Iran cuts oil output as US blockade strains storage - BBG

Iran has begun curbing oil production as the US naval blockade tightens around its oil trade, with exports plunging, storage filling and tankers gathering near the country’s main export hub, Bloomberg reported. The blockade, which took effect on April 13, has left Tehran trying to manage a pressure campaign aimed at its most important source of revenue. Bloomberg said the war has entered a stalemate, with Washington betting that lost oil revenue will force Iran to yield and Tehran betting it can outlast the economic pain and keep global energy prices elevated.

A senior Iranian official told Bloomberg that Tehran is proactively reducing crude output to stay ahead of storage limits rather than waiting for tanks to fill completely. The official said the move could affect as much as 30% of Iran’s oil reservoirs, but argued the risks were manageable because Iranian engineers have years of experience idling and restarting wells under sanctions. “We have enough expertise and experience,” said Hamid Hosseini, a spokesman for the Iranian Oil, Gas and Petrochemical Products Exporters’ Association. “We’re not worried.”

Bloomberg said Iran’s oil sector had remained resilient before the blockade, producing about 3.2 million barrels a day in March, with exports close to prewar levels. But the current blockade is different from earlier sanctions pressure because the US is physically trying to block waters around the Strait of Hormuz, stranding tens of millions of barrels at sea. Since the blockade began, Iran has increasingly turned to floating storage. Bloomberg said aging and in some cases derelict tankers have gathered near Kharg Island, Iran’s main export terminal in the Persian Gulf.   

\US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said this week that Kharg Island was “soon nearing capacity,” warning that the pressure could cost Iran about $170 million a day in lost revenue and force Tehran toward negotiations. “It looks like there’s been a significant slowdown in production,” Antoine Halff, co-founder and chief analyst at Kayrros, said on a conference call. “There is stress in the system.” If storage fills completely, Iran would have little choice but to cut production by the amount it can no longer export. Based on prewar domestic consumption of about 2 million barrels a day, Bloomberg said that could leave fields operating at roughly half their potential. (Read More)

Soaring prices push medicine beyond Iranians' reach

Medicine prices in Iran have surged sharply in recent weeks, with some drugs rising by as much as 380%, according to reports received by Iran International, as the country grapples with soaring inflation, a collapsing currency and worsening wartime disruption. The price hikes come as many Iranians are already struggling to cope with an economic crisis driven by years of sanctions, mismanagement and, more recently, war-related damage and supply-chain disruptions.

The US dollar passed 1.81 million rials on Iran’s open market on Wednesday, rising nearly 8% in a single day as the country’s economic crisis worsened under the strain of maritime blockade, stalled diplomacy and mounting pressure on households. A review of around 200 medicines found that prices in many cases have more than doubled since before Nowruz, while pharmacists say the prices of roughly 5,000 branded medicines have changed and more are being added to the list each day. The surge comes as the US blockade of Iranian ports and the Strait of Hormuz remains in place despite President Donald Trump’s extension of a temporary ceasefire with Tehran earlier this month.

At the same time, citizens in several cities have repeatedly reported shortages of essential medicines in pharmacies, including drugs for heart disease, neurological disorders and cancer treatment. In one case, a citizen reported shortages of the anti-clotting drug Plavix at Tehran’s Rajaei Hospital, a major cardiac centre. Among the steepest increases were insulin products. Iranian-made insulin pens rose from around 205,000 tomans to 640,000 tomans, while foreign brands such as NovoMix and NovoRapid jumped from around 240,000 tomans to 890,000 tomans.

One doctor told Iran International the cost of medicine has risen so sharply that many patients can no longer afford their prescriptions. A citizen whose wife has metastatic cancer said a drug she needs every 21 days rose from 65 million tomans for the first doses to 114 million tomans by the fifth. Prices for some specialist and cancer drugs have also climbed sharply. Filgrastim, used by chemotherapy patients to stimulate white blood cell production, more than doubled in price from around 3.2 million tomans to 6.6 million. Rituximab, used to treat lymphoma, blood cancers and autoimmune diseases, rose by more than 11%, while trastuzumab, a targeted breast cancer treatment, saw a similar increase—adding millions of tomans to already high treatment costs. (Read More)

Jordan strikes Sweida, claims it carried out ‘deterrent operation’ against drugs, arms trafficking

Jordan carried out a wave of strikes in the Druze-majority Syrian province of Sweida, the Jordanian military and Syrian state media announced on Sunday. Local sources told Syrian media that the Jordanian army “likely… targeted a headquarters containing weapons and drugs controlled by rebel groups in the village of Shahba in Sweida.”

The Jordanian army says it “carried out a Jordanian deterrent operation targeting several locations used by arms and drug traffickers along the Kingdom’s northern border” and swore to “continue to deal proactively, decisively, and deterrently with any threat to the security and sovereignty of the Kingdom, and will dedicate their capabilities and resources to confronting it with full force and determination.”

The series of airstrikes targeted at least five locations, including warehouses in the Syrian town of Arman, sources told a reporter for Agence France-Presse. The Jordanian military has been known to carry out strikes against drug smugglers in Syria, and the latest strikes come amid a larger effort to disband the Captagon trade, which was once used to strengthen the Assad regime. (Ed note: So Jordan is saying that the "Druze-majority Syrian province of Swede" the Druzes, who Israel is defending, are dealing drugs?)  (Read More)

PSALM 83

This book reveals a vastly overlooked ancient prophecy written over 3000 years ago. It predicts a concluding confederate invasion of Israel by the Arab countries that presently share common borders with the Jewish state. This coalition of countries is depicted on the red arrows upon the book cover image. The terrorist organizations within those territories, like ISIS, Hezbollah and Hamas, will probably also be involved in this final battle. Their confederate mandate is clear:. They have said, "Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation, That the name of Israel may be remembered no more." (Psalm 83:4).

