Iran’s youth form human chains around power plants after Trump warns of ‘complete demolition’

Iran called on its youth Tuesday to form human chains around its power plants — after President Trump threatened to decimate the Islamic Republic’s energy infrastructure if Tehran fails to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. “Power plants that are our national assets and capital, regardless of any taste or political viewpoint, belong to the future of Iran and to the Iranian youth,” Alireza Rahimi, secretary of the Supreme Council of Youth and Adolescents, said in a video aired on state TV.

Government officials have called on students, artists, and athletes to form the human shields from 2 p.m. local time — and video showed hordes of Iranians complying within hours, including on several bridges, waving the country’s red, white and green flag and unfurling a massive version across at least one span. “We hope that with the participation of young people across the country, this human chain will be formed around the power plants, and it will be a sign of the youth’s commitment to protecting the country’s infrastructure and building a bright future,” Rahimi said.

The bloodthirsty regime is already accused of recruiting children as young as 12 in a drive dubbed “Homeland Defending Combatants for Iran.” Amnesty International said it had confirmed photos showing children wielding weapons such as AK-pattern assault rifles and standing alongside Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps military personnel at checkpoints and during rallies. The desperate calls come after Trump promised to obliterate Tehran’s energy infrastructure if a deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz isn’t reached by 8 p.m. (Read More)

BREAKING: Airstrikes Hit Iranian Military Facility in Bushehr, Causing Massive Explosion | WATCH

New IAF strikes target Iranian munitions storage in Bushehr, sparking powerful explosions. While the nearby nuclear power plant remains unaffected, this strike marks a significant escalation in the campaign against Iran’s military infrastructure.

The Israeli Air Force carried out precision strikes earlier today (Monday) on a key Iranian Air Force munitions and ammunition storage facility in Bushehr, southwestern Iran. Dramatic video footage circulating online shows a powerful secondary explosion with a large plume of smoke, consistent with the detonation of stored missiles, explosives, or fuel at the site. Bushehr province is a strategic military hub that includes: 

*  An Iranian naval base and port facilities

* An air force base
* Air defense systems
* Underground storage for missiles and strike drones

No official IDF statement has been released yet, and Iranian media has not confirmed the full extent of damage. The strikes appear focused on military targets rather than the nearby Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant, which the IAEA continues to monitor closely (a separate projectile strike near the plant occurred on April 4, killing one person but causing no radiation leak or damage to the reactor itself). (Source)

US strikes Kharg Island air defenses, official confirms

The US conducted strikes on Kharg Island's air defenses, a US official confirmed to Walla on Tuesday.

Explosions were heard after the airstrikes hit Iran's Kharg Island, local media reported earlier on Tuesday afternoon.

The island has become a focal point in recent weeks, with the Trump administration reportedly planning an operation for US Marines to seize control of the island. It plays a key role in Iran's oil production capabilities. (Source)

Netanyahu to Trump: Do not rush into a ceasefire

Prime Minister expresses concern in a conversation with the US President about a potential ceasefire with the regime in Tehran. Trump makes clear he will not compromise on the full handover of all enriched uranium.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke by telephone with US President Donald Trump on Sunday and expressed deep concern over the possibility of a ceasefire agreement with Iran, Channel 12 News reported. According to the report, Netanyahu highlighted to the President the risks involved in taking such steps toward the ayatollah regime.

The conversation, described as “warm and positive," opened with the Prime Minister congratulating Trump on the heroic operation to rescue the American F-15 crew member from Iranian territory. During the call, Trump clarified to Netanyahu that if Iran complies with US demands, a ceasefire may take effect. However, he stressed a clear red line: Iran would be required to surrender all enriched uranium in its possession and would be permanently barred from renewing uranium enrichment.

Meanwhile, Trump held a press conference on Monday, following Iran’s decision to reject his proposal for a temporary ceasefire. Trump dramatically escalated his tone and warned, “The entire country [of Iran] can be taken out in one night, and that night might be tomorrow night." He reiterated the administration’s central objective that Iran must be not allowed to obtain nuclear weapons. (Source)

Israeli officials do not expect a ceasefire in Iran any time soon, sources tell 'Post'

With a US deadline approaching, the United States and Iran received the framework of a plan to end their five‑week-old conflict, though Tehran rejected any move to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

A senior Israeli official told The Jerusalem Post on Monday that Jerusalem did not expect a ceasefire to take shape in the coming days, despite earlier suggestions that such a move could be under discussion. The official said Israel and the United States were now more closely aligned than at any previous point, while stressing that each country still had its own strategic goals. According to the official, US President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu were more coordinated than any previous American and Israeli leaders.

With a US deadline approaching, the United States and Iran received the framework of a plan to end their five‑week-old conflict, though Tehran rejected any immediate move to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. US President Donald Trump has threatened to rain "hell" on Tehran if it did not make a deal by the end of Tuesday that would allow traffic to start moving again through the vital route for global energy supplies.

A framework to end hostilities has been put together by Pakistan and exchanged with Iran and the US overnight, a source aware of the proposals said, outlining a two-tier approach with an immediate ceasefire followed by a comprehensive agreement. "All elements need to be agreed today," the source said, adding that the initial understanding would be structured as a memorandum of understanding finalized electronically through Pakistan, the sole communication channel in the talks. (Read More)

Iran rejects temporary ceasefire proposal, Trump stresses Tuesday deadline is 'final'

According to IRNA, Iran is demanding a complete end to the fighting in the region, along with a protocol to ensure safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran has rejected the proposal for a temporary ceasefire with the United States, Iranian state news agency IRNA reported on Monday. According to IRNA, Iran is demanding a complete end to the fighting in the region, along with a protocol to ensure safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz. Iran's response conveyed to mediators consists of 10 clauses, the report noted.

"The gaps are very significant," a source familiar with the details told The Jerusalem Post. US President Donald Trump has threatened to rain "hell" on Tehran if it did not make a deal by the end of Tuesday that would allow traffic to start moving again through the vital route for global energy supplies.

