The Pentagon Realignment: Washington Reviews Massive Middle East Troop Relocation After Severe Iranian Missile Strikes

A comprehensive Wall Street Journal investigation has revealed that the United States is considering a sweeping redistribution of its Middle East military forces, including expanding its presence in Israel, after Iranian strikes heavily damaged at least 20 American sites. The structural architecture of American military deployment in the Middle East is facing a historic re-evaluation following a wave of highly destructive kinetic operations. Defense planners are actively preparing to transition crucial assets westward to minimize the vulnerability of static forward positions against sophisticated long range bombardments. This strategic pivot marks a major shift in how international coalitions intend to station deterrence capabilities during active regional warfare. 

The United States government is reviewing the physical placement of its regional armed forces, exploring options to shift specific commands or total base functionalities to more secure territory. A detailed investigation published by the Wall Street Journal indicates that Israel is currently under serious consideration as a primary alternative for hosting expanded American combat units or technical capabilities. This strategic reassessment follows extensive collaborative operations where Israeli facilities hosted dozens of American fighter wings and refueling platforms.

The urgent security review was initiated after extensive ordnance impacts caused severe damage to at least 20 American military bases and diplomatic compounds throughout the theater of war. Defense officials are looking into downsizing the visible footprint of American forces stationed in Kuwait and Saudi Arabia while shifting critical command centers completely underground. Senior strategists are also looking into dispersing vital military capabilities across a much wider array of smaller installations to decrease their vulnerability to ongoing missile salvos.

A significant portion of the unpublicized structural damage was sustained by the United Statesnaval installation in Bahrain, which serves as the primary command center for maritime operations in the region. Elite missile forces and explosive drone waves launched by regional adversaries between late February and June inflicted extensive structural wreckage that the Pentagon withheld from public disclosures. The physical impacts compromised the primary base headquarters, at least 12 auxiliary military structures, and two vital satellite communication terminals. (Ed note: One article has stated that the damage is over $300 million to our bases.We have been told that Iran's Navy, Air force, and missile platforms are all gone. We know that Israel is very worried about those missiles.) (Read More)

Iran threatens: We'll respond to Israeli flights over the region

Iran's Khatam al-Anbiya headquarters warns it is 'entitled to respond' if US cannot 'restrain and control' Israel.

Iran's Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters issued a warning Friday, claiming that Israeli military aircraft flying over the airspace of several neighboring countries while en route to Iran constitute "a dangerous move and a threat against the Islamic Republic." In a statement, the headquarters said, "We announce that if the United States is unable to restrain and control the Zionist regime, the Islamic Republic of Iran will not tolerate any threat against it and considers itself entitled to respond to these dangerous actions."

Meanwhile, Iranian state television reported Friday that three foreign tankers attempted to pass through the Strait of Hormuz without authorization but were stopped after receiving warnings from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy - despite the fact that US President Donald Trump has repeatedly claimed that the IRGC no longer has a functional navy.

Earlier, the Wall Street Journal reported that the damage inflicted by Iran on the US Navy base in Bahrain during the recent war was far more extensive than the Pentagon has publicly acknowledged. According to the report, the United States is considering relocating some of its military assets from bases in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait to Israel in an effort to reduce their vulnerability to potential Iranian attacks in a future conflict. (Ed note: That's a lot of trash talk coming from Iran when they know that Israel has advanced electronic warfare capabilities, cyber operations, and kinetic strike capabilities that very effectively block and blind the Iranian radar systems.) (Source)

Revolutionary Guards say they targeted US sites in Gulf after strikes on Iran

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps says it attacked US sites in the Gulf region in retaliation to American strikes in Iran, according to state television.

“If the aggression is repeated, our response will be broader than this,” the IRGC says according to a post by state TV on Telegram. (Source)

Israel and Lebanon sign historic security framework agreement

Israel and Lebanon sign historic, US-backed framework agreement in Washington aimed at removing Iranian influence and disarming Hezbollah.

Israel and Lebanon on Friday afternoon signed a historic framework agreement. The agreement was signed in Washington in a special ceremony attended by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The agreement was signed by Israel’s Ambassador to the US, Yechiel Leiter, and Lebanon’s Ambassador to the US, Nada Hamadeh Moawad. Speaking before the signing ceremony, Rubio said, “We are pleased to announce the agreement between Lebanon and Israel. Both countries deserve it after years of suffering caused by external interference," he stated.

Israeli officials said earlier that a framework agreement between Israel and Lebanon would be announced after four days of negotiations in Washington. Channel 12 News reported that the emerging Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) establishes the conditions for shifting the security reality on the northern border, with the primary objective for both sides being the complete removal of Iranian influence from Lebanon.

The agreement stipulates that Israel will remain within the Yellow Line zone until the Hezbollah terrorist organization is fully disarmed, and until it is proven that Lebanon can assume full sovereignty and responsibility over its own territory. "We will withdraw from the territory we have taken only if Hezbollah ceases to be a factor in the entire country," a senior Israeli official told Channel 12 News. "We retain the freedom to respond to any threat that arises."

The same official added that Israel is working to solidify international recognition for its presence in the area as long as a threat persists along the border. The agreement is expected to include a pilot program which would see the IDF withdrawing from a limited sector it currently holds in southern Lebanon, with the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) moving in to replace the Israeli soldiers. (Read More)

Venezuelans dig through rubble as quake toll reaches at least 920 with over 51,000 missing

LA GUAIRA, Venezuela — Venezuelans took the search for missing loved ones into their own hands Friday in the aftermath of back-to-back earthquakes, citing the scarcity of government rescuers, as the human toll of the disaster climbed to at least 920 dead and more than 51,000 missing. Citizens digging through the rubble of their homes said they have seen few state rescue teams in the areas hit hardest by the devastating 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude quakes that struck late Wednesday, despite authorities projecting an image of a robust government response.

The lack of help compounded families’ desperation as the pressure to find buried survivors increased with each passing hour. The South American nation on Friday marked nearly two days since the disaster. Aid agencies consider the first 48 to 72 hours to be a crucial time frame to retrieve people alive, though that period can be extended if they have access to food and water. Meanwhile, a broad international aid effort accelerated, with dozens of rescue teams from around the globe arriving in Venezuela or due to arrive there soon.“Each person saved is a miracle,” said Jorge Rodríguez, the president of the country’s National Assembly. “We are not going to hide absolutely anything about the magnitude of this tragedy.”

