Israeli said to bombard 3 airbases in Syria where Turkey intended to deploy forces

Turkey scoped out at least three airbases in Syria where it could deploy forces as part of a planned joint defense pact before Israel hit the sites with airstrikes this week, four people familiar with the matter said. The bombardment signals the risks of a deepening rift between two powerful regional militaries over Syria, where Islamist rebels have installed a new government after toppling former leader Bashar al-Assad in December. 

 The Israeli strikes on the three sites Turkey was assessing, including a heavy barrage on Wednesday night, came despite Ankara’s efforts to reassure Washington that a deeper military presence in Syria was not intended to threaten Israel. The Islamists replacing Assad have alarmed Israel, which is wary of an Islamist presence on its border and has lobbied the United States to curb Turkey’s growing influence in the country. 

 Ankara, a longtime backer of opposition to Assad, is positioning to play a major role in the remade Syria, including with a possible joint defense pact that could see new Turkish bases in central Syria and use of Syria’s airspace. In preparation, Turkish military teams in recent weeks visited the T-4 and Palmyra airbases in Syria’s Homs province and the main airport in Hama province, according to a regional intelligence official, two Syrian military sources and another Syrian source familiar with the matter.  (Read more)

Syria may still house more than 100 chemical weapons sites

Chemical weapons inspectors working in post-Assad Syria expressed concern that there may still be more than 100 unsecured chemical weapons sites in the country. The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons  (OPCW), which promotes and verifies adherence to the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), provided the estimate of undisclosed sites as it attempts to gain access to Syria to assess what remains of Bashar Assad’s military program, The New York Times reported on Sunday.  According to the Times, the figure of more than 100 chemical sites is “far higher than anything Assad ever acknowledged.”

The sites are suspected to have been involved in the research, manufacture and storage of chemical weapons. However, since Assad was toppled in December, it is not clear how many sites there are, nor whether the Sunni Islamist government led by the Turkish-backed Ahmed al-Sharaa has managed to secure them. The chemical weapons experts fear terrorists could get their hands on these deadly materials. According to the newspaper, the sites could produce sarin and chlorine gas, which Assad infamously used on rebel fighters and civilians during the civil war that began in 2011. Then-U.S. President Barack Obama described the attacks as a “red line” that must not be crossed. Despite this warning, there were no consequences for the Assad regime.

Officially, Damascus agreed to give up its chemical weapons stockpiles in 2013, shortly after the government was accused of carrying out an attack near that city, which left hundreds dead. However, the Assad regime was known to have used chemical weapons until at least 2018, and research showed it kept “importing essential precursor chemicals,” the Times reported.  (Ed note: This is serious. Could the occurrence of the prophecy in Isaiah 17 be due in part to the use of chemical weapons against israel?)  (Read More)

Report: More than 100 weapon sites remain in Syria

The figure is much higher than past estimates; experts say sarin, mustard gas, and chlorine could be not secured and lead to disaster. Experts warn of the presence of more than 100 chemical weapons stockpiles in Syria dating back to the Assad regime. According to a New York Times report, there is concern that reservoirs of sarin, mustard gas and chlorine could be not secured and lead to disaster. Since the fall of the Assad regime in December 2024, many questions have been raised about the number of chemical weapons facilities in the country.

Sarin, a nerve agent, can kill in minutes, and chlorine and mustard gas have been known since World War I as a cruel weapon that "drowns people on land." Experts have warned that the reservoirs could fall into the hands of militant groups in Syria, as some facilities are not secured, or are not properly secured.

After the outbreak of the civil war in Syria, the Assad regime acknowledged the locations of 27 chemical weapons facilities and closed them down, but according to studies, it continued to import chemicals used in the manufacture of chemical weapons to the country.Some of the sites are probably hidden in caves or other places that are difficult to find using satellite imagery.  (Source)

Hamas says it won’t move hostages to safety, Israel responsible for their lives

The Hamas terror group said in a statement Friday that it will not move living Israeli hostages out of areas in the Gaza Strip that the IDF has ordered to be evacuated in recent days, saying the Israeli government will be at fault if captives are killed.

The IDF has issued evacuation orders for the entire Rafah area, Gaza City’s Shejaiya neighborhood, and other areas in the Strip’s north, some two and a half weeks after resuming fighting amid the collapse of a hostage-truce deal.

