Southern Lebanon is actually northern Israel - opinion

Historically speaking, southern Lebanon is in fact northern Israel, and the roots of the Jewish people in the area run deep.

As the IDF battles to clear southern Lebanon of Hezbollah terrorists, it is worth highlighting an intriguing historical fact, one that many seem to have forgotten. Having grown up with an international boundary between the Jewish state and our neighbors to the north, we take it for granted that this is how it has always been and should be. But the truth is that the current border between Israel and Lebanon is little more than a century old and is entirely artificial, a relic of a time when European colonialists whimsically drew lines on maps over a bottle of brandy in smoke-filled rooms. 

Historically speaking, southern Lebanon is in fact northern Israel, and the roots of the Jewish people in the area run deep. Whether or not this can or should be translated now into a political reality is a far more complex question, but there is simply no denying our connection to the land. Indeed, back in biblical times, southern Lebanon was clearly part of the Land of Israel. In the Book of Genesis (10:19) it says, “and the borders of Canaan reached from Sidon toward Gerar as far as Gaza, and then toward Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, and Tsevoyim as far as Lasha.” Sidon, a city in Lebanon, is about halfway between the current Israeli border and Beirut.

Just prior to his death, our biblical patriarch Jacob blessed his 12 sons, and the blessing he gave to Zevulun was “Zevulun will live by the seashore and become a haven for ships; his border will extend toward Sidon” (Genesis 49:13). The Book of Joshua (13:6) mentions Sidon explicitly as being promised to the Jewish people, and it also says (19:28) that the border of the tribe of Asher extended to Sidon. INTERESTINGLY, THE midrash in Bereishit Rabbah (39:8) says it was in Tyre, a city now 12 miles (19 kilometers) north of the Israeli border, that God promised the Land of Israel to Abraham.

The midrash quotes Rabbi Levi, who said, “When Abraham was traveling through Aram Naharayim and Aram Nahor, he saw them eating, drinking, and reveling. He said: ‘Would that my portion not be in this land.’ When he reached the Promontory of Tyre, he saw them engaged in weeding at the time of weeding, hoeing at the time of hoeing. He said: ‘Would that my portion be in this land.’ The Holy One blessed be He said to him: ‘To your descendants I will give this land’” (Genesis 12:7). (Ed note: This article from the Jerusalem Post was first posted on Prophecy Headlines on Nov 16, 2024 and is still very timely today.)  (Read More)

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 Jeremiah 49:34-39 develops in what is now called Iran, Israel is still facing the inter circle of nations that surround her. A very timely read from Dr Bill Salus.) (CLICK HERE)

Israel has clear objectives south of Litani River, but will face difficulty up north - analysis

The current campaign in southern Lebanon is designed to neutralize the most immediate threats – cross-border infiltration and anti-tank missile fire – while containing long-range Hezbollah fire.

Where there are terrorists and rockets, there will be no homes and no residents, Defense Minister Israel Katz said this week, coining a pithy expression for a new Israeli security doctrine along its borders. Katz was referring to southern Lebanon, and he said the model being followed is the one that the IDF used in Rafah and Beit Hanun in Gaza: leveling the cities and moving out the residents to establish a defensive area and push away the threat to Israeli border communities. But there is a fundamental difference between the situation now in Lebanon and that in Gaza.

In addition to leveling Beit Hanun and Rafah and creating a buffer zone over roughly 50% of Gaza, where Israel now controls territory, Hamas retains only a limited rocket capability that it can fire at Israel. Plus, it knows that if it fires what rockets it still has, Israel will move in and hunt down both the launchers and the remaining manufacturing capabilities. So, not only are the Israeli communities on the border safe from October 7 massacre-style penetration and anti-tank missile fire, there is no real threat – at least right now – of high-trajectory fire either.

The same is not true in the North. Since March 2, when Hezbollah began firing rockets at Israel in retaliation for the IAF strikes against Iran, Israel has launched a significant operation in southern Lebanon – one that has included blowing up five bridges across the Litani River to prevent Hezbollah from moving men and materiel to the southern part of the country. Israel has demolished homes sitting close to the border – what Katz has referred to as “contact-line villages” – and has effectively removed the threat of anti-tank missile fire on Israeli communities in the North, a real danger prior to Operation Northern Arrow in 2024.

Yet Israelis in the north are continuing to suffer – not from direct fire by anti-tank missiles or snipers, but from drones and medium-range rockets being launched from north of the Litani. That the terrorist organization has succeeded in pounding the North relentlessly for three weeks shows that an assumption Israel held – that Hezbollah was severely weakened in 2024 – was overstated. (Read More)

Netanyahu: Israel focused on dismantling Hezbollah

PM says campaign against Iran continues as IDF expands buffer zone in Lebanon, pledges more funding for the Galilee and vows to change situation in the Land of the Cedars. Israel is now focused on “dismantling Hezbollah” as part of its wider campaign against Iran, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Wednesday, declaring that the military effort remains “in full swing” despite reports to the contrary.

Speaking by videoconference to ministry directors and northern local authority heads, Netanyahu said Israel had removed most of Hezbollah’s rocket threat and neutralized the group’s planned ground invasion force, creating a “security buffer” beyond the Lebanese border. 

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu:

"The issue of dismantling Hezbollah is now before us. This is connected to the overall campaign against Iran, which is still in full swing. We are determined to fundamentally change the situation in Lebanon"

Israel intends to expand that zone to further distance anti-tank missile threats from northern communities, he said, pledging additional funding for rebuilding and support in the Galilee. The IDF has “fundamentally changed” the situation in the region, the prime minister said. “Israel is stronger than ever, and Iran is weaker than ever.” (Source)

Hezbollah fired 120 rockets from Tyre's neighborhoods, using civilians as shields, IDF says

The IDF ordered the evacuation of the southern Lebanese city of Tyre after identifying Hezbollah operatives launching heavy rocket fire from within residential neighborhoods, the military’s Arabic spokesperson, Col. (res.) Avichay Adraee, stated on Wednesday. Adraee, accusing the Iran-backed group of using civilians as human shields, said Hezbollah fired around 120 rockets from the outskirts of Tyre’s neighborhoods, “disregarding civilian safety and turning homes into launch sites.” 

