Several cargo planes carrying armaments and military equipment for the IDF landed in Israel today, the Defense Ministry says. The ministry says the delivery is “part of efforts to strengthen operational continuity and support all the IDF’s needs, both for achieving the goals of the war and for improving readiness and stockpiles.” Since the start of Israel’s operation against Iran, 14 cargo planes with equipment for the IDF have landed in Israel, the ministry says, joining 800 others that have arrived since the beginning of the war. The vast majority of the planes have come from the US.
In response to numerous life-threatening situations and at the request of medical professionals, El Al airline has been authorized to operate special emergency medical flights during the upcoming Shabbos. These flights will be classified as “life-saving medical emergency flights.” After receiving approval from Israel’s Chief Rabbis, it was decided that the flights will depart to Israel from Larnaca and Athens. The list of passengers includes El Al travelers and others in urgent need of reaching Israel, all of whom have been approved by a senior specialist who oversees leading medical centers in Israel. The cases were deemed to involve life-saving situations or a threat to life. This measure has been officially approved by Israel’s Chief Rabbis. Due to the exceptional circumstances, each case is carefully reviewed and authorized as a matter of life preservation by the company’s rabbi. The flights will be free of charge for all approved passengers. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
In his most forceful statement to date, Defense Minister Yisrael Katz on Thursday openly called for the assassination of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, declaring that the man behind Tehran’s military machine “cannot continue to exist” in the wake of Iran’s brazen missile strike on Israel on Thursday morning that left the Soroka Medical Center in Beersheva and homes near Tel Aviv in ruins. Standing amid the wreckage of residential buildings in Holon, Katz unleashed a fiery warning: “Khamenei is the one personally giving the orders to fire on hospitals and civilians. This is not collateral damage — this is doctrine. A man like that — under any standard of morality or security — cannot continue to exist.” While the defense minister stopped short of explicitly calling for regime change in Tehran, his rhetoric marked a dramatic escalation in Israel’s war posture. Katz went even further, comparing Khamenei to Adolf Hitler. “If we had the ability during the Holocaust to send the IDF to eliminate Hitler, we would have done so. Khamenei is today’s Hitler. He must be stopped.” The statement came amid swirling reports that Israel had considered assassinating Khamenei during its initial wave of airstrikes last week, only to be blocked by U.S. President Donald Trump — a claim Israeli officials have denied. Still, the speculation has added a combustible layer to the already volatile situation. Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, in contrast, chose more measured language during a visit to Soroka Medical Center in Beersheva. Asked directly about Khamenei’s fate, Netanyahu refused to echo Katz but made clear that “no one is immune.” He added, “All options are open,” though cautioned that “during a war, words must be chosen with care, and actions with precision.” The prime minister also appeared to rebuke Katz’s public threats, saying, “It’s best not to speak about these matters in the press. I expect that from my ministers as well.” Netanyahu was similarly careful when asked about American involvement in the conflict. “That’s a decision for President Trump,” he said. “He will do what’s best for America, and I will do what’s best for Israel.” While Trump recently threatened Khamenei himself, he clarified there were “no plans to kill him — at least not for now.” As the war intensifies, Israeli leaders continue to walk a tightrope between operational secrecy and political messaging. Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar, speaking from Beersheva, said that regime change in Tehran is not currently a stated objective. But he made clear the campaign would press forward “until the mission is complete.” “This,” he said, gesturing toward the shattered remains of civilian buildings behind him, “is a war crime. Iran is deliberately targeting our population — children, families, the elderly. We will not tolerate it.” The Iranian regime has denied intentionally targeting civilians, though international observers remain unconvinced. Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin weighed in from an economic forum in St. Petersburg on Wednesday, warning Israel against any move to eliminate Khamenei. “I don’t even want to discuss it,” Putin said grimly, adding that Russia’s partnership with Tehran does not currently include military support. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
Japan’s Emperor Naruhito paid respects to atomic bombing victims in Hiroshima as the city marks the 80th anniversary of the tragedy later this year. Naruhito, accompanied by his wife, Empress Masako, bowed deeply at the cenotaph for the atomic bombing victims and offered bouquets of white flowers. The atomic bomb dropped by the United States on Hiroshima on Aug. 6, 1945, destroyed the city, killing 140,000 people. A second bomb dropped three days later on Nagasaki killed 70,000 more. Japan surrendered on Aug. 15, ending World War II and its nearly half-century aggression in Asia. Naruhito has repeatedly stressed the importance to remember and keep telling the tragedy of the war to younger generations. Naruhito and Masako were also to visit the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum to observe exhibits, including those featuring Nihon Hidankyo, a grassroots organization awarded last year’s Nobel Peace Prize. The couple were to meet atomic bombing survivors, or hibakusha, and those born after the war and trained to tell the stories on behalf of those who can no longer do so. Naruhito is making his third trip to mourn the war dead this year. In April, the couple visited Iwo Jima to pay tribute to about 20,000 Japanese and nearly 7,000 U.S. Marines killed in the Battle of Iwo Jima, fought from Feb. 19 to March 26, 1945. Earlier this month, Naruhito also visited Okinawa to mourn about 188,000 Japanese, half of them Okinawan civilians, and about 12,000 Americans, killed in the Battle of Okinawa. Naruhito accompanied his daughter, Princess Aiko, underscoring his wish that she would learn the hardships of the Okinawan people and share their stories with younger generations. (AP)
UPDATE: Following the sirens that were heard moments ago in northern Israel, MDA has not received any reports of rocket impacts or injuries — except for one woman who was injured while making her way to a protected area. Around 10 missiles were fired at Israel.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met this morning with National Unity Party Chairman MK Benny Gantz and Yisrael Beitenu Chairman MK Avigdor Liberman, for a security update.
The IDF Home Front Command confirmed that Iran launched a ballistic missile with a cluster bomb warhead targeting central Israel, which split at approximately 7 kilometers altitude, dispersing around 20 smaller munitions across an 8km radius. An Israeli military official noted that while the threat may be broader than Iran’s other ballistic missile warheads, the cluster bombs’ explosions are significantly smaller.
In recent days, Israeli Air Force aircraft identified multiple attempts by Iran’s security forces to rebuild missile launch and storage sites in western Iran that had previously been destroyed in IDF strikes. The IAF responded by targeting and destroying engineering equipment at the scene and eliminating dozens of Iranian military personnel operating in the area.
If you think President Trump is laser focused on the war with Iran… think again. This post from President Trump was posted minutes ago. Just Trump being Trump!
The IDF releases footage showing its strike this morning on Iran’s Arak heavy water reactor. The reactor was only partially built, and Iran had informed the IAEA that it planned to begin operating the facility next year. The military says the strike “targeted the component intended for plutonium production, in order to prevent the reactor from being restored and used for nuclear weapons development.”
MOVING FOOTAGE: Man sits on piano in his destroyed home playing ה’ יתברך תמיד אוהב אותי ותמיד יהיה לי רק טוב ויהיה לי עוד יותר טוב ועוד יותר טוב ועוד יותר טוב…
A short while ago, approximately 20 IAF fighter jets completed a series of intelligence-based strikes in western Iran. In all of the strikes, surface-to-surface missile infrastructure sites and soldiers in Iran’s military forces were struck. In addition, the IAF identified the movement of trucks carrying surface-to-surface missiles. The trucks were struck when they arrived at the launch sites.
RECAP: A total of 147 people were injured, six seriously, at missile impact sites in Holon, Ramat Gan and Be’er Sheva. One of the missiles struck Soroka Hospital. The Tel Aviv Stock Exchange was seriously damaged in a missile strike as well.
