In recent days, unusual videos circulating online have shown what appear to be clusters of small glowing objects streaking across the night sky, sparking both curiosity and concern among the public.
Those images reflect a new security reality after Iranian barrages that included this type of missile struck central Israel. The attacks reportedly caused direct impacts and injuries from shrapnel in locations including Petach Tikvah and Tel Aviv.
The weapon involved is a ballistic missile equipped with a cluster warhead. Unlike a conventional missile that carries a single large explosive payload, this type of missile is designed to break apart during flight and release numerous smaller explosive units.
The process occurs high above the ground. At an altitude of roughly seven kilometers, the missile’s warhead opens and releases approximately twenty smaller submunitions. These small bombs then spread over a wide area, potentially covering a zone that can reach a diameter of up to sixteen kilometers from the point where the missile splits apart.
The glowing appearance seen in videos is caused by intense heat created as the submunitions pass through the atmosphere. Friction with the air generates bright light until the objects cool somewhat before reaching the ground.
Iran’s decision to deploy these missiles at this stage of the conflict appears to stem from both technological limitations and operational considerations.
One reason is that the weapon helps compensate for the relatively poor accuracy of some older Iranian missile systems, such as the Imad and Qadr missiles, which can miss their intended targets by more than a kilometer. By scattering dozens of explosive submunitions across a broad area, the missile increases the likelihood that at least one will strike something.
Another factor is the challenge such weapons pose to air-defense systems. Intercepting dozens of small objects can be far more difficult than stopping a single large missile. This creates an additional burden for defensive systems such as Iron Dome, especially if the missile is not intercepted earlier at high altitude by the Arrow system.
Security experts also believe the timing of their use may simply reflect availability. Some of these weapons are believed to have been stored in eastern Iran at sites that were less affected by recent strikes.
Paradoxically, cluster missiles are generally considered less destructive to buildings and protected spaces than missiles carrying a single large warhead.
A standard ballistic missile with a unified warhead weighing hundreds of kilograms can cause the collapse of an entire building. By contrast, each submunition in a cluster missile contains only about 2.5 kilograms of explosive material.
That amount of explosive is typically not enough to penetrate the reinforced concrete walls of a protected safe room or cause major structural damage. As a result, people who follow Home Front Command instructions and remain in protected areas are significantly safer.
However, for anyone caught outside, the danger can be severe. Each submunition spreads fast-moving and potentially lethal shrapnel across a wide area.
Another serious risk comes from unexploded submunitions. Some of the small bombs may fail to detonate when they hit the ground and can remain dangerous for years. These unexploded devices can detonate if touched or moved.
Authorities therefore stress that anyone who encounters suspicious objects or debris should avoid approaching them and report the location immediately to the police.
{Matzav.com}
Rabbi Moshe Yosef Edri has been chosen as the chief rabbi of the city of Givatayim following a vote conducted by the municipal rabbinical election committee, which was headed by Rabbi Yaakov Zamir, a retired judge of Israel’s Supreme Rabbinical Court.
The announcement was made Sunday after the ballots were counted, confirming Rabbi Edri’s victory in the election. He is the son of the late Rabbi Pinchas Edri, who previously served as Givatayim’s chief rabbi.
The appointment is part of a broader initiative by Israel’s Ministry of Religious Services to establish permanent rabbinical leadership in cities across the country, reflecting the ministry’s emphasis on stable and consistent Torah guidance for local communities. The decision carries particular significance for Givatayim residents following the passing of Rabbi Pinchas Edri.
The election committee was chaired by Rabbi Yaakov Zamir. Other members included Rabbi Dovid Cohen, the chief rabbi of Gan Yavne, as well as Moshik Goldstein, Sivan Goldberg, Yamit Yona, and representatives from the legal department of the Ministry of Religious Services. Tzuriel Porat served as the committee’s secretary.
Once the vote counting was completed, the committee reported that Rabbi Moshe Yosef Edri received 31 votes. Two ballots were submitted blank, while three members of the electoral body did not participate in the vote. Rabbi Edri, the son of the late Rabbi Pinchas Edri, is expected to continue the rabbinical legacy established by his father in the city.
Rabbi Edri studied at the Beit Shmaya and Kol Yehuda yeshivos and received semichah from several prominent poskim, including Rav Nissim Karelitz, Rav Mordechai Eliyahu, Rav Shalom Mashash, Rav Moshe Malka, and Rav Yaakov Edelstein.
He also holds official certification from Israel’s Chief Rabbinate to serve as both a city rabbi and a dayan. In addition, Rabbi Edri previously headed the Rav Pe’alim kollel, which trains rabbis and rabbinical judges, and authored the halachic work Imrei De’ah on the Shulchan Aruch.
MK Michael Malkieli, who previously served as Israel’s minister of religious services, praised the outcome of the election, saying that Givatayim’s residents have gained an outstanding city rabbi and the son of the late Rabbi Pinchas Edri, whom he described as the city’s longtime and beloved rabbinical leader.
Yehuda Avidan, director general of the Ministry of Religious Services, thanked the chairman of the election committee and Givatayim Mayor Ran Konik while congratulating Rabbi Edri on his selection. He said the appointment was the result of an orderly process initiated by the previous minister of religious services and carried out in coordination with all relevant authorities. Avidan expressed confidence that Rabbi Edri will continue his father’s legacy, work to strengthen residents’ connection to the world of Torah, and present Judaism in an accessible and welcoming way. He added that appointing a city rabbi provides spiritual and communal stability and allows residents to benefit from clear and committed Torah leadership.
