⚠️ IDF TIGHTENS NORTHERN CIVIL DEFENSE RESTRICTIONS AS ISRAEL MOBILIZES RESERVE FORCES AND CONSIDERS EXPANDED LEBANON OPERATIONS AMID HEZBOLLAH THREATS
🛡️ In coordination with the Home Front Command’s ongoing situational assessment, defensive guidelines will be updated today, Tuesday, May 26, 2026, from 06:00 until 20:00.
The Confrontation Line area and the communities of Meron, Bar Yochai, Or HaGanuz, and Safsufa will remain under the partial activity level with no change.
Gatherings and services will be limited to up to 50 people in open areas and up to 200 people inside structures, instead of the previous limits of 200 in open areas and 600 inside structures.
Educational activities will remain unchanged, except for communities listed in the Home Front Command exemptions document.
The Home Front Command stated it continues ongoing situational assessments and will update the public through official Home Front Command and IDF platforms if additional changes are made.
📢 Home Front Command siren tests will take place today in Moran at 09:35, Har Halutz at 11:05, and Lavon at 13:05.
If a real alert is activated, an additional siren will sound, with alerts also issued through the Home Front Command app and supplementary warning systems.
🪖 The Defense Ministry Crossings Authority will conduct a security exercise today at the Sha’ar Efraim Crossing between 15:00 and 20:00.
Sounds of gunfire and explosions are expected to be heard during the exercise.
❗️Israeli Channel 14 reported that Prime Minister Netanyahu and Defense Minister Katz discussed expanding operations in Lebanon “in a remarkable way” and approved the targeting of buildings.
The expanded cabinet is expected to convene today.
🪖 The Israeli Broadcasting Authority reported that the IDF has begun mobilizing soldiers to intensify operations in Lebanon.
According to the report, soldiers discharged in recent days were asked to immediately join reserve service.
🚀 Local media in Lebanon reported that MANPAD missiles were launched toward Israeli aircraft operating in southern Lebanon.
Saudi Arabia’s al-Hadath, citing an Israeli source, reported that Hezbollah Secretary General Naim Qassem was targeted twice in recent strikes.
🗳️ Political discussions continue in Jerusalem regarding possible efforts to dissolve the Knesset.
Prime Minister Netanyahu and his office are reportedly in contact with ultra-Orthodox parties to assess whether they still insist on dissolving the Knesset and whether the conscription law has any remaining chance of passing.
Opposition figures reportedly asked United Torah Judaism whether it would support a constructive vote of no confidence replacing Netanyahu with another candidate.
According to the report, UTJ said it would not support Lapid or Edelstein and instead suggested Benny Gantz. The reported understanding was that the opposition would agree only if Gantz committed not to run in future elections.
The opposition has 52 seats, and UTJ has 7, leaving such a move two seats short. Blue and White said no one had spoken with them about the matter.
Yesh Atid responded: “We’re hearing all the briefings from the ultra-Orthodox about a constructive vote of no confidence. We weren’t born yesterday; we know all these tricks, and we’re not here to help them raise their price with Netanyahu. There will be no deal on the draft, the funds, or core studies. We won’t do business with them at the expense of the serving and working public. In the coming months, we’ll go to elections and win.”
💵 The Bank of Israel lowered the interest rate by 0.25% to 3.75%. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich criticized the move, stating: “The governor’s decision to lower the interest rate is too little, too late. The Israeli economy needs a sharper interest rate cut. For our part, as a government, we are managing the state budget responsibly, and the effect on the markets is clearly felt. The governor should have lowered the rate more significantly in order to ease the burden on exporters, households, and business owners.”
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