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)

‘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.

Surveillance soldiers on the Gaza border were reportedly sounding the alarm on Thursday about armed terrorist activity inside the Gaza Strip, in what they said feels like a repeat of their unheeded warnings before the October 7, 2023, onslaught. Leading up to that Hamas-led invasion and massacre, the surveillance soldiers sent alerts about terrorists training for the attack, and were infamously ignored. Some of the surveillance soldiers, who are women, said sexism was a factor in their warnings being brushed aside.

Five female surveillance soldiers (tatzpitaniyot) from IDF Unit 414 were killed, and seven were taken captive when the Nahal Oz military base near the Gaza border was overrun. Noa Marciano was killed in captivity. Ori Megidish was rescued alive. The other five were eventually released during subsequent ceasefires. On Thursday, Channel 12 quoted a number of unnamed soldiers who described a feeling of deja vu. They reported watching armed terrorists operate and lay explosives along the Gaza Yellow Line that divides the territory between Israeli and Hamas control.

“We’re really seeing that they know we won’t fire on them. The Gazans aren’t idiots. In the end, they’re constantly testing us and seeing if we react or not. It’s just like before October 7,” one of the soldiers was quoted as having said. Another soldier told the network she feels “helpless” in the face of the terrorist activity she sees over the border. A different soldier said she and her comrades “feel a little unnecessary. If I know that, in any case, they won’t do anything with my identification [of terror activity], what’s the point of sitting eight hours a day and monitoring the area super-super-closely?”

A surveillance soldier quoted by the network went on to complain that combat soldiers stationed in Gaza are being used as “human shields.” “In the end, the soldiers are stationed a few hundred meters from these terrorists,” one of the surveillance soldiers said of the combat troops in Gaza. “We can’t just abandon them.” (Ed note: So whatever you do IDF, the US is coming to "lean" on you to make sure that you don't defend yourself against Hamas or make anyone mad. Remember when Jake Sullivan and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin used to show up in Israel and demand that the IDF stop defending itself against Hamas?) (Read More)

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.

For over five decades, the stretch of the Jordan River separating Israel from Jordan at Kasr al-Yahud has operated as a tightly controlled defensive perimeter. The narrow waterway and sparse desert terrain on the eastern bank provided the Israel Defense Forces with clear lines of sight, effective radar coverage, and an uncluttered environment to detect cross-border movements. Monitored continuously by optical systems, visual sensors, and thermal technology, low civilian density along the frontier has been a foundational element of Israel’s eastern security posture. This controlled environment exists alongside ongoing Israeli military efforts to interdict smuggling and unauthorized infiltration along the broader Jordan Valley frontier.

On the western bank, Israel has consistently invested in maintaining and modernizing its own facilities. Earlier in 2026, Israeli authorities completed and officially inaugurated a major NIS 25 million renovation at Kasr al-Yahud, upgrading civil infrastructure, security access, and pilgrim amenities. While both sides operate under separate sovereign administrations following the 1994 peace treaty, the physical proximity of the two sites means that major spatial changes on one bank directly impact the operational environment of the other.

The physical context across the river is entering a period of significant structural development. On 12 August 2026, the Jordanian government, under the patronage of Prime Minister Jafar Hassan, officially signed agreements launching a specific 120-million-dollar development package covering 1,400 dunams adjacent to the traditional baptism site at Al-Maghtas. This contract represents the core, near-term phase of Jordan’s development vision for the zone, with preliminary ground preparation scheduled for the end of the first quarter of 2027, followed by main construction later that year and targeted completion in early 2029 to prepare for the 2,000th anniversary of Jesus’ baptism in 2030.  (Ed note: Have you ever been to that location?)  (Read More)

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.

Syria is considering formal entry into the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement signed Friday by Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan, a development that military analysts warn could significantly constrain Israeli military operations along the northern border. The three-country alliance, signed August 8, is designed partly to limit Iranian influence in the region and support Syria's post-war reconstruction. Under the pact, signatories treat any aggression against one member as an attack on all—a mechanism similar to NATO's Article 5.

A formal Syrian commitment has not been announced. Syrian officials have not publicly confirmed whether they will join the agreement. If Syria enters the alliance, analysts say it could shift the calculus for Israeli military operations in Syrian territory. Israeli airstrikes and targeted operations in Syria have increased in frequency over the past year as part of efforts to limit Iranian military buildup near Israel's border.

"Any future Israeli military action in Syria could now trigger a coordinated response from multiple regional actors," according to strategic assessments circulating in Israeli security circles. A spokeswoman for the Israeli Defense Ministry declined to comment on the specific implications of the alliance but said the IDF "maintains the capability to defend Israel against any threat from Syrian territory." Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Friday that the U.S. views the Turkey-Saudi-Pakistan agreement as part of broader Sunni regional cooperation and does not consider it directly threatening to American or allied interests. (Ed note: Of course not, Pete. Does anyone else see the noose tightening around Israel's neck?  (Read More)

'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.

