Long before the war against Iran, Tehran marked its target: Israel’s leadership. A covert and persistent Iranian effort, from sophisticated explosives to recruiting agents, has turned Israel into a hunting ground, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and top military officials in the crosshairs. At times, disaster was avoided only by chance. 

Two ballistic missiles were launched at the US base on Diego Garcia but did not hit it. One failed during flight and the other was intercepted in an attempt to hit the key base used for military activity in the region. US officials say the long distance points to an Iranian ability to fire at a greater range than previously known.

“The circumstances are private, but know that he was surrounded by friends and passed away peacefully,” his family said. Norris is best known for his roles in 1980s action and martial arts films, as well as for portraying Texas Ranger Cordell Walker.

At the height of Operation Roaring Lion, a special flight from France and Britain landed at Ben Gurion Airport carrying more than 20 young families. Also on board were a 5-month-old baby and a 92-year-old immigrant. Since Oct. 7, 60,000 people have made Aliyah to Israel, and another 1,000 have opened Aliyah files in recent days.

Remarkably, instead of Israel needing American assistance against Iran, it now finds itself helping its closest ally achieve its overarching goal: eliminating the ayatollah regime’s threat to the global energy market. The ramifications of this upheaval are only beginning to emerge, and they could ultimately lead to dramatic border changes across the Middle East.