As Lebanon braces for expanded Israeli incursion, northern Israel residents see buffer zone as lifeline to normalcy Metula, Northern Israel — From the border communities of northern Israel, the rooftops of Lebanese villages are visible in an area the Israeli government now holds as a “security buffer zone.” For more than 60,000 Israelis living in the frontier towns, the war with Hezbollah is not a distant reality. When air raid sirens sound here from Hezbollah’s rockets, there is no gap between warning and impact. Unlike in the rest of Israel, residents have only seconds to run for cover. On Sunday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced another expansion of the military buffer zone inside Lebanon to “finally thwart the threat of invasion and to push the anti-missile threat away from our border.” The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) claimed Hezbollah was planning a ground offensive into Israel akin to Hamas’ October 7 attacks in 2023. The announcement was welcomed on the Israeli side of the border. “This is what we expect the IDF to do: to be before us, not behind us,” said Nisan Zeevi, a venture-capital professional and third-generation resident of Kibbutz Kfar Giladi, located 800 meters from two villages he described as Hezbollah strongholds. “We cannot be the first line with Hezbollah. We need the army before the enemy.” Some 55,000 residents of northern Israel who had been displaced for over a year returned home after a November 2024 ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, reassured by Netanyahu that the Iran-backed Lebanese militant group had been set “years backward.” Zeevi, however, was skeptical. “Just a year ago they sold us a promise: ‘We destroyed Hezbollah.’ You can come home. It’s safe.’ I was convincing new families to move here. And suddenly, we are back in the same situation.#israel #hezbollah #benjamin_netanyahu #lebanon #israel_defense_forces
Missile Launched at Israel from Yemen as Regional Conflict Escalates The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed the interception of a missile launched from Yemen, marking the first such attack since the conflict began. The strike, which triggered air defense sirens near Beersheba, comes amid heightened tensions as the Houthi movement in Yemen threatens direct military involvement if attacks on Iran continue. A Houthi military spokesperson warned that the group would enter the war if new alliances align with Washington and Israel against Iran or if the Red Sea is used for hostile operations against Iran. The conflict has already claimed significant civilian lives, with the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency reporting 1,464 deaths in Iran, including at least 217 children, within the first month. Iranian state media cited casualties from strikes on residential areas and a sports hall in Lamerd, though details remain unclear. Meanwhile, the US military has deployed advanced weaponry, with analysts suggesting state-of-the-art US missiles were used in a deadly strike on Iran’s southern town. The US Central Command and Israeli strikes have targeted infrastructure, including police stations, military facilities, and civilian neighborhoods, raising concerns about collateral damage and civilian resentment. The war has also disrupted regional stability, with Gulf nations reporting fresh strikes and interceptions. The UAE confirmed its air defenses engaged ballistic missiles and drones from Iran, while Saudi Arabia’s Prince Sultan Airbase suffered an Iranian strike that injured 12 US soldiers. The US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff expressed hope for talks with Iran, though Washington awaits a response to a 15-point deal.#iran #saudi_arabia #us_central_command #israel_defense_forces #houthi_movement
Iran Israel US War News | Tehran Under Fire, Iran Rejects US' 'Pause' Narrative Even as US President Donald Trump speaks of a “pause” and possible deal, the ground reality in Tehran tells a very different story. Fierce airstrikes have hit multiple locations across the Iranian capital and surrounding areas, marking one of the most intense phases of the conflict so far. Iran has pushed back strongly against Washington’s claims, with officials indicating they have neither sought a ceasefire nor agreed to negotiations on US terms. Instead, Tehran is signalling defiance, insisting any resolution will be on its own conditions. While backchannel communication continues through intermediaries, the conflict is escalating, not slowing down. Reports of fresh US troop deployments and continued strikes by the Israel Defense Forces further underscore the widening scale of the war — raising fears that diplomacy remains distant even as global stakes climb.#us #iran #israel #tehran #israel_defense_forces