The injured were pulled out, covered in dust and blood, among them children. Venezuelan state TV showed dramatic images of rescues, including a woman who was trapped under a cement slab with only a bare foot poking out before rescuers slid her out alive. But few government search teams were initially seen outside Caracas. The International Organization for Migration said that up to 6.76 million people in Venezuela could be affected by the quakes, some 2 million of them in Caracas alone. Loyce Pace, the International Red Cross’ regional director for the Americas, said “people are still terrified to reenter what were their homes.”    (Read More)

'You'll find out': US hits Iranian targets minutes after Trump warns of retaliation

CENTCOM confirms US airstrikes targeted Iranian missile and drone sites after Iran violated the ceasefire by attacking a commercial ship in the Strait of Hormuz.

Explosions were heard on Friday evening on the island of Sirik in southern Iran, local media reported. A senior US official confirmed to reporters that the US was striking Iranian targets in the area of the Strait of Hormuz. US Central Command (CENTCOM) issued a statement which said that its forces conducted strikes against Iran “as a powerful response to yesterday’s attack on a commercial ship that was transiting the Strait of Hormuz."

According to the statement, US aircraft struck Iranian missile and drone storage locations and coastal radar sites after Iran hit M/V Ever Lovely on June 25 with a one-way attack drone. It added that the Singapore-flagged cargo ship was exiting the Strait of Hormuz along the Omani coast at the time of Iran’s attack. “The unwarranted aggression against commercial shipping by Iranian forces clearly violated the ceasefire. Furthermore, Iran’s dangerous behavior undermined freedom of navigation as commerce increasingly flows through the vital international trade corridor," said CENTCOM.

“CENTCOM forces continue to provide safe passage coordination and support to commercial vessels transiting the strait. The US military remains present and vigilant to ensure all aspects of the agreement with Iran are adhered to, obeyed, and in full force and effect." he Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced that their response to the US strikes would be "swift and decisive." They further claimed to have repelled a US attack in the Strait of Hormuz. The strikes came minutes after US President Donald Trump hinted that the US could retaliate for Iran’s violation of the ceasefire on Thursday. (Source)

US strikes Iran in retaliation for Strait of Hormuz cargo ship attack

The strikes follow Iran's launching of a one-way attack drone at the Singapore-flagged M/V Ever Lovely cargo ship along the Omani coast as it exited the Strait of Hormuz.

The United States conducted military strikes against Iranian targets on Friday in retaliation for Iran's attack against a cargo ship in the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday, US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced on X/Twitter. US Vice President JD Vance said of the strikes that "violence will be met with violence," in an X post on Saturday, noting that Iran can "pick up the phone" if it has "disagreements about how the MoU is being applied." Targets included Iranian missile and drone storage locations, as well as coastal radar sites, CENTCOM stated.

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said on Saturday that it attacked several US military targets in retaliation for the US strikes, according to Iranian state media. The IRGC did not provide details on the US positions it targeted in the region.The IRGC statement came after the semi-official ISNA news agency published an earlier statement it said was from the IRGC, declaring the force's response to the US attack would be "swift and decisive," before later deleting the statement.

Also on Saturday, the head of the Iranian Parliament's National Security Committee accused Trump of showing "no commitment to the principles of negotiation or the ceasefire." He added that the "reckless violation of the ceasefire" will lead to "regret and retreat" from the US. According to CENTCOM, the US strikes follow Iran's launching of a one-way attack drone at the Singapore-flagged M/V Ever Lovely cargo ship along the Omani coast as it exited the Strait of Hormuz. (Read More)

Vance, Rubio split on Iran war, Israel in Lebanon, as White House denies divergence - analysis

The contrast suggests that, even as the administration has emphasized unity, differing worldviews are at times rising to the surface, offering an early glimpse of the Republican Party’s future.

US President Donald Trump's administration has pushed hard to present a united front on the Iran war, but statements by his vice president and secretary of state have at times diverged over the past week, especially on the subject of Israel. Vice President JD Vance, speaking at the White House last week, lashed out against Israeli critics of the preliminary US-Iran deal. He suggested that Israeli bombings of civilian infrastructure in Beirut - intended to weaken Hezbollah, which has been attacking Israel - were undermining US-led peace efforts.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who traveled through the Gulf this week, defended Israel's military campaign in Lebanon, repeatedly describing its actions as a justified response to Hezbollah attacks. Pressed on Vance's criticism, Rubio deflected before recounting an assault by the Lebanon-based terror group on an Israeli checkpoint earlier in the week. The contrast suggests that, even as the administration has emphasized unity, differing worldviews are at times rising to the surface - a challenge for a White House whose political coalition is deeply divided on foreign policy matters. It also offers an early glimpse of the Republican Party’s future, with Rubio and Vance both seen as potential 2028 presidential contenders.

Both Vance and Rubio were dispatched on high-profile trips abroad over the past week to defend the preliminary peace accord inked between Washington and Tehran on June 17. Vance traveled to Switzerland for a round of talks with Iranian officials. Speaking to reporters on Sunday, he struck a decidedly optimistic tone on the state of talks with Iran. He has also said repeatedly in recent weeks that Gulf states could fund Iran's reconstruction. (Ed note: The GOP's future? How about how the US deals with Israel could determine the future of America? Does anyone in DC have any idea of End Time Bible Prophecy concerning the state of Israel?)    (Read More)

Vance: US-Iran deconfliction cell has IRGC, CENTCOM reps ‘hanging out’ in Doha

US Vice President JD Vance has revealed that the deconfliction channel Washington and Tehran agreed to set up during talks in Switzerland this past weekend includes representatives from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and the US Army’s Central Command, who will sit together in Qatar. “One of the things we wanted to come out with [was a] channel on the Iranian side [for reducing conflict], which we did,” Vance said in an interview with the UnHerd British news site, which took place while the vice president flew back from those talks in Switzerland on Monday, but wasn’t published until Thursday.

“They were like, ‘OK, fine, we’ll send somebody from the IRGC to go hang out in Doha with somebody from CENTCOM,’ and that’s how we’re going to settle a lot of these disputes,” Vance said. While US officials have recently revealed contact that has been established with the IRGC during negotiations with Iran since the outbreak of the war, the fact that Vance is now saying that the engagement is taking place at the military level was particularly noteworthy, given that the US has designated the IRGC as a Foreign Terrorist Organization.

