Israel pulls fighter jets from drill in Alaska amid tensions with Iran
The Israel Air Force has decided to scale back its participation in the Red Flag exercise amid increasing tensions on Israel’s northern border.
Iran
U.S. Personnel Embedded With Lebanese Forces, Raising Concern Of Hezbollah Penetration
A senior U.S. official disclosed this week that American personnel have been stationed in the Lebanese Armed Forces, or LAF, a contested fighting force that is closely aligned with the Iranian-backed terror group Hezbollah, according to testimony this week that has caused alarm in Congress and with regional experts.
Iranian-Backed ‘Sleeper Cell’ Militants Hibernating in U.S., Positioned for Attack
Iranian-backed militants are operating across the United States mostly unfettered, raising concerns in Congress and among regional experts that these ‘sleeper cell’ agents are poised to launch a large-scale attack on the American homeland, according to testimony before lawmakers.
Israel planning for direct retaliatory attack from Iran
Israel is preparing for a crossborder attack by the Revolutionary Guard Corps, in response to a strike allegedly carried out by the Jewish state against an Iranian-operated air base in Syria that killed seven of its soldiers.
Iran president: If US scraps nuke deal, they’ll see impact ‘within a week’
Iran’s president lashed out at the United States on Monday and threatened to immediately reboot nuclear efforts if Washington walks away from the deal between Tehran and world powers, as Iran marked ‘National Nuclear Day,’ dedicated to its achievements in nuclear technology.
New Russian Weapons Alarm Israel, May Trigger Next Syrian Crisis
Angered by last week’s U.S. attack on Syria, Russia warned that there would be consequences. Only one of them was spelled out: The Kremlin said it may supply its Syrian ally with state-of-the-art air defenses.
Magnitude 5.5 quake strikes southern Iran, near nuclear plant
An earthquake of at least magnitude 5.5 struck in southern Iran near the country’s sole nuclear power plant on Thursday morning, shaking Bahrain and other areas around the Persian Gulf.
Netanyahu issues veiled warning to Iran over Syria tensions
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday issued a veiled warning to Iran, saying in a Memorial Day speech that his country will defend itself against anyone that tries to harm it.
Israel hints it could hit Iran’s ‘air force’ in Syria
Israel released details on Tuesday about what it described as an Iranian ‘air force’ deployed in neighboring Syria, including civilian planes suspected of transferring arms, a signal that these could be attacked should tensions with Tehran escalate.
IDF official said to confirm attack in Syria: ‘First strike on Iranian targets’
An Israeli military official confirmed Monday that Israel carried out last week’s strike on Iranian forces in a Syrian airbase, the New York Times reported.
Syrian media: Explosions at largest Iranian base in Syria
Mixed and contradictory reports emerged from Syria Saturday night over a mystery blast that rocked an Iranian base located on the outskirts of Aleppo.
China and Iran reportedly set to cooperate on building of nuclear reactors
China has expressed its intention, amid ongoing talks, to assist Iran in building several small nuclear power plants for civilian use, an Iranian lawmaker stated on Sunday according to Fars news agency.
EU ponders new sanctions on Syria, Iran, Russia
EU foreign ministers have discussed new sanctions on Syria, Iran, and Russia in light of the chemical warfare in Syria.
Trump puts brakes on Russian sanctions over Syria
President Trump on Monday ordered a hold on new economic sanctions against Russia over its support for Syria and said he remain committed to pulling U.S. troops out of the war-torn nation, despite what was widely seen as a successful strike with allies on President Bashar Assad’s chemical weapons infrastructure over the weekend.
Russia’s Putin predicts global ‘chaos’ if West hits Syria again
Russian President Vladimir Putin warned on Sunday that further Western attacks on Syria would bring chaos to world affairs, as Washington prepared to increase pressure on Russia with new economic sanctions.
Hezbollah threatens possibility of ‘direct fight’ between Israel and Iran
Hezbollah Secretary-General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah pointed on Friday to an Israeli air strike against a Syrian air base that killed some Iranian Revolutionary Guards, saying it opened the prospect of conflict between the two enemy states.
Iran official threatens to destroy Israel if it continues ‘childish game’
Iran will destroy Israel if it doesn’t stop its ‘childish game,’ a senior military leader in the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps threatened Thursday.
Trump meets with national security team as Britain joins U.S., France in planning Syria strike
President Trump huddled with his national security team Thursday amid mounting speculation of a military attack in response to Syria’s suspected use of chemical weapons, while Britain’s Cabinet gave the green light to join the U.S. and France in planning a strike.
Saudis Shoot Down Missiles, Drones as Middle East Tensions Flare
Saudi Arabia said it intercepted ballistic missiles and shot down drones sent from Yemen, in the latest attack by pro-Iranian rebels that showed improved military capabilities more than three years into the conflict.
Israeli Airstrikes Target Iran’s Presence, Drones in Syria
In recent months, Israel-Iran tensions have evolved from covert and proxy battles to direct confrontations. Early Monday, Israel targeted the Syrian regime’s T-4 military air base in Homs, killing at least seven Iranian personnel. One of the fatalities was a colonel with Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corp (IRGC), responsible for overseeing Iran’s unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) unit. The IRGC ordered Iranian state-affiliated media outlets to retract articles describing the incident.