The Cradle ✔

❗️️️️️️Netanyahu suffers major setback as Israeli president tasks Eisenkot with forming government, but major obstacles remain Israeli President Isaac Herzog has selected opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot to form the country's next government, dealing a significant political setback to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu following the inconclusive 27 October elections. Herzog's office announced Saturday that Eisenkot, leader of the Yashar party, would formally receive the mandate on Sunday. Eisenkot secured the recommendations of 67 lawmakers, including 19 from the two Palestinian parties, compared with just 46 for Netanyahu, whose longtime ultra-Orthodox ally United Torah Judaism (UTJ) declined to endorse him. Despite securing the mandate, Eisenkot faces considerable obstacles to forming a governing coalition. His four-party opposition bloc holds only 48 of the Knesset's 120 seats, while Netanyahu's bloc controls 53. Although the Palestinian parties could provide crucial parliamentary support, Yisrael Beiteinu leader Avigdor Liberman has rejected any government dependent on their backing, instead proposing an alliance with ultra-Orthodox parties. That alternative faces its own difficulties over the opposition's commitment to ending military draft exemptions for ultra-Orthodox men. Netanyahu, meanwhile, has challenged the election results and accused Palestinian parties of electoral misconduct, claims for which no public evidence had been presented. On Saturday, he warned that Israel would “simply not survive” under a minority government supported by Palestinian lawmakers, calling instead for a unity government that includes his right-wing and ultra-Orthodox allies. Eisenkot dismissed the remarks as “pathetic spin” and reiterated his intention to establish a “national emergency government.” Eisenkot will initially have 28 days to form a government, with a possible 14-day extension. If he fails, the mandate could pass to Netanyahu, prolonging Israel's political deadlock. A former Israeli military chief, Eisenkot opposes Palestinian statehood and has pledged to dismantle Hamas's military wing, while also promising to allegedly crack down on extremist Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank. He is also founded the so-called 'Dahiye Doctrine' in Lebanon, which advocates overwhelming military force against civilian infrastructure in areas where Hezbollah is present.

❗️️️️️️️A short while ago, Saudi warplanes carried out at least three airstrikes on the Baqim District in Yemen's Saada, according to Al-Masirah. This comes amid ongoing Saudi attacks across Yemen.

VIDEO | Circulating footage shows illegal Jewish settlers storming the vicinity of a brick factory and a school in Khirbet Abu Falah, northeast of Ramallah in the occupied West Bank.

❗️️️️IRGC dismisses CENTCOM's new 'Iron Gate' plan to blockade Iran, says US economic pressure will fail Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) spokesman, General Hossein Mohebbi, dismissed US Central Command's (CENTCOM) new “Task Force Iron Gate” plan to blockade Iran as “nothing more than wordplay,” according to Fars News Agency. Mohebbi said Washington would fail to achieve its objective of exerting severe economic pressure to bring about the collapse and destruction of Iran's economy. He recalled earlier US claims that “Iran would face economic collapse within two weeks,” stressing that those predictions had not materialized.

❗️️️️️️️House Democrats flooded with calls opposing Hakeem Jeffries over pro-Israel stance House Democrats are facing a wave of calls and emails urging them not to elect Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries as House speaker following the party's landslide victory in Tuesday's elections, Axios reported. Several lawmakers reported receiving hundreds of calls, with one describing the issue as their office's top concern. The backlash reflects growing frustration among Democratic voters with party leadership, particularly Jeffries' ties to pro-Israel organizations and corporate political action committees. Some callers are pushing for Rep. Jamie Raskin, a prominent progressive Democrat, to replace Jeffries, although Raskin has expressed no interest in challenging him. A Change.org petition opposing Jeffries had gathered nearly 900,000 signatures by Friday, amplified in part by actor Mark Ruffalo's call for “a new speaker.” Meanwhile, incoming Ohio Democrat Don Leonard said he would be “shopping for a new leader” if Jeffries refused to change his pro-Israel position. Despite the mounting pressure, Jeffries remains widely expected to secure the speakership after Democrats won a commanding House majority of more than 250 seats. He has maintained unanimous support from his caucus in previous speaker votes, and no challenger has emerged. However, several incoming Democrats have declined to commit to supporting him, highlighting divisions within the party ahead of its leadership elections on 18–19 November and the House speaker vote on 3 January.

