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Israel’s military campaign against Iranian targets is anticipated to continue for several weeks  – “weeks, not days” – rather than wrapping up quickly, according to CNN, which cited both American and Israeli government sources. This prolonged timeline has reportedly been met with quiet assent from Washington.

Talks between Israeli and U.S. officials have made it clear that both sides share a mutual understanding about the extended nature of the operation. A senior Israeli official told CNN that the Trump administration has not raised any objections in private regarding the operation lasting several weeks.

Further highlighting the alignment between the two allies, a source within the White House confirmed that the administration is fully briefed on Israel’s objectives and, implicitly, backs the initiative. The official also noted that how long the hostilities will last will largely depend on how Tehran chooses to respond.

While reaffirming the commitment to diplomacy, the same White House official added, “The Trump administration firmly believes this can be solved by continuing negotiations with the US.” The official also stressed that Israel has full discretion in defending itself, explaining that the U.S. “was not going to direct Israel to do anything but defend itself.”

Trump shared his own perspective on the matter in a post on Truth Social, writing that he believes the conflict between Israel and Iran “should end.”

He wrote: “President Putin called this morning to very nicely wish me a Happy Birthday, but to more importantly, talk about Iran, a country he knows very well. We talked at length. Much less time was spent talking about Russia/Ukraine, but that will be for next week. He is doing the planned prisoner swaps – large numbers of prisoners are being exchanged, immediately, from both sides. The call lasted approximately 1 hour. He feels, as do I, this war in Israel-Iran should end, to which I explained, his war should also end.”

On Friday, Trump told Barak Ravid of Axios that he believes Israel’s heavy bombardment of Iranian facilities might actually make it easier to reach a nuclear deal between the U.S. and Iran.

When asked whether the military action had undermined his diplomatic goals, Trump replied, “I don’t think so. Maybe the opposite. Maybe now they will negotiate seriously.”

In a follow-up comment, Trump said, “I gave Iran 60 days, today is day 61. They should have made a deal.” He suggested that Iran’s weakened position after Israel’s assault could finally push them to the negotiating table. “I couldn’t get them to a deal in 60 days. They were close, they should have done it. Maybe now it will happen,” said Trump.

{Matzav.com}

Reporter Trey Yingst of Fox News reports live from the devastating scene in Bat Yam.

According to a report in The New York Times, Iran had advance knowledge that Israel might target its nuclear program, but Iranian leadership was caught off guard by the timing. Tehran did not anticipate that Israel would strike while talks with the United States were still underway, which contributed to the overwhelming success of the Israeli operation early Friday morning.

Sources close to Iran’s top leadership told the Times that the regime had expected that any military action would be postponed until after the upcoming sixth round of nuclear negotiations with the U.S., which had been scheduled for Sunday, June 15, in Oman. In light of the Israeli strikes, the future of those talks is now uncertain, with Iran signaling that they are likely to be canceled.

The Times reported that Iranian officials believed the threats from Israel were nothing more than psychological tactics designed to pressure Tehran at the negotiating table. They dismissed warnings of an imminent strike as political theater, never expecting a full-scale attack.

This miscalculation reportedly led to a failure to activate contingency plans. Senior military officials remained in their personal residences on Thursday night instead of seeking shelter in fortified locations, making them vulnerable. As a result, key commanders, including Revolutionary Guards chief Hossein Salami and Armed Forces head Mohammad Hossein Bagheri, were killed.

In the confusion that followed the initial strikes, Brigadier General Amir Ali Hajizadeh, head of the IRGC Aerospace Forces, called an emergency war council with his senior staff. They too were eliminated when Israeli forces struck their meeting site.

The Times report included leaked messages exchanged between top Iranian officials in which they vented their disbelief and outrage: “Where is our air defense?” and “How can Israel come and attack anything it wants, kill our top commanders, and we are incapable of stopping it?”

The officials also privately expressed concern about the intelligence and defense breakdowns that left the country exposed to such a devastating assault. “Israel’s attack completely caught the leadership by surprise, especially the killing of the top military figures and nuclear scientists,” said Hamid Hosseini, a member of Iran’s Chamber of Commerce’s energy committee, in a phone call with the Times from within Iran. “It also exposed our lack of proper air defense and their ability to bombard our critical sites and military bases with no resistance.”

Hosseini further remarked that many within the government were stunned by Israel’s apparent ability to penetrate Iran’s military and intelligence networks.

The Times also reported on internal discussions following the Israeli offensive, led by Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Two officials familiar with those talks said that while Khamenei was determined to retaliate, he was hesitant to rush into action.

