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By Yaakov Lappin

The joint American-Israeli campaign against Iran represents an unprecedented level of military integration. It is aimed at fundamentally transforming the strategic reality of the Middle East while neutralizing the Iranian nuclear and ballistic missile threats, several former Israeli defense officials and analysts said Thursday.

Speaking during a webinar hosted by the Jerusalem Institute for Strategy and Security (JISS), Col. (res.) Dr. Eran Lerman, vice president of JISS and former deputy director for foreign policy and international affairs at Israel’s National Security Council, emphasized the historic nature of the allied offensive.

“Never before in our history—and we’ve been working in alignment with the United States—did we actually work in combined operations mode, something that the last reminiscent [case] is of the British and the Americans in Normandy [in 1944],” Lerman said.

“This is an ongoing effort, shoulder to shoulder with full intelligence sharing, with full operational transparency with each other, with highly coordinated division of labor. Totally unprecedented,” he added.

Lerman said the American motivation at the highest level for the war is driven fundamentally by the nuclear issue. He argued that after the previous conflict in June 2025, the U.S. defense establishment realized that Iran had not been dissuaded from pursuing its course of action.

Additional American goals, he said, are to keep the Strait of Hormuz open to maritime traffic and to counter the Iranian attempt to take Gulf Arab states “hostage” by targeting them with missile and drone attacks.

Regarding regime change, Lerman noted the Trump administration’s aversion to prolonged nation-building projects.

“The very words regime change are highly problematic for the Trump administration,” Lerman explained, citing the shadow of Vietnam and Iraq. Instead, the strategy focuses on “creating the conditions for the Iranian people to take their fate into their hands,” primarily through the destruction of the regime’s repressive mechanisms.

Senior JISS fellow Maj. Gen. (res.) Yaakov Amidror, a former Israeli national security adviser, echoed the sentiment that regime change cannot be guaranteed by external military force.

“What should be ensured by the operation, by the war, [is] that any regime, this one or another one, will be very, very weak,” said Amidror.

He estimated the conflict could last “two to six weeks,” noting that the allied forces must reach a point where they agree the regime is sufficiently degraded.

Professor Col. (res.) Gabi Siboni, CEO of JISS, placed the current operations within the broader context of Israel’s grand strategy since the Hamas-led massacre on Oct. 7, 2023.

“I think that if you look at it carefully, you see a very clear strategy of Israel, developed by our prime minister and the Cabinet, which was to eliminate the proxies of Iran, isolate Iran, and then deal with Iran,” Siboni explained.

He praised the shift in posture, noting that the United States military operates without the restrictive layers of self-imposed legal constraints that Israel had typically adopted for itself.

“We are learning from the Americans now,” Siboni said. “We are learning a very important lesson regarding the way military operations should be conducted to make sure that we are doing it to kill the enemy and to win the war.”

Maj. (res.) Alex Grinberg, an expert at JISS on Iran and the Shi’ite world, provided insight into the internal dynamics of the Iranian regime under fire. He said that the goal must be to “break the back of the enemy.”

“It’s a regime that is sadistic and that blackmails money from families to get [back] the bodies of their dear ones [protesters] who were massacred. So, this regime must be destroyed,” Grinberg argued.

He analyzed Iran’s strikes against Gulf nations, suggesting they are a desperate attempt to saturate American air defense systems.

“Its geopolitical behavior proves that there is no way to compromise with this regime,” Grinberg said, describing the Islamic Republic as “incurably aggressive.”

He also called for the elimination of former senior IRGC commanders and military advisers, saying, “These are very powerful people, and they must be done in as soon as possible because they’re very dangerous.”

Any scenario of the regime surrendering as Nazi Germany did in 1945 is baseless, said Grinberg, adding that this is based on decentralized power networks, and that the war goal should be to “break separately all of the vertebrae of this spine. And this way it will stop functioning.”

Dr. Pnina Shuker, a JISS national security expert, focused on the profound impact of these Iranian strikes on the Gulf Arab states.

