Since the joint Israel-US military operations stated on February 28, the United States successfully hit more than ten thousand against the Islamic terrorist regime of Iran which is a military milestone, according to a Newsmax report. Clearly by this point in time, Iran’s military has been decimated although the wicked regime still has missile launchers that have yet to be destroyed.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news report of Newsmax. Some parts in boldface…
The U.S. military marked a major milestone Wednesday, almost four weeks into Operation Epic Fury, recording its 10,000th strike on an Iranian target, U.S. Navy Adm. Brad Cooper, commander of U.S. Central Command, said in an operational update on X.
Cooper said U.S. forces have now carried out more than 10,000 strikes since the campaign began on Feb. 28 and remain “on plan or ahead of plan” in achieving objectives to eliminate Iran’s ability to project power beyond its borders.
He described U.S. precision strikes as having “overwhelmed Iranian air defenses,” producing “tangible effects,” and said U.S. combat flights over Iran are degrading Tehran’s ability to attack U.S. forces and regional allies.
Cooper added that U.S. strikes have destroyed the vast majority of Iran’s largest naval vessels, claiming that 92 % are no longer able to sail, and that Iran’s drone and missile launch rates are down by more than 90 % as a result of U.S. and allied operations.
He also said more than two‑thirds of Iran’s missile, drone, and naval production facilities and shipyards have been damaged or destroyed, and that U.S. forces have maintained air superiority and flown over 10,000 combat sorties in the campaign.
Cooper called the performance of long‑range B‑52 bombers and the more than 50,000 U.S. troops involved “embody the courage and resilience” of service members.
Iran has mounted a sustained response with missiles and drones that have struck Israeli territory and U.S. and allied facilities across the Middle East since the conflict began.
Multiple Iranian retaliatory missile barrages have hit locations across Israel, with documented impacts including residential neighborhoods and civilian infrastructure, and one strike on March 1 killed at least nine Israeli civilians.
Iranian missiles and drones have injured thousands of people in Israel, with more than 4,000 reported injured in total.
Iran’s retaliatory strikes have also affected U.S. bases and allied facilities in Gulf states, with missiles flying through regional airspace and causing infrastructure damage, and incidents of drone strikes hitting U.S. Embassy buildings resulting in minor damage.
As of mid‑March, U.S. authorities reported at least 13 U.S. service members killed in the conflict and roughly 232 wounded, with more than 200 of the wounded returning to duty.
For other updates about what has been going lately in the Middle East, watch the YouTube news videos below.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Considering what the US military has achieved against Iran, do you think they still have sufficient ammunition to hit several thousands more? Do you think the Islamic terrorist regime will eventually break down and surrender? Considering what happened so far, do you think NATO can still come in and be helpful towards the US?
Even as the fighting against the Islamic terrorist regime of Iran continues, a major proposal to build a permanent United States embassy in the eternal capital of Jerusalem was approved by Israel, according to a news report by The Jerusalem Post.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news report of The Jerusalem Post. Some parts in boldface…
Israel approved a proposal to allocate land at the Allenby Complex in Jerusalem for the construction of a permanent United States Embassy on Tuesday.
The approval was announced in a joint statement from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Minister of Foreign Affairs Gideon Sa’ar, and Construction and Housing Minister Haim Katz.
Netanyahu, Sa’ar, and Katz described the building of the embassy as a “major diplomatic move” originally set in motion by US President Donald Trump’s “courageous and historic decision during his first term to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and relocate the US Embassy there.”
The establishment of the permanent embassy will serve as a “tangible, central, and long-term expression of the US’ commitment to Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and the resilience of the special relationship between the two countries,” the announcement statement continued.
Netanyahu, Sa’ar, and Katz additionally thanked US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee for his cooperation and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for working to finalize the decision.
For additional insight, posted below are YouTube videos about the 2018 opening of the US Embassy in Jerusalem.
Still in relation with the recent breakthrough, I share with the holy scripture below and I encourage you to pray to the Lord for the peace of Jerusalem.
Pray for the peace of Jerusalem! May they prosper who love you [the Holy City]!
May peace be within your walls and prosperity within your palaces!
For my brethren and companions’ sake, I will now say, Peace be within you!
For the sake of the house of the Lord our God, I will seek, inquire for, and require your good.
Psalm 122:6-9 (AMPC)
For other updates about what has been going lately in the Middle East, watch the YouTube news videos below.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Are you supportive of Israel’s approval of allocating land in Jerusalem and building a permanent US Embassy on it?
