Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman asks Trump to reconsider large strikes on Iran - report

The report comes as two Israeli sources told The Jerusalem Post that Israel has raised its alert and readiness for a potential resumption of large US strikes on Iran.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman asked US President Donald Trump to reconsider potential large military strikes on Iran during a phone call on Saturday, Axios reported on Sunday. The report cited two United States officials, one of whom told Axios that "the Saudis expressed concern and asked for clarity about the plan of action." Axios further cited sources with knowledge of the call between the two world leaders, who said that MBS asked Trump to de-escalate the situation instead of launching large strikes.

According to the report, the Saudis are concerned that the strikes could result in an unprecedented regional escalation. Axios reached out to the Saudi Embassy in Washingtonand the White House, both of which declined to comment. The report comes as two Israeli sources told The Jerusalem Post that Israel has raised its alert and readiness for a potential resumption of large US strikes on Iran.

Other countries in the region have also asked Trump to avoid escalating the situation, including Qatar, theUnited Arab Emirates, Turkey, and Pakistan, according to the report. According to Axios, indirect talks on Saturday between the US and Iran have resulted in some progress, though no agreement has been reached. (Source)

Israel raises alert, estimates Trump close to order new attacks on Iran, officials tell 'Post'

Israeli officials warn renewed US strikes on Iran could trigger attacks on Israel, as embassies urge citizens to consider leaving amid rising tensions.

Israel has raised the alert and readiness amid assessments that US President Donald Trump is close to deciding to resume military strikes against Iran, potentially on an even larger scale, two Israeli sources told The Jerusalem Post. Israeli officials told the Post that “we are on high alert and awaiting the president’s final decision.” While it remains unclear whether Trump would seek to involve Israel in the initial phase of such an operation, Israel’s working assumption is that any major strike on Iran, even one carried out without direct Israeli participation, would likely draw Israel into the conflict.

Meanwhile, an Israeli official told CBS that “Israel is not aware of a decision to fully resume military activity, and has not been asked to join any military action against Iran.” During the day, the US Embassy also updated its travel advisory, recommending that US citizens in Israel consider leaving due to rising tensions or be prepared to depart if an escalation occurs.

US embassies in Jordan, Egypt, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Iraq issued similar warnings. Additionally, earlier on Saturday, The Washington Post reported that US European Command chief Gen. Alexus Grynkewich privately warned the Pentagon this week that he did not have enough naval forces available to continue defending Israel against Iranian ballistic missiles.

According to the report, which cited US officials, Grynkewich sent a written message to senior Pentagon officials warning that unless he received an additional US Navy destroyer, he would have to prioritize defending the US homeland over continuing to protect Israel from missile attacks. The US Navy is under particularly heavy strain after the Trump administration ordered a blockade of Iranian ports in response to Tehran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz, according to the report. (Read More)

Iranian Forces Activate Underground Missile Cities Amid US Escalation

Open-source reports indicate Iranian Revolutionary Guards moving heavy weapons across multiple provinces and underground missile facilities in major military readiness operation. Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has begun a broad military dispersal operation across multiple provinces, relocating heavy weapons systems and conducting unusual movements at underground missile facilities, according to open-source reporting Saturday.

Documented movements of missile launchers, unmanned aerial vehicle trucks, and tactical military vehicles have been reported in Shiraz, Abadan, Tehran, Khorramabad, Kermanshah, Isfahan, Tabriz, Qom, and other locations throughout Iran, per sources tracking military developments. The operations are being characterized as part of a major defensive readiness exercise in response to sustained American military pressure. According to Iranian sources cited in regional reporting, the IRGC is emphasizing a retaliatory deterrent posture. One source attributed statements warning that should the United States target Iranian energy infrastructure, Israel would face destruction, though the context and official status of such statements remained unconfirmed.

The dispersal operations include reported unusual activity at Iran's network of underground missile cities—hardened subterranean facilities carved into mountainous terrain that house elements of Iran's ballistic missile arsenal. These installations, buried hundreds of meters deep in granite formations, have been a focus of U.S. and Israeli air campaigns since Operation Epic Fury began in February 2026, but intelligence assessments indicate they retain significant operational capability despite strikes. The Yazd base, one of Iran's major underground facilities, is buried approximately 500 meters inside a mountain, making it difficult for conventional bunker-busting munitions to penetrate. The facilities feature compartmentalized tunnels, blast-resistant doors, multiple entrances and exits, and some decoy openings, allowing operations to continue even if access points are struck. (Read More)

‘We believe Hamas will not disarm,’ Israeli-backed militia figure in Gaza tells ‘Post’

Dismantling armed militias could discourage locals from working with Israel, says a Gaza resident. "People will think twice for fear of being abandoned."

The disarmament plan announced by the Board of Peace and approved by Hamas "will not be implemented," a Palestinian source in Gaza affiliated with Israeli-backed militias told The Jerusalem Post. For Hamas, handing over its weapons would be a suicidal step. "If there are no weapons, there is no Hamas," the source told the Post over the weekend.  According to him, those in Gaza who have suffered under Hamas oppression are waiting for a chance to take revenge, which is one reason why Hamas believes it must keep its weapons. "Families, clans, and even ordinary people who were targeted by Hamas are waiting to settle scores with the organization, no matter how long it takes," he said.

"People who were tortured, abused, or whose relatives were killed by Hamas will never forgive and never forget. Today, they cannot fight Hamas because the organization is armed. But even if it takes five or 10 years, people will seek to hold Hamas members accountable," he continued. "Hamas is aware of this threat, and that's why they need their weapons to protect themselves and cannot afford to disarm."  Ghazi Hamad, a member of Hamas's Political Bureau, told Arab media outlets that the organization agreed to store weapons with the Palestinian technocratic committee, known as the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG), the transitional body tasked with managing post-war Gaza under the mandate of US President Donald Trump's Board of Peace.

...The militia-affiliated Gaza source dismissed Hamas's apparent acceptance of the deal as "empty talk", arguing that the terror group is simply trying to buy time and ensure its own survival. "The agreement is meaningless; it will not happen," he claimed. "They have almost no heavy weapons left."

..."Hamas cares only about Hamas," he continued. They will not comply with the demand for full disarmament because they want to stay in power. For Hamas, not having weapons means risking its existence. They know that the moment they lose their grip, they will not be able to return to power," he added. (Read More)

Silly me, I thought Hamas was finished

Israel, the nation that beat Hamas to a pulp in response to the slaughter of Oct. 7, 2023, gets to play the part of the loser in Trump's peace plan. Opinion.

We know, of course, that the United States demanded unconditional surrender from Japan. There was no “negotiating" with this defeated enemy. Silly me, I thought the same applied with Hamas. I thought Israel would be allowed to finish them off. Now, it turns out, this was not the case. This defeated enemy gets to dictate terms. That is so under the “peace plan" imagined by the White House. More than that, the Palestinian Arabs get to celebrate for themselves a brand new country.