The spokesperson affirmed that its evacuation order, which preceded Israeli airstrikes on terrorist infrastructure in the area, was issued in order to prioritize the safety of civilians. “Hezbollah, which has dragged you into this war in service of Iran’s agenda, is deliberately operating within your neighborhoods, putting your safety at grave risk and bringing destruction to your homes and communities,” the Adraee wrote on X/Twitter, appealing to Lebanese civilians.

Adraee continued, asserting that Tyre “stands as a clear example exposing Hezbollah’s method of exploiting civilian environments and sacrificing Lebanese lives and futures to serve the interests of the regime in Tehran."The announcement comes after the military issued evacuation orders in the city last week. At the time, the IDF said it subsequently hit “operational outputs that had been deliberately embedded within the civilian population.” A week before that, the Israeli military confirmed it had hit a Hezbollah command center in Tyre.

Meanwhile, the IDF on Wednesday morning announced that it conducted overnight strikes on a cell of Hezbollah terrorists who fired rockets towards IDF soldiers in southern Lebanon.No soldiers were killed by the rocket fire, and the Israel Air Force killed the terrorists, the military confirmed. The military also targeted terrorists who fired an anti-tank missile at soldiers overnight, conducting a retaliatory strike, killing the terrorists involved. An IDF combat officer was lightly injured in the incident and was evacuated to the hospital for medical treatment, the military noted. 

No talks': Tehran doesn't want to negotiate with US, Iranian FM Aragchi says

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Wednesday that there are currently no talks between Iran and the US, Reuters reported. Araghchi told Iran's Press TV that the exchange of messages through mediators doesn't constitute a negotiation between the countries, and that Tehran'sleadership has no intention of holding talks with the US after reviewing its latest proposal. The Iranian minister also assured that Iran "is not seeking war and wants a permanent end to the conflict."

Earlier on Wednesday, Press TV cited an Iranian official saying that the US proposal to end the war was "excessive," and that Tehran will end the war only at a time of its own choosing and if its conditions are met. An Iranian official confirmed to Reuters that the response to the US proposal was not positive and that Tehran was still reviewing it. The official also said that Tehran's initial response has been delivered to Pakistan for conveyance to Washington. Axios reported that, according to a US official, the Trump administration had not yet received any official messages from Iran rejecting the offer. The original proposal sent by the US, according to a report by The New York Times, included a 15-point plan to Iran aimed at ending the ongoing war in the Middle East.

The plan, which was delivered to Iran via Pakistan, reportedly addresses Iran's ballistic missile and nuclear programs, as well as issues regarding the Strait of Hormuz. According to N12 News, citing three sources familiar with the details of the potential plan, the US is considering declaring a month-long ceasefire during which negotiations on the agreement would take place.

The 15-point plan reportedly contains terms including the dismantling of all existing Iranian nuclear capabilities, a commitment that Iran will discontinue efforts to obtain nuclear weapons, and a requirement that any already enriched uranium be moved out of Iran. In a separate event, the semiofficial IRGC-linked Tasnim News Agency reported on Wednesday that Iran was ready to "take action in the Bab al-Mandab Strait (connecting the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean) if provoked." (Read More)

Iran warns its ready to open new front in Yemen, close Bab al-Mandab Strait with Houthis - report

"The Bab al-Mandab Strait is considered one of the strategic straits in the world, and Iran has the will to produce a completely credible threat against it," an Iranian official told Tasnim.

Iran warned on Wednesday that it could "take action in the Bab al-Mandab Strait (connecting the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean) if provoked," the semiofficial IRGC-linked Tasnim News Agency reported, citing a military source. "If the enemy wants to take action on land in the Iranian islands or anywhere else in our lands or to inflict costs on Iran with naval movements in the Persian Gulf and the Sea of ​​Oman, we will open other fronts as a surprise for him so that his action will not only not benefit him but will also double his costs," Tasnim cited the official saying.

"The Bab al-Mandab Strait is considered one of the strategic straits in the world, and Iran has both the will and the possibility to produce a completely credible threat against it," the official added. The Bab al-Mandab Strait is located between Yemen, Djibouti, and Eritrea, with the Houthis terror group, which is one of the Iranian terror proxies, being on the Yemeni side. Since October 7, the Houthis have been one of the main players in the aggressions against Israel, with the group not only attacking Israel but also compromising world commerce by targeting ships passing by the Strait.

Al-Ain News in the UAE reported on Monday that the Houthi militias might be "carrying out extensive field movements in anticipation of any possible attack against them. ”The Houthis have escalated attacks within Yemen while “simultaneously bringing in new reinforcements to the front lines, in an attempt to test the defenses of the National Resistance Forces and the Yemeni Army,” the outlet reported. The report reveals that the Houthis began major movements on March 15 on five frontlines, “including the western coastal fronts such as Hodeidah, Taiz, and Lahj in anticipation.” (Read More)

Israel said to have hit key Iran–Russia supply route in Caspian Sea strike

An Israeli strike on Iranian naval infrastructure at the Bandar-e Anzali port on the Caspian Sea one week ago targeted a Russian-Iranian smuggling route, The Wall Street Journal reported on Tuesday. The supply route links Russian and Iranian ports and allows the countries to swap weapons, drones, ammunition, oil and foodstuffs, according to the report. “The route has become especially important for transferring Iran’s Shahed drones—now made in both countries—which Russia has used to bombard Ukrainian cities and Tehran has used to strike airports, energy facilities and U.S. bases across the Persian Gulf,” the Journal said. “The most important goal of this strike was to limit Russian smuggling and show the Iranians that they don’t have sea defenses in the Caspian,” Eliezer Marum, a former commander of the Israeli Navy, told the paper. In a statement on March 19, the Israel Defense Forces listed the targets of the strike as Ianian Navy vessels, a port command center and infrastructure for vessel repair and maintenance.

As wheat is also supplied through the Caspian route, the attack put pressure on Iran’s food supply, the Journal said, noting the attack came the same day an attack took place in Iran’s section of the South Pars Field in the Persian Gulf. Israel has not taken credit for that attack, which hit natural gas facilities used by Iran for domestic power generation and fertilizer. Analysts said that while the Caspian Sea attack was significant, it would only disrupt Iran-Russia trade temporarily. Russia’s Foreign Ministry condemned the attack, saying it affected Russian economic interests.

