For years, the threat of unmanned aerial vehicles has plagued American and Israeli defense officials. The ability for enemy forces to overwhelm traditional defensive systems with relatively inexpensive weapons has cost the lives of U.S. soldiers and Israelis.

Today, in a major development, Israel announced that its laser defense system Iron Beam is now operational and set to be integrated into its missile defense shield by the end of the year.

This achievement was made possible, in part, by our work together. Through your support of AIPAC, we lobbied Congress to approve $1.2 billion in funding for Iron Beam last year.

Iron Beam represents a major breakthrough in missile defense technology, a testament to Israeli innovation and technological prowess, and is the product of years of investment and research.

Its range is estimated at around 10 kilometers, and unlike Israel's missile-based interceptor systems, each interception costs only a few dollars, making it a much more cost-effective option. 

The system has been formally renamed "Eitan’s Light," after IDF Captain Eitan Oster, 22, who was killed fighting Hezbollah in Lebanon in October 2024. Eitan's father was one of the developers of the system.

As the Jewish state continues to confront urgent and growing threats on its borders and across the region, innovative defensive technology like the Iron Beam is essential to keeping its families safe.

The system was already used in combat earlier this year to intercept Hezbollah attack drones.

The U.S.-Israel relationship helps keep both nations safer, stronger and more prosperous, providing the United States with access to cutting-edge technology to help defend our homeland and keep our troops safe on the battlefield.

As the IDF continues its operation to conquer Gaza City from Hamas, it estimates that about 400,000 civilians have so far evacuated, moving to safer areas. That's nearly half the city's estimated population.

Due to the growing number of evacuees, the IDF said it will open an additional evacuation route.

The IDF is also continuing its extensive humanitarian efforts to ease the situation in Gaza, establishing an additional shelter site with tents, toilets and showers, and is planning to open more.

Israel today also facilitated the evacuation of 550 Gazan patients and caregivers from the strip to third countries for treatment.

Meanwhile, Israeli troops are operating in the heart of Gaza City to destroy Hamas' terror infrastructure there. 

On Monday, the IDF destroyed a Hamas weapons manufacturing site, and over the past two days, the IDF has struck over 150 other Hamas targets in Gaza City.

Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman James Risch led 50 Senate Republicans — nearly the entire Senate Republican caucus — in sending a joint letter to the foreign ministers of France, Germany and the U.K. (known as the E3), "thanking them for initiating snapback sanctions on Iran, and encouraging them to keep up the pressure until they achieve permanent dismantlement of Iran’s nuclear program."

The letter urges the E3 to work with the U.S. "to prevent Iranian proliferation and acquisition of military, missile, and nuclear goods, technologies, and components" and to "fully shutter Iran’s banking sector abroad, including all bank branches in Europe."

Read the full letter here.

The United States and international community must ensure Iran's nuclear and ballistic missile programs are fully dismantled and that the regime ends its support for terrorism.

Increasing the economic pressure on Iran is essential to achieving these goals.

Today, Secretary of State Marco Rubio designated four Iran-backed proxy groups as foreign terrorist organizations (FTOs). 

"As the world’s leading state sponsor of terrorism, Iran continues to provide support that enables these militias to plan, facilitate, or directly carry out attacks across Iraq," including "on the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad and bases hosting U.S. and Coalition forces," Secretary Rubio said.

These designations advance the administration's policy of "maximum pressure on Iran to cut off revenue to the regime and its terrorist proxies and partners," Rubio added.

AIPAC thanks President Trump and Secretary Rubio for continuing to impose maximum pressure on Iran.

Meanwhile, Israel’s National Bureau for Counter Terror Financing ordered the seizure of 187 cryptocurrency wallets belonging to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), also a U.S.-designated foreign terrorist organization.

Over the past year, it's estimated that over $1.5 billion-worth of cryptocurrency was received by these wallets.

Senator Steve Daines (R-MT), in a new op-ed, reflected on his trip to Israel over the weekend and laid out his vision for what must happen next.

Daines calls for the immediate release of all the hostages and says that "the United States and the West must stand shoulder to shoulder with Israel as they fight against those who would destroy them. Terror must be met with unity, solidarity, and the relentless pursuit of justice."

Daines also highlights the need to continue fighting antisemitism, and says that the United States must "hold the U.N. and International Criminal Court accountable for their anti-Israel bias," including by cutting U.S. funding to these organizations.

Read the full op-ed here.