Matzav

Lebanese terrorist group Hezbollah launched approximately 100 rockets at northern Israel on Sunday, in two barrages.

The first was a salvo of 70 rockets targeting northern Israel’s Western and Upper Galilee regions late Sunday morning, the Israel Defense Forces said. Some of the projectiles were intercepted, while several impacts were detected, according to the IDF.

Israel Fire and Rescue Services were operating to extinguish multiple fires sparked by the attack. There were no immediate reports of injuries or material damage.

Just a few hours later, the Iranian terror proxy launched some 30 rockets at Safed and surrounding areas of the Upper Galilee. Sirens also sounded in Katzrin in the southern Golan Heights.

Residents of Tzefas reported multiple interceptions in the skies over the city. No injuries or direct hits were reported, but several fires were reported.

Police reported closures along Route 90 from north to south from the Rosh Pina Junction to the Amiad Junction following the launches. One rocket exploded on the road near the Elifelet interchange.

Earlier on Sunday, the Israeli Air Force intercepted a “suspicious aerial target” off the coast of Haifa. Per IDF protocol, no sirens were sounded because the threat, apparently a drone, did not make landfall.

The incident came a day after a Hezbollah drone attack on the Caesarea residents of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Shortly afterward on Sunday morning, sirens sound in the northwestern port city and the surrounding area, as well as in the Upper Galilee.

Residents reported hearing one interception; Magen David Adom emergency services said they had received no calls about impacts or casualties.

The military later confirmed that it shot down one rocket and that two projectiles fell in an open area in a second wave at northern Israel.

Sirens had sounded in Merom Golan in the northern Golan Heights at around 4:20 a.m. on Sunday due to a drone that had crossed into Israeli airspace from Syria. The threat was intercepted by the Israeli Air Force.

Another drone had triggered sirens in several communities in the southern Golan several hours earlier. That drone too was intercepted, as was another UAV approaching from the east that according to the IDF did not enter Israeli airspace.

A drone was also intercepted on last night near Eilat in southern Israel.

No injuries were reported in either the Golan and Eilat drone attacks, which were claimed by the Islamic Resistance of Iraq, a group of Iranian-backed militias. The terrorist group has conducted many drone attacks against Israel over the past year in support of Hamas in Gaza.

Alarms were also heard elsewhere in northern Israel overnight, including in the Upper Galilee area, where five projectiles were identified crossing from Lebanon around midnight, according to the IDF, which said that some were intercepted while others fell in open areas.

On Shabbos morning, a Hezbollah drone impacted near Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu’s residence in Caesarea. The drone was one of three launched by Hezbollah, two of which were intercepted. The Lebanese terrorist group launched some 200 projectiles at Israel throughout Shabbos.

One of the rockets killed a man near Acre, who was later identified as Alexei Popov, 51, from the Haifa suburb of Kiryat Haim.

Soldier KIA in Southern Lebanon

The IDF reported last night that Sgt. Maj. (res.) Yishai (Netanel) Greenbaum had succumbed to wounds sustained during combat operations in Southern Lebanon on Oct. 9.

The 38-year-old from Lod served as a platoon sergeant in the 288 Brigade’s 5030th Battalion.

Two more soldiers were killed in battle in the northern Gaza Strip, the IDF said yesterday—Staff Sgt. Ofir Berkovich, 20, from Modi’in Maccabim Reut, and Sgt. Elishai Young, 19, from Dimona, both of the 401st Brigade’s 52nd Armored Battalion.

Their deaths bring the total military death toll during the war on all fronts to 748.

Over 65 Hezbollah terrorists killed

The IDF said on Sunday morning that the IAF had killed over 65 Hezbollah terrorists in Southern Lebanon as ground operations continued there.

In addition, the IAF struck dozens of Hezbollah targets, including terrorist cells and launchers directed at Israeli civilians, as well as terror infrastructure sites.