Where? Inside Gaza, and in other places where Israel used to be sovereign. Israel. then, is to be chopped up to facilitate a nation within a nation. Some may recall how it was when Arafat and his PLO were “invited" to share parts of Lebanon, and then proceeded to ransack the country. Beirut still has not fully recovered. Back to the present, Hamas must swear to disarm. Yes? No. First, Israel must pack up and vacate the premises. Got that?

Israel, the nation that beat Hamas to a pulp, in response to the slaughter of Oct. 7, 2023, gets to play the part of the loser. Hamas is to decide if Israel complies or not…under this glorious new peace plan, a recipe for disaster, from start to finish. Recall, of course, that so far as Oct. 7, Hamas swore that they would do it again and again, and as to the torturing of the hostages, Israel is to consider them a partner? By the way, what happens to the PA’s pay to slay program? Under this new accord, do Palestinian Arabs still get paid for murdering Israelis?

As for me, I cannot recall any peace plan so wrong, so one-sided in favor of the Arabs, so detrimental against the Jewish State. Every part of this favors the Arabs. The Jews, the Israelis, get to stand back and watch as their country is being dismantled. My answer is an absolute NO to this so-called peace process, where the terms fall directly upon Israel to make concessions. Another peace plan, but still the same old story. What happened to unconditional surrender? This is what I had expected. We win. You lose. From a distance, this is what I saw. We won. They lost. Was I wrong? (Ed note: A very sassy article from Jack Engelhard. Tell it like it is!)    (Source)

IDF hits Hamas arsenal hidden beside hospital

Israeli forces strike five Hamas weapons storage facilities across Gaza, including cache hidden beside Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital.

In a Friday night operation directed by the ISA, the IDF struck in several areas across the Gaza Strip, destroying five Hamas weapons storage facilities, where Kalashnikov rifles, explosive devices, anti-tank launchers, ammunition, and additional military equipment were stored. One of the storage facilities, located adjacent to Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir al-Balah, was used as a hideout by Hamas terrorists, where they stored weapons.

One of the storage facilities, located adjacent to Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir al-Balah, was used as a hideout by Hamas terrorists, where they stored weapons. "This is another example of Hamas' systematic use of and embedding within civilian infrastructure, including medical facilities, to plan and carry out terrorist activities," the IDF noted.

The weapons were intended to be used by the Hamas terrorist organization to execute terror attacks against IDF troops operating in the Yellow Line area and against Israeli civilians, and were destroyed in order to remove the threat. The IDF emphasized, "Prior to the strikes, steps were taken to mitigate harm to civilians, including the issuing of advance warnings, the use of precise munitions, and aerial surveillance." "IDF troops under the Southern Command remain deployed in the area in accordance with the ceasefire agreement and will continue to operate to remove any threat." (Ed note: But wait, wasn't Hamas supposed to disarm?) (Source)

Israeli troops kill Hezbollah terrorists in Lebanon encounter

Israel Defense Forces soldiers killed several Hezbollah terrorists in the Ali al-Taher Ridge area on Saturday, about six miles north of the border with Lebanon, the military said. An IDF officer was moderately wounded in the incident, the IDF noted. He was evacuated to a hospital and his family was notified. “The IDF will continue to operate to remove any threat to its soldiers and will not allow the Hezbollah terrorist organization to harm Israeli civilians,” the IDF added. Overnight Thursday, the Israeli military detonated a network of Hezbollah tunnelsin the Beaufort Castle area in the eastern part of Southern Lebanon containing roughly 700 tons of explosive devices, Ynet reported.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that the operation follows Hezbollah’s “blatant violation of the ceasefire agreement” on Wednesday, referring to an explosive drone Hezbollah launched at an IDF heavy engineering vehicle. The IDF said the underground network, built over two decades and funded by Iran, consisted of multiple subterranean levels and functioned as the primary command center for Hezbollah’s Bader Unit in Southern Lebanon. The United Nations on Saturday expressed concern over the escalation in Lebanon in recent days.

“The scale of the detonations and demolitions taking place in south Lebanon is deeply concerning, with a devastating impact on civilian infrastructure, cultural heritage and the collective memory of communities,” the U.N. said in a statement. On Friday, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun labeled the detonation “an extremely dangerous escalation” and “a direct threat to the process which was launched as part of the framework agreement” reached with Israel during U.S.-mediated talks in July, AFP reported.

Rubio: Israeli-Lebanese peace “achievable”

Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Friday lauded the Israeli-Lebanese framework, saying it is “unprecedented.” “In fact this is the first time the Israelis and the Lebanese government have spoken, at the official level, in close to 30 years,” he added. There is still a lot of work to be done to accomplish peace, but it is “achievable,” Rubio stated. (Ed note: What is really "deeply concerning" President Aoun of Lebanon, is that you do nothing to stop your favorite terrorist group, Hezbollah.) (Source)

Israel, US weighing wave of strikes on Iranian energy infrastructure - report

The United States and Israel are planning to initiate a harsh bombing campaign on energy infrastructure in Iran, according to a Friday CBS News report citing multiple sources. According to the report, the wave of strikes could be among the harshest to date and may begin over the weekend, targeting power plants and refineries. Multiple US sources told CBS that Israel has been notified of the potential strikes and has been coordinating with the American military, but noted that US President Donald Trump has not given final approval for the plan.

The Wall Street Journal reported that Trump did authorize the plan, with US officials saying that immediate progress on the diplomatic front could cause Trump to cancel the potential strikes. One Israeli official denied the claims, telling CBS that “Israel is unaware of a decision to restart full military operations, nor has it been requested of Israel to join any military actions against Iran."

The plan was reportedly discussed on Friday during a cabinet meeting held at Camp David, sources briefed later stated. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told CBS that Trump, during the cabinet meeting, asserted that “the United States will win, and Iran will not have a nuclear weapon under his watch.” Trump additionally told reporters at the Camp David retreat that the US will be hitting Iran very hard. "We'll be hitting them very hard,” Trump said. “At some point, they're going to say, 'We just can't take it anymore.'"

In response to the CBS report, a senior Iranian security official stated that Tehran has prepared a “comprehensive plan to respond to any potential American recklessness,” according to Iranian semi-official outlet Tasnim News. The official reportedly stated that the response plan includes targeting critical infrastructure in Israel and US energy infrastructure in the region. Trump has previously threatened to strike Iranian power plants and other infrastructure. (Ed note: Remember, with the Islamic Republic of Iran, they think that if they survive, they win. That is a theocratic regime that regularly executes its own people to stay in power. This is not a political war with that regime, it's a religious war.) (Read More)

US embassies in Israel and other Mideast states urge citizens to be ready to leave amid Iran tensions

US embassies in Jerusalem and other Middle Eastern capitals call on citizens in the Middle East to avoid travel to the Middle East and be ready to depart due to the “potential for unforeseen escalation” in the conflict with Iran. “Due to heightened tensions in the Middle East, the security environment remains complex with the potential for unforeseen escalation,” embassies from Cairo eastward say in identical messages published on their respective websites.