“This largest Caspian harbor is an important trade and logistics center, which is proactively used to support Russian-Iranian trade, including in foods,” said Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova. Russia and Iran have drawn closer since the start of the Ukraine war in Feb. 2023, when Russia opened its large-scale offensive. (Ukraine first identified Iranian-made Shahed-136 drones in Russian attacks still earlier, in the fall of 2022, during a period of lower-intensity conflict between the countries.) On Jan. 17, 2025, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian of Iran signed a Treaty on Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. The treaty covered “all areas, including defense, the fight against terrorism, the energy sector, finances, transport, industries, agriculture, culture, science and technology,” Russia’s TASS News Agency reported at the time. (Source)

Iran says projectile hit site of Bushehr nuclear power plant (AGAIN)

A projectile has again struck the site of the Bushehr nuclear power plant, Iran reported on Tuesday. The Atomic Energy Organization of Iran stated via the state news agency IRNA that no one was injured. There was also no damage to the power plant's facilities. A projectile had already struck the power station site last Tuesday. On that occasion, too, the facility remained undamaged.

The Bushehr nuclear facility, Iran's only nuclear power station, is located around 760 kilometres south of Tehran on the Gulf. Its Russian-designed reactor has been generating electricity since 2011. The Russian state-owned nuclear company Rosatom is currently building a second reactor unit. (Source)

RUSSIA 'DEEPLY OUTRAGED' BY REPORTED STRIKE ON IRAN NUCLEAR POWER PLANT

Russia said Wednesday it was "deeply outraged" by a reported strike on the grounds of Iran's Bushehr nuclear power plant, which it partially constructed and helps operate. "We are extremely outraged by this reckless, irresponsible manifestation of a disastrous course," the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement on its website. A projectile landed inside the plant's compound late Tuesday but caused no damage, Iran's atomic energy organization said, accusing the United States and Israel of attacking the facility.

Russia's state nuclear agency Rosatom said earlier Wednesday that it had evacuated another group of its employees from the plant after the reported strike. "Today, at approximately 7:20 Moscow time, 163 people left Bushehr for the Iranian-Armenian border," Rosatom CEO Alexey Likhachev was quoted as saying by the state-run RIA news agency. "Right now, about 300 remain... Some people will stay. I think it will be a few dozen people who will oversee the equipment," he added in comments to reporters.

Located in southwestern Iran, the Bushehr nuclear power plant was built with Rosatom's assistance and connected to the national grid in 2011. It remains the country's only operational nuclear power facility.

Rosatom had already withdrawn 150 people working at the plant after the start of the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran. The nuclear agency was in the process of building two new reactors at the plant when the conflict began. The UN's nuclear watchdog issued a statement on Tuesday calling for "maximum restraint to avoid nuclear safety risks." (Source)

NUCLEAR SHOWDOWN IN IRAN

Missiles cloud Mideast skies over the Persian Gulf. Iran shuts down the Strait of Hormuz. Arab oil is choked off to world markets. Hezbollah and Hamas launch scores of missiles into Israel. Terror cells initiate cycles of violence in America. Global economies begin to collapse. Radioactivity permeates the skies over Bushehr’s nuclear reactor. Countless Iranian’s hastily seek refuge into neighboring nations. The Arabian Gulf becomes a cesspool of contamination. Desalinization plants can’t process the polluted waters. A humanitarian crisis burgeons out of control. A disaster of epic biblical proportion has finally arrived in the Middle East!    (CLICK HERE)

Iran said to toughen negotiating stance, tamping down chances of deal with US to end war

Report suggests Tehran will refuse to limit ballistic missile program, clashing with Trump’s demands; Iranian army official says US ‘negotiating with itself,’ Iran will never make a deal.

US officials were said to be frustrated on Wednesday by a list of conditions Iran laid out for entering into negotiations to end the war, as mixed signals continued to emerge regarding US President Donald Trump’s fledgling efforts to halt the fighting. Iran recently presented the US with a list of demands it expects the Trump administration to honor if it wishes to proceed with ceasefire negotiations, The Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday, almost a month into the war that began with US and Israeli strikes against Iranian regime targets on February 28.

Among those demands, the report said, the Islamic Republic was seeking economic control over the Strait of Hormuz, a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon, and the continued ability to developing its ballistic missile program without any limitations. Other purported conditions, including the dismantling of US army bases in the region and financial compensation for war damages, have been previously reported. The demands were presented via third-party intermediaries, the report said, and there has been no direct contact between Washington and Tehran.

Many of Iran’s demands would appear to be in complete contradiction to Washington’s own reported conditions for ending the war. The US expects, among other things, for Iran to limit both the range and quantity of its missile programs and to commit to using them only for self-defense; to abandon its practice of forming and supporting regional proxies, including Hezbollah; and to dismantle all existing nuclear capabilities and hand over its stockpile of enriched uranium.

US and Middle Eastern officials cited by the Journal on Wednesday dismissed Iran’s purported demands as unrealistic and suggested they would make the chances of reaching a deal with Tehran even slimmer than during the last-ditch attempt at negotiations before the war broke out Iran, shoring up that assertion, tauntingly suggested on Wednesday that the US was negotiating with itself.

The Islamic Republic has repeatedly denied that it is involved in talks with the US regarding an end to the hostilities, even as Trump has insisted that negotiations “with the right people” in Iran were well underway.In remarks to state media, the top spokesperson for Iran’s joint military command, Ebrahim Zolfaqari, questioned whether “the level of your inner struggle reached the stage of you negotiating with yourself?״

“People like us can never get along with people like you,” he said in the pre-recorded video statement. “The strategic power you used to talk about has turned into a strategic failure.” “Your era of empty promises has come to an end,” continued Zolfaqari. “As we have always said… no one like us will make a deal with you. Not now. Not ever.” (Read More)

Araghchi's secret message to Witkoff

The Iranian foreign minister said he came 'with the consent and blessing of Mojtaba Khamenei,' while the contacts were conducted in secret and without informing Israel.

A confidential conversation between Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and U.S. intermediary Steve Witkoff, with Jared Kushner also participating, carried a message explicitly approved by the highest levels of Iran's leadership, according to a report by Yedioth Ahronoth. The discussion reportedly took place on a direct communication line between Tehran and Washington. Israel was not officially notified of the channel's existence.

