News Digest — 6/17/25
Staff Sergeant Naveh Leshem From Nokdim, Fell During Combat In The Southern Gaza Strip
The IDF cleared for publication on Tuesday morning (17th) that Staff Sergeant Naveh Leshem , 20, from Nokdim, a soldier in the 12th Battalion of the Golani Brigade, was killed during combat in the southern Gaza Strip.
His death brings the total number of IDF soldiers killed since the start of the war to 869.
During the same incident in which Leshem was killed, an officer and three additional soldiers from the 12th Battalion were seriously wounded. All were evacuated to the hospital for medical treatment and their families have been notified.
An investigation revealed that the soldiers were inside an IDF vehicle that terrorists had attached an IED to. Leshem was killed in the detonation.
On Monday (16th) , the IDF cleared for publication the death of Captain (Res.) Tal Movshovitz, 28, from Reut, who served as a Deputy Company Commander in the 7086th Combat Engineering Battalion of the Golani Brigade. He was killed in combat in the southern Gaza Strip.
Movshovitz died after an explosive device detonated in Khan Yunis.
IDF Kills Iranian General Ali Shademani Days After Striking Predecessor
The IDF on Tuesday (17th) assassinated the replacement Iranian Khatam al-Anbiya Headquarters Commander MG Ali Shademani only days after it assassinated his predecessor, Gholam Ali-Rashid, this past Friday (13th).
Shademani’s position made him Iran’s “War-Time Chief of Staff, the most senior military commander, and the closest figure to Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei,” the IDF stated.
Khatam al-Anbiya is “responsible for managing combat operations and approving Iran’s firepower plans. In his various roles, he directly influenced Iran’s operational plans targeting the State of Israel, “ they added.
Israel’s success in killing Shademani so soon after its initial successes in killing dozens of Iranian commanders on the first day of the current Israel-Iran war showed that despite the Islamic Republic trying to adjust and outfox Jerusalem, that the Jewish State still has an overwhelming upper hand in intelligence and war capabilities.
Despite Iranian adjustments, the IDF and the Mossad seem to have sufficient assets and strategies in place to continue to kill top commanders regardless of where they are hiding and how they try to protect themselves.
Trump Leaves G-7 Early, Issues Warning: ‘Everyone Should immediately Evacuate Tehran’
US President Donald Trump issued an unusual warning on his Truth Social platform on Monday (16th) calling for the evacuation of Tehran.
“Iran should have signed the ‘deal’ I told them to sign. What a shame, and waste of human life. Simply stated, IRAN CANNOT HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON. I said it over and over. Again! Everyone should immediately evacuate Tehran,” he wrote.
A few minutes after Trump’s initial warning, there were reports in Iran of explosions and heavy anti-aircraft fire in Tehran. Additional strikes were reported at other locations in Iran, including Natanz.
On Monday (16th), White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Trump would leave the summit early in wake of the tensions between Israel and Iran.
“President Trump had a great day at the G7, even signing a major trade deal with the United Kingdom and Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Much was accomplished, but because of what’s been going on in the Middle East, President Trump will be leaving tonight after dinner with the Heads of State,” she wrote in a post on X.
Speaking to reporters later, Trump was asked why he is leaving early and replied, “You probably see what I see… I have to be back early – for obvious reasons.”
‘Israel Acted As An Ally Of The Iranian People,’ Dissident Journalist Tells ‘Post’ – Exclusive
Niyak Ghorbani, an anti-regime Iranian journalist and advocate living in the UK, told The Jerusalem Post that he feels “both joy and sorrow” at the current war between Israel and Iran.
“I’m incredibly relieved that Israel’s military operations are targeting only the armed forces of the Islamic Republic — those whose hands are stained with the blood of millions of Iranians,” he said, while expressing that he is simultaneously “heartbroken for the anxiety people inside Iran are living through right now.”
Ghorbani – who left his home country in 2014 – praised Israel’s strikes against the Islamic Republic, saying they “are everything the Iranian people have dreamed of for the past 46 years.”
“Israel has for the first time, acted as an ally of the Iranian people – and taken vengeance on our behalf in a way no other government in the world ever has.”
For Ghorbani, the path for stability and peace lies in other world leaders “openly supporting regime change in Iran and backing our exiled Crown Prince.”
“He is the one person who can preserve Iran’s territorial integrity and guarantee a peaceful, secular future – not just for Iran, but for the entire Middle East.”
Such a declaration of support, Ghorbani continued, would provide the Iranian people with the opportunity to rise up. “I am confident that the Iranian people are simply waiting for the moment when global powers declare their support for the hope of the nation: Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi,” he added.
When asked what it would take for the Iranian people to overthrow the regime, Ghorbani said, “Iranians are brave – and intelligent. They know the Islamic Republic is waiting for them to rise up, only to slaughter them again and use the bloodshed as a distraction from its humiliating defeat.”
“The people don’t want to give the regime that excuse. We’ve seen executions for simply supporting Israel, or even speaking of peace.”
Therefore, he said the public is waiting, “not passively, but strategically – for a clear signal from the West. Once that happens, defections from regime forces will accelerate, and Iran will collapse with minimal bloodshed. The people have protested repeatedly for 46 years.”
Ghorbani, who lives in London – was critical of the UK government and its response.
“The British public are far wiser than the British government,” he told the Post: “People here understand that post-Islamic Republic Iran can again be a true ally to Britain – just as it was in the past.”
“Unfortunately, the UK government has yet to accept that reality. It continues to place its trust in the terrorists of the Islamic Republic rather than in the people of Iran, whose message to the world is clear: peace and friendship.”
Because of the potential fall of the regime; Ghorbani said there is a real sense of hope among Iranian patriots and supporters of the Crown Prince.
