KOENIG

As he departed Washington for the NATO summit in The Hague on Tuesday, Trump said both countries had violated the cease-fire. This was just hours after Trump had announced that the cease-fire had gone into effect. Trump was enraged that the truce was seemingly crumbling so quickly. “We basically have two countries that have been fighting so long and so hard that they don’t know what the fu** they’re doing. Do you understand that?” Trump told reporters.

In a subsequent post on Truth Social, Trump said, “ISRAEL. DO NOT DROP THOSE BOMBS. IF YOU DO IT IS A MAJOR VIOLATION. BRING YOUR PILOTS HOME, NOW!”

14:48 - Netanyahu told Trump Israeli planes were already conducting strikes

According to reports in Hebrew media, during their phone call, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told U.S. President Donald Trump that IAF planes were already conducting retaliatory strikes and that it was too late to recall them. 

The report comes just after reports of explosions north of Tehran. 

14:39 - Explosions reported north of Tehran

According to Iran International, Iranian media reported that two explosions were heard in Chamestan, north of Tehran. 

14:20 - Netanyahu and Trump reportedly holding phone call over Iranian ceasefire violation

Ynet news reported that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is currently speaking with US President Donald Trump over the Iranian ceasefire violation, following Trump's instruction to return the pilots and not attack Iran. 

Most Israeli government officials reportedly support carrying out a retaliatory strike.

President Donald Trump said Israel and Iran have agreed to a ceasefire after more than a week of missile exchanges.

“CONGRATULATIONS TO EVERYONE! It has been fully agreed by and between Israel and Iran that there will be a Complete and Total CEASEFIRE (in approximately 6 hours from now, when Israel and Iran have wound down and completed their in progress, final missions!), for 12 hours, at which point the War will be considered, ENDED!" he wrote on his Truth Social Platform.

“Officially, Iran will start the CEASEFIRE and, upon the 12th Hour, Israel will start the CEASEFIRE and, upon the 24th Hour, an Official END to THE 12 DAY WAR will be saluted by the World,” Trump added.

Trump praised both countries for their “Stamina, Courage, and Intelligence” to end what he called “THE 12 DAY WAR.”

“This is a War that could have gone on for years, and destroyed the entire Middle East, but it didn’t, and never will! God bless Israel, God bless Iran, God bless the Middle East, God bless the United States of America, and GOD BLESS THE WORLD!” he said.

Explosions were heard over Doha, Qatar, on Monday as intelligence warned that Iran plans to target U.S. military bases in the country.

A senior White House official says both the White House and the Pentagon are monitoring threats against Al Udeid Air Base, which is located in Qatar and is America's largest military base in the Middle East.

Joint Chiefs Chair Gen. Dan Caine and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth were in the Situation Room monitoring potential Iranian retaliation as news of the explosions broke.

Qatar's foreign ministry condemned the attack in a statement, saying there were no casualties.

Israeli airstrikes targeted key assets and symbols of the Iranian regime in Tehran on Monday, including facilities belonging to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, the notorious Evin Prison for political prisoners, and the “Destruction of Israel” countdown clock.

The Israel Defense Forces said Israeli Air Force fighter jets struck headquarters and other facilities belonging to Iran’s internal security forces and Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in Tehran.

“These forces are composed of various corps and commands and are responsible, on behalf of the Iranian regime’s military, for homeland defense, suppressing threats, and maintaining regime stability,” the IDF said.

LIVE from Jerusalem — Our correspondent brings you the latest and most dramatic updates on the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran. In a stunning and unexpected move, former U.S. President Donald Trump has authorized American strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities — and the world is watching closely. 

What triggered this bold decision?

How is Israel reacting behind the scenes?

Are we witnessing the beginning of a much larger war? In this urgent update, recorded in the heart of Jerusalem, we break down what’s happening, what it means for the region, and how the United States has now entered the equation in a decisive way.  With tensions at a boiling point, and prophetic echoes felt across the Middle East, this could be a turning point in modern history. 

Don’t miss this deep dive into: • The Iranian threat and Israel’s strategic position • Trump’s surprise military decision and its consequences • What may come next in the hours and days ahead

Watch now to stay informed — because history is being written in real time.

Authorities in New York and Washington are on high alert after U.S. airstrikes on three Iranian nuclear sites on Saturday night. 

