By Shira Miller

There is a concept in money laundering called a shell company: a legal entity that exists primarily to disguise the true origin of funds, insulating the actual beneficiary from scrutiny.

A similar dynamic, largely unaddressed in American law, operates in the world of foreign influence — Let’s call it influence laundering.

A foreign government pays a domestic consulting firm, which in turn arranges access to prominent journalists, commentators, or policymakers. The foreign government gets the media access it craves. The journalist can truthfully say he never took foreign money. And the public is none the wiser.

A close look at Qatar’s influence operations in the United States — and the swirling controversy around Tucker Carlson’s relationship with Doha — raises a pointed question: Should this kind of triangulated influence campaign be illegal? And does existing law, namely the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA), already address it?

What Is Influence Laundering?

Influence laundering refers to the practice by which a foreign government pays a registered intermediary — a lobbying firm, consulting company, or PR agency — to secure favorable media coverage, access to journalists, or narrative placement in the press, without those journalists ever directly receiving foreign funds or registering as foreign agents.

It is, in essence, a three-party arrangement:

Step 1: A foreign government hires a domestic consulting firm and pays it generously.

Step 2: That firm uses its Washington connections to arrange access to influential journalists, commentators, or policymakers, pitching story ideas, securing interviews, and shaping favorable narratives.

Step 3: The journalist or commentator, having received no direct foreign payment, can deny being an agent of the foreign government — even as the content of their coverage shifts in ways that happen to benefit that government.

This is not a hypothetical. It is, according to extensive reporting based on Department of Justice FARA filings, exactly what Qatar has been doing in the American conservative media ecosystem.

Qatar’s Campaign: The Documented Record

Following President Trump’s 2024 election victory, Qatar dramatically intensified its outreach to right-wing media. According to a Washington Examiner investigation based on DOJ records, before the election, just over 10% of communications sent by Qatari foreign agents to the media were directed to conservative outlets or commenters. After Election Day, that proportion surged to more than half of their total media correspondence.

The rationale is not difficult to understand. Qatar has long faced Republican criticism for its ties to Hamas — the terror organization whose political leadership lives in luxury in Doha — and for its relationship with Iran. With Republicans now controlling the White House and both chambers of Congress, Qatar needed friends on the right.

The means it employed were thoroughly modern and thoroughly legal, at least on paper.

Qatar retained two U.S. lobbying firms as registered foreign agents: Lumen8 Advisors and GRV Strategies. Both filed disclosures under FARA, which mandates that individuals or firms acting on behalf of foreign governments register with the Department of Justice and disclose their activities.

Lumen8 Advisors, according to its FARA contract, receives a fixed monthly payment of $180,000 from the Qatari Embassy in Washington for what it describes as “media and communication coaching and consulting services.” According to Ynetnews, the contract requires Lumen8’s president to travel to Doha 13 days per month, fly business or first class on Qatar Airways, and prohibits the firm from working with any other Middle Eastern government without Qatar’s explicit approval.

GRV Strategies, founded by Garrett Ventry — a former Republican congressional advisor deeply embedded in conservative Washington circles — receives $80,000 per month from the Qatari government, per the same Washington Examiner report.

The Story-Planting Pattern

The Washington Examiner documented what it called a “recurring pattern” in Qatar’s media campaign: outreach to journalists, a story pitch, and then the publication of a favorable article, sometimes within days.

One example: on February 20, 2025, a GRV Strategies representative texted a Fox News employee suggesting a “foreign policy story idea.” Three days later, Fox News published an article titled “Qatar Stands Firm Against Iranian Pressure,” citing an anonymous “source familiar with Qatar’s plans.” Similarly, on December 4, 2024, GRV flagged a story to a New York Post employee. Three days later, the Post ran a piece highlighting Qatar’s positive role in hostage negotiations between Israel and Hamas.

Note: It is impossible to prove based on public records alone whether these articles were directly caused by the Qatari pitches, or whether the journalists would have written similar pieces anyway. The Washington Examiner acknowledged as much in its investigation.

Tucker Carlson: The Central Case Study

The most high-profile episode in Qatar’s conservative media campaign involved Tucker Carlson, the former Fox News anchor who now runs the independent Tucker Carlson Network (TCN).

The Interview

In March 2025, Carlson conducted an interview with Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani that accumulated nearly six million views across X and YouTube within hours of its release. The interview was, by all accounts, friendly — with Carlson praising the country and presenting Qatar’s perspective on the Iran conflict sympathetically.

According to the Washington Examiner, this interview was facilitated by Lumen8 Advisors, the firm receiving $180,000 a month from the Qatari Embassy. Anna Jacobs, a non-resident fellow at the Arab Gulf States Institute, told the Examiner: “Qatar wants to further cement ties with Trump and allies for many reasons, including to defend itself against Republican attacks for its relationship with Hamas and Iran.”

The “Paid Partnership” Disclosure

One detail attracted particular scrutiny. In promoting the interview on social media, Carlson himself included the phrase “Includes paid partnerships.” Critics argued this was a tacit acknowledgment that money had changed hands in connection with the interview. Supporters argued it was standard boilerplate for sponsored content that may have been entirely unrelated to Qatar.

Laura Loomer’s Allegation and TCN’s Denial

Conservative activist Laura Loomer subsequently alleged that FARA data showed Qatar had paid Carlson $200,000 for the interview. She wrote: “Tucker Carlson wants you to think his thoughts on Iran are based and original, but he’s literally participating in paid-for interviews by the Qataris.”

Tucker Carlson Network co-founder Neil Patel responded with a categorical denial, according to Barrett Media: “Allegations that Tucker Carlson or Tucker Carlson Network took money from any foreign country for an interview or for any other reason are categorically and definitively false and defamatory. Neither Tucker nor TCN has ever taken a penny from Qatar or any foreign country.”

Patel further explained that the document Loomer cited is a FARA filing for Lumen8 Advisors — not for Carlson or TCN. “This contract and filing has nothing to do with us,” Patel stated.

The Home Purchase Announcement

The controversy deepened when Carlson, speaking at the Doha Forum, announced his intention to purchase a home in Qatar. He framed the move defiantly, according to the Jerusalem Post: “I’ve never taken anything from your country and don’t plan to. I’m an American and a free man, and I’ll be wherever I want to be.” He added that he would be giving money to Qatar, not receiving it.

Observers noted the irony: in Qatar, publishing false information can carry a prison sentence of up to five years or a fine equivalent to approximately $28,000. Ryan Saavedra of the Daily Wire pointedly observed: “It will be interesting to see what Qatar does given that Tucker just bought a home there.”

The Mossad Bombing Claim — and Qatar’s Denial

In what many viewed as a painful irony, the Carlson–Qatar story took a sharp turn in early March 2026 when Carlson claimed on his show that Saudi Arabia and Qatar had “arrested Israeli Mossad agents planning bombings” in those countries. He offered no source for the claim.

Qatar’s foreign ministry issued a public denial. According to Middle East Eye, spokesperson Majed Al-Ansari stated that Doha had “no information on Mossad cells operating in the country.” Mark Dubowitz of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies offered a withering verdict: “Tucker Carlson’s mendacious propaganda is now even too much for Qatar. When Doha is swatting down your claims, you know you’ve drifted from commentary into fever-swamp delusions.”

What Does FARA Actually Require?

The Foreign Agents Registration Act, enacted in 1938 to counter Nazi propaganda in the United States, requires any person or entity acting as an “agent of a foreign principal” to register with the Department of Justice and publicly disclose their activities, funding, and the political or public relations work they perform on behalf of that foreign principal.

The key operative phrase is “acting as an agent” — meaning operating under the direction or control of a foreign government and engaging in political activities, lobbying, or public relations on its behalf. Journalists who independently choose to interview foreign leaders, or who accept pitches from registered foreign agent firms without receiving direct foreign payment, do not ordinarily trigger FARA obligations.

Lumen8 Advisors and GRV Strategies are already registered under FARA — they have complied with the law’s disclosure requirements. The question is whether the journalists they cultivate should face any legal obligation.

Complicating the picture further: Attorney General Pam Bondi, who herself formerly lobbied for Qatar, has announced that DOJ enforcement of FARA will be limited to “conduct similar to more traditional espionage.” Per the Washington Examiner, this policy grants countries like Qatar considerably greater latitude to engage in lobbying and media influence without public scrutiny.

The Core Legal Question: Should Influence Laundering Be Illegal?

The gap in existing law is not hard to identify. FARA was designed to ensure transparency about foreign influence, but it does not require the recipients of that influence — the journalists, commentators, and policymakers cultivated by registered foreign agents — to disclose that they were approached, that their access was facilitated by a foreign government, or that the interview they conducted was arranged at significant cost to a foreign embassy.

Several legal scholars and national security advocates have argued that this gap needs to be closed. A journalist who receives $200,000 directly from a foreign government would unquestionably need to register under FARA. But if a foreign government pays an intermediary $180,000 a month to “secure” that journalist’s access and favorable treatment, neither party faces any disclosure obligation to the public beyond the intermediary’s own FARA filing — a document buried in DOJ databases that almost no one reads.

The countervailing argument is significant, however: press freedom. Any law that requires journalists to disclose who pitched them a story, or that exposes them to registration requirements based on their editorial decisions, risks chilling legitimate reporting on foreign governments. The line between “influence laundering” and “diplomacy” or “public relations” can be genuinely difficult to draw. Ambassadors have always cultivated journalists. Foreign governments have always hired PR firms. The scale and systematic nature of Qatar’s operation may be unusual; the basic activity is not.

A more targeted reform might require disclosure — not registration — from journalists and media figures who conduct interviews or publish content that was arranged or facilitated by a registered foreign agent. This would stop short of imposing the full burden of FARA compliance on the press while ensuring that viewers and readers know when their news diet has been shaped, at least in part, by foreign money.

Conclusions: What We Know and What We Don’t

What is documented and not seriously disputed: Qatar ran a well-funded, systematic campaign to cultivate conservative American media following the 2024 election, paying registered lobbyists millions of dollars to secure favorable coverage and high-profile interviews. Tucker Carlson was, by Qatar’s own account via its intermediaries, a prime target and a significant success.

What remains disputed: Whether Carlson personally received any direct payment from Qatar. His team has categorically denied it. No independently verified documentary evidence of a direct payment to Carlson or TCN has publicly emerged. The “paid partnership” disclosure in his promotional post has never been conclusively linked to Qatar specifically.

The broader question: Even if Carlson received not a single dollar from Qatar, the influence laundering dynamic is real and troubling. A foreign government with ties to Hamas spent enormous sums to secure a sympathetic six-million-view interview with one of America’s most influential commentators. The viewers who watched that interview had no way of knowing, from the interview itself, that its very existence was the product of a $180,000-a-month influence operation.

That is the argument for reform. The argument against is that disclosure mandates on journalists carry real risks to press freedom. Threading that needle — transparency without censorship — is the legislative challenge. But the Qatar episode has made clear that the current system, which places all disclosure obligations on the foreign agents and none on the journalists they cultivate, is not adequate to the task of keeping the American public informed about who is shaping their news.

Sources

Washington Examiner — Conservative media targeted by Qatari foreign influence operations (May 17, 2025)

Ynetnews — Qatar lobby reaches deep into US conservative media (May 18, 2025)

Barrett Media — Tucker Carlson Network Denies Taking Money From Qatar (June 19, 2025)

Jerusalem Post — Carlson doubles down on Qatar controversy with home purchase claim

Jerusalem Post — Qatar denies Tucker Carlson claim that Mossad agents were arrested

Middle East Eye — Tucker Carlson claims Saudi Arabia and Qatar arrested Mossad agents (March 2026)

Mediaite / Yahoo News — Qatar Knocks Down Tucker Carlson’s Mossad Claim

President Donald Trump said the United States must play a role in determining who becomes Iran’s next supreme leader following the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, arguing that the country needs a new direction after years of confrontation with Washington.

Speaking in an interview with Axios published Thursday, Trump said he intends to personally participate in the process of deciding Iran’s next leader and compared the situation to what he described as American involvement in Venezuela’s political leadership.

“They are wasting their time. Khamenei’s son is a lightweight. I have to be involved in the appointment, like with Delcy [Rodriguez] in Venezuela,” Trump told Axios.

Trump said Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of the slain Iranian leader and a cleric closely tied to Iran’s Revolutionary Guard, currently appears to be the leading contender to succeed his father. However, the president said he strongly opposes that possibility.

“Khamenei’s son is unacceptable to me. We want someone that will bring harmony and peace to Iran,” he said.

Trump warned that if Iran’s leadership selects another figure who follows the hardline policies associated with the elder Khamenei, tensions between Tehran and Washington could escalate again in the near future.

“If they put someone like that in, we’ll be back at war in five years,” he said.

The comments come as Iran’s ruling clerical establishment considers its next steps after Khamenei was killed amid the escalating U.S.–Israeli military campaign against Tehran.

Iran’s Assembly of Experts, the body tasked with choosing the country’s supreme leader, has not yet named a successor, though officials have indicated that an announcement could come soon.

Mojtaba Khamenei, 56, is widely seen as a leading candidate despite never having held elected office, and his potential appointment has raised concerns about the possibility of a hereditary-style succession within Iran’s political system.

{Matzav.com}

WASHINGTON D.C (VINnews)-President Trump declared that Cuba’s communist government is poised to collapse, linking the prediction to recent U.S. military and diplomatic actions against Venezuela and Iran.

“Cuba’s going to fall, too,” Trump told POLITICO in an interview published Thursday. He described public enthusiasm for U.S. operations in the region, saying, “People are loving what’s happening.”

Trump tied Cuba’s vulnerability to the cutoff of Venezuelan oil supplies following the U.S.-led capture of former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, which he credited with severely weakening Havana’s economy.

“They need help. We are talking to Cuba,” Trump said, suggesting the island nation is seeking a deal amid mounting pressure.

The comments build on earlier statements from Trump, who previously indicated that Secretary of State Marco Rubio is handling high-level discussions with Cuban representatives. In late February, Trump floated the possibility of a “friendly takeover” of Cuba, describing the country as in “big deal of trouble” economically and noting Rubio’s involvement in negotiations.

Rubio, a Florida native and son of Cuban immigrants with a long history of advocating tough policies toward Havana, has led outreach efforts aimed at encouraging political and economic changes on the island.

Trump’s remarks come as the administration continues operations stemming from confrontations with Iran and Venezuela. He dismissed concerns about broader fallout from those actions and expressed confidence that Cuba’s regime would follow suit without necessarily requiring direct military intervention.

The president’s bullish outlook has resonated with Cuban-American activists in South Florida, who have ramped up calls for regime change in Havana following developments in Caracas and Tehran.

White House officials have not detailed specific next steps regarding Cuba, but Trump emphasized that ongoing talks could lead to a negotiated outcome favorable to U.S. interests.

The Cuban government has not publicly responded to Trump’s latest statements as of Thursday afternoon.

President Donald Trump has announced that he has fired Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem and will appoint U.S. Senator Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma as the new head of the Department of Homeland Security.

