Search focused on the Middle East

31+ min ago (134+ words) Yesterday (Monday), IDF, ISA, and Israel Police forces apprehended a cell of weapon and drug smugglers, that had been operating recently in the Paran Regional Brigade area in southern Israel. In a special operation involving IDF troops, the IAF, the ISA, and the Israel Police, a pursuit was launched, following the identification by IDF surveillance of an Israeli smuggling cell near the western border. At the end of the pursuit, six suspects were apprehended along with their vehicles, and 21 kilograms of drugs were seized. The suspects were transferred to the Israel Police for further processing. "The IDF will continue to operate at all times, in cooperation with the various security bodies in the area, in order to prevent additional smuggling attempts, maintain stability, and ensure the security of the civilians," the military stated....

35+ min ago (71+ words) [Former Shin Bet head at Tel Aviv University]If we do not investigate the entire system," Bar said during the conference, "We are condemning ourselves to the next October 7." 'This is our Munich': Ex-Shin Bet chief Bar calls for probe into Oct. 7 failings at TAU conference If we do not investigate the entire system," Bar said during the conference, "We are condemning ourselves to the next October 7."...

35+ min ago (354+ words) ISRAEL AT WAR - DAY 795 VILNIUS " Lithuania's governing Social Democrats will remain in coalition for now with a populist junior partner whose leader was found guilty last week of incitement to hatred against Jews and belittling the Holocaust. The founder of the populist Nemunas Dawn party, Remigijus Zemaitaitis,was fined 5,000 euros($5,800) last week for a series of social media posts that a court said falsely blamed Jews for historical crimes and promoted hostility towards them. In his posts, Zemaitaitis blamed Jews for a "Holocaust of Lithuanians" during World War Two, and quoted an old nursery rhyme with the line "take a stick, children and kill the Jew." Judge Nida Vigelien" said after his verdict that "Zemaitaitis chose and used language that was degrading, violated human dignity and demonstrated hatred." The far-right lawmaker has denied that his comments broke the law and…...

39+ min ago (193+ words) Israel's Minister of Defense, Israel Katz, visited the Northern Command this morning (Tuesday), together with the Deputy Chief of Staff, Maj. Gen. Tamir Yadai, the Commander of the Northern Command, Maj. Gen. Rafi Milo, and additional commanders.The Minister of Defense received an operational and intelligence briefing on the relevant issues.The Minister of Defense praised the offensive activity of the command's personnel across the various arenas and emphasized that the IDF must remain inside the territory as a buffer between jihadist enemies and the residents of the Galilee and the Golan. Defense Minister visits Northern Command Israel's Minister of Defense, Israel Katz, visited the Northern Command this morning (Tuesday), together with the Deputy Chief of Staff, Maj. Gen. Tamir Yadai, the Commander of the Northern Command, Maj. Gen. Rafi Milo, and additional commanders. The Minister of Defense received an…...

40+ min ago (299+ words) ALBAWABA- Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday reaffirmed that Moscow will push its war in Ukraine until it gains full control of the Donbas, calling the region "historically Russian territory" and rejecting any compromise. "Speaking at a Council for Strategic Development meeting, he warned that Ukrainian forces must withdraw from Donetsk and Luhansk or be "forcibly removed," insisting Russia seeks peace only on its own terms. His remarks, delivered to pro-Kremlin activists, came as Russian forces tout gains such as the recent capture of Pokrovsk. Putin also hinted at broader territorial ambitions, suggesting Russia could move to cut Ukraine off from the Black Sea by targeting Odesa and Mykolaiv, dismissing Western concerns of escalation. In London, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met leaders from France, Germany, and the UK to shore up European unity amid what Kyiv sees as U.S. pressure to…...

52+ min ago (779+ words) ISRAEL AT WAR - DAY 795 With less than a year to go until the next elections, State Comptroller Matanyahu Englman warned in a speech Tuesday that Israel is unprepared to tackle foreign interference at the ballot box and said such meddling could undermine public confidence in the vote itself. Englman highlighted what he called an increasing threat of cyberattacks from Iran, amid Tehran's wide-ranging effort to recruit Israelis for espionage missions inside the country. He called on the government to take swift action to address the problem. "We must recognize that foreign influences may emerge and affect our democratic process," said Englman in a speech at Tel Aviv University's Cyber Week conference. He added that the "purity of Israel's elections is in danger." "During an election year, the threat will intensify and may jeopardize the democratic process " creating chaos on election…...

58+ min ago (943+ words) Residents say incursions and raids have increased since forces first entered country a year ago after fall of Assad On the day Bashar al-Assad's regime fell, Abu Ibrahim and his family went to sleep wondering what sort of future awaited them in the morning. They woke in a panic, to the sound of gunfire and tanks. The bullets announced the arrival of the Israeli military into the remote southern Syrian province of Quneitra on 9 December 2024. In the place of Assad militias who used to patrol the roads, bulky armoured personnel carriers filled with Israeli soldiers rumbled down the potholed streets, stopping to assure residents that they were there for their protection. "When the Assad regime fell, we didn't even get to celebrate " it fell over there while they entered from here," said 52-year-old Ibrahim, working at a falafel shop in…...

1+ hour, 5+ min ago (49+ words) [Adina Spiewak and her family (photo credit: Courtesy)]The holiday of light takes on new meaning for new immigrants building a home in Israel Eight New Olim Celebrate Their First Hanukkah as Israelis The holiday of light takes on new meaning for new immigrants building a home in Israel...

1+ hour, 8+ min ago (87+ words) [An IDF soldier stands guard during an evacuation of illegal West Bank outposts, December 7, 2025. (photo credit: Courtesy)]Border Police and IDF units evacuated four illegal outposts in Gush Etzion, Samaria, and Binyamin, following PM Netanyahu's directive to clear 14 such sites across the West Bank. Border Police, IDF evacuate four illegal outposts across West Bank Border Police and IDF units evacuated four illegal outposts in Gush Etzion, Samaria, and Binyamin, following PM Netanyahu's directive to clear 14 such sites across the West Bank....

1+ hour, 21+ min ago (377+ words) ISRAEL AT WAR - DAY 795 For the first time since September, Israel will reopen the Allenby Crossing for the transfer of aid and goods from Jordan to the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, a defense official said Tuesday. The crossing was closed in September after a Jordanian truck driver transporting humanitarian aid destined for Gaza killed two Israeli soldiers at the crossing. The crossing opened several days later for passenger and pedestrian traffic only. The official said that in recent weeks, "security adjustments" were carried out at the crossing, on both the Israeli and Jordanian sides. "In addition, screening and security-profiling procedures for the Jordanian drivers and for the contents of the trucks have been tightened, and dedicated security forces have been assigned to secure the crossing," the official said. The official said that following those adjustments, and in accordance…...