israeli Navy submarine was filmed in an unusually rare, censor-approved public appearance near Eilat, on the same day Iranian missile debris landed in Israeli territory. An Israeli Navy submarine was filmed this week sailing openly out of its base in the Gulf of Eilat, in what analysts and Israeli commentators describe as an unusually rare public appearance for one of the country's most closely guarded military assets. The vessel, believed to be heading toward the Straits of Tiran and potentially into the Red Sea, was captured moving visibly above the surface of the water, a departure from the near-total secrecy that typically surrounds the location and movement of Israel's submarine fleet. Israel, like most naval powers, treats the whereabouts of its submarines as among its most sensitive military information, rarely if ever confirmed or shown publicly.

What made the episode more notable, according to a report by Srugim News, was that Israeli military censors approved the footage for public release, a decision that departs sharply from standard practice. The footage's approval came shortly after debris from intercepted Iranian missiles, fired from Jordanian territory toward the nearby city of Aqaba, spilled over into the Eilat area, prompting alarm sirens and interceptions over the Israeli resort city. The timing has led to speculation, though not official confirmation, that the release was intended as a deliberate signal to Tehran. Under this reading, the visible submarine activity would serve as a pointed reminder of Israeli military capability and resolve at a moment when spillover from the wider US-Iran conflict has begun to reach Israeli territory directly, rather than remaining confined to Jordan and other neighboring states.

Israeli officials have not publicly commented on the purpose of the submarine's movement or the decision to allow its release, and the interpretation of the footage as a warning to Iran remains speculative, based on the analysis of Israeli commentators rather than any official statement. The episode nonetheless comes at a moment of heightened tension along Israel's southern border, with the IDF warning residents of Eilat and the Arava region of possible further spillover from Iranian strikes on Jordan, and with Israel's broader defense establishment on alert across multiple fronts as the war between the United States and Iran continues. (Ed note: The Israeli submarine, while being a diesel-electric boat, is said to carry aboard nuclear tipped cruise missiles that can be launched while submerged. Definitely a calling card to Iran and the Middle East. Eilat is an Israeli resort town on the Red Sea. Yes, the same Red Sea that Moses crossed. Hey, want to go dive for some Egyptian iron chariot wheels?) (Source)

IDF fires interceptors over Eilat as Iranian missiles target nearby Aqaba in Jordan

Military says it shot down missile debris, while its interceptor fragments landed in open area near Eilat; Israeli source tells Saudi outlet that Mojtaba Khamenei is ‘not in Iran.’

Israel launched interceptors on Sunday after fragments from Iranian missiles fired at Jordan’s southern city of Aqaba potentially threatened the nearby city of Eilat, as the escalation in US-Iran fighting showed no signs of abating. The missiles were intercepted by American air defense systems, according to initial Israel Defense Forces assessments, while the military said it also launched Iron Dome interceptors amid the missile attack to shoot down fragments. No sirens sounded in Eilat, as the fragments were shot down. Interceptor fragments fell in an open area near the city, without causing any damage or injuries, the IDF said.

The Jordanian military said three Iranian ballistic missiles were intercepted while a fourth hit an open area, according to a statement carried by the official Petra news agency. There were no reports of injuries in the attack. Iran launched fresh missile attacks against nations allied with Washington as the US has struck Iran for eight consecutive nights and has expanded its airstrike campaign by increasingly hitting civilian infrastructure. The operations followed US President Donald Trump’s threats to start striking infrastructure to pressure Tehran to ease its chokehold on the Strait of Hormuz, the vital waterway for the global energy supply.

So far, Israel has not been involved in the latest escalation, and Tehran has not directly targeted the Jewish state. Echoing similar comments by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Israel Katz said Sunday that Israel would respond powerfully to any attack by Iran. “If Iran fires missiles at Israel, we will attack them with full force,” Katz said during a visit to a rescue service facility. “If the United States changes its policy, which is also something that could happen, we are prepared for both defensive and offensive” action against Tehran, he added. IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir said the military is “closely monitoring the developments in Iran and maintaining a high level of readiness.”