In a social media post, President Trump said that Noem will instead transition to a new role as Special Envoy for The Shield of the Americas.

Noem was confirmed as DHS Secretary on January 25, 2025, after leaving in the middle of her second term as Governor of South Dakota.

Earlier today, Noem delivered a keynote address in Nashville, Tennessee where she spoke about the importance of cooperation between DHS and local law enforcement. She was not asked any questions about her departure during the appearance.

In recent weeks Noem also appeared before both the House and Senate Judiciary Committees in Washington where lawmakers questioned her about her tenure leading the Department of Homeland Security, particularly her leadership of Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

In a post on X, Noem thanked Trump for her new role and praised DHS’ “historic accomplishments.”

Thank you @POTUS Trump for appointing me as the Special Envoy for the Shield of the Americas. @SecRubio and @SecWar are incredible leaders and I look forward to working with them closely to dismantle cartels that have poured drugs into our nation and killed our children and…

— Secretary Kristi Noem (@Sec_Noem) March 5, 2026

During testimony before the House on March 4, lawmakers offered sharply different assessments of her record. Republican Congressman Jim Jordan of Ohio pointed to arrest and deportation numbers and described Noem’s performance at DHS as “amazing.” Democratic Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal of Washington said Noem should resign, be impeached, or be fired.

Former MMA fighter, Senator Markwayne Mullin is now expected to take over leadership of DHS as the administration reshapes key national security roles. Senator Fetterman has already expressed his support for him.

As a member of the Homeland Security Committee + Ranking Member of Subcommittee on Border Security:

I’m not sure how many fellow Democrats will vote to support our colleague @SenMullin as the next DHS Secretary, but I am AYE.

— U.S. Senator John Fetterman (@SenFettermanPA) March 5, 2026

This is a developing story. Stay tuned to JBN for updates as more information becomes available.

Nearly 20,000 American citizens have returned to the United States from the Middle East since the beginning of the war as the State Department continues efforts to assist those seeking to leave the region, a department spokesman said today.

In a statement, Assistant Secretary Dylan Johnson said the returns have taken place as the U.S. government expands charter flights and ground transportation to help Americans depart.

The total does not include Americans who have relocated to other countries in Europe or Asia, or those who have already left the Middle East but remain in transit back to the United States, Johnson said.

At the direction of Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the State Department has begun operating charter flights and ground transportation for U.S. citizens in the region and plans to increase those operations.

Additional charter flights and ground transports are expected to take place Thursday as the department ramps up evacuation and travel assistance efforts.

The State Department has also established a crisis intake form for Americans in Kuwait, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Israel. Officials said Americans who complete the form will receive information about upcoming charter aviation and ground transportation options.

Separately, U.S. officials said Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport was scheduled to reopen March 6 for limited inbound flights, though there is no information yet on when outbound flights may resume.

In the meantime, the State Department said Americans in Israel should consider overland routes out of the country if they believe it is safe to do so. One option is traveling to the Taba border crossing into Egypt, which officials said is operating and scheduled to remain open 24 hours a day.

From Taba, travelers may take commercial flights from Sharm el-Sheikh International Airport, about a three- to four-hour drive away, which offers connections to international destinations. Airlines including Arkia and TUS Airways have posted information about available flights and ticket purchases on their websites.

The U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem has now begun offering bus transportation for Americans seeking assistance traveling to the Taba crossing. Buses are expected to depart Friday from the Jerusalem and Tel Aviv areas for citizens who register through an online form.

U.S. consular officers may be present at the Taba crossing to provide limited assistance, officials said.

The U.S. Embassy in Cairo also advised travelers to carry cash to cross the border, recommending at least $85 per person because ATMs at the crossing are unreliable and frequently run out of cash.

Travelers may obtain a 30-day Egyptian visa on arrival at Taba for $30 in cash, allowing entry into the Sinai Peninsula and onward flights from Sharm el-Sheikh, including connections through Cairo. Alternatively, a free entry stamp available at the crossing permits travel within South Sinai only but does not allow onward travel to Cairo or other parts of Egypt.

Travelers are also required to pay $20 in cash for a letter of guarantee issued by local authorities and a $35 exit fee at the Taba border, according to embassy guidance.

The State Department said it will continue assisting any American citizen abroad who wishes to depart the Middle East but cautioned that the U.S. government cannot guarantee travelers’ safety if they choose to leave the region on their own.

Through its 24-hour task force, the department said it has assisted more than 10,000 Americans abroad by providing security guidance and travel assistance.

The department said it will continue assisting any American citizen abroad who wishes to depart the Middle East.

Americans in the region seeking help can contact the State Department’s 24-hour assistance line at +1-202-501-4444.

Senior advisers to President Donald Trump are exploring options to reduce gasoline prices after military strikes on Iran set off sharp swings in global oil markets and pushed fuel costs higher for American drivers.

According to Politico, Trump’s chief of staff, Susie Wiles, has instructed administration officials to develop proposals that could ease energy costs and present them to the president in the Oval Office. Energy industry executives familiar with the discussions said the White House is actively seeking ideas to bring relief at the pump.

The White House is “looking under every rock for ideas on improving energy prices, especially gasoline prices,” one executive said.

The effort follows U.S. military strikes on Iran and retaliatory attacks by Tehran targeting energy infrastructure in the Persian Gulf, developments that have fueled a surge in oil prices worldwide.

Crude oil climbed by more than $10 per barrel in the days after the attacks, a spike that pushed gasoline prices in the United States to their highest point since Trump returned to office last year.

Officials involved in shaping energy policy, including Energy Secretary Chris Wright, are now under significant pressure to identify measures that could steady the market and reassure consumers, according to people familiar with internal administration discussions.

The administration has already rolled out several actions intended to safeguard global oil shipments and stabilize supply.

President Trump recently announced that the U.S. military will escort and protect commercial vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz after Iran threatened oil tankers traveling through the vital maritime passage.

In addition, the White House directed the U.S. International Development Finance Corp. to step in with insurance coverage for ships whose policies were withdrawn as the fighting in the region intensified.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the administration believes the president’s moves against Iran will ultimately strengthen the stability of energy markets by preventing Tehran from threatening one of the world’s most important oil transit routes.

“I think it speaks to why this action was so necessary,” Leavitt told reporters on Wednesday. “Ultimately, the energy industry is going to benefit from the president’s actions with respect to Iran.”

One proposal currently being examined is a temporary suspension of the federal gasoline tax. However, such a measure would require approval from Congress and might not immediately reduce prices if retailers do not pass the savings on to consumers.

Despite the recent jump in fuel costs, Trump has dismissed concerns about the short-term impact, arguing that prices will eventually fall once the conflict subsides.

“If we have a little high oil prices for a little while, but as soon as this ends, those prices are going to drop, lower than even before,” Trump said earlier this week.

Energy analysts say fuel prices have climbed quickly since hostilities began.

According to AAA and industry analysts, the nationwide average price for regular gasoline rose above $3.25 per gallon this week, increasing by more than 28 cents within just a few days.

Oil markets have surged as traders respond to the possibility that supply could be disrupted across the Middle East.

Iran’s location near the Strait of Hormuz — a narrow maritime chokepoint through which more than one-fifth of the world’s oil supply passes — has intensified fears of further instability in global energy flows.

The ongoing violence has already slowed tanker traffic and temporarily shut down some oil production in neighboring Gulf states.

Analysts caution that prices could continue rising if the conflict widens, though they note that current fuel costs remain well below the historic highs reached in 2022, when gasoline prices nationwide climbed past $5 per gallon.

{Matzav.com}

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Newly released police body camera footage shows bargoers and pedestrians fleeing and ducking for cover in the moments after a gunman began firing outside a Texas bar, leaving three dead in what is being investigated as potential terrorism.

“Everybody down!” one officer yells. “Where is he?”

WATCH LIVE: Police chief holds news conference on Austin mass shooting https://t.co/Xx1V1dDCfu

— Fox News (@FoxNews) March 5, 2026

The terrifying moments captured on video by officers and surveillance cameras that were released Thursday show how the shooting that wounded more than a dozen others unfolded quickly early Sunday in downtown Austin’s entertainment district.

Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis said officers arrived within 56 seconds of the first 911 call, shooting and killing the suspect after he fired at police.

Davis said the investigation is ongoing and would not discuss a possible motive for the shooting that erupted a day after the U.S. and Israel launched an attack on Iran.

The FBI has said it’s investigating the shooting as a potential act of terrorism and a law enforcement official told The Associated Press that the gunman was wearing clothes with an Iranian flag design and bearing the words “Property of Allah.”

Police have identified the gunman as 53-year-old Ndiaga Diagne and say he legally bought the pistol and rifle that he used in the attack outside Buford’s Backyard Beer Garden. The venue is on Sixth Street, a nightlife destination filled with bars and music clubs close to the University of Texas at Austin..

Authorities now know 19 people were hit by gunfire, including the three who died, Davis said Thursday. One person remains in critical condition.

Most of those who were shot were outside the bar, including one victim who was waiting for a ride, she said.

Screaming and shouts of “get down” can be heard on a 911 call released Thursday. “There has been a shooting at Buford’s,” one caller said. “There are people dead over here. We need help right now.”

Diagne was not on the radar of authorities before he opened fire early Sunday. Davis said investigators have found he was the subject of a mental health-related welfare check, possibly in 2022, by an agency elsewhere.

He fired the first shots from his SUV then parked his vehicle and emerged with a rifle, police said. He shot another person before officers rushed to the intersection and shot and killed him, Davis said.

Jorge Pederson, 30, an aspiring mixed martial arts fighter, died from his gunshot wounds Monday. He had just moved to Texas from Minnesota. His former gym, the Academy Martial Arts Gym, said in a Facebook post that he brought “light and joy into the grueling work of training.”

Also killed were 21-year-old Savitha Shan and 19-year-old Ryder Harrington.

Shan, a business student at the University of Texas at Austin, had a job waiting for her at a consulting firm, her family said in a statement released through the university. It said she was an only child and described her death as “profoundly unfair.”

Harrington had attended Texas Tech University through last fall, and his former fraternity brothers at Beta Theta Pi recalled in an Instagram post his ability to “make ordinary days unforgettable.”

“Every great outfit has a story, and in Lakewood, many of those stories begin at a small shop with a big reputation- Alterations by Vora”

You can now shop confidently knowing that your dress will be professionally tailored. We are happy to provide you with an exceptionally quick turnaround, professional work- in the most convenient way possible.

At Alterations by Vora, tailoring becomes an enjoyable, comfortable, and convenient experience.

Convenient

Get the time and attention you deserve with a personal fitting appointment. There is no waiting on long lines to be fitted. With daytime and evening appointment options you can choose a time that works with your schedule. Multiple fitting rooms and a beautifully designed shop, make it comfortable and relaxing. There is also a play area and video to entertain the kids. The atmosphere during fittings is always relaxed and welcoming.

Safely drop off or pickup alterations at any time of day or night with our clean and brightly lit drop off and pickup cabinets.

With a printed receipt given to each customer at fittings you can feel confident knowing the estimate of what will be charged and the date your clothing will be ready. Customers also receive a text as soon as their alterations are ready for pickup.

Quick

Although we serve a high volume of customers, we deliver an exceptionally quick turnaround. This gives the confidence to shop at ease knowing you can have the dress of your choice ready for whenever you need it!

Having fittings by appointment eliminates the wait time that many experience when having their clothing altered. This proves to be very valued by our customers, especially during busy Yom Tov preparations or when making a simcha.

Professional

With her many years of sewing experience, and keen eye for style and fit, our customers return again and again for Vora’s confidence and perfection.

Every garment we receive is treated with upmost care and perfection. From the first tag and hanger it receives at fitting, until it is bagged and picked up, we take care to handle your garment with love.

When you walk into the studio’s work space you will find a variety of machines including multiple industrial machines, blind stitch, cover-stitch, and overlock machines, enabling our seamstresses to sew your garments with precision and perfection. All our staff are highly skilled and trained, with many years of experience. Whether your clothes are handled by Vora or by one of the team, you are always guaranteed perfection.

Choose Alterations by Vora for a professional, quick and friendly alterations experience.

Book your fitting now 848.221.0240

Chaim V’Chessed continues to receive a high volume of inquiries from Israeli residents stranded abroad – who wish to return home – and from those urgently seeking to leave Israel. Below is the most current information available.

Returning to Israel

Close to 100,000 residents of Israel are believed to be stranded abroad due to the ongoing conflict with Iran. This morning, the first two so-called “repatriation flights” landed in Israel – one from Athens and one from Rome, bringing Israelis home.

At present, these flights are extremely limited. There are flights by El Al, Israir and Arkia from select destinations, on which passengers who already held tickets are being placed – or offered seats – at the airlines’ discretion. Airlines will reach out to their passengers to place them on flights. It is extremely difficult – if not impossible – for passengers to reach the airlines on their own.

There are very limited spaces available for travelers who do not hold tickets or who held tickets on other airlines.

During the previous round of conflict, repatriation flights were initially limited to Israeli citizens only. Chaim V’Chessed advocated strongly on behalf of Israeli residents who do not hold Israeli citizenship, and will do so again if this arises again. At this time, we do not yet know whether citizenship restrictions will again become an issue.

For those unable to secure space on these very limited flights, the only current alternative is to enter Israel via Egypt – essentially reversing the route being used by those exiting the country.

In addition to the option of flying into Sharm el-Sheikh Airport on regularly scheduled commercial flights, Israir is operating flights to Taba Airport from various destinations. Passengers can then enter Israel at the Taba Broder Crossing.

Leaving Israel

Currently, no outbound flights are permitted to depart from Israel. The Israeli government has announced that limited outbound flights are expected to begin departing Israel on Sunday.

However, several critical points must be emphasized:

• It remains to be seen how this plan will actually unfold.
• Based on what has been announced – mirroring the previous conflict – flights may be limited to 50 passengers per flight.
• Passengers may be permitted only a very limited amount of time inside the terminal.

Full operational details have not yet been released.

It is likely – though not yet confirmed – that available seats will again be offered primarily to those who previously held reservations. Even if these flights begin as announced, they will certainly not provide a solution for the huge number of people currently seeking to leave.

Ongoing Options

At present, the best functioning route out of Israel remains travel through Egypt, departing from:

• Taba Airport
• Sharm el-Sheikh Airport

Israir is operating a significant number of flights out of Taba Airport to various destinations.

Various agencies are offering complete packages for departing Israel via Egypt, including transportation to the airports in Egypt. These include Lalechet and Emes Travel.

As with all current developments, this remains subject to change.

Travel Through Egypt – What You Need to Know

Many have asked whether it is safe or recommended to travel via Egypt.

It is important to note:

• Israel maintains a standing travel advisory against travel to Egypt, which has been in effect for some time.
• At the same time, thousands of travelers have successfully transited Egypt in recent days, both entering and exiting Israel.

Without offering any recommendation, we can report the following practical realities:

The journey is arduous.

• 3-4 hour drive to Eilat
• Up to 2 hours at the border crossing
• Approximately 3 additional hours if continuing to Sharm el-Sheikh
• Those departing from Sharm or Taba must generally connect through Europe before continuing to their final destinations.

