Israel pummels Hezbollah’s ‘last stronghold’ in southern Lebanon

Israel Defense Forces entered Bint Jbeil, a city in southern Lebanon on Sunday, Israel’s Channel 12 reported. The army has called it the “last stronghold” of the terror group Hezbollah that threatens northern Israeli settlements. It expects to conquer it in the coming days. Lebanon’s National News Agency on Sunday described “violent clashes” in the city amid Israeli artillery shelling. The IDF said dozens of terrorists have fled to Bint Jbeil, which it has surrounded for several days. Bint Jbeil is considered a symbol of Hezbollah “resistance.” Its former Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah delivered his infamous “cobweb” speech from the city on May 26, 2020 during Israel’s evacuation from Lebanon under then-Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak.

“This Israel, with its nuclear weapons and most advanced warplanes in the region, I swear by Allah, is actually weaker than a spider’s web,” Nasrallah said. “Israeli society is war-weary and lacks the resilience to endure a bloody conflict or suffer casualties. Israel may appear strong from the outside, but it’s easily destroyed and defeated.” Nasrallah was eliminated by Israel in Sept. 2024. Israel has announced it intends to clear southern Lebanon of terrorists up to the Litani River to protect its northern residents. Hezbollah has repeatedly broken its pledge to evacuate its forces from the area, which it agreed to do as part of an Israel-Lebanon ceasefire deal reached in November 2024. On March 2, Hezbollah attacked Israel in solidarity with Iran.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on April 9 that Israel will hold direct dialogue with Lebanon with a view to disarming Hezbollah. Israel is reportedly under pressure from the Trump administration to wrap up its operations in Lebanon as part of a ceasefire with Iran announced on April 8, even though it contradicts earlier statements by Israel and the U.S. that the Iran agreement does not include Israel’s actions to bring the terrorist group to heel.

The U.S.-Iran ceasefire itself appears on the ropes as Vice President JD Vance left Pakistan on Sunday after talks broke down with his Iranian interlocutors. “The bad news is that we have not reached an agreement, and I think that’s bad news for Iran much more than it’s bad news for the United States of America,” he said. Tehran opted “not to accept our terms,” Vance said, speaking alongside Steve Witkoff, U.S. special envoy for peace missions, and Jared Kushner, who advises his father-in-law, U.S. President Donald Trump. (Ed note: The city, Bint Jbeil which is located in southern Lebanon near the Israeli border, is approximately 60 to 70 miles from the city of Jbeil previously named Byblos and Gebal, which is in Psalm 83:7. But stay tuned as the IDF still could face Hezbollah in such cities as Sidon and Tyre.)  (Source)

Assault on Hezbollah's Fortress: IDF Encircles and Hammers Bint Jbeil | WATCH

According to the military, Israeli forces completed the encirclement of the town over the past week before launching a ground assault. Troops have since entered Bint Jbeil, killing more than 100 Hezbollah operatives, destroying infrastructure, and seizing significant quantities of weapons. The IDF said Monday it is nearing full control of Bint Jbeil in southern Lebanon, a longtime Hezbollah stronghold, following a major offensive led by the 98th Division.

According to the military, Israeli forces completed the encirclement of the town over the past week before launching a ground assault. Troops have since entered Bint Jbeil, killing more than 100 Hezbollah operatives, destroying infrastructure, and seizing significant quantities of weapons. The IDF said operations are still ongoing, with commanders estimating that several more days will be required to eliminate remaining fighters and fully secure the area.

Bint Jbeil has long held symbolic importance for Hezbollah. It was the site of a 2000 speech by former Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, in which he described Israel as weaker than a “spider’s web,” a phrase that became a central element of the group’s rhetoric. During the current fighting, the soccer field where that speech was delivered was destroyed, according to Israeli military statements. The IDF said it now controls the town, including key sites associated with Hezbollah’s presence there. (Read more)

US to begin enforcing Strait of Hormuz blockade from Monday morning, CENTCOM announces

The US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced on Sunday that it would start implementing a complete maritime blockade in the Strait of Hormuz from Monday at 10 a.m. ET (5 p.m. in Israel), in accordance with US President Donald Trump's decision. "The blockade will be enforced impartially against vessels of all nations entering or departing Iranian ports and coastal areas, including all Iranian ports on the Arabian Gulf and Gulf of Oman," CENTCOM announced, adding that vessels transitioning from and to non-Iranian ports would not be stopped.

The announcement also said that a Notice to Mariners broadcast would be sent before the blockade effectively begins, with vessels urged to contact US forces using "bridge-to-bridge channel 16 when operating in the Gulf of Oman and Strait of Hormuz approaches." Trump said on Monday that, after the failure during the first round of negotiations between the US and Iran, the American Navy would block the Strait "effective immediately," with all ships coming and going from Iranian ports being stopped. He also accused Iran of extorting the world by claiming to have placed mines in the Strait, saying that "nobody knows about but them [the mines]."

"We will also begin destroying the mines the Iranians laid in the Straits. Any Iranian who fires at us, or at peaceful vessels, will be blown to hell," Trump added. Finally, Trump said that other countries, along with the US, would be involved in the blockade, without mentioning which countries would actually participate. Iran Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi reacted to the blockade by calling it "maximalism," and accusing the US of "shifting goalposts" during the negotiations in Islamabad last week. "Zero lessons learned," he said in his social media statement. (Read More)

Israel cancels school in Lebanon border towns ahead of expected escalation

The Israel Defense Forces’ Home Front Command on Saturday night announced the suspension of all educational activities and restricted public gatherings in communities along the border with Lebanon. The decision to close schools, including those operating in fortified buildings, followed an assessment that Iran-backed Hezbollah would intensify attacks on northern Israeli communities on Sunday and Monday, Channel 12 News reported. The Home Front Command guidelines in the so-called “frontline areas” were also tightened to limit public gatherings to up to 50 people outdoors and 100 indoors, down from a previous cap of 200 people for indoor events.

