Iran and Russia begin joint naval drill in Indian Ocean
The Iranian and Russian militaries have kicked off a joint naval drill in the Indian Ocean aimed at boosting security of maritime trade in the region, Iran’s state TV reported on Tuesday.
Israel
Blinken says that for Iran, ‘the path to diplomacy is open’
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Tuesday that the US was open to diplomacy with Iran and voiced support for the 2015 deal Iran signed with world powers, while asserting that it must not be allowed to obtain a nuclear weapon.
In message to Hezbollah, IAF practices striking 3,000 targets in 24 hours
A Hezbollah missile hits an IAF fighter jet. In response, the entire air force is scrambled to participate in a broad offensive against Lebanon, including attacks against infrastructure such as bridges, power plants and airports spanning 24 hours. That scenario was the focus of an IDF exercise that began on Sunday morning and ended on Tuesday at noon.
Iran could deploy 200 missiles in Iraq to attack Israel
With tensions rising with Iran, Israel is concerned that the Islamic Republic could deploy up to 200 long-range missiles in Iraq that could be used to attack the Jewish state. Iran is already believed to have hundreds of missiles that can reach Israel.
Israel to require “Green Pass” proof of COVID-19 vaccine for access to many places
Israel announced Monday that its citizens will have to show a “green pass” – proof they have been vaccinated against COVID-19, or have recovered from the virus – in order to enter many public spaces, the Times of Israel reports. The announcement was made as Israel begins to reopen after severe lockdown measures were imposed to slow the high virus infection rate.
In major breach of nuclear deal, Iran announces end to snap inspections
Iran has informed the International Atomic Energy Agency, the world’s nuclear watchdog, about its plan to end sweeping inspection powers given to the agency under the 2015 nuclear deal, its envoy to the agency wrote on Twitter on Monday.
Israel Reportedly Strikes Syria, Killing 6 Iranian-Backed Fighters
Israel fired several missiles near the Syrian capital of Damascus early Monday morning, Syrian state media reported.
IDF launches surprise air exercise, as it reportedly strikes sites in Syria
The Israeli military launched a surprise air force exercise simulating war in the north late Sunday night, as Israeli jets reportedly struck Iran-linked sites in Syria.
Israel carries out first-ever worldwide drone test without GPS, succeeds
The first worldwide test of drone flights in GPS-denied environments was successfully carried out in Israel last week.
Israeli airstrikes said to hit targets near Damascus
Israeli airstrikes targeted a number of sites in southern Syria after midnight Sunday, the country’s state media reported, in the latest in a series of attacks attributed to the Jewish state.
US court revives challenge to Arkansas law targeting the boycott Israel movement
A US federal appeals court struck a blow to the legality of an Arkansas law that aims to penalize the boycott Israel movement.
Sa’ar says West Bank Annexation still a goal, even if not implemented now
New Hope rejects Palestinian statehood, has a goal of annexing West Bank settlements, but would uphold Israel’s pledge to suspend such sovereignty, party leader Gideon Sa’ar told the Washington Institute.
Biden signs deal for 200 million more doses, hopes most vaccinated by July
US President Joe Biden said Thursday the US had signed deals to acquire 200 million more Covid-19 vaccine doses as officials look to immunize the vast majority of the population by July.
Senior IDF commander says Hamas has 30,000 men, 7,000 rockets, dozens of drones
The Hamas terrorist group ruling Gaza has replenished its arsenal since a 2014 war with Israel and now has a vast collection of rockets, guided missiles and drones, a senior Israeli military commander said Thursday.
In first, Israeli study indicates post-COVID immunity stays when antibodies fade
An Israeli study that found a robust immune response from recovered COVID-19 patients who were vaccinated provides “some of the first real-life evidence” that immunity lasts even if antibody levels appear to drop, a leading researcher said Thursday.
Report: Iranian nuke scientist was killed by Israeli 1-ton automated gun
Top Iranian scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh was assassinated in November by a Mossad team using a one-ton automated weapon that had been smuggled into Iran in pieces, according to a Wednesday report in London’s Jewish Chronicle.
Federal court permanently blocks NY restrictions on houses of worship
A US federal court has permanently blocked New York’s highly contested COVID-19 restrictions on indoor worship, the Christian Post reports. Tuesday’s ruling by District Judge Kiyo A. Matsumoto follows a temporary block on the restrictions that were issued by the US Supreme Court in November.
IDF intelligence: Iran at least two years from nuclear bomb
Iran is at an unprecedented “low point” due to actions carried out by Israel and the US, but it has not stopped investing in its nuclear project, OC IDF Intelligence Maj.-Gen. Tamir Heiman said this week.
Netanyahu, holding up vial of potential corona ‘miracle drug,’ says ‘inhale this and feel good’
Netanyahu was boasting about a new drug developed by Prof. Nadir Arber, director of the research project on developing an anti-coronavirus drug, with whom he had just met, together with Dr. Sharon Shapiro, director of the lab in which the drug is being tested, and Prof. Ronni Gamzu, director of Ichilov Hospital and former corona czar.
IDF: Hezbollah likely to initiate limited battles with Israel in 2021, not war
The Israel Defense Forces does not anticipate the outbreak of a large-scale war in the coming year, but does expect that Hezbollah and other terror groups will likely initiate more limited rounds of violence, according to its annual intelligence assessment.