Breaking news, history, and security updates from Israel and the Middle East.
Hamas has announced the appointment of Khalil al-Hayya as the terrorist organization's new political leader, succeeding Yahya Sinwar, who was eliminated by Israeli forces in Gaza in October 2024. Al-Hayya, a longtime Hamas official, has played a central role in the group's leadership, hostage negotiations, and ceasefire talks during the war.
A family in south Tel Aviv says repeated attacks, robberies and threats by youths from the SSQ gang forced them to leave the neighborhood after police advised them to move to safety. The family says police acted quickly, but the courts kept releasing suspects back onto the street.
Sirens sounded in northern Israel on Monday morning after a suspected Hezbollah drone was launched from Lebanon, while the IDF said it struck three Hezbollah terrorists and additional military infrastructure in southern Lebanon. The military also reported locating a weapons cache inside a children’s room and said more than 50 terror sites have been dismantled south of the Forward Defense Line in recent days
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with Christian soldiers and commanders from a range of IDF units on Saturday, praising their service and saying Israel is the only country in the Middle East where the Christian community is growing and thriving.
Three drones launched from Lebanon were intercepted over northern Israel on Sunday, as fighting continued despite the ceasefire. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Hezbollah’s repeated violations are effectively dismantling the truce and vowed that Israel will continue acting forcefully against immediate and emerging threats
The IDF has cleared for publication that Sgt. Idan Fooks, 19, of Petah Tikva, a soldier in the 77th Battalion of the 7th Brigade, was killed in southern Lebanon after a Hezbollah explosive drone struck near a stuck tank. In the same incident, an officer and three additional soldiers were severely wounded, while another soldier was moderately injured and one more was lightly hurt
The IDF said troops operating in southern Lebanon located a Hezbollah anti-tank missile cache, underground infrastructure, weapons and explosive devices during operations across several sectors. The announcement came after Hezbollah launched explosive drones at Israeli troops near Qantara in another blatant violation of the ceasefire understandings.
The IDF and Shin Bet said an airstrike in southern Gaza killed Khamis Muhammad Khamis Qassas, a terrorist who infiltrated Kibbutz Nir Oz during the October 7 massacre. According to the joint statement, he had recently been directing additional terrorists toward the Yellow Line area to carry out attacks against Israeli troops.
A joint statement from the Mossad, the IDF and the Shin Bet said a terror network directed by Iran was thwarted in Azerbaijan several weeks ago. According to the statement, the cell was planning attacks on the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline as well as Israeli and Jewish targets in the country, including the Israeli Embassy in Baku, a synagogue and Jewish community leaders.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei said Tehran has not decided whether it will take part in the next round of negotiations and made clear the regime does not accept deadlines or ultimatums. He also warned that any new U.S. or Israeli move against Iran would be met with a decisive military response.
Argentine President Javier Milei and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced the launch of the Isaac Accords, a new strategic framework aimed at deepening cooperation between Argentina, Israel, and like-minded partners in the Western Hemisphere. The initiative is focused on defending freedom and democracy while strengthening coordination against terrorism, antisemitism, and drug trafficking.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised President Donald Trump as a transformative world leader and said the two speak almost daily, while also highlighting a breakthrough on direct flights between Israel and Argentina. Netanyahu framed the aviation move as part of a broader push to slash red tape and accelerate major government decisions
President Donald Trump said the U.S. Navy intercepted and seized the Iranian-flagged cargo ship TOUSKA in the Gulf of Oman after it allegedly ignored warnings to stop. Trump claimed the vessel was disabled after a strike on its engine room and is now in U.S. custody.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sent condolences to the family of Warrant Officer (Res.) Barak Kalfon and said Israeli forces will continue operating in the security zone in southern Lebanon to thwart threats against troops and border communities, in line with the ceasefire agreement.
The IDF said terrorists in southern Lebanon were struck over the past day after approaching Israeli forces near the Yellow Line in violation of the ceasefire understandings and posing an immediate threat. The military said it also carried out artillery fire in support of ground troops and destroyed terror infrastructure in the area.