“We monitored the launch toward the Aqaba area today, and our air defense array is on alert to protect the citizens of Israel,” Zamir said during a visit to the West Bank today, according to remarks provided by the military. “We are prepared to immediately resume fighting and will act with great force against anyone who harms us,” he added. The US said strikes overnight Saturday-Sunday were intended to “punish” the IRGC for a deadly strike that killed two US military personnel in Jordanand left another missing. Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization on Sunday condemned a US attack on the site of the nuclear power plant under construction in Darkhovin, saying the strike violated international law, Mehr news agency reported. It did not say when the strike occurred. Construction of the plant in southwestern Iran’s Khuzestan province began in 2022. (Read More)

US unleashes ninth consecutive night of strikes on Iranian military assets

US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced early Monday morning that it began conducting a new wave of strikes against Iran for the ninth consecutive night. The statement said the strikes were launched at 7:00 p.m. ET (2:00 a.m. Israel time). "The strikes will continue degrading Iranian military capabilities used to attack commercial vessels and civilian mariners transiting the Strait of Hormuz," said CENTCOM.

Iranian media outlets reported a wave of American strikes in the city of Tabriz, located in the northwestern part of the country. Concurrently, the Iranian news agency Tasnim reported that powerful blasts and multiple explosions were heard in Bandar Mahshahr and Bandar Imam Khomeini - two major, strategic port cities situated along the coast of the Persian Gulf in southwestern Iran.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced later that it attacked two oil tankers navigating the Strait of Hormuz. According to the Iranian claims, the strike was executed after the vessels veered off course and failed to stick to the agreed-upon route set by Iranian authorities in the strait. In its statement, the IRGC issued a direct threat toward Washington, warning that the United States should expect "punishment" in response to its actions in the region. In an earlier statement, CENTCOM said that as of Sunday, it has redirected six commercial vessels and disabled one to ensure full compliance with the naval blockade against Iran. (Read more)

The Chabahar Port Surgical Strike: United States Central Command Destroys Strategic Revolutionary Guard Spy Tower in Coastal Raid

United States Central Command has executed a highly precise surgical strike destroying a vital Iranian intelligence tower at Chabahar Port, effectively blinding the Revolutionary Guards maritime spy network. United States Central Command forces have launched a highly precise surgical operation to destroy one of the most critical maritime intelligence assets belonging to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. The targeted aerial strike completely neutralized a strategic naval observation and control tower located at the Shahid Kalantari facility within the port city of Chabahar. This decisive military action represents a major operational setback for Iran's regional surveillance capabilities during the rapidly expanding war.

The specialized installation had functioned for decades as the primary eyes and ears of the Iranian regime throughout the Gulf of Oman and the critical approaches to the Strait of Hormuz. The elimination of the site is part of a significantly broader offensive campaign executed by American forces over the past several days. Washington finalized plans to expand the scope of its air campaign and increase its target matrix following the recent deaths of American service members stationed at a base in Jordan. For multiple years, the surveillance tower operated under a strict doctrine of operational duality to mask its true military purposes. During periods of relative calm, the facility portrayed itself as an innocent administrative outpost managed by the Iranian Ports Authority to oversee commercial shipping lanes and coordinate maritime search and rescue missions. Behind this civilian facade lay an advanced military infrastructure that provided the Revolutionary Guards with deep electronic espionage capabilities.

The physical facility was heavily integrated with state of the art espionage technologies hidden beneath its standard port infrastructure. The site utilized long range surface scanning radars to identify and track international transit vessels at extreme distances. It also housed advanced electro optical arrays, thermal imaging systems, and night vision hardware to maintain continuous live visual monitoring of the surrounding waters. The technical capabilities of the hub extended to advanced electronic warfare suites designed to intercept foreign naval communications and jam critical frequencies used by Western warships. The base also utilized Automated Identification System monitoring platforms to actively track the precise movements of all vessels traversing the region, including American and allied military assets. (Read More)

Trump leaning towards escalation with Iran, source tells 'Post'

US President Donald Trump is leaning toward further escalation with Iran, according to statements by several Israeli and American officials on Sunday. "It appears President Trump is preparing to expand the campaign against Iran," one official told The Jerusalem Post. "The remaining questions are 'how much' and 'when.' He understands that, barring an unexpected development, the chances of a diplomatic solution is now virtually nonexistent." However, another official cautioned that Trump has changed course "at the last minute" before, noting that his position could still shift.

