VFI News Iran Launches First Military Exercise Since War With Israel

Massive protests have erupted in Israel as hundreds of thousands take to the streets against the government’s Gaza war plans. The IDF has launched the next phase of its offensive to take full control of Gaza City while calling up another 100,000 reservists. Families of hostages fear their loved ones are being moved into Hamas tunnels beneath the city, creating a dangerous situation for any rescue attempt. Soldiers face a battlefield of rubble, booby traps, and terror tunnels as the operation unfolds. Protests, general strikes, and pressure from hostages’ families intensify the debate inside Israel, while Hezbollah threatens Lebanon with civil war and Iran pours money into Chinese weapons instead of addressing its water crisis. Western governments are also increasing pressure, with several countries threatening to recognize a Palestinian state. Join Barry Segal in this week’s edition of VFI News for urgent updates, analysis, and prayer points on Israel’s war with Hamas, the hostage crisis, and the global response to the Gaza conflict.

#Israel #GazaWar #IDF #Hamas #Protests

Iran began its first military exercise since the end of its 12-day war with Israel, state television said on Thursday, August 21, 2025, with naval vessels launching missiles at sea targets in the Gulf of Oman and the Indian Ocean. The drills, dubbed “Sustainable Power 1404,” come as the Islamic Republic seeks to project strength after a conflict in which Israel struck air defenses, nuclear facilities, and other critical sites.

While such maneuvers are not unusual for Iran, the timing underscores Tehran’s effort to reassert military capability in the region. The state-TV report said naval vessels would fire cruise missiles and deploy drones over open water as part of the exercise. No footage was immediately aired.

Iran’s navy, estimated at roughly 18,000 personnel, apparently avoided any major attack during the June war. Based in the port city of Bandar Abbas, it patrols the Gulf of Oman, the Indian Ocean and the Caspian Sea, while Iran’s Revolutionary Guard naval forces dominate the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz.

Since the war’s end, Iranian officials have warned they are ready to counter any future Israeli action, boasting of new missile capabilities and a determination to respond more forcefully if threatened again.
(TOI/VFI News)

“He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth; He breaks the bow and shatters the spear; He burns the shields with fire.” – Psalm 46:9

Lebanon will begin implementing long-negotiated efforts to disarm Hezbollah and Palestinian factions in refugee camps, in a bid to curb the possession of arms by pro-terror groups. Officials described the move as part of a broader national initiative to reestablish state control and reduce the influence of armed organizations operating beyond the law.

The decision follows months of internal debate and international pressure, as Beirut seeks to address weapons stockpiles and militia activity that have destabilized portions of the country and endangered civilians. The shift is expected to be gradual and closely monitored, with security forces coordinating to avoid sparking fresh violence.

Supporters of the plan argue that disarmament is essential to sovereignty and long-term stability, while critics warn that implementation will be difficult in areas where armed groups have entrenched local influence. Authorities indicated that enforcement will begin with specific zones and expand if conditions allow.

Lebanon’s armed forces emphasized that any actions will prioritize the safety of residents in and around refugee camps, aiming to reduce the risk of clashes while signaling that the state intends to reclaim a monopoly on the use of force.
(JPost/VFI News)

“Lord, we ask for Your peace to cover Lebanon and the surrounding region. Protect innocent families living near conflict zones, grant wisdom and courage to those working to remove illegal weapons, and restrain those who seek violence. May every effort lead to stability, safety, and opportunities for reconciliation for all communities in the Land.”

Shipping sources said on Thursday, August 21, 2025, that Turkish ports have begun requiring vessels to certify they have no links to Israel. The policy follows Ankara’s earlier decision to sever trade worth billions annually with Israel over the war in Gaza with Hamas.

Maritime industry officials said the declaration demand has injected uncertainty into regional shipping, prompting operators to scrutinize routes, ownership structures, and cargo manifests to avoid delays. The move also raised concerns among logistics companies about knock-on effects across Eastern Mediterranean supply chains.

Analysts noted that tighter port screening may complicate shipments that have indirect Israeli involvement through financing, chartering, or cargo origin, potentially widening the real-world impact well beyond bilateral commerce. Businesses are reportedly exploring alternate ports and transhipment hubs to maintain schedules.

Regional trade observers say the policy could evolve as diplomatic dynamics shift, but for now, carriers are preparing for stricter compliance and documentation to ensure port access.
(JPost/VFI News)

“Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.” – Psalm 20:7

A Hamas operative who took part in the October 7, 2023, abduction of former hostage Yarden Bibas was killed in an Israeli airstrike on August 10 in Gaza, the IDF and Shin Bet announced on Tuesday, August 19, 2025. The man, identified as Jihad Kamal Salem Najjar, participated in the assault on Kibbutz Nir Oz and the kidnapping of Bibas.

Bibas thanked the security forces, saying that “a small part” of his closure came with the news and that the attacker would no longer harm anyone. He stressed, however, that true closure would only come with the return of all abductees.

Bibas’s wife, Shiri, and their sons, Ariel, 4, and Kfir, 10 months, were taken by the Mujahideen Brigades and murdered in captivity. Their bodies were later returned under a ceasefire deal earlier this year, with an Israeli autopsy determining they had been killed weeks after their abduction.