“The Iranian regime is unpredictable, as seen by its recent decisions to attack areas in the region without warning or provocations as well as to expand attacks to areas not previously targeted (such as Egypt),” the messages say. “Americans in the region should consider departing, or be prepared to depart should there be escalation,” say the messages, noting that travel may be disrupted due to the tension.

“Americans outside the Middle East should seriously reconsider travel to and through the region,” the messages add. “Those who do travel to or from the region should monitor information about airport and airline operations.” The embassies remain open “for routine American citizens and visa services,” they say. (Source)

Report: Trump orders fresh attack on Iranian targets

Wall Street Journal reports Trump has ordered a fresh attack on Iran that could begin as soon as this weekend. CBS reports the US and Israel are preparing campaign against Iranian energy infrastructure.

US President Donald Trump has ordered a fresh attack on Iran that could begin as soon as this weekend and would last a few days, US officials told The Wall Street Journal on Friday. The goal of the strike is getting Tehran to surrender, according to the officials. The report came on the heels of a report in CBS Newswhich stated that the United States and Israel are coordinating plans to carry out one of their most severe aerial bombardments to date, focusing on key Iranian energy infrastructure targets.,

Multiple sources who spoke to CBS News indicated the military campaign could commence over the weekend. Discussions have taken place regarding wrapping up the operations before global financial markets open on Monday due to concerns over the economic fallout in the US and internationally, though no definitive end date has been set. US sources indicated that Israeli officials have been notified and are actively coordinating with American forces. However, President Donald Trump has not yet issued the final execution order to initiate the offensive. A spokesperson for the Israeli government declined to comment on the matter. 

If launched, the joint strikes would mark Israel’s return to active combat operations following a temporary halt under a US-brokered ceasefire. Iran has refrained from striking Israel directly since the breakdown of that memorandum of understanding and the subsequent resumption of US combat actions in early July. The proposed strike plans were reviewed during a Friday cabinet meeting convened by President Trump at Camp David, CBS News reported. According to sources briefed on the meeting, several political aides inside the White House expressed firm opposition to the plan. (Read More)

Iran likely behind water-system attacks in Minnesota, but ‘surprising’ it hasn’t taken credit, expert says

“For too long, we’ve sort of downplayed these threats, because it didn’t cut off the water supply,” Annie Fixler, of FDD, told JNS.

Iranian hackers are likely behind a widening cyberattack campaign against U.S. water systems that has reached at least seven states, including more than 30 systems in Minnesota alone, and likely extends further, a cybersecurity expert told JNS on Friday. “The working assumption is that it is Iranian threat actors,” Annie Fixler, director of the cyber and technology innovation center at Foundation for Defense of Democracies, told JNS. “The kind of behavior matches what we’ve seen out of Iran. The kind of targets and the systems that we’re talking about match.” Fixler cautioned that no actor has publicly claimed responsibility.

What we don’t have is anyone claiming responsibility, which is a little surprising,” she said. “Iranian hackers tend to claim responsibility for stuff because of that ‘perception-hacking’ component, because they want to let everyone know they did it and that they’re really scary and big and bad.” Minnesota officials said on Tuesday that more than 30 community water systems in the state were targeted in coordinated attacks on July 26 and 27. The FBI said on Thursday that water utilities in at least seven states reported similar cyber incidents. The other affected states have not yet been identified publicly.
Fixler told JNS that she doubts that seven will be the final number.

“It’s certainly an evolving situation,” she said. “If it’s seven, there’s no reason to think it stops there. The FBI is saying ‘at least seven.’ I’m sure it’s larger than that.” U.S. President Donald Trump denied on Friday that Iran was responsible for the Minnesota attacks. Instead, he blamed the state’s “corrupt governor.” “We heard in Minnesota there was a cyberattack, and they blame it on Iran. I don’t think so,” he stated. “I think I blame it on Minnesota, because they’re grossly incompetent.” “There was a cyberattack of 30 water plants, and I would blame it on Minnesota and the governor, the corrupt governor of Minnesota,” the president said, during a cabinet meeting at Camp David.

“They like to say, ‘Oh, it was Iran,’” Trump said. “Iran should be so lucky. Iran’s got bigger problems than worrying about Minnesota.” The hackers reportedly gained unauthorized access to systems that control water operations, changed passwords and caused disruptions, including losses in water pressure and flooding. Fixler said that the hackers targeted programmable logic controllers, or PLCs, which control industrial equipment such as pumps, valves and switches. By accessing that equipment directly, hackers can interfere with physical operations without first moving through several layers of a utility’s computer network, she said. “If you can go directly into what’s called ‘operational technology,’ as opposed to the business network, then you can cause an effect without having to go through all those layers where you might be spotted,” she told JNS.  (Ed note: Better think about stacking a couple of cases of water in the house. Welcome to the End Times.)    (Read More)

Ambassador Danon: Hamas must fully disarm before any next steps in Gaza

Israeli Ambassador to the UN emphasizes that Hamas must completely disarm, warning against superficial measures, as disputes continue over the sequence of Gaza peace steps.

Israel’s envoy to the United Nations, Danny Danon, asserted on Friday that Hamas must undergo true demilitarization, emphasizing that superficial measures will remain unacceptable to Israel. Speaking in an interview on CNN, Danon noted that the ordering of future steps - including troop pullbacks to Gaza's designated "yellow line," disarmament protocols, and the entry of relief supplies - remains open to negotiation.

“Those issues we can discuss and we can resolve … you can build the sequence with the mediators," Danon told CNN. “The main point is whether Hamas is actually willing to disarm or not. Because if they are playing games and offer cosmetic solutions, it will not work." Clarifying Israel's expectations, Danon added, “Disarmament means the weapons (are) out of Gaza, they have no control of the weapons, and then we can move forward." The Ambassador's remarks follow an announcement by US President Donald Trump on Thursday highlighting a landmark accord intended to accomplish the demilitarization of Hamas along with every other terrorist group in Gaza.

In response, high-ranking Hamas representative Ghazi Hamad conveyed to CNN that Israel must prioritize immediate actions. He maintained that Israel needs to implement an immediate ceasefire, halt targeted strikes within Gaza, pull back military forces to the "yellow line," and permit a significant increase in humanitarian assistance as outlined in the October ceasefire terms.

