Strike Three on the Table: Netanyahu Says Israel Will Attack Iran Again If Necessary

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu unveiled a series of unyielding geopolitical positions, including the planned cessation of American aid and the potential for a third military strike against Iran. The leader focused heavily on transforming national security, redefining regional borders, and ensuring absolute self-reliance during a broadcast address.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu presented a comprehensive overview of unprecedented military and strategic achievements during a broadcast on the program "The Patriots" on Channel 14. The extensive address followed an analytical briefing by Dr. Avishai Ben Haim, which highlighted that recent operations on the ground have significantly exceeded original expectations. Netanyahu used the opportunity to address regional dynamics, security arrangements, and the long term economic framework of the state.

The discussion opened with a focus on defense independence and the ultimate cessation of American financial assistance. Netanyahu stated, “This year, we will begin the process that will ultimately lead to the cessation of American aid, we won't need it.” He highlighted the rapid evolution of domestic military technology, adding, “We are advancing our anti drone capabilities like no one have ever seen.”

Shifting attention to the northern front, the Prime Minister clarified the operational status of the military presence near the border. “We didn't leave Lebanon,” Netanyahu stated, explaining that forces have effectively established a security belt roughly 10 kilometers inside Lebanon with the agreement of the Lebanese government. He noted that Hezbollah is outraged by the development, and the same remains true for Iran.  (Ed note: PM Netanyahu is being very charitable with his "American financial assistance." What is really meant is Israel must free herself from the CONTROL of ALL American Presidents who don't like Israel, know their Bible, or Bible Prophecy.)  (Read More)

Visiting south Lebanon, PM says IDF won’t withdraw ‘as long as Hezbollah remains here’

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told troops in the southern Lebanon security zone on Tuesday that the military would remain in the area for the foreseeable future, crediting the soldiers’ work for the recent agreement between Israel, Lebanon, and the US that demands Hezbollah’s disarmament to enable an Israeli withdrawal. “If you identify a threat to your security, to your lives, or to the lives of your soldiers — act. Do not wait. Act. That is an ironclad directive,” Netanyahu told troops during the visit, according to a statement from his office. The visit also included Defense Minister Israel Katz and Deputy IDF Chief of Staff Tamir Yadai.

Netanyahu said Israel’s recent military operations against Iran-backed Hezbollah led to the agreement, telling soldiers that, “as a result of your actions here, Lebanon recognizes Israel, Israel recognizes Lebanon,” describing them as “two sovereign states that want peace.” “We are telling both Iran and Hezbollah: leave this place. You have no business being here… This is a slap in the face, a punch in the face of the Iranian axis,” he said. The premier reiterated that “we will not leave southern Lebanon until the threat has been eliminated. And as long as Hezbollah remains here, armed and threatening us, we will remain here as well.”

Netanyahu hailed military achievements against Hezbollah, calling the terror group “the most important link in the Iranian axis,” and saying that after recent rounds of fighting, only 8% of its previous stock of 150,000 missiles and rockets remains, while 9,000 Hezbollah terrorists have been killed. A framework agreement signed last week committed Lebanon to restoring sovereignty over its territory through the “verified disarmament of non-state armed groups,” which would in turn enable a progressive Israeli withdrawal. The state of Lebanon, along with Israel and the US, signed the agreement, but Hezbollah and its allies are opposed to it.

On Monday, Defense Minister Katz said Israel has “no territorial ambitions in Lebanon,” but that the IDF will not withdraw “a millimeter” until the terror group is disarmed. He also voiced skepticism that the Lebanese army would “suddenly become lions charging at Hezbollah,” concluding that the IDF’s presence in Lebanon would be “long-term.” (Read More)

Iran's Demands: Hormuz Control, Frozen Funds

Tehran transmits formal preconditions to mediators after canceling Doha talks • Demands include full Strait of Hormuz control, immediate release of billions in frozen assets, and complete Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon | Nuclear program remains off the table (World News) Iran has transmitted a detailed list of preconditions to international mediators that must be met before Tehran will agree to resume negotiations with the United States, according to a report by Al Jazeera cited by Israeli outlets Tuesday.

The move signals a dramatic hardening of Iran's position following Monday's abrupt cancellation of planned talks in Doha, a cancellation that directly contradicted President Trump's claim that Iran had requested the meeting. Instead of showing up to negotiate, Tehran delivered what amounts to a formal ultimatum outlining its red lines. At the top of Iran's demands list: full and unconditional control over the Strait of Hormuz, the strategic waterway through which roughly one-fifth of global oil supplies pass daily. Tehran is insisting on absolute authority over the strait with no exceptions, a position that places it on a direct collision course with Washington's stated policy of maintaining freedom of navigation in international waters.

The Iranian position goes further than previous statements. According to sources familiar with the document, Tehran is explicitly rejecting any US attempt to establish an alternative crossing point on the Omani side of the strait, a plan Washington had quietly explored in recent weeks. Iran has declared such efforts a red line that cannot be crossed.

Billions in Frozen Assets, No Strings Attached

On the financial front, Iran is demanding the immediate and unconditional release of billions of dollars in frozen Iranian funds currently held in foreign banks. The demand directly contradicts Trump's recent proposal that the money be transferred to US control and used to purchase humanitarian aid from American agricultural suppliers. Tehran's position is unambiguous: the funds must be returned directly to Iran with no conditions, no oversight, and no restrictions on how the money is spent. The regime is treating the frozen assets as sovereign wealth that belongs to Iran by right, not as leverage in a broader diplomatic framework.

The demands extend to the Lebanese theater as well. Iran is not merely calling for a reduction in Israeli military operations against Hezbollah positions; it is insisting on a complete and verified cessation of all Israeli strikes in Lebanon, coupled with a full Israeli withdrawal from Lebanese territory. Perhaps most significantly, Iran has declared its nuclear program entirely off-limits in any future negotiations. The position reflects the influence of hardline elements within the regime who view the nuclear program as a matter of national sovereignty that cannot be subject to external constraints or international oversight. (Read More)

US, Iran will not hold direct talks, as frozen funds not yet released, Qatar announces

The United States and Iran will meet today in Doha, US President Donald Trump announced in a post on Truth Social, despite setbacks in the ongoing peace negotiations since the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding earlier this month. Upon their arrival in Qatar, the Qatari Foreign Ministry stated that Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner would not hold direct discussions with Iranian officials during the day's negotiations.