These itineraries are long, complex, and often grueling. Nevertheless, many have completed them successfully, and for now, this remains the most viable mass option.

Travel Through Jordan – What You Need to Know

It is possible to exit Israel via Jordan and continue onward to other international destinations. However, during the June conflict with Iran, many travelers reported experiencing greater hostility and difficulty from Jordanian authorities than from Egyptian authorities.

It remains to be seen how this route will function in the current situation.

Option 1 – Amman (Queen Alia International Airport)

Amman’s Queen Alia International Airport offers numerous global connections, including nonstop flights to the United States.

Under normal circumstances, this airport is most easily accessed via the Allenby Bridge Crossing. However, this border crossing crossing is largely closed due to the ongoing conflict, making travel to Amman much more difficult at this time.

Option 2 – Via Eilat to Aqaba

Travelers may instead travel south to Eilat and cross into Jordan via the Yitzhak Rabin Crossing.

• The crossing is currently open, though it does not operate 24 hours a day.
• After entering Jordan, travelers can:
  • Travel north to Amman and depart from Queen Alia International Airport
  • Remain in the south and fly from Aqaba

Arkia is scheduled to begin operating special flights from Aqaba as of Sunday, providing an additional departure option for those seeking to leave the region.

{Matzav.com}

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited Ovda Airbase in southern Israel on Thursday, where he met Israeli Air Force crews and U.S. personnel deployed alongside them as part of Operation “Roaring Lion.” During the visit, Netanyahu was shown the U.S. Air Force’s F-22 Raptor stealth fighters currently stationed at the base.

The F-22 — one of the most advanced fighter jets in the world — specializes in air dominance, stealth operations, and intercepting enemy aircraft and missiles. Netanyahu described the cooperation between the Israeli and American militaries, particularly their air forces, as historic, as joint operations continue against Iranian regime targets and terrorist elements in Lebanon. He added that while significant achievements have been made, the mission is still ongoing.

Melbourne, Australia – UK Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis arrived in Australia for a series of planned engagements and made a visit to the Adas Yisroel Shul on his first day in Melbourne.

This is the Chief Rabbi’s second visit to Australia in recent months. The current trip was scheduled about a year ago. While the primary purpose of his trip was other previous commitments, he specifically requested to stop by the shul to meet with the Rov (Gaaved) of Adas Yisroel, Rav Shloime Kohn, a source involved in the Jewish community affairs in Melbourne tells Belaaz.

The Chief Rabbi inspected the part of the shul that was firebombed in December 2024, which authorities linked to Iran. His visit comes amid rising threats to Jewish sites worldwide. Rabbi Mirvis described being at the site as a ‘sobering reminder’ of the global dangers Jews face from Iran and its proxies.”

The Chief of Police of Melbourne also attended the meeting in hornor of the Chief Rabbi.

In a statement posted on X today, Rabbi Mirvis shared:
“When I planned this trip nearly a year ago, I didn’t know that this would be my second visit to Australia within a matter of months. On my first day here in Melbourne I visited the Adass Israel Synagogue, which was firebombed in December 2024, an attack which Australian authorities say was linked to Iran. Being here is a sobering reminder of the threat that Jews around the world face from Iran and its proxies.”

Firefighters battled a structure fire Thursday morning in the Silverton section of Toms River, prompting a multi-company response and a second alarm.

At approximately 9:30 a.m., Silverton Volunteer Fire Company (Station 29), along with Pleasant Plains Fire Department (Station 30) and East Dover Fire Company (Station 28), were dispatched to a reported structure fire on Aldo Drive.

First-arriving units encountered smoke and fire coming from a two-story home. According to officials, the bulk of the fire was located at the rear of the residence, with flames extending to the roof and attic area.

Firefighters quickly stretched two 1¾-inch handlines to begin attacking the fire while additional crews conducted a primary search of the home to ensure no occupants were inside.

Due to the extent of the fire, the incident was upgraded to a second alarm, bringing additional Toms River fire companies and mutual aid resources to assist with firefighting operations.

Officials said no occupants were inside the home at the time of the fire. One dog was safely removed from the residence prior to the arrival of fire personnel, and no injuries were reported.

Crews remained on scene conducting overhaul operations to ensure the fire was fully extinguished.

The scene was later turned over to the Toms River Bureau of Fire Prevention for an investigation into the origin and cause of the fire. The investigation is being led by Inspectors Britton, Oeskovic, and Kappock. Authorities say the circumstances surrounding the fire appear to be accidental at this time.

[

View this post on Instagram

](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DVg-HtKiatt/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading)

WASHINGTON (VINnews) — The U.S. military has killed an Iranian official who headed a unit accused of plotting to assassinate President Donald Trump, the Pentagon said Thursday.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the operation took place Tuesday, though he noted that the Iranian official was not the original focus of the U.S.-Israeli campaign against Iran. He said the target was added to the list once identified. “The leader of the unit who tried to kill President Trump has been taken out,” Hegseth said.

The alleged assassination attempt dates to 2024, when U.S. authorities charged an Iranian man tied to the Revolutionary Guard Corps. Iran has denied involvement in targeting Trump or other American officials.

Trump referenced the plot in a recent interview, highlighting a joint U.S.-Israeli operation that killed Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. “I got him before he got me,” the president said.

Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said U.S. forces have made steady progress in the conflict. He reported a sharp decline in Iranian missile launches and drone attacks since the first day of fighting and said strikes are expanding deeper into Iranian territory to give U.S. forces greater operational flexibility.

Arab Gulf countries are running very low on interceptors, according to officials from the region who spoke to CBS Thursday. They have asked the United States to expedite the shipment of more supplies and were told that the U.S. has created a task force to handle the problem. However, the officials said the process is moving too slowly.

This video from a post on X purports to show Iran launching missiles during the current conflict.

Iran has thus far launched hundreds of drones and missiles, complicating the situation and prompting Arab leaders to conclude that Iran’s purpose in attacking both allies and hostile countries in the region is to cause them to pressure the U.S. to back down from its attacks.

On Wednesday, Air Force Gen. Dan Caine, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, dismissed concerns about shortages of interceptors and other types of ammunition. He said at a press conference that the U.S. has enough “precision munitions for the task at hand, both on the offense and defense.”

This video from a post on X purports to show a missile strike in Nagorno-Karabakh in Azerbaijan.

Regional officials said that the lack of U.S. ambassadors in the Middle East has made communication difficult. In addition to not sending ambassadors to Lebanon, Jordan and Qatar since the start of his second term, President Donald Trump has yet to appoint ambassadors to Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait, who are working instead with a chargé d’affaires (an interim ambassador).

Moreover, the National Security Council and State Department are spread thin, with fewer staff members than is usual. While Middle East Envoy Steve Witkoff and Middle East adviser Jared Kushner have served as envoys to the Middle East, they do not manage the relationships with individual countries.

A brief but memorable encounter on Purim in Yerushalayim left several bochurim with a powerful impression of Rav Asher Arielli’s humility and sincerity.

Each year on Purim, Rav Asher Arielli receives many visitors at his home for hours of kabolas kahal. During those hours, people stream in to greet him, deliver mishloach manos, and receive a bracha.

This year, two bochurim arrived somewhat late and stood outside the door debating whether they should still go in. While they were hesitating, another man who had come to collect tzedakah knocked on the door.

To their surprise, the one who opened the door was Rav Asher himself.

Realizing the opportunity, the bochurim immediately introduced themselves and presented Rav Asher with their mishloach manos.

They then asked if he could give them a Birkas Kohein. Rav Asher gently declined, explaining that he is not a kohein.

The bochurim, who were Chassidish, responded that even rebbes who are not kohanim sometimes give such a bracha.

Rav Asher responded by directing them to go up one flight in the building, explaining that a kohein lives there and that they should ask him instead.

Seeing that the bochurim were hesitant, he reassured them and urged them to go, telling them that the man upstairs is “a true oveid Hashem.”

Before they left, Rav Asher gave them a bracha that they should be able to learn and grow in their limud haTorah.

Those present were struck by the simplicity and humility of the interaction, a moment that many said captured Rav Asher Arielli’s character in a remarkable way.

{Matzav.com}

The conspiracy theory pushed yesterday by antisemite Tucker Carlson linking Chabad-Lubavitch to the war with Iran has quickly spread across fringe corners of social media, with another antisemitic commentator, Candace Owens, now escalating the rhetoric even further.

In a series of posts on X, Owens repeated and expanded on the claims Carlson aired on his podcast, accusing the Chabad movement of operating a secretive and dangerous agenda while warning her followers to monitor where Chabad centers exist in their communities.

“Tucker is telling the truth about the Chabad Lubavitch,” Owens wrote. “Read the book ‘Sigmund Freud and the Jewish Mystical Tradition.’”

“Also be reminded that when I discussed the Chabad on Piers Morgan, Jews tried to have me murdered,” she wrote, of course without providing evidence, because there isn’t any.

In a follow-up post, Owens escalated the accusations further, warning her followers to “be aware” of nearby Chabad institutions and repeating several conspiracy claims that have circulated online in recent years.

“Remember they are digging tunnels in New York and in cities all across America,” Owens wrote. “They are taking over entire towns in New Jersey.”

She went on to claim that Chabad followers are “dangerous” and described the movement as “a radical sect of mystic occultists,” while citing discredited and widely criticized claims connected to psychoanalyst Jeffrey Masson.

Owens also alleged that dozens of people had been involved in a supposed plot to murder her — again offering no documentation or evidence.

The posts come after Carlson used his podcast to float the theory that the war between Israel and Iran is tied to a supposed Chabad-backed effort to destroy the Al-Aqsa Mosque on the Temple Mount and rebuild the Third Temple — a claim for which he provided no evidence.

The claims are likely to resonate particularly strongly in parts of New Jersey, where Orthodox Jewish communities — including many Chabad centers — have become frequent targets of online conspiracy theories and political rhetoric.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

WASHINGTON (AP) — Some two dozen states challenged President Donald Trump’s new global tariffs on Thursday, filing a lawsuit over import taxes he imposed after a stinging loss at the Supreme Court.

The Democratic attorneys general and governors in the lawsuit argue that Trump is overstepping his power with planned 15% tariffs on much of the world.

Trump has said the tariffs are essential to reduce America’s longstanding trade deficits. He imposed duties under Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974 after the Supreme Court struck down tariffs he imposed last year under an emergency powers law.

Section 122, which has never been invoked, allows the president to impose tariffs of up to 15%. They are limited to five months unless extended by Congress.

The lawsuit is led by attorneys general from Oregon, Arizona, California and New York.

“The focus right now should be on paying people back, not doubling down on illegal tariffs,” said Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield. The suit comes a day after a judge ruled t hat companies who paid tariffs under Trump’s old framework should get refunds.

The new suit argues that Trump can’t pivot to Section 122 because it was intended to be used only in specific, limited circumstances — not for sweeping import taxes. It also contends the tariffs will drive up costs for states, businesses and consumers.

Many of those states also successfully sued over Trump’s tariffs imposed under a different law: the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA).

Four days after the Supreme Court struck down his sweeping IEEPA tariffs Feb. 20, Trump invoked Section 122 to slap 10% tariffs on foreign goods. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessant told CNBC on Wednesday that the administration would raise the levies to the 15% limit this week.

The Democratic states and other critics say the president can’t use Section 122 as a replacement for the defunct tariffs to combat the trade deficit.

The Section 122 provision is aimed at what it calls “fundamental international payments problems.’’ At issue is whether that wording covers trade deficits, the gap between what the U.S. sells other countries and what it buys from them.

Section 122 arose from the financial crises that emerged in the 1960s and 1970s when the U.S. dollar was tied to gold. Other countries were dumping dollars in exchange for gold at a set rate, risking a collapse of the U.S. currency and chaos in financial markets. But the dollar is no longer linked to gold, so critics say Section 122 is obsolete.

Awkwardly for Trump, his own Justice Department argued in a court filing last year that the president needed to invoke the emergency powers act because Section 122 did “not have any obvious application’’ in fighting trade deficits, which it called “conceptually distinct’’ from balance-of-payment issues.

Still, some legal analysts say the Trump administration has a stronger case this time.

“The legal reality is that courts will likely provide President Trump substantially more deference regarding Section 122 than they did to his previous tariffs under IEEPA,’’ Peter Harrell, visiting scholar at Georgetown University’s Institute of International Economic Law, wrote in a commentary Wednesday.

The specialized Court of International Trade in New York, which will hear the states’ lawsuit, wrote last year in its own decision striking down the emergency-powers tariffs that Trump didn’t need them because Section 122 was available to combat trade deficits.

Trump does have other legal authorities he can use to impose tariffs, and some have already survived court tests. Duties that Trump imposed on Chinese imports during his first term under Section 301 of the same 1974 trade act are still in place.

Also joining the lawsuit are the attorneys general of Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, and the governors of Kentucky and Pennsylvania.

In an exclusive NBC News interview from Tehran, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said that Iran is ready and unafraid of a potential U.S. ground invasion amid the escalating war with the U.S. and Israel.

When asked if he feared American troops entering Iran, Araghchi responded defiantly: “No, we are waiting for them.”

Pressed on ground forces, he replied, “Yes. That would be a big disaster for them,” claiming that Iran could confront and defeat any such operation.

Araghchi also rejected negotiations with the U.S. and stated Iran has not requested a ceasefire, denying President Trump’s claim.

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Elon Musk continued to defend his actions in the months leading up to his 2022 purchase of Twitter in court Thursday as he faces a class action lawsuit claiming he misled investors and caused them to lose millions of dollars.

The civil trial in San Francisco centers on a class-action lawsuit filed just before Musk took control of Twitter, a social media service he renamed X, in October 2022, six months after agreeing to buy the embattled company for $44 billion, or $54.20 per share.

The case, which represents Twitter shareholders who sold the stock between May 13 and Oct. 4, 2022, revolves around allegations that Musk violated federal securities laws while taking a series of calculated steps to drive down the company’s stock price in an attempt to either blow up the deal or wrangle a lower sales price.

Taking the stand for the second day, Musk continued to double down on his assertion that Twitter had a much higher number of fake and spam accounts than the 5% it disclosed in regulatory filings.

The problem of bots and fake accounts on Twitter wasn’t new at the time Musk negotiated the deal. The company had paid $809.5 million in 2021 to settle claims it was overstating its growth rate and monthly user figures. Twitter also disclosed its bot estimates to the Securities and Exchange Commission for years, while also cautioning that its estimate might be too low.

But Musk and some outside analysts say the number was much higher, at least 20%. Saying the bot number was at least this high was like “saying the grass is green or the sky is blue,” Musk said.

Police in the United Kingdom briefly detained and questioned a chassidishe man who dressed as a police officer as part of his Purim costume, after officers initially believed he might be impersonating law enforcement.

WATCH:

{Matzav.com}

Ahead of the spring wildfire season, the Department of Environmental Protection’s Forest Fire Service today announced $90,000 in grants to 22 communities statewide to support wildfire risk-reduction projects, part of the Sherrill Administration’s mission to deliver to protect New Jersey communities from lengthening wildfire seasons amid a changing climate.

