12 US troops wounded, 2 seriously, in Iranian attack on Saudi base — report

Several aerial refueling planes said damaged; ballistic missile and drones used in attack; 300 American soldiers injured since start of war, vast majority of casualties described as minor.

An Iranian attack on a base in Saudi Arabia has wounded at least 12 American soldiers, two of them seriously, US media reported Friday. Iran has kept up retaliatory attacks on Gulf nations it accuses of serving as a launchpad for US strikes on the regime, which began in a joint operation with Israel on February 28. The attack on the Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia included at least one missile and several drones, The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal reported, citing unidentified officials.

The soldiers were inside a building at the base when it was struck, the Journal reported. Several aerial refueling planes also suffered damage in the attack, the reports said. Saudi Arabia has previously intercepted several missiles fired near the base. The Pentagon and US Central Command did not immediately respond to AFP requests for comment. Thirteen US military service members have been killed since the conflict with Iran broke out, with seven killed in the Gulf and six in Iraq. More than 300 more have been wounded.

According to US Navy Captain Tim Hawkins, the “vast majority” of the injuries have been minor, and most troops have already returned to duty.A US official who asked not to be identified told AFP that 10 troops remained seriously wounded. Iran’s government has not released an updated casualty toll, but a US-based activist group said on March 23 that around 1,167 Iranian troops had been killed and that the status of 658 troops was unknown. AFP is not able to independently verify tolls in Iran due to reporting restrictions. (Read More)

IDF slays Hezbollah ‘journalist,’ seizes hundreds of weapons in Lebanese school

Two Israeli officers were critically wounded during ground operations in Southern Lebanon. Commandos from the Israeli Navy’s Shayetet 13 unit raided a school in Al-Khiam, Southern Lebanon, seizing hundreds of weapons kept there, on March 27, 2026. Photos: IDF. In Southern Lebanon on Saturday, the Israel Defense Forces targeted and killed Ali Hassan Shaib, a Hezbollah Radwan Force terrorist who operated for years under the guise of a journalist for the terrorist organization’s Al-Manar television network, the military said in a statement.

In his journalist role, Shaib “consistently worked to expose the locations of IDF troops operating in Southern Lebanon and along the border, and maintained continuous contact with other operatives in [Hezbollah’s elite] Radwan Force in particular and within the organization in general,” the IDF said.
In addition, he engaged in incitement against IDF troops and civilians of the State of Israel, serving as Hezbollah’s mouthpiece for distributing propaganda materials, including during the ongoing “Operation Roaring Lion,” the army continued. The IDF will continue to act forcefully against the terrorist organization Hezbollah, which chose to join the fighting and operate under the auspices of the Iranian terrorist regime, and will not allow harm to the civilians of the State of Israel,” the military stressed.

According to the Al-Manar website in English, Fatima Ftouni, a correspondent of the Hezbollah-affiliated Al-Mayadeen channel, was also killed in the strike Ftouni’s brother, a videographer, and Shaib’s relative were also killed, Lebanese media reported. The group was struck by a drone while driving on the main road in Jezzine, located some 14 miles east to the coastal city of Sidon, reports added. Lebanese President Joseph Aoun condemned the strike, calling it “⁠a brazen crime that violates all treaties and norms through which journalists enjoy international protection in war,” Reuters reported.Meanwhile, IDF troops continued to press forward in Southern Lebanon over the weekend, clearing the area of terrorist elements responsible for attacks on Israelis.

As part of this effort, the Israeli Navy’s Shayetet 13 (“Flotilla 13") commando unit carried out a targeted raid on Friday following intelligence of the presence of weapons in a school in the village of Al-Khiam in the Nabatieh Governorate, northeast of the Israeli town of Metula, the IDF Spokesperson’s Unit said on Saturday. (Ed note: Did you know that the Israeli Navy had a commando unit?)    (Read More)

The US may be weighing a ground operation in Iran, and it could last for weeks - report

According to the report, any operation would not involve a full-scale invasion. US President Trump had not yet approved the plans due to the high risk they pose to American soldiers.

The Pentagon is preparing for a ground operation against Iran that could last weeks if US President Donald Trump decides to attack Tehran by ground, The Washington Post reported on Saturday, citing US officials. According to the report, any operation would not involve a full-scale invasion but would instead focus on special operations missions and specific infantry ground operations.

The report also mentions that, due to the high risk that these operations would represent for American soldiers, it was unclear as of Saturday night if Trump would approve of such an operation. “It’s the job of the Pentagon to make preparations in order to give the Commander in Chief maximum optionality. It does not mean the President has made a decision,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said when asked about the report of a possible ground operation.

The report comes as an expeditionary force of 2,500 US Marines, accompanied by 2,500 sailors, arrived in the Middle East on Sunday aboard the USS Tripoli amphibious ready group, according to The New York Times. The Washington Post also reported that the Pentagon did not respond to requests for comment. Senior US officials told The Jerusalem Post last week that it appears there may be no alternative but for the United States to launch a ground military operation to seize the Iranian island of Kharg.