While many of today's top Bible experts are predicting that Russia, Iran, Turkey, Libya, and several other countries are going to invade Israel according to the prophecy in Ezekiel 38, this timely book explains how Psalm 83 is an entirely different prophecy that occurs prior. Discover how Israel defeats their ancient Arab enemies, and why Americans need to stand beside Israel in this coming war! This book is an updated version of Isralestine, The Ancient Blueprints of the Future Middle East, which was written by the same author. This updated version includes over 17 new chapters and appendices.   (CLICK HERE)

Israel approves purchase of 2 more squadrons of F-35I and F-15IA fighter jets from US

Israel will procure two more squadrons of F-35I and F-15IA fighter jets from the United States, following lessons learned from the recent Iran war, the Defense Ministry announced on Sunday. Over the weekend, a defense procurement committee made up of senior ministers approved a Defense Ministry plan to acquire a fourth F-35I squadron from Lockheed Martin, and a second F-15IA squadron from Boeing, in deals that are valued at tens of billions of shekels, the ministry said in a statement. The ministry said the jets “will serve as a cornerstone of the IDF’s long-term force development, addressing evolving regional threats and preserving Israel’s strategic air superiority.”

Following the committee’s approval, Defense Ministry director general Amir Baram instructed the ministry’s mission to the US to “move forward with finalizing the agreements with American government and military counterparts in the coming period.” The aircraft would eventually bring the Israeli Air Force’s F-35I fleet to 100 and F-15IA — the Israeli variant of the advanced F-15EX — fleet to 50 in the coming years. Currently, Israel has 48 F-35I jets, following an initial order of 50. Another 25 F-35s were ordered in 2023, which are expected to be delivered starting in 2028. Israel ordered 25 F-15IA jets in 2024, and the first are expected to be delivered starting in 2031.

In a statement, Defense Minister Israel Katz said that the recent war in Iran “once again demonstrated the Israeli Air Force’s power and its decisive role in protecting Israel.” “The lessons of that campaign require us to keep pressing forward on force buildup, to ensure air superiority for decades to come,” he said.Baram said that “alongside immediate wartime procurement needs, we have a responsibility to act now to secure the IDF’s military edge ten years from now and beyond.” “Operation Roaring Lion reinforced just how critical the US-Israel strategic relationship is, and how essential advanced air power remains,” he said, referring to the recent 40-day conflict with Iran. (Read More)

LBCI Video Mocking Hezbollah as ‘Angry Birds’ Sparks Outrage

Lebanese television channel LBCI has triggered a storm of anger among Hezbollah supporters after airing a satirical video that portrays the group and its Secretary-General Naim Qassem in the style of the popular game Angry Birds. In the clip, Hezbollah fighters are depicted as bird characters being launched at targets, while Naim Qassem’s voice is featured in the background, referring to him as “the chief bird”. His real audio is heard declaring: “There is no surrender with us”.

The video quickly went viral on social media, drawing sharp criticism from Hezbollah loyalists who called it disrespectful and provocative. Hezbollah issued a statement condemning the content and warning against attempts to sow internal divisions in Lebanon. LBCI, known for its independent and often critical stance toward Hezbollah, has not yet commented publicly on the backlash. (Ed note: Do catch the video in this article, it was shown on Lebanese TV by Lebanese people.)  (Source)

Ministers set to discuss renewing Gaza war as Hamas refuses to disarm — report

Arab diplomats say Hamas willing to discuss disarming only as part of establishing a Palestinian state; IDF says at least 3 terrorists killed in Gaza, one wounded approaching troops.

The security cabinet is reportedly scheduled to discuss renewing the war in Gaza on Sunday, as negotiations to disarm Hamas and demilitarize the Strip stall “Hamas is not standing by the agreement on disarmament. We are holding discussions with mediators,” an Israeli official told the Kan public broadcaster on Saturday evening. US President Donald Trump’s ​plan for the Gaza Strip, which was initially embraced by Israel and Hamas, calls for Israeli troops to withdraw from the enclave and reconstruction to ⁠start as Hamas lays down its weapons.

The disarmament of Hamas has been a key sticking point in talks to implement the plan and cement the ceasefire reached in October, which halted two years of full-blown war triggered by Hamas’s October 7, 2023, invasion of southern Israel. Violence has continued in Gaza, much of which remains in ruins Nickolay Mladenov, leading Trump’s Board of Peace, held talks with Hamas leaders for weeks, and toward the beginning of last month, gave the group until April 11 to accept the Board of Peace’s proposal for it to gradually hand over all of its arms.

The plan, partially leaked to the media, follows an eight-month timeline, beginning with Hamas handing over its heavy weaponry and maps of its tunnel network within 90 days. But Hamas has largely bucked the demands to give up all of its weapons, two Arab diplomats familiar with the negotiations told The Times of Israel on Saturday. Instead, the terror group submitted a counter-offer to the Board of Peace, insisting that the issue of its weapons only be addressed as part of a framework culminating in the establishment of a Palestinian state. (Read More)

“Now is the time to defeat Hamas:" IDF General Staff pressing to renew fighting in Gaza

Senior officials in the Israel Defense Forces General Staff are pushing for a renewal of military operations in the Gaza Strip, arguing in closed-door discussions that “the best time to defeat Hamas is now." According to the officials, despite the war ending in October, Hamas was not defeated and continues to strengthen its control over the territory while rearming itself. The report was published this morning by military correspondent Doron Kadosh on Galei Tzahal.

The sources stated that Hamas continues manufacturing weapons, including rockets, explosive devices, and anti-tank missiles intended for attacks against Israel and IDF forces. They stressed that the mission defined at the beginning of the war - preventing Hamas from ruling Gaza - has still not been completed. In recent months, several rounds of talks were held in Cairo between Hamas leaders and international mediators. However, Hamas reportedly refused to implement the second phase of the ceasefire agreement and begin a process of disarmament. Senior military officials believe that without further action, the current situation will persist.

At the same time, the IDF has in recent days redeployed regular brigades from southern Lebanon to the Gaza and Judea and Samaria sectors following a reduction of forces in the north. Southern Command has reportedly completed preparations for operational plans and declared readiness to resume fighting, pending decisions by Israel’s political leadership. Over the past several weeks, the IDF has intensified strikes and expanded targeted operations against militants, with nearly 100 operatives reportedly killed.

In addition, the so-called “Yellow Line" has been pushed farther west, increasing Israeli control in Gaza from 53% to approximately 59% of the territory. At the same time, disagreements reportedly remain within the General Staff regarding the timing of another large-scale ground operation, partly because of the heavy burden placed on reserve soldiers. Some senior officers believe such a move should be delayed by several months, noting that reservists are currently serving an average of about 80 days per year. (Source)

US warns: Paying Iranian tolls could trigger harsh sanctions

The United States Treasury Department issued a stark warning Friday to international shippers, cautioning that any payments made to Iran for passage through the critical Strait of Hormuz could result in heavy American sanctions. Through its Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), the Treasury highlighted growing concern over Iranian efforts to force vessels into paying tolls in exchange for safe navigation in one of the world’s most vital energy corridors.

