Israel’s military chief of staff was cited as saying that “Israel carries out on average at least one operation against Iran every week somewhere throughout the Middle East”, adding: “The Iranian vision to establish a second Hizbollah in Syria has been disrupted… The Iranians wanted to deploy hundreds of surface-to-surface missiles in Syria alongside tens of thousands of Shiite militiamen”. “There is a lot less weaponry and fewer bases and forces”, he continued. “This didn’t happen on its own, but rather, due to [Israel’s] war between wars, which will mark ten years in March [2023]”.

Israel’s military chief of staff remarked that “the level of preparedness for an operation in Iran has dramatically improved… The IDF will be ready for the day when an order is given to act against the nuclear program, and it will fulfill the mission that it is given”. The following day, outgoing Prime Minister Lapid asserted that “no Israeli government will agree to Iran becoming nuclear. If it is necessary to act, we will act”, while Defence Minister Gantz told air force pilots that “Israel has significantly increased its preparedness and is preparing for the possibility of an attack on Iran… You make cross the sky to the east in two or three years and take part in an attack on nuclear sites”.

The head of Mossad asserted that Israel had “identified dangerous, threatening, some defiant processes on the part of Iran…Iran is radicalising and increasing its attempts to carry out terrorist attacks, which we suppress every day, all over the world”. He added: “We also warn today of Iran’s future intentions, which they are trying to keep secret, to deepen and expand the supply of advanced nuclear weapons to Russia”. The intelligence chief further cautioned about Iran’s plan to “expand uranium enrichment project and... intensify attacks on friendly Muslim countries in the region in various ways”.

The Israeli military reported intercepting “a drone crossing from Lebanon into Israeli territory… The drone most likely belongs to the Hizbollah terrorist organisation”.

The Syrian military reported two injuries and material damage as a result of Israeli airstrikes near Damascus.

Defence Minister Benny Gantz contended that “Iran is first a global and regional threat, and then it is a threat to the State of Israel… Just as NATO has rallied around Ukraine, we must push our international partners to face the biggest global tyrant, before it gains the power of deterrence – a nuclear umbrella”. He further emphasised that “timing is critical – now that Iran faces internal social and economic difficulties, when Iran faces pushback for its role in providing weapons to attack Ukraine, when it hasn’t yet reached the point of no return in its nuclear progress… The time has come to place serious pressure on the Iranians in order to achieve a new and improved agreement. And if this should fail, the time has come for a combination of power projection and powerful reaction to Iranian aggression. Our action must be preemptive. Before it’s too late”.

Israel’s military chief of staff indicated that “we could have not been aware of the Syrian convoy a few weeks ago. We could have not known that it was heading from Iraq to Syria, we could have not known what’s in it and we could have not known that out of the 25 trucks, truck number eight was the one carrying weapons”… We needed to send pilots to the right place and they had to evade surface-to-air missiles fired at them. They needed to attack, they needed to hit their targets and come back safely and not kill people who shouldn’t be killed. These are very advanced capabilities”.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken asserted that cooperation between the U.S. and Israel “allows us to collaborate in countering a range of regional threats, none graver than those posed by Iran.  The Iranian regime routinely threatens to wipe Israel off the map and continues to provide weapons to terrorists and proxies like Hizbollah and Hamas that remain motivated, like Iran, by the rejection of Israel’s right to exist”. He further noted that “the regime’s actions [in response to anti-government protests] have only deepened our conviction that Iran must never be allowed to acquire a nuclear weapon… The best way to ensure this is through diplomacy”. “Should the Iranian regime reject that path”, Blinken warned, “its leaders should make no mistake that all options are on the table to ensure that Iran does not obtain a nuclear weapon”.

Israeli Defence Minister Benny Gantz asserted that “in the last five years, Iran has conducted at least sixteen separate attacks on civilian international vessels in the Gulf and the Red Sea”. He also contended that “Iran continues to build, expand and fortify its capabilities. Today should Iran decide to do so, it may reach SQ1 at 90 per cent enriched Uranium in only two weeks. The international community must take action – strengthening alliances, increasing intelligence cooperation, projecting power and responding forcefully to Iranian attacks and aggression”.

The Israeli military announced the conclusion of joint drills with the U.S. “simulating various scenarios in the face of regional threats”, adding: “The IDF Intelligence Directorate conducted an extensive simulation replicating campaign against distant countries, testing the IDF’s abilities of intelligence gathering, target determination and outlining and making intelligence available to operational forces… These exercises are a key component of our two militaries’ increasing strategic cooperation in response to shared concerns in the Middle East, particularly those posed by Iran”. Prime Minister Yair Lapid stated that “strategic cooperation with the U.S. and other countries strengthens the capabilities of the IDF against the challenges in the Middle East, led by Iran. We have partners in the sky and on the ground, but we also have the right to act as we see fit and defend the State of Israel”.

