Germany preparing for all-out war by rehearsing mass evacuations

Germany preparing for all-out war by rehearsing mass evacuations

Hannah Broughton

This week, for the first time in decades, Germany carried out its largest medical exercise in decades as Russia's threat to Europe increases the possibility of large‑scale war.

The NATO "Quadriga 2026" exercise took place in Lithuania and simulated evacuating wounded soldiers from the country and transporting them to hospitals across Germany.

In a worst-case scenario of full-scale war, experts believe the system could face up to 1,000 casualties a day. Meanwhile, new drone‑related injuries and attacks on medics add further risks. By performing this exercise, the army can identify gaps in the plan and prepare for the real deal.

These gaps have already been detected. A report from the German Hospital Association last year concluded, "Hospitals are poorly equipped for a crisis such as a NATO alliance or defense emergency," based on a survey of 165 hospitals across Germany.

The full-scale training exercise is designed to be as realistic as possible. Since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, the security situation in Europe has become less secure.

In response to the heightened situation, Germany has deployed permanent troops abroad for the first time since world war 2. According to DW, Lithuania's forces tripled from 500 to 1,800 this year, and it's expected to reach 4,800 by 2027.

The prospect of a large-scale war is not being taken lightly by Europe. General Carsten Breuer, head of Germany's armed forces, spoke to the BBC last week.

"I've never experienced a situation which is as dangerous, as urgent, as it is today. So what we are seeing, what we are facing, is a threat from Russia," Breuer said.

We can clearly see that Russia is building up its military to a strength which is nearly double the size of what they had before the war against Ukraine… In 2029, it will be possible for Russia to conduct a major war against NATO. And as a soldier, I have to say 'okay, we have to be prepared for this'."

Syria: Massive crowds scream ‘All of Syria is Hamas."

Syria: Massive crowds scream ‘All of Syria is Hamas. Let’s attack the Jews.’

ROBERT SPENCER

It is clearer by the day that Ahmed al-Sharaa is still an Islamic jihadi, and that his supporters know that and approve of it. So how long will Trump continue to support him?

“‘Attack the Jews’: Syrians chant Jihad against Israel in mass protests,” by Yulia Pobegailova, i24News, April 3, 2026:

Thousands of Syrians have taken to the streets across the country since Tuesday, with mass rallies featuring open calls for “jihad” against Israel.

The demonstrations erupted after Israel’s parliament passed a law on Monday mandating the death penalty for Palestinians convicted of murdering Israelis in terror attacks.

Videos circulating online show protests in at least 12 major Syrian cities. Demonstrators waved Syrian and Palestinian flags alongside Hamas and Islamist banners, voiced support for Palestinian security prisoners held in Israel, and openly backed Hamas.

Chants captured on video included:

“O Abu Obeida, we pledge allegiance to you openly,” referring to Hamas’ military spokesman, and

“They say Hamas is terrorist — all of Syria is Hamas,” and

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Christ’s Resurrection Is Truly ‘The Fact On Which All Other Facts Rest’

Christ’s Resurrection Is Truly ‘The Fact On Which All Other Facts Rest’

Alex McFarland

How do we know Jesus was resurrected?

In Biblical times there was no ability to broadcast live video of the resurrection of Jesus or His exit from the tomb. Instead, people used the evidence of eyewitnesses to prove matters in a court of law and other important areas of life. The evidence for the resurrection is based on the testimonies of more than 500 people who said they saw Jesus alive again, including in multiple locations over a 40-day period.

The list of eyewitnesses includes both people friendly and unfriendly to the implications of the resurrection. In other words, those who followed Jesus might be tempted to make up the story, but those who did not believe He was the Messiah would not have done so. The fact that James, a half-brother of Jesus who doubted Him, was among those who saw Jesus alive again shows the diversity of eyewitnesses. Ditto for Saul of Tarsus, who initially was a fierce opponent of the Gospel message.

In addition to hundreds of eyewitnesses, Jesus’ empty tomb provides strong proof for His resurrection. The Jewish religious leaders claimed Jesus’ disciples had stolen the body (Matthew 28:11-15). However, tradition holds that 10 of the original disciples were killed for their faith (excluding John) without a single one of them saying he had stolen the body. Professional historians recognize that the New Testament is the most well-preserved document from the ancient world. Renowned for its precise historical accuracy, the New Testament records many individuals who experienced the resurrected Lord.

Jesus first appeared to Mary Magdalene at the empty tomb on Sunday morning (John 20:11-18). The second appearance was to the other women who saw Jesus near the empty tomb also on Sunday morning. In addition to Mary Magdalene, Matthew 28:1-10 includes “the other Mary” along with others. Luke 24:10 specifically names Joanna, Mary the mother of James (likely the same as “the other Mary” in Matthew), and other unnamed women.

Jesus also appeared to—

Two men on the road to Emmaus on Sunday afternoon—one named Cleopas and the other unnamed (Luke 24:13-32).

Peter on Sunday (Luke 24:33-35; 1 Corinthians 15:5).

The apostles, excluding Thomas (John 20:19-25).

The apostles with Thomas one week later (John 20:26-29).

Seven of the apostles at the Sea of Galilee (John 21:1-13):  “Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee [James and John], and two others of His disciples” (verse 2).