The advisory stressed, “US persons and U.S.-owned or -controlled foreign entities are generally prohibited under US sanctions from engaging in transactions with the Government of Iran, including the provision or receipt of services, unless exempt or authorized by OFAC." While OFAC stopped short of naming companies involved, reports reveal that some tankers have already handed over as much as two million dollars in toll fees to Tehran since the US-Israeli confrontation with Iran erupted on February 28.

Adding to the tension, a spokesperson for Iran’s Oil, Gas and Petrochemical Products Exporters’ Union revealed earlier this month that Tehran plans to charge one dollar per barrel of oil on tankers during the fragile ceasefire. Ships would first be required to email Iranian authorities with details of their cargo, after which they would be permitted to pay the extortionate fees in bitcoin. President Trump reacted forcefully to the Iranian scheme, declaring bluntly that “they better stop now!" Earlier, he had suggested the unusual idea of a US-Iran “joint venture" for managing such tolls. 

The Iranian regime has kept the Strait of Hormuz closed since the war began, in response to the US-Israeli strikes. In mid-April, the US began a naval blockade on the Strait of Hormuz. Trump announced the blockade after delegations from Iran and the United States held extended negotiations in Islamabad but failed to produce an agreement. (Ed note: Wait one minute. How does Iran charge a toll on shipping when the US Navy has the Strait closed?)  (Source)

Tehran hardens stance on Hormuz as ‘non-negotiable’

Iran’s leadership is hardening its stance on the Strait of Hormuz, framing the waterway as a strategic and non-negotiable asset amid rising tensions and US pressure. Statements have intensified following a message for National Persian Gulf Day attributed to Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei. In the message, he described the strait as a “strategic asset” and outlined a vision for the region’s future as “a future without America,” emphasizing the importance of “Iranian management of the strait.”

Parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf signaled the shift most clearly, linking current policy to both strategic doctrine and historical precedent. “Today as well, by exercising management over the Strait of Hormuz, Iran will ensure that it and its neighbors enjoy the valuable prospect of a future free from the presence and interference of America,” he wrote on X. In a separate English-language post, he mocked the feasibility of a US naval blockade, sharing a map of the United States and arguing that even drawing walls from coast to coast would still fall short of Iran’s total border length.

“If you build two walls, one from New York to the West Coast and another from Los Angeles to the East Coast, the total length will still be about 1,000 kilometers shorter than Iran’s borders,” he wrote. “Good luck blockading a country with those borders.” The tougher messaging comes as Washington pursues a strategy of sustained economic pressure, including a naval blockade aimed at restricting Iran’s oil exports. The Strait of Hormuz—through which roughly a fifth of global oil supply passes—has become the central point of confrontation in the standoff.

Reports from US media suggest the Trump administration is seeking international backing for a maritime coalition to secure shipping routes, while also rejecting Iranian proposals to reopen the strait as part of interim negotiations. Masoud Foroughi, deputy managing editor of the conservative newspaper Farhikhtegan, described Khamenei’s message as more than routine rhetoric, calling it a “strategic signal” and arguing that it rejects the idea—raised by some in Tehran—that the strait could be used as a bargaining chip. Other officials struck an even harder line. Deputy parliament speaker Ali Nikzad said the strait “must not return to its previous state,” while describing it as Iran’s “atomic bomb”—a remark underscoring its perceived strategic leverage. (Read More)

Iran submits new proposal to end war; Trump says he’s ‘not satisfied’

Offer sent via Pakistan said to envision US unwinding blockade at start of Hormuz talks rather than as precondition; suggests nuclear negotiations in exchange for sanctions relief.

US President Donald Trump on Friday said he was dissatisfied with a new ceasefire offer from Tehran and confirmed he had been briefed on ways to “blast the hell out of them” if no deal were reached. “They want to make a deal, but I’m not satisfied with it,” Trump told reporters outside the White House. “They’ve made strides, but I’m not sure if they ever get there,” he said.

n response to a separate question, Trump said: “They’re asking for things that I can’t agree to.” He also claimed the talks were complicated because Iran’s leaders were “not getting along with each other, and it puts us in a bad position.” Confirming that US Central Command chief Adm. Bradley Cooper had briefed him this week about military options in Iran, Trump said: “Do we want to go and just blast the hell out of them and finish them forever, or do we want to try and make a deal — those are the options.”

Trump said that he would prefer “on a human basis” not to bomb Iran, but that he also doesn’t want the country to obtain nuclear weapons. Iranian state media and a Pakistani official had said earlier Friday that Tehran had submitted its latest proposal, without elaborating. The official, who is involved in Pakistani mediation over the war, said Islamabad had received the proposal late on Thursday and forwarded it to Washington. Talks have faltered over Iran’s nuclear program and control of the Strait of Hormuz, which is under competing Iranian and US naval blockades. (Read More)

Iran’s economy under palpable stress, but prepared to hold out amid US blockade

Islamic Republic’s stockpiling of imports ahead of war hasn’t yet curbed bank withdrawals or rationed necessities; still, spiraling joblessness may fuel regime’s fear of protests

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (Reuters) — Weeks of conflict have aggravated Iran’s dire economic problems, risking calamity after the war, but the Islamic Republic looks able to survive a standoff in the Gulf for now, despite a US blockade that has cut off energy exports. With major fighting paused by an April 8 truce, Iran is locked in a stalemate with the US and Israel, with talks for a lasting ceasefire stalled while Tehran keeps the Strait of Hormuz shut and Washington blockades Iranian Gulf ports. Despite bad damage to infrastructure and industries and an oil-export squeeze, Iran has plentiful internal supplies, steady trade with neighbors and only limited signs of immediate stress from state-revenue losses caused by the blockade.

If US President Donald Trump expects Iran to blink first in their game of economic chicken, with global inflation rising and midterm elections approaching, he may be waiting a while. “I think that they have calculated a longer runway than I think economists or Western policymakers are anticipating,” said Sanam Vakil, head of the Middle East program at the Chatham House think tank in London, referring to Iran’s leaders. Facing what they see as an existential threat to the Islamic Republic, Iran’s ruling clerics and Revolutionary Guards are able to use their iron grip on the country to hold out for a sustainable deal from Washington, Vakil said.

