Update (Day 970) Swords of Iron “Enemy Strongholds Will Fall”

We are living in a time when the IRGC—the arch-terrorists in Iran—are threatening the free world. Life as we know it is at stake. These are not days to mince words. These are days to speak boldly and be clear about which side of history we stand on.

Here in Israel, the Knesset just passed the first reading of a bill to dissolve the 25th Knesset by a vote of 106–0. That could mean early elections, possibly as soon as September 8. Who will lead next? I don’t know. But whoever leads, the central issue remains: Israel, America, and every nation in the free world must deal with the Iranian threat and its proxies. 

Hezbollah must be dealt with. Iran’s nuclear threat must be dealt with. The Houthis and their long-range missiles must be dealt with. These threats will not remain “over there.” They will spread.

Today, we mourn Captain Dr. Ori Yosef Silberstein, an IDF medical officer from Tel Aviv, only 30 years old, who was killed in action while serving with the Shaked Battalion in Lebanon. Seven others were injured. He gave his life to keep Israel safe. May his memory be a blessing.

There is also new leadership at the Mossad, as David Zini prepares to become Israel’s 14th Mossad director, replacing David Barnea. PM Netanyahu has made clear that one of his central missions will be preventing Iran’s terror regime from threatening Israel’s existence or advancing nuclear weapons. Zini said he enters this sacred space with humility. Serious things are in motion.

Israel has warned Lebanese residents south of the Zahrani River to evacuate. The Litani River line is no longer enough when Hezbollah’s missiles, drones, and strongholds continue threatening Israel. If necessary, Israel must push deeper and remove Hezbollah’s military infrastructure—whether in southern Lebanon, Dahieh, Beirut, or wherever it hides. 

People say they want peace. So do we. But you cannot have peace with people who lie while attacking you. The U.S.-brokered ceasefire with Hezbollah was fragile, and Hezbollah has repeatedly violated it. At this point, only determined ground and air operations can remove the threat.

Even airlines are responding to the reality. British Airways has suspended flights to Israel until late October.

Obadiah 1 speaks of Mount Zion, deliverance, holiness, and the house of Jacob possessing its inheritance. It says that as the nations have done, it will be done to them. Judgment will return upon their own heads. But on Mount Zion there will be deliverance.

Today, I also had the privilege of meeting descendants of Nazis who came to the Galilee as part of the March of Life. Together with the municipality and other organizations, we hosted them as they shared their stories and marched through the streets in solidarity with Israel.

What a picture: descendants of darkness choosing light.

Good can win over evil. And it will.