WATCH: Iranian gas, oil infrastructure at Iran’s South Pars and Asaluyeh hit in Israeli air strike

Facilities linked to Iran’s gas and oil industry in South Pars and Asaluyeh were targeted in an Israeli airstrike on Wednesday, a source confirmed to The Jerusalem Post. The South Pars gas field is the world’s largest natural gas reserve and is jointly operated by Iran and Qatar. An Israeli official told the Post that the attack was coordinated with the United States, adding that the target was Iran’s largest gas facility in Bushehr. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-affiliated Tasnim News Agency corroborated that petrochemical facilities in South Pars were targeted, stating that the extent of damage was not yet clear. Trump and his administration opposed the previous strikes on oil facilities due to the images of fires and the resulting surge in prices. However, in the case of gas, this appears to be less of a concern, the Israeli official explained.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps issued evacuation warnings for several oil facilities across Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Qatar. Additionally, IRGC Navy chief Alireza Tangsiri threatened retaliation against US facilities in the Gulf, warning civilians and workers to stay away. "Our list of targets is updated. Oil facilities associated with America are now on par with American bases and will come under fire with full force," Tangsiri wrote on X/Twitter. 

...Russia's foreign ministry on Wednesday also condemned the strike near Iran's Bushehr nuclear power plant, and called on the United States and Israel to stop attacking the Islamic Republic's nuclear facilities. Maria Zakharova, a spokeswoman for the ministry, made the comments at a news briefing. Russia built the Bushehr plant and helps Iran run it. Iran on Tuesday told the International Atomic Energy Agency that the attack had caused no damage or injuries. The International Atomic Energy Agency confirmed on Wednesday that a structure 350 meters from Iran's Bushehr nuclear power plant reactor was hit and destroyed. (Ed note: It is noted that South Pars, Iran’s largest gas facility in Bushehr, is located within the historical periphery of the ancient Elamite, specifically near its southern coastal border.) (Read More)

As Tehran strikes Gulf energy sites, Trump says Israel won’t hit Iranian gas field again — but US will if attacks go on

US President Donald Trump said early Thursday that he would not allow another Israeli attack on Iran’s South Pars natural gas field, after the IDF struck the key energy site the previous day. Trump’s statement came after Iran attacked targets across the Gulf, including a gas hub in Qatar and oil and gas facilities in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait, in response to the strike. The attacks were Iran’s latest targeting of the region amid the war with Israel and the US that began on February 28.

Iran, the US and Gulf states traded threats after the strike. Iran threatened further attacks on Gulf states if its energy sites were hit again. Trump, in turn, warned Iran to cease its attacks on Qatar’s energy infrastructure, and Saudi Arabia said it reserved the right to military action after it was attacked. Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform that Israel had “violently lashed out” at South Pars “out of anger for what has taken place in the Middle East,” while insisting that only “a relatively small section” of the oil field, the world’s largest, had been hit.

The US president claimed that Washington “knew nothing about this particular attack.” But US and Israeli officials briefing reporters earlier Wednesday said that Jerusalem did in fact coordinate the strike with the US, after Washington had fumed over an uncoordinated IDF strike on a Tehran fuel facility earlier in the war. Following the attack, Iran had said it would retaliate by attacking oil and gas infrastructure in Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, and subsequently targeted those countries. (Ed note: This is war, 'Deal Maker.' The idea is to take out the enemy and win the war.) (Read More)

Israel Announces ‘Ground Operations’ in Lebanon as 1 Million+ Displaced

Israel is reportedly planning a “massive” ground invasion of Lebanon to eliminate Hezbollah’s weapons and push the terror group away from the border, so that it can no longer shower Israeli cities with rockets. The Lebanese government said a million people have already been displaced from the conflict zone. Israel issued evacuation orders two weeks ago for all Lebanese civilians living south of the Litani River, an area that comprises about one-eight of Lebanon’s territory. Hundreds of thousands of civilians responded to the order, but some refused to leave their homes, including some Christian villagers who felt they should have no part in Israel’s conflict with Hezbollah. Hezbollah militants have been known to lurk around Christian villages, viewing them as safe havens from Israeli airstrikes.

On Monday, Lebanon’s Ministry of Social Affairs said the number of civilians displaced by the conflict has grown to over one million, including over 132,000 who have registered as refugees. The wave of evacuations has reached all the way to the outskirts of Beirut. “Before this attack we were ready for a ceasefire in Lebanon, but after it there is no way back from a massive operation,” an Israeli official said, referring to the swarm of over 200 rockets Hezbollah launched at northern Israel last Wednesday in coordination with Iran.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) on Tuesday warned Israeli citizens to expect heavier-than-normal rocket barrages from Lebanon. The IDF said Hezbollah had been planning to launch up to 600 rockets in a massive onslaught, but the Israeli military disrupted that plan by destroying many of the terror group’s weapons with preemptive strikes. The IDF faced some criticism for not warning civilians in advance of Hezbollah’s heavy attack last Wednesday. The IDF said that issuing a public warning would have tipped its hand to the enemy and betrayed the quality of its intelligence, and by not doing so, it was able to destroy a large number of Hezbollah’s launchers both before and after the attack. (Read More)

What happens in Hormuz will not stay in Hormuz

The Strait of Hormuz Is choking And Europe Is looking away. Opinion. 

The Strait of Hormuz is not just a stretch of water on the map. It is the most critical chokepoint in the global energy system. Roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil supply passes through this narrow corridor. At its tightest, it functions less like an open sea and more like a controlled valve. A useful way to understand it is medical. The Strait is like a coronary artery. If it narrows, or worse, becomes blocked, the global economy risks a heart attack.

Hormuz doesn’t need to close to trigger a global shock.

This is why recent calls by Donald Trump for European assistance in securing free passage through the Strait are not merely tactical requests. They reflect a recognition of a structural vulnerability at the heart of the global economy.

There is, however, a fundamental misunderstanding in much of the public discourse. Claims that Iran’s navy has been destroyed, or reduced to irrelevance, miss the nature of the threat entirely. Iran does not rely on a traditional navy. It relies on a distributed, resilient system of asymmetric capabilities, fast attack boats, mobile missile launchers, drones, and mines, many of them easily hidden, quickly deployed, and difficult to track. Destroying large vessels does not eliminate these capabilities. It merely changes their form.