IAF strikes Hezbollah targets in Beirut area

The IAF last night struck several Hezbollah weapons storage facilities and a Hezbollah intelligence headquarters command center in the terror group’s stronghold of Dahiya in the southern suburbs of Beirut.

Israel’s military emphasized that many steps were taken before the attack to minimize harm to civilians, including issuing advance warning.

“This strike joins the efforts to damage Hezbollah’s weapons storage and manufacturing facilities that are embedded beneath residential buildings in the heart of the city of Beirut, endangering the population in the area,” the IDF said.

Hezbollah compound in school

Furthermore, the IDF reported yesterday that 7th Brigade troops in Southern Lebanon destroyed over 120 Hezbollah targets, several tunnel shafts and more than 20 weapons stockpiles.

Soldiers from the 7th Brigade destroyed a Hezbollah compound embedded in a school in the middle of a Lebanese village. The compound included tunnel shafts and a weapons stockpile.

Additional weapons storage facilities were also destroyed.

Radwan tunnel route destroyed

Soldiers from the 8th Brigade and Yahalom Unit, under the command of the 91st Division, located and destroyed over 50 tunnel shafts and other terrorist infrastructure under mosques, schools and other civilian buildings in Southern Lebanon, the IDF said yesterday.

Engineering troops destroyed all of the tunnel routes with over 100 tons of explosive material, including an underground Hezbollah Radwan forces command center, which included an area for weapons storage, supplies for extended stays, motorbikes, living quarters and ammunition.

Dozens of weapons were found near the underground site, including land mines, anti-tank missiles, anti-aircraft missiles, grenades, RPG launchers, machine guns, AK-47 rifles, ammunition and equipment for communication, targeting and observation. JNS

{Matzav.com Israel}

Hamas confirmed on Wednesday that Yahya Sinwar, its leader, had been killed by the Israel Defense Forces. However, the terror group sought to temper Israeli hopes for a quicker hostage release, declaring that the 101 hostages still held in Gaza would not be freed until the war concludes and Israel withdraws entirely from the territory.

Despite this, both Israel and the United States expressed cautious optimism that Sinwar’s death could potentially expedite the release of the hostages.

The White House also indicated that negotiations for a truce and hostage release, which had stalled for a long period, had not been resumed yet.

An Israeli official also cautioned that Sinwar’s brother, Muhammad, a likely successor to the slain leader, was equally as hardline, and suggested that Israel might negotiate smaller hostage deals with various Hamas factions if a central leadership does not materialize quickly.

According to Channel 12, Sinwar’s nephew, who was also killed alongside him, had been carrying a significant amount of documents related to Sinwar’s activities. These documents could potentially provide valuable intelligence for Israel.

In a video statement released on Friday, Khalil al-Hayya, deputy leader of Hamas’s Qatar-based politburo, vowed that Israel would regret killing Sinwar. He claimed that Sinwar’s “martyrdom” would only bolster the group’s resolve.

The Hamas leader stated that the hostages “will not return… unless the aggression against our people in Gaza stops.”

Meanwhile, Hamas’s armed wing issued a statement, pledging to continue fighting Israel until the “liberation of Palestine,” as it mourned the death of its chief.

{Matzav.com Israel}

Former SodaStream CEO Daniel Birnbaum has issued a video message, offering a monetary reward for anyone who facilitates the return of Israeli hostages from Gaza.

In the video shared across social media, Birnbaum opens by saying, “This is a message to the residents of Gaza, I have an offer for you.”

He reflects on the difficult period, stating, “This has been a terrible year, it’s time to move on.” Birnbaum then references a recent proposal made by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. “A few days ago, [Prime Minister] Benjamin Netanyahu offered free passage and protection to anyone who returns a hostage to Israel. I want to add a financial reward to the offer,” Birnbaum announced.

He specifies the incentive, declaring, “Anyone who returns a living Israeli hostage to Israel will receive one hundred thousand dollars, which will be paid in cash or in Bitcoin.”