"No high-level meeting is planned at this stage between the United States and Iran. The six billion dollars of frozen Iranian funds have not yet been transferred to Tehran, and their transfer will be carried out by agreement between the two sides and in accordance with the progress of the negotiations between Washington and Tehran. The Strait of Hormuz, its opening and the resumption of navigation through it are issues of paramount importance." Qatar's Foreign Ministry stated.

"A direct line of communication has been used to de-escalate the recent clashes. Freedom of navigation is a right guaranteed to all Gulf states, and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz is unacceptable, or a threat to the safety of navigation in it. The focus now is on restoring regional security and stability to the situation that existed before the war, and we welcome France's participation in clearing mines from the Strait of Hormuz."

According to a CNN report citing a White House official, Kushner is expected to meet with Qatari Prime Minister Sheik Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani and other mediators while in Doha. The resumption of the negotiations comes after last week's technical talks in Switzerland between senior officials from both sides, which Qatari and Pakistani mediators described as a "positive and constructive atmosphere." (Ed note: The Iranians want 6 billion dollars and control of the Strait of Hormuz. That was the meeting.)    (Read More)

Iran says it won’t meet with US envoys, clouding prospects for peace deal

Iran says that it would not meet with top US envoys who flew to the region following an outbreak of hostilities, clouding the prospects for a lasting peace between the two countries. Iranian officials also say the two sides must still sort out the terms of a ceasefire they signed two weeks ago before they could tackle more difficult topics, such as possible limits to its nuclear program. The developments indicate that the two sides are far apart on key pillars of the initial framework, which calls for Iran to lift its chokehold on the Strait of Hormuz in exchange for financial incentives and sets up 60 days of negotiations to work out a permanent peace deal.

US President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner and envoy Steve Witkoff arrived in Doha for what the White House described as “high-level” talks, but Iran and host Qatar said they would meet with mediators, rather than the Iranians themselves. “No meeting at any level with the American side has been scheduled for the coming days,” Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei says. The two countries were due to commence lower-level technical talks. Shipping has partially resumed through the strait, which handled one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas before the war broke out on February 28.

But Iranian officials have insisted on their right to manage traffic along with US ally Oman, which lies on the other side of the strategic waterway. Iranian officials said they would impose tolls in mid-August, when the 60-day period expires. “The sovereignty of the Strait of Hormuz lies with Iran and Oman, and traffic in the Strait is subject to arrangements determined by Iran,” Iran’s top negotiator, Mohammed Baqer Qalibaf, says on state TV.

Despite the uncertainty, oil prices have fallen since the weekend, when the US bombed Iranian military facilities in response to drone strikes on commercial ships and Iran attacked US military sites in Kuwait and Bahrain. Vulnerable economies, however, could remain at risk from food and fuel price increases even after energy markets feel relief, the UN trade and development agency says. (Source)

Rift between Iranian President and IRGC grows, threatens to harm US-Iran talks - report

Internal conflict within Iran between civilian leaders led by President Masoud Pezeshkian and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has grown and threatens US-Iran peace talks, The Wall Street Journal reported on Tuesday, citing officials familiar with the negotiations. According to the report, Pezeshkian’s priority is revitalizing the Iranian economy, specifically seeking access to the $6 billion in frozen funds held in Qatar, the release of which has been discussed by officials on both sides of the negotiations.

However, the IRGC seems more focused on keeping full control over the Strait of Hormuz, aiming to install a toll system which would enrich Iran’s military capabilities and give Iran further control over the security map of the Middle East. Iranian officials have speculated that such a toll system might generate up to $40 billion a year, the WSJ wrote.

The IRGC has threatened to close the strait again if Iran is not guaranteed to gain full control at the Doha talks, the WSJ cited officials as saying. It has also demanded that all ships travel along the Iranian routes through the strait. Senior Iranian clerics have come down hard on the IRGC’s side. Iran’s Assembly of Experts, an advisory body that tends to reflect the view of its supreme leader, stated that the Strait of Hormuz should remain closed unless Israel stopped attacking Lebanon, the WSJ wrote. Pezeshkian has responded by courting senior clerics in Qom, meeting with Ayatollah Shubairi Zanjani, one of Iran’s most senior clerics, to discuss the benefits of securing the frozen funds, according to the report. Additionally, Pezeshkian said that Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei supported the peace agreement. (Source)

US envoys Witkoff and Kushner will be in Qatar, but no meeting with Iran, Qatari official says

US envoy Steve Witkoff and President Donald Trump’s son-in-law ‌Jared Kushner will be in Doha today to meet Qatari mediators to discuss US-Iran negotiations, but there will not be a high-level meeting between Washington and Tehran, Qatar’s foreign ministry spokesperson says. “Mr. Steve Witfoff and Mr. Jared Kushner are here in Doha to meet with mediators, with Qatari officials, and the talks will be around all regional issues… including, of course, negotiations with Iran, but also including Lebanon,” foreign ministry spokesman Majed Al Ansari says. “They are not here for their negotiations with the Iranians,” he adds. 

US President Donald Trump said yesterday that his country’s next meeting with Iran would take place in Qatar today, amid conflicting reports as to whether American and Iranian negotiators would meet in the coming days to continue talks toward a final accord. “Iran has requested a meeting. It will take place tomorrow in Doha!” Trump said in a post on Truth Social. By contrast, Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said yesterday that no talks were scheduled between the two sides. “We will not have any negotiation meetings at any level with the American side in the coming days,” Baghaei said. Iran, he said, is sending a technical delegation to Qatar this week but this has “no relation” to the Americans’ visit.

A senior Iranian official said a meeting in Doha would be limited to discussions on managing the Strait of Hormuz and reducing tension. The standoff follows exchanges of fire over the weekend that tested the June 17 interim accord between the United States and Iran. The 14-point pact allowed 60 days for the two sides to negotiate a permanent truce in the conflict that began with U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28 and to resolve thorny issues including the future of Iran’s nuclear programme. (Ed note: So there are meetings in Doha with Iran, but there is no meeting in Doha with Iran today? Did the "Deal Maker" just get played again?) (Source)

PSALM 83

This book reveals a vastly overlooked ancient prophecy written over 3000 years ago. It predicts a concluding confederate invasion of Israel by the Arab countries that presently share common borders with the Jewish state. This coalition of countries is depicted on the red arrows upon the book cover image. The terrorist organizations within those territories, like ISIS, Hezbollah and Hamas, will probably also be involved in this final battle. Their confederate mandate is clear:.

