Peak sunshine has arrived in the Northern Hemisphere — the summer solstice. Friday is the longest day of the year north of the equator, where the solstice marks the start of astronomical summer. It’s the opposite in the Southern Hemisphere, where it is the shortest day of the year and winter will start. The word “solstice” comes from the Latin words “sol” for sun and “stitium” which can mean “pause” or “stop.” The solstice is the end of the sun’s annual march higher in the sky, when it makes its longest, highest arc. The bad news for sun lovers: It then starts retreating and days will get a little shorter every day until late December.

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — As the war between Israel and Iran escalates, Turkish Preside

A Hezbollah commander who the IDF says was responsible for numerous rocket attacks on northern Israel was killed in a drone strike earlier today. The strike in Shabriha, near Tyre, eliminated Mohammed Khader al-Husseini, the commander of Hezbollah’s firepower unit in the Litani river area, the IDF says.

JERUSALEM – On Friday afternoon, Iran launched a barrage of 25 missiles targeting Israel, triggering sirens from the Golan Heights in the north to Eilat in the south.

UPDATE: Rambam Hospital reports they have 12 injured patients. 2 serious, 2 moderate, and 8 lightly injured.

In light of the continued closure of Israeli airspace, El Al has announced an alternative route home for stranded passengers — by sea. In coordination with Mano Maritime, a cruise ship will sail from Limassol, Cyprus, to the port of Ashdod on Wednesday, June 26. The voyage will be free of charge for El Al and Sun D’Or customers whose flights were cancelled due to the ongoing situation. Other travelers can book a one-way ticket for €550 through the El Al website. The ship, which can accommodate approximately 1,500 passengers, will first depart from Ashdod to Limassol on Monday, June 24, carrying ticketed passengers from Israel to Cyprus.

Tehran experiencing loud celebrations — oh wait, that’s just the IAF throwing a going-away party for Iran’s missile program.

DELUSIONAL: Senior IRGC General, Mohsen Rezaei: “Any ceasefire now will lead to renewed war. We must not allow the enemy, which is currently in a weak position, to revive itself with a ceasefire. We have used less than 30% of our military capabilities. We are gradually escalating the war.”