While answering reporter questions outside the White House on Monday, Trump said that the war could end "very quickly" if Iran went along with the deal, adding that the people the US is currently negotiating with were "reasonable and not as radicalized." He stressed that the Tuesday deadline he has set for Iran to make a deal is final, adding that Iran's proposal was significant but not good enough. (Read More)

Saudi Arabia says it intercepted 7 missiles, debris falls near energy facilities

Saudi Arabia's Defense Ministry said on Tuesday it intercepted and destroyed seven ballistic missiles launched towards the country's Eastern Region, with debris falling near energy facilities. The ministry said work was underway to assess any damage, but did not specify who launched the missiles. Saudi Arabia has come under attack by hundreds of Iranian missiles and drones since the start of the US-Israeli war on Iran, most of which were intercepted, authorities say.

Tehran has launched strikes on Israel and Gulf Arab states that host US military installations. Fifteen Americans were injured in an Iranian drone strike on Ali Al Salem Air Base in Kuwait overnight, CBS reported on Monday night, citing two US officials. Most have returned to duty, according to one official. 

Blasts heard in Damascus as Israeli air defenses intercept Iranian missiles, Syrian state TV says. Explosions were heard in the Syrian capital, Damascus, and the surrounding countryside on Tuesday that were caused by the Israeli interception of Iranian missiles, Syrian state TV reported. (Source)

IDF troops destroy Hezbollah terror assets amid push into Lebanon

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Apr. 7, 2026 / JNS ) Israel Defense Forces soldiers have expanded their targeted ground operations in Southern Lebanon, completing their deployment along the “anti-tank missile defense line,” the military announced on Tuesday.Troops of the 98th Paratroopers Division, aka the Fire Formation, have established operational control of the area, clearing Hezbollah terrorists and infrastructure, alongside a broader firepower campaign targeting the Iranian proxy’s main centers of gravity. “The IDF is operating decisively against the Hezbollah terrorist organization in response to its deliberate decision to attack Israel on behalf of the Iranian terror regime,” the military said.

The Israeli Air Force continues to operate in coordination with ground forces to eliminate Hezbollah terror assets in Southern Lebanon, the IDF said on Monday. The divisions operating under the Northern Command are working to enhance the “forward defense area” and enable the rapid removal of threats from both land and air at all times to protect civilians in northern Israel, according to the statement.

Over the past several weeks, IDF troops from the 91st “Galilee” Division have carried out targeted ground maneuvers, including identifying Hezbollah anti-tank terrorists who had positioned themselves inside a mosque. Following the identification, the troops killed the terrorists and dismantled the compound to remove the threat. Additionally, the soldiers eliminated terrorist cells and located numerous weapons used by Hezbollah to carry out attacks. The weapons included explosive devices, various types of firearms, ammunition magazines and other equipment. On Monday, the Israel Defense Forces struck a seventh key crossing used by Hezbollah terrorists to move from the north to the south of the Litani River. Before the strike, the crossing was used to transfer rockets, rocket launchers and other weapons to support and carry out attacks on IDF troops.

The Israel Defense Forces has killed more than 1,000 Hezbollah operatives since the Iranian-backed terrorist group joined the war on March 2, “and that number will continue to rise,” IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir said on Sunday. The military is striking Hezbollah “with determination, extensively and across multiple fronts,” Zamir said during a visit to Ras el-Bayada, a strategic coastal headland located near Tyre that is the northernmost point in Southern Lebanon where Israeli soldiers are currently operating. (Ed note: And the city of TYRE is definitely south of the Litani River, so will that make it an Israeli city?)  (Read More)

Chief of Staff: 'Southern Lebanon is a kill zone'

Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir toured the Ras Baida area in southern Lebanon and held a situation assessment with commanders of the Northern Command regarding the progress against Hezbollah.

The Chief of the General Staff, LTG Eyal Zamir, toured today (Sunday) the area of Ras el-Bayada, the northernmost point in southern Lebanon where IDF soldiers are currently operating. As part of the visit, the Chief of Staff conducted a situational assessment and a discussion with commanders including Northern Command Commander, MG Rafi Milo; the Commander of the 146th Division, BG Benny Aharon; the Commander of the 226th Brigade, Col. A.; and additional commanders.

The Chief of Staff expressed his appreciation to the 146th Division, the soldiers and commanders of the 226th Brigade, and commended them for their actions, as well as the creativity, ingenuity, and fighting spirit demonstrated in carrying out the mission. “The IDF is striking Hezbollah, a terrorist organization, with determination, extensively, and across multiple fronts. This includes strikes against its operatives, its command and control centers, its terrorist infrastructure, its military capabilities, its weapons, its financial capabilities, and more. Over 1,000 Hezbollah terrorists have been eliminated, and that number will continue to rise. The damage to Hezbollah will intensify," he declared.

"Every terrorist target and any target that supports terrorism in Lebanese territory will be struck. The entire area south of the Litani has become an operational zone in which Northern Command soldiers and the Air Force are systematically targeting Hezbollah operatives until it is ensured that the entire area up to the Litani River is free of threats to Israel and our northern communities. We issued advanced warnings to the residents of southern Lebanon for their protection and to enable freedom of military operation." (Read More)

‘I’m very upset’: Trump says US tried to arm Iranian protesters, but guns were diverted

US President Donald Trump said Monday that the United States has previously attempted to arm Iranian anti-regime protesters, but the weapons were diverted and never passed to the right people, threatening that those who kept the guns for themselves would “pay a big price.” The comments appeared to be aimed at Kurdish separatists, as he had blamed them for doing so a day earlier, though he did not specify this in his Monday comments. While speaking to reporters at a White House Easter event, Trump said the armaments were intended to reach anti-government protesters to help them fight back against Iranian authorities.

In January, during the mass wave of anti-regime protests that swept across Iran, Trump had vowed that “help was on the way” and urged protesters to take to the streets and seize institutions. But after the regime began its crackdown, reportedly killing tens of thousands, Trump backed down, only beginning military operations against Iran weeks later alongside Israel. He has since said that Iranians should take to the streets only after protecting themselves from the bombing campaign.