National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan met with the Israel’s military chief of staff and reiterated “the Administration’s ironclad support for Israel’s security”. The two also reaffirmed “their shared determination to address security challenges impacting the Middle East, including the threats posed by Iran and its proxies”, while Sullivan emphasised President Biden’s “commitment to ensuring that Iran never acquires a nuclear weapon”. According to an Israeli readout, during his visit to the U.S. Kohavi “held a series of meetings with senior U.S. officials… where they discussed further strengthening the cooperation between our militaries and mutual regional threats, primarily the Iranian nuclear threats”. It went on to assert that “on the one hand, Iran is under many economic, military and internal pressures, and on the other hand, it continues to promote its nuclear program. The IDF strongly promotes all operational plans against the Iranian threat… It was agreed that we are at a critical point in time that requires the acceleration of operational plans and cooperation against Iran and its terrorist proxies in the region”. Kohavi subsequently remarked that “in order to improve our capabilities in the face of challenges in the region, joint activity with the U.S. Central Command will be significantly expanded in the near future. At the same time, the IDF will continue to act at an accelerated rate against the entrenchment of the Iranian regime in the region”.

Israel’s head of military intelligence, discussing anti-government protests in Iran, assessed that “as the pressure on Iran increases, including internal pressure, the Iranian response is much more aggressive, so we should expect much more aggressive responses in the region and in the world”. He also tallied “including cyberattacks, around 100 operations that the Iranians carried out” in 2022, and warned: “The moment is coming when the greatest test of the international community will come to light, when Iran entertains enrichment at 90 per cent, even if only symbolically”.

Syrian state media reported Israeli airstrikes against “some posts in the central and coastal region”, killing four soldiers and injuring one.

Syrian state media reported Israeli airstrikes against “some posts in the central and coastal region”, killing four soldiers and injuring one.

Eastern Pacific Shipping Pte. Ltd. (EPS), affiliated with an Israeli businessman, reported that on 15 November its tanker Pacific Zircon “was hit by a projectile approximately 150 miles off the coast of Oman… there is some minor damage to the vessel’s hull”. U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan denounced the attack “in the strongest possible terms”, while maintaining: “We are confident that Iran likely conducted this attack using a UAV, a lethal capability it is increasingly employing directly and via its proxies throughout the Middle East and proliferating to Russia for use in Ukraine”. An unnamed Israeli official was cited as saying “it is an Iranian attack, there is consensus on this in the Israeli intelligence and defence community”.

Syrian state media reported Israeli missile strikes against a “military airport in Homs countryside”, resulting in two deaths and three injuries.

CENTCOM announced that it had conducted a bomber task force mission “with thirteen partner nation air forces, showcasing the ability to rapidly deploy global airpower alongside coalition and regional partner forces and ensuring the security of this critical region”.

Israel and Lebanon concluded a U.S.-mediated agreement on maritime boundaries. President Biden maintained the deal would prepare “the stage for a more stable and prosperous region”, and noted, “The U.S. will continue to serve as a facilitator as the parties work to uphold their commitments and implement this agreement”. Meanwhile, the State Department highlighted that the agreement would “strengthen the economic and security interests of Israel, while promoting critically needed foreign investment for the Lebanese people as they face a devastating economic crisis”. Prime Minister Yair Lapid remarked that “this agreement strengthens Israel’s security and our freedom of action against Hezbollah and the threats to our north”, and announced: “Israel has started producing gas from the Karish field”.

Syrian state media reported that Israeli airstrikes had targeted “some positions in the vicinity of Damascus”.

Israel’s president visited the U.S. to discuss, inter alia, “the Iranian threat, which is destabilising not only the Middle East, but the entire world, requiring a firm and united stand against it”. Prior to a meeting with Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Herzog said that he would “be exposing more of the fact that Iranian weapons are used against civilians, innocent civilians in Ukraine”. The following day, speaking alongside President Biden, he maintained: “Iran [is] crushing their own citizens while moving forward towards nuclear weapons and supplying lethal weapons that is killing innocent citizens in Ukraine. The Iranian challenge will be a major challenge to be discussed”.

The U.S. and Israel held a session of the Joint Political-Military Group (JMPG), concentrating on, inter alia, “cooperation against the Iranian nuclear and regional threats, the opportunities created by the Abraham Accords and the evolving cooperation between the Israel Defence Forces and the Department of Defense, with U.S. Central Command leading operational expansion of military cooperation”. The two sides also reiterated their “shared commitment to a credible military threat in order to deter Iran”.

Syrian state media reported an Israeli missile strike against “some positions in the vicinity of Damascus”, injuring one soldier.

Syrian state media reported Israeli airstrikes against “a number of posts in the surroundings of Damascus”.