Communities receiving funds are located within New Jersey’s high-risk wildland-urban interface, areas where forest lands and human development intertwine, and have an approved Firewise Action Plan through the Forest Fire Service’s Firewise Communities program.

“The Firewise Communities Program supports concrete actions to help save lives and raise awareness for both vigilance and action to reduce wildfire risk,” said Environmental Protection Acting Commissioner Ed Potosnak. “The partnerships supported by this initiative are vital for ensuring the protection of lives and property in New Jersey’s most wildfire-prone areas.”

“As New Jersey approaches spring wildfire season, preparation is critical, and community level action to reduce wildfire risk through implementation of the Firewise Communities program is an important step to take,” said John Cecil, DEP’s Assistant Commissioner for State Parks, Forests & Historic Sites. “These grants empower communities to take meaningful action to reduce wildfire risk in their own backyards.”

The grant program is part of the National Fire Protection Association’s Firewise USA initiative, which helps residents understand wildfire risks. It further supports communities in reducing those risks through planning, preparedness, education, and technical and financial assistance.

Funding for the grants was made available through the USDA Forest Service’s Wildfire Risk Reduction Grant Program provided to the Middle Atlantic Interstate Forest Fire Protection Compact and distributed by the DEP Forest Fire Service. The Compact coordinates forest fire protection, planning and training among Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia.

How the Grants Are Used

Funded projects may include reducing wildfire risk through the maintenance of firebreaks to keep them clear of vegetation, along with strategic forest-thinning activities to reduce low and midstory trees and shrubs known as ladder fuels. Those ladder fuels can allow fire to spread rapidly from the forest floor into the tree canopy, making fires more difficult to control and extinguish.

Other potential projects include community education and outreach, as well as home-hardening initiatives. Home hardening involves modifying building materials, design features and landscaping to reduce the likelihood that a home will ignite during a wildfire.

Homes are typically not destroyed by direct flames but by embers and burning debris carried by wind. Home hardening focuses on preventing these ignition points by removing dead vegetation near structures, creating defensible space, planting fire-resistant landscaping, keeping gutters clear of leaves and pine needles, and modifying structures, such as installing mesh screens over vents, to prevent embers from entering.

“New Jersey has one of the most successful Firewise Community programs in the country, which not only helps keep residents safe in the event of a wildfire, but gives our firefighters a deeper knowledge of the issues in the communities they protect,” said Bill Donnelly, Chief of the Forest Fire Service. “When residents and firefighters collaborate, they support better planning, prevention and response to wildfires.”

Grant recipients are required to provide a matching contribution through monetary funds and/or documented volunteer hours.

The following communities had their Firewise grant applications approved:

Atlantic County

Egg Harbor: Victoria Crossing Community Association, $4,200

Burlington County

Leisuretown Association, Inc., Southampton and Tranquility Ridge Homeowners Association, Vincentown: $4,200 each

Camden County

Waterford Township: $4,200

Monmouth County

Hamilton: Horizons at Woods Landing Homeowners Association, $4,200

Ocean County

Barnegat: Brighton at Barnegat Firewise Association, $3,500; Four Seasons at Mirage Homeowners Association, Heritage Bay Homeowners Association, Heritage Point Homeowners Association, Horizons at Barnegat Homeowners Association, and Pheasant Run Barnegat, $4,200 each; Pinewood Estates Firewise, $2,000

Little Egg Harbor: Four Seasons at Harbor Bay Homeowners Association and Four Seasons at Sea Oaks Homeowners Association, $4,200 each

Manchester: Crestwood Village Five Homeowners Association and Crestwood Village Six Community Association, Inc., $4,300 each

Manahawkin: Atlantic Hills Homeowners Association and Paramount Escapes Ocean Breeze, Manahawkin, $4,200 each

Toms River: Greenbriar Woodlands Homeowners Association, $4,200

Tuckerton: Cranberry Creek Homeowners Association, Inc., $4,200

Waretown: Greenbriar Oceanaire Community Association, Inc., $4,200

Warren County

Hardwick Township: $4,300

About Firewise and Spring Wildfire Season

New Jersey has participated in the Firewise Communities program since 2004, when Hardwick Township in Warren County became the state’s first Firewise Community. It is one of several programs offered by the DEP Forest Fire Service to help educate residents about wildfire risk, reduce forest fuels and plan for future wildfires.

Mid-March to Mid-May is typically peak wildfire season in New Jersey. At this time of year, trees and underbrush are still leafing out, relative humidity is generally low, and windy days are common. The combination of these factors means forested lands dry out quickly, particularly in the Pinelands of southern New Jersey. The sandy and porous soils in this vast region do not retain moisture for long, exacerbate drying and increase the potential for a fire to spark only hours after rainfall.

Residents and community leaders can learn more about wildfire threats to homes and businesses through the New Jersey Wildfire Risk Assessment Portal (NJWRAP), which compiles data and resources to help residents, community leaders and fire professionals take actions to mitigate wildfire risk.

In 2025, the Forest Fire Service launched the NJ Wildfire SMART (Safety, Mitigation, Awareness, Response, Training) initiative, a series of actions that emphasize steps and information resources for reducing wildfire risk and spread.

The President’s Residence issued a statement responding to the blistering remarks by President Trump, where he slams President Herzog regarding a possible pardon for Prime Minister Netanyahu.

“At a time when all of us are mobilized, the President of the State is not dealing with the issue of a pardon for Prime Minister Netanyahu,” the statement said. “President Herzog greatly respects and appreciates President Trump’s enormous contribution to Israel’s security. He views him as the leader of the free world and a central ally of the State of Israel, and especially values his firm stance against Iran.”

The statement noted that President Herzog has previously expressed that it would be appropriate for the relevant authorities to hold a substantive discussion aimed at reaching an agreed arrangement, including the possibility of a plea deal in the prime minister’s case.

“For the sake of clarity, and as has been stated several times before — Israel is a sovereign state governed by the rule of law,” the statement continued. “Accordingly, the prime minister’s request is currently being handled according to procedure within the Justice Ministry for a legal opinion. After that process is completed, the President will examine the request in accordance with the law, the good of the state, and his conscience, without any influence from external or internal pressures.”

Additional information provided by the reporter stated that President Herzog has not promised any individual that a pardon will be granted in Netanyahu’s cases and emphasized that any request will be handled strictly according to established procedures.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — The United States and its allies in the Middle East are seeking Ukraine’s expertise in countering Iran’s Shahed drones, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Various countries, including the United States, have approached Ukraine for help in defending against the Iranian drones, Zelenskyy said late Wednesday. He said he has spoken in recent days with the leaders of the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, Jordan and Kuwait about possible cooperation.

Russia has fired tens of thousands of Shaheds at Ukraine since it invaded its neighbor just over four years ago, launching a swarm of more than 800 drones and decoys in its biggest nighttime barrage. Iran has responded to joint U.S.-Israeli strikes by launching the same type of drones at countries in the Middle East.

Ukrainian assistance in countering Iranian drones will be provided only if it does not weaken Ukraine’s own defenses, and if it adds leverage to Kyiv’s diplomatic efforts to stop the Russian invasion, according to the Ukrainian leader.

“We help to defend from war those who help us, Ukraine, bring a just end to the war” with Russia, Zelenskyy said.

Ukraine has battle-tested drone defenses
Ukraine has pioneered the development of cut-price drone killers that cost as little as $1,000, rewriting the air defense rule book and making other countries take notice.

European countries got a wake-up call last September on the changed nature of air defense when Poland scrambled multimillion-dollar military assets, including F-35 and F-16 fighter jets and Black Hawk helicopters, in response to airspace violations by cheap drones.

Ukrainian manufacturers have developed low-cost interceptor drones specifically designed to hunt and destroy Shaheds, and its rapidly expanding drone industry is producing excess capacity.

Zelenskyy announced earlier this year that Ukraine would begin exporting the battle-tested systems.

The European Union’s top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, said before chairing a meeting of EU and Gulf foreign ministers via video link Thursday that the talks would look at how Ukraine’s experience can help countries counter Iranian drones.

Middle East war delays Russia-Ukraine talks
The Iran war, now in its sixth day, has drawn international attention away from Europe’s biggest conflict since World War II, and forced the postponement of a new round of U.S-brokered talks between Russia and Ukraine planned for this week, Zelenskyy said.

Western governments and analysts say the Russia-Ukraine war has killed hundreds of thousands of people, while there is no sign that yearlong U.S.-led peace efforts will stop the fighting any time soon.

“Right now, because of the situation around Iran, there are not yet the necessary signals for a trilateral meeting,” Zelenskyy said. “But as soon as the security situation and the overall political context allow us to resume that trilateral diplomatic work, it will be done.”

Oleksandr Merezhko, the head of Ukraine’s parliamentary foreign affairs committee, said Russian President Vladimir Putin is trying to drag out the negotiations so that he can press on with Russia’s invasion while escaping further U.S. sanctions.

He urged the U.S. administration to look at the Russia-Ukraine war and the war in the Middle East as linked.

“In reality, Russia and Iran are close allies that act in concert — Iran supplies weapons and Russia helps Iran develop its defense industry. These are interconnected conflicts,” Merezhko told The Associated Press.

Ukraine’s army has recently pushed back Russian forces at some points along the roughly 1,250-kilometer (750-mile) front line, according to the Institute for the Study of War.

Localized Ukrainian counterattacks liberated more territory than Ukrainian forces lost in the last two weeks of February, the Washington-based think tank said this week, estimating the recovered land at about 257 square kilometers (100 square miles) since Jan. 1.

LKWD SHOPS 50+ Shops in 1 Location is back this Sunday!

It’s the one-day curated fashion pop-up which women and teens wait for. The event offers an opportunity for women and teens to do a complete Spring and Summer wardrobe update – from Shabbos and Yom Tov outfits, to Chol Hamoed, work, vacation, jewelry, accessories, wigs, baby, and more!

This season, LKWD Shops brings over 50 new and returning brands to a spacious new venue, the all-new Ateres Blima Hall.

“The shopping experience you love— elevated” is how Hennie Weiman, the LKWD SHOPS founder, describes this season’s event. The spacious new venue provides an even more comfortable space for shopping than ever before.

500 parking spots, 65 private dressing rooms, 50+ shops, 1 location. Shop for clothing, jewelry, wigs, baby, home and more! A preview of participating brands include A Soliani, Recollection, Apparelel, Maya’s Place, Pashmina, By Tess, Japprelle, Rave on Trend, The Vintage Closet, Junee, Profile NYC, Metziahs, Lil Teddy, and Mun.

The Lakewood Shuttle Loop Route South will have an exclusive run with a stop at LKWD Shops on Sunday, between 10:30 until 5:00. For minute to minute route updates call the Shuttle hotline at 732.929.6929, or call Leah Esther Klein at 732.367.7468

New space, familiar favorites, and all the spring styles you’re looking for. LKWD SHOPS is one Lakewood event you won’t want to miss.

LKWD Shops: Trusted. Curated. Loved.

LKWD SHOPS: 50+ Shops | One Location

THIS SUNDAY: March 8, 11am-9pm

ATERES BLIMA HALL: 400 Oak Street, Lakewood, NJ

Follow @lkwdshops

Follow our Status!

An Israeli official told an Israeli news outlet Thursday that Israel is expected to return to near pre-war levels of life — a return to near normalcy — as Israel will continue to bombard targets deep inside Iran.

Using the metaphor of a root canal, the official said that completing a root canal — i.e., a permanent solution — would have been impossible to achieve in 12 days, referring to the 12-day war in June. Knowing that more work would be required to finish the job, the IDF had already begun planning for the next round of fighting back then.

To weaken the regime permanently or end it, Israel must achieve air superiority and the destruction of Iran’s arsenal of surface-to-surface missiles, the official said. But he acknowledged the difficulty of completing those two tasks.

“I’m not fooling myself that we’ll be able to completely purge it, but we can get to a better place, and that’s the aspiration,” he said. But he added that the preparations for the current round of fighting show that the efforts are paying off.

“The fact that the aircraft are now doing four times more than they did in Operation Rising Lion required preparation,” he said. “There are pilots who flew to Iran three times a day — it’s insane, and for that you need physiological preparation and to build an envelope that allows staying power.”

The Israelis are working feverishly to deplete Iran’s stockpiles as quickly as possible for two reasons: One, they need to finish the job before President Donald Trump ends the war; and two, they need to diminish Iran’s lethal strikes on Israel. This requires relentless attacks on Iran’s air defense systems and launching pads.

The official said that previously, the Americans did not view Iran’s weapons arsenal as a threat. That has since changed, but the only way to permanently cripple Iran’s ability to keep producing ballistic missiles and eventually achieve production of intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) that could potentially reach the United States is to engage in a lengthy campaign of incessant strikes.

Fox News’ Trey Yingst reports the latest on Operation Epic Fury as the U.S. and Israel continue to target Tehran’s military infrastructure.

WATCH:

The Jackson Township Police Department has announced the addition of three new officers to its ranks following their graduation Tuesday from the Ocean County Police Academy’s 123rd Class.

Officer Matthew Herrick, a lifelong Jackson resident, attended Elms Elementary School and Goetz Middle School before graduating from Albany Academy in Albany, New York in 2020, where he served as captain of the varsity ice hockey team. After high school, Herrick played two years of junior ice hockey in Massachusetts and Maine before returning to New Jersey to play for the NJ 87’s, where he served as team captain and helped lead the team to the 2021–2022 league championship.

Herrick later attended Saint Anselm College in New Hampshire, where he majored in social work and played NCAA Division II ice hockey, helping his team capture a Northeast-10 Ice Hockey Championship. He later transferred to the University of Delaware, where he is currently completing a degree in History and Wildlife Ecology with a minor in Insect Ecology.

Herrick has also served as a Manasquan beach lifeguard for more than five years and has been credited with numerous water rescues and preventative safety actions. His community service includes helping launch a high school club that grew fruits and vegetables for donation to homeless shelters and food banks, volunteering at VA hospitals and children’s hospitals, and working with the Best Day Foundation to help children with special needs enjoy beach activities such as surfing and swimming. During his time at Saint Anselm, he also worked with underfunded schools in Manchester, New Hampshire assisting with before- and after-school care.

Officer Joshua Bollard is also a Jackson native and graduated from Jackson Liberty High School in 2018. While in high school, he was a four-year varsity wrestler, serving as team captain for two years, and also competed as a varsity golfer.

Bollard later attended East Carolina University, graduating in 2022 with a bachelor’s degree in Sport Studies and a minor in Communications. After completing his degree, he returned to Jackson Liberty High School as a substitute teacher and assistant wrestling coach, mentoring student-athletes and giving back to the school community. Bollard plans to remain involved with the recently combined wrestling program while beginning his law enforcement career. He is following in the footsteps of his father, Jackson Police Officer Michael Bollard.

Officer Lance Hobbs, another Jackson native, graduated from Jackson Memorial High School in 2020, where he competed as a varsity wrestler. After high school, Hobbs enlisted in the United States Marine Corps, serving four years on active duty as an infantry rifleman specializing in weapon systems and close-quarter combat.