Although the parties chose not to inform Jerusalem, Israeli officials learned of the talks through independent sources. When U.S. President Donald Trump later publicly acknowledged the existence of the backchannel, Iran swiftly denied it. However, both American and Israeli officials confirmed that contacts had occurred. Sources familiar with the content of the discussions told Bergman that Araghchi stressed he was operating with full authorization from Tehran. He reportedly stated: “I am here after we received Mojtaba Khamenei’s consent and blessing to close the matter as soon as possible, provided our conditions are met."

Draft proposals were exchanged between the two sides, largely reflecting positions Iran had presented in earlier rounds of talks. Among the points discussed was the potential transfer of Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile to Russia provided our conditions are met." However, Iran made clear it would not relinquish its ballistic missile program and would not accept a complete halt to uranium enrichment on Iranian soil. Prime Minister Netanyahu commented that "Our friend, President Trump, believes there is a way to leverage our progress in the war to achieve our goals by a deal that will preserve Israel's interests. In the meantime, we continue to strike at both Iran and Hezbollah, and will protect our interests in any event." (Ed note: So FM Araghchi just said, "provided our conditions are met" that they will ship their enriched uranium stockpile to Russia, and won't relinquish its ballistic missile program, and would not accept a complete halt to uranium enrichment on Iranian soil. Now that's a 'nothin burger.' So where is Trumps's big victory? ) (Source)

Report: US sent Iran a 15-point plan to end the war

The Trump administration has delivered a 15-point plan to Iran aimed at ending the four-week war, according to The New York Times. Pakistan's army chief serves as the main channel.

The United States has sent Iran a 15-point plan to end the war in the Middle East, The New York Times reported on Tuesday, citing two officials briefed on the diplomacy. It was unclear how widely the plan, delivered by way of Pakistan, had been shared among Iranian officials and whether Iran was likely to accept it as a basis for negotiations. It is also unclear whether Israel is on board with the proposal. The New York Times did not see a copy of the plan, but the officials, who spoke with the newspaper on condition of anonymity, shared some of its broad outlines, saying that it addresses Iran’s ballistic missile and nuclear programs.

The plan also discusses maritime routes, one of the officials said. Since the beginning of the war, Iran has effectively blocked most Western ships from safely passing through the Strait of Hormuz, the strategic waterway in and out of the Persian Gulf, cutting the global supply of oil and natural gas, and sending the prices soaring. In a statement, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt acknowledged diplomacy was underway, but said, “As President Trump and his negotiators explore this newfound possibility of diplomacy, Operation Epic Fury continues unabated to achieve the military objectives laid out by the commander in chief and the Pentagon."

Pakistan’s army chief, Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, has emerged as the key interlocutor between the United States and Iran, with Egypt and Turkey encouraging the Iranians to engage constructively, the officials told The New York Times. Field Marshal Munir is believed to maintain close ties to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, putting him in a position to pass messages between the warring sides, they said. 

He recently reached out to Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, the speaker of Iran’s Parliament and a former Revolutionary Guards commander, proposing that Pakistan host talks between Iran and the United States, said an Iranian official and a Pakistani official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the sensitive communications. Field Marshal Munir met twice in 2025 with President Trump, who has showered praise on him, saying he was his “favorite field marshal." (Read More)

Report: Saudi Crown Prince pressing Trump to escalate war against Iran

Report says Saudi Crown Prince urged President Trump to continue military campaign against Iran, warning that ending the war prematurely could leave a lasting regional threat.

Saudi Arabia’s de facto leader, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, has urged US President Donald Trump to continue the military campaign against Iran, describing the conflict as a rare opportunity to reshape the Middle East, according to a report by The New York Times. The report, citing individuals briefed on discussions with American officials, stated that the Saudi leader conveyed in recent conversations that the effort should continue until Iran’s hard-line government is dismantled. He reportedly argued that Iran poses a long-term threat to Gulf states that cannot be resolved without removing the current regime.

According to The New York Times, the Saudi position differs in part from Israeli assessments. While Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also views Iran as a significant threat, some analysts believe Israel could view a weakened Iran consumed by internal instability as sufficient. Saudi Arabia, however, is said to see such a scenario as a direct security risk. Despite these reported discussions, Saudi officials denied that the kingdom is advocating for prolonging the war. In an official statement, the government said it supports a peaceful resolution and remains in close contact with the US administration. It emphasized that its primary concern is defending against ongoing attacks targeting civilians and infrastructure.

The report noted growing concern among US and Saudi officials that a prolonged conflict could result in continued Iranian strikes on energy infrastructure and draw the United States into an extended war. Iranian retaliation has already disrupted oil markets and affected regional stability. President Trump has issued mixed signals publicly, at times suggesting the possibility of de-escalation while also indicating that military operations could intensify. He recently stated that there had been “productive conversations" toward resolving hostilities, though Iran denied that negotiations were taking place. (Read More)

Iran Has Laid Small Number of Naval Mines Into Strait of Hormuz, Challenging Peace Talks: Report

Iran has laid a small number of sea mines in the Strait of Hormuz, the critical oil delivery waterway that is at the heart of peace talks between Washington and Tehran, an anonymously-sourced report claims. An alleged U.S. intelligence assessment says there are around one dozen Iranian mines in the Strait of Hormuz, CBS News has claimed. If true, the sea mine allegation would weigh on the apparently developing peace talks between Washington and Tehran, given the United States’ demands that the Strait of Hormuz be opened for global oil traffic.

The report, which relies purely on the assertions of unnamed “U.S. officials”, states one of these officials told the broadcaster “there are at least a dozen underwater mines”, while a second said there were fewer than a dozen. It was claimed Tehran had laid “Iranian-manufactured Maham 3 and Maham 7” type mines, apparently erroneously referring to them as “limpet” mines, which, according to available information about the weapons and their capabilities, states they are not. The Maham 3, for instance, is a conventional moored influence mine. This means when deployed, the buoyant explosive body is tethered to the sea floor by a chain and base, keeping it just below the surface.