The restrictions had previously been relaxed on April 9 following the announcement of a two-week ceasefire between the United States and Iran. Air-raid sirens continued to sound in Israel’s Upper Galilee on Sunday morning, including in the city of Kiryat Shmona, warning of incoming rocket and drone attacks from Lebanon. There were no immediate reports of injuries in the aerial assaults. The IDF during an overnight operation struck a rocket firing position in Southern Lebanon’s Jouaiyya area, “thwarting the launch before it could be carried out,” the military said on Sunday morning, sharing footage of the operation

Hezbollah began firing rockets and suicide drones at Israel on March 2, in retaliation for the Jewish state’s targeted killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Khamenei was killed in the opening strikes of the war. In response to the terrorist organization’s violation of the U.S.-brokered Nov. 27, 2024, truce agreement, Jerusalem launched an aerial campaign against Hezbollah and ordered IDF troops to advance and take control of additional areas in Southern Lebanon to halt cross-border attacks. (Ed note: The "Jouaiyya area" is located about 10 miles from the city of Tyre and is a municipality within the Tyre District.) (Source)

Trump orders blockade of Strait of Hormuz

U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Sunday that the U.S. Navy would immediately begin blockading the Strait of Hormuz following the collapse of marathon negotiations with Iran aimed at ending almost six weeks of war, placing a fragile two-week ceasefire at risk. In a post on Truth Social, Trump said the United States would interdict vessels that had paid tolls to Iran and begin clearing naval mines that Tehran had deployed in the strategic waterway, a chokepoint through which some 20% of global energy supplies transit. “Effective immediately, the United States Navy, the Finest in the World, will begin the process of BLOCKADING any and all Ships trying to enter, or leave, the Strait of Hormuz,” Trump wrote. “I have also instructed our Navy to seek and interdict every vessel in International Waters that has paid a toll to Iran. No one who pays an illegal toll will have safe passage on the high seas.”

Trump further warned that “any Iranian who fires at us, or at peaceful vessels, will be BLOWN TO HELL.” The statement followed approximately 21 hours of talks in Islamabad mediated by Pakistan, which ended without agreement on terms to halt the conflict that began on Feb. 28. U.S. officials said the negotiations failed due to Iran’s refusal to commit to abandoning a pathway to nuclear weapons capability, while Iranian officials accused Washington of failing to build trust. Vice President JD Vance, who led the U.S. delegation, said following the talks that the United States required “an affirmative commitment that [the Iranians] will not seek a nuclear weapon, and they will not seek the tools that would enable them to quickly achieve a nuclear weapon.”

Vance left Pakistan on Sunday after the talks broke down. “The bad news is that we have not reached an agreement, and I think that’s bad news for Iran much more than it’s bad news for the United States of America,” he said.Tehran opted “not to accept our terms,” Vance declared, speaking alongside Steve Witkoff, U.S. special envoy for peace missions, and Jared Kushner, who advises his father-in-law, the U.S. president. Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, who led Tehran’s delegation, said it was time for Washington “to decide whether it can gain our trust or not.” The collapse of negotiations casts uncertainty over the 14-day ceasefire set to expire on April 22. Pakistan said it would seek to facilitate renewed dialogue between the parties, urging both sides to maintain the truce.

Control over the Strait of Hormuz has emerged as a central strategic issue in the conflict, with Iran’s actions affecting global oil flows and maritime security in the Persian Gulf. In Jerusalem, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called a meeting of the Security Cabinet on Sunday evening following Trump’s announcement to discuss its ramifications. Netanyahu said on Saturday night that the Israel Defense Forces’ campaign against Iran and its regional terrorist proxies is “not yet over” despite “historic accomplishments” during 40 days of war. In a televised address, Netanyahu warned that Jerusalem still has “more to do” and remained committed to eliminating the threat posed by Tehran’s remaining “magazine of missiles” and enriched uranium. (Source)

Trump says he doesn’t care if Iran returns to talks: ‘If they don’t come back, I’m fine’

JOINT BASE ANDREWS, United States — US President Donald Trump says he does not care if Iran comes back to negotiations with the United States after talks in Pakistan failed to produce a deal.

“I don’t care if they come back or not. If they don’t come back, I’m fine,” Trump tells reporters at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, upon his return from Florida. The US military is set to enforce a blockade of Iranian ports on Monday at 10 a.m. ET. (Source)

After talks fail, IDF planning for return to war, Trump mulls strikes on Iran — reports

Apparent coordinated leak to TV networks indicate military preparing for collapse of ceasefire; US: Ending nuke program, support for proxies were ‘red lines’ at talks.

All three major Hebrew TV networks reported that the IDF is gearing up for renewed conflict with Iran as the ceasefire talks between the United States and the Islamic Republic collapsed, in what appeared to be a coordinated leak by defense officials on Sunday. The reported preparations come less than a week after a two-week ceasefire brokered by Pakistan went into effect, and less than a day after negotiations in Islamabad between the US and Iran failed to produce a deal to permanently end the war in the Middle East.

Earlier on Sunday, the Ynet news site reported that IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir instructed the military to move to a “heightened state of readiness” and to prepare for a resumption of hostilities with Iran. Then Channel 12 news reported in the evening, without citing any sources, that the IDF is not only gearing up for renewed conflict with Iran, but it is also preparing for a potential Iranian surprise attack on Israel. The Kan public broadcaster, meanwhile, cited a “senior defense official” as saying that “Israel is interested in renewing the war against Iran,” after the war ended “too early, without sufficient pressure being applied on Iran regarding the nuclear issue and ballistic missiles.”

The report said Israel was awaiting US President Donald Trump’s decision to renew the conflict, at which point the military will attempt to pressure Iran into giving up its nuclear program by striking its energy infrastructure. Channel 13 similarly reported that the IDF’s level of alert has been raised “significantly” and that Zamir instructed the military “to prepare for an immediate resumption of fighting and ordered the initiation of combat readiness procedures.” The IDF has not commented on the reports, but last week, while visiting southern Lebanon, Zamir said that the military is “prepared to return to combat [in Iran] with full force if required at any given moment.” (Read More)

US fails to find support on blockade of Strait of Hormuz? UK's Starmer says, do not back Trump's stance

Starmer said that UK minesweepers and anti-drone capabilities will continue operating in the region but British naval ships and soldiers will not help the US in blocking Iranian ports.

The united states President on Sunday (April 12) blamed the failed talks with Iran on two primary reasons. One, he said that Iran is not willing to give up its "nuclear ambitions" and secondly, Tehran did not reopen the Strait of Hormuz as promised and laid mines in the waters, effectively making the passage of ships impossible, said the US president.  (Source not avaiable)

Germany says US blockade of Hormuz is pressure tactic, not end of talks

The German government expects negotiations over a US blockade of the Strait of Hormuz to continue, a spokesperson says.

