A statement from the Office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu following tonight’s wave of airstrikes and resumption of fighting in the Gaza Strip, “Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz have instructed the IDF to act with force against the Hamas terrorist organization in the Gaza Strip.

This decision comes after Hamas repeatedly refused to release our hostages and rejected all proposals received from the U.S. President’s envoy, Steve Witkoff, and the mediators.

The IDF is currently striking Hamas terrorist targets across the Gaza Strip, aiming to achieve the war objectives set by the political leadership, including the release of all our hostages—both the living and the fallen.

From now on, Israel will act against Hamas with increasing military intensity.

The operational plan was presented last weekend by the IDF and was approved by the political leadership.”

Despite what many accounts known for making false claims and spreading misinformation have stated tonight, there is currently nothing to suggest that any aircraft carrier besides the USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75) has been deployed or is being deployed any time soon to the Middle East. The closest carrier, USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70) is carrying out exercises in the East China Sea while the USS George Washington (CVN-73) is in port in Yokosuka, Japan. The USS George H.W. Bush (CVN-77) is currently undergoing a Composite Training Unit Exercise (COMPTUEX) off the coast of Virginia, in preparation for a deployment to Europe and the Middle East later in 2025, likely replacing the Truman. Additionally, another rumor being spread tonight, that an Iranian “spy ship” was sunk by the U.S. Navy off the coast of Yemen, also does not have any basis to it and is unlikely to be true.

Several of Hamas’ Senior Political and Military Leaders are claimed to have been targeted during tonight’s wave of airstrikes by the Israeli Air Force.

The USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78) is also currently participating in the Composite Training Unit Exercise (COMPTUEX) off the coast of Virginia, and will deploy later in 2025. Possibly prior to the Bush, who just completed a 10-Month Maintenance Period at Norfolk Naval Shipyard in November.

Reports from Palestinian channels suggest that Hamas Major General Mahmoud Abu Watfa, Undersecretary for the Ministry of Interior in Gaza, was eliminated in tonight’s widespread strikes on Gaza by the Israeli Air Force.

A Senior Official in Hamas’ Politburo, Abu Obeida al-Jamasi and his family were also killed in tonight’s wave of airstrikes by the Israeli Air Force on the Gaza Strip.

The Gaza Ministry of Health claims that the death toll from tonight’s Israeli airstrikes on the Gaza Strip have surpassed 200.

Reuters quoting Iran’s Nournews claims that an American Surveillance Drone, possibly referencing one of the U.S. Navy’s RQ-4C “Triton” Drones which have been carrying out Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) off the coast of Iran over the Persian Gulf now for months, was forced to retreat from Iran’s Airspace today after being approached by Iranian F-14A “Tomcats” and Drones. Nournews added a quote from the Iranian Air Force, “Iran’s armed forces remain on high alert, prepared for “full-scale defense and a severe counterattack” against enemy interests in the Middle East.” A RQ-4C was patrolling in the Northern Persian Gulf today off the coast of Bushehr, Iran, though there is nothing to suggest that it was intercepted or forced to withdraw before completing its ISR Mission.

Following last night’s wave of airstrikes against Hamas throughout the Gaza Strip, the Israel Defense Force has now announced evacuation orders for any and all Palestinians residing in areas along the border of the Gaza Strip, stating “The IDF has launched a strong offensive against terror organizations. These designated areas are considered dangerous combat zones.” Adding, “For your own safety, you must evacuate immediately to known shelters in western Gaza City and in Khan Younis.”

Israel has announced that last night’s surprise strike operation by the Israeli Air Force against Hamas terror targets throughout the Gaza Strip, has been dubbed “Strength and Sword” by Defense Officials.

In a joint statement, the defense ministers of Lithuania, Poland, Latvia and Estonia have announced their collective recommendation that their respective nations withdraw from the Anti-personnel Mine Ban Convention (Ottawa Convention). Citing the “deteriorated” security situation in Eastern Europe, the joint statement voices the defense ministers’ desire to field capabilities that give their respective forces the ability to respond to and defend against threats.

Note: This statement does not announce their withdrawal from the Ottawa Convention and instead communicates their desire to do so.

U.S. President Donald J. Trump is expected to have a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin from 4 to 6 p.m. Moscow time (9 to 11 a.m. Eastern Time), according to the Kremlin’s spokesperson Dmitry Peskov. President Putin is not expected to make a statement after the call.
While President Trump has said that “many elements” of a proposed ceasefire plan have been agreed on, no agreement has been fully agreed upon and implemented yet. The call is expected to push this process forward.

Channels in Gaza are reporting now that Abu Hamza, the Spokesman for the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), was killed alongside members of his family in one of the recent waves of airstrikes by the Israeli Air Force.

Israeli Minister of Defense Israel Katz this morning at the Headquarters of the IDF, “If the Hamas murderers do not release all our hostages, our blows will only get worse.”

Footage showing strikes earlier today by the Israeli Air Force, on a pair of artillery pieces from the previous Assad Regime near Khan Arnabah in Southwestern Syria. The howitzers are said to have posed a threat to the State of Israel.

According to a release from U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) the Houthis are now seizing food stock from a World Food Program (WFP) warehouse in Saada, Yemen. The seizure of goods from this warehouse, which contains over 5,700,000 pounds of aid intended for Yemeni civilians, is the latest in a string of Houthi actions against the WFP and wider UN missions across areas controlled by the group. The Houthis have targeted and diverted WFP aid in the past, and have shown no qualms with illegally detaining WFP and other UN aid workers.

Houthi Foreign Minister Jamal Amer told Reuters during an interview on Monday, that they will not “dial down” attacks against Israeli shipping in the Red Sea in response to appeals from allies like Iran, adding that they are now at war with the United States and that “escalation is likely.” Amer further stated, “(The U.S.) is threatening Iran and hitting Yemen. Now all scenarios are possible. We will do what they will do to us. If they are hitting us from Truman, we will retaliate by hitting Truman,” before also threatening the Gulf States if they allow their bases to be used by the U.S. for strikes against Yemen.

The Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs has released a statement condemning last night’s resumption of combat operations against the Gaza Strip by Israel.