Since his release on February 1, 2025, Bibas has pressed Israeli and American leaders to secure freedom for the remaining captives.
(TOI/VFI News)

“God of all comfort, we pray for Yarden Bibas, that You would comfort him as he goes through unimaginable pain. We also ask that You draw near to the families of the remaining hostages who continue to wait and grieve. Strengthen the hostages still in captivity—body, mind, and spirit—and guide those working for their release. Grant justice, and let healing and hope take root in hearts scarred by terror.”

Experience the powerful Messianic worship song “In the Latter Days” by Barry and Batya Segal, inspired by the prophetic words of Isaiah 2:4: “Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore.” This lyric video invites you into a time of worship, prayer, and reflection on God’s promise of peace in the last days. Rooted in Scripture and sung from Jerusalem, it carries a prophetic call to the nations to walk in the light of the Lord. Let the words of Isaiah come alive as you join believers around the world in lifting up the name of Yeshua, longing for His kingdom of shalom. Isaiah 2:2-4 reminds us that in the latter days, the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established, and all nations will flow to it. This song declares that hope and draws us closer to God’s eternal plan. Worship with us, meditate on His promises and share this video to spread the message of peace and hope in Messiah.

A higher administrative court in Thuringia ruled on Wednesday, August 20, 2025, that the Buchenwald concentration camp memorial may refuse entry to visitors wearing a keffiyeh. The case began after a woman was turned away while attempting to attend the 80th anniversary of the camp’s liberation in April.

The woman petitioned to attend another commemorative event while wearing the scarf, but the court said the memorial was within its rights to deny entry. Judges cited the woman’s stated aim of “sending a political message” against what she saw as the memorial’s support for Israeli government policies.

The court concluded that such expression could endanger the sense of security of many Jews, especially at a site dedicated to remembrance of Nazi crimes. It found that freedom of expression in this context was outweighed by the memorial’s institutional purpose.

Memorial officials have said the keffiyeh is not inherently banned, but that symbols can be restricted when used in ways that relativize or politicize the Holocaust at commemorative events.
(TOI/VFI News)

Israel is preparing to perform the world’s first spinal cord implant in a paralyzed patient in the coming weeks. Prof. Tal Dvir of Tel Aviv University said his team can engineer a spinal cord that functions like a natural one by implanting 3D-designed tissue into the damaged area, allowing fusion with healthy tissue above and below the injury.

The Health Ministry cleared compassionate-use trials in eight patients six months ago, and researchers are now selecting the first participant. Dvir said the technology was developed entirely in Israel and that it was always intended for the first surgery to take place with an Israeli patient.

Earlier preclinical work published in Advanced Science showed that 100% of recently paralyzed mice treated with the engineered implant walked again, and 80% of those with chronic paralysis regained mobility. The team’s biotech company, Matricelf, is advancing the platform with an eye toward broader clinical use.

Spinal cord injuries affect tens of millions worldwide, and neurons do not renew themselves, leaving patients with few options beyond stabilization. The engineered-tissue approach aims to overcome scarring and restore the broken “signal pathway” from brain to body.
(TOI/VFI News)

An international team led by researchers at the Weizmann Institute of Science and Northwestern University reports the first-ever observation of a supernova’s core rich in silicon, sulfur, and argon. The star—designated SN2021yfj—had outer layers suddenly stripped away, revealing blazing inner depths before the explosion itself.

“We now have evidence that there are heavier elements inside stars,” said Prof. Avishay Gal-Yam of Weizmann, noting that while scientists have long theorized this, direct evidence had been lacking. The findings, published Wednesday and featured on the cover of Nature, involved collaborators across multiple countries.

The discovery comes two months after a destructive Iranian missile attack on the Weizmann Institute that damaged dozens of labs. Despite the blow, researchers pressed ahead, piecing together spectral data to identify the heavier elements lurking at the star’s heart.

By catching the event early and analyzing its spectrum, the team could peer deeper than usual into a “stripped” star, offering a rare window into how the universe forges the heavy elements that make up our world.
(TOI/VFI News)

“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.” – Psalm 19:1

A Jewish family in Vienna was verbally harassed and expelled from an Uber ride earlier this week, in what community advocates say is another sign of rising antisemitism across Europe. The driver allegedly shouted slurs and accused the family of heinous acts before forcing them out of the vehicle.

Local Jewish organizations condemned the incident and urged authorities to take swift action to protect Jewish residents and visitors. The family was reportedly shaken but unharmed, and a formal complaint was filed.

The episode adds to growing concern about anti-Israel and antisemitic rhetoric spilling into abuse and intimidation in public spaces, including transportation services. Calls have increased for better driver screening, clearer enforcement policies, and stronger penalties for hate-motivated misconduct.

City officials and civil society groups are being pressed to ensure that such behavior has consequences and that vulnerable communities can go about their daily lives without fear.
(JPost/VFI News)

“Abba, Father, shield Jewish families worldwide from intimidation and violence. Heal the trauma of those who have been targeted, and stir leaders and companies to act decisively against hatred. Let Your protection and peace surround Your people as a testimony to Your faithfulness.”

The suggestions, opinions, and scripture references made by VFI News writers and editors are based on the best information received.

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