Before departing Switzerland on Monday, Vance gave a press conference during which he touted what he said were two new mechanisms that the US and Iran agreed to establish during their weekend negotiations — one to ensure that the Strait of Hormuz remains open and another to maintain a regional ceasefire, particularly in Lebanon. It was unclear which of those two mechanisms Vance was describing in the UnHerd interview, or whether the IRGC-CENTCOM coordination hub that has purportedly been set up in Doha will deal with both of those issues. (Read More)

Swiss Diplomacy Breakthrough: Vance Unveils Direct Superpower Communications Framework With Revolutionary Guards

United States Vice President JD Vance has revealed that Washington and Tehran have officially agreed to establish a direct, face-to-face communications channel in Doha between US Central Command and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps to prevent further military escalation. The institutional boundary separating Western military commands from designated foreign state entities has shifted following significant diplomatic disclosures by the executive administration. A newly solidified bilateral mechanism is designed to connect senior defense officials directly to facilitate immediate conflict resolution. This structural transformation within Middle Eastern security architecture introduces an entirely new operational paradigm to global maritime and military tracking systems.

United States Vice President JD Vance announced on Thursday evening that Washington and Tehran have successfully agreed to establish a direct communication channel with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps of Iran. According to senior administrative officials, the primary objective of this unprecedented bureaucratic mechanism is to significantly reduce the probability of further military escalation. This direct contact framework marks a major procedural turn away from historical isolation policies. The vice president disclosed the existence of the secret diplomatic track during an extensive interview with the British news outlet UnHerd. Vance explained that both global powers officially agreed that senior American and Iranian military officers will physically meet in Doha, the capital city of Qatar, to systematically resolve ongoing friction points. The physical presence of designated liaisons in a neutral third country is designed to provide immediate verification capabilities during active regional crises.

The technical framework for this active military line was initially hammered out during highly confidential multilateral sessions overseen by European mediators. "During the talks with Switzerland, we agreed on the establishment of such a mechanism," Vance stated to the press. "They said: okay, we will send someone from the Revolutionary Guards to sit in Doha with someone from the US Central Command, and that is how we will solve a lot of these disputes," he asserted.

The strategic shift extends beyond American operational protocols, encompassing major regional partners who are simultaneously re-evaluating their traditional defensive frameworks. Vance explained that the United Arab Emirates has also opened highly specialized communication channels with Iranian officials that did not exist in any capacity in the past. These new regional tracking networks similarly involve direct interactions with the high command of the Revolutionary Guards. (Ed note: This will be folly, a serious lack of good sense, thought, or foresight. Why? All this new program has done is create a platform for The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to threaten, embarrass. challenge, US Central Command. Centcom is military and can make no political decisions.  The IRGC will run all over Centcom to show the Middle East just how big and mad they really are.)         (Read More)

Sa’ar: Hezbollah launched over 7,000 missiles at Israel since March

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar says Hezbollah launched over 7,000 rockets, missiles and drones from Lebanon into Israel since March, says Hezbollah a threat to both nations. 'No country would tolerate such attacks.'

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar spoke this week at the international session of the MUNI EXPO in Tel Aviv, addressing governors and mayors from around the world. "We are speaking following another round of the historic talks between us and Lebanon, taking place with the mediation of the United States," Sa'ar began. "We do not have any serious dispute with the government of Lebanon beyond a few border points that can be resolved in short negotiations," he stressed, adding, "We and Lebanon have a common enemy. This is the enemy of Lebanon’s future, sovereignty and independence, and it is also the enemy of Israel’s security. That enemy is Hezbollah."

"Very few in the international media mention the fact that Hezbollah started this war on March 2, after receiving instructions from Tehran to do so. Just as Hezbollah started the war on October 8, 2023, one day after Hamas’s attack on Israel."

Sa'ar also noted, "Since March alone, Hezbollah has launched more than 7,000 rockets, missiles and drones from Lebanese territory into Israel. Imagine your cities being attacked in this way. What country can accept this and not act to restore security to its citizens?" (Source)

Rubio Breaks With Trump, Calls Iran's New Leadership 'Crazy Islamists'

Secretary of State Marco Rubio contradicted President Trump's praise of Iran's new leadership, calling them "crazy Islamists" and hardening U.S. positions on Hormuz and proxies during a Gulf tour.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio drew a sharp line between himself and President Trump on Iran during a three-day Gulf tour this week, openly contradicting the president's recent praise of Tehran's new leadership by calling them what he said was simply a fact: "crazy Islamists." Asked during his trip whether he saw a change in Iran's current leadership, or whether he still considered them "crazy Islamists," as Trump had conspicuously declined to, Rubio did not hesitate. "That's not what I think," he said. "That's a fact."

The remark came as Rubio was wrapping up a Gulf swing through the UAE, Kuwait, and Bahrain, where he sought to reassure American allies who absorbed heavy Iranian missile and drone fire during the more than 100 days of war that began February 28. The UAE alone was struck by approximately 2,800 missiles and drones; Kuwait's airport, commercial ports, and desalination plants were hit; and Qatar's Ras Laffan gas facility suffered significant damage.

Against that backdrop, Rubio delivered some of the toughest American rhetoric on Iran heard since the MOU was signed, even as the Trump administration simultaneously issued sanctions waivers allowing Tehran to sell oil on the open market. On the Strait of Hormuz, Rubio was unequivocal. The MOU states that Iran may not charge transit fees during a 60-day negotiation period, but Rubio went further, stating flatly that Washington would not accept any Iranian attempt to impose tolls on vessels passing through what he described as an international waterway subject to international law, full stop. "This is the situation in international waterways around the world," he said, "and that is what we expect here as well." 

On Iranian proxies, Rubio warned that a real end to regional hostilities was impossible while Iranian-linked militia groups continued launching missiles and drones from Iraqi soil. He said the issue was included in the MOU's framework and would be addressed in continuing negotiations. When Iran's leadership publicly denied aspects of the Switzerland talks, Rubio dismissed the contradiction without alarm. "We know what they agreed to," he said. "I don't know why they have to say the things they say." He acknowledged Tehran had its own domestic politics to manage, but said the only test that mattered was whether Iran actually honored its commitments. (Read More)

The heroic warrior nation defending the civilised world

This past week has been a shocking one. President Trump produced a ceasefire agreement that seemed to have been dictated by Tehran. He and JD Vance lashed out viciously at Israel, close and indispensable ally in this war. Now, Donald Trump is the only American president ever to have waged war on the Iranian regime. He and Israel had it on the ropes. Their achievements in drastically weakening the Iranian regime have been absolutely astonishing. So why did he suddenly release the pressure, throw away his advantage and hand Iran the power to dictate events? Well, I suggest the answer to that puzzle links America, Britain and Europe. None of them properly understands the war being waged against them all. 