“We sent guns, a lot of guns, they were supposed to go to the people so they could fight back against these thugs,” Trump told reporters. “You know what happened? The people that they sent them to kept them,” Trump went on. “They said, ‘What a beautiful gun. I think I’ll keep it,’” Trump claimed, adding: “So I’m very upset with a certain group of people, and they’re going to pay a big price for that.” 

In his press event Monday, Trump did not give details about who he was accusing of taking the US weapons. However, on Sunday, Trump was quoted as saying by a Fox News reporter that he blamed Kurdish intermediaries for having taken weapons destined for Iranian dissidents.“We sent guns to the protesters, a lot of them… and I think the Kurds took the guns,” Trump reportedly said. He did not provide evidence for that claim.  (Read More)

Russia provided Iran with list of Israeli energy targets, Ukrainian intelligence finds - exclusive

According to the findings, the targeted sites were divided into three categories based on their strategic importance.

Russian intelligence has provided Iran with a detailed list of 55 critical energy infrastructure targets within Israel, according to information obtained by The Jerusalem Postfrom a source close to Ukrainian intelligence. The report, which highlights the deepening military and intelligence cooperation between Moscow and Tehran, suggests that the information that was shared enables Iran to launch precision missile strikes against Israel’s energy grid. According to the findings, the targeted sites are divided into three categories based on their strategic importance:

Level 1: Critical production facilities. These are sites whose destruction would cripple the national energy system. The report specifically names the Orot Rabin power station as a primary target.

Level 2: Major urban and industrial energy hubs. These facilities are located primarily in central Israel and serve large population centers.

Level 3: Local infrastructure. These targets include regional substations that support industrial zones and smaller power plants.

The Russian assessment regarding Israel’s vulnerability is that “unlike many European nations, Israel’s power grid is characterized by a high degree of isolation”. Because Israel is an “energy island” that does not import electricity from neighboring countries, Russian intelligence reportedly told Iran that damaging even a few central components could trigger a total and prolonged energy collapse, leading to mass blackouts and technical failures that could not be easily mitigated. (Read More)

Trump says US has plan to destroy every bridge and power plant in Iran within hours tomorrow night, if no deal

US President Donald Trump says the US has a plan to blow up every bridge and every power plant in Iran within four hours tomorrow night if Tehran does not capitulate to his demands. “We have a plan… where every bridge in Iran will be decimated by 12 o’clock tomorrow night, where every power plant will be out of business, burning, exploding and never to be used again, I mean, complete demolition, by 12 o’clock, and it will happen over a period of four hours if we want that to happen,” he says.

“We don’t want that,” he adds, noting that the US may end up helping Iran rebuild, in which case, he would not want to have to reconstruct expensive infrastructure like that. He says Iran did not take him seriously before, leading him to order the demolition of Tehran’s largest bridge last week within minutes of talks falling apart.“Do I want to destroy their infrastructure? No. It would take them 100 years to rebuild,” he says.

“If we left today, it would take them 20 years to rebuild their country… and the only way they’re going to be able to rebuild their country is to utilize the genius of the United States of America,” he claims. Asked whether he would accept Iran charging toll in the Strait of Hormuz after Tehran reopens the channel, Tru mp suggests the US could be the one charging such tolls. “Why shouldn’t we? We’re the winner. We won. They are militarily defeated,” he says.He later appears to back off the idea. “We have to have a deal that’s acceptable to me, and part of the deal is going to be that we want free traffic of oil and everything else,” he says. (Source)

Iran’s aggression forces Gulf states to rethink regional security - opinion

The UAE is redefining Gulf security, prioritizing capability and committed partners over rhetoric and ideology.

Not all wars are fought to redraw maps. Some are fought to expose lies. In the current round of regional escalation, the truth has become clear: what was long called “Arab security” was, at its core, nothing more than a convenient political narrative. Repeatedly recast and reiterated, it collapsed at the first real test. The Iranian missile and drone attacks targeting the Gulf states, foremost among them the United Arab Emirates, did more than show the scale of the threat. They exposed the limitations of a framework long presented as a source of strategic depth. Instead of providing real protection, it devolved into rhetoric laden with slogans that proved ineffective when faced with reality.

In this context, the statements of Anwar Gargash, diplomatic advisor to the president of the UAE, offer more than passing political expressions. They provide a conceptual framework for an entire phase. Gargash asserts that “Iran’s brutal aggression reinforces its threat as a central axis in GCC strategic thinking and underscores the distinct nature of Gulf security, independent of traditional concepts of Arab security.” This is not a description of a fleeting threat, but a redefinition of both the source of danger and the nature of the response. This shift in discourse reflects a moment of trial that exposed the failure of Arab and Islamic frameworks to fulfill their presumed role. When a stable country faces strikes against its vital installations and airspace, and the response is silence, confusion, or justification instead of unity, the issue goes beyond political disagreement. It reveals a structural flaw in the very concept of security.


...Publicly, Gargash asked: “We in the Arab Gulf states have the right to ask: Where are the institutions of joint Arab and Islamic action, led by the Arab League and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, while our countries and peoples are subjected to this brutal Iranian aggression? And where are the ‘major’ Arab and regional countries?” (Ed note: Here we have a somewhat long but very interesting article which states that the Arab is getting tired of the missiles sent by the country of Persia, and the Arab League may be getting ready to do something about it.) (Read More)

IRGC defies Trump: Strait of Hormuz will never be the same

IRGC rejects President Trump’s ultimatum to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, declaring it “will never return to its previous state" for the US and Israel. 

The Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) on Sunday rejected US President Donald Trump’s ultimatum for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz by Tuesday. "The Strait of Hormuz will never return to its previous state, especially for the US and Israel," the IRGC Navy Commander declared, as quoted in a social media account representing the IRGC Navy Command. 

