An Israeli drone strike on the city of Beit Lahiya, Northern Gaza, has killed at least 5 Palestinians, including 3 children.

U.S. fighter jets are currently trying to shoot down drones over the city of Erbil, Iraqi Kurdistan. These drones were likely launched by Iranian-backed Iraqi militias.

At least 2 interceptions have taken place so far.

Edit: only one drone was launched. It was shot down around 60 km east of Erbil.

—❗️🇮🇷/🇺🇸 WATCH: The IRGC Navy has released footage of seizing the ‘MSC FRANCESCA’ and ‘EPAMINONDAS’ container ships in the Strait of Hormuz earlier today

@Middle_East_Spectator

Explosion in Vilnyansk, Zaporizhzhia Oblast. Iskander-M ballistic missile strike. It seemingly impacted north of the city.

Russia likely plans to carry out a large-scale, combined missile and drone attack on Ukraine in the next 36 hours. It will involve Tu-95MS and Tu-160M strategic bombers, as well as other types of missiles.

I’m still clarifying some details, so I will make a full post on it later.

Regarding the upcoming combined Russian missile and drone attack:

The attack is most likely going to take place tonight between 11pm and 7am, although its possible that it doesn't occur until Sunday. Right now, Russia is carrying out a large-scale Geran-2/Gerbera drone attack aimed at exhausting Ukrainian air defence prior to the upcoming attack.

Recorded movements:

- 1 Tu-95MS strategic bomber redeployed from Ukrainka Airbase in the far east to Engels-2 Airbase, where it was equipped with Kh-101 cruise missiles.

- 2 Tu-95MS flew from Ukrainka Airbase to Olenya Airbase after being equipped with missiles.

- Following this, 3 Tu-95MS redeployed from Engels-2 Airbase to Olenya Airbase, while another 3 flew there from Ukrainka Airbase.

Thus, there are now ~10 Tu-95MS stationed at Olenya Airbase, of which at least 8 are equipped with Kh-101 cruise missiles. Another 3 Tu-95MS are stationed at Engels-2 Airbase, of which at least 2 are equipped with Kh-101 cruise missiles.

There are reports of additional Tu-95MS redeployments to Engels-2 Airbase this morning, however as of now this is unconfirmed.

Other weapons expected to be used:

- It is likely that 2 Tu-160M strategic bombers from Ukrainka Airbase will be used in the upcoming attack. They are not expected to carry out redeployments and will likely use Ukrainka Airbase as their staging base.

- Iskander-M ballistic missiles will be used. Over the last week, deliveries of Iskander-Ms took place to Bryansk Oblast, Crimea, Taganrog (Rostov Oblast), and possibly Kursk Oblast.

- Iskander-K and/or Kh-59/69 cruise missiles will most likely be used.

- Kalibr cruise missiles will likely be used, from either the Black Sea Fleet at Novorossiysk Naval Base (Krasnodar Krai), or Buyan-M corvettes at Kaspiysk Naval Base (Caspian Sea).

- Kh-22/32 cruise missiles form Tu-22m3 strategic bombers stationed at Olenya Airbase *could* be used.

- There is still no reliable information about potential usage of Kinzhal hypersonic aeroballistic missiles or Zircon hypersonic cruise missiles as of now, but it is not ruled out.

Potential targets:

Ukrainian intelligence mentioned Kyiv (especially western and southeastern suburbs), Cherkasy City, Dnipro City, and Lviv City as high risk while Russia was transporting ballistic missiles. It's unclear if these potential targets carry over into threats from strategic aviation. More recent mentions also include Kirovohrad Oblast.

Hezbollah announced that they carried out a total of 6 operations against Israel and the IDF yesterday, which they say were in response to Israeli ceasefire violations.

They carried out a small-arms attack on Israeli soldiers in Taybeh, targeted Israeli soldiers in Taybeh with an FPV drone, shot down an Israeli reconnaissance drone over the town of Majdal Zoun, targeted Israeli forces in Bint Jbeil with artillery shells, struck an Israeli military bulldozer with an FPV drone while it was demolishing buildings in the town of Rachaf, and targeted the Israeli settlement of Shtula with rockets.

The IDF carried out an airstrike on a rocket launcher in southern Lebanon, which they say was used to attack the settlement of Shtula, Northern Israel, earlier.

They also claimed to have struck a second launcher reportedly loaded with rockets, as well as multiple buildings reportedly used by Hezbollah. They stated that the attacks on the buildings used by Hezbollah was in response to Hezbollah's rocket fire towards northern Israel.

Hezbollah released footage showing rocket and drone attacks on the settlement of Kfar Giladi, northern Israel, which they say was in response to Israeli ceasefire violations.

The attacks, which took place on April 21, utilised Type 85 artillery rockets and kamikaze drones.

⚡️🇺🇦🇪🇺🇺🇸🇮🇷Ukrainian President Zelenskyy explains why Ukraine needs independent missile capacities.

"Only to create the system, to create such capabilities which can produce more.

Now, you know that United States, produces about 60, maybe 65 missiles per month, PAC-three anti ballistic missiles. It's nothing.

During the first day of attack on Middle East, you know, that they used the volume of two years production of such missiles during twenty four hours.

So we need our European independent strong system, and we will build it."

@wfwitness

Last night, Russia attacked Zaporizhzhia Oblast with Geran-2 drones.

At least 6 drones attacked the city of Vilnyansk, while a 7th drone struck a target in the nearby town of Mykhailo-Lukasheve. Some of the drones targeted Vilnyansk were directly controlled by drone operators.

The attached video shows a strike on a target in Vilnyansk.

The reality is that the STG is attempting to conceal the true situation in southern Syria. The IRFS is recruiting and collaborating with the people of Quneitra and Daraa, as well as with former rebel groups, to expand its support base among a population disillusioned by the ongoing Israeli incursions into their villages—all while the security forces, who are supposed to defend them, remain passive and fail to act.
That is why, following the false rhetoric of “Assad remnants,” the new Syrian authorities are using the rhetoric of “Hezbollah/Iran proxies” to delegitimize any resistance movement against their policy of collaboration and normalization with Israel.

Following the usual lull in Russian advances in February and March, Russia has significantly intensified their assault operations and is now advancing at a much higher rate than before. Historically, February and March have always been the slowest months for Russia.

While Russian forces are still experiencing difficulties in several directions (especially Kostyantynivka), it is expected that the rate of advance will increase further next month.

The Ukrainian Sea Ports Authority reports that two Russian Geran-2 drones struck a bulk carrier ship travelling through the Ukrainian maritime corridor in the Western Black Sea, towards a port in Odesa Oblast. The ship was travelling under the flag of Saint Kitts and Nevis.

A fire broke out after the strikes, which has since been extinguished. There are no reports of casualties among the crew.

CENTCOM reports that three U.S. aircraft carriers are operating in the area of the Middle East simultaneously, for the first time in decades.

These are: the the USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72), USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) and USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77). According to CENTCOM, more than 200 aircraft and 15,000 sailors and marines are present on the carriers.