Birnbaum urges prompt action, concluding, “Don’t wait, the offer is valid until midnight on Wednesday, October 24th.”

{Matzav.com Israel}

House Speaker Mike Johnson had a conversation with Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu after Hezbollah launched a drone targeting Netanyahu’s private residence in Caesarea.

“I spoke with my friend Prime Minister Netanyahu today, and I am happy to report he is safe, in good spirits, and undeterred,” Johnson shared on the social media platform X.

He continued, “I told him America stands strong with Israel and reiterated our ongoing commitment to help counter Iran and its terrorist proxies.”

Johnson also stressed the importance of timely U.S. action, saying, “This is a crucial moment and America must deliver. It is vital that the Biden-Harris Administration stop slow-walking needed weapons to Israel and implement the sanctions on Iran that Congress enacted this spring.”

Later that evening, Netanyahu responded to the attack on his residence by addressing the threat posed by Iran’s allies.

“Iran’s proxies, who today tried to assassinate my wife and me, have made a serious mistake,” Netanyahu declared. “This will not deter me or the State of Israel from continuing the war of renewal against our enemies, in order to ensure our security for generations to come.”

Speaking directly to Iran and its allies, Netanyahu warned, “I say to the Iranians and their partners in the axis of evil: Anyone who harms the citizens of Israel will pay a very heavy price. We will continue to eliminate your terrorists, we will bring our hostages home from Gaza, we will return our residents to the north. We will achieve all of the goals which we set for the war, and we will change the security situation in our region – for generations to come.”

He concluded with a message of resolve, stating, “Together we will fight, and with G-d’s help – together, we will win.”

Neither Netanyahu nor his wife was home during the attempted drone attack.

{Matzav.com}

President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris both failed to contact Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu after a drone attack on his residence orchestrated by Hezbollah on Shabbos, which was reportedly backed by Iran.

Hezbollah launched a trio of drones at Israel, with two of them being intercepted, but the third successfully reached Netanyahu’s private residence. At the time of the attack, Netanyahu and his wife were not at home, and fortunately, no one was injured.

The Times of Israel reported that former President Donald Trump had reached out to Netanyahu following the incident, as did Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-LA).

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer also called Netanyahu, expressing his concern about the attack, describing it as “alarming.” However, sources noted that neither President Biden nor Vice President Harris made any attempt to reach out to Netanyahu.

Earlier in the week, Biden had spoken to Netanyahu following the death of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, who was killed by Israeli forces during a chance encounter in Rafah. Biden and Harris had previously opposed Israeli forces entering Rafah, despite the strong possibility of locating Hamas leaders in the area.

{Matzav.com}

At a campaign event in Pennsylvania on Shabbos, former US President Donald Trump commended Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu for disregarding advice from President Joe Biden, asserting that Israel “wouldn’t be in this position” if Netanyahu had heeded Biden’s suggestions.

“Everything he said to Israel is exactly the opposite – he’s the single greatest expert on foreign policy in history: if you did the exact opposite of what he suggested every single time, you’d go down as the greatest foreign policy president in history,” Trump remarked, directly referencing Biden.

Trump, the leading Republican candidate, went on to critique Biden’s recommendations to Netanyahu, stating, “Biden is telling Bibi Netanyahu ‘don’t do that, don’t do this, don’t do any of these things.’ Bibi didn’t listen to him, and they’re in a much stronger position now than they were three months ago.”

Trump further claimed that Netanyahu informed him that Israel’s current strength was due to his refusal to follow Biden’s advice.

“Nobody’s ever seen anything like this. Bibi called me today and said ‘it’s incredible,’ but he wouldn’t listen to Biden because if he did, they wouldn’t be in this position,” Trump said.

He also criticized his Democratic opponent, Kamala Harris, adding, “She’s worse than [Biden]. She’s not as smart as him, and I’m not saying he’s the smartest, but she’s not as smart as him.”

