Regular updates
13.30 – What is Iran hiding? The suspicious movements detected at the mysterious nuclear site
New satellite images raise question marks about activity that is being carried out in the underground complex in Mount HaPikas in Iran, south of the nuclear facility in Natanz. According to the new photos from the Institute for International Security and Research, as early as April 22, it appears that the two entrances to the eastern tunnels in the compound were partially blocked with dirt designed to prevent vehicle access to the openings.
In earlier pictures, from April 1, the tunnel openings were seen completely open and unobstructed. Now, although the material placed in place does not completely hide the entrances to the tunnels, it may still make it very difficult for vehicles to enter and exit quickly. To read the article.
13:19 – Iranian President Pazkhian claimed that he recently met Supreme Leader Mujtaba Khamenei
12:35 – More than 1,000 combat personnel have been located so far as part of the operations of the Givati Brigade forces in southern Lebanon. In addition, the brigade is responsible for the elimination of about 90 terrorists and the destruction of hundreds of terrorist infrastructures
12:37 – The IDF Spokesman in Arabic, Col. Avihai Adrai, issued an evacuation notice for three villages in southern Lebanon
11:15 – The IDF officially confirmed today (Thursday) that the commander of the Radwan force, Ahmed Khaleb Blot, was killed in a Dahya in Beirut. In Lebanon, the developments are being closely monitored. Officials in Beirut see this as a possible signal from Israel to return to the policy of targeted assassinations against senior Hezbollah officials. At the same time, Lebanese officials warn that any significant response from Hezbollah – could rekindle the front and lead to the collapse of the fragile cease-fire. In Lebanon this morning there were reports of attacks by the IDF in Nabatia.
10:55 – A report on the Saudi Al-Hadath channel: There are intense talks for the gradual reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, when agreements were reached regarding the easing of the blockade – in exchange for the gradual opening of the Strait of Hormuz. A breakthrough in the situation of the ships stuck in the Strait is expected in the coming hours
10:15 – The Lebanese Al-Mayadeen channel reports three Israeli attacks within half an hour in the city of Nabatia, South Lebanon
09:59 – After last night’s attack in Dahiya: In Lebanon, attacks are also reported in Nabatiya
09:56 – A political source in Lebanon told the Lebanese newspaper “Nidaa al-Watan” this morning after the attempted assassination of the commander of the Radwan force last night: “Israel, as part of its ongoing pressure on Hezbollah and the Lebanese state, may renew the widespread assassinations against senior Hezbollah officials.”
09:18 – Yesterday, the IDF thwarted an attempt to smuggle 11 guns on the eastern border using a drone. The drone was intercepted, and the weapons were transferred for further processing by the security forces
09:00 – Fear in the security establishment: an agreement between the US and Iran will limit the IDF in Lebanon
Israel fears that the agreement being formed between the US and Iran will include limitations that will reduce the IDF’s freedom of action in the northern arena. According to estimates, US President Donald Trump insists on removing the enriched uranium from Iran as a condition for the agreement, and Washington is optimistic that an understanding can be reached in the coming days.
The security establishment is worried that the move will eventually lead to an agreement that will reduce the IDF’s freedom of action in Lebanon. “The Americans have actually connected the arenas (Iran and Hezbollah) and sandaled us,” said a senior official in the defense establishment against the background of the contacts taking shape. “We take into account that such an agreement has a clause that can stop us from operating in Lebanon.”
The IDF fears that the connection between the arenas will harm the army’s ability to realize its goals and ensure security on the northern border over time. For the full article
08:36 – Report in the US: Iran is expected to return today its answer to the American proposal to end the war
07:56 – 320 drones were confiscated in Judea and Samaria; The IDF is afraid: the threat of explosive drones – may inspire
Yesterday (Wednesday) during the operation of the forces, eight terrorists were eliminated, and terrorist infrastructures of the terrorist organization Hezbollah were destroyed. At the same time, Hezbollah terrorists launched explosive drones at the IDF forces – three fighters were injured, severely, moderately and lightly, in two different incidents that occurred.
The explosive drones have become the main and most significant threat to the IDF forces operating inside Lebanon. The Central Command closely monitors the drone threat in Lebanon and works to ensure that the phenomenon does not inspire terrorists in Judea and Samaria.