“The supposed blockade … does not mark the end of this diplomatic process,” the spokesperson says, referring to an announcement by US President Donald Trump. “We see it as a move to ramp up the pressure.”

The spokesperson also cites a statement from US Central Command, which he says “does not mention a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, but rather a blockade of Iranian ports — that is a different approach.” (Source)

Vance: Iran rejected our terms for an agreement

US Vice President JD Vance says no agreement was reached with Iran after 21 hours of talks hosted in Pakistan, saying Tehran refused core US demands on its nuclear program.

US Vice President JD Vance said early Sunday morning that talks between the US and Iran in Pakistan had concluded after 21 hours without an agreement after Iran did not accept Washington’s terms for an agreement. Speaking to reporters in Islamabad, Vance expressed appreciation for his Pakistani hosts while delivering a sober assessment of the outcome. Vance described the talks as substantive but ultimately unsuccessful in securing a deal.

"We've been at it now for 21 hours, and we've had a number of substantive discussions with the Iranians. That's the good news," he said. "The bad news is that we have not reached an agreement. And I think that's bad news for Iran much more than it's bad news for the United States of America."He added, "So we go back to the United States having not come to an agreement." Vance emphasized that the United States had clearly communicated its positions during the negotiations.

"We've made very clear what our red lines are, what things we're willing to accommodate them on, and what things we're not willing to accommodate them on. And we've made that as clear as we possibly could, and they have chosen not to accept our terms," the Vice President said. When asked what specifically Iran had rejected, Vance declined to detail the private discussions publicly.

"Well, I won't go into all the details because I don't want to negotiate in public after we negotiated for 21 hours in private," he said. "But the simple fact is that we need to see an affirmative commitment that they will not seek a nuclear weapon, and they will not seek the tools that would enable them to quickly achieve a nuclear weapon. That is the core goal of the President of the United States, and that's what we've tried to achieve through these negotiations." (Read More)

Iran says US fell short in key Pakistan negotiations

Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf said the US failed to gain trust in Pakistan talks, as negotiations ended without agreement.

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf stated that the United States failed to gain Iran’s trust during the recent round of negotiations held in Pakistan, following the departure of the American delegation In remarks published after the talks, Ghalibaf said that prior to the negotiations, Iran had emphasized its “goodwill and necessary determination," but noted a lack of trust stemming from past experiences.

“My colleagues in the Iranian delegation presented forward-looking initiatives, but in the end, the other side could not gain the trust of the Iranian delegation in this round of negotiations," he said. Ghalibaf added that the US had come to understand Iran’s “logic and principles," and now faces a decision on whether it can build the necessary trust. “Now is the time for the US to decide whether it can gain our trust or not," he stated.

He further emphasized that Iran views “power diplomacy" as a parallel approach alongside military struggle in pursuing the rights of the Iranian people, adding that efforts to consolidate what he described as the achievements of “forty days of national defense" would continue without pause. Ghalibaf also expressed appreciation to Pakistan for hosting and facilitating the talks, referring to the country as a “friend and brother" and sending greetings to its people. (Ed note: Oh my, what must we do to "gain their trust?" For real! Iran is still working the US for control and position.)  (Read More)

Out-blockade Iran': Trump floats Hormuz naval blockade in post after Islamabad talks fail

“It would be very easy for the US Navy to exert complete control over what does and does not go up and down the Strait now,” the article, from Just the News, claimed.

After both the US and Iran reported a failure to reach a deal during the weekend’s ceasefire talks in Islamabad, US President Donald Trump on Sunday shared an article suggesting he would "out-blockade Iran’s hold over the Strait of Hormuz." The article, from Just the News, claimed that the president could repurpose the strategy he used against Venezuela, and that “it would be very easy for the US Navy to exert complete control over what does and does not go up and down the Strait now.”

“We leave here with a very simple proposal, a method of understanding that is our final and best offer,” Vice President JD Vance said after nearly 24 hours of negotiations. “We will see if the Iranians accept it.” Pakistan, the country currently leading the mediation efforts, released a statement expressing gratitude to both sides for their willingness to negotiate and urging them to uphold the ceasefire until a deal could be reached.

As of Sunday morning, both the US and Iraniandelegations left the negotiation table unsatisfied, with Vance claiming the US had been “quite flexible,” and the Iranian team saying the negotiations had been “conducted in an atmosphere of mistrust.” In addition, Turkish media reported that negotiations surrounding certain key topics were so tense - namely, the management of the Strait of Hormuz - that Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Aragchi and US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff nearly came to blows. (Read More)

US clearing out Strait of Hormuz, Trump claims as Iran threatens to attack unauthorized ships

US Navy ships reportedly crossed the Strait of Hormuzon Saturday afternoon as US-Iran ceasefire negotiations kicked off in Pakistan, though Iran denied the reports and threatened to attack any unauthorized ships in the strait Axios, citing a US official, reported that several US Navy ships crossed the Strait of Hormuz. According to the report, the move was not coordinated with the Iranian Navy and was the first time US Navy ships made such a move since the start of the war.

According to the Wall Street Journal, three US officials confirmed that two US Navy guided-missile destroyers passed through the strait without issue in what was described as a "freedom-of-navigation mission." Minutes later, a senior Iranian military official denied the reported crossing of US vessels on Iranian government-owned state television.

Iranian media additionally released a warning that any US Military ship will be attacked within 30 minutes if it attempts to cross the Strait. According to State TV, a US vessel in the strait turned back after receiving the warning. Axios reporter Barak Ravid disputed Iranian media claims that the ship turned back after the warning, stating that a senior US official informed him that the US had not received any such threats. Later on Saturday night, the IRGC stated that military vessels attempting to pass through the strait would be met with a "strong response," and said that only non-military vessels would be allowed through, under specific regulations. This comes after President Donald Trump said that the United States is starting the process of clearing underwater mines out of the Strait of Hormuz. (Read More)

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards threaten to ‘deal severely’ with warships in Hormuz after US Navy transits the strait

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps warns that any attempt by military vessels to transit the Strait of Hormuz will be met with “a strong response,” saying only non-military vessels would be allowed to pass under specific regulations, the IRGC declares in a statement carried by Iranian media after the US Central Command announced two US Navy warships transited the strategic waterway to clear mines laid by Tehran.