“It appears that the Iranian logic behind attacking Gulf states is to create internal instability, aiming to exert indirect pressure on the United States to end the war,” Shuker assessed. “There is a logic behind this modus operandi. However, it seems these attacks are achieving the exact opposite result.”

Instead of driving a wedge between regional allies, the attacks are accelerating defense integration and deepening strategic reliance on international partnerships, Shuker observed.

She noted that Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have set aside their recent political disputes to unite against the shared Iranian threat.

She explained that Qatar faces an even more complex situation, having previously maintained a delicate balancing act with Tehran. However, the Iranian attempt to strike Doha International Airport crossed a red line.

“The Qatari prime minister flatly rejected these claims [that the missiles were aimed at American interests],” Shuker noted. “He accused Iran of dragging its neighbors into war.”

While the Gulf states have exercised notable restraint, Shuker warned of uncertainty as Iran continues to escalate.

“The Gulf states now face a dual-front challenge: sustaining effective interception against unpredictable missile swarms, while safeguarding domestic stability in the face of pro-Iranian mobilization,” she concluded.

When asked about the potential for the Trump administration to seek an end to the conflict before Israel’s desired timetable, Shuker cautioned that internal American politics could play a role. JNS

Russia has reportedly been supplying Iran with intelligence about the locations of American military forces in the Middle East in an effort to help Tehran respond to ongoing U.S. and Israeli strikes, according to a new report.

The Washington Post reported Friday that since the start of “Operation Epic Fury” about a week ago, Moscow has been passing along information about the positions of U.S. naval vessels, aircraft, and other military assets in the region. Three sources familiar with the situation told the newspaper about the alleged intelligence sharing.

“It does seem like it’s a pretty comprehensive effort,” one official familiar with the intel told the outlet.

Since the campaign began with its opening strike, Iran has attempted to retaliate by launching thousands of drones and missiles aimed at American targets throughout the Middle East.

Despite reports that Russia may be assisting Tehran with intelligence, President Trump and War Secretary Pete Hegseth have said the United States has swiftly gained control of the battlefield, asserting that American forces have achieved “total dominance” and that Iran has already “lost everything.”

Details about how extensively Russia may be helping Iran identify potential targets remain unclear.

The Kremlin has sharply criticized the military campaign against Iran, describing it as “a preplanned and unprovoked act of armed aggression against a sovereign and independent UN member state.”

Hegseth, meanwhile, said the U.S. military operation against the Iranian regime has delivered overwhelming results during the first several days of fighting.

“Our forces are executing with unmatched skill and the mission is advancing decisively,” the Pentagon chief said Thursday.

“This is the kind of no nonsense, results driven warfighting that America demands.”

He also indicated that additional American military strength is being deployed to the region.

“Our capabilities are overwhelming and gathering still, as are those of our Israeli partners,” he said.

“Our munitions are full up and our will is ironclad, which means our timeline is ours and ours alone to control, as long as it takes to ensure the United States of America achieves these objectives.”

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump declared Friday that the United States will not reach any agreement with Iran unless the country first agrees to unconditional surrender, issuing the warning in a message posted on Truth Social as the war between the United States, Israel, and Iran continues.

“There will be no deal with Iran except UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER!”

Trump went on to outline what he said could follow such a surrender, suggesting that once a new leadership acceptable to the United States and its allies is chosen, efforts could begin to rebuild Iran.

“After that, and the selection of a GREAT & ACCEPTABLE Leader(s), we, and many of our wonderful and very brave allies and partners, will work tirelessly to bring Iran back from the brink of destruction, making it economically bigger, better, and stronger than ever before,” he went on.

“IRAN WILL HAVE A GREAT FUTURE. ‘MAKE IRAN GREAT AGAIN (MIGA!).’ Thank you for your attention to this matter!”

The president’s demand for Tehran’s capitulation came one day after he also said he wants a direct role in determining who will succeed Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed during the initial wave of U.S.-Israeli strikes that launched the war last Saturday.

