Eight Arab, Islamic nations accuse Israel of derailing Trump's Gaza peace plan

In a joint statement, the countries accused Israel of undermining efforts to fully end the war with Hamas in Gaza and derailing Trump’s push to cement conditions necessary for long-lasting peace.

The foreign ministries of the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Jordan, Indonesia, Pakistan, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt condemned Israel’s rejection of the Gaza Board of Peace’s (BoP) 15-point roadmap for implementing US President Donald Trump’s peace plan in a joint statement released on Sunday. In the statement, the countries accused Israel of undermining efforts to fully end the war with Hamas in Gaza and derailing Trump’s push to cement conditions necessary for long-lasting peace.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected the proposed plan on August 9 during a cabinet meeting, stating that “the IDF will not carry out any withdrawal until Hamas is genuinely disarmed.” The BoP’s plan, detailed by BoP head Nickolay Mladenov in May, outlined that Hamas disarmament and IDF withdrawal would occur in stages, continuing as progress is verified.

The joint statement emphasized that Hamas’s acceptance of the plan was a “vital milestone” in the Palestinian terrorist group's disarmament, a move that Hamas has previously refused to engage in. The foreign ministers called for the US to “enforce Israel’s full compliance with the commitments and arrangements envisaged under the Comprehensive Plan,” despite Netanyahu’s rejection.

They continued to claim that Israel “bears direct and full responsibility for any consequences resulting from its continued rejection, obstruction, delay or non-compliance, including any resulting deterioration of the situation on the ground and disruption of ending the war in Gaza.” The ministers asserted that the full and immediate implementation of the plan is urgent and necessary in order to obtain security and safety for Gazans. (Ed Note: Are you reading this? It's OK for Hamas to continue to fire at the IDF, but if the IDF returns fire and goes after Hamas, that is a terrible thing, and PM Netanyahu is also a terrible person for allowing such defense.) (Read More)

Hamas demands Board of Peace compel Israel to honor Gaza peace plan

Following high-level talks in Egypt with US envoy Jared Kushner, Hamas demands the Board of Peace compel Israel to fulfill its commitments under the Gaza plan.

In the wake of talks in Egypt with US President Donald Trump’s special envoy Jared Kushner, the Hamas terrorist organization announced on Sunday that it requested the Board of Peace to “compel" Israel into accepting a peace blueprint for Gaza. In an official public statement, the group declared that it called upon both mediating nations and the Board to “compel the occupation to implement all its obligations under the first phase, end all violations, halt killings and incursions, [and] approve the roadmap for the second phase" of the ceasefire arrangement engineered by Washington.

Earlier Sunday reports from Axios outlined details regarding Kushner’s Cairo session with Hamas leaders, during which the American representative pressed the organization to carry out its pledge to lay down arms. This diplomatic gathering marked Kushner’s initial direct interaction with Hamas leadership since the signing of an accord to end Gaza hostilities last October. The discussions occurred as the Trump administration and its Board of Peace endeavor to transition both Hamas and Israel into the subsequent phase of the United States' 20-point peace architecture.

Accompanying Kushner at the summit were former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, an executive member of the board, alongside Nickolay Mladenov, the high representative for the Board of Peace. Representing Hamas at the table was the terror group’s political chief Khalil al-Hayya. Regional participants included Qatari diplomat Ali al-Thawadi, Egyptian intelligence director Hassan Rashad, and a high-ranking official from Turkey.

According to an insider familiar with the dialogue, the Cairo conference was designed to convert Hamas’s commitments regarding Gazan demilitarization into verifiable, concrete measures. Kushner is slated to travel to Israel on Monday for a sit-down with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. A source informed Axios that those deliberations are expected to center on "corresponding steps" required on the part of Israel. (Ed note: "compel Israel" to stop hitting Hamas back after they have hit the IDF. Both Hamas and Hezbollah will never stop hitting at Israel, it's their religion to wipe out the Jew.) (Read More)

Kushner, Blair, BoP head Mladenov meet Hamas delegation in Cairo over Gaza roadmap, sources say

Hamas, US, and Board of Peace delegations discuss disarmament, decommissioning of terror infrastructure • Talks also included IDF withdrawal and Gaza's reconstruction, source tells 'Post'.

US envoy Jared Kushner, former British prime minister Tony Blair, and Gazan Board of Peace (BoP) Director-General Nikolay Mladenov met with a Hamas delegation in Cairo on Sunday to discuss the implementation of the BoP’s 15-point roadmap for the Gaza Strip, a source familiar with the matter told The Jerusalem Post. The source said that the objective of the meeting was to translate the steps outlined in Mladenov’s roadmap into concrete, verifiable actions aimed at maintaining the ceasefire between Hamas and Israel and removing Hamas from power in Gaza.

The meeting also covered the transfer of all governing responsibilities in the Strip to the technocratic National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG), as well as the deployment of the International Stabilization Force (ISF). According to the source, the US and Hamas delegations also discussed the decommissioning of Hamas weapons and terror infrastructure, IDF withdrawal, and reconstruction and humanitarian relief efforts in Gaza.