“Half of the living Israeli prisoners are located in areas which the Israeli occupation army has requested to be evacuated in recent days,” claimed Hudhaifa Kahlout — known by the nom de guerre Abu Obeida — the spokesman for Hamas’s military wing, the al-Qassam Brigades. “We have decided not to transfer these prisoners from these areas, and to keep them under strict security measures, which are extremely dangerous to their lives,” Abu Obeida said in his statement, which was issued in Arabic, Hebrew, and English. He added that “if the enemy is concerned about the lives of these prisoners, they must immediately negotiate their evacuation or release.”  (Read More)

Iran threatens Middle Eastern countries over potential US strikes

Iranian official says regime has warned Iraq, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Turkey and Bahrain that there will be "severe consequences" if their airspace is used for an American attack on Iran's nuclear program. Iran has threatened other nations in the Middle East over the potential for American military strikes against its nuclear weapons program, even as it continues to reject direct negotiations of said nuclear program with the US, Reuters reported. An Iranian official told Reuters that the regime would only accept indirect talks with the US at this time, stating, "Indirect talks offer a chance to evaluate Washington's seriousness about a political solution with Iran."

The official also stated that Iran has given warnings to Iraq, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Turkey and Bahrain that it will consider any assistance given to an American strike on Iranian nuclear facilities, such as permitting the aircraft used in such an attack to use their airspace, an act of hostility against Iran that will "have severe consequences for them."

US President Donald Trump on Thursday told reporters aboard Air Force One that he believes Iran wants to hold direct talks with the US about the Iranian nuclear program.“It’s better if we have direct talks. I think it goes faster and you understand the other side a lot better than if you go through intermediators,” said Trump.   (Read More)

Trump After Bombing Houthis Gathering for Attack Instructions: ‘Oops, There Will Be No Attack’

President Donald Trump on Friday posted a video on his social media accounts of a U.S. military strike against Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen who have been targeting American ships in the Red Sea.  “These Houthis gathered for instructions on an attack. Oops, there will be no attack by these Houthis! They will never sink our ships again!” he posted. Since 2023, the Houthis have shot at United States warships at least 174 times and commercial vessels at least 145 times in the Suez Canal, Red Sea, and the Gulf of Aden, according to the White House.

After a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas broke down last month, the Houthis threatened to resume striking at ships traversing the Suez Canal, Red Sea, and the Gulf of Aden. Trump then ordered the U.S. military to strike the Houthis until they stop firing missiles and drones at American ships. The campaign, called Operation Rough Rider, began on March 15.  

The U.S. military strikes have been conducted by the USS Harry S. Truman aircraft carrier, which is currently stationed in the Red Sea. The USS Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group is headed from the Indo-Pacific to supplement the Truman in the Middle East. At the same time, Trump has been proposing talks with Iran over its nuclear program. The offers for direct talks have reportedly been turned down so far.  (Read More)

Netanyahu to meet Trump in White House, discuss tariffs

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will travel to Washington on Monday to meet with President Donald Trump, U.S. officials with knowledge about the visit said. This will be the premier’s fourth visit to the U.S. since the start of the war in Gaza 18 months ago, and his second meeting with Trump since the president’s inauguration on Jan. 20.

The two leaders are slated to discuss the latest developments in the Gaza Strip, as Israel stepped up its military operation since the ceasefire and hostage-terrorist swap agreements broke down in March, CBS News reported on Saturday.

Defense Minister Israel Katz, who was supposed to travel to the U.S. next week, has reportedly postponed his trip, as the prime minister and defense minister are prohibited from being abroad simultaneously during wartime. Netanyahu is furthermore projected to discuss the issue of tariffs with Trump, in the wake of the 17% tariff announced on Thursday by Washington on goods imported from the Jewish state—10% effective at 12:01 a.m. EDT on April 5, and an additional 7% at 12:01 a.m. EDT on April 9. (Read More)

IDF drone strikes Hezbollah terrorist near Tyre

The Israel Defense Forces attacked a Hezbollah terrorist operative in the southwestern Lebanon’s Tyre District on Thursday. An Israeli Air Force craft “recently struck a terrorist of the Hezbollah terrorist organization who was operating in the Alma al-Shaab area in Southern Lebanon,” the IDF confirmed in a Hebrew-language X post. Earlier on Thursday afternoon, Lebanon’s Al-Jadeed channel reported that a drone targeted a vehicle in Alma al-Shaab. According to the report, at least one person was wounded in the strike.

