Fires and scattered damage were reported across Israel as Iranian projectiles struck several areas, prompting residents to rush into bomb shelters. Interceptors were seen detonating over Tel Aviv and other cities as Israel attempted to block further incoming fire. The attacks marked a significant escalation in hostilities between the two nations.

According to Iran’s state-run IRIB news agency, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi sent a letter to the United Nations secretary-general and the president of the UN Security Council. In the letter, Iran asserted that recent air strikes by the United States and Israel constituted a violation of the UN Charter and an act of armed aggression. Iran stated that it was acting under Article 51 of the UN Charter, which allows for self-defence, and vowed to continue its defensive actions until the aggression ceases completely.

The letter further declared that all bases, facilities, and assets of hostile forces in the region would be considered legitimate military targets as part of Iran’s right to self-defence.

Iran has launched another missile attack on Israel, according to a statement released by the Israeli military on Saturday. The military reported that missiles fired from Iran toward Israel were detected, triggering sirens across several areas of the country. The Israeli Air Force is currently engaged in efforts to intercept the incoming missiles.

The military statement also cautioned that the defense system is not impenetrable and urged the public to follow government instructions. The report noted that Iran fired multiple missiles and drones toward Israel, escalating tensions between the two nations. The incident follows recent regional developments, including diplomatic contacts between Iran and ministers from six Middle Eastern countries.

The situation remains tense as Israel continues its defensive operations to counter the missile threat while advising citizens to remain alert and adhere to safety guidelines.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that Israel and the United States have launched a joint operation aimed at eliminating threats posed by what he described as Iran’s 'terrorist regime.' In a statement, he thanked US President Donald Trump for his leadership and said the Iranian leadership has long incited violence against Israel and the United States. Netanyahu emphasized that Iran’s rulers must never be allowed to obtain nuclear weapons, which he said would endanger humanity.

Netanyahu added that the joint action seeks to empower the Iranian people to reclaim their future. He called on all ethnic groups in Iran—Persian, Kurdish, Azeri, Baluchi, and Ahwazi—to unite for a free and peaceful Iran. Addressing Israeli citizens, he urged them to follow Home Front Command instructions as the operation, named “The Roar of the Lion,” proceeds.

The statement concluded with Netanyahu calling for patience and determination in the coming days, asserting that unity would ensure Israel’s enduring security.

Israel has declared a state of emergency following airstrikes it carried out on multiple locations in Iran, according to Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz. The announcement came on February 28, 2026, as warning sirens sounded across Israel amid fears of possible retaliatory attacks from Iran. Security forces have advised civilians to remain close to bomb shelters and avoid unnecessary travel.

The defense minister stated that the strikes were conducted to eliminate threats directed at Tel Aviv. In response to the heightened security situation, authorities issued messages urging citizens to locate the nearest protected shelters and stay alert. The Times of Israel reported that the emergency measures were implemented immediately after the attacks.

The situation remains tense as Israel braces for potential counterstrikes from Iran, with nationwide alerts continuing to sound and emergency protocols in effect.

The world's largest US aircraft carrier, USS Gerald R. Ford, has arrived off the coast of Israel as regional tensions rise over fears of a possible attack on Iran. Israel's Channel 12 reported the development on Friday, though the US military has not yet issued an official statement. The Anadolu Agency also confirmed the report.

According to the report, twenty US refueling aircraft landed in Israel on Thursday night. The Israeli Broadcasting Authority said four KC-46A Pegasus refueling planes arrived at Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv. These moves are being viewed as part of a broader effort by the United States to strengthen its military presence in the Middle East amid growing concerns about potential conflict with Iran.

Analysts described the deployment as significant in light of the recent regional tensions, suggesting it underscores Washington's heightened readiness in the area.

The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) reported that Israel killed at least 84 journalists and media workers in 2025, making it the deadliest year on record for the global news media. The watchdog’s annual report, released Wednesday, found that a total of 129 media workers were killed worldwide, with Israel responsible for more than two-thirds of the deaths. Most of those killed by Israel were Palestinian, though Israeli air strikes also killed 31 staff members at Yemeni newspaper offices.

The CPJ said Israel carried out 38 of 47 targeted killings globally, which the group classifies as murders, and noted a “persistent culture of impunity” within Israel’s military regarding attacks on the press. The organization warned that the actual number of journalists killed could be higher due to press restrictions and destroyed evidence during Israel’s war on Gaza. Five Al Jazeera journalists, including Anas al-Sharif and Hossam Shabat, were listed among those killed.