Eitan Reuveni, chairman of Givatayim’s religious council, also welcomed the decision. He said the selection of a city rov is not merely a ceremonial moment but a meaningful statement about direction, responsibility, and partnership. According to Reuveni, the city has chosen rabbinic leadership that seeks to connect Torah with daily life, tradition with community, and spiritual depth with human sensitivity, marking both a continuation of the past and the beginning of a new chapter for the city and its residents.
{Matzav.com}
Col. (res.) David Rokni, who for decades served as the commanding officer of Israel’s Independence Day torch-lighting ceremony at Mount Herzl, passed away at the age of 94.
Rokni, who was born in Iran and later married there, immigrated to Israel in 1950 and joined Kibbutz Ashdot Yaakov.
He served in the Golani Brigade for 35 years, holding various staff and training positions, and during the 1970s he served as the sergeant major of Training Base 11. During his military service, he was appointed commander of the traditional torch-lighting ceremony held each year on the eve of Israel’s Independence Day at Mount Herzl.
For this role he was granted officer rank and was called up to reserve duty each year for a period of 42 days. Over the course of his tenure, Rokni oversaw 34 Independence Day torch-lighting ceremonies. He was later succeeded by Lt. Col. Shimon Deri, who was eventually promoted to the rank of colonel.
President Isaac Herzog paid tribute to Rokni, saying, “I received with great sorrow the news of the passing of Col. (res.) David Rokni, the legendary commander of the torch-lighting ceremony at Mount Herzl for about 34 years. Rokni was the symbol of this national and unifying ceremony, always leading it with grace and the utmost precision. Rokni served in the IDF with dedication, professionalism, and great love for the State of Israel, and for many years led one of Israel’s flagship events – the torch-lighting ceremony on the eve of Independence Day. He was a model figure of statesmanship and love of the land, and his unique contribution will be remembered for many years. I send my heartfelt condolences to his family and loved ones.”
{Matzav.com}
A large fragment from an intercepted projectile struck a residential home in the city of Lod last night, causing major damage to the structure but leaving the family inside unharmed after they followed safety instructions and quickly moved to a protected area.
The incident occurred shortly after an air raid siren sounded. According to reports, the family immediately evacuated their apartment and moved into the building’s stairwell, which was the safest available location in the limited time they had to take cover.
Only seconds later, a heavy interception fragment crashed into the home.
Lod Mayor Yair Revivo arrived at the scene later in the evening to support the family and assess the damage caused by the impact.
Revivo said, “This case is a sharp reminder to all of us how much the Home Front Command’s instructions save lives. The members of the family showed exemplary responsibility, and that is what saved them today.”
Officials from the Lod municipality and the Home Front Command again urged residents to strictly follow safety guidelines during alerts.
In a statement, authorities said, “Continue to follow the instructions and reach a protected area in time. Remaining in the protected space for 10 minutes is critical to preventing injuries from shrapnel and interception debris.”
{Matzav.com}
An Israeli reservist has been suspended from duty after being filmed vandalizing a memorial dedicated to the former Palestinian Authority chairman, arch terrorist Yasser Arafat, in the Samaria region. Israel’s National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir sharply criticized the decision and called for it to be reconsidered.
According to a report by I24NEWS journalist Shlomi Heller, the reservist, who serves in a battalion of the Menashe Brigade, was suspended from reserve service after footage circulated showing him damaging the monument in the Palestinian village of Zababida in Samaria. The memorial commemorates Arafat, whom many in Israel hold responsible for numerous terrorist attacks.
Ben Gvir responded strongly to the suspension, arguing that the move was misguided. He said, “The decision to suspend the reserve fighter who smashed the picture of the arch-terrorist and mass murderer Yasser Arafat — whose hands are stained with the blood of many Jews — is, in my view, a mistaken decision.”
The minister added that the soldier is currently serving during wartime, noting that, in his words, “his brothers and sisters were slaughtered and murdered.”
Ben Gvir said the act reflected “the pain, anger, and sense of justice of someone who is fighting for the people of Israel.”
He further argued that suspending a reservist under such circumstances was “a step too far,” and urged authorities to reconsider the decision.
{Matzav.com}
Senior envoys from President Donald Trump’s administration are expected to travel to Israel this week as the United States and Israel continue their coordinated military campaign against Iran.
The visit would mark the first such trip since the launch of Operation “Roaring Lion,” which began more than a week ago and has involved extensive joint strikes against Iranian targets.
Despite the close cooperation between Washington and Jerusalem during the conflict, no in-person meetings between senior officials from the two countries have taken place since the fighting began.
However, Israel’s Channel 12 News reported Sunday evening that meetings are expected to occur this week with the arrival of Trump’s senior adviser and son-in-law Jared Kushner, along with the president’s Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff.
Kushner and Witkoff, both of whom have been involved in managing the war effort and coordinating closely with Israel, are expected to arrive on Tuesday. During the visit, they are scheduled to meet with senior Israeli political leaders.
The report noted that the two officials may also bring messages from President Trump.
It was also reported over the past week that President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu have been speaking daily since the start of the war in order to coordinate the next stages of the military campaign.
{Matzav.com}