American forces shot down an Iranian drone that approached a US aircraft carrier in the Persian Gulf.

Earlier, Iranian naval gunboats attempted to seize a US-flagged oil tanker. The ship refused to stop, and was then met and escorted by a US warship.

Netanyahu meets Romanian Chamber of Deputies president

PM Benjamin Netanyahu and Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana welcomed Sorin Grindeanu, President of Romania’s Chamber of Deputies, to the Prime Minister’s Office.

🇮🇱 PM Netanyahu thanked Grindeanu for:
✅ His strong support for Israel
✅ His firm stance against antisemitism

Speaker Ohana highlighted the deep and growing ties between Israel and Romania—both at the parliamentary and national levels.

A powerful show of friendship between Jerusalem and Bucharest.

An Israel Defense Forces reservist was seriously wounded by terrorist fire in northern Gaza on Tuesday night, in what the military called a “blatant violation” of the ceasefire agreement by Hamas.

The attack occurred during “operational activity near the Yellow Line in the northern Gaza Strip,” the IDF said on Wednesday, adding that the soldier was evacuated to an Israeli hospital for treatment.

Israel and Azerbaijan sign AI cooperation agreement in Jerusalem

In the presence of PM Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel and Azerbaijan signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Artificial Intelligence at the Prime Minister’s Office.

The agreement was signed by:

🔹 Brig. Gen. (Res.) Erez Askal, Head of Israel’s National AI Directorate

🔹 Rashad Nabiyev, Azerbaijan’s Minister of Digital Development & Transport

The agreement covers:

🔹 Supercomputing infrastructure
🔹 Civilian AI implementation
🔹 Human capital & joint R&D

PM Netanyahu:

“AI is not the future—it’s the present rushing toward tomorrow. Together, Israel and Azerbaijan are seizing it.”

Another strategic step in a blossoming alliance—and a signal that Israel is serious about global leadership in AI.

IDF operating in southern Lebanon to block Hezbollah’s rebuild

Israeli troops are actively operating in southern Lebanon to prevent Hezbollah from reestablishing its terrorist capabilities.

Over the past year:

🔻 ~60 Hezbollah operatives eliminated

🔻 Dozens of terror sites, weapons depots & observation posts dismantled

🎯 Hundreds of precision ground & aerial strikes directed via Unit 869’s observation centers

As part of ongoing force development, the IDF will establish a new female combat company this March to further enhance operational readiness.

Despite war and crisis, Israel ranks among world’s top 3 economies in 2025

The Economist has placed Israel in the global top tier—citing explosive stock market gains, a resilient labor market, and world-leading innovation in deep-tech fields like AI, semiconductors, and biotech.

🇮🇱 Bank Leumi stock surged 70%
🇮🇱 Over $28B invested in deep-tech since 2019
🇮🇱 1,500+ cutting-edge tech firms active in 2025

All this, just two years after a devastating war.

But challenges remain:

⚠️ R&D employment is declining
⚠️ Startup formation is slowing
⚠️ Productivity growth has stalled

👉 Read how Israel turned crisis into comeback—and why the next chapter depends on bold investment in people and innovation.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio says Washington demands Iran not only give up its nuclear program, but also reduce and limit its ballistic missile arsenal and stop funding and facilitating proxy groups.

Arab media reports that after Rubin’s remarks, Iran has cancelled talks with the Trump administration scheduled for Friday.

Iran now says talks with the Trump administration scheduled for Friday in Oman will take place.

A large number of US military transport planes have landed at American military bases in the Middle East over the past week.

Trump to reporters yesterday: "Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei should be very worried."

🚨 IDF eliminates Hamas commander behind October 7 kibbutz massacre

Israeli forces on Wednesday eliminated Bilal Abu Assi, a Hamas Nukhba platoon commander who led the deadly infiltration into Kibbutz Nir Oz on October 7—where dozens of civilians were murdered or abducted.

This targeted strike follows a blatant ceasefire violation in which terrorists opened fire on IDF forces in northern Gaza, critically wounding a reserve officer.

Abu Assi was also involved in holding hostages and directing attacks on IDF troops throughout the war.

🎯 The operation used precision intelligence and surveillance to minimize civilian harm. The IDF expressed regret over reports that uninvolved civilians may have been harmed, including a medical staff member.

Israel will continue to defend its forces and civilians—and pursue those responsible for October 7—even under ceasefire conditions.

Nothing has changed❗️
Hamas is still using ambulances to wage war.

🎥 New IDF footage from Jabaliya shows Hamas terrorists moving weapons and fighters from a hospital to a school—*using ambulances.

This isn’t an exception. It’s a system.

🟥 Hamas continues to violate international law

🟥 Exploits hospitals, schools, and aid vehicles

🟥 Rebuilds its terror machine—even under ceasefire

👉 So long as Hamas exists, Trump’s Gaza plan has zero chance.

You cannot rebuild Gaza while Hamas is rebuilding terror.

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Israeli forces eliminated Ali Raziana, Commander of Islamic Jihad’s Northern Gaza Brigade—a key figure behind hostage operations, coordinated attacks with Hamas, and the attempted reconstitution of terror forces under ceasefire cover.

Raziana built Islamic Jihad’s defense plans, deployed its operatives, and sat on its military council.

🛑 Ceasefire or not, Israel will not allow terror commanders to rebuild.