US president urges Americans to accept slightly higher gas prices for the ‘great service’ of preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear bomb, dismisses concerns about conditions aboard aircraft carrier.
Saturday, August 15, 2026
Trump says he’ll hit Iran hard economically, will soon declare Hormuz ‘US territory’
US president urges Americans to accept slightly higher gas prices for the ‘great service’ of preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear bomb, dismisses concerns about conditions aboard aircraft carrier.
Trump wanted to cripple Iran - now he might be handing Tehran a victory - opinion
Trump wanted America to take the lead. America took ownership. Now America owns the outcome. Iran’s regime survived. Its nuclear ambitions remain unresolved. And now the Strait of Hormuz is leverage.
Rare glimpse inside Iran: The plan to topple the regime without Israeli help
The regime in Tehran is trying to convince the world that it emerged from the war stronger than ever, but testimony from inside Iran paints a different picture. In a special interview with Israel Hayom, an Iranian opposition activist reveals what is happening behind the ayatollahs' iron curtain. Nearly six months after the second Iran war broke out, the regime in Tehran is working hard to project an image of invincibility. Its senior officials describe the Strait of Hormuz as a "doomsday weapon" that brought the US to its knees. Drones and missiles are being launched at Arab countries around the clock. Maritime security in the Persian Gulf is under constant threat. Some would say the regime has only grown stronger, its position more firmly entrenched and its deterrence more powerful than ever.
Two slicks appear in Gulf as huge oil spill off Oman threatens disaster
One slick appeared off the southern tip of Weshm Island, while a smaller one was spotted near Sirri Island in the center of the Gulf.
Israeli strikes kill 11 in south Lebanon; IDF says raids in response to Hezbollah action
Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon killed at least 11 people on Saturday, including three children and two women, Lebanese authorities said, as Lebanon’s President Joseph Aoun accused Israel of sending a “clear message” ahead of the next round of US-sponsored negotiations between the countries Seven people were killed and two wounded when Israeli warplanes struck a home in Ansar, north of Tyre. Another strike in Deir al-Zahrani, north of Nabatieh, killed four people and wounded several others, according to Lebanon’s Health Ministry and state news media. The IDF confirmed launching airstrikes in southern Lebanon overnight, saying it struck Hezbollah infrastructure in response to an attack by the terror group on Israeli troops. However, the military has not commented on the Deir al-Zahrani strike.
A series of strikes were also reported in the Nabatieh area, including heavy attacks on the Ali Taher Ridge, beneath which Hezbollah has a major underground facility. The IDF said it struck Hezbollah infrastructure in both the Nabatieh area and Ansar, which are some 9 miles apart. “The strikes were carried out following an action by the Hezbollah terror organization against our forces in the Ali Taher Ridge area, which is located within the security zone where IDF troops are operating,” the military said, without immediately providing details on the Hezbollah attack.
Aoun condemned what he called the “ongoing Israeli attacks” on southern Lebanon and “repeated violations of the framework agreement” and international law protecting civilians, according to a statement from his office. He said the strikes, including the attack in Ansar, amounted to a “clear message on the negotiation process.” The comments came ahead of the next round of US-sponsored talks, expected to take place in Rome early next month. Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam also condemned the strikes. (Ed note: Ever notice that the Lebanese government never mentions when Hezbollah first attackes the IDF?) (Read More)
Hezbollah chief slams Lebanese government over accord with Israel
Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem criticizes Lebanese officials for "exposing the army to pressure" by implementing a US-backed framework agreement with Israel.
Katz moves to transfer Judea and Samaria civilian enforcement to police
The Israeli defense minister says the IDF should focus on fighting Palestinian terrorism and protecting Israeli communities, “not chase teenagers on the hilltops”
Friday, August 14, 2026
Cruz: Trump Avoided Naming Iran Regime Collapse as Objective Because ‘Phrase Regime Change Is Radioactive’
(Watch video around the 5:10 minute mark)
On Friday’s August 8th broadcast of the Fox News Channel’s “The Story,” Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) said that the Trump administration has stopped short of naming collapsing the regime in Iran as an objective, and “I think that’s because, after the Iraq War, the phrase regime change is radioactive.”