Israel's current assessment is that Iran will refrain from launching attacks against Israel as long as the United States does not significantly escalate its military campaign against Tehran. Regarding the possibility of Israel joining the strikes on Iran, two Israeli officials told the Post that it could happen under three scenarios: if Iran launches attacks against Israel, if Israeli intelligence detects that Iran is preparing to launch missiles or drones at Israel, or if Trump formally requests Israeli participation in the operation.

During a meeting of the Likud Constitution Committee, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hinted that an escalation could occur in the coming days. "I support holding the primaries, but there is a possibility that we could face an exceptional security situation that would make it difficult to hold campaign events," said Netanyahu. "It could coincide with election day or occur beforehand, making it difficult to conduct the vote." (Read more)

FNC’s Kilmeade: Vance’s Israel Comments Sound Like the Squad

On Friday’s broadcast of Fox News Radio’s “Brian Kilmeade Show,” host Brian Kilmeade criticized Vice President JD Vance’s comments on Israel by saying, “That’s stuff that you would expect extremists, extreme Squad members to say” and maybe “he wants to kiss up to the podcast class, who seemingly jumped off support for Israel.”

Kilmeade played a clip of Vance saying, “[I know,] beyond a shadow of a doubt, that there have been people within the Israeli government who are trying to, like, actually, shift us away from that policy, because they want to continue the military campaign. … [T]here are some people within their system we know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, who are manipulating and trying to change American public opinion to keep the war going on indefinitely. Again, not towards any objective. But just indefinitely.” Kilmeade responded, “That is not true. Now, are there people within the Knesset that are AOC or Squad-like characters on the fringe? Sure, I guess, I don’t know.

But what JD Vance and every Democrat — the 103 Democrats that voted not to fund — give funds to Israel should understand is, if their enemies were not rocketing them, making Israel an enemy…Israel would not be looking to stay on the war footing. Nobody wants war in Israel, nobody. They’re looking to survive, and they’re not going to be victims. If you’re going to send rockets into the northern part of their country, like Hezbollah, and Hamas into the southern part of their country, from Gaza, and if you’re going to do long-range missiles from — and other things in drones from Iran, you’re going to get attacked back, you’re going to get preemptive strikes.

They’re not interested in fighting. Why would he, as Vice President of the United States, say there are people who just want perpetual war? Who? Who are these people? Are you saying the prime minister wants perpetual war? That’s stuff that you would expect extremists, extreme Squad members to say. And I wonder if he even pre-thinks his stuff. I think it’s really detrimental for the Vice President to be saying stuff that’s so erroneous, maybe because he wants to kiss up to the podcast class, who seemingly jumped off support for Israel.” (Source)

Iran Claims US Struck Darkhovin Nuclear Plant Site Under Construction in Khuzestan

Iran's Atomic Energy Organization says US jets struck the Darkhovin nuclear power plant site under construction in Khuzestan province. The claim is not yet independently confirmed. Iran's Atomic Energy Organization said Sunday morning that American fighter jets fired several missiles at the Darkhovin nuclear power plant site in Khuzestan province, a facility still under construction, according to the Iranian body's own statement. No information on the extent of any damage or on casualties has been released so far.

Darkhovin, also known as the Karun or IR-360 site, is a domestically designed reactor project in Khuzestan province that Iran has been building since construction first broke ground in 2022, and it has never become operational.The claim comes amid weeks of US and Israeli strikes across Iran targeting military, energy and nuclear-linked infrastructure, including repeated strikes on the perimeter of Iran's operational Bushehr nuclear power plant and on petrochemical and energy sites in Khuzestan province itself.