The source told the Post that “there can be no ambiguity: Hamas must relinquish governing authority and all weapons and military infrastructure. And Gaza can never again be a source of terror for Israel.” Additionally, Kushner, Mladenov, and Blair will meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other senior Israeli officials on Monday, with the aim of advancing Trump’s 20-point plan for the Gaza Strip.

“The United States and Israel agree on the end state, which is a demilitarized Hamas. We will hear the concerns raised and discuss the next steps. What matters is that both sides agree on the desired outcome and are working to find ways to accelerate progress,” a BoP source told the Post. The council maintains that there are “no significant gaps” between the BoP and Israel and that it is possible to reach a point where the process moves to the next stage of the plan, namely the disarmament of Hamas. (Read More)

Iran Reveals Direct Control of Hezbollah

Senior Iranian leaders publicly acknowledge ongoing direct communication with Hezbollah commanders on the front lines, including operational guidance. Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, speaker of Iran's parliament, publicly acknowledged in a speech that Tehran maintains its commitment to Hezbollah and seeks to maintain the upper hand on the Lebanese front. In his remarks, he revealed the extent of Iran's direct involvement in directing attacks from Lebanon toward Israel.

Ghalibaf stated: "I am in direct contact with Hezbollah, including personal conversations with commanders and fighters on the front lines. I know each young man on the firing line personally. They will not break the line of resistance." The Iranian official's comments came amid reports of intensive Israeli strikes on the Ali Taher area, where numerous Hezbollah operatives are reportedly entrenched in what has been described as a strategic underground complex belonging to the terrorist organization.

Amir Khatami, head of Iran's armed forces, also addressed the situation in similar terms: "We will not retreat until the United States and Israel are defeated in the region, Iran's demands are met, and the enemy surrenders. We will not accept escalation in Lebanon against our brothers." (Source)

IDF Readies for Extended Lebanon Combat

Israeli forces continue operations to destroy terror infrastructure on Ali Taher ridge and in Beaufort as Hezbollah attempts to strike troops in the area. The Israel Defense Forces is preparing for the possibility of several days of intensive combat in Lebanon, according to reports Sunday evening, as tensions escalate over ongoing Israeli military operations on the Ali Taher ridge and in the Beaufort area of southern Lebanon. Channel 12 News reported that the IDF and Israeli leadership remain committed to completing the destruction of terror infrastructure in these strategic locations. While some of the terror facilities have been eliminated, others remain operational. Hezbollah, for its part, views control of these areas as strategically vital and has been attempting to strike Israeli soldiers operating there.

The heightened alert follows an incident Saturday in which three IDF soldiers were seriously wounded near the Ali Taher ridge. In response, the Israeli military launched extensive overnight strikes between Saturday and Sunday that Lebanese sources described as a "belt of fire" across southern Lebanon. Sunday morning, the IDF announced it had eliminated Abu Hassan Alaa, a senior commander in Hezbollah's Badr Unit, in a strike near the town of Deir al-Zahrani.

According to the military spokesman, the targeted killing was carried out in response to the terror organization's activities against Israeli forces operating in the security zone. The spokesman added that in his role, the operative had been involved in advancing terror activities in the field, including launching explosive drones at Israeli forces in southern Lebanon. (Read More)

Hezbollah disarmament 'integral' to Lebanon-Israel security process, US official tells 'Post'

The spokesperson added that the terror organization bears sole responsibility for Israel's presence on Lebanese soil, saying, “This is precisely why Hezbollah must be disarmed and dismantled."

The United States reaffirmed on Sunday its support for a security process aimed at strengthening stability along the Israel-Lebanon border following a recent escalation, stressing that the disarmament of Hezbollah is an essential component of the framework A US State Department spokesperson told The Jerusalem Post that the “pilot zone” process remains the only viable path toward achieving long-term peace and security for both Lebanon and Israel. “We look forward to the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF)'s completion of clearance operations in the first pilot zones and, after clearance is verified, the process will expand,” said the spokesperson.

The spokesperson emphasized that Hezbollah’s disarmament is an integral part of the process, signaling that Washington views the removal of the Iran-backed group’s military capabilities as a central element of any lasting security arrangement. “The United States will continue to support the Trilateral Framework in keeping with our interest in regional stability, the prevention of further conflict, and [US] President [Donald] Trump's agenda of promoting peace between nations,” he added.

Washington further delivered an unusually direct assessment of Hezbollah’s role in Lebanon, blaming the terrorist organization for the country’s economic and security challenges and arguing that its continued armed presence is incompatible with Lebanon’s long-term stability “Hezbollah has been the primary obstacle to Lebanon's economic recovery, the only blemish on its international reputation, and the biggest threat to the safety and stability of Lebanon,” the spokesperson said. He added that the terror organization bears sole responsibility for Israel's presence on Lebanese soil, saying, “This is precisely why Hezbollah must be disarmed and dismantled." (Ed note: Any bets on whether or not Hamas or Hezbollah will voluntarily disarm any time soon?) (Read More)

Israeli strikes reported in south Lebanon as Defense Minister Katz vows to ‘settle scores’

Reported nighttime attacks come day after three soldiers were seriously injured by Hezbollah drone; IDF names second senior Hezbollah commander killed in Saturday strikes.

