⚠️ ISRAEL SAYS IT WILL REMAIN IN SECURITY ZONES, REPORTS EMERGE OF A POSSIBLE IRAN FUNDS RELEASE
🔸 REPORT: PRELIMINARY AGREEMENT TO RELEASE $3 BILLION IN IRANIAN FUNDS: Al-Arabiya reported that a preliminary agreement has been reached to release $3 billion of Iran's frozen funds.
Al-Hadath, citing sources, reported that an "initial agreement has been reached" to release the funds while discussions continue regarding the Strait of Hormuz under a "new plan proposed by Oman." According to the report, delegations have returned to their respective capitals for consultations.
❗️ SENIOR IRGC NAVY OFFICIAL KILLED; POLICE OFFICER SLAIN: Rear Admiral Mohammad Akbarzadeh, Deputy Political Officer in the Office of the Iranian Supreme Leader's Representative in the IRGC Navy, was killed in a car accident in Kerman Province. He was regarded as one of the key architects behind Iran's strategy in the Strait of Hormuz.
Separately, Iranian police officer Second Lieutenant Mohammad Palangi, a Sunni officer from the Baloch tribe, was killed in an armed attack in Sistan and Baluchestan Province.
🛰️ SHIN BET ARRESTS U.S. CITIZEN ACCUSED OF SPYING FOR IRAN: The Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet) arrested a 20-year-old U.S. citizen accused of carrying out intelligence-gathering missions in Israel on behalf of Iranian intelligence.
According to the allegations, the suspect maintained contact with Iranian intelligence handlers and photographed sensitive sites across Israel in exchange for payments.
🇮🇱 NETANYAHU AND KATZ: ISRAEL WILL REMAIN IN SECURITY ZONES AND SEEK PEACE WITH LEBANON: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz visited southern Lebanon today.
Netanyahu said, "Lebanon recognizes Israel and Israel recognizes Lebanon. We say to Iran and Hezbollah, get out of here."
He added, "Iran tried to force us to withdraw from southern Lebanon and this will not happen."
Speaking at the state memorial ceremony for the fallen of the Second Lebanon War, Netanyahu said, "We will not accept a situation where a terrorist army can build tunnels that can penetrate our borders. We will remain in the protective strip in southern Lebanon as long as necessary. The Gaza envelope is today inside Gaza, the Lebanese envelope is inside Lebanon. This is a critical lesson."
He continued, "For the first time in years, Israeli representatives have held negotiations with Lebanon. We will do everything to reach a peace agreement between the two countries."
Referring to the agreement signed with Lebanon, Netanyahu said, "Thanks to our strength that is changing the face of the Middle East, a door has been opened to a different reality. We have taken an important step towards ending the conflict."
Defense Minister Israel Katz said, "We have struck Iran twice and will strike it a third time if necessary."
He added, "The events of October 7 have shown us all one clear truth: We must not wait until the threat knocks on our door. We have prepared twice with preemptive strikes on Iran, and if necessary, we will attack a third time. The IDF will not withdraw and will remain in the security zones in Lebanon, Syria, and Gaza, indefinitely, in order to protect our residents and communities from there against jihadist elements."
Katz also said, "As of today, no country has the ability to mount attacks in space. We must be the leading country in the world with this capability."
⚠️ IRAN RESPONDS TO KATZ'S REMARKS: Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi responded to Defense Minister Katz's comments, stating:
"The terms of the Islamabad MoU are crystal clear and public for all to see. POTUS has committed the U.S. to muzzling its pets in Tel Aviv. If they ignore their master, Iran will school them. Any threat against our people and leadership will receive immediate powerful response."
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