“They are quite known to use repressive capacity. They’re relying on people using their savings,” she said, adding that Tehran was falling back on its “resistance economy” approach of relying on internal resources and trading across land borders. The extent of economic damage from the war – and the likelihood of imminent economic crisis – is hard to gauge given the lack of reliable official data and a partial internet blackout since January. (Read More)

Iran using ceasefire as opportunity to dig out buried missiles, launchers - report

Iran is using the ongoing ceasefire to dig out missiles, munitions, and launchers which had been either intentionally hidden underground or were buried under rubble from US and Israeli airstrikes, NBC News reported on Friday, citing a US official and two other people familiar with the matter. According to the sources, the US believes that Iran intends to rebuild its missile capabilities in preparation for the resumption of war if negotiations fall through.

US President Trump was set to meet with his national security team on Thursday to review options for opening the Strait of Hormuz and removing nuclear material, a US official told NBC. US CENTCOM commander Admiral Brad Cooper was scheduled to brief the president and the team on the options, and Trump is expected to make a decision in the coming days. A White House official told NBC that Trump’s upcoming trip to China and planned meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, which was pushed off to mid-May, may contribute to his decision. The visit has been made a priority, and the White House wants to avoid pushing it off again.

US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said earlier in April that the US had intelligence that Iran was trying to reconstitute its military capabilities. During a press conference, Hegseth addressed Iranian leadership, saying, “You are digging out your remaining launchers and missiles with no ability to replace them.” “You only have what you have. You know that, and we know that. You can move things around, but you can’t actually rebuild,” Hegseth said.

However, while Hegseth said that Iran now has “no defense industry,” a sentiment that has been echoed by many in the Trump administration, NBC reported last week that the US has intelligence Iran maintains not only many of their ballistic missiles but over half of the Iranian air force’s aircraft, as well as over half of the IRGC’s fleet of naval assets. (Read More)

IDF Senior Officials: "If Uranium Remains in Iran, the War is a Failure"

Senior IDF officers addressed the outcomes of the military campaign against Iran today (Friday), warning that despite achieving significant military objectives, the mission will be considered a failure if enriched uranium is not removed from Iranian territory. They cautioned that without the removal of the material, Iran could rapidly pivot back toward producing a nuclear bomb. While the IDF has successfully targeted missile arrays, headquarters, and senior commanders, officials emphasized that these are only tactical achievements: 

* The Strategic Goal: "If the uranium leaves Iran through diplomatic means, we have done our part. If it stays in Iran, we have achieved nothing," the officials clarified.

* The Concern: There is a deep-seated fear that once the war ends, the Iranian regime will "rush" toward nuclear breakout using remaining infrastructure.  

* The Ultimatum: Officials stated that all diplomatic avenues to remove the nuclear threat must be exhausted; otherwise, it must be addressed by force.

Meanwhile, the United States continues its naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. U.S. President Donald Trump reportedly prefers maintaining the blockade over renewing strikes or withdrawing, stating that Iran is currently "in a state of collapse." Regarding the conflict in Lebanon, the IDF has openly admitted that the Air Force is still struggling to find an effective countermeasure to Hezbollah’s explosive drones, which continue to cause casualties among troops in southern Lebanon:


* Interception Challenges: A senior officer admitted, "There is currently no 100% solution for the drones." 

* Technological Limits: The Iron Beam (laser system) has proven ineffective against this specific threat. Furthermore, a test of a new drone interception system conducted two weeks ago failed to yield the desired results.  

* Shift to Offense: Since defensive technology is lagging, the IDF is shifting focus to attacking drone operators up to 20 kilometers deep into Lebanese territory.

The IDF estimates that the Middle East is undergoing a fundamental transformation, though uncertainty remains high:

1. Syria: Efforts are being observed to rehabilitate Syrian military capabilities and air defense systems. 

2. Regional Alliances: There is an assessment that new regional alliances may form post-war, aiding Israel in both defense and response to threats.  

3. Long-term Presence: Senior officers estimate that the IDF will remain positioned at the "Yellow Line" in Lebanon for an extended period.  (Source)  

Lebanon’s internal splits over talks with Israel trip up Saudi mediation efforts

BEIRUT, Lebanon – A growing rift between top Lebanese officials has thrown a wrench into Saudi efforts to help Lebanon’s leaders forge a united position over historic negotiations with Israel, Lebanese sources and foreign officials told Reuters on Thursday. Saudi Arabia, which sponsored the 1990 agreement that ended Lebanon’s 15-year civil war, has deepened its engagement in recent days with Lebanon, where a shaky US-brokered ceasefire has failed to fully halt the nearly two-month war between Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah terror group.

Ties between Riyadh and Beirut had been strained for years due to Hezbollah’s power over Lebanese politics and security, but the Sunni kingdom sees an opening after the group was severely weakened by war with Israel in 2024.The US intended for the April 16 truce between Israel and Lebanon to allow for direct talks on a peace deal, potentially shaking up Lebanon’s internal dynamics and its role in the region. But Lebanese leaders remain at odds over the negotiation format and ultimate goal. Lebanon’s President Joseph Aoun has defended face-to-face talks with Israel in Washington, and has said the ceasefire should be transformed into “permanent agreements.”

Although he has stopped short of explicitly calling for a peace deal, two sources familiar with Aoun’s position told Reuters he had privately expressed his readiness to normalize ties with Israel to stop the war. Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri, a Hezbollah ally, is opposed to direct talks, reflecting the Shiite group’s position. Berri believes Lebanon should seek a non-aggression pact with Israel, but not a full peace deal, two Lebanese sources familiar with his position told Reuters.

...But Hezbollah and much of its broader Shiite Muslim constituency, who have borne the brunt of Israel’s attacks, are firmly opposed to face-to-face talks and to normalizing ties. Some people protesting against talks earlier this month called for the government to be toppled. Like its Iranian patron, Hezbollah seeks to destroy Israel. Saudi Arabia’s intervention with Lebanese leaders was driven by the risk of such instability – as well as its concern that Lebanon was moving toward peace with Israel too swiftly, according to a Gulf source with knowledge of the matter, two senior Lebanese political sources and the Western official. (Read More)

US withdrawing 5,000 troops from Germany, US officials say

The Pentagon said the withdrawal was expected to be completed over the next six to 12 months. Germany is home to some 35,000 active-duty US military personnel, more than anywhere else in Europe.