During his military service, Hobbs participated in Operation Allies Welcome, a humanitarian mission led by the Department of Homeland Security to assist with the resettlement of Afghan refugees following the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan. He also deployed to Okinawa, Japan and the border of South Korea, where he helped train more than 250 South Korean Marines in infantry tactics and techniques. Hobbs received several military honors during his service, including the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal for outstanding leadership and meritorious service.

Jackson Police officials congratulated the three graduates and welcomed them as they begin their careers serving the residents of Jackson Township.

By Y.M. Lowy

Walk down 13th Avenue in Boro Park and you’ll see that part of the avenue is co-named Raoul Wallenberg Way, honoring the Swedish diplomat who saved tens of thousands of Hungarian Jews during the Holocaust. Walk over to 15th Avenue and 48th Street, and you’ll find a sign for “Bobov Promenade,” leaving many wondering why and when these streets were named this way.

Now, a new interactive map from the New York City Department of Records and Information Services is giving residents the chance to discover stories like that all across the city.

The online tool highlights nearly 2,500 co-named streets throughout the five boroughs. Some honor world-famous figures. Others recognize teachers, activists, first responders, and everyday New Yorkers who left a mark on their communities. Each name has a story, and in many cases, it’s one that neighbors may not even realize is tied to their own block.

Users can zoom in on their neighborhood, click on a street, and read about the person behind the sign. It turns an ordinary walk down the avenue into a small history lesson.

For residents curious about the names they pass every day, the map offers a simple way to see New York’s history woven directly into its streets.

NEW YORK (AP) — Morgan Stanley is laying off roughly 2,500 employees as job cuts continue this year in the financial sector.

The layoffs at Morgan Stanley, which account for roughly 3% of its workforce, are taking place across the entirety of investment bank, a person with knowledge familiar with the matter told The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity as the firm is not making a public statement about the layoffs.

Like other firms, Morgan Stanley aggressively hired during the pandemic, going from 60,000 employees in 2019 to 82,000 employees by year end 2022. The company had 83,000 employees at the end of 2025.

Tens of thousands of job cuts have already been made just two months into the new year, many of them white dollar. The financial sector has not been immune.

Citigroup and Blackrock have reportedly trimmed back their headcounts, and last week, financial technology company Block, which owns Cash App and the point-of-sale company Square, announced it would lay off 40% of its workforce. While Block founder Jack Dorsey cited productivity gains in AI as the reason for the layoffs, industry observers noted that Block effectively tripled its workforce from 2019 to 2025, from 3,800 workers to 12,000.

Morgan Stanley’s job cuts would not impact the firm’s financial advisors, but it is cutting back on employees who provide support functions inside of its profitable wealth management division.

The Wall Street Journal first reported the layoffs at Morgan Stanley on Thursday.

Let’s realize something important. Very often, the pressure of being in Eretz Yisroel during a tense time is not as overwhelming as we imagine from afar.People adapt. There is routine. There is resilience. There is a powerful sense of achdus.

Yes, there are moments that are frightening. There are sirens. There is uncertainty. But daily life often continues more steadily than we picture.

When we call in a panic every two minutes, we unintentionally send a message: “You should be scared. I’m scared.”

That does not help them.

Even adult children take emotional cues from their parents. If they hear tension in our voice, if they sense we are unraveling, their burden becomes heavier. Now they are not only managing their own experience they are managing ours.

Even when said with love, these kinds of messages can increase anxiety:

“What’s happening now? Is it safe? Are you in a shelter?” “I can’t sleep. I’m so nervous.” “I’m trying to find flights to get you out immediately.” “This is so terrible. I can’t believe this is happening.”

And if you spoke to your child once every two days before this, do not suddenly begin calling every hour. The change itself communicates panic. Over-obsessing about tickets, evacuation plans, or worst case scenarios – especially if it won’t realistically help – creates more anxiety. And anxiety feeds anxiety. It multiplies.

Our role is to be the steady voice. Even if we are nervous – and of course we are – we must sound calm. We must project confidence. We must remind them consistently: Hashem runs the world.

Say things like “You sound strong. I’m so proud of how you’re handling this.”

“I can’t believe how positive and brave you’re being.”

“Baruch Hashem, people are resilient. This too will pass.”

“We’re davening for you and for all of Klal Yisroel.”

“It sounds like things may be calming down soon.”

Even when you’re unsure, if you don’t have verified information, don’t share rumors. If you’re not sure, don’t say it. Uncertainty expressed dramatically increases fear.

This is not about pretending nothing is happening. It’s about emotional responsibility. Our children must feel we trust their judgment and we trust the Ribbono Shel Olam. We are not falling apart.

If they hear steadiness in our voice, it strengthens them. If they hear panic, it weakens them. Sometimes the greatest act of love is self-control.

Our children in Eretz Yisroel are often surrounded by strength – neighbors helping neighbors, communities rallying, people going about their lives. Let’s not import anxiety from across the ocean.

The Brisker Rav, Rabbi Yitzchak Zev Soloveitchik, lived through war and upheaval, and his response was neither denial nor panic. It was clarity.

He believed in responsible hishtadlus: when there is danger, you take proper precautions and follow instructions carefully. But beyond what halacha requires, hysteria is not avodas Hashem. Fear may be natural, but losing composure reflects a lack of perspective.

He would often point to the Rambam’s teaching that events are not random; they are Hashgacha. If Hashem decrees life, no one can harm you. If He decrees otherwise, no one can prevent it. That clarity does not remove responsibility it removes panic.

In practice, the Brisker Rav modeled emotional discipline. During crisis he strengthened Torah, intensified tefillah, and maintained his routine. He did not allow imagination to run ahead of reality.

The message is powerful for us, especially when facing war in Israel: take precautions, act wisely, but speak calmly. Courage is not loud; it is quiet steadiness rooted in emunah. When we internalize that Hashem alone runs the world, fear shrinks not because danger disappears, but because illusion does.

It is natural to worry. It is natural to want to fix things. It is natural to feel helpless when your child is far away during a war. But our job right now is not to control the situation. It is to control our tone. Calm is contagious. Emuna Is contagious. Confidence is contagious. Let’s make sure those are what we are spreading.

May Hashem protect all of Klal Yisroel and bring safety, yeshuah, and lasting sholom very soon.

Signed,

A yid

The views expressed in this letter are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of YWN. Have an opinion you would like to share? Send it to us for review.

[Video below.] Condoleezza Rice is calling on President Trump to finish the job against Iran following the joint U.S.-Israeli military campaign that eliminated Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Speaking on Fox News this week, the former secretary of state voiced strong support for the operation — known as Operation Epic Fury — and said Washington should seize the opportunity to neutralize Iran’s military threat permanently.

Appearing Wednesday on Fox News’ “Special Report,” Rice argued that Iran has been hostile to the United States for decades and that the current conflict must be understood in that broader context.

“Iran has been at war with us for at least 47 years,” Rice said during the interview. “If you ask people about Iraq, what was the source of many of our casualties in Iraq, you’ll get estimates as high as 75 or 80% of them were due to Iranian-made roadside bombs.”

Rice, 71, said the purpose of the strikes was to cripple Iran’s ability to retaliate and to weaken the regime’s military capabilities before it could respond.

“If you can render Iran essentially incapable of military action against us and against our allies, that’s worthy, and I think what they’re trying to do is to neuter Iran as a military power in the region,” she said.

Rice, who served as the nation’s top diplomat during President George W. Bush’s second term, also pointed to Iran’s longstanding strategy of cultivating proxy militias across the Middle East that operate on Tehran’s behalf.

“They also have developed the military capability to reach outside the boundaries of Iran, including Hezbollah and Hamas, which they both arm and equip,” Rice said.

She dismissed arguments suggesting the Iranian government posed little danger to the United States or its allies, calling such claims historically inaccurate.

“To say that this regime was not a threat … it’s ahistorical,” Rice said. “They have been a threat for a long time.”

Rice also cited several past attacks tied to Iran, including the 1979 hostage crisis in Tehran and the 1983 bombing of the U.S. Marine barracks in Beirut that killed 241 American troops, as evidence of the regime’s long record of hostility toward the United States.

“I myself negotiated four Security Council resolutions, calling them a threat to international peace and security,” Rice said. “Because of their nuclear ambitions.”

Before the weekend military operation began, the United States had been engaged in diplomatic talks with Tehran even as Iran insisted it possessed what it called an “inalienable right” to continue enriching uranium.

Trump had insisted that Iran fully halt its nuclear enrichment program, but negotiations stalled during meetings in Geneva while Washington simultaneously increased its military deployments throughout the Middle East.

Since the start of the strikes, Iran has responded with attacks targeting American and Israeli interests across the region. Those retaliatory actions have left six U.S. service members dead. Rice characterized Tehran’s decision to attack nearby Gulf states as a serious strategic error.

Rice also addressed reports suggesting the United States may have provided support to insurgent groups in Iraq for potential ground operations against the Iranian regime.

“The one thing I don’t know is the nature of the reports hearing about Kurdish incursions into Iranian territory and we ought to be circumspect about judgments and what that really means in terms of Kurdish activity,” she said. “It does speak to the complicated demographics of Iran and we have to keep that in mind.”

She emphasized that Iran is a diverse society composed of numerous ethnic minorities that have faced repression under the ruling regime.

“We do have to be aware that Iran is not a homogeneous population, it’s also a population of over 90 million people on territory that’s twice the size of Texas. So it’s gonna be a complicated set of circumstances,” she added.

Rice also framed the current confrontation with Iran as part of a chain of events stretching back to the Hamas attacks in Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, which were carried out with Iranian backing.

“Iran demonstrated that it probably wasn’t possible to deter their tentacles-like Hamas. I’m quite certain that October 7 with Hamas couldn’t have happened without Iranian training and equipment and even maybe planning,” Rice said.

In the weeks leading up to Operation Epic Fury, U.S. forces carried out a separate campaign in June known as Operation Midnight Hammer, striking multiple Iranian nuclear installations.

“The administration decided, along with the Israelis, to try and at least degrade and maybe even seriously set back Iranian nuclear capabilities.”

Rice said the moment presented a rare opportunity because Iran appeared temporarily weakened and unable to mount an immediate defense.

“I see it as a series of decisions and worthy goal. Of course, we’ll have to watch and see, but I do think taking care of Iranian military and nuclear capabilities is very important,” she said.

WATCH:

{Matzav.com}

[Video below.] During his tish held on Purim Demukafin, the Pnei Menachem Rosh Yeshiva, Rav Shaul Alter, shared a number of sharp and insightful remarks in his well-known style. At one point during the gathering, he related a story about a dream that one of the chassidim had told him about. With a smile, the Rosh Yeshiva explained why the fact that the question in the dream was specifically a question in learning actually proves the point he has been making throughout the year. The exchange, part of the shmuessen delivered by the Rosh Yeshiva on Purim, was published by the Machon Dvar Emes, which is dedicated to spreading the Torah of the Rosh Yeshiva.

The shmuessen delivered by Rav Shaul at the tishen he conducts every Shabbos are widely known for their depth and sharpness. On Purim, however, he has a special way of weaving witty and uplifting remarks into his words, bringing joy to those gathered in keeping with the spirit of the day. Indeed, at the Purim tish he held on Wednesday, Purim Demukafin, the Rosh Yeshiva told a story that drew smiles and laughter from those present, though the conclusion he drew from it was his familiar assertion that he is not a Rebbe.

In the course of the shmuess, which dealt with the cheit of the earth that was cursed for failing to produce trees with the same taste as their fruit, the Rosh Yeshiva mentioned a dream that one of the chassidim had recently shared with him. In the dream, the chossid said, he had asked the Rosh Yeshiva a question.

The Rosh Yeshiva, recounting the dream with his characteristic warmth and wit, explained that the story actually proves his point. From the fact that the chossid asked him a question in learning, he concluded that the message must already be deeply ingrained among the chassidim.

As he put it with a smile, the dream demonstrates that “what I say all the time, that I am not a Rebbe, is so firmly understood by the chassidim that even in a dream they know they can ask me a question of lomdus, but not questions for a Rebbe.”

WATCH:

{Matzav.com}

 With Daylight Saving Time (DST) set to rob drivers of an hour of sleep this Sunday, AAA is warning motorists about a hidden danger: drowsy driving contributes to far more fatal crashes than official statistics show, up to 10 times more, according to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. The loss of sleep and darker morning hours make the days immediately after the time change especially risky.

Additionally, in the week following the change to DST fatal crashes increase 6% in the U.S., according to a study by the University of Colorado Boulder. This rise in crashes, particularly fatal ones, is linked to factors such as sleep deprivation and disruption to the body’s internal clock.

According to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety:

These figures are far higher than official government statistics, highlighting the underreported nature of drowsy driving crashes. According to NHTSA, there is agreement across the traffic safety, sleep science, and public health communities that the impact of drowsy driving is underestimated.

The AAA Foundation’s study, based on in-depth crash investigations and national fatal crash data, estimates that drowsy driving is a factor in roughly ten times as many traffic fatalities as traditional crash data indicates. In fact, one third of crashes involving a drowsy driver result in injuries, and more than 17% of fatal crashes involve driver fatigue, according to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety.

Many fatigued drivers aren’t even aware of the risk. In another simulation study conducted by the Foundation, 75% of drivers who rated their drowsiness as low were actually moderately or severely drowsy.

In its most recent Traffic Safety Culture Index, the AAA Foundation noted drivers predominately perceive drowsy driving to be dangerous (93%), however one-quarter (25%) of drivers admit to having engaged in the behavior in the past 30 days.

“Drowsy driving is a far bigger safety threat than most people realize,” said Tracy Noble, spokesperson for AAA Club Alliance. “Losing even a single hour of sleep during the switch to Daylight Saving Time can leave drivers more impaired than they think. As we ‘spring ahead,’ it’s critical for motorists to prioritize rest and be alert to the added risks on the roads this week.”

Drowsiness impairs drivers in several ways:

• Reduced alertness: Makes it harder to react quickly to hazards. Just one hour less than the expert-recommended minimum of 7 hours of sleep increases a driver’s risk of crashing.
• Impaired judgment: Increases the risk of making poor decisions on the road. Sleep deprivation increases a driver’s risk of making many ordinary mistakes, leading to crashes. Those deprived of sleep by 4+ hours have an impairment similar to those over the legal BAC limit.
• Hazardous Microsleeps: Can cause momentary lapses in consciousness, leading to loss of control of the vehicle and failure to respond to dangers on the road.
• Self-Perception of Drowsiness: Previous Foundation research found that drivers often underestimate their drowsiness, putting themselves and others at risk.

So, what can you do to stay safe on the road?

