Transcript [00:00] The blockade of Iran is tightening. An [00:02] American fighter jet has attacked a [00:04] vessel off the Iranian coast. The United [00:08] States has disabled a massive ship [00:10] linked to the revolutionary guards. Is [00:12] the Iranian regime beginning to lose [00:14] control? Iran is on maximum alert for [00:18] yet another attack. Iran is vulnerable [00:21] to strikes and has no way to defend [00:24] itself. And did Israel and the United [00:26] States conduct an aerial exercise over [00:30] Iranian skies? A slap in the face to the [00:34] west. The Houthis are pushing forward [00:37] and the global economy's worst nightmare [00:39] is becoming a reality. Depetration and [00:43] the blinding of Iranian radar systems. [00:46] Yemen is burning once more. And this [00:49] time, Israel could pay the price. The [00:52] Houthis are expanding the fighting in [00:55] Yemen and resuming missile attacks [00:57] against Saudi Arabia. And an Israeli [01:00] stealth fighter exercise over Iranian [01:03] skies has been revealed. While forces in [01:06] Yemen are once again taking control of [01:08] the Babandab Strait. I'm Mati Shosani [01:12] joined by Ashley Alex. Here on Boots on [01:14] the Ground, we bring you the full truth [01:16] about what's happening in Israel and the [01:18] full truth about what's happening in our [01:20] neighborhood, the Middle [music] East. [01:22] Today is October the 11th. Let's get [01:26] started. [01:27] Today's report is made possible by our [01:29] partner, Vineia, an Israeli wellness [01:32] brand with products designed to support [01:34] energy focus and everyday performance. [01:37] We'll tell you more about Vignia later [01:39] in today's report. [01:40] >> [music] [01:41] >> In the meantime, visit vignia [01:42] tbnisrael.com. [01:45] Now, let's get back to our news. If [01:47] anyone still thinks the war with Iran is [01:50] behind us, this weekend looks much more [01:52] like a countdown to the next round. [01:55] Trump stands before his supporters and [01:58] says Iran has suffered a devastating [02:00] blow, that its navy is gone, its air [02:02] force has been hit, and its air defense [02:04] systems have been severely weakened. [02:07] That very same weekend, a report emerges [02:10] that is far more troubling for Israel. [02:12] Despite months of strikes, Iran has [02:15] managed to preserve and rebuild a [02:17] significant portion of its missile and [02:20] drone production capabilities. It can [02:22] replenish its stockpiles at a rapid pace [02:25] with Russian assistance also reportedly [02:27] playing a substantial role. In other [02:30] words, Thran may have the lost some of [02:32] its strength, but it is already [02:34] rebuilding its arsenal for the next [02:36] round. And that is precisely why no one [02:40] on the other side is putting down their [02:42] weapons. The Pentagon has already [02:44] developed options for a short but [02:47] intensive military campaign lasting [02:49] several days, targeting missile and [02:51] drone systems, energy infrastructure, [02:54] and Revolutionary Guard headquarters. [02:56] President Trump has promised not to [02:58] launch a new attack before the November [03:00] 3rd midterm elections and Israeli [03:03] assessments suggest that Israel will not [03:05] launch a strike before those elections [03:08] either. But on the ground, the military [03:10] buildup continues. The aircraft carrier [03:13] Theodore Roosevelt is on its way to the [03:16] region. And later this month, there [03:18] could be a window in which three [03:19] American aircraft carriers are operating [03:22] in the Middle East at the same time with [03:24] more than 20,000 military personnel and [03:28] hundreds of aircraft. This is the kind [03:30] of concentration of military power we [03:33] haven't seen since the Iraq war. And [03:36] overnight, we received proof that the [03:39] American blockade is no longer just a [03:41] threat on paper. An American fighter jet [03:44] struck the stern of the cargo ship Ocean [03:47] Mika after, according to SenCom, it [03:50] departed an Iranian port, ignored [03:52] warnings, and attempted to break through [03:54] the blockade. The strike disabled the [03:57] ship's propulsion system without harming [03:59] the crew. And American officials say [04:01] that over 3 months of enforcement, [04:03] they've already turned back 135 vessels, [04:06] disabled four commercial ships, and [04:08] destroyed 10 tankers linked to the [04:10] Revolutionary Guards. economic network. [04:13] So while Trump talks about waiting [04:15] before the next military strike on the [04:18] ground, the battle over Iranian money, [04:20] oil, and supplies is already very much [04:23] underway. And on Thursday, oil prices [04:26] surged, approaching $106 a barrel [04:29] following another escalation in tensions [04:32] around two of the world's most important [04:34] shipping routes for global energy [04:36] supplies, the straight of Humuz and the [04:38] Babandib Strait. Brent crude climbed as [04:42] high as $10584 [04:45] a barrel during trading while American [04:47] WTI crude crossed the $100 mark for the [04:50] first time since May. The sharp increase [04:54] came after the Iranianbacked Houthis [04:56] seized the port city of Moa on Yemen's [04:58] western coast and advanced towards areas [05:01] near the Bab and Mandab strait. And that [05:03] brings us to Saudi Arabia because the [05:05] war in Yemen is no longer staying in [05:07] Yemen. A Houthi missile struck King [05:10] Khaled International Airport in Riyad. [05:13] 12 people were killed and 309 were [05:15] injured with an American citizen among [05:17] the casualties. [05:19] Flights were diverted. Airport [05:21] operations were temporarily suspended. [05:23] And the Saudi capital found itself in [05:25] the middle of a very real war zone. [05:28] Trump described what happened as [05:30] unacceptable and said he would speak [05:32] with Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman. [05:35] Meanwhile, the Houthis are already [05:37] threatening the things that hurt Saudi [05:39] Arabia most, its oil fields, gas [05:42] facilities, pipelines, and airports. [05:44] Iran is applying pressure from two [05:46] directions. To the east, around the [05:48] straight of Humus, it is confronting the [05:51] American blockade. To the south, its [05:53] Houthi proxy is bringing the fighting [05:55] deep into Saudi Arabia while threatening [05:57] the Babil Mandab Strait and vital energy [06:00] shipping routes. Pakistan has already [06:02] delivered Saudi messages to Thran urging [06:05] it to restrain the Houthis. While a [06:08] security agreement with Turkey also [06:10] forms part of the regional picture. And [06:12] after a deadly strike in the heart of [06:14] Riyad, the question is no longer simply [06:16] how Saudi Arabia will respond, but how [06:19] many more countries could be drawn into [06:21] this conflict. And in Riyad, what seemed [06:24] like a distant threat just a week ago [06:27] has turned into a major security crisis [06:29] within days. This is already the third [06:32] time in a single week that the Houthis [06:34] have struck King Khaled International [06:36] Airport. And this time, the consequences [06:38] have been deadly. Airport operations [06:41] were shut down, hundreds of flights were [06:43] cancelled or diverted, and Saudi early [06:45] warning systems once again failed to [06:47] provide advanced notice. Now, Washington [06:50] is beginning to change its tone as well. [06:52] Trump says the United States may join [06:54] the military campaign against the [06:56] Houthis while the Saudiled coalition is [06:58] promising a response in the if the [07:01] Americans enter the fight, the war in [07:03] Yemen could rapidly escalate into a much [07:05] wider regional confrontation. [07:08] Israel is also continuing to settle [07:09] accounts with the Iranian axis. [07:12] Overnight, the IDF in Shinbet announced [07:14] that they had eliminated Muhammad Abu [07:16] Sal, an Islamic Jihad company commander [07:19] who participated in the October 7th [07:21] massacre. In a separate strike, a Kamas [07:24] Nukba terrorist was also eliminated. In [07:27] the north, Israel targeted a Syrian [07:29] operative near the Syrian Lebanon border [07:32] who, according to the IDF, had been [07:34] operating under Iranian direction and [07:36] advancing plans to launch explosive [07:38] drones and rockets against Israeli [07:40] forces. Meanwhile, another report [07:42] indicates that Iran managed to transfer [07:45] approximately $200 million to last month [07:48] alone. The relative quiet on some fronts [07:51] does not mean the Iranian axis is [07:53] beginning or being dismantled. It means [07:56] there is a race to rebuild it. And in [07:58] Europe, anti-semitism is reaching new [08:01] heights and Islam is reasserting itself. [08:05] But the story of this weekend is about [08:06] more than another demonstration against [08:09] Israel. In London, thousands took to the [08:12] streets a just three days after the [08:14] anniversary of the October 7th massacre. [08:17] Palestinian flags filled the streets. A [08:19] giant banner called for the release of [08:21] Marwan Bgouti. And one demonstrator was [08:24] filmed carrying a picture of Ali Kami. [08:27] In Berlin, a map appeared in which the [08:29] names of Israeli cities had been erased [08:31] and replaced with Arabic names. And in [08:33] Britain, one of the figures behind the [08:35] Green Party's decision to declare that [08:38] Zionism is racism was recorded saying [08:40] the whole or the wood there would be [08:42] happy to be called an anti-semitic Hamas [08:45] terrorist. Now look, this is where the [08:48] word Islamization is increasingly [08:51] entering Europe's public and political [08:52] debate. And it's important to be [08:54] precise. Not every proalestinian [08:56] demonstrator is an Islamist. Not every [08:59] riot in France or Belgium is a religious [09:01] protest. But we can't ignore the [09:04] connections appearing at some of these [09:06] events between the radical left, pro [09:08] Palestinian movements, symbols of the [09:10] Iranian regime, the glorification of [09:13] people convicted of terrorism, and [09:15] rhetoric that rejects Israel's very [09:16] right to exist. Meanwhile, in Brussels [09:19] on Friday, approximately 30,000 people [09:22] took part in a separate education [09:24] protest that descended into violent [09:26] clashes. Hundreds of masked individuals [09:29] threw objects at police and officers [09:32] even confiscated a sword. Authorities [09:34] are not defining that incident as [09:36] Islamist. But when violence, mass [09:39] demonstrators, and political extremism [09:41] are spreading across the same continent [09:43] where anti-Israel protests are becoming [09:45] increasingly radical, the debate turns [09:48] into a much bigger question about [09:50] Europe's identity and future. And this [09:52] is the picture of the weekend. Iran is [09:55] rebuilding its missile arsenal while the [09:57] United States concentrates military [09:59] forces and begins enforcing its blockade [10:02] with live fire. The Houthis are bringing [10:04] the war all the way to an airport [10:06] terminal in Riyad. Israel continues to [10:09] hunt down operatives from the Iranian [10:10] access from Gaza to the Syrian border. [10:13] And in Europe, hatred of Israel is once [10:15] again becoming [10:17] a point of convergence for different [10:19] extremist movements. On the surface, [10:21] there may still be a window of a few [10:23] weeks, but beneath the surface, everyone [10:25] is already preparing for what could come [10:28] immediately afterwards. I'm Mati [10:30] Shashani, joined by Ashley Alex, and [10:32] here on Boots on the Ground, we bring [10:34] you the whole truth about what's [10:35] happening in Israel and the war against [10:37] Iran's revolutionary guards, the driving [10:40] force at the heart of the Middle East [10:42] axis of evil. And before we begin, I [10:45] want to encourage you to keep spreading [10:46] the truth. Share our content with as [10:49] many people as possible. Hit that [10:50] subscribe button and most importantly, [10:53] don't forget to follow myself, Matthew [10:55] Shosani, and Yaya Pinto on social media [10:57] to see through our own eyes what it's [11:00] like to live in Israel during a war. [11:03] Now, many Israelis are still juggling [11:04] reserve duty while trying to get back to [11:07] work and handle their day-to-day lives. [11:09] It's not easy. Your body's tired, your [11:11] mind's overloaded, and the pressure [11:13] doesn't stop when the uniform comes off. [11:16] And I've been there, guys. Coming home [11:18] from reserves, trying to be present for [11:20] my family, catching up at work while [11:22] still feeling like I'm in survival mode. [11:24] It takes strength, energy, and faith to [11:26] push through. That's why I started using [11:29] Vignia. It's an Israeli supplement made [11:31] from red grape cells that helps improve [11:34] blood flow to your heart, to your brain, [11:36] and to your muscles. And for me, that [11:38] meant better focus, more energy, and [11:40] fewer days of that foggy, burnt out [11:42] feeling. I started using it just before [11:45] reserve duty and I'm still taking it [11:47] today. I like the coffee version in the [11:49] morning. Some people go for the tea or [11:51] the capsules, but either way, it works. [11:54] And if you want to give it a try, go to [11:56] vignettbnsel.com [11:58] or call 8006381944. [12:01] Faith helped me stay grounded and Vignia [12:03] helped me stay sharp. Now, let's get [12:05] back to the news. 22 sailors have been [12:09] rescued from a burning tanker in the [12:10] Persian Gulf as a confrontation between [12:13] the United States and Iran moves into [12:16] another dangerous phase. The United Arab [12:18] Emirates confirmed that its National [12:20] Guard evacuated the crew while Iran [12:23] separately claimed that another vessel [12:25] had been struck after entering a [12:27] shipping route it considered illegal. [12:29] The circumstances surrounding these [12:31] incidents are still being investigated, [12:33] but the warning is unmistakable. [12:36] Commercial shipping has become an active [12:38] battlefield and every new confrontation [12:41] increases the possibility of a direct [12:43] military escalation. So how much longer [12:46] can Washington and Thran fight over the [12:48] same waters without triggering another [12:51] major round of attacks? We already seen [12:53] the American response in the Gulf of [12:55] Oman. Now I want to explain why the [12:58] latest American operation matters far [13:00] beyond the single cargo ship that was [13:02] disabled. The vessel was identified as [13:05] the Ocean Mika, also known as the Araka [13:08] Sun, sailing under the Panameanian flag. [13:12] American forces said it had departed an [13:14] Iranian port and repeatedly ignored [13:16] instructions to turn away from the naval [13:18] blockade. A fighter aircraft [13:20] subsequently delivered a precision [13:22] strike against the stern of the ship, [13:24] disabling disabling its propulsion [13:26] system without injuring the crew. [13:29] Because that distinction matters. The [13:30] objective was to stop the vessel rather [13:32] than to destroy it. And