After Cruz advocated for arming the Iranian protesters to pursue the collapse of the Iranian regime, host Martha MacCallum asked, “So, how would you go down that road? We haven’t heard much about that since, in the early days — as you just pointed out — there was this push, that looked like regime change was what was going to happen, and we know Israel said they wanted to, essentially, undermine the regime until it collapsed of its own weight. That’s not where we seem to be right now. So, what’s a practical way to arm the people of Iran against their government? It feels like that moment has passed.”
Cruz answered, “Well, we have the capacity to do that. The
CIA has done that in other conflicts, where we’ve armed rebels standing up
against enemies of America. We have the capacity to get those weapons — and
you’re talking small arms. You’re not talking tanks and bazookas, but the
ability to fight back against the IRGC. We have that capability. (Read More)
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Editor's comments: There are credible reports coming from within Iran that the people of Iran are already arming themselves with weapons and waiting for just the right time to bring down their Islamic government regime. Is it possible that one day in the future, the current radical jihadist government and army presently in power are killed after a very bloody civil war by the people against them, based on a possible interpretation of Jeremiah 49:37-38? This war in Jer. 49:37-38 was not fulfilled by the Babylonian army according to historical records.
CLICK HERE to read the Dr. Bill Salus article entitled,
Has the Prophecy of Elam in Jeremiah 49:34-39 Been Historically Fulfilled?
New online poll suggests eight in ten would like to leave Iran
More than eight in 10 respondents to an Iran International Instagram poll said they would leave Iran if given the opportunity, reflecting deep frustration among those who took part over the country’s economic and social conditions.
The poll drew nearly 100,000 responses, with 83% saying they would emigrate and 17% saying they would stay. Economic hardship, inflation, social restrictions and uncertainty about the future featured prominently in comments from respondents considering leaving.
“We didn't have money to emigrate before; now we don't even have money to live in Iran,” one respondent wrote. Another said that with the exchange rate reaching 2 million rials to the US dollar, even getting to the border had become unaffordable.
Many emphasized that their desire to leave stems from a basic wish for stability, dignity, and a normal life without constant anxiety. "We only get one chance at life and youth, and I wish we could spend it somewhere in good spirits," one respondent wrote. "Why should we keep waiting years for Iran to be fixed?" (Read More)
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Editor comments: It is not hard to believe that if there was some kind of great disaster in Iran as predicted in Jeremiah 49:37, in which the Iranian government could no longer control the borders, that millions of people would jump at a chance to finally leave Iran and flee to countries around the world where they have family who left Iran during the 1979 revolution. (Jer. 49:36)
Israeli officials stunned by Iran’s rapid military recovery after 2026 war - exclusive
IDF, Mossad officials shocked for the second time in two years by the speed of Iranian post-war recovery • IDF seeing a stunningly speedy turnaround in ballistic missile threat.
Numerous foreign media reports have poked holes in specific aspects of Israel’s narrative of military success setting back Iran’s military industrial complex by years already dating back to March of this year, but for months, apolitical IDF expert officials held the line that the damage was so extensive that even if some specific claims were off, Israel’s general narrative of setting Iran back years held.
Iran Demands Gulf States Accept Dominance
Senior advisor to Supreme Leader Khamenei calls on Persian Gulf nations to recognize Iranian control over Strait of Hormuz, regardless of U.S. position. Mohammad Mohabbir, a senior advisor to Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has issued a stark call to Gulf states, urging them to accept Iranian control over the Strait of Hormuz. His message came with the assertion that the United States has proven itself "incapable of protecting you."
Iran hardliners see shift on US talks in Rezaei appointment
Mohsen Rezaei’s appointment as Iran’s new security chief has opened a battle over its political meaning, with ultra-hardliners portraying the removal of his predecessor as evidence that the balance in Tehran has shifted against advocates of negotiations with Washington. Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei appointed Rezaei as his representative on the Supreme National Security Council (SNSC), after which President Masoud Pezeshkian named him secretary of the body at the center of Iran’s security and foreign policy decision-making.
Report: Kushner planning Israel visit to advance Trump Gaza plan
Jared Kushner is set to travel to Israel next week to coordinate the White House's Gaza transition plan with Prime Minister Netanyahu, sources tell Axios.