“Any attempt by military vessels to pass through the Strait of Hormuz will be dealt with severely. The IRGC Navy has full authority to manage the Strait of Hormuz intelligently,” the IRGC’s Navy Command says, according to state broadcaster IRIB, adding passage of the strait will only be “granted to civilian vessels under specific conditions.” (Source)

US, Iran hold direct talks in Pakistan; Tehran demands control of Hormuz, truce in Lebanon

Iran doubles down on its ‘red lines,’ while VP Vance warns US negotiators won’t be receptive to Iranian games; Trump claims US starting the process of clearing out Hormuz

ISLAMABAD — Senior US and Iranian officials met on Saturday in Islamabad for the highest-level talks between Washington and Tehran in half a century as they sought to bring an end to their six-week war. The direct talks between US Vice President JD Vance, special envoy Steve Witkoff and President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, and Iranian Parliamentary Speaker Mohammad Baqer Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, lasted for two hours before the delegations broke for a rest, according to a Pakistani source. Pakistan’s army chief was also present. As the talks began, there were conflicting accounts of what had been agreed.

A US official told Axios that several US Navy ships on Saturday had crossed the Strait of Hormuz, whose blockade by Iran has caused the biggest-ever disruption to global energy supplies. But Iranian state TV and a Pakistani source denied that any US vessel had passed through the waterway. “We’re now starting the process of clearing out the Strait of Hormuz,” Trump wrote in a social media post, adding that all 28 of Iran’s mine-dropping ships had been sunk.

Earlier, a senior Iranian source told Reuters the US had agreed to release frozen assets held in Qatar and other foreign banks, an assertion swiftly denied by a US official. The senior Iranian source welcomed the purported move as a sign of “seriousness” in the talks. Qatar’s Foreign Ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the assertion about frozen assets. The direct talks followed a morning of mediation by Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif as Tehran laid down its red lines that it said Washington must accept before the face-to-face talks could take place. (Read more)

Eight communities, including Ganim and Kadim, officially recognized

Ministry of Interior grants official recognition to eight additional communities in Judea and Samaria, including Ganim and Kadim.

The Ministry of Interior announced today (Sunday) that it has issued official locality designations to eight additional communities, a step marking the final confirmation of their status as fully regulated communities within the State of Israel. This move follows the allocation of 25 locality designations granted recently, bringing the total number of communities formalized over the past four months to 33. The new designation grants administrative and budgetary independence to several strategic locations.

In the Binyamin Regional Council area, the newly recognized communities include Kanfey Shahar and Mitzpe Ziv. In addition, the long-established community of Alon is receiving an independent designation after more than 30 years of being administratively considered part of Kfar Adumim. In the Samaria Regional Council, the community of Lehi (Havat Yair) - of the “young communities" movement - has been fully regularized. Designations were also granted to Ganim and Kadim, which were evacuated about 20 years ago during the 2005 Disengagement and are now being reestablished.

In the Jordan Valley and Mount Hebron areas, the communities of Brosh HaBik’a and Mitzpe Ziv also received the long-awaited designation. A locality designation is far more than a symbolic step. It is a milestone that enables government ministries to provide basic services that residents previously lacked: direct connection to the water network of Mekorot, assignment of an official security coordinator (Ravshatz) and regulated security equipment, as well as services from the Israel Postal Company, along with structured education and welfare budgets. (Read More)

Saudi Arabia Fully Restores East-West Oil Pipeline, Bypassing Strait of Hormuz

Saudi Arabia announces the full restoration of its strategic 1,200km East-West Pipeline, now pumping 7 million barrels per day to bypass the Strait of Hormuz following a brief disruption from an Iranian drone strike. Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Energy announced Sunday that the strategic East-West Pipeline (Petroline) has been fully restored and is now operating at its maximum capacity of approximately 7 million barrels per day.

The pipeline transports crude from the kingdom’s eastern oil heartland directly to the Red Sea port of Yanbu, completely bypassing the Strait of Hormuz. Of the total volume, roughly 2 million barrels per day supply domestic refineries, while approximately 5 million barrels per day are available for export, along with 700,000–900,000 barrels of refined products.

The restoration comes just days after an Iranian drone attack damaged a pumping station on April 8, temporarily reducing throughput. Engineers completed repairs in record time. The East-West Pipeline has become Saudi Arabia’s primary crude export route amid ongoing disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz. (Source)

IDF and Hezbollah trade strikes, rockets as Israel and Lebanon gear up for direct talks

Military says it struck over 200 targets in past day, with 2 soldiers wounded in south Lebanon combat; 10 Lebanese said killed in IDF strikes; Hezbollah blasts negotiations. 

Israel and Hezbollah traded fire throughout Saturday, with the Israel Defense Forces striking hundreds of targets in Lebanon and the Iran-backed terror group launching dozens of rockets and drones at northern Israel. The fighting in Lebanon continued as Jerusalem and Beirut geared up for direct peace talks, which are slated for Tuesday in Washington.

The Israeli and Lebanese ambassadors to the US, who will represent their respective sides during the talks, held a first direct phone conversation on Friday, during which the Israeli envoy said that Jerusalem is not prepared to cease fighting against Hezbollah, despite reported pressure from the US to do so. There were no reports of injuries as a result of Hezbollah’s rocket and drone fire on Israel on Saturday, which caused minor property damage. One Hezbollah drone struck a building in the northern border community of Shlomi. Several more drones were intercepted, the military said.

More than 30 rockets were also launched, though most were intercepted, and some were allowed to hit open areas across the Galilee, including near the cities of Safed and Karmiel, the IDF said. According to the Israeli military, two soldiers were moderately wounded in combat with Hezbollah in southern Lebanon on early Saturday morning. In Lebanon, 10 people, including three emergency workers, were killed by Israeli strikes on the south, according to the country’s health ministry. (Read More)

Vance warns Iran not to ‘play’ the US as he departs for peace talks in Pakistan

WASHINGTON (AP) — US Vice President JD Vance on Friday warned Iran not to “play” the US as he headed to Pakistan for high-stakes negotiations aimed at ending their war. US President Donald Trump has tasked the member of his inner circle who has seemed to be the most reluctant defender of the conflict with Iran to now find a resolution to the war that began six weeks ago and stave off the US president’s astonishing threat to wipe out its “whole civilization.” Israel, which launched the military campaign against Iran jointly with the US six weeks ago, is not represented at the talks. Host Pakistan has no diplomatic ties with Israel and does not recognize its sovereignty.

