VFI News Khamenei Reportedly Ordered Direct Attack on Israel After the Assassinations of Two Terrorist Leaders

Join us on VFI News as we cover the latest developments in Israel following the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh.

Discover the impact of Hezbollah's rocket attacks, including the tragic death of 12 children, and Israel's strategic responses.

We delve into the rising international tensions, reactions from global powers, and the critical role of bomb safety shelters in saving lives.

Stay updated on how the Druze community is affected and learn how you can support Israel during these turbulent times.

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F16's . . . .

For years, Israel and Iran have been preparing for the moment when the two adversaries will enter a direct conflict. Sworn enemies, the armies of both countries have trained for such a scenario.

The twin assassinations of two prominent anti-Israeli terrorist leaders earlier this week have brought this scenario the closest it has ever been before. Both leaders, Fuad Shukur of the Lebanese-based Hezbollah and Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh were killed less than 12 hours apart.

Israel took responsibility for Shukur’s death in Beirut and has not done so for Haniyeh but is likely believed to be behind the killing which took place on Iranian soil.

Iran’s leadership immediately vowed to take revenge. Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has ordered his country to launch a direct strike on Israel as retaliation for the elimination of Haniyeh. American media has cited three Iranian officials, including two members of the IRGC, who said that Khamenei gave the order at an emergency meeting of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council the morning after the elimination.

The officials also noted that Iran is considering a coordinated attack from Iran and other fronts where it has allied forces, including Yemen, Syria, and Iraq.

“Since the beginning of the war, I have made it clear that we are in a fight against Iran’s axis of evil. This is an existential war against a stranglehold of terrorist armies and missiles that Iran would like to tighten around our neck,” said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a briefing held Wednesday, July 31, from the military headquarters in Tel Aviv.

“Challenging days are before us. Since the attack in Beirut, we have heard threats from all sides. We are prepared for any scenario, and we will stand united and determined against any threat.” (JPost / VFI News) 

“Lord, we pray that You defuse the situation in the Middle East and that You prevent an all-out war with Iran from erupting. We pray in Yeshua’s name for the safety of all our citizens and for Your salvific intervention in our time of need. May You cause our enemies to seek peace with us and make them change their minds regarding pursuing a war. We pray for peace, security, and safety in the land You have entrusted us with.”

The articles included in this publication do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of Vision for Israel. We try to provide accurate reporting on news pertinent to Israel, the Middle East, the diaspora, and Jewish issues around the world—and we hope that you find it both informative and useful for intercessory prayer.

Muhammad Deif, the commander of Hamas’s military wing, was killed in an Israeli airstrike in the southern Gaza Strip last month, the Israel Defense Forces confirmed on Thursday, August 1.

The military said it obtained intelligence confirming his death on Thursday morning. Deif, 58, who commanded the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades for over two decades, was long one of the terror figures most wanted by Israel.

He was an architect of Hamas’s October 7 onslaught, the deadliest attack in Israel’s history. Deif was targeted in a strike at a compound belonging to Rafa’a Salameh, the commander of Hamas’s Khan Younis Brigade, between the al-Mawasi area and Khan Younis, on July 13.

A day later, Salameh’s death was confirmed by the military, but the IDF said it did not have final information regarding the status of Deif. Over the ensuing weeks, the military said it had received “increasing signs” that Deif was killed, but could not fully confirm his death.

According to IDF assessments described to Israeli media, military pressure exerted on Hamas caused Deif to venture out from the underground tunnels where he was thought to have been hiding and join Salameh, who had been at the aboveground compound for several weeks. (TOI / VFI News)

“For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Sovereign Lord. Repent and live!” - Ezekiel 18:32

US and EU diplomats are holding urgent discussions around the Middle East in a race to try to head off the threat of a full-blown regional war in the wake of the eliminations of senior Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr in Beirut and Hamas political bureau leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran, British media reported on Wednesday, July 31.