Lebanese media reported Israeli airstrikes in the Ali Taher Ridge in southern Lebanon Saturday overnight, a day after three Israeli soldiers were seriously wounded by an explosive drone launched by Hezbollah. The reported strikes came hours after residents of the Upper Galilee were notified by local authorities that explosions were expected to be heard due to IDF activity in Lebanon. With fighting threatening to ramp up in Lebanon and in Gaza, Defense Minister Israel Katz said in a Sunday morning post on X: “No score on any front will remain unsettled.”

He added: “We will forcefully defend our soldiers and citizens.” His comments come after overnight reports of strikes in southern Lebanon, following an attack on troops early Saturday in which three soldiers were wounded. Israel has not confirmed the reports. Earlier Israeli strikes killed 11 in Lebanon, according to local authorities on Saturday, including three children and two women. On Sunday, the Israel Defense Forces said it had killed a senior Hezbollah commander in an airstrike in the southern Lebanon town of Deir al-Zahrani the previous day. It said the Saturday morning strike on Ali Muhammad Fakhr al-Din came in response to a Hezbollah explosive drone attack in the predawn hours Saturday that seriously wounded three soldiers.

Lebanese media reported that the Deir al-Zahrani strike on Saturday morning killed two people. Al-Din, also known as Abu Hassan Alaa, was identified by the IDF as a “senior commander” in Hezbollah’s Badr regional division. The regional unit is tasked with the area north of the Litani River. The IDF said that as part of his role, Hassan Alaa took part in numerous attacks on Israeli troops in southern Lebanon. The statement from the IDF did not address the claims of overnight strikes in southern Lebanon. The army had announced previously that among those killed Saturday was Ali Samir Al-Haj Hassan, a battalion commander in Hezbollah’s elite Radwan Force, who was hit in a strike in the town of Ansar. (Ed note:The picture above was taken in the southern Lebanese coastal city of Sidon, and shows lines of cars as people flee their city on August 15, 2026.)    (Read More)

Houthis in Crisis After Saudi Strikes

Senior sources within the Yemen-based militant group report severe manpower shortages and organizational strain after Saudi Arabia launched coordinated strikes in response to Houthi blockade threats. Senior figures within the Houthi terror organization report that a new front of conflict with Saudi Arabia is inflicting significant damage on the group, which is still recovering from losses sustained over the past two years at the hands of both the United States and Israel.

According to Arab media reports citing informed sources, the Houthis are experiencing a severe manpower crisis following a series of coordinated and deadly Saudi strikes, reportedly carried out with American assistance. The Yemeni militant organization appears to have adopted a strategy reminiscent of Russia's approach to filling gaps in its fighting forces.

Houthi authorities have begun offering mass, immediate releases from prison to anyone willing to join the organization's ranks, regardless of the nature or severity of their crimes.Senior figures with knowledge of the group's internal situation indicated that this represents one of many signs of erosion in the organization's strength, resulting from a coordinated regional effort to weaken it and possibly, in the near future, to bring about its collapse. (Source)

Iranian military chief places $30,000 bounty on killed, captured US soldiers

A $30,000 reward for captured or killed United Statesservice members has been announced by Iranian Army Commander-in-Chief Amir Hatami, the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) revealed in a Sunday post on X/Twitter. The reward will reportedly be granted to any Iranian soldier from "the Iranian people."

"Given the large volume of requests to participate in the financial jihad, a plan was prepared according to which, for every person who kills or captures and hands over an American aggressor force, the Islamic Republic of Iran Army, with the support of the loved ones participating in the financial jihad and under its own guarantee, will receive a gift equivalent to $30,000 or 5 billion Tomans. Zealous Iranian women who succeed in this action will also receive double the reward," Hatami stated. 

"The weapon of any person who succeeds in killing an American aggressor will be purchased at double the price and will receive a new weapon. The individual's weapon will also be kept in a planned museum," he added. "The Americans made many claims about their military power, and through this, they had received a lot of ransoms and money, but the war with Iran broke that hegemony. America no longer has the authority it once had, and the sign of this is the movement of countries towards other paths to generate security for themselves," Hatami said.

Hatami also denounced US President Donald Trump'sstatements that he would declare the Strait of Hormuz as a "territory of the United States" after Iran is defeated. "The delusional US president is trying hard to create a winning image of himself. But today, few people in the world take him seriously. The image that the Western media itself is broadcasting of America today is the image of a loser. The image of someone who hides in a food truck out of fear and leaves other members of the government and journalists on a plane that the US Secret Service claims was under threat is the image of a big loser," Hatami added, referencing the Secret Servicesmuggling Trump onto a different plane after leaving the NATO summit in Turkey in July. (Ed note: Where has this clown been hiding?) (Read More)

Israel-Lebanon talks said to include request to relocate Jewish graves to Israel

Israel has requested the transfer of the remains of Jews buried in cemeteries in Lebanon to Israel as part of negotiations between Jerusalem and Beirut over a permanent agreement, according to a report on Monday. The Israeli side has pointed to a large number of Jewish graves in Beirut and Sidon which belong to people who have relatives currently living in Israel, Hezbollah-affiliated Lebanese newspaper Al-Akhbar reported.

