The Islamabad Ultimatum: Pakistan Warns Iran of Direct Military Intervention Over Regional Escalation

Pakistani government officials have issued an explicit warning to Tehran regarding a total breakdown in Iranian leadership structures, while declaring that any proxy attacks on Saudi Arabia constitute a red line that will draw Islamabad into open war. Government officials in Islamabad are tracking the deepening ideological rifts within the highest echelons of the Iranian regime with growing concern. Senior political figures have confirmed that the elected government in Tehran is drifting entirely away from the hardline military factions running the state. This domestic instability comes as regional defense pacts threaten to drag neighboring nuclear powers into the expanding theater of war.

The political leadership in Iran, including President Masoud Pezeshkian, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, and Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, is experiencing a severe disconnect from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Pakistani authorities have expressed deep anxiety that this internal chaos is driving a renewal of active warfare between Houthi rebels in Yemen and Saudi Arabia. The escalation threatens to collapse ongoing diplomatic mediation efforts while triggering binding mutual defense treaties across the subcontinent.

The strategic alignment between Islamabad and Riyadh has placed external military forces on high alert to deter further provocations. "Our senior civilian and military leadership made it clear to the highest levels in Iran that attacks on Saudi Arabia are attacks on Pakistan," an official stated. The diplomat emphasized the severity of the geopolitical situation, declaring that "this is a red line for us."

This warning is backed by a massive, prior military deployment designed to reinforce the territorial integrity of the kingdom. Pakistan secretly stationed a significant military contingent inside Saudi Arabia during the height of the recent war with Iran. This specialized force includes thousands of active ground troops, a full squadron of advanced fighter jets, and sophisticated air defense systems. (Read More)

US-Iran Conflict Pushes Pakistan to Brink of Direct Confrontation

The US-Iran conflict is pushing Pakistan toward direct confrontation due to its mutual defense agreement with Saudi Arabia. Pakistan has deployed thousands of troops and advanced jets to Saudi Arabia, risking involvement in the war. Tehran's retaliatory strikes could target Saudi installations where Pakistani personnel are stationed. Islamabad faces an existential dilemma between honoring treaty obligations and maintaining domestic stability.

As the United States continues to hit Iran, and Tehran keeps up its retaliatory actions across the Persian Gulf on Washington's installations, Pakistan finds itself poised precariously on an agonising geopolitical precipice. Islamabad's immediate priorities go beyond an effective bulwark against collateral damage. While prioritising energy imports and remittances, border security along the 900 km Iran frontier, sectarian tensions at home, and playing the potential mediator, Islamabad is getting closer to being a direct party in the war.

Such a situation upsets its stand as a neutral negotiator between Washington and Tehran. Pakistan's Strategic Mutual Defense Agreement with Saudi Arabia has already resulted in the deployment of thousands of Pakistani troops and advanced fighter jets to the Kingdom. That presence threatens to pull Islamabad directly into the crossfire as the Middle East is careening toward an all-out war. Historically, Pakistan has gone to great lengths to play the role of the regional tightrope walker, despite the political and economic volatility back home.

Sharing its western border with Iran, possessing the world's second-largest Shi'ite population, and maintaining deep, foundational ties with Saudi Arabia, Pakistan's survival depends on avoiding regional entanglements. However, the realities of modern warfare and binding security alliances have fundamentally altered this calculus. Following the American and allied strikes targeting Iranian coastal defences, alleged missile sites, and other infrastructure, Tehran and its proxy networks have increasingly struck back on nearby US installations. (Ed note: And don't forget that Pakistan has long possessed nuclear weapons in their arsenal.) (Read more)

Bridges, Railways, and Airports: US Precision Strikes Devastate Strategic Infrastructure Across Iran

American forces have executed their most damaging round of airstrikes yet, dismantling critical southern Iranian bridges, railway junctions, and airports to completely paralyze the regime's military supply lines toward the Gulf. The United States military has escalated its ongoing air campaign by targeting critical transportation infrastructure deep inside southern and southeastern Iran. These latest strikes represent the most significant wave of attacks since the current military operations began. The high-impact raids have heavily disrupted the logistics capabilities of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

A key target during the bombardment was a strategic bridge near Kahurstan in Khamir County. This targeted attack has forced local authorities to completely close the main road connecting Bandar Abbas to Lar in both directions. Local witnesses captured the immediate destruction of the transport link, noting the severe civilian toll on the ground. One witness at the scene described the aftermath of the explosion in detail, saying, "A missile hit the middle of the bridge.

A fuel tanker was destroyed. The driver was killed. Part of the bridge is gone. Nobody should come from this side." This precision hit successfully severed a major artery used for military transit. In another major operation, American forces targeted the railway junction station in Bandar Abbas. This vital freight hub connects Iran's largest commercial port directly to the national rail network. Local reports confirmed that the strike left 2 people wounded and severely damaged the rail lines.  The air campaign also reached other major transit nodes across the country. Media outlets close to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps reported that an explosion hit a railway station in the city of Ahvaz. Simultaneously, an airport in southeastern Iran was struck, further degrading the regional aviation and transport capacity of the regime. 

Military analysts believe these systematic strikes are designed to cripple the domestic logistics network of the Iranian military. By destroying bridges, rail lines, and airports, the United States is preventing the rapid movement of troops, heavy equipment, and supplies toward the southern coast. This makes it incredibly difficult for the regime to reinforce or resupply its forces on strategic islands like Abu Musa, Greater Tunb, and Lesser Tunb during the ongoing war. (Ed note: Does this article suggest to you that the US is setting the stage to make a sea invasion from the west?)  (Source)

Zero to One Hundred: Israel Outlines Three Triggers for Unprecedented Air Campaign Inside Mainland Iran

The Israeli defense establishment has finalized comprehensive war plans for an unprecedented aerial campaign inside Iran, establishing specific operational triggers to transition the military from zero to a hundred in the event of an imminent threat. The Israeli defense establishment is currently maintaining a state of maximum vigilance, actively preparing for a rapid military escalation against Iran and its regional proxies. National security forces are finalizing operational designs to transition the entire military apparatus immediately to an active state of war. This strategic framework is designed to bypass bureaucratic delays, ensuring that the air force can respond to hostile threats without losing vital operational time.

