The head of the IDF’s Northern Command Ori Gordin spoke to commanders and soldiers near the northern border on Wednesday. “We’ve entered another phase of the operation,” he said. ” It began with a very significant blow to Hezbollah’s capabilities, focusing on their  rocket firepower, and delivering a very substantial blow to the commanders and members of the organization.” “We need to change the security situation,” he emphasized. “We have to be very strongly prepared to enter [Lebanon] in a ground operation.” (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)

As Operation Northern Arrows, Wednesday began with an early morning launch of a Hezbollah rocket at Tel Aviv for the first time. Later in the morning, sirens were heard for the first time in Zichron Yaakov and Chof HaCarmel as Hezbollah fired a barrage at the area. About midday, Hezbollah fired a heavy rocket barrage of about 40 rockets at Tzfas. Most of the rockets were intercepted but one scored a direct hit on an assisted living facility, heavily damaging it. B’Chasdei Hashem no one was injured but the rocket fall caused a fire to break out. Meanwhile, the IDF continues to strike terror targets in Lebanon, carrying out over 100 strikes of Hezbollah sites with dozens of fighter jets since the morning. (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)

An Iranian-backed militia in Iraq carried out three attacks on Israel overnight Tuesday and Wednesday morning. Shortly after midnight, drone infiltration sirens sounded in the Arava. The drone fell in an open area and Baruch Hashem caused no damage or injuries. The Islamic Resistance in Iraq claimed responsibility for the strike, stating that it was launched at “a target near the Jordan Valley.” At about 3 a.m., drone infiltration sirens sounded in Ramat HaGaolan. Two drones fell in open areas, causing fires, but did not cause injuries or damage. The Islamic Resistance in Iraq again took responsiblity for the attack. On Wednesday morning at about 8:50 a.m., IDF fighter jets downed a drone that entered Israel through Syria.

Rocket sirens blared across Tel Aviv and central Israel early Wednesday morning, prompting residents to rush to bomb shelters as instructed by the IDF Home Front Command. The sirens were heard in several cities, including Tel Aviv and Netanya, following reports of incoming threats from the north. According to an official statement from the Israel Defense Forces, one surface-to-surface missile was detected crossing from Lebanon into Israeli airspace. The missile was successfully intercepted by the IDF’s Aerial Defense Array, preventing any damage or casualties. A video below shows what appears to be the moment of interception over Tel Aviv, with a defensive missile striking the incoming threat in mid-air. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton recently discussed the pro-Palestinian demonstrations she witnessed at Columbia University last spring, sharing her concerns in an interview with CNN’s Fareed Zakaria. As students return to campuses, Clinton expects tensions to rise again, with protests likely to reignite. During the interview, Clinton suggested that these protests were influenced by external forces rather than being organically led by students. “There were already existing groups within our country, and particularly on certain campuses like Columbia, who had talking points. They had a plan for protest and disruption.

I write in response to Monday’s incident in Beit Shemesh involving police violence against Charedi protesters, as well as the subsequent investigation. While I unequivocally condemn any form of police brutality, I believe it’s important to understand the context of the event being protested and the community dynamics at play. The protesters were not rallying against some harmful policy or oppressive regime—they were protesting an event designed to help young Charedi men acquire valuable skills for the workforce. The programs highlighted at the event offered education in areas like programming, bookkeeping, engineering, and healthcare—honest professions that enable individuals to support their families with dignity.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog on Tuesday asserted that Hezbollah will not cease its assaults on Israel because Hamas is obstructing a potential hostage deal. Speaking to CNBC, Herzog explained that ongoing negotiations to free hostages held by Hamas have been repeatedly rejected by Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, resulting in Hezbollah continuing its attacks. “[Hezbollah leader Hassan] Nasrallah decided that he wants to keep on going in the war because we are trying to negotiate a hostage deal, and [Hamas leader Yahya] Sinwar, in the dungeons of Gaza, says no and again, no and again, no,” Herzog told CNBC. Herzog stressed that resolving the conflict requires not only securing the return of hostages but also neutralizing the threat posed by Hezbollah from Israel’s northern border.

Maj.-Gen. (res.) Yaakov Amidror, the former head of the National Security Council and currently a senior member of the Jerusalem Institute for Strategy and Security (JISS), spoke about Israel’s current conflict with Hezbollah on Kol BaRama Radio on Tuesday. “We’re not in an all-out war,” he said. “We’re not wiping out Dahieh [Beirut suburb and Hezbollah stronghold], and they’re not firing at Tel Aviv. All the targets we’ve taken out are less than 10% of Hezbollah’s capabilities.” ” For 20 years, we preferred to invest in Lebanon instead of Gaza, and the results can be seen in the past few weeks,” Amidror added in a veiled criticism of the IDF’s failure to predict and defend against the October 7 assault.

Amid escalating security concerns in northern Israel, United Hatzalah significantly expanded its emergency fleet this week, adding 31 new state-of-the-art ambulances that will allow the organization’s volunteers to provide faster and more efficient medical treatment across Israel. The ambulances were released from the Ashdod Port over the weekend and are currently being deployed in northern Israel and across the country. United Hatzalah, Israel’s largest independent emergency medical services (EMS) organization, will use the ambulances to help provide faster and more efficient medical treatment in emergency cases.

Israel has carried out devastating attacks on Hezbollah in recent days, taking advantage of its expertise in intelligence and technology. However, according to a Wall Street Journal report on Tuesday, “a ground war between the two, if it occurs, would likely be a different story.” Hezbollah, considered the world’s most heavily armed terror group, has a massive arsenal of rockets, drones and antitank missiles, including its most dangerous, an Iranian-made guided antitank missile called Almas which is far more precise than any missile Hezbollah used against Israel during the Second Lebanon War in 2006. A ground war would mean that Israel “would have to fight on a battlefield in southern Lebanon that plays to Hezbollah’s strengths” and risks turning into a quagmire, like the war in Gaza.