Prime Minister Yair Lapid maintained that the maritime border agreement with Lebanon “preserves the security of communities in the north as well as the freedom of action of the IDF and the Israeli Navy’s control of the area closest to the shoreline... As the Chief of General Staff told the Government, it does not preserve our security, it enhances our security”. “This agreement staves off the possibility of a military clash with Hizbollah”, he continued. “Israel is not afraid of Hizbollah… and if we went out to battle, we would deal them a heavy blow. That being said, if it is possible to prevent war, it is the job of a responsible government to do so”. Lapid further reiterated: “At every step of the way, we made it clear to the Lebanese — that with or without an agreement, Israel will not delay by even a single day, the production [of gas] from the Karish platform, and will not give in to any threat. The Karish field is in our sovereign territory, and an attack on it is an attack on the State of Israel. We will not hesitate for a second to use force to defend our gas field”.

The office of Israel’s defence minister announced that he had “directed the IDF to prepare for a scenario of escalation in the north, both offensively and defensively, given the developments in the [U.S.-mediated Israel-Lebanon] negotiations on the maritime border”. A U.S. official indicated that “we are at a critical stage in the negotiations and the gaps have narrowed. We remain committed to reaching a solution and believe a lasting compromise is possible”.

Addressing the 77^th UN General Assembly, Prime Minister Yair Lapid argued “if the Iranian regime gets a nuclear weapon, they will use it. The only way to prevent Iran from getting a nuclear weapon, is to put a credible military threat on the table. And then – and only then – to negotiate a longer and stronger deal with them”. He further warned that “this time we are not standing empty-handed against those who want to destroy us. The Jews today have a state. We have an army. We have great friendships, first and foremost with the U.S. We have capabilities and we are not afraid to use them. We will do whatever it takes: Iran will not get a nuclear weapon. We will not stand by while there are those who try to kill us”.

Defence Minister Benny Gantz contended that “Iran, through Hizbollah, is trying to buy Lebanon by supplying fuel, repairing the electricity system and building power plants… Lebanon’s energy dependence on Iran may eventually lead to the establishment of Iranian bases on Lebanese soil and the destabilisation of the region”. The same day, IDF Chief of Staff Aviv Kohavi asserted: “Hizbollah has recently been increasing its negative activities, in a way that creates an ever-increasing risk of escalation, and tries to endanger Israel, but in practice also Lebanon and its citizens”.

Israel’s prime minister office, referring to U.S.-mediated maritime talks with Lebanon, stated that “it is both possible and necessary to reach an agreement... Such an agreement will be greatly beneficial and strengthen regional stability”. A spokesperson further underlined: “The production of gas from the Karish rig is not connected to these negotiations, and the production of gas from the rig will commence without delay, as soon as it is possible”.

The IDF reported that it had identified four individuals “hurling objects along the border fence with Syria toward Israel… IDF soldiers crossed the border and operated to stop them by firing toward the legs of one of the suspects. One of the suspects was injured and evacuated by a helicopter to a hospital”.

Asked about the Holocaust, President Raisi posited that “historical events should be investigated by researchers and historians. There are some signs that it happened. If so, they should allow it to be investigated and researched”. In response, IDF Chief of Staff Aviv Kohavi asserted that “anyone who distorts and denies the painful and solid truth of history lies easily today and will naturally lie in the future. This is another reminder that such people should not be allowed to possess any capacity of any kind to develop weapons of mass destruction”.

Syrian state media reported that Israeli airstrikes had targeted Damascus International Airport and some sites south of Damascus, killing five soldiers and causing material damage.

Israel’s defence minister addressed the maritime talks with Lebanon, saying “Israel is ready to reach a deal that will assist both countries economically and energy-wise. I believe there will be two gas rigs in the sea, one on the Israeli side and one on the Lebanese side”. He also warned that if Hizbollah’s leadership “wants to try and harm and to complicate this process, he is welcome to do so, the price is Lebanon… I hope for his sake that we won’t do this”. Relatedly, National Security Advisor Eyal Hulata asserted: “Israel wants a stable Lebanon. We want to weaken Hizbollah’s influence… We hope that the Lebanese leaedership will also work to reach an agreement and will not allow Hizbollah to increase instability. We are not deterred by Nasrallah’s threats”.

The head of Mossad claimed that “the [nuclear] deal is based on Iranian lies. Iran has sought to build a nuclear weapon that endangers Israel’s existence. The deal will easily help them reach this goal under international legitimisation”. He further affirmed that “even if a deal is signed, it will not provide immunity from Mossad operations”, adding: “The Iranian leadership must understand that attacks against Israel or Israelis, directly or indirectly by proxies, will be met with a painful response against those responsible, on Iranian soil. We will not pursue the proxies, but the ones who armed them and gave the orders, and this will happen in Iran”.

