IRAN REFUSES TO BUDGE ON MAKING NUKES.

JEWISH KING JESUS IS COMING AT THE RAPTURE FOR US IN THE CLOUDS-DON'T MISS IT FOR THE WORLD.THE BIBLE TAKEN LITERALLY- WHEN THE PLAIN SENSE MAKES GOOD SENSE-SEEK NO OTHER SENSE-LEST YOU END UP IN NONSENSE.GET SAVED NOW- CALL ON JESUS TODAY.THE ONLY SAVIOR OF THE WHOLE EARTH - NO OTHER. 1 COR 15:23-JESUS THE FIRST FRUITS-CHRISTIANS RAPTURED TO JESUS-FIRST FRUITS OF THE SPIRIT-23 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming.ROMANS 8:23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.(THE PRE-TRIB RAPTURE)

 IRAN REFUSES TO BUDGE ON MAKING NUKES.

MATTHEW 25:31-45 (JUDGEMENT ON COUNTRIES WHO WERE FOR ISRAEL (SHEEP).AND WHO WERE AGAINST ISRAEL (GOATS).
31 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, (AT THE END OF THE 7 YR TRIBULATION PERIOD) then he will sit on his glorious throne.(AND JUDGE NATIONS HOW THEY TREATED ISRAELIS) 
32 Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 
33 And he will place the sheep (ISRAEL SUPPORTERS) on his right, but the goats (ISRAEL HATERS) on the left. 
34 Then the King (JESUS WHO IS JEWISH) will say to those on his right,(ISRAEL SUPPORTERS) ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 
35 For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 
36 I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ 
37 Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? 
38 And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? 
39 And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ 
40 And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers,[a] you did it to me.’
41 “Then he ISRAELI KING JESUS) will say to those on his left,(ISRAEL HATERS)‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire (LAKE OF FIRE-WERE YOU BURN FOREVER NEVER ENDING WITH YOUR NEVER DYING BODIES) prepared for the devil and his angels. 
42 For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, 
43 I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ 
44 Then they also will answer, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?’ 
45 Then he will answer them, saying, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’ 
AND NOBODY WILL HAVE ANY EXCUSES BECAUSE GOD WARNED EVERYBODY ON EARTH IN GENESIS 12 ALREADY.WERE YOU GO FOR HATING ON ISRAEL.ESPECIALLY ONES WHO CALL THEMSELVES CHRISTIANS BUT HATE ON ISRAEL.

 Genesis 12:1–3-The New King James Version
12:1 Now the aLord had said to Abram:“Get bout of your country,From your family.And from your father’s house,To a land that I will show you.
2 I will make you a great nation;I will bless you.And make your name great;And you shall be a blessing.
3 I will bless those who bless you,(According to
Merriam-Webster, blessed (/ˈble-səd/) is an adjective meaning to be held in reverence (venerated), honored in life, or to enjoy great happiness and divine favor. It often refers to being set apart for holy purposes, being beatified in a religious context, or experiencing content, fortunate circumstances.).And I will curse him who curses you;(According to Merriam-Webster, "cursed" (or "curst") is the past tense/participle of "curse," meaning to be under a divine curse, doomed, damnable, or hateful. It also describes something causing great evil, affliction, or a severe, profane oath. Synonyms include hexed, jinxed, accursed, and bedeviled.) And in gyou all the families of the earth shall be hblessed.”

THESE FOOLISH FOOLS THAT HATE ON ISRAEL.WETHER SINGLE PERSON OR COUNTRYS (MUSLIMS).AND ESPECIALLY FOR THESE FOOLISH CHRISTIANS THAT THINK THEIR GREAT CHRISTIANS IF THEY HATE ON ISRAEL.WHEN THEIR TOTALLY LOST AND WILL BE BURNING IN THE LAKE OF FIRE FOREVER FOR HATING THEIR OWN ZIONIST LEADER KING JESUS WHO WAS JEWISH.ON THE EARTH. STILL JEWISH AFTER THE RESURRECTION.AND FOREVER WILL BE OUR JEWISH KING AND SAVIOR WHILE RULING ON THE EARTH FOREVER OVER HIS JEWISH BRETHEREN AND CHRISTIANS FOREVER.JESUS IS RETURNING TO JERUSALEM.NOT NEW YORK,OTTAWA OR PAKISTAN.IF YOU FOOLS INSIST ON HATING ON JESUS.IS WHAT YOUR DOING BY HATING ON JESUS' ISRAELIS.WELL YOUR GONNA LIVE WITH SATAN,ISLAM AND EVERY OTHER ISRAEL HATER ON EARTH.

Andorra carnival features mock execution of Israeli effigy-Tiny Jewish community reels after annual event includes trial, hanging, and burning of figure in blue with Israeli flag painted on its face-By Grace Gilson Today, 10:36 am-FEB 18,26

JTA — An annual festival in Andorra drew condemnation from the country’s small Jewish community after an effigy bearing the Israeli flag was subjected to a mock trial and then hung and shot.The incident was part of the traditional Catalan festival Carnestoltes, which occurs yearly before Lent, the 40-day period that precedes Easter. At Monday’s festival in Andorra, where a mock king is typically tried and burned, organizers instead used an effigy wearing blue with the Israeli flag painted on its face.During the festivities, the Israeli effigy was symbolically tried, hung, shot and burned, according to social media posts and a report in the Israeli outlet YNet.The incident drew outcry from the microstate’s tiny Jewish community, which only just got its first full-time rabbi, a Chabad emissary, in the last two years.“This is a ritual they perform every year as part of carnival, where they mock many things,” Jewish Andorra resident Esther Pujol told the Ynet outlet. “This time they dressed the effigy in the colors of the Israeli flag, with a Star of David on its face. They put it on trial, sentenced it to death and carried out the sentence by shooting and burning it. It is completely unacceptable.”Pujol told the outlet that it was the first time she had seen the festival include anti-Israel or antisemitic elements, and that she had contacted Andorran lawmakers to express her outrage. The mayor of Encamp, the city where the incident took place, and local politicians took part in the ceremony, according to Ynet.ABERRANTE muestra de antisemitismo en Andorra durante el carnaval. pic.twitter.com/GeIdF635wd— Dani Lerer (@danilerer) February 16, 2026-The European Jewish Congress also decried the display in a post on X, writing that the mock execution was a “deeply disturbing act that risks normalizing antisemitism and incitement.”“This incident requires unequivocal condemnation, full clarification of responsibilities and concrete measures to ensure that antisemitism is never tolerated in public celebrations or institutions in Andorra or anywhere in Europe,” the post continued.Other Lent festivities have also been the site of antisemitism in recent years, with Belgian celebrations in 2019 featuring antisemitic caricatures and a Spanish parade in 2020 featuring a Holocaust-themed display.The incident marks a rare instance of open turmoil for Jews in Andorra, which is nestled between France and Spain in the Pyrenees mountains. While France and Spain have seen widespread pro-Palestinian protests and antisemitic incidents in recent years, Andorra has largely avoided similar tensions.In September, Andorra formally announced its recognition of Palestinian statehood alongside a host of other European nations during the United Nations General Assembly in New York City.But local Jews have also sought to remain under the radar, considering that Andorra officially prohibits non-Catholic houses of worship. The Jewish community calls their gathering place a community center rather than a synagogue. In 2023, Andorra’s parliament elected a Jewish lawmaker for the first time.