Unlike the earliest generations of mines, influence mines do not require physical contact with a ship to detonate; instead, they read the sea around them by interpreting a mixture of acoustic waves and magnetic fields to determine when to explode. (Read More)

Israel announces territorial seizure in Lebanon up to Litani River

At a meeting with the military chief of staff, Katz said Israeli forces would "control the remaining bridges and the security zone up to the Litani," a river that meets the Mediterranean.

Israel will occupy southern Lebanon up to the Litani River to create a "defensive buffer," Defense Minister Israel Katz said on Tuesday, spelling out for the first time Israel's intent to seize territory amounting to nearly a tenth of Lebanon. At a meeting with the military chief of staff, Katz said Israeli forces would "control the remaining bridges and the security zone up to the Litani," a river that meets the Mediterranean about 30 km (20 miles) north of Israel's border.

Lebanese armed terrorist group Hezbollah said it would fight to prevent Israeli troops from occupying southern Lebanon, calling such a move an "existential threat" to the Lebanese state. Senior Hezbollah lawmaker Hassan Fadlallah said any Israeli occupation south of the Litani would be met with resistance. "We have no choice but to confront this aggression and cling to the land," he told Reuters. Israel has destroyed five bridges over the river since March 13 and accelerated the demolition of homes in Lebanese villages near the border, part of what it says is a campaign against Hezbollah rather than civilians. Under international law, attacks on civilian infrastructure, including homes and bridges, are generally prohibited.

Katz has previously warned Lebanon's government it would lose territory if it failed to disarm Hezbollah, the terrorist group backed by Tehran that drew Lebanon into the US-Israeli war on Iran when it fired into Israel on March 2. The Israeli military declined to comment on Katz's remarks. It has previously said ground troops were carrying out limited, targeted raids near the border. Israel has repeatedly invaded Lebanon in recent decades, and occupied the south until 2000.

Katz had said there could be no homes or residents in areas of southern Lebanon where there was "terror," in an apparent reference to Hezbollah, whose fighters have continued to launch daily rocket and drone attacks into Israel and battle Israeli troops in southern Lebanese villages. He said forces were establishing a "forward defensive line," destroying infrastructure used by Hezbollah, including homes he described as "terrorist outposts."  ( Ed note:The UN human rights chief has criticized Israel's actions due to the fact that one million plus people in the area of Beirut have lost their homes. The army and government of Lebanon can not stop the forces of Hezbollah and the people of the northern and central parts of Israel are sick and tired of the Hezbollah rockets and drones attacking and killing them. Why is the UN criticizing Israel, why won't they go after Hezbollah?)  (Read More)

IDF strikes Hezbollah fuel stations across Lebanon, targets main financial infrastructures

The IDF targeted on Tuesday fuel stations belonging to the company Al-Amana, which is one of Hezbollah's main financial infrastructures supporting its terrorist activities, the military said in a statement. The military announced that several stations were rendered inoperable, with the main targets being those that were used by Hezbollah to refuel trucks transporting weapons and operatives.

"The fuel stations generate millions of dollars in revenue for Hezbollah, fund its operations, and serve as another example of Hezbollah’s exploitation of Lebanese civilians while operating under civilian cover to advance terrorist activities," the military explained. The IDF also warned that it would continue to target the Al-Qard al-Hasan association in Beirut, which serves as "the terrorist organization’s economic entrenchment within the civilian population." Earlier on Tuesday, the IDF's 810th "Mountain" Brigade located and destroyed a Hezbollah terror tunnel near Mount Dov, along the Israel-Lebanon border in the Upper Galilee. Additionally, the brigade located and destroyed a weapons compound belonging to Hezbollah terrorists.

This follows an earlier announcement from the IDF that it conducted strikes against Hezbollah terrorist infrastructure across Lebanon, including in Beirut, during the overnight period between Monday and Tuesday. As part of the strikes on Beirut, the military hit several Hezbollah headquarters, including one belonging to the Radwan Force, which terrorists used to operate terror attacks against both IDF soldiers and Israeli civilians, the military announced. (Read More)

Fog of war: Eight signs that Iran-US-Israel conflict is not over despite Trump's five-day pause announcement

Despite Trump's temporary pause announcement, the Iran war tensions remain high with ongoing strikes and military build-ups. The disruption of Strait of Hormuz oil routes is not over, signalling continued instability and no clear path to de-escalation. Why it's not over till it's over.

Is the Iran war over? There are many conflicting reports on the status of the ongoing US–Israel–Iran conflict, hours after US President Donald Trump on Monday (Mar 23) announced a five-day pause on attacks on Iranian energy and power infrastructure. There is widespread scepticism about the war ending any time soon, as attacks and counterattacks continue, and little has changed regarding the Strait of Hormuz blockade. Here are eight reasons the war is far from over: 

  

1. US Marines continue to reach CENTCOM for Middle East deployment

2. Iran, US and Israel continue air strikes and missile attacks

3. Strait of Hormuz situation remains unchanged

4. No confirmation from Iran on negotiations or talks, as Arab nations remain sceptical

5. Brent crude oil prices remain volatile and above $100 per barrel

6. Only speculative reporting on diplomatic negotiations

7. Gulf states reassessing their strategic posture

8. Core geopolitical issues remain unresolved

Perspective: It is not over till...but who will have to sing to end the Iran - US - Israel war?

In summary, the US–Israel–Iran conflict has not ended. Despite the announcement of a temporary pause, ongoing military operations, unresolved disputes, disruption of energy markets, and the absence of verified diplomatic progress point towards an uneasy calm at best, and a highly volatile situation that could lead to another flare-up, at worst. Trump's five-day pause appears to be a tactical move rather than a definitive step towards peace, with the risk of further escalation still firmly present. (Ed note: Interesting thoughts from WION.) (Read More)

Trump: 'If talks don't go well, we'll keep bombing our little hearts out'

US President says Iran needs 'better PR people' after the Iranian foreign ministry denies his statement that productive talks between the US and Iran were held recently. US President Donald Trump dismissed the denials from Iran's Foreign Ministry of his statement that the US and Iran had held "very good and productive" talks on ending the current conflict in recent days, remarking that Iran needed "better public relations people."