Prime Minister Yair Lapid remarked that Israel had “held a discreet and intensive dialogue with [the E3], and presented them with up-to-date intelligence information about Iranian activity at nuclear sites”, adding: “Israel is conducting a successful diplomatic campaign to stop the nuclear agreement and prevent the lifting of sanctions on Iran. It is not over yet. There is still a long way to go, but there are encouraging signs”. The following day, speaking alongside the German chancellor, Lapid opined that “it is time to move past the failed negotiations with Iran… Returning to the nuclear agreement, under the current conditions, would be a critical mistake”. Lapid further remarked that “there is another way… forward for the Middle East. It is the path of the Abraham Accords and the Negev Forum. A path based on a shared vision for the region. A vision not of war, extremism and terrorism but of peace, tolerance and cooperation”.
 

Prime Minister Yair Lapid asserted that “Israel is working to prevent Iran from establishing terrorist bases throughout the Middle East and especially in Syria… Israel will not allow Syria to be used as an axis for the transfer of weapons to terrorist organisations, and will not accept the establishment of Iranian bases or militia bases on our northern border”. The following day, Defence Minister Benny Gantz posited that Iran had built “production facilities [in Syria] for mid- and long-range precise missiles and weapons, provided to Hizbollah and Iranian proxies. In other words, it became yet another Iranian front – a factory for advanced, strategic weapons”. “These sites, particularly the underground facility at Masyaf”, Gantz added, “host significant threats to the region and to the State of Israel… Masyaf, specifically, is used to produce advanced missiles”. He also said, “the Iranians are currently working to build missile and weapon industries in Lebanon and Yemen… If this trend will not be stopped, within a decade, there will be advanced Iranian industries across the region, producing weapons and spreading terror”.

The head of the Shin Bet contended that “Iran’s influence is evident in the terror arena wherever it is, in the countries [surrounding Israel], in the Palestinian arena, in Israel and in cyberspace… Iran is the origin of most of the [terror] phenomena in the region and it also has a significant part in the instability we are experiencing in the Palestinian arena”.

In a statement regarding meetings in Washington between Israel’s intelligence chief and senior U.S. officials, the Prime Minister’s office indicated that “the Director of the Mossad presented sensitive intelligence materials, and emphasised that Israeli will not be able to stand idly by while Iran continues to deceive the world... The Americans emphasised that they will not allow Iran to obtain a nuclear weapon and that they will continue to act in full cooperation with the State of Israel”. 

Syrian state media reported Israeli airstrikes at Aleppo International Airport, knocking out the runway.

Prime Minister Yair Lapid remarked that “we are carrying out an intensive campaign, the goal of which is to prevent the signing of a dangerous nuclear agreement between Iran and the major powers”. He further described Israel’s policy as “to continue the pressure but without going too far. To present credible intelligence, to be part of the process without destroying our special relationship with the U.S.… The reservations that we have presented to the American administration have been taken into account. We have also spoken with our other partners. Demands have been made of the Iranians”.

Syria state media reported Israeli airstrikes against targets in south east of Damascus and Aleppo International Airport; the latter attack caused “severe damage”, according to Syria’s foreign ministry, making the runway unusable. Syria’s foreign minister described the operations as “playing with fire” and warned: “Syria will not remain silent… and the Israelis will pay the price sooner or later”. “The U.S and Western countries should be held responsible for encouraging Israel to increase its aggressions”, he added.

President Biden conferred with Prime Minister Yair Lapid “to consult on global and regional security challenges, including threats posed by Iran” and reiterated the “U.S. commitment to never allow Iran to acquire a nuclear weapon”. The Israeli readout also noted Lapid underscoring “the importance of the strikes President Biden ordered in Syria”.

The Pentagon announced that Boeing had “been awarded a not-to-exceed $972,492,124 undefinitised contract action for four KC-46A aircraft for Israel”, to be completed by the end of 2026. Israeli Defence Minister Benny Gantz hailed the move as a “further proof of the [U.S.-Israel] alliance and the strategic relations… The refueling plans we are purchasing, along with the procurement of a new F-35 squadron, heavy transport helicopters, submarines and advanced armaments – will serve the IDF amid the enormous challenges, near and far, that are about to be faced”.

President Raisi insisted that “without the resolution of the safeguard issues, there is no meaning of an agreement [to revive the JCPOA], the agreement must be accompanied by the resolution of the safeguard issues and its termination”. Relatedly, a website close to Iran’s Supreme National Security Council contended: “[IAEA Director General] Rafael Grossi’s political and non-legal behaviour towards Iran could be considered a serious obstacle to the conclusion of the agreement in Vienna talks, and will also darken the prospect of providing the ground for the implementation of the initial commitments of parties”. The same day, Israeli President Herzog affirmed that “the IAEA’s independence is critical. It should be strictly adhered to, including its ability to investigate violations of nuclear developments in Iran”, adding: “The Iranian President's statement today is perfectly clear: it says, 'We don’t respect the independence of the IAEA to investigate open cases’, which are major cases involving enriched uranium, located by IAEA inspectors”.