RUSSIA NUKES NEW YORK CITY.

JEREMIAH 51:29-32
29  And the land shall tremble and sorrow: for every purpose of the LORD shall be performed against Babylon,(AMERICA-NEW YORK) to make the land of Babylon (NEW YORK) a desolation without an inhabitant.
30  The mighty men of Babylon (AMERICA) have forborn to fight, they have remained in their holds: their might hath failed; they became as women: they have burned her dwellingplaces; her bars are broken.
31  One post shall run to meet another, and one messenger to meet another, to shew the king of Babylon (NEW YORK) that his city is taken at one end,
32  And that the passages are stopped,(THE WAR COMPUTERS HACKED OR EMP'D) and the reeds they have burned with fire, and the men of war are affrighted.(DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO)

JEREMIAH 50:3,24
3 For out of the north (RUSSIA) there cometh up a nation against her, which shall make her land desolate, and none shall dwell therein: they shall remove, they shall depart, both man and beast.
24 I have laid a snare for thee, and thou art also taken, O Babylon,(NEW YORK) and thou wast not aware: thou art found, and also caught, because thou hast striven against the LORD. (RUSSIA A SNEAK ATTACK ON NEW YORK)

REVELATION 18:9-11,15-21
9 And the kings of the earth, who have committed fornication and lived deliciously with her, shall bewail her, and lament for her, when they shall see the smoke of her burning,(NUKE ATTACK I BELIEVE FROM RUSSIA)
10 Standing afar off for the fear of her torment, saying, Alas, alas that great city Babylon, that mighty city! for in one hour is thy judgment come.
11 And the merchants of the earth shall weep and mourn over her; for no man buyeth their merchandise any more:
15 The merchants of these things, which were made rich by her, shall stand afar off for the fear of her torment, weeping and wailing,
16 And saying, Alas, alas that great city,  (NEW YORK) that was clothed in fine linen, and purple, and scarlet, and decked with gold, and precious stones, and pearls!
17 For in one hour so great riches is come to nought. And every shipmaster, and all the company in ships, and sailors, and as many as trade by sea, stood afar off,
18 And cried when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, What city is like unto this great city! (NEW YORK)
19 And they cast dust on their heads, and cried, weeping and wailing, saying, Alas, alas that great city, wherein were made rich all that had ships in the sea by reason of her costliness! for in one hour is she made desolate.(1 HOUR NEW YORK IS GONE)
20 Rejoice over her, thou heaven, and ye holy apostles and prophets; for God hath avenged you on her.
21 And a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone, and cast it into the sea, saying, Thus with violence shall that great city Babylon (NEW YORK) be thrown down, and shall be found no more at all.

RUSSIA,GERMANY, ARAB MUSLIMS COME AGAINST ISRAEL.

EZEKIEL 38:1-23
1 And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
2 Son of man, set thy face against Gog,(RULER) the land of Magog,(RUSSIA) the chief prince of Meshech (MOSCOW) and Tubal,(TOBOLSK) and prophesy against him,
3 And say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against thee, O Gog,(LEADER OF RUSSIA) the chief prince of Meshech(MOSCOW) and Tubal:TOBOLSK)
4 And I (GOD) will turn thee back, and put hooks into thy jaws,(GOD FORCES THE RUSSIA-MUSLIMS TO MARCH) and I will bring thee forth, and all thine army, horses and horsemen, all of them clothed with all sorts of armour, even a great company with bucklers and shields, all of them handling swords:
5 Persia,(IRAN,IRAQ) Ethiopia, and Libya with them; all of them with shield and helmet:
6 Gomer,(GERMANY) and all his bands; the house of Togarmah (TURKEY) of the north quarters, and all his bands: and many people with thee.(AFRICAN MUSLIMS,SUDAN,TUNESIA ETC)
7 Be thou prepared, and prepare for thyself, thou, and all thy company that are assembled unto thee, and be thou a guard unto them.
8 After many days thou shalt be visited: in the latter years thou shalt come into the land that is brought back from the sword, and is gathered out of many people, against the mountains of Israel, which have been always waste: but it is brought forth out of the nations, and they shall dwell safely all of them.
9 Thou shalt ascend and come like a storm, thou shalt be like a cloud to cover the land, thou, and all thy bands, and many people with thee.(RUSSIA-EGYPT AND MUSLIMS)
10 Thus saith the Lord GOD; It shall also come to pass, that at the same time shall things come into thy mind, and thou shalt think an evil thought:
11 And thou shalt say,(RUSSIA-ARAB-MUSLIMS) I will go up to the land of unwalled villages;(ISRAEL) I will go to them that are at rest, that dwell safely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates,
12 To take a spoil,(OIL IS IN SPOIL) and to take a prey; to turn thine hand upon the desolate places that are now inhabited, and upon the people that are gathered out of the nations, which have gotten cattle and goods, that dwell in the midst of the land.
13  Sheba, and Dedan,(SAUDI-ARABIA) and the merchants of Tarshish,(SPAIN) with all the young lions thereof,(ENGLAND,AND ALL ITS ASSOCIATES-CANADA,AUSTRALIA-NEW ZEALAND, USA, AND WESTERN ENGLISH SPEAKING NATIONS) shall say unto thee, Art thou come to take a spoil? hast thou gathered thy company to take a prey? to carry away silver and gold, to take away cattle and goods, to take a great spoil?(OIL IS IN SPOIL-I BELIEVE THATS WHY RUSSIA,ARAB/MUSLIMS MARCH TO ISRAEL)
14  Therefore, son of man, prophesy and say unto Gog, Thus saith the Lord GOD; In that day when my people of Israel dwelleth safely, shalt thou not know it?
15  And thou shalt come from thy place out of the north parts, thou, and many people with thee, all of them riding upon horses, a great company, and a mighty army:
16  And thou shalt come up against my people of Israel, as a cloud to cover the land; it shall be in the latter days, and I will bring thee against my land, that the heathen may know me, when I shall be sanctified in thee, O Gog, before their eyes.
17  Thus saith the Lord GOD; Art thou he of whom I have spoken in old time by my servants the prophets of Israel, which prophesied in those days many years that I would bring thee against them?
18  And it shall come to pass at the same time when Gog shall come against the land of Israel, saith the Lord GOD, that my fury shall come up in my face.
19  For in my jealousy and in the fire (atomic bomb) of my wrath have I spoken, Surely in that day there shall be a great shaking in the land of Israel;
20  So that the fishes of the    sea, and the fowls of the heaven, and the beasts of the field, and all creeping things that creep upon the earth, and all the men that are upon the face of the earth, shall shake at my presence, and the mountains shall be thrown down, and the steep places shall fall, and every wall shall fall to the ground.
21  And I will call for a sword against him throughout all my mountains, saith the Lord GOD: every man’s sword shall be against his brother.
22  And I will plead against him with pestilence (biological,chemical,nuclear) and with blood; and I will rain upon him, and upon his bands, and upon the many people that are with him, an overflowing rain, and great hailstones, fire, and brimstone.(NUKED,THEN MIGRATING BIRDS EAT RUSSIA/ARAB/MUSLIMS FLESH)
23  Thus will I magnify myself, and sanctify myself; and I will be known in the eyes of many nations, and they shall know that I am the LORD.