Israel Claims Killing of Iran’s Intelligence Minister in Third Assassination in Two Days Israel’s Defense Forces announced on Wednesday that Iran’s Intelligence Minister Esmail Khatib had been killed in a “targeted strike” in Tehran, marking the third high-ranking Iranian official to be assassinated in just two days. The IDF stated that Khatib, who was appointed to his position in 2021 by Iran’s late supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, played a significant role in the recent protests in Iran, including the arrest and killing of demonstrators and orchestrating terrorist attacks against Israelis and Americans globally. The statement also noted his involvement in suppressing dissent during the Mahsa Amini protests of 2022–2023. Iran has not yet officially commented on the reported death of Khatib. The strike comes after Israel claimed earlier in the week that Iran’s top security official, Ali Larijani, and the commander of Iran’s Basij forces, Gholamreza Soleimani, had both been killed. Iran’s official judiciary news agency later confirmed Soleimani’s death, while the Supreme National Security Council stated that Larijani was killed alongside his son, Morteza Larijani, and several others. The U.S. and Israeli-led military campaign against Iran entered its 19th day on Wednesday, with Israel launching strikes on Lebanon’s capital, Beirut, as part of its ongoing offensive against Hezbollah, a Tehran-backed militant group. In response, Iran and its allied military factions have carried out retaliatory attacks across the Middle East, escalating fears of a broader regional conflict. Iran has previously retaliated against Israeli and U.S. targets, including attacks on Gulf neighbors and strikes on ships in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical maritime route.#ayatollah_ali_khamenei #israel_defense_forces #esmail_khatib #mahsa_aminiprotests #iran_supreme_national_security_council
Is Iran’s security chief Ali Larijani dead? Israeli media say strike targeted him, fate unclear Israeli media reported on Tuesday that the Israeli military targeted Iran’s security chief Ali Larijani in a strike, though it remained unclear whether he was killed or injured. Iran has not yet responded to the claims, according to Reuters. The report stated that the military’s actions were aimed at Larijani, who serves as the secretary of Iran’s National Security Council. No official confirmation from Tehran has been released so far. Separately, The Times of Israel cited Israeli officials who claimed that an overnight airstrike inside Iran targeted Larijani. The report also mentioned another Israeli strike that hit Palestinian Islamic Jihad leader Akram al-Ajouri and other senior members of the group, based on defense sources. Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Lt Gen Eyal Zamir appeared to confirm aspects of the operation during a morning assessment. Zamir stated that “significant elimination achievements were recorded overnight, with the potential to impact the campaign’s achievements and the IDF’s missions.” He added that these actions were part of broader efforts against external elements linked to the Palestinian arena, including senior operatives from Gaza and the West Bank who were reportedly hiding in a safe house in Tehran. The strike on Larijani followed earlier tensions between Iran and Israel, with Iran accusing Israel of bombing fuel depots and calling the attacks “ecocide.” Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump warned NATO about the potential fallout of the war. The situation has also raised concerns in the Gulf region, with some elites urging the U.S. to take stronger action against Iran, citing fears of threats to the Strait of Hormuz.#strait_of_hormuz #ali_larijani #israeli_media #israel_defense_forces #palestinian_islamic_jihad
Israeli forces suffered their most severe casualties yet in southern Lebanon as clashes with Hezbollah escalated, with two soldiers wounded during a military operation near Beirut. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced the injuries on Thursday, marking the first major casualties since ground troops advanced deeper into the region in response to renewed cross-border rocket fire. Both soldiers, part of the Givati Brigade, were hospitalized, and their families were notified, though details remain scarce. The fighting unfolded as Israel launched a sweeping bombing campaign in the southern suburbs of Beirut, targeting Hezbollah’s stronghold in the Dahiyeh area. The IDF ordered residents of the densely populated neighborhood to evacuate, prompting mass exodus as panic spread. Traffic in Beirut’s capital became gridlocked as thousands fled, with the military specifying evacuation routes. Hours later, air strikes began hitting Dahiyeh, aiming to dismantle Hezbollah’s infrastructure. The operation coincided with reports of Iranian officers fleeing the area, with Axios citing that dozens of Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) officials, including members of the Quds Force, had left Lebanon over fears of Israeli targeting. Lebanon reported a death toll of 123 from Israeli strikes, with over 83,000 people evacuated before the evacuation order. President Joseph Aoun sought urgent diplomatic intervention, contacting French President Emmanuel Macron to appeal for a halt to the strikes. Macron called for an end to the conflict, urging both Israel and Hezbollah to cease hostilities and offering aid to Lebanon. He also emphasized the need for Hezbollah to disarm and support Lebanon’s efforts to assert control over its territory.#hezbollah #iranian_revolutionary_guard_corps #beirut #israel_defense_forces #dahiyeh