❗️️️️Palestinian national and Islamic forces warn of worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza, call for opening of crossings and end to siege Palestinian national and Islamic forces warned of the deteriorating humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip, calling for the opening of border crossings, an end to the siege, and an accelerated handover of responsibilities to the technocratic government. During a demonstration outside the Khan Yunis municipality, the national and Islamic forces called for urgent action to address unresolved issues affecting Palestinians' daily lives and basic needs, while ensuring freedom of movement for people and goods and the entry of humanitarian aid. They also warned of the worsening suffering of displaced Palestinians living in tents and shelters amid rainfall, cold weather, and water leaking into their accommodations. They called for adequate shelter, protection, and essential supplies, particularly for children, women, and the elderly.

❗️️️️️️️IRGC reports third oil tanker explosion in Strait of Hormuz, warns against unauthorized passage Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy announced on Sunday, 8 November that three oil tankers traveling along unauthorized routes through the Strait of Hormuz had suffered explosions and severe fires since the early hours of Sunday morning. In a statement, the IRGC said the fires were so intense that smoke from the burning tankers had engulfed the skies over the strategic waterway. The IRGC Navy said the tankers were burning because they had switched off their navigation and identification systems and because of the actions of “the smuggling and aggressor US military.” It stressed that Iranian regulations governing passage through the Strait of Hormuz had repeatedly been communicated to all vessels, warning that ships defying these rules and cooperating with the US military to use unauthorized routes “will face no fate other than this.”

❗️Hezbollah MP says US and Israeli election results will not change resistance's position or calculations Hezbollah MP Ali Fayyad, a member of the Loyalty to the Resistance parliamentary bloc, affirmed that the results of the Israeli and US elections will not alter the resistance's positions or strategic calculations, particularly regarding its right to defend Lebanon and its people and liberate occupied Lebanese territory. Speaking at a ceremony honoring fallen resistance fighters in the southern Lebanese town of Mays al-Jabal, Fayyad also criticized the Lebanese authorities for their comprehensive failure to protect Lebanese citizens and liberate their land. Addressing the confrontation with Iran, Fayyad said it had exposed significant US and Israeli failures, with repercussions extending to Washington, its allies, and global energy security. He pointed to the cohesion of Iran and its allies and their ability to manage the confrontation despite mounting regional pressures. Fayyad stressed that the outcome of the confrontation has yet to be definitively decided, arguing that establishing a balance of power with Israel requires the steadfastness and resilience of the Lebanese people. He called on the Lebanese authorities to reassess their policies and political calculations, move beyond the current state of stagnation and imbalance, and adopt an approach capable of achieving Lebanon's national objectives.

⭕️ A Palestinian child has died from extreme cold at Al-Anan displacement camp in the Al-Katiba area west of Gaza City, according to local sources. (Palestine Post)

BREAKING | Israeli occupation authorities have issued demolition notices for four residential and agricultural structures, along with stop-work orders, in the Abu Nuwar Bedouin community southeast of occupied Jerusalem, according to the Jerusalem Governorate.

⭕️️️️️️ Saudi Energy Ministry confirms attempted attack on Aramco building in Riyadh, with minor damage allegedly caused by falling shrapnel.

BREAKING | Several Palestinians have been injured in an Israeli strike targeting the Bir al-Naaja area west of Jabalia in the northern Gaza Strip, according to Quds Feed.