• Get enough sleep before driving. Aim for at least seven hours of sleep per night.
• Travel at times of the day when you are normally awake. Avoid driving when you are tired or sleepy.
• Take breaks every two hours or 100 miles. Get out of the car, stretch your legs, and get fresh air. Plan and identify safe, comfortable places to take breaks. Don’t wait until you’re already feeling drowsy.
• Avoid heavy meals before driving. Eating a large meal can make you feel tired and sluggish.
• Avoid alcohol and drugs. Both can impair your driving ability. Besides harming driving directly, they can also amplify drowsiness.
• Listen to your body. If you start to feel tired, pull over and take a break. Don’t try to push through it.
• Travel with an alert passenger and take turns driving. Sharing the driving can help you stay awake and alert.
• Don’t underestimate the power of a quick nap. A 20- to 30-minute nap can significantly improve your alertness.

AAA supports the development of vehicle technology that can detect drowsiness and prevent drivers from operating a vehicle when impaired. This technology could help to save lives by preventing drowsy driving crashes.

Media commentator Tucker Carlson recently told viewers during a broadcast that the Chabad-Lubavitch movement is working toward rebuilding the Bais Hamikdosh in Yerushalayim.

During the segment, Carlson briefly discussed the background of Chassidism and the leadership of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson. He concluded the discussion by claiming that Chabad is the main group advocating for the physical reconstruction of the Third Bais Hamikdosh on the Har Habayis.

Carlson appeared to confuse the Chabad movement with sectors of Israel’s National Religious community. Some individuals within the Religious Zionist camp have taken practical steps related to preparations for a future Bais Hamikdosh, including efforts connected to institutions such as the Temple Institute in Yerushalayim.

Chabad, by contrast, is widely recognized as a worldwide Jewish movement focused primarily on outreach activities and the establishment of community centers serving Jewish populations around the globe.

Beyond the theological confusion, Carlson also framed the discussion in connection with claims involving the “Greater Israel” and “Al-Aqsa is in Danger” narratives.

In his remarks, he portrayed the idea of rebuilding a Third Bais Hamikdosh as part of what he suggested was a broader Israeli plan to expand control across the Middle East and remove the Al-Aqsa Mosque from the site.

Carlson further described these aspirations as inherently “anti-Muslim,” presenting the issue through a lens commonly associated with rhetoric used by political activists in the region.

Critics of the segment also noted that Carlson did not mention a central historical element of the site itself: that the Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Dome of the Rock were constructed centuries later above the remains of the Second Bais Hamikdosh following the Islamic conquest of Yerushalayim.

{Matzav.com}

A neis occurred on the yishuv of Charasha in the Binyamin area when a massive Iranian missile fragment crashed near the yishuv’s makolet, just centimeters from nearby buildings.

The missile shrapnel, which had been heading toward central Israel and Ben Gurion Airport, hit the ground in the yishuv, which is located at a particularly high elevation directly beneath the flight path used by incoming passenger planes.

B’Chasdei Hashem, no one was injured as the area was empty at the time. The fragment struck the ground, missing the nearby buildings.

After receiving alerts about the unexploded shrapnel, local security staff and police sappers rushed to the scene and neutralized the fragment.

The fragment was then safely transported to the Binyamin council office building as part of an effort to demonstrate to residents the scale of the danger posed by missile debris and unexploded fragments.

Council officials stressed that fragments of this type can be particularly large and dangerous. A strike on a residential trailer or building could have been catastrophic.

As seen in the video below, Yisrael Ganz, the head of the Binyamin Regional Council and Yesha Council chairman, said, “This massive fragment is both a sign of the nissim taking place here and a clear warning signal. Alongside strict adherence to Home Front Command instructions, we must strengthen protective measures and add more shelters in new yishuvim and farm outposts in Binyamin.”

“I remind residents: Never touch debris or shrapnel—it can be life-threatening. Keep your distance and immediately call the council’s security hotline at 1208.”

Your browser does not support the video tag.

In recent days, several fragments and pieces of intercepted missiles have been discovered throughout the Binyamin Regional Council area following interception operations. B’Chasdei Hashem, no injuries were reported.

(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)

Israeli security forces launched a sweeping manhunt Thursday in the Galilee region after being informed by a Galilee resident’s family that he said he intended to commit a “bad act” before leaving the house. According to a police statement, search teams included Border Police and local emergency response teams to find the person and apprehend him before he could do any harm.

The authorities instructed residents in the area to remain vigilant and stay indoors. The Misgav Regional Council also ordered each community to station armed guards at the gated entrances to their communities.

Police have yet to determine a motive, so whether this is a personal issue or security related remains unclear while police investigate.

The manhunt comes amid heightened concerns over Iranian recruitment of Israelis for spying purposes, with 16 serious cases of Israelis communicating with Iranian handlers over the past year and carrying out missions. In addition, dozens of Israelis were indicted for espionage-related activity in 2025, according to the Shin Bet.

The Iranians are seeking information about the locations of potential targets, including Israeli officials as well as critical infrastructure, prompting public warnings by the Shin Bet and Israeli police to avoid communications with Iranians online who are suspected of affiliation with Iranian intelligence.

In a moving and romemusdig gathering that left a deep impression in the hearts of all attendees, the Jewish Kehillah in Panama marked the significant expansion of “Dirshu” learning in the country. The event, held under the banner of “Ahavas HaTorah,” took place in the central Einstein Auditorium in the capital city.

Panama City was lavesh chag last week for the “Ahavas HaTorah” event—a historic Ma’amad that united the entire local Kehillah. The event sparked peak excitement among the Bnei Torah and local Baalei Batim, serving as a powerful Kiddush Hashem the likes of which Panama has never seen.

The many participants—men, women, and children—members of the “Dirshu family,” packed the hall, seeking to derive chizuk from the global Torah revolution of Dirshu, which has started taking root in Panama and connecting the Kehillah to the Torah HaKedoshah.

The highlight of the evening was the appearance of Gedolei HaTorah and Roshei Kehillos from across Panama, who came to give kavod to the Torah and encourage the tzibbur to join the various maslulei limud and strengthen the limud among members of the Kehillah.

During the Ma’amad, recorded words of chizuk and brachos were heard from Gedolei Yisrael in Eretz Yisrael: Hagaon Hagadol Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch shlit”a. Hagaon Hagadol Rav Avraham Salim shlit”a, Rosh Yeshivas Maor HaTorah. Hagaon Hagadol Rav Dovid Cohen shlit”a, Rosh Yeshivas Chevron. Hagaon Hagadol Rav Shlomo Yedidya Zafrani shlit”a.

A special guest who arrived from the U.S. was Horav Eli Mansour shlit”a, Rav of the “Edmond J. Safra” Shul in Brooklyn, who delivered a riveting speech on the greatness of Amalei Torah. The Nasi of Dirshu, Rav Dovid Hofstedter shlit”a, praised Panama’s unique connection to the Dirshu revolution and the ribui HaTorah in recent years, noting that Panama is positioning itself as a “lighthouse” of Torah and Chesed in Latin America.

The Ma’amad marked the peak of Dirshu’s expansion in South America, following similar events held in Buenos Aires, Mexico City, and Brazil. While a Dirshu branch was established in Panama City about a decade ago, it saw a significant growth this past year and now operates regular shiurim and bechinos in “Daf HaYomi B’Halacha” and “Amud HaYomi,” which continue to expand.

The musical portion of the evening was led by Baal Menagen Naftali Kempeh, accompanied by an expanded orchestra conducted by Gershon Freishtat, who led the crowd in shira and dancing לכבוד התורה. Additionally, a special sale of Dirshu sefarim  for the benefit of the lomdim.

A multi-vehicle accident snarled traffic on the Garden State Parkway this morning, in the area of mile marker 96 north.

The accident happened shortly before 10:00 AM, and four vehicles were involved.

A Lakewood first responder who passed the scene assisted the driver of the overturned vehicle climb from the truck.

The driver stated he just finished making his last payment on the vehicle last night.

No injuries were reported.

(Via TLS Communities)

The first rescue flights carrying Israeli passengers landed at Ben Gurion Airport early Thursday morning, marking the reopening of Israel’s skies after five days of complete closure following the outbreak of the war with Iran.

An El Al flight arriving from Athens and an Israir flight from Rome were the first aircraft to touch down after commercial air travel to and from Israel was halted when the conflict began.

Transportation Minister Miri Regev came to Ben Gurion Airport to welcome the arriving passengers. “We wish you a safe landing. With God’s help, we will bring all Israelis home safely,” she said.

Shortly before departure from Greece, El Al captain Roi Meir addressed passengers on board the rescue flight to Israel.

“Welcome to the El Al flight to Tel Aviv. This is the first rescue flight that will land at Ben Gurion. For all of us this is an emotional and meaningful moment. After more than five days in which the country’s skies have been closed to commercial flights, we are excited to host you on the flight that opens the rescue operation back to Israel,” Meir told passengers.

The Athens–Tel Aviv flight arrived after El Al completed extensive operational preparations in recent days. It is the first in a series of additional rescue flights expected to operate over the coming 24 hours.

El Al said in a statement that it will continue working to return its customers to Israel gradually and safely.

“El Al will continue to operate to bring its customers back in a gradual, safe and organized manner, and we are working to place all El Al passengers whose flights were canceled onto rescue flights, without additional cost,” the airline said.

{Matzav.com}

Sen. Tim Sheehy helped Capitol Police subdue a protester who disrupted a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing at the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday.

The man, later identified as Green Party Senate candidate Brian McGinnis, allegedly injured three officers while resisting removal.

Sheehy, a former Navy SEAL, is seen jumping into the scrum and trying to yank the 44-year-old McGinnis, who was wearing a US Marine Corps uniform, out of the room. The situation only calmed down after a loud snap was heard, which appeared to be the sound of the protester’s arm breaking inside the Hart Senate Office Building.

WATCH:

TRIPOLI, LEBANON (VINnews) – The Israeli Defense Forces announced Thursday that a targeted strike by the Israeli Navy killed a Hamas commander in Lebanon’s Beddawi Palestinian refugee camp near the northern coastal city of Tripoli.

The operation eliminated Wasim Atallah Ali, described by the IDF as responsible for “training and exercises” in Hamas’s military wing in Lebanon.

“The terrorist worked to advance terror attacks aimed at harming the citizens of the State of Israel and IDF troops, and his activity posed a threat to Israel and its citizens,” the military said in a statement.

The strike occurred this morning in the Beddawi camp, a long-established Palestinian refugee site in northern Lebanon.

Reports from Lebanese sources indicate the attack hit an apartment, killing Ali and his wife, with at least one other person wounded. The IDF confirmed the operation but did not provide details on additional casualties.

The military also released footage of the strike on Ali, along with other recent Israeli Navy operations targeting Hezbollah weapon depots in southern Lebanon.

The incident marks an escalation in Israeli actions against Hamas elements operating in Lebanon, amid ongoing cross-border tensions and conflict involving Hezbollah.

Neither Hamas nor Lebanese authorities immediately commented on the IDF’s characterization of Ali’s role or the strike. Lebanese state media reported the deaths but did not confirm the target’s affiliation or responsibilities.

Beddawi camp, home to thousands of Palestinian refugees, has rarely been directly targeted in the current regional hostilities until recent incidents.

BERLIN (AP) — A court convicted a Syrian man on Thursday of stabbing and seriously wounding a Spanish tourist at Berlin’s Holocaust Memorial just over a year ago, and sentenced him to 13 years on prison.

The 20-year-old defendant, whom authorities have identified only as Wassim Al M. in line with German privacy laws, was convicted on charges including attempted murder and attempted membership in a foreign terrorist organization, German news agency dpa reported.

The Berlin district court found that he traveled from Leipzig to Berlin on Feb. 21, 2025 to carry out an attack in the name of the Islamic State group.

He chose the Holocaust Memorial because “he believed he would find people of Jewish faith there,” presiding judge Doris Husch said, and he stabbed the Spanish tourist in the throat before shouting “Allahu akbar,” or “God is great.”

The 31-year-old victim survived but is still unable to work and receiving psychological treatment.

The defendant said during his trial that he had regretted the attack immediately, and asserted that he had traveled to Berlin under pressure from an online acquaintance he had gotten to know as he watched IS videos.

The defendant arrived in Germany in 2023 as an unaccompanied minor and successfully applied for asylum, investigators have said. He lived in Leipzig. He was arrested nearly three hours after the attack when he approached officers with blood on his hands and clothes.

The Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe, a field of 2,700 gray concrete slabs near the Brandenburg Gate in the heart of Berlin, honors the 6 million Jews killed in the Holocaust.

The attack occurred two days before a national election in which migration become a critical issue, pushed to the forefront by a string of deadly attacks involving immigrants in the months before the vote.

BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Spain’s Pedro Sánchez has once again emerged as Europe’s most consistently vocal critic of U.S. President Donald Trump, drawing his ire for refusing to allow the American military to stage operations for its attacks on Iran from Spanish military bases.

Trump lashed out at the Spanish prime minister on Tuesday, saying he would “ cut off all trade with Spain ” in retaliation for the affront. The spat intensified the next day when Spain’s foreign minister contradicted a claim by the White House press secretary that Spain had heard Trump’s message “loud and clear” and was cooperating with the U.S. military.

While denouncing the repressive regime in Tehran, Sánchez said he would not back a war that he said was an unjustified assault.

“We are not going to be complicit in something that is bad for the world and is also contrary to our values and interests, just out of fear of reprisals from someone,” Sánchez said, using the slogan “No to the war” in a speech this week.

The tussle over the Spanish military bases is likely more a diplomatic question that one of military consequence. The U.S. has bases across Europe and the Middle East, and other European countries have agreed to cooperate.

Madrid and Washington have had stable, friendly and mostly low-key relations for decades, starting in the 20th century when the U.S. began sharing military bases with Spain when the latter was still under the dictatorship of Francisco Franco.

Sánchez, 54, first took power in 2018 and is one of Europe’s most prominent left-leaning leaders.

He has stuck by the pillars of progressive politics, defending feminism, authorized immigration, human rights, the rules-based international order and the importance of climate change — all topics that have become punching bags of Trump’s MAGA movement and far-right politicians in many European neighbors.

Even before the Iran war, Sánchez has stood out as an ideological rival to Trump on a number of issues.

Calls for peace in Gaza
Sánchez has been among the most vocal critics of Israel’s military action in Gaza. He has consistently criticized the massive civilian causalities from Israel’s campaign following Hamas’ surprise attack on Israeli territory in 2023.

“This is not self-defense, it’s not even an attack — it’s the extermination of a defenseless people,” he said, while touring Europe and the Middle East to try to broker a peace deal.

No to more defense spending
Among NATO members, Spain was the only country to refuse to agree to commit to increasing military spending to 5% of gross domestic product. Sánchez secured a last-minute exemption in a NATO meeting last year, saying that Spain will only spend up to 2.1%, which he called “sufficient and realistic.”

Trump responded by floating the idea that Spain should be kicked out of the military bloc. That has so far remained a veiled threat.

Bucking the anti-immigrant trend
While many European countries raised barriers at their borders and the Trump administration broadened an immigrant crackdown in the U.S., Spain is in the process of granting work and residency permits to half a million foreigners already in Spain.

Sánchez has pointedly alluded to Trump as he extolled the benefits of migration for the country’s strong economy.

