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Iran's IRGC admits intelligence failures against Israel

adin — Mon, 22 Dec 2025 11:57:10 +0000

Hossein Alaei, former commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy and current advisor to Iran's security council, addressed the 12-day war events and admitted that the Islamic Republic's intelligence structure against Israel has proven insufficiently effective.

Alaei made the remarks Saturday, stating, "If the country's intelligence service was properly focused on Israeli activity, it should have been updated on plans to assassinate Iranian commanders and scientists by aircraft."

According to the former IRGC Navy commander, the events of Operation Rising Lion demonstrated that Iran's government has not organized its intelligence apparatus "in a manner matching the intelligence and security efforts and operations of Israel."

He said he sees a need to "rebuild and deliberately focus" the Islamic Republic's intelligence organizations, adding that current institutions "do not respond to the type and level of threats" posed by Israel.

Hossein Alaei

The former IRGC Navy commander continued his remarks by describing Mossad as "one of the world's strongest security and intelligence agencies." Allaei criticized the Islamic Republic's intelligence structure, saying, "In some cases, people who were known as Israeli targets all lived in the same tower, which allowed Israel to strike the building and be sanctified from the punishment of several people simultaneously."

He added that the two main institutions, the Ministry of Intelligence and IRGC Intelligence, are both involved in "internal security issues" and focus on Israel, while this model clearly has not borne fruit and has not shown the required effectiveness. Allaei proposed that one of these two institutions should focus entirely and exclusively on Israel. Earlier in October, he acknowledged the incompetence of the Islamic Republic's intelligence and security services against Israel.

These statements come against the backdrop of increased speculation in recent days regarding the future of the Islamic Republic's nuclear and missile programs and how the United States and Israel will respond to them.

Masoud Pezeshkian, president of the Islamic Republic of Iran (Photo: Reuters)

This is not the first time that officials and figures identified with the Islamic Republic have recognized Israel's superiority in the 12-day war. On December 17, Masoud Pezeshkian, president of the Islamic Republic, announced that during the 12-day war, Israel had missile superiority.

He said in this context, "It is true that there were our missiles, but their missiles were more numerous, stronger, more accurate, and more convenient. It is the people who disappointed them."

On December 19, Ebrahim Azizi, chairman of parliament's National Security Committee, called the doctors' statements "unprofessional" and told them, "Weakening the country's defense capabilities is a mistake."

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Iranian president admits: 'Disasters keep raining down on us, Israel's missiles are better'

omrif — Thu, 18 Dec 2025 17:30:37 +0000

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has recently delivered a series of unusually blunt remarks that point to growing despair at the top of the Iranian leadership over the country's situation. Speaking to academics, Pezeshkian sounded exasperated, saying, "I don't know what to do, please don't curse me," and openly acknowledged Israel's advantage over Iran in missile capabilities.

Iran has endured a punishing year marked by drought, an energy crisis and soaring inflation. But if Iranians were hoping their president might offer solutions, Pezeshkian suggested they should not bother. In a string of remarkably candid public speeches in recent weeks, he said the country was facing insurmountable problems and that he had run out of ideas for how to solve them.

A beggar girl in Tehran. Photo: social media

"If anyone can do something, please go ahead and do it," Pezeshkian told students and academics in early December. "I can't do anything. Don't curse me."

In meetings with officials, he admitted the government was "stuck, badly stuck," adding: "From the first day we came in, disasters have been coming down on us, and it hasn't stopped."

He went further, saying Iran's woes were the result of corruption, internal factional infighting and decades of government spending that he described as "what crazy people do," rather than the fault of the US or Israel.

Referring to the fighting during Operation With a Lion, Pezeshkian said that although Iran had launched missiles, Israel's arsenal had proven superior both in quantity and in capability.

Israeli strikes in Tehran. Photo: social media

"It's true that we had missiles, but theirs were more numerous, more powerful, more accurate and easier to deploy," he said. He added, without elaborating, that in the end it was "the people" who thwarted Israel.

At the same time, Pezeshkian rejected calls for Iran to scale back its missile program, describing it as essential to national defense. "They tell us not to have missiles, while they arm Israel to the teeth so it can come here whenever it wants, destroy everything and leave," he said. "I won't accept that."