They have said, "Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation, That the name of Israel may be remembered no more." (Psalm 83:4). While many of today's top Bible experts are predicting that Russia, Iran, Turkey, Libya, and several other countries are going to invade Israel according to the prophecy in Ezekiel 38, this timely book explains how Psalm 83 is an entirely different prophecy that occurs prior. Discover how Israel defeats their ancient Arab enemies, and why Americans need to stand beside Israel in this coming war!    (CLICK HERE)

US believes Israel-Syria normalization chances before Knesset elections 'very slim,' source to Post

The US administration believes the chances of advancing normalization between Israel and Syria before Israel's upcoming elections are "very slim," a source familiar with the matter told The Jerusalem Post. According to the source, the Syrian government's core demand is for Israel to carry out some form of withdrawal from the buffer zone it entered following the collapse of Bashar al-Assad's regime. US officials assess that this will make meaningful progress extremely difficult, as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is unlikely to approve any withdrawal from the buffer zone ahead of the October elections.

Defense Minister Israel Katz told reporters on Monday that Israel intends to remain in the areas it entered in Syria. "I informed the commander of US Central Command, Admiral Cooper, that we will not withdraw from the security zone in Syria," Katz said. The buffer zone was created after the 1974 Disengagement Agreement between Israel and Syria following the 1973 Yom Kippur War. Following the collapse of Bashar al-Assad's regime in late 2024, Israel argued that the agreement could no longer be fully implemented because the Syrian state was no longer capable of enforcing its obligations under the accord.

Israeli forces subsequently moved into parts of the UN-monitored buffer zone and several adjacent strategic positions, describing the move as a temporary security measure to prevent hostile actors from exploiting the power vacuum. Syria's new government and much of the international community have maintained that the 1974 agreement remains legally valid and have called for Israel's withdrawal from the buffer zone and a return to the pre-collapse arrangements. (Ed note: "very slim"? All Syria wants is for Israel to leave the buffer zone, give back to Syria the Golan Heights, and return to the 1967 boundaries. Come on, man! Always keep one eye on the state of Syria.)   (Read More)

The Fifth Phone Call: Israel Katz Exposes Intense White House Pressure to Force Inter-Theater Ceasefire

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz has exposed intense diplomatic friction between Jerusalem and Washington, revealing how strong American pressure forced Israel to link the Lebanese and Iranian fronts against its will. A profound disclosure regarding the diplomatic constraints of international military coalitions has emerged from the highest levels of the regional defense establishment. Senior security officials have detailed the intricate behind the scenes communication that altered the trajectory of ongoing operations across multiple northern and eastern theaters. These insights highlight the tactical adjustments required when independent strategic objectives intersect with the broader geopolitical agendas of global superpower allies during active warfare.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz delivered a detailed commentary regarding the controversial decision to tie the Lebanese and Iranian fronts together against the explicit desires of Jerusalem. Katz praised the resistance of the executive leadership during intense bilateral discussions, noting that "The Prime Minister fought courageously. I witnessed four phone calls between the Prime Minister and the President of the United States, during which the President tried to pressure him to link Iran and Lebanon. The Prime Minister stood firm. Iran was constantly pressing the United States to pressure Israel to stop."

The Defense Minister explained that Israel possessed immense strategic leverage due to widespread displacement inside hostile territories while the military campaign proceeded unhindered. Katz stated that "At the same time, we were striking across Lebanon. There were 700,000 evacuees from Dahieh and 600,000 evacuees from southern Lebanon, a total of 1.3 million. Most of Tyre was evacuated as well." He clarified that "

This was the situation we wanted because it was the strongest possible leverage to change reality in Lebanon: to pull the snake's fangs, remove Hezbollah's venom, and defeat Hezbollah in Lebanon. That was the objective I supported, and I believed it was achievable because of what we had done in Iran, our determination, our capabilities, and the broad support for that goal." (Read More)

Defense Minister: Trump's pressure saved Hezbollah

Defense Minister Israel Katz claimed that President Trump's demand to link the Iran and Lebanon arenas prevented Hezbollah's collapse.

Defense Minister Israel Katz on Monday presented his assessment of the situation on the northern front, along with an overview of Israel's other fronts, stating that Israel is working to shape a new security reality in Lebanon. Speaking about the northern campaign, Katz said that beyond the two pilot areas already established, there will be no further Israeli withdrawals.

"People should not hold their breath wondering where the next place Israel will withdraw from in Lebanon will be-because it will not happen until Hezbollah is disarmed. We have no territorial ambitions in Lebanon, but until Hezbollah lays down its weapons, we will not withdraw even one millimeter." Katz also referred to his meeting last Friday at the Kirya military headquarters in Tel Aviv with the commander of US Central Command, Admiral Brad Cooper. "I agreed with him that the IDF will not withdraw from the three security zones-in Lebanon, Syria, and Gaza."

According to Katz, Hezbollah entered the fighting in the north under heavy Iranian pressure and in an effort to establish a new strategic equation with Israel. "When President Trump linked Iran and Lebanon, we stopped bringing down buildings in Beirut. Linking the two arenas is an American interest, and those are the constraints of our partnership with the United States. Had Lebanon not been linked to Iran, Hezbollah would have collapsed. We therefore moved to Plan B-expanding the Yellow Line security zone in southern Lebanon."

Katz revealed that before the signing of the US-Iran memorandum of understanding, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Trump held four telephone conversations. However, he said, the decisive shift came during a fifth call in which he did not participate. "I wasn't present for the fifth conversation, and the President applied pressure that ultimately resulted in linking the two arenas. From that moment on, civilians returned to southern Lebanon, and Hezbollah also reinforced its presence in the south." (Read More)

Netanyahu: ‘No room’ for Palestinian state between Mediterranean Sea and Jordan River

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Saturday that there is “no room for two states” between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River, arguing the war created broad public consensus against creating a Palestinian state. “Before the war, the public was divided: although in my opinion most of the public was against it, a significant portion was in favor. I think that has changed,” Netanyahu told reporters, answering a question at a press conference in Jerusalem on Saturday night. “That is a basis for agreement,” added the premier. “In my opinion, there is much more unity among the public than you see in the Knesset.”

Netanyahu was responding to a question from Israel Hayom about the principles on which he would seek to form his next government if he wins another term in the general election this fall. Before the Oct. 7, 2023, massacre that sparked the current multi-front war, 69% of Israelis opposed the establishment of another Palestinian state beyond the one in Gaza. This opposition surged to 79% in the aftermath of the attacks, according to polling data published by the Jerusalem Center for Security and Foreign Affairs in May. On Feb. 21, 2024, the Knesset voted 99-11 to reject unilateral recognition of Palestinian statehood.