A truce brokered by the United States and France between Lebanon and Israel has been in place since Nov. 27, ending more than a year of cross-border fighting linked to the war in Gaza. Hezbollah has agreed under the truce to move north of the Litani River, with the Lebanese Armed Forces deploying to the south. Neither action has taken place in full.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar on Tuesday reiterated Jerusalem’s demand that the Lebanese government act against the Iranian-backed Hezbollah and Hamas terrorist organizations within its borders. He spoke shortly after the IDF struck a Hezbollah target in Beirut’s Dahieh area, reportedly disrupting a planned terrorist attack that could have resulted in the deaths of hundreds of Israeli civilians. Ed note: Psalm 83:7, "...with the inhabitants of Tyre.")   (Read more)

Report: Israeli strikes hit Syrian bases eyed by Turkey for potential deployment

Israeli airstrikes this week struck multiple military sites in Syria that Turkish teams had reportedly inspected in recent weeks as part of Ankara’s strategic evaluation for a potential defense initiative in the war-torn country, according to four sources with knowledge of the matter who spoke to the Reuters news agency. The targeted locations included the T4 and Palmyra air bases in Homs province, as well as the main airport in Hama province—sites Turkey had considered using under a proposed joint defense framework aimed at increasing its presence in central Syria, said the report.

The developments highlight escalating friction between Israel and Turkey as they navigate a complex post-Assad landscape in Syria. Islamist factions, long opposed to the previous regime, assumed control after Bashar Al-Assad was removed from power in December, raising concerns in Jerusalem over the potential implications for its security. Despite Turkish assurances to the United States that its increased involvement in Syria does not threaten Israel, Israel views Turkey’s deeper role with skepticism—particularly over fears of advanced military assets being positioned within striking distance.

One regional intelligence official quoted by Reuters described the Israeli strikes on Wednesday as “a tough message that Israel won’t accept the expanded Turkish presence.” The official added that T4 suffered heavy damage, rendering the site “totally unusable.” Another planned Turkish inspection of the base was aborted after the strike occurred.Turkish teams had previously assessed the condition of runways, hangars, and operational infrastructure at the targeted sites, according to the same official, two Syrian military sources, and another Syrian source familiar with the visits. All sources spoke to Reuters on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the information.   (Read More)

Syria Suffers Nationwide Power Outage Due to ‘Technical Malfunction’

The Syrian energy ministry on Tuesday attributed a nationwide blackout to a “technical malfunction in the electrical system.” The lights went out on Tuesday evening, and by Wednesday morning power had been restored to only three provinces. Khaled Aboudi, director general of the Public Corporation for Electricity Transmission and Distribution, said power was restored to Homs, Hama, and Tartous provinces, and would “gradually return to the remaining provinces.” Power in Syria tends to be spotty at best, with perhaps three hours a day of reliable electricity in much of the country. The long and grueling civil war that began in 2011 damaged much of the country’s fragile power infrastructure.  

Another problem is that Syria relied heavily upon imported Iranian oil during the fifty-year Assad dynasty, because much of its own production capacity was destroyed during the civil war. Prior to 2011, Syria was pumping up to 400,000 barrels per day of crude oil, enough to meet domestic needs with a modest surplus for export.

When dictator Bashar Assad was overthrown by jihadi insurgents in December, the supply of Iranian oil was cut off. Qatar began pumping natural gas through Jordan in March to meet some of Syria’s energy demand, but those imports are only good for generating about 400 megawatts of the estimated 6,500 megawatts needed by Syria every day.The i nsurgent government in Damascus has pledged to restore Syria’s energy infrastructure and repair its power grid, but those efforts would cost more than $250 billion, and it will be difficult to raise such huge investments while sanctions imposed against the Assad regime remain in place.  (Read More)

International energy companies will be reluctant to invest in Syria as long as the free world has misgivings about the “interim government” that replaced Assad, and doubts about the ability of that government to provide a safe environment for industrial development.

Now is the time to destroy the Iranian threat

The Islamic Republic is actively working toward obtaining nuclear capability, Israel is planning an attack strategy, and the United States, finally, under President Donald Trump, is demonstrating it may be willing to use military force to stop the Iranian regime. This week, the head of U.S. Central Command, Gen. Michael Kurilla, visited Israel for talks with IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir on regional security issues, the U.S. military said in a statement on Thursday.

Blaise Misztal, vice president for policy at the Jewish Institute for National Security of America (JINSA), told JNS Iran “must not be allowed to possess the weapons with which to carry out its homicidal agenda: its terrorist proxies must be degraded; its influence around the region rolled back; its nuclear facilities and ballistic missile and drone factories either shuttered or destroyed.”