Pakistan's defense minister traveled to Tehran earlier today for another round of discussions. After the meetings, he returned to Pakistan and briefed the prime minister on the talks' outcomes. According to subsequent reports, Pakistani officials conveyed a message to Trump expressing "optimism" that an agreement can be reached, but emphasized that it will require additional time because Iran believes it is negotiating from a position of strength.

The Pakistani mediators also sent messages to the White House recommending that the initial ceasefire framework be extended beyond the 60-day period. Additionally, Arab media outlets reported that intermediaries conveyed to both sides that the verbal confrontations between Washington and Tehran "are not helpful to the process" and should be toned down. Given the pressure President Trump is exerting to close the deal quickly, combined with the patience Iran is attempting to project, the process is expected to take considerable time. (Ed note: But didn't Asif just last week call Israel “evil and a curse for humanity,” and a “cancerous and illegitimate state,” and now he tells Trump "to shut up" and Asif wants to give Iran once again, more time?)   (Source)

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.

Civilian ships in Strait of Hormuz

Naghdi also defended attacks by Iranian forces on non-military vessels attempting to cross the Strait of Hormuz. Asked why Iran had attacked civilian ships on at least two occasions this week, Naghdi said Tehran needed to control shipping routes during wartime. "When we are at war, vessels need to pass through a region we can control," he said. "When they leave an area that we control, it could be that they're transporting supplies for the enemy." Asked whether attacking civilian vessels violated international law, Naghdi said Iran had the right to control routes it viewed as a threat during a war. "When you're in a state of war, any thoroughfare deemed to be a threat, we can control it," he said.
His comments came as shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has fallen sharply amid the conflict and attacks on commercial vessels.

Khamenei absence due to security, Naghdi says

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.   

The United States administration voiced sharp disapproval on Wednesday regarding Defense Minister Israel Katz’s public statements about retaining an Israeli military footprint in southern Lebanon. According to a State Department official cited by Axios, Katz's declarations run counter to the obligations Jerusalem accepted as part of the framework agreement reached with Washington and Beirut. "The United States expects all parties to act in a manner consistent with the Framework they agreed to, and Israel clearly stated that it has no territorial ambitions in Lebanon. A permanent military presence in South Lebanon is not consistent with the commitments made in the Framework, or the long-term peace and security of both states," the official stated.   

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.

Senior officials speaking to international media outlets said that in recent rounds of talks supervised by American mediators, Israel and Lebanon developed a mutually acceptable list of allied nations that both sides are willing to have participate in dismantling Hezbollah's military capabilities.

The agreed-upon list reportedly includes forces from Britain, Italy, Switzerland, and Indonesia. These troops would likely operate under an international mandate that will be incorporated into future agreements between the countries, according to the reports.    (Source)

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.

The Israeli Air Force on Thursday attacked a Gazan terror cell in Khan Yunis, the second "attack of choice" in two days after a pause in such attacks since a new US-Hamas deal in late July. IDF sources told The Jerusalem Post that the cell was not extremely senior, but was in the process of planning and shortly carrying out an operation against the IDF. According to those sources, since the US-Hamas deal, the IDF has halted attacks on Hamas members who were involved in the October 7 invasion and on other strategic Hamas assets or leaders, but it is still carrying out attacks against operatives who it knows are moving toward an attack.

This means that the IDF is even willing to attack such terrorists midstream and before the attack is imminent so as not to incidentally miss the ability to thwart the attack. Unlike the West Bank, where the IDF and Shin Bet tend to arrest such terror plotters, due to the IDF's current inability to go in and out of areas controlled by Hamas in Gaza, airstrikes will still be the preferred tool.

In addition, the IDF continues to shoot and kill Hamas fighters who approach the yellow line dividing the Israeli-controlled portion of Gaza from the Hamas-controlledportion. IDF not restricting soldiers from defending themselves; US offers tacit approval until Hamas takes action The IDF rejects allegations that it is holding its soldiers back from defending themselves. Although it was not explicit, the implication was that the US is on board with this current IDF approach, at least until Hamas starts to actively partially disarm, which it has not yet started to do. (Read More)

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.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan lashed out at Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government on Wednesday, claiming Israel is attempting to push the Palestinian Arab issue off the global stage, AFP reported. “The aim of the Netanyahu government is to remove Palestine from the common agenda of humanity by profiting from chaos and new conflicts in the region," Erdogan alleged during a joint press briefing alongside Palestinian Authority chairman Mahmoud Abbas.