"We’re tracking the situation unfolding in Iran," NYPD said in a post on X. "Out of an abundance of caution, we're deploying additional resources to religious, cultural, and diplomatic sites across NYC and coordinating with our federal partners. We’ll continue to monitor for any potential impact to NYC."

Shortly thereafter, the [Washington, DC] Metropolitan Police Department released a similar statement on the social media platform.

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass posted on X, noting that following the bombings in Iran, the city is "closely monitoring any threats to public safety."

An advisory from the US Department of Homeland Security warned on Sunday of a "heightened threat environment in the United States" following overnight US military strikes on Iran's nuclear sites.

New Delhi: 

Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi announced on Sunday that he will travel to Moscow for high-level talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, following overnight US airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities.

Speaking at a press conference on the sidelines of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) summit in Istanbul, Mr Araghchi said the consultations with President Putin would take place Monday morning. The move comes in the immediate aftermath of the US targeting three key Iranian nuclear sites, in what Washington has described as a "necessary step" to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.

"Russia is a friend of Iran, we always consult with each other," Araghchi told reporters. "I'm going to Moscow this afternoon for serious consultations with the Russian president tomorrow morning."

President Trump told Sean Hannity that the US used six bunker buster bombs on Iran's Fordow nuclear site. The US also launched 30 tomahawk missiles to destroy the Natanz and Esfahan sites.

TAIPEI, Taiwan -- China sent 74 warplanes toward Taiwan between late Thursday and early Friday, 61 of which crossed the central line in the Taiwan Strait that unofficially divides the sides, an unusually large number as tensions remained heightened in the region.

It wasn’t clear why so many planes were scrambled between late Thursday and early Friday, as tabulated by Taiwan’s Defense Ministry. The planes were sent in two separate tranches, it added.

Iran’s supreme leader Ali Khamenei named three senior clerics as candidates to succeed him should he be killed, the New York Times reported on Saturday citing unnamed Iranian officials. It is understood the Ayatollah fears he could be assassinated in the coming days. 

Khamenei reportedly mostly speaks with his commanders through a trusted aide now, suspending electronic communications.

Khamenei has designated three senior religious figures as candidates to replace him as well as choosing successors in the military chain of command in the likely event that additional senior officials be eliminated.

Six B-2 stealth bombers from Whiteman Air Force base in Missouri appear heading towards a U.S. Air Force base in Guam according to flight tracking data and voice communications with air traffic control.

The B-2 can carry a two-ton bunker buster bomb — something only the U.S. possesses — which experts say could be key in destroying Iran's most heavily protected nuclear facility.

President Donald Trump, who said that he would make a decision on involvement in the Israel-Iran conflict, is expected to return to the White House on Saturday afternoon

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir, Defense Minister Israel Katz, Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer, and other Israeli officials met with officials from the Trump administration, which included Vice President JD Vance and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, on Thursday night, two sources with knowledge of the meeting told The Jerusalem Post. 

The meeting took place as the US was deliberating whether to join Israel in strikes against Iran. US President Donald Trump said he would make a decision in a matter of two weeks on whether the country would join the strikes against the Islamic Republic.

Citing a message from Trump, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters: "Based on the fact that there's a substantial chance of negotiations that may or may not take place with Iran in the near future, I will make my decision whether or not to go within the next two weeks."

[WWD Note: The article is not fully clear how the meeting occurred, but it might have been via video link as there are no other records indicating otherwise.]

As President Trump is contemplating potential U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, law enforcement officials have stepped up surveillance of Iran-backed operatives in the United States, multiple sources told CBS News. 

FBI Director Kash Patel has increased efforts to monitor possible domestic sleeper cells linked to Hezbollah — a U.S.-designated foreign terrorist organization backed by Iran — since Israel's Operation Rising Lion offensive began earlier this month, U.S. officials said.

Both the White House and FBI declined to comment.

As tensions rise between Israel and Iran, Gulf states are accelerating their emergency preparedness in anticipation of a potential regional spillover, particularly involving the threat of chemical or nuclear weapons. 

On Thursday, Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Secretary General Jassem al-Budaiwi outlined the latest measures in an interview with the Saudi daily Al-Sharq al-Awsat.

"The coordination among member states has reached advanced levels to prepare for various emergency scenarios, including those involving chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear weapons," al-Budaiwi said.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed on Thursday morning that it carried out a major overnight air operation targeting Iranian military and nuclear infrastructure, including a direct strike on the inactive nuclear reactor in Arak.