It doesn’t take a navy, just enough tools to create fear.

In practice, Iran does not need to impose a full blockade. It only needs to create uncertainty. A few mines, a seized tanker, a missile fired near a shipping lane, these are enough to drive up insurance costs, delay shipments, and reduce traffic. The effect is the same, less oil flows, prices rise, and the global economy reacts.

This is where escort missions come into play. Escorting ships are not symbolic. They are operational instruments of deterrence. They accompany tankers, monitor suspicious activity, deploy surveillance assets, and position themselves between potential threats and commercial vessels.But what does it mean, in practical terms, to respond to threats?

It means operating in a continuous state of tension where the line between potential and actual danger is razor thin. A fast boat accelerating toward a tanker, a drone changing trajectory, a radar signal locking onto a ship, these may be seconds away from becoming lethal. (Read More)

‘Strike hard,’ US Air Force pilot tells IAF counterpart

The Israeli Air Force on Wednesday evening released a radio recording of one of its fighter pilots conversing with a U.S. counterpart during “Operation Roaring Lion/Epic Fury” against the Islamic Republic. In the recording released by the Israel Defense Forces, the Israeli pilot is heard telling the American, whose aircraft is identified as Mobile 97, “It’s a great honor for us to fight with you. You’re doing a great job.”

The American pilot can be heard responding, “Thank you very much. Likewise, gentlemen. Please be safe out there. Strike hard—see ya.” U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told CBS News earlier this week, “When you combine our Air Force with the Air Force of the Israeli Defense Forces, it’s the two most powerful air forces in the world.”

“I want your viewers to understand is this is only just the beginning,” Hegseth told CBS News, adding: “Our capabilities are overwhelming compared to what Iran’s are.” (Source)

Between Iran and the Gulf, Egypt walks a tightrope

Cairo has so far taken on the role of mediator in the war with Iran, but local media is clearly leaning toward Tehran. For now, Egypt appears to prefer preserving the current balance of power in the region.

While most Arab states have been absorbing hundreds of Iranian drone and missile attacks or have become fronts by Iranian proxies, Egypt has remained outside the regional confrontation, two and a half weeks into the war. Not only has not a single projectile been launched toward Egyptian territory, even the Houthi rebels in Yemen have so far refrained from disrupting shipping in the Red Sea bound for the strategically vital Suez Canal. Egypt's government takes pride in this and attributes it to a combination of quiet diplomacy and significant military power.

Even so, Cairo has been forced to respond to the attack on its allies in the Persian Gulf. These states form the backbone of Egypt's economy. The relationship is not limited to financial aid, loans and investments. Millions of Egyptian workers are employed in these countries and send foreign currency home to their families. If the Iranian launches and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz continue for an extended period, the Gulf states could suffer unprecedented economic damage that would directly affect Egypt's own economy. Egypt's economy is particularly vulnerable to crises. Even a minor economic shock could push masses into the streets.

Burak Çelik, a Turkish expert on Middle Eastern foreign relations, tells Israel Hayom that Egypt is pursuing an extremely cautious balancing strategy amid the war. "Cairo has no interest in being dragged directly into the confrontation, but it cannot ignore the strategic consequences of prolonged regional escalation," Çelik said. "From its perspective, the main concern is not Iran itself, but the potential instability in the region and the risk of additional economic pressure at home." "At the same time, Cairo seems to be quietly aligning with the broader Sunni Arab consensus that favors containing Iranian influence while maintaining diplomatic flexibility. It is trying to remain strategically relevant without becoming a frontline actor in the confrontation. Egypt's position appears less active and more like controlled strategic caution." (Read More)

Syria unveils plan to rid country of Assad's chemical weapons stockpile

Syria on Wednesday launched a plan supported by Washington to rid the Middle Eastern country of legacy chemical weapons that were used against its people by forces under the ousted leader, Bashar al-Assad. For decades, Assad ran a large-scale program for chemical weapons, the use of which killed and injured thousands during Syria's long-running civil war. Despite Damascus' signing onto the Chemical Weapons Convention in 2013 and declaring a 1,300-ton stockpile, prohibited use continued, and the size of the program remains unclear.

An international task force backed by the United States, Germany, Britain, Canada, and France, among others, will track down all remaining elements of the program and destroy them under the supervision of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, Syria's ambassador to the United Nations, Ibrahim Olabi, said in an interview.

As many as 100 sites in Syria need to be inspected to determine what toxic munitions remain and how they should be destroyed, OPCW experts have said. It will require a time-consuming and costly operation to prevent the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction in a region fraught with conflict and political turmoil. The expanding US-Israeli war on Iran and broader regional security concerns will make the timing of the mission uncertain, but all the more necessary to prevent future use, officials said.

...Several international investigations concluded that the nerve agent sarin, as well as chlorine and sulfur mustard gas, were used by the Assad regime, but never revealed the full extent of the clandestine program. "We don't know what's remaining. It was a secret program," Olabi said. "The job is on Syria to basically look for these things and then declare them." (Ed note: This is interesting. One possible scenario is that someone in Syria will take some of those toxic munitions, stuff it on an Iranian ICBM and send it to Israel, thus giving us the prophecy found in Isaiah chapter 17. Always keep one eye on the state of Syria.)  (Read More)

Terror Near the Reactor: A Missile Just Struck the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant

A rocket has struck the immediate vicinity of the Bushehr nuclear power plant in Iran, raising global fears of a potential atomic disaster.

The Iranian news agency "Tasnim" has reported a serious incident at one of the reime's most sensitive locations: the Bushehr nuclear power plant. According to official reports, a rocket impacted the ground in close proximity to the facility earlier today. While the Iranian authorities were quick to claim that the reactor itself sustained no damage and that there were no casualties, the incident has sent shockwaves through the international community. Security forces have cordoned off the area as they investigate the source of the launch and the extent of the impact, with many wondering if this was a deliberate warning shot or a sign of a failing air defense network.