An unexpected turn of events just happened as US President Donald Trump announced that America and the Islamic terrorist regime of Iran had very good and productive conversations and already he instructed the Department of War to postpone all military strikes against the Iranian power plants for a period of five days, according to a news report by The Jerusalem Post.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news report of The Jerusalem Post. Some parts in boldface…
US President Donald Trump asserted on Monday that the US and Iran have had “very good and productive” discussions over the last two days regarding a permanent end to the war.
“I am pleased to report that the United States of America, and the country of Iran, have had, over the last two days, very good and productive conversations regarding a complete and total resolution of our hostilities in the Middle East,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf is leading the talks with the United States, a source told The Jerusalem Post.
Trump added that, based on the “tenor and tone” of the discussions, which he described as “in depth, detailed, and constructive,” he had instructed the Department of Defense to postpone planned military strikes on Iranian power plants and energy infrastructure.
According to the president, the delay will span a five-day period, “subject to the success of the ongoing meetings and discussions.“
Trump’s post contradicts a statement he published on the social media platform the day prior, when the president vowed the US would destroy Iran’s power plants if the Strait of Hormuz was not fully opened within 48 hours.
Iran reportedly denies talks to end war – An Iranian source later denied that the US and Iran were holding talks about ending the war.
“There is no direct contact with Trump, not even through intermediaries. Trump retreated after hearing that our targets would be all power plants in West Asia,” the unnamed source told the Iranian state-affiliated Fars News Agency.
For additional insight, watch the YouTube news videos below.
I am surprised by this newest development. Trump previously announced that America would strike the power plants of the terrorist regime if Iran does not fully open the Strait of Hormuz within 48 hours. One has to wonder which Iranians has America been conversing with lately because the Islamic terrorist regime denied such talks happened. Could it be that Trump and his team have some sort of strategic surprise to unleash in due time? Remember that this is clearly not a ceasefire. The operations against the military sites, government sites and missile launchers of Iran were never halted. The clock is ticking and the pressure is only rising.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Were you surprised by Trump’s latest announcement? Do you think that America and Iran could be communicating with each other via back channels? What do you think Israel will do now that this development happened? Do you think it is possible for the Islamic terrorist regime of Iran to surrender unconditionally?
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news report of The Jerusalem Post. Some parts in boldface…
The United States will destroy Iran’s power plants if the Strait of Hormuz is not fully opened within 48 hours, US President Donald Trump threatened in a Truth Social post on Saturday night.
“If Iran doesn’t FULLY OPEN, WITHOUT THREAT, the Strait of Hormuz, within 48 HOURS from this exact point in time, the United States of America will hit and obliterate their various POWER PLANTS,” Trump wrote.
The US strikes will start with “the biggest one [power plant] first,” Trump stated.
Trump’s statement follows a report in Japanese media that Tehran is ready to let Japanese-related vessels pass through the Strait of Hormuz.
The report came from Kyodo News, citing Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.
Tehran has started talks with Tokyo about possibly opening the Strait, Araghchi told the Japanese news agency in a phone interview on Friday.
Meanwhile, the US and its allies have ramped up efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, deploying low-flying warplanes to strike Iranian boats and Apache helicopters to intercept drones, US officials told the Wall Street Journal on Thursday.
If the Islamic terrorist regime of Iran refuses to give in to Trump, I would not be surprised. Iran’s wicked leaders prefer to die fighting and terrorizing the region instead of doing things diplomatically. Iran is guilty of not only attacking Israel but also Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Islamist Qatar and others. It is likely the terrorist regime of Iran will remain defiant even though many of its senior leaders and officials have been eliminated. The regime itself is obsessed with death and destruction. Whatever happens, here is hoping that the US-Israel joint forces will bring down the Islamic terrorist regime for good and liberate the oppressed and freedom-hungry Iranians.
For additional insight, watch the YouTube news videos below.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Do you think the Islamic terrorist regime of Iran will defy Trump’s latest warning? Are you convinced that Iran is being led by its so-called supreme leader or by a group of their highest ranking commanders who think they can fool the world? Do you think NATO will eventually get involved in the Middle East conflict and help secure the Strait of Hormuz?