“Absolutely not. President Trump and the administration, they saw what happened on the ground," said the Ambassador, who added, “We complied with the agreement so far. We did everything that we had to do. It was Hamas who was playing a game about disarmament." Trump insisted on Friday that Israel is “very happy" about the Hamas disarmament deal. Asked during a cabinet meeting whether the US has received any assurances from Israel that it will abide by the deal, Trump replied, “We do have an understanding with Israel."  (Ed note: Have you noticed that both Hamas and Hezbollah are working out of the same play book? "If Israel will not hit back after we hit them, if they will withdraw from our land completely, then we may talk. Does anyone really believe that Hamas is ever going to disarm?)   (Read More)

Trump claims Israel is 'very happy' with Hamas disarmament deal

President Trump praises Hamas disarmament deal, claiming Israel is "very happy" with the agreement and states weapons will be surrendered to the Board of Peace.

US President Donald Trump insisted on Friday that Israel is “very happy" about the Hamas disarmament deal that he announced the previous night. Asked during a cabinet meeting whether the US has received any assurances from Israel that it will abide by the deal, Trump replied, “We do have an understanding with Israel."

“Israel is very happy about it. Israel helped us, and they’ve been very good," Trump stated, adding, “Most people said that would be a deal that would be undoable. Will it go through its ups and downs? It’s a very complex situation over there… But it’s a great breakthrough. Nobody’s ever thought that it would be be possible to disarm Hamas." Trump hailed the agreement as “a big step for the Middle East, and people are really impressed by it."

He was asked who Hamas would be giving its weapons to and replied, “The Board of Peace." While Israel has not yet officially replied to the plan, a senior Israeli diplomatic official stressed on Thursday that the issue of Gaza did not come up at all during the meeting between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Trump in Washington this week.

The official stressed, “Israel is demanding the complete disarmament of Hamas, including the removal of all weapons from the Gaza Strip and the territory's full demilitarization, as a precondition for any process. The reported 15-point document does not provide an adequate response to these demands, and Israel has conveyed its reservations on the matter to envoy Tony Blair." He added, “There will be no Israeli withdrawal from the Yellow Line in the Gaza Strip before Hamas is disarmed and the Strip is fully demilitarized." (Read More)

U.S.-Saudi Consortium Plans $5 Billion Oil Refinery Away from Strait of Hormuz

A consortium of companies from the United States and Saudi Arabia is planning to build a $5 billion oil refinery and export terminal that could ship 200,000 barrels per day without passing through the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran is attempting to control through terrorism.

The consortium, known as MERA Oil, includes Saudi corporation PWS, the Texas-based MWG Group, and the Patel Family Office, a privately-held investment firm that began three generations ago in the United Kingdom, but is now based in the United States. The refinery project is a long-term investment in building an oil supply line that is not quite so vulnerable to predators. Saudi Arabia shifted much of its seaborne oil away from the Persian Gulf and Strait of Hormuz to avoid Iranian terrorism in the Strait of Hormuz, only to fall victim to Red Sea terrorism from Iran’s Houthi proxies in Yemen.

The Houthis, like their patrons in Tehran, are now considering schemes to extort fees for safe passage from international shipping in perpetuity, with exceptions for the global leader in tyranny, Communist China. The MERA Oil project would create a new export corridor that avoids the Strait of Hormuz, complete with a deepwater port and extensive oil storage facilities. The refinery and port will cover some 600 hectares of land and create up to 18,000 jobs in construction, operation, and related industries.

The project was started long before the current conflict with Iran, and is not scheduled to complete its first phase of construction before the end of 2029. The consortium is currently reviewing three short-list sites for construction that would be located somewhere within the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), a group of Persian Gulf nations that includes Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Products from the refinery would include diesel and jet fuel, with potential customers across the Middle East, Europe, and the United States. “This is multigenerational infrastructure, and it has to be structured to institutional standards from the outset: sound governance, a balanced capital structure built to hold for decades, and a transparent partnership with the host government,” Patel Family Office Vice Chair Lakshmi Narayanan said. (Read More)

Retaliation Threatened: Pro Iranian Iraqi Militias Prepare Action Within 72 Hours After Joint US Saudi Strikes

Pro Iranian militias in Iraq warned they are preparing retaliatory actions within 72 hours following joint US Saudi airstrikes that killed six Iranian military advisors and 20 militia operatives in Salah ad Din province. Pro Iranian militias operating in Iraq have warned that they are preparing to carry out retaliatory actions within 72 hours following joint US and Saudi airstrikes against their positions. A senior official within the pro Iranian militia network told Lebanese newspaper Al-Akhbar on Thursday that resistance forces in Iraq are coordinating with regional partners, including Houthi forces in Yemen, to execute a broader regional response. The official declared that the strikes have collapsed any previous negotiations regarding the surrender of militia arms, stating that "the resistance's weapons will remain and are not subject to negotiation."

The official added that the US and Saudi action "will not pass without a price" and warned of severe domestic fallout if official government coordination with Washington is proven. "If it turns out that there was governmental coordination with Washington, this will lead to an unprecedented internal crisis," the official warned. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump stated in an interview with Fox News that the airstrikes against the militia groups in Iraq were executed in direct coordination with the Iraqi government in Baghdad.

A senior official from Kata'ib Sayyid al-Shuhada, a prominent pro Iranian militia group in Iraq, declared that "the blood of the martyrs will not be spilled in vain," promising that the group's response will be "shattering." The official noted that the timing and precise method of the response depend on strict military calculations, adding that the United States "will regret" the operation while hinting at potential attacks against American and Saudi assets in the region.

Initial reports from Western sources indicate that the airstrikes in Salah ad Din province killed six Iranian military advisors from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Quds Force, alongside 20 operatives belonging to the Popular Mobilization Forces, while injuring approximately 30 others. These sources confirmed that the militia units responsible for launching recent drone and missile attacks toward Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, and Jordan operate under the direct command of Quds Force officers holding diplomatic passports. (Ed note: Uh-oh. Did Assyria just raise its ugly head? Psalm 83:8)   (Read More)

US officials: If Israel refuses the deal, Trump will be disappointed

US and Board of Peace officials brief reporters on Gaza demilitarization deal, reveal that Tehran attempted to sabotage negotiations and warn that a rejection from Israel would disappoint Trump.

US administration officials and members of the Gaza Board of Peace spoke with reporters on Thursday night regarding the historic agreement announced by President Donald Trump, under which Hamas and other terrorist organizations in the Gaza Strip will disarm. Senior administration officials emphasized the close coordination with Jerusalem throughout the negotiation process, saying that the Americans coordinated “very closely" with Israel at every step. The officials acknowledged that the Israelis were extremely skeptical, but added “they are not being asked to do much right now".