Current intelligence assessments indicate that the leadership in Tehran is highly hesitant to initiate a direct war against the Israeli home front. This strategic reluctance stems primarily from the clear understanding that the Israeli Air Force possesses a fully prepared, highly destructive plan to neutralize national infrastructure across the Islamic Republic. Despite the absence of immediate, concrete indicators of a coordinated attack from Iran, Hezbollah, or the Houthi forces in Yemen, national commanders are keeping defense assets positioned for immediate deployment.

Senior defense authorities have outlined three highly specific, distinct scenarios that would trigger active, direct military intervention inside Iranian territory. The primary scenario involves an explicit, direct request from the United States asking its regional ally to join a series of intensive, coordinated airstrikes against high value assets. The secondary trigger depends heavily on intelligence services identifying definitive preparations by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps to target the country, which would immediately necessitate a rapid preemptive strike to neutralize the threat. (Ed note: One can ask why Iran hasn't hit Israel during this current round. After screaming, "Death to Israel" for such a long time, and claiming the annihilation of the Jewish race, your darn right Israel wants a piece of Iran.) (Read More)

Israel to produce its own JDAM bombs en masse within two years, in bid for arms independence

Move is part of broader push to reduce Israel's reliance on foreign munitions, expand domestic weapons production • Germany deals lead to quadrupled Arrow production.

Israel should be able to produce its own JDAM (Joint Direct Attack Munition) bombs en masse within two years, The Jerusalem Post has learned. The development serves to revolutionize Israel’s warfare capabilities. Under orders from then-defense minister Yoav Gallant, and with recommendations from the commission of former justice Jacob Turkel, Israel started producing more of its own bombs in late 2024. Israel has relied far more on the US for such weapons during crises for decades.

In May 2024, the Biden administration imposed a partial arms freeze on certain bombs to Israel over differences related to the IDF’s invasion of Rafah. Initially, the idea was for Israel to become more independent in producing “dumb” bombs. But that was only the beginning of the process of making Israel more independent in weapons production, particularly regarding munitions. This process accelerated and expanded significantly in 2025-2026, eventually focusing on producing JDAMs and smarter bombs.

Israel already produces its own kits that convert “dumb bombs” into precision weapons, but it is not anywhere close to the necessary volume that it needs to be considered independent. The JDAM is a guidance kit that converts unguided, or “dumb,” bombs into precision-guided munitions (PGMs) that can be used in all weather conditions, including those that would render dumb bombs ineffective. On January 7, 2025, the Defense Ministry signed two major agreements with Elbit Systems, totaling about NIS 1 billion, as part of a strategic effort to strengthen the IDF’s self-sufficiency and operational readiness both in munitions and in raw materials.

In November, the Defense Ministry said more than 120,000 tons of military equipment, munitions, weapons systems, and protective gear had been transferred to Israel via 1,000 aircraft and about 150 maritime vessels, mostly from the US. Amir Baram, who had served as the IDF’s deputy chief of staff, became director-general of the Defense Ministry in March 2025. Over the past two years, he said, the ministry “has led a tremendous effort to ensure the supply of weapons, equipment, technology, and everything required to enable the IDF to fight and prevail. The 1,000th aircraft that landed today represents another crucial link in the strategic supply chain for the State of Israel.” (Ed note: Did you know that the Biden administration also refused to release an order of munitions to Israel that they had already paid for? Israel must free herself from the US Presidents that don't like Israel, know their Bible, or Bible prophecy.)  (Read More)

Arab leaders tell Trump that Netanyahu is an 'obstacle' to the president's Mideast plans - report

Several Arab leaders have privately urged US President Donald Trump to reconsider his support for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Israeli public broadcaster KAN News reported on Wednesday. According to the report, the leaders described Netanyahu and his government as “an obstacle to realizing his vision in the region.” Additionally, Arab diplomats familiar with the discussions said regional governments increasingly view Netanyahu as an impediment to Trump’s diplomatic ambitions in the Middle East, left-leaning Israeli daily Haaretz reported.

Sources told Haaretz that several Arab leaders believe that Trump "is beginning to see Netanyahu as an obstacle to realizing his vision in the region and to advancing regional arrangements." They also reportedly told the president that they lack confidence in both Netanyahu’s leadership and the current Israeli government. The reports come as Israel prepares for elections in late October, with governments across the region closely watching how the political race develops.

KAN reported that Arab officials are seeking to shape Trump’s assessment of Israel’s leadership as he considers the future of his regional policies. The president has continued to highlight his longstanding relationship with Netanyahu, even as he has publicly criticized the prime minister. Trump has suggested that he has not yet decided how to approach the Israeli election and is examining the broader field of candidates.

Last month, he said that he was “very likely” to support Netanyahu. However, he followed his purported comment of support by saying that he would "need to see who is running." "I have a good relationship with Bibi, but he needs to be more rational," he said. (Ed note: Well, Dah! Of course the Arab hate both Netanyahu and Israel, and want both gone. After all, the IDF (Israel) is taking on all comers and defeating them. The Arabs don't like Israel defending herself. "Advancing regional arrangements" means President Trump is looking for the Arab petrodollar, and if he wants it bad enough, he will get rid of BiBi. If Trump takes down Netanyahu, will God then take down the USA?)  (Source)

Iran tells Houthis to close Red Sea oil route if US hits power network, sources say

Source close to the Yemeni group says it is ready to launch missile and drone attacks on shipping near Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a move that would exacerbate the global energy crisis.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (Reuters) — Iran has asked Yemen’s Houthi rebels to stand ready to close the Red Sea oil route if the United States strikes Iranian power infrastructure, three sources told Reuters on Thursday, posing a potent new threat to global energy supplies. The idea has been discussed within the Islamic Republic’s leadership, and the message has been conveyed to Iran’s Houthi allies, two senior Iranian sources and a regional source familiar with the matter said, speaking on condition of anonymity. The sources said the Houthis had been informed recently of Tehran’s request, which has not been previously reported.

They did not give further details on how it had been conveyed or whether it was after US President Donald Trump’s threat to attack Iranian power infrastructure on Tuesday. Iran’s foreign ministry and a spokesperson for the Houthis were not immediately available to respond to Reuters’ request. A source close to the Houthis said the group had completed preparations to attack shipping by deploying missiles and drones near Bab el-Mandeb Strait, the gateway to the Red Sea, in Yemen’s highlands overlooking Hodeidah and the Gulf of Aden and was awaiting the order to begin.