The Bushehr facility is a critical component of Iran’s energy and nuclear infrastructure, making any strike in its vicinity a matter of extreme concern. Local security forces are currently examining the "circumstances of the case," though details remain scarce due to the regime's tight control over information. The report of "no damage" is being met with skepticism by some international observers, given the proximity of the impact. The incident highlights the vulnerability of Iran's most guarded sites as the coalition continues to dismantle the regime's protective "umbrella" of radars and anti-aircraft batteries across the country. (Source)

Projectile hits near Iran’s Bushehr nuclear plant, no damage or injuries reported

TEHRAN: A projectile hit an area near Iran’s Bushehr nuclear power plant ​on Tuesday evening, however it caused no damage or injuries, Iran told the International Atomic Energy Agency. “The IAEA has been informed by Iran that a projectile hit the premises of the ‌Bushehr NPP on ‌Tuesday evening. ​No ‌damage ⁠to the ​plant or ⁠injuries to staff reported,” the UN nuclear watchdog said on X. The strike came in the third week of the US-Israeli war on Iran.

IAEA chief Rafael Grossi ⁠reiterated his call for maximum restraint ‌during ‌the conflict to avoid ​the risk of ‌a nuclear accident. Iran’s Atomic Energy ‌Organization confirmed the strike earlier in the day, with the country’s Tasnim news agency saying the projectile hit the ‌vicinity of the nuclear power plant in the port city ⁠of ⁠Bushehr at around 7 p.m. (1530 GMT).

Rosatom, Russia’s state nuclear energy corporation, condemned the strike on Tuesday, adding that radiation levels around the plant, whose construction was started by a German company in the 1970s and later completed by Russia, were normal.   (Source)

NUCLEAR SHOWDOWN IN IRAN

For more information about Jeremiah's prophecy of Elam, pick up the book and DVD entitled, Nuclear Showdown in Iran, Revealing the Ancient Prophecy of Elam. In addition to exploring and explaining the details of the Elam prophecy in great depth, the book addresses the following important topics. 

1. Why has Jeremiah's Iran prophecy been vastly overlooked?
2. Was the Elam prophecy fulfilled, or partially fulfilled, in the past?
3. What are the clear evidences that this prophecy is related to Iran's present nuclear program?
4. Are Jeremiah 49:34-39 and Ezekiel 38 the same prophecy? (Click HERE to read a related article).
5. Will the Elam prophecy precede Psalm 83 and Ezekiel 38?
6. When in the future will Jeremiah's Elam prophecy find fulfillment?
7. What will Iran's military stature be when it joins Turkey and Russia in Ezekiel 38?
8. How will America and the world be adversely affected when the prophecy happens?
9. Why is Iran experiencing the fastest growing evangelical population in the world?

These are just a few of the timely topics presented in this book and DVD. (CLICK HERE)

UN watchdog says projectile reportedly hit premises of Iran’s Bushehr nuclear plant

The International Atomic Energy Agency says Wednesday it received a report from Iran that its Bushehr nuclear power plant complex had been hit by a projectile. The carefully worded statement from the United Nations’ nuclear watchdog represents the first word outside of either Iran or Russia about the incident Tuesday.

“The IAEA has been informed by Iran that a projectile hit the premises of the Bushehr NPP on Tuesday evening,” the IAEA says, using an acronym for nuclear power plant. “No damage to the plant or injuries to staff reported.”

It adds the IAEA’s leader, Rafael Mariano Grossi, reiterates his “call for maximum restraint during the conflict to prevent risk of a nuclear accident.” The US military’s Central Command, which is in charge of forces launching airstrikes across southern Iran, doesn’t immediately respond to a request for comment. (Source)

What to know about Iran’s Bushehr nuclear power plant after report of projectile hitting its complex

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Iran and Russia both allege a projectile struck the grounds of the Bushehr nuclear power plant in the Islamic Republic, raising the specter of a radiological incident as Tehran’s war with Israel and the United States rages. Neither Iran nor Russia say there was any release of nuclear material in the incident on Tuesday evening, but it again underlines a longtime worry of Iran’s neighbors — that the power plant on the shores of the Persian Gulf could be hit by either an attack or an earthquake. Here’s what to know about the incident, the plant itself and Iran’s wider nuclear program, which remains a reason U.S. President Donald Trump points to for starting the war alongside Israel against Iran on Feb. 28.

Russia’s state-run Tass news agency quoted Rosatom CEO Alexey Likhachev late Tuesday as claiming “a strike hit the area adjacent to the metrology service building located at the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant site, in close proximity to the operating power unit.” Russian technicians from Rosatom operate the plant, using Russian-made, low-enriched uranium. “There were no casualties among Rosatom State Corporation personnel,” Likhachev said. “The radiation situation at the site is normal.”

About 480 Russian nationals remain at the plant, Likhachev said, and authorities are preparing for another round of evacuations from there. The Atomic Energy Organization of Iran later issued a statement saying “no financial, technical, or human damage occurred and no part of the plant was harmed.” Iran blamed the incident on the United States and Israel, Tass later reported. The International Atomic Energy Agency, which has had its inspections of Iran restricted over years of tensions over Tehran’s program after Trump unilaterally withdrew America from the 2015 nuclear deal with world powers, issued a carefully worded statement early Wednesday. “The IAEA has been informed by Iran that a projectile hit the premises of the Bushehr NPP on Tuesday evening,” the United Nations agency said, using an acronym for nuclear power plant. “No damage to the plant or injuries to staff reported.” (Read More)

Netanyahu reveals: “There are many more surprises"

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the assassination of senior Iranian regime officials and said that Israel continues to work to undermine the regime: "There are still many surprises."

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu commented today (Tuesday) on the elimination of senior figures in the Iranian regime, saying that Israel continues to act to destabilize the regime: “There are many more surprises." Netanyahu referred to the killing of senior figures in the Iranian regime, including Ali Larijani and the commander of the Basij, as part of the ongoing campaign against Iran.

In his remarks, Netanyahu said: "This morning, we eliminated Ali Larijani. Ali Larijani is the boss of theRevolutionary Guards, that group of gangsters that effectively runs Iran. Alongside him, we also eliminated the commander of the Basij - they are the gangsters' assistants who are terrorizing the population in the streets of Tehran and other Iranian cities. We are operating there as well; operating from the air with Air Force jets and UAVs." He added: "We are undermining this regime in the hope of giving the Iranian people an opportunity to remove it. It will not happen all at once, and it will not happen easily. But if we persist, we will give them the chance to take their destiny into their own hands."