President Raisi underscored that “the threats of the Zionist Regime [ie, Israel] have not –and will not- go anywhere. The assassination of our precious nuclear scientists… [and] many acts of vandalism and sedition were meant to stop us, but we did not”. He further warned that Israel “should first see whether it can deal with the resistance forces in Palestine… Yesterday, it could withstand their stones, but today, can they cope with their rockets?”. The same day, Israeli President Herzog contended that “Iran has sworn itself to Israel’s destruction and is working tirelessly to destabilise our region and the entire world… Iran’s activities cannot go unpunished. And most critically, such a state must not be allowed to possess nuclear capabilities”.

Prime Minister Yair Lapid, discussing talks to revive the JCPOA, maintained that “we are making a concerted effort to ensure the Americans and Europeans understand the dangers involved in this agreement”, while highlighting: “Israel is not opposed to an agreement. It is both possible and necessary to make Iran sign a much better agreement, one that the Americans themselves dubbed Longer & Stronger… We can reach such an agreement if a credible military threat is put on the table, if the Iranians realise that their defiance and deceit will exact a heavy price”. He further asserted: “We have the right to defend ourselves. If an agreement is signed, it will not oblige us. We are not a party to it and it will not limit our actions. The IDF and the Mossad have received instructions from us to prepare for any scenario”.

U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan met with Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz and conferred on, inter alia, the “U.S. commitment to ensure Iran never obtains a nuclear weapon, and the need to counter threats from Iran and Iran-based proxies”. According to an Israeli readout, Gantz reaffirmed that “Israel opposes the nuclear agreement as was presented to relevant [U.S.] parties and emphasised several elements that are critical to the purpose of preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon”. He further emphasised the “importance of maintaining and advancing operational capabilities for both defensive and offensive purposes in face of Iran’s nuclear program, as well as its regional aggression. This is regardless of the discussion surrounding the agreement”. Gantz also visited CENTCOM headquarters during his U.S. visit.

The head of the Mossad contended that the U.S. was “rushing into an agreement [with Iran] that is a complete lie”, and underscored: “Israel is not signed on to the deal. Israel is permitted to defend itself any way possible - and will act this way. We cannot sit quietly and just watch as the danger grows closer”. He also briefed Prime Minister Yair Lapid on “the intelligence situation and the dangers involved in a return to the nuclear agreement”.

Syrian state media reported Israeli airstrikes around Hama and Tartous, injuring two and causing material damage.

Prime Minister Yair Lapid affirmed that “Israel is not against any agreement [with Iran]. We are against this agreement, because it is a bad one… In our eyes, it does not meet the standards set by President Biden himself: preventing Iran from becoming a nuclear state. This agreement endangers the independence of the IAEA”. Contending that an agreement would provide “a hundred billion dollars a year that will be used to undermine stability in the Middle East and spread terror around the globe”,  he asserted: “The sweeping removal of sanctions on sectors like banking… means the Iranians will have no problem whatsoever laundering money. Iran will assist other nations facing sanctions to evade them. They will be able to create a direct route for financing terror”. Lapid went on to maintain that “negotiations have reached the point where they [ie, Western powers] must stop and say ‘enough’”, while warning: “If a deal is signed, it does not obligate Israel. We will act to prevent Iran from becoming a nuclear state. We are not prepared to live with a nuclear threat above our heads from an extremist, violent Islamist regime”.

Alternate Prime Minister Naftali Bennett urged the U.S. “to refrain, even now at this last minute, from signing the agreement with Iran. This agreement will send approximately a quarter of a trillion dollars to the Iranian terror administration’s pocket and to its regional proxies and will enable Iran to develop, install and operate centrifuges, with almost no restrictions, in a mere two years”. “Throughout the past year, even when it was very close, we successfully convinced our White House counterparts not to give in to Iranian demands. I hope this will remain the case”, he added. “One way or another, the State of Israel is not a party to the agreement. Israel is not committed to any of the restrictions stemming from the agreement and will utilise all available tools to prevent the Iranian nuclear program from advancing”. The same day, U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan met with his Israeli counterpart and reiterated  “President Biden’s steadfast commitment to preserve and strengthen Israel’s capability to deter its enemies and to defend itself by itself against any threat or combination of threats, including from Iran and Iranian-backed proxies; and our commitment to ensure Iran never acquires a nuclear weapon”.

Israel’s defence minister warned that a Hizbollah attack against maritime gas facilities “could trigger a reaction… leading to several days of fighting and to a military campaign. We are strong and prepared for this scenario, but we don’t want it”.

In a call with the president of France, Prime Minister Lapid “reiterated Israel’s opposition to a return to the [nuclear] agreement as well as the need for a clear and unequivocal message that there will be no additional concessions to the Iranians”. According to a readout from the Prime Minister’s office, Lapid asserted that “the Iranians are continuing to conduct negotiations on an offer which was presented as ‘take it or leave it’”, cautioning: “In that offer, there are new elements that go beyond the limits of the original JCPOA... It will pave the way for significant investment to flow into Iran’s terrorist network and to strengthening the Iranian military”.

