Is Israel quietly preparing for war? Reports are now circulating that the Israeli military may have canceled Shabbat leave for all IDF soldiers—a move that, if true, could be a major warning sign of escalating conflict in the Middle East.

The Middle East enters a dangerous phase as questions mount over Iran’s protest death toll, disputed claims of ongoing executions, and fresh military signalling across the region. With Israeli readiness reports unconfirmed and the UK deploying fighter jets to the Gulf,

Several major airlines, including Lufthansa, Air France, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, and Swiss have canceled their Saturday flights to Middle East destinations including Israel, the United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia, according to flight information published on airport websites, amid fears of a conflict involving Iran.

General Mohammad Pakpour says Iranians are prepared to execute orders of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Another general warns that if US attacked, "all US interests, bases and centres of influence" would be considered "legitimate targets.

As waves of protests have tested the Iranian regime’s ability to manage dissent, the country with arguably the most to gain has been waiting in the wings, reluctant to intervene even when its regional adversary is at its most vulnerable point in years.

Tehran warned the US and Israel against any intervention over nationwide protests in Iran while it sought to placate its citizens, as demonstrations entered their third week and fatalities mounted.

The devastating series of strikes that Israel and America launched against Iran and its nuclear programme seven months ago weakened the Islamic Republic’s rulers, both at home and abroad. As protests spread to more than 100 cities and towns across every province in Iran,

Tsafrir, a veteran Mossad and Shin Bet official and Israel’s last station chief in Tehran before 1979, played a central role in Israel’s early regional intelligence efforts. Eliezer Tsafrir, a senior Mossad and Shin Bet official whose career spanned Israel’s formative decades and who served as the last Mossad station chief in Tehran before the 1979 Islamic Revolution,

Israel warns Iran not to test its military readiness amid tensions over ballistic missiles and nuclear capabilities following summer 2025 operations.