The ceasefire declared by Trump on Tuesday night came with core declared goals of the war unfulfilled, including ensuring that Iran does not attain nuclear weapons, destroying its missile program, and creating the conditions for the Iranian public to overthrow the regime. Vance, who has long been skeptical of foreign military interventions and outspoken about the prospect of sending troops into open-ended conflicts, set off Friday to lead mediated talks with Iran in the Pakistani capital of Islamabad.

An Iranian delegation has already arrived in Islamabad, the Wall Street Journal reported, saying the Iranian team was being headed by Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf. There was very heavy security across Islamabad on Friday, with the city said to be under a lockdown. Boarding Air Force Two on his way to Pakistan, the vice president said, “We’re looking forward to the negotiation. I think it’s gonna be positive. We’ll, of course, see.” (Read More)

IRGC commander, Iranian FM Araghchi clash over negotiating team before US-Iran talks - report

The sources shared that IRGC Commander-in-Chief Ahmad Vahidi is attempting to curb the authority of Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Speaker of Parliament Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf.

Senior Iranian officials are disagreeing over the composition of the negotiating team ahead of US-Iran talks on Friday, Iran International reported, citing informed sources. The sources shared that IRGC Commander-in-Chief Ahmad Vahidi is attempting to curb the authority of Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Speaker of Parliament Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Iran International wrote. According to Iranian media reports, the delegation will be led by Ghalibaf.

Vahidi has called for the inclusion of Mohammad Bagheer Zolghadr on the negotiating team, whom Iran International previously reported had been appointed Secretary of the National Security Council as a direct result of IRGC pressure on Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian. The negotiating team has been pushing back against the demand, as they consider Zolghadr too inexperienced for strategic negotiations.

The IRGC commander-in-chief and the IRGC Aerospace Commander have also insisted that the delegation refuse to negotiate on Iran’s missile program, according to Iran International. Ghalibaf has repeatedly stated on Thursday and Friday that the ceasefire in place for negotiations to begin includes a ceasefire in Lebanon, which both Israel and the US have denied.

US President Donald Trump has accused Iran of “doing a very poor job, dishonorable, some would say,” of reopening the Strait of Hormuz. “That is not the agreement we have!” Trump wrote in a post shared on Truth Social. US Vice President JD Vance left for Pakistan on Friday, saying that US President Trump had given the group “some pretty clear guidelines” on negotiations. “If the Iranians are willing to negotiate in good ​faith, ​we're ⁠certainly willing to extend the open hand," ​Vance said.   (Ed note: Could this be the beginning of a power struggle between the IRGC and the Government?)  (Source)

US intel said to assess Iran still has thousands of ballistic missiles, can recover launchers

Iran still has thousands of ballistic missiles it could fire by recovering launchers currently buried in underground facilities, the Wall Street Journal reports. Citing US officials familiar with American intelligence assessments, the report says though half of Iran’s missile launchers are destroyed, damaged or trapped under rubble, many can be repaired and recovered from the subterranean sites.

US and Israeli officials are also quoted saying that while Iran now has half as many missiles as before the war, it still has thousands of medium- and short-range ballistic missiles it can take out of hiding or uncover from below ground.

The report also says some US officials are worried Iran will use the ongoing ceasefire to rebuild its missile stockpiles. (Source)

Iranian delegation arrives in Islamabad, sets preconditions for peace

Iranian delegation led by Parliament Speaker Ghalibaf arrives in Islamabad for US talks, demanding a Lebanon ceasefire and release of frozen assets first. US VP Vance warns Iran against playing games.

An Iranian negotiating delegation, led by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, on Friday arrived in Islamabad for peace talks with the United States, Iranian media reported. The report stated that negotiations would begin if Washington accepted Tehran’s “preconditions." Ghalibaf had earlier put forward two measures which he said "must be fulfilled before negotiations begin": a ceasefire in Lebanon and the release of Iran's blocked assets.

He claimed in a post on social media that both had been "mutually agreed upon between the parties" but had "yet to be implemented" Meanwhile, US Vice President JD Vance, who will head the US delegation to the talks in Islamabad, warned Iran not to "play" Washington. "If the Iranians are willing to negotiate in good faith, we're certainly willing to extend the open hand," Vance told reporters before taking off for Islamabad from Joint Base Andrews in Maryland.

He warned, however, that "if they're going to try to play us, then they're going to find the negotiating team is not that receptive" Despite the claims by Iranian officials that a ceasefire in Lebanon is part of the ceasefire between the US and Iran, the US and Israel have clarified that Lebanon is not included in the Iran ceasefire. (Source)

Israel to Lebanon: You want peace? Disarm Hezbollah.

Netanyahu says direct negotiations with Lebanon will begin soon, even as Israel makes clear the Iran ceasefire does not shield Hezbollah from further strikes. Israel is preparing to open direct talks with Lebanon, with one objective placed squarely at the center: disarming Hezbollah. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Thursday that Jerusalem intends to begin direct negotiations with Lebanese counterparts as soon as possible, framing the move as a response to repeated requests from Beirut and as part of a broader effort to change the security reality on Israel’s northern front.

“In light of Lebanon’s repeated requests to open direct negotiations with Israel, I instructed at the Cabinet meeting yesterday to open direct negotiations with Lebanon as soon as possible,” Netanyahu said in a statement. He added: “The Negotiations will focus on the disarmament of Hezbollah and the establishment of peaceful relations between Israel and Lebanon. Israel appreciates the call made today by the Prime Minister of Lebanon to demilitarize Beirut.” The announcement lands at a moment of sharpened Israeli pressure on Hezbollah. Israeli and American officials have both made clear in recent days that the ceasefire with Iran does not apply to Israeli military operations against Hezbollah in Lebanon. In other words, whatever pause now exists on one front does not extend automatically to Tehran’s Lebanese proxy.

Hezbollah entered the current war on March 2, launching rockets and suicide drones at Israel after the targeted killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in the opening phase of Operation Roaring Lion, known on the American side as Epic Fury. Israel responded by escalating its campaign against the group, citing Hezbollah’s violation of the US-brokered ceasefire reached on November 27, 2024. Since then, Jerusalem has expanded its aerial campaign and pushed forces deeper into parts of Southern Lebanon to stop cross-border attacks.