The US attacked military targets on the island back on March 13, with Trump saying that it decided to "spare" the oil infrastructure on the island. Kharg is Iran's main oil processing site, with 90% of its exports passing through the island before being shipped. A US official confirmed to the Post that “the US military has accelerated the deployment of thousands of Marines and Navy personnel to the Middle East.” (Read More)

"The Enemy Plans a Ground Invasion": Iranian Parliament Speaker Issues Defiant Warning to U.S.

As the 10-day clock ticks down, the region remains on a knife-edge. While Trump projects confidence in a "deal," Qalibaf’s message suggests that Tehran is bracing for, and perhaps even inviting, a localized ground war. Amidst the highest regional tensions in decades, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf issued a dramatic communique on Sunday, warning the Iranian people that the United States is secretly plotting a ground invasionwhile publicly feigning an interest in diplomacy.

In a sharp letter published Sunday morning, Qalibaf accused Washington of strategic duplicity. "The enemy openly sends messages of negotiation and dialogue, but secretly plans a ground attack," Qalibaf wrote. He warned that Iranian armed forces are prepared for a direct confrontation: The Speaker’s comments highlight a massive disconnect between Tehran’s rhetoric and recent statements from President Trump.

* The Ultimatum: Just hours prior, Trump announced a 10-day extension of his ultimatum to Iran, claiming the delay was at Tehran's request and that "talks are progressing very well." 

* The 15-Point Plan: Qalibaf dismissed these diplomatic overtures as an attempt by the U.S. to "achieve through diplomacy what it could not achieve through war," specifically referencing a 15-point proposal delivered via Pakistan that demands the removal of enriched uranium and the cessation of Iran’s ballistic missile program. 

* Ongoing Strikes: Qalibaf remained defiant on the military front, stating, "Our launches continue, our missiles will not stop, and our determination has only grown."


The fiery rhetoric comes as the Pentagon bolsters its regional footprint. Reports indicate the arrival of 5,000 U.S. personnel, comprising 2,500 Marines and 2,500 sailors, aboard the USS Tripoli Amphibious Ready Group. Pentagon officials have reportedly acknowledged preparations for "limited ground operations," which could include integrated raids by special operations and conventional infantry. (Read More)

Iran risks renewed protests as citizens reach 'breaking point' amid war-stricken economy

Over 40% of Iran's population lives below the absolute poverty line, with that figure exceeding 50% in the capital. Economists warn, however, that the real poverty rate may have climbed above 60%. 

Iran’s already dying economy is now being pushed toward full collapse after several weeks of war. Food prices are rising not only day by day but hour by hour, with some staples increasing by at least 50 percent compared to pre-war levels. At the same time, the disruption of internet access has halted many services. Factories and production facilities are facing acute shortages of raw materials, and the country’s administrative system has been severely impaired. “It has become impossible to endure this situation any longer,” a Tehran resident told The Media Line.

According to figures cited by state-affiliated institutions and some economists, more than 40% of the populationnow lives below the absolute poverty line, with that figure exceeding 50% in the capital. Economists warn, however, that the real poverty rate may have climbed above 60% nationwide. As the middle class erodes, the gap between those earning less than 50 million tomans per month (about $320) and those earning more than 200 million tomans per month (about $1,280) has widened sharply. However, across most occupations, the average monthly income of employees and skilled workers in Tehran does not exceed 25 million tomans (about $160), meaning that the majority fall below the poverty line, which economists say would require at least twice that amount to sustain a basic standard of living. 

This comes as the Persian New Year period - when Iranian households traditionally increase spending on food, clothing, and social gatherings - typically drives seasonal price spikes. This year, however, those pressures have intensified dramatically under wartime conditions. Last year, 180 Iranian economists issued a statement warning of a looming economic breakdown driven by runaway inflation and monetary policies, particularly exchange-rate mechanisms that grant preferential access and rents to state-linked institutions, including the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). (Read More)

Iranian President’s warning: 'The economy will collapse'

A report by Iran International reveals a sharp conflict at the top of the regime between President Masoud Pezakhian and the commander of the Revolutionary Guards. 

A report by Iran International reveals a sharp confrontation within Iran’s leadership between President Masoud Pezeshkian and the commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. According to the report, Pezeshkian criticized the IRGC and warned that without a ceasefire, Iran’s economy could collapse within three to four weeks. 

Tensions reportedly developed between Pezeshkian and IRGC commander Ahmad Vahidi over the conduct of the war and its severe impact on the domestic economy. Sources cited by the outlet said the president criticized the escalation pursued by the IRGC, particularly attacks against neighboring countries, which are causing serious economic consequences.