The main concern in the central command is that explosive drones will be launched from Palestinian cities in Judea and Samaria towards the cities of Sharon and the center. To prevent this, over the past few months over 320 drones were located and confiscated in the territories of Judea and Samaria. The goal is to prevent the possibility of using these drones for terrorist purposes, which include intelligence gathering, espionage and use as explosive drones. For the full article
07:40 – Reuters: The US Immigration Department has decided to resume deportation proceedings against Mohsen Mahadwai, a pro-Palestinian student who was among the leaders of the violent protests at Columbia University against the war in Gaza
02:34 – Report: Trump stopped the operation in Hormuz following Saudi pressure
US President Donald Trump withdrew from his plan to help ships pass through the Strait of Hormuz as part of “Project Freedom” after Saudi Arabia suspended the US military’s ability to use its bases and airspace for the purpose of the operation – this was reported tonight (between Wednesday and Thursday) on the NBC network.
Trump surprised his Gulf allies when he announced the operation on social media on Sunday, infuriating the Saudi leadership. In response, Riyadh announced that it would not allow American planes to use its bases and its airspace as necessary for the benefit of the operation. A conversation between the leaders of the countries failed to settle the dispute. For the full article
01:37 – The IDF spokesman confirms that the Air Force intercepted a suspicious aerial target that was launched from Lebanon towards Israel. The alerts were activated following a fear of interception fragments falling
01:26 – Within 7 weeks, at least 28 people were executed in Iran for political or security reasons – as reported by CNN according to a human rights organization
00:43 – The assessment is increasing in Israel: the commander of the Radwan force was killed in Dahya
After a month of silence in Beirut, the Air Force returned to action deep in Lebanon. The target: a senior member of Hezbollah’s elite unit – Malach Belot, the successor of Wissam al-Tawil. A senior Israeli official: “The operation was carried out in a surgical manner against a headquarters from which instructions were issued to attack our forces.”
At the same time as the reports of the attack, the social networks in Lebanon were filled with documents of panic and distress. Many residents of the Dahaiah district, who returned to their homes in recent weeks under the protection of the relative peace, are seen leaving the area once again for fear of further waves of attacks. For the full article
22:48 – A source in Iran’s oil ministry: Iran has begun to reduce oil production due to the storage crisis as a result of the naval blockade
A source in Iran’s oil ministry told the New York Times: Iran has begun reducing production in some oil wells to deal with the storage crisis caused by the naval blockade. According to him, it is possible that within 40-45 days the storage space on land and at sea will run out.
The source also said that Iran may be forced to close some of the oil wells, a process that could be slow and very expensive to restore. According to the same source, some of the old wells may be closed permanently, because it will not be profitable to restart them.
22:36 – Trump estimates – within a week an agreement can be reached: “This is not a deadline”
Against the background of reports of progress in the negotiations, US President Donald Trump clarified that Iran has only one week to sign an agreement. Afterwards, he was asked if he had set a deadline – and emphasized: “There is never a deadline. It will happen, but there is no deadline. Iran must not have nuclear weapons, and it will not. They agreed to that, along with other things.”
21:00 – Saudi report: the son of senior Hamas official Khalil al-Hiya was killed in an attack in Gaza
20:17 – Netanyahu and others: The IDF has now attacked the commander of the Radwan force in Beirut in order to thwart him
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz announce: “The IDF has now attacked the commander of the Radwan force in the Hezbollah terrorist organization in Beirut in order to defeat him. The Radwan terrorists, led by him, are responsible for shooting at Israeli settlements and harming IDF soldiers. No terrorist has immunity – Israel’s long hand will catch every enemy and murderer.”
According to security assessments in Israel, along with the commander, his lieutenant was also in the building, and both of them were the exact target of the attack.
20:09 – US Army: We neutralized a vessel in the Gulf of Oman that tried to break the blockade
The US military announced that its forces operating in the Gulf of Oman enforced the blockade measures by neutralizing an empty oil tanker flying an Iranian flag.
20:02 – Trump: “Iran wants to make a deal, they want to negotiate”
US President Donald Trump stated this evening that “Iran wants to make a deal, they want to negotiate.” He clarified: “Iran cannot have nuclear weapons.”
19:58 – Netanyahu on relations with the US: “There is full coordination between us, there are no surprises”
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the opening of the political-security cabinet: “We maintain continuous contact with our friends in the USA. I talk to President Trump almost on a daily basis. My people and his people talk on a daily basis, including today, and I will talk later tonight with President Trump as well.”
Netanyahu clarified: “There is full coordination between us, there are no surprises. We share common goals, and the most important goal is the removal of the enriched material from Iran – all the enriched material, and the dismantling of Iran’s enrichment capabilities. President Trump believes he can achieve this one way or another. But we are prepared for any scenario, and this is my directive to the IDF and our security forces as well. Israel is stronger than ever, Iran and its metastases are weaker than ever.”