The claim has not yet been confirmed by US Central Command, Israeli officials, or independent wire services, and JFeed has not been able to verify it beyond the Iranian government's own reporting at this stage. (Ed note: The Darkhovin site is located about 180 miles north of Bushehr nuclear site, and is within the ancient area once known as Elam.) (Source)

Iranian strike kills 2 US troops in Jordan, 3rd is MIA, as Tehran vows ‘unforgettable lessons’

CENTCOM says another four service members injured; Iran says it has suspended implementation of MOU; Washington said sending warplanes to Mideast.

The US military said on Saturday that two of its personnel were killed in Jordan and another was missing after an Iranian attack, while Tehran said it had suspended adherence to the memorandum of understanding with Washington and published a message, purportedly from its supreme leader, saying the US would pay an “unforgettable” price for “seeking to incite war” amid daily tit-for-tat attacks.

The US and Iran have intensified attacks since the interim ceasefire deal signed a month ago fell apart, raising the possibility of a return to all-out war. The US has struck Iran for seven consecutive nights now, and the Islamic Republic has responded each time with attacks it said targeted American bases in several Middle East countries, though it has thus far avoided firing at Israel. 

  

US Central Command said the two service members were killed in an Iranian ballistic missile attack on Jordan on Friday. It said a third US service member was missing in action and four others were wounded.CENTCOM said the wounded soldiers were taken to Jordanian hospitals and later discharged, and “other personnel who were evaluated for minor injuries have returned to duty.”“Out of respect for the families, CENTCOM will withhold additional information, including the identities of the fallen warriors, until 24 hours after the next of kin have been notified,” the statement added. (Read More)

US strikes hit southern Iran as IRGC reports Strait of Hormuz vessel 'accidents' amid tensions

During the strikes overnight on Saturday into the early hours of Sunday, explosions were heard in Bandar Abbas and Qeshm Island, Iranian state-affiliated media reported.

US warplanes reportedly struck near the city of Shadagan in southern Iran on Sunday, state TV reported. Earlier on Sunday, US Central Command (CENTCOM) said that it had completed its eighth consecutive night of strikes against Iran and hit Iranian military coastal surveillance and air defense facilities. It also targeted the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps forces that launched attacks against US service members in Jordan on Friday.

During the strikes overnight on Saturday into the early hours of Sunday, explosions were heard in Bandar Abbas and Qeshm Island, Iranian state-affiliated media reported. Several locations were reportedly struck on Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz, which has had parts of its infrastructure targeted by US strikes, according to regime-affiliated outlet Tasnim. The US military also hit a water desalination plant, disrupting the water supply to 20 villages with a combined population of approximately 10,000 people, Tasnim reported. 

“As a result of the attack, the supply of drinking water to several villages in western Jask County has been disrupted,” the Iranian Embassy in India said in a statement on X/Twitter. Later on Sunday, the IRGC Navy claimed that two ships that were transiting the Strait of Hormuz had an "accident" while transiting and were on an "unsafe route" in the waterway. Two other vessels reportedly abandoned plans to continue along the unsafe route, the IRGC added. (Source)

Eighth Consecutive Day: U.S. Launches New Wave of Airstrikes Against Iran

The United States launched a new wave of airstrikes against Iran for the eighth consecutive day, targeting Tehran's military capabilities following attacks on American service members in Jordan.

The United States has intensified its military campaign against Iran, with U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) announcing a new wave of airstrikes targeting sites in Iran as the operation entered its eighth consecutive day. According to CENTCOM, the strikes were carried out under the direction of U.S. President Donald Trump and are intended to degrade Iran's military capabilities while reducing its ability to threaten international shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's most strategically important maritime trade routes.