Referring to U.S.-mediated maritime talks between Lebanon and Israel, Hizbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah warned that “whether a nuclear deal with Iran is signed or not, if the U.S. mediator does not give Lebanon what it asked for in terms of its rights, we are heading towards an escalation”. 

The IDF chief of staff revealed that during an early August escalation between Israel and Palestinian Islamic Jihad, the military “had carried out a wave of arrests in [the West Bank], and at the same time attacked a third country, and carried out defence along the rest of the country’s borders”. Media speculation suggested that the third country may have been Yemen.

Prime Minister Yair Lapid expressed to Germany’s chancellor “Israel’s opposition to a return to the nuclear agreement, and the need for Europe to send a clear and unequivocal message that there will be no more concessions to Iran… Europe must oppose Iran buying time in negotiations”. Meeting the U.S. ambassador and a senior member of congress the same day, Lapid asserted: “the time has come to walk away from the table. Anything else sends a message of weakness to Iran… Now is the time to sit and talk about what to do going forward in order to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon”.

Prime Minister Yair Lapid expressed to Germany’s chancellor “Israel’s opposition to a return to the nuclear agreement, and the need for Europe to send a clear and unequivocal message that there will be no more concessions to Iran… Europe must oppose Iran buying time in negotiations”. Meeting the U.S. ambassador and a senior member of congress the same day, Lapid asserted: “the time has come to walk away from the table. Anything else sends a message of weakness to Iran… Now is the time to sit and talk about what to do going forward in order to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon”.

An EU official confirmed that Iran had responded to an EU-tabled draft that served as the basis for multilateral early August discussions in Vienna. Foreign Minister Amirabdollahian maintained that “there are three issues that if resolved, we can reach an agreement in the coming days”. A U.S. diplomatic spokesperson on 16 August noted that “we’re in the process of studying [Iran’s comments]. We are at the same time engaged in consultations with the EU and our European allies on the way ahead”. An unnamed Israeli official subsequently opined that “despite the differences and gaps, there is a momentum and a more positive dialogue toward reaching an agreement… Israel sees the current agreement as a bad agreement and emphasises to its partners the danger of signing such an agreement. The Iranians operate in a well-known tactic of shuffling and stalling for more concessions”.

Syrian state media reported that Israel had launched missiles against targets near Damascus and Tartous, killing three soldiers and injuring another three. Media reports citing Syrian sources suggested that the former site was manned by Hizbollah, and the latter said to be “an Iranian base”.

Syrian state media reported that Israel had fired “two tank missiles" at a village in Quneitra, injuring two.

Defence Minister Benny Gantz contended that “while the world watched ‘another escalation between Israel and Gaza’, I… emphasise: The Iranian ayatollahs are involved on this front. Islamic Jihad in Gaza is a violent Iranian proxy”. He added: “Iran provides Islamic Jihad in Gaza with tens of millions of dollars per year [and] via the IRGC, transfers know-how and attempts to smuggle materials to Gaza, which are then used to build weapons aimed at civilians”. Gantz went on to warn that “our eyes and targets focus on anyone who threatens the security of our citizens, from Khan Younis to Tehran... On the strategic level, Israel will continue to work with our partners in facing Iranian aggression, which harms security and stability everywhere, from the Israel-Gaza border, to the Mediterranean Sea, to the Gulf and beyond”.

Prime Minister Yair Lapid stated that Israel had “carried out a precise counter-terror operation against an immediate threat” after the IDF killed a senior Palestinian Islamic Jihad commander, a group he described as “an Iranian proxy that wants to destroy the State of Israel and kill innocent Israelis”. “The head of Islamic Jihad is in Tehran as we speak”, he noted. Iran’s diplomatic spokesperson condemned the attack as “criminal, adventurous and provocative”.

Prime Minister Yair Lapid emphasised to his British counterpart “the need to apply pressure and have a credible military threat, in order to prevent Iran from becoming a nuclear threshold state”. The same day, Defence Minister Benny Gantz contended that “Iran is a global problem”, adding: “We are able to seriously harm and delay the nuclear [program]”. He further affirmed that “we are very unsatisfied with the [nuclear] agreement, which would be a bad agreement because it would be a temporary delay”.

Defence Minister Benny Gantz conferred with U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan on “the growing threat posed by Iran to the world, the region and to the State of Israel via its nuclear program and growing aggression via proxies, maritime activities, cyber attacks and more, and ways to create a united front against the region’s biggest destabiliser”.