“The IRGC Navy is completing the operational preparations of the ⁧plan issued⁩ by Iranian officials for a new order in the Persian Gulf," the Commander declared. Trump had earlier published a post on Truth Social, stating Iran has until Tuesday at 8:00 p.m. Eastern time to agree to a deal. In an earlier post, Trump intensified threats against Iran, warning that civilian infrastructure could be targeted beginning Tuesday if the Strait of Hormuz is not reopened. 

"Tuesday will be Power Plant Day, and Bridge Day, all wrapped up in one, in Iran. There will be nothing like it!!!" Trump wrote on Truth Social. He further warned: "Open the ***** Strait, you crazy bastards, or you’ll be living in Hell - JUST WATCH! Praise be to Allah. President DONALD J. TRUMP." (Read More)

Israel says it struck Iran’s largest petrochemical site

The Israeli Air Force struck Iran’s “largest petrochemical facility” a short while ago, Defense Minister Israel Katz says. Iranian media reported that airstrikes targeted petrochemical facilities at Iran’s South Pars gas field. Katz, in a statement, confirms the strike, saying that the IDF “has just powerfully struck the largest petrochemical facility in Iran, located in Asaluyeh, a central target responsible for about 50 percent of the country’s petrochemical production, following last week’s strike on the second main facility.”

He says that the two facilities, “which together are responsible for about 85% of Iran’s petrochemical exports, have been taken out of use and are not functioning.”“This is a severe economic blow amounting to tens of billions of dollars to the Iranian regime,” he says. Katz says that the petrochemical industry is a “central engine in financing the activities” of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and Iran’s military build-up.

He also says that the IDF has been instructed to “continue striking with full force the national infrastructure of the Iranian terror regime.” “The Iranian terror regime will discover that continued aggression against Israel and the cowardly and criminal firing at Israeli civilians will lead to a deepening of the economic and strategic damage it pays and to the collapse of its capabilities,” Katz adds. (Source)

Israel strikes Iran's petrochemical complex at Asaluyeh, defence minister says

Israel struck Iran's largest ​petrochemical complex at Asaluyeh on ‌Monday, defence minister Israel Katz said, in what he described ​as a severe economic ​blow to Tehran.

Several explosions were ⁠heard at Iran's South ​Pars Petrochemical complex in Asaluyeh, ​Fars news agency reported on Monday. 

 
Companies that provide electricity, water and oxygen ​to Asaluyeh were attacked, ​but the Pars petrochemical company has ‌not ⁠been damaged, Tasnim news agency reported, adding that the electricity supply to all Asaluyeh ​petrochemicals units ​had ⁠been cut. (Ed note: The IDF hitting those petrochemical plants could get interesting. While not that close to the Bushehr nuclear power plant, it is located within the same Bushehr Province.) (Source)

IAEA confirms impact of recent strikes near Iran’s Bushehr nuclear power plant

The International Atomic Energy Agency says it can confirm recent impacts of military strikes close to Iran’s Bushehr nuclear power plant, but adds that the plant itself was not damaged.

The UN atomic watchdog says that the confirmation was based on its independent analysis of new satellite imagery and detailed knowledge of the site, adding that one strike had hit only 75 meters (246 feet) from the site perimeter.

Last week, the agency said it had been informed by Iran about a projectile striking close to the premises of the Bushehr nuclear power plant. (Source)

Report: Israel preparing to strike Iran's energy network

A senior Israeli official told Reuters that officials in Jerusalem are waiting for US approval to strike electricity and fuel infrastructure across Iran.

Israel is preparing a large-scale attack on Iran's energy facilities, but is waiting for US approval to carry out the move, a senior Israeli source told Reuters. According to the report, Israel has drawn up a comprehensive plan to strike the Islamic Republic's electricity grid, power stations, and oil pumping and refining facilities, with the aim of damaging the country's economy. Israel has so far refrained from launching an all-out attack on refineries and power stations in Iran, and the US also expressed dissatisfaction over an Israeli strike on oil facilities last month. On Saturday, Israel struck petrochemical industry facilities in western Iran, after carrying out extensive strikes against the country's steel industry last week.

At the same time, US President Donald Trump issued an unequivocal threat to Iran on Saturday, reminding the Islamic Republic that it had 48 hours left to reach an agreement with the US to end the war. Trump, who until now had focused on diplomacy and expressed optimism about reaching an agreement with Iran, wrote in a post on his social media platform: "Remember when I gave Iran ten days to make a deal or open up the Strait of Hormuz? Time is running out, 48 hours before all Hell will reign down on them. Glory be to God."

On March 22, Trump issued Iran an ultimatum to open the Strait of Hormuz or face a US strike on Iranian power stations. "If Iran does not fully open, without threat, the Strait of Hormuz within 48 hours from this exact moment, the United States of America will hit and destroy its various power stations, beginning with the largest of them!" Trump wrote. The president later postponed the ultimatum, first by five days and then by 10 days, in order to allow time for negotiations that were being held with representatives of Tehran. (Read More)

Report: Israeli commando units participated in rescue of US navigator

Iran International reported that the IDF commando units Shaldag and Sayeret Matkal took part in the American operation to rescue the F-15 navigator whose aircraft was shot down in Iran.

The IDF commando units Shaldag and Sayeret Matkal participated in the American operation to rescue the navigator whose plane was downed in Iran on Friday, according to a report today (Sunday) by the opposition channel “Iran International." Earlier, Fox News reported that Israel was involved in the rescue operation by sharing intelligence with the United States and by halting Iranian strikes in the area during the hours when the navigator was missing.

This was an operation by US forces that operated on the ground inside Iran to rescue the navigator. It is the first time during the war that the United States has deployed ground forces. According to the report, the navigator used his “Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape" (SERE) training to avoid capture. He hid on an elevated ridge after moving on foot away from the crash site and activated a distress transmitter. He survived with only a handgun and managed to evade potential captors.