Enrique Mora, one of the EU’s most senior diplomats, was holding critical talks with officials in Iran’s capital on Wednesday after the killing of Haniyeh, as Brett McGurk, the White House’s top official in the Middle East, held discussions in Saudi Arabia. McGurk will next head to Cairo for further talks related to the Gaza war.

Officials said the talks were focused on convincing Tehran to either not respond or to carry out symbolic action after Israeli diplomats told Western interlocutors that their military did not plan further operations.

“Everyone since last night is putting pressure on Tehran to not respond and to contain this,” said one Western diplomat involved in the discussions.

Meanwhile, American media reported on Thursday, citing a Pentagon official, that following the assassinations, the US has deployed at least 12 warships to the Middle East, including the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt, amphibious assault teams, and over 4,000 Marines and sailors.

According to the report, destroyers have been positioned in both the Persian Gulf and the Eastern Mediterranean. The US has redirected its warships from the Red Sea, where it combats Houthi missile and drone attacks in Yemen to protect commercial ships and support Israel. (INN / VFI News)

“God, we pray that You protect us from everyone wishing to harm our nation. We thank You for your faithfulness, Your provisions, and the allies You have given us who continually strive to protect our people. We pray in Yeshua’s name that You give us the strength to persevere and obey Your Will while this difficult situation unfolds. May You hold on to us with Your righteous right hand and help us withstand the tribulations while being focused on You and Your Goodness.”

The National Security Council warned Israeli citizens to brace for terror attacks abroad as part of the anticipated coordinated Iran, Hezbollah, and Hamas response to the twin assassinations carried out in Beirut and Tehran.

“There is concern that the escalation will also increase the motivation of global jihad organizations and individual threats to carry out attacks against Israelis in various countries around the world,” it stated on Thursday, August 1.

There is a possibility that embassies, synagogues, Israeli businesses, Chabad houses, kosher restaurants, and other various Jewish sites could be targeted, the NSC said.

During their stay abroad, Israelis should avoid wearing external Jewish symbols and be vigilant in public spaces, such as shopping malls, restaurants, hotels, and bars, the NSC stated. Israelis should re-examine travel plans for countries with threat level warnings of 3 or higher and should increase precautions when heading to safer destinations abroad. They should also stay away from public demonstrations and protests, it added.

Those flying, the NSC said, should make sure that the plane’s aerial route does not include passage over enemy countries or ones that lack diplomatic relations with Israel, such as Lebanon, Iran, Syria, Yemen, Afghanistan, Libya, Somalia, Pakistan, and Algeria. (JPost / VFI News)

“Our Heavenly Father, we pray that You protect Your children while traveling, as well as the ones who are already abroad. We pray that You hold them in Your protective arms and foil any attack planned against them, in Yeshua’s name.”

Join Batya Segal for this week's Parasha, where she talks about the people of the Lord, their vows before the Lord, and the journey that they took. This week's Parasha is from the book of Numbers 30:2-36:13.

On the 300th day of the war, sparked by the devastating October 7 attack by Hamas, French President Emmanuel Macron highlights the plight of the hostages held in Gaza.

“Our thoughts are with the hostages held for 300 days by Hamas. France continues to work for their release,” Macron wrote on X, in English and French.

Furthermore, Israeli President Herzog on Thursday also called for world leaders to act for the release of the hostages. “Three hundred days,” he said. “For 300 days our sons and daughters, brothers and sisters, mothers and fathers, grandparents, have been languishing in the dungeons of Hamas in Gaza.”

“Each second of every minute of every hour of these 300 days is a crime against humanity,” he added. “To all the leaders of the world who wish for peace in our region, I say clearly: Help us bring our hostages home - all of them, young and old, men and women, Jews, Muslims, and more. Help us bring them home now.”