The United States is withdrawing 5,000 troops from NATO ally Germany, the Pentagon announced on Friday, as a rift over the Iran war widens between President Donald Trump and Europe. Trump had threatened a drawdown in forces earlier this week after sparring with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who said on Monday the Iranians were humiliating the US in talks to end the two-month-old war and that he did not see what exit strategy Washington was pursuing. A senior Pentagon official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said recent German rhetoric had been "inappropriate and unhelpful."

"The president is rightly reacting to these counterproductive remarks," the official said. The Pentagon said the withdrawal was expected to be completed over the next six to 12 months. Germany is home to some 35,000 active-duty US military personnel, more than anywhere else in Europe. The official said the drawdown would bring US troop levels in Europe back to roughly pre-2022 levels, before Russia's invasion of Ukraine triggered a buildup by then-President Joe Biden.

The official also cast the decision in terms of the Trump administration's push for Europe to become the main security provider on the continent. But it is nonetheless another potent reminder of Trump's willingness to respond to perceived disloyalty by allies. Reuters exclusively reported last week an internal Pentagon email that outlined options to punish NATO allies that Washington believes failed to ​support US operations in the war with Iran, including suspending Spain from NATO and reviewing the US position on Britain's claim to the Falkland Islands. (Read More)

Inside Trump’s “Final Blow” to Break the Tehran Standoff

Israel is preparing for an escalation between the U.S. and Iran in the coming days. How it is expected to unfold? Trump and time will say. The Trump administration is pivotally shifting its posture toward Iran, moving from the sustained combat of Operation Epic Fury, which began with the seismic strikes on February 28, 2026, toward a high-stakes "dual move" designed to reset the geopolitical chessboard. 

 
The "Final Blow" Briefing
According to recent reports from Fox News, the Commander of U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), Admiral Brad Cooper, recently met with President Trump in the Situation Room to present a refined operational plan. Cooper, alongside the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Dan Caine, outlined a strategy involving: 

*  Short, Surgical Waves: A series of high-intensity strikes focusing on Iran's remaining strategic infrastructure.  

* Targeting Logic: The plan specifically pinpoints the regime’s remaining military assets, leadership nodes, and the industrial base used for drone and missile production. 

* Hypersonic Deployment: Sources indicate the Pentagon is considering the use of the"Dark Eagle" hypersonic missile system, capable of striking targets from 2,000 miles away with almost no warning, alongside B-1B Lancer bombers for heavy-payload delivery. 

The 60-Day Clock and Legal Maneuvering 

The administration’s push to "formally conclude" current clashes is not just a military decision but a legal necessity. Under the War Powers Resolution, the 60-day window for military action without explicit Congressional approval is closing (as the conflict began Feb 28).  By declaring the initial "clashes" over, the White House aims to:

1. Reset the Legal Timer: Officially concluding one phase of operations allows the administration to claim "readiness" for a fresh, targeted escalation if negotiations fail.

2. Diplomatic Leverage: The move signals to Tehran that while the U.S. is willing to observe the current mediated ceasefire, it is actively preparing a "final blow" if Iran’s leadership, now led by Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, remains inflexible on shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and its nuclear program.    (Read More)

Report: CENTCOM Seeks First‑Ever ‘Dark Eagle’ Hypersonic Missile Deployment to Counter Iran

U.S. Central Command has reportedly requested the first-ever deployment of the Army’s “Dark Eagle” hypersonic missile to the Middle East to target Iranian ballistic missile launchers moved beyond current U.S. strike range, as President Donald Trump weighs potential next actions.

The request, first reported by Bloomberg on Wednesday, is driven by intelligence assessments that Iran, taking advantage of the ongoing ceasefire, has reportedly repositioned key ballistic missile launchers beyond the reach of existing U.S. systems, including the Army’s Precision Strike Missile, which is limited to roughly 300 miles, according to the report.

The Dark Eagle system — also known as the Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon — has a reported range of more than 1,700 miles and is designed to travel at speeds exceeding Mach 5 (five times the speed of sound) while maneuvering in flight, allowing it to evade advanced air defenses and strike high-value targets deep inside Iranian territory.

If approved, the move would mark the first deployment of the long-delayed system, which has not yet been formally declared fully operational. A defense official, however, told Fox News the system has reached initial operational capability, marking the first time the United States has a land-based hypersonic weapon available for potential use. According to reporting, U.S. Central Command on Thursday briefed President Trump on options for a “short and powerful” wave of strikes targeting Iranian infrastructure, with plans aimed at forcing Tehran back to negotiations under increased pressure.

Trump has not authorized any strikes and declined to discuss potential military operations, and no final decision has been announced. The briefing comes as U.S. officials prepare for the possibility of renewed military action despite the ceasefire, amid indications Iran has used the pause to reposition assets and harden defenses deeper inside the country. (Read More)

Khamenei vows to protect nuclear program, warns US over Gulf presence in written statement

Khamenei reiterated that Iran will defend its nuclear and missile technologies, accusing the US of causing instability in the Persian Gulf and vowing to expel foreign forces.

The "noble" Iranian population will safeguard the regime's nuclear and missile technologies as "national assets," a Thursday speech attributed to Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei read. The speech was read on Iranian state TV by a broadcaster and posted on Khamenei's official X/Twitter account. Iranians will "safeguard these assets just as they do their maritime, land, and airspace borders," the speech continued.

"A new chapter for the Persian Gulf and Strait of Hormuzis unfolding," it read. "Today, it has been proven to not only the global public opinion but even to the rulers of countries that the US's presence and establishment in the Persian Gulf is the main source of instability in the region," it stated.  "The US's flimsy bases lack the resilience and capability even to ensure their own security, let alone provide any hope for US's dependents and the US-worshippers in the region," the speech continued. "The brilliant future of the Persian Gulf region will be a future without the US where the progress, comfort, and prosperity of its nations are served," it added.

"We share a 'common destiny' with our neighbors surrounding the waters of the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman. These foreigners from thousands of kilometers away, who are greedily carrying out transgressions in the Persian Gulf and Sea of Oman, have no place here except at the bottom of its waters," the speech stated.