Rescue forces from US special operations units, along with multiple elite forces, took part in the complex mission, using MQ-9 Reaper drones for aerial cover. It was also reported that the CIA spread rumors inside Iran that the officer had already been located and that American forces were on their way out-creating confusion among local forces and aiding the operation. (Read More)

Hezbollah rearming through deals with Damascus

A source from western Syria tells Israel Hayom that al-Sharaa's men – many of them mercenaries – are selling weapons to Hezbollah on the black market, while the government plays both sides.  

Since the fall of Bashar Assad's regime in Syria, much has been written about the severing of Hezbollah's weapons corridor into Lebanon. The al-Sharaa government in Damascus has periodically announced operations against arms smuggling. Last month, for example, a tunnel was uncovered in the Homs district that had been used to smuggle weapons into Lebanon. Now it emerges that the reality is far more complex.

In western Syria, the population is exhausted by severe poverty and by acts of murder and kidnapping targeting minority communities, particularly the Alawite community. A Syrian source from that region who spoke with Israel Hayom said, "What is happening now is very dangerous." According to the source, "There is indeed hostility between al-Julani's men [Ahmed al-Sharaa] and Iran, and on the surface they are enemies. However, under the table, al-Julani's men are providing Hezbollah with concessions no less significant than those Assad gave them. Through arms deals with Hezbollah on the Syrian black market, they are supplying them with weapons cheaply."

"In Damascus, there are hundreds of warehouses full of Grad, Scud, and Katyusha rockets that the government has seized," the Syrian source added. "Al-Julani and his people are playing both sides." He explained that "al-Jolani's people include a large number of mercenaries who worship money. The state – that is, the government – cannot provide for all of them and their salaries. So each one finds his own way to make money – weapons, drugs, cars, robbery. Each one finds his area of specialty."  (Ed note: That breaks it down. Always keep one eye on the state of Syria.)   (Read More)

Hamas spokesman urges attacks to defend holy sites

The spokesman of the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades again rejected Israel's demand to disarm and urged terrorist organizations to carry out attacks against Israel to protect the holy sites and to help free security prisoners held in Israel.

A spokesman for the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, on Sunday called on Palestinians, members of armed groups and individual attackers to carry out what he described as “quality" attacks against Israel, framing the appeal as a defense of holy sites and in support of Palestinian prisoners held in Israel. n a recorded message, the spokesman urged Palestinians and Arab citizens of Israel to gather at the Al-Aqsa Mosque, and called for demonstrations outside Israeli embassies worldwide to protest restrictions on access to the site. Israeli authorities imposed the measures citing security concerns, amid ongoing tensions and recent missile fire linked to Iran.

Addressing the situation in the Gaza Strip, he rejected Israeli demands for the group to disarm, asserting that Israel would not achieve through negotiations what it had failed to accomplish militarily. He also called on Arab and Muslim countries to pressure Israel to implement its commitments under the first phase of a ceasefire agreement before advancing to subsequent stages, and to convey to the United States that Israel is responsible for delays in the process.

In the address, the spokesman sharply criticized Israel, portraying it as weakened and accusing it of initiating conflicts and harming civilians - claims that Israel has repeatedly denied. He further alleged that Israel’s actions against Iran are part of a broader effort to reshape the region politically, culturally and religiously, and to shift focus away from the Palestinian issue and the status of Al-Aqsa. The statement was delivered by a masked spokesman wearing a uniform resembling the infamous garb used by Hamas spokesman Abu Obeidah before he was killed in an Israeli attack. (Source)

HE IS RISEN

 

Report: Israeli commando units participated in rescue of US navigator

Iran International reported that the IDF commando units Shaldag and Sayeret Matkal took part in the American operation to rescue a navigator whose aircraft was shot down in Iran.

The IDF commando units Shaldag and Sayeret Matkal participated in the American operation to rescue the navigator whose plane was downed in Iran on Friday, according to a report today (Sunday) by the opposition channel “Iran International." Earlier, Fox News reported that Israel was involved in the rescue operation by sharing intelligence with the United States and by halting Iranian strikes in the area during the hours when the navigator was missing.

This was an operation by US forces that operated on the ground inside Iran to rescue the navigator. It is the first time during the war that the United States has deployed ground forces. According to the report, the navigator used his “Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape" (SERE) training to avoid capture. He hid on an elevated ridge after moving on foot away from the crash site and activated a distress transmitter. He survived with only a handgun and managed to evade potential captors. Rescue forces from US special operations units, along with multiple elite forces, took part in the complex mission, using MQ-9 Reaper drones for aerial cover. It was also reported that the CIA spread rumors inside Iran that the officer had already been located and that American forces were on their way out-creating confusion among local forces and aiding the operation.

US President Donald Trump wrote on his Truth Social account this morning: WE GOT HIM! My fellow Americans, over the past several hours, the United States Military pulled off one of the most daring Search and Rescue Operations in U.S. History, for one of our incredible Crew Member Officers, who also happens to be a highly respected Colonel, and who I am thrilled to let you know is now SAFE and SOUND! This brave Warrior was behind enemy lines in the treacherous mountains of Iran, being hunted down by our enemies, who were getting closer and closer by the hour, but was never truly alone because his Commander in Chief, Secretary of War, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and fellow Warfighters were monitoring his location 24 hours a day, and diligently planning for his rescue." (Read More)

How Israel Helped Rescue a Downed US Hero

Fox News reveals Israel's critical role in the U.S. rescue of an F-15E navigator from Iran, providing real-time intel and air cover for Navy SEAL Team 6. 

Fox News reported that Israel played a direct supporting role in the high-stakes, 36-hour U.S. special forces rescue operation that extracted the second F-15E Strike Eagle crew member (the highly respected Air Force colonel/navigator) from deep inside Iran. According to Fox News’ latest live updates: 

*  Israeli officials shared real-time intelligence with U.S. forces throughout the search-and-rescue mission as it unfolded over the treacherous southwestern Iranian mountains.

* The Israeli military actively helped halt and deter Iranian airstrikes in the rescue area, preventing the regime from launching air attacks that could have endangered U.S. commandos, helicopters, and the downed navigator.