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) – an intergovernmental military alliance between more than thirty member states – was slammed by US President Donald J. Trump and labeled a paper tiger due to its cowardice as it never supported the military operations against the Islamic terrorist regime of Iran, according to a news report by Newsmax.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the report of Newsmax. Some parts in boldface…
President Donald Trump on Friday blasted NATO and key European allies, calling the alliance “a paper tiger” and accusing its members of cowardice for refusing to back efforts to secure the Strait of Hormuz while the United States and Israel continue military strikes against Iran.
“Without the U.S.A., NATO IS A PAPER TIGER!” Trump wrote in a Truth Social post. “They didn’t want to join the fight to stop a Nuclear Powered Iran.
“Now that fight is Militarily WON, with very little danger for them, they complain about the high oil prices they are forced to pay, but don’t want to help open the Strait of Hormuz, a simple military maneuver that is the single reason for the high oil prices.“
Although Trump has argued the conflict is effectively over and that Iran’s military has been severely weakened, he has stopped short of formally declaring victory.
“So easy for them to do, with so little risk,”Trump wrote. “COWARDS, and we will REMEMBER!“
Trump’s criticism came after Japan, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, and the Netherlands signaled Thursday that they were prepared to assist in keeping the vital shipping lane open.
“We express our readiness to contribute to appropriate efforts to ensure safe passage through the Strait,” the countries’ leaders wrote in a letter. “We welcome the commitment of nations who are engaging in preparatory planning.”
The letter did not specify what role those countries would play in any Hormuz security effort. The strait carries about 20% of the world’s daily oil supply, and the joint statement also voiced “deep concern” over the effect of Iranian strikes on global energy markets.
The United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, and the Netherlands are NATO members.
Trump has repeatedly pressed NATO and European allies to help secure the Strait of Hormuz and has urged several countries to take part in the military campaign, though they have so far resisted direct involvement.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said Thursday he believes the alliance and its members will ultimately reach a solution to restore passage through the strategic waterway.
“I’m confident that allies, as always, will do everything in support of our shared interest as we always do,” he said.
This development raises doubts about the credibility and relevance of NATO in the 21st century. Among NATO’s members are Spain and Turkey whose leaders openly support Islamic terrorists and hate Israel. I am surprised that Italy – led by its conservative Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni – did not get involved considering her nation’s healthy ties with Trump’s America and Israel. Let’s be clear here…a lot of European nations rely on oil tankers that pass through the Strait of Hormuz. Finally, I believe it is arrogant and wrong for NATO to ignore Iran’s attacks against other states in the Gulf such as Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and even Islamist Qatar.
For additional insight, watch the YouTube news videos below.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Apart from the obvious cowardice, what do you think are the other factors as to why NATO and its members stayed away from the military operations against the Islamic terrorist regime of Iran? Do you think the wicked Iranian regime has deep connections with most of NATO’s members? Do you consider NATO relevant and needed in this current century?
Esmaeil Khatib – the Minister of Intelligence of the Islamic terrorist state of Iran – was eliminated successfully by Israel which severely damaged the regime whose number of officials have been reduced even more, according to a news report by The Jerusalem Post. Israel’s Defense Minister Israel Katz and the military confirmed the assassination.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from The Jerusalem Post news report. Some parts in boldface…
The IDF has assassinated Iranian Intelligence Minister Esmaeil Khatib, Defense Minister Israel Katz, and the military both confirmed on Wednesday.
Before the assassination was confirmed, two sources gave The Jerusalem Post different indications on the likelihood of the success of the operation, which took place Tuesday night.
Khataib’s death marks the next most significant assassination in Iran since the early days of the war, other than the killing of Ali Larijani and the Basij chief on Monday night.
Khatib has been the intelligence minister since August 2021, when ultra-hardliner and former Iranian president Ebrahim Raisi was elected.
When Raisi was killed in a helicopter crash, and Masoud Pezeshkian succeeded him as Iranian president, he kept Khatib in his role, an unusual move given that traditionally new presidents replace top ministers with their own close associates.
Khatib seen as hardliner close to Khamenei checking Pezeshkian – However, Khatib was close to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and was viewed as a hardliner who could keep Pezeshkian’s more moderate positions in check.
In addition, over the years, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) started to displace aspects of the authorities and power of the intelligence ministry, causing friction and competition between the bodies.
Raisi was closer to the IRGC than former president Hassan Rouhani, and Khatib spent much of his career in the IRGC’s intelligence branch.
When Raisi moved Khatib from the IRGC to run the intelligence ministry, it also cemented some of the IRGC’s new intelligence powers.
Khamenei wanted to keep Khatib in place partially to ensure continued IRGC dominance.