Jews resided in Lebanon for centuries. Lebanon was the only Arab country whose Jewish population grew after the establishment of Israel in 1948, reaching around 10,000 people. But the community quickly dwindled after that, numbering in the low hundreds in the 1970s, and has since shrunk to just a few dozen at most today. The issue was reportedly raised in the context of talks over Lebanese prisoners who were detained during the war in Lebanon and are being held in Israel, whose release Lebanon is demanding.

According to the report, Israel proposed transferring the remains from Lebanon as part of what it called a “civilian prisoner exchange deal,” which would include the transfer of the remains and the release of only some of the detained Lebanese, excluding Hezbollah operatives. The Saudi Asharq News TV station reported last week that the talks in Rome included a “legal” track which dealt with Lebanese prisoners held by Israel — separate from detained Hezbollah operatives.  (Ed note: Beirut was widely known as the "Paris of the Middle East" from about 1955 to 1975. Beirut served as a major financial, intellectual, and tourist center drawing international celebrities, writers, and the global elite.)      (Read More)

IDF tank hit by Hamas explosive device in ‘Yellow Line area’

An Israel Defense Forces tank on Saturday drove over an explosive charge planted by Hamas in the southern Gaza Strip, the military said. There were no injuries in the incident, which took place during Givati Infantry Brigade operations in the “Yellow Line area,” the IDF said. No further details were provided. In a separate incident, Israeli troops killed a pair of terrorists in Gaza who crossed the Yellow Line in an attempt to sabotage IDF equipment, the army said. The soldiers opened fire and eliminated the threat, said the IDF, which labeled it a “grave” violation of the ceasefire terms. On Thursday, the IDF targeted and killed Hudhaifa Khaled Suleiman Qawari, a company commander in the Khan Yunis Brigade of Hamas’s “military” wing.

Throughout the war, Qawari took part in training the company’s terrorists, in transferring weapons throughout the southern Gaza Strip, and in advancing efforts to rebuild Hamas’s military capabilities, the IDF said. “Prior to the strike, steps were taken to mitigate harm to civilians, including the use of precise munitions and aerial surveillance,” the military added. In a separate post on Friday, the IDF confirmed that two weeks ago, it killed a Hamas company commander in the northern Gaza Strip who had held “numerous” hostages in captivity.

Muhammad Bassam Muhammad Mushtaha served as a company commander in the Shati Battalion in the Hamas’s “military” wing, the army said. He infiltrated Israeli territory on Oct. 7, 2023, and participated in the Hamas-led massacre that left roughly 1,200 people dead in the northwestern Negev. The IDF gave a partial list of the hostages whom Mushtaha held in captivity: Tsachi Idan, Cpl. Noa Marciano, Ziv Berman, Omri Miran, Ori Megidish, Naama Levy and Matan Angrest. (Read More)

Hamas documents reveal long-term plan to open a northern front against Israel

Captured Hamas documents reveal more than a decade of efforts to establish a military infrastructure in Lebanon in coordination with Hezbollah and Iran, including plans for rockets, a 2,000-man fighting force and more.

Captured Hamas documents seized by the IDF in Gaza reveal that the terrorist organization spent more than a decade building a military infrastructure in Lebanon, in close coordination with Hezbollah and Iran, with the goal of opening a second front against Israel. The findings are detailed in a new study by the Meir Amit Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center.
According to the documents, senior Hamas officials met as early as 2012 with Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and representatives of Iran's Quds Force to formulate a plan for establishing a Hamas military force in Lebanon. The initiative included the creation of combat units, a rocket-launching network, preparations for cross-border infiltrations into Israel, and the procurement and production of weapons.

The documents indicate that by the time of Operation Guardian of the Walls in 2021, the infrastructure had already become operational. During the conflict, Hamas launched rockets from Lebanese territory with Hezbollah's approval, while a joint operations room in Beirut coordinated activities between Hamas, Hezbollah, and Iranian operatives.

Following the operation, Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar reportedly pushed to significantly expand the project. Documents from 2022 describe plans to build a force of approximately 2,000 fighters intended to operate alongside Hezbollah's elite Radwan Force and participate in cross-border attacks against Israel. Although the full plan was never realized, Hamas's military wing in Lebanon joined Hezbollah's campaign following the October 7 war and claimed responsibility for multiple attacks against northern Israel. (Read More)

IDF strikes Hezbollah command center after attack seriously wounds three soldiers in s. Lebanon

The IDF struck a Hezbollah headquarters in the Ansar area in southern Lebanon overnight Friday, after terrorists seriously wounded three IDF soldiers in an attack near the Ali al-Taher Ridge. The Prime Minister’s Office said in a statement, “This morning, Hezbollah violated the ceasefire in Lebanon by attacking our soldiers in the security zone, which protects Israeli communities just across the border. The Hezbollah attack seriously injured three of our soldiers. The IDF responded by striking the Hezbollah terror headquarters that ordered the attack.”