Israel did not carry out the actual ground extraction. That was executed exclusively by U.S. special operations forces (including Navy SEAL Team 6). Israel’s role was intelligence support and force protection — exactly the kind of seamless U.S.-Israel coordination that has defined the current campaign against Iran. President Trump has repeatedly praised the “unbreakable” U.S.-Israel alliance in recent days, and this latest revelation underscores how tightly coordinated the two militaries remain even in the most dangerous operations behind enemy lines. (Source)

Trump gives Iran 48 hours to make a deal before 'all hell reigns', hunt goes on for US pilot

US President Donald Trump repeated his threats to intensify attacks on Iran if it failed to reach a deal or open the key Strait of Hormuz waterway on Saturday. "Remember when I gave Iran ten days to MAKE A DEAL or OPEN UP THE HORMUZ STRAIT. Time is running out - 48 hours before all Hell will reign (sic) down on them. Glory be to GOD!" he said in a post on Truth Social. This comes as Iranian and US forces were searching for a missing American pilot on Saturday from one of two warplanes downed over Iran and the Gulf.

The prospect of a US service member alive and on the run in Iran raised the stakes for Washington as the conflict entered its sixth week with scant prospect of peace talks in sight and polls showing low public support. The downing of two US warplanes shows the risks still facing US and Israeli aircraft, despite assertions by Trump and his Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth that US forces had total control of the skies over Iran.

Iranian fire brought down a two-seat US F-15E jet, officials in both countries said on Friday, and a US official said search-and-rescue efforts had recovered one of the crew. Two Black Hawk helicopters engaged in the search for the missing crew member were hit by Iranian fire but made it out of Iranian airspace, the two US officials told Reuters.

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said it was combing a southwestern area near where the pilot's plane came down, while the regional governor promised a commendation for anyone who captured or killed "forces of the hostile enemy." In a separate incident, an A-10 Warthog fighter aircraft was hit and crashed over Kuwait, with the pilot ejecting, the US officials said. Iranians, pummeled by air power since the US and Israel began their attacks, celebrated their success. (Read more)

'Gates of hell for you': Iran fires back at Trump’s threat

Iran’s central military command rejects Trump’s 48-hour threat to destroy its infrastructure if the Strait of Hormuz stays closed, branding the warning “helpless, nervous, unbalanced and stupid".

Iran’s central military command on Saturday rejected US President Donald Trump’s threat to destroy Iran’s vital infrastructure if it does not open the Strait of Hormuz within 48hours. Trump had posted a warning to Truth Social, writing, "Remember when I gave Iran ten days to MAKE A DEAL or OPEN UP THE HORMUZ STRAIT. Time is running out - 48 hours before all Hell will reign down on them. Glory be to GOD!"

General Ali Abdollahi Aliabadi later said in a statement quoted by AFP that Trump’s threat was “a helpless, nervous, unbalanced and stupid action" He further warned that “the simple meaning of this message is that the gates of hell will open for you" Since the start of the current conflict, Iran has effectively closed or severely impeded the Strait of Hormuz by declaring it "closed," threatening attacks on commercial vessels, deploying assets like fast boats, drones, missiles, and laying some naval mines. On Wednesday, Trump claimed that Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has asked the US for a ceasefire.

"Iran’s new regime president, much less radicalized and far more intelligent than his predecessors, has just asked the United States of America for a CEASEFIRE!" the President announced on Truth Social.Trump set a condition for the ceasefire: "We will consider when Hormuz Strait is open, free, and clear. Until then, we are blasting Iran into oblivion or, as they say, back to the Stone Ages!!!"

Iran denied Trump’s claim, with its Foreign Ministry calling it "false and baseless." In a separate statement, the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps declared that the Strait of Hormuz "is firmly and decisively under the control" of its forces. "This strait will not be opened to the enemies of this nation through the ridiculous spectacle by the president of the United States," it added. (Source)

Army issues evacuation warning to residents of south Lebanon’s Tyre

The Israeli military issued an urgent evacuation warning Saturday to residents of the coastal city of Tyre in southern Lebanon, ahead of planned strikes on Hezbollah targets.

“Urgent warning to the residents of the city of Tyre… Hezbollah’s terrorist activity compels the IDF to operate against it with determination,” the military’s Arabic-language spokesman Colonel Avichay Adraee says on X.

“For your safety, we call on you to evacuate your homes immediately, according to the area shown on the map, and move north of the Zahrani River,” he says, adding that the area extends to the Burj al-Shamali refugee camp.  (Ed note: Don't forget that TYRE is named in Psalm 83:7, and the city is definitely located south of the Litani River.)       (Source)

IDF hits Iranian Quds Force terror assets in Lebanon

The IRGC’s Lebanon Corps serves as a liaison between Hezbollah and the Tehran regime.

The Israel Defense Forces on Friday conducted a wave of strikes targeting terror infrastructure across Lebanon, including a command center belonging to the Quds Force’s Lebanon Corps, the military said on Saturday. The Quds Force, a branch of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps responsible for overseeing operations outside Iran, uses the Lebanon Corps as a liaison between Hezbollah and Tehran, supporting force buildup and military entrenchment. In addition, the IDF struck two headquarters used by Palestinian Islamic Jihad, which the terror group’s senior officials reportedly used for decision-making and coordination with Hezbollah. The Israeli Navy also struck a Hezbollah observation post.

“We will not stop until we remove the threat for the long term and push the direct threat away from the communities. That is the objective... and is exactly why our troops are operating now: on land, in the air, and at sea,” IDF Spokesperson Brig. Gen. Effie Defrin said on Friday. “The IDF will not relinquish the objective of disarming the Hezbollah terrorist organization. This is an ongoing objective to which we are committed, and we are continuously working to advance it, just as we did prior to the current operation. Deepening the strikes now, in the current operation, brings us closer to achieving this,” he added.