Beyond the economic issue, Pezeshkian also called for executive powers to be returned to the civilian government. According to the report, his request was rejected by Vahidi, who in turn accused the government of failing to implement structural reforms even before the current conflict began. An Iranian source also told The New York Times that strikes targeting steel factories in Iran have significantly damaged the local economy and could delay the country’s post-war recovery. According to the source, these factories supply essential raw materials for construction and infrastructure, including roads and buildings. (Ed note: By the way, what is the city of Tehran doing about drinking water?)     (Source)

3 Palestinians, including teen, killed by IDF in West Bank; CNN crew briefly detained

Army says troops fired at ‘key instigators’ in Qalandiya incidents; 15-year-old shot in Dheisheh refugee camp; journalists held while covering settler violence, one put in chokehold.

Three Palestinians, including a 15-year-old, were shot and killed by Israeli forces in the southern and central West Bank over the past day, the Palestinian Authority’s Health Ministry said Friday night. Mustafa Hamad, 22, died early Friday of wounds sustained overnight when Israeli forces opened fire at the entrance to the East Jerusalem neighborhood of Kafr Aqab, also wounding three other Palestinians, one of whom was arrested, according to WAFA, the Palestinian Authority’s official news agency. Sufian Abu Leil, 46, was reportedly shot in the head by troops who clashed with Palestinians leaving Hamad’s funeral in the adjacent Qalandiya refugee camp on Friday afternoon, WAFA said, adding that another young man was also wounded.

Both Hamad and Abu Leil succumbed to their wounds at the Palestine Medical Complex in Ramallah, according to Palestinian reports. The Israel Defense Forces confirmed that “in two different incidents over the past day,” troops operating near the central West Bank’s Qalandiya refugee camp opened fire on “key instigators” of “disturbances that included hurling of stones at the forces.” Hits were identified. There are no casualties to our forces,” the IDF said.

The military did not immediately comment on the death of 15-year-old Adham Dahman south of Bethlehem. Dahman succumbed to his wounds at the Beit Jala Governmental Hospital, where he was rushed late Friday night after being shot by Israeli forces operating in the Dheisheh refugee camp, the PA Health Ministry said. (Ed note: The Dheisheh refugee camp is a densely populated, long-standing Palestinian refugee camp located south of Bethlehem in the West Bank, established in 1949 to house refugees from over 45 villages near Jerusalem and Hebron. Covering roughly 0.33 sq km, it houses over 19,000 residents. Here we definitely have a example of "the tents of Edom" as found in Psalm 83:6. Check it out.) (Read More)

The Shadow Army At Israel's Doorstep - One Surprise Attack Away From Disaster

A new investigative report by the Regavim Movement is sounding an alarm that many in Israel and abroad may not be prepared to hear: the Palestinian Authority Security Forces (PASF) may no longer be merely a civilian policing body, but a growing armed force capable of posing a strategic threat to the Jewish state. According to the March 24 report, The Writing is on the Wall (of Jericho), the Palestinian Authority is developing what Regavim describes as a "terror army in the heart of the state," one that could one day launch a surprise attack on Israel on a scale that could eclipse the horrors of Oct. 7, 2023.

"At any moment, the Palestinian Authority Security Forces may mobilize against us, and the events of Oct. 7 will seem like a walk in the park in comparison," Naomi Linder Kahn, director of the International Division of Regavim, told JNS on Tuesday. According to the report, the PASF has evolved far beyond its intended role under the 1995 Oslo II framework, which originally capped its size at 30,000 personnel equipped primarily with light arms for internal law enforcement and policing duties. Regavim alleges that the force now numbers approximately 65,000 combat-trained personnel, including individuals with prior terror convictions, and possesses weaponry far more suited to offensive military operations than routine public security. That includes grenade launchers, machine guns, armored vehicles, and armor-piercing munitions.The report also claims that Palestinian Authority personnel have received advanced military training abroad, including officer and command instruction in Russia; armored, tank, and artillery training in Pakistan; and tactical parachuting training in Egypt and Italy.

According to Regavim, training facilities in Jordan and Jericho--often publicly described as centers for civilian policing--have hosted exercises involving live-fire attacks from high-speed all-terrain motorcycles, urban warfare drills, breaching operations using explosives, and coordinated combat maneuvers. Those are not the normal tools of a neighborhood police force. Those are the skills of a force preparing for war. And that is where this story becomes even more disturbing. Because the true danger is not just that the Palestinian Authority may be developing the capability to strike. It is that much of the international community still insists on pretending the PA represents a fundamentally different long-term threat than Hamas. That assumption is becoming harder and harder to defend.

...If Israel ever faces a coordinated betrayal from within Judea and Samaria--whether through direct PASF mobilization, mass defections, insider facilitation, weapons diversion, or simultaneous uprisings tied to a broader regional war--the consequences could be staggering. Israel's central population centers are within immediate reach. Major roads, communities, and vulnerable chokepoints sit far closer to these areas than many outside the region fully appreciate. The result would not simply be another terror wave. It could become a full-spectrum internal assault. (Ed note: A chilling, sobering, and scary analysis from the Regavim Movement.) (Read More)

'If Lebanon wont disarm Hezbollah, the IDF will': Effie Defrin warns against Hezbollah’s rearmament

“If the Lebanese government does not disarm Hezbollah, the IDF will. We will not allow Hezbollah to rearm, and we will continue operating in order to protect our civilians on our northern border.”