Board of Peace’s Gaza envoy denies financial deal with Hamas: ‘Not on the table’
$400 million will pay ‘legitimate’ contractors, severance to Hamas civil servants not hired by new technocratic government, sources tell ToI; NCAG to audit Hamas books.
Israel not doing enough to quell West Bank settler violence, White House official says - report
The United States believes Israel is not doing enough to prevent violent settler attacks in the West Bank, KAN News reported on Wednesday, citing a senior White House official. According to the report, the official plans to discuss the issue with the Prime Minister's Office and expects it to explain why the security establishment is unable to quell the violence. The report comes amid the ongoing violence in the area of the West Bank Palestinian village of Kusra, where IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Eyal Zamir held a situational assessment on Wednesday with Central Command chief Maj.-Gen. Avi Bluth, Operations Directorate chief Maj.-Gen. Itzik Cohen, and Operations Division chief Brig.-Gen. Barak Hiram.
...It added that "alongside the central mission and ongoing activity to thwart terrorism, while strengthening the defense of the settlements, the chief of staff instructed that the rules of conduct and use of force in incidents of this kind be reiterated to all forces in the Judea and Samaria sector." Earlier on Wednesday, the IDF began lifting the siege imposed by a group of settlers on two homes in Kusra, which is located in Area B of the West Bank. Dozens of settlers who arrived in the area clashed with the military, dismantled fences, and blocked roads. (Ed note: Area A is controlled by the Palestinian Authority (PA) and is the most densely populated area. In Area B, the PA exercises control over the administraion such as education and health, and Israel takes care of the security. Area C, which covers about 60% of the West Bank has about 300K Palestinians and about 400K Israeli settlers. And all of the area of Judea and Samaria is the official area of the Jew, given to them by God.) (Read More)
‘Just like before Oct. 7’: Gaza border surveillance troops say they’re seeing terror activity
Kushner and Mladenov to visit Israel next week to lean on Netanyahu to restore halt on strikes, adhere to humanitarian commitments, in bid to advance Hamas disarmament, source says.
Jordan’s baptism-site boom could reshape Israel’s quiet eastern border
Analysis: A $120 million expansion at Al-Maghtas is expected to bring hundreds of thousands of visitors to the Jordan River, raising new surveillance, drone and crowd-control challenges directly across from Israel’s Kasr al-Yahud crossing.
Syria Joins Saudi-Pakistan-Turkey Alliance
Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan defense pact raises questions about Syria's future alignment and Israeli military freedom of action on Golan Heights.
Thursday, August 13, 2026
'I think we'll keep it': Trump says US controls Hormuz, IDF believes blockade is 'highly effective'
US President Donald Trump on Wednesday said the United States is in control of the Strait of Hormuz. "The USA has total control over the Strait of Hormuz. I THINK WE WILL KEEP IT! Our Naval Blockade is being called, by everyone, 'A WALL OF STEEL,' and there is nothing Iran can do about it," he wrote on his Truth Social platform. "They have no Navy, they have no Air Force, their remaining soldiers are unpaid, the IRGC is decimated and fleeing, and their 'Leadership' is uncertain, at best!"
Trump continued. "They have No Money - Their country is “shot.” All they have is FAKE NEWS and 300% INFLATION, and getting worse! Iran is all talk and no action, the Bully of the Middle East No Longer." "Praise be to Allah!" Trump concluded.
Israel is highly satisfied with the continued US maritime blockade of Iran, assessing that it is having a dramatic impact on the Iranian economy. Two Israeli officials told The Jerusalem Post that during a Security Cabinet meeting about a week ago, IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Eyal Zamir told ministers: “The blockade of Iran is highly effective. The economic crisis there is getting worse.”
One of the blockade’s most significant effects has been on Iran’s ports and maritime trade routes. Because the Iranian economy depends heavily on those routes to import and export goods, raw materials, fuel, and other essential products, the blockade has caused sustained disruptions to port operations and supply chains. (Read More)
Pakistan to Trump: Tone Down Iran Rhetoric
Mediators between Washington and Tehran say progress is possible but will take time, as Iran feels it holds leverage in negotiations. Behind the scenes, diplomatic efforts to broker an understanding between Washington and Tehran are continuing, with regional Arab and Muslim nations serving as intermediaries. Pakistan has emerged as the lead mediator in these efforts.
