The Houthi terror group in Yemen fired a ballistic missile at central Israel on Sunday morning, triggering sirens in numerous locations, including Beit Shemesh, Modiin, Modiin Illit, Neve Ilan, Kiryat Ye’arim, Rehovot, Kiryat Ekron, Ramla, Ahisamach, Be’er Ya’akov, and Shoresh. Residents reported hearing the sounds of explosions. The IDF spokesperson stated: “Following the alerts that were activated in the areas of the Shefala, Lachish, and Yarkon between 6:21-6:22 a.m., one launch from Yemen was identified and intercepted before it crossed into Israeli territory.” Jerusalem Police reported: “A short while ago, alerts were heard in the Beit Shemesh area and surrounding communities.

The Islamist attack on Aleppo, Syria, could present strategic advantages for Israel, according to Daniel Rakov, a senior research fellow at the Jerusalem Institute for Strategy and Security (JISS) and a reserve lieutenant-colonel in the IDF. In a post on X, Rakov analyzed the implications of the assault on northern Syria and its potential impact on Iran, Hezbollah, and regional powers. “The fall of northern Syria to the rebels damages the infrastructure of the Iranians and Hezbollah there and will make it difficult for them to work to restore Hezbollah,” Rakov wrote. He argued that the conflict would force Syrian President Bashar Assad to focus on preserving his regime rather than aiding Iranian and Hezbollah efforts in Lebanon.

Thousands of Syrian insurgents fanned out inside Aleppo in vehicles with improvised armor and pickups, deploying to landmarks such as the old citadel on Saturday, a day after they entered Syria’s largest city facing little resistance from government troops, according to residents and fighters. Witnesses said two airstrikes on the city’s edge late Friday targeted insurgent reinforcements and hit near residential areas. A war monitor said 20 fighters were killed. Syria’s armed forces said in a statement Saturday that to absorb the large attack on Aleppo and save lives, it has redeployed and is preparing for a counterattack. The statement acknowledged that insurgents entered large parts of the city but said they have not established bases or checkpoints.

The 13-year civil war in Syria has roared back into prominence with a surprise rebel offensive on Aleppo, one of Syria’s largest cities and an ancient business hub. The push is among the rebels’ strongest in years in a war whose destabilizing effects have rippled far beyond the country’s borders. It was the first opposition attack on Aleppo since 2016, when a brutal air campaign by Russian warplanes helped Syrian President Bashar Assad retake the northwestern city. Intervention by Russia, Iran and Iranian-allied Hezbollah and other groups has allowed Assad to remain in power, within the 70% of Syria under his control.

During a Black Friday shopping trip with his grandson Beau and family, outgoing President Joe Biden drew attention after being spotted carrying a book critical of Israel. The book, The Hundred Years’ War on Palestine: A History of Settler Colonial Conquest and Resistance, 1917-2017, by Columbia professor emeritus Rashid Khalidi, critiques the Zionist movement as “settler colonialism” and describes Palestinian oppression as “the oppression of one people by another.” One reviewer called the book “a highly partisan account from the Palestinian perspective.” Even Khalidi himself was surprised, telling the New York Post: “My reaction is that this is 4 years too late.” It remains unclear whether Biden purchased the book or if it belonged to a family member accompanying him on the outing.

Hamas released a video on Shabbos of Edan Alexander, an American-Israeli soldier who was abducted by the terror group and has been held hostage in Gaza since October 7. Alexander was abducted from his IDF base where he was serving as a lone soldier. His parents and two younger sisters live in Tenafly, New Jersey. In the video, which was was likely filmed on Friday,, Alexander is seen making scripted statements prepared for him by his abductors. He that he has been held in captivity for over 420 days and appeals to U.S. President-elect Donald Trump and Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu to work toward his release. He also addressed his family in tears, saying: “I miss you all so much. Every day I pray that I will see you soon. Please stay strong.

The IDF on Motzei Shabbos announced the death of an IDF soldier who fell in battle in Jabalaya in the northern Gaza Strip on Friday. He was identified as Staff Sgt. Zamir Burke, H’YD, 20, from Beit Shemesh. He served as a squad commander in the 401st Brigade of the 601st Battalion. Another soldier in the same brigade was seriously injured in the same incident. Hashem Yikam Damo. (YWN’s Jerusalem desk is keeping you updated after tzeis ha’Shabbos in Israel)

A 17-year-old has been charged with the murder of Israeli national Aviv Broek, a 21-year-old locksmith who was gunned down and robbed while on the job in Memphis, Tennessee. Memphis police announced that the teen, whose identity has not been released due to his age, faces charges of first-degree murder in perpetration of a robbery and especially aggravated robbery. Broek was killed last Friday after being lured to a job on Hernando Road, authorities said. He arrived at the location but became unreachable for two hours, prompting a friend to search for him. Broek was found shot near his car, which had been ransacked for his work equipment. Police reported that the attacker left him to die at the scene.

The ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hezbollah, brokered by the United States and France, represents a huge setback for the Iranian-backed terror group, according to analysis from two leading U.S. think tanks. The deal, which came into effect this Wednesday, concludes over a year of intense fighting and requires Hezbollah to withdraw north of the Litani River while the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) take control of southern Lebanon. The agreement mandates a phased withdrawal of Israeli forces from southern Lebanon over the next 60 days, with the LAF deploying 5,000 troops to the area to enforce the ceasefire. The deal also allows Israel to retain operational freedom to respond to any Hezbollah violations.

Syrian insurgents breached Syria’s second largest city Aleppo after blowing up two car bombs on Friday, and were clashing with government forces on the city’s western edge, according to a Syria war monitor and fighters. It was the first time the city has been attacked by opposition forces since 2016, when they were ousted from Aleppo’s eastern neighborhoods following a grueling military campaign in which Syrian government forces were backed by Russia, Iran and its allied groups. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi labeled them as part of “a US-Zionist plan” orchestrated in the aftermath of supposed Israeli setbacks in Lebanon and Gaza, according to Iran’s state media.