Israel will disarm Hezbollah if the Lebanese government continues its inaction that allows the terrorist organization to rearm and rebuild, IDF spokesperson Brig.-Gen. Effie Defrin threatened in a video statement released on Friday. Defrin drew attention to the Lebanese government's promises to disarm the group, stating that “contrary to the declaration by the Lebanese government earlier this year, Hezbollah is still operating and conducting attacks from southern Lebanon.”

He pointed out Hezbollah’s efforts to rebuild and their attacks on Israel since joining the Iranian regime in launching rockets and drones towards civilian areas on March 2, stating that the attacks are ‘putting both Israeli and Lebanese civilians at risk.’ Included in Defrin’s video statement was a clip of Senior Hezbollah official Wafiq Safa speaking on a podcast during which he admitted that the Lebanese terrorist organization has been actively attempting to rearm and rebuild. Speaking on an episode of the Lebanese podcast 'Podium,' released on March 22, Safa stated that over the past 15 months, Hezbollah has been “working on building up its capabilities.”

Safa identified three areas where Hezbollah is actively rebuilding. “Firstly, missiles, both in quantity and quality; secondly, attack drones, both in quantity and quality; and thirdly, ground forces of all kinds,” he shared. He continued to describe Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam’s support for a move to disarm Hezbollah as “ill-considered,” accusing him of “sitting in a trap” for expressing openness to negotiation with Israel. (Read More)

Israeli air force strikes Hezbollah targets in Beirut for second time on Friday

The Israel Air Force conducted a new wave of strikes on Hezbollah terrorist infrastructure in the Lebanese capital of Beirut for the second time on Friday, the IDF said that evening. The IDF did not provide further details on the strikes. The earlier wave of strikes, however, coincided with Israeli airstrikes on Iranian targets in three locations across the Islamic Republic. IDF attacks in Beirut often target the southern suburb of Dahiyeh, long considered a Hezbollah stronghold. Separately on Friday, the Lebanese Health Ministry reported that, between March 2 and March 27, 1,142 people had been killed in Israeli strikes on Lebanon. It did not differentiate between civilians and Hezbollah operatives.

The ministry said another 3,315 had been injured. Israel launched Operation Roaring Lion against the Iranian regime on February 28. On March 2, Hezbollah joined the war, launching daily rocket and drone attacks, mainly against northern Israel. On Thursday, 43-year-old Uri Peretz was killed in Nahariya by a series of Hezbollah rockets that wounded another 25 people.

Israel responded with airstrikes and a subsequent ground campaign against the terrorist organization that displaced hundreds of thousands of residents of southern Lebanon. UN officials said on Friday that more than 370,000 children were among those displaced over the last three weeks. By last Friday, according to the IDF’s tally, nearly 600 Hezbollah terrorists had been killed by Israeli actions. On Tuesday, Defense Minister Israel Katz said that Israel would occupy southern Lebanon up to the Litani River to create a "defensive buffer." Katz said the IDF would "control the remaining bridges and the security zone up to the Litani,” a river that meets the Mediterranean about 30 km north of Israel's border. (Source)

First Houthi launch toward Israel since war began triggers alerts across the Negev

Tehran could use the Houthis to take action in the Bab al-Mandab Strait, which connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean.

A ballistic missile was launched from Yemen toward Israeli territory on Saturday morning, marking the first such attack by the Iran-backed Houthis since Operation Roaring Lion began a month ago, the IDF has confirmed, with the group vowing to continue its offensive until its "objectives are met." Air defense systems were activated to intercept the threat, the military said, as sirens sounded across Beersheba and surrounding communities in the Negev. Residents were instructed to follow Home Front Command guidelines amid the unfolding situation. There were no immediate reports of casualties or direct impacts at the time of writing.

The Houthis confirmed the attack several hours later, saying they had targeted Israel in response to continued Israeli strikes across Iran, Lebanon, Iraq, and the West Bank, and warned that their operations would continue until their "objectives are met." The Houthis have previously stated that they want an end to the attacks on the “axis of resistance,” which includes Iranian-backed groups in Iraq and Lebanon. The Houthis, an Iran-backed proxy based in Yemen, have previously threatened to target Israel in coordination with other Iranian proxies in the region. However, this marks the first confirmed missile launch toward Israeli territory from Yemen since the war began on February 28.