Washington [13:35] demonstrated that it could enforce the [13:37] blockade with military force while [13:38] attempting to avoid unnecessary [13:40] casualties. American naval authorities [13:43] are now warning commercial crews to [13:45] monitor maritime notices and maintain [13:47] contact with military vessels on [13:49] international marine radio channel 16 [13:52] when approaching the Straight of Humus. [13:54] Now, the blockade has been operating [13:56] since July 14th. And during that period, [14:00] American forces say they have turned [14:02] around 135 vessels, disabled four [14:05] commercial ships, and destroyed 10 [14:06] tankers connected to the Revolutionary [14:09] Guard's oil smuggling network. This is [14:11] becoming an increasingly significant [14:13] part of the campaign against Thran. Iran [14:16] relies on maritime trade to obtain [14:18] revenue, sustain essential imports, and [14:21] finance its military institutions. When [14:24] commercial vessels cannot move freely [14:25] through Iranian ports, pressure spreads [14:28] beyond the revolutionary guards to [14:30] shipping companies, insurers, and [14:32] businesses involved in international [14:34] trade. [14:36] But Iran has answered with its own [14:37] campaign at sea. The revolutionary [14:40] guards claim they attacked the Envy [14:42] Sunshine, a liqufied petroleum gas [14:44] carrier accused of traveling through an [14:47] unauthorized corridor in the Straight of [14:48] Humus. Iranian officials said the [14:51] vessel's machinery was damaged and a [14:53] serious fire broke out. Independent [14:55] confirmation of the precise [14:57] circumstances remain limited. Other [15:00] recent attacks have targeted commercial [15:02] vessels near Qatar and the United Arab [15:04] Emirates. Iranian commanders have warned [15:07] that vessels defying their maritime [15:09] restrictions could face consequences [15:12] even after leaving the strait. That [15:14] creates a difficult situation for ship [15:16] owners. A vessel might satisfy American [15:18] requirements and still face Iranian [15:21] threats. The additional danger is [15:23] reflected in sharply rising insurance [15:25] costs, expensive tanker charters, and [15:28] renewed uncertainty over energy [15:30] supplies. Oil shipments through the area [15:33] have fallen substantially after a [15:35] temporary recovery in September. The con [15:38] the consequences are already reaching [15:39] international markets where energy [15:41] prices remain sensitive to any further [15:44] disruption. And this confrontation is no [15:46] longer confined to the Persian Gulf. At [15:48] the southern entrance to the Red Sea, [15:50] another Iranianbacked forces threatening [15:52] a critical shipping route while Saudi [15:54] Arabia fights to push it back. For a [15:57] closer examination of that expanding [16:00] battlefield and the military [16:01] preparations involving Israel and the [16:04] United States, I'm joined by Ashley [16:07] Alex. Now, Ashley, over to you. [16:10] >> Thank you, Matty. The situation in Saudi [16:13] Arabia is particularly serious because [16:16] the latest attack exposed a weakness [16:18] that cannot be solved simply by [16:20] purchasing more advanced military [16:22] equipment. King Kelly International [16:25] Airport serves one of the Middle East's [16:27] most important capitals. [snorts] Yet, [16:30] the airport has now been attacked three [16:32] times in a single week. Saudi [16:35] authorities confirmed 12 fatalities and [16:38] 39 injuries in the latest strike. Four [16:42] of those killed were Saudi citizens. Two [16:45] were from Bangladesh and the remaining [16:47] victims included nationals of the United [16:49] States, Jordan, Syria, Sudan, Egypt, and [16:54] the Palestinian territories. The [16:56] consequences extended far beyond the [16:58] damaged passenger terminal. Nearly 260 [17:02] flights were cancelled with more than [17:04] 200 others delayed. Hospitals received [17:08] large numbers of casualties while [17:10] aviation authorities redirected aircraft [17:13] away from Riyad. For Saudi Arabia, this [17:16] represents a major challenge to its [17:18] ability to protect civilian [17:20] infrastructure. For Washington, the [17:22] death of an American citizen brings [17:24] additional pressure to consider a [17:26] military response. The Saudiled [17:29] coalition has accused the Houthis of [17:31] carrying out the attack and promised [17:33] retaliation. [17:34] President Trump has said American [17:36] participation in operations against the [17:38] Houthis is under consideration, although [17:41] no final decision has been announced. [17:44] Saudi Arabia has also appealed for [17:46] additional air defense support amid [17:48] concerns about the consumption of [17:50] interceptor missiles. This helps explain [17:53] why the fighting in Yemen has become so [17:55] important. For weeks, Houthi forces have [17:58] been attempting to strengthen their [18:00] position along Yemen's western coast. [18:03] Their campaign has included advances [18:05] around Mocha Dubab and the approaches to [18:07] the Baba