According to monitoring site Shireen.ps, Israel has killed nearly 300 journalists since the start of the war. The CPJ also recorded journalist deaths in Sudan, Mexico, and Ukraine in 2025.

Israeli Finance Minister and far-right politician Bezalel Smotrich has warned that Israel will take full control of Gaza if Hamas does not surrender its weapons. The warning came Monday after Hamas rejected an Israeli ultimatum demanding disarmament. Last week, Israel had given Hamas 60 days to hand over all weapons, including AK-47 rifles, a timeline reportedly requested by the U.S. administration. Failure to comply would trigger a renewed military operation by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).

Hamas dismissed the ultimatum as political propaganda, claiming it had no real basis in ongoing negotiations. Senior Hamas official Mahmoud Mardabi said the group would not accept the threat. Smotrich stated that a final deadline for Gaza’s complete disarmament could soon be announced, and if ignored, Israeli forces would act with international and U.S. support. He added that the IDF has two or three operational plans under consideration for a possible Gaza incursion.

The report also mentioned a U.S. peace plan proposed by President Donald Trump, which includes forming a 20,000-member international peacekeeping force. However, Smotrich asserted that Israel could remove foreign troops if necessary, though immediate deployment of such forces appears unlikely.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Sunday that Israel intends to form a regional network of allied nations to counter what he described as “radical” adversaries. The initiative, which he called a “hexagon” of alliances, would include countries such as India, Greece, Cyprus, and other unnamed Arab, African, and Asian states. Netanyahu made the remarks while confirming the upcoming visit of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying India would be part of an “axis of nations that see eye to eye” with Israel.

Modi expressed agreement with Netanyahu, emphasizing the strong bond and shared commitment between India and Israel. The announcement comes as Israel’s ongoing war on Gaza has weakened the Iran-led “axis of resistance,” including Hezbollah in Lebanon. Netanyahu also referred to both a “radical Shia axis” and an “emerging radical Sunni axis,” though he did not elaborate on the latter.

The move follows strained relations between Israel and several Sunni-majority states, including Turkiye and Saudi Arabia, amid the Gaza conflict. It also builds on Israel’s efforts since 2020 to expand ties with Arab and Muslim nations under the US-backed Abraham Accords.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that no reconstruction work will begin in the war-torn Gaza Strip until the Palestinian resistance group Hamas is disarmed. He made the remarks on Thursday, February 19, during a televised address at a military event. On the same day, the first meeting of the newly formed 'Peace Board' took place in Washington, D.C.

The board was established following a ceasefire agreement signed last October, mediated by the United States, Qatar, and Egypt, to end two years of conflict in Gaza. Nearly two dozen world leaders and senior officials attended the inaugural meeting. Discussions in Washington also explored the possibility of forming an 'international stabilization force' to ensure security in Gaza. The future of Hamas remains one of the most sensitive issues before the council.

U.S. officials reported positive progress in the talks, with growing pressure on Hamas to surrender its weapons. Israel has proposed strict measures, including confiscating even small personal firearms from Hamas members. However, it remains unclear how the Palestinian technical committee overseeing Gaza’s daily administration will handle the disarmament process.

Israel is reportedly preparing to launch an attack on Iran’s ballistic missile system, pending a possible green light from the United States. The report, citing Israel’s state broadcaster Kan and Turkey’s Anadolu Agency, emerged on Wednesday night amid heightened discussions over whether U.S. President Donald Trump will authorize a strike on Iran.

According to the Israeli daily Haaretz, security assessments over the past 24 hours suggest that the likelihood of a U.S. attack on Iran has increased following recent talks between Washington and Tehran. Meanwhile, President Trump has held a meeting with U.S. security officials to discuss preparations for a potential strike, which could take place by Saturday.

The developments indicate growing military tension in the region as both Israel and the United States evaluate their next steps regarding Iran’s missile capabilities.

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich claimed during a parliamentary discussion on Tuesday that Palestinians kill each other and that the Israeli government bears no responsibility. His remarks, reported by Middle East Eye, triggered widespread anger and condemnation. The debate arose as Palestinian lawmakers, including Iman Khatib-Yassin, argued that Smotrich’s proposed 1.5 percent property tax on vacant land would harm Palestinians, who own property but are not permitted to develop it.