Arab News reported that “the group has shown an ability to strike targets far beyond Yemen and disrupt shipping lanes around the Arabian Peninsula and the Red Sea, as they did in support of Hamas in Gaza after October 7, 2023.” The Houthis have previously demonstrated their capacity to halt maritime traffic in the Red Sea, an outcome that would further strain the global economy. With the Strait of Hormuz already largely restricted, additional disruption along the Red Sea corridor, which feeds into the Suez Canal, would compound pressure on global trade. (Read More)

U.S. Marines and Paratroopers Conducting Drills for Chemical and Nuclear Hazards en Route to Mideast

U.S. Marines and paratroopers who could be sent into combat in Iran are conducting CBRN (Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear) safety drills at their bases in Europe and aboard ship as they sail to the Middle East. The National reported on Friday that advance units of paratroopers from the 82nd Airborne Division, flown from America to Europe to prepare for possible deployment in Iran, have been supplied with “detection systems, gas masks and protective ‘Mopp’ coveralls.”

MOPP (Mission Oriented Protective Posture) suits are essentially hazmat suits for soldiers. MOPP alerts are issued in various levels requiring heavier amounts of protective gear as the anticipated hazard condition grows more serious. Retired U.S. Marine Corps officer Jonathan Hackett told The National that the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit is “practicing CBRN drills on deck as we speak” as they head for the Middle East aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli, a relatively small aircraft carrier that transports Marines and their support equipment to conflict zones. The CBRN unit can also be scaled up in size, but the conventional marine forces will have their CBRN gear and be drilling on it, with 15 seconds to get mask and Mopp on when someone shouts ‘Gas, gas, gas,’” he explained.

Military analysts and hazardous materials specialists said there are several potential hazard scenarios in Iran, including damage to Iran’s Bushehr nuclear power plant, Iran’s elusive stockpile of near-weapons-grade uranium, inadvertent breaches of bunkers where Iran stores chemical weapons left over from the Iran-Iraq War in the 1980s, and the worst-case scenario of a desperate Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) loading chemical or biological payloads into its missiles. Iran also helped Syrian dictator Bashar Assad develop his chemical weapons, and some analysts fear Iran might have reclaimed some of Assad’s inventory after he was drivenfrom power in December 2024. (Read More)

Israel bombs 2 IRGC-linked steel plants, 2 nuclear facilities as Iran vows revenge

Israeli security source says damage to steel plants partially owned by IRGC expected to cost billions, ‘paralyze’ industry; IDF: separate strikes hit Yazd yellowcake facility, Arak heavy water reactor.

The Israeli Air Force on Friday bombed two of Iran’s largest steel factories, according to Iranian media and Israeli security sources, as well as two facilities linked to Iran’s nuclear program, in moves that sparked vows of retaliation from Tehran. The Fars news agency reported that Israeli strikes hit Khuzestan Steel near Ahvaz and Mobarakeh Steel in Isfahan, two major production facilities. The strikes on the plants, which an Israeli security source briefing reporters said were partially owned by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, were expected to cause billions of dollars in damage to the Iranian economy, as well as “paralyze” Iran’s steel industry.

It marked the first apparent instance of Israel targeting Iranian industrial facilities not directly linked to its defense or oil and gas industries. US President Donald Trump indicated earlier this week that energy sites would not be hit for the time being, as Washington has sought to avoid turning Iran into a failed state, while Jerusalem has indicated such a result is still preferable to the current regime’s continued rule. An Israeli security source told reporters that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz ordered the Friday strikes, with the latter publicly vowing separately that Israel would intensify its strikes against Iran.  The strikes sparked a sharp rebuke from Iran, with Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi also vowing that Tehran would exact a “HEAVY price.”

“Israel has hit two of Iran’s largest steel factories, a power plant and civilian nuclear sites among other infrastructure. Israel claims it acted in coordination with the US,” Araghchi said in a social media post. The IRGC also vowed to target industrial sites in Israel and in the Gulf states in response, warning employees of the region’s industrial sites “that have American shareholders as well as heavy industries allied with the Zionist regime… to leave their workplaces immediately” as they vowed to carry out retaliatory attacks. (Read More)

Israel strikes Iranian nuclear development facilities, Tehran vows retaliation (ARAK)

The IDF attack on the heavy water reactor comes after the military called for residents of nearby Arak to evacuate ahead of imminent strikes on regime military infrastructure.

Israel attacked Iran’s Khandab heavy water reactor in Arak, as well as the uranium enrichment facility at Ardakan, on Friday, the IDF confirmed. Earlier Iranian state media reports noted that the enrichment facility produced yellowcake, a concentrated uranium powder used in the early stages of nuclear fuel production. Later on Friday, a missile struck the Bushehr nuclear plant in Iran, according to the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, with no casualties, material damage, or technical disruptions being reported.

A government official told the Islamic Republic’s semi-official Fars News Agency, which is linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), that no casualties occured in the reported attack on the heavy water reactor, and that there is no danger to the local population. Fars reported that the facility was struck twice. "Heavy water is a unique material used to operate nuclear reactors, such as the inactive Arak reactor, which was originally designed to have weapons-grade plutonium production capabilities," the IDF said. "These materials can also be used as a neutron source for nuclear weapons.

