News Digest — 8/14/25
IDF: Latest Houthi Ballistic Missile Downed
A ballistic missile launched by the Houthis in Yemen at Israel early Thursday morning (14th) was intercepted by air defenses, the Israel Defense Forces said.
The missile, which was detected after 4:00 a.m., did not set off any warning sirens in Israel. The military said no alerts were activated “according to protocol” as the projectile was downed far from the country’s borders.
Thursday’s missile fire was the first such incident since the Houthis attempted a drone attack on Israel on Tuesday (12th).
In a statement Tuesday (12th), the Iran-backed group claimed to have launched six drones at Israel, targeting “vital sites” in Haifa, the Negev Desert, Eilat, and Beersheba.
“The operations successfully achieved their objectives, thanks to Allah,” the Houthis claimed.
The IDF reported shooting down one drone off the coast of Eilat, which did not set off sirens in Israel’s southernmost city because it posed no threat. The other five drones likely fell short before reaching the country’s borders, as many Houthi projectiles have previously.
Last month, Israeli Air Force drones struck Yemen’s Houthi-controlled Hodeida Port in response to the Iran-backed group’s continued attacks. It marked the 13th time that Israel had struck in Yemen.
The Houthis – whose slogan calls for “Death to America, Death to Israel, and a Curse on the Jews” – began attacking Israel and maritime traffic in November 2023, a month after the October 7 Hamas massacre.
The Houthis held their fire when a ceasefire was reached between Israel and Hamas in January 2025. By that point, they had fired over 40 ballistic missiles and dozens of attack drones and cruise missiles at Israel, including one that killed a civilian and wounded several others in Tel Aviv in July, prompting Israel’s first strike in Yemen.
Since March 18, when the IDF resumed its offensive against Hamas in the Gaza Strip, the Houthis in Yemen have launched 69 ballistic missiles and at least 22 drones at Israel. Several of the missiles have fallen short.
IDF Confirms Elimination Of Terrorist Who Kidnapped Three Soldiers On October 7
The Israel Defense Forces and the Shin Bet announced Wednesday (13th) that they have killed Abdullah Saeed Abd al-Baqin, a senior Hamas commander responsible for kidnapping three Israeli soldiers during the October 7, 2023 massacre.
According to the joint statement, al-Baqin was eliminated in an August 7 strike in the central Jabaliya area.
He served as deputy commander of a Nukhba company in Hamas’ Central Jabaliya battalion – a role placing him in the group’s elite commando force.
On October 7, al-Baqin infiltrated Israeli territory, took part in the assault on the Erez District Coordination and Liaison office, and abducted soldiers Ron Sherman, the late Nik Beizer, and Tamir Nimrodi. Nimrodi remains in Hamas captivity.
The military said al-Baqin was not only involved in the initial massacre but also directed numerous attacks on Israeli forces during the current war, promoting what the statement described as “numerous terrorist plots” in the region.
His death comes nearly two years after the deadly raid that left over 1,200 people dead in Israel and saw over 250 civilians and soldiers taken hostage into Gaza.
The IDF described the targeted strike as part of its ongoing effort to dismantle Hamas’ command infrastructure and bring home those still held in captivity.
Earlier this week, the IDF also confirmed the killing of Al-Jazeera correspondent Anas al-Sharif in a targeted strike.
Israeli officials said documents recovered in Gaza identified al-Sharif as a Hamas Nukhba member and rocket squad leader, despite his journalist credentials.
Al-Sharif had publicly praised the October 7 massacre on social media, referring to it as a “jihad of victory and martyrdom.”
Al-Jazeera, which is funded by the Qatari government, has strongly denied the allegations.
Lebanon Moves Toward Disarming Hezbollah As Aoun Rejects Iranian Intervention
No group in Lebanon is permitted to bear arms or rely on foreign backing, President Joseph Aoun told a senior Iranian official on Wednesday (13th), days after the cabinet approved the objectives of a U.S.-backed roadmap to disarm the Iran-aligned Hezbollah terror group.
During a meeting in Beirut with Ali Larijani , secretary of Iran’s top security body, Aoun warned against foreign interference in Lebanon’s internal affairs, saying the country was open to cooperation with Iran but only within the bounds of national sovereignty and mutual respect.
“Lebanon, which respects the sovereignty of other nations, including Iran, will not accept interference in its internal affairs,” he said.
“The friendship we seek with Iran must be with all Lebanese, not through one sect or component alone,” Aoun said, according to a statement from his office.
Larijani said the Islamic Republic supports Lebanon’s sovereignty and does not interfere in its decision making.
“Any decisions taken by the Lebanese government in consultation with the resistance is respected by us,” he said after separate talks with Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, whose Amal movement is an ally of Hezbollah.
“Iran didn’t bring any plan to Lebanon, the US did. Those intervening in Lebanese affairs are those dictating plans and deadlines,” said Larijani.
He said Lebanon should not mix its enemies with its friends – your enemy is Israel, your friend is the resistance.”
“I recommend Lebanon should always appreciate the value of resistance.”
The US submitted a plan through President Donald Trump’s envoy to the region, Tom Barrack, setting out the most detailed steps yet for disarming Hezbollah, which has rejected mounting calls to disarm since its devastating war with Israel last year.
Hezbollah has rejected repeated calls to relinquish its weaponry although it was seriously weakened in the war, with Israel killing most of its leadership in airstrikes and bombings.
It was the climax of a conflict that began in October 2023 when the group opened fire at Israeli positions along Lebanon’s southern frontier in support of its Palestinian Islamist ally Hamas at the start of the Gaza War.
Aoun added that recent language used by some Iranian officials had not been helpful, and reaffirmed that the Lebanese state and its armed forces were solely responsible for safeguarding all citizens.