The IDF later said that the three soldiers were wounded by an explosive drone launched by Hezbollah. They were evacuated to receive medical treatment at a hospital, and their families were notified. Additionally, the IDF Spokesperson’s Unit and the PMO said in separate statements that civilians were also unintentionally killed in the strike. The IDF said that its strike killed several Hezbollah terrorists – including Ali Samir Al-Haj Hassan, a battalion commander in Hezbollah’s Radwan Force unit. However, the military noted that, at the time of the strike, Hassan’s family was with him inside the headquarters. 

“It should be emphasized that the family members were not the target of the strike,” the IDF wrote in a statement. “The strike was specifically directed at Hassan, who was a lawful target under international law. The terrorist used his family asThe PMO said that it had been unaware that Hezbollah put civilians in the Hezbollah military compound. “Only later did the IDF learn that Hezbollah deliberately put civilians in that military compound. Hezbollah is willing to do anything, including using its own civilians as human shields, to falsely accuse Israel of deliberately targeting civilians, which the IDF clearly did not.” At least 11 people were killed in the strikes, Lebanon’s Ministry of Public Health said. hiding alongside them inside the military headquarters.”The PMO said that it had been unaware that Hezbollah put civilians in the Hezbollah military compound.

“Only later did the IDF learn that Hezbollah deliberately put civilians in that military compound. Hezbollah is willing to do anything, including using its own civilians as human shields, to falsely accuse Israel of deliberately targeting civilians, which the IDF clearly did not.” At least 11 people were killed in the strikes, Lebanon’s Ministry of Public Health said. (Ed note: We have always known that Hezbollah and Hamas will use anybody as The PMO said that it had been unaware that Hezbollah put civilians in the Hezbollah military compound.

“Only later did the IDF learn that Hezbollah deliberately put civilians in that military compound. Hezbollah is willing to do anything, including using its own civilians as human shields, to falsely accuse Israel of deliberately targeting civilians, which the IDF clearly did not.” At least 11 people were killed in the strikes, Lebanon’s Ministry of Public Health said. (Ed note: We have always known that both Hezbollah and Hamas will use anybody as "human shields.")   (Read More)

Caspian Sea hits 200-year low as Iran debates the treaty meant to divide it

The Caspian Sea is falling by as much as 20 centimeters a year and stands at its lowest level in two centuries, an Iranian environment official said, a warning that lands just as Tehran reopens the argument over how to divide a sea that is shrinking on all five of its owners. Mohammad Reza Kan’ani, head of the Environmental Protection Department in the northern province of Mazandaran, said Thursday that the Caspian’s water level was declining by around 10 to 20 centimeters annually, attributing much of the decline to rising temperatures, climate change and increased evaporation.

The Caspian’s water temperature had risen by about 1.5 degrees over the past two decades while evaporation had increased by an estimated 10% to 15%, he added. Kan’ani warned that continued retreat of the shoreline could have serious consequences for coastal infrastructure, local economies and ecosystems dependent on the Caspian, including wetlands. About 25% of the Caspian’s water comes from precipitation and 75% from rivers, Kanani said, with the Volga – which flows through Russia into the northern Caspian – accounting for the overwhelming majority of river inflow.

Shina Ansari, head of Iran’s Department of Environment, gave an even broader measure of the retreat this week, saying the Caspian’s level had fallen by around two to 2.5 meters over the past decade. She described the decline as one of the region’s most serious environmental challenges and said reduced river inflows, alongside climate change, were contributing to the crisis. Without cooperation among the five Caspian littoral states – Iran, Russia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan – the consequences could extend to ports, coastal communities and the wider ecosystem, Ansari warned. Pollution adds to pressure on a shrinking sea

The falling water level is only one of several environmental threats facing the Caspian.

Iranian environmental officials have also warned of mounting pollution, shrinking fish stocks and destruction of coastal habitats. Touraj Sadeghi, head of marine ecosystem protection at the Gilan provincial environmental department, told ISNA that untreated municipal and industrial sewage, waste dumping, petroleum leaks, excessive agricultural fertilizers and pesticides, and illegal fishing were among the main sources of environmental degradation.

Many cities along Iran’s Caspian coast still lack adequate municipal wastewater treatment systems, he said, while rivers carry thousands of tons of domestic, industrial and oil-related pollution into the sea each year. Such pollution reduces water quality, damages natural habitats and contributes to deaths among fish and bird populations, Sadeghi said. The Caspian supports distinctive wildlife including sturgeon, Caspian seals and migratory birds, but Iranian officials warn that the combination of pollution, habitat degradation and a rapidly retreating shoreline is increasingly threatening the resilience of the ecosystem. (Ed note: The coastline of Iran borders on about 400-460 miles of the Caspian Sea. (Source)

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.

US President Donald Trump said Friday that the United States will hit Iran hard economically, as Washington and Tehran struggle to reach a deal to end a nearly six month conflict. His comments to Fox News came a day after US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the US was going to apply measures that have “never been seen” on Tehran as soon as next week. The US leader also said he would “soon” declare the Strait of Hormuz to be US territory.

“Pretty soon I’ll be declaring the Hormuz Strait a territory of the United States. It’s true,” he said with a chuckle during a political rally at a police academy in New York state. It was unclear whether he was speaking seriously. Responding to Trump, Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said Tehran would not be intimidated by threats or a show of force, adding that Hormuz would only be opened or closed under Iran’s authority.