"We have had very, very strong talks. We'll see where they lead. We have major points of agreement," Trump told Fox News, saying that the talks were conducted by Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. "They went, I would say, perfectly. I would say that if they carry through with that, it'll end that problem, that conflict." He added: "We're dealing with the man who, I believe, is the most respected and the 'leader.' It's a little tough - we've wiped out everybody." When asked if that 'leader' is the new Supreme Leader of Iran, Motjaba Khamenei, Trump replied: "No." Trump stated that if the talks "go well," the war could end within a week. "Otherwise, we'll just keep bombing our little hearts out."

Earlier on Monday, Trump announced on his Truth Social platform: "I AM PLEASE TO REPORT THAT THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND THE COUNTRY OF IRAN, HAVE HAD, OVER THE LAST TWO DAYS, VERY GOOD AND PRODUCTIVE CONVERSATIONS REGARDING A COMPLETE AND TOTAL RESOLUTION OF OUR HOSTILITIES IN THE MIDDLE EAST."

"BASED ON THE TENOR AND TONE OF THESE IN DEPTH, DETAILED, AND CONSTRUCTIVE CONVERSATIONS, WITCH WILL CONTINUE THROUGHOUT THE WEEK, I HAVE INSTRUCTED THE DEPARTMENT OF WAR TO POSTPONE ANY AND ALL MILITARY STRIKES AGAINST IRANIAN POWER PLANTS AND ENERGY INFRASTRUCTURE FOR A FIVE DAY PERIOD, SUBJECT TO THE SUCCESS OF THE ONGOING MEETINGS AND DISCUSSIONS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER!"

The announcement appeared to backtrack on Trump's previous ultimatum on Saturday demanding that Iran open the Straight of Hormuz within 48 hours. (Source)

Iran denies engaging in talks with US after Trump claims Kushner, Witkoff held meeting

Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei denied on Monday that any talks with the United States had taken place, contradicting US President Donald Trump's earlier statements that Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner had met with Iranian officials on Sunday. "We have had very, very strong talks. We'll see where they lead. We have points, major points of agreement, I would say, almost all points of agreement... we've had very strong talks, Mr. Witkoff and Mr. Kushner had them," Trump said.

In a statement to Iranian media, Baghaei said that although some friendly nations had sent messages indicating that the United States had requested talks, Iran did not respond. Baghaei additionally noted that the regime's conditions for an end to the war, as well as Iran's stance on the Strait of Hormuz, remain unchanged.

An unidentified Iranian senior official told Reuters on Monday that the US had specifically requested a meeting with Iranian Parliament speaker Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf, but Iran's Supreme National Security Council has yet to review the matter. A source told The Jerusalem Post on Monday that Ghalibaf is leading the talks with the US, while the Parliament Speaker stated in a post on X/Twitter that no talks had taken place and further stated that "fake news" is being used to manipulate financial and oil markets. (Read More)

IAF drops over 100 bombs on regime headquarters in Tehran

In widescale wave of strikes, IDF targeted several Iranian regime security organization headquarters and bases, as well as key weapons manufacturing sites.

The IDF continues to further degrade the Iranian regime's military systems and capabilities. Dozens of IAF fighter jets, acting on IDF intelligence, completed a wide-scale wave of strikes on the Iranian regime's infrastructure in the area of Tehran. During the strikes, the IDF targeted several Iranian regime security organization headquarters and bases, as well as key weapons manufacturing sites. Over one hundred munitions were used in the strikes. Sites included:

* A Quds Force base used as a command post for coordinating and overseeing IRGC intelligence and operational activity

* An IRGC aerial defense headquarters

* An IRGC Ground Forces headquarters. This site was established in a large military compound in the heart of Tehran. Several headquarters in the compound were struck before.

* A Quds Force intelligence headquarters

* An Iranian Ministry of Defense naval cruise missile manufacturing site

* Additional manufacturing sites and research facilities related to electronics, ballistic missiles, and warheads.       (Source)

Chances of US-Iran deal 'very small,' Israeli officials tell 'Post'

An American source told the Post that “the strikes are continuing as planned," and Israeli officials also said there has been no change in coordination with the US military or in operational plans.

The chances of an agreement between the United States and Iran are “very small,” Israeli officials told The Jerusalem Post on Tuesday. The gap stems not only from US demands - including restrictions on Iran’s nuclear program, ballistic missiles, and freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz - but also from Iranian demands. “At the moment, the Iranians are insisting on American compensation, as well as guarantees from the administration that there will be no further action against Iran as part of any agreement,” two sources involved in mediation efforts told the Post.

Despite US President Donald Trump’s statements about progress in talks, a source familiar with the details said the deployment of American forces in the Middle East is continuing as usual. The additional forces include US Marines intended to enable a potential takeover of Iran’s Kharg oil island in the Strait of Hormuz. Trump has not yet decided whether to launch a ground operation to seize the island, which could help ensure freedom of navigation. The decision depends in part on ongoing negotiations between Washington and Tehran.

On Sunday, the Post reported that senior American officials told Israeli counterparts that “there will probably be no choice but to carry out a ground operation on Kharg Island.” The amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli and the amphibious transport dock USS New Orleans, carrying about 2,500 Marines, are expected to arrive in the region this weekend as part of the first Marine reinforcement in the Middle East.

In addition, an Amphibious Ready Group led by the assault ship USS Boxer is also on its way to the US Central Command (CENTCOM) area of responsibility, which includes Iran. The group includes the escort ships Portland and Comstock and carries additional aircraft, including F-35B stealth fighter jets, Super Cobra attack helicopters, and MV-22 Osprey aircraft, along with approximately 4,500 sailors and Marines. The US Army is also considering deploying the 82nd Airborne Division to the region. The division can deploy about 3,000 troops anywhere in the world within 18 hours, and did so within 10 hours in 2020. (Read More)

Minister Smotrich: Our border with Lebanon must be the Litani River

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said the war must end with the Litani River as Israel’s new border, alongside a buffer zone in Lebanon.

Finance Minister and Religious Zionist Party chairman Bezalel Smotrich spoke about the ongoing war during his faction's meeting and stated that the border with Lebanon must change. "The State of Israel and the IDF, in collaboration with our American partners, continue to crush the enemy. The war has costs, but every day of fighting we eliminate, destroy, and weaken the axis of evil until it falls with G-d's help. Every day of fighting ensures us years of security," Smotrich opened.