This is an unprecedented and seismic moment in history. The onslaught upon Israel and the Jewish world is coming at us from all sides. The barbarities of October 7 presented the west with a challenge. Would it choose civilisation or barbarism? Much of the west, we now see, alas, has turned its back on civilisation. Instead of supporting Israel against genocidal attack, it’s turned instead against Israel and the Jewish people in an unprecedented loss of reason and moral compass. What we’re seeing is first and foremost an Islamist war against the west being waged through an onslaught against Israel and the Jews. The Islamists have always told us: first we are coming for the Jews, and then we are coming for the Christians.

Much of the west, alas, doesn’t understand this. It’s not joining up the dots. As a result, in Britain, Europe and America, there’s a refusal to do what it takes to defend itself. President Trump has turned on a dime to escape from a trap. This trap is because, in his words, an imminent global economic disaster caused by Iran taking hostage the Strait of Hormuz cannot be tolerated by him. But we have to ask, how in the world is mighty America unable to defeat a massively weakened Iran? The short answer is that to do so probably requires American boots on the ground. And that’s something the president will not commit himself to do do. Because the American people wouldn’t wear it.

Why is that? It’s because they don’t think the war with Iran has anything to do with their interests. That’s astonishing, given the hundreds of Americans attacked and killed by Iran over the past four decades as it’s pursued its war cry “Death to America”. What this initiative in the MoU means is that everyone can now see America is not prepared to make the sacrifices necessary to defend itself. And that will have emboldened evil forces threatening the west from around the world. Britain and Europe, meanwhile, are unwilling to go to war at all. They dance to the tune of kumbaya liberal universalism, which means they say all conflict must be ended by negotiation and compromise. Even with genocidal fanatics. (Ed note: This was a 14 minute speech given by Melanie Phillips to the JNS security conference in Jerusalem. You can watch the video or read her text. One thing that can be added is that Western Civilization does not understand that with the Islamic Republic, this is not a Political war, this is a Religious war in which Twelver Shi-ism, the 12th Imam, Muhammad al-Mahdi will return for the end of times. In other words, they think that they are bringing back their 'Jesus.') (Read More)

Power, water outages disrupt daily life across Iran

Daily electricity and water outages disrupted life across Iran as summer began, with residents blaming years of underinvestment and deteriorating infrastructure despite officials citing rising demand and shrinking water supplies. Messages sent to Iran International from residents in Khuzestan, Ilam, Lorestan, East Azarbaijan, Alborz, Tehran and other provinces described hours-long daily power cuts and recurring water shortages that began with the onset of summer. The reports come as much of Iran experiences extreme heat, placing additional strain on the country's aging electricity and water networks. A resident of Khuzestan, one of Iran's main electricity-producing provinces, said scheduled power cuts had resumed despite the province generating far more electricity than it consumes.

On the first day of summer, with temperatures above 50 degrees Celsius, they started cutting electricity again in a province that produces twice its own needs." Residents in Ilam province also reported electricity outages lasting up to four hours as temperatures reached 46 degrees Celsius. One warned that if the blackouts continue, authorities would face "angry and protesting people." In Pardis, east of Tehran, a resident of a 14-story apartment building said electricity was cut for four hours during the day, leaving elevators out of service. How are we supposed to climb all these stairs?" Others said the loss of elevator access posed particular difficulties for elderly residents and families with young children.

Water shortages deepen disruption

Citizens also reported prolonged water outages, which they said often coincided with electricity cuts because pumping stations stopped operating. Mehdi Masaeli, secretary of Iran's Electricity Industry Syndicate, said last year that water supplies are interrupted when electricity fails because pumps stop working. Residents in Boumehen near Tehran said they had access to running water on only two days during the previous week, and then only for a few hours. "We have a sick person at home. We no longer know who to turn to."

People from Shahriar and Qods, west of Tehran, also described prolonged water cuts, with some saying supplies were unavailable from mid-afternoon until early the following morning. Several said repeated calls to the local water utility produced only tracking numbers and recorded messages. "Water is a basic necessity, not a luxury service." Officials have cited falling reservoir levels, declining rainfall and rising consumption as the main causes of the shortages. Many people, however, said authorities were blaming consumers instead of addressing years of underinvestment and poor management. (Ed note: Both Khuzestan and Ilam provinces are located within the ancient region once known as Elam.)    (Read More)

Qaani to Israel: Withdraw or Face Defeat

IRGC Quds Force chief Esmail Qaani declares Lebanon a "field of resistance," warns IDF forces will be driven out in disgrace if they don't withdraw immediately • Threat comes amid conflicting reports on Israeli positions in south (Israel News). The commander of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Quds Force delivered a stark ultimatum to Israel on Thursday, demanding an immediate and complete withdrawal from Lebanese territory while warning that Israeli forces face inevitable expulsion "in shame, humiliation, and crushing defeat" if they refuse to leave voluntarily.

Qaani, who heads the IRGC's elite external operations unit responsible for managing Tehran's regional proxy networks, issued the threat in remarks carried prominently by Iranian state media. His statement marks one of the most direct public warnings from a senior Iranian military official since the escalation of fighting in southern Lebanon. "Israel must withdraw from Lebanon immediately," Qaani declared in the address. "Lebanon is a field of steadfast resistance, not a playground for occupiers." The Quds Force commander warned that if Israeli forces do not choose to retreat on their own terms now, they will soon be forced out under military pressure and will flee the region "in shame, in humiliation, and in crushing defeat."

The remarks from Qaani carry particular weight given his position as the operational architect of Iran's regional influence. The Quds Force serves as Tehran's primary instrument for arming, funding, and directing militia groups across the Middle East, with Hezbollah in Lebanon representing its most powerful and sophisticated proxy force. Qaani has commanded the unit since January 2020, when his predecessor Qassem Soleimani was killed in a U.S. drone strike in Baghdad.

Qaani's public intervention comes after months of conspicuous absence from the spotlight. The Quds Force chief has largely disappeared from public view since the outbreak of the current conflict, communicating primarily through written statements and social media posts rather than public appearances. In previous messages to Hezbollah operatives, he praised what he termed their "exceptional efforts" and urged them to remain "vigilant and ready."  (Ed note: Qaani was just in Iraq trying to stir things up.)  (Read More)

Current round of US-led talks between Israel and Lebanon the least productive yet, sources tell ToI

WASHINGTON — This week’s round of talks between Israel and Lebanon have been the least productive to date, amid mutual frustration with the Trump administration’s decision to make a ceasefire in Lebanon part of the memorandum of understanding it inked last week with Iran, a government official and a second source familiar with the matter tell The Times of Israel.

