🧩 Israel reportedly explored cultivating Mahmoud Ahmadinejad: The New York Times reported that Israel spent years seeking to develop the former Iranian president as a possible intelligence asset and potential leader in a post-regime Iran.
Israeli intelligence officers reportedly met him abroad, including in Hungary, using academic events as cover.
During the 2026 Israel-Iran war, Mossad operatives reportedly extracted Ahmadinejad from Tehran after an Israeli strike on his compound and moved him to a safe house inside Iran as part of a broader regime-change operation.
The effort reportedly failed after he left the safe house under unclear circumstances. Iranian officials claim he is now under house arrest after authorities uncovered his contacts with Israel.
📅 Netanyahu reportedly held regular regime-change meetings: The prime minister is said to have convened discussions every Friday at 10:00 a.m. over several years on plans to topple Iran’s government.
Former National Security Council chief Tzachi Hanegbi eventually stopped attending. Asked why, he replied:
“The plans seem closer to science fiction to me.”
✈️ Netanyahu is expected in the United States next week: Israeli media reported that he plans to attend Senator Lindsey Graham’s funeral and may meet President Trump on the sidelines.
⛽ A dispute emerged over U.S. refueling aircraft at Ben-Gurion Airport: Israel barred additional American aerial-refueling aircraft from landing because of heavy traffic. Four had arrived overnight, and another landed after the directive.
The United States then paused relocating its refueling aircraft from Ben-Gurion. Airport officials warned that continued military use could disrupt civilian operations and cause cancellation of up to 50,000 airline tickets in July.
Transport Minister Miri Regev reportedly ordered that no additional U.S. aircraft be admitted.
According to Ynet and Yedioth Ahronoth, CENTCOM officials warned the IDF and Defense Ministry that the restrictions directly harm U.S. operational needs against Iran. They said the refueling platforms are critical to sustaining regional deterrence and defense.
A senior IDF official called the American demand “justified” and said the aircraft are integral to the joint regional deployment.
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