It is believed that 111 of the 251 hostages abducted by Hamas on October 7 remain in Gaza, with dozens of them presumed dead. (TOI / VFI News)

“Yet He took note of their distress when He heard their cry; for their sake He remembered His covenant and out of His great love He relented. He caused all who held them captive to show them mercy.” - Psalm 106:44-46

IDF officers claim that the official IDF supply lines have not been able to keep pace with the shortages generated by ten months of war. According to Israeli media, members of the Alexandroni Brigade, which has been in frontline combat in Gaza for a significant period already, say they are not receiving the equipment they need from the IDF.

A letter from the brigade’s supply sergeants details a lack of observation equipment, uniforms, armor, weapon attachments, medical supplies, living quarters, and vehicles in good working order.

“Our soldiers are the cutting edge of the State of Israel, who have left families, businesses, studies, and routine - and therefore they deserve to be the first priority in the country,” the sergeants noted.

“More than 150 days later, the shortages of equipment have us collecting donations, which is a shameful situation that takes up valuable time from the operational tasks at hand. It is a shortage that also causes further attrition and a drop in the percentage of people who show up for reserve duty.”

The letter also denounces a recent plan to restrict units from using donated gear: “Any interruption or disruption of the donations will directly affect the combat readiness of the soldiers, and thus our erosion will increase. This equipment should be provided by the IDF, but until the army provides the donations, they should not be stopped.” (INN / VFI News)

“Lord, we ask that you will provide the soldiers with all the equipment they need to be able to fight and be protected while they are on missions to defend our country. We pray that any bureaucratic obstacles will be removed from receiving donations of equipment that can help the soldiers and that our army will be well-equipped to fight the wars ahead.”

Jessica Fox has won her second gold medal in three days and her third overall, further cementing her legacy as one of the winningest Jewish and Australian Olympians of all time.

Fox captured gold Wednesday, July 31, in the canoe single, finishing at 101.06 seconds — 2.48 seconds faster than the German silver medalist, even after a two-second touch penalty. Fox won gold in the same event at the Tokyo Olympics.

The win gives Fox, 30, six career medals: three gold, one silver, and two bronze medals. She is now the most decorated Olympic canoe slalom competitor ever, and the only Australian Olympian in history with six individual medals.

Fox won her first gold medal of the Paris Games Monday in the kayak slalom event. She had served as one of Australia’s flag bearers in the opening ceremony.

The winningest Jewish Olympian of all time is swimmer Dara Torres, who won a total of 12 medals and retired after the 2000 Olympics. Swimmer Mark Spitz, who competed in the 1960s and 1970s, won 11. Gymnast Aly Raisman, like Fox, won six. (INN / VFI News)

A huge quarry - one of the largest ever found in Jerusalem, dating from the end of the Second Temple period, in recent weeks is being uncovered by an Israel Antiquities Authority excavation in the Har Hotzvim industrial area in Jerusalem, funded by the Vitania real estate development company on its grounds.

The excavated area extends about 3,500 square meters and is just one section of a massive quarry. A stone tool was found at the site, which, according to Jewish law, does not become impure, and was widely used by the Jewish population in Temple times.

During the excavation, the archaeologists uncovered tens of various-sized building stones, as well as quarrying and cutting trenches whose outlines indicate the size of the blocks being quarried.

“Most of the building stones extracted from here were huge rock slabs, whose length reached 2.5 meters, their width was 1.2 meters and they were 40 centimeters thick,” explained Michael Chernin and Lara Shilov, excavation directors on behalf of the Israel Antiquities Authority.

“Each such quarried block weighed two-and-a-half tons! The impressive size stones this quarry produced likely attests to their intended use in one of Jerusalem’s many royal construction projects in the late Second Temple period, beginning under King Herod the Great’s reign between 37-4 BCE.”

“Historical sources tell us that Herod’s construction projects in Jerusalem included, first and foremost, the expansion of the Temple Mount area and the Temple itself,” they added. (INN / VFI News)

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

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