“MAGA-style leaders may say that our country can’t handle taking in so many migrants — that this is a suicidal move, the desperate act of a collapsing country,” he wrote in a recent New York Times op-ed. “But don’t let them fool you. Spain is booming.”

Against the Tech Bros
Under Sánchez, Spain has joined countries like Australia and France in trying to curb the use of social media among younger teens. That’s in direct contrast to the Trump administration’s embrace of Big Tech companies and what they consider the defense of the freedom of speech on social media.

Elon Musk, X’s owner, lashed out at the Spanish leader last month, calling Sánchez “the true fascist totalitarian” after he announced a plan to prohibit under 16-year-olds from accessing social media accounts.

U.S. Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) said in an interview on CNN that he supports the assassinations of Iranian leaders and their replacements as long as they continue their aggression in the region.

When asked by CNN’s Kate Bolduan if the goal of the United States is to kill every Iranian leader and their successors, Fetterman was unequivocal in his response.

“Yeah just keep killing, killing them until they’re until they’re gone,” the maverick senator said.

“I mean, absolutely. I saw that, I’ve read that, that they’re going to target who they ever elect to be their next leader and kill them. Absolutely. I fully support it. So that’s what’s entirely appropriate,” he added. “Now they have to decide, are we going to continue for [to] choose now peace and or now we’re going to try to destroy Israel. They really don’t have those capabilities. At this point, it’s just empty rhetoric because we all know that Iran is [isn’t] able to really project the kinds of damage.”

Bolduan pressed Fetterman on the issue, asking who should pick Iran’s next leader.

“I think [killing their leaders is] entirely appropriate until hopefully they’ll pick someone that realizes that they need to live and coexist in peace in the region and stop trying to destroy Israel and destabilize the region,” Fetterman said.

Bolduan then tried to end the interview, thanking the senator for his time, but Fetterman wasn’t done. He mocked Democrats for saying they won’t weep over the death of Iran’s supreme leader, Ali Khamenei.

“That’s just another way saying it’s a good thing that he’s been killed, right?” Fetterman said.

“I’ll call it what it is, I won’t say, well, I won’t weep for him, you know, just call it what it is — it’s like — it’s a good thing that he’s been erased now and then if they pick another one that wants to do the same thing, erase them, too,” the senator concluded.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz. (Photo by Aggelos Nakkas/AFP via Getty Images)

The plan does in fact appear to be to keep eliminating Iranian leaders until the regime is no longer viewed as a threat and is weakened enough for the Iranian people to rise up and topple it.

“Every leader appointed by the Iranian terror regime to continue and lead the plan to destroy Israel, to threaten the United States and the free world and the countries of the region, and to suppress the Iranian people—will be an unequivocal target for elimination,” Israel’s defense minister, Israel Katz, posted on X on Wednesday.

“We will continue to act with full force, together with our American partners, to crush the regime’s capabilities and create the conditions for the Iranian people to overthrow it and replace it,” he wrote.

Dear Editor,

Every year Purim comes and goes with its special simcha. But this year, I found myself overwhelmed by the unbelievable tzedakah that was given out on Purim, sums of money that are simply hard to comprehend. We are talking about literally millions of dollars that were distributed to help Yidden in need. Millions! Standing there and seeing it with my own eyes, I kept thinking to myself: Heilige Yidden! What a nation we are.

At one point during Purim, I happened to stop by Chuny Herzka’s house in Lakewood. There was a whole setup there with gabbaim sitting and distributing his checks. Yes, the line was long. People were coming through, one after another, and the gabbaim were handing out the checks with quiet efficiency.

But what struck me was not just the organization. It was the amounts.

I happened to glance at some of the checks as they were being given out, and I could not believe the numbers I was seeing. These were serious sums of money.

I stood there only for about an hour or longer, yet in those minutes I watched check after check being handed out. The gabbaim kept pulling from the stacks and giving them out calmly, almost as if this was routine. But to anyone watching, it was anything but routine. It was astounding.

And then it hit me: This was just one house.

Across Lakewood and in communities everywhere, similar scenes were taking place. Homes where gabbaim sat surrounded by envelopes and lists. Quiet – or noisy! – lines of Yidden coming in, many of them broken from the weight of parnassah pressures. And behind the scenes, individuals who had prepared enormous sums of money simply because fellow Yidden needed help.

Millions of dollars given out in one day. Millions.

Not for recognition. Not for kavod.

Just because it is Purim, and because a Yid cannot bear to see another Yid struggling.

That is the heart of Klal Yisroel. When the mitzvah of matanos la’evyonim arrives, something extraordinary happens. The Jewish heart opens wide. People give with a generosity that the outside world simply cannot understand.

And the most remarkable part was the quietness of it all. There were no speeches, no announcements, no publicity. The gabbaim sat there calmly doing their job, the people came and went with dignity, and the checks kept flowing.

Watching this unfold, I felt an enormous sense of pride to be part of such a tzibbur. The world may not see these moments. That dopey Youtuber who’s been hounding our communities didn’t bother catching this. They may never hear about the quiet rivers of chesed that flow through our communities. But anyone who witnessed it this Purim knows exactly what I’m talking about.

Standing there, watching the checks being handed out one after another, I kept thinking the same words over and over again:

Heilige Yidden! Look at the heart of our people.

May the Ribbono Shel Olam bench all those who gave with endless shefa and bracha, and may the incredible tzedakah of this Purim bring yeshuos to Klal Yisroel.

T. K.

To submit a letter to appear on Matzav.com, email [email protected]

DON’T MISS OUT! Join the Matzav Status by . Join the Matzav WhatsApp Groups by .

The opinions expressed in letters on Matzav.com do not necessarily reflect the stance of the Matzav Media Network.

Since the start of Operation Roaring Lion, 14 families in Bnei—about 60 residents in total—were evacuated after their homes were damaged by missile shrapnel and required immediate evacuation.

Most of the evacuations took place on Tuesday (Purim), when 11 families, numbering about 45 people, were forced to leave their homes.

All of the families were housed at the Aristocrat Hotel in the city.

Shrapnel fell in the city at four separate locations on Tuesday. One site on Rashbam Street left three residents injured by the blast wave, while another on Sonnenfeld Street left two residents injured by falling debris.

Municipal engineering teams inspected the impact sites and determined that none of the buildings were in immediate danger of collapse.

The municipality also warned that the Home Front Command has identified that some of the missiles fired toward Israel are cluster bombs that carry smaller munitions that disperse over a wide area.

“These munitions may not explode upon their initial impact with the ground, but they remain highly volatile and extremely dangerous,” a statement from the municipality said. “Any contact with them could cause an immediate explosion and pose a serious threat to life. Therefore, it is strictly forbidden to touch or approach unexploded ordnance, fragments, or any suspicious object.”

“If such an object is identified, residents should move away from the area, keep others at a distance, and immediately report it to the police emergency hotline at 100.”

(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)

TTI, trusted by the community for 30 years, is now offering a hybrid Master’s program in Occupational Therapy. This three-year program is designed for women who want to build a career making a real difference in people’s lives. Most coursework is online, with just a few hands-on lab days for practical experience.

With a flexible schedule, competitive tuition, and TTI’s guidance, students will be ready to step into a growing field and start a rewarding career helping people improve their daily lives.
For more info, call 877-RING-TTI (746-4884), visit https://testingandtraining.com./ or email us – [email protected]

View our brochure here! 

Political commentator Candace Owens sparked widespread outrage this week after promoting a conspiracy theory alleging that Israel was responsible for the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, which killed roughly 3,000 Americans.

The controversy escalated Wednesday when Owens responded online to a video clip of Bibi Netanyahu speaking about the ongoing joint U.S.-Israeli strikes against Iran. The clip was captioned, “Netanyahu: You see the difference. The tyrants of Tehran target civilians. We target the tyrants of Tehran to protect civilians.”

Owens reposted the video and added a sharply worded accusation: “You murdered 3,000 Americans on 9/11. For starters.”

A day earlier, Owens published several additional posts suggesting that Israel had orchestrated the deadliest terrorist attack in American history. In one post, she shared a clip of Tucker Carlson discussing an anti-Israel conspiracy theory and wrote, “From 9/11 to the Lavon Affair and many [sic] inbetween, false-flags are the Israeli way. Mossad agents are taught that they will inherit the earth ‘by way of deception’. Bibi wants a third world war so they can hit a global reset— as they have done everytime people start noticing.”

Owens, who hosts a widely followed podcast, also used Tuesday’s broadcast to criticize Blake Neff, a producer for The Charlie Kirk Show and a close associate of a MAGA influencer who was recently assassinated. Responding to Neff’s criticism of her comments about Erika Kirk, Owens wrote, “Of everything I have said on the show— Blake Neff has chosen to author a long-winded response to my OBVIOUS joke about Erika’s Shabbat Shalom world tour.”

She continued by sharing a screenshot of Neff’s reply to her attacks on Erika Kirk, who has been promoting her late husband’s final book, Stop in the Name of God, a work that focused on his appreciation for observing Shabbos.

Owens added another comment criticizing the response to her remarks, writing, “This is what they NEEDED to clarify. They need the world to know that Charlie loved Shabbat. We are beyond parody.” Owens has previously suggested that Israelis may have been involved in the influencer’s killing.

The latest controversy follows a pattern of highly controversial claims from Owens, who has frequently drawn headlines for promoting conspiracy theories. At one point earlier in her career, she even publicly advanced the claim that France’s first lady is actually a man.

Her recent posts triggered an immediate wave of criticism, including from figures on the political right.

Brent Scher, editor in chief of The Daily Wire and a former employer of Owens, shared her comments and criticized them sharply, writing, “We need better conspiracy theorists. Israel did 9/11 is one of the most tired conspiracies in the playbook. Didn’t know we were stating it as fact now in the asylum.”

David Brody of the Christian Broadcasting Network also mocked the claims, responding with a satirical equation describing how Owens and Carlson relate to reality and concluding, “Take whatever they say and invert it.”

{Matzav.com}

Officials also said that two Iranian Su-24 tactical bombers headed toward Al-Udeid Air Base, a major U.S. military base housing 10,000 soldiers, and a gas production facility were shot down on Thursday by Qatari forces minutes before they were about to strike their targets.

CNN, which broke the story, reported that Qatari officials said the bombers were identified visually, were flying low to avoid radar detection and ignored radio warnings. A Qatari F-15 fighter jet shot the bombers down when they were “two minutes” away from hitting their targets, marking Qatar’s first foray into air-to-air combat.

It is rare for Iran to send manned aircraft instead of drones and missiles.

The Qataris also confirmed Thursday that 14 missiles and four drones were launched at the Gulf state from Iran. Qatar intercepted all the missiles and drones except for one missile that landed in territorial waters. Iran insists that attacks on Turkey and Azerbaijan are unintentional. However, such strikes are inevitable while Iran floods the region with missiles and drones.

Qatar arrested 10 Iranians suspected of spying earlier this week. “Close surveillance made it possible to arrest 10 suspects: seven were tasked with spying and gathering information about vital and military infrastructure in the country, and three were meant to carry out sabotage operations,” the Qatar News Agency said.

Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs @MBA_AlThani_ Receives Phone Call from Iran's FM @araghchi

Doha | March 4, 2026

HE Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani has rejected Iranian claims that recent missile… pic.twitter.com/Z99946yjXy

— Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Qatar (@MofaQatar_EN) March 4, 2026

Doha has accused Tehran of intentionally targeting civilian neighborhoods and infrastructure. In a phone call, Iran’s foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, told Qatar’s prime minister, Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, that Iran had only intended to hit U.S. military targets in Qatar. Al Thani was having none of it. He said that Iran had violated Qatari sovereignty by targeting civilian areas such as residential neighborhoods and civilian infrastructure such as the airport and gas production plants.

Al Thani did not seem to think it was possible for drones and missiles to enter Qatari airspace — which the Qataris then had to intercept — in an effort to restore peace. Instead, he said it signals an intention to escalate tensions, accusing Iran in the phone call of intending “to harm its neighbors and drag them into a war that is not theirs.”

“HE Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani has rejected Iranian claims that recent missile attacks were not aimed at Qatar, saying the evidence on the ground showed otherwise,” Qatar’s Foreign Ministry posted in a statement on X.

The fresh wave of attacks on Thursday led Qatar to warn civilians to take precautions.

“The Ministry also urges citizens, residents, and visitors to remain calm, adhere to official instructions issued by the security authorities, avoid rumors, and rely solely on information released through official channels,” the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

By Y.M. Lowy

The head of NYC Health+Hospitals told the City Council this week that the city’s pending acquisition of Maimonides Health is not a takeover and that much of the hospital’s day-to-day operations will remain the same, at least in the beginning. 

At an oversight hearing, CEO Dr. Mitchell Katz said the goal of the merger is to stabilize Maimonides’ finances and improve patient care, not to change its identity. Maimonides has faced significant budget deficits in recent years and had been searching for a partner after a proposed merger with Northwell Health fell through.

Joining NYC Health+Hospitals will allow Maimonides to receive higher reimbursement rates for Medicaid patients. Because about 80 percent of Maimonides’ patients are covered by Medicaid or Medicare, those higher rates are expected to bring in up to $9 million more per month.

The merger will also be supported by a $2.2 billion, five-year state grant. That includes $200 million in loan forgiveness, $500 million for capital improvements, and $1.5 billion to support hospital operations as it works to eliminate its deficit.

Some upgrades are already being planned, including improvements to the maternity ward, where about 6,000 babies are delivered each year. He also said Maimonides will gain access to the EPIC digital record system and the MyChart patient portal, replacing what he described as multiple outdated record systems currently in use.

Addressing concerns from the heimish Boro Park community, Katz said the system intends to respect the traditions that have shaped Maimonides. He also said existing union agreements with 1199SEIU, the Committee of Interns and Residents, and the New York State Nurses Association will be honored.

A lawsuit filed by some members of Maimonides’ Board of Trustees is seeking to block the merger, but Katz said there is no court order preventing the deal from moving forward. Officials expect the merger to be finalized by April 1.

While some leadership changes may happen once the agreement is complete, most daily operations at the hospital are expected to continue as usual in the near term.

Israel’s Finance Ministry warned Wednesday that the ongoing war with Iran is costing the country’s economy an estimated NIS 9.4 billion ($3 billion) each week as long as strict nationwide limitations on economic activity remain in effect.

In a letter sent Wednesday to Home Front Command chief Maj. Gen. Shai Klapper, Finance Ministry Director General Ilan Rom urged that some of the restrictions be loosened to allow a gradual and partial reopening of workplaces and businesses as early as Thursday. When approached by The Times of Israel, the IDF Home Front Command declined to comment on the request.

Rom stressed the need to balance security concerns with the country’s economic stability. “There is no dispute about the need to preserve a defense policy adapted to the security situation, but at the same time, shutting down the economy on a broad scale carries heavy economic costs,” Rom cautioned.

“We need a solution that addresses both the security needs of the Home Front and the needs of the economy, after two and a half years in which the economy has been paying a heavy economic price in light of the increase in security needs and the repercussions of the [Hamas] war,” he said.