Last week, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Aragchi said Tehran supported any decision Hezbollah makes, adding that this was not the first attempt to strip the group of its weapons.
Lebanon’s information minister said the cabinet had approved on Thursday (7th) only the objectives of a US proposal for disarming Hezbollah by the end of the year, along with ending Israel’s military operations in the country, but they did not discuss the full details of it.
The plan, supported by US President Donald Trump’s envoy to the region, Tom Barrack, sets out the most detailed steps yet for disarming the Iran-backed Hezbollah, which has rejected mounting calls to disarm since last year’s war with Israel, according to a copy of a Lebanese cabinet agenda reviewed by Reuters.
Devastated October 7 Communities To Rise Again Under KKL-JNF’s Largest-Ever Rebuilding Effort
Communities devastated by the October 7 Hamas massacre will receive comprehensive building support through a new NIS 750 million fund announced by Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael-Jewish National Fund (KKL-JNF).
After extensive ground assessments revealed widespread destruction–from collapsed infrastructure and private homes to economic collapse across affected communities, KKL-JNF’s Board of Directors greenlit the comprehensive plan on Monday (11th).
Instead of continuing emergency assistance, KKL-JNF is now implementing long-term rehabilitation through a dedicated professional directorate.
Among all the participating communities, Kibbutz Nir Oz stands out with special designation as the program’s primary focus, securing NIS 75 million in dedicated funding. October 7 brought unprecedented destruction to the settlement, where roughly a quarter of residents were killed or kidnapped while around 95% of public buildings suffered destruction, damage exceeding any other Gaza Envelope community.
Beyond simply rebuilding, Nir Oz’s rehabilitation plan includes strengthening community bonds and supporting the absorption of over 50 new youth group members.
Officials described this expansion as “a powerful statement of resilience and renewal.”
Border communities in northern Israel affected by Hezbollah rockets will also be rehabilitated under the plan.
Across all participating areas, community rehabilitation and expansion efforts will focus on returning evacuated residents while attracting new populations, particularly professionals in high-demanding fields and mission-driven groups.
Educational infrastructure represents another major component, with plans to construct and renovate facilities, communal buildings, youth movements, pre-military academies, Yeshivot, and student villages.
Complementing these efforts, innovation and trauma recovery initiatives will establish agricultural and environmental technology centers alongside treatment facilities for post-trauma victims.
“This NIS 750 million investment reflects our deep commitment not only to the rapid restoration of what was lost, but to building a strong, secure, and thriving future–an essential part of Israel’s national renewal after the war,” said KKL-JNF Chairwoman Ifat Ovadia-Luski.
“The people of Israel have endured crises before, and we have always risen from them. We are here to restore hope and stability.”
Moving forward, implementation will involve close coordination with government ministries, local authorities, and affected communities to ensure effective fund investment meeting actual ground-level needs.
Additionally, KKL-JNF plans to establish community centers called “KKL-JNF Houses” throughout Gaza Envelope towns, fostering leadership development among younger generations.
Israel Breaks Electricity Consumption Record As Heatwave Continues
The heatwave currently affecting Israel has caused the country’s all-time record for electricity consumption to be broken for the fourth day in a row, NOGA, Israel’s electricity system manager, reported Wednesday (13th).
Wednesday’s consumption crossed the 17,000 megawatt threshold for the first time, just a day after Israel crossed the 16,000 mark.
Temperatures this week reached 49 degrees Celsius in the area surrounding the Sea of Galilee, and up to 51 degrees Celsius in the Jordan Valley, the highest since the 54 degrees Celsius recorded in 1942, before the State of Israel was founded.
Temperatures in Jerusalem reached over 40 degrees Celsius, with record highs also expected to be reached in the Upper Galilee and Golan Heights region. Temperatures rose in the coastal plains and lowlands of the country, including Tel Aviv and the surrounding areas, but these are unlikely to reach record levels due to the moderating influence of the Mediterranean Sea, the Israel Meteorological Service (IMS) noted.
In addition, IMS forecasts tropical levels of humidity in southern Israel, indicating that there is a risk of thunderstorms and heavy rain, including strong wind gusts of 100 km/h, in the Negev regions, including Eilat, which may pose a risk of flash floods throughout southern Israel.
Due to the heatwave, authorities announced that hiking trails in the northern Judean Desert, Wadi Kelt, and Jordan Valley streams will be closed, due to health risks.
Jewish Man Wearing Kippah, Star of David Attacked Northeast Of Paris
A violent antisemitic attack took place over the weekend in Livry-Gargan, a suburb northeast of Paris, authorities said. The victim, Dubi Sitruck, 65, filed a formal complaint with French police following the incident.
According to the complaint, Sitruck was walking alone on Saturday morning (9th) while wearing a kippah when a dark gray, older model Audi A3 with three people inside pulled up beside him. Two men – one from the front passenger seat and one from the back – got out and asked for directions to the nearby town of Bondy. Moments later, one man stood in front of Sitruck and punched him on the left side of his face while the other tore from his neck a gold chain with a Star of David pendant.
Sitruck suffered bruising, swelling and bleeding around his left eye; police said emergency crews took him to the hospital, where a doctor confirmed injuries to the eye and cheek area. He was later referred to the forensic medicine unit for additional evaluation of both physical and psychological harm.
The complaint states the attack was clearly motivated by antisemitism, citing Sitruck’s kippah and the theft of an item bearing a Jewish symbol.
France has seen a sharp increase in antisemitic incidents since October 7. Another attack occurred last Wednesday (6th) in Lyon, when two assailants approached a couple in a busy area around 10:30 p.m., shouted antisemitic insults including “dirty Jews,” and threatened to kill them. Police said the couple was identified as Jewish because the man wore a kippah. The couple filed a complaint the following day, and two suspects were later arrested.