On Wednesday, the Israeli Air Force carried out what it described as its largest coordinated strike waveagainst Hezbollah targets since the start of the current campaign. The operation hit command centers, headquarters, and military infrastructure in Beirut, the Beqaa Valley, and Southern Lebanon. Netanyahu, pointing to the scale of the operation, said Hezbollah had absorbed “the greatest blow since the pagers,” referring to the September 17–18, 2024 attacks in Lebanon that wounded thousands of Hezbollah operatives. “We attacked 100 targets in 10 minutes, in places Hezbollah was certain were immune,” he stated. (Ed note: Does the Lebanese government have either the ability or will to really "disarm Hezbollah"?  (Read More)

Israel sets four-tier plan for Lebanon campaign

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz on Thursday outlined four IDF deployments in Lebanon that he said serve as “the foundations of the plan” for military action against Hezbollah. Katz published the plan in a statement shortly before Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that he had instructed the government to negotiate with the Lebanese government on dismantling Hezbollah and on a peace deal, noting that the military action against the terrorist group was made possible by “the agreement on separating the fighting arenas.” This was a reference to the Israeli and U.S. position that the April 8 ceasefire with Iran does not extend to the terrorist group in Lebanon. Katz called this “a major achievement led by the prime minister.”

The Israeli action plan in Lebanon “is based on four lines: The border line, which includes demolition of buildings in border adjacent villages in Lebanon,” and second, “The defensive line in Lebanon, which was extended from five outposts to 15,” Katz said. He called the third line the “anti-tank line,” a reference to areas from where Hezbollah is able to directly fire, often with missiles intended for destroying tanks, at Israeli forces, civilians and infrastructure. A ground incursion led to the seizure of the so-called anti-tank line, Katz said, “and we are extending it in additional locations.”

The fourth line, he said, is the Litani line, a reference to the river in Southern Lebanon. The Israel Defense Forces “will control the Litani line as part of its control of the Litani area and prevent the penetration of additional terrorists southward and the return of residents,” Katz said. Hezbollah has amassed its military power south of the Litani. The terrorist group had agreed to end its presence south of the river in the terms of the Israel-Lebanon ceasefire that went into effect in November 2024, but the group broke the ceasefire on March 2, joining the fighting against Israel alongside Iran. Independent of the four deployments, Katz said that “the IDF will strike forcefully from the air, in accordance with the model employed in Iran, targeting terrorists and launchers in the Litani area and launch sites beyond it.” (Read More)

Israel excludes France from talks with Lebanon, sources tell 'Post'

Israel has refused to allow France to be involved in the direct talks between it and Lebanon, which are set to begin next week in Washington, two sources told The Jerusalem Post on Friday. An Israeli official said that “France’s conduct over the past year - including initiatives aimed at limiting Israel’s ability to fight in Iran, and a complete lack of willingness to take concrete steps to help Lebanon disarm Hezbollah - has led Israel to view France as an unfair mediator.”

The Israeli decision follows growing anger over France’s behavior in recent months, particularly since the joint Israeli-American strike against Iran. France refused to allow US aircraft carrying weapons to Israel to pass through its airspace. In addition, since Hezbollah began firing a day after the Israeli-American strike on Iran, French President Emmanuel Macron and other senior French officials have been pressuring Israel not to launch a ground operation in Lebanon. Lebanon itself has, in recent weeks, sought to hold direct negotiations with Israel, mainly in order to prevent a large-scale Israeli military operation in the country. These overtures were made through both senior officials in the Trump administration and officials in the French government.

While the Trump administration told the Lebanese, “First take serious steps to disarm Hezbollah, and then we will speak with Israel,” the French government, led by President Macron - who also spoke several times with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on the issue - attempted to promote direct talks. However, Israel showed little interest, maintaining that the Lebanese government is not acting against Hezbollah and that Israel therefore has no choice but to operate on Lebanese territory itself. (Read More)

Israel expels Spain from US's CMCC in Kiryat Gat over 'obsessive anti-Israel bias'

Israel expelled Spain from the United States' Civil-Military Coordination Center (CMCC) in Kiryat Gat, according to a Foreign Ministry statement on Friday afternoon. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that this came "after Spain has chosen repeatedly to stand against Israel."

"Spain has defamed our heroes, the soldiers of the IDF, the soldiers of the most moral army in the world," Netanyahu said, adding that he is "not willing to tolerate this hypocrisy and hostility. I do not intend to allow any country to wage a diplomatic war against us without paying an immediate price." Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar noted that the move, which was carried out in coordination with the United States, stemmed from the Spanish government's "obsessive anti-Israel bias."

"Spain's obsessive anti-Israel bias under Sánchez's leadership is so severe that it has lost all capacity to play a constructive role in implementing the peace plan of [US President Donald Trump]'s peace plan and the center operating under the framework of this plan," Sa'ar said. Spain was notified of the decision. The CMCC, which is a part of US Central Command (CENTCOM) was created in October 2025 in order to oversee and facilitate the flow of humanitarian, logistical, and security assistance from the international community into the Gaza Strip under Trump's Gaza peace plan. (Read more)

Ambassador Leiter to Pakistani minister: You're not a mediator, you're the problem

Israeli Ambassador to the US sharply rebukes Pakistan’s Defense Minister Khawaja Asif for calling Israel “evil" and accusing it of genocide.

Israel’s Ambassador to the US, Yechiel Leiter, on Thursday blasted Pakistan’s Defense Minister, Khawaja Asif, after he lashed out at Israel, calling it “evil and a curse for humanity" and accusing it of committing genocide in Lebanon. “The Ayatollahs chanted ‘Death to Israel’ - and now a so-called ‘mediator’ is echoing the same language," Leiter wrote on social media, referring to the fact that Pakistan is mediating talks between the US and Iran.

“You are not a mediator Mr. Asif, you are the problem. Even if it is to your dismay, Israel is here to stay. That’s not for negotiation," added the Ambassador. Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar had earlier responded strongly to the remarks by the Pakistani Minister, stating that "Israel views these blatant antisemitic blood libels very gravely from a government claiming to 'mediate peace.'" Sa'ar noted that "calling the Jewish state 'cancerous' is effectively calling for its annihilation.

"Israel will defend itself against terrorists who vow its destruction," Sa'ar vowed. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Office commented: "Pakistan Defense Minister’s call for Israel’s annihilation is outrageous. This is not a statement that can be tolerated from any government, especially not from one that claims to be a neutral arbiter for peace." (Source)

Pakistan's Defense Minister Deletes Vicious Anti-Israel Post

Defense Minister Khawaja Asif sparked a diplomatic crisis with Israel after calling it a "curse for humanity." Forced to delete the posts amid pressure from PM Shehbaz Sharif, the incident now threatens the fragile US-Iran ceasefire talks being hosted in Islamabad. A major diplomatic crisis erupted in the Pakistani capital on Friday as the government scrambled to perform damage control following a series of inflammatory social media posts by Defense Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif.