They further stated that this agreement is not based on trust, but on fulfilling conditions on the ground and added that Washington will ensure that Israel honors its commitments as well. At the same time, a senior US official noted that Israel was dissatisfied with the decision to include Turkey and Qatar on the Board of Peace executive. Despite this, he maintained that both nations - alongside Egypt - played a vital role in advancing the process and exerting heavy pressure on Hamas to reach terms. A US official added that "if Israel refuses the agreement, President Trump will be disappointed."

A Gaza Board of Peace representative noted that, for the first time, Hamas and all other factions have agreed to accept the framework in full alongside its implementation plan. The official stated that there will be an “absolute monopoly" on weapons, and that Hamas will completely step down from governing Gaza. According to the official, by the end of the process, the transitional government established by the Board of Peace will hold complete control over weaponry in the Strip.

American officials clarified that the planned technocratic government will serve as "an alternative to both the Palestinian Authority and Hamas." They also revealed that Tehran attempted to derail negotiations: "Iran tried to convince Hamas to reject the deal, but the US managed to overcome that." (Ed note: First, "President Trump will be disappointed." REALLY! Turkey truly does hate Israel, and Qatar hates Israel, and is perhaps a bigger financial supporter of Hamas than Iran is. Second, Hamas is playing the Hezbollah game of, "you get Israel to stop hitting us after we hit them, and make them completely leave Gaza, then we may talk." And of course, what ever happened to Hamas who was supposed to disarm? Trump is being played and Israel is being thrown under that bus.) (Read More)

Sources to 'Post': Israel rejects Hamas disarmament plan, no IDF pullout until Gaza demilitarized

Israel is demanding the complete disarmament of Hamas, including the removal of weapons from Gaza and the full demilitarization of the Gaza Strip, as a precondition for any withdrawal process, a diplomatic source told The Jerusalem Post on Thursday. The 15-point document under discussion does not adequately address these demands, and Israel conveyed its reservations on the matter to former UK prime minister Tony Blair, who is serving as an envoy. There will be no Israeli withdrawal from the Yellow Line in the Gaza Strip before Hamas is disarmed and the Gaza Strip is demilitarized, the source emphasized.

Notably, the issue of Gaza did not come up at all during the meeting between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump, the source added. In contrast, Axios reported that the US expects to make a deal with Hamas in the coming days. "We think we've managed to bring Hamas to a place where they can't say no," one source familiar with negotiations said. The source added that the Trump administration and the Board of Peace were working towards cutting off Hamas's funding sources abroad.

Another official told Axios that Israel was briefed on the meeting in Cairo. "Everything is fully coordinated, and Israel knows all the details," a separate source told Axios. "This is a good deal for Israel because it takes care of the Gaza problem," the source said. "If Hamas cheats, everything stops, and Israel will not have given up anything." (Read More)

Hamas's letter to Trump and its demands

Hamas has reportedly sent a letter to the White House requesting a 'hudna' during which Israel would halt military operations and targeted killings.

Nearly three years after the October 7 massacre, a long-term ceasefire in the Gaza Strip appears to be taking shape amid growing momentum toward an agreement with Hamas. Israel's Channel 13 News

revealed Thursday evening that Hamas has asked U.S. President Donald Trump for a 10- to 15-year "hudna" (long-term truce) in Gaza. According to the report, Hamas leaders drafted a letter in English that was sent to the White House. In it, they tell President Trump that they are prepared to honor an agreement and disarm, but request a long-term ceasefire under which Israel would refrain from attacking Gaza, cease targeted killings of senior Hamas officials, and begin a gradual withdrawal of its forces from the Strip. Israeli officials have rejected the proposal, describing it as a Hamas "spin." They argue that its terms do not correspond to the Trump framework agreed upon in October of last year.

Israeli sources said the proposed agreement "has no chance" of being accepted, describing it as a "desperate attempt" by Hamas to buy time. They added that Hamas is primarily trying to avoid being declared in violation of Trump's agreement, since such a breach would allow Israel to resume military operations in Gaza. Earlier Thursday, Channel 13 disclosed additional details of the proposed agreement. Under its terms, Hamas would commit to surrendering its weapons gradually over several years but would not commit to handing over its heavy weaponry.

In addition, Arab states would pay millions of dollars in "retirement compensation" to Hamas officials who would be replaced by a technocratic committee. For its part, Israel would commit to a long-term ceasefire, including an end to targeted killings in the Gaza Strip. The IDF would not withdraw from the "Yellow Line" security zone but would gradually evacuate certain areas.

American, regional, and Palestinian sources told Channel 13 that such an agreement amounts to a "fiction," arguing that Hamas is unlikely to surrender all of its weapons to a third party it does not trust. The proposal also contains no commitment to disclose or dismantle Hamas's tunnel network. A senior Israeli official said, "The issue of Gaza did not come up at all during the meeting between Prime Minister Netanyahu and President Trump. Israel demands the complete disarmament of Hamas, including the removal of all weapons from Gaza and the full demilitarization of the Strip as a precondition for any process." (Read More)

Over 10 terror tunnel routes dismantled, including one used to hold hostages

Troops from the 188th Brigade dismantled more than 10 underground terror tunnel routes used by Hamas, including 1 in which hostages were held.

Troops from the 188th Brigade, operating under the Gaza Division, together with Yahalom personnel, dismantled more than 10 underground terror tunnel routes used by the Hamas terrorist organization to advance terrorist activity. One of the tunnel routes had been used to hold hostages.

The troops also located a large quantity of weapons, including rocket launchers, rockets, grenades, explosive devices, and Kalashnikov rifles. In addition, they established new defensive routes and posts in order to strengthen the defensive posture in the area.

Troops from the 188th Brigade, operating under the Gaza Division, have spent the past eight months conducting defensive operations in the southern Gaza Strip to clear the Yellow Line area of terrorist infrastructure. IDF troops under the Southern Command remain deployed in the area in accordance with the ceasefire framework and will continue operating to remove any immediate threat. (Source)

IDF demolishes Hezbollah tunnels below southern Lebanon’s Beaufort Ridge

The Israeli military has blown up Hezbollah’s tunnel system beneath the Beaufort Ridge in southern Lebanon, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz announced late Thursday night in a joint statement. They said the Israel Defense Forces used 700 tons of explosives to demolish the subterranean facility. The demolition was planned for an earlier date but was postponed because of the framework deal reached in June. Netanyahu and Katz said the destruction of the tunnel system was in response to Hezbollah’s “blatant” violation of the ceasefire agreement on Wednesday, when it targeted an unmanned bulldozer with an explosive drone.

The tunnel, which journalists toured earlier this month, served as a “central part of the Hezbollah terror organization’s invasion plan against the Galilee communities,” the statement said. “The State of Israel will not accept any violation of the ceasefire agreement. Any attempt by Hezbollah to harm IDF troops or Israeli civilians will be met with a severe and powerful response that will exact a heavy price from the terrorist organization,”. Netanyahu and Katz said, adding that the IDF “will remain in the security zone in southern Lebanon and will continue to destroy all terror infrastructure in order to prevent any attempt by Hezbollah to restore its capabilities.”