To this end, the U.S. has now taken the crucial step of placing the military option front and center to pressure Iran into folding. The Pentagon has reportedly ordered the relocation of at least two Patriot surface-to-air missile batteries and a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) anti-ballistic missile defense system from Asia to the Middle East.  (Read More)

Iran scales back its support of proxies to focus on Trump's threat, Iranian officials say - report

Iran is scaling back its strategy of supporting its axis of proxies in the Middle East to focus on the United States’ direct threats, a senior Iranian official told the Telegraph on Thursday. How to deal with US President Donald Trump has become Tehran’s primary concern, the official continued. “Every meeting is dominated by discussions about him, and none of the regional groups we previously supported are being discussed,” the Telegraph quoted the official as saying.  

Iran reportedly ordered its military personnel to leave Yemen, leaving the Houthis to fend for themselves as the US continues attacking Houthi military assets. The reason behind the move was to avoid a direct confrontation with the US if an Iranian were killed in Yemen, the official stated.  

“The view here is that the Houthis will not be able to survive and are living their final months or even days, so there is no point in keeping them on our list,” the official continued, as reported by the British news site. “They were part of a chain that relied on [former Hezbollah chief Hassan] Nasrallah and [ousted Syrian president Bashar al] Assad, and keeping only one part of that chain for the future makes no sense.”   (Read More)

U.S. moves Patriot missile batteries from South Korea to Middle East

American Patriot missile defense batteries will be moved from South Korea to the Middle East, according to reports in Asian media on Friday, amid speculation over a potential military action against Iran's nuclear program and escalating bombardments of Iran-backed jihadists in Yemen. U.S. President Donald Trump threatened Iran on Sunday with bombing and secondary tariffs if Tehran did not come to an agreement with Washington over its nuclear program, and the United States has moved additional warplanes into the region.

Washington and Seoul have reportedly recently agreed on the "monthslong" partial deployment of the Patriot Advanced Capability-3, in what is understood to be the first known case involving the relocation of United States Forces Korea (USFK) assets to the Middle East.

Iran in recent years has largely dropped the pretense of enriching uranium for a civilian atomic energy program, as it's reportedly teetering on the nuclear precipice. Israel believes that a nuclear Iran represents a grave existential threat, consistent with the exterminationist antisemitism of the Islamic Republic's anti-Israel rhetoric. After the election of Trump, a known Iran hawk, the likelihood of an U.S.-Israeli attack on Iran's nuclear facilities has increased precipitously. (Source)

IDF kills Hamas commander Hassan Farhat in Lebanon strike

The IDF killed Hamas commander Hassan Farhat during a strike in Lebanon's Sidon, the military announced on Friday morning. Farhat was the commander of the western sector of Hamas in Lebanon, the IDF said. During the war, Farhat was responsible for numerous terrorist plots, including launching rockets into Safed, the military added.  

 

Addtionally, Farhat was responsible for launching the rocket fire that killed Staff-Sergeant Omer Sarah Benjo in February and wounded several others. Two additional people were also killed during Israel's strike in Lebanon that hit Farhat, the Hezbollah-affiliated news channel Al Mayadeen reported on Friday.  

In February, the IDF withdrew from southern Lebanon but erected and maintained five new outposts in Lebanese territory. Defense Minister Israel Katz confirmed to The Jerusalem Post statements by IDF sources made on Wednesday that given the extensive destruction of villages in southern Lebanon, it could take three to five years of rebuilding before there is anything for Lebanese civilians to return to. With many observers concerned that Hezbollah would exploit this mass return of Lebanese civilians to return under the guise of being noncombatants, the realization of the extent of the destruction of Lebanese villages is expected to delay such a threat. (Ed note: Sidon, promised to Israel in Joshus 13:6)   (Source)

IDF expanding ground operations in northern Gaza

IDF troops on Friday morning began conducting ground activity in the area of Shejaiya in northern Gaza, in order to expand the security zone. As part of the activity, the troops eliminated numerous terrorists and dismantled Hamas terrorist infrastructure, including a command and control center that served Hamas terrorists to plan and execute terror attacks. During and prior to the activity, IDF troops are allowing the evacuation of civilians from the combat zone via organized routes for their safety. 

 Brigadier General Yehuda Vach, the division's commander, told his soldiers, "Just like the residents of Zikim and Netiv Ha'asara saw an Israeli flag in Beit Lahia and returned home, I want to see here, at the end of this operation, a huge flagpole with an Israeli flag - so that residents of Nahal Oz will return home, and see that the IDF is protecting them." The IDF stressed that together with the ISA, it "will continue to operate against terrorist organizations in the Gaza Strip in order to protect the citizens of the State of Israel."  (Source)

Gazans flee expanding strikes in north, south as IDF says fighting entering ‘new stage’

The military said it was entering “a new stage” of fighting against the Hamas terror group in the Gaza Strip on Thursday, as troops prepared to cut off the southern city of Rafah and warplanes carried out extensive strikes across the enclave, amid warnings of further attacks.

