Israeli army chief says ready to share information with Saudi Arabia

The Israeli army’s chief of staff told an Arabic language online newspaper that Israel was ready to share “intelligence information” with Saudi Arabia, saying their countries had a common interest in standing up to Iran. Source Reuters

Netanyahu signals Israel will act with free hand in Syria

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Monday he has put the United States and Russia on notice that Israel will continue to take military action across the frontier in Syria, even as the two powers try to build up a ceasefire there. Source: Reuters

Israel holds largest ever air force drill with 8 other countries

The IDF’s Blue Flag aerial exercises being held this week at Ovda Air Base in the Negev has been touting a number of firsts: It’s the first time the Patriot missile defense system has been deployed in Blue Flag; the first time France and India have joined the multinational operation; and the first time German military planes with the Iron Cross emblazoned on them have been seen over Israeli skies. Source Hamodia

Saudi Ally El-Sisi Says Opposed to War With Iran, Hezbollah

Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi said he was opposed to any war with Iran and its Lebanese proxy Hezbollah, and that Gulf tensions should be handled cautiously to avoid adding to regional turmoil.El-Sisi’s comments come as Saudi Arabia’s anti-corruption purge and a deepening feud with Iran prompt speculation that the region could be on the cusp of a new war. Source Bloomberg

Lebanon believes Hariri held in Saudi, wants foreign pressure: top official

Lebanon believes Saad al-Hariri, who resigned as prime minister on Saturday while in Saudi Arabia, is being held by Riyadh, and Beirut plans to work with foreign states to secure his return, a top Lebanese government official said on Thursday. Source Reuters

Where’s Saad Hariri? Lebanon Wants to Know

Saad Hariri, the prime minister, who had previously shown no signs of planning to quit, unexpectedly flew to Saudi Arabia and announced his resignation from there, to the shock of his own close advisers. He has not been back since, and no one is sure when, or if, he is returning. Source The New York Times

Lebanese president: Israel will lose next war with Lebanon

Hours after Israel allegedly struck Hezbollah targets in Syria, Lebanese President Michel Aoun warned that all the citizens of his country are willing to battle Israel in a future war. Source: The times of Israel