The IDF in its own statement said it demolished “several key underground routes in the Beaufort Ridge area.” “Over the past several weeks, IDF troops completed securing the Beaufort Ridge area, while taking control of and clearing the underground infrastructure and preparing it for destruction,” the military said. The military had already on July 13 demolished a tunnel that was part of the Beaufort Ridge area underground system. With the latest demolition, most of the tunnel network in the area has been destroyed. (Ed note: Beaufort Ridge in southern Lebanon is located on the Latani River. Its historic fortress is about 18 miles north of the Israeli border.) (Read more)

Iranian agents cut protester's royalist tattoos before killing him

Iranian security agents allegedly cut away skin bearing tattoos of Reza Shah and an imperial crown before killing a 21-year-old protester before later shooting him dead, according to sources close to his family. The sources told Iran International that Amirhossein Nobakht Pardasti was wounded by pellet fire and detained during the January protests at around 10 p.m. on January 8 near 30-Metri Street in Bagher Shahr, south of Tehran. They said he was taken to hospital, where agents used blades and box cutters to remove skin and flesh bearing the tattoos before shooting him dead in what they described as an execution-style killing. Nobakht Pardasti had previously been arrested during the 2022 Woman, Life, Freedom uprising, when he was 16.

‘Signs of torture’

His family said they received no information about his whereabouts after his detention. When they eventually recovered his body from Kahrizak, they found extensive signs of torture, according to the sources, including severe bruising across his face and body and apparent fractures to his jaw, nose and shoulders. The section of his arm bearing the tattoos of Reza Shah and an imperial crown had been cut away, with skin and flesh removed, the sources said. They added that Nobakht Pardasti also had the word "Iran" tattooed on his throat and that pressure marks consistent with strangulation or restraint were visible around his neck.

Against nationalist symbols

Nobakht Pardasti's case is not the first in which Iranian authorities have been accused of targeting tattoos carrying nationalist or royalist symbolism. One of the best-known cases was Majidreza Rahnavard, a protester executed in Mashhad on Dec. 12, 2022. Rahnavard had a Lion and Sun emblem tattooed on his left forearm. Images published after his arrest showed the tattooed arm badly injured and immobilised in a cast and bandages.

A person close to Rahnavard told Iran International that agents repeatedly struck the arm with batons and stun guns because of the tattoo, eventually breaking it. While the accounts cannot independently establish an official policy, the similarities between Nobakht Pardasti's case and earlier reports suggest security forces may have deliberately targeted tattoos depicting pre-revolutionary Iranian symbols as a form of punishment, humiliation and torture. (Read More)

US strikes $58.6 billion Patriot missile deal amid rising stockpile concerns

The US Department of Defense has signed one of the largest procurement contracts in its history with Lockheed Martin, agreeing to purchase Patriot interceptors in a deal worth $58.6 billion. The contract is expected to dramatically increase the United States' interceptor inventory, which has been depleted by the wars involving Iran and Ukraine, as well as preparations for a possible future conflict with China. The US has already delayed interceptor deliveries to Ukraine and postponed deliveries to Switzerland until 2032 in order to prioritize the protection of US forces in the Gulf and Gulf states that have purchased Patriot systems.

The multiyear contract governs an accelerated production schedule for the 2026-2032 period. Lockheed Martin currently manufactures about 600 interceptors annually, and the agreement is intended to raise production to 2,000 per year. Achieving that target will require Lockheed Martin, along with suppliers of rocket motors, guidance systems, and warheads, to expand their production lines. The company has already announced plans to invest up to $9 billion in its manufacturing facilities in Alabama and Arkansas by 2030 and hire more than 1,000 additional employees.

Although the Pentagon did not disclose specific quantities in its announcement, the contract includes more than 10,000 interceptors and is also expected to reduce their high unit cost slightly, to at least $4 million each. By comparison, the comparable David's Slinginterceptor produced by Israel's Rafael costs about $1 million per unit.

The pace of US defense production has declined significantly since the end of the Cold War, and the Pentagon has been pressing American defense companies to invest more heavily in expanding production capacity. The effort comes at the expense of share buyback programs designed to boost stock prices and generate stronger returns for investors, as well as executives whose compensation includes stock options. (Read More)

US launches airstrikes in Iran following Trump’s warning (BUSHEHR)

The US military launches airstrikes in Iran, with explosions heard in several provinces, following Trump's pledge to retaliate for attacks in Jordan.

The US military started carrying out airstrikes in Iran early Thursday morning, according to
a senior US official quoted by Channel 12 News. US Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed the strikes, saying in a statement, “US forces began launching strikes against Iran at 8 p.m. ET today. The strikes are a powerful response to yesterday's attempted Iranian attacks on U.S. forces based in the Middle East."

According to reports in Iranian media, explosions were heard in Nurabad, located in Fars Province, as well as in the port city of Sirik and in Ahvaz. Later, Iranian media reported that three explosions were heard on Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz, along with another explosion in Bushehr. The reported strikes came hours after US President Donald Trump stated that the US would strike Iran “very hard" after Iran attacked US bases in Jordan overnight. “We are going to hit them very hard. I can say that because there is very little they can do about it," he told reporters in the Oval Office.

"We're going to be hitting them very hard, because it’s our turn to hit them. They know it’s coming, they’re asking us not to do it. They tried shooting last night…we had five rockets shot going 8,500 mph, and all five rockets were knocked down to the ground - but they nevertheless took a shot, so it's our turn," Trump stated. Earlier, Trump told Fox News, "We are going to beat the *‎*‎*‎*ing *‎*‎*‎* out of them."

The President described the missile launches as a surprise attack, adding that US forces had just minutes to intercept the incoming missile barrage. Shortly before the start of the current wave of strikes, The Wall Street Journal reported that Trump is currently considering whether to relaunch major military operations against Tehran, with American forces drawing up plans for an intensive aerial assault lasting 10 to 14 days focused on crippling Iran's missile strength. (Read More)

‘Exactly what Iran intended’: Some Jordanians buckle under missile pressure, demand US withdrawal

The Islamic Republic is making headway in its ambition to “sow discord within Jordan and create governmental chaos in order to expand Iranian influence” in the country, Prof. Ronen Yitzhak told The Jerusalem Post on Thursday, following the publication of an open letter signed by hundreds of Jordanian political and legal figures demanding the withdrawal of US forces. The letter, a rare public challenge to the Jordanian government, was signed by both Palestinian and original Jordanian tribes, which is what makes it particularly “disturbing,” Yitzhak said.