"Iran will put an end to the hostile enemy's exploitation of the Strait of Hormuz," it stated, adding that Iran's management of the strait would "ensure the security of the Persian Gulf." The gulf has "provoked the greed of many devils over the centuries," including "repeated aggressions carried out by European and American foreigners," it said.A similar statement was read in early April. Khamenei is believed to be seriously wounded following Israeli and US airstrikes on Tehran. (Source)

Pezeshkian, Ghalibaf seek Araghchi’s ouster over 'subservience' to Guards

Iran's president and parliament speaker are seeking Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi’s removal, accusing him of following the Revolutionary Guard chief’s instructions in nuclear talks without informing the president, two sources familiar with the matter told Iran International. President Masoud Pezeshkian and Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf believe Araghchi has in recent weeks acted less as a cabinet minister tasked with implementing government policy and more as an aide to Ahmad Vahidi, the commander of the Revolutionary Guards, the sources said.

According to the sources who are familiar with ongoing discussions between the heads of Iran's executive and legislative branches, Araghchi has acted over the past two weeks without informing Pezeshkian, in full coordination with Vahidi and based on his directives. The situation has caused deep dissatisfaction for Pezeshkian, who has told people close to him that he will dismiss Araghchi if it continues, the sources said. Reports of divisions among Islamic Republic officials had previously emerged. On March 28, reports pointed to serious disagreements between Pezeshkian and Vahidi, the Revolutionary Guards commander who is now said to be the most powerful figure in the force.

Informed sources told Iran International at the time that the dispute stemmed from “the handling of the war and its destructive consequences for people’s livelihoods and the country’s economy.” Three days later, Iran International received reports that Pezeshkian was frustrated at being placed in a “complete political deadlock” and that he had even been stripped of the authority to appoint replacements for government officials killed during the war. According to that report, Vahidi is said to have explicitly declared that, because of the critical wartime situation, all key and sensitive managerial posts must, until further notice, be directly selected and run by the Revolutionary Guards.

On April 27, a group of lawmakers aligned with hardline politician Saeed Jalili declined to sign a parliamentary statement backing Iran’s negotiating team led by Ghalibaf, despite broad support from 261 other MPs. The statement expressed confidence in the negotiating delegation. However, several prominent hardline figures—including Mahmoud Nabavian, Mohammad Taghi Naqadali, Morteza Aghatehrani, Amirhossein Sabeti, Hamid Rasaei, Ruhollah Izadkhah and Meysam Zohourian—did not sign the statement. Nabavian was one of the members of the Iranian delegation led by Ghalibaf who attended the first round of Islamabad talks with the United States. (Read More)

Pezeshkian, Ghalibaf look to fire FM Araghchi over allegiance to IRGC commander - report

Pezeshkian and Ghalibaf believe Araghchi has been acting as little more than an assistant to Ahmad Vahidi, commander of the IRGC, informed sources told Iran International.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Parliamentary Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf have reportedly been dissatisfied with the way Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has conducted diplomacy and negotiations and are calling for his dismissal, Iran International reported on Thursday, citing two informed sources. According to these sources, Pezeshkian and Ghalibaf believe Araghchi has been acting as little more than an assistant to Ahmad Vahidi, the commander of the IRGC, rather than a minister implementing government policy.

The sources shared with Iran International that Araghchi has been acting without Pezeshkian’s oversight or knowledge while coordinating entirely with Vahidi and Vahidi’s directives. This has caused Pezeshkian to tell those close to him that if this continues, he will remove Araghchi from his position. This comes a month after reports emerged of serious disagreements between Pezeshkian and Avidi, Iran International wrote. Citing sources familiar with the negotiations between Iran and the United States, Iran International wrote that internal disputes within the Iranian negotiating delegation were what ultimately caused the team to leave the talks on Saturday, April 12.

These sources told Iran International that Araghchi had displayed flexibility during the Friday negotiations regarding reducing or halting financial and military support for the ‘Axis of Resistance’, especially Hezbollah, which drew a harsh reaction from Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council and former IRGC commander. Following the negotiations, US Vice President JD Vance told Fox News that the US delegation discovered the Iranian team was unable to strike a deal without returning to Tehran for approval “from the supreme leader or somebody else.” (Source)

Even state media sounds alarm as Iran’s economy sinks

Iran’s worsening economic crisis is drawing unusually blunt warnings from state media and establishment voices as war, inflation and shortages squeeze households and expose the limits of the government’s response. The exchange rate for the US dollar surged again on Wednesday, April 29, climbing above 1.8 million rials. That same day in downtown Tehran, a single fried egg cost one million rials and a hamburger five million—prices that bite hard in a city where minimum wage is just above 200 million rials a month.

“What is going on in this country, Mr. Pezeshkian?” state TV anchor Elmira Sharifi asked earlier this week, staring directly into the camera after reporting that many Iranians can no longer afford basic staples such as rice, sugar, cooking oil, fruit, dairy products and medicine. Had President Masoud Pezeshkian been watching, he might have been startled. State television rarely addresses officials so directly or publicly demands accountability. But he is no stranger to criticism. Calls for answers have become routine in the press and on social media. His administration inherited a vast budget deficit, soaring inflation, high unemployment and widespread shortages. Those problems have worsened since he took office in 2024.

The war with the United States and Israel has deepened the crisis further, accelerating shortages, disrupting supply chains and giving officials a ready explanation for an economy already in freefall. The government’s efforts to ease the burden have been criticized as too slow and too limited. Its latest initiative asks some supermarkets to offer goods on credit to customers unable to pay in cash. Fars News, an outlet affiliated with the Revolutionary Guards, reported Tuesday that the government had approved a plan allowing households receiving cash subsidies to buy goods on credit, with repayments deducted from future handouts if necessary. (Read More)

Report: Iran restoring missile stockpiles

Iran is using the ceasefire to dig up the missiles and other munitions stored underground or buried in US and Israeli strikes, a US official and two others familiar with the matter told NBC News. According to NBC, the US believes that Iran is aiming to "quickly reconstitute" its capabilities to enable it to attack targets across the Middle East if fighting resumes.

One of the US officials added that US President Donald Trump is likely to decide on his next steps within the coming days. Earlier this week, Trump admitted that Iran still has missiles and drones. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio told Fox News that Iran has "half the missiles" it had prior to the war, but "none of the factories."

