As US forces reinforce the region and President Trump escalates deterrent messaging, regime-linked discourse in Tehran has increasingly focused on potential response scenarios. Senior figures have openly threatened a preemptive strike. Iran’s available options center primarily on its missile and drone capabilities, but also include asymmetric measures such as targeted assassinations in Israel and the activation of sleeper cell operatives inside the United States.

The IDF head of Military Intelligence, alongside senior officials from other intelligence agencies, focused in part on the intelligence required for a possible strike. Also discussed was how economic pressure on Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps could support a military campaign against the Islamic Republic.

Foreign ministers of all 27 European Union member states have unanimously agreed to designate Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organization, a move expected to escalate tensions with Tehran and lead to sweeping sanctions.

The tension with families, the doubts, and how the IDF chief of staff “fired” them after locating Ran Gvili: Commanders of the the Hostages and Missing Persons Command can finally speak about what was kept secret during the Gaza War. 

On October 8, when the scope of the Israelis abducted to Gaza was still unknown, Gal Hirsch took on the task of bringing them home. “During Ramadan, Sinwar planned an ‘Al-Aqsa Flood 2,’ but we were accused of sabotaging a deal by refusing a ceasefire during the fast.” he says. He also reveals: “We categorized the hostages as ‘Ron Arads,’ ‘Nachshon Wachs­mans,’ ‘Regev and Goldwassers,’ and ‘Gilad Schalits.’” And also: How long did Sinwar plan to hold the hostages?