Weekend Recap: Trump Says U.S. Struck Iranian Air Defenses
By Sammy Tisser,
President Donald Trump says the U.S. military carried out a limited strike on an Iranian air defense system Friday. Iranian state media reported explosions on Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz. Qatar's prime minister said Saturday that Doha was continuing to mediate between Washington and Tehran.
Iran Drops Missile Range Limit as U.S. Widens Blockade Effort
Iran's Revolutionary Guard says it has lifted its self-imposed 2,000-kilometer limit on ballistic missile range. Its spokesman gave no details on whether Iran currently has missiles that can travel farther. U.S. Central Command announced a task force aimed at restricting Iranian weapons shipments across land borders and the Caspian Sea. Iran's navy separately said a tanker caught fire after hitting a mine east of the Strait of Hormuz.
Herzog Expected to Assign Coalition Mandate Sunday
President Isaac Herzog says he plans to give an MK the first chance to form a government on Sunday. Factions representing 67 MKs recommended Gadi Eisenkot, while 46 backed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Yisrael Beytenu leader Avigdor Liberman reiterated Friday that he opposes a government that depends on Ra'am and the Joint List abstaining.
Channel 12 Reports Setbacks in Election Interference Probes
Channel 12 says a suspected voter-bribery case involving Ra'am could be closed unless new evidence emerges. In a separate probe involving alleged funding for the Joint List, law enforcement officials told the network that the intelligence shared with police contained no reference to Qatar.
Netanyahu's Office Denies Report of Pre-Election Iran Operation
Channel 12 reported Friday night that Netanyahu and Mossad chief Roman Gofman sought to carry out an operation against Iran shortly before the October 27 election, and that Washington intervened after learning of the plan. The Prime Minister's Office denied the report.
IDF Denies Report on Jericho Settler Takeover
Haaretz reported that IDF Central Command chief Maj. Gen. Avi Bluth knew in advance that settlers planned to enter eight homes near Jericho. The IDF denied the allegation. Separately, footage published Saturday showed settlers beating a Palestinian man during an overnight attack in Masafer Yatta, south of Hebron.
Heavy Rain Floods Gaza Tents and Knocks Out Power in Parts of Israel
Gaza's Hamas-run media office says about 70,000 tents were flooded. COGAT says it coordinated with aid groups ahead of the storm and that four additional sewage-pumping trucks entered Gaza this week. In Israel, heavy rain flooded parts of Binyamina and left residents in and around Gan Yavne without power for much of Saturday.
Houthis Blame Saudi Arabia for Deadly Strikes Near Sanaa
Yemen's Houthi-run Health Ministry says airstrikes near Sanaa killed 25 people and wounded 30. The Houthis blamed Saudi Arabia, which had yet to comment on the strikes. The Saudi-led coalition separately said it intercepted a Houthi missile headed toward Riyadh. Yemeni officials told AFP that Syria plans to send thousands of troops to Saudi Arabia and Yemen to help fight the Houthis.
Topics: Iran, Strait of Hormuz, Gaza
Reported by Sammy Tisser for Bernie News Network. See our editorial standards and corrections policy.