Both Israel and Lebanon were opposed to the idea, arguing that it undermines the purpose of the channel between their two countries that Washington established in April specifically to prevent Iran from maintaining its influence over Hezbollah and Lebanon, the two sources say. The Israeli anger at Washington has led it to be less inclined to accept US requests that it begin pulling back some of its troops from southern Lebanon, the government official says. Lebanon meanwhile feels that it must take a harder line in negotiations with Israel to counter the notion that Iran wields greater influence over affairs in Lebanese territory than it does, the source familiar with the matter explains. Accordingly, the Lebanese government has presented maps for a proposed withdrawal that are much more expansive than what Israel is willing to accept at this stage — which was already very little due the political pressures Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government is facing, the source adds.

The US was hoping that the three-day talks set to wrap up on Thursday would conclude with an announcement of a pilot program whereby the IDF would withdraw from small areas of southern Lebanon and be replaced by the Lebanese military, with the latter being tasked with dismantling any remaining Hezbollah infrastructure there. However, such a development currently appears less likely, the two sources tell The Times of Israel. A State Department spokesperson doesn’t immediately respond to a request for comment. (Source)

Katz vows no IDF withdrawal from south Lebanon ‘even if there’s an American demand’

Defense Minister Israel Katz vowed Wednesday that the IDF will not withdraw from its southern Lebanon security zone, “even if there is an American demand,” while adding there was no such demand at this time. The fighting in Lebanon remains a key flashpoint in wider US-Iran negotiations. A memorandum of understanding that halted a war between the US and Iran also imposed a ceasefire in the fight between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon. But Israeli leaders assert that forces will stay put until the threat from the Iran-backed terror group Hezbollah has ended. Hezbollah dragged Lebanon into the war by attacking northern Israel in March.

“The IDF is prepared… and we are not retreating,” Katz said in an onstage interview at the Muni Expo conference for local officials in Tel Aviv. “We announced that in any case we are not withdrawing.” Israel controls a security zone in southern Lebanon that stretches across the entire length of the shared border, and extends up to 10 kilometers (six miles) into Lebanese territory, in some areas crossing the Litani River and reaching the outskirts of Nabatieh. Katz said that “200,000 [Lebanese] residents will not return [to the homes they evacuated]. Because what happened in the past in security zones where there was also a civilian population [present] was roadside bombs and attacks against the soldiers, and therefore we will not allow that.”

Iran has repeatedly tied a ceasefire in Lebanon to its understanding with the US. “For us, a ceasefire in Lebanon is as important as a ceasefire in Iran, and further, an end to the war in Lebanon is as important as an end to the war in Iran,” Iran’s Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said in Baku during a meeting of the Parliamentary Union of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation. Meanwhile, the IDF said two Hezbollah gunmen were targeted in an Israeli strike Wednesday after being spotted near troops in southern Lebanon. (Read More)

IDF surrounds Hezbollah fighters in Tebnit as fears rise of possible kidnapping attempt

Amid growing concerns over a potential kidnapping attempt in southern Lebanon, Israeli security officials said Tuesday that senior officials reviewed the situation involving dozens of Hezbollah terrorists trapped in the village of Tebnit. The IDF recently succeeded in cornering dozens of Hezbollah terrorists in an underground complex in Tebnit. Shortly thereafter, troops managed to seal off the entrances to the underground system, and messages were subsequently relayed to Israel through various mediating parties in an effort to secure the safe exit of those inside.

According to a security source, “Israel’s response to all mediating parties was clear: surrender or be killed inside the underground system. Additional sources involved in the details of the negotiations told Walla that under the current ceasefire framework, the militants have the option to surrender to the IDF, but at this stage, they are choosing to remain inside the underground system

“Things can change in an instant, but until then, it is important to understand that Israel sees significance in an effective model that will enable the demilitarization of the area from militants and Hezbollah terror infrastructure. Therefore, the focus is on a pilot program,” a source familiar with the details told Walla. The source added that a similar scenario previously unfolded with Hamas operatives who were trapped in Rafah, and who ultimately were forced to emerge and either fight or surrender. (Ed note: The village of Tebnit is locaated about 23 miles southeast of SIDON.)      (Read More)  

VOICES FROM IRAN: Don’t feed us, free us: Iranians hit back at Vance over 'hunger' remarks

After Donald Trump said Iran has “a hunger problem” and JD Vance said unfrozen Iranian assets could help “feed the Iranian people,” Iranians pushed back, saying the country’s real crisis is repression, corruption and the fight for freedom, not hunger. Speaking in Switzerland on Monday, Vance said Washington could agree to release frozen Iranian funds for purchases of US agricultural products such as wheat, corn and soybeans. "If Iranian assets are ever unfrozen, they're going to go to make American farmers richer and to feed the Iranian people," Vance said. He said the United States and Qatar would oversee the process, though Iranian officials have disputed that characterization. Trump made similar remarks on Tuesday, saying money taken out of Iran would go to American farmers to provide “corn, soybeans, wheat to Iran.”

“They have a hunger problem, they have a food problem, they have a medicine problem, they got a lot of problems,” Trump said, adding that inflation in Iran had “hit 300%.” remarks sparked widespread reactions from Iran International's viewers, many of whom said the country's struggle cannot be reduced to hunger. "American officials talk about hunger in Iran as if our problem is a lack of food. Everything exists here. Government policies have made food unaffordable. Sending grain won't solve our problems," one viewer told Iran International,

While many respondents acknowledged the country's worsening economic crisis, they argued that inflation, corruption and decades of mismanagement—not a shortage of food—have made life increasingly difficult. Others said they have little faith that any economic relief provided to the Islamic Republic would ultimately benefit ordinary citizens. "Right now the Islamic Republic is probably figuring out how to send that wheat to Lebanon and Iraq," one viewer wrote. The comment was a reference to the Islamic Republic's long-standing support for regional militant allies and proxy groups. Many respondents argued that Tehran has repeatedly prioritized its regional strategy over the welfare of its own citizens. Several viewers also objected to what they saw as a portrayal of Iranians as a population waiting to be fed. "The people of Iran are not hungry. They sacrificed their lives and shed blood for freedom," one respondent said. (Read More)

Thousands feared dead as devastating twin earthquakes rock Venezuela

Powerful back-to-back earthquakes struck Venezuela on Wednesday evening, killing at least 32 people and injuring at least 700, the nation’s acting president said, as communities across the South American country sustained damage. Acting Venezuelan President Delcy Rodríguez warned the toll was expected to rise as rescuers search collapsed buildings and emergency crews reach devastated areas hit by 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude earthquakes that struck shortly after 6 p.m. local time (1 a.m. Thursday Israel time). The US Geological Survey, using predictive modeling, said the death toll would most likely run into the thousands, with a substantial probability of exceeding 10,000.