The military added that the facility, which was hit during the June 2025 war between Israel and Iran, was also a "significant economic asset" for the Iranian regime and generated tens of millions of dollars for the Iranian Atomic Energy Organization. (Read More)

Araghchi threatens retaliation after IDF strikes Iranian nuclear development facilities

By The Jerusalem Post staff

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi responded to the Israeli attacks on Iranian nuclear development facilities on Friday, saying Israel will "pay a heavy price for its crimes."

"Israel hit two of Iran's largest steel plants, a power plant, and civilian nuclear sites, along with other infrastructure," said Araghchi, further claiming that the strikes contradict US President Donald Trump's 10-day deadline for diplomacy.

Iran’s Terrorist IRGC Lowers Age to Join Repressive Forces to 12 amid War

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), a U.S.-designated terrorist organization, announced this week the launch of a campaign to recruit boys as young as 12 to join their forces manning checkpoints and patrols repressing Iranian citizens. The “For Iran” campaign is apparently meant to help with the ongoing repression of dissident Iranians, as well as train Iranians to prepare for any potential American or Israeli ground invasion. While evidence has existed for years that Iran recruits boys into security roles, contrary to international law against the use of child soldiers, this new effort appears to be an escalation intended to expand Tehran’s control over its citizenry.

IRGC official Rahim Nadali reportedly told state media on Thursday that the IRGC is launching the “For Iran” campaign to expand recruitment to the terrorist organization and indoctrinate new members into fighting “the global bully,” referring to the United States. “At the Basij checkpoints and patrols that you see across the cities, we had a very high number of volunteers among young people and teenagers who wanted to participate,” he explained, according to a translation by the Agence France-Presse (AFP). “Considering the ages of those requesting to join, we have now lowered the minimum age to 12 years old, because children aged 12-13 want to be involved.”

He reportedly described the jobs open to the younger recruits as “operational patrols” meant to intimidate Iranians and “collecting security data.” Iran using children for its various repressive and terrorist activities is a longstanding policy, though the new campaign appears to be an expansion of it. Speaking to the United Nations in 2018, then-American Ambassador Nikki Haley explained to the Security Council that Iran actively “celebrates” child soldiers, particularly the IRGC. “The Basij Resistance Force is a paramilitary force operating under Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps,” she detailed. “In addition to cracking down on dissidents and enforcing internal security in Iran, the Basij indoctrinate school children and provide combat training to children as young as 12 years old. These children are then coerced into fighting abroad for the IRGC.” (Ed note: And if you don't volunteer, your sister will disappear, and one day you will come home from school, and your mother will be gone.)  (Read More)

Gulf states tell US ending the war is not enough, Iran’s capabilities must be degraded - analysis

The big question confronting Gulf policymakers is no longer how the Iran war ends, but what kind of regional order will follow its end.

Gulf Arab states are telling the US that any deal with Tehran should do more than end the war, and must permanently curb Iran's missile and drone capabilities and ensure global energy supplies are never again "weaponised," four Gulf sources said. US President Donald Trump has extended his deadline for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, which carries ​about 20% of global oil and liquefied natural gas supplies, or face the destruction of its energy plants. But the big question confronting Gulf policymakers is no longer how the Iran war ends, but what kind of regional order follows, the four Gulf sources with knowledge of the matter told Reuters.

Gulf officials, whose countries have been repeatedly fired on by Tehran during the US-Israeli war on Iran, have told Washington in private meetings that the Islamic Republic has left them no diplomatic "off-ramp," the sources said. The officials want any deal to lock in enforceable restraints on missile and drone attacks on energy and civilian assets, threats to oil and shipping routes, and proxy warfare, the sources added. Any agreement must rewrite the rules of engagement by providing guarantees that the Strait of Hormuz is never again used as a tool of war, and Gulf states must be written into the architecture of what comes next, they say.

"The real challenge is not persuading Iran to stop the war, but ensuring the Gulf is not left exposed to the same dynamics that made it possible in the first place," Ebtessam Al‑Kerbi, president of the Emirates Policy Centre, told Reuters. Yousef al‑Otaiba, the United Arab Emirates’ ambassador to the United States, has framed the war not as a crisis to be frozen but as a test of whether Iran can still hold the global economy hostage afterwards. "A simple ceasefire isn’t enough," Otaiba wrote in a column for the Wall Street Journal. "We need a conclusive outcome that addresses Iran’s full range of threats: nuclear capabilities, missiles, drones, terror proxies, and blockades of international sea lanes." (Read More)

Gulf nations take lead on Iran at UN while Europe weakens stance, Danon tells 'Post' - interview

While sharply criticizing European countries, the ambassador noted that regional rivals had set aside their differences to face a common threat.

In recent weeks, one of the most striking developments at the UN has been the Gulf nations’ assertive role in curbing Iranian influence. “I am certainly surprised by what has been happening here at the UN in recent weeks,” Israel’s UN Ambassador Danny Danon says in a conversation with The Jerusalem Post. “In the past, we had cooperation and held similar positions with the Gulf states, but it was behind the scenes. But this time, they are simply operating in an open manner, with determination and assertiveness, I would say, against Iran.”