Hamas-controlled health authorities in the Strip reported dozens killed in Israeli strikes over the previous 24 hours, including 27 people who died when three missiles hit a former school building in the al-Tuffah neighborhood of Gaza City, though the tolls could not be confirmed.

Israeli authorities said warplanes had targeted “key Hamas terrorists” inside a command center used to plan and execute attacks against Israelis and that it had taken steps to mitigate harm to civilians. The intensification in fighting came a day after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that troops would carve out a new security corridor that will seemingly cut off Rafah as it seeks to pile pressure on Hamas, which continues to hold 59 Israeli hostages kidnapped on October 7, 2023.  (Read more)

Palestinian Authority encourages rebellion against Hamas

Senior Palestinian Arab officials are blaming Hamas for the dire situation in the Gaza Strip amid the ongoing war. Mahmoud al-Habbash, an advisor to Palestinian Authority (PA) chairman Mahmoud Abbas, called for the formation of a "popular and national stance" demanding that Hamas leave the Gaza Strip.

He described Hamas's policy as "pointless and thoughtless," claiming it has provided Israel with "pretexts to continue its aggression against the Palestinians." In an interview with Voice of Palestine radio, al-Habbash said, "The residents of the Gaza Strip who took to the streets to demand an end to Hamas's rule expressed the sentiment of millions of people who wish to bring an end to the war and strengthen the Palestinian national position under the umbrella of the PLO."

Adnan al-Damiri, a member of Fatah's advisory council, claimed that "the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip are demanding an end to the war, whereas Hamas, if it were a true Palestinian movement, would act in the best interests of the Palestinian people." He added, "There is not a single sign indicating that Hamas is a Palestinian movement; rather, it is becoming clear that it is linked to other countries and their interests." (Read More)

‘Attack on the Global Trade Order’ Cries German Chancellor, Warning Trump’s Tariffs ‘Fundamentally Wrong’

Germany’s outgoing Chancellor voices the frustrations felt across the European ruling class at President Donald Trump tearing up the status quo on trade, decrying an “attack” The European Union, which has been hit with tariffs twice as high as post-Brexit Britain given the bloc’s protectionist policies and tariffs on imports, is expressing its distress and even outrage at President Trump’s bid to reform the United States’ trade relationship with the world.

 Germany’s Chancellor Olaf Scholz who is still technically in power nearly six weeks after he lost the Federal elections in February spoke in defense of the globalist status quo on Thursday. He said “This is an attack on a trade order that has created prosperity all over the globe”, called Trump’s policy “fundamentally wrong”, and warned “there will only be losers”, reports Tagesspiegel. Scholz told the European Union to “flex its muscles”, indicating a knee-jerk reaction of retaliation rather than taking — for instance — the UK’s approach of negotiating

Several European leaders, including Germany’s Foreign Minister have tried to rebrand what Trump calls his ‘Liberation Day’ as ‘Inflation Day’, buttressing the official messaging to European voters that this change will be inflationary.   (Read More) 

General Motors to Expand Production at Indiana Plant Thanks to Trump’s Auto Tariffs

General Motors (GM) plans to expand production at one of its plants in Indiana thanks to President Donald Trump’s tariffs on foreign-made cars. 

On Wednesday evening, Trump announced a 25 percent tariff on all foreign-made cars to protect the nation’s auto industry from unfair trade competition. GM executives said they will be increasing production of light-duty trucks at the automaker’s Fort Wayne Assembly Plant in Indiana, according to an exclusive report by Reuters on Thursday.GM executives said they will be increasing production of light-duty trucks at the automaker’s Fort Wayne Assembly Plant in Indiana, according to an exclusive report by Reuters on Thursday. 

 “The Detroit automaker may also add overtime days to the schedule, Plant Director Dennys Pimenta told employees in the webcast,” Reuters reports. “The moves will increase employment there with the hiring of several hundred temporary workers, according to a company source.” As Breitbart News reported, the United Auto Workers (UAW) have praised Trump’s auto tariffs as a necessary tool to end the nation’s decades-long free trade policy that has “devastated” American auto workers.  (Source)

On the road to Gog and Magog? Increasing Turkish military presence in Syria concerns Israel

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan invited Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham leader and Syrian interim president Ahmad al-Sharaa to Ankara for discussions regarding the establishment of Turkish bases in Syria, according to the Jerusalem Post.