EZEKIEL 39:1-29
1 Therefore, thou son of man, prophesy against Gog,(LEADER OF RUSSIA) and say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against thee, O Gog, the chief prince of Meshech (MOSCOW) and Tubal: (TUBOLSK)
2 And I will turn thee back,(RUSSIA-ARAB MUSLIM ISRAEL HATERS) and leave but the sixth part of thee,(5/6TH OR 300 MILLION DEAD RUSSIAN/ARAB/MUSLIMS I BELIEVE) and will cause thee to come up from the north parts,(RUSSIA) and will bring thee upon the mountains of Israel:
3 And I will smite thy bow out of thy left hand, and will cause thine arrows to fall out of thy right hand.
4 Thou shalt fall upon the mountains of Israel, thou, and all thy bands,( ARABS) and the people that is with thee: I will give thee unto the ravenous birds of every sort, and to the beasts of the field to be devoured.
5 Thou shalt fall upon the open field: for I have spoken it, saith the Lord GOD.
6 And I will send a shall come to pass in that day, that I will give unto Gog (RUSSIA/ARAB/MUSLIMS) a place there of graves in Israel, the valley of the passengers (EAST OF THE DEAD SEA IN JORDAN VALLEY) on the east of the sea: and it shall stop the noses of the passengers: and there shall they bury Gog (RUSSIAN) and all his multitude:(ARAB/MUSLIM HORDE) and they shall call it The valley of Hamongog.(BURIEL SITE OF THE 300 MILLION,RUSSIAN/ARAB/MUSLIMS)
12 And seven months shall the house of Israel be burying of them, that they may cleanse the land.(OF ISRAEL)
13 Yea, all the people of the land (OF ISRAEL) shall bury them; and it shall be to them a renown the day that I (GOD-JESUS) shall be glorified, saith the Lord GOD.
14 And they shall sever out men of continual employment,(NUCLEAR ATOMIC BOMB EXPERTS) passing through the land to bury with the passengers those that remain upon the face of the earth, to cleanse it: after the end of seven months shall they search.
15 And the passengers that pass through the land, when any seeth a man’s bone, then shall he set up a sign by it,(WON'T TOUCH IT) till the buriers have buried it (PROPERLY) in the valley of Hamongog.(RUSSIA/ARAB/MUSLIMS NEW BURIEL SITE)(EAST OF THE DEAD SEA IN THE JORDAN VALLEY)
16 And also the name of the city shall be Hamonah. Thus shall they cleanse the land.(OF THE ISRAEL-GOD HATERS)
17 And, thou son of man, thus saith the Lord GOD; Speak unto every feathered fowl,(500 MILLION MIGRATING BIRDS THREW ISRAEL EVERY SPRING,FALL) and to every beast of the field, Assemble yourselves, and come; gather yourselves on every side to my sacrifice that I do sacrifice for you, even a great sacrifice upon the mountains of Israel, that ye may eat flesh, and drink blood.(OF THE RUSSIAN/ARAB/MUSLIM ARMIES)
18 Ye shall eat the flesh of the mighty, and drink the blood of the princes of the earth, of rams, of lambs, and of goats, of bullocks, all of them fatlings of Bashan.
19 And ye (MIGRATING BIRDS IN ISRAEL) shall eat fat till ye be full, and drink blood till ye be drunken, of my sacrifice which I have sacrificed for you.(RUSSIAN/ARAB/MUSLIM ISRAEL HATERS)
20 Thus ye shall be filled at my table with horses and chariots, with mighty men, and with all men of war, saith the Lord GOD.
21 And I (GOD-JESUS) will set my glory among the heathen,(WORLD NATIONS) and all the heathen (WORLD NATIONS) shall see my judgment that I have executed,(AGAINST ISRAELS ENEMIES) and my (GODS) hand that I have laid upon them.(ISRAELS HATER ENEMIES)
22  So the house of Israel shall know that I am the LORD their God from that day and forward.
23  And the heathen shall know that the house of Israel went into captivity for their iniquity: because they trespassed against me, therefore hid I my face from them, and gave them into the hand of their enemies: so fell they all by the sword.
24  According to their uncleanness and according to their transgressions have I done unto them, and hid my face from them.
25  Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Now will I bring again the captivity of Jacob, and have mercy upon the whole house of Israel, and will be jealous for my holy name;
26  After that they have borne their shame, and all their trespasses whereby they have trespassed against me, when they dwelt safely in their land, and none made them afraid.
27  When I have brought them again from the people, and gathered them out of their enemies’ lands, and am sanctified in them in the sight of many nations;
28  Then shall they know that I am the LORD their God, which caused them to be led into captivity among the heathen: but I have gathered them unto their own land, and have left none of them any more there.
29  Neither will I hide my face any more from them: for I have poured out my spirit upon the house of Israel, saith the Lord GOD.

Recent developments indicate significant, intensifying defense cooperation between Russia and Iran, along with expanding security ties between Russia and African nations including Ethiopia and Libya. Germany, conversely, is acting within the EU framework to support Ukraine and oppose Russian military actions.
 
Russia-Iran Defense Deals
Strategic Alliance: Russia and Iran have cemented a 20-year strategic partnership covering defense,, counter-terrorism, and energy.
Weapons Exchange: Russia is the chief supplier of arms to Iran, with Tehran providing hundreds of drones for use in Ukraine.
Advanced Capabilities: Russia is set to supply Iran with advanced Su-35 fighter jets, helicopters, and air defense systems.
Joint Manufacturing: Russia is transferring technology for the production of advanced missile capabilities in Iran. 

Russia-Ethiopia Defense Ties
Active Expansion: Russia and Ethiopia are expanding bilateral relations, with a focus on enhancing economic and defense cooperation.
Military Cooperation: Both countries are focused on strengthening security ties, according to recent updates from November 2025. 

