War Summary, Day 618: Missile hits in Eretz Yisroel with miraculous results, Israel’s Air Force continues to control Iran skies, strikes on Fordow Fuel Enrichment Plant buried underneath a mountain, three significant Iranian officials eliminated today, Iranian civilians evacuating Tehran en masse, Trump backs Israel, and Syria supporting Israel in attacking Iran.
By Mrs. Bruria Efune
53 held captive in Gaza.
31 hostages confirmed murdered held in Gaza.
148 living hostages rescued.
54 hostage bodies rescued.
1,870 Israelis killed.
429 fallen soldiers and police in the battle in Gaza.
88 fallen soldiers in Northern Israel.
18 fallen soldiers and police in Judea & Samaria.
31,135 estimated projectiles fired at Israel.
10,000 Israelis estimated remain displaced from their homes.
1 Jewish nation united in prayer, charity, and good deeds.
Rescue operations are ongoing after direct hits in central Israel. Please take a moment to pray for the victims.
Iran – Homefront:
Home Front Command instructions remain: No school, no non-essential workplaces (including beaches), no gatherings.
Most of Israel is still currently under instruction to stay near a bomb shelter.
The total death toll in Israel from the Iran war is now 14. Nobody was killed in a bomb shelter, even in direct hits.
—> Nine people were killed by the Iranian strike on an apartment building in Bat Yam last night. The last two bodies were pulled from the rubble nearly 24 hours after the strike. Efrat Saranga, 44, a resident of Bat Yam, was one of those killed. Five Ukrainian (non-Israeli) citizens were killed, amongst them three children.
Miraculously, the remaining 36 people who were buried under the rubble were pulled out alive, thank G-d!
In the same attack, the Weizmann Institute in Rechovot suffered a direct hit. Thank G-d no one was hurt, but important research labs—including a cancer research lab—were destroyed.
— An attack after 4pm of several missiles towards central Israel was completely intercepted, with no hits made.
— In an attack after 8pm with dozens more missiles, one hit was reported in Haifa where large fires were started, and one in the south destroyed a synagogue. Only light to moderate injuries were reported, and the Torah scrolls remained untouched.
— after a very large attack at 4am, there are reports of up to four hits in Haifa and Central Israel. Iran is making a strong effort to hit the oil refinery in Haifa, and harm civilians.
Search and rescue operations are underway in urban areas—more details have not yet been cleared for publication. Several injured have already been treated.
— Several drone attacks were also successfully intercepted throughout the day.
Iran – Rising Lion:
Israel’s Air Force continues to control the skies over Iran, with incredible ingenuity. While drones patrol the skies, allowing intelligence soldiers back in Israel to search for suspicious activity, fighter jets remain in the air, on standby, ready to hit targets.
Separately, the jets launch decoys, which confuse Iranian air defenses, and cause them to fire at false targets, and give away their locations for the jets to shoot down. (The remaining air defenses at this point are mainly regime soldiers desperately shooting in the air, trying to hit something, but not.)
In this way, the Air Force has been able to dramatically decrease Iran’s firing power. At midnight, the intelligence soldiers spotted movement indicating that he regime was preparing to launch missiles towards Israel. Fighter jets immediately moved in, and began striking launch sites. Four hours later, the missiles have not yet been launched.
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Nuclear facilities:
According to reports in Iran, Israel is striking the Fordow Fuel Enrichment Plant in Qom—the one that lays around 70–80 meters underground, underneath a mountain. Iranian air defenses were seen activated at the site. At the reported time of Israel’s strike, a 2.5 earthquake was reported in Qom.
Natanz, which is Iran’s main uranium enrichment site, and is considered the heart of the nuclear program has sustained significant damage. It can contain up to 50,000 centrifuges in its central underground facility, located about 8 meters below ground. According to Reuters, there are now “only” 16,000 remaining.
Heavy strikes were also reported at the Parchin weaponization plant this evening.
Remember: These facilities lay deep under ground, and will take repeated bombing until they are fully destroyed.
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Israel’s attacks today focused primarily on harming the regime’s ability to produce weapons. A signifiant number of attacks were in and around Tehran.
In addition to production facilities, the IDF bombed:
- Regime intelligence and national security headquarters
- Police headquarters in Tehran
- Several buildings belonging to the IRGC, the Guards’ Quds Force, and Iran’s armed forces.
Targeting the regime police may also give freedom to the Iranian people to call for a regime change.
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Amongst others, the IDF eliminated three significant regime officials today:
Brig. Gen. Mohammad Kazemi
IRGC intelligence chief
Hassan Mohaqiq
Deputy (successor) to the IRGC intelligence chief
Sardar Radan
Iran’s police chief
Will Israel target Iran’s Supreme Leader Khamenei? Israeli officials have hinted that they are capable of doing it, but initially wanted to give him a chance to surrender and make a nuclear deal. Iranian media reports that he’s now hiding in an underground bunker in northeast Tehran.
Netanyahu told Fox News that regime change in Iran is possible as a result Israel’s campaign.
There are somewhat credible but unconfirmed reports of two or three incidents of armed people on foot in Tehran eliminating IRGC officials from up close.
Iran’s health ministry reports 224 dead and over 1,000 injured since the start of Israel’s attacks.
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The IDF issued a few evacuation warnings today for very specific sites containing weapons in Tehran. A wider range of warnings is expected tomorrow, when Israel might start targeting nuclear facilities that are hidden under civilian infrastructure.
Iranian civilians have begun evacuating Tehran en masse, but face serious challenges: Extreme traffic, a fuel shortage, empty grocery stores, no running water, and a shortage of cash at the banks.
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The U.S. still stands strong behind Israel, and is continuing to send bombs to Israel even while Israel’s airports are closed. U.S. President Trump told reporters that while he would like a peace deal, “sometimes you gotta fight to the end.” He added that the U.S. will continue to support Israel’s defense.
Trump did not rule out the U.S. joining in the attacks against Iran in the future.
While Iran is desperate for a ceasefire, they are also refusing to talk until Israel stops strikes. Israel is not interested in a ceasefire until the nuclear facilities are gone anyway.
Hostages:
The IDF published the name of the hostage whose body was retrieved from Gaza last week:
Master Sergeant (Res.) Aviv Atzili, of blessed memory
Gaza:
IDF troops have made significant advancements in recent days, particularly in Khan Younis and Gaza City.
The Gaza Humanitarian Fund distributed more than 2 million meals today.
Syria:
Remarkably, Syria is not only allowing, but is in communication with Israel, allowing free and safe usage of its skies in the attacks against Iran.
Sponsored in honor of the birth of our newest grandson Dov Ber Saul. From Sharon and Chaim Saul.
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