According to an official IDF statement, 40 Israeli Air Force fighter jets launched a series of coordinated airstrikes across Tehran, Arak, Natanz, and other key locations throughout Iran. The aircraft deployed over 100 munitions, targeting dozens of military installations under precise guidance from the IDF Intelligence Directorate.

One of the most high-profile targets was the inactive heavy-water nuclear reactor in the Arak region. Though the facility never became fully operational—its construction halted in 1997 under international pressure—the reactor was originally designed to produce weapons-grade plutonium, a key material used in nuclear warheads.

Join us for a powerful evening of truth, urgency, and biblical insight as we welcome leading prophecy experts: Brandon Holthaus will be hosting this Prophecy Q&A with Bill Koenig, Tom Hughes, and Billy Crone.

These men will tackle current events in the news and explain how they align with Bible prophecy—helping you make sense of the times and stand firm in truth. This is a night you don’t want to miss. Seating is limited!

No registration required | Livestream available

US President Donald Trump appears to scoff at Vladimir Putin’s offer to mediate in the Israel-Iran conflict, saying the Russian president should end his own war in Ukraine first.

“He actually offered to help mediate, I said, ‘Do me a favor, mediate your own. Let’s mediate Russia first, okay?'” Trump told reporters at the White House. “I said ‘Vladimir, let’s mediate Russia first, you can worry about this later.'”

The Israeli Air Force struck a centrifuge production site in Tehran overnight Tuesday that the military said was used by the Iranian regime to expand and accelerate its uranium enrichment.

More than 50 fighter jets had carried out a series of strikes against targets in the Iranian capital region, the Israel Defense Forces said.

“The Iranian regime is enriching uranium for the purpose of developing nuclear weapons,” the IDF stressed in its Wednesday morning operational update. “Nuclear power for civilian use does not require enrichment at these levels.”

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told lawmakers Wednesday that the Pentagon was providing possible options to President Donald Trump as he decides next steps on Iran but would not say whether the military was planning to assist with Israeli strikes, an action that could risk dragging America into a wider war in the Middle East.

In questioning before the Senate Armed Services Committee, Hegseth said “maximum force protection” was being provided for U.S. troops in the Middle East and that it is Trump’s decision whether to provide Israel a ”bunker buster” bomb to strike at the core of Iran’s nuclear program, which would require U.S. pilots flying a B-2 stealth bomber. He would not indicate what the U.S. may do next.

Shalom, friends! In this video, I bring you an urgent and powerful update on the war between Israel and Iran, filmed right here in Jerusalem. Despite the ongoing tensions in the Middle East, hope is rising, and life is beginning to return to normal across Israel.

 I’ll share how your prayers are making a difference, how the people of Israel are standing strong, and how we believe — with faith and resilience — Israel is winning this war, both in the physical and spiritual realms.

Join me for exclusive footage, firsthand insight, and a message of encouragement from the heart of the Holy Land. This is the side of the story that many media outlets won’t show you.

 Keep praying for Israel. This battle is not only on the ground — it’s spiritual. And your prayers matter.

Don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE, LIKE, and SHARE this video with your community. Let the truth from Israel be heard!

The IDF says most of the ballistic missiles launched at Israel from Iran a short while ago were intercepted by air defenses.

According to IDF assessments, fewer than 10 missiles were launched.

The Home Front Command says civilians in areas where sirens sounded can leave shelters.

Israel announced that it had gained aerial superiority over western Iran, including Tehran, 48 hours after the start of “Operation Rising Lion,” something Russia hasn’t been able to do in three-and-a-half years of war in Ukraine.

Why one succeeded while the other failed was the subject of a report by The Wall Street Journal on Monday. The most obvious reason is that the Israel Air Force is more capable than the Russian Air Force.

On October 7, 2023, the brutal Hamas attack on Israel prompted Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to declare, “We will reshape the Middle East.”

Since then, Israel has launched a multifaceted campaign to dismantle Iran’s network of terrorist proxies in Lebanon, Gaza, and Yemen.

Last week, this effort culminated in “Operation Rising Lion,” a pre-emptive strike targeting Iran’s leadership, military installations, and nuclear sites.

This audacious operation has sparked intense debate about its geopolitical ramifications, but Israel is confident it can win this war, destroy Iran’s nuclear ambitions, and change the Middle East for the better.