Netanyahu also addressed cooperation with the United States, saying: “At the same time, we are helping our American friends in the Gulf. I spoke at length with President Trump on this matter yesterday. There is cooperation between our air forces and navies, between myself and President Trump and his staff. We will assist both through indirect attacks, which create immense pressure on the Iranian regime, and through direct actions. There are many more surprises. 'By stratagems, you shall make war.' We will not reveal all the stratagems here, but as I told you, there are many. (Read More)

US strikes Iranian missile site in Strait of Hormuz using 5,000-pound deep penetrator munitions

The United States on Tuesday attacked Iranian missile sites stationed along the Strait of Hormuz coastline as part of Operation Epic Fury, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) said in a statement. "Hours ago, US forces successfully employed multiple 5,000-pound deep penetrator munitions on hardened Iranian missile sites along Iran’s coastline near the Strait of Hormuz," CENTCOM posted on X/Twitter. "The Iranian anti-ship cruise missiles in these sites posed a risk to international shipping in the strait," the statement added.

The strikes come as sources told The Jerusalem Postthat operations at the Strait of Hormuz could prolong the war for "weeks, if not months." “This could extend the war by as much as two months,” one source familiar with the discussions said. At present, following Iranian threats to target ships, many vessels are avoiding the Strait of Hormuz, a critical artery for the global energy market, through which about 20% of the world’s oil supply passes.

Satellite images from the Persian Gulf show numerous ships waiting outside the strait to avoid potential attacks.Within the Trump administration, ensuring safe navigation through the strait is now being incorporated into its war objectives. Officials are even considering the possibility of a ground operation on Iran’s Kharg Island, located in the center of the strait, after the US military struck targets there over the weekend. With this in mind, the US military announced that 5,000 Marines will be deployed to the region. (Read More)

Hezbollah fires dozens of rockets at northern Israel

The terrorist organization Hezbollah launched a heavy barrage of rockets this evening (Tuesday) toward northern Israel. A significant portion of the rockets were intercepted, and so far, there have been no reports of injuries. Residents reported loud explosions and several impact sites in open areas. A building was struck in Carmiel.

According to estimates, at least 40 rockets were fired across wide areas-from communities in the Upper Galilee to the region of Hadera. Launches were also recorded toward central Israel, though they apparently failed.

The Magen David Adom emergency service reported that it had not received any reports of injuries as a result of the barrage from Lebanon. In response, the Israel Defense Forces began a massive wave of airstrikes against targets belonging to the terrorist organization. (Source)

Additional IDF division enters Lebanon as part of limited ground incursion

Elements of the Israel Defense Forces’ 36th Armored Division have been deployed to Southern Lebanon and are carrying out “limited and targeted ground operations” to expand the IDF’s forward defense posture, according to the military. The 36th joins the 91st Galilee Division, as Israel continues efforts to “remove threats and create an additional layer of security for residents of northern Israel,” according to an IDF statement on Tuesday. Before the entry of the additional troops, the IDF conducted artillery and aerial strikes “against numerous Hezbollah terror targets to mitigate threats in the operational environment,” it added.

The IDF is operating “with determination against the Hezbollah terrorist organization, which chose to join the hostilities and operate under the sponsorship of the Iranian terror regime,” the statement continued, warning that the military “will not allow harm to Israeli civilians.” On Monday, the Israeli Air Force struck a large underground Hezbollah complex near Kfara in Southern Lebanon that was used to store cruise missiles and hundreds of rockets, according to an IDF statement later on Tuesday morning. The military said the attack was directed by its Intelligence Directorate and Northern Command as part of efforts to deepen the damage to Hezbollah’s terrorist infrastructure and expand Israel’s forward defense posture.

During a situation assessment with senior military and security officials on Monday, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said that the IDF had launched a ground incursion into Southern Lebanon, with the goal of removing threats and protecting the residents of the Galilee and the north. Hundreds of thousands of Lebanese civilians “will not return to their homes south of the Litani [River] area until the safety of northern residents is guaranteed,” he declared. (Read More)

Jeremiah's Elam War, A Past or Present Prophecy?

In this timely video, Dr. Bill Salus addresses the likelihood that the prophecy of Elam in Jeremiah 49:34-39 is unfolding through Israel and America’s joint war campaign, “Operation Epic Fury.” He also refutes the possibility the prophecy was fulfilled in the past. Lastly, he points out that there is also a spiritual showdown happening in Iran between Islam and Christianity.

Five Western leaders warn Israel against major ground offensive in Lebanon

The leaders of Canada, France, Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom on Monday expressed concerns over the escalating conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, warning against a significant Israeli ground operation in Lebanon.

“We are gravely concerned by the escalating violence in Lebanon and call for meaningful engagement by Israeli and Lebanese representatives to negotiate a sustainable political solution. We strongly support initiatives to facilitate talks and urge for immediate de-escalation," the leaders said in a joint statement. They condemned Hezbollah’s attacks on Israel and the targeting of civilians, saying those attacks “must cease and they must disarm. We condemn Hezbollah’s decision to join Iran in hostilities, which further jeopardises regional peace and security."

“We condemn attacks directed at civilians, civilian infrastructure, health workers and infrastructure, as well as the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon. These actions are unacceptable, and we call on all parties to act in accordance with international humanitarian law," the five countries stated.