All coalition members and most lawmakers from Zionist opposition parties voted against “international diktats regarding a permanent settlement with the Palestinians.” In July 2025, a majority of 71 out of 120 Knesset members from the coalition and opposition passed a non-binding resolution in favor of applying Jerusalem’s sovereignty to Judea, Samaria and the Jordan Valley. (Ed note: "FROM THE RIVER TO THE SEA, ISRAEL WILL BE FREE.")   (Source)

Netanyahu: Israel takes Erdoğan’s threats ‘very seriously’

Israel takes Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s repeated statements against the Jewish state “very seriously,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned on Sunday. “Hardly a day goes by without Erdoğan calling for the destruction of the State of Israel,” Netanyahu said. “We take these words very seriously, because if we have learned one thing from the history of our people, it is that when someone says he intends to destroy you, take him seriously.” He added that Israel would raise the issue with Washington. “We are not ignoring this,” the prime minister said. Erdoğan said on Saturday that “genocidal, occupying, expansionist” Zionism poses an existential threat to Turkey, continuing a pattern of harsh rhetoric since the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas-led attacks and the ensuing Gaza war.

Israel’s Foreign Ministry rebuked Erdoğan, calling him a “dictator” who persecutes political opponents, imprisons journalists and backs jihadist groups. “Erdoğan will pass. Israel will remain forever,” the ministry said on X. Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism Minister Amichai Chikli also reacted, writing on Saturday night that Erdoğan is a “deranged antisemitic dictator” whose “Nazi-tinged speech reveals the truth: terror supporter, Kurd murderer, and tyrant.”

Meanwhile, Likud Knesset member Amit Halevi called on Sunday for the immediate closure of Turkey’s consulate in Jerusalem and diplomatic sanctions against Ankara. Speaking outside the mission, Halevi warned that it was “functioning as a de facto embassy for a hostile, Hamas-run entity,” citing findings by the Katz Jerusalem Center for Applied Policy (JCAP) on Turkish activity in the capital. Ties between Israel and Turkey have deteriorated sharply during the war, with Ankara maintaining contacts with Hamas and suspending trade ties, though stopping short of a full diplomatic break. (Ed note: And we know that Ezekiel 38/39 calls out old Gomer also.)    (Source)

Protests, revolution in Strip cannot succeed while Hamas remains in control, Gazans tell 'Post'

Despite almost three years of hardship and devastation during the Gaza war caused by Hamas’s October 7 massacre in southern Israel, calls for a mass protest on June 26 in the Strip went largely unanswered. The initiative to bring Gazans together to demonstrate against Hamas’s rule drew little public response last Friday, highlighting how years of oppression have kept most Palestinians in the Strip from expressing dissent.

“No one can imagine the level of fear and intimidation Hamas has instilled in people’s hearts since its foundation in 1987,” said one Palestinian from Gaza City. “People are simply too afraid to protest, even now after all what they’ve been through,” he told The Jerusalem Post. “This is because Hamas is still here, controlling people’s lives, and nobody can say a word,” he said. 

There was widespread anticipation about whether the demonstrations, set for 4 p.m., would attract local residents, but it soon became clear that the June 26 protest failed, as almost no one showed up. “It ended in failure because there was a lot of pressure on people to keep silent,” said the Gaza resident, speaking anonymously, out of fear of reprisal. “Anyone who even considered joining the rallies refrained from doing so, as participants were labeled traitors and agents of anarchy.” 

“It’s very hard to explain the scale of the security, political and social control that Hamas asserts,” he noted. “For example, social and trade associations, such as the chamber of commerce and the industry unions, are in one way or another operating under Hamas’s oversight and are subject to its authority. That means they cannot say or do what they want,” he charged. (Ed note: Still, most of Gaza votes with Hamas against Israel, and wasn't President supposed to disarm Hamas?) (Read More)

Iran Is Playing America Again

The emerging U.S.-Iran negotiations reveal a familiar pattern: a determined revolutionary regime exploiting an American leadership that increasingly mistakes ideological conflict for an economic transaction. At the moment, the negotiations appear to be moving in only one direction. Washington seems eager to reach an agreement, while Tehran is testing every possible boundary, and every round of fire brings control back to Iran. It decides peace and War in the region.

Rather than negotiating from a position of compromise, Iran is stretching the process itself, convinced that time works in its favor and that the United States has a limited tolerance for prolonged confrontation. This dynamic is not entirely new. It bears a striking resemblance to an earlier strategic failure: the belief that peace could be engineered with the Palestinians by creating artificial symmetry between Israel and organizations fundamentally committed to Israel's destruction.

Many Israelis convinced themselves that territorial concessions would moderate their adversaries. Instead, those concessions created the conditions for Iranian-backed terrorist infrastructure to emerge in territory Israel itself had relinquished.The common assumption behind both episodes is similar. In each case, a powerful democracy hesitates to use its overwhelming strength. Whether because of moral restraint, economic priorities, war fatigue, or simple strategic misjudgment, it signals reluctance rather than resolve. Its adversary interprets that restraint not as goodwill or strength but as weakness, and responds by expanding its ambitions - despite the irrational nature of those actions.

The comparison is not perfect. Israel surrendered land that was directly tied to its own security and historical identity. The United States is primarily pursuing economic and geopolitical interests. It is reasonable for great powers to weigh economic considerations in foreign policy. The problem begins when policymakers assume that every rival is motivated by those same considerations. That appears to be one of the central weaknesses of Vice President J.D. Vance's approach. His strategic framework seems to assume that economic incentives ultimately outweigh ideological commitments. If prosperity can be offered, hostility can eventually be moderated. That assumption misunderstands the nature of the Islamic Republic. (Ed note: A great analysis of Iran's ability to negotiate with the US. What no one in DC can seem to grasp is the fact that with Iran, this is not an economic or political war, it is indeed a Religious War!)   (Read More)

Vance vs. Rubio: Inside The White House Battle Over Israel, Iran, and 2028

JD Vance and Marco Rubio are pulling in opposite directions on Iran and Israel, exposing a deep Republican split with major stakes for the US-Israel alliance and 2028. The White House insists there is no daylight between them. The reality tells a different story. Behind the carefully worded statements about "full unity" in Washington, two of the most powerful figures in the Trump administration are pulling in sharply different directions on the most consequential foreign policy question of our time: what America owes Israel, and what it is willing to give Iran.

ice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio have both been seen as potential successors to President Trump and are the product of powerful, competing constituencies within the Republican Party. That competition is now playing out in real time, with Israel's security as the stakes. Vance lashed out at Israeli critics of the preliminary US-Iran deal, and suggested that Israeli bombings of civilian infrastructure in Beirut, intended to weaken Hezbollah, were undermining US-led peace efforts. He has also revealed that the US invited an Iranian intelligence official to serve as a deconfliction liaison with the Pentagon in Qatar, and framed Iran as a potential partner in a transactional deal that would allow America to refocus its strategic attention on China.

