U.S. officials are concerned that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu may see an expanded fight in Lebanon as key to his political survival, WaPo reports.

In private conversations, Biden administration has warned Israel against a significant escalation in Lebanon.

If it were to do so, a new secret assessment from the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) found that it will be difficult for Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to succeed because its military assets and resources would be spread too thin given the conflict in Gaza.

Italian foreign minister calls for formation of EU army

The European Union must form its own armed forces that could play a role in maintaining peace and preventing conflicts, Italian Deputy Prime Minister Antonio Tajani said.

"If we want to be the bearers of world peace, we need a European army. This is a fundamental prerequisite for an effective European foreign policy.

In a world with such powerful players as the US, China, India, Russia, with crises stretching from the Middle East to Indo-Pacific region, Italian, German, French or Slovenian citizens can only be protected by what already exists, and this is called the European Union.

Therefore, defense and a common army must become a concrete fact. And this cannot be postponed."

Israeli fighter jet carrying out mock raids over Lebanon.

Israeli soldier poses for photographs allegedly at the home of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar in Gaza.

Israel preparing for war against Lebanon

Senior Israeli officials say “the time has come to change the military focus from Gaza to Lebanon, to switch to offensive operations”.

Israeli officials said that the IDF's operations must be shifted from defense to attack; that diplomacy will not work, and that Hezbollah must pay a painful price and feel the pressure.

They say that Israel should prepare its forces for action on the Lebanese front, and promote operational plans for the war against Hezbollah.

Important meetings were held this week, and some plans have already been approved.

Source: Israeli journalist Amir Bohbot

Ukrainian border guards in Chernihiv region were monitoring the suspicious structure until it stopped near the coast on Ukrainian territory.

It turned out to be a pontoon bridge, which until recently served as a crossing for the Russian Army.

Impact of Red Sea crisis.

95% of container ships (448 vessel/orange dots) that would’ve transited the Red Sea are now going around the Southern Tip of Africa (Cape of Good Hope).

Source: Flexport

Massive, perhaps the biggest demolition, in Gaza by Israeli soldiers with explosives.

Footage from Khan Yunis.

Germany's Minister of Finance emphasizes that Germany is now paying for 50% of all EU aid to Ukraine.

He calls on “other economically strong countries” to do more if Ukraine needs further aid.

“Others also have to share the burden.”

German Leopard tanks not fit for the war?

German tanks were made for exercises and parades, and not for real combat operations, reports Spiegel.

A commission from Germany, which visited a repair center in Lithuania for German tanks, was unpleasantly surprised by the number of equipment that failed due to internal defects.

Spiegel notes that problems persist with logistics and lack of spare parts - even in Lithuania, far from the front, mechanics encounter problems while repairing German Leopards.

According to a Bundeswehr officer, German tanks wear out too quickly in combat conditions.

Ukrainian military notes that the Leopard has fragile tracks - weakening their tension leads to breakdowns.

Iraq-based Islamic Resistance says it targeted Haifa, northern Israel with a cruise missile (Arqab) days ago.

4-Star General & former CIA Director David Petraeus:

If we allow Ukraine to fall, Russia will next invade Moldova or the Baltics.

Ukraine only needs a very small part of our own military budget. We must help Ukraine achieve victory.

The US can easily afford to accept an aid package for Ukraine, our military budget for 2 years was $1.7 trillion.

Palestinian Islamic Jihad shows roadside bomb attack on IDF convoy in Jenin, occupied West Bank.

An Israeli border police officer was killed and others were wounded in this ambush.