They warned, “A significant Israeli ground offensive would have devastating humanitarian consequences and could lead to a protracted conflict. It must be averted. The humanitarian situation in Lebanon, including ongoing mass displacement, is already deeply alarming." “We reiterate our call for the full implementation of UNSC Resolution 1701 by all parties and support the efforts of the Government of Lebanon to disarm Hezbollah, prohibit Hezbollah’s military activities, and curb their armed hostilities. We stand in solidarity with the Lebanese government and people, who have been unwillingly drawn into conflict," the statement concluded. (Ed note: This is ridiculous. Stopping the war does not eliminate Hezbollah. They will attack Israel again. This is not a political war, it's a religious war.)    (Read More)

Concerns in Europe over Another Migrant Crisis Amid Conflict in Iran

Still grappling with the civilizational transformations of the migrant crisis sparked over a decade ago by conflict in the Middle East, the European Union is facing the prospect of another large wave, with little more in the way of protection for its external borders. In 2015, more than a million migrants poured into Europe as German Chancellor Angela Merkel unilaterally opened the gates of the bloc to mass migration from Africa and the Middle East, most notably from the Syrian Civil War, which in part was exacerbated by U.S. involvement, with the Obama administration funding rebel groups against the now-defunct regime of Bashar al-Assad.

The influx of the largest number of alleged asylum seekers since the Second World War upended European society and politics radically, sparking crime waves in once peaceful nations like Sweden, ingraining Islamist terrorist movements across the continent, straining national budgets, and entrenching sectarian politics. Characteristic of the bureaucracy-obsessed European Union, it took a decade for the bloc to reach a form of migration agreement, dubbed the Migration and Asylum Pact, which is still only set to come into force by June. Even this agreement was struck over the objection of conservative nations such as Hungary and Poland, given that its primary aim is to share the burden of migration equally throughout the EU, meaning that countries which fail to police their borders can send illegals to countries that do, upon threat of financial penalties from Brussels.

Meanwhile, debate in the EU Parliament continues on the subject of so-called offshore “return hubs”, which would see illegals immediately removed to detention centres outside of the European Union rather than being allowed to remain within EU borders while their asylum claims are processed. Conservatives such as Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni have argued that such sites are necessary to deter further illegal migration and to make deportation systems effective, given that only around one in five illegals are actually sent back to their homelands per year. (Read More)

Mohammed bin Salman urges Trump to 'keep hitting Iran hard' - report

Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Salman, has been advising US President Donald Trump to “keep hitting the Iranians hard,” White House officials told the New York Times in a report published on Sunday. This follows the same advice of the late Saudi King Abdullah, who had reportedly told Washington repeatedly to “cut off the head of the snake.” Meanwhile, bin Salman and UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed held talks on Monday amid mounting questions over whether Gulf states will continue to avoid a direct public confrontation with Tehran, Al-Arabiyareported.

The leaders said that “the continuation of Iran's unjust attacks on the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries represents a dangerous escalation that threatens the region's security and stability,” the report noted. The leaders also said that countries in the Gulf Cooperation Council would continue efforts to defend their territories and provide all available resources to support the region’s security and maintain stability.

Additionally, after two weeks of war, and despite more than 2,000 missiles and drones launched by Iran toward Gulf states, a public retaliatory strike against Iran still does not appear to be on the horizon. According to sources from Gulf states who spoke with The Jerusalem Post, one of the reasons they have not launched an attack with a claim of responsibility is their concern about “the day after.” Another reason Gulf states are reluctant to attack Iran is the fear of a significant escalation in Iranian strikes, including an expansion of the list of targets that might be hit with missiles and drones. (Source)

With their economies on the line, Gulf states press US to neutralize Iran for good

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (Reuters) — Gulf Arab states did not ask the US to go to war with Iran, but many are now urging it not to stop short by leaving the Islamic Republic still able to threaten the Gulf’s oil lifeline and the economies that depend on it, three Gulf sources told Reuters. At the same time, these sources and five Western and Arab diplomats said Washington was pressing Gulf states to join the US-Israeli war. According to three of them, US President Donald Trump wants to show regional backing for the campaign, to bolster its international legitimacy as well as support at home. “There is a wide feeling across the Gulf that Iran has crossed every red line with every Gulf country,” said Abdulaziz Sager, chairman of the Saudi-based Gulf Research Center and familiar with government thinking.

“At first we defended them and opposed the war,” he said. “But once they began directing strikes at us, they became an enemy. There is no other way to classify them.” Tehran has already demonstrated its reach, attacking airports, ports, oil facilities and commercial hubs in the six Gulf states with missiles and drones while also attacking Israel and disrupting shipping through the Strait of Hormuz — the artery carrying about a fifth of global oil and underpinning Gulf economies.

The attacks have reinforced Gulf fears that leaving Iran with any significant offensive weaponry or arms manufacturing capacity could embolden it to hold the region’s energy lifeline hostage whenever tensions rise. As the war entered its third week, with US and Israeli airstrikes intensifying and Iran firing at US bases and civilian targets across the Gulf, a Gulf source said the prevailing mood among leaders was unmistakable: that Trump should comprehensively degrade Iran’s military capacity. The alternative, the source said, was living under constant threat. Unless Iran was severely weakened, he said, it would continue to hold the region to ransom. (Read More)

Iraq becomes new battleground as Iranian proxies intensify nationwide strikes - analysis

Iraq suffered its worst night of the Iran conflict on Sunday evening, amid the Iranian decision to make Iraq a frontline of the current war since the US and Israel began to strike on February 28. The Islamic Republic initially began to operationalize militias in Iraq to attack Kurdish opposition groups in the Kurdistan region and also to target US forces and US facilities. Now, the militias and Tehran have escalated, attacking a key hotel in Baghdad and carrying out dozens of attacks across Iraq.

The Iranian-backed militias in Iraq have become increasingly more powerful in the last decade. They used the war on ISIS to gain legitimacy in Baghdad as part of the state-backed paramilitary force called the Popular Mobilization Forces. Currently, they operate in Iraq similarly to Hezbollah in Lebanon. However, in Iraq, they enjoy more state backing, similar to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in Iran.

Several Iranian-backed militias in Baghdad have been sanctioned by the US Department of the Treasury and other US authorities due to their links to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and its external operations arm, the Quds Force. Among the most prominent sanctioned groups are Kataib Hezbollah, Harakat Hezbollah al Nujaba, Asaib Ahl al Haq, and Kataib Sayyid al Shuhada. These militias have been involved in attacking US forces in Iraq, targeting diplomatic facilities, and supporting Iran’s regional proxy network. (Read More)

Europe refuses to send warships to Hormuz despite Trump's demands

US allies are drawing hard lines against military involvement in the Iran conflict, exposing a deepening rift within the Western alliance.

