Israel at War

Rescue teams worked through the night before confirming all four victims dead; among them, an elderly couple, their son, and his partner.

Amid tension in Washington, Israeli cabinet ministers are set to receive a briefing on the next phase of Operation "Roaring Lion " and possible strikes on infrastructure facilities in Iran. At the same time, ministers will be updated on the campaign in Lebanon.

An Iranian missile weighing about half a ton struck a five-story building in the city, which later partially collapsed. Magen David Adom reported one person seriously wounded, several lightly wounded and people suffering from shock who were evacuated from the scene. Extensive searches continue for an elderly couple, their son and his partner. Police bomb disposal experts are trying to neutralize a 450-kilogram warhead that did not explode.

The army is working to create a security buffer along the northern border, as residents call its disarmament announcement a betrayal of government promises.

The US and Israel are preparing for escalation by expanding strikes and hitting Iran’s economy, while talks remain deadlocked amid mistrust and conflicting demands over Hormuz and the nuclear issue.

The soldiers whose names have been released are Capt. Noam Madmoni, 22, of Sderot, a team commander in the Nahal Reconnaissance Unit; Staff Sgt. Ben Cohen, 21, of Lehavim; and Staff Sgt. Maxsim Entis, 21, of Bat Yam. The name of the fourth soldier has not yet been cleared for publication. 

Security officials have revealed that Israel had planned to launch a pre-emptive strike on Hezbollah, but the terrorist organization struck first. The IDF believes the campaign is nearing completion, with the exception of the Iranian nuclear issue. Officials also assess that the chances of a deal are low and that the US will lead the diplomatic endgame.

Sergeant Liran Ben Zion, a fighter in the 401st Armored Brigade, was struck by an anti-tank missile fired by Hezbollah terrorists; a separate incident left two soldiers seriously wounded and three moderately wounded.

A 30-year-old man was killed and a man in his 50s left critically wounded after a projectile fired from Lebanon struck a residential building.

The Golani fighter from Petah Tikva fell in a face-to-face firefight with terrorists during an overnight ground operation; he was two months from discharge.