❗️Saudi Aramco tower damaged as Yemeni forces target Riyadh’s financial district: AFP Yemen's Armed Forces launched retaliatory strikes against Saudi Arabia on Sunday morning, following intensive Saudi attacks on Yemen the previous day. According to AFP, multiple eyewitnesses reported that Riyadh's King Abdullah Financial District was targeted, with one stating that the intended target was “definitely the Saudi Aramco tower” in the area. Two other eyewitnesses reported damage to the building belonging to the Saudi state-owned energy company. Meanwhile, the Saudi-led coalition claimed that it had intercepted and destroyed two ballistic missiles launched toward Riyadh. Some reports indicate the impact was caused by interceptor debris.

❗️Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council and senior security official Mohsen Rezaei: "You lost the war and the election.Vance has conceded, Rubio is heading for the exit, Hegseth is about to be fired, and the CENTCOM commander is now a podcaster! So٫ who exactly in Washington do we need to get this message across to? Start a war, and you’ll face a devastating response."

❗️Yemeni Armed Forces spokesman Brigadier General Yahya Saree announced on Saturday that Yemeni forces had carried out six military operations using ballistic and cruise missiles, as well as drones, targeting Saudi military positions, oil facilities, and aviation infrastructure. According to Saree, the first operation targeted King Khalid International Airport, oil storage tanks, and an Aramco distillation tower in Riyadh, while the second struck Aramco facilities in Khurais and the third targeted pumping station No. 8 in the Dawadmi region. The fourth operation targeted Saudi forces at a National Guard camp in Najran, reportedly causing a large number of casualties. The fifth operation targeted Saudi troop concentrations east of Al-Jawf Governorate in three stages, while the sixth struck positions east of the Ragwan and Madghal districts in Marib Governorate. Both operations targeted forces under the command of Saudi officer Faris al-Shammari and reportedly left dozens killed and wounded.

❗️US-Israeli war on Iran drains $60bn from Iraqi oil revenues following Hormuz transit disruptions Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein warns that Baghdad has lost approximately $60 billion in vital oil revenues following severe disruptions to energy shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. Speaking in an interview with Al Jazeera, Hussein detailed how the ongoing US-Israeli war on Iran and the resulting maritime blockades along the strategic chokepoint have paralyzed Baghdad’s primary economic lifeline. Historically dependent on raw petroleum exports to offset foreign trade and finance over 90 percent of its federal budget, Iraq previously routed the vast majority of its crude exports through southern ports and out through the Persian Gulf. The abrupt halt to unhindered maritime transit has upended Baghdad's positive trade surplus, triggering severe budget deficits and depleting foreign exchange reserves. Hussein reiterated Baghdad's rejection of attempts by Washington and Tel Aviv to turn Iraqi territory into an arena for foreign aggression, emphasizing that the economic spillover of the US-Israeli campaign continues to destabilize neighboring states.

BREAKING | Israeli occupation forces target the outskirts of Aita al-Jabal, in southern Lebanon, with a blast.

Winter storm ravages Gaza's displacement tents, submerging thousands of shelters Gaza authorities hold Israel fully responsible as 70,000 tents flooded in just 12 hours and war-damaged buildings continue to collapse across the Strip

VIDEO | Footage published by Al Masirah shows the moment Saudi airstrikes targeted paramedics responding to a prior raid in Al-Shariyah, located in the Bani Hushaysh district east of Yemen's Sanaa. The attack resulted in at least 22 deaths, including women and children.

❗️Iran to unveil new underground missile city, IRGC announces Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Aerospace Force will unveil a new underground missile city alongside several other military achievements, the force's spokesperson announced on Saturday. Brigadier General Hossein Mohebbi made the announcement during a press conference marking IRGC Aerospace Force Week. Mohebbi said the force has swiftly relocated its missile and drone production lines from surface facilities to underground sites, expanding beyond underground storage complexes to establish “missile production cities” deep below the ground. He stressed that Iran's indigenous expertise, extensive territory, and adaptable production infrastructure would prevent adversaries from disrupting its weapons manufacturing capabilities, even under intense bombardment. Mohebbi added that production had continued uninterrupted despite the enemy's expectation that Iran's missile stockpiles would eventually run out.