The lawmakers accused the government of failing to curb rising violence within Palestinian communities. In response, Smotrich said the government could not be blamed for killings among Palestinians and urged education and condemnation of terrorism, calling for Hamas to be defined as a terrorist organization. His comments were denounced as hateful and racist by opponents.

According to the human rights group Abraham Initiatives, 51 Palestinians have been killed in Israel so far this year, following 252 killings in 2025 across 218 incidents—a record figure nearly four times higher than the previous decade’s average.

Israel has announced that 10,000 Palestinian worshippers will be permitted to attend Friday prayers at the Al-Aqsa Mosque in East Jerusalem during the holy month of Ramadan. The announcement came on Wednesday, February 18, following the start of Ramadan, according to Arab News. The approval applies specifically to weekly Friday prayers at the site.

The Israeli defense ministry’s agency for civilian affairs in the occupied Palestinian territories, COGAT, stated that entry will be allowed only under certain restrictions. Men aged 55 and above, women aged 50 and above, and children up to 12 years old accompanied by a first-degree relative will be eligible. Each worshipper must also obtain a separate permit for every Friday throughout Ramadan.

Al-Aqsa Mosque, Islam’s third holiest site, is located in East Jerusalem, a territory occupied and annexed by Israel in 1967, a move not recognized internationally. Normally, hundreds of thousands of Palestinians attend prayers there during Ramadan.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has instructed the country’s Home Front Command and various rescue agencies to prepare for a possible war with Iran. Israeli media reported on February 18 that maximum alert has been declared across security agencies. A planned security cabinet meeting on February 19 was postponed to February 22 without explanation.

According to Yedioth Ahronoth, Israel believes U.S. President Donald Trump may soon launch a large-scale military operation against Iran after Tehran rejected Washington’s negotiation demands. Israeli intelligence assessments suggest that if the U.S. attacks, Iran could retaliate by firing missiles at Israel, regardless of whether Israel participates directly. Former military intelligence chief Amos Yadlin said Israel is now closer to a potential strike than ever before.

Reports from Israel Hayom and CNN Arabic indicate that Israel’s military has been placed on high alert as coordination with the U.S. intensifies. Washington has deployed the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier group near Iran, with the USS Gerald R. Ford en route and additional fighter jets being positioned. Meanwhile, U.S. and Iranian officials described recent Geneva talks as constructive but unresolved.

Israel has decided to resume land registration in the occupied West Bank for the first time since 1967, a move that several Israeli NGOs say could effectively expand the boundaries of occupied Jerusalem. The decision, taken under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government, has raised concerns among rights groups that it marks a significant shift in territorial control.

According to Israeli NGO Ir Amim researcher Aviv Tatarsky, the process amounts to a practical expansion of Jerusalem, as new settlements would bring residents under Jerusalem’s jurisdiction. Human rights organizations argue that the legal process is designed to displace Palestinians from ancestral lands and formally integrate parts of the West Bank into Israel. The registration process, suspended since 1984, could make it easier for Israel to claim ownership of lands where Palestinians lack official documentation.

The housing rights group Bimkom reports that about 70 percent of West Bank land remains unregistered. Many Palestinians, displaced by war or lacking formal papers, may lose ownership claims, leaving large areas to default to Israeli state control.

Thousands of worshippers gathered at Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem to perform the first Taraweeh prayers of the holy month of Ramadan. Witnesses said that due to limited space inside the mosque, many prayed outside. Sheikh Yusuf Abu Sneinah led the prayers, while Israeli police were stationed in the mosque compound, as seen in online footage showing officers moving among the worshippers.

The Grand Mufti of Jerusalem and Palestine, Sheikh Mohammad Hussein, had earlier announced that Wednesday would mark the first day of Ramadan. The event took place amid rising tensions in occupied East Jerusalem, particularly around the Old City and the Al-Aqsa compound. Israeli authorities have recently intensified security measures, including arrests and temporary bans on religious figures and activists.

According to the Jerusalem Governorate, more than 250 orders restricting Palestinian access to Al-Aqsa have been issued since the beginning of 2026. Earlier in the week, Israeli police arrested Al-Aqsa Imam Sheikh Mohammad Al-Abbasi. The International Court of Justice had previously ruled Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories illegal in July 2024, calling for the evacuation of all settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.