Syrian state media reported Israeli airstrikes against “some points in the vicinity of Damascus”, killing three soldiers and injuring seven. Syria’s foreign ministry wrote to the UN emphasising its “right to respond by appropriate means”, while contending: “These Israeli attacks cannot be treated in isolation from the U.S. aggression… and its occupation of north east Syria, its looting of oil and supplying of weapons to the militias hired by Washington in order to impede the political solution and the restoration of security and stability to Syria”. Iran’s diplomatic spokesperson denounced the attack, urging the UN Security Council “to deal with continuous crimes and high-risk conduct” of Israel.

Prime Minister Yair Lapid maintained that “Israel is interested in Lebanon being a stable and prosperous neighbour that is neither a platform for Hizbollah terrorism nor an Iranian tool… While we have no interest in escalation, Hizbollah’s aggression is unacceptable and is liable to lead the entire region into an unnecessary escalation, just when there is a genuine opportunity for Lebanon to develop its energy resources”. “Israel is taking action against all of Iran’s proxies in the region and beyond, and will continue to do so”, Lapid added. “Iran is the largest exporter of terrorism in the world. We will act on our own and in tandem with other countries in the region to prevent Iran from undermining regional stability”. The Prime Minister also flew over the Karish natural gas field and posited: “Israel’s natural gas reserves have the potential to contribute toward a solution for the global energy crisis. Lebanon could also benefit from developing the reserves in its economic waters, through negotiations, which should be concluded forthwith”.

The Israeli military reported downing a UAV “that likely belongs to the Hizbollah terrorist army [and] crossed from Lebanon into Israel”.

CENTCOM Commander Kurilla met with Israeli military officials to discuss “the importance of an integrated air and missile defence system, as well as the continued need for strong regional security cooperation”. According to a readout from Israel’s defence minister, the two sides also conferred “on developing regional challenges, including Iran’s destabilising activities via proxies and in the maritime arena”.

The Saudi General Authority of Civil Aviation announced “the decision to open the Kingdom’s airspace for all air carriers that meet the requirement of the Authority for flying”. President Biden stated that “Saudi Arabia’s historic decision to open its airspace for all civilian planes, including those flying to and from Israel, is an important step towards building a more integrated and stable Middle East region”. “Saudi Arabia’s decision”, he added, “can help build momentum toward Israel’s further integration into the region, including with Saudi Arabia. I will do all that I can, through direct diplomacy and leader-to-leader engagement, to keep advancing this groundbreaking process”. Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid also welcomed the announcement as the result of “a long road of intense and covert diplomacy with Saudi Arabia and the U.S.”, noting: “This is only the first step”.

National Security Advisor Eyal Hulata asserted that “Israel will act as it sees fit. We’ve acted quite a lot in Iran over the past year, and the U.S. is backing us. We are acting with logic and responsibility, and everyone can see this isn’t harming the relationship between the U.S. president and Israel – on the contrary”.

Speaking alongside President Biden in Jerusalem, Prime Minister Yair Lapid said with respect to Iran that “world will stop them… Diplomacy will not stop them. The only thing that will stop Iran is knowing that if they continue to develop their nuclear program, the free world will use force. The only way to stop them is to put a credible military threat on the table”. Biden underscored “America’s commitment to ensuring Iran never obtains a nuclear weapon… I continue to believe that diplomacy is the best way to achieve this outcome”. He further affirmed that the U.S. would “continue to work with Israel to counter other threats from Iran throughout the region”. The two sides also issued The Jerusalem U.S.-Israel Strategic Partnership Joint Declaration, in which the U.S. said “it is prepared to use all elements of its national power” to prevent Iran acquiring a nuclear weapon. Meanwhile, President Raisi warned the U.S. and its regional allies that “Iran does not accept any insecurity and crisis in the region, and committing any mistake in this region will be responded with a decisive and regrettable response”; Iran’s foreign ministry spokesperson declared: “As long as the fake state of Israel is the first stop on the American presidents visits to the region and their first goal is to maintain its security and superiority, the regional nations and countries will not achieve peace and stability”.

Hizbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah asserted that their 2 July drone operation over Karish maritime gas field was “a modest beginning to where the situation could be heading… The message of the drones meant that we are serious and we are not after a psychological war… Whatever we are supposed to do, we will without any hesitation. This message was understood by the Israelis and by the Americans”. “Whether our message was understood in Lebanon or not, we don’t care about that. What is important for us is that the enemy gets the message”, he added. He went on to warn that should the U.S. not “give us our rights that are demanded by the state and if you don’t allow companies to extract [oil] God knows what we will do. We will turn over the table in the face of the world”.

Prime Minister Yair Lapid urged the international community “to return to the UN Security Council and activate the sanctions mechanism at full force” after Iran increased its uranium enrichment capacity, adding: “Israel, for its part, reserves for itself full freedom of action, diplomatic and operational, in the fight against the Iranian nuclear program”. He further asserted that “Israel will not stand idly by while Iran tries to attack us. Our security services know how to reach anyone, anywhere – and they will do just that”.