Trump dismissed speculation that Khamenei’s 56-year-old son, Mojtaba, could take over the leadership role, calling him a “lightweight” and an “unacceptable” option.

In a phone interview Friday with CNN, Trump said he would not necessarily oppose another religious leader assuming the position previously held by Khamenei.

“I may be, yeah, I mean, it depends on who the person is,” he told anchor Dana Bash on the phone. “I don’t mind religious leaders. I deal with a lot of religious leaders and they are fantastic.”

Trump also indicated that he would not insist that Iran become a democracy as part of any leadership transition.

“There has to be a leader that’s going be fair and just. Do a great job. Treat the United States and Israel well, and treat the other countries in the Middle East — they’re all our partners,” he told Bash.

At present, Iran is reportedly being governed by a three-man council that includes two hardline figures along with the country’s president, Masoud Pezeshkian.

Throughout the week, Trump has repeatedly pointed to the recent leadership change in Venezuela as a model for what could eventually happen in Iran, after U.S. commandos captured socialist leader Nicolas Maduro on Jan. 3 and the White House backed Vice President Delcy Rodriguez, who agreed to release political prisoners and cooperate with American oil companies.

The president has acknowledged, however, that replicating that scenario in Iran may be more complicated, noting that more than four dozen senior officials have already been killed during the war.

Still, Trump expressed confidence that the strategy will succeed.

“It’s gonna work very easily. It’s going to work like did in Venezuela. We have a wonderful leader there. She’s doing a fantastic job. And it’s going to work Iike in Venezuela.”

Trump also voiced support Thursday for reported plans by Iranian Kurdish forces to enter Iran from Iraq in hopes of sparking a broader uprising against the regime in Tehran.

“I think it’s wonderful that they would want to do that,” the president told Reuters. “I’d be all for it.”

{Matzav.com}

WH Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt: The President will be meeting with defense contractors here at the White House in a few minutes, along with Secretary Hegseth. The purpose is to discuss the president’s aggressive and fierce support for rapidly increasing the ability of U.S. manufacturers to produce American-made weapons…

WH Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt: What I will tell you is what President Trump has already laid out, which is that the achievable objectives of Operation Epic Fury we expect to last about 4-6 weeks, and we are well on our way to achieving those objectives.

The IDF announced that the IAF carried out another wave of airstrikes on Friday in the Dahiyeh district of Beirut, targeting several Hezbollah command centers, including an IRGC Air Force command center as well as facilities used by Hezbollah’s naval unit, financial unit, and Operating Council. The military said the sites were used to plan […]

Dramatic footage circulating online appears to show an Iranian ballistic missile slamming into the area of Prince Sultan Air Base in Al-Kharj, Saudi Arabia, with the video capturing the moment of impact as a massive explosion erupts near the base.

A prolonged power outage that left parts of Brooklyn without electricity for days during a dangerous cold snap is now triggering frustration among residents who say Con Edison is slow to reimburse them for losses — and in some cases has already rejected their claims.

Several residents affected by the blackout say their requests for compensation have either been denied or remain unresolved. Some say they have yet to receive confirmation that their claims were even processed.

“Trying to rectify this with Con Ed, I was on hold for two days … and they were just so disrespectful,” said Park Slope resident James Kilmeade, who spent two nights in a hotel so that his pet bearded dragon wouldn’t freeze to death.

“The people wouldn’t give me their last names or any employee ID … and they never called me back,” Kilmeade added, saying he put in a $200 reimbursement claim for spoiled food.

He says he is still waiting for a response.

Kilmeade also explained that he has not submitted a request to be reimbursed for the hotel expenses he incurred while trying to keep his pet alive after losing electricity to the animal’s heat lamp.

“I had to smuggle her into a hotel, basically, in a blanket,” the 30-year-old said.

The complaints come shortly after Con Edison received approval to raise electricity rates by 10.4 percent and increase gas rates by 15.8 percent over the next three years — hikes expected to cost the average New York City household roughly $600 more annually by 2028.