Alamandab Strait. But the [18:10] battlefield has changed. Government [18:12] aligned Yemeni forces supported by Saudi [18:15] aircraft launched a counter offensive [18:17] aimed at recovering the territory. The [18:20] Southern Giants brigades and other [18:22] government formations reported advances [18:24] around Dubab. While Saudi coalition [18:26] officials described more than 100 [18:29] aircraft providing air support, their [18:32] military approached combined ground [18:34] advances with attacks against Houthi [18:36] positions and supply routes. By October [18:39] 9th, government aligned forces were [18:42] reporting the recapture of strategic [18:44] positions near the strait, including [18:46] Perim Island, also known as Mayun, which [18:49] lies directly inside the narrow maritime [18:52] passage. They also reported recovering [18:56] important elevated positions overlooking [18:58] the approaches to the waterway. These [19:01] claims are significant, although the [19:03] precise situation across the entire area [19:06] remains contested. Houthi forces have [19:09] reinforced positions nearby and fighting [19:11] has continued around pockets of [19:13] resistance. The Houthis had also [19:16] reportedly reached the greater and [19:17] lesser Hanish islands farther north in [19:20] the Red Sea. Those movements illustrate [19:23] how widely the maritime struggle has [19:26] spread. On land, the fighting around [19:28] ties remains another major point of [19:30] pressure with continuing accusations of [19:33] restrictions and attacks affecting [19:36] civilians. To understand the military [19:38] stakes, consider the geography. Babal [19:41] Mandab connects the Gulf of Aiden with [19:44] the Red Sea. Ships traveling between [19:46] Asia and Europe frequently passed [19:48] through it before continuing toward the [19:50] Suez Canal. Before the current conflict, [19:53] estimates placed roughly 12% of global [19:56] maritime trade and 7% of seaborn crude [19:59] oil trade through this route. Saudi [20:02] Arabia has increasingly relied on its [20:04] Red Sea export infrastructure including [20:07] Yanbu to reduce exposure to disruptions [20:10] around Homos. But if the Houthis can [20:12] threaten shipping near Babal Mandab [20:15] while Iran disrupts traffic farther [20:16] east, these alternative routes become [20:19] less reliable. Israel is also directly [20:22] exposed. Maritime threats have already [20:25] damaged commercial activity through the [20:27] port of Alat and renewed attacks could [20:29] further complicate efforts to restore [20:32] shipping. The weapons available to the [20:34] Houthis make the situation especially [20:37] difficult. Their arsenal includes [20:39] ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and [20:42] explosive drones with substantial [20:45] technological links to Iran. One example [20:49] in is the CAF1 drone. It carries [20:52] components closely resembling those of [20:54] Iran's Ababil family, can transport an [20:57] explosive payload of approximately 30 [20:59] kg, and has a reported one-way range of [21:02] around 250 km. Its navigation system [21:07] allows it to travel towards programmed [21:09] coordinates before diving onto a target. [21:12] Similar systems have previously been [21:14] used against air defense radar [21:16] installations. [21:18] The particular drone is not capable of [21:20] reaching Israel from Yemen, but other [21:22] Houthi systems have considerably greater [21:24] range. These include cruise missiles [21:27] associated with the Kuds and Iranian [21:29] Suma families. The Sumar program draws [21:32] on technology derived from the Soviet [21:35] KH55 missile, and some Iranian systems [21:39] in that lineage have reported ranges [21:41] approaching 2,500 [21:43] km. [21:45] That does not establish which weapon was [21:48] used in the Riyad airport attack. It [21:50] does however explain why defending [21:53] against the Houthis requires more than [21:55] protection against short range [21:56] projectiles. [21:58] Saudi Arabia must monitor threats [22:00] arriving at different speeds, altitudes, [22:02] and trajectories while also protecting [22:05] airports, energy infrastructure, and [22:07] military facilities across an enormous [22:10] territory. The next decision belongs [22:12] partly to Washington. President Trump [22:15] has publicly maintained that he does not [22:17] intend to begin another bombing campaign [22:19] against Iran before the American midterm [22:22] elections on November 3rd. Nevertheless, [22:25] the Pentagon has prepared options for an [22:27] intensive operation lasting [22:29] approximately 3 days. Those planned [22:32] portedly include attacks against [22:33] ballistic missile infrastructure, drone [22:36] facilities, energy installations, and [22:38] Revolutionary Guard command centers. The [22:41] proposals follow months of internal [22:43] debate. Trump has already rejected five [22:46] options for major operations against [22:49] Iran or the Houthis. Military readiness, [22:52] therefore, should not be mistaken for a [22:54] presidential decision to attack, but the [22:57] capabilities being assembled are [22:59] substantial. The Theodore Roosevelt [23:01] carrier strike group is moving towards [23:04] the Middle East where it could [23:05] temporarily overlap with the George HW [23:08] Bush and George Washington carrier [23:10] groups. That concentration could place [23:13] more than 20,000 American sailors and [23:16] marines in the wider region, supported [23:19] by approximately 150 carrierbased [23:22] fighter aircraft. Other military [23:25] aircraft, missile equipped destroyers, [23:27] and accompanying defensive systems. [23:30] American commanders have also [23:32] transferred additional military [23:33] equipment from Europe and Asia. One [23:37] important concern is the supply of [23:39] missile interceptors. Iran has improved [23:42] its tactics and some recent attacks have [23:44] forced defending forces to expend [23:48] substantial resources. [23:50] American officials acknowledged the [23:52] pressure on infantries while maintaining [23:54] that reserves remain available. Now [23:57] consider what has been reported about [23:58] Israeli aircraft. An account circulating [24:01] over the weekend claimed that Israeli [24:03] F-35I Adair stealth fighters conducted a [24:07] highly unusual exercise involving [24:09] Iranian airspace supported by an [24:11] American KC46A [24:14] refueling aircraft operating over Iraq. [24:17] According to that account, the Israeli [24:19] aircraft practiced penetrating defended [24:21] areas relying on passive detection [24:23] techniques and testing electronic [24:25] warfare capabilities intended to [24:27] interfere with Iranian radar systems. [24:30] The reported exercise also involves [24:33] simulated positioning above strategic [24:35] missile and nuclear related facilities. [24:38] There is an important qualification. [24:40] Neither Israel nor the United States has [24:43] publicly confirmed that Israeli aircraft [24:45] carried out this specific exercise over [24:48] Iranian territory. It would therefore be [24:51] premature to describe the alleged [24:53] penetration as an established military [24:55] operation. Still, the operational [24:58] requirements described are familiar. [25:01] Israeli aircraft must cover distances of [25:03] approximately 1,500 to 2,000 kilometers [25:07] to reach certain Iranian targets. Aerial [25:11] refueling can become essential, [25:13] particularly when missions require [25:15] additional flight time, alternative [25:17] routes, or extended operations. Stealth [25:20] technology reduces an aircraft's [25:22] detectability, but does not make it [25:24] invisible. Passive sensors allow crews [25:27] to gather information without [25:29] continuously transmitting from their own [25:31] radar. While electronic warfare can [25:33] disrupt the enemy's ability to detect or [25:36] track an aircraft. This is why refueling [25:39] intelligence, electronic warfare, and [25:42] coordination matter alongside the [25:45] weapons carried by the fighters. In [25:47] Israel, Chief of Stafael Zamir has been [25:50] involved in close strategic discussions [25:52] with American officials. Jerusalem is [25:54] also maintaining contact with regional [25:57] partners including the United Arab [25:59] Emirates and Bahrain, both of which have [26:01] experienced Iranian attacks. One [26:04] contingency under discussion is that [26:07] Washington might authorize an Israeli [26:08] operation without launching a [26:10] simultaneous American offensive. Israeli [26:14] officials have cautioned that the [26:16] likelihood of such an operation before [26:18] Israel's October 27th election remains [26:21] low, but an immediate Iranian threat [26:23] could change the calculation. And the [26:26] reason Israel cannot dismiss that danger [26:28] is becoming clearer. Despite the damage [26:31] inflicted during months of fighting, [26:33] Western officials believe Iran has [26:35] preserved significant missile and drone [26:37] manufacturing capacity. [26:39] Some assessments indicate that Tyran [26:41] remains capable of replenishing its [26:44] arsenal relatively quickly. One Western [26:47] official has also reported that Russia [26:49] is also supplying missiles, although the [26:52] details have not been independently [26:54] established. That is an important [26:56] counterweight to Trump's recent [26:58] declaration that Iran has effectively [27:00] lost its navy, air force, and air [27:03] defense systems. The president has even [27:05] claimed that 159 [27:09] Iranian vessels have been destroyed. [27:13] Those are the president's assertions. [27:15] They should not be confused with an [27:17] independently verified inventory of Iran [27:19] remaining military assets. A country can [27:22] suffer enormous conventional losses and [27:25] still retain dangerous missile launching [27:27] capabilities, hidden production [27:29] facilities, and networks of armed [27:31] regional allies. Inside Iran itself, the [27:34] leadership faces another problem. [27:36] Retired Israeli intelligence and [27:38] planning officer Amitagore argues that [27:41] domestic pressure are increasingly [27:44] affecting