Gut vuch & Gutten Zimmer to all!

Israel moved back toward routine in several visible ways on Wednesday, with the Kotel returning to regular activity and Israeli aviation beginning to reopen after more than a month of wartime restrictions.

Ben Gurion Airport resumed unrestricted operations at midnight, Herzliya Airport reopened in the morning, and Israeli carriers began gradually rebuilding schedules, though some European airlines are still expected to stay away after the European Union Aviation Safety Agency extended its regional conflict warning through April 24.

That return to normalcy came against a far more unstable military backdrop. In southeastern Lebanon, the IDF said Staff Sgt. Tuvia Yosef Lipshitz hy”d, 20, of Beit She’an, a Golani soldier, was killed during a clash with terrorists near A-Taybeh. Five other soldiers were wounded in the same encounter, including one officer seriously. Israeli forces said operations in the area are continuing as they work to eliminate the cell involved.

At the same time, Israel sharply intensified its campaign against Hezbollah. Current reporting says the Israeli military carried out its largest coordinated assault of the Lebanon operation, striking more than 100 Hezbollah targets in roughly 10 minutes across Beirut, the Beqaa Valley and southern Lebanon. The scale of the attack has drawn international attention because it came despite the fragile U.S.-Iran ceasefire and because casualty figures in Lebanon have been extremely high.

As of Thursday, April 9, the ceasefire with Iran is still in place, but it is fragile and under real pressure rather than looking settled. The main reason is that Israel is continuing major operations against Hezbollah in Lebanon, while Iran argues those strikes threaten the broader truce. AP reports that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has approved direct talks with Lebanon, but at the same time insists there is no ceasefire with Hezbollah.

The biggest immediate risk to the ceasefire is the Lebanon front. AP says Israeli strikes in Lebanon have raised fears that the U.S.-Iran ceasefire could unravel if the fighting there keeps escalating. Iran is also still keeping pressure on the Strait of Hormuz issue, which remains another major point of tension.

On the diplomatic side, the next key development is planned U.S.-Iran talks in Islamabad. AP reports that Vice President JD Vance is expected to head the American delegation, and those talks are seen as the main effort to keep the ceasefire from collapsing. But the two sides still appear far apart on major issues, including uranium, regional military activity, and what the ceasefire actually covers.

Besuros Tovos.

This is nuts!

While Pakistan is leading ceasefire talks, their defense minister is spewing vile rhetoric targeting Jews and Israel.

Hateful rhetoric like this is beyond unacceptable and unproductive at this fragile moment. This is not diplomacy and must be condemned. https://t.co/38uKJ3Vp4Z

— Rep Josh Gottheimer (@RepJoshG) April 9, 2026

אנחנו ממשיכים להכות בחיזבאללה בעוצמה, בדיוק ובנחישות.

בביירות חיסלנו את עלי יוסף חרשי, מזכירו האישי של מזכ״ל ארגון הטרור חיזבאללה נעים קאסם ואחד האנשים הקרובים אליו ביותר.

במקביל, הלילה תקף צה״ל שורת תשתיות טרור בדרום לבנון: מעברים ששימשו להעברת אלפי אמצעי לחימה, רקטות… pic.twitter.com/tKGuRJKBIE

— Benjamin Netanyahu – בנימין נתניהו (@netanyahu) April 9, 2026

BREAKING: Vance makes clear that Lebanon was never included in the ceasefire.

“We never made that promise or indicated that would be the case. The ceasefire would be focused on Iran and America’s allies, both Israel and the gulf Arab states.” pic.twitter.com/xLA3ZdM3dW

— Eyal Yakoby (@EYakoby) April 8, 2026

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu:

“Dear residents of the North, I am proud of you. You continue to stand firm.

I wish to inform you: There is no ceasefire in Lebanon. We are continuing to strike Hezbollah with full force, and we will not stop until we restore your security. pic.twitter.com/k2JeKXEMBQ

— Prime Minister of Israel (@IsraeliPM) April 9, 2026

UPDATE: The United States and Iran are set to hold peace talks on Saturday morning in Islamabad, Pakistan.

This marks the first round of in‑person negotiations aimed at building on a two‑week ceasefire mediated by Pakistan.

US Delegation:

• Vice President J.D. Vance
•… pic.twitter.com/NImWKckX8O

— Donald J Trump Posts TruthSocial (@TruthTrumpPost) April 9, 2026