In an interview with the New York Times, Vance criticized Israeli ministers Ben Gvir and Smotrich over their opposition to the Iran MOU and calls to escalate in Lebanon, saying: "You are a country of nine million people, and you cannot simply rely on killing as a means to solve every national security problem you face." Rubio has staked out the opposite ground. While Vance was meeting with Iranians in Switzerland, Rubio traveled through the Gulf to reassure allies rattled by what they see as excessive concessions to Tehran, repeatedly defending Israel's military campaign in Lebanon as a justified response to Hezbollah attacks. When asked to address Vance's criticism of Israel, Rubio deflected before recounting a Hezbollah assault on an Israeli checkpoint earlier in the week, letting the contrast speak for itself.

The sharpest point of friction is Lebanon. A US-brokered "deconfliction cell" on the Lebanese front includes Iran alongside the United States, Qatar, Pakistan, and Lebanon itself, but not Israel, a move Rubio's camp views as a dangerous concession of influence to Tehran in a theater where he has been trying to build an Iran-free framework. (Read More)

Iran expert: 'Iranians feel betrayed, realize they're alone'

Iran expert Dr. Thamar Eilam Gindin discusses the confusion Trump's shifting policies have created among the Iranian people-and explains why it is regime supporters who are taking to the streets.

The changing approach of U.S. President Donald Trump toward Iran-war, negotiations, renewed strikes, no negotiations, and back again-has left the Iranian public confused, uncertain whether they should once again risk their lives to overthrow the Ayatollahs' regime while waiting for American assistance that has yet to materialize. Arutz Sheva spoke with Dr. Thamar Eilam Gindin, an Iran expert at the Ezri Center at the University of Haifa, about the mood on the streets of Iran.

"There is a very strong sense of betrayal" among opponents of the regime, she said. "One of the reasons they burned mosques on January 8 and carried out such bold acts was because Trump had promised to intervene once the regime began killing protesters. But not only did he fail to intervene-he even negotiated with the murderers after they had killed between 30,000 and 70,000 people."

"At the time, some argued that he was simply buying time to rearm, and some are making the same claim today. It is well known that the Islamic Republic buys time, meaning that both sides are buying time. Perhaps Trump's relative unpredictability is actually encouraging, because maybe he will reverse course from where things stand now." Asked whether these assessments are based on information coming directly from Iran or whether internet restrictions make everything speculative, Dr. Eilam Gindin noted that Iran's internet has recently been reopened to all providers after a period during which only government providers had access. (Read More)

Iran's Araghchi heads to Iraq as rumors swirl in Baghdad over Green Zone raid

Iraq has been trying to rein in some Iranian-backed militias, with Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi seeking to show that he can rein in chaos in the country.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi visited Iraq on Sunday, showing that Iraq is still a valuable partner to Tehran. The visit comes after US Secretary of State Marco Rubio spotlighted the threat of Iranian-backed militias in Iraq. According to Iranian media Mehr News, “Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said Saturday that the top Iranian diplomat Abbas Araghchi will visit neighboring Iraq on Sunday.”

The report says that Baghaei announced the visit on Saturday night, and the fact that it wasn’t announced earlier would appear to mean that Iran is either responding to something urgently or that they were concerned about revealing the visit, as usually these types of visits would be planned in advance. Iran’s foreign minister comes to Iraq as rumors swirl in Baghdad about a raid by security forces on the Green Zone. Rumors suggest Iraq is conducting an anti-corruption drive and has targeted some senior officials or politicians. It is not clear who has been targeted.

Some have suggested that Iraq may be targeting Sunni Arab parties, and others have suggested it could be Iranian-linked politicians. Iraq has been trying to rein in some Iranian-backed militias. Iraq’s new Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi is seeking to show that he can rein in the chaos in Iraq. Zaidi is also seeking to head to the US in July. Cracking down on Iranian-backed militias is an important aspect of the US pressure on Iraq.

The US wants Zaidi to disarm the militias. There are a dozen major militias in Iraq, and most of them are sanctioned by the US as terrorist groups. The Iranian government spokesman stated that during the visit, “Araghchi will discuss and consult with senior Iraqi officials about bilateral relations and regional and international developments.” (Ed note: IRGC Quds Force chief Esmail Qaani was just in Iraq on April 20th, 2026, and now FM Araghchi is on his way to Iraq also? What is this increased interest in "Assyria" which includes Iraq and Syria? Psalm 83:8.) )  (Read More)

The Nuclear Fatwa Is Dead: IRGC Media Openly Advocates for Iran to Build the Bomb

Fars News, affiliated with Iran's IRGC, has published a commentary explicitly calling for Iran to obtain a nuclear weapon for deterrence, crossing a decades-old public red line.

In a development analysts are calling one of the most significant rhetorical shifts in the Islamic Republic's history, the IRGC-affiliated Fars News Agency has published a commentary explicitly calling for Iran to obtain a nuclear weapon, crossing a public red line that Tehran has maintained, however tenuously, for decades. Fars News wrote that Iran has no choice but to obtain a nuclear bomb to remove the military option against the country during the transition to a new world order, arguing that Iran must achieve nuclear deterrence to gain the "calm needed" to ensure other disputes can be resolved through negotiations, and that only under such conditions would negotiations be possible from the "right position."

The commentary argued that nuclear deterrence could create a balance of power between Iran, the United States and Israel, and keep the scope of any possible conflict "under control," adding that nuclear deterrence "does not mean that war will not occur; rather, the scope of the conflict will become controllable." Iran International noted that no part of the Iranian governing establishment, nor state-controlled media, had previously made such an argument publicly.

The statement lands at an extraordinarily sensitive moment. Iran's key enrichment facilities at Natanz and Fordow were severely damaged in U.S. and Israeli strikes, and the MOU signed on June 14th remains deeply contested, with hardline factions inside Iran actively working to torpedo it. Experts say Khamenei's death at the hands of the United States and Israel may have cleared a path for the regime's hardest-line factions to rethink his longstanding nuclear fatwa banning weapons development. "The nuclear fatwa is dead," Quincy Institute's Trita Parsi told CNN. "Elite opinion as well as public opinion has shifted dramatically on this, which shouldn't be surprising since Iran has been bombed twice in the midst of negoti)ations by two nuclear-equipped states." (Ed note: How many times have you heard President Trump say, "Iran will never have a nuclear bomb?" The IRGC just openly stated, "we're going for it." How will Trump ignore that "In your face" statement?