{Matzav.com}

Photo: IDF commanding officer Shmulik Drillman receiving a brocha from the Vizhnitzer Rebbe of Bnei Brak, Rav Mendel Hager, at the Vizhnitzer Simchas Bais Hashoeivah before heading back into Lebanon.

CNN has reported that the US is currently investigating the leak of highly classified intelligence documents regarding Israel’s expected retaliation against Iran, which appeared to have ended up in Iranian hands, quoting three sources familiar with the matter.

One of the sources confirmed the documents in question were authentic.

The leaked documents were posted on Telegram by a Iran-affiliated account named, “The Middle East Spectator.” The account claimed to have received the documents “from a source in the US intelligence community,” per Axios.

Dated October 15-16, the documents included details about Israel’s preparations for an attack on Iran. The highly classified documents were only supposed to be seen by the US and its “Five Eyes” allies: Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the UK.

It is widely believed that the US uses it’s satellite network to monitor Israeli military activity, and gain insight into Israel’s plans for a retaliatory attack.

The documents in question reportedly included information regarding the happenings at Israeli Air Force bases, including the movement of munitions, air to surface missiles, and activity by Israeli drone units.

According to Axios, the leaked documents also reported on a large scale exercise conducted by the IAF, training for an attack on Iran.

According to a US official, the current investigation is examining who had access to the leaked documents.

Reacting to the leak, a former US intelligence official said: “these two documents are bad, but not horrible. The concern is if there are more.”

Speaking to Axios, a US official called the leak “extremely concerning,” but said he does not believe it would impact Israel’s operational plans.

A senior Israeli official told Axios that the defense echelon is aware of the matter, and takes it very seriously.

{Matzav.com}

Rav Yitzchok Zilberstein, speaking at his beis midrash in Ramat Elchanan, Bnei Brak, mentioned the great miracles that took place over the past year, when tens of thousands of rockets were fired from all directions, yet they did not cause many casualties.

At the same time, the rav referenced the words of the Bartenura in Maseches Megillah, who wrote: “It is a tradition passed down to us that the resurrection of the dead will occur on Pesach, and the War of Gog and Magog on Sukkos.”

“Therefore,” he said, “we must strive not to spoil things. In other words, everything depends on us, on each and every one of us. This is a time of special favor, and we must try not to spoil it, meaning to make every effort to fulfill Hashem’s will, each person according to their ability.”

Simultaneously, the rav also mentioned the mesorah passed down through generations from the Vilna Gaon and Rav Chaim Vital stating that the War of Gog and Magog will take place during three hours of Hoshanah Rabbah, and whoever wants to be saved should sit in the sukkah. Concerning this, it is said, “For He will conceal me in His sukkah on the day of evil” – the day of evil being the War of Gog and Magog – and whoever wishes to be saved should sit in the sukkah, said Rav Zilberstein.

Rav Zilberstein noted that his brother-in-law, Rav Chaim Kanievsky, said that these three hours refer to the hours before sunrise on Hoshanah Rabbah.

In the shiur, several questions were posed to Rav Zilberstein: Is it preferable to sit in the beis midrash or in the sukkah? If there is a siren during those hours, should one enter a shelter?

{Matzav.com Israel}

Middle East Forum chief editor Jim Hanson weighs in on the latest report that the Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar hid in the same tunnel where hostages were killed.

WATCH:

Vice President Kamala Harris discusses immigration, the economy, responding to U.S. adversaries and more with Fox News chief political anchor Bret Baier on ‘Special Report.’

WATCH:

At the 79th Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation Dinner, former President Donald Trump discussed his relationship with Sen. Chuck Schumer and reacts to the indictments of Eric Adams and how the migrant crisis has impacted NYC.

WATCH:

WATCH THE FULL SPEECH:

IDF drone footage captures the final moments of top Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar in Gaza. Fox News’ Matt Finn reports the latest on fallout from his death and ‘America’s Newsroom’ co-anchor Bill Hemmer breaks down the chilling footage.