He noted that "in Lebanon as well, the IDF continues to advance, broaden the buffer zone and defend the residents of the north. On this front too, alongside the great achievements, there are also prices - for business, with the disruption of daily life. Unfortunately, there are also casualties, including Benaya, my son, who, thank G-d, survived by a miracle and is recovering."

The Minister recounted, "Last week, I was in the north with local leaders from the confrontation line, and said to them: 'Every time there is a boom from gunfire, remember, together with the hardship, that those are our artillery and planes who are hitting the enemy and ensuring the security of the north for many years.' I also visited businesses and the heroic farmers on the border and told them: Last time we had to evacuate you, today we are evacuating the residents of southern Lebanon. We are rehabilitating and developing our northern communities, and destroying the terrorist villages in Lebanon."

The Finance Minister declared that "the current campaign in Lebanon must end with a fundamental change of state: the Litani (River) must be our new border with the State of Lebanon, just like the yellow line in Gaza and the peak of Mount Hermon in Syria. We can not return to the October 6th reality where the enemy sits at our gates. We will distance it on all fronts, and we will create a sterile security zone that will cut between the enemy and our citizens." (Ed note: It is interesting to note that the Litani River is about 18 miles north of the border of Israel, and the city of TYRE is about 12 miles from the border of Israel. That will make the city of TYRE a city within the country of Israel.) (Read More)

As Trump steers away from war with Iran, Israel rediscovers cost of riding with him

For third time in a year, the president wants to cut a deal that ends fighting before Israel is ready. Now Netanyahu has to make sure regime truly cannot get to the bomb, and that Hezbollah doesn’t get off the hook as well.

The White House has repeatedly sounded a simple but effective message: Trust the plan. The slogan — with ostensible origins in the QAnon conspiracy theory movement — has been applied to a range of issues. In January, the Labor Department posted a photo of US President Donald Trump saluting, with the caption Trust the Plan. Trust Trump. After prominent antisemitic podcaster Tucker Carlson visited the Oval Office in January, a White House official told Jewish activist Shabbos Kestenbaum, “Just trust the plan.”

It was also the approach that Israelis took toward the president on most issues. Trump and his advisers — especially top envoy Steve Witkoff — might occasionally have said things that confused Israel and even undermined its interests, but they trusted that he was a president who could distinguish good from evil, and was not about to be pushed around by Iran and friends.

Trump’s decision to unleash an all-out bombing campaign against Iran alongside Israel seemed to confirm the wisdom of putting trust in the US leader. Sure, Trump might have engaged in direct talks with Iran, but, they reasoned, he saw right through their attempts to prevaricate and delay and embarked on a war that could damage him politically because he knew it was right. Trust the Plan.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu certainly acts like he fully trusts Trump. In a press conference last week, he lauded “the wisdom and the courage of President Trump’s decision, and his leadership, and the fact that we’re working together.”“America is not fighting for Israel. America is fighting with Israel for a common goal: to protect our future, to protect civilization against these barbarians,” Netanyahu said. They might not be fighting together for long. (Read More)

Israel will protect its interests if US, Iran engage in peace talks, Netanyahu says

US President Donald Trump believes Israel and the US can reach a joint agreement with Iran that protects Israel's interests, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement on Monday. "We will safeguard our vital interests under all circumstances," Netanayhu affirmed. The prime minister confirmed that Israel will continue to strike both Iran and Hezbollah until a deal is reached.

"We are continuing to strike in both Iran and Lebanon. We are smashing the missile program and the nuclear program, and we continue to deal severe blows to Hezbollah. Just a few days ago, we eliminated two more nuclear scientists – and we are still active." On Monday, Trump claimed that the US and Iran have had “very good and productive” discussions over the last two days regarding a permanent end to the war.

“Israel will protect its interests if US, Iran engage in peace talks, Netanyahu says The prime minister confirmed that Israel will continue to strike both Iran and Hezbollah until a deal is reached. I am pleased to report that the United States of America, and the country of Iran, have had, over the last two days, very good and productive conversations regarding a complete and total resolution of our hostilities in the Middle East,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. An Iranian source later denied that the US and Iran were holding talks about ending the war. "There is no direct contact with Trump, not even through intermediaries. Trump retreated after hearing that our targets would be all power plants in West Asia," the unnamed source told the Iranian state-affiliated Fars News Agency. (Source)

Mossad is calling senior Iranian commanders and pressuring them to stand aside

Hundreds of phone calls are being made by Israel’s foreign intelligence agency, along with targeted assassinations of top regime leaders.  

“Hello, how are you? Is this Commander Fathi Zadeh?” the Israeli Mossad agent asks at the start of the phone call. “Who are you? Hello?” the senior Iranian police officer responds. “Are you listening?” the Israeli intelligence agent continues in Farsi. “We know everything about you, you are on our blacklist, and we have all the information about you.” “OK,” the Iranian officer, identified as Mohsen Fathi Zadeh, head of the Protection and Intelligence Organization of the Law Enforcement Forces (LEF) of Iran, replies in the recording.

The Israeli agent continues: “Your daughter’s name is Zahara, and your wife’s name is Jahanbachsh, your mother’s name is Nadia, and your father’s name is Husain. I called to warn you in advance that you should stand with your people’s side. And if you will not do that, your destiny will be as your leader’s [Ayatollah Ali Khamenei]. Is that clear? “Brother,” the Iranian commander responds, “I swear on the Quran I’m not your enemy, I’m a dead man already; just please come help us and cut off the head of all of the commanders.” The call, a recording of which was sent to JNS by Israeli intelligence sources, was one of hundreds that Israeli Mossad agents made to senior Iranian security officials since the outbreak of the war on Feb. 28, in an effort to weaken the regime and its supporters.

The calls are coupled with the targeted killings of top Iranian leaders, from Khamenei, who was slain in an Israeli airstrike on the first day of the war, followed by, among others, Iran’s top security official and the head of the feared Basij militia. “This reveals the extent of the Israeli penetration into the Iranian governmental system,” IDF Brig. Gen. (res.) Yossi Kuperwasser, an intelligence and security expert, told JNS on Sunday. “It is part and parcel of Israel’s goal to weaken the Iranian regime to create the condition for the Iranian people to change it.”