And Iran is NOT talking about "nuclear deterrence" they are talking about the annihilation of the Jewish race.       (Read More)

80 tons of explosives: IDF destroys massive Hezbollah terror tunnel in southern Lebanon

IDF destroys a Hezbollah underground infrastructure spanning over 200 meters in length and reaching a depth of more than 25 meters in the Majdal Zoun area.

As part of Operation Closing Verse, the IDF on Sunday evening destroyed an underground terror infrastructure belonging to the Hezbollah terrorist organization in the vicinity of the southern Lebanese village of Majdal Zoun. The tunnel network, spanning over 200 meters in length and reaching a depth of more than 25 meters, contained hundreds of weapons and heavily fortified infrastructure. This included blast doors, four launch shafts, and 12 rooms used for munitions storage and terrorist quarters.

Among the items discovered at the site were dozens of disassembled drones, aircraft components, warheads, and explosives. The IDF classified the complex as one of Hezbollah’s most significant strategic assets in the sector. According to the IDF, more than 20 Hezbollah terrorists were eliminated during operations in the area, including approximately ten members of the elite Radwan Force. The IDF noted that Israel notified the United States and the US envoy to Lebanon in advance regarding the destruction of the infrastructure.

"IDF commanders and troops will remain in the southern Lebanon security zone and will continue to destroy terror infrastructure, eliminate threats to northern communities, and ensure the safety of Israel's citizens," the military stated. Ahead of the detonation, regional councils in the Western and Upper Galilee notified residents that a powerful explosion would take place in the coming hours due to IDF operations targeting Hezbollah's terror infrastructure. "Due to the sheer force of the blast, local, independent earthquake alerts - which are not connected to Home Front Command systems - may be triggered. There is no danger to residents in the north." (Ed note: This is the same tunnel that the IDF was taking out last week and President Trump stopped them yelling, "Why are you always blowing things up?" The village of Majdal Zoun is about 6 miles south of the city of TYRE.)  (Source)

Trump threatens to ‘complete the job’ in Iran as US military launches fresh strikes

CENTCOM says it hit 10 targets ‘in and near the Strait of Hormuz’ in retaliation for drone attack on Panama-flagged tanker; IRGC responds by hitting US assets in Kuwait, Bahrain.

WASHINGTON — US President Donald Trump said Saturday that the Islamic Republic of Iran will “no longer exist” if the United States is “forced” to resume the war, as he accused Tehran of violating a ceasefire by striking ships in the Strait of Hormuz. The threat came after US forces said they struck “multiple” Iranian targets Saturday in another tit-for-tat response to attacks on shipping in the vital Strait of Hormuz. “United States aircraft just struck Iranian missile and drone storage locations, and coastal radar sites, for violating the Cease Fire Agreement, AGAIN!” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

“There may come a point when we are no longer able to be reasonable, and will be forced to militarily complete the job that we very successfully started. If that happens, the Islamic Republic of Iran will no longer exist!” Trump wrote. US Central Command said the strikes were in response to an Iranian drone attack on the Panama-flagged oil tanker Kiku, which was carrying some two million barrels of crude.

The US military said the latest response targeted “surveillance infrastructure, communication systems, air defense sites, drone storage facilities, and minelayer capabilities.”In total, it said it hit 10 Iranian military targets “at multiple locations in and near the Strait of Hormuz.” Iranian media reported several explosions in the Sirik and Qeshm areas of southern Iran.In the wake of the strikes, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps also accused the US of violating the terms of the ceasefire, announcing that its navy and aerospace forces had launched joint missile and drone attacks targeting US military sites in Kuwait and Bahrain in retaliation. (Read More)

Netanyahu: Deal tells Iran and Hezbollah they have ‘no role in Lebanon,’ and that Israel can keep security zone as long as needed

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hails yesterday’s framework agreement with Lebanon as “a historic achievement for Israel” that advances progress toward ending the bilateral conflict and opens the prospect of “an eventual peace agreement between Israel and Lebanon.” Speaking at a press conference, Netanyahu says the deal is “a major blow” to Iran and to Hezbollah, and claims it marks US and Lebanese agreement to Israel holding a security zone in Lebanon for as long as is needed for Israeli security. 

“We’ll continue to hold it until Hezbollah and other terror groups are disarmed,” he says of the current security zone, “until there is no longer a threat to Israel from Lebanon.” He says Iran wanted to impose an Israeli withdrawal from south Lebanon, but that he resisted this, and notes bitter Iranian and Hezbollah criticism of the agreement. With this accord, he claims, Israel, Lebanon and the US “are essentially telling Iran, ‘This is none of your business. You have no status here, no involvement and no role. Not you, not Hezbollah, not any terror group.'”

He acknowledges that Israel will be withdrawing from two small areas it currently holds, in a pilot project for disarming Hezbollah and transferring territory to the Lebanese Army. Showing the areas on a map, he says one is completely outside the security zone, and the other is on the edge of the zone in an area the IDF no longer needs to hold. Thus, he says, Israel is retaining the entire security zone area that it needs to protect northern Israel. (Source)

Here Is What the Israel-Lebanon Framework Agreement Actually Says

The U.S. State Department released the full Israel-Lebanon-U.S. trilateral framework signed June 26. Here is a breakdown of every major commitment in the document. The U.S. State Department released the full text of the trilateral framework agreement signed Friday in Washington between Israel, Lebanon, and the United States. The document, signed in three original copies in English, lays out the architecture of what both sides describe as a path toward comprehensive peace. Here is what it contains.

The core commitment
Israel and Lebanon declare their intent to conclusively end the conflict between them and formally conclude any state of war. Both governments affirm the right of each state to exist in peace as sovereign neighbors, and commit to resolving all outstanding issues through direct bilateral negotiations facilitated by the United States.

Disarmament first, withdrawal second
The agreement establishes a phased, conditions-based process: the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) will gradually reassume effective sovereignty over all Lebanese territory, but only in parallel with the verified disarmament and dismantlement of all non-state armed groups — meaning Hezbollah. IDF redeployment out of Lebanon is explicitly conditioned on the completion of that disarmament. A security annex, to be drafted with full U.S. support, will detail the specific steps, security arrangements, and verification mechanisms.

The pilot zones
Two initial pilot zones have already been agreed upon between the IDF and the Lebanese Armed Forces. In those areas, once disarmament of non-state armed groups is verified as complete, the Lebanese army will assume full security responsibility, international reconstruction support will begin, and Lebanese civilians will be able to return safely. Additional pilot zones will be determined by mutual agreement. 