He pointed to a recent Security Council resolution by the Gulf countries condemning Iranian attacks and a subsequent move regarding maritime freedom – a resolution put on the table of the UN Security Council by Bahrain – as evidence of this new Gulf resolve. “It has a very strong language against Iran and a threat of use of force if Tehran does not allow freedom to ships to sail in the Straits of Hormuz.”

However, he sharply criticized European countries – particularly France – for its attempts to put forward a “light resolution.” “European countries like France are working to soften these proposals, sometimes even neutralizing them, essentially doing the work for Iran. This is a phenomenon I don’t recall ever seeing in the corridors of the UN,” he said. Danon noted that even regional rivals have set aside their differences to face the common threat. “There was very high tension between the UAE and Saudi Arabia on many issues. They managed to set aside all disputes and unite forces right now in their struggle against Iran.” (Read More)

Hezbollah unleashes over 600 attacks on Israel in past 24 hours, doubling prior peak

Hezbollah's spike in attacks on Israel and IDF forces is likely not sustainable, but could be part of an effort to coerce Israel and the US into a ceasefire on all fronts.

Hezbollah has fired over 600 times on Israel and IDFtroops in the last 24 hours, around double its prior high of around 300 aerial threats during the 2023-2024 conflict between the sides, IDF sources have confirmed. The vast majority of the rockets, mortars, and drones were launched at IDF forces holding positions in or seeking to advance within southern Lebanon. This major spike in Hezbollah attacks, up from a general average of around 100 attacks per day during the current war, occurred in the shadow of a possible end to the Israel-Iran war.

IDF Northern Command Chief Maj. Gen. Rafi Milo also announced on Thursday night that the IDF has now killed around 750 Hezbollah fighters since the start of the current conflict, jumping from just 500 a few days ago. Despite increased expectations of such a potential ceasefire, Israel has made noises that it may wish to continue pummeling Hezbollah with airstrikes, as well as to continue its invasion of southern Lebanon. Hezbollah's spike in attacks on Israel and IDF forces is likely not sustainable, but could be part of an effort to coerce Israel and the US into a ceasefire on all fronts, or to convince Israel to withdraw from southern Lebanon.

Meanwhile, top Israeli political and military officials have increasingly publicly commented in recent days on the likelihood of Israel holding onto southern Lebanon up to the Litani River for some undefined period to try to force Hezbollah to disarm, something the terror group refused to do despite pressure from the Lebanese government since a fall 2024 prior ceasefire. One reason Hezbollah may be succeeding in firing more could be due to the IDF's advancing deeper into southern Lebanon. (Read More)

Dramatic footage: IDF topples high-rise buildings in Beirut

IDF publishes footage of strikes on high-rise buildings in the Lebanese capital used as operational command centers by Hezbollah.

The IDF published impressive footage on Thursday from the Air Force's operations in the heart of Beirut, Lebanon. Over the past day, IAF fighter jets, acting on IDF intelligence, struck more than 100 Hezbollah terror targets in the Lebanese capital.

Among the targets that were struck and completely destroyed were high-rise buildings in Beirut's southern neighborhoods. According to IDF intelligence, these buildings were used as operational command centers for the elite Radwan Force and command and control centers for Hezbollah's top brass.

In the footage, the pilots are heard receiving final approval for the attack: "I have received permission, the structure has completely collapsed," the forces reported after bombs destroyed the terrorist infrastructure. (Source)

US said mulling ‘final blow’ options if Iran talks fail, including sending troops to seize key assets

Axios says possibilities include seizing islands in Strait of Hormuz, blockading ships carrying Iranian oil, sending troops to take regime’s stockpile of 60% enriched uranium.

The US is working on options for a “final blow” to Iran that could see American ground troops deployed on Iranian soil, as well as a major bombing effort, the Axios outlet reported Thursday, citing two US officials and two sources with knowledge of the matter. The sources said that if attempts to negotiate an end to the conflict with Iran do not bear fruit, and the Iranians continue to hamper shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, the US could initiate a major strike that would serve a dual purpose — improving the American position in possible further talks with Tehran, and potentially allowing US President Donald Trump to end the war unilaterally with an ostensible victory image.

The officials told Axios that four options are under discussion. The first would entail seizing or blockading Kharg Island, Iran’s key hub for the export of oil. A second would be to take Larak Island in the Strait of Hormuz, which houses Iranian bases and radars that track ships transiting Hormuz, and hosts small boats that can attack civilian ships. Tehran has largely blocked the passage of oil through the vital strait in retaliation for the US-Israeli attacks, pushing up global energy prices.