Any threat to the Red Sea and its Bab el-Mandeb gateway risks hugely exacerbating the global energy crisis triggered by Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz and underscores the explosive risks stemming from a new round of warfare. With the Strait of Hormuz already shut, any Houthi attacks on vessels or ports in the Red Sea would leave the Middle East’s two main oil export routes disrupted simultaneously, opening a new front in both the energy crisis and Iran’s wider conflict with the United States. (Read More)

Live Updates: Iranian attack damages power generation, water plant in Kuwait, as conflict enters sixth day

US forces keeping Strait of Hormuz ‘free and open,’ CENTCOM says • Herzog: Renewed Iranian attacks are 'unsurprising' • US House Republicans push forward on Trump funding plan for Iran war. 

 
Kuwait says Iranian attack damages power generation, water desalination station

One of Kuwait's power generation and water desalination stations was hit in an Iranian attack, causing damage to facilities, a fire, and the disruption of a large number of electricity generation units, Kuwait's Ministry of Electricity, Water and Renewable Energy said on Friday. 

 
CENTCOM 'holding Iran accountable,' completes sixth night of strikes against military targets

CENTCOM added that over 50,000 US service members stationed in the Middle East remain "vigilant, lethal, and ready."The latest wave of American strikes against Iran has been completed, US Central  

Command (CENTCOM) announced on X/Twitter on Thursday night. 

"US forces, including fighter jets, aerial drones, and warships, launched precision munitions that hit dozens of Iranian military targets such as coastal surveillance and air defense sites, military logistics infrastructure, and maritime capabilities," CENTCOM said. "This was the sixth consecutive night of US strikes against Iran." (Read more)

LIVE: Iran says US airstrikes hit key bridges, airport in southern provinces (BUSHEHR)

NOTE: THESE ARE LIVE UPDATES FROM IRAN INTERNATIONAL WEBSITE, 

as of 3:30pm Pacific Time on Thursday 7-16-26.

7 minutes ago
US strikes hit Lorestan, Bushehr targeted again-IRNA

US attacks struck an area in Veysian district of Iran’s western Lorestan province on Thursday, while the southern city of Bushehr was targeted for the second time in several hours, Iran’s state-run IRNA news agency reported.

47 minutes ago
Iraqi militias offer $10 million bounty for Trump’s killing

The Islamic Resistance in Iraq announced Thursday night that it was offering a $10 million reward for the killing of US President Donald Trump, Iran’s state-run IRNA news agency and Russia’s state-run RT, formerly Russia Today, reported. The group said the reward followed what it described as Trump’s “audacious and offensive statements” against commanders killed while fighting ISIS. Conservative activist Laura Loomer said Russian state media was “promoting the Iraqi Islamic Resistance’s $10 million bounty for the assassination of President Trump,” adding: “Every day, Russia proves more and more why they aren’t an ally.”

1 hour ago
Multiple explosions heard in Hamidieh in southwestern Iran - state media

Iran's semi-official Mehr News Agency is reporting multiple explosions near the city of Hamidieh in Khuzestan province, southwestern Iran. (Ed note: Hamidiyeh is a city located in Khuzestan Province, Iran. Geographically and historically, it sits directly in the heart of the territory that formed the lowlands of Ancient Elam.) (Read More)

US completes seven-hour strike wave in Iran, dozens of targets hit

CENTCOM completes a seven-hour wave of strikes on Iranian military sites while resuming its naval blockade.

The US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced early Wednesday morning that it had completed an additional round of strikes against Iran, hitting dozens of military targets near the Strait of Hormuz and Iranian coastal areas. "US fighter aircraft, drones, and naval vessels launched precision munitions against Iranian missile and drone sites, naval capabilities, and coastal defense systems during the seven-hour wave to further degrade Iran's ability to threaten commercial shipping and civilian crews," said CENTCOM.

It noted that the strikes took place the same day US forces resumed the naval blockade against vessels transiting to or from Iranian ports and coastal areas. The blockade went into effect at 4:00 p.m. ET on Tuesday. "US forces remain vigilant, lethal, and prepared to execut operations directed by the Commander in Chief," the CENTCOM statement concluded. Earlier, CENTCOM confirmed that its forces have begun launching an additional round of strikes against Iran to continue degrading Iranian capabilities used to attack commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.

At 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time (11:00 p.m. Israel time), CENTCOM officially announced that "US forces resumed the naval blockade against vessels transiting to and from Iranian ports and coastal areas." It added, "There are currently more than 20 US Navy warships and hundreds of military aircraft operating across the Middle East. American forces remain vigilant, lethal, and ready."

Iranian state media reported strikes on Qeshm Island, as well as sounds of explosions in Ahvaz and Bandar Abbas. At the same time, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed it destroyed multiple warehouses containing weapons, vessel parts, and aircraft components at the Sheikh Isa base in Bahrain and struck the MQ9 drone deployment ramp at the Ali Al-Salem base in Kuwait, destroying or damaging several US drones. (Read more)

US expands strikes into Tehran area as Iran threatens to ‘resist until the end’

American attacks reported across northern provinces, US fires on Iranian tanker headed for Kharg island; Iran responds with missile and drone fire on Jordan, Bahrain, Kuwait.

The United States intensified its strikes targeting Iran early Thursday, hitting targets further north and into the Tehran area, as the Islamic Republic expanded its attacks on US allies in the region and vowed to “resist until the end.” Days of back-and-forth strikes by the US and Iran across the Middle East — and renewed threats to the Strait of Hormuz — have shredded the interim deal to end the Iran war and could tip the region back into all-out war. Iranian officials say US strikes have killed more than 35 people and wounded over 300. US strikes reached into areas around Iran’s capital, Tehran, for the first time in the latest round of violence, showing a widening set of targets for the Americans.

Iranian state media also reported American attacks in the northern Semnan province, home to Iran’s ballistic missile production and space program. Other strikes were reported in the provinces of Hamedan, Hormozgan, Khuzestan, Lorestan, Markazi, and Sistan and Baluchistan. “US forces struck Iranian command centers, air defense sites, missile and drone capabilities, and coastal surveillance facilities,” the US military said in a statement, adding it also hit targets in Bandar Abbas, home to Iran’s largest port and to key navy and Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps facilities on the Strait of Hormuz.

