Qatari mediators arrive in Tehran, with Iran said to still be undecided on deal with US

Sirens warn of suspected Hezbollah drone attack in north

Sirens warning of a suspected Hezbollah drone attack from Lebanon sound in several communities in the Upper Galilee.

The IDF says the details are under review.

Civil Administration demolishes buildings in Palestinian Bedouin hamlet targeted by settlers

The Civil Administration, a department of the Defense Ministry, demolishes four buildings in the Palestinian Bedouin hamlet of Khallet a-Sidra, which was largely abandoned after being raided by extremist settlers violently raided in January this year.

According to Youssef Zawahreh, a former resident of the hamlet, all four buildings in Khallet a-Sidra, which lies just northeast of Jerusalem, belonged to him.

“All my buildings are gone. This was the work of 20 years; all my life was there, I have nothing left,” Zawahreh tells The Times of Israel by telephone.

The Civil Administration confirms that an “enforcement” operation was carried out on the structures, which it said were illegal.

Zawahreh says, however, that he had built the structures many years ago, and insists that the timing of the destruction and the targeting of his buildings was designed to prevent him specifically from returning to Khallet a-Sidra since, he says, he is the only former resident who is still trying to preserve the existence of the hamlet.

Zawahreh and his wife were severely beaten in the January settler attack, and now live in makeshift accommodation in Mukhmas.

Following the January attack, all 15 families abandoned Khallet a-Sidra, and the IDF then placed roadblocks on the road leading from the hamlet to Mukhmas, which meant it would be extremely difficult for residents to conduct their everyday affairs if they should decide to return home.

The IDF and Civil Administration has also refused to let any of the residents rebuild homes that were burned down by the settlers in the January attack.

Read more: Settlers drove an entire village into exile. Palestinians say the state is keeping them away

 

Herzog wishes Trump happy 80th birthday, hails his ‘steadfast commitment’ to Israel’s security

President Isaac Herzog wishes US President Donald Trump a happy 80th birthday, hailing the American leader’s fight against Iran and “steadfast commitment” to Israel’s security.

“The people of Israel are grateful for your leadership in confronting Iran’s empire of evil and for your steadfast commitment to the security of Israel,” Herzog writes on X, as Trump prepares to sign a deal with Tehran as early as today — one that Israeli officials have expressed grave concern over.

“We will never forget your tireless efforts in securing the release of our beloved hostages” from Hamas captivity in Gaza, Herzog says, adding, “May you lead the Middle East and the world toward peace and security and continue to strengthen the unique US-Israel partnership.”

Tehran has not yet made final decision on US-Iran agreement, source tells Fars news

Iran’s Fars news agency citing an informed source says that Tehran has not yet made a final decision on the US-Iran framework agreement, with reviews of its political, legal and technical aspects still ongoing at expert and decision-making levels.

Qatari negotiators flew to Tehran this morning as part of an effort to finalize the agreement, a source with knowledge of the situation told Reuters.

Arab Israeli man dies in jail after a quarter century behind bars for planning terror attacks

Imad Sarhan, an Arab Israeli security prisoner behind bars for planning terror attacks, has died in jail.

The Israel Prison Service announces the death of the 47-year-old without disclosing the circumstances.

The deceased inmate was arrested when he was 23 years old in October 2001 alongside six other Arab Israelis on suspicion of plotting a string of nationalistically motivated kidnappings and murders.

The terror cell came up with numerous plans to kidnap soldiers and armed civilians and then steal the weapons so they could carry out further violence, according to a Haaretz report from the time.

Sarhan was also convicted of stealing a harvesting knife from a banana plantation on a northern kibbutz, with the intention of using it in attacks.

He was held in Gilboa Prison in northern Israel at the time of his death.

Senior Druze officer Brig. Gen. Hisham Ibrahim tapped by Katz as next military secretary

Brig. Gen. Hisham Ibrahim has been appointed by Defense Minister Israel Katz as his next military secretary.

Ibrahim, who currently serves as head of the Civil Administration, replaces Maj. Gen. Guy Markizeno, who is now military secretary to the prime minister.

Ibrahim is one of the most senior Druze officers in the IDF. He previously served as chief of the Armored Corps.

In a statement, Katz says he updated IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir of his decision, and Ibrahim will enter the role immediately.

Katz says he is “convinced he will fulfill the important role with great success during a challenging and significant security period for the State of Israel.”

The defense minister interviewed several candidates for the role and ultimately selected Ibrahim at the recommendation of Zamir.

Qatari mediators fly to Tehran amid efforts to finalize US-Iran deal

Qatari negotiators flew to Tehran this morning as part of effort to finalize an agreement to end US-Iran war, a source with knowledge of the situation tells Reuters.

US and Pakistani leaders forecast a signing today of a framework agreement to end the more than three-month-long war, but Tehran cast doubt over the timing as hardline protesters in Iran voiced opposition.

IDF warns 29 villages, towns in south Lebanon to evacuate ahead of strikes on Hezbollah

The IDF warns 29 villages and towns in southern Lebanon to evacuate ahead of strikes on the Hezbollah terror group.

Residents of 16 locales are instructed to evacuate at least one kilometer away, and those of 13 other towns are ordered to head to the north of the Zahrani River.

“In light of Hezbollah’s violation of the ceasefire agreement, the IDF is compelled to act against it with force,” warns army spokesman Col. Avichay Adraee.

Cyberattack disrupted services at 4 Iranian banks, state media says

A cyberattack disrupted services at four major Iranian banks, though no customer data was compromised, the country’s banking coordination council says, according to state media.

The council says the attack targeted a shared communications infrastructure used by Bank Melli, Bank Tejarat, Bank Saderat and the Export Development Bank of Iran, prompting technical teams to implement protective measures and temporarily affecting some banking services.

It says no unauthorized access to customer information had occurred and no data had been deleted, adding that recovery efforts were underway to restore normal operations.

UK forces intercept Russian shadow fleet oil tanker attempting to cross English Channel

British armed forces have intercepted a Russian shadow fleet oil tanker attempting to pass through the English Channel.

The vessel SMYRTOS was boarded by Royal Marine Commandos and specially trained law enforcement officers from the National Crime Agency, Britain’s Ministry of Defence says in a statement.

The vessel will be held and monitored off the south coast as investigations continue, the statement says, adding that enforcement action in Britain’s territorial waters was carried out in accordance with domestic and international law.

British Prime Minister Kier Starmer says that he directed the interception.

“This successful operation delivers yet another blow to Russia and reminds those fueling Putin’s war in Ukraine that we will not let them hide,” Starmer says in a post on X.