Earlier on Friday, the IDF released footage of a strike that destroyed a Hezbollah launch site in Lebanon from which rockets had been fired at Israel. “The IDF will act to remove threats to the residents of the State of Israel and will continue to operate with determination against the Hezbollah terrorist organization,” the statement added.The same day, the IDF identified a launch by Hezbollah that struck a UNIFIL post in the Al-Aadaissah area of southeastern Lebanon, across the border from Kibbutz Misgav Am, the military said. As a result of the fire, three U.N. personnel were injured, two of them seriously. “A review of the launch trajectory clearly indicates that the fire was carried out by Hezbollah,” the IDF said. “The Hezbollah terrorist organization continues to operate in a manner that endangers international forces and harms U.N. personnel operating in the area,” it added. (Read More)

Report: Israel preparing to strike Iranian energy infrastructure

IDF completed preparations for attack on Iranian energy infrastructure, waiting for green light from US, security source tells Reuters.

A senior Israeli security official confirmed to Reutersthat the IDF has completed preparations for a large-scale strike on Iran’s energy infrastructure. According to the report, Israel is now awaiting final approval from Washington, with the operational window for the strike estimated within the coming week.

The detailed Israeli plan reportedly includes strategic attacks on the country’s electricity infrastructure, major power stations, oil pumping facilities, and refineries across the Islamic Republic. The stated objective is to undermine the pillars of Iran’s economy in response to the ongoing fighting and disruptions to maritime routes.

Earlier on Saturday, Israel struck petrochemical facilities in western Iran and steel industries, described as part of a gradual tightening of pressure on regime assets. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump warned in a post on Truth Social,"Remember when I gave Iran ten days to MAKE A DEAL or OPEN UP THE HORMUZ STRAIT. Time is running out - 48 hours before all Hell will reign down on them. Glory be to GOD!"  (Source)

Syrian-Lebanese border closed after IDF issues evacuation notice - report

Syria temporarily closed its Masnaa crossing on the Syrian-Lebanese border, after the IDF issued an evacuation warning for the area, CNN reported on Saturday night. The IDF announcement stated that the intended airstrikes were due to Hezbollah's use of the crossing "for military purposes and for smuggling means of combat." 

The Syrian Authority for Border Crossings and Customs stated that the Masnaa crossing, also known as the Jdeidet Yabous crossing, was “designated exclusively for civilian passage,” CNN said. “It is not used for any military purposes, there is no presence of any armed groups or militias, and it is not permitted to be used for any activity outside civilian and legal frameworks,” the Syrian authority said. 

On Tuesday, eight sources from both Lebanon and Syria said that Syria had reinforced its border with Lebanon with rocket units and thousands of troops. The Syrian officers, including a senior member of the military, said the move was aimed at preventing arms and drugs smuggling as well as blocking Iran-backed Lebanese Hezbollah or other terrorists from infiltrating Syria. (Source)

US-Israel-Iran war LIVE updates: Radioactive fallout will end life in GCC capitals, not Tehran, warns Araghchi

US-Israel-Iran war LIVE updates:

As hostilities continue in West Asia, the United States and Israel continue to strike Iran. Tehran has retaliated by striking across the Gulf and blocking the strategic Strait of Hormuz, warning that any vessels passing through the waterway could be targeted. The war has triggered a global energy crisis and trade disruptions. The conflict began on February 28 when the US and Israeli military launched strikes on Iran, killing Iran’s supreme leader Ali Khamenei and several other top Iranian officials. The operation was named ‘Epic Fury’ by the US and ‘Lion’s Roar’ by Israel. The attacks came amid heightened tensions between Washington and Tehran and ongoing talks over Iran’s nuclear program.

US President Donald Trump has proposed a peace plan to end the war with Iran, which has been going on for over a month now. He has reiterated that talks are ongoing despite Tehran rejecting the claims of any negotiations taking place. In his 15-point peace plan, Trump has demanded that Iran end all uranium enrichment and close Natanz, Isfahan and Fordow nuclear facilities. However, Tehran has rejected the proposal and laid out its own terms, demanding guarantees.

In a recent development, Iran has shot down an American F-15E fighter jet. A rescue operation managed to recover one of the two crew members, while the fate of the second remains unclear. Iran has also claimed downing a US UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter while an A-10 Warthog reportedly crashed in the Persian Gulf near the Strait of Hormuz. In his first comments on the jet incidents, Trump said the downing of an American military jet would not affect negotiations with Iran. 

 
Radioactive fallout will end life in GCC capitals, not Tehran, warns Araghchi

"Israel-U.S. have bombed our Bushehr plant four times now. Radioactive fallout will end life in GCC capitals, not Tehran," says Araghchi after attack near nuclear plant.  (Ed note: That was all FM Araghchi said in this article.)   (Source)

Trump Was Wrong: New Leaked Intel Reveals Iran’s Arsenal Survived Massive Strikes

New intel contradicts President Trump’s claims on Iran: Thousands of drones and underground bunkers remain operational, posing a frightening and very real risk to the region. 

More than a month into the war involving Israel, the United States, and Iran, a new intelligence report obtained by CNN reveals a stark disconnect between official government rhetoric and the reality on the ground. Despite weeks of intensive airstrikes, the report suggests Iran’s military infrastructure remains a potent threat. While President Donald Trump stated last Wednesday that Iranian capabilities had been "dramatically curtailed" and weapon factories "blown to smithereens," the internal intelligence data tells a different story:

* Missile Launchers: Approximately 50% of Tehran’s missile launchers remain intact.

* Drones: Thousands of kamikaze drones are still operational within the Islamic Revolutionary Guard 

   Corps (IRGC) arsenal. 

* Subterranean Fortifications: Intelligence officials explain that official estimates often overlook launchers stored in deep underground bunkers and mountain caves. While strikes on entrances have rendered some sites temporarily inaccessible, the hardware inside remains largely undamaged. 

The report highlights a critical and ongoing threat to the maritime sector. Despite the near-total destruction of the regular Iranian Navy, the IRGC Navy has managed to preserve roughly half of its operational capacity.