In the Persian Gulf, the US military began to enforce Trump’s newly reinstated naval blockade of Iranian ports, and said it opened fire on the Curacao-flagged oil tanker Belma sailing toward Kharg Island, Iran’s main oil export terminal. After the ship “ignored multiple warnings,” a US aircraft disabled the merchant vessel by firing a missile into the ship’s smokestack.

Another American strike Wednesday targeted a barracks for Iran’s 388th Mechanized Infantry Brigade, which operates tanks and armored vehicles, in Sistan and Baluchestan province, Iranian state television reported. The report said Americans fired at least 13 missiles in the attack and the seven dead included conscripts and career soldiers. A number of troops were wounded. (Read More)

Report: Trump weighing ground force deployments in Iran

President Trump is weighing escalatory military options against Iran - including strikes on a deep nuclear facility and island seizures - as diplomacy stalls, reports The Wall Street Journal.

Following high-level briefings with top national security advisors, US President Donald Trump is giving serious consideration to significantly expanding American military operations targeting Iran, according to US officials cited on Wednesday by The Wall Street Journal. The strategic alternatives placed before the president include intensifying campaign airstrikes, launching ground operations to capture key Persian Gulf islands near the Strait of Hormuz, or bombing a deeply buried, fortified subterranean tunnel network known as Pickaxe Mountain that could support covert nuclear developments.

Trump reviewed these military possibilities during a Situation Room briefing on Tuesday evening, where discussions centered on sending American forces to occupy strategic territory along the strait, such as Kharg Island, alongside options to target Pickaxe Mountain and hit broader Iranian energy infrastructure, according to the WSJ report. The session capped days of consultations involving senior leaders, including Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Dan Caine.

While Trump maintains publicly and privately that he prefers a diplomatic resolution, negotiations remain stuck. Tehran has resisted demands to surrender its enriched nuclear stockpiles despite months of direct strikes and a brief interim agreement that briefly permitted restricted oil exports. The impasse has prompted Trump to seek harsher options designed to compel capitulation or end Houthi and Iranian aggression against international maritime traffic.

A decision to greenlight ground operations or target Pickaxe Mountain would mark the most hazardous escalation of the nearly five-month conflict, carrying risks of increased gas prices and political complications ahead of the midterms. However, administration sources note that Trump remains hesitant to put troops on the ground and has repeatedly walked back past declarations regarding full-scale territorial seizures. The military options come on the heels of a fifth consecutive day of US military strikes against Iran, triggered when a temporary ceasefire collapsed after Iranian forces launched attacks on ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz, prompting Washington to reimpose its naval blockade. (Read more)

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Dr. Bill Salus says: If the events in this article happen, it could lead toward the fulfillment of the prophecy below. Trump Is angry with Tehran, but the LORD is fiercely angry with Iran, which trumps even Trump”s anger!

This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: “I will destroy the archers (missile launchers) of Elam (southwest Iran)—the best of their (IRGC) forces. I will bring enemies (likely ground forces) from all directions, and I will scatter the people of Elam to the four winds. They will be exiled to countries around the world. I myself will go with Elam’s enemies (possibly a USA led coalition) to shatter it. In my fierce anger, I will bring great disaster upon the people of Elam,” says the Lord. (Jeremiah 49:35-37, NLT; emphasis added)

Watch related video on the Elam prophecy below. 

Why lessons learned on October 7 prevent Israeli withdrawal from Syria - analysis

When Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa swept into power and ousted Bashar Assad in December 2024, Israel quickly implemented policies born of the lessons learned from October 7. The first was to act before threats metastasize rather than after. The second was never again to let those who want to murder you encamp right on the border. As a result, the IDF rapidly entered Syria, destroyed planes, helicopters, naval vessels, missiles, chemical weapons depots, air bases, and ports belonging to the Assad regime before they could fall into the hands of jihadist groups.

It also carved out a buffer zone inside southern Syria designed to keep forces hostile to Israel from establishing themselves within easy striking distance of communities on the Golan Heights. Again, the trauma of October 7 looms large. This buffer zone, together with the ones Israel has created inside Gaza and southern Lebanon, is now increasingly viewed in Washington as a problem that needs to be solved.

US President Donald Trump gave voice to that sentiment during a phone call with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu last week, first reported by Axios, in which he reportedly urged Israel to begin withdrawing from southern Syria. “They don’t want you there. You should redeploy,” Trump reportedly told Netanyahu. Again, he sees Israel’s presence in Syria as a problem. Israel sees it as a solution.

With the exception of a handful of far-right activists who dream of establishing settlements across the border, Israel has no territorial ambitions in southern Syria. The one exception is Mount Hermon, whose strategic importance is so overwhelming that Israeli leaders have made clear they have little intention of relinquishing it. The same is not necessarily true regarding the rest of the buffer zone. The question has never really been whether Israel will eventually leave, but under what conditions. (Ed note: What al-Sharaa really wants is for Israel to leave the buffer zone, give back the Golan Heights, and for Israel to return to the 1967 border lines. All demands are impossible for Israel, and President Trump should know better. Always keep one eye on the state of Syria.)   (Read More)

Report: Erdogan offers Trump a regional deal that could complicate matters for Israel

A Lebanese report reveals a joint Turkish-Qatari initiative presented to the president, linking Middle East stability to a rapid Israeli pullback from Syria and Lebanon.

The Al-Akhbar (Hezbollah-affiliated Lebanese daily) newspaper reported Wednesday morning on a Turkish-Qatari proposal presented by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to US President Donald Trump during their recent meeting in Ankara. According to sources, Erdogan – who is aware of Israeli pressure on the Trump administration regarding the war on Iran and other regional issues – proposed that the US support a broad economic project involving several countries in the region, with an emphasis on Syria, Lebanon, and Iraq. The report added that Erdogan had previously discussed the outlines of this project with the US special envoy to Syria, Tom Barrack. According to the report, the project is designed "to provide stable and secure foundations in the region, in a way that will enable the launch of major economic enterprises."


The sources noted that Erdogan complained to Trump about the Israeli "occupation" in Syria and Lebanon, alongside Israel's ongoing attacks in regional countries and threats toward other nations. He charged that this is "the main cause of instability that harms any process aimed at reining in Iran's allies." Additionally, Erdogan explained to Trump the importance of a rapid Israeli withdrawal from territories in Lebanon and Syria, as a precursor to future security arrangements between Israel, Lebanon, and Syria, the report said.