There was significant internal debate over how Iran should respond and whether it could endure an extended conflict with Israel, especially if the United States became involved. The heavy damage to Iran’s missile arsenal and air defense systems weighed heavily in the deliberations.

One participant in the meeting reportedly warned that any Israeli strike targeting Iran’s critical infrastructure—such as its energy grid or water systems—could spark unrest or riots among the population.

A member of the IRGC who had knowledge of the meeting told the Times that Khamenei was facing a crossroads: he could escalate the conflict and risk provoking a war that might endanger the survival of his regime, or pull back and appear weak both at home and abroad.

“Khamanei faces no good options,” Ali Vaez, Iran project director at the International Crisis Group, told the Times. “If he escalates, he risks inviting a more devastating Israeli attack t

{Matzav.com}

Iran is now turning to regional intermediaries in a bid to halt the escalating conflict, reportedly pleading with them to deliver a message directly to President Donald Trump: stop the war.

Despite continuing its missile assaults on Israel, Iran has been unable to shield itself from the relentless wave of Israeli counterstrikes.

In under two days, Israel has succeeded in eliminating the bulk of Iran’s top military commanders and nuclear experts. It has also inflicted significant damage on Iran’s nuclear infrastructure and nearly wiped out what remained of the country’s air defense systems. In response to Tehran’s missile fire on Israeli population centers, Israel has also begun hitting critical components of Iran’s energy sector.

According to a report in Yisroel Hayom, Iran appears to be signaling that it has reached a breaking point.

The newspaper revealed that Iranian officials have asked Oman and Qatar to step in and mediate indirect talks between Tehran and Washington—on the condition that Israel halts its strikes. Oman, which has played a role in past negotiations, has already acknowledged its involvement, though U.S. officials reportedly see no urgency to engage.

A senior American diplomat told Yisroel Hayom that Iran is now operating from a far more vulnerable position than it was prior to Israel’s initial offensive on Thursday.

“They either failed to understand or deliberately ignored the president’s warnings, which were very clear. They tried to stall through negotiations, refused to compromise on the most basic issue that could have proven their claim they are not seeking a bomb, halting uranium enrichment on Iranian soil. Worst of all, they deceived us, continuing rapid development of their nuclear weapons program even while talks were underway,” he said.

President Donald Trump, for his part, has called on Iran to return to negotiations and agree to dismantle its uranium enrichment operations—an element of earlier talks that Tehran had flatly rejected before Israel’s military campaign began.

Only days earlier, Trump expressed serious doubt about the potential for a new agreement with Iran, stating that he was “much less confident” in reaching a deal and implying that Tehran had been deliberately dragging its feet while accelerating toward nuclear capability.

{Matzav.com}

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney voiced his backing for Israel amid its ongoing conflict with Iran.

In a public statement, Carney remarked, “Iran’s nuclear program has long been a cause of grave concern, and its missile attacks across Israel threaten regional peace.”

He continued by emphasizing Canada’s position: “Canada reaffirms Israel’s right to defend itself and to ensure its security,” while simultaneously urging caution with the appeal, “We call on all parties to exercise maximum restraint and move towards a diplomatic resolution.”

On Friday, Carney brought together Canada’s National Security Council to be briefed on the unfolding events and to confirm that appropriate measures are being taken to safeguard Canadian citizens and diplomatic personnel stationed in the Middle East.

Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand expressed alarm over Iran’s advancing weapons capabilities, stating that Canada remains concerned “about the threat posed by Iran’s nuclear ballistic missile program.”

She cautioned that “further action” could provoke “a broader regional conflict with devastating consequences” and stressed the urgency of the moment, adding, “De-escalation must be the priority.”

{Matzav.com}

Pipelines and transmission infrastructure at Israel’s largest oil refinery in Haifa were damaged in the Iranian missile attack on northern Israel late Motzei Shabos, the BAZAN group oil refinery company reported to the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange on Sunday morning. B’Chasdei Hashem, there are no reports of casualties in the attack. Bazan stated that despite the damage, the oil refining units are still operating. However, several other facilities at the site are currently shut down due to the damage they sustained. During the barrage of about 40 missiles on the Haifa area, one scored a direct hit on a three-level home in the nearby Arab city of Tamra, killing four women in the same family. (YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)

The Israeli Air Force struck Iranian ballistic missile launchers, air defense systems, and radars overnight, some of which were used in attacks on Israel. The IDF says it will continue targeting such sites to prevent further threats. Around 80 targets were hit in Tehran, including nuclear-related sites and military fuel depots. In total, the IDF says 170 strikes have hit 720 assets across Iran since early Friday.