Russia-Libya Defense Ties
Mediterranean Presence: Russia is expanding its foothold in the region, with reports suggesting Libya is a target for establishing a Mediterranean naval base, potentially replacing or complementing facilities in Syria. 

Germany-Russia Relations
Opposing Sides: Following the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, Germany and Russia are in a state of deep conflict, with Germany imposing sanctions and classifying Russia as an "unfriendly nation".
 Support for Ukraine: Germany is part of a European alliance, with the EU providing €90 billion in military assistance to Ukraine for 2026-2027. 

Other Relevant Activity
Sudan/Libya: Russia is actively securing a naval port in the Red Sea through deals with Sudan, and strengthening its presence in Libya.
Iran/Russia Cooperation: The two countries are collaborating to bypass US pressure, strengthening their defense industrial base

THE NEXT US-ISRAEL HIT ON IRAN SHOULD BE VERSE 37. ALL OFFENSIVE NUKE SITES MISSLES,DRONES,AND OF COURSE KHEMENI AND THE IRGC GUARDS.THEN AFTER IRANS REGIME CHANGE. MUSLIMS COME TO JESUS BY THE MILLIONS.

JEREMEIAH 49:32-39 (IN IRAN AT THE BUSHEHR OR ARAK NUKE SITES AND ALL OFENSIVE WEAPONS DESTROYED IN IRAN)
Jeremiah 49:32-39    
32 Their camels shall be a booty, and the multitude of their cattle a spoil: and I will scatter to all winds those who have the corners [of their hair] cut off; and I will bring their calamity from every side of them, says Yahweh.
33 Hazor shall be a dwelling-place of jackals, a desolation forever: no man shall dwell there, neither shall any son of man sojourn therein.(Location & Size: It was strategically located along the Via Maris (Way of the Sea), a major trade route connecting Egypt with Syria and Mesopotamia.)
34 The word of Yahweh that came to Jeremiah the prophet concerning Elam,(IRAN) in the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah king of Judah, saying,
35 Thus says Yahweh of Hosts: Behold, I will break the bow of Elam,(IRANS OFFENSIVE WEAPONS) the chief of their might.(MISSLES AND NUKE SITES)
36 On Elam will I bring the four winds from the four quarters of the sky, and will scatter them toward all those winds; and there shall be no nation where the outcasts of Elam shall not come.(SINCE 1979 IRANIANS HAVE GOTTIN OUT OF IRAN BECAUSE OF KHEMENI AND HIS APOCOPOLIPTIC DEATH CULT BELIEF-BLACK HATER 12ERS)
37 I will cause Elam (IRAN) to be dismayed before their enemies, and before those who seek their life;(ISRAEL THE LITTLE SATAN AND THE U.S THE BIG SATAN) and I will bring evil on them, (MISSLES) even my fierce anger,(FIRE) says Yahweh; and I will send the sword after them,(IRANS OFFENSIVE WEAPONS) until I have consumed them; (DESTROYED THEM ALL NUKE SITES,MISSLES ETC)
38 and I will set my throne in Elam,(IRAN WILL BECOME A CHRISTIAN NATION) and will destroy from there king (KHEMENI, ISLAM) and princes, says Yahweh.(IRANIAN ARMY GUARDS)
39 But it shall happen in the latter days, that I will bring back the captivity of Elam,(IRAN) says Yahweh.(WERE IN THE LATTER DAYS NOW)

JEREMEIAH 49:23-27
23  Concerning Damascus.(SYRIA) Hamath is confounded, and Arpad: for they have heard evil tidings: they are fainthearted; there is sorrow on the sea;(WAR SHIPS WITH NUKES COMING ON SYRIA) it cannot be quiet.
24  Damascus is waxed feeble, and turneth herself to flee, and fear hath seized on her: anguish and sorrows have taken her, as a woman in travail.
25  How is the city of praise not left, the city of my joy!
26  Therefore her young men shall fall in her streets, and all the men of war shall be cut off in that day, saith the LORD of hosts.
27  And I will kindle a fire (NUKES OR BOMBS) in the wall of Damascus, and it shall consume the palaces of Benhadad.(ASSADS PALACES POSSIBLY IN DAMASCUS)

Iran and Russia to hold naval drill in Sea of Oman-US-Iran war could be imminent and take weeks, sources warn after latest nuclear talks-Ex-IDF Military Intelligence chief says we’re ‘much closer than before’ to conflict, as US energy secretary warns Washington will stop Tehran getting nukes ‘one way or the other’By ToI Staff, Lazar Berman and Agencies Today, 3:11 pm-FEB 18,26

A military confrontation between the US and Iran could begin in the coming days and be an intensive, multi-week campaign, sources said Wednesday, despite ongoing diplomatic talks between Washington and Tehran.Former IDF Military Intelligence chief Amos Yadlin suggested Wednesday that such a confrontation could be imminent.“Last week I allowed myself to fly to the Munich Security Conference. I would think twice about flying [abroad from Israel] this weekend,” Yadlin told Channel 12 news on Wednesday, a day after a second round of nuclear talks was held in Geneva.“We are much closer than we were before, but I remind you — a superpower does not go to war in a matter of days. There is a diplomatic path that must be exhausted,” said Yadlin, who now heads a national security consultancy.Yadlin added that “many oppose the attack. The Pentagon is not clear what they want it to achieve. The president is very determined. The statement that all options are on the table is based on a credible military threat, which comes alongside the preparations off the coast of Iran and in the skies.”Sources told the Axios news site on Wednesday that a potential US-Iran war would be a long, multi-week campaign, with a White House official putting the chances of a strike in the coming weeks at 90 percent.It would likely be a joint US-Israeli operation, said the source, even larger than the 12-day Israeli-led bombing campaign last June. According to the sources, the war could come earlier than most people expect, and could be far larger than many anticipate. Iranian missiles in June killed 32 people and wounded over 3,000 in Israel.US President Donald Trump “is getting fed up,” said a Trump adviser. “Some people around him warn him against going to war with Iran, but I think there is 90% chance we see kinetic action in the next few weeks.”Two Israeli officials told the outlet that Israel is preparing for a war to break out “within days,” adding that Israel is pushing an operation aimed at toppling the regime.Likud MK Boaz Bismuth, the chairman of the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, said Wednesday that Israel is facing “challenging days,” following a hearing with the IDF Home Front Command chief.“There is no citizen of Israel who doesn’t ask himself several times a day ‘when will the Iran conflict happen?'” said Bismuth. “The public is prepared and the authorities are prepared. We in the Knesset are also ensuring that the home front is prepared for every scenario.”Iran said following the talks on Tuesday in Geneva that the sides had agreed on “guiding principles” for a deal to avoid conflict. US Vice President JD Vance, however, said Tehran had not yet acknowledged all of Washington’s red lines.US Energy Secretary Chris Wright warned Wednesday that the United States was determined to deter Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.“They’ve been very clear about what they would do with nuclear weapons. It’s entirely unacceptable,” Wright told reporters in Paris on the sidelines of meetings of the International Atomic Energy Agency.“So one way or the other, we are going to end, deter Iran’s march towards a nuclear weapon,” Wright said.On Tuesday, open-source flight tracking data showed that the US military had moved dozens of fighter jets toward the Middle East in a day. The aircraft included F-22, F-35, and F-16 jets. Several refuelers were also spotted on the move, according to social media accounts dedicated to tracking military flights.Meanwhile, Iranian media reported Wednesday that Iran and Russia will conduct naval maneuvers in the Sea of Oman on Thursday.“The joint naval exercise of the Islamic Republic of Iran and Russia will take place tomorrow in the Sea of Oman and in the northern Indian Ocean,” the ISNA agency reported, citing drill spokesman, Rear Admiral Hassan Maghsoudloo. “The aim is to strengthen maritime security and to deepen relations between the navies of the two countries,” he said, without specifying the duration of the drill.On Monday, the Revolutionary Guards, the ideological arm of Iran’s military, also launched exercises in the strategic Strait of Hormuz, a challenge to US naval forces deployed in the region. Iran announced Tuesday that it would partially close the key strait for a few hours for “security” reasons during its drills.

