Israeli security forces operating in Judea and Samaria launched a large-scale counterterrorism operation in the area of Bethlehem.

As part of the operation, the forces searched approximately 50 structures and apprehended 19 wanted individuals, including arms dealers.

Since the beginning of 2026, IDF soldiers have confiscated more than 250 weapons and 40 weapon production machines used in the production of weapons, firearms, and explosive devices throughout Judea and Samaria.

Israeli Army:

A commander of Palestinian Islamic Jihad was neutralized in an attack in the southern Gaza Strip earlier this week.

The Israeli army says the Tuesday attack in Khan Yunis neutralized Adam Muhammad Ibrahim Abu Hadid, a commander in the "weapons production section" of Islamic Jihad.

This unit is responsible for producing and supplying all weapons for the military wing of the terrorist group.

The army says Abu Hadid "was involved in various processes in the production section and supervised infrastructures used to manufacture more weapons to attack Israeli army forces and Israeli civilians."

The Israeli army adds that Abu Hadid "was an immediate threat to the forces and was eliminated in a precise attack."

Lebanese official: Khamenei banners will be removed soon

Lebanon's Interior Minister: Within two days, all "Thank you Iran" signs on the road near Beirut airport will be taken down. I have appointed officials to carry out the task.

Trump:

Erdogan wanted to enter the war to help Iran, I did not let him

Israel Katz: We will not allow civilians to return to southern Lebanon

Israel Katz, Israel's Defense Minister, said about Lebanon:

We will not allow the civilian population to return to their homes.

Beyond that, the front line of the villages inside the security zone has been completely destroyed.

We have completed this 100 percent.

Israel Katz: We destroyed Gaza's infrastructure and eliminated future threats

Israel Katz, Israeli Defense Minister:

We entered Gaza with force, stayed in those areas, and destroyed underground and surface infrastructures.

Those areas have been leveled to the ground. From a security perspective, this action eliminates future threats and also sends a very powerful message.

Israel Katz: Jihadi groups use the killing of their own people for propaganda

Israel Katz, Israeli Defense Minister:

Jihadi organizations never raise a white flag as a sign of surrender. They fear targeted assassinations because they are concerned about their own lives, but they do not care about their people.

On the contrary, they use this as a propaganda tool. They say: "50,000 people were killed? Too bad it wasn't 100,000."

Marco Rubio: If the ships do not move, we will have a problem with Iran

Marco Rubio, the U.S. Secretary of State, spoke about the situation in the Strait of Hormuz:
"If the ships are moving, that is what we expect. But if the movement of the ships stops, that means a violation of the agreement, and in that case, we will have a problem with Iran."
He also dismissed the possibility of charging tolls on passing ships and added:
"Even if we assume we agree to such a mechanism, it is not practical. What happens if a ship refuses to pay? You cannot fine it like a road toll. If a ship is fired upon or sunk, no other ship will pass through the strait anymore."

Marco Rubio: We negotiate with Iran's pragmatists, but power remains in the hands of hardline clerics

Marco Rubio, the U.S. Secretary of State, said about negotiations with Iran:
"The ruling structure in Iran is still in the hands of hardline clerics; it has always been this way and still is."
He added:
"There are people in Iran's political sectors who are more flexible and show greater willingness to cooperate with us."
Rubio emphasized:
"We are in contact with these very people in the negotiations."

Marco Rubio: We are negotiating with the more flexible parts of the Iranian government

▫️ Marco Rubio about Iran:

▫️ They have people in political branches who seem more flexible and are more willing to cooperate with us.

▫️ We are negotiating with those same people.

Ghalibaf:

"America falsely claims that the assets we have released will be used to buy their agricultural products. Amazing!

The only product we harvest is what you planted years ago: decades of distrust!

This product [distrust] is completely organic, abundant, and native. But apparently, America only exports genetically modified soybeans, unfulfilled promises, and worthless words!

Israeli drone attack on a Hezbollah vehicle, three terrorists were neutralized.

For more than two years, a barefoot cartoon boy was the mascot of “Handala,” a self-described pro-Palestinian hacktivist collective that leaked the private photos of Israeli generals, wiped the servers of a Fortune 500 company, and broke into the personal inbox of the FBI director. The group insisted it was a grassroots resistance movement. It was not—and the IRGC has now confirmed that the man who actually ran it faced kinetic consequences for his digital warfare.

Also, the ultra-Orthodox: Netanyahu's Achilles' heel or hidden strength? Out of tragedy, hope, and more.

All in today’s edition of It’s Noon in Israel.

https://newsletter.amitsegal.net/p/its-noon-in-israel-irans-hacker-in?r=1gxt62

Switzerland opens talks to buy Israeli air defense system

Defense & Tech by The Jerusalem Post understands that the Israeli system being looked at is Rafael Advanced Defense System's David Sling

Read more

Bibi Netanyahu:

Only a blind person says there are no achievements. There are great achievements.

I have not listed them all because I want to spare you the trouble. You are standing here under the scorching sun—it takes a long time to list them all.

Bibi Netanyahu:

We have control over the Beaufort summit in southern Lebanon.

And we will remain in the security zone of southern Lebanon as long as necessary.

We do not intend to withdraw from it.

The Defense Minister and I have fully informed the Israeli army:

"You have full freedom of action to eliminate any threat against our soldiers or the residents of the north."

Bibi Netanyahu: Our achievements are immense, and only a blind person denies them.

Bibi Netanyahu:

Only a blind person can say that there are no achievements. There are great achievements.

I did not list them all because I want to have mercy on you. You are standing here under the scorching sun; listing them all would take a very long time.

Bibi Netanyahu: More actions against Iran and Hamas are ahead

Bibi Netanyahu:

There are still duties that must be done.

There is still more work to be done against Iran.

There is still more work to be done against Hamas.

Bibi Netanyahu: There is no place for the weak in today's world

Bibi Netanyahu:

I do not claim to be a prophet.

But I think I know what determines survival in our region—and increasingly around the world:

The powerful survive.

There is no place for the weak.

They are hunted. They disappear.

Vance: Deconfliction mechanism will see Iran's Revolutionary Guards sit with US Army's CENTCOM

Read more: https://toi.li/hq8uCp