Last month, US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said in a Pentagon briefing that Iran, "can dig out for now, but you can’t reconstitute, but we can." Asked by NBC for comment, a spokesperson for the Defense Department pointed to Hegseth’s remarks. (Source)

Israel sent laser system to UAE to help intercept Iranian missiles and drones — report

Israel dispatched a version of the Iron Beam laser-based air defense system to the United Arab Emirates during the recent fighting with Iran to help protect the Gulf nation from missile and drone attacks, according to a report on Thursday, in a significant step for the defense ties between the two countries. According to The Financial Times, Jerusalem also sent over an advanced surveillance system known as Spectro to help the UAE detect Iranian drones from up to 20 kilometers (12.4 miles) away.

The report comes on the heels of a piece by Axios earlier in the week, which asserted that Israel deployed an Iron Dome Battery to the Gulf nation and sent several dozen troops to operate it. Citing a source familiar with the matter, The Financial Times reported that Israel also sent additional, unspecified weapons systems to the UAE. “It’s not a small number of boots on the ground,” the source said. The newspaper reported that in addition to the equipment, Jerusalem also provided the UAE with real-time intelligence on missile launches from Iran heading toward the Gulf state.

Reports that Israel has provided significant military assistance to the UAE appear to be among the first publicly disclosed cases of cooperation beyond joint training exercises. Jerusalem and Abu Dhabi established diplomatic, economic and security ties in 2020 under the Abraham Accords, a deal motivated in part by the shared threat of Iran. (Read More)

Hezbollah Launches Daily Drone Strikes Against Israeli Troops in Southern Lebanon

The Iran-backed terrorists of Hezbollah, long noted for their ability to conceal rocket launchers in civilian areas and launch huge swarms of missiles at Israeli civilians, are reportedly developing increasing proficiency with drones, and using them to launch more carefully targeted attacks against Israeli troops in southern Lebanon. Mounir Shehadeh, a retired Lebanese Army general, told The National on Wednesday that drones are “not new to Hezbollah,” but they have recently become “an almost daily took in combat, not just a secondary weapon. Shehadeh said Hezbollah is using cheap mass-produced drones to inflict “continues attrition” against Israeli forces, in a “transition from general heavy fire to precision fire and strategic attrition.” 

Drones are more affordable than missiles and Hezbollah can scrounge up drones from providers other than Iran, which might have trouble sending missiles to its Lebanese proxies for a while. Hezbollah’s missiles are notoriously inaccurate — which is not a problem when launching swarms of rockets at soft civilian targets — while drones are precise enough to be used against active military forces. Hezbollah also appears to favor drones over rockets for these harassment attacks because drones have cameras, and the terrorist group delights in uploading footage of Israeli troops getting hit by explosive-laden kamikaze drones.

The National quoted a Hezbollah official saying their strategy involves “striking fear and heavy loss in enemy infantry, since the Israeli soldier considers himself protected to the maximum by all kinds of heavy artillery, air force and the tanks it uses.” President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that he told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to use a precise and “surgical” approach against Hezbollah. “I told Netanyahu he has got to do it more surgically. Not knock down buildings. He can’t do it. It is too terrible and makes Israel look bad,” Trump said. (Read More)

Trump: Iranian naval blockade stays until Tehran agrees to nuclear deal - Axios

US President Donald Trump on Wednesday told Axios that Iran will remain under a naval blockade until the Islamic regime agrees to a deal that addresses US concerns about its nuclear program. The blockade is "somewhat more effective than bombing," Trump told the outlet. "They are choking like a stuffed pig. And it is going to be worse for them. They can't have a nuclear weapon," he added.

"They want to settle. They don't want me to keep the blockade. I don't want to [lift the blockade], because I don't want them to have a nuclear weapon," he said. Meanwhile, US Central Command (CENTCOM) has begun preparing plans for a "short and powerful" wave of strikes on Iran, hoping to break the negotiating deadlock, three sources with knowledge told Axios.

After the wave of strikes, which would likely include targeting infrastructure, the US would press the regime to return to the negotiating table and show more flexibility, according to Axios. Trump sees continuing the blockade as the primary means to gain leverage over Tehran, but would consider military action if Iran does not give in, sources told Axios. Trump declined to discuss any military plans during the 15-minute phone conversation with Axios, the report noted.

However, a senior Iranian security source was cited by Iran's English-language state-run broadcaster, Press TV, as saying that the US naval blockade will "soon be met with practical and unprecedented action." Iran's military has shown restraint in order to give diplomacy a chance, the source said. Iran wants to provide Trump with an opportunity to end the conflict, but emphasized that Iran's military "believes that patience has its limits and that a punishing response is necessary" if the blockade continues. (Source)

Iran’s Dire Warning: Regime Vows to Reveal New Capabilities if U.S. Makes Another Mistake

With diplomatic negotiations stalled, Iranian authorities are rapidly converting religious centers into emergency shelters, signaling a grim preparation for a potential expansion of the war.

The persistent deadlock in negotiations between Tehran and Washington has pushed Iran into a state of emergency, as the regime prepares for the possibility that the current maritime war will intensify. While Iranian officials continue to blame the White House for the failure of diplomatic talks, they have begun implementing practical defensive measures. The governor of Tehran announced that 700 mosques across 22 districts have been retrofitted to serve as shelters and medical aid centers for civilians, in anticipation of what state media refers to as difficult scenarios.

This shift in strategy is accompanied by stern warnings from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. A political advisor to the commander of the Iranian Navy stated that any further mistake by Washington would be met with the unveiling of previously hidden capabilities. The regime’s narrative remains firm: Iran insists it has been acting with restraint, and that the ball remains in the American court. Ali Safari, a senior official in the Iranian Foreign Ministry, expressed surprise at President Donald Trump’s declaration that the naval blockade would continue, arguing that there is currently no foundation of trust to build upon. According to Safari, the crisis in the Strait of Hormuz is a direct result of American military actions, which he claims were designed to create chaos rather than secure global trade.

The rhetoric has expanded to include threats against other vital maritime chokepoints. Hossein Shariatmadari, the editor of the state-aligned newspaper Kayhan, openly discussed the possibility of closing the Bab el-Mandeb Strait to enemy nations. He argued that forcing commercial vessels to divert around the southern tip of Africa would add significant costs and delays, effectively using global trade as a strategic lever against the U.S. and its allies. Shariatmadari stated that closing this strategic artery is a legitimate response to the American naval blockade of Iranian ports, noting that resistance forces in Yemen have already declared their readiness to carry out such an operation. As both sides dig in, the prospect of a wider regional war appears increasingly likely. (Source)

Iran’s Ghalibaf says US blockade aims to ‘make us collapse from within’

TEHRAN, Iran — Iran’s parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, who has emerged as a figurehead since the start of the Middle East war, says the United States’ naval blockade of the country aimed to create division and “make us collapse from within.” He says US President Donald Trump “divides the country into two groups: hardliners and moderates, and then immediately talks about a naval blockade to force Iran into submission through economic pressure and internal discord,” state TV reports.