Roughly 20 vessels attempting to transit the Srait of Hormuz turned back after the latest escalation around the strategic waterway. Reports also said at least two ships came under fire and armed Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps vessels approached several ships in the area.
Iran said Saturday it is restoring tighter control over transit through the Strait of Hormuz, blaming a U.S. blockade on Iranian ports and casting doubt on claims of a wider breakthrough. The move came just hours after a rare convoy of tankers passed through the strategic waterway.
IDF, ISA raid home of Negohot terrorist and seize weapons after infiltration attack", "summary": "IDF troops, acting under ISA direction, raided the home of the terrorist who infiltrated Negohot and was eliminated.
IWI US has launched the ARAD 5 in the American civilian market, introducing a rifle originally developed for Israeli security forces.
Palestinian Terrorist Infiltrates Negohot in Mount Hebron Overnight, Eliminated Within Minutes; No Injuries", "summary": "A terrorist infiltrated the community of Negohot in the Mount Hebron region after climbing over the community gate.
President Trump said the U.S. may refuse to extend the ceasefire if Iran does not reach an agreement by Wednesday, warning that Washington could resume strikes while keeping its blockade on Iranian ports in place. Speaking on Air Force One and later at an event in Phoenix, Trump claimed talks are continuing and said he believes a deal is still possible. He also said the U.S. would work with Iran to remove enriched uranium and bring it to the United States, but Iranian officials publicly denied any plan to transfer enriched uranium abroad and demanded compensation for damage. Trump said his partnership with Prime Minister Netanyahu remains strong, and described Lebanon as separate from the Iran ceasefire.
A synagogue in North Macedonia was damaged in an arson attack, in what has been described as the country’s first antisemitic incident of its kind since the Holocaust. The attack has raised alarm over the security of Jewish sites in a country with a small but historically significant Jewish community.
An Israeli soldier was seriously wounded and four others were lightly wounded earlier on Wednesday in rocket fire in southern Lebanon, according to the Israeli military.
US President Donald Trump said that the war in Iran should be nearing an end, while insisting Washington acted to prevent Tehran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. He also said Iran is showing greater willingness to negotiate and indicated another round of talks could take place over the weekend.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun defended direct talks with Israel in a national address delivered a day after the ceasefire took effect, saying Lebanon had regained independent decision-making. He said negotiations were aimed at securing permanent arrangements without compromising sovereignty or territorial unity.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel has begun receiving approaches from Lebanon for direct peace talks for the first time in more than 40 years. He said Israel agreed only to a temporary 10-day ceasefire while maintaining a widened security buffer inside Lebanon and insisting on Hezbollah’s disarmament.
U.S. Central Command said the guided-missile destroyer USS Rafael Peralta redirected a merchant vessel back to an Iranian port on April 17 as part of what it described as an ongoing U.S. blockade. CENTCOM said 19 ships have complied so far and that none have broken through.
Israel’s Foreign Ministry publicly congratulated U.S. Ambassador Mike Huckabee on completing his first year in office, praising his role in deepening bilateral ties during a turbulent period. Huckabee said the year included "5 wars, hostage release, peace agreements and never a dull moment."
The IDF said nationwide civilian defense guidelines will shift to full activity with no restrictions from Friday afternoon, with limited gathering caps remaining only in frontline areas until Saturday evening. Ministers said sports and cultural events will return at full capacity, and several municipalities confirmed Memorial Day and Independence Day events will go ahead as planned.
Three senior ministers said Israel’s emerging arrangement on Lebanon marks a coordinated strategic shift with the Trump administration, while insisting the IDF will not withdraw from areas it captured in southern Lebanon. Speaking at a Likud conference in Beit El, the ministers said any long-term framework must include pushing Hezbollah out and securing northern Israel.
US President Donald Trump said he plans to invite Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun to the White House for what he described as the first meaningful talks between Israel and Lebanon since 1983. Trump also said the two sides had agreed to begin a 10-day ceasefire and that senior US officials would work with both governments toward a broader peace arrangement.