WATCH:

During Shabbos, widespread rumors circulated about Israeli hostages being freed from Hamas in Gaza.

The IDF has issued three separate statements within a 24-hour span, firmly denying these claims.

IDF spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari addressed the situation, stating, “In recent hours, rumors are spread regarding hostage rescues, which are untrue. Listen to announcements from official sources only, and avoid spreading false rumors which harm the hostages’ families and the public.”

The Hostages Families Forum also urged the public to stop sharing unverified information, saying, “refrain from spreading rumors and passing along reports which are not confirmed and which do not come from official sources.”

The forum further explained, “In recent hours, we have experienced waves of false rumors regarding hostages. Spreading these rumors on the various networks harms the hostages’ families, who are waiting for the return of their loved ones for over a year already. The broader public is asked and begged: Please, do not lend a hand to spreading false rumors, this hurts our souls.”

Cybersecurity officials believe the rumors are originating domestically rather than from outside Israel. They clarified, “We are not currently examining the source of these rumors, which have been making the rounds yesterday and today, but from experience with similar, previous rumors which we examined, especially those running on WhatsApp, the source of most of them is in Israelis who begin spreading misinformation, mostly innocently, due to misanalyses.”

{Matzav.com}

On Motzei Shabbos, Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu responded to the attempt on his and his wife’s lives, after a UAV hit his home in Caesarea.

No one was hurt in the attack, and the Netanyahus were not at home at the time of the strike.

Responding to the attack, Bibi said: “Iran’s proxies, who today tried to assassinate my wife and me, have made a serious mistake.

I say to the Iranians and their partners in the axis of evil: Anyone who harms the citizens of Israel will pay a very heavy price. We will continue to eliminate your terrorists, we will bring our hostages home from Gaza, we will return our residents to the north. We will achieve all of the goals which we set for the war, and we will change the security situation in our region – for generations to come.

Together we wil fight, and with G-d’s help – together, we will win.”

Earlier, the IDF stated: “During the past hour, three UAVs were identified crossing from Lebanon into Israeli territory. Two of the UAVs were intercepted.

One additional UAV hit a structure in the area of Caesarea. No injuries were reported. During the incident, sirens were activated in the Glilot military base.

The presence of additional hostile aircraft in the area has been ruled out. The incident is under review.”

(JNS)

Vice President Kamala Harris acknowledged a protester who interrupted her speech and accused Israel of “genocide,” The New York Post reports.

This happened during a campaign event last Thursday at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. A student, apparently supporting Hamas, interrupted Harris mid-speech, according to a video of the encounter.

“I am so invested in you all, in every way,” Harris was heard saying before being interrupted.

“And in genocide right?” the protester responded, further shouting, “Billions of dollars in genocide. Billions of dollars in genocide.”

Someone off-camera muttered “shut up” at the protester, who continued to shout.

Harris, in response, said, “I’m speaking right now,” followed by, “I know what you’re speaking of. I want the ceasefire. I want the war to end. And I respect your right to speak but I am speaking right now.”

The protester, wearing a keffiyeh, persisted, yelling, “But what about the genocide? What about the genocide though?”

As he was being escorted out of the venue, the protester continued shouting, “19,000 children are dead, and you won’t call it a genocide.”

After the disturbance, Harris seemed to align with his concerns, stating, “Listen, what he’s talking about, it’s real. That’s not the subject that I came to discuss today, but it’s real and I respect his voice,” addressing the audience.

According to The New York Post, Harris had not previously suggested that Israel’s actions in Gaza could be classified as genocide.

Following the event, a representative from Harris’s campaign clarified, “That is not the view of the Biden-Harris Administration or the Vice President.”

Harris has frequently encountered anti-Israel demonstrators at her campaign appearances. In August, she faced pro-Palestinian protesters during a rally in Detroit, where they tried to disrupt her speech.

The demonstrators chanted, “Kamala, Kamala, you can’t hide. We won’t vote for genocide,” while Harris continued her address.

