Netanyahu said to have resisted far-right pressure to defy Trump on Iran strikes

‘Why should we pick a fight with him?’: Netanyahu said to have resisted far-right pressure to defy Trump on Iran strikes

Nava Freiberg

Discussions held today exposed disagreements between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and far-right security cabinet ministers over how Israel should respond to US President Donald Trump’s demand that Israel halt its strikes in Iran, and over whether it should prioritize confronting Iran directly or intensifying pressure on Hezbollah in Lebanon, Channel 12 reports.

The exchanges happened during a series of limited security consultations between Netanyahu, Defense Minister Israel Katz and senior security officials at the Kirya headquarters today, according to the report.

Netanyahu reportedly defended coordination with Washington, arguing that Trump remains aligned with Israel’s broader objectives regarding Iran: “We are on the same page as Trump. He is not releasing Iran’s frozen funds, he is determined to secure the nuclear material, and he is maintaining the pressure. Why should we pick a fight with him?”

National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir reportedly argued that Israel should resist US pressure, saying: “We need to stand our ground against Trump. We need to fight tooth and nail and make it clear that we have red lines.”

Netanyahu reportedly responded by suggesting Ben Gvir’s position was influenced by the approaching election campaign, a charge the minister rejected.

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich reportedly argued that Israel should continue focusing its military response on Hezbollah targets in Beirut, seeming to suggest this would both weaken Hezbollah and reinforce Israel’s rejection of Iranian demands that Lebanon be included in any ceasefire.

“The right course of action is to stick with the Beirut model… Strike hard in Beirut. That will cause Hezbollah to beg for it to stop, and it could help further separate the [Iranian and Lebanese] fronts… Action in Iran carries diplomatic costs and is complicated. We can flip the equation. We should take advantage of the separation of the fronts and turn the tables,” Smotrich reportedly said.

The report also says that after Trump urged him against further attacks on Iran this afternoon, Netanyahu told senior security officials that Israel will strike Hezbollah targets in Beirut if the terror group attacks northern Israeli communities, even at the risk of triggering another round of confrontation with Iran, the report adds. Katz openly stated as much earlier today.

Trump says he warned Netanyahu Israel could be left alone if it escalated Iran fight, claims US got last-minute notice of strikes

Lebanese president appeals to Israel to pursue talks, not war; says he won’t meet Netanyahu until deal signed

Bennett slams Netanyahu for ‘normalizing’ periodical attacks from Iran

Iran removes all flight restrictions in country as Israel says it has halted fire

Trump Urges 'Stop Shooting' After Israel-Iran Trade Strikes Again, Major Iranian Petrochemical Complex Bombed

Trump Urges 'Stop Shooting' After Israel-Iran Trade Strikes Again, Major Iranian Petrochemical Complex Bombed

 TYLER DURDEN

A big question remains is if this flare-up in major fighting, which has featured the first direct attacks between Iran and Israel since the April ceasefire took effect, will be short-lived or whether it will endure and escalate into sustained war.

So far the situation is showing signs it could be short-lived, after early Monday morning President Trump urged Israel and Iran to immediately stop "shooting" in a Truth Social post. He also expressed that this musts be done "quickly" and is still talking up a "final" peace deal - which at this moment looks as distant as ever. Iran is signaling it is ready to get back to ceasefire, but Israel is again threatening the Beirut suburbs.

Here's what Trump wrote in a couple of brief Monday posts:

Israel and Iran must immediately stop “shooting.” ...and:

Both sides, Israel and Iran, are looking to do an immediate CEASEFIRE! Final negotiations on “Peace” are proceeding, subject to ignorance or stupidity getting in its way. The Blockade will remain in place, and in full force and effect, until a “Final Deal” is reached. Things should move quickly. Thank you for your attention to this matter!

Videos of Israel's further daytime attacks on sites across Iran have emerged, after Iran sent ballistic missile waves on Israel on Sunday, in response for the IDF renewing airstrikes on Beirut.

For now, Tehran is claiming the current round is over, with Iran's armed forces having announced the end of military operations against Israel while warning of "harsher" attacks if Israel resumes strikes on Lebanon, according to the semi-official Fars news agency.

The Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters spelled out the Islamic Republic's latest justification: "Following the aggressions and acts of mischief by the brutal Zionist regime in southern Lebanon and the Dahieh area, carried out with the support of criminal America, the powerful armed forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran, in support of the oppressed people of Lebanon, delivered a painful response to this regime." And there's a new message from Iranian President Pezeshkian, saying:

"Diplomacy and defense are the two wings of national power; we have neither left the field nor the negotiating table... We will defend the rights of the nation with authority and will not retreat in the face of any threat."

Israel, however, made sure to leave a massive mark before any cooling off. The Israeli military confirmed it attacked Iran's sprawling Mahshahr petrochemical complex on Monday, marking its first strike on the critical asset since the April 7 ceasefire agreement.

The Bandar Imam Petrochemical Complex, as it is formally known, is widely seen as one of the crown jewels of Iran's energy sector. Tucked near the southern city of Mahshahr and Bandar Imam Khomeini - a vital industrial port on the Persian Gulf - the sprawling complex consists of more than 50 separate petrochemical plants producing roughly 72 million tons of products annually, according to Iran’s oil ministry.

Iranian state media reported that one specific installation, the Karun petrochemical plant, was hit twice Monday morning. While a local official told Fars that no casualties were reported, the facility sustained notable structural damage.

The response from Iran's elite military branch was immediate and ominous. The Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps condemned the precise strike as a "dangerous game" - openly threatening to expand the scope of how it retaliates against Israel, explicitly noting that future targets will include energy-related sites.

Israel already compiled a visual strike map showing targets it hit in Iran overnight into Monday:

With both sides testing the absolute limits of the April truce, the macro risk to regional energy infrastructure has officially rocketed back to the forefront, as Trump desperately tries - or is at least appearing to - walk the two sides back from the ledge.

More...

IDF footage shows strike on Iranian air defenses

IDF footage shows strike on Iranian air defenses

Emanuel Fabian

The IDF publishes footage of its strikes on Iranian air defense systems earlier.

Overnight and this morning, dozens of Israeli Air Force fighter jets struck nine Iranian air defense systems in western and central Iran, according to the IDF.

The footage published by the military shows a strike on one of the systems, which the IDF says was armed with anti-aircraft missiles.

“The destruction of the systems further expands the Israeli Air Force’s aerial superiority in the skies over Iran, with the goal of continuing to remove threats to the citizens of the State of Israel,” the military adds.

More...

IDF says it targeted missile manufacturing materials in strike on petrochemical site

The IDF says its strike on a petrochemical complex in southwest Iran this morning aimed to destroy infrastructure used by Iran to produce raw materials for the manufacture of missiles.

“The targeted infrastructure produced unique materials that serve as critical components for the development of ballistic missiles, which pose a threat to the State of Israel and its citizens,” the military says.

“These are critical components of the production infrastructure supporting the Iranian terror regime’s missile program,” the IDF adds.

Iran says it’s ended attacks on Israel, warns of harsher action if strikes on Lebanon persist

Iran says it’s ended attacks on Israel, warns of harsher action if strikes on Lebanon persist

Emanuel Fabian

Iran announces that it is halting attacks on Israel, but threatens a further response if the Israeli military continues “aggression” in Lebanon.

“The cessation of armed forces operations is announced,” Khatam al-Anbiya, Iran’s emergency military command, says in a statement carried by Iranian media.

“However, it is emphasized that if the aggression and acts of malice continue, including in southern Lebanon, much more severe and crushing measures than before will be forthcoming,” the statement adds.

Turkey Strutting Its Prophesied Power

Turkey Strutting Its Prophesied Power

Terry James

There is growing worry, especially among Israeli news sources, about Israel’s future. 

One primary reason for the angst is Turkey’s dramatically growing desire and efforts to establish hegemony over the entire region. This, they fear is happening while America’s desire to withdraw from the region as “sheriff” threatens to leave Israel to defend itself without US military help.

Turkey, of course, is included, we believe, within the prophesied Gog-Magog assault given by the prophet Ezekiel.

Here is God’s Word on the initiation of that future assault on God’s chosen nation, Israel.