“As long as you do not accept the reality of defeat and stop indulging in fantasies, Iran will continue to enforce the blockade,” Gharibabadi write in a post on X, showing little urgency toward restoring prewar trade. “The Strait of Hormuz cannot be seized by a tweet or an aircraft carrier, by issuing an order or by delivering an election speech.”Transit through the Strait of Hormuz appeared to grind to a near standstill on Friday after two more ships were attacked there and the United States declared it could maintain the naval blockade of Iran indefinitely, with two the countries still locked in a stalemate over control of the key water and the Tehran’s nuclear program. (Read More)

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.

You almost have to pinch yourself watching what is unfolding between the United States and Iran. US President Donald Trump entered this confrontation promising American dominance: that Iran would never obtain a nuclear weapon, its missile-production capability would be destroyed, and its support for terrorist proxies would be severed. America would no longer be threatened, extorted, or played.After the first American attack, Trump had something concrete to show for those words: the US directly struck Iran’s nuclear facilities.

After America’s second bombing campaign, the question is far more uncomfortable: What exactly did America win?Israel reportedly wanted to participate in the latest American strikes, but Washington did not want Israel involved. This became America’s operation, America’s targets, and America’s strategy. That distinction matters. Trump wanted America to take the lead. America took ownership. Now America owns the outcome.

Iran’s regime survived. Its nuclear ambitions remain unresolved. Its missile and drone capabilities are being rebuilt. Russia and China remain sources of weapons, components, and assistance. And now Iran has turned the Strait of Hormuz into leverage against the US. Washington is reportedly considering gradually releasing frozen Iranian funds and providing partial sanctions relief in return for Iran allowing unrestricted, toll-free commercial passage through Hormuz. How did America get from Trump’s demands for Iranian surrender to negotiating what Tehran receives for reopening an international waterway? (Read More)

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.

But testimony from inside Iran paints a more complicated picture. On the streets, people are acutely aware of the leadership vacuum and the divisions within the regime. Tensions between the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and the government are worsening by the day. Meanwhile, the Iranian public is being squeezed between the consequences of the economic crisis and brutal repression by regime forces. Hardly a recipe for stability. Young Iranians are still trying to keep the flame of resistance alive. Time and again, the regime tries to drown it beneath waves of despair, fear and disappointment. Time and again, those attempts fail. That is what happens when reality is worse. The regime has taken everything from them in exchange for illusions.

In an exclusive interview with Israel Hayom, an Iranian political activist offers a rare view from inside the country. Speaking on condition of anonymity, the activist, who belongs to the Progressive Students movement, Daneshjouyane Pishro in Persian, agreed to tell us what is happening behind the iron curtain. In recent months, internet access has been blocked for extended periods, preventing citizens from communicating with the outside world. Some have used VPN connections abroad or other methods to relay messages to relatives. (Read More)

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.

Two slicks have appeared in Iranian waters, satellite imagery and video verified by Reuters show, as tit-for-tat attacks on oil tankers and other vessels by Iran and the United States spark concerns about environmental damage to the Gulf. A potential environmental disaster is already unfolding off Oman outside of the Strait of Hormuz, where a grounded tanker, the Caroline Bezengi, is leaking Russian crude oil in a protected marine area and has created a massive slick, some estimates put at 2,000 square km. The Caroline Bezengi incident has not been linked to the war with Iran.

The two latest slicks are inside the Gulf. One slick has appeared off the southern tip of Qeshm Island, the large dolphin-shaped island in the Strait of Hormuz close to Iran’s coast, pictures from Copernicus’s ​Sentinel-2 satellites showed. Wim Zwijnenburg, an environmental open-source researcher at the Dutch peace organization PAX, said the dark color in parts of the slick indicated heavy fuel oil, while a lighter, diluted slick stretched about 160 km.

A dark, bubbling liquid was spotted washing ashore on the beaches of Suza on Qeshm Island, contrasting with the turquoise water surrounding it, in a video posted on August 11 and verified by Reuters. "This is the biggest one that I've seen in recent months, really since the conflict between Iran and the U.S. began," said John Amos, CEO of SkyTruth, which uses satellite imagery to detect oil spills, calling it "a major incident". Satellite imagery showed a second slick near the smaller Sirri Island in the center of the Gulf, about 100 km southwest of Qeshm and home to some Iranian offshore oil and gas production. (Read More)

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.

Hezbollah chief Naim Qassem targeted Lebanese leadership on Friday, accusing government officials of placing improper strain on the country's national army by carrying out a security framework negotiated with Israel to halt hostilities, AFP reported. The June trilateral arrangement - facilitated alongside the United States - mandates the disarming of the Lebanese terrorist group and the progressive withdrawal of Israeli troops occupying sectors of southern Lebanon. The accord further directs the Lebanese Armed Forces to station troops in designated "pilot zones" vacated by Israeli forces.

In a public address, Qassem challenged government figures regarding the military's role, saying, “How can you accept this ongoing humiliation of the Lebanese army, exposing it to bombardment and Israeli pressures, instead of acting as its protectors?" During bilateral discussions convened in Rome last week between Lebanese and Israeli delegations, representatives considered which third-party nations could join an oversight panel to monitor the Lebanese army's positioning in the pilot zones and oversee the clearing of Hezbollah infrastructure and weaponry.