* Coastal Defense: A high percentage of Iran’s coastal defense cruise missiles are untouched.

* Asymmetric Warfare: The IRGC maintains thousands of fast attack boats and unmanned surface vessels designed for "swarm" tactics. 

* Strategic Impact: These remaining assets allow Tehran to maintain a credible threat against freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, a vital chokepoint for global oil supplies.

While Israeli and American strikes have achieved significant tactical successes, the report concludes that the core of Iran’s asymmetric and long-range strike capabilities is still very much active. (Ed note: We'll just have to wait and see on this one. If the news source is CNN and the IRGC, One just don't have a lot of faith in their ability.  (Source)

Iran reportedly recovering bombed missile bunkers within hours after being struck

Iranian personnel are digging out underground missile bunkers and silos from the rubble, bringing them back into service hours after being struck by the US and Israel, according to US intelligence reports cited by the New York Times.

American intelligence also assesses that Tehran has preserved a notable amount of missiles and mobile launchers, and has cast doubt on how close Washington has come to its goal of destroying the Islamic Republic’s missile capability, the Times reports.

According to the report, Washington cannot be certain how many missile launchers have been destroyed because Iran has deployed decoys. (Ed note: If true, this is not a good look for President Trump.) (Source)

US intelligence report: Half of Iran's missile launchers unharmed

US intelligence believes Iran still capable of launching missiles and UAVs, despite US President Donald Trump's more optimistic claims.

A Thursday night report by CNN revealed a more complex and less encouraging picture regarding Iran’s military capabilities, after over a month of airstrikes by Israel and the US. According to three sources familiar with the intelligence details, Iran’s arsenal is far from destroyed, and large portions of it have not been hit at all.

According to the sources, about half of Iran’s missile launchers remain intact and operational. Many of them survived the strikes thanks to an extensive network of “missile cities" - underground tunnels and caves built over decades that are extremely difficult to detect or destroy from the air. Estimates indicate that around 50% of Iran’s suicide drone arsenal remains intact, leaving the regime with thousands of UAVs capable of operating across the Middle East.

A significant portion of the cruise missiles belonging to Iran’s Navy also remain intact, largely because the US chose not to focus its strikes on coastal military assets. In addition, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps still possesses hundreds or even thousands of fast boats and unmanned vessels. On Wednesday evening, US President Donald Trump claimed that Iran's ability to launch missiles and drones has been "dramatically curtailed, and their weapons factories and rocket launchers are being blown to pieces, very few of them left." Though there has been a 90% drop in launches since the start of the war, intelligence indicates that this is due to a drop in usage, not a drop in ability. (Source)

Netanyahu vows to continue crushing Iranian regime during security assessment

“Together with our American friends, we continue to crush the terror regime in Iran. We are eliminating commanders, bombing bridges, striking infrastructure,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to crush the Iranian regime during a security assessment at the Kirya in Tel Aviv on Friday. “In full coordination between myself and President Trump, between the IDF and the United States Army, we will continue to crush Iran. This regime is weaker than ever - Israel is stronger than ever,” Netanyahu stated. He detailed that the Air Force has destroyed around 70% of the regime’s steel production capacity, describing the move as “a tremendous achievement that deprives the Revolutionary Guards of both financial resources and the ability to produce many weapons.”

“Together with our American friends, we continue to crush the terror regime in Iran. We are eliminating commanders, bombing bridges, striking infrastructure,” Netanyahu said of Operation Roaring Lion and Operation Epic Fury. He added that Israel is also continuing its operations against Hezbollah in Lebanon, stating that the IDF will “continue to strike Hezbollah decisively.”

“We are continuing to expand the security zone and establish it in order to protect the northern communities. Netanyahu also commended the citizens of Israel for maintaining their resilience and for following Home Front Command guidelines even during the Passover holiday. “With God’s help, we will continue to fight and achieve all our objectives. Happy holidays,” Netanyahu concluded. (Source)

Inside the Red Unit: the IDF women trained to think like the enemy

The soldiers of the all-female Red Unit study Hezbollah and Hamas down to the smallest tactical detail – then use that knowledge to expose every gap in Israel's defenses before the shooting starts for real. 

  

Imagine you are a fighter in an IDF elite unit. In two days, a critical mission in Lebanon awaits. Before the operation, you are taken for a final drill at one of the military's training grounds – to sharpen your combat edge and make sure every shot you fire hits the enemy's kill zone dead on. You enter the training compound according to procedure. Everything is advancing smoothly, including the preparations for commendation. Then, in the very last room, a split second before the finish line, a corporal leaps from a hiding spot and shouts at you, "Fire, fire." That's it – you've been neutralized.

Congratulations. You have just had a close encounter with one of the IDF's enemy simulators – a soldier who outsmarted you and caught you in a moment of inattention. From that incident, you are meant to emerge stronger and equipped with lessons that will sharpen your performance in real combat, against a real enemy. "We were waiting for a force inside a large building, and the fighters simply didn't check one of the rooms. I shouted 'Fire, fire' first," recalled Cpl. S. (19), a soldier in the IDF's Red Unit, which simulates enemy forces. "A few months later, I was on guard duty at a base with some fighters, and one of them said to me, 'I remember you from that drill – you and your friends really caught us off guard.'"

The Red Unit was established six years ago and comprises 80 female fighters. Over the course of three and a half months, they undergo specialized training, and their primary mission is to get inside the mind of a Hamas terrorist or a Hezbollah fighter, understand how the enemy operates and what drives him, and then simulate him as realistically as possible in drills against IDF forces.

"When I enlisted, I didn't know the Red Unit existed," 2nd Lt. S. (21), a company commander in the unit, said. "My assignment sheet said 'enemy-forces simulator,' so at least I figured I wouldn't be sitting in an office every day and that I'd be able to influence the combat readiness of fighters in the field. It sounded cool to get to know the enemy, to understand how he operates. I was excited, and in training, a whole new world was opened up to me. (Read More)