In response to the disaster, Israel’s Foreign Ministry said it is making “immediate preparations” for the possible deployment of an aid delegation. The ministry said it was “conducting a situational assessment with the relevant authorities in Israel and is examining possible avenues for assistance.” There is currently no knowledge of any hurt or missing Israelis in the country, The Times of Israel understands.

Israel’s ZAKA emergency response organization said earlier that it is preparing teams to possibly be sent to help local authorities rescue people from the rubble, adding that it hasn’t received information regarding casualties among the country’s small Jewish community. Fellow rescue organization IsraAid also said it was “urgently responding” to the unfolding disaster. Rodríguez declared a state of emergency in an address to the nation late Wednesday and said the quakes caused damage in several states. The casualty figures released early Thursday excluded the state of La Guaira, which Rodríguez described as a “disaster zone” and the area hardest hit. (Read More)

Israeli firms in talks over large-scale demolition, rubble removal in Gaza, sources say

Negotiations have begun with Israeli companies regarding the large-scale demolition of structures in the Gaza Strip, Walla reported on Wednesday, with sources describing them as unprecedented in scope. “The peace government has a desire to advance the reconstruction process, but it is not meeting reasonable timelines or the scope they want," a security source said. "We are talking about enormous amounts of destruction that they want to turn into recycled construction materials, to transport a large part of it, and at the same time to level the area in order to build new homes on it, and all this is happening even before Hamas has been disarmed and the Strip has been demilitarized,” the source continued.

Sources said the plan envisions vast quantities of rubble being converted into recycled construction materials, with significant portions transported elsewhere. At the same time, areas of the Strip would be leveled in preparation for future housing development, even before Hamas is disarmed and Gaza is demilitarized.

A security official warned that the pace and scope of developments could carry broader consequences. “At this rate, there will be no choice but to resume fighting in order to disarm it and cut off its underground infrastructure, where it is hiding, managing its preparations for war with Israel, operating a production line of weapons, and hiding weapons depots,” said the official. The official added that if the current trajectory continues, there would be no alternative but to renew fighting in order to dismantle Hamas’s underground infrastructure, which the source described as a network used for concealment, weapons production, operational planning, and storage of arms. (Ed note: One possible idea would be to use all that rubble to fill in the tunnels that Hamas dug. Preferably with them and their weapons in the tunnels.) (Source)

The Ankara Intervention Stopped: Trump Reveals Erdogan Was Leading Candidate to Enter War Alongside Iran

President Donald Trump revealed during an Oval Office briefing that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was close to entering the regional war alongside Iran due to his anti-Israel sentiments before Washington successfully intervened. The intricate web of secret diplomacy shielding global energy corridors has been brought to light following high-level disclosures at the White House. Recent statements from senior executive leadership indicate that multiple global superpowers were on the verge of direct military intervention during the recent regional war. These foreign policies continue to redefine boundaries within international military alliances. 

 
President Donald Trump delivered a striking announcement on Wednesday during a joint press briefing in the Oval Office alongside the Secretary General of NATO. Trump asserted that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was heavily considering entering the active hostilities against regional forces. The American president linked this potential mobilization directly to Turkey's adversarial stance toward Jerusalem.

The administration detailed the exact regional alignment that nearly manifested during the height of the fighting. Trump explained that Erdogan was a leading candidate to enter the war against Iran, or perhaps even on the side of Iran, because he is not exactly a big fan of Israel, as you know. The president further noted that he personally intervened to alter Ankara's calculus, stating that he requested the Turkish leader not to join the fighting, and indeed Erdogan acted accordingly.

The White House maintained a supportive stance toward the Turkish state despite the near-miss deployment, highlighting the nation's critical role within Western defense structures. Trump described the Turkish president as a great leader, a very strong man, with an excellent army. Addressing his upcoming diplomatic mission to Ankara, Trump emphasized that Turkey remains a strong member of NATO, adding that he will likely do something that will make Erdogan and Turkey very happy. (Ed note: Now that's a scary event. Old Gomer coming with Persia to attack Israel. That would be the prophecy found in Ezekiel 38/39. Welcome to the End Times.)    (Read More)

US reviewing F-35 fighter jets sale to Turkey as Trump pushes $700 million jet engine deal

US Vice President JD Vance indicated on Wednesday that a review was underway to see how the United States could sell Turkey F-35 fighter jets, given Ankara's 2019 acquisition of Russian S-400 missile defense systems. "Pete and the entire team are reviewing this right now, because there are certain things that we have to certify have happened...in order to comply with American law. The president has asked us to do that," Vance told reporters.

US President Donald Trump's administration is also planning to push ahead with the sale of dozens of jet engines to Turkey worth hundreds of millions of dollars despite objections from some members of the US Congress, four sources familiar with the matter said on Wednesday, an important gesture to Ankara ahead of a NATO summit there next month. The engines, produced by General Electric, will power Turkey's first indigenous combat jet KAAN, a major project launched in 2016 as part of NATO member Ankara's efforts to be more self-sufficient in its defense. One of the sources said the package will be worth more than $700 million.

Turkey and the United States have generally enjoyed warm ties under Trump, who regularly praises Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan. However, their relationship has been tested by a long-standing disagreement over Washington's decision to remove Turkey from the F-35 stealth fighter jet program and impose sanctions after Ankara acquired Russian-made S-400 air defense systems, which the United States says pose a security threat.

Asked on Wednesday about the jet engines, the F-35 program, and his plans for the summit in Ankara, Trump said: "I'm going to probably do something that will make them very happy." While the engine sale is likely to be welcomed in Ankara, analysts say it falls well short of Turkey's broader goal of returning to the F-35 program. (Ed note: What? Give Turkey (Gomer) an arch enemy of Israel, our best jet fighter, the F-35?)  (Read More)

THE FUTURE WAR PROPHECIES

In the last days, mankind will dwell in a war-torn world! Conventional battles, nuclear exchanges and supernatural demonic invasions are coming. The FUTURE WAR Prophecies book and DVD locates the battlefields, identifies the participants, explains the motives, provides the details and explores the outcomes of these coming world changing conflicts which include:

• Israel vs. Iran and its proxies,
• The destruction of Damascus in Isaiah 17,
• The final Arab-Israeli war of Psalm 83,
• The Russian coalition’s invasion of Israel in Ezekiel 38,
• The two Christian-killing crusades of the Tribulation Period,
• The demonic invasion that torments unsaved people for 5 months,
• The 200-million demonic army that kills one-third of humankind,
• The war in heaven between Michael the archangel vs. Satan,
• The battle of Armageddon between Jesus Christ vs. Antichrist,
• The final Gog of Magog War at the end of the Millennium.

