— 🇮🇱/🇵🇸 BREAKING: The Israeli War Cabinet and Prime Minister have approved plans for an IDF ground invasion of Rafah – Netanyahu's Office / Al-Jazeera

@Middle_East_Spectator

— 🇮🇱/🇵🇸 A few important notes on the approval of plans to invade Rafah:

1. Approval of the plans does not necessarily mean that it will happen any time soon, but simply that the operational plans have been approved, in case the green light is given at any point.

2. Hamas has reportedly done a new ceasefire deal proposal, and the messaging regarding action in Rafah might be Israel's way to pressure Hamas into accepting a deal, signaling that a deal may not be a possibility for much longer.

3. The United States likely wants to finish constructing its artificial port in Gaza before any Israeli invasion of Rafah takes place.

4. The IDF currently does not have enough forces concentrated near Rafah to mount an offensive in the immediate timeframe.

5. Egypt will likely take strong diplomatic actions of protest, considering that Rafah is part of a no-go zone for the IDF according to the 1979 Camp David Accords.

@Middle_East_Spectator

— 🇮🇷 NEW: Iran officially reduces the duration of compulsory military service from 22 months to an average of 14 months

@Middle_East_Spectator

— 🇷🇺/🇺🇦 NEW: Geolocation confirms that at least a part of Kozinka, a city in Russia's Belgorod Oblast, is still under control of the pro-Ukraine 'Russian volunteer corps' and AFU troops

@Middle_East_Spectator

'Boys we did it, we conquered half a Russian village, despite losing virtually every strategically important city in Donbass!'

— 🇷🇺/🇺🇦 NEW: Russian opposition forces also temporarily captured the village of Gorkovsky in Belgorod Oblast, before retreating to Ukraine

@Middle_East_Spectator

I congratulate all my Orthodox friends on the fasting season (Lent) and also the Catholics, for whom it started a bit earlier.

I do not celebrate it, since I am Muslim, but I truly wish a happy lent to you all! 🤲☦️🤍

— 🇲🇩/🇷🇺/🇺🇦 WATCH: The exact moment when a suicide drone destroys a helicopter in Tiraspol, Transnistria

@Middle_East_Spectator