Russian FM: West has declared ‘total war’ on Russia
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Friday accused Western countries of waging a “total war” on Russia and its people and culture as Moscow pushes on with its military operation in Ukraine.
Israel
Suicide drones launched from inside Iran said to have hit Parchin military site
A deadly explosion at Iran’s Parchin military complex on Wednesday was caused by quadcopter suicide drones, in an attack that fits a pattern of previous strikes that have been attributed to Israel, The New York Times reported Friday.
IDF special forces head to Cyprus to train for fight against Hezbollah
Hundreds of Israel Defense Forces soldiers, including special forces, headed to Cyprus on Sunday to participate in the final week of a major month-long exercise, simulating war against the Lebanese Hezbollah terror group.
We march where we want: Jerusalem Day parade to go ahead through Muslim Quarter
Israeli leaders vowed Friday that they would not be intimidated by threats of violence from Palestinian terror groups over Sunday’s contentious Jerusalem Day Flag March, which will go ahead as planned through the Old City’s Muslim Quarter as in the past.
IDF drills for multi-front war, including 1,500 rockets a day fired from Lebanon
Israeli cities could be bombarded with 1,500 rockets a day, and the death toll could quickly reach into the hundreds should war with the Iran-backed Hezbollah terror group in Lebanon break out, according to a military assessment shared Thursday.
Hezbollah leader warns of possible ‘major explosion’ if Jerusalem Day Flag March passes through Old City’s Muslim quarter
The leader of Lebanon’s terror organization Hezbollah warned Wednesday there could be “a major explosion” if Israel’s Jerusalem Day Flag March passes through the Old City’s Damascus Gate and Muslim Quarter on Sunday, Ynet News reports.
Iran has used leaked UN Atomic Agency documents to deceive nuclear inspectors
The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) on Wednesday published a report attesting that Iran has used classified leaked documents from the UN’s International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to hide its progress on producing a nuclear weapon, Ynet News reports. The WSJ cited Middle East intelligence officials and documents it had examined in making its assertions.
Israel said to tell US it killed IRGC officer who was deputy head of covert unit
Israel reportedly told US officials that it was behind the assassination of a senior member of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps earlier this week, which was carried out in order to warn Tehran against the continued operation of an alleged covert unit the target helped lead.
Judge rules against Jews who prayed at Temple Mount, accepting state’s appeal
The Jerusalem District Court on Wednesday ruled against four Jewish teens who prayed on the Temple Mount, reversing a lower court decision, which Palestinians and Jordan claimed had legitimized the violation of the status quo at the flashpoint site.
Netanyahu says case against him ‘dead’ as prosecutors forced to revise indictment
Former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has declared the main criminal case against him “dead,” after state prosecutors were forced to alter the charge sheet, Israeli media reported last week.
US Mediating Talks Between Egyptians, Saudis and Israelis
The Biden administration has been quietly mediating among Saudi Arabia, Israel and Egypt on negotiations that, if successful, could be a first step on the road to the normalization of relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel.
Israel’s government coalition crisis reaching an end
The crisis in Prime Minister Naftali Bennett’s governing coalition will be over by Monday, sources in the coalition said Saturday night after meetings with Meretz MK Ghaida Rinawie Zoabi.
Lebanese Christian leader calls for Hezbollah’s grip on country to end
Lebanon’s hijacked sovereignty must be restored after an election denied the powerful Shiite terror group Hezbollah a parliamentary majority, said Christian leader Samir Geagea.
Hungary’s Orbán Urges CPAC To Reconquer Institutions And Christian Values
Hungary’s nationalist prime minister urged conservatives in Europe and the United States to “reconquer” institutions in Washington and Brussels from liberals who he said threatened Christian civilization.
Knesset Member Resigns Which Could Lead to Early Elections in Israel
Knesset Member Ghaida Rinawie Zoabi of the Meretz Party resigned from the government coalition on Thursday, sending shockwaves through the Israeli political system.
Israel To Join WHO Rules Despite Controversy
A prominent politician fears Israel will lose its sovereignty if it agrees to adjusted World Health Organization (WHO) rules.
US pilots have had ’11 near misses’ with UFOs, Pentagon reveals
U.S. military pilots have encountered unidentified flying objects (UFOs) on dozens of occasions and have nearly run into them on at least 11 different occasions, according to a military official who testified before Congress on Tuesday.
Gantz in Washington to discuss Iran and Russia with Pentagon chief Austin
Israel’s Defense Minister Benny Gantz is in Washington to meet US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan, amid Israeli-Russian tensions and Iran’s close proximity to producing a nuclear bomb, i24 News reports. The meeting will be held on Thursday and will focus on joint Israeli-US security cooperation.
Israeli military to hold large-scale drill simulating widescale strike on Iran
For the first time, the Israeli Air Force will practice for a widescale strike in Iran later this month, during the military’s major Chariots of Fire exercise, The Times of Israel has learned.
IDF bring down Hezbollah drone over Israel
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) on Tuesday brought down a drone sent into Israeli air space from Lebanon by Hezbollah, the Iran-backed Lebanese terror organization which is an enemy of Israel, the Times of Israel (TOI) reports.