These wars and more are covered in this revealing book. Don’t be caught in the crossfire! Discover what wars are coming so that you can keep yourself and your loved ones out of harm’s way.   (CLICK HERE)

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 whatGod has ordained, what the prophets saw and what you need to know and do now.  (CLICK HERE)

"All The Jews Are Tired Of You": Trump Unleashes Severe Telephone Rant Against Defiant Israeli Prime Minister

An explosive new book by New York Times journalists reveals that President Donald Trump screamed, cursed, and told Benjamin Netanyahu that everyone was tired of him to force a ceasefire agreement.

Intense backstage rivalries and dramatic political ultimatums have completely reshaped the diplomatic trajectory of the Middle East during critical negotiations. Newly leaked historical documentation exposes the deep strategic fissures that developed between traditional global allies as they raced to conclude hostagetaking crises. These revelations present a stunning look at the immense pressure applied by Washington to force compliance from regional leaders.

A new book titled "Regime Change: Inside the Imperial Presidency of Donald Trump" by New York Times journalists Maggie Haberman and Jonathan Swan exposes a fierce telephone confrontation. The publication documents the extreme frustration experienced by the American president during negotiations to end the war in Gaza last September. According to the text, Trump reached a boiling point and directly shouted and cursed at Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a tense phone conversation. The highly volatile phone call took place just days before the White House publicly presented its comprehensive twenty point peace blueprint. White House envoy Steve Witkoff and presidential son in law Jared Kushner were also connected to the high stakes line. During the confrontation, Trump aggressively lambasted the Israeli prime minister over his perceived diplomatic stalling tactics.

The authors reveal that Trump used exceptionally blunt language to describe the regional leader's dwindling international standing. Trump told Netanyahu directly, "Everyone is sick of you, Bibi". He expanded the verbal assault to include his own inner circle, stating, "All the Jews are tired of you.  Even the two Jews on this call are tired of you". The acute diplomatic crisis originally erupted following an uncoordinated military operation executed by Israeli defense forces. The military conducted an airstrike targeting the leadership of Hamas terrorists in Doha, Qatar. This aggressive maneuver occurred just twenty four hours after Kushner and Witkoff met with Israeli Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer in Miami to coordinate postwar strategies.  (Ed note: Hey, President Trump! You need to hear something that you don't know. Over four thousand years ago, GOD told a man named Abram, "And I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse." Genesis 12:3. You sir, with your mouth, are writing a check that America will have to cash, and that's not good.)   (Read More)

US-Iran MoU a ‘declaration of America’s defeat,’ says Tehran’s chief negotiator

The Islamic Republic forced Washington to “retreat both on the battlefield and at the negotiating table,” said Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf.

The U.S.-Iran Memorandum of Understanding was “a declaration of America’s defeat,” Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said on Wednesday. Iran’s armed forces imposed “heavy costs on the United States and the so-called Israeli regime” during the 110-day war, Ghalibaf told a meeting of the Parliamentary Union of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation in Baku, Azerbaijan, Tehran’s IRNA news agency reported. The Islamic Republic forced Washington to “retreat both on the battlefield and at the negotiating table,” Tehran’s top negotiator claimed. Ghalibaf told attendees that Iran defined the retreat of American forces from the Middle East as a “strategic objective” and denounced Washington’s presence in the region as a “source of instability.”

The parliament speaker in his remarks extended the regime’s “hand of brotherhood and cooperation to all Islamic countries.” “For us, a ceasefire in Lebanon is as important as a ceasefire in Iran, and ending the war in Lebanon is as important as ending the war in Iran,” Ghalibaf stated. He also defended Palestinian terrorism as “an expression of a nation’s legitimate resistance in the face of occupation.” Ghalibaf said that “the experience of the past eighty years” showed that no lasting security in the region could be achieved without a “just resolution” of the Palestinian issue. Iran remains ready to pursue security agreements with regional countries, including Gulf states, in addition to economic cooperation, he added.

U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday night claimed that he had Iran “ready to go down for the fall” and “willing to give us practically anything,” as he slammed the Senate for passing a war powers resolution directing him to remove American military forces from the conflict with Tehran. The resolution conveyed to “the number one sponser [sic] of terror in the world that the United States doesn’t like what I am doing to them, and I must stop,” according to the president. Earlier on Tuesday, Trump said he lifted the U.S. naval blockade of Iranian ports after the regime agreed to open its nuclear facilities to inspections and made other “major concessions.” “However, all ships are remaining in place should it be necessary to reinstitute the blockade, which seems, at this point, highly unlikely,” he wrote on Truth Social.

Trump’s statement came after Ghalibaf vowed that conditions in the Strait of Hormuz “will never go back to the way they were before the war.” “Of course, international regulations will be observed, but Iran will administer the Strait of Hormuz,” Ghalibaf told Iranian media as he returned from talks with U.S. representatives in Switzerland. While the MoU calls for the immediate reopening of the strait to commercial shipping, Tehran reopened the strategic waterway “according to its own terms and timeline,” the negotiator claimed. “This is the power of the Islamic Republic,” Ghalibaf said. “We forced Trump to amend the tweet he had published. This is the result of combining our hard and soft power.” (Source)

Iran president says missile program will never be included in US MoU

The Iranian president stated that its missile program "was not in the MoU and never will be", adding that regional peace can only be achieved through honest discussion and cooperation.

Iran's missiles were not in the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed with the US and "will never be," Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said at a joint news conference with Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Islamabad on Tuesday. Iran will never negotiate its defense capabilities with any country and strongly believes that regional peace and stability can only be achieved through honest discussions and intraregional cooperation, Pezeshkian added.

Earlier, an Iranian envoy said that Tehran alone will decide how to use assets unfrozen under a deal with the United States, denying that Washington would have any control over the funds or that they must be used to buy US commodities. The US waived sanctions on Iran for 60 days starting Monday after talks in Switzerland aimed at turning an interim deal into a lasting peace agreement. Frozen Iranian assets worth about $12 billion are expected to be released under the initial accord.

