* Hezbollah Chief Claims Terrorist Group Stronger than IDF, Ready for War In a televised address marking the 12th anniversary of the end of the 34-day Second Lebanon War with Israel in 2006, Hezbollah general secretary Hassan Nasrallah boasted that his forces were stronger than the Israeli army and prepared for a fresh war with Israel.
* Israel's Top Military Strategist Talks War and Peace A retired general and former national security adviser in nearly every Middle Eastern state would live in paranoia and luxury, with servants, bodyguards, hangers-on, and a few odd state or army-owned business interests to keep them busy behind the high walls of their compound.
* Russia exerts growing clout in Middle East as it begins patrols in Golan Heights Russian military police have begun patrolling the demilitarised zone between Israel and Syria in the Golan Heights, highlighting Moscow's increasing clout as a Middle Eastern power broker following its intervention in the civil war there.
* The Assad Regime Returns to the Golan EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: The Assad regime's recapture of the Syrian Golan Heights is advantageous to Israel, in light of the Israeli-Russian understanding to predicate the situation there on the May 1974 disengagement.
* Gideon's Shield: This is How Israel Will Defeat Hezbollah Hezbollah leader Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah boasted on Tuesday that his organization's military is now stronger even than the vaunted Israel Defense Forces (IDF).
* Report: Turkish Court Rejects Appeal to Free Detained U.S. Pastor A fresh appeal to free U.S. pastor Andrew Brunson, whose continued detention has sparked a diplomatic spat between Turkey and the United States, was rejected Wednesday.
* Iran sentences couple for 'orientation toward the land of Christianity' Jeff King, the president of Washington, DC-based International Christian Concern, told 'The Jerusalem Post' on Friday that each member of the congregation was sentenced to a year in prison.
* What next for Sudan after Bashir's nomination for a third term? Sudanese President Omer al-Bashir's insistence on holding on to power will have grave consequences for his country.
* Political source: No deal with Hamas without return of captives Cabinet reportedly refuses ceasefire with Hamas unless bodies of soldiers and civilian captives returned to Israel.
* 'Warriors: Our most important resource' 47 officers from Ground Forces graduate Tactical Command College. 'College develops winning commanders who are exemplary figures.'