Daily Briefing Feb. 18 – Israel moves to take over biblical sites in West Bank-Settlements reporter Jeremy Sharon on a push for Israeli administrative control over Judea and Samaria and religion reporter Rossella Tercatin on egalitarian prayer at the Western Wall-With:Amanda Borschel-Dan-Jeremy Sharon-Rossella Tercatin-FEB 18,26
https://www.timesofisrael.com/daily-briefing-feb-18-israel-moves-to-take-over-biblical-sites-in-west-bank/

Welcome to The Times of Israel’s Daily Briefing, your 20-minute audio update on what’s happening in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world.Settlements reporter Jeremy Sharon and religion reporter Rossella Tercatin join host Amanda Borschel-Dan for today’s episode.On Sunday, the cabinet approved the opening of a new land registration process for Area C in the West Bank, some 60 percent of the territory, which it and critics said would enable the state to declare large swaths of land in the territory as available for public development, meaning the creation and expansion of settlements and settlement infrastructure.Sharon weighs in on the trend of increasing Israeli civilian control of the territory, or de facto annexation, and Tercatin brings the example of legislation that would give the State of Israel control of archaeological sites in territory currently administered by the Palestinian Authority.Yesterday, for the first time in three years, representatives of the state and the Jerusalem municipality explained to the High Court why there is a delay in implementing a 2016 government-mandated upgrade to the egalitarian prayer section at the Western Wall and restoring its direct access to the wall itself.Tercatin updates us on the ongoing saga and Sharon weighs in with the potential legal outcomes.We finish the program with a new reading of the New Testament’s cleansing of the Temple, which brings out Jesus’s more human aspects.


Vance: Nuclear talks showed some progress, but Iran won’t acknowledge Trump’s red lines-Israeli officials said to think negotiations likely doomed, US president determined to strike, as flight trackers show dozens of American fighter jets move toward Mideast in past day By Jacob Magid,Emanuel Fabian and ToI Staff Today, 12:53 am-FEB 18,26

US Vice President JD Vance said some progress was made in the second round of nuclear talks with Tehran in Geneva on Tuesday, even as Hebrew media said Israeli officials think the indirect talks are likely doomed and that US President Donald Trump and his close advisers seek to strike Iran.“In some ways it went well. They agreed to meet afterward,” Vance told Fox News of the Geneva round. “But in other ways, it was very clear that the president has set some red lines that the Iranians are not yet willing to actually acknowledge and work through.”Among those red lines is that Iran must not obtain a nuclear weapon, said Vance, arguing that a nuclear Islamic Republic would lead to an arms race across the world that would be dangerous for America. While Iran claims it is not seeking nuclear arms, “there are a number of things that make it clear that they are interested in acquiring a nuclear weapon,” said Vance.“The president of the United States is very much trying to find a solution here, whether it’s through diplomatic options or through another option, that means the Iranians cannot have a nuclear weapon,” Vance said.“We’re going to keep on working it, but of course, the president reserves the ability to say when he thinks that diplomacy has reached its natural end,” he said. “We hope we don’t get to that point, but if we do, that will be the president’s call.”A US official, who declined to be identified, said Iran agreed Tuesday to make detailed proposals in the next two weeks to close gaps in the talks.“Progress was made, but there are still a lot of details to discuss,” said the official. “The Iranians said they would come back in the next two weeks with detailed proposals to address some of the open gaps in our positions.”The comments came after Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi called the Geneva talks “constructive” and said an understanding was reached on “guiding principles.”Referring to Araghci’s upbeat assessment, a senior Israeli official quoted by Channel 13 news said, “Our impression is that it’s a smokescreen,” and that “the odds for a deal are low.”A security official was also quoted by the network as saying it was “very soon” to declare the US and Iran had reached an agreement on curtailing the Islamic Republic’s nuclear program.Meanwhile, Channel 12 news said in an unsourced report that Israel was preparing for the talks to collapse and that the White House gave Israel the impression that further progress in the negotiations was unlikely because the Iranians would not agree to Trump’s demands.According to the network, Israeli officials assess that Trump and other top American officials want to attack Iran, and that the US president needs to show he has let the negotiations run their course in order lend legitimacy to a potential attack.High-level Israeli consultations seek to prepare for the possibility that Iran will launch a preemptive strike, and reflect an understanding that Israel will find itself operating alongside the US in case Trump decides to attack Iran, Channel 12 said.US sends dozens of fighter jets to region, flight trackers show-The negotiations began in Oman’s capital Muscat earlier this month amid a significant US military buildup in the region, which Trump has repeatedly threatened to use, first over Iran’s deadly crackdown on protesters last month and more recently over its nuclear program.On Tuesday, as the US and Iranian negotiators met for the second time, open-source flight tracking data showed that the US military had moved dozens of fighter jets toward the Middle East over the past day.The aircraft included F-22, F-35, and F-16 jets. Several refuelers were also spotted on the move, according to social media accounts dedicated to tracking military flights.A US official also confirmed to the Axios news site that more than 50 fighter jets were moved to the region in the past 24 hours.USAF United States Air Force – Middle East Activity (Coronet)17 February – 1129z-There are currently 36x F-16s and 12x F-22s on the move, or about to depart towards the Middle East. 12x F-16s each from Aviano and Spangdahlem in Europe, and 12x from McEntire Joint National… https://t.co/5OsSSHZVp3 pic.twitter.com/eZGqbqvnyg— Armchair Admiral ???????? (@ArmchairAdml) February 17, 2026-Trump on Friday said regime change in Iran “would be the best thing that could happen” and confirmed sending a second aircraft carrier to the region “in case we don’t make a deal.” Ahead of the talks on Tuesday, he told reporters aboard Air Force One: “I don’t think they want the consequences of not making a deal.”Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei retorted that “A warship is certainly a dangerous weapon, but even more dangerous is the weapon capable of sinking it.”Washington has demanded that Iran cease enrichment activities and relinquish its stockpile of uranium enriched to up to 60% fissile purity, a small step away from the 90% that is considered weapons grade.Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said in an interview published Tuesday that Tehran is open to “verification” that it is not seeking an atomic weapon, but insisted that it has the right to its nuclear program for peaceful purposes.“We are absolutely not seeking nuclear weapons,” said Pezeshkian, citing Khamenei’s 2003 religious ruling that nuclear weapons were forbidden in Islam. “If anyone wants to verify this, we are open to such verification to take place.”Iran, whose leaders are sworn to Israel’s destruction, consistently denies seeking nuclear weapons, but has enriched uranium to levels with no peaceful application, obstructed international inspectors from checking its nuclear facilities and expanded its ballistic missile capabilities.Agencies contributed to this report.