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Syrian-Lebanese border closed after IDF issues evacuation notice - report

Live Updates: IDF issues evacuation notice to Syria-Lebanon border, Iran sends barrage toward Israel's South

Syrian-Lebanese border closed after IDF issues evacuation notice - report

The IDF announcement stated that the intended airstrikes were due to Hezbollah's use of the crossing "for military purposes and for smuggling means of combat."

Syria temporarily closed its Masnaa crossing on the Syrian-Lebanese border, after the IDF issued an evacuation warning for the area, CNN reported on Saturday night.

The IDF announcement stated that the intended airstrikes were due to Hezbollah's use of the crossing "for military purposes and for smuggling means of combat."

The Syrian Authority for Border Crossings and Customs stated that the Masnaa crossing, also known as the Jdeidet Yabous crossing, was “designated exclusively for civilian passage,” CNN said.

Syria reinforces Lebanon border

On Tuesday, eight sources from both Lebanon and Syria said that Syria had reinforced its border with Lebanon with rocket units and thousands of troops.

The Syrian officers, including a senior member of the military, said the move was aimed at preventing arms and drugs smuggling as well as blocking Iran-backed Lebanese Hezbollah or other terrorists from infiltrating Syria.

Iran's use of cluster munitions against Israel may be a war crime - Human Rights Watch

“Iran’s use of cluster munitions in populated areas in Israel poses a foreseeable and long-lasting danger to civilians,” said Patrick Thompson, a researcher at Human Rights Watch.

Iran's use of cluster munitions to attack Israel violates the laws of war and may constitute a war crime, according to a Monday report from Human Rights Watch. 

Human Rights Watch was able to confirm three separate instances of cluster munitions being delivered by ballistic missiles launched from Iran toward heavily populated areas in Israel. These cluster bombs killed several Israeli citizens, including an elderly couplein Ramat Gan and a construction worker in Yehud.

Most recently, missile fragments hit a parking lot near the Kirya military base in Tel Aviv, which serves as the IDF's headquarters, after Iran launched multiple rounds of cluster munitions at central Israel on Saturday.

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Trump: Iran faces ‘all hell’ if it doesn’t make a deal or open Hormuz in 48 hours

Trump: Iran faces ‘all hell’ if it doesn’t make a deal or open Hormuz in 48 hours

Jacob Magid

Lazar Berman

US President Donald Trump on Saturday vowed to rain “hell” on Iran if it fails to reach a ceasefire deal or open the Strait of Hormuz by Monday, when time runs out on an ultimatum that he has extended twice.

Trump has repeatedly threatened to strike Iran’s power grid if Tehran fails to comply with US demands. On Saturday, a senior Israeli defense official said Israel was preparing to attack Iranian energy facilities, likely within the next week, but was awaiting a green light from the US.

Writing on his Truth Social platform, Trump warned, “Remember when I gave Iran ten days to MAKE A DEAL or OPEN UP THE HORMUZ STRAIT. Time is running out — 48 hours before all hell will reign [sic] down on them. Glory be to GOD!”

Trump first threatened on March 21 to strike Iran’s power grid if it did not agree to a US ceasefire proposal within 48 hours. Hours before the deadline on March 23, he pushed it off by five days, to last Saturday, saying ceasefire talks were “going very well.”

He again delayed the deadline by 10 days to April 6, this coming Monday, claiming he was doing so “as per Iranian government request.” Iran has denied making such a request or even negotiating with the US, and mediation efforts have reportedly hit a dead end.

Responding to Trump, General Ali Abdollahi Aliabadi of Iran’s central military command said the US threat was a “a helpless, nervous, unbalanced and stupid action.”

Echoing the religious language of Trump’s social media post, he warned that “the simple meaning of this message is that the gates of hell will open for you.”

Following Aliabadi’s comments, Trump again took to social media with footage of an airstrike in Iran, which he declared had killed “many of Iran’s military leaders, who have led them poorly and unwisely.”

He did not elaborate on the details of the strike or its targets.

Separately on Saturday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to keep striking Iran’s heavy industry, asserting the military destroyed most of Iran’s capacity to produce the missiles it fires at Israel.

“After we destroyed 70 percent of its ability to create steel, which is used as the raw material for the weapons used against us, today we attacked their petrochemical factories,” said Netanyahu in a video statement released shortly after the end of Shabbat.

“These two things are their money machine, which funds their war of terror against us and against the world,” he said. “We will continue to hit them, as I promised.”

The Times of Israel has learned that the IDF was ordered by the political echelon late last month to shift to hitting “economic” targets of the Iranian regime after the military had nearly completed bombing all the targets it set for itself when the war began.

Israel and the US launched a bombing campaign on Iran on February 28 in a bid to destabilize its regime and destroy its ballistic missile and nuclear programs. Iran has responded with missile and drone strikes across the region and by effectively blockading the vital Strait of Hormuz, through which roughly 20% of the world’s oil shipments normally travel.

A US proposal to end the war reportedly includes demands that Iran dismantle its nuclear program, limit its ballistic missiles, halt support for terrorist proxies and relinquish control of the Strait of Hormuz. Iran has reportedly demanded reparations for damages inflicted in the war and guarantees that it won’t be attacked again.