Although the IRGC was viewed by Khamenei as more loyal and ideologically committed to his causes, the Post has reported that the intelligence ministry had been viewed by outside CIA and Mossad officials as far more professional and competent.
If IRGC intelligence officials might sometimes be promoted to their roles due to ideological loyalty, top intelligence ministry officials usually only achieve promotion based on outstanding spycraft.
Indeed, the elimination of Khatib is very significant and it weakens the regime even more. The regime, whose so-called new supreme leader could not even show himself living, will continue to pretend it is functioning even after losing Ali Larijani and the Basij chief prior to Khatib. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel is very capable of tracking and finding Iranian regime leaders for elimination. If the Islamic terrorist proxies realize that Iran – whose entire military has been decimated already by Israel and Trump’s America – has a pretentious and smaller leadership existing, they will feel the pressure knowing they can’t keep on fighting without Iran’s support.
As for the oppressed Iranians who protested against their government, the eliminations of Khatib, Larijani and the Basic commander should embolden them to take action against the wicked regime soon.
For additional insight, watch the YouTube news video below.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Do you think the Islamic terrorist regime of Iran has much fewer commanders remaining behind the scenes? Do you think their so-called new supreme leader is in a coma behind closed doors? With Khatib dead, do you think the number of Iranian soldiers and police officers will contemplate abandoning their posts to escape overseas?
In what can be described as the most significant eliminations since that of the demonic Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) successfully eliminated Iran’s Supreme National Security Council Secretary Ali Larijani and Basij Commander Gholamreza Soleimani, according to a news report by The Jerusalem Post.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from The Jerusalem Post news report. Some parts in boldface…
Iran’s Supreme National Security Council Secretary Ali Larijani was killed in a targeted Israeli airstrike in Iran overnight, the IDF and Defense Minister Israel Katz confirmed on Tuesday afternoon.
Israeli confirmation of the assassination came after three separate sources confirmed to The Jerusalem Post he was targeted in what is the single most momentous targeted killing following the death of former supreme leader Ali Khamenei.
The military referred to Larijani as “the de facto leader of the Iranian terror regime.”
Basij commander killed along with ‘majority of leadership’ – The IDF also confirmed it had assassinated the head of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ Basij paramilitary militia, Gholamreza Soleimani, and his deputy, Seyyed Karishi. The two were killed in a makeshift tent area, which had been set up to make it harder to follow them as opposed to in a known headquarters.
An Israeli official also confirmed to The Jerusalem Post that the majority of the Basij leadership was eliminated overnight in the Israeli airstrike.
The military also announced that it killed the IRGC’s Aerospace Force chief.
Larijani was due to give public address in Iran on Tuesday – Iranian authorities stated that Larijani was due to give a public address on Tuesday, but two IDF sources expressed skepticism about his making a statement and expressed stronger optimism that the strike succeeded in killing him, before his death was announced.
After Larijani’s death was confirmed, the Mossad Farsi account posted on X/Twitter, saying “In the end, people without mercy will die.”
The Prime Minister’s Office released an image later on Tuesday, which it said captured the moment in which Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued the order for the targeted assassinations.
Netanyahu also released a statement via video following confirmation of Larijani’s death, calling him the “boss” of the regime, whom he called a “group of gangsters.”
“We’re undermining the regime, in the hope of giving the Iranian nation the opportunity to get rid of it,” he said. “It won’t happen all at once, it won’t happen easily, but if we commit to it, we’ll be able to give them the chance to take their fates into their own hands.”
Larijani was ‘de-facto leader’ of Iran after Khamenei’s killing – Some have viewed Larijani as the man running the Iranian regime since Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was assassinated by the IDF, along with Iran’s military chief, IRGC chief, defense minister, and around 40 other top officials on February 28.
Larijani has been the Islamic regime’s most public voice, responding directly to threats and comments by US President Donald Trump and others.
Whereas Mojtaba Khamenei has been technically appointed the next supreme leader, IDF and American intelligence have said he is badly wounded, and given a total lack of public appearances, doubts have been expressed about whether he is actually running the country.
Further, Larijani was promoted to run day-to-day operations for the country and all negotiations with the West over the conflict in the weeks before the war started.
Larijani, on March 1, announced that he would be heading an interim committee for running the country, given Khamenei’s death. However, just because Larijani issued such a statement does not mean that he is for sure calling the shots.