Lebanon's explicit commitments
Lebanon commits to rebuilding the state's monopoly on the use of force, achieving complete and verified disarmament of all non-state armed groups, and ensuring those groups have no military or security role and no armed presence anywhere in Lebanese territory. Lebanon also explicitly rejects any claim by any country or non-state actor to use force on its behalf without its express authorization, a direct, if diplomatically worded, repudiation of Hezbollah's self-appointed role as Lebanon's defender. 

Israel's position

Israel states that its military actions in Lebanon are solely a consequence of the attacks and hostile intent of non-state armed groups, particularly Hezbollah, and declares it has no territorial ambitions in Lebanon. Israel affirms that full disarmament of those groups would eliminate any future need for IDF military action or presence there. 

Financing and reconstruction
Lebanon and the United States commit to blocking funds from reaching any entity affiliated with non-state armed groups, and Lebanon explicitly pledges that reconstruction money will not flow to Hezbollah or connected organizations. The U.S. commits to mobilizing international partners for Lebanese reconstruction, economic recovery, and humanitarian assistance — with all new American aid strictly conditioned on verifiable milestones and full transparency.

What comes next
Upon signing, both countries are to establish working groups to draft a full, comprehensive peace and security agreement, alongside parallel tracks of direct engagement facilitated by Washington. Both governments pledge to proceed in good faith until lasting peace is achieved. The agreement also commits both sides to cease hostile actions in international political and legal forums, and to work toward the return of remains and release of detainees. (Source)

Hezbollah says Israel-Lebanon agreement ‘null and void’; Israel said bracing for attack

Hezbollah’s leader on Saturday pilloried the Israel-Lebanon framework agreement signed in Washington as “null and void” and a surrender of Lebanon’s sovereignty, with the terror group’s top ally in Beirut’s parliament going as far as calling it an “incitement to civil war.” The deal Beirut and Jerusalem signed Friday, the result of five rounds of talks in the US capital, is intended to pave the way for an eventual peace agreement. It includes a pilot effort in which Lebanese soldiers will take control of some areas held by Israeli troops, as well as a process aimed at disarming Hezbollah.

Rejecting the agreement, the terror group’s chief Naim Qassem called it a “humiliation” and said it should be replaced by the Iran-US memorandum of understanding, which was signed the week before in Switzerland, and which linked the ceasefire in Lebanon with the truce between Iran and the US — a move that greatly concerned Israel. In a statement, Qassem said that any attempt to link Israel’s withdrawal from southern Lebanon to the terror group’s disarmament crossed “red lines.” He further accused Lebanese authorities of “legitimizing” Israeli occupation through this “grave blunder,” which temporarily leaves much of southern Lebanon in Israeli military control, until the areas are verified to be cleared of Hezbollah and its infrastructure and handed over to the Lebanese military.

Channel 12 and Ynet reported that Israel was bracing for the possibility that Hezbollah will launch attacks on IDF forces or Israeli communities in the coming days in an attempt to undermine the newly signed framework deal. A defense official told Channel 12 that Israel was prepared for such an eventuality, and warned of “a severe and significant response” to any Hezbollah attack. Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, a Hezbollah ally, called the deal signed with Israel “incitement to civil war,” and warned against its implementation. (Read More)

Furious Hezbollah Supporters Riot Against Israel-Lebanon Framework in Beirut | WATCH

Hezbollah supporters blocked roads near Beirut's airport Friday, waving Iranian flags and rejecting the US-brokered trilateral framework signed hours earlier in Washington. Hezbollah supporters poured into the streets of Beirut Friday, blocking major roads including routes near Rafic Hariri International Airport and Salim Salam Road, in protest of the trilateral framework agreement signed hours earlier between Israel, Lebanon, and the United States in Washington.

The demonstrations turned confrontational in some areas, with clashes reported between protesters and Lebanese security forces. Hezbollah chief Naim Qassem has declared the deal non-binding on the group, demanding full Israeli withdrawal from Lebanese territory without any conditions on Hezbollah's weapons. Footage from the ground showed a sea of Hezbollah's yellow flags alongside portraits of Iranian leaders and symbols of the Islamic Republic. Lebanese national flags were conspicuously scarce, particularly in the southern Beirut suburb of Dahiyeh, Hezbollah's stronghold, a visual that cuts to the heart of Lebanon's sovereignty crisis.

The scenes illustrated in real time the central contradiction the framework agreement must now confront: Lebanon's government signed a deal committing to disarm all non-state armed groups, while the most powerful armed group in the country took to the streets to reject it within hours. (Ed note: The roughly 31% of the Shiite population of Beirut, which is located in the Dahieh suburb is pro- Hezbollah. The Sunni, Druze, and Christian sects, who make up a part of Beirut's broader population is somewhat under 10%, but the majority of the Lebanese population opposes the activities of Hezbollah.) (Read More)

Underground monsters: What remains of the terror tunnels beneath Lebanese soil?

For decades, Hezbollah's vast tunnel project, larger than anyone imagined, was dug under Israel's nose under Lebanese soil, complete with an infiltration plan waiting for orders to be carried out. Watch.

For decades, Hezbollah’s tunnel project was built right under Israel’s nose-its flagship undertaking. Only now is it becoming clear just how vast it truly is, far beyond earlier estimates: missiles, living quarters, food supplies, weapons, and a raid plan waiting for the order to be executed. Former sector commanders spoke with i24NEWS about what may happen next under the terms of the agreement, while the dismantling of much of this threat still lies ahead.

Major General (res.) Yitzhak Gershon explains: “There are tunnels throughout Lebanon. If Hezbollah had joined the horrific surprise attack of October 7, we would have encountered Radwan Force militants at the entrances to Haifa. The enemy understands that it is vulnerable to Israeli air superiority and intelligence dominance. Therefore, the underground infrastructure is intended to conceal fighters, ammunition, missile stockpiles, and launchers-and above all, to hide hundreds of operatives capable of raiding the Galilee within a matter of hours."