Vowing that Ankara would continue advocating for the creation of a Palestinian state, Erdogan added, “No matter what they do, they will not succeed. The Palestinian cause will continue to grow in people’s hearts as they try to destroy it." The Turkish leader has maintained a vocal anti-Israel stance, frequently attacking Netanyahu's government with accusations of "genocide" in the Gaza Strip and expansionist policies across Judea and Samaria, Lebanon, Syria, and surrounding areas.

While Ankara and Jerusalem were nearing a diplomatic reconciliation prior to the October 7, 2023, Hamas terrorist massacre in southern Israel, relations collapsed rapidly afterward, with Turkish officials repeatedly lambasting the Jewish state.In March of last year, Erdogan labeled Israel a "terror state" following preemptive strikes against terrorist infrastructure in Gaza. Months later, he claimed Netanyahu's government posed the single greatest threat to Middle Eastern stability. Abbas arrived in Ankara on Tuesday leading a delegation that included senior official Ziad Abu Amr, intelligence chief Majed Faraj, and diplomatic advisor Majdi Khalidi. (Ed note: But isn't President Erdogan of Turkey, President Trump's best friend. and doesn't Erdogan hate both PM Netanyahu and Israel? (Read More)

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.

Nine Palestinian Arabs were arrested on Thursday night by Judea and Samaria District Police during clashes between Jews and Palestinian Arabs near the Mikneh Avraham Farm in Gush Etzion. Four people were lightly injured in the incident, two of them Jews. They were evacuated to a hospital for treatment. According to information obtained by Arutz Sheva-Israel National News, the incident began following a dispute over an illegal building near the farm. According to the Jewish residents, Bedouins had taken over the structure and cut off the water supply to the site.

The confrontation between the sides subsequently escalated. According to eyewitness accounts from the scene, the Bedouins summoned more than 30 Palestinian Arab rioters from the nearby village of Al-Maniya, and the confrontation widened.

The security coordinator of a nearby farm, who arrived at the scene to assist, fired into the air to disperse the rioters. He was questioned during the night and released. His weapon is also expected to be returned to him during the morning. IDF forces, Israel Police, and Border Police units called to the scene worked to separate the sides and arrested nine Palestinian Arabs. (Source)

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.

And Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on his Telegram channel Tuesday that he reiterated similar demands in a phone call with his German counterpart a day earlier. Araghchi wrote that in a call with Germany’s Johann Wadephul late Monday, he had “emphasized that making the Strait of Hormuz secure requires an end to the United States’s aggressive actions and unlawful interventions, including the naval blockade and other violations of US obligations.”

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.

Trump made clear he has no faith in the Iranian regime. "I'm the last person who would trust Iran. They've lied to me constantly," he said. The president emphasized American dominance over the Strait of Hormuz, the strategic waterway through which roughly one-third of the world's seaborne oil passes. "We have absolute control of the Strait of Hormuz right now — they have no control, we have complete control. The strait is in our hands," Trump stated. Trump's remarks come amid ongoing tensions in the region. Just a day earlier, American forces struck a vessel attempting to breach the naval blockade on Iranian ports, with a US helicopter damaging the ship's steering mechanism. This marked the first American strike in the strait following a week of relative restraint.

The president went beyond assertions of maritime control. "At some point, maybe they'll do something, and then we'll wipe them out," Trump said, keeping all options available. According to the president, Iran has lost its regional standing. "Right now we're in a very good position. We're dealing with a country that was the bully of the Middle East for 50 years. Today they're no longer the bully of the Middle East," he said. Trump also addressed the Washington Post's revelation about a dramatic extraction operation conducted last month as he departed Turkey. According to reports, the president was secretly transferred via a catering truck to an alternative military aircraft, while Air Force One served as a decoy to mislead an Iranian threat.

"It depends entirely on the Secret Service," Trump explained. "I simply do what they want, so I follow the instructions of the Secret Service and the military. They wanted me to fly on a different plane — so I did it. I do what they tell me." The president acknowledged some threat existed but declined to elaborate. "I assume there was some threat there. I didn't really ask too much about it. I get a lot of threats — there are many threats against me that you don't even know about," he said. (Read More)

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.'

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has appealed to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, calling on him to prevent Palestinian Authority (PA) Chairman Mahmoud Abbas from returning to Ramallah. Calling Abbas by his nickname, Smotrich said, "Abu Mazen's pilgrimage to [Turkish President Recep Tayyip] Erdogan, who openly declares his antisemitic aspiration to destroy the State of Israel, once again reveals the true face of Abu Mazen: an enemy who heads a terrorist authority that encourages and finances terrorism against the State of Israel."

"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)