Explainer-What to know about key waterway that Iran declared closed as it holds military drill-Temporary closure of parts of the Strait of Hormuz, through which 20% of the world’s oil passes, comes as US and Islamic Republic hold nuclear talks and their leaders exchange threats By Jon Gambrell Today, 2:23 am-FEB 18,26

AP — Iran says it temporarily closed parts of the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow mouth of the Persian Gulf. The move came as semiofficial Iranian news agencies reported live fire exercises in the vital waterway, through which 20% of the world’s oil passes.The move is a rare, perhaps unprecedented shutdown of the strait, a signal from Iran of the potential fallout to the world economy if the United States goes through with threats to attack it as tensions mount between the two countries.In past times of tension and conflict, Iran has at times harassed shipping though the narrows, and during the 1980s’ Iran-Iraq war, both sides attacked tankers and other vessels, using naval mines to completely shut down traffic at points. But Iran has not carried out repeated threats to close the waterway altogether since the 1980s, even during last year’s 12-day war when Israel and the US bombarded Iran’s key nuclear and military sites.The extent and impact of Tuesday’s closure were not immediately known. Iranian media said it would be for several hours for “safety and maritime concerns.”The US military’s Central Command did not immediately comment on the closure or Iran’s live fire drills. But during Iranian military exercises in the strait and nearby waters several weeks ago, it warned Tehran that any “unsafe and unprofessional behavior near US forces, regional partners or commercial vessels increases risks of collision, escalation and destabilization.”Here’s what to know about the strait, the drill, what caused the tensions and what might happen next.A key waterway for global shipping-The Strait of Hormuz is a bending waterway, about 33 kilometers (21 miles) wide at its narrowest point. It connects the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman. From there, ships can then travel to the rest of the world. While Iran and Oman have their territorial waters in the strait, it’s viewed as an international waterway all ships can ply. The United Arab Emirates, home to the skyscraper-studded city of Dubai, also sits near the waterway.The strait long has been important for trade-The Strait of Hormuz through history has been important for trade, with ceramics, ivory, silk and textiles moving from China through the region. In the modern era, it is the route for supertankers carrying oil and gas from Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Iraq, Qatar, Bahrain, the UAE and Iran. The vast majority of it goes to markets in Asia, including Iran’s only remaining oil customer, China.While there are pipelines in Saudi Arabia and the UAE that can avoid the passage, the US Energy Information Administration says “most volumes that transit the strait have no alternative means of exiting the region.”Threats to the route have spiked global energy prices in the past, including during the Israel-Iran war in June.Iran drill includes live fire-With the US threatening to strike amid the massive nationwide anti-government protests that erupted in late December and January, Iran held a live-fire military drill in the Strait of Hormuz in early February. It warned ships of the drill at the time but did close the passage.On February 4, tensions between the Iranian and US navies rose further after a US Navy fighter jet shot down an Iranian drone that was approaching the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln in the Arabian Sea. Iran also harassed a US-flagged and US-crewed merchant vessel that was sailing in the Strait of Hormuz, the US military reported.On Monday, Iran announced its new drill, dubbed, “Smart Control of the Strait of Hormuz” military drill. Mariners in the region were warned by radio that it planned “live surface firing.”The semiofficial Tasnim news agency, which is close to the country’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, reported a live missile test Tuesday morning, saying missiles launched from inside Iran and along its coast had struck their targets in the Strait of Hormuz.US CENTCOM has previously said Iran has a “right to operate professionally in international airspace and waters,” but it warned against interfering or threatening American warships or passing commercial vessels. The command, which oversees the US Navy’s Bahrain-based 5th Fleet, said it would not tolerate actions such as Iranian aircraft or vessels getting too close to American warships or pointing weapons toward them.Iran’s supreme leader issues sharp threat to US-The actions around the strait come amid increasing tension between the US and Iran. US President Donald Trump initially threatened to launch a military strike against Iran after its bloody crackdown on last month’s protests. Since then, he has shifted to threatening attack to pressure Tehran to make a deal over its nuclear program. The two sides held a new round of indirect nuclear negotiations in Geneva on Tuesday.The USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier and supporting guided missile destroyers have been in the Arabian Sea for several weeks, where they could launch an attack if Trump calls for it. Trump said Friday the USS Gerald R. Ford, the world’s largest aircraft carrier, was being sent from the Caribbean to the Mideast to join other military assets the US has built up in the region.Iran has warned it could launch its own preemptive strike or target American interests across the Middle East and Israel. While the 12-day war saw Iran fire off ballistic missiles and Israel target its stockpile, Tehran maintains an arsenal of short- and medium-range missiles that could hit surrounding Gulf Arab states.On Tuesday, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned the US that “the strongest army in the world might sometimes receive such a slap that it cannot get back on its feet.”“Of course a warship is a dangerous apparatus, but more dangerous than the warship is the weapon that can sink the warship into the depths of the sea,” Khamenei said, Iranian state TV reported.