“This is exactly what Iran intended when it launched missiles at Jordan, as well as at other Gulf states. Its goal was to put pressure on the Jordanian population to demand the removal of the American presence,” he said. “But it is more than that. There is an Iranian intention to deepen the gap between the Jordanian government, which supports the United States, and the Jordanian people, which opposes American policy, as part of the Iranian ambition to sow discord within Jordan and cause governmental chaos in order to increase Iranian influence in Jordan - this has been Iran's ambition for over 20 years.”

The letter claimed that US military presence “exposes Jordan to security, political, and economic risks that serve no national interest and increases the likelihood of our country being dragged into a regional conflict to which it is not a party.” Jordan currently hosts around 4,000 American troops, according to the US Congress. The country also receives substantial US military assistance, with annual aid tripling over the past 15 years.

...Though Amman’s relationship with the US has been undoubtedly beneficial, the regional escalation has also had a deep impact on Jordan’s economy. The Central Bank of Jordan reported that in the first half of 2026, tourism revenue went down from expatriate Jordanians by 12%, US nationals by 25%, and European nationals by 28%. According to the New York Times, the tourism industry alone makes up 18% of Jordan’s revenues. (Ed note: Everybody goes to Petra! This could be very important. Lets see what develops.) (Read More)

Syria maps, Trump and Vance's meeting: What really happened behind Washington's doors - analysis

The most important takeaway from Netanyahu’s Washington trip may not have been any single statement or announcement, but that Israel still needs to persuade the US of its position.

It had been quite some time since a senior Israeli diplomatic official held such a lengthy and detailed background briefing. Nearly every question was answered, often at considerable length, while insisting that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to Washington was not another ceremonial meeting but a genuine strategic exchange between two leaders who know each other well. “It wasn’t about checking a box,” the official said. “It was an exchange of ideas.” According to the briefing, the discussion with President Donald Trump revolved around three possible paths regarding Iran: reaching a new agreement, maintaining the current economic blockade, or escalating military pressure. Each option, the official stressed, was examined objectively and “honestly.”

Yet beyond the substance of the briefing, there was another impression that was difficult to ignore: A sense of urgency, perhaps even unease. For months, Trump has publicly stated that he urged Netanyahu not to launch further strikes in Lebanon and that he would like to see Israel withdraw from parts of Syria. On several occasions, he has suggested that Washington and Jerusalem do not necessarily see eye-to-eye on every regional issue.

The senior official, as expected, blamed the media, arguing that journalists are often fed inaccurate, or even fabricated, information. But his own description of what Netanyahu chose to do inside the Oval Office suggested that Trump’s public remarks, and perhaps the assumptions held by those briefing him, were very much on the prime minister’s mind. The briefing left the clear impression that Netanyahu wanted to make sure Trump fully understood Israel’s position on Syria before those assumptions became entrenched.

According to the official, Netanyahu arrived at the Oval Office carrying maps. He showed Trump that Israel controls roughly 0.1% of Syrian territory, while Turkey controls about 5%, arguing that Israel’s limited presence is intended solely to prevent Iran, Hezbollah, Palestinian Islamic Jihad and other terrorist organizations from establishing themselves along its border.   (Ed note: Just like previous administrations, will the Trump Administration in wanting to make a deal so much, again throw Israel  under the bus?)   (Read More)

'Tense and Unease': Body Language Experts Analyze Awkward Photo of World Leaders

Body language expert analyzed the behavior of Vance, Trump, and Netanyahu at the White House. Vance appeared tense and uncomfortable, while Trump projected calm and closeness toward the Prime Minister. A body language expert claimed that U.S. Vice President JD Vance displayed signs of tension and discomfort during a joint photo opportunity with President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House.

In contrast, she assessed that Trump appeared relaxed and pleased to meet Netanyahu. According to the expert, his smile was "genuine", his body language was loose, and he even angled his foot toward Netanyahu, indicates a sense of closeness and comfort.

The expert also referenced photos from Trump's meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, claiming that the two projected mutual warmth. She noted that the fact that their elbows touched was a "positive sign" indicating good relations, even though Zelenskyy appeared cautious and reserved in some of the photographs  (Ed note: It was said at the beginning of the Trump Administration that VP Vance was "no friend of Israel" that he wanted to deal with Iran and avoid Israel.)    (Source)

Iran hiding centrifuges at Pickaxe Mountain, nuclear program 'not destroyed,' source tells 'Post'

The source also revealed information regarding Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Tuesday meeting with US President Donald Trump, sharing that maps were shown supporting Israel's presence in Syria.

Iran is storing centrifuges at Pickaxe Mountain, a senior Israeli diplomatic source said Wednesday. Israel does not believe Iran’s nuclear program has been completely destroyed, the source told reporters who accompanied Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to his meeting with US President Donald Trump in Washington on Tuesday. “The goal is how to bring the nuclear program to an end,” the source said, adding that Israel had targeted nuclear scientists, enrichment facilities, centrifuges, and other infrastructure, successfully setting the program back, “but not forever.”

“There are centrifuges at Pickaxe Mountain even if enrichment is not currently taking place,” the source said, and Israel would not hesitate to act again against any attempt to rebuild Iran’s nuclear program or its ballistic-missile array. During his meeting with Trump, Netanyahu displayed maps that refute calls for Israeli withdrawal from Syrianterritory, the Israeli diplomatic source said.

The maps showed that Turkey controls about 5% of Syrian territory, while Israel controls only about 0.1%, the source said. Netanyahu had made the case that Israel’s presence is intended to counter threats from Iran, Hezbollah, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, and other terrorist organizations, the source added. “Sometimes the president has certain assumptions, and if you don’t change them, they become fixed,” the source said, adding that this was one of the reasons Netanyahu chose to present the information visually.

Although Syria was discussed, it served primarily as an introduction to the central topic of the meeting, Iran, the source said, and most of the conversation had focused on how to address it following the significant blow to its nuclear program. Trump is currently weighing three possible courses of action, the source said: pursuing a new agreement, maintaining and intensifying economic pressure and sanctions, or escalating military action. (Read More)

Trump, ahead of meet with Netanyahu: ‘I don’t need Bibi’ for intel on Pickaxe Mountain

US president, in irritated comments before hosting PM, criticizes Netanyahu for ostensibly speaking publicly about activity at the nuclear site; Katz: Israel wants to strike Iran but US holding us back.

US President Donald Trump said Tuesday he had no need for intelligence from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Iran’s Pickaxe Mountain nuclear facility, dismissing the site as “not a big problem,” and saying that the Israeli leader was only going to bring it up at their meeting later in the day, because “he wants me to stay involved.” His comments came as he was set to host Netanyahu for a meeting, their first since the outbreak of the war at the end of February, and amid reports that ties between the leaders had become strained as the conflict lingered without a clear resolution. Speaking to Fox News, Trump expressed his irritation with Netanyahu.