Several sources familiar with the discussions told Reuters that Erdoğan and al-Sharaa discussed the possibility of establishing two Turkish bases in Syria's central desert region, including a former Russian airbase (T4) east of the city of Homs.The agreement could also include the use of Syrian airspace for military purposes and Turkish participation in the training of the forces of the new Syrian army.

The report also said that the agreement could include Turkish protection of Syrian airspace to prevent future attacks, such as the Israeli strikes aimed at destroying military supplies left by the former government of Bashar al-Assad. According to a report in "Middle East Eye", Turkey has already begun formulating construction plans for the base, which is located near the city of Palmyra in central Syria. That report claims that Turkey would initially establish air defense systems on the base, before stationing long-range UAVs, such as the Turkish Bayraktar TB2, which has seen extensive use by Turkish forces and Turkish militias against Kurdish fighters in Syria, Iraq, and eastern Turkey, as well as in Libya. (Ed note: perhaps not Ezekiel 38/39, but Jeremiah 49:23-27 sure comes to mind.)   (Read More)

Iran has ‘several hundred’ missiles left in its arsenal

As U.S. President Donald Trump gives Iran a two-month ultimatum regarding its nuclear program and moves heavy stealth bombers into position to warn Tehran about the consequences of failing to reach a deal, it has increased its threats to fire missiles in response. Trump issued a stark warning to Tehran during an NBC News interview on March 30, saying, “If they don’t make a deal, there will be a bombing.”

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian responded the same day, saying, “Direct negotiations have been rejected, but Iran has always been involved in indirect negotiations, and now too,” while confirming that Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is allowing indirect contacts.

The Ayatollah regime has used Iran’s underground missile infrastructures in recent days to issue threats, with the state-run Tehran Times stating on March 31 that “Iranian missiles are loaded onto launchers in all underground missile cities and are ready for launch.”    (Read More)

Israeli forces clash with armed terrorists in southern Syria

The Israel Defense Forces reported a firefight with armed terrorists during operations overnight Wednesday in the southern Syrian town of Tasil. The operation, according to the IDF, was aimed at locating and dismantling terrorist assets in the area. During the encounter, soldiers responded to gunfire and reportedly neutralized several combatants, both through direct engagement and air support.

Tasil is situated near the demilitarized zone along the Syria-Israel frontier—an area where the Israeli military has been operating since the Assad regime lost control of the region late last year. In a related development, the IDF confirmed launching a wave of airstrikes on Wednesday night on multiple military facilities across Syria. Targets included the Hama military airport and the T-4 airbase, where strikes were said to have damaged fuel storage areas, radar equipment and runways.

Additionally, Israeli aircraft carried out strikes near Damascus. Syrian state media reported that one of the locations hit was the Barzeh research facility on the city’s outskirts, a site previously scrutinized in international discussions on weapons development.  (Read more)

'Changing gears' | Netanyahu: 'We are taking control of the Morag Corridor in Gaza'

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu released a statement on Wednesday about Israel's intensifying operations in the Gaza Strip and announced that Israel will take control of an additional corridor. "Last night in the Gaza Strip, we changed gears. The IDF is taking territory, hitting terrorists, and destroying infrastructure. We are also doing something else: We are seizing the Morag Corridor. This will be the second Philadelphi, an additional Philadelphi Corridor."

 He explained that the reason for this is that "we are now dividing the Strip and increasing the pressure step by step, so that they will give us our hostages. And as long as they do not give them to us, the pressure will increase until they do." Netanyahu affirmed: "We are determined to achieve the war's goals, and we are working without rest and with a clear motive, and clear objective. And with G-d's help and the help of our heroic soldiers - we will achieve it." 

 The corridor that Netanyahu announced is seemingly named for the now destroyed Jewish village of Morag, which was situated between Rafah and Khan Yunis. If the corridor would run through the same area, it would separate southern Gaza's two major cities   (Source0

IDF is closing in on controlling 30% of Gaza, defense sources tell 'Post'

With the IDF’s latest pushes in southern Gaza and northern Gaza, it is close to controlling 30% of the Gaza Strip, defense sources said Wednesday. Division 36 finally started to take a full hand in the invasion, focusing on northern Rafah in southern Gaza. Its activities added to other divisions already active in Gaza since mid-March, including Division 252 in northern and central Gaza and Division 143 in southern Rafah. The latest IDF maneuvers could eventually cut off Rafah from Khan Yunis.