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FBI thwarts LA bomb plot by pro-Palestinian extremists

omrif — Mon, 15 Dec 2025 16:00:04 +0000

FBI agents thwarted what they described as a credible terrorist threat over the weekend, arresting four alleged members of an extremist pro-Palestinian group accused of planning coordinated attacks on New Year's Eve in Los Angeles.

The FBI told Fox News that the suspects identified themselves as members of a radical branch of the Turtle Island Liberation Front, or TILF, an extremist group driven by pro-Palestinian, anti law enforcement and anti government ideology. "Turtle Island" is a term used by some Native Americans to describe the territory of the US and North America more broadly, a name that until recently was rarely used and has since been adopted by radical organizations.

According to the FBI, the suspects allegedly planned to carry out coordinated attacks on New Year's Eve using improvised explosive devices aimed at five separate locations across Los Angeles. The agency said the four were arrested in the Lucerne Valley area, where they were believed to be preparing to test explosive devices ahead of the planned attacks. Each of the suspects was charged with conspiracy and possession of an explosive device.

The FBI said on that a fifth individual allegedly linked to the same TILF extremist group was arrested in New Orleans on suspicion of planning a separate attack.

An Instagram account affiliated with TILF reported that its founding chapter is based in Los Angeles and that its goal is to "liberate Turtle Island," a term used by Indigenous activists to refer to North America, from what it calls the "illegal American empire." "Free Palestine. Free Hawaii. Free Puerto Rico," the account said.

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Local Muslim identified as hero who disarmed Sydney attacker

miriw — Sun, 14 Dec 2025 16:00:58 +0000

As Australia mourns the victims of the massacre at Bondi Beach in Sydney, local media outlets searched for the hero seen in video footage struggling with one of the attackers and pulling the weapon from his hands. Australian news network 7NEWS reported that the hero is a Bondi Beach stall owner named Ahmed Al-Ahmed.

A family member of the hero who risked his life to snatch the weapon from one of the gunmen spoke and revealed he was shot twice. In a conversation with Australian news network 7NEWS outside the hospital, Mostafa revealed that his cousin, 43-year-old Ahmed Al-Ahmed, is the one who likely saved many lives when he fought with the shooter.

Massacre at Bondi Beach in Sydney

Ahmed was shot twice during the struggle and is scheduled to undergo surgery Saturday night. Mostafa said his cousin, a father of two who owns a fruit shop in Sutherland, had no experience with firearms but simply acted when he decided to intervene. "He is in the hospital, and we don't know exactly what is happening inside. We hope he will be okay. He is a hero 100%," Mostafa said.

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Australian PM says attack was on every Australian'; explosives found at scene

ErezL — Sun, 14 Dec 2025 11:31:00 +0000

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese spoke to the nation Sunday following the massacre at Bondi Beach's Hanukkah lighting ceremony. "This is a targeted attack on Jewish Australians, a day of joy, a celebration of faith," he said. The leader noted, "An attack on Jewish Australians is an attack on every Australian, and every Australian tonight will be like me, devastated on this attack on our way of life,"

He insisted, "There is no place for this hate, violence and terrorism in our nation, and let me be clear, we will eradicate it. Amidst this vile act of violence and hate will emerge a moment of national unity." Albanese promised, "Our security agencies will provide you with factual updates as quickly as possible." He termed the shooting "an act of evil antisemitism, terrorism, that has struck the heart of our nation."

"The evil that was unleashed today at Bondi Beach is beyond comprehension," he remarked, according to The Sydney Morning Herald. He concluded, "Every Australian tonight will be, like me, devastated. The trauma and loss that families are dealing with tonight is beyond anyone's worst nightmare." Australians have had their lives cruelly stolen and many have been injured."

Emergency workers transport a person on a stretcher after a reported shooting at Bondi Beach, in Sydney, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025 (AP/Mark Baker)

Separately, NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon stated that improvised explosive devices were discovered in a vehicle on Campbell Parade, the street just next to the beach. "We have our rescue bomb disposal unit there," Lanyon told The Sydney Morning Herald. He added, "They will take the appropriate action." The car was "linked to the deceased offender," he noted.

Australian police sources revealed the identity of one of the terrorists who killed 11 people at a Hanukkah party at Bondi Beach in Sydney, the Australian news network ABC reported on Sunday.

According to the report, the shooter is Naveed Akram, an Australian citizen of Pakistani descent, 24, who resided in Sydney. The news network confirmed that his driver's license was exposed by social media users and that the details in the photo are authentic, and his home in the Sydney suburb of Bonnyrigg was being raided by law-enforcement officials.