“I don’t need Bibi to tell me” things related to intelligence on the Pickaxe Mountain nuclear site. “Bibi’s telling me that because he wants me to stay involved. We know exactly what’s going on,” Trump insisted. The US president also vented frustration that Netanyahu ostensibly mentioned Iranian construction at the underground site publicly: “I heard Bibi announce that. I said, Why didn’t you just tell it to me? Why’d you have to announce it to the world? I know exactly what’s going on at Pickaxe,” he repeated.

“It’s not a big problem,” Trump continued. “We took out their nuclear sites, and we’ll have to take out Pickaxe if we don’t make a deal. [If] we don’t make a deal, we’ll take it out very easily.” While Trump claimed Netanyahu “announced” intelligence indicating Iranian activity at Pickaxe, however, the prime minister has not spoken about the nuclear site publicly. Some of the reports on purported Iranian activity at the site have, however, been attributed to unnamed Israeli officials. Trump also claimed he “could take out most of their bridges in less than an hour,” and all of Iran’s power plants within a day. He further claimed he saved Israel by stopping Iran’s nuclear program. “If I weren’t president today, Israel would not exist,” said Trump.

While the US and Israel hit multiple Iranian nuclear sites in the 12-day war last year and in the latest conflict, Pickaxe Mountain has not been hit by the US or Israel. Trump has threatened to bomb it a number of times. Iran has not allowed the UN’s nuclear watchdog access to the Pickaxe Mountain site. International Atomic Energy Agency head Rafael Grossi said Iran in 2021 declared its “intention to have nuclear activity” there. Pickaxe Mountain, whose peak rises to some 1,600 meters above sea level, is ‌located 220 kilometers (140 miles) south of Tehran and 2 kilometers (1.2 miles) from the Natanz nuclear complex. (Read More)

The Israeli Navy's new air force

The IDF this week held a ceremony at the Israeli Air Force's Palmachim Airbase marking the reopening of Squadron 193, "Defenders of the West," which will operate helicopters for maritime reconnaissance and naval support missions. The ceremony was attended by Israeli Air Force Commander Maj. Gen. Omer Tishler, Israeli Navy Commander Maj. Gen. Eyal Harel, as well as commanders, service members, and aircrew.

Squadron 193 will operate in cooperation with the Navy's Missile Boat Flotilla and support a wide range of naval missions, including protecting Israel's strategic assets, safeguarding freedom of navigation, assisting maneuvering forces, and providing naval fire support. The IDF said the squadron's reactivation will strengthen cooperation between the Air Force and Navy while expanding the military's operational capabilities in the maritime arena.

The squadron has been equipped with SH-60F Seahawk helicopters, designated in Israeli service as the Shelach. The maritime helicopters are designed to conduct intelligence-gathering, reconnaissance and surveillance, search-and-rescue, and naval support missions. They are equipped with advanced sensor systems, including maritime radar and day-and-night observation systems.

Squadron 193, "Defenders of the West," was established in 1987. Over the years it operated Dolphin helicopters and later Atalef helicopters. The squadron was deactivated at Ramat David Airbase in 2025 and has now resumed operations from Palmachim Airbase in a new configuration as a maritime support helicopter squadron. (Read More)

Israel will respond to Hezbollah striking of IDF bulldozer by drone, source tells 'Post'

In Haddatha in the Nabatiya area, troops destroyed an underground route that served as a Hezbollah command center, the IDF announced.

Israel will respond to the striking of an IDF bulldozer overnight between Tuesday and Wednesday by a Hezbollah drone, an Israeli source familiar with the matter told The Jerusalem Post on Wednesday afternoon. The source added that talks were being held as to the nature of the response. Earlier in the day, the IDF Northern Command confirmed the overnight strike, which took place in the area of the Ali Taher Ridge, the IDF said, calling it a “blatant violation” of the ceasefire agreement with Hezbollah.

The site is located at the edge of Israel's security zone, a highland with a 600-meter elevation in Nabatiya, north of the Litani River. About a month ago, the IDF said it killed armed Hezbollah operatives there in two separate incidents, after the fighters approached its position in the Ridge. In southern Lebanon, IDF troops located over the past few days weapons belonging to Hezbollah, including Kalashnikovs, RPGs, explosives, grenades, and others, the military announced on Wednesday.

This same process took place at a few locations in the security belt area that troops are operating in. The IDF said that in an incident in the area of Ras el-Bayada, located about 10 kilometers north of Rosh Hanikra, troops shot towards a suspect “that approached the forces in a threatening manner,” after the suspect continued to get closer despite calls to stop. The announcement did not give further clarifications.

The IDF said that in an incident in the area of Ras el-Bayada, located about 10 kilometers north of Rosh Hanikra, troops shot towards a suspect “that approached the forces in a threatening manner,” after the suspect continued to get closer despite calls to stop. The announcement did not give further clarifications. (Read More)

US takes control of Gaza tunnel operations

Amid cash-flow problems and the lack of a comprehensive IDF work plan, the US will operate four new concrete plants along the Gaza border, aiming to fill deep tunnels and build a massive US base. 

The United States and Israel are moving forward with plans to establish four additional concrete plants in the Gaza border area to meet growing demand for sealing Hamas tunnels in the Strip and constructing a massive military base intended to serve the International Stabilization Force (ISF). The enormous quantities of concrete required for both projects have created the need for the additional plants. The current system is operating amid cash-flow difficulties. The concrete plants shut down every week because of budget problems, dramatically affecting the continuous effort to seal the tunnel routes. In fact, it has emerged that the Israel Defense Forces has no comprehensive, structured work plan for sealing all the tunnels discovered in the Gaza Strip, and operations are being conducted according to ad hoc budget allocations.

As part of the preparations to transfer responsibility for operating and financing the plants to the United States, workers at the existing concrete facilities have already been informed that, for payroll and management purposes, they will become employees of the US administration overseeing the project. Thousands of kilometers of tunnels built and used by Hamas remain in the Gaza Strip. Some are still used by the terrorist organization's military wing, and hostages were held in several of them. It should be noted that the Americans are not making the operation conditional on a transition to Phase 2 of the 20-point plan, since it is not considered reconstruction but rather the filling of tunnels located in territory under IDF control.

The tunnel-demolition method is based on pumping liquid concrete under high pressure directly into the underground route. For example, engineering forces pumped more than 30,000 cubic meters (about 1.06 million cubic feet) of concrete into the massive tunnel in Rafah where the body of Lt. Hadar Goldin was held. An additional tunnel in the northern Gaza Strip was sealed using 20,000 cubic meters (about 706,000 cubic feet) of sealing material pumped through a dedicated pipeline system several kilometers long. (Ed note: Build a massive US base over all those tunnels? By the way, Hamas still hasn't been disarmed, President Trump.) (Read More)