Colonel (res.) Kobi Marom adds: “This is a massive Iranian investment, marked by a high degree of sophistication in the organization’s ability to embed extensive capabilities within multi-level underground structures. The depth and scale of the project raise questions about Israel’s ability to destroy the tunnels through Air Force strikes alone." He added: “The IDF may have destroyed only about 25% of the overall network. In the organization’s centers of gravity in Nabatieh, Beirut, and the Beqaa Valley, the underground system still enables continued production. It must be understood that the scale of this underground threat still lies ahead." (Source)

Hamas crushes ‘Peaceful Revolution’ protests in Gaza

Hamas clamped down on Gazans on Friday for attempting to protest against its rule over the Strip. The demonstrations, titled the “June 26 Peaceful Revolution,” were planned to take place in several locations throughout the Gaza Strip, but the terrorist group’s arrests and intimidation tactics prevented the protests from gaining traction, U.S.-based newspaper The Algemeiner reported. Hamas’s security apparatus detained or rounded up people at four hospitals in Gaza; Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis, Al-Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza City and Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir al-Balah, a resident of the Rimal neighborhood in Gaza City told the newspaper.

Speaking on conditions of anonymity over fears for his safety, the man was cited as saying, “The situation in Gaza is very difficult. They are kidnapping people and threatening people. The level of terror is high. There are fatwas calling for killing and fatwas declaring people infidels in the mosques, and calls saying the protest movement has been postponed. Things are very difficult. Since the morning, they’ve been arresting people and kidnapping people from the streets. Things are very bad.”

The Association of Palestinian Scholars, a Palestinian religious body, warned that those linked with the protests will be deemed collaborators with Israel, a crime punishable by death under Hamas’s rule, according to The Telegraph. A debate on social media raged in the wake of the events, with Hamas supporters accusing the organizers of the demonstrations of being handled by an Israel Defense Forces Arabic-language spokesperson, Lt. Col. Avichay Adraee, Ynetreported. Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib, the Gaza-born senior fellow of the U.S.-based think tank Atlantic Council, said that Hamas deployed at least hundreds of its operatives across Gaza to suppress the protests, resulting in “eerily empty” streets. (Read More)

US launches strikes on Iran after second shipping attack

The US has conducted new strikes on Iran, following a drone attack on a Panama-flagged vessel in the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday. US Central Command (Centcom) said it hit multiple targets across Iran in direct response to "continued aggression" against commercial shipping, including military equipment, communication systems, air defense sites and drone storage facilities. Donald Trump said the latest strikes were in response to Iran repeatedly violating the ceasefire deal, suggesting on Truth Social that "there may come a point when we are no longer able to be reasonable". Iran is yet to comment on the latest strikes.

Centcom said in a statement, "Iran was given a chance to honor the ceasefire agreement but elected not to when its forces launched a one-way attack drone that hit MT Kiku," a Panama-flagged tanker. It added that commercial vessels are continuing to operate in the Strait of Hormuz. Shortly after the latest strikes were announced, the US president took to Truth Social, where he said was it was "very possible" that Tehran would "never learn". "There may come a point when we are no longer able to be reasonable, and will be forced to militarily complete the job that we very successfully started," he wrote on Saturday evening.

The post went on: "If that happens, the Islamic Republic of Iran will no longer exist!" In the hours following the US strikes, Kuwait and Bahrain both reported that their air defence systems had been activated. "Kuwaiti air defenses are currently confronting hostile missile and drone attacks," the Kuwaiti Armed Forces said in a statement shared to X, asking the public to adhere to security instructions. Bahrain's Ministry of Interior has urged citizens to "remain calm and head to the nearest safe place". (Read More)

US strikes Iran, as tit-for-tat attacks dramatically reignite tensions

The US military said it struck Iran again, hours after a tanker was hit in the Strait of Hormuz, in the worst escalation since the two sides signed an interim peace deal two weeks ago. Each of the warring sides has accused the other of violating the agreement reached two weeks ago to end the four-month-old conflict. US Central Command said on Saturday its forces carried out fresh strikes after a Panama-flagged tanker was attacked by an Iranian drone early on Saturday. In Iran, state broadcaster IRIB said early Sunday local time that explosions were heard in Sirik in southern Iran, without providing further details.

"Iran was given a chance to honor the ceasefire agreement but elected not to," CENTCOM said in a statement. It said the strikes were "in direct response to continued Iranian aggression against commercial shipping" and targeted Iranian military surveillance, communications, air defense, drone storage, and mine-laying facilities. A US defense official later reported that the strikes on Iranian targets were complete, according to Fox News.

Washington said earlier that it hit Iranian targets overnight. Iran said it responded on Saturday by striking targets linked to US forces. Saturday's attack on a tanker in the strait followed another on a cargo ship on Thursday that triggered the latest escalation. Iran has made a fresh bid to assert control over the world's most important energy shipping route, which has begun to reopen after months of disruption. (Ed note: The US hit Iran for the second time on Saturday, June 27th, about 2:15 pm west coast time.) (Read More)

The Pentagon Realignment: Washington Reviews Massive Middle East Troop Relocation After Severe Iranian Missile Strikes

A comprehensive Wall Street Journal investigation has revealed that the United States is considering a sweeping redistribution of its Middle East military forces, including expanding its presence in Israel, after Iranian strikes heavily damaged at least 20 American sites. The structural architecture of American military deployment in the Middle East is facing a historic re-evaluation following a wave of highly destructive kinetic operations. Defense planners are actively preparing to transition crucial assets westward to minimize the vulnerability of static forward positions against sophisticated long range bombardments. This strategic pivot marks a major shift in how international coalitions intend to station deterrence capabilities during active regional warfare. 

The United States government is reviewing the physical placement of its regional armed forces, exploring options to shift specific commands or total base functionalities to more secure territory. A detailed investigation published by the Wall Street Journal indicates that Israel is currently under serious consideration as a primary alternative for hosting expanded American combat units or technical capabilities. This strategic reassessment follows extensive collaborative operations where Israeli facilities hosted dozens of American fighter wings and refueling platforms.

The urgent security review was initiated after extensive ordnance impacts caused severe damage to at least 20 American military bases and diplomatic compounds throughout the theater of war. Defense officials are looking into downsizing the visible footprint of American forces stationed in Kuwait and Saudi Arabia while shifting critical command centers completely underground. Senior strategists are also looking into dispersing vital military capabilities across a much wider array of smaller installations to decrease their vulnerability to ongoing missile salvos.

A significant portion of the unpublicized structural damage was sustained by the United Statesnaval installation in Bahrain, which serves as the primary command center for maritime operations in the region. Elite missile forces and explosive drone waves launched by regional adversaries between late February and June inflicted extensive structural wreckage that the Pentagon withheld from public disclosures. The physical impacts compromised the primary base headquarters, at least 12 auxiliary military structures, and two vital satellite communication terminals. (Ed note: One article has stated that the damage is over $300 million to our bases.We have been told that Iran's Navy, Air force, and missile platforms are all gone. We know that Israel is very worried about those missiles.) (Read More)