The Iranian leader has had ups and downs with Khamenei, having been an IRGC commander, speaker of parliament, and a national security council chief, but then was disqualified from running for Iranian president to pave the way for Ebrahim Raisi’s election in 2021, and was out of favor for a time.
However, in recent months, Larijani made a comeback as one of the older and still living top advisers to Khamenei, following so many top officials being killed in June 2025, and became Khamenei’s number two, running the country’s day-to-day security affairs and nuclear negotiations with the US.
If Larijani has been the number one official in Iran these last two weeks, and even if he is only one of the top few, killing or wounding him could significantly impact the overall strategic picture.
This development is the latest addition to the number of Islamic terrorist leaders Israel eliminated under the leadership of Prime Minister Netanyahu. With Larijani confirmed dead, one has to wonder who exactly are leading the Islamic terrorist regime of Iran and why is it their chosen so-called supreme leader – son of the demon Ali Khamenei – has not physically emerged. For additional insight, watch the YouTube news video below.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Do you think the significance of the latest Islamic terrorist leaders of Iran will be realized soon as the war in the Middle East goes on? Who do you think is actually leading the evil regime of Iran right now?
A lot has happened so much over the past several hours. Israel and the United States attacked the Islamic terrorist state of Iran destroying several government and military sites. This was the result of the wicked Iranian government constantly refusing to make a deal with America during the rounds of negotiations they had. The Iranian government never intended to make a deal at all and all they did was wasting everyone’s time which they (and their cowardly Ayatollah) thought they were buying time for themselves.
The “no deal” tactic of the Islamic terrorist regime led to the combined Israel-America military operations against Iran. I am sure the Ayatollah and his officers are regretting their moves.
For insight, watch the speech of US President Donald Trump in the YouTube video posted below. Watch it entirely and pay close attention to the details.
Now, watch the YouTube videos below for a clear view of what happened over the past several hours. Don’t rely on the corrupted mainstream news media. You can trust TBN Israel and CBN News.
For insight, the joint US-Israeli military operations against Iran is not about total annihilation at all. It’s about crippling the wicked Islamic terrorist regime (in power since 1979) and liberating the millions of Iranian people who have long been brutalized by their own government. It is also about holding the regime accountable for its decades-long record of sponsoring terrorists, murdering people, causing regional instability, extensive human rights violations and more.
The Islamic terrorist regime has to fall down and it will be up to the freedom-hungry Iranians to band together to set up a new government and take part in reforming or modernizing their society and economy.
As mentioned earlier, so much has happened over the past several hours. The compound of Ayatollah Khameni got destroyed and according to The Jerusalem Post, the so-called supreme leader of Iran has been cut off from contact. It remains to be seen if the evil Ayatollah survived as of this writing. At the same time. It has been reported that Iran’s Defense Minister Amir Nasirzadeh and Revolutionary Guards commander Mohammed Pakpour are believed to have been killed in Israeli attacks. The headquarters of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps was hit hard as well. Already, the people of Iran are celebrating the joint Israel-America strikes against the regime.
Of course, the evil regime retaliated by launching a heavy missile barrage across Israel. According to The Jerusalem Post report, there was a total of 125 missiles launched against Israel in the first barrage. 35 of those missiles entered Israel airspace while the rest were intercepted.
Going back to the pure evil of the Iranian regime, Iranian missiles were fired at Gulf Arab states in retaliation. Even Qatar – which has a government and the Islamic terrorist news network Al Jazeera – was a target of Iran. Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the Kingdom of Bahrain were also Iranian missile targets!
Several Gulf Arab states said they were targeted by Iranian missiles on Saturday after Tehran pledged to retaliate against strikes by the United States and Israel, bringing conflict to a part of the Arab world that prides itself on relative safety.
State media in the United Arab Emirates said one person had been killed in Abu Dhabi, but gave no details.
In Qatar, a video circulating online showed the moment of impact of an Iranian missile on the Al Udeid Air Base.
Earlier, the Qatari military said in a statement that it had intercepted incoming Iranian missiles before they reached Qatari territory after “joint coordination.” Several successive waves of blasts were heard in the Qatari capital Doha.
Earlier, Kuwait, the UAE, and Jordan, all of which also have a US military presence, said they had intercepted Iranian missiles targeting their territory.
The terrorist regime of Iran did not really care about the Gulf Arab states at all! They wanted to retaliate against the Americans so much, they launched missiles at US military facilities in the Gulf Arab states completely disregarding each nation’s citizens. Not even the Islamist Qatar was spared.