Iran could prolong war to outlast Trump, IRGC adviser says
A senior adviser to the commander of Iran's Revolutionary Guards said Tehran could deliberately prolong the war until US President Donald Trump leaves office to wear down its adversaries and deter future attacks. "One way is to prolong this war until we get to the next term of the presidency and cause attrition, so that if anyone else wants to attack Iran, they will know there is a cost," Mohammad Reza Naghdi told PBS NewsHour on Tuesday. Naghdi made the comment after being asked directly whether Iran's objective was to drag out the war and wait until Trump was out of office. He said Iran needed to establish enough deterrence to prevent future attacks. "We have to attain deterrence so that the enemy never dares to attack us, so we can live with security," he said.
His comments came as shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has fallen sharply amid the conflict and attacks on commercial vessels.
Naghdi was also asked why Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei had not appeared publicly during the war. "Naturally, it is due to security," Naghdi said when asked whether his absence was for security reasons. "Certainly, there is no other reason." Asked whether he had personally seen Khamenei, Naghdi declined to answer. "Let's leave this matter alone," he said. PBS said it asked the White House for a response to Naghdi's remarks. "It would be wise for Iran to agree to a deal," the White House said in a statement cited by PBS, adding: "Otherwise they know what will happen." (Source)
US rejects Katz’s announcement of long-term troops in southern Lebanon
The US criticizes Defense Minister Katz’s call for a long-term presence in southern Lebanon, urging adherence to the agreed security framework.
Emphasizing Washington's commitment to Lebanese sovereignty and territorial integrity, the official added, "The Framework clearly includes a conditions-based path for progressive redeployment tied to verified disarmament of Hezbollah and the dismantlement of their infrastructure. The Lebanese Armed Forces are implementing the first pilot zones, and the United States will continue to support full implementation of that process."
Washington's pushback follows remarks made by Katz while visiting troops stationed in Lebanese border villages. During the visit, he directed the military to get ready operationally and logistically for an extended deployment, ensuring the territory is stripped of subterranean and terrorist infrastructure. "We see here the Beaufort Ridge after the tunnels there were destroyed. The IDF conducted a maneuver here through the Litani in a heroic operation and, with great skill, defeated Hezbollah and took the Beaufort, which defends Metula and the communities of the north and on IDF soldiers and threatens all Hezbollah areas on the horizon," Katz stated. (Read More)
Nations Approved to Disarm Hezbollah
Under U.S. supervision, Israel and Lebanon have reached agreement on which countries will deploy forces to southern Lebanon as part of efforts to disarm the militant group. Israel, Lebanon's government, and the United States have reached what international sources are calling breakthrough understandings in negotiations toward a trilateral agreement that would include the disarmament of Hezbollah. According to multiple reports, the parties have now agreed on which nations will be permitted to deploy forces to assist in the disarmament process.
IDF strikes Hamas terror cell, resuming preemptive strikes despite Trump's Gaza deal
After curbing its operations in line with US instructions since the July deal took effect, the IDF is confident on removing ongoing threats in Gaza, military sources said.
Erdogan accuses Israel of trying to 'erase' Palestinian issue
Turkish President Erdogan meets PA chairman Mahmoud Abbas in Ankara, accusing Israel of exploiting regional turmoil and pledging support for Palestinian statehood.
Gush Etzion: Dozens of Palestinian Arabs riot, nine arrested
Judea and Samaria District Police arrest nine Palestinian Arabs after dozens attack Jews at Mikneh Avraham Farm.
Wednesday, August 12, 2026
Iran digs in on demands over Hormuz as mediators assert progress made toward deal
An Iranian official vowed Tuesday not to reopen the Strait of Hormuz unless the US gives in to all of its demands, while key mediators Qatar and Pakistan indicated that “some sort of a deal” was nevertheless close to being reached. Mohsen Rezaei, the head of Iran’s National Security Council, said Tuesday that the US must end the war — including in Gaza and Lebanon — release frozen Iranian assets, and meet the rest of Iran’s conditions, according to the semi-official Tasnim outlet. A potential agreement on the strait between Iran and Oman will not guarantee the opening of the strait, he added.