Despite the expanded areas of operation, defense sources have said they are continuing to avoid operating in areas in which hostages might be held. Furthermore, defense sources said even as the growing invasion with three divisions has required some new rounds of reservist call-ups, the still will not need to order a very large reservist call-up wave unless it engages in a much larger invasion of Gaza.

Defense sources threatened that if Hamas did not agree to a new hostage deal soon, a much larger invasion could be ordered within a period of days or weeks.Nevertheless, Defense Minister Israel Katz deflected any questions from The Jerusalem Post that suggested Israel was moving toward a slow military occupation of Gaza.Instead, the focus of the operation was still achieving a hostage deal, he said, declining to speculate about whether Hamas could or would try to outlast Israel’s latest military assault for several more months.  (Read more)

Katz says offensive aimed at seizing ‘extensive territory,’ as IDF pounds south Gaza

Defense Minister Israel Katz announced Wednesday morning that Israel is expanding operations in Gaza, following extensive overnight strikes in the southern part of the enclave. Troops will move to clear areas “of terrorists and infrastructure, and capture extensive territory that will be added to the State of Israel’s security areas,” Katz said in a statement. The IDF deployed another division to the southern Gaza Strip early in the day as part of the expansion of the offensive against Hamas.  

Palestinian media reported a large wave of strikes in Rafah and Khan Younis the night prior, and later said troops were advancing in Rafah. According to the reports, the bombings killed 21 people as of Wednesday morning. Later Wednesday, the IDF and Shin Bet said in a joint statement that they carried out a strike on Hamas terror operatives in the Jabalia area. Palestinian media reported at least eight dead in the strike and said the target was an UNRWA clinic. 

“The operatives were in a command and control compound that served as terror infrastructure and as a central meeting point for the terrorist organization,” according to the Israeli statement. “Additionally, the building was used by the Jabalia Battalion to advance [attacks] plans against Israeli civilians and IDF forces,” they added. The military said various measures were taken ahead of the strikes to minimize the risk to civilians, including intelligence gathering and aerial surveillance.  (Read more)

US Treasury chief meets with global banks on Iran oil sanctions

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Wednesday met in Washington with 16 global banks and federal law enforcement agencies on US sanctions policy on Iran including efforts to cut its oil exports. Bessent said President Donald Trump's administration is applying economic pressure to the maximum extent possible to disrupt Iran's access to financial resources that help it fund Hamas and other militant groups throughout the Middle East and its efforts to obtain a nuclear weapon.

"This includes the billions of dollars each year that Iran generates via its oil sales, which the regime also uses to finance its dangerous agenda and support its multiple terrorist proxies and partners," Bessent said, according to a copy of his remarks. Trump restored his policy of maximum pressure on Iran in February that includes efforts to drive its oil exports down to zero.

In March Treasury slapped sanctions on tankers carrying Iranian oil and on a Chinese "teapot" refinery for processing the oil. Teapots are small, independent refineries in China. China's national oil company refineries have stopped buying Iranian oil over concerns about sanctions. Bessent mentioned the US sanctioning of Shandong Shouguang Luqing Petrochemical Co., Ltd, the small refinery, and its chief executive officer for purchasing and refining hundreds of millions of dollars’ worth of Iranian crude oil, including from vessels linked to the Houthis and the Iranian Ministry of Defense and Armed Forces Logistics.  (Read More)

US Treasury sanctions Houthi pipeline for Russian arms and stolen Ukrainian grain

The US Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned a network of Houthi terrorist "financial facilitators and procurement operatives" who procured "tens of millions of dollars worth of commodities from Russia, including weapons, and stolen Ukrainian grain for onward shipment" to Yemen, the Treasury announced on Wednesday. The network was operating in coordination with Sa'id al-Jamal, a senior "Houthi financial official backed by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Quds Force (IRGC-QF)," the Treasury added.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated that "The Houthis remain reliant on Sa’id al-Jamal and his network to procure critical goods to supply the group’s terrorist war machine," adding "Today’s action underscores our commitment to degrading the Houthis’ ability to threaten the region through their destabilizing activities."