Vice President JD Vance said on Monday that the US and Qatar would have control over the funds once they are unfrozen, and that the money ⁠could be ​spent on US corn, soy, and wheat. Ali Bahreini, Iran's ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva, said on Tuesday the two sides had held "very good talks" but challenged Vance's statement on the use of the assets. "Iran is the only country to decide what to do with its assets, which are going to be defrozen, and so I reject any claim about that if there would be any role for any other country to have an influence on those decisions or on those processes," Bahreini told reporters in Geneva. (Source)

Sa’ar: Hezbollah and Iran breaching Lebanon’s sovereignty, not Israel

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar rejected international criticism of Israel’s military presence in Lebanon on Tuesday, saying Hezbollah and Iran are the real violators. “I hear statements in the international community that Israel is breaching Lebanon’s sovereignty. Listen to the truth. Hezbollah is breaching Lebanon’s sovereignty. Iran is breaching Lebanon’s sovereignty,” Sa’ar said at the JNS 2026 International Policy Summit in Jerusalem. His remarks came as Israeli and Lebanese delegations met in Washington for a fifth round of U.S.-brokered political and security talks aimed at stabilizing the border and addressing longstanding disputes.

Sa’ar argued that Lebanon remains under Iran’s influence through Hezbollah, the Iranian-backed terrorist group that wields significant military and political power in the country. “The foreign minister of Lebanon decided to expel the Iranian ambassador from Beirut some months ago,” Sa’ar said. “It never happened, because the truth is—and not so many people are saying it—Lebanon is under Iranian occupation, indirectly by Hezbollah, but under an occupation on the soil of Lebanon.” The fundamental challenge is that Hezbollah remains stronger than the Lebanese Armed Forces, he added, calling it a “mutual problem.” “I hope that with the talks being held today in Washington, D.C., we will be able to build on that common ground to build the common future,” Sa’ar said.

Sa’ar addressed his recent decision to “sever all contact” with the office of European Union foreign-policy chief Kaja Kallas after reports that she compared Israel’s treatment of Palestinians to apartheid-era South Africa during a closed-door meeting in Mexico. Kallas has declined to confirm or deny the reports publicly Sa’ar stressed that the move was directed at Kallas, not the European Union as a whole. He pointed to what he described as “very good, open and honest discussions” with EU Commissioner for the Mediterranean Dubravka Šuica this week in Jerusalem. “I privately asked her to do something about it,” Sa’ar said of Kallas. “She could say, ‘I didn’t say that.’ She could have said, ‘I’m standing behind these words.’” (Ed note: And one thing that Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar didn't say, was that both the Lebanese government and military have been very weakened and infiltrated by the terrotist group, Hezbollah.) (Read More)

‘A train wreck’: As Jerusalem and Beirut hold talks, Israeli envoy pans linkage to US-Iran deal

First talks held since inking of MOU, with partial IDF withdrawal from south Lebanon said under discussion; Hezbollah chief says timetable must be set for full pullout.

Israeli Ambassador to the United States Yechiel Leiter laid into US President Donald Trump’s administration over its willingness to include the ceasefire in Lebanon as part of a memorandum of understanding Washington inked last week with Tehran, as Beirut and Jerusalem kicked off a fifth round of negotiations at the US State Department in Washington on Tuesday. The session, the first held after Iran and the US signed their MOU, was set to focus on both political and security issues before splitting off into separate sessions on Wednesday and Thursday, respectively. According to Channel 13, an issue being discussed at Tuesday’s meeting was a planned partial Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon.

An unnamed senior official was quoted by the network as saying the IDF “captured territory in recent days for the purpose of negotiations, to then withdraw from them.” Under a planned pilot program agreed to by Jerusalem and Beirut earlier this month, the IDF would leave certain areas of southern Lebanon and hand them over to the control of the Lebanese army. Israel and Lebanon were represented at the talks by their respective ambassadors in Washington, while State Department Counselor Dan Holler and Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs Dan Zimmerman represented the US.

But Leiter was highly critical of the negotiations under the current context, declaring in a Hebrew statement as the talks began that “we are in a train wreck.” The talks were set up by the Trump administration specifically to detach Lebanon from the ongoing Iran conflict, as Tehran sought to secure an agreement with the US that also protected its Hezbollah proxy. The direct Israel-Lebanon channel has been used to negotiate several ceasefires in Lebanon in recent months. But those truces barely held at all, as Beirut has been unable to rein in the terror group, and as Israel’s efforts to disarm it exclusively through military means have failed as well. (Read More)

Rubio faces backlash over Iran deal as Vance pushes rival track

The US secretary of state landed in the Persian Gulf and encountered fierce opposition to the emerging memorandum of understanding with Iran. Diplomatic sources reveal that the United Arab Emirates is refusing to unfreeze $3 billion belonging to Tehran, and is demanding compensation for war damage and a commitment to halt maritime aggression. At the same time, Rubio is waging an internal battle against Vice President Vance, who tried to establish an oversight body in Lebanon with the participation of Iran and Qatar in order to torpedo the direct ceasefire talks.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is being greeted by a deeply concerned Emirati leadership. The reason for the concern is the memorandum of understanding between the US and Iran, which left the Iranian military threat in place and even strengthened it, contrary to American promises and expectations from the war. And the Emiratis are not only worried, they are also taking action. According to various diplomatic sources, the UAE is not prepared at this stage to release frozen Iranian accounts, as the Americans agreed with Iran. According to various reports, the understandings reached in the talks in Switzerland, mediated by Qatar, included the release of $12 billion in accounts from Qatar and another $3 billion from the UAE. The Americans boasted that the money would be used for civilian purposes and to buy food from the United States.

But the UAE is making it clear: Iran must pay for the damage it caused during the war, which is estimated in the billions of dollars. First, this involves direct damage, including hits to civilian facilities, hotels, airports, ports and more. Beyond that, there is the indirect damage caused by the halt in maritime trade, and especially by the disruption of oil exports from the UAE. The ports of Dubai and Abu Dhabi are vast trade hubs that move goods from the East to the region and to Europe. The Emiratis' second condition, according to the diplomatic sources, is the inclusion of a clause in the emerging agreement with Iran requiring it not to attack its neighbors and not to obstruct the passage of ships through the Strait of Hormuz. Under the demand, the clause would be ratified by the UN Security Council and backed by sanctions if violated. This is identical to Iran's demand of the United States. (Read More)