A White House official noted that “bilaterally we’re talking with nations across the region about air defence capabilities specifically and what we can do to assist with their defence and then, exploring the idea of being able to kind of integrate all those air defenses together”. “There really is effective coverage to deal with Iran”, he added. Iran’s diplomatic spokesperson described the U.S. goal as “Iranophobia and division among the countries in the region”, while a website close to Iran’s Supreme National Security council warned: “Creation of joint defense pact in the region by the U.S. with participation and hidden management of Zionists [ie, Israel] is a threatening act. If the implementation of such plans threatens security of Iran in any way, it will face initial decisive response to the nearest and most accessible targets”.

Syrian state media reported that Israel had launched a rocket that struck near Quneitra, killing one.

Prime Minister Lapid noted that “there have been repeated attacks on Israeli gas rigs. Israel will not agree to this type of attacks on its sovereignty and everyone who does so must know they are taking an unnecessary risk to their well-being. The Government of Lebanon needs to restrain Hizbollah in the face of such attacks or we will be compelled to do so”. The same day, Defence Minister Benny Gantz contended that the 2 July incident aimed to “disrupt the negotiations that are taking place on the maritime border between Israel and Lebanon”, and called it “an attack on Lebanese citizens… [that] shows Hizbollah is an extension of the Ayatollah’s regime – operating to destabilise the region and to cause miscalculations”. On 6 July, the Israeli military reported that in late June it had intercepted “a drone belonging to Hizbollah which was heading from Lebanon towards Israel’s territorial waters… The drone was dropped a far distance from the maritime border, without posing a threat or danger to Israel”.

Israeli Defence Minister Benny Gantz contended that “Iran is expanding its aggressive operations in the region in general, and in the naval arena in particular”. Presenting satellite images, Gantz maintained that “the presence of Iran’s military forces in the Red Sea in recent months is the most significant in a decade. It is a direct threat to trade, energy and the global economy”.

Speaking alongside President Macron, Prime Minister Yair Lapid contended that “Iran is violating the [nuclear] agreement and continues to develop its nuclear program. Iran is hiding information from the world, it is enriching uranium beyond the level it is allowed to, and it has removed cameras from its nuclear sites. Given all this, the world must respond”. He further underlined the need for “a new deal with Iran… that is more efficient and better defined, a deal with no expiration date, a deal with coordinated international pressure that would prevent Iran from becoming a nuclear threshold state”. “The current situation cannot continue as it is”, he emphasised. “It will lead to a nuclear arms race in the Middle East, which would threaten world peace”.

Syrian state media reported that Israel had “carried out an air missile aggression… [against] several poultry farms” in western Syria, resulting in two civilian injuries and material damage.

The Israeli military announced that it had “intercepted three hostile UAVs from Lebanon which approached the airspace over Israel’s economic waters… An initial inquiry suggests that the UAVs did not pose any imminent threat”. Hizbollah claimed that its drones had conducted “reconnaissance” operations “over Karish maritime gas filed in the disputable zone”, adding: “The mission was completed and the messages were delivered”. The following day, Prime Minister Lapid contended that “Hizbollah is continuing on the path of terrorism and is hurting Lebanon’s ability to reach an agreement on a maritime border. Israel will continue to defend itself, its citizens and its assets”.

Yair Lapid took office as Israel’s prime minister. The following day, he affirmed that “the Iranian threat is the gravest threat facing Israel. We’ll do whatever we must to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear capability, or entrenching itself on our borders”. “I… say to everyone seeking our demise, from Gaza to Tehran, from the shores of Lebanon to Syria: Don’t test us. Israel knows how to use its strength against every threat, against every enemy”, he warned. 

Israel’s defence minister disclosed what he described as “recent malign activities conducted by Iranian security institutions in cooperation with Hizbollah”, asserting: “They launched a cyber operation with the aim of stealing materials about UNIFIL [UN Interim Force in Lebanon] activities and deployments in the area, for Hizbollah’s use. This is yet another direct attack by Iran and Hizbollah on Lebanese citizens and Lebanon’s stability”. In a statement, UNIFIL indicated that it had “not received any direct information on the alleged incident”. Gantz further asserted that IRGC-linked units had “tried to carry out operation against international, including charities and government networks in the U.S.”, and additionally noted “research to damage ships, gas stations and industrial plants in several Western countries… under the direct instructions of Iran’s leadership”.

Israel’s National Security Council announced that “the travel warning for Istanbul will be lowered back [from Level 4] to Level 3, which constitutes an intermediate threat”, adding “Several Iranian initiatives to attack Israeli citizens in Istanbul were thwarted… [which] led to the lowering of the threat level”. The Counter-Terrorism Division cautioned that “the Iranian motivation is still high… There are still efforts to build infrastructures on the one hand and to locate potential Israeli and Jewish targets on the other”.