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This morning, the Israeli Air Force conducted a precision strike in Iran’s Hamedan province, destroying two concealed Iranian ballistic missile launchers that were reportedly disguised to avoid detection.  

The airstrikes by Israeli F-35 fighter jets on Iran overnight Thursday appeared to be the initial launch of Israel’s war on Iran. However, the airstrikes were preempted by internal attacks carried out by covert teams on the ground using drones that were smuggled into the Islamic Republic part by part over months. Israel smuggled parts of hundreds of quadcopter drones rigged with explosives into Iran—in suitcases, trucks, and shipping containers, the Wall Street Journal reported. Munitions that could be fired from unmanned platforms were also smuggled in, said people familiar with the operation. The Mossad brought in the drones and munitions through commercial channels via usually unwitting business partners. Israel trained the team leaders in third countries, and the leaders then trained the teams. Inside Iran, the teams assembled the drones. Prior to Israel’s opening airstrikes, small teams of Mossad agents positioned themselves near Iran’s air-defense systems and missile launch sites. When the attack by air began, the teams destroyed air defense systems and missile launchers as they were rolled out to fire at Israel. According to the report, the teams on the ground destroyed dozens of missiles before they could be fired in the initial hours of the attack. They also destroyed Iran’s air defense systems, allowing Israel freedom of action in the air. Although Iran ultimately fired hundreds of drones and missiles at Israel beginning on Friday, Israel had expected a much more severe response, said Sima Shine, a former senior intelligence officer in the Mossad and now head of the Iran program at the Institute for National Security Studies, a think tank in Tel Aviv. However, Iran still has a large arsenal of ballistic missiles. “We expected much more,” Shine said. “But that doesn’t mean we won’t have much more today or tomorrow.” On a brighter note, Shine noted that Israel’s sophisticated intelligence operations in the heart of Iran have an important ancillary effect. “No one in Iran in the high echelons can be sure he isn’t known to Israeli intelligence and won’t be the target,” she said. “It’s not just the damage caused but the nervousness it brings.” (YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)

A drone, reportedly launched from Iran, was shot down by the Israeli Air Force over the Arava region in southern Israel a short time ago, following sirens that sounded in several nearby towns.

Thick black smoke was seen rising over Shiraz following an Israeli airstrike that reportedly targeted Shiraz Electronics Industries, a weapons technology facility sanctioned by the U.S. and linked to Iran’s military.

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The grand military parade that President Donald Trump had been wanting for years barreled down Constitution Avenue on Saturday with tanks, troops and a 21-gun salute, playing out against the counterpoint of protests around the country by those who decried the U.S. leader as a dictator and would-be king. The Republican president, on his 79th birthday, sat on a special viewing stand south of the White House to watch the display of American military might, which began early and moved swiftly as light rain fell and dark clouds shrouded the Washington Monument. The procession with more than 6,000 soldiers and 128 Army tanks was one Trump tried to make happen in his first term after seeing such an event in Paris in 2017, but the plans never came together until this year, when the parade was added to an event recognizing the Army’s 250th anniversary. Up above, the Army’s Golden Knights parachute team appeared in the overcast sky, descending toward the reviewing stand. The team had been scheduled to jump at the end of the parade, but appeared in the skies above the National Mall far earlier than planned as a light rain fell. At times, Trump stood and saluted as troops marched past the reviewing stand. Hours before the parade started, demonstrators turned out in streets and parks around the nation to sound off against the Republican president. They criticized Trump for using the military to respond to people protesting his deportation efforts and for the muscular military show in the U.S. capital. In Washington, anti-war protesters unfurled signs that said “Homes not drones” not far from a display of armored vehicles, helicopters and military-grade equipment on the National Mall set up to commemorate the Army’s birthday. Vendors outside the festival sold gear marking the military milestone. Others hawked Trump-themed merchandise. Doug Haynes, a Navy veteran who voted for Trump, attended the daylong festival to celebrate the Army’s 250th birthday, but said that the parade “was a little over the top.” Pointing at a nearby tank, Haynes said that having them roll down the street is a “very bold statement to the world, perhaps.” Trump had brushed off the possibility of weather or protest disruptions. In a social media post Saturday morning, he said the “great military parade” would be on “rain or shine.” The protests, he said earlier, “will be met with very big force.” Hours ahead of the parade, crowds of protesters with anti-Trump signs marched toward the White House, escorted by police vehicles and officers on bicycles. Some held a giant banner that read: “TRUMP MUST GO NOW.” The parade was added just a few weeks ago to the planned celebration of the Army’s birthday and has drawn criticism for its price tag of up to $45 million and the possibility that the lumbering tanks could tear up city streets. The Army has taken a variety of steps to protect the streets, including laying metal plates along the route. About 6 in 10 Americans said Saturday’s parade was “not a good use” of government money. The vast majority of people, 78%, said they neither approve nor disapprove of the parade overall, according to a poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. Larry Stallard, a retired American Airlines pilot, traveled to Washington from Kansas […]