A company spokesperson said Con Edison is currently reviewing and paying “validated claims” submitted by the hundreds of Brooklyn residents who were left without power for more than 48 hours during a widespread outage that began Jan. 31, during an intense Arctic cold spell.

According to the company’s website, customers may be eligible for reimbursements of up to $655 for spoiled food and certain medications if a power outage lasts more than 12 hours.

The blackout, which stretched for nearly six days in neighborhoods including Park Slope, Gowanus, and Boerum Hill, was caused by a manhole fire. Con Edison said the incident was triggered when melting snow and road salt seeped into underground infrastructure, corroding electrical equipment and wiring.

One resident, identified as A.C., said the company told him his situation did not qualify for compensation.

“They said it was due to the salt getting into their equipment, and I guess they don’t usually pay out for those instances,” he said. “I think they should cover it, just because salt is foreseeable … It’s not like it was a surprise.”

The dispute has now drawn the attention of local officials. City Council member Shahana Hanif is urging the utility company to revisit the denied claims and provide a clearer strategy for preventing similar outages in the future.

“Neighbors carried food up dark stairwells, shared heaters and blankets, and boiled water for warmth,” Hanif wrote in a Feb, 27 letter co-signed by six other city and state lawmakers.

“Many incurred real financial losses and faced unsafe living conditions through no fault of their own,” the pols added, and “they should not be left to shoulder the burden of a prolonged outage that resulted from infrastructure failure.”

{Matzav.com}

As Ben Gurion Airport gradually resumes operations following a tense period during the ongoing war, El Al has shifted into an extraordinary emergency operating mode aimed at bringing thousands of Israelis stranded abroad back home.

In an extensive interview on the Kol Chai radio news program, Alon Lavi, head of El Al’s operational control division, detailed the unprecedented effort being carried out by the airline to return passengers who were unable to reach Israel when the conflict began.

Lavi explained that the airline had prepared in advance for the moment when Israeli airspace would reopen.

“We prepared to operate rescue flights from more than 22 destinations the moment Ben Gurion Airport reopened,” he said. “We are implementing the framework approved by the government in a responsible and safe way.”

He provided striking figures illustrating the scale of the operation.

“Today, nine El Al rescue flights landed at Ben Gurion Airport from various destinations across Europe. Tomorrow the pace is expected to increase significantly, with 16 scheduled landings,” Lavi said.

The operation is not limited to nearby locations. El Al has deployed wide-body aircraft to transport hundreds of passengers per flight from long-distance destinations including New York, Miami, Los Angeles, and Bangkok.

“The planes are already on their way to Tel Aviv and are expected to land here tomorrow morning,” he added.

In order to reduce confusion and uncertainty among passengers, the airline also took an unusual step.

“We closed ticket sales for new flights until March 21,” Lavi explained.

The goal of that decision is to prioritize existing customers whose flights were canceled because of the war, allowing them to be placed on rescue flights without additional cost rather than selling new tickets at extremely high prices.

One of the most sensitive issues addressed during the interview was El Al’s firm decision not to operate flights on Shabbos.

Despite public pressure and the urgent need to bring Israelis home, Lavi emphasized that this policy remains unchanged.

“This is a Jewish company whose mission includes keeping Shabbos, and we stand behind that principle even under enormous media pressure,” he said.

He explained that the airline is making logistical adjustments to compensate for the day of rest.

“We will carry out the operations before Shabbos begins and immediately after it ends, and everything will work out,” he said. “We are not trying to make things unnecessarily difficult — we are simply remaining faithful to our values.”

Lavi also stressed that the airline is maintaining proactive contact with affected passengers.

“We are in touch with all of our customers twice a day in a proactive way,” he said.

He urged Israelis currently overseas to continue monitoring official channels for updates.

“All of the information is published on our website and on social media. We are doing everything possible to bring everyone home quickly and safely,” he said.

{Matzav.com}

As the Knesset gradually returns to limited activity during the ongoing war, tensions within the coalition are rising over the long-delayed draft law, with chareidi parties insisting the legislation return immediately to the Knesset’s Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee.