According to the report, Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa also raised the issue of withdrawals during his meeting with Trump, emphasizing that stability in Syria requires the restoration of sovereignty over all its territory. He was quoted as saying, "Israel is preventing a solution in southern Syria, refused to include the word 'withdrawal' in the agreement, and halted negotiations when this issue arose. As long as it refuses to withdraw, why should we sign an agreement with it?" The ruling regime in Damascus is primarily demanding a return to the 1974 Separation of Forces Agreement and an Israeli withdrawal from the territories captured after the collapse of the Assad regime in December 2024. (Source)

Foreign influence, including from Israel, does not dictate US's Iran policy, Vance tells Joe Rogan

US Vice President JD Vance downplayed Israel's alleged political influence on US policies in the Iran war while talking to Joe Rogan on the latter's podcast, broadcast on Wednesday. "There's a lot of talk about how much the Israeli government is influencing American politics. There are certainly certain people within the Israeli government who hate the deal. And we see exact evidence," Vance said.

He also referenced a story published on Tuesday in Timemagazine, which commented on how Trump's former election campaign manager, Brad Parscale, was linked with an Israeli government-funded campaign paying conservative influencers to push their audiences towards denouncing the ceasefire between the US and Iran.

"I definitely think you have seen this very discreet, extremely well-funded campaign to try to derail the negotiation and try to derail the deal," Vance told Rogan. The Time article is "worth reading because it lists a bunch of people who have quite literally been paid by a former Trump campaign person who was himself paid by certain elements within the Israeli government. And those people are attacking me viciously for quite literally trying to accomplish the negotiation objective that the president set for the country," he added. Rogan asked how these people are attacking Vance, to which the vice president said that "It's social media posts... leaking to reporters. They're attacking me obsessively, saying that we should not be negotiating with Iran. We should just keep the military campaign going indefinitely." (Read More)

JD Vance alleges secret Israeli campaign to derail Trump Iran deal

JD Vance alleges Israeli government elements funded a campaign attacking him over Iran talks, while also claiming Jeffrey Epstein had Israeli intelligence ties.

US Vice President JD Vance accused "certain elements within the Israeli government" of financing a campaign whose participants attacked him over the Trump administration's negotiations with Iran. Speaking during an interview on Joe Rogan's podcast, Vance claimed that a "very discreet, extremely well-funded campaign" had sought to derail negotiations and a ceasefire agreement.Vance cited a TIME report that examined a digital campaign run by Brad Parscale, a former Trump campaign manager, whose firm Clock Tower X was hired by global advertising agency Havas to conduct a campaign on behalf of the State of Israel.

According to Foreign Agents Registration Act filings reviewed by TIME, Israel agreed to pay Clock Tower X $1.5 million per month. The campaign was intended to produce online content aimed primarily at younger audiences and amplify messaging through social media and other digital channels. TIME reported that three people familiar with the operation described a network in which conservative influencers received suggested language through private group chats and were compensated according to the reach and engagement generated by their content.

Parscale denied that money from the Israel contract was used to pay influencers and rejected allegations that he had sought to undermine President Donald Trump's policies. Vance, however, described the report differently. "It lists a bunch of people who have quite literally been paid by a former Trump campaign person who was himself paid by certain elements within the Israeli government," Vance told Rogan. He alleged that those individuals were "attacking me viciously for quite literally trying to accomplish the negotiation objective that the president set for the country."

Asked by Rogan how he was being attacked, Vance pointed to social media posts and leaks to reporters. "They're attacking me obsessively, saying that we should not be negotiating with Iran. We should just keep the military campaign going indefinitely," he said. Vance said critics had accused him of being influenced by Qatar and other foreign governments and of taking "marching orders from Tucker Carlson." (Read More)

Netanyahu warns Iran: ‘Attack us, and we will hit you harder than last time’

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivered a message to Iran’s leaders on Tuesday, warning that should they decide to attack Israel, the Jewish state’s response will be greater than the last round. “Don’t count on it to be quiet if you attack us. Don’t count on a rerun. It will be a different broadcast—far more powerful,” the prime minister said while addressing the Negev Conference in Dimona, a regional forum focused on the economic development of Israel’s south. “We are prepared for any scenario,” he said. “Gone are the days when someone hits us, and we don’t even strike them with a single blow.” Israel and Iran last exchanged strikes on June 7, when Iran launched ballistic missiles at Israel in retaliation for an Israeli attack against its proxy Hezbollah in Lebanon. Israel hit Iran’s Mahshahr petrochemical complex in return.

Since then, the Islamic Republic has so far refrained from hitting Israel, even as U.S. and Iranian forces intensify their exchange of volleys. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps instead attacked Bahrain, Jordan and three tankers transiting the Strait of Hormuz in response to the latest U.S. strikes. Two of the vessels, the Mombasa and Al Bahiyah, which were linked to the United Arab Emirates, briefly caught fire, the Associated Press reported. The Emirati Defense Ministry said the attacks killed one mariner and wounded eight others. Bahrain’s Defense Force said its air defenses intercepted “a number of treacherous Iranian aerial attacks,” adding that “the deliberate use of missiles and drones to target civilians and private property constitutes a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law.”

A Jordanian military source told the state-run Petra News Agency that the army “successfully intercepted and shot down four missiles that breached Jordanian airspace from Iranian territory early Tuesday.” U.S. President Donald Trump ordered more strikes against Iranian regime targets on Monday in response to the Islamic Republic’s attacks on commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz.

Also on Monday, Trump told Fox News that the United States will be “taking over” the Strait of Hormuz. In a subsequent Truth Social post, Trump declared the Strait open and that, from “this point forward,” the United States will be known as “the guardian of the Hormuz Strait.” (Ed note: President Trump sees this war with Iran as political and can be resolved by his deal making. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sees this war as the survival of his nation. Remember that the peoples of the Middle East can afford to fight and lose all week long, the Jewish nation can't afford to lose once.) (Read More)

Trump’s Strategy Is a War Without Victory

Threatening Tehran with further attacks unless it returns to negotiations makes little sense when the president himself says the regime cannot be trusted—and when the Iranian people cannot overthrow it without meaningful outside support. There is something deeply strange about President Donald Trump’s insistence that Iran must return to the negotiating table, or face additional American strikes.