Diplomatic sources told Reuters on Wednesday that negotiators from Israel and Lebanon have selectedBritain, Italy, Switzerland, and Indonesia as prospective candidates for this task. Scrutinizing the proposed monitoring mechanism on Friday, Qassem argued, “Israel is attempting to bind Lebanon to an inquiry committee that oversees the army’s deployment, operations, and internal details. Where is the patriotism? Where is the dignity of the army that ought to be preserved?" (Read More)

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”

Defense Minister Israel Katz has instructed the military to prepare a plan to transfer all civilian law-enforcement responsibilities in Judea and Samaria to the Israel Police, his office said on Friday. Katz issued the directive following a meeting on Thursday with IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, the heads of the IDF’s Operations Directorate and Military Intelligence and other senior commanders. Under the proposed plan, which is to be drawn up in coordination with the Israel Police and other relevant authorities, civilian law enforcement in Judea and Samaria would be transferred from the IDF to the police, as is the case elsewhere in Israel.

The police would establish a dedicated force to handle civilian matters and receive the necessary authority and funding, according to Katz’s office. The IDF would continue to combat Palestinian terrorism and focus on defending Israeli communities and borders. “It is not the IDF’s role, nor does it have the capacity, to deal with the enforcement of civilian matters in Judea and Samaria, given the welcome expected increase in the number of residents in Judea and Samaria following the decisions to establish 104 new communities and formalize the agricultural farms, on the one hand, and the growing security threats and challenges that the IDF is facing and is expected to face on the central front, on the other,” Katz said.

“The IDF’s role is to fight Palestinian terrorism, focus on defending the borders and communities against threats, deal with the borders and the territory itself, and address security threats to the communities and the State of Israel—not to chase teenagers on the hilltops. All responsibility for handling and enforcing matters relating to the communities, residents and civilian issues will be transferred to the Israel Police, which will be required to prepare accordingly.” Katz described the move as “a significant step toward strengthening governance and enforcing law and order throughout Judea and Samaria,” while freeing the military to concentrate on its primary missions. “The Israeli government and the IDF will delegate to the police all the powers necessary to carry out these missions,” he said. (Read More)

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.

Israeli defense officials have been shocked by the speed of Iran’s recovery following the early 2026 war, The Jerusalem Post has learned. This includes both IDF and Mossad officials, though the military was the lead evaluator of targeting and the harm from the targeting of the Islamic Republic’s defense sector.
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.

Four months after the main war ended in April, the Post understands that the IDF is now seeing a stunningly speedy turnaround that it did not expect and not in merely one or another specific area, but in many areas, including regarding the ballistic missile threat. Part of what is surprising in this story is that the IDF was already surprised by the Iranians in this area of rapid recovery twice: in October 2024 and January 2025. 

After striking 20 critical ballistic missile and industrial military targets in Iran in October 2024, the IDF claimed that it had set back Iranian future missile production by a year or more. By early 2025, the IDF had already seen the Iranians fully recover their high-speed ballistic missile production pace, so much so that the military moved up a possible fall 2025 attack to June 2025. (Read More)

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."

In recent weeks, Tehran has been pressuring Gulf nations to accept what it describes as a new regional order, with Iran positioned as the sole commercial and maritime power in the area. According to reports, Iranian officials have urged Gulf states to separate what they characterize as an "internal regional matter" from the broader conflict with Washington—effectively creating a fait accompli that the U.S. would be forced to accept. However, as many countries have resisted this vision, figures in Khamenei's circle have shifted from behind-the-scenes diplomacy to open threats.

Mohabbir recently issued a statement that appeared aimed more at regional audiences than American ones: "If Iran's conditions are not met, the leadership's strategy is to make the war long, costly, intense, and regional in a way that will unequivocally change the power equations in the region." He continued: "America has proven itself incapable of protecting the Persian Gulf. The time has come to establish a new regional arrangement for movement through Hormuz, independent of White House considerations." (Source)

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.

Rezaei replaces Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr after only about five months in the job, an unusually short tenure for a position whose previous occupants typically served for years. Opponents of negotiations have welcomed the change and sought to link Zolghadr’s departure to disagreements surrounding the ceasefire, negotiations with Washington and the Islamabad memorandum. Reformist and government-aligned voices have cautioned against concluding that the harder-line camp has prevailed.

A battle over Zolghadr’s departure

Raja News, an outlet associated with the ultra-hardline Paydari camp, said Zolghadr’s replacement showed that, contrary to claims by supporters of negotiations, “not everything was coordinated with the Supreme Leader.” Amir-Hossein Sabeti, a hardline member of parliament and prominent critic of negotiations, went further, accusing Pezeshkian of resisting the Supreme Leader’s wishes over replacing Zolghadr with Rezaei. He warned the president that unless he changed course and followed the leader’s direction, “the people will replace him.”

Accounts circulating among hardliners have claimed that Pezeshkian initially resisted appointing Rezaei as SNSC secretary and did so only after Khamenei named Rezaei as his representative on the council. No official explanation has been given for Zolghadr’s departure, and the claims do not establish that disagreements over negotiations caused his removal.