the regime strategic [27:46] decisions. He points to unrest in [27:48] peripheral regions including Sistan and [27:51] Balucan, severe water shortages in parts [27:54] of the country, and renewed coercive [27:57] enforcement of compulsory hijab rules. [28:00] These problems accompany a deep economic [28:04] crisis involving inflation, pressure on [28:07] the national currency, and declining [28:09] revenue. His assessment is that Thran [28:11] may increase pressure through regional [28:14] proxies and maritime disruptions in an [28:16] attempt to manage external threats while [28:18] diverting attention from its domestic [28:20] difficulties. [28:22] Yet another former Israeli security [28:24] official, Iranian nuclear specialist ANA [28:27] will urged caution. Will argues that [28:31] Iran is already prepared for another [28:32] confrontation, reducing the prospect of [28:35] strategic surprise. He questions whether [28:37] the current reconstruction of Iranian [28:40] military capabilities justifies an [28:42] immediate strike and warns that military [28:45] action without a successful long-term [28:47] strategy could leave the Revolutionary [28:49] Guard stronger politically. [28:51] This is an important disagreement. [28:54] Weakening a country's military [28:55] infrastructure and changing the [28:57] character of its government are very [28:59] different objectives. [29:01] Before we continue, there is something [29:03] important we want to share with everyone [29:06] who has followed boots on the ground [29:07] throughout this war. Since October 7th, [29:10] you have accompanied us from Gaza to [29:12] Israel's northern border and through [29:14] some of the most difficult moments our [29:17] families and communities have [29:19] experienced. Your prayers and [29:22] encouragement have sustained us and we [29:25] have witnessed extraordinary resilience [29:27] and moments of faith throughout this [29:29] journey. Y Pinto has brought that [29:32] experience together in his new books on [29:34] the ground. When you become a monthly [29:37] supporter with a gift of $50 or more, [29:39] you can receive a personally signed [29:41] copy. Visit tbn.org/boots [29:44] on the ground today. And please like [29:47] this report, share it with your family [29:49] and friends, and subscribe to Boots on [29:51] the Ground. Your support helps us [29:54] continue bringing you informed reporting [29:57] directly from Israel as events unfold. [30:00] There is another reason the regional [30:01] picture remains complicated. Iran's [30:04] influence is not confined to its own [30:06] territory. An Israeli strike near the [30:09] Syrian Lebanese border recently targeted [30:11] a Syrian operative whom Israel's [30:13] military identified as working under [30:16] Iranian direction. According to the [30:19] military, he had been involved in [30:20] planning attacks using rockets and [30:22] explosive drones against Israeli forces. [30:25] Separate reports suggest that Iran Iran [30:28] transferred approximately $200 million [30:31] to Hezbala during the previous month. In [30:34] Gaza, Israel has continued operations [30:37] against armed groups. The military and [30:39] security service announced the killing [30:41] of Islamic Jihad commander Muhammad Abu [30:44] Sha, whom they identified as a [30:47] participant in the October 7th massacre. [30:50] Another operation targeted a Hamas [30:52] Nukeba operative. These developments [30:54] demonstrate why Israeli security [30:56] planners are looking beyond the [30:58] possibility of one isolated strike [31:00] against Iran. But there's also a [31:03] political battle developing much farther [31:05] away. In Europe, France has experienced [31:08] weeks of serious unrest. What began a [31:11] student protest overcrowded classrooms, [31:14] teacher shortages, and deteriorating [31:17] school buildings spread to major cities, [31:19] including Paris, Leon, Marseilles, and [31:22] Strasburg. French authorities have [31:25] reported more than 6,800 arrests, [31:28] approximately 86% of them involving [31:31] minors. While most demonstrations have [31:34] remained peaceful, others have involved [31:36] burning vehicles, vandalism, and violent [31:39] confrontations with police. The [31:41] government has announced plans to deploy [31:43] roughly 3,000 substitute teachers to 114 [31:47] badly affected schools. Rights [31:49] organizations have also criticized the [31:52] police response, particularly after a [31:54] 15-year-old demonstrator suffered a [31:57] devastating hand injury. The political [32:00] debate is becoming increasingly bitter. [32:03] Radical left politicians, including [32:05] Jeanluke Manon, have supported the [32:07] protest movement, while government [32:09] figures accuse political opponents of [32:11] exploiting the unrest. Some commentators [32:15] describe an emerging alliance between [32:17] elements of the radical left and [32:19] Islamist political activism that remains [32:22] a contested political interpretation, [32:25] not an established explanation for the [32:27] demonstrations as a whole. The financial [32:30] background