He noted that the psychological warfare Israel was using in Iran, coupled with targeted assassinations, was similar to the tactics the IDF used against Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon, Iran’s proxies, only now at a distance of about a thousand miles away. “There is no doubt that this is weakening the regime, but it is too early to say if this will do the job,” Kuperwasser said. “It is hard to determine at what point the regime is so weak that the people will rise up against it. Time will tell.” Over the last three weeks, Israel has been hunting down Iranian regime members, one by one, and taking out their supporters on the streets of Iran. (Ed note: And the Mossad includes in their call, "If you act now, we will send you, free of charge, one of our latest daily pagers for your convenience in these busy times."Wow, the Mossad is good!) (Read More)

Trump Shocks Us (again): U.S. Forces Will Enter Iran to Seize All Enriched Uranium, Even Under a Full Deal

Trump has said a lot of wild things lately, but this one really takes the cake.   

President Donald Trump made it crystal clear today: any nuclear deal with Iranwill require American teams to physically enter the country and remove every kilogram of enriched uranium themselves. In his live Fox Business interview with Maria Bartiromo, the same explosive segment where he said Iran “really wants to make a deal… badly” and that an agreement “could happen within the next five days - or sooner,” Trump was asked the direct question: “How are you going to get the enriched uranium?” His answer was blunt and unmistakable:    

“It’s very easy. If we have a deal with them, we’re going down and we’ll take it ourselves.”    Trump explained the move is non-negotiable because Iran’s stockpiles of near-weapons-grade uranium are buried deep underground in fortified sites. Air strikes alone cannot guarantee complete destruction, and he refuses to trust Tehran to hand it over or destroy it themselves.    

Trump explained the move is non-negotiable because Iran’s stockpiles of near-weapons-grade uranium are buried deep underground in fortified sites. Air strikes alone cannot guarantee complete destruction, and he refuses to trust Tehran to hand it over or destroy it themselves. He then laid out his full list of ironclad demands for any agreement:   

1. No nuclear bomb: “no nuclear weapon, not even close to it.” 
2. Low key on missiles: dramatic scaling back of Iran’s ballistic missile program. 
3. Peace in the Middle East. 
4. Zero enrichment: “We want the nuclear dust. No enrichment.” 
5. Complete removal: “We want the enriched uranium.”    

Trump added: “If this happens, it’s a great start for Iran to build itself back. And it’s everything that we want. And it’s also great for Israel and it’s great for the other Middle Eastern countries, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, all of them, Kuwait and Bahrain in particular.”  (Read More)

The Art of the "Strategic Climbdown" — Why Trump Just Blinked on Tehran

Opinion: Why Trump’s 48-hour ultimatum was a tactical trap and how he used "productive talks" as a strategic exit. While the energy grid is safe for now, the bombs are still falling on Tehran. For forty-eight hours, the world held its breath. The ultimatum was classic Trump: "Open the Strait of Hormuz, or I turn off the lights in Iran." It was bold, it was cinematic, and according to seasoned diplomatic correspondent Ariel Kahana of Israel Hayom, it was a tactical dead end that the President has now expertly abandoned. 

 
The "Tree" Trump Had to Climb Down From

In the world of high-stakes gambling, you don’t bluff with a hand that burns down your own house. Trump’s threat to dismantle the Iranian electrical grid was exactly that. While the "Roaring Lion" campaign has successfully degraded the IRGC’s hardware, a total collapse of the Iranian energy sector would have sent global oil markets into a tailspin—harming American allies and global stability far more than it would have hurt a self-sufficient U.S. energy market. 

As Kahana noted, Trump "climbed down from the tree" because he realized the 48-hour clock wasn't serving him. It was a self-imposed trap. By announcing "productive talks" and a five-day pause, Trump didn't just delay a strike; he gave himself a diplomatic "ladder" to walk back a threat that could have triggered a global depression. 

 
The Pahlavi Factor and the "Humanitarian" Out 

 
Every good deal needs a face-saving exit. Enter Reza Pahlavi, the son of the former Shah. His public plea—urging the U.S. not to punish the Iranian people by destroying their civilian infrastructure—provided Trump with the perfect pivot. It allowed the President to shift from "The Destroyer" to "The Negotiator," appearing to listen to the voices of the Iranian people while maintaining a position of strength.

The Bottom Line 

  

Is this the beginning of the end of the war, as some analysts suggest? Or is it simply a tactical reload? In the Middle East, the "clouds of arrogance" often obscure the truth, but one thing is clear: the 48-hour clock has stopped, but the 120-hour window for Iran’s survival has just begun. (Ed note: An excellent opinion and analysis from Jfeed.) (Source)

Trump pauses strikes on energy sites after talks with Tehran

U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday ordered a five-day pause on military strikes against Iranian energy infrastructure following what he said were “very good and productive” talks with Tehran. Trump in a post on his Truth Social platform said he had instructed the Department of Defense to postpone “any and all military strikes against Iranian power plants and energy infrastructure” while negotiations continue this week, adding that the freeze is contingent on “the success of the ongoing meetings and discussions.” The recent talks were “in depth, detailed, and constructive,” he wrote, suggesting they could lead to a “complete and total resolution” of the conflict with the Islamic regime.

Earlier on Monday, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps warned in a statement reported by Iranian state media that if the country’s electricity sector is attacked, it will target Israel’s power plants as well as those of other countries in the region. “We are determined to ⁠respond to any threat at the same level as it creates in terms ⁠of deterrence. ... If you hit electricity, we hit electricity,” Reuters cited the IRGC as saying. Trump late on Saturday evening U.S. Eastern time issued an ultimatum to Tehran, saying that if it did not open the Strait of Hormuz to shipping within 48 hours, Iran’s energy infrastructure would be destroyed. According to The New York Times, the Islamic Republic vowed to keep the Strait “completely closed” if its vital energy sources were stuck.

Power outages were reported by residents in large parts in Tehran on Monday morning after a wave of air raids struck targets across the city the previous night, the Times reported. The Israel Defense Forces stated in the early morning hours of Monday that it had launched a large wave of airstrikes against infrastructure of the “Iranian terrorist regime in Tehran.” It did not specify which sites were targeted.  (Ed note: So what about the Strait of Hormuz, or is Trump again just being played?)  (Source)