After all, Trump himself has repeatedly described the Iranian leadership as dishonest, fanatical and incapable of honoring its commitments. The recent memorandum and ceasefire have already broken down, while Tehran has again rejected negotiations under military pressure. Yet the administration’s answer is apparently to bomb Iran until the same regime agrees to sign another document.

What, precisely, would such an agreement accomplish? Treaty is valuable only when the parties signing it believe they are bound by it, or when an enforcement mechanism makes violating it prohibitively expensive. According to Trump’s own assessment, Iran’s rulers are not reliable negotiating partners. If that is true, returning to negotiations cannot itself be the strategic objective. At most, negotiations should formalize a reality that has already been created by overwhelming American power. Instead, Washington appears to be using military force not to produce a decisive outcome, but to bring Iran back into an endless diplomatic process. That is not a strategy. It is a cycle. (Ed note: Whatever the conclusion is to Iran, prophecy tells us that after this time, Persia will make a second appearance in Ezekiel 38:5.) (Read More)

U.S. Bombs Iran’s Bushehr, Home to Its Only Known Nuclear Power Plant (BUSHEHR)

U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), the arm of the Pentagon responsible for the Middle East, confirmed on Monday that its forces had conducted military strikes on a variety of targets throughout Iran, including the city of Bushehr, the home of the country’s only known functioning civilian power plant.

The strikes are part of a renewed campaign against the Iranian terrorist regime that began in response to Iran resuming violent attacks on seemingly random commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz in the first week of July, coinciding with a week-long mourning period in which the country held funerals for late dictator Ali Khamenei. President Donald Trump announced on February 28 that the former “supreme leader” was eliminated in the first American airstrikes as part of Operation Epic Fury, a campaign to erode Iran’s ability to pose a threat to its neighbors.

Operation Epic Fury was paused by a ceasefire in April, then allegedly fully concluded following the signing of a “memorandum of understanding” between Washington and Tehran in late June. As part of the memorandum, Iran committed to not interfering in free commerce in the Strait of Hormuz, a commitment it broke by resuming strikes on ships in early July. President Trump has since stated that the ceasefire with Iran is “over” but he is still willing to engage in negotiations with the country’s remaining leadership. “The Islamic Republic of Iran has asked us to continue ‘talks.’ We have agreed to do so, but the United States has stated to them, in no uncertain terms, that the Cease Fire is OVER! Thank you for your attention to this matter,” Trump wrote last week on his websites, Truth Social. (Read More)

Trump says US will strike Iranian power plants, bridges next week if no deal reached

US President Donald Trump said that the United States will target Iranian power plants and bridges next week, during an interview with Fox News's Trey Yingst on Wednesday. "We're going to hit them very hard tonight. We're going to hit them very hard tomorrow night. We're going to hit them very hard the night after," said Trump. "Will save energy targets for last. Next week it gets really bad for them." "We're gonna knock out all their power plants," he said. "We're gonna knock out all their bridges, unless they get to the table and negotiate."

Trump added that Iran has "no choice" but to agree to a deal, noting that US and Iranian representatives held talks on Tuesday. “I said, you better make a deal," noted Trump. "You're not going to have anything left.” President Trump also alluded to the effect of recent US Central Command (CENTCOM) strikes on the Islamic regime along the Strait of Hormuz.

"We're beating them up really badly," Trump said. "They have to be beaten up." "We're hitting them very, very hard," he added. We're hitting every single thing they have along the [Hormuz] shore." Trump noted the success of the renewed US military operations in the region, saying that it is "hard to find" targets left to strike. (Read More)

Trump Vows Iran Strikes Will Continue as Tehran Claims Attack on US Positions in Jordan

US forces launch a five-hour wave of strikes across southern Iran, while Kuwait intercepts suspected Iranian aerial targets and Tehran warns that oil exports will remain under threat. The military confrontation between the United States and Iran intensified overnight Tuesday into Wednesday, as President Donald Trump declared that American attacks would continue and Iranian forces claimed to have targeted US positions in Jordan.

US Central Command launched a new wave of strikes against Iranian military infrastructure at approximately 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time on Tuesday, according to reports. The operation was aimed at further weakening Iran’s ability to attack commercial vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz. The strikes came as American forces prepared to renew a maritime blockade targeting Iranian ports and coastal areas. The blockade was reportedly scheduled to take effect at 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time on Wednesday. CENTCOM later said the American attack lasted approximately five hours. Iranian locations reportedly targeted included Bushehr, Chabahar, Jask, Konarak, Abu Musa and Bandar Abbas. “These strikes will continue to inflict heavy losses on Iranian forces and degrade their ability to attack innocent civilians and commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz,” the US military said as the operation began.

Trump: “The strikes will continue”

Speaking to Fox News, Trump said Iranian energy sites were being reserved for a later stage of the campaign. “The strikes will continue until I say it is enough,” Trump said, adding that Iran still had “a little fight left,” but “not much.” The president also said American representatives had communicated with Iranian officials during the previous 24 hours, despite the continuing military escalation. Trump had earlier warned that the United States would strike Iran “very hard” during the night and again the following day.

Kuwait intercepts suspected Iranian targets

Kuwait’s military announced that it had intercepted suspected aerial targets sent from Iran after they entered Kuwaiti airspace. Kuwait’s state news agency also reported that firefighters had brought a blaze under control at a site targeted in what officials described as an Iranian attack. Six firefighting teams responded with support from the Kuwaiti military and National Guard. No casualties were reported, and officials said the damage was limited to property. Reports also emerged of Iranian missiles equipped with separating or multiple warheads being launched toward Bahrain. Footage circulating on Arab social media appeared to show such a projectile over Bahraini airspace, although the precise nature of the weapon could not be independently verified. Air-raid sirens were activated in Bahrain during the Iranian attacks. (Read more)

Government says $431 million allocated last month for 34 new West Bank settlements

The government announced Tuesday that NIS 1.3 billion ($431 million) was allocated by the security cabinet last month to fund the establishment of dozens of new West Bank settlements approved by Israel over the last three and a half years. The cabinet decision was formulated by the Prime Minister’s Office, and will be implemented by the Settlements Ministry and the Housing and Construction Ministry. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and Settlements Minister Orit Strock announced the details in a joint press conference, stating that the funds would be used to establish “pioneer neighborhoods” at the sites of newly approved settlements, which will include prefabricated homes, roads and infrastructure.