Chareidi political leaders have reportedly told Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu over the past 24 hours that the draft law must be brought back to the committee as early as next week, provided the security situation allows it. They have also requested that the committee’s legal adviser, Miri Frenkel, expedite the completion of the bill’s final wording.

The demand comes as the Knesset prepares to reconvene next week after a week-long recess. At first, the Knesset is expected to deal only with urgent matters, particularly those connected to the war.

At the same time, the chareidi parties have continued their boycott of coalition votes. They have clarified that they will refrain from supporting government legislation, with the exception of measures directly related to the war effort, in order not to complicate matters for the government during the conflict.

The dispute raises serious questions about the fate of the state budget.

If the draft law is not passed by the end of the month, there is a strong possibility that the budget will also fail to pass, which could ultimately lead to new elections.

Sources within the chareidi parties estimate that the prime minister will attempt to persuade them to approve the state budget even without the draft law being finalized. Whether those efforts will succeed remains to be seen.

{Matzav.com}

Reports out of Lebanon say an Israeli strike targeted a position belonging to the UNIFIL in the town of Al-Qawzah in southern Lebanon.

Footage from the Dahiyeh district in Beirut shows the aftermath and destruction following multiple Israeli airstrikes.

Trey Yingst reports new details about the strike that killed Ali Khamenei, saying a deception campaign was carried out to convince Iranian officials that the attack was not imminent. According to the report, Khamenei was above ground at the time of the strike. The effort reportedly included senior Israeli commanders returning home and public statements […]

Kevin Hassett says the White House is not currently considering releasing oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve to lower prices.

Footage of Israeli airstrikes striking Beirut a short time ago.

The IDF said the Air Force is continuing strikes across western Iran, targeting military infrastructure, including ballistic missile launchers and UAV storage sites. According to the military, more than 400 targets were struck Friday in several areas. During the operation, an Israeli aircraft identified a truck carrying an Iranian air defense system near Shahroud and […]

In light of the difficult security situation and its direct impact on couples preparing to marry, Israel’s Chief Rabbis have issued a special psak halachah regarding the scheduling of weddings.

The Chief Rabbis of Israel — the Rishon LeTzion, Rav Dovid Yosef, and the president of the Chief Rabbinate Council, Rav Kalman Meir Ber — released the ruling addressing the challenges many couples are facing as a result of the current wartime conditions.

At the outset of their ruling, the rabbonim stressed that the establishment of a bayis ne’eman b’Yisroel at its proper time is of the utmost importance. According to the psak, whenever it is possible to hold the wedding on the originally scheduled date in accordance with the guidelines of the Home Front Command, every effort should be made to avoid postponing it.

The rabbonim wrote that even if security restrictions require a significantly reduced celebration and a smaller number of guests than originally planned, it is nevertheless preferable not to delay the chuppah.

At the same time, the Chief Rabbis addressed couples who were forced to postpone their wedding because of the security situation.

In an unusual step described as a temporary hora’as sha’ah for this year, the rabbonim ruled that such couples may conduct their weddings until Rosh Chodesh Iyar, including that date.

This leniency applies both to Sephardim and Ashkenazim, with particular sensitivity toward couples who have not yet fulfilled the mitzvah of peru urevu.

Despite this significant allowance, the rabbonim emphasized that this ruling does not constitute a permanent change in the long-standing minhag. Under normal circumstances, and in cases where no compelling ones exists, the traditional custom regarding weddings during Sefiras HaOmer remains unchanged.

The Chief Rabbis also made clear that, in their view, weddings should not be permitted on Motzaei Shabbos, even during this period, in order to prevent situations that could lead to chillul Shabbos.

{Matzav.com}

The U.S. imposed travel bans on three Chilean officials over the possible construction of a submarine fiber optic cable with China, while warning Peru against ceding control over a Chinese-built mega port. Under pressure from President Donald Trump, who had threatened to take the Panama Canal back under U.S. control, the Panamanian government seized two ports at either end of the […]