The network did not report the motive for which the young Muslim man carried out the massacre. Social media users found documentation of the man participating in religious classes at a local Islamic center in Sydney.

One of the perpetrators in the Sydney masscare Social media

New South Wales Premier Chris Minns updated the public, stating the attack was designed to target Sydney's Jewish community on the first day of Hanukkah, The Sydney Morning Herald reported. He expressed that the state's heart bleeds for the Jewish community, imagining the pain of seeing loved ones killed during the holiday. Minns described the investigation as massive and complex, acknowledging that while answers were scarce, the city had some crucial information.

Minns cited the support from ordinary Australians and the pressure faced by police – who he said did not falter – as key elements. He also noted the extraordinary acts of personal courage by individuals willing to risk their lives to help others.

Israeli lawyers Arsen Ostrovsky at the event in Bondi Beach / Credit: Screenshot: X

Julian Leeser, federal MP for Berowra, released a statement. "Tonight's unfolding terror attack at Bondi Beach, occurring on the first night of Chanukah, is a horrifying tragedy," he said, according to The Sydney Morning Herald. "For Australians, tonight has turned into one of grief and shock."

Leeser urged, "We must come together, check in on one another, support our Jewish friends and offer comfort where it is needed." He added, "My heart goes out to those who were in Bondi, spending time with their family and friends, only to be confronted with fear and violence."

"Our Jewish community, which is known for its courage and stoicism, is shaken tonight," Leeser observed. He continued, "I want to thank the NSW Police officers, paramedics, other first responders and members of the public who moved swiftly to protect lives and secure the area under extremely difficult circumstances." He finished, "Even in darkness, light endures. Tonight, the values at the heart of Chanukah matter more than ever."

People and emergency workers gather at location where a holiday event was taking place and then a reported shooting at Bondi Beach in Sydney, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025 (AP Photo/Mark Baker)

The Sydney Morning Herald noted Leeser was the first Jewish person elected to the House from NSW for the Liberals. Commissioner Lanyon formally designated the event a terrorist act. "At 9.36pm, I declared this to be a terrorist incident," he said.

Lanyon confirmed special powers were active, stating "and we are currently investigating that at the moment – we will make sure that we prevent any further activity." He noted one shooter was dead and another hospitalized. The commissioner requested calm. "We have police right around the city at the moment," he said. "Our job is to respond to intelligence we get."

He added, "The police responded quickly. The police have responded in numbers. We have a significant investigation underway at the moment." Premier Minns confirmed the death toll. "As of now, there are at least 12 individuals that have been killed," he told The Sydney Morning Herald.

"One of the shooters has also been killed," Minns added. Lanyon clarified the 12 dead included the offender. Minns convened a crisis cabinet meeting to coordinate the response, delaying his media appearance.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres condemned the violence. "I am horrified and condemn today's heinous deadly attack on Jewish families gathered in Sydney to celebrate Hanukkah," he said, according to The Sydney Morning Herald. "My heart is with the Jewish community worldwide on this first day of Hanukkah, a festival celebrating the miracle of peace and light vanquishing darkness."

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Sydney terror attack leaves Australian Jews feeling abandoned by government

adin — Sun, 14 Dec 2025 09:00:40 +0000

Shock and grief gripped Australia's Jewish community after at least ten people were murdered by terrorists at a Chabad Hanukkah event on Bondi Beach in Sydney, the country's largest city and a major Jewish center.

Dr. Danny Lam, president of the Mizrachi movement in Australia, told Israel Hayom, "The community here is in complete shock. This is not something we thought could happen. Things like this have never happened in Australia. My children were at the event and left half an hour before the shooting started. People here are in terrible fear. They're hiding in their homes because no one knows if there are more accomplices to the terrorists."

Lam addressed the political situation in Australia, saying, "Prime Minister Albanese did nothing to prevent such an event. We saw the incidents surrounding the synagogue arson, but they learned nothing from it. The courts are not using existing law to prevent cases of antisemitism and terror, and the police are not taking the threat seriously enough. Right now, there's no understanding of the severity of the event, but I'm sure now something will change, hopefully sufficiently."