And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Son of man, set thy face against Gog, the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal, and prophesy against him, And say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold I am against thee, O Gog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal: And I will turn thee back, and put hooks into thy jaws, and I will bring thee forth, and all thine army, horses and horsemen, all of them clothed with all sorts of armour, even a great company with bucklers and shields, all of them handling swords: Persia, Ethiopia, and Libya with them; all of them with shield and helmet: Gomer, and all his bands; the house of Togarmah of the north quarters, and all his bands: and many people with thee. (Ezekiel 38:1–7)

The term “the house of Togarmah of the north quarters” speaks of the ancient geographical region now occupied by modern-day Turkey.

That nation today is often front and center in news from the Middle East. Under the leadership of a man considered by many to be a voracious dictator, Turkey is indeed seen as flexing its military and hegemonic muscles while strutting upon the end-times stage.

One story frames the situation well, I think:

Israel is closely monitoring a series of regional military and geopolitical developments this week that analysts say could reshape the balance of power in the Middle East, particularly as Turkey expands its influence and the United States signals growing fatigue with military involvement in the region.

The long-standing goal of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to establish his country as the leading Islamist political, cultural and military power in the Middle East as a stepping stone toward resurrecting the Ottoman Empire has been well documented.

This week, some progress appeared to be made toward that goal when the EFES-2026 Combined Joint Live-Fire Field Exercise took place along the Aegean coast near İzmir, involving large land, naval and air forces from the Turkish military alongside contingents from 50 other countries, including Syria and Libya…

Ankara’s growing influence, not only in the Middle East but also in Europe and Africa, is viewed in Israel as an increasingly worrying development.

Students of Biblical prophecy have also noted the prominent mention of ancient regions corresponding to modern-day Turkey, Persia (modern-day Iran) and Libya in the coalition of nations that come against Israel, described in the prophecies of Ezekiel chapters 38-39…

”The U.S. doesn’t want to be in the Middle East anymore, while Iran and Turkey both want to be the new sheriff in town,” said a U.S. CENTCOM intelligence analyst who spoke to ALL ISRAEL NEWS on condition of anonymity.

“They might be willing to share it, or they might compete with each other, while Egypt, Saudi and the rest make a deal with one or the other. Israel might be all alone soon. You better figure something out real fast!” (“Israel Watching Regional Military Shifts with Growing Concern,” All Israel News Staff, May 24, 2026)

Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan exhibits all the attributes given most dictators of the world throughout history. He is an avid anti-Israel Muslim and will easily fit within the Gog-Magog coalition if he is the one to lead Togarmah in the deadly assault on God’s chosen nation and people.

Turkey has joined with the other Gog-Magog coalition members in several ways over recent years. Russia (Rosh) and Iran (Persia), along with Turkey, seem to be the three prime movers and shakers that will lead the deadly attack.

Only it won’t be deadly for Israel. It will be extremely deadly to that Gog-Magog force!

Here is God’s description of that evil coalition’s fate:

Therefore, thou son of man, prophesy against Gog, and say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against thee, O Gog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal: And I will turn thee back, and leave but the sixth part of thee, and will cause thee to come up from the north parts, and will bring thee upon the mountains of Israel: And I will smite thy bow out of thy left hand, and will cause thine arrows to fall out of thy right hand. Thou shalt fall upon the mountains of Israel, thou, and all thy bands, and the people that is with thee: I will give thee unto the ravenous birds of every sort, and to the beasts of the field to be devoured. Thou shalt fall upon the open field: for I have spoken it, saith the Lord GOD. (Ezekiel 39:1–5)

This assault will be world-rending because God Himself will unleash supreme power and authority over Satan’s wickedness. All but one-sixth of the forces will be destroyed.

Because this will be an event, probably with nuclear fire, falling upon many nations and their coastlands, I believe this Gog-Magog attack will take place after the Rapture, not before.

Jesus, as I’ve written many times, promises that things will be business as usual at the moment He next catastrophically intervenes (in the Rapture of the Church; see Luke 17:28–30). Therefore, things will not “be business as usual” when God deals with those who would destroy His nation and people.

Again, even as chaotic as our world is now, things are still “business as usual,” with people buying, selling, planting, building, and moving through all the other activities of life. There has been no truly world-rending catastrophe.

But that catastrophe is coming…for believer in the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation, however, it will not be catastrophe, but the most glorious moment possible when the Rapture occurs.

Here is how to go to be with Jesus when He shouts, “Come up here!”:

That if you will confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and will believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart man believes unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. (Romans 10:9–10)