The reformist-leaning Rouydad24 website said opponents of negotiations were seeking to build a political narrative around the reshuffle: that divisions had emerged during the ceasefire and negotiations and that the balance had now shifted toward the harder-line faction. Nour News, which is considered close to the SNSC, also said Rezaei’s appointment could signal “the beginning of a new approach to the country’s strategic governance,” but rejected attempts to portray it as evidence of a confrontation between Pezeshkian’s government and the leadership.

Rezaei’s record fuels hardline hopes

Rezaei’s own previous statements have added to speculation over what his appointment could mean for negotiations. Ultra-hardliners have recirculated comments in which he interpreted an earlier message from Mojtaba Khamenei saying that “in principle, I had a different view” of the path taken by the SNSC. Rezaei said the phrase meant “the path he had in mind was better than the path taken by the Supreme National Security Council,” remarks critics of the Islamabad memorandum have cited as evidence that Khamenei had reservations about the council’s approach. But Rezaei has not opposed negotiations outright. (Read More)

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. 

US President Donald Trump’s envoy and son-in-law, Jared Kushner, is preparing to travel to Israel next week to conduct discussions regarding the situation in Gaza, five sources familiar with the trip confirmed to Axios on Thursday. The visit marks Kushner's first diplomatic mission to Israel since January and comes as the administration and Trump’s Board of Peace work to push forward the next stage of their Gaza strategy, which centers on demilitarizing Hamas and managing a potential Israeli military withdrawal.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government remains deeply skeptical of the US proposal. "We see eye-to-eye on the strategic goal, but Israel has expressed some doubts about the plan and we want to talk to them in order to make sure we are coordinated," a US official explained to Axios, adding that specific travel dates remain flexible. The diplomatic push follows an announcement made by Trump two weeks ago stating that his Board of Peace had negotiated an arrangement with Hamas to lay down weapons and transfer security and civil authority in Gaza to a newly formed Palestinian technocratic government.

Netanyahu publicly disavowed the demilitarization framework on Sunday. That public rejection followed a phone discussion with Kushner days earlier in which Netanyahu pledged to give the strategy a chance despite his reservations and committed to limiting military strikes in Gaza to allow the disarming process to commence, according to a US official. Administration officials view Netanyahu’s public pushback primarily as domestic campaign maneuvers rather than a definitive policy shift. "We understand Bibi's political needs. We have no problem with it as long as he continues to do what we ask - especially regarding restraining attacks in Gaza," a senior US official remarked to Axios. (Ed note: Jared is a money man and real estate developer. If he is showing up someone wants to rebuild Gaza now. Did you get what they said about PM Netanyahu?) (Read More)

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.

The Board of Peace on Wednesday denied that there is any “financial agreement” with Hamas, after the Kan public broadcaster reported that the body agreed to cover $400 million of Hamas’s debt to outside parties as part of its roadmap for the terror group’s disarmament. Instead, the sum earmarked in the disarmament plan will be used to pay severance to Hamas civil servants who don’t end up being hired by the new Palestinian technocratic government meant to run the territory, an Arab diplomat from one of the mediating countries told The Times of Israel on Wednesday. “The claims that there is a financial agreement between the Board of Peace and Hamas are false,” Board of Peace Gaza envoy Nickolay Mladenov wrote in Hebrew on X on Wednesday. “No such proposal was discussed, negotiated, or considered, and it will not be on the table in the future either.

“Hamas will have no role in the governance of Gaza and will have no access to funds,” he continued. The issue gained attention on Tuesday when Kan reported that Hamas was assured by mediators that $400 million of its debt would be covered by the Board of Peace if it agreed to the disarmament plan. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu publicly rejected the Board of Peace’s disarmament plan on Sunday, when he said Israeli troops would not withdraw from the enclave until Hamas is “genuinely disarmed.” Despite the public rejection, a Board of Peace official told Reuters on Monday that the disarmament plan was still on the table and that discussions with Israel were continuing.

Clause 5 of the plan states that the new Palestinian technocratic government, known as the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG), “shall seek to assess the legitimate commitments to suppliers, contractors and other parties — up to a total amount of no more than $400M — and address them.” The NCAG is overseen by the Board of Peace. A Board of Peace official stressed to The Times of Israel that the clause is not the same as a financial agreement. “It allows legitimate outstanding obligations, such as unpaid public servants or suppliers who provided genuine services to the population, to be assessed on their merits. That should not be confused with paying Hamas or covering obligations linked to terrorism, corruption or financial mismanagement,” the official said. (Ed note: The point is, $400 million, now we know why son-in -law Jared is showing up.) (Read More)

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.

Earlier Wednesday, IDF troops arrived at the scene in an effort to lift a siege imposed on Palestinian homes in the West Bank village. Clashes then broke out between the troops and numerous settlers who had arrived in the area. As of Wednesday evening, the siege had not yet been lifted. Zamir instructed the military to continue efforts to restore order and strengthen operational control in the area, while working to prevent further serious incidents. As part of those efforts, he ordered an additional active-duty infantry battalion to reinforce the sector.

...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)