News Digest — 8/25/26
Netanyahu Welcomes New US Sanctions On Iran: ‘A Steep Price’
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday evening (24th) welcomed the Trump administration’s new economic sanctions against Iran.
“Congratulations President Donald Trump and Secretary Bessent on the latest sanctions against the Iranian regime,” said an English language statement from the Prime Minister’s Office.
“You justly exact a steep price from the cruel dictatorship and from those who assist its continued aggression,” it added.
US Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent earlier announced the launch of “Operation Economic Outcast,” which he described as an unprecedented US campaign aimed at isolating Iran economically and cutting off the sources of revenue available to the Iranian regime.
Comparing the launch of the campaign to the beginning of the Allied campaign following D-Day during the Second World War, Bessent stated, “Today, in that same spirit, we are launching an economic onslaught against Iran’s financial connections around the globe.”
“Our objective is to sever every economic lifeline that sustains this tyrannical regime until Tehran stands alone,” he added.
The Treasury Secretary also issued a warning to countries and entities that continue to facilitate Iranian economic activity, including through petroleum purchases and transportation, exchange houses, free trade zones, aviation, shipping, banking, and fuel transfers.
“The President is making phone calls to world leaders with specific requests to cease their interactions with the regime,” Bessent said, adding that “US officials were already seeing results.”
“Those who stand with the United States will reap the rewards of our partnership. Those who tether themselves to the Iranian regime should expect to share in the isolation of a withering regime,” he stated.
Bessent’s announcement followed Trump’s declaration last Wednesday (19th) of a sweeping new economic campaign against Iran. In a Truth Social post, the president described the effort as “an economic D-Day” and warned countries providing economic assistance to Tehran that they would face consequences.
“These maniacs are on the ropes, and these HISTORIC MEASURES will cripple them and their ability to project terror worldwide. IRAN WILL NEVER HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON,” he wrote.
Israel Plans Development Of Space Weapons Capable Of Striking Targets On Earth
Israel is set to develop offensive space capabilities as part of the Defense Ministry’s multiyear budget plan for the space sector, including systems designed to defend Israeli satellites from hostile spacecraft and weapons capable of striking targets on Earth from space.
The plan includes upgrades to existing capabilities, including expanded intelligence collection from space and improved communications systems. A dedicated budget will be allocated for offensive space activity as part of a broader effort to strengthen Israel’s position in the space domain.
The Defense Ministry’s multiyear plan focuses on several areas: The first is the expansion of IDF intelligence collection capabilities from space through multiple layers, allowing operations around the clock, in all weather conditions and across multiple locations simultaneously.
The second area involves establishing broad, resilient, and continuous communications capabilities for the defense establishment.
In addition, a dedicated budget will supply offensive space operations focused on two main areas: weapons designed to protect Israeli satellites from hostile satellites, and weapons capable of striking targets on Earth from space, both to defend the Israeli home front and to strike hostile actors.
To advance these efforts, the Directorate of Defense Research and Development (MAFAT), the IDF, and Israel’s defense industries are engaged in a planning and development process.
One factor accelerating the process is Operation Roaring Lion, during which the Defense Ministry and the IDF expanded their use of satellites to gather precise intelligence from space. This strengthened their ability to build target banks during the war.
Defense Minister Israel Katz has argued in closed forums that the space domain requires a major, rapid upgrade to create an advantage over enemy states and position Israel among the world’s five leading countries in the field.
According to Katz, space-based capabilities will provide the IDF with a clear advantage in future conflicts, rather than relying solely on military Intelligence and the Air Force.
“The space dimension allows us to photograph both day and night, penetrate clouds, and create additional high-resolution imaging capabilities,” Katz said regarding the Ofek 19 satellite.
“Operation Roaring Lion represented a very significant leap forward for us in the field of space,” said Avi Berger, head of the Defense Ministry’s Space Directorate, in an exclusive interview with Walla.
Berger received the Israel Defense Prize for technological projects in the space sector.
“We received the award for the launch of Ofek 13 and Ofek 19,”Berger said.
He explained that the two satellites are SAR satellites, meaning radar satellites. Traditional imaging satellites rely on sunlight reflecting off the ground, returning to the satellite’s optics and creating an image.
“With a SAR satellite, the satellite itself creates the image: it transmits electromagnetic radiation toward the ground, and through special technology, everything that returns from the ground from that energy creates a synthetic image that allows us to produce intelligence,” Berger said.
Berger explained that “this allows us to photograph both day and night, penetrate clouds, and create additional high-resolution imaging capabilities in other contexts that cannot be discussed.
Alongside further discussion of satellites and additional capabilities of the Space Directorate, Berger emphasized that “the State of Israel must, must, create security superiority in space, so that we can create freedom of action for the IDF and the defense establishment.”
According to Berger, “Based on this, we will be able to create additional effects against various geographic areas.”
First Footage Emerges From Destroyed Syrian Nuclear Reactor
Following a 19-year media absence, fresh visuals have surfaced from Syria purportedly showing the aftermath of the 2007 Israeli strike that leveled the “Al Kibar” nuclear reactor near Deir ez Zor in the northeastern part of the country.
Asharq Bloomberg shared the footage. A network spokesperson said that a network crew successfully reached the remote location to gather exclusive material of the destruction.