Smotrich, who has long opposed Palestinian statehood, is the head of the Religious Zionism party that draws much of its support from settlements. He is also in charge of the Defense Ministry Settlement Administration, which oversees settlement activities in the West Bank. Declaring the cabinet’s decision historic and a “day of celebration for Israel and settlements,” Smotrich thanked Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for his support.

“We are strengthening the security of the State of Israel, killing the idea of establishing a terrorist state in the heart of the country, and strengthening our hold on the homeland in Judea and Samaria,” Smotrich said in a statement, using the biblical term for the West Bank. “There has never been a Zionist-settlement decision of this size in the whole history of Zionism since it was founded,” Strock said. United Nations bodies, Palestinians and most countries view the settlements as illegal under international conventions — a stance rejected by Israel — and as a primary obstacle to peace. Palestinians want the West Bank and East Jerusalem as territory for their own future state.

The government has, during its tenure, approved 103 new West Bank settlements, an unprecedented number in the history of the settlement movement. The expedited establishment of 34 new settlements will run in parallel to the usual settlement development process, Smotrich said, and appears designed to establish facts on the ground before any potential new government can reverse or stall the establishment of these settlements. (Read More)

Trump backtracks from proposal to charge 20% toll for securing Strait of Hormuz

US President Donald Trump backtracks from an earlier assertion that Washington would charge a 20% toll for securing the Strait of Hormuz, declaring that the US will instead compensate those costs through investment deals with Gulf countries. “Based on highly productive conversations with Middle East leadership, I have decided to replace the 20% United States reimbursement fee with trade and investment deals that the various Gulf States will be making into the United States,” Trump writes on Truth Social.

It’s unclear whether Trump’s plan to charge a 20% toll would have ever worked or whether his claim of new investments from Gulf countries will end up being a repackaging of previously pledged investments that have yet to come in in full. 

Trump also claims oil is “flowing like never before” out of the Strait of Hormuz, thanks to the US military efforts in the region, adding that a blockade of Iranian ports is now in place. (Source)

Israel, Lebanon begin US-brokered talks in Rome

Israeli and Lebanese delegations began U.S.-mediated talks in Rome on Tuesday aimed at advancing the implementation of a framework agreement to end months of fighting in the border area with the Iran-backed Hezbollah terror group. The discussions are taking place at the U.S. Embassy in the Italian capital through Wednesday, and follow the deal reached in Washington on June 26 during the fifth round of negotiations between representatives of Beirut and Jerusalem. Arrangements for a potential Israeli withdrawal from Southern Lebanon and the deployment of Lebanese forces will be on the table, in accordance with the agreement, Reuters reported, citing officials familiar with the talks. The 14-point Israel-Lebanon Trilateral Framework Agreement also calls for the disarmament of Hezbollah, and Jerusalem has emphasized that an Israeli withdrawal will occur only once the threat from the Iranian terror proxy is removed. 

Israeli forces are positioned within a security zone extending about 10 km (6 miles) into Lebanon along the entire Israeli border. The June 26 agreement identified two “pilot zones” north and south of the Litani River in which Israeli troops would be replaced by the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF), while Hezbollah and other non-state armed groups would be disarmed. A U.S. official said last week that the U.S. military’s Central Command (CENTCOM) was coordinating with Lebanon and Israel to launch the pilot zones. A U.S. military delegation was in Lebanon over the weekend to discuss the plan in detail with the Lebanese army, sources told Reuters.

In a CBS News interview broadcast on Sunday, Israeli Ambassador to the United States Yechiel Leiter, who is leading the talks for Jerusalem, said the Rome meetings will focus on creating conditions for the LAF to assume control in designated areas so that Israel can begin a phased withdrawal—but only if the Iranian terror proxy is dismantled. “What the agreement with Lebanon does is completely remove Iran from the paradigm,” Leiter told “Face the Nation” moderator Margaret Brennan, adding that Jerusalem and Beirut “are on the same page” in seeking to push Hezbollah out for Israel’s security and Lebanon’s sovereignty.

He said Israel “can withdraw the moment that Hezbollah is dismantled,” but that the military will have to remain in the security zone if the terrorist group retains its arms, “because we’re not going to go back to a situation where our citizens are going to be threatened by an Iranian proxy firing missiles and building tunnels so they can attack, like Hamas did on Oct. 7,” referring to the 2023 mass murder and kidnappings in southern Israel led by the Gaza-based terrorist organization that sparked a multi-front war with Tehran and its regional terror proxies. Hezbollah renewed its rocket and drone attacks from Southern Lebanon against Israel on March 2, following the targeted killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei on the first day of “Operation Roaring Lion” on Feb. 28. (Read More)

Trump's push for an IDF withdrawal could force Israel to rethink its Syria strategy - analysis

For Israel, there is no real strategic or tactical need to keep up the friction with Syrian villages along the buffer zone - and a re-think may be necessary in the future.

US President Donald Trump may be pressuring Israel to withdraw forces from several areas along the border with Syria, according to a Tuesday Axios report. “President Trump told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a phone call Thursday that Israel should start redeploying its forces out of Syria and urged him to do the same in Lebanon, according to US and Israeli officials,” an Axios report by Barak Ravid noted on Tuesday.

This raises questions about where Israel might shift forces and which areas are in the spotlight. To understand Israel’s current posture in Syria, it’s worth understanding how we got here, starting when Israel conquered the Golan Heights from Syria in 1967. In 1973, after the war with Syria and Egypt led to a ceasefire, there was a new buffer zone created on the Golan between Israeli and Syrian forces, resulting in a 1974 ceasefire line.

The line is not a single line but several lines, one called Alpha and another called Bravo. "The Israel-Syria border consists of two lines which are separated by a 155-square-mile buffer zone," the IDF said in 2020. "This buffer zone lies in Syrian territory and is monitored by the UN. To the east of it is the Bravo Line that signifies the end of the buffer zone and the beginning of Syria. To the west is the Alpha Line, where the UN buffer zone ends and Israel begins.” (Ed note: All very interesting, but remember the prophecy found in Isaiah 17. Always keep one eye on the state of Syria.)    (Read More)

'They don't want you there': Trump tells Netanyahu to pull IDF troops from Syria, Lebanon - report

US President Donald Trump allegedly told Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that Israel should remove IDF troops from Syria and Lebanon during a phone call on Thursday, according to a Tuesday Axios report citing US and Israeli officials. Trump claimed that the presence of Israeli military personnel in Syrian territory could create tension and may lead to escalation, one US official told Axios. “They don’t want you there. You should redeploy,” Trump allegedly told Netanyahu, according to the official.

