Is Israel Gearing Up For Another Offensive?
By Daily Caller. A meeting with the U.S. Secretary of War, the cancellation of military leave and the arrest of draft dodgers might point to Israel preparing for another offensive against Iran.
Israel Defense Forces (IDF) soldiers’ military leaves are being canceled, and a group of ultra-orthodox Jewish men were arrested for evading the draft. Additionally, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth quietly met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday.
The United States Central Command (CENTCOM) referred the Daily Caller News Foundation to the Department of War which did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The Israeli government also did not immediately respond to the DCNF’s request for comment.
As always, it was an honor to visit our warfighters in @CENTCOM today. The best of our country, on a historic mission. Godspeed. https://t.co/UO094Mvw1e
— Secretary of War Pete Hegseth (@SecWar) October 20, 2026
In preparation for Israel’s upcoming Oct. 27 election, the IDF was put on a high alert and service members’ leaves were frozen, the Times of Israel reported.
The IDF is “on the highest state of alert and will continue to maintain a high level of vigilance and readiness across all fronts,” IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir told the outlet. Leave was frozen across IDF units, requiring soldiers to remain on base rather than taking planned leave, “subject to ongoing situational assessments.” (Read more from “Is Israel Gearing Up For Another Offensive?” HERE)
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U.S. ramps up warnings to Americans in Middle East after Houthi strikes
By CBS News. U.S. diplomatic missions across the Middle East have issued a new round of security warnings to Americans amid escalating attacks by Iran-backed Houthi militants against Saudi Arabia, including an Oct. 10 strike on Riyadh’s international airport that killed an American citizen.
The alerts, issued Sunday by U.S. embassies in Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and several other countries, warned that hostilities could rapidly and without warning spread beyond areas already affected by the fighting. The advisories urged Americans to exercise vigilance and prepare for possible flight cancellations, airspace closures and other travel disruptions.
“We are actively warning U.S. citizens about the very real threat the Houthis pose and urging them to heed official guidance,” Edgar Vasquez, the State Department’s deputy assistant secretary for press, told CBS News.
“These alerts are part of a proactive effort by the Trump administration to ensure Americans are aware of potential risks,” Vasquez said, adding that the safety and security of American citizens remain the department’s “top priority.”
The State Department has maintained restrictions on diplomatic operations across parts of the region since the U.S. and Israel went to war with Iran in February. State Department officials have said the restrictions are intended to be temporary and allow embassies to adjust staffing as security conditions evolve. (Read more from “U.S. ramps up warnings to Americans in Middle East after Houthi strikes” HERE)
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