According to reports from activists on board, Israeli troops, who they claimed arrived in speedboats, boarded some of the vessels and ordered passengers to gather at the front of the boat and sit down in an orderly manner. The flotilla, which includes dozens of boats, set sail from Barcelona about 10 days ago en route to the Strip.
Organized under the banner of humanitarian aid, the convoy – which includes the sister of Ireland's president – has been sanctioned by Israel's defense minister as a Hamas-linked operation.
The detonation of Hezbollah tunnels and the launch of drones toward IDF troops only prove the reality on the ground, as the US pressures Israel to avoid escalation.
The US president still wants Israel to limit itself on the Lebanon front in order to preserve the talks and give negotiations with Iran a chance. In contrast, the Israeli cabinet believes another military action in Tehran would complete the war’s objectives.
The IDF has identified Hezbollah's drone force buildup and admits that technological solutions have yet to mature into an operational capability. The military is working to find solutions and integrate its response to the threat, not only defensively but also offensively, in cooperation with foreign militaries.
Iron Dome, electronic warfare, lasers and even fighter jets and attack helicopters. The IDF has a range of solutions, but in practice, soldiers are being killed and wounded by drones launched by Hezbollah. Israeli officials admit: "We have to work faster."
After reports of a false alarm, the IDF acknowledged that Hezbollah had launched rockets at IDF troops in Lebanon. The Israeli Air Force struck the launchers. Alerts in northern Israel were activated after the interception of a drone from Lebanon that did not cross into Israeli territory.
The IDF condemned the act and said it does not align with it's values. “The incident will be investigated thoroughly and in depth, and if necessary, steps will be taken in accordance with the findings,” the military said.
The Israeli Air Force struck Iran with about 19,000 munitions. On at least two occasions, formations were recalled to Israel while en route to Iran after it became clear they were in danger, and dozens of unmanned aircraft fell on Iranian soil. Iran had prepared to launch several daily barrages of dozens of surface-to-surface missiles at Israel, but after several days the number stabilized at about 10 missiles a day. According to Israeli military intelligence, the Iranians have already begun preparing for the next campaign against Israel.
During a visit to southern Lebanon, Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir said follow-up operational plans had been approved for both the Lebanese and Iranian fronts. “Hezbollah has suffered a severe blow. We must not allow Iran to score gains,” he said.