Israeli ambassador to the UN Danny Danon spoke to the press about the frightening plot Iran was planning against Israel, triggering Israel’s attack on Iran. Israeli intelligence uncovered a secret program by Iran to eliminate the Jewish state, which in recent months became more tangible as the Islamic Republic was on the verge of obtaining nuclear power. Iran was plotting a surprise attack on Israel in coordination with their proxies. While tens of thousands of terrorists would invade Israel from all sides in a massive October 7-style attack, Iran would launch a nuclear strike and fire thousands of ballistic missiles. “Israel cannot and will not wait for that moment to arrive,” Danon asserted. Danon noted that the international community has failed to implement consequences for Iran’s continued deception regarding its nuclear program. He slammed UN Secretary-General António Guterres, who issued a statement on Friday expressing “concern” over Israel’s operation. “I must ask: Where was the secretary-general when Iran spent years arming itself while vowing to wipe Israel off the map?” Danon said. “Where was his voice when Iran rained hundreds of missiles and drones on our civilians?” “We will not sit quietly while our people are targeted,” Danon said. “Not again. Not ever. Empty words will not stop Iran. Israel will.” (YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)

Search and recovery teams continued scouring the site of one of India’s worst aviation disasters for a third day after the Air India flight fell from the sky and killed at least 270 people in Gujarat state, officials said Saturday. The London-bound Boeing 787 struck a medical college hostel in a residential area of the northwestern city of Ahmedabad minutes after takeoff Thursday, killing 241 people on board and at least 29 on the ground. One passenger survived. Recovery teams working until late Friday found at least 25 more bodies in the debris, officials said. Dr. Dhaval Gameti at the Civil Hospital in Ahmedabad told The Associated Press the facility had received 270 bodies, adding that the lone surviving passenger was still under observation for some of his wounds. “He is doing very well and will be ready to be discharged anytime soon,” Gameti said Saturday. Hundreds of relatives of the crash victims have provided DNA samples at the hospital. Most bodies were charred or mutilated, making them unrecognizable. Some relatives expressed frustration Saturday that the process was taking too long. Authorities say it normally takes up to 72 hours to complete DNA matching and they are expediting the process. “Where are my children? Did you recover them?” asked Rafiq Abdullah, whose nephew, daughter-in-law and two grandchildren were on the flight. “I will have to ask questions. Government is not answering these questions.” Another relative persistently asked hospital staff when his relative’s body would be handed over to the family for last rites. “Give us the body,” the relative insisted. Alongside the formal investigation, the Indian government says it has formed a high-level, multi-disciplinary committee to examine the causes leading to the crash. The committee will focus on formulating procedures to prevent and handle aircraft emergencies in the future and “will not be a substitute to other enquiries being conducted by relevant organisations,” the Ministry of Civil Aviation said in a statement. Authorities have begun inspecting Air India’s entire fleet of Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft, Indian Minister of Civil Aviation Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu said Saturday in New Delhi at his first news briefing since Thursday’s crash. Eight of the 34 Dreamliner aircraft in India have already undergone inspection, Kinjarapu said, adding that the remaining aircraft will be examined with “immediate urgency.” The government is eagerly awaiting results of the crash investigation by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau and all necessary steps will be taken without hesitation, Kinjarapu said. Investigators on Friday recovered the plane’s digital flight data recorder, or the black box, which was recovered from a rooftop near the crash site and likely will lead to clues about the cause of the accident. India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau said it had started working with “full force” to extract the data. The device is expected to reveal information about the engine and control settings, while the voice recorder will provide cockpit conversations, said Paul Fromme, a mechanical engineer with the U.K.-based Institution of Mechanical Engineers. Aviation safety consultant Jeff Guzzetti, a former crash investigator for both the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board and Federal Aviation Administration, said investigators should be able to answer some important questions about what caused the crash as soon as next week as long as the flight data recorder is in good shape. Investigators likely […]

For the first time in history, the IDF warned Iranian civilians to evacuate areas near military weapons sites, saying their presence puts lives at risk ahead of planned strikes.

WATCH: Rescue teams pulled a Holocaust survivor from beneath the rubble of a building in Rehovot following Iran’s ballistic missile attack on Israeli civilians.

The Commander of the IDF Homefront Command, Major General Rafi Milo, spoke from the site of the Iranian ballistic missile impact this morning in Bat Yam.