The Strait of Hormuz became a new front in the transatlantic dispute on Monday. Despite President Donald Trump's explicit demand that NATO allies send warships to reopen the blocked oil route, according to Reuters, Europe replied with a sharp "no." British Prime Minister Keir Starmer made clear at a press conference on Monday that the United Kingdom would not be dragged into "a wider war," and sharply implied that the American administration had so far acted without any coherent plan. "If we are sending our forces into harm's way, the minimum they deserve is to know there is a legal basis and a clear plan," Starmer said. He then took a pointed swipe at Trump, adding, "Some would rush into war without the full picture. That's not leadership – that's being dragged."

The reaction in Berlin was even cooler. In response to Trump's threats about NATO's future if allies failed to assist, German government spokesman Steffen Kornelius was unequivocal. "This is not a NATO war and has nothing whatsoever to do with NATO," he said. Germany also reminded the White House that the US and Israel had not bothered to consult Berlin before launching the military campaign, and that Washington had initially declared European assistance "unnecessary and unwelcome." "I genuinely don't know what to say about 'formal requests' for help in this context," the spokesman added.

The rest of Europe's major powers drew their own red lines. Greek government spokesman Pavlos Marinakis announced that Athens would not participate in any military operation in the Strait of Hormuz, limiting its involvement to the existing "Aspides" mission for ship protection in the Red Sea. Italy's foreign minister stressed that diplomacy was the only path to resolving the situation, noting he saw no existing naval mission that could be extended into the Strait of Hormuz. (Read More)

'Not Our War': Europe rejects Trump’s demand for help defending Strait of Hormuz

Several NATO member states have rejected a demand by U.S. President Donald Trump to participate in protecting ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz.

How will Trump respond? After the U.S. president demanded that NATO countries take part in protecting ships and oil tankers traveling through the Strait of Hormuz, a large number of alliance members announced they would refuse the request. German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius spoke out sharply against Trump’s demand. "This is not our war-we did not start it. What does Donald Trump expect from a handful of European frigates in the Strait of Hormuz that the mighty U.S. Navy cannot handle on its own? That’s the question I find myself asking," Pistrius said.

A spokesperson for German Chancellor Friedrich Merz also rejected Trump’s demand, stating: “NATO is an alliance for the defense of territories." The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Keir Starmer, also opposed Trump’s request and said that Britain would not take part in a war against Iran. “Britain will not be dragged into a wider war but is working on a sustainable plan. Ultimately, we must reopen the Strait of Hormuz to ensure stability in the oil market. This is not a simple task," Starmer said.

Italy’s Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said that “diplomacy must prevail," and also expressed opposition to expanding NATO’s naval missions to the Strait of Hormuz. Other countries-including Australia, France, and Japan-have also stated that they have no plans to send warships to escort vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. President Trump had previously warned that if NATO countries do not help protect ships and tankers in the Strait of Hormuz, “it will be very bad for the future of NATO," according to his statement.  (Ed note: Does anyone else see any geopolitical problems with this decision from the EU of Europe? It is very likely that President Trump will no longer fund NATO, neither will the EU. Could Russia then make a quick move and take Ukraine and leave Europe crying?)  (Source)

GROUND WAR EXPANDS: Divison 91 Soldiers Are Now In Southern Lebanon to Shield Northern Galilee

The operation follows weeks of heightened fighting tied to the broader regional war involving Israel, Iran, and Iranian-backed groups across the Middle East. According to the military, the goal of the advance is to remove immediate threats near the border and create what it called an “additional layer of security” for Israeli communities in the north. The IDF’s 91st Division launched a significant ground operation in southern Lebanon on Monday, pushing farther into Hezbollah-controlled territory in what officials described as a major escalation along the northern front.

The operation follows weeks of heightened fighting tied to the broader regional war involving Israel, Iran, and Iranian-backed groups across the Middle East. According to the military, the goal of the advance is to remove immediate threats near the border and create what it called an “additional layer of security” for Israeli communities in the north. The IDF said the ground push was preceded by artillery barrages and airstrikes targeting Hezbollah positions throughout southern Lebanon. These strikes were intended to weaken militant infrastructure before troops moved forward.

Despite the scale of the operation, the military emphasized that it does not currently constitute a full invasion similar to the campaign carried out in 2024. Israeli forces are not advancing all the way to the Litani River, a key geographic benchmark often associated with larger ground offensives in Lebanon. Instead, the operation appears focused on clearing Hezbollah positions closer to the Israeli border while maintaining defensive operations inside Israel itself. Troops are continuing security missions in the Galilee to protect nearby communities, the military said. These efforts are intended to prevent cross-border infiltration or rocket attacks while the ground maneuver unfolds. (Read More)

IDF has destroyed 85-90% of Hezbollah's pre-2023 rocket arsenal

Eighty-five percent to 90% of Hezbollah’s pre-2023 rocket arsenal has been destroyed, the IDF reported Sunday. Before the war, Hezbollah had more than 150,000 rockets, it said. By the November 2024 ceasefire, 70% to 80% of the rocket arsenal had been destroyed, the IDF said. Later in 2025, about 30,000 rockets remained, the IDF said. The IDF’s update on Sunday suggests that over the course of 2025, and more intensely since Hezbollahentered the war on March 2, the military has gradually reduced that total to between 10,000 and 23,000 rockets.

Despite the overall improved situation in Hezbollah’s general threat potential, the Lebanese terrorist group has surprised the IDF in terms of its actual potential by launching about 100 rockets or drones per day against Israel, including nearly 200 on March 11. The IDF has succeeded somewhat in disarming Hezbollah by disrupting what could have been even worse rocket fire. For example, when Hezbollah fired 200 rockets on March 11, its original plan was to fire about 600, the IDF said.

Nevertheless, the IDF was surprised by the 200-rocket attack, which caused more physical damage than expected in the North and left local residents concerned about whether they were safe enough to remain in their communities for a potentially extended conflict with Hezbollah. The IDF had vowed to provide sufficient security so that local residents would not need to evacuate as they did under attack by a more powerful version of Hezbollah in October 2023. (Read More)

Seizing Iran’s uranium could take ‘largest special forces operation in history’ – WSJ

Upward of 1,000 personnel could be required on-site to secure Isfahan facility, amid Iranian missile and drone fire, to dig through rubble for near-weapons grade nuclear material.