With the joint American-Israeli operations against Iran ongoing, a lot could happen over the next 72 hours. Was the Ayatollah eliminated? Will the government of Iran surrender and give in to Trump’s demands to make the deal? Could Russia and China be feeling nervous as their ally Iran is crumbling under the might of America and Israel? A lot of possibilities could happen over the next few days, and I would not be surprised to see the Iranian people get liberated once the Islamic terrorist regime falls down.
Let me ending this piece by asking you readers to pray to the Lord for victory, for the protection of the American and Israeli forces, for the safety of civilians everywhere, for the fall of the Islamic terrorist regime of Iran, and for the liberation of the oppressed Iranian people.
To get straight into what happened, watch the selected videos below. Pay close attention to the details.
To put things in perspective about the many surviving hostages who made it back home to Israel after spending over two years in captivity in Gaza, posted below is an excerpt from The Jerusalem Post news report. Some parts in boldface…
All 20 of the living Israeli hostages held by Hamas have returned to Israeli territory, the IDF announced. The remaining live hostages held by Hamas were all in IDF custody as of 11:42 a.m.
The first seven hostages to be released were named as: Matan Angrest, Alon Ohel, Eitan Mor, Gali and Ziv Berman, Omri Miran, and Guy Gilboa-Dalal. The second round of returned hostages, which are the other 13, included: Bar Abraham Kupershtein, Evyatar David, Yosef-Chaim Ohana, Segev Kalfon, Avinatan Or, Elkana Bohbot, Maxim Herkin, Nimrod Cohen, Matan Zangauker, Eitan Horn, Rom Braslavski, Ariel Cunio, and David Cunio.
The released hostages have undergone a medical assessment and are en route to hospitals and will reunite with their families, the military added.
Despite earlier IDF estimates that the hostages would be returned in three rounds, in the end it took only two rounds, with Hamas seeming to want to have all hostages over to Israeli custody before US President Donald Trump was soon expected to speak to the Israeli Knesset.
The three expected locations for the transfers were Gaza City, central Gaza, and Khan Yunis in southern Gaza.
Earlier Monday at 9:10 a.m., the IDF had already received seven out of the 20 remaining live hostages back from Hamas via the International Red Cross (ICRC). By 8:10 a.m., the ICRC had already received those hostages from Hamas.
Late Sunday night, the IDF had said that if the live hostages were stable, they would move from Red Cross custody to IDF special forces custody, then to the Reim base, and then to the three hospitals: Shiba, Ichalov, and Beilinson.However, if a live hostage was in immediate medical danger, a helicopter would be sent to rush them to Soroka Medical Center or to Barzilai Medical Center.
All of the first round hostages were stable enough medically that they did not require an emergency evacuation.
The IDF expects that some deceased hostages will be returned on Monday, but has no set numbers about how many, and is prepared for that part of the process to be drawn out over multiple days or longer. The deceased hostages will be transferred to Israel in coordination with further Red Cross-supervised exchanges, under the same verification and transfer protocols. Part of the process will also involve identifying the remains with specific hostages.
According to the IDF, Hamas is bound to assist a joint mechanism associated with the Trump ceasefire to help locate other deceased hostages, where finding them may be less of an exact science.
The ICRC will also transfer around 2,000 Palestinian security prisoners held in Israeli prisons to the Gaza Strip, West Bank, and locations outside of Israel, such as Qatar and Turkey.
Praise and thank the Lord for the return of the 20 surviving hostages! Spending a little over two years as captives of the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas in Gaza surely has been painful and torturous for them. Their respective families had to deal with the long waits and uncertainties during the two years. The surviving hostages are now starting to get their lives back on track and figure out how they will fit back in with local society. The release of the hostages was made possible by the new peace deal for Gaza (and the Middle East) brokered by Trump. What has happened today is undeniably history unfolding and there is still a lot of developments yet to happen.
Of course, we should not forget about the other hostages who died in captivity in Gaza. For sure, the return of bodies of dead hostages will be sorrowful for the affected families and their local communities. That being said, I urge the faithful reading this to pray to the Lord to comfort and heal the families whose loved ones died in captivity in Gaza.
Moving on, Trump addressed the Knesset during his visit in Israel. He expressed how good it is to say that the hostages are back and that the painful nightmare left behind by the October 7, 2023, terrorist attacks committed by Hamas (supported by terrorist state Iran) is over.