Chaim Levy, a Sydney resident, was present at the scene and survived the massacre. He told Israel Hayom, "We were there in complete shock. I was with my wife and two children, and we fled for our lives. I saw the bullets flying in every direction. I sat behind a car for 20 minutes with my child, waiting for the shooting to stop. It was non-stop shooting, and many casualties. According to testimonies, there were only about four police officers there."

Casualties transported to hospitals following the shooting in Australia (Photo: Reuters)

Levy knew the murdered Chabad emissary, Rabbi Eli Shlanger, and eulogized him: "We knew Rabbi Eli well, son-in-law of Rabbi Ullman. A brilliant and amazing young man, all light and giving. I saw him 30 seconds before the incident. He was the driving force behind the Chabad house, ran the events, and brought tremendous energy with him. Just a year or two ago, they opened a new Chabad house, and he was an integral part of the Sydney community. We are stunned and broken; he has a baby only three weeks old."

Levy blamed the Australian government for the massacre's occurrence: "It's hard to believe we're in this situation, and why did it happen? We're pointing an accusing finger at the Australian government, at the prime minister and the foreign minister. They're inflaming the rhetoric and the mood on the street. We've never seen things like this here – antisemitic demonstrations and abandoning Jews. The situation has set us back years. The prime minister doesn't address Jews and doesn't take responsibility. This is an event whose writing was on the wall. We spoke to everyone, but for two years now, no one cares. This event could have been prevented if the government had intervened. We demand to live in security, and someone will have to be held accountable and do soul-searching," Levy said.

"Our blood has been declared fair game"

M, a Jewish resident of Sydney, told Israel Hayom: "This is an area where all the wealthy Jews in the city live. I myself planned to go with a friend to the party, but in the end we gave up. The reports from there are about a terrible event. I'm not surprised by what's happening. Since Anthony Albanese came to power, there has been a dramatic change not only in the attitude toward Israel but also in the attitude toward Jews here. Today, there is an atmosphere of antisemitism at a level I don't remember. The feeling is that our blood has been declared fair game. I feel very bad here, and that there is no future for the Jewish community here. The prime minister simply promotes such anti-Israel and anti-Jewish policy that antisemitism is rampant here and Islamic terror forces feel it's easy to murder Jews here," M' said.

Chaya Shir, who lives in Australia, told Galei Tzahal that "I live 5 minutes from Bondi Beach. Right now, no one is going out. Lockdown in the restaurant and entertainment area. I'm glued to the television. I considered going to the event, and I'm happy I'm not there. Sorry for all the young families, children who experienced trauma. The whole community is very shaken. My heart is with all the families. This is very unusual; they always ask if there's antisemitism here, and I always answer that it's less terrible than in Europe. But the escalation is very high. Waiting for the authorities' responses, every such event is a stain on the leadership. Know they have a supportive agenda of the other side, but don't think they're against Israel until today, I felt comfortable going to community events too early to speak about the future."

The Combat Antisemitism Movement (CAM) issued a statement linking the attack to unchecked incitement.

"Unfortunately, the writing was on the wall. Over the last few years, Australia has turned from a paradise to a nightmare for parts of the Jewish community. Synagogues were burned, Jews were attacked and harassed on the streets, and now they have been targeted for murder at a public religious event," CEO Sacha Roytman said, according to CAM. The CEO further remarked, "The Australian government has allowed far too much Antisemitism to pass in the public sphere, including incendiary expressions of anti-Israel rhetoric, and this has made the situation extremely volatile. Some might have read this as permission to hunt Jews openly in broad daylight as we see today."

The organization's press release noted, "We call on the Australian authorities to not just hunt down all those involved but take a far stronger stance against incitement against Jews in all of its forms, from the far-Left, the far-Right and Islamist preachers. The moment for action has long passed." CAM also requested that global figures not misinterpret the implications of the tragedy.

"We also know that there will be a reflex to cancel Chanukah lighting events around the world. This is wrong and sends a message to the Jewish community that you can not be protected and must hide," Roytman said, per the statement. He added, "We call on leaders around the world, along with law enforcement agencies, to ensure that the annual celebratory Chanukah lighting events continue with adequate protection and the support and attendance for all, Jews and non-Jews alike"

Yaakov Hershkovitz contributed to the preparation of this report.