The incident, which occurred just as Pakistan is positioning itself as a central mediator in historic US-Iran peace talks, has drawn a blistering response from Jerusalem and threatened to derail Islamabad’s newfound status as a regional peacemaker. In a series of now-deleted posts on X (formerly Twitter), Minister Asif launched a scathing attack on Israel, responding to ongoing military strikes in Lebanon. The Minister’s rhetoric went far beyond standard diplomatic criticism, including:

* Calling Israel “evil and a curse for humanity.”
* Accusing the country of committing “genocide” in Lebanon, Gaza, and Iran.
* Describing Israel as a “cancerous state” created on Palestinian land to “get rid of 

   European Jews.”

* Concluding with a hope that those responsible “burn in hell.”

The posts sent shockwaves through the Pakistani government. Sources close to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif told reporters that both the military and political leadership were "furious" at the timing of the remarks. With US Vice President JD Vance and high-level Iranian officials currently in Islamabad for ceasefire negotiations, the Defense Minister’s outburst was viewed as a reckless breach of Pakistan’s neutrality. Under intense internal pressure, Asif was forced to delete the posts within hours. (Read More)

Fair mediator? Pakistani minister calls Israel 'evil' and 'cancer'

Israel’s Foreign Minister condemns Pakistan’s defense chief for inflammatory rhetoric, questioning its role as mediator between allies and Iran. 

Pakistani Minister of Defense Khawaja Asif launched a harsh attack against Israel on Thursday amid the Pakistani-mediated ceasefire and negotiations between the United States and Iran, and the Israeli campaign against Hezbollah in Lebanon. Asif wrote on X (formerly Twitter) that "Israel is evil and a curse for humanity, while peace talks are underway in Islamabad, genocide is being committed in Lebanon." 

 
He continued: "Innocent citizens are being killed by Israel, first Gaza, then Iran, and now Lebanon, bloodletting continues unabated. I hope and pray people who created this cancerous state on Palestinian land to get rid of European jews burn in hell." Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar responded strongly to the remarks by the Pakistani Minister, stating that "Israel views these blatant antisemitic blood libels very gravely from a government claiming to 'mediate peace.'"

Sa'ar noted that "calling the Jewish state 'cancerous' is effectively calling for its annihilation." "Israel will defend itself against terrorists who vow its destruction," Sa'ar vowed. The Israeli Prime Minister's Office commented: "Pakistan Defense Minister’s call for Israel’s annihilation is outrageous. This is not a statement that can be tolerated from any government, especially not from one that claims to be a neutral arbiter for peace." (Source)

‘Unacceptable’: European countries slam IDF strikes on Hezbollah amid US-Iran truce

UK says it is ‘deeply troubled’ by Israeli attacks, France calls them ‘unacceptable’; Italy condemns ‘bombings on civilian population.’

The UK and several EU countries on Thursday condemned a wave of Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon that came after a truce agreement between the US and Iran, which Iran and its proxy Hezbollah said also applied to Lebanon, but the US and Israel said did not. British Foreign Minister Yvette Cooper told Sky News: “We do want to see the ceasefire extended to Lebanon,” adding: “I’m deeply troubled about the escalating attacks that we saw from Israel in Lebanon yesterday. “We’ve seen the humanitarian consequences, the huge mass displacement of people in Lebanon. So we do strongly want to see the ceasefire extended to Lebanon,” she added.

Speaking to Times Radio, Cooper said that if the truce is not applied to the Israel-Hezbollah conflict, “that will destabilize the whole region.” “That escalation that we saw from Israel yesterday was deeply damaging, and we want to see an end to hostilities,” she said.

Israel said Wednesday’s airstrikes were planned for weeks and targeted the Iran-backed Hezbollah terror group. Among the targets, the IDF said, were Hezbollah command centers and other military infrastructure, including intelligence headquarters and offices used by Hezbollah to plan attacks on IDF troops and Israeli civilians; infrastructure of Hezbollah’s rocket and naval units; and assets of the terror group’s elite Radwan Force and aerial unit. (Ed note: Well, Gee, guys: UK, France, and Italy, any word about the hundreds upon hundreds of rockets that Hezbollah has sent into the Northern and Central parts of Israel causing about 80,000 people to leave their homes in the north of Israel?) (Read More)

Europe Backstabs America On Lebanon

By calling for an end to Israeli strikes in Lebanon, Europe isn’t seeking peace; it is unknowingly (or worse, knowingly) endorsing a Hezbollah-led state.

The European demand for Israel to halt its strikes to "save the negotiations" is a strategic absurdity. It signals to the Ayatollahs that Europe has no fundamental problem with Lebanon becoming a permanent satellite of the Islamic Republic. In their rush to avoid friction, London and Brussels have effectively signaled their surrender to Hezbollah’s control over Beirut.

This approach ignores the Iranian regional playbook. Tehran utilizes pauses to fortify, rotate, and exhaust enemies, via attempts at regime change. This happened in Iraq, Yemen, Syria, Lebanon, and even Bahrain. For Israel and the U.S., the mission is clear: producing a definitive expiration date on the current strategy. Every day that Europe pressures Israel for "restraint" is a day that Iran moves closer to a regional "fait accompli."

If the West continues to ignore the intelligence regarding Hezbollah’s intentions, they will soon wake up to a Mediterranean sea dominated by an Iranian proxy state. We must realize that if we cannot secure Lebanon through precision and timeline-driven military pressure on Iranian assets, the final move may require the absolute economic decapitation of the regime via its oil fields. It is time to stop playing by Tehran and Europe's rules. (Ed note: A very interesting alalysis of the situation.) (Source)

Israel says peace talks with Lebanon to begin ASAP, rejects calls for truce first

Under international pressure to engage in diplomacy after deadly strikes, Netanyahu says disarming Hezbollah will be focus of talks, said set to kick off next week in DC.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Thursday evening that Israel would begin negotiations with Lebanon “as soon as possible,” aimed at disarming Hezbollah and reaching a full peace agreement between the countries. The announcement came a day after the Jewish state led the largest and deadliest wave of airstrikes on its northern neighbor since the start of the current round of fighting with the Iran-backed terror group. Jerusalem and Beirut seemed to be at odds over the conditions under which the talks would take place, with Lebanon demanding a ceasefire first, while Israel insisted that they be held under fire.

