War Day 626: Iran Breaks Ceasefire, Drone Hits American Base

War Summary, Day 626: Iran launched missile salvo two hours post-ceasefire, three killed in Beer Sheva, Israel intercepted dozens of drones via cyber warfare, Israel bombed Fordow nuclear facility access roads, Iran warned U.S. ahead of base strike, Hezbollah sites in Lebanon struck, and Iranian “Destruction of Israel” countdown clock destroyed.

By Mrs. Bruria Efune

50 held captive in Gaza.
28 hostages confirmed murdered held in Gaza.
148 living hostages rescued.
57 hostage bodies rescued.
1,881 Israelis killed.
432 fallen soldiers and police in the battle in Gaza.
88 fallen soldiers in Northern Israel.
18 fallen soldiers and police in Judea & Samaria.
32,345 estimated projectiles fired at Israel.
18,000 Israelis estimated remain displaced from their homes.
1 Jewish nation united in prayer, charity, and good deeds.

Iran – Homefront:

Home Front Command directives remain at maximum intensity:

– No educational activities
– No gatherings
– No workplaces, except for essential businesses

Iran launched three attacks on Israel today, one of which included four volleys and kept Israelis in shelter for 40 minutes. Between all the attacks, only 8 or 9 missiles were launched.

One impact was made near a power plant outside Ashdod, causing a brief power outage for small towns in the area. The Israel Electric Company quickly repaired and restored the power.

**

After further investigation, the IDF determined that yesterday’s impact in Haifa was, in fact, not a failed interceptor missile—but an Iranian ballistic missile that was not correctly detected. The investigation found that the Iranian missile had split from its warhead mid-air, and interceptors were only launched at the back section, but not the warhead itself.

The warhead impacted in a public square in a residential area of Haifa, and caused significant damage to buildings nearby, lightly injuring three people. Before the impact, the Home Front Command had issued a warning that missiles may be incoming, and even though they didn’t get any follow-up siren, residents of the damaged building entered shelter. That precaution likely saved their lives.

**

Israel’s Air Force and Navy intercepted several Iranian UAVs throughout the night and day. The IDF revealed that since the start of the war, dozens of drones were intercepted using “advanced technological tools.” In other words, the soldiers in the IDF’s Computer Service Directorate hacked the drones, causing them to fail or crash before reaching Israel.

In total:

570 missiles fired at Israel
56 impacts
90% interception rate
1,200+ UAVs launched
1 impact

No further fatalities after the first few days, in which 25 civilians were tragically killed.

Iran – Rising Lion:

This morning, Defense Minister Israel Katz said: “For every [missile] fired at the Israeli home front, the Iranian dictator will be severely punished, and the strikes will continue with full intensity. We will continue to act to defend the home front and defeat the enemy until all war objectives are achieved.”

Khamenei tweeted: “Those who know the Iranian people and their history know that the Iranian nation isn’t a nation that surrenders.”

Those two statements make for a shaky ceasefire agreement, though U.S. President Trump just announced one. The details are unclear, and were met with initial confusion and denial from Iranian officials.

Later, Iran’s Foreign Minister Araghchi tweeted: “As of now, there is NO “agreement” on any ceasefire or cessation of military operations. However, provided that the Israeli regime stops its illegal aggression against the Iranian people no later than 4 am Tehran time, we have no intention to continue our response afterwards.
The final decision on the cessation of our military operations will be made later.”

It appears that heavy Israeli airstrikes continued in Iran, until exactly 4 am.

Tamir Morag of News 14 explained: “Trump was supposed to make an announcement later but surprised everyone with an early statement.”

More incredibly, Morag says that “Israel received third-party guarantees that Iran will not resume developing nuclear weapons.”

Trump told NBC that he believes that the ceasefire will hold “forever.”

The next 24 hours will be crucial as to whether it will last.

[Updates are bringing you the latest news after this war update was published.]

Iran broke the ceasefire just two hours after it was supposed to start, launching the first wave of missiles toward Israel early in the morning. The first and second barrages were intercepted with no injuries, but the third wave hit a residential building in Be’er Sheva, killing four people and injuring at least nine others, including three in critical condition. Right after that, a fourth and fifth round of missiles were launched. The fifth wave was fully intercepted. A sixth wave was reported around the time the U.S.-backed ceasefire was meant to officially begin, though it’s still not clear if any of those missiles hit or were stopped.

According to CBS, Iran will stop striking Israel at midnight (eastern time), and Israel is expected to stop striking Iran 12 hours after that. Then, after another 12 hours, the war will be considered “over”. As reported earlier today, Israel has never confirmed any ceasefire agreement.

Israeli Air Force jets are now reported heading toward Iran.

**

A quick brief of Israel’s war goals:

— Destruction of Iran’s nuclear capabilities: Most importantly, as said above, Israel received third-party guarantees that Iran will not resume developing nuclear weapons.

It doesn’t seem like Iran can cheat the system anymore. It’s still too soon to have a clear picture, but the defense establishment seems to be in clear agreement that Iran is no longer capable of making a nuclear weapon. Their three main uranium enrichment and processing sites are destroyed beyond repair, they lost all their lead scientists with the know-how, and all their data is gone. Prime Minister Netanyahu seems confident that the enriched uranium is taken care of, as does the U.S. (Vice President Vance said so at a conference in Munich today).