With the killing of numerous Iranian leaders by US-Israeli strikes, including supreme leader Ali Khamenei, there has been widespread speculation over the balance of power within the Islamic republic. Trump said earlier this month that the government of Iran was “seriously fractured, not unexpectedly so.”

Ghalibaf, a powerful figure, has grown in prominence since the start of the war and was the lead negotiator in the so far only round of direct US-Iranian talks.“The enemy has entered a new phase and wants to activate economic pressure and internal division through naval blockade and media hype to weaken or even make us collapse from within,” he says. He calls for “maintaining unity” as the only solution. (Source)

IDF chief says there’s ‘no ceasefire’ in south Lebanon amid continued fighting with Hezbollah

IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir said during a visit to troops posted in southern Lebanon on Wednesday that there “is no ceasefire,” as Israel and Hezbollah continued to exchange fire despite a truce that’s been in place for almost two weeks. Zamir’s comments came amid a reported push from Jerusalem to get the US to limit its historic direct talks with the Lebanese government to a two-week timeframe, and to sign off on a large-scale IDF campaign against Hezbollah, the Iran-backed Lebanese terror group, if the talks fail.

The US-mediated ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, which started on April 17, was extended on April 24 for an additional three weeks, US President Donald Trump announced at the time. His announcement came as Israeli and Lebanese diplomats met for US-brokered talks. But cross-border fighting has continued. Speaking in the southern Lebanese town of Taybeh, one of the border villages where Israeli troops are deployed, Zamir said that the IDF “will not tolerate” Hezbollah’s attacks, while adding that Israel will not leave the security buffer zone it holds in south Lebanon until the threat to Israel’s northern communities is removed.

“In Lebanon, the mission assigned to us by the political echelon is to position ourselves along the line to prevent direct fire on the communities. We have achieved this; this is the line we are on. We may be required to remain on it,” Zamir said. “We will not tolerate attacks and fire on our communities, and we will not leave until long-term security for the northern communities is ensured,” he said, according to remarks published by the IDF. The IDF is continuing to fight, the chief of staff added, saying that the military is “working to deepen the operational achievements and to protect our forces.”“On the combat front, there is no ceasefire; you continue to fight, to remove direct and indirect threats from the northern communities, to thwart terror infrastructure, to locate and kill terrorists,” he continued. (Read More)

Mossad chief says Iran, Lebanon ops proved ‘powerful, innovative’ capabilities

“We will not rest on our laurels, and when we see a threat, we will act with full force,” Israel’s top spy concluded.

Recent Mossad operations in Iran and Lebanon proved the effectiveness of a “powerful, innovative system for striking our enemies,” agency director David Barnea said on Monday. Together with the Israel Defense Forces, the Jewish state’s famed intelligence agency “changed the strategic posture of the State of Israel and strengthened its might,” Barnea said, speaking at an internal award event. As part of the 2025 Commendations Ceremony, held at Mossad headquarters, ten of the agency’s operations and projects were awarded a prize for their “extraordinary contributions” to national security.

“The operations that won citations this year allowed us to break boundaries in Lebanon and Iran,” Barnea said in his address, per a readout provided by Israel’s Government Press Office. “We acquired strategic and tactical intelligence from the heart of the enemy’s secrets. We proved new, groundbreaking operational capabilities in target countries. We demonstrated the effectiveness of a powerful, innovative system for striking our enemies. We implemented a clandestine diplomatic campaign whose importance is critical to creating regional alliances and expanding Israel’s strategic depth,” he stated.

The Mossad and its agents remain focused on “keeping our eyes open,” Barnea vowed. “We are committed to intelligence and operational daring, and we are committed to the principle of action.”
“We will not rest on our laurels, and when we see a threat, we will act with full force,” the top spy concluded. Last week, a retired Mossad agent from The Netherlands, described as one of Jerusalem’s most important strategic assets in Europe, told the Dutch Telegraafnewspaper that the agency developed an artificial intelligence-driven system to map large segments of the Iranian population, including their connections and political views, enabling it to identify potential agents on the ground.

A new version of the system would automatically send computer-generated messages or phone calls to potential informants, inviting them to assist the Jewish state in the fight against the Islamic regime. “I felt proud that I could make a modest contribution to the AI system that allowed Mossad to manage that flood of tips and human sources,” said the Mossad agent, adding that it was also helpful that the intelligence agency gained control over Iran’s entire telecommunications system. (Source)

The hills of Samaria: The northern West Bank between politics and daily life

In the northern West Bank, north of Tapuah Junction, there is a relatively new bypass road that goes around the Arab town of Huwara. There was a time when there were frequent clashes in Hawara, including a number of attacks on Israelis. Now, the bypass road shifts Israeli traffic to a route around the large Palestinian town. This is the northern part of Route 60, the route that historically connects the entire West Bank from north to south. However, much of the historic route has changed due to political shifts here, with Jewish and Arab communities divided. 

On the bypass road, there is a place on the map marked as “Luna Park.” It was once a more active amusement park. From the road, the old Ferris wheel and other rides are visible, many of them with chipped paint and rust. It’s like a museum of an amusement park. It is an example of the old and the new here: the Arab villages, the new road, and above it all the ancient hills of Samaria. Mount Ebal and Mount Gerizim loom over the landscape, framing the city of Nablus. Both are sites of biblical importance. 

A decade ago, I took a drive to find the ruins of the ancient city of Samaria, the capital of what was once the Kingdom of Israel. The site is well known and is located near the city of Nablus in the northern West Bank, the Shomron. In fact, the city of Samaria gives its name to the area. A decade ago, the only way to access this site was through the Palestinian village of Sebastia. One of the nearby roads had a sign saying USAID had contributed to it. It was supposed to be an Israeli national park, but it had long been closed. The site was in disrepair, with ancient walls and parts of the ruins of a once-great city poking out from beneath collapsed walls and trees. (Ed note: A somewhat long but very interesting Bible history of that area of Israel.)    (Read More)