White House officials said Tuesday that Iran might be reconsidering its plan for a major retaliation against Israel, Washington Post columnist David Ignatius reported. The report claims that President Biden’s “intense” diplomatic efforts to “stave off a catastrophic war in the Middle East” may have influenced Iran to abandon its public assertions to punish Israel for the elimination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran. According to the report, Iran may have been dissuaded due to the US urging Iran to show restraint and its threats of “serious consequences” to the stability of the new government of President Masoud Pezeshkian. However, the officials added, Hezbollah, Iran’s proxy in Lebanon “is still a wild card.”

IDF troops located, investigated, and destroyed an underground route dozens of meters deep which included Hamas workshops and a compound where there were three rooms used by the terrorists to store and manufacture weapons. Destruction of the underground workshop (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

The IDF announced that the Israeli Air Force carried out a targeted strike in the Jouaiyya region of southern Lebanon, eliminating Hassan Fares Jeshi, a senior Hezbollah commander involved in the group’s anti-tank missile operations. In addition to this strike, the IAF also targeted Hezbollah military structures in the Aitaroun area earlier in the day. The IDF reported that its artillery units conducted strikes in southern Lebanon to neutralize emerging threats in the region.

Yesterday (Tuesday), following precise IDF and Shin Bet intelligence, a Hamas and Islamic Jihad weapons production facility embedded inside the Humanitarian Area in Deir al Balah was struck by the IAF.

Foreign Minister Israel Katz states that Yahya Sinwar’s appointment as leader of Hamas demonstrates that “the Palestinian cause is now entirely under the control of Iran and Hamas.” He writes the following on his X account” “The election of Yahya Sinwar as the leader of Hamas must send a clear message to the world that the Palestinian issue is now completely controlled by Iran and Hamas. Without Israeli action in Gaza, the area would fall entirely under Hamas control. In Judea and Samaria, Abbas and the Palestinian Authority survive only because of Israel’s intensive military operations against Hamas and Islamic Jihad infrastructure, which are supported and promoted by Iran.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, today visited the IDF induction base at Tel Hashomer, and met with Armored Corps and Combat Engineer recruits. At the start of the visit, the Prime Minister met recruits receiving their gear, before putting on their uniforms, spoke with them and answered their questions. Prime Minister Netanyahu [translated from Hebrew]: “I am here at the IDF induction base with Armored Corps and Combat Engineer recruits. I wish you great success. Look out for each other and look out for our country. We are continuing forward to victory. I know that the citizens of Israel are concerned, and I ask one thing of you: Be patient and level-headed. We are prepared both defensively and offensivel.

About a dozen F/A-18 fighter jets from the USS Theodore Roosevelt aircraft carrier have flown to a military base in the Middle East, as part of the Pentagon’s effort to help defend Israel from possible attacks by Iran and its proxies and to safeguard US troops, according to a US official. The F/A-18s and a E-2D Hawkeye surveillance aircraft took off from the carrier in the Gulf of Oman and arrived at the undisclosed base on Monday, the official says. US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin ordered the increased military presence in the region as officials worry about escalating violence in the Middle East in the wake of the killings last week of a senior Hezbollah commander in Lebanon and Hamas’ top political leader in Iran, in suspected Israeli strikes. Both groups are backed by Iran.

In a move necessitated by heightened security concerns, the IDF Home Front Command has announced the cancellation of the annual pilgrimage to the kever of the Ari Hakadosh, Rav Yitzchak ben Shlomo Luria Ashkenazi, in Tzfas. The pilgrimage, typically taking place between Thursday and Shabbos, has been called off following a reassessment of the situation and in consultation with relevant authorities. Despite this precautionary measure, the IDF has emphasized that there are no changes to the existing guidelines for Israeli civilians, who are urged to remain vigilant amidst anticipation of a potential attack by Hezbollah and Iranian forces.

The Pentagon has deployed around a dozen F/A-18 fighter jets from the USS Theodore Roosevelt aircraft carrier to a military base in the Middle East. The jets, accompanied by a E-2D Hawkeye surveillance aircraft, arrived at the undisclosed base on Monday, according to a US official. US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin ordered the increased military presence in response to an expected attack by Iran following the assassinations of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh and Hezbollah’s top commander Fuad Shukr. The Navy jets’ deployment is expected to be temporary, as a squadron of Air Force F-22 fighter jets is en route to the same base from Alaska. The F-22s are expected to arrive in the coming days, and their combined presence may depend on the evolving situation in the region.