IDF sources told The Jerusalem Post on Tuesday evening that the report took them by surprise and they were unfamiliar with the reported phone call. The sources stated that there has been no change on the ground and that there were no indications that the situation would change imminently. The report came as Israel and Lebanon resumed peace talks in Rome to discuss the implementation of a trilateral framework between Israel, Lebanon, and the US.

The agreement, which was signed on June 26 in Washington, is aimed at disarming Lebanese terrorist group Hezbollah and facilitating the withdrawal of IDF troops from southern Lebanon. Under the framework agreement, Israel agreed to withdraw troops from two areas, allowing the Lebanese army to take control of the zones and implement measures to disarm Hezbollah. The call also reportedly took place one day after Trump met with Syrian President Ahmed Al-Sharaa on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey. (Ed note: President Trump, when are you going to fulfill your words and DISARM both Hamas and Hezbollah, and give Israel some peace?) (Read More)

Latest wave of US strikes targets Iran’s coastal defenses, missile and drone sites (BUSHEHR)

U.S. President Donald Trump ordered more strikes against Iranian regime sites on Monday in response to the Islamic Republic’s attacks on civilian-manned commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz. U.S. Central Command said it completed the “latest wave of strikes against Iran” at 10:15 p.m. Eastern on Monday, five and a half hours after the operation began at 4:45 p.m. CENTCOM struck military targets across Iran, including in Bushehr, Chah Bahar, Jask, Konarak, Abu Musa and Bandar Abbas, according to the statement. The attacks targeted coastal defense systems, missile and drone sites, and maritime capabilities.

“More than 50,000 U.S. service members are currently deployed across the Middle East. American forces remain vigilant, lethal, and ready,” CENTCOM stated. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps responded to the latest U.S. strikes by attacking Bahrain, Jordan and three tankers transiting the Strait of Hormuz, it said. Two of the vessels, the Mombasa and Al Bahiyah, which were linked to the United Arab Emirates, briefly caught fire, the Associated Press reported. The Emirati Defense Ministry said the attacks killed one mariner and wounded eight others. Bahrain’s Defence Force said its air defenses intercepted “a number of treacherous Iranian aerial attacks,” adding that “the deliberate use of missiles and drones to target civilians and private property constitutes a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law.”

A Jordanian military source told the state-run Petra News Agency that the army “successfully intercepted and shot down four missiles that breached Jordanian airspace from Iranian territory early Tuesday.” No injuries were reported in the attacks on Bahrain or Jordan. Trump told Hugh Hewitt on Monday that Pickaxe Mountain, an underground nuclear facility in Iran, remained “a possible target for a nice, big, fat shot right in the front door.” “I think that you’ll, maybe you’ll see that. I’ll tell them right now. Look, the fact is they have no air force. They have no navy. They have no nothing. All they do is talk, and they have fake press,” the president said. “We’re going to take out Pickaxe Mountain. Tell the Iranians to be ready.” (Read More)

B2 Bomber is Back: Trump Explicitly Threatens to Strike Iran’s Impenetrable Pickaxe Mountain Nuclear Facility

President Donald Trump has issued a direct threat against Iran's highly fortified underground nuclear installation known as Pickaxe Mountain, warning Tehran to prepare for an imminent strikes campaign against the deep granite fortress. A major military flashpoint has emerged in the high-stakes aerial campaign over the Persian Gulf as the White House identifies its next primary strategic target. President Donald Trump has issued an explicit warning to the leadership in Tehran, declaring that the United States military is actively targeting the highly protected subterranean complex known as Pickaxe Mountain. The targeted facility, which serves as a critical component of the Iranian nuclear program, is located deep inside the Zagros mountain range just south of the heavily contested Natanz uranium enrichment complex.

The aggressive declaration comes amid reports of heavy tactical operations, with the United States military confirming it has initiated a third consecutive night of targeted strikes against key Iranian assets. Explosions have already illuminated the coastal skylines of southern port cities like Bandar Abbas and Konarak, while regional forces launched missiles from naval positions in Bahrain. The threat to target the mountain fortress represents a massive escalation in the air campaign, raising serious questions about the limits of conventional airpower against deeply buried targets.

The president issued a clear and defiant statement regarding the highly fortified nuclear target during a press briefing, warning the adversary of what lies ahead. He stated, "We're gonna take out Pickaxe Mountain. Tell the Iranians to be ready. Let them know we're coming, okay? There's not a damn thing they can do about it." The facility itself is carved nearly one hundred meters into solid granite rock, making it highly resilient to conventional aerial bombardment and rendering normal bunker busters highly ineffective. 

To overcome such extreme physical fortifications, military analysts suggest the Pentagon would likely deploy the stealthy B2 Spirit bomber to deliver its most specialized payloads. The heavy stealth bomber is the only operational aircraft in the world capable of carrying the massive, thirty thousand pound GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator, a highly specialized bomb designed to burrow through thick rock and reinforced concrete before detonating. By deploying multiple heavy bombers to strike the exact same entry portals, the military aims to cave in the tunnel systems, sealing the nuclear operations inside. (Read More)

Trump weighs ordering ‘big fat shot’ on Iran’s Pickaxe Mountain nuclear site

US President Donald Trump says he will probably soon order a strike on the Pickaxe Mountain Iranian nuclear site.

Asked about the site, which was not among the three targeted by the US last year, Trump tells conservative talk show host Hugh Hewitt that the US has been closely surveilling it.

“Pickaxe is a possible target for a nice big fat shot right near the front door,” Trump says. "We see no activity there. They’re not doing well with their nuclear situation… We’ll probably give Pickaxe a shot relatively soon,” he adds.  (Ed note: Why is Pickaxe Mountain so important? The Pickaxe Mountain facility (also known as Mount Kolang Gaz La) is located in the Zagros Mountains near Natanz, Iran. This region falls within the borders of the ancient civilization of Elam.)   (Source)