Wadephul said on X that he had emphasized “the Strait of Hormuz needs to be opened unconditionally ensuring free and safe navigation for all.” Meanwhile, Araghchi asserted to reporters that Iran has “astonished the whole world” in the war against the United States and Israel, proving “that it is a tough and invincible power.” But Doha and Islamabad — key mediators between Washington and Tehran — appeared to express optimism on Tuesday that a deal could be close to finalized. (Read More)
Trump warns Iran of severe consequences
US president claims total control of Strait of Hormuz and says Tehran has lost regional dominance. He also addressed reports of being smuggled out of Turkey in a catering truck due to Iranian threats on his life. US President Donald Trump spoke sharply about Iran during an overnight conversation with White House reporters aboard Air Force One as he returned from Ohio. "The Iranian situation is going excellently, just absolutely excellently," the president declared.
Smotrich to Netanyahu: Don't let Abbas return to Ramallah
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich calls on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to bar Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas from returning to Judea and Samaria following visit abroad. 'Palestinian Terrorist Authority must be dismantled.'
"I call on the Prime Minister to seize this opportunity and prevent him from reentering Israel and Judea and Samaria. The Palestinian Terrorist Authority must be dismantled."Last year, despite signing a decree ordering an end to the Palestinian Authority’s (PA) policy of paying stipends to terrorists who murdered Israelis - also known as "pay-to-slay." Abbas told the Fatah Revolutionary Council that the PA would continue its payments to terrorists even if it only had a single penny left. The PA chairman stated that the prisoners and "martyrs" are the "most dear" to Palestinian Arabs, and he would not allow payments to them to be reduced.
That same year,Wafa reported that the Palestinian Authority's General Intelligence Service had transferred financial aid to the families of terrorists. Adnan Abu Ayash, director of general intelligence in the Jenin district, said that the move was being carried out in accordance with Mahmoud Abbas' declaration that "even if there is not a penny left, it will be given to the families of the shahids and prisoners. A report by i24NEWS states that in 2025 the Palestinian Authority transferred approximately half a billion shekels in payments to terrorists and their families. Details presented during a cabinet meeting revealed that 395 million shekels were allocated to terrorists currently imprisoned, while 92 million shekels were paid to families of terrorists killed while carrying out attacks. Terrorists released during the recent hostage agreements were also granted a special payment. (Ed note: That's right. Abbas is still handing out money to the families of terrorists after they kill Jews.) (Read More)
IDF tightens siege on Hezbollah terrorists trapped in underground Lebanon complex
Lebanese reports say Israeli forces cut water lines and block drone resupply attempts at the strategic Ali Taher ridge, where dozens of Hezbollah operatives remain holed up in underground tunnels.
IDF forces are tightening pressure on dozens of Hezbollah terrorists believed to be trapped inside an underground complex in southern Lebanon’s strategic Ali Taher ridge, cutting water supply lines and seeking to prevent supplies from reaching them, according to Lebanese reports Tuesday.
The Hezbollah operatives remain barricaded inside the underground infrastructure and have not been defeated or forced to surrender, the reports said. They have reportedly attempted to bring equipment and supplies into the complex using drones as Israeli forces work to isolate the site. The military has not publicly commented on the operation and has referred questions about it to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office.
Israeli forces are seeking to block attempts to smuggle supplies into the complex as they maintain surveillance and fire control over large parts of the area, according to information about the operation. In some sections, Israel is exercising control through observation and the ability to strike targets rather than through the physical presence of ground troops. That allows the military to use airstrikes against parts of the complex while limiting the exposure of IDF soldiers operating on the ground. (Ed note: The Ali al-Taher Ridge is located in southern Lebanon, situated north of the Litani River between the towns of Nabatieh al-Fawqa and Kfar Tebnit. The Ridge is located about 18 miles east of the coastal city of Tyre.) (Read More)



