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Iran state broadcaster admits lying about Israeli F-35 shootdowns

adin — Wed, 10 Dec 2025 14:16:44 +0000

Peyman Jebelli, head of the Iranian broadcasting corporation, was forced to admit during a discussion with students in Tehran that false reports on Iranian television about shooting down Israeli F-35 aircraft severely damaged the reputation and credibility of the organization's broadcasts.

Jebelli made the remarks after a female student, from an audience of conservative students supporting the regime, held up a sign stating that Iranian citizens learned what was happening in the war through the Qatari television channel Al Jazeera and not through the local broadcasting authority. The act prompted the senior official to address the loss of credibility by his organization.

Peyman Jebelli, head of the Iranian broadcasting corporation

"One thing damaged our credibility, and I wish this issue hadn't come up now so I wouldn't have to mention it," Jebelli said. He added, "One thing damaged our credibility, and that was the shooting down of the F-35 aircraft. Were we in the sky to witness the crash of the fighter jet? Were we behind the defense system? Someone from military sources informed us, and then in the end they understood for some reason that the information was not reliable and gave us another update. Media sources should not stake their credibility on the reliability of other institutions and organizations," Jebelli said.

The reports about shooting down Israeli fighter jets over Iranian skies repeated themselves in Iranian media and were accompanied by bizarre images of crashed aircraft that were distributed on social networks. The images themselves were quickly revealed to be particularly sloppy fakes and the reports about shooting down the stealth aircraft were usually shelved and deleted just hours after they appeared.

The sign held up against the head of the Iranian broadcasting corporation

Despite the admission of damage to broadcasting credibility, Jebelli continued to claim during his speech that his country succeeded in striking Israel's "computer system" and essentially caused it to cease functioning. Jebelli claimed that "we stunned the world through resistance" and continued to hold the regime's accepted line that the confrontation with Israel in June, which had devastating results for the Iranian leadership, was actually a victory for the Tehran regime.

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Heathrow Terminal 3 shut after security incident

omrif — Sat, 06 Dec 2025 22:55:10 +0000

A major security incident unfolded at Heathrow Airport near London on Monday. Police arrested at least one person, and Terminal 3, one of the UK's busiest airport terminals, was completely closed to passengers.

Sky News reported that the incident began in the Terminal 3 parking area and that at least two suspects fled the scene. Social media users said they experienced breathing difficulties after being exposed to a chemical substance.

Footage circulated online showed officers restraining a man outside the terminal building at the UK's largest airport. Police blocked roads leading to the airport and deployed large forces to the area.

London police said the incident was not a terrorist attack but a fight between two groups of passengers, during which both sides sprayed each other with pepper spray or tear gas, and passersby were affected after inhaling the substance.

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Did Iran place flowers in an Israeli nuclear scientist's car?

omrif — Sat, 29 Nov 2025 20:30:19 +0000

The Iranian network "Handala for Justice and Popular Resistance" announced that its operatives placed flowers in the car of a "senior Zionist nuclear scientist" on the anniversary of the assassination of Iranian nuclear physicist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh.

The report, which includes images and a video that appears to have been filmed in Israel, shows a bouquet in a clay vase placed inside a car said to belong to the Israeli scientist. The Iranian regime-affiliated news agency Fars News even published what it claimed was the scientist's name.

The bouquet allegedly left in the Israeli scientist's car

Attached to the bouquet was a note stating: "Yesterday, you received our bouquet. A harmless object, at first glance. But you noticed its weight, didn't you?"

Israeli authorities have yet to issue an official response.

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Iran's water crisis intensifies

omrif — Sat, 29 Nov 2025 20:15:20 +0000

According to a report Saturday from the semi-official Tasnim news agency, the Amir Kabir Dam, one of Iran's largest hydroelectric facilities, has been disconnected from the national power grid after the reservoir fell below usable capacity.

The dam, built in 1974 as part of the shah's push to modernize Iran's infrastructure and agriculture, is expected to remain offline for an extended period even if rainfall replenishes the reservoir in the coming months.

The dam in Iran before and after the drop in water levels

The prolonged drought across the Islamic republic is placing additional strain on its economy. Authorities ordered schools, universities and religious institutions in Tehran to shut down after unusually severe air pollution developed as a result of the dry conditions and airborne dust.

Government ministries in Tehran were also instructed to shift two-thirds of their workforce to remote work. Officials told Tasnim these are only initial steps to confront the capital's deteriorating situation and warned that more drastic measures will follow if conditions continue to worsen.

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