To put things in perspective and to find out what Trump exactly said, posted below is an excerpt from the news report of The Jerusalem Post. Some parts in boldface…
US President Donald Trump arrived at the Knesset on Monday morning, giving a speech at the plenum.
A trumpet fanfare sounded in the Knesset upon his entrance to the building and he entered the plenum to additional fanfare and wide applause.
“We’re in a nice place,” Trump’s speech began. We are “giving thanks to the Abrahamic God,” he added.
“The hostages are back! It feels so good to say it,” Trump said.
Netanyahu is “not easy to work with, but that’s what makes him great,” Trump affirmed.
“Like the USA right now, it will be the golden age for Israel,” the president commented.
Trump commented that “a lot of people said we were wasting our time” with regards to a ceasefire agreement, but thanks to several “great American patriots, we achieved this,” Trump commented, highlighting the work of US envoy Steve Witkoff for the part that he played.
Trump also thanked “someone who loves Israel so much, my daughter converted,” referring to his son-in-law Jared Kushner, and also thanked US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, noting that the two were political rivals, particularly during the Republican party primaries before Trump’s 2016 election victory.
Trump said that countries working together toward peace under the Gaza agreement represents an “incredible triumph for Israel and the world.”
He said Israel “has won all that can be won by force of arms.”
He added that it was time to translate what he described as “victories against terrorists” into peace and prosperity for the Middle East.
Trump then said my “personality is all about stopping wars.”
“As you mentioned, Bibi before, peace through strength…We have a lot of weapons, and we’ve given a lot of them to Israel frankly…Bibi would call me sometimes, can you get me this weapon that weapon, some of them I had never even heard of,” Trump said.
“Never forget and never again,” Trump declared regarding Hamas’s October 7, 2023 massacre, as the plenum stood for a standing ovation.
The “cruelty of October 7 struck the heart of humanity. The US mourned alongside Israel,” Trump affirmed.
“Because of us, the long and painful nightmare is finally over,” he said.
Trump also praised Israel for its airstrikes against Iran in June’s Operation Rising Lion, and the part the US played in striking Iranian nuclear facilities in Operation Midnight Hammer.
“We stopped the number one state sponsor of terror in obtaining the world’s most dangerous weapons,” he said.
“Assuming we made the same deal we have today, there would be a dark could over the deal,” he added.
“We took a big cloud off the Middle East and off of Israel,” Trump said to a round of applause.
“They took a big hit,” Trump said about Iran. “You know it would be great if we could make a peace deal” with them, he said.
“The dagger of Hezbollah, long aimed at Israel’s throat, has been shattered,” Trump commented, adding that he is supporting the Lebanese president in disarming the terror organization.
“People are dancing in countries in the street that would never have danced in the street,” due to the deal, Trump said, adding that the entire region has endorsed the plan that Hamas will be demilitarized.
“Peace is not just a dream, it’s a reality that we can build upon piece by piece,” the president said.
Everybody that has tried antisemitic policies has become irrelevant, and those who have reached across to Israel have become important, Trump said referring to the Abraham Accords, signalling his intention for other countries to join the agreement. “Now you have peace…people who really like Israel,” he said.
“They did nothing with the document,” he said, referring to countries who have not yet join the normalization agreement with Israel.
“This little dot, look at what you’ve done it’s incredible,” he said, receiving another standing ovation.
“The world wanted peace and Israel wanted peace, everybody did, and what a victory it’s been. The timing of this is brilliant,” Trump said as he thanked Netanyahu for “having the courage to end the war” when he did.
“After tremendous pain and hardship, now is the time to build the country up, instead of tearing it downI intend to be a partner is this,” Trump said.
“It’s my firm hope and dream that the Abraham Accords will turn out to be everything that we thought they would. Trump said that even after the war, the countries within the accords have remained. I hope all the countries we’re seeking, join quickly, no games,” Trump commented.
When Iran signed the nuclear deal it was a disaster for everyone,” Trump spoke on the past.
“That was the beginning of a very bad time, and by the way, I terminated the Iran nuclear deal,” Trump added.
Iran “wants to make a deal,” Trump said. Neither US or Israel bear Iran any hostility, the president claimed.
“We are ready when you are, and it’s going to be the best decision that Iran ever made,” Trump said.
“The state of Israel is strong and it will live and thrive forever,” he said, praising Israel as a key US ally.
Trump also spoke on the things he has done for Israel, remarking on how he is the best ally Israel has ever had.
