(Day 828) Swords of Iron – “Imminent”

Things are not slowing down here. The US has confirmed advanced military plans against Iran, and regional forces—including Israel—are preparing. It’s very tense, palpable, tangible; you can taste the tension in the air.

Israel’s Health Ministry has issued updated procedures to hospitals on how to rapidly shift from routine to emergency operations, based on lessons learned from past operations.

That said, there has been no official change to the national threat assessment, we are not at a DEFCON-level scenario.

Healthcare systems remain on critical alert, but there is no immediate call for civilians to move to bomb shelters. Any further instructions will come only through official alerts from the National Health Operations Center.

However, all security services have raised their alert levels in anticipation of another possible round with Iran. This time, many believe the terrorist regime responsible for so much destruction—against us and others—may be approaching a turning point.

Prime Minister Netanyahu instructed officials not to comment publicly on intervention scenarios and to allow developments to unfold.

President Trump says that strong action may be required. Reports from Iranian media suggest over 10,000 people have been killed there. The true numbers may be even higher. In Israel, citizens are receiving threatening SMS messages from unknown cyber activists. Iran’s Supreme National Security Council with Ali Larijani has dismissed U.S. warnings with openly belligerent rhetoric.

European Parliament President Roberta Metsola has banned Iranian diplomatic staff from the Parliament. In response, Iran has summoned envoys from France, Germany, Italy, and the UK since they supported the protests. There has also been diplomatic contact involving U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Aragchi, though at this moment, de-escalation does not appear likely.

Russia has reportedly removed its diplomats from Israel in preparation for what may come.

People often ask me how long I will continue to wear this uniform and stand on the front lines. I don’t know. But I do know that when I eventually take it off, I will spend years helping soldiers deal with trauma—the explosions, the losses, the darkness they’ve faced in war. Soldiers struggling to sleep. Struggling with grief and loss. Facing the abyss.

We must be there for them.

Just recently, Yehoshua Boon, a reservist in the Carmeli Brigade, was found lifeless in his apartment after more than 700 days of reserve duty.

We will not let darkness prevail. We will stand strong. We will see victory. And we will see the return of the Jewish people.

Isaiah 43:6; “I will say to the north, ‘Give them up,’ and to the south, ‘Do not hold them back.’ Bring My sons from afar and My daughters from the ends of the earth.”