Harris responded sharply, saying, “You know what, if you want Donald Trump to win then say that. Otherwise, I’m speaking,” and resumed her speech.

A few weeks later, Harris dealt with another similar interruption at a campaign event in Savannah, Georgia. There, a pro-Palestinian protester interrupted her, prompting her to reassure the crowd that both she and President Biden were committed to negotiating the release of hostages and a ceasefire in Gaza.

“Let me just say something. Hold up for a second. We are fighting for democracy. Everyone has a right and should have their voices heard,” Harris said to the protester.

She added, “I am speaking now. But on the subject: the president and I are working around the clock, we have got to get a hostage deal done and a ceasefire deal done now.”

{Matzav.com}

IDF spokesperson Daniel Hagari has shared newly declassified footage showing Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar with his family on the night of October 6, 2023, just hours before the deadly Hamas attack on Israel.

The footage depicts Sinwar and his family inside a tunnel, gathering food, mattresses, and other supplies, apparently preparing for an extended stay underground.

“According to our intelligence, Sinwar hid mostly underground, in the area between Khan Yunis and Rafah,” Hagari explained.

Hagari further stated that the IDF found tissues containing Sinwar’s DNA in Rafah, and confirmed that Sinwar spent most of his time below ground.

“He came out only in order to escape with his security guards. IDF soldiers and the ISA continued operating throughout the period in order to catch him, until he made a mistake.”

“Last Wednesday, our forces killed him. That was the first time that Sinwar, who hid for a year underground, met the IDF forces in Gaza – and it was also the moment when he was eliminated.”

{Matzav.com}

Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu made a strong declaration, stating, “nothing will deter us, we will keep going until victory,” following a drone attack on his vacation residence in northern Israel. The Israeli military continues its operations in Lebanon and Gaza.

Netanyahu, 74, was not at his Caesarea home when the drone, launched from Lebanon, targeted his property, according to his spokesperson.

The leader of Israel has already spoken with Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump regarding the suspected assassination attempt, as reported by The Times of Israel.

US House Speaker Mike Johnson also contacted Netanyahu, assuring that the Israeli Prime Minister is “safe, in good spirits, and undeterred.”

“I told him America stands strong with Israel and reiterated our ongoing commitment to help counter Iran and its terrorist proxies. This is a crucial moment and America must deliver,” Johnson wrote on X.

It remains unclear whether President Biden, who was in Germany at the time, has reached out to Netanyahu. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken might visit Israel on Tuesday.

Israel might expand its military targets in Iran following the attack, an anonymous source informed Channel 12 News.

A pro-Iranian account on Telegram leaked US intelligence documents today, suggesting that Israel is preparing to deploy fighter jets and drones against Iran. According to Axios, the two leaked documents, which US officials did not dispute, revealed that Israel has been conducting drone strike exercises for weeks, seemingly in preparation for a retaliatory strike against Iran. The reports also hint that the US is closely monitoring Israel’s military movements.

Meanwhile, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have spent the last two weeks combing through southern Lebanon and discovered what they described as “hundreds and hundreds and hundreds” of Hezbollah tunnels, many of which were stocked with weapons and rocket launchers, posing a threat to nearby Israeli communities.

Israel also reported that it killed Hezbollah’s deputy commander, Nasser Rashid, in the southern Lebanese town of Bint Jbeil. According to the army, Rashid had been responsible for organizing attacks against Israel.

The drone attack on Netanyahu’s home occurred only days after Israel had eliminated Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar.

Officials confirmed that the drone struck an undisclosed structure, though there were no casualties.

Hezbollah, which has been launching rockets and drones into Israel for over a year, including more than 100 shots from Lebanon today, did not immediately claim responsibility for the strike.

“Iran tried to eliminate the Prime Minister of Israel,” a senior Israeli official told Israel’s Channel 12.

Two additional drones that breached Israeli airspace were intercepted, the Israeli military reported.