Tehran shuts Strait of Hormuz as it fires missiles in drill-Iran’s FM says ‘guiding principles’ agreed on with US after 2nd round of nuclear talks-After Trump and Khamenei traded threats, Araghchi calls Geneva talks ‘constructive’; Iran insists dialogue will only cover nuclear program, sanctions, as it holds Gulf exercise-By Agencies and ToI Staff 17 February 2026, 5:02 pm

Iran and the United States held a second round of talks over Iran’s nuclear program in Geneva on Tuesday, with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi saying afterward that an understanding had been reached on the main “guiding principles” but work still needed to be done.The talks were being mediated by Oman, which hosted the first round in Muscat on February 6. The negotiations commenced amid a significant US military buildup in the region, which Trump has repeatedly threatened to use, first over a deadly crackdown on protesters last month and then more recently over Tehran’s nuclear program.The progress does not mean an agreement will be reached soon, but the path has started, Araghchi told Iranian media after the talks concluded. He called the talks “constructive” but added that no date has been set for a third round of negotiations.“Ultimately, we were able to reach broad agreement on a set of guiding principles, based on which we will move forward and begin working on the text of a potential agreement,” Araghchi told state TV.“It was agreed that both sides would work further on draft texts for a potential agreement, after which the drafts would be exchanged, and a date for a third round would be set,” he said.He also called on Washington to immediately desist from threatening the use of force against Iran.Araghchi’s optimistic tone following the talks came in stark contrast to threats exchanged earlier between US President Donald Trump and Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.“I don’t think they want the consequences of not making a deal,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One ahead of the talks. Days earlier, Trump said regime change in Iran “would be the best thing that could happen.”Khamenei snapped back, saying Trump would not succeed in destroying the Islamic Republic, and threatening to sink a US warship deployed in the Gulf.“In one of his recent speeches, the US president said that for 47 years, America has not succeeded in destroying the Islamic Republic… I tell you: You will not succeed either,” said Khamenei in a speech Tuesday.“We constantly hear that [the US] has sent a warship toward Iran. A warship is certainly a dangerous weapon, but even more dangerous is the weapon capable of sinking it,” Khamenei declared.The USS Abraham Lincoln is in the region along with a strike group that includes guided-missile destroyers. A second aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald R. Ford, is also on its way to the region from the Atlantic Ocean, and is expected to arrive in a number of weeks.Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz for several hours Tuesday as its military held live fire military exercises. Iran also held a live fire drill in the Strait of Hormuz several weeks ago but did not announce closures.Representing Washington in the talks with Araghchi were Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff and the US president’s son-in-law Jared Kushner.On Monday, Araghchi met with his Omani counterpart Badr Albusaidi in Geneva to discuss his country’s position “regarding nuclear issues and sanctions relief,” and stressed Tehran’s “seriousness in using result-oriented diplomacy to secure the legitimate interests and rights of the Iranian people” and preserve peace in the region, according to a ministry statement.Araghchi also held a meeting with Rafael Grossi, head of the United Nations nuclear watchdog, which the diplomat said covered “deep technical discussions” accompanied by nuclear experts. It was the first meeting between Tehran and the International Atomic Energy Agency chief since Iran suspended all cooperation with the agency following a 12-day war with Israel in June.Iran has insisted that the discussions with the US be limited to the nuclear issue, though Washington has previously pushed for other topics to be discussed, including Tehran’s ballistic missiles program and its support for terror groups in the region, including Hamas in Gaza, Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Houthi rebels in Yemen.Key to the chance of agreement, a senior Iranian official said Tuesday, was the US’s seriousness about lifting sanctions, and the avoidance of “unrealistic” demands, such as those relating to missiles and proxy groups.The official, who declined to be named, claimed Tehran is coming to the negotiating table with “genuine and constructive proposals.”Echoing the official’s emphasis on sanctions relief as the key to an agreement, Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman said that “sanctions lifting is part and parcel of any deal on the nuclear issue.”Iran has faced crippling international sanctions for decades, and such measures have ramped up in recent years, contributing to the near-collapse of the Iranian economy.Iran, whose leaders are sworn to destroy Israel, denies seeking to acquire nuclear weapons, but has enriched uranium to levels that have no peaceful application, obstructed international inspectors from checking its nuclear facilities, and expanded its ballistic missile capabilities.Last week, after returning from a meeting with Trump at the White House, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that any agreement with Iran must cover “not only the nuclear issue, but also ballistic missiles and Iran’s regional proxies.”The premier expressed “general skepticism about the possibility of reaching any agreement with Iran,” but said Trump believes the Iranians could be forced into “a good deal.”The US is also hosting talks between envoys from Russia and Ukraine in Geneva on Tuesday and Wednesday, days ahead of the fourth anniversary of the all-out Russian invasion of its neighbor.

57min ago-Iran and Russia to conduct navy drill in Gulf of Oman and northern Indian Ocean-By Reuters and ToI Staff

Iran and Russia will conduct navy drills in the Sea of Oman and the northern Indian Ocean tomorrow, the Iranian semi-official Fars news agency reports, a few days after Revolutionary Guards conducted military drills in the Strait of Hormuz.“Creating convergence and coordination in joint measures to counter activities threatening maritime security and safety… as well as combating maritime terrorism, are among the main goals of this joint exercise,” an Iranian navy commander, Hassan Maghsoodloo said, according to Fars news.Public tracking data published by the United States Naval Institute appears to show that the USS Lincoln could be in the vicinity of the drill.

Proposed Iran-US economic partnership greatly mirrors Trump's Russia framework-By bnm Tehran bureau February 16, 2026

Iran is pursuing a nuclear agreement with the United States centred on mutual economic benefits, greatly mirroring the US arrangement recently discussed between Washington and Russia. Tehran has proposed cooperation in oil and gas development, mining investment and aircraft purchases in an effort to avoid military confrontation.The Iranian proposal bears a striking resemblance to economic cooperation frameworks discussed between Trump and Russia during recent Anchorage negotiations, where Moscow proposed cooperation valued between $2 trillion and $12 trillion. Both arrangements suggest Trump is exploring transactional diplomacy that offers adversarial states economic engagement in exchange for strategic concessions, which is a stark departure from traditional containment approaches that have defined US policy toward both Tehran and Moscow for decades.On February 6, the US and Iran engaged in negotiations in Oman, with Trump indicating a preference for diplomacy over military action, although no agreement was reached. Still, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has expressed scepticism over Iran’s intentions, subsequently presenting evidence challenging Iranian credibility during a White House meeting with Trump. Netanyahu alleged that Iranian security forces continued killing civilians despite pledges to cease such actions, whilst accusing Tehran of never intending to discuss non-nuclear issues in negotiations, such as its ballistic missile programme.Hamid Ghanbari, Iran's deputy director for economic diplomacy, told a meeting at Iran's Chamber of Commerce that negotiations include "shared interests in areas such as energy, joint oil and gas fields, fast-return mineral investments, urban development and buying planes," according to Fars news agency and Reuters."For the sake of an agreement's durability, it is essential that the US also benefits in areas with high and quick economic returns. Common interests in the oil and gas fields, joint fields, mining investments, and even aircraft purchases are included in the negotiations," Ghanbari stated, as per Iran International, adding that the 2015 nuclear agreement failed partly because it provided no tangible economic benefits for Washington.Scepticism remains about whether such arrangements would materialise. Historical precedent suggests Washington has shown limited willingness to facilitate economic development for strategic competitors, particularly given Russia's experience following the Soviet Union's collapse, when initial Western cooperation euphoria gave way to prolonged economic isolation and strategic competition.Ghanbari specified that any release of Iran's blocked funds must be "real and usable", not symbolic, and could be implemented incrementally or immediately. 

