Israel’s defense ministry is fast‑tracking new space‑based assets to give the country a decisive edge in any future war with Iran, with Avi Berger explaining that lessons from the June conflict spurred the development of more advanced satellites, AI‑enhanced imaging, and rapid‑tasking constellations that can monitor every front from Gaza to Tehran; the Israeli program now treats space as the backbone of intelligence, communications and strike coordination, while the government expands commercial partnerships, a decade‑long NASA collaboration, and a NIS 60‑million “Space City” in Mitzpe Ramon to lower launch costs and support startups, aiming to cement Israel’s role in the $600 billion global orbital economy and ensure round‑the‑clock situational awareness for the IDF. Click here to read more.

Iranian officials warn that a limited U.S. strike could ignite fresh mass protests and threaten the regime’s grip on power, noting that the brutal crackdown on January’s demonstrations has already shattered the population’s fear and left many citizens ready to confront security forces again; senior insiders told Reuters that Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was briefed on the danger that external pressure combined with domestic anger could trigger a collapse of the ruling system, while former president Hassan Rouhani and opposition figures have urged major reforms to avert further unrest; meanwhile, President Donald Trump is reportedly weighing targeted attacks on Iranian security forces and leaders, a move that Tehran fears would embolden dissenters and provoke a violent backlash; the internal debate highlights a stark contrast between the regime’s public defiance and private concerns about a potential uprising. Click here to read more.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told a cabinet meeting that the October 7 attack in Israel, the wars in Afghanistan and Ukraine, and the broader perception of U.S. deterrence would not have occurred under President Donald Trump, claiming Trump’s firm stance on Iran would have prevented a nuclear program and a deal could still be possible if Iran refrains from enrichment; Hegseth warned that the U.S. military stands ready to act on any orders from the president and noted that Iran is amassing drones and preparing for possible confrontation, while Iranian media report the country prefers a costly war over a negotiated settlement. Click here to read more.

Iran’s Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi, speaking from exile in the United States, declares that the nationwide protests sparked on Dec. 28 have evolved into a decisive “final battle” to overthrow the Islamic Republic, urging the international community—especially the United States and Israel—to target the IRGC’s leadership and infrastructure to protect civilians and cripple the regime’s repression; he cites staggering casualty figures, widespread communications blackouts, and growing defections as proof that the movement now rejects the entire system rather than merely economic grievances, and he promises to return to Iran, even before the regime falls, to oversee an orderly emergency‑phase transition that secures services, stabilizes the country, and leads to free constitutional elections. Click here to read more.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told a joint press conference with hostage coordinator Gal Hirsch that Israeli soldiers fell in Gaza because the IDF ran out of ammunition—a shortfall he said was corrected after President Donald Trump took office—and celebrated that, for the first time in 12 years, no hostages remain in the Gaza Strip, noting 168 were rescued alive while 87 died; he declared the “sacred mission” of returning all captives complete, pledged to dismantle and disarm Hamas and Gaza, dismissed proposals to rebuild Gaza before demilitarisation, to station Turkish or Qatari troops, or to create a Palestinian state there, and warned that any Iranian attack would meet an unprecedented Israeli response, while also noting the recent recovery of St‑Sgt‑Maj Ran Gvili’s remains. Click here to read more.

The Israeli Defense Forces recovered the remains of St‑Sgt‑Maj Ran Gvili, the last Israeli hostage taken during the Oct. 7 assault, after a month‑long covert effort that began with the capture and interrogation of an Islamic Jihad operative who disclosed the burial site at al‑Batesh cemetery in northern Gaza; the IDF exhumed and examined roughly 250 bodies, using dental experts, fingerprint, and DNA analysis to confirm Gvili’s identity, then promptly notified his family and arranged a funeral in Meitar, while senior officials—including Prime Minister Netanyahu, IDF Chief of Staff Lt‑Gen Eyal Zamir, and President Isaac Herzog—publicly celebrated the recovery as the final fulfillment of Israel’s promise to bring every captive home; the operation also highlighted ongoing intelligence coordination, the involvement of rabbinic advisers, and the broader context of heightened Israeli‑Palestinian tensions over ceasefire negotiations and the Rafah crossing. Click here to read more.