Still there in the Knesset, Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with the mourning families, the abducted and the wounded Israel Defense Forces (IDF) personnel. You can see it by clicking here.
Thank the Lord for US President Trump, Prime Minister Netanyahu, the Israeli President Isaac Herzog, the armed forces of Israel and the entire Jewish State for the breakthroughs that happened this year. Israel defeated Iran during the 12-Day War which involved America’s massive bombing on the Iranian nuclear facilities. Hamas terrorists lost a lot of ground in Gaza and were down to their final stronghold being cornered by the IDF.
The Trump-brokered peace deal is working as I write this and having been to Israel myself (some of my Israel 2023 tour blog posts can be read by clicking here, here, here, here and here) I truly believe that the Middle East will change for the better with Israel as God’s chosen state. There will be challenges, the Trump-brokered peace deal has to keep developing, Middle East nations will have to adjust before joining the Abraham Accords and the terrorist leadership of Iran has yet to vanish. Whatever happens, hang on to your faith in the Lord and live on with His Word (the Holy Bible). Do not let the worldly pawns of Satan and chaos of the world dominate you. Simply stay strong with the Lord and keep on supporting Israel and Trump’s current term as US President.
To everyone reading this, I encourage you to accept the truth that Israel is the land God designated specifically for the Jewish people (read Genesis 35:10-12) and His command must be followed without hesitation. If you want to be blessed further by the Lord, do so by loving and blessing the Jewish people (Genesis 12:1-3). I did my part when I was in Israel. Also, let me remind you all that the ties between the Jews and Christians are truly biblical!
I encourage you all to pray to the Lord God in support of Israel, to love and bless the Jewish people, and pray for the peace of Jerusalem.
After officially having their brand new Iron Beam fully operational for defense, the next step of military technology for Israel is having their aircraft armed with laser, according to a news article by The Jerusalem Post. We are talking about aerial lasers here and the corporation Elbit has serious plans for the Jewish state.
It should be noted that the Israeli Air Force (IAF) intends to execute a major overhaul of their fleet of F-16’s. Several F-16 units were used by Israel in the 12-Day War with terrorist state Iran months ago.
To put things in perspective, posted below is the excerpt from The Jerusalem Post news article. Some parts in boldface…
As the Defense Ministry and Rafael announce new developments regarding Israel’s ground-based laser defense systems, Elbit continues its long path toward the next stage in laser military technology – lasers on aircraft.
Experts in the field have stated that this is a much longer-term challenge, one that is expected to take years, possibly even five to 10.
However, Elbit chief technology officer for electro-optic systems Oded Ben David told The Jerusalem Post that air-based lasers have distinct advantages over ground-based ones.
He explained that dealing with turbulence and other atmospheric challenges is far easier when striking a target from above than when attempting to ascend from the ground to shoot down an aerial threat.
Aerial lasers are also the holy grail of lasers in that they can be used more effectively and suddenly on both defense and offense, as opposed to ground-based lasers, which must adjust the direction and goal of their firing much more slowly.
Next, he pointed out that Israir, El Al, and other Israeli aircraft have had a weaker form of laser defense – direct infrared countermeasures – for many years, such that the idea of an air-based laser has already been achieved.
Yet, he explained that these lasers work very differently from those that Elbit plans to develop, which will be able to strike aerial threats at much greater distances and which will have much more powerful laser beams.
In addition, the existing air defenses protect against aerial threats approaching the aircraft directly, whereas the purpose of future air-based lasers will be to shoot down threats that are in a completely different area, nowhere near the aircraft carrying the lasers.
Lasers will be fully Israeli-made – Elbit Systems President and CEO Bezhalel Machlis stressed that the laser will be fully Israeli-made, arguing, “It will transform the country’s defense array.”
“The company is dedicated to developing high-energy laser systems for military applications, first and foremost an airborne laser with the potential to bring a strategic change to air defense capabilities,” he said.
Thank the Lord for this significant development on the part of Israel. I can imagine having power lasers on Israeli aircraft – specifically within military operations – will prove crucial both offensively and defensively. The commercial aircraft of Israel could really use enhanced defenses with laser. The concept of aircraft armed with laser – previously presented in science fiction and pop culture – will eventually turn real with Elbit and Israel. It is a just a matter of time.
I encourage you all to pray to the Lord God in support of Israel, to love and bless the Jewish people, and pray for the peace of Jerusalem.
Author Carlo Carrasco 