Israel targeted the reactor in 2007 but did not confirm it was behind the strike until a decade later, presumably in order to prevent an escalation and maintain plausible deniability. The effort successfully thwarted then-President Bashar Assad’s efforts to make Syria a nuclear power that posed a major threat to Israel’s security. Jerusalem has never confirmed foreign media reports that it had nuclear weapons, but has vowed to never be the first to introduce such weapons to the region.
Under the recent understandings with the West under the new regime under President Ahmed al-Sharaa, Syria and the international community agreed to resolve the nuclear issues related to that nuclear project. During a visit to Damascus on August 17-18, 2026, IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi confirmed the discovery of nuclear material dating back to the old Assad.
“We’re talking about a few tons of nuclear material that could be put to bad use, and Syria has decided to open up this site to the inspectors of the IAEA,” Grossi said. “This material will be accounted for and will be put within the international safeguard system.” Grossi stated that comprehensive excavation and exploration activities are now taking place at the Al Kibar site to investigate the remnants of the covert facility. “We’re talking about a few tons of nuclear material that could be put to bad use,” Grossi said, “but it will be accounted for in the international safeguard system.”
“Myself and my team were inside the site of Deir ez Zor where very comprehensive work of excavation and exploration is taking place now, “ Grossi said at a news conference in Damascus. He noted that another side that had nuclear material was also discovered but did not elaborate, which the inspectors visited as well.
Syria’s current Foreign Minister, Assad al-Shaibani, reassured the international community that the stockpiles pose no immediate danger. He affirmed that the state will maintain possession of the materials under strict IAEA monitoring, reiterating Syria’s commitment to exclusively peaceful nuclear applications.
The IAEA will proceed with thorough testing to ascertain the exact isotopic makeup, weight, and origin of the discovered materials. “Syria confirms, based on technical evaluations, that this material does not pose any danger,” Shaibani said. “It will remain in Syria’s custody and will remain subject to the agency’s safeguard system.
According to Asharq Bloomberg’s exclusive information, this reactor, “the Al-Kibar reactor, was designed on a model similar to the North Korean Yongbyon reactor, with the aim of producing plutonium and not generating electricity as was publicly presented. North Korea provided the expertise, design, and technical assistance, while the Syrian regime provided the site, cover, and local infrastructure, amid information about support and funding channels linked to Iran.” The outlet says that this information was based on “a former official at the Syrian Scientific Studies and Research Center” who shared with the outlet the “details about the project, the method of hiding the project for years, the parties involved in building it, and the tight circle that knew of its reality.”
“Also if you look closely at the photos, this is part of one of the entrances that was supposed to lead to internal facilities under the mountain, in addition to the remains of buildings linked to a cooling system that was planned to be connected to the nearby Euphrates River,” the reporter concluded.
Israel Responds To UK Criticism Of Israeli Construction Next To Jerusalem
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar responded on X to UKcriticism of Israeli construction next to Jerusalem: “I reject outright the statement of the UK Foreign Secretary and the patronizing tone of his words. The Jewish people have the right to live throughout the Land of Israel, just as the British have the right to live in London and throughout the United Kingdom.”
“More than a century ago, the Balfour Declaration formally recognized the historic right of the Jewish people to re-establish their national home in the Land of Israel – including in the area in question.”
Britain itself still controls colonial territories thousands of miles from its shores. It is absurd for Britain to lecture the Jewish people about where they may live in their historic tiny homeland, when the Jewish people’s connection and right to this land is the most extensively documented of any people in human history.”
“There have been no new decisions regarding development in E1. The decision was made in 2025… The UK government’s systematic policy of blaming only Israel while ignoring Palestinian extremism has already contributed to a massive wave of antisemitic hatred and attacks against the British Jewish community. Continuing down this path will only make the situation worse.”
“The UK government’s decision to damage the relationship between our communities is deeply unfortunate. But Israel will not be a passive victim of this policy. Israel will defend its rights, its interests and its people.” (X)
(X.com)
How’s The Palestinian Resistance Going? – James Delmore and Walter E. Block
How is the Palestinian resistance going? Is everyone pleased with the results? Has it benefited Palestinian Arabs? After decades of war, the Palestinian people remain stateless and impoverished. Gaza now lies in ruins after the Palestinians regained control of it in 2005.
With offers of statehood in 1947, 2000 and 2008 turned down by the Palestinian leadership, the Arab world has largely moved on, normalizing relations with Israel without first securing a Palestinian state. The Palestinians may have won the PR war, but how has that translated into any real accomplishments on the ground?
The uncompromising resistance strategy has been one of history’s most expensive strategic failures. Since 1993, more than $50 billion in international aid has flowed to the Palestinian cause. The U.S. alone provided UNRWA more than $7.3 billion from 1950 to 2016. Private charities devoted to Palestinian relief collectively raised hundreds of millions more annually. There are now thousands of careers, institutions, and funding streams whose existence depends on the Palestinian crisis remaining unresolved.
The definition of strategic failure is pursuing the same approach, decade after decade, and watching it produce more destruction, more poverty, more displacement and more death than the alternatives you refuse to consider. One definition of mental illness is doing the same thing over and over, and expecting a different result each time. The strategy of perpetual resistance has produced perpetual suffering. (JNS)
(jns.org)