is serious as well. Recent [32:32] economic analysis places France's public [32:34] debt at approximately 121% of gross [32:39] domestic product with weak growth and [32:42] significant borrowing costs. [32:44] Europe is simultaneously increasing [32:47] defense spending because of the [32:48] continuing Russian threat and American [32:51] demands that European countries assume [32:53] greater responsibility for their own [32:55] security. The European Union's combined [32:58] defense expenditure has been estimated [33:00] at roughly €454 billion euros this year. [33:05] These pressures help explain why [33:08] disputes over schools, taxation, and [33:11] public services have become so [33:13] politically explosive and the unrest has [33:16] crossed borders. In Brussels, [33:18] approximately 30,000 people joined [33:20] demonstrations against government [33:23] austerity measures. [33:25] Most were protesting economic policies, [33:27] but masked rioters clashed with police [33:29] around the central railway station. [33:32] Officers faced thrown stones and [33:34] fireworks. Fires were started, property [33:37] was damaged, and a sword was repeatedly [33:39] confiscated from one participant. [33:42] Industrial action also disrupted [33:44] aviation with approximately 140 flights [33:48] canled at Brussels airport. These [33:51] disturbances should not automatically be [33:53] described as Islamist demonstrations. [33:55] Their principal organizing issues were [33:58] education, government spending, and [34:01] living costs. The situation in London [34:04] raises a different concern. Thousands [34:06] marched against Israel during the [34:08] weekend following the third anniversary [34:10] of the October 7th massacre. The crowd [34:13] carried Palestinian flags and demanded [34:15] sanctions against Israel, but some [34:18] displays went considerably further. [34:20] One large banner called for the release [34:22] of Marwan Baguti, who is serving [34:25] multiple life sentences following [34:26] convictions connected to terrorist [34:29] murders. Another demonstrator was [34:31] photographed carrying a portrait of [34:33] former Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Kam. [34:37] The demonstration attracted competing [34:39] crowd estimates with police estimates [34:42] far below the figure promoted by the [34:44] organizers. A separate pro-Israel [34:47] counter demonstration challenged the [34:49] authorities over their response to [34:51] anti-Jewish hostility in Berlin. Another [34:55] demonstration included imagery replacing [34:57] Hebrew names of Israeli cities with [34:59] Arabic alternatives. [35:01] Criticism of Israeli government policy [35:03] is legitimate political speech. It's not [35:06] automatically anti-semitic, but [35:08] glorifying those convicted of murdering [35:12] civilians, praising leaders associated [35:14] with violent repression, or demanding [35:17] that Jewish national identity be a [35:19] raised raises a fundamentally different [35:22] question. Across Europe, the concern is [35:25] that political anger over the Middle [35:27] East can become a vehicle for hostility [35:29] towards Jews and for movements that [35:32] reject Israel's existence altogether. [35:35] And with pressure mounting in the [35:36] Persian Gulf, Yemen, Iran, and Europe [35:39] streets, the next major development may [35:42] emerge from an unexpected direction. [35:45] Matty, back to you. [35:47] >> Thank you, Ashley. Alex, as you've seen [35:50] people today, as in every other day, the [35:53] Middle East continues to move at a [35:55] breakback pace. We need to remain [35:57] vigilant. We need to stay on top of the [35:59] facts, and we need to continue praying [36:02] for what's happening here. Have no [36:04] mistake. This is a battle between good [36:06] and evil, between the forces of radical [36:09] Islam that seek to destroy the world [36:10] that we live in to bring death, [36:12] destruction, and fire to every corner of [36:15] the earth. Regardless of what you think [36:17] about Israel, regardless of what you [36:19] think of our political leaders, that is [36:20] their stated goal. And we are challenged [36:23] with the question of what will we do [36:25] when faced with that evil. And the [36:28] answer is simple. We must stand up and [36:30] fight against it time and time again. [36:33] And as always, I want to remind you, you [36:34] need to pray for our leaders. Pray for [36:36] our soldiers. Pray for the downfall of [36:39] the Iranian regime and for freedom and [36:42] prosperity to spread throughout the [36:43] Middle East, for oppressed people that [36:45] have suffered under the thumb of [36:46] dictatorship and radical ideology for [36:50] generations at this point. Pray for the [36:52] people of Iran, for the people of Syria, [36:54] for the people of Lebanon, and those of [36:56] Gaza and Judea and Samaria to have [36:58] virtuous good and love and life-seeking [37:02] leadership instead of the evil and [37:04] corrupt leadership that leads them [37:05] today. As always guys, be blessed and [37:08] I'll see you all on the next broadcast.