The U.S. military said the operation also serves as a direct response to attacks against American service members in Jordan, which Washington attributes to Iranian-backed forces. U.S. officials stated that the strikes are meant to send a clear message that attacks on American personnel will be met with a swift and decisive military response. So far, U.S. officials have not disclosed additional details regarding the scale of the operation, the specific targets that were struck, or the extent of the damage inflicted. However, the latest strikes represent a continuation of Washington's ongoing campaign against Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and the country's broader military infrastructure.

The latest developments underscore the growing confrontation between the United States and Iran, raising concerns that the conflict could expand across multiple fronts in the Middle East. Security analysts note that any further escalation could affect regional stability and increase tensions involving Iranian-backed proxy groups operating in Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, and Yemen. (Read More)

US sends dozens of refueling aircraft to Israel as attacks across Mideast intensify

The U.S. is sending dozens of refueling planes to Israel ahead of a possible expansion of military operations against the Islamic Republic of Iran. In coordination with the Israel Defense Forces, the U.S. has decided to reinforce the “existing fleet of aerial refueling aircraft stationed in Israel with additional refueling aircraft,” an IDF official told JNS on Saturday. The move is a part of a U.S. adjustment to its “force posture in the region,” the official continued. The refueling aircraft will land at Israeli Air Force bases to “minimize disruptions to civilian air traffic,” as well as due to “operational and logistical considerations.

“The preparations at the Israeli Air Force bases were made possible through advance planning conducted jointly by the IDF and the U.S. The IDF is making every effort to facilitate the deployment of U.S. forces in Israel while safeguarding the State of Israel’s international civil aviation needs,” the official added. U.S. President Donald Trump is weighing a massive offensive in Iran, after tit-for-tat strikes that have reemerged in the region in light of disputes regarding the free and safe transit of commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, Axios reported. Among the targets being considered are Iranian infrastructure facilities such as power plants and additional strikes on Tehran’s nuclear sites, the report continued.

The president has not made a final decision yet but could order wider military acts in the coming days, according to Axios. The U.S. currently has some 60 refueling aircraft in Israel, about half at Ben Gurion International Airport near Tel Aviv and the other half at Ramon Airport in southern Israel, the report read. The U.S. wants to send several dozen more, matching the total number of refueling aircraft stationed in Israel at the beginning of the war on Feb. 28. (Read More)

Tehran demands media limit strike damage coverage as US widens war

A confidential directive from Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, obtained by Iran International on Friday, instructed media publishers and editors to limit reporting on damage to civilian infrastructure as the United States reportedly prepares to widen the Iran war. The directive came a week after the collapse of a ceasefire with the United States and the resumption of fighting in southern Iran and the Strait of Hormuz. It told media outlets covering attacks on civilian facilities and infrastructure to “refrain from publishing vital information,” avoid creating “fear and alarm among the public,” and withhold details about the extent of destruction or its impact on the delivery of public services. The council said such information could be used “by the enemy to assess the effectiveness of its attacks.” It instructed media outlets to obtain information through the most senior provincial official responsible for any institution or facility that had been hit.

The directive also ordered media outlets to describe disruptions to public services using phrases such as “the issue is under review and being resolved,” rather than report the extent of the damage or provide specific details about its effect on services. It said the Health Ministry and emergency services remained the only official and authoritative sources for civilian casualty figures. The order followed a sixth consecutive night of US strikes on Iran. US Central Command said fighter jets, drones and warships had used precision weapons against dozens of military targets, including coastal surveillance and air-defense sites, military logistics infrastructure and maritime capabilities on Qeshm Island and near Bandar Abbas.

The strikes could expand further. Axios reported on Friday that the Trump administration plans to send dozens more aerial refueling planes to Israel as the US president considers a broader offensive against Iran, potentially targeting power plants, other infrastructure and additional nuclear facilities. Iranian media reported that five bridges in Hormozgan province were hit, along with the railway station in the coastal city of Bandar Khamir and Iranshahr airport in southeastern Iran. Iran’s state-run IRNA news agency said seven people were killed in strikes on bridges in Bandar Khamir.