A military operation to seize Iran’s stockpile of enriched uranium would require “the largest special forces operation in history,” The Wall Street Journal reported on Sunday, citing US and Israeli security experts. When American and Israeli fighter jets bombed three of the Islamic Republic’s key nuclear sites last June, the regime was believed to have had some 440 kilograms of 60 percent-enriched uranium — a short step away from weapons-grade material, enough for an estimated ten nuclear bombs.

Another almost 200 kilograms, at 20% enriched, were also believed to be in the regime’s possession. Weapons-grade uranium is 90%-enriched. International Atomic Energy Agency chief Rafael Grossi said last week that around half of the 60%-enriched uranium was stored in a tunnel complex at the Isfahan nuclear site. A report earlier this month said the US believes there is a “very narrow access point” through which the material could potentially be retrieved.

Seizing the uranium amid the war would require a major operation, which former NATO commander James Stavridis told the Journal could be “the largest special operations forces in history.” The daily, citing former military officials, reported that upward of 1,000 military personnel would have to be present on-site. Combat troops would need to secure perimeters while engineers dug through tons of debris while checking for mines and booby traps, the newspaper reported. To deliver the equipment to the site and move the recovered material out of the country, a local airfield would be required, and if none was available, a makeshift airfield would have to be set up as part of the operation, the report said. (Read More)

'Secret base’ on the Temple Mount sparks Palestinian anger

Right-wing activist Baruch Marzel sparked a viral stir on the social network X after posting a sarcastic message that drew more than 100,000 views. Marzel shared an AI-generated image depicting the Dome of the Rock with Israeli Air Force fighter jets parked beneath it, appearing as though a subterranean military base existed under the site. He added a tongue-in-cheek caption: “Note: Don’t share the photo of the secret Israeli Air Force base in Jerusalem, so it won’t be attacked."

The post quickly spread online and prompted a sharp response from the Palestinian Authority’s Jerusalem district, which issued a formal condemnation. In its statement, the body claimed the image constituted “dangerous incitement" intended to prepare the ground for an Israeli attack on the Al-Aqsa compound. Palestinian officials argued that the post should not be viewed as a joke but rather as part of a broader ideological campaign, citing statements by other rabbis who have spoken about bombing the mosque or depicting its future destruction as the result of Iranian missile strikes.

Beyond the criticism of Marzel, the Al-Quds district also attacked Israeli policy ahead of the Ramadan, rejecting Israeli claims that potential limits on Muslim worshippers entering the Temple Mount would be based solely on temporary security considerations. According to the statement, such measures are part of what it described as a deliberate political and ideological move aimed at altering the existing religious, historical, and legal status of the site. (Source)

Iranians weigh whether to flee country amid the war

KAPIKOY BORDER CROSSING, Turkey (AP) — After bombs exploded near her home in the eastern Iranian city of Golestan, hairdresser Merve Pourkaz decided to leave. Pourkaz, 32, said she traveled nearly 1,500 kilometers (932 miles) to an alpine border crossing in the hopes of reaching the safety of the nearby Turkish city of Van. “If they let me, I will stay in Van until the war ends,” she told The Associated Press recently while waiting at the crossing. “If the war doesn’t end, maybe I’ll go back and die.”

Pourkaz is one of the 3.2 million people in Iran who the UN refugee agency estimates have been displaced since the US-Israel war with Iran started. While some are seeking shelter in safer parts of Iran or one of its neighboring countries, others are returning from abroad, heading toward the fighting to protect their families and homes.

So far, relatively few people have chosen to leave: The UN estimates that only about 1,300 Iranians have fled via Turkey each day since the war started, and on some days, more people return to Iran than depart. But Iran’s neighbors and Europe are growing increasingly concerned about a possible migration crisis should the war drag on and are making contingency plans. As Pourkaz was entering Turkey, Leila Rabetnezhadfard was headed the other way.

Rabetnezhadfard, 45, was in Istanbul preparing to marry a German university professor when the fighting started. She postponed the ceremony and left for home in Shiraz, in southern Iran. “How can I feel safe in Istanbul when my family is living in Iran during the war?” said Rabetnezhadfard, explaining that bringing her family to Istanbul wasn’t an option because her apartment is small, her brother needs medical care, and life there is expensive. (Read More)

Iranians try to contact loved ones abroad through border with Turkey - report

Amid nationwide internet disruptions and communications blocks in Iran, some Iranians have been traveling to the border with Turkey in an effort to get online and reach loved ones, BBC News reported on Sunday. According to the report, one man has been selling a service that helps Iranians outside Tehran stay in touch with relatives and friends inside the country. To make the system work, the man uses two phones, one connected to the Iranian network and another to the Turkish network, because international calls into Tehran are blocked, according to the BBC.

Customers outside Iran call the seller’s Turkish phone via WhatsApp, and he then connects them to people inside the country using the Iranian mobile network, the report added. Amid the war with Iran, marked by the Israeli and US operations Roaring Lion and Epic Fury, internet restrictions that began during earlier protests have made it extremely difficult for Iranians to contact people abroad through normal channels.

Even so, many Iranians have clung to any opportunity they can find to communicate. “I’m paying a huge amount of money to be able to connect to the internet to talk to him right now,” Ava, from Tehran, told the BBC. She had been due to marry her fiancé, who lives in Canada, this week, but then the war began. Services designed to bypass internet and phone restrictions are often expensive and unreliable. Even when a connection is made, calls usually last only two or three minutes before cutting out, at a cost of about £28 ($38), according to BBC Persian. (Read More)

Iran said to arrest 20 people for allegedly cooperating with Israel

The Islamic Republic, which frequently accuses people of spying without evidence, has reportedly arrested hundreds of alleged collaborators in recent days.

TEHRAN — Iranian authorities have arrested at least 20 people in the country’s northwest on suspicion of cooperating with Israel, local media reported on Sunday, more than two weeks into the US-Israeli war with Iran. The arrests took place during raids on networks linked to Israel in the West Azerbaijan province, the semi-official Fars news agency said, quoting provincial prosecutor Hossein Majidi. “Twenty people were arrested and detained” after they were found to be “sending details of military, law enforcement and security locations to the Zionist enemy,” it added.