"The Houthis have deployed missiles, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), and naval mines to attack commercial shipping interests in the Red Sea, threatening global freedom of navigation and the integrity of international commerce," Bessent added. "These indiscriminate attacks on civilian economic infrastructure, enabled and incentivized by the support of the Iranian regime, have resulted in the deaths of innocent civilians and resulted in millions of dollars in damage to commercial shipping," he continued.   (Read More)

The Looming Housing Crisis No One Is Talking About

The U.S. housing market is standing on a precarious edge, and almost no one is paying attention. Right now, over 1 million defaulted FHA mortgages are being artificially kept from foreclosure by government policies that should have ended with the pandemic. This is not just a housing problem—it's a potential economic disaster waiting to happen. If these policies continue, we risk inflating a new subprime housing bubble—one eerily reminiscent of 2008. If they suddenly end, we could see a massive surge in foreclosures that floods the market with inventory, leading to plummeting home prices and financial turmoil. Either way, the government’s intervention in the housing market is setting up a crisis that could shake not only homeowners but also the broader economy.  

During the COVID-19 pandemic, mortgage relief programs were enacted to protect struggling homeowners. These policies made sense at the time—millions of Americans lost jobs overnight, and foreclosures would have been catastrophic. But instead of phasing these protections out as the economy recovered, the Biden administration continued extending them long after the pandemic ended. According to a recent Wall Street Journal report, over 300,000 seriously delinquent FHA mortgages are still being blocked from foreclosure by these outdated policies. The FHA mortgage program, which backs 7.8 million active loans, now has nearly 14% of its loans in default—a staggering number that should be setting off alarm bells. Here’s why this matters:  

Artificially Low Foreclosure Rates: The government is essentially propping up borrowers who haven't made payments in months or even years. This keeps foreclosure numbers artificially low, giving the illusion of a strong housing market. 

A Hidden Wave of Inventory: If these protections were lifted, 300,000 to 400,000 homes could suddenly hit the market as foreclosures or short sales. That’s a 40% increase in U.S. housing inventory—and in some regions, available homes could double or triple overnight.  

Housing Prices Are Being Manipulated: With such a limited supply of homes for sale, prices remain high. But the moment these defaulted homes hit the market, we could see a dramatic price correction. Homeowners who bought at peak prices could suddenly find themselves underwater, just like in 2008.  (Ed note: and this article does not address the commercial vacancy rate which is now 20% in many major cities.)   (Read More)

Israel expands military operation in Gaza following wave of strikes

The Israel Defense Forces has deployed another division to the Gaza Strip following overnight strikes on the enclave’s south, with Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz stating on Wednesday morning that “Operation Strength and Sword” is being expanded. Israeli forces will move to secure wider areas to reinforce buffer zones along the border, with the aim of weakening terrorist infrastructure and pressure local communities to distance themselves from Hamas while supporting the return of hostages, he said.

On Wednesday, the IDF reported that troops eliminated an armed terrorist who approached the security fence in southern Gaza. According to the military, the suspect posed a threat and was shot before reaching the fence. No Israeli injuries were reported.

Also on Wednesday, the IDF and Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet) confirmed a targeted strike on Hamas operatives in Jabalia. According to a joint statement, the terrorists were located in a command center used to coordinate attacks and serve as a key meeting point for the group’s leadership. The compound, operated by Hamas’ Jabalia Battalion, was also used to plan attacks on Israeli civilians and troops, according to the statement.   (Read More)

Mapped: These are the nuclear sites in Iran the US and Israel could hit if talks fail

Trump warned Iran that without a nuclear deal, 'there will be bombing,' echoing Israeli threats; since the 2015 deal collapsed, Iran has ramped up enrichment at key sites like Natanz, Fordow and Isfahan—now potential targets if talks fail. U.S. President Donald Trump said this week that if Iran did not strike a deal with the United States over its nuclear program "there will be bombing," adding to U.S. ally Israel's long-standing threat to attack Iran's nuclear facilities. 

Israel has consistently warned that it will act militarily if necessary to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon. With Trump’s remarks, the prospect of a coordinated or unilateral attack on Iranian nuclear facilities has gained new urgency. Below are some of Iran’s key nuclear sites that could be targeted in such a scenario.

Where are Iran's nuclear facilities? Iran's nuclear program is spread over many locations. While the threat of Israeli airstrikes has loomed for decades, only some of the sites have been built underground. The United States and the UN nuclear watchdog believe Iran had a coordinated, secret nuclear weapons program that it halted in 2003. The Islamic Republic denies ever having had one or planning to have one.
Iran agreed to restrictions on its nuclear activities in exchange for relief from international sanctions under a 2015 deal with world powers. 

That pact fell apart after then-President Donald Trump pulled the United States out of it in 2018 and Iran started abandoning the restrictions the next year. Yes. Iran has been expanding its uranium enrichment program ever since the pact broke down, reducing the so-called "breakout time" it would need to produce enough weapons-grade uranium for a nuclear bomb to days or little more than a week from at least a year under the 2015 deal.   (Read More)