Iran’s nuclear efforts cost them over $500 billion. That’s all gone, and they don’t have that money to try again.

— Destruction of Iran’s ballistic capabilities: Iran has been struggling to fire a few missiles each day. Yesterday the IDF said that they destroyed two-thirds of Iran’s ballistic missile launchers. They also destroyed significant factories needed to make more missiles. Iran likely still has several hundred missiles, and less than a hundred launchers. We need a further update from the IDF for a full picture here.

— The final destruction of Iran’s axis of terror: Netanyahu only mentioned this goal once, though hinted to it at other times. By all clear signs, the axis is falling apart: none of Iran’s proxies stood up to support them—not Hezbollah, Hamas, the Houthis (except for one symbolic missile), or any militia in Iraq.

The Iranian regime still stands, but on shaky legs, after the IDF hit them hard. It’s now up to the Iranian people only to overthrow them. There are efforts amongst the people to overthrow the regime, with many regime opponents (but not all) supporting exiled Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi. Pahlavi gave a speech today, in which he said that Iranian security officials are reaching out to him, expressing their willingness to defect and support an uprising. He announced the launch of a secure channel to facilitate enlistment and begin planning.

**

IAF Strikes

The Israeli Air Force (IAF) carried out five major waves of strikes in Iran throughout the daytime, with up to 50 fighter jets at a time, and a total of over 200 munitions dropped.

Ahead of the strikes, Iranian civilians were warned to stay away from Iranian military and security facilities associated with the regime.

A series of strikes targeted the access roads to Iran’s underground nuclear facility at Fordow. The strikes were intended to disrupt access to the site, so that the regime cannot return for the time being.

Strikes targeting missile and drone infrastructure included:

– Ballistic missile launchers which were primed and aimed at Israel – at least three times today
– Above ground ballistic missile storage sites
– Underground military infrastructure used to store and launch missiles
– A drone facility
– Air defenses

A series of strikes specifically targeted regime infrastructure:

A symbolic strike took down the doors to Tehran’s notorious Evin Prison, a heavily fortified complex where the regime incarcerated and tortured political prisoners, journalists, academics, human rights activists, and others. The IDF says that the strike was carried out in a pinpoint manner, “to avoid harm to those uninvolved.”

The IRGC Basij Headquarters in Tehran, which the IDF says “serves as one of the bases of power of the IRGC and is responsible, among other things, for enforcing Islamic code and reporting civilians who violate it to the authorities.”

The IRGC Alborz Corps which is “responsible for protecting several cities in Tehran Province from various threats and preserving regime stability,” including by suppressing anti-regime protests.

The IRGC Thar-Allah Headquarters, which is tasked with defending Tehran against security threats, including internal threats.

The IRGC Sayyid al-Shuhada Corps, which is responsible for homeland defense, including the suppression of internal threats such as protests and unrest in Tehran.

Infrastructure belonging to Iran’s internal security forces’ intelligence and general security police.

The headquarters of Iran’s internal security forces’ information security unit, which is responsible for monitoring personnel within the internal security forces, and overseeing the control and supervision of information and communications within the organization.

The “Destruction of Israel” clock which sites in “Palestine Square” in Tehran, and had a countdown to the failed plan to destroy Israel. The clock, unveiled in 2017, had a countdown until 2040, the date by which Khamenei predicted that the State of Israel would be no more (jokes on him).

At night, ahead of the start of the ceasefire, the IAF began an intense series of airstrikes—after issuing evacuation warnings for two neighborhoods. Reports (Iran’s Nour News) say that these are some of the loudest and largest airstrikes they’ve seen yet, with as many as 30 explosions in 15 minutes.

There are reports that Israel just eliminated another senior nuclear scientist.

**

Attack on U.S. Base

The Iranian regime (IRGC) targeted the American Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar with around 10 missiles, in a symbolic attack. Contrary to reports, no other American bases were targeted. Iran does not plan to hit the U.S. again. The attack is Iran’s revenge for the U.S. blowing up all their nuclear plants.

In a post on Truth Social, President Trump thanked Iran for warning the U.S. of their plans ahead of time, so that they could evacuate the base.

The U.S. Central command says that the missile were “defeated by U.S. and Qatari Patriot batteries and there were no casualties to American or Qatari personnel.

**

The Washington Post released leaked audio of a phone call from the very first night of the war, revealing that Mossad agents warned 20 IRGC commanders to leave Iran within 12 hours or face death, along with their families.

**
An IAF surveillance drone was shot down over the Khorramabad area in western Iran this morning. This is not a serious incident, and no information can be leaked through the drone. It’s the second drone downed over Iran.

Gaza:

Thank G-d, no fallen heroes were announced.

IDF troops have been hard at work in Gaza, destroying Hamas infrastructure. The IDF gave very little information as to activities today, but expect more once the war in Iran comes to a complete stop.

The IDF demolished 2.5 kilometers worth of Hamas tunnels in the Jabalia area in northern Gaza.

Lebanon:

The IDF carried out an unusual series of strikes in Lebanon, targeting Hezbollah military sites north of the Litani River. The targets included rocket launchers and weapon depots, which were in violation of the ceasefire agreement.

Dedicated by Lynne Portnoy to the refuah shlema of Naftali ben Menucha Baila, and for the safety of Am Yisrael, the chayalim, and our hostages. May we hear good news.

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