Iran frequently arrests people and accuses them of spying without providing evidence. In addition, on Sunday, the official IRNA news agency reported the arrest of a person it said was sending information to the London-based opposition-linked TV channel Iran International. The report, which quoted the police commander of the northern Qazvin province, said the individual was using a Starlink terminal, a technology that is banned in Iran.

Iran has been digitally sealed off from the rest of the world by a complete internet blackout since the start of the war. To get around those restrictions, some Iranians have turned to Starlink terminals from the US company SpaceX, which connect to the internet via satellites. In January, Iran banned cooperation with Iran International, saying it was “affiliated with the Zionist regime.”

Iranian authorities have carried out sweeping raids across the country in recent days, arresting hundreds of people suspected of cooperating with Israel and the United States, local media reported. Last week, its intelligence ministry claimed it had arrested 30 spies, internal mercenaries, and operational agents of Israel and the US in the span of a few days. (Ed note: Guilty or not, you just know that more people will die under The Islamic Republic regime.)     (Source)

THE WOMEN OF ISRAEL!

When the hospital became a battlefield, these women kept life moving forward

For two years, Soroka Medical Center has treated thousands while under attack. Three women doctors share what it means to work, parent, and endure on the frontlines of medicine and war.

For most of the past year, the war has arrived at Soroka Medical Center by ambulance. Civilians and soldiers wounded across southern Israel are rushed through its emergency entrance, even as the hospital continues to treat thousands of patients whose lives have little to do with the battlefield. Then, last year, the war struck the hospital itself. An Iranian missile hit the Soroka complex, damaging several buildings and forcing staff to reorganize their work overnight. This International Women’s Day, three doctors at Soroka reflected on what the past months have looked like from inside the hospital’s walls.

Their experiences move between the emergency room and the battlefield, between operating rooms and bomb shelters, and between the professional demands of medicine and the personal realities of family life during war. Their stories offer a glimpse of what it means to stand at the intersection of medicine, conflict and resilience, and of the women who continue to do so every day.

Dr. Ofira Azulay: "You put everything you’re feeling aside, and you just work.”

On the morning of October 7, Dr. Ofira Azulay was not in the emergency room where she normally spends her days. She was in Tel Aviv with her family for the Simchat Torah holiday when the sirens began. “Very quickly the hospital understood that something unusual was happening,” she recalls. “They declared a mass casualty event at the highest level and asked the staff to come in.”

Azulay and her husband, an orthopedic surgeon at Soroka Medical Center in Beersheba, were with their four children, including a one-year-old. The decision to leave, she recalls, was not simple. “We had four kids with us, a baby, the sirens, the uncertainty. But we both felt we couldn’t stay where we were. We knew we had to get to the hospital.” (Read More)

IDF pummels terror sites as Hezbollah chief threatens long campaign

The Israeli military said it had eliminated key commanders of the Shi’ite terrorist organization, including Iranian officers operating in Lebanon.

Israeli forces have killed more than 380 Hezbollah operatives, including key commanders from the Shi’ite group and other terrorist organizations operating in Lebanon, since the start of “Operation Roaring Lion” on Feb. 28, the IDF said on Saturday. The terrorists were killed in a series of targeted strikes from the air, sea and land over the past week, the statement read. The prominent terrorists slain were from Hezbollah, Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Quds Force and Imam Hossein Division, and Palestinian Islamic Jihad, as well as “the senior command of Iranian regime representatives in Lebanon,” the Israel Defense Forces said.

The IDF mentioned some of the most senior commanders by name: Zid Ali Jomaa, commander of Hezbollah’s firepower management; Ali Reza Bi-Azhar, head of the intelligence branch of the Lebanon Corps within the Quds Force; Ahmad Rasouli, intelligence commander in the Quds Force’s Palestine Corps; and Ali Maglas Tabaja, commander of the Imam Hussein Division.

In total, seven Hezbollah commanders, five Lebanon Corps commanders, three Imam Hussein Division commanders and one Islamic Jihad commander were killed. The IDF did not specify how many additional Iranian representatives were killed. “The eliminations and strikes in Lebanon significantly degrade the command-and-control and firepower abilities of the Hezbollah terrorist organization, and it minimizes the threats to the State of Israel and its civilians,” the army stated. (Read More)

WATCH: IDF's Lebanon raids kill Hezbollah terrorists, seizing weapons, dismantling infrastructure

The IDF's 7th Armored Brigade, operating under the 36th Division, conducted targeted raids against Hezbollah terrorists and terror infrastructure over the past week, the military announced on Saturday. As part of the raids, the brigade's combat team killed dozens of terrorists and dismantled dozens of terror infrastructure sites, including a weapons depot, command center, and observation posts belonging to Hezbollah terrorists, according to the military. The IDF's Northern Command is also continuing with preparations to deploy additional soldiers to the Israel-Lebanon border in the coming week, following a directive by IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Eyal Zamir, who ordered forces to intensify a targeted campaign against members of Hezbollah’s Radwan Force following increased militant movement toward the border over the past week.

Soldiers from the Golani Brigade have also been deployed to the border, awaiting operational orders following a situational assessment, the military stated. The IDF's deployment aims to provide "an additional layer of protection for the residents of northern Israel," the military said. The military shared a recording of 7th Brigade chief Col. "S", saying that "We will strike the enemy with determination in order to push the threat away from our communities and to ensure the future of Israel. The residents are relying on us."

"Once again, we have been called up. After months of continuous combat in Gaza, we have been called to advance and operate against the enemy seeking to harm the residents of the North," he stated. The IDF on Saturday expanded its ground operations against Hezbollah in southern Lebanon, as well as launching artillery fire into the area, according to military officials. Military officials said the artillery barrage was intended to support expanded ground activity against Hezbollah units operating in southern Lebanon. Additional Israeli ground forces have been deployed in the area as part of the effort. Also on Saturday, the IDF completed an additional wave of strikes on Hezbollah infrastructure across Lebanon. (Read More)