“The attempt by Iran’s proxy Hezbollah to assassinate me and my wife today was a grave mistake,” Netanyahu said in a statement that evening.

“This will not deter me or the State of Israel from continuing our just war against our enemies in order to secure our future.”

Netanyahu further warned that anyone who threatens Israel or its citizens will “pay a heavy price.”

Earlier on Shabbos, Netanyahu appeared in a video, emphasizing Israel’s determination to achieve victory in the ongoing conflict.

“You know, two days ago we eliminated the mass murderer [Hamas leader] Yahya Sinwar, as I’ve said, we’re in an existential war, and we’re continuing to the end,” he said in Hebrew, as reported by The Times of Israel.

The IDF released images of the underground bunker in the Tel al-Sultan area where Sinwar and his family had been staying, along with video footage showing them fleeing underground just hours before the Oct. 7 massacre.

The bunker was equipped with amenities like a TV, fans, beds, and tile flooring, according to the released images.

A photograph of Sinwar’s body, along with a warning to Hamas, was also prominently displayed in leaflets Israel dropped over the Gaza Strip today.

“Hamas will no longer rule Gaza,” the leaflets, written in Arabic, declared. “Whoever lays down his weapons and returns the kidnapped people to us, we will allow him to leave and live in peace.”

These papers echoed Netanyahu’s remarks from a Thursday night press conference in which he discussed Sinwar’s surprising elimination in Rafah.

On Friday, Iran’s speaker of parliament announced Tehran’s willingness to negotiate with France over a potential UN resolution regarding southern Lebanon, where Israeli forces are currently engaged with Hezbollah.

However, Lebanon’s caretaker prime minister dismissed this offer as a “blatant interference” in the country’s internal affairs, according to The Times of Israel.

Today, Iran issued a stern warning, stating that any Israeli military action would be met with “even stronger” retaliation.

“Our reaction to any attack by the Zionist regime is completely clear,” Iran’s foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, said to reporters in Damascus. “For every action, there will be a proportional and similar reaction from Iran, and even stronger.”

France’s involvement in the Middle East conflict also became more precarious over the weekend, with Netanyahu publicly criticizing French President Emanuel Macron, calling him a “disgrace” for his continued calls for an arms embargo on Israel.

“The axis of terror stands together. But countries who supposedly oppose this [axis] call for an arms embargo on Israel,” Netanyahu said with scorn.

Today, Israeli airstrikes targeted the southern suburbs of Beirut, marking the first such attack on Hezbollah strongholds in three days.

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin urged Israel to “scale back” its operations in the Lebanese capital, warning that “the number of civilian casualties have been far too high.”

{Matzav.com}

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on Thursday night briefed his American counterpart Lloyd Austin on the successful elimination of Hamas terror chief Yahya Sinwar in the Gaza Strip.

Gallant “stressed his commitment to ensuring that 101 hostages held by Hamas in Gaza return to Israel,” while noting “the urgency and unique opportunity that has been created.” To this end, he called on Hamas terrorists “to cease fire and immediately release the hostages,” according to a statement from his office.

Gallant described Sinwar’s demise as an “extraordinary operational achievement and strategic game-changer,” and expressed his appreciation to Austin for his supportive message to the IDF and the State of Israel.

Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Thursday night phoned Israeli President Isaac Herzog to congratulate him on Sinwar’s death.

The secretary noted “that justice had been served, and the world was now a better place without a man who was responsible for the deaths of many civilians and who obstructed any peace process in the region,” according to a statement from Herzog’s office.

For his part, the president emphasized that “the issue of returning the hostages must be a top priority, and now there was an important opportunity to focus all resources and efforts on bringing the hostages back home.”

The secretary agreed that “a year after the horrific massacre, they must work together to swiftly return the hostages to their homes,” adding that “the U.S. intended to significantly focus its efforts to achieve this goal.” JNS

{Matzav.com}

Watch former President Trump’s reaction following the killing of Hamas terror leader Yahya Sinwar by the IDF in southern Gaza.