THE MONTH OF ISLAMIC TERRORISM.

Many Muslims, including in Holy Land, start marking month of Ramadan after moon sighting-Annual holy month involves daily fasting, prayer and giving of charity; IDF publishes social media post wishing Muslims a peaceful Ramadan By Lazar Berman-and AFP 17 February 2026, 11:17 pm

The Muslim holy month of Ramadan began Tuesday night for much of the Arab world after official moon sighting committees in Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Qatar announced that they saw the new crescent moon, with fasting to begin Wednesday morning.“Wednesday is the first day of the blessed month of #Ramadan,” the official Saudi Press Agency posted on X Tuesday.Palestinian media reported that the grand mufti of Jerusalem, the West Bank and Gaza likewise announced that the new moon was sighted.In Oman, however, the moon was not seen, so Ramadan will begin on Wednesday night there.Meanwhile, the office of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who belongs to the Shia branch of Islam, said on Tuesday: “It is expected — as reflected in the calendar — that Thursday will be the first day of the holy month of Ramadan.”The IDF published a social media post on Tuesday, wishing those who celebrate a peaceful Ramadan.The IDF wishes a peaceful Ramadan Kareem to all who celebrate! pic.twitter.com/A5gFp7VwuB— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) February 17, 2026-The holy month has frequently been marked by heightened tensions in Israel.Sunni Islam is the majority religion in Saudi Arabia, while Shiite Islam is the majority faith in Iran.Observing the Ramadan fast is one of the five pillars of Islam, requiring believers to abstain from eating, drinking, smoking and sex during daylight hours. Observant Muslims are also encouraged to donate to the poor.Despite advances in astronomy and the ability to determine the start of Islamic months many years in advance, religious authorities continue to rely on direct visual sighting as the official method for confirming the presence of the crescent moon.This practice has been followed since the time of the Prophet Mohammed, who linked the beginning of fasting to the sighting of the crescent.Ahead of the announcement, an astronomical observatory more than 100 kilometers northwest of Riyadh, in the heart of the desert and far from any light pollution, hosted several observers who scanned the sky.They were just one of several teams of observers scattered across Saudi Arabia on Tuesday who watched for the appearance of the new crescent moon, signalling the beginning of Ramadan.Following evening prayers, the teams then file their report to the Supreme Court of Saudi Arabia, which has the authority to announce the start of the holy month.In Iran, meanwhile, the supreme leader’s office announced moon-sighting groups will spread across that country on Wednesday evening to “attempt to observe the crescent marking the start of the holy month of Ramadan.”“Experts predict that the crescent should be easily visible,” it added.

Hezbollah rejects Lebanese government’s four-month plan for phase 2 of disarmament-Hezbollah lawmaker says terror group ‘cannot be lenient’ on matter after its leader decries ‘major mistake’ that ‘serves the goals of Israeli aggression’By Agencies and Emanuel Fabian-17 February 2026, 9:37 pm

The Iran-backed Hezbollah terror group rejected on Tuesday the Lebanese government’s decision to grant the army at least four months to advance the second phase of a nationwide disarmament plan, saying it would not accept what it sees as a move serving Israel.Lebanon’s government last year committed to disarming Hezbollah, which was badly weakened in a recent war with Israel, and tasked the army with drawing up a plan to do so.The military announced last month that it had completed the first phase of the plan, covering the area between the Litani River and the Israeli border, about 30 kilometers (20 miles) farther south.The second phase concerns the area between the Litani and the Awali rivers, around 40 kilometers (25 miles) south of Beirut.Lebanon’s Information Minister Paul Morcos said during a press conference late on Monday after a cabinet meeting that the government had taken note of the army’s monthly report on its arms control plan that includes restricting weapons in areas north of the Litani River up to the Awali River in Sidon, and granted it four months.“The required time frame is four months, renewable depending on available capabilities, Israeli attacks and field obstacles,” he said.Hezbollah lawmaker Hassan Fadlallah on Tuesday said, “We cannot be lenient,” signalling the group’s rejection of the timeline and the broader approach to the issue of its weapons.The comment came after Hezbollah Secretary-General Sheikh Naim Qassem said in a speech on Monday that “what the Lebanese government is doing by focusing on disarmament is a major mistake because this issue serves the goals of Israeli aggression.”Hezbollah has rejected the disarmament effort as a misstep while Israel continues to target Lebanon, and Shiite ministers walked out of the cabinet session that made the decision last year in protest.Israel, which accuses Hezbollah of rearming, has criticized the army’s progress as insufficient, and has kept up regular strikes on Lebanon despite a November 2024 ceasefire that sought to end more than a year of hostilities with the Iran-backed terror group, citing Hezbollah violations of the truce’s terms.Israel has also kept troops in five south Lebanon areas it deems strategic, while Hezbollah has rejected calls to surrender its weapons north of the Litani.Israeli officials say any disarmament plan must be fully and effectively implemented, especially in areas close to the border, and that continued Hezbollah terror activity constitutes a violation of relevant international resolutions.While visiting Beirut on Monday, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier urged Lebanon to keep up the disarmament of Hezbollah, saying it would help ensure the withdrawal of the IDF from Lebanese territory, during a press conference with his Lebanese counterpart, Joseph Aoun.Aoun said Lebanon has asked Germany to “demand the Israeli side implement the ceasefire agreement and withdraw from the territories it occupies.”He also asked Germany to assist the Lebanese army and to play a “key role” after the departure of United Nations observers, whose mandate expires this year.IDF says Sunday strike killed 2 Islamic Jihad operatives crossing from Lebanon to Syria-Meanwhile, on Tuesday, the military announced that two Palestinian Islamic Jihad operatives who were en route to crossing the border from Lebanon into Syria on Sunday night were killed in an airstrike.The strike took place near the village of Majdal Anjar, which is located in Lebanon’s eastern Beqaa Valley, on a road leading from Beirut to Damascus, some 40 kilometers (nearly 25 miles) north of Israel’s border.According to Lebanon’s health ministry, the strike killed four.The IDF said it targeted the Islamic Jihad operatives while they were attempting to cross the Syrian border, “after in recent months they had been working to advance terror activities against the State of Israel from Lebanese territory.”“The terrorists’ actions posed an immediate threat to the citizens of the State of Israel and to IDF troops operating in the Syrian arena,” the army added.The military also issued footage of the strike.While Israel regularly launches strikes in Lebanon against Hezbollah operatives and infrastructure, attacks on the allied Gaza Strip-based Islamic Jihad are rarer.Islamic Jihad — which has a significant presence in both Lebanon and Syria — carried out the October 7, 2023, terror onslaught alongside Hamas from the Gaza Strip, and was involved in numerous attacks on Israel from Lebanon alongside Hezbollah.