However, he stressed that many of the Islamic Republic’s former allies – those who helped destroy Iran in 1979 and later fled to the West after falling out with the regime – “still oppose the very existence of Israel.”
As a final note, Ghorbani expressed to the Post that, “there is a deep and growing affection among Iranians for the people of Israel – and genuine trust in the Israeli Defense Forces.”
“People inside Iran understand clearly: the IDF has never targeted civilians, and never will. That distinction is not only recognized – it’s remembered, and it matters deeply.”
EL AL Announces Repatriation Flights Amid Airspace Shutdown
Israel’s national carrier EL AL Airlines, has begun organizing emergency flights to bring home citizens stranded overseas following the closure of the country’s airspace due to ongoing military hostilities.
Acting on directives from the Ministry of Transportation, the airline launched a special registration process on Monday (16th) for passengers whose flights to Israel were canceled. The effort, which also includes EL AL’s charter subsidiary Sundor, marks the first coordinated step toward repatriating tens of thousands of Israelis currently abroad.
An estimated 150,000 Israelis are currently stranded abroad. EL AL Opened registration through a dedicated link on its official website, stressing that phone requests would not be accepted. Applicants were instructed to await an email confirmation – typically sent within three hours – acknowledging receipt of their request. However, the airline emphasized that this confirmation does not guarantee a seat on a flight either.
Shortly, after the announcement , the airline’s website temporarily crashed due to a surge in traffic, rendering the registration portal inaccessible for many users. The disruption, however, was short-lived, and the site has since returned to full functionality.
Earlier Monday (16th), Transportation Minister Miri Regev announced that outbound flights would also be permitted, enabling tourists and temporary visitors – including participants in Birthright Israel programs – to return to their home countries. She acknowledged that repatriating all stranded Israelis would take time and urged those abroad to remain calm.
“There’s no need to panic,” Regev said in a public address to stranded Israelis. “You’re abroad – enjoy yourselves. I know it’s not simple… but I ask for your patience.”
EL AL stated that prioritization will be based on the original departure dates of canceled flights. In special circumstances, humanitarian and security-related cases may be given precedence, subject to approval from relevant authorities.
While the sequence of registration is being tracked, it will not be a determining factor in seat allocation. Decisions will be made according to operational feasibility and evolving security conditions.
The airline urged passengers to prepare for potential delays in communication and flight scheduling. Travelers were advised to secure temporary accommodations as needed and to retain receipts for potential reimbursement, in accordance with Israel’s consumer protection regulations.
Flight details will be released once government approval is granted. As of Monday evening (16th), EL AL confirmed it is coordinating closely with national authorities to ensure the safe execution of these exceptional repatriation operations.
What We Can Learn From Israel’s Operation Against Iran – Maj. (ret.) John Spencer (X)
• Imagine if the Allied D-Day in World War II began with the elimination of the head of the German High Command, Heinrich Himmler, the head of the SS; Field Marshal Erwin Rommel; numerous other senior generals, and the destruction of all of Germany’s air defenses, before a single Allied soldier landed in Normandy. That would be a near-parallel to what Israel just did to Iran.
• This was the beginning of a layered, synchronized campaign, built on deep intelligence and strategic deception. It was a multi-domain offensive that combined cyber, human intelligence, electronic warfare, airpower, special operations, and psychological operations. Israel achieved surprise at the highest level, disrupting Iranian defenses.
• The Mossad and Israeli intelligence not only knew where nuclear scientists and Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) commanders were located, they manipulated meeting schedules and lured multiple top generals into the same underground facility to be eliminated simultaneously.
• Israel deployed 200 aircraft during the first night of the operation. They operated for over two hours in Iranian airspace, including directly over Tehran. This was made possible after air defenses were blinded, radar jammers and cyber tools disrupted early warning systems, and electronic warfare severed command coordination.
• Because Israel had already targeted and neutralized the trucks, radars, and commanders who would have organized a more coordinated and lethal retaliation, the immediate Iranian response was late, confused, and largely ineffective.
• Israel’s Operation Rising Lion is a case study in modern warfare. This is the future of war. It is multi-domain, preemptive, and asymmetric. It is built on intelligence and designed for initiative. Israel disarmed, disoriented, and destabilized a much larger adversary before the war had even begun.
The writer is chair of urban warfare studies at the Modern War Institute at West Point.
Egyptian Writer: Israel Is Waging A Campaign On Behalf Of The Free World Against The Forces Of Darkness
Muhmmad Sa’d Khairallah, an Egyptian writer and political analyst who resides in Sweden, wrote an article on the Saudi website Elaph titled “The Israeli Defense Forces – Mankind’s Defense against the Forces of Darkness.”
“The precise strikes carried out by the Israel Defense Forces [IDF] against Iranian military sites and facilities early Friday morning (13th) were the epitome of justice…. With this legitimate act, Israel is not just defending itself but waging a campaign on behalf of the Free World against the Iran-led forces of darkness. Israel, in its humanity, repeatedly demonstrates that it does not target innocent Iranian civilians, but directs its strikes precisely at military commanders, nuclear facilities, and military facilities, in order to save itself, the region and the world from an impending disaster.”
“Iran, on the other hand, deliberately targets civilians, and launches missiles at Israeli cities in order to cause casualties among innocent people. What a vast difference between values that protect human life and forces that can breathe only the scent of blood”
“I end my article with a heartfelt expression of gratitude to the IDF, which has proven itself to be a moral army, deeply aware of the value of military honor, and has demonstrated that the ayatollahs’ terror cannot go unpunished. Many thanks to Israel for defending itself [along with] the future of our children and grandchildren and the right of future generations to live in a humane Middle East where everyone lives in peace.” (MEMRI)