“In light of Lebanon’s repeated appeals to open direct negotiations with Israel, I instructed the cabinet yesterday to begin direct negotiations with Lebanon as soon as possible,” Netanyahu said in a statement, following heavy international pressure on Israel to engage in diplomacy. The talks “will focus on disarming Hezbollah and establishing peaceful relations between Israel and Lebanon,” he said.

In a later video message, Netanyahu hailed the potential for a “historic and sustainable peace agreement between Israel and Lebanon.” In a message addressed to residents of northern Israel, the premier stressed that “there is no ceasefire in Lebanon,” noting that Israel was “continuing to strike Hezbollah with great force,” and would “not stop until we restore your security.” (Read More)

Intelligence Breakthrough: Lebanese Civilians Provide the Data Needed for Precision Strikes

In a significant development, thousands of Lebanese citizens have reached out to Israeli security forces to provide critical information on Hezbollah's senior leadership and hidden infrastructure.

The Israeli security establishment has revealed that a massive wave of cooperation from Lebanese civilians has directly led to some of the most significant military achievements in the current war. Following a psychological operations campaign by Unit 504, which involved dropping thousands of flyers across Lebanon, over a thousand local residents have come forward with actionable intelligence. This influx of data has provided the Intelligence Directorate with the precise locations of high ranking officials and sensitive military assets, allowing for a series of successful strikes and targeted eliminations that have crippled Hezbollah's operational capabilities in the south.

The most prominent result of this civilian cooperation was the successful elimination of Hajj Yusuf Ismail Hashim, the commander of Hezbollah’s Southern Front. Hashim, a pivotal figure in the organization's military hierarchy, was targeted and killed last week after several Lebanese citizens identified his secret hideout and reported it to Israeli authorities. Acting on this specific and verified information, the IAF conducted a precise strike on the location, neutralizing one of the most senior terror leaders responsible for operations against Israel.

This level of cooperation from the Lebanese public marks a major shift in the intelligence landscape of the war. Unit 504’s flyers specifically called on residents to assist in uncovering Hezbollah’s infrastructure to protect their own communities from the consequences of the war. The resulting phone calls and messages have not only exposed leadership hideouts but also revealed weapon storage sites and launch positions embedded in civilian areas. Security officials emphasize that this human intelligence is a vital supplement to technological surveillance, proving that even as Hezbollah tries to bury itself within the population, the people themselves are increasingly willing to push back against the terrorist organization’s presence. (Source)

IDF deals heavy blow to Hezbollah missile array

IDF reports destruction of over 200 launchers and elimination of senior Hezbollah figures as operations continue to target threats on northern Israel.

As part of efforts to degrade and undermine the firing capabilities of Hezbollah, the IDF has struck and dismantled more than 200 rocket launchers, including approximately 1,300 launch tubes. This week, Ali Kamel Abar al-Hassan, the artillery officer in the Nasser Unit of Hezbollah, was struck and eliminated.

In addition, more than 250 Hezbollah artillery operatives have been struck and eliminated, including 15 ommanders responsible for artillery systems in various sectors.

The IDF declared that it "will continue operating with determination against the Hezbollah terrorist organization and will not allow harm to the citizens of the State of Israel, particularly residents of the north."  (Source)

Syria, Jordan, Turkey sign deal to launch regional trade corridor

The agreement prioritizes the railway sector, including a proposal to link Anatolia in the north with the port of Aqaba in the south and extend toward the Gulf.

A trilateral memorandum of understanding has been signed by Syria, Jordan, and Turkey to develop the transport sector and enhance trade and transport links among the three countries, seen as signaling a new regional direction toward economic integration and the revitalization of cross-border trade routes. The agreement was signed during a meeting in the Jordanian capital, Amman, attended by the transport ministers of the three countries. The memorandum establishes a joint institutional and technical framework encompassing land, maritime, and rail transport, and forms specialized committees and joint working groups to standardize procedures and policies across the three countries.

It also aims to turn these commitments into concrete projects, backed by investment and digital upgrades, to improve efficiency and sustain long-term cooperation. The coordination is expected to ease the movement of goods and passengers and streamline border procedures, improving supply chain efficiency and boosting trade among the three countries.

A three-year roadmap outlines the steps and measures required by transport authorities, aiming to turn borders from simple crossing points into hubs for economic integration and joint development. Central to this effort is the “Middle Corridor,” which the three countries hope to activate as a strategic route that links markets and expands transit trade, with the potential to reshape the region’s economic landscape. (Read More)

Hezbollah fires missile at southern port of Ashdod as IDF strikes launchers in Lebanon

Israel and Hezbollah continued to exchange fire into Friday, despite Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s announcement of peace talks with Lebanon, which had continued to reel from major Israeli strikes two days earlier. There was no immediate response to the Israeli announcement from Lebanon, which had repeatedly proposed talks to end the war, or from Hezbollah. Netanyahu said that talks would focus on disarming Hezbollah and “establishing peaceful relations” between the countries.

Negotiations are expected to begin next week at the State Department in Washington, according to a person familiar with the plans. The talks are to be handled on the American side by US Ambassador to Lebanon Michel Issa, and on the Israeli side by Israel’s Ambassador to the US Yechiel Leiter, according to the person, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the delicacy of the situation.

A Lebanese diplomatic official familiar with the developments said that the country has not yet appointed someone to lead talks from Beirut. Lebanese President Joseph Aoun is keen to have a temporary ceasefire when talks commence in parallel with those between the United States and Iran, mediated by Pakistan. The official spoke on condition of anonymity in line with regulations. Israel’s announcement came hours after it had warned of escalation and said that it had killed an aide and nephew of Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem, Ali Yusuf Harshi.

Later Thursday, Hezbollah said its fighters were engaged in clashes with Israeli soldiers in the southern Lebanese town of Bint Jbeil, from which the Israel Defense Forces has sought in recent days to clear the Iran-backed terror group’s operatives and infrastructure. Hezbollah, in a statement, said it used light arms and RPG fire against Israeli soldiers who were advancing in the town, as well as rocket barrages on other troops in the area. The IDF did not report casualties among Israeli forces on Thursday. (Ed note: Bint Jbeil is not the same town as Gebal in Psalem 83:7. Gebal or Byblos whch is now called Jbeil is located on the coast north of Beirut.)  (Source)