A third possibility would be to invade Abu Musa Island in the eastern Persian Gulf, which gives Iran control over ships leaving the Gulf. The island — and the nearby Greater and Lesser Tunb islands — are held by Iran but claimed by the United Arab Emirates, a key US and Israeli ally. Finally, the US could simply block or take control of ships exporting Iranian oil. According to Axios, there are also plans under consideration for US troops to seize Iran’s 450-kilogram stockpile of highly enriched uranium, believed to sit under bombed-out nuclear facilities deep inside Iran. Alternatively, the US could further strike the sites from the air to ensure that Iran can’t reach the material. (Read More)

UAE to join force aimed at reopening Strait of Hormuz

A report in the Financial Times says that Abu Dhabi has formally expressed willingness to take part in a maritime coalition to break the Iranian blockade.

The United Arab Emirates has conveyed to the United States and Western countries its readiness to actively participate in an international naval task force whose goal is to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. This Emirati move is considered an unusual and bold step for a Gulf Arab state. The report follows an earlier revelation by the The Washington Post that U.S. President Donald Trump has identified reopening the strait as the primary objective for ending the war.

According to security sources, officials in Washington and Jerusalem have concluded that earlier goals-such as toppling the Iranian regime or fully dismantling its nuclear capabilities-are not achievable in the immediate timeframe. Israeli officials said that breaking the naval blockade would deprive Iran of one of its most powerful tools: the threat of disrupting global trade.

However, officials in Israel stress that ending the war under these terms would not be the final word. Senior defense officials clarified that future strikes would be “inevitable" if Tehran attempts to rebuild its ballistic missile array or continues efforts to develop nuclear weapons under a new agreement. (Source)

Answering America’s Call, Britain to Lead Hormuz Coalition of Nations Sending Warships to Keep Strait Open

British military officers are embedded with CENTCOM in preparation for a long-term Strait of Hormuz freedom-of-navigation mission, and meetings have already taken place with like-minded allies, including France, Canada, and Japan, a report states.

The United Kingdom will lead a multinational coalition to re-open and then maintain the Strait of Hormuz “as soon as the conditions are right” — likely meaning not while a war is still going on — it is claimed. The Times cites unnamed British defence officials who say meetings between partner nations have already taken place, and more are planned, suggesting that while the coalition of Western nations is in no hurry to deploy to the region, they are also heeding President Donald Trump’s call to answer their own national interests by ensuring oil flows through one of the world’s most strategic waterways.

Whether the Strait is actually presently closed in any meaningful sense is up for debate: the United States has hit Iran hard for weeks, destroying its navy, air force, and land-based missile launch infrastructure. While the prospect of Iran mining the Strait has been feared for decades, alleged intelligence reports state there are at most a dozen mines in the whole area at present, a fraction of what military planners long worried Iran could unleash. And positive noises from apparent peace talks continue to grow.

Technically closed or not, the shipowners of the world will not wilfully return to the region and recommence carrying crude oil until it has been demonstrated that the path is clear and safe. British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer remains wedded to his position on the war in Iran, that the country won’t be drawn into the conflict, so this is not to come until “conditions are right”, apparently meaning until after a ceasefire, a peace, or the total exhaustion of Iran’s ability to offer resistance. (Read More)

Iranian regime hardliners ramp up calls for a nuclear bomb, sources claim

The debate among Iranian hardliners over whether Tehran should seek a nuclear bomb in defiance of United States-Israeli pressure is getting louder, more public, and more insistent, sources in the country say. With the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) now dominant following the killing of former supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei at the start of the war on February 28, hardline views on Iran's nuclear approach are in the ascendant, two senior Iranian sources said.

While Western countries have long asserted that Iran wants the bomb - or at least the ability to make one very quickly - it has always denied that, claiming Khamenei had banned nuclear arms as forbidden in Islam and citing its membership of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). One of the sources alleged there was no plan to change Iran's nuclear doctrine yet, and Iran had not decided to seek a bomb, but serious voices in the establishment were questioning the existing policy and demanding a change.

The US-Israeli attacks on Iran, which came midway through talks on Tehran's nuclear program, may have changed the equation, convincing Iranian strategists that they have little to gain by forswearing a bomb or staying in the NPT. The idea of quitting the NPT - something hardliners have previously threatened - has been increasingly aired on state media along with the idea that Iran should go outright for the bomb. (Read More)

Southern Lebanon is actually northern Israel - opinion

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

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

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

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

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

PSALM 83

This book reveals a vastly overlooked ancient prophecy written over 3000 years ago. It predicts a concluding confederate invasion of Israel by the Arab countries that presently share common borders with the Jewish state. This coalition of countries is depicted on the red arrows upon the book cover image. The terrorist organizations within those territories, like ISIS, Hezbollah and Hamas, will probably also be involved in this final battle. Their confederate mandate is clear:. They have said, "Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation, That the name of Israel may be remembered no more." (Psalm 83:4). While Jeremiah 49:34-39 develops in what is now called Iran, Israel is still facing the inter circle of nations that surround her. A very timely read from Dr Bill Salus.) (CLICK HERE)

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

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

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

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

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

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

Netanyahu: Israel focused on dismantling Hezbollah

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

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

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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