The attacks also damaged power lines in Bandar Abbas and surrounding areas, causing outages, while a tower at the port of Chabahar was brought down. Iran said the tower monitored commercial traffic, while the United States described it as part of an IRGC surveillance network used to target vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. With major international news organizations lacking permanent bureaus inside Iran, the directive further concentrates wartime reporting in the hands of state-controlled institutions and makes independent verification of attacks, casualties and infrastructure damage more difficult. (Source)

Dear President Trump: Handing Hezbollah to a Former Jihadist Is a Stupid and Dangerous Plan

Trump wants al-Sharaa's forces to handle Hezbollah in Lebanon. It's not a solution, it's a sectarian gamble Israel shouldn't accept. Here's why:

There is a version of the Trump doctrine on the Middle East that has genuinely reshaped the region for the better. And then there is this: the idea, floated by the president himself on more than one occasion now, that the answer to Hezbollah is to hand the problem to Ahmed al-Sharaa, who has bought a suit and re-made himself as Al-Julani. Let's be clear about who we're talking about. Al-Sharaa is not a blank slate. He built his career as a jihadist commander under the al-Qaeda banner before rebranding under Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham and eventually inheriting Damascus after Assad's fall. Trump has called him a "tough guy" and praised the "amazing job" he's done consolidating Syria. Maybe so. But consolidating power and being trustworthy with a multi-sectarian neighbor's security are not the same achievement, and the record on the former should give any serious observer real pause about the latter.

I don't need to remind readers what forces drawn from that background have done to religious minorities inside Syria's own borders. The reports out of Alawite and Druze communities over the past year and a half haven't been ambiguous. Say what you want about the intentions of the man at the top, and I have real doubts about those too, but intentions matter less than what fighters raised on jihadist doctrine actually do once they're given a green light and a border to cross.

Lebanon is not a monolith. It has one of the largest Christian populations left in the region, a fractured Sunni community, Druze villages, and a Shiite population that Hezbollah, for all its sins, actually represents to a meaningful degree. Sending Sunni Islamist forces across that border in the name of fighting Hezbollah is not a surgical strike. It's an invitation to exactly the kind of sectarian bloodletting the region has spent the last two years trying to put behind it.

To his credit, al-Sharaa himself seems to understand this better than Washington does. He has said no, repeatedly and in plain language, to any military role in Lebanon, favoring economic and political channels instead. That should tell us something. When the man being handed the assignment keeps declining it because even he can see the sectarian tinderbox it would light, perhaps the idea deserves more scrutiny than it's gotten from the Oval Office. (Read More)

Seventh consecutive night: US launches strikes targeting Iranian military assets (BUSHEHR)

CENTCOM conducting seventh straight night of precision strikes against Iranian military targets, with explosions reported in Bandar Abbas.

US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced on Friday that its forces launched a round of strikes against Iran for the seventh consecutive night. "The strikes are designed to continue degrading Iranian military capabilities at the Commander in Chief's direction," it stated .About two hours before CENTCOM’s official announcement, Iranian media reported explosions in the port city of Bandar Abbas. Residents also reported hearing explosions in Bushehr province and Sirik, with additional reports of blasts on Qeshm Island.

On Thursday night, CENTCOM completed a major wave of strikes against Iran for the sixth night in a row, noting that fighter jets, aerial drones, and warships launched precision munitions that hit dozens of Iranian military targets such as coastal surveillance and air defense sites, military logistics infrastructure, and maritime capabilities. Iranian media reported that the US strikes targeted a wide range of objectives, including Iranshahr Airport. Further reports indicated that the bridge connecting Bandar Abbas and Shiraz was attacked, as was a railway station in Bandar Abbas. CENTCOM later stated that US forces destroyed a surveillance tower at the Chah Bahar Shahid Kalantari Port in Iran.

The tower was part of a maritime surveillance network along Iran’s Gulf of Oman coastline that was used for decades by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to monitor commercial vessels traveling through the Strait of Hormuz, the statement said. The strike has reduced the IRGC’s ability to coordinate attacks against civilian maritime crews and was carried out to protect freedom of navigation in regional waters, according to US forces. (Source)