The current restrictions were imposed after Israel and the United States launched coordinated strikes against Iran on Saturday, prompting retaliatory missile attacks from Tehran. In response, the IDF’s Home Front Command introduced nationwide emergency directives banning public gatherings, halting educational activity, and closing most workplaces aside from essential services. The rules also limit commuting to work, require many employees to work remotely, and keep schools closed.

Following a new security assessment on Monday as the conflict continued, the Home Front Command decided to extend the restrictions across the country until Saturday night.

In his letter, Rom asked Klapper to downgrade the alert status from the current red level — which allows only essential activity — to the orange level, which would permit limited economic operations. According to the Finance Ministry, the red-level restrictions are responsible for the estimated weekly economic loss of NIS 9.4 billion, factoring in school closures, workplace shutdowns, and the widespread mobilization of reserve soldiers.

Under the orange alert level, workplaces and economic activity would be allowed to resume on a limited basis as long as employees remain close to protected spaces, though schools would remain closed.

“n their workplaces and make it clear to employees that the door is open if they want to come back,” said Manpower Group Israel CEO Dror Litvak. “This is not a move to ignore the security situation, but rather an adaptation to it.”

“From the perspective of employees, work is both economic security and a psychological anchor,” Litvak said.

Rom noted that if the country moves to the orange alert level, the expected weekly economic damage would drop to roughly NIS 4.5 billion ($1.5 billion), less than half the losses incurred under the stricter red-level restrictions.

“This policy will enable the expansion of economic activity while maintaining Home Front security, in a manner that meets both economic and security needs,” Rom remarked.

“The cost that the economy is required to absorb as part of the activity under the orange alert level is expected to have significant economic implications, but we believe that it reflects a balance that is necessary in the current reality, and allows for the minimum necessary economic activity while maintaining required security restrictions,” he added.

{Matzav.com}

In major events in Jerusalem on February 16 and 17, the State of Israel and World Jewry celebrated the reclamation of the 3,000 year old Har Hazeitim, the historic burial site of more than 150,000 Jews over the ages. Among them Nevi”im, many great Rabbis, and notable modern Israeli leaders. The events were sponsored by the International Committee for Har Hazeitim ICHH in conjunction with the Israeli government and Municipality of Jerusalem.

The highlight of the two day mission was the ceremony marking the completion of the first floor of the Visitor Education Center which ICHH is building in partnership with national and municipal government entities. The Center will serve not only as a gateway for the hundreds of thousands who visit each year, but as a permanent educational and security anchor to preserve the kedusha of the mountain and protect the kevarim of so many gedolim and kedoshim buried there.

The mission began Monday night with a well-attended Town Hall Meeting at the Begin Center, where United States Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee spoke warmly about the vital importance of securing and protecting Har Hazeitim. Ambassador Huckabee emphasized the global and historic significance of the site and praised the unwavering work of the ICHH in safeguarding this sacred mountain for generations to come.

Tuesday morning, participants toured Har Hazeitim firsthand, witnessing the remarkable progress made in cleaning, restoring, and securing the cemetery. Delegates saw the rehabilitation efforts, enhanced security measures, and ongoing improvements that now enable the hundreds of thousands who visit annually to do so with safety and dignity, something that was unthinkable just years ago.

The series of historic events also included an impressive reception by Israel’s Chief Rabbis, Rabbi Kalman Ber (Ashkenazi) and Rabbi David Yosef (Sephardi). The Chief Rabbis spoke passionately about the unique holiness of the mountain as the only cemetery within the traditional borders of Jerusalem and stressed the vital importance of protecting its sanctity for future generations. They were effusive in their praise for the members of the ICHH who succeeded in securing the historic cemetery and ending the rampant vandalism that plagued it prior to the organization’s founding.

In a special state ceremony honoring the accomplishments of the ICHH, President Isaac Herzog spoke of the historic and personal significance of Har Hazeitim. He noted that his own grandfather, former President Chaim Herzog, is buried on the mountain, underscoring the deeply personal connection so many families have to this sacred site. President Herzog declared that he stands ready to do anything necessary to ensure the success of the ICHH mission to protect Har Hazeitim. In a particularly moving gesture, the President gifted signed copies of a book about the Herzog family to Menachem and Avraham Lubinsky, the two brothers who founded the ICHH, as a token of appreciation for their historic leadership and dedication. The ceremony, held at the President’s Residence, included more than 80 members of the ICHH from the United States and abroad who traveled to join the historic festivities.

Despite the trying times facing Israel, the Knesset, headed by Speaker Amir Ohana, paused its intense national schedule to honor the ICHH, demonstrating the vital importance of this effort to Israel’s sovereignty and national dignity. More than 20 Members of Knesset and six government ministers attended, showing their commitment by taking time away from pressing national matters and critical events unfolding in Israel to stand in support of Har Hazeitim. MK Rabbi Yoav ben Zur, who headed the Knesset Caucus on Har Hazeitim, which at one time featured 76 members from all parties, the largest caucus in Knesset history, joined in recognizing the ICHH’s 16-year effort to reclaim this biblical and historic site.

The Lubinsky brothers reminded the Knesset why they founded the ICHH in 2010 following the devastating report by the late Israel Comptroller Micha Lindenstrauss, which exposed years of neglect and desecration, including broken tombstones and soccer matches played atop graves. Since then, the ICHH has brought transformative change. 176 surveillance cameras were installed, a police substation was established, new fences and gates were erected, and extensive rehabilitation was undertaken in partnership with government authorities and law enforcement.

The keynote event was the dedication celebrating completion of the first floor of the Har Hazeitim Visitor Education Center. Beyond construction progress, the Center represents a bold commitment to educate visitors about the mountain’s 3,000-year history, reinforce its kedusha, and ensure ongoing security and stewardship. The project, years in the making, has now advanced to construction of the second floor. Particular praise was given to Jerusalem Mayor Moshe Lion for his pivotal role in helping make the Visitors’ Center a reality.

An especially meaningful addition to the mission was the participation of hundreds of attendees of the Agudah Yarchei Kallah, who joined the delegation for a special luncheon highlighting the importance of the ICHH’s mission. In addition, the N’shei Yarchei Kallah were given a guided tour of Har Hazeitim, allowing them to witness firsthand the extraordinary progress in security, restoration, and preservation efforts.

The guests stood in silence as a Chazan recited Kaddish and Kel Maleh Rachamim for the 150,000 Jews buried on Har Hazeitim, a solemn reminder of the sacred responsibility entrusted to this generation.

An impressive evening of recognition was held at Jerusalem’s prestigious Waldorf Astoria Hotel, chaired by noted Jewish leader Malcolm Hoenlein, Chairman Emeritus of the Conference of Major American Jewish Organizations. Leaders and dignitaries praised the American delegation who invested their resources, time, and dedication to help establish the Visitors’ Center and secure the future of Har Hazeitim for the hundreds of thousands who come each year to connect with Jewish history, heritage, and holiness.

The mission concluded with a special meeting at the United States Embassy with Ambassador Mike Huckabee, who expressed deep familiarity with and admiration for Har Hazeitim and reiterated his strong support for the ICHH and its Israel Chairman, Jeff Daube.

This historic mission underscored not only what has already been achieved, but how much more remains to be done. The protection of Har Hazeitim, its kedusha, its history, and the graves of 150,000 Jews, requires continued vigilance, partnership, and support. We call upon all who cherish Jerusalem and its sacred heritage to join this holy mission, to help complete the Visitor Education Center and to ensure that Har Hazeitim remains protected, secure, and preserved for the hundreds of thousands who come each year and for generations yet to come.

For more information or to join this sacred effort, please visit http://harhazeisim.org/

Kurdish forces from various factions in Iraq have banded together and are planning an invasion of Iran to help topple the regime, with joint backing from the United States and Israel.

The forces plan to invade the northwestern part of the country with the hope that the regime will feel increased pressure and the population will be encouraged to engage in an uprising that will overwhelm the regime.

The newly formed Kurdish coalition, which was formed about a week before the war started, is called the Coalition of Political Forces of Iranian Kurdistan and embraces among its ranks thousands of fighters. The coalition has been sending groups of soldiers into Iran over the past several weeks to train for a possible ground offensive.

Two unnamed U.S. officials said the group has received support from the CIA and the Mossad.

Sulaymaniyah, the second largest city in Iraqi Kurdistan, sees a pro-Kurd protest in January. (Credit: Ethan Swope via Getty Images)

“The war started with a kinetic phase by the U.S. and Israeli militaries, but as the war continues there will be other efforts by the Mossad and the CIA,” an Israeli official said.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio denied U.S. involvement.

“We’re not arming the Kurds. But you never know with the Israelis,” he told Congress in a closed-door briefing.

A U.S. official said the plan to involve the Kurds originated with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the Mossad, with the CIA joining the plan later.

“The problem is that the Kurdish Iranian factions don’t have enough military power and could end up as cannon fodder,” the official said.

However, the White House also denied involvement, while the CIA and the Mossad declined to comment.

That said, two Kurdish leaders in Iraq, Masoud Barzani and Bafel Talabani, discussed the plan with President Donald Trump in a phone call, expressing hesitancy in carrying out a ground offensive in Iran. Trump also spoke by phone to Mustafa Hijri, the leader of the Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan (PDKI).

An unverified video from X purports to show an Iranian city liberated by Kurdish forces. However, Kurdish officials denied having started a ground offensive.

Meanwhile, Iran’s foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, spoke to Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, raising his concerns about a possible ground operation by the Kurds. The Iranian foreign ministry issued a statement saying that it had received assurances from Iraq that it would not support a ground incursion.

“The Iraqi prime minister emphasized that the Iraqi government will under no circumstances allow any threat to be directed at Iran from Iraqi territory,” the statement read.

While Kurdish factions denied on Wednesday that they had begun the ground offensive, they indicated that they might begin the operation within a week.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits last week was unchanged from the week before, a sign that layoffs remain at historically low levels.

U.S. filings for jobless aid for the week ending Feb. 28 matched the previous week’s 213,000, the Labor Department reported Thursday. Analysts surveyed by the data firm FactSet forecast 215,000 new benefit applications.

Filings for unemployment benefits are viewed as a proxy for U.S. layoffs and are close to a real-time indicator of the health of the job market.

Last month, the Labor Department reported that U.S. employers added a surprisingly strong 130,000 jobs in January and the unemployment rate fell to 4.3% from 4.4%. However, government revisions cut 2024-2025 U.S. payrolls by hundreds of thousands, reducing the number of jobs created last year to just 181,000. That’s about one-third of the previously reported 584,000 and the weakest since the pandemic year of 2020.

The government releases its February jobs data on Friday.

While weekly layoffs have remained in a historically low range mostly between 200,000 and 250,000 for the past few years, a number of high-profile companies have announced job cuts recently, including UPS, Amazon, Dow and the Washington Post in recent weeks.

The Labor Department also recently reported that job openings fell in December to the lowest level in more than five years.

For now, the U.S. job market appears stuck in what economists call a “low-hire, low-fire” state that has kept the unemployment rate historically low, but has left those out of work struggling to find a new job.

Data over the past year has broadly revealed a labor market in which hiring has clearly slowed, hobbled by uncertainty stoked by President Donald Trump’s tariffs and the lingering effects of the high interest rates the Fed engineered in 2022 and 2023 to tamp down a spike of pandemic-induced inflation.

Economists are conflicted about whether the stronger-than-expected January job gains are a one-off or possibly the first sign of a recovering labor market, which could lead the Fed to further delay more cuts to its key interest rate.

Some Fed officials have specifically argued that last year’s weak hiring shows that borrowing costs are weighing on growth and discouraging companies from expanding. A sustained pickup in hiring could undercut that theory.

The Labor Department’s report Thursday showed that the four-week moving average of jobless claims, which smooths out some of the weekly ups and downs, fell by 4,750 to 215,750.

The total number of Americans filing for jobless benefits for the previous week ending Feb. 21 jumped by 46,000 to 1.87 million, the government said.

TLS welcomes your letters by submitting them to us via  Whatsapp  or via email  [email protected]

Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon, said Wednesday night that escalating regional tensions have created a security environment that requires Israeli diplomats around the world to act with increased vigilance, including those serving in the United States.

Speaking in an interview with Kol Barama Radio, Danon said, “Even in the US, Israeli representatives need to be more careful during these days,” pointing to the broader implications of the current situation for Israel’s diplomatic missions.

Danon said Iran’s actions have had the unintended effect of unifying Arab states against it. “The Iranians made a very serious mistake when they attacked Arab countries. Representatives of those countries come to me and tell me: ‘Keep going with full force.’”

According to Danon, the impact was swift and far-reaching. “In a single day, Iran managed to turn the entire Arab world against it. European countries have also begun to grow concerned following the attacks on the Gulf states.”

He described Iran’s conduct as increasingly erratic under pressure, saying that “Iran is behaving like a wounded animal, and therefore it is firing in every direction.”

Turning to criticism from France, Danon dismissed the role of Emmanuel Macron, saying, “The French president is trying to demonstrate relevance on the international stage, but he isn’t succeeding. He lost control in France long ago, and that is why he is acting this way.”

Danon concluded by stressing the close cooperation between Jerusalem and Washington, saying that “there is a very high level of coordination between Israel and the US.”

{Matzav.com}

WASHINGTON (AP) — Republicans are invoking the war in Iran and the prospect of retaliatory terrorist attacks as they tee up votes Thursday on a funding bill for the Department of Homeland Security.

The House already approved a DHS spending bill in January, but it faltered in the Senate as Democrats insisted on changes to immigration enforcement operations following the shooting death of ICU nurse Alex Pretti in Minneapolis. As a result, funding for the department lapsed on Feb. 14.

Republicans are calling on Democrats to reconsider their vote in the wake of the conflict in Iran. Both the House and the Senate are expected to hold votes on the matter.

“The military action in Iran makes it all more urgent and crucial to have a fully funded, fully staffed DHS across all its departments,” House Speaker Mike Johnson said.

It did not appear the GOP’s strategy had changed the position of Democratic lawmakers, though. They said they are prepared to fund most of the agencies at the department, just not Immigration and Customs Enforcement or Customs and Border Protection.

“It’s the same lousy, rotten bill that does not put any guardrails or constraints on ICE or CBP after federal agents shot American citizens in the street,” said Rep. Jim McGovern, D-Mass.

Workers are beginning to miss part of their paychecks
Following the longest federal shutdown in the country’s history last year, Congress has completed work on 11 of this year’s 12 appropriations bills. Only the bill for Homeland Security remains outstanding.

Republicans said the timing couldn’t be worse for a Homeland Security shutdown. While a large majority of the department’s employees are considered essential and continue to work, many will not receive a full paycheck this week.

Republicans said the prospect of an increase in unscheduled absences by the Transportation Security Administration’s agents and screeners could lead to longer wait times at the nation’s airports. Meanwhile, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency has canceled various assessments to determine vulnerabilities to critical infrastructure. And training for first responders conducted through the Federal Emergency Management Agency has been canceled.

“Can we not understand America is under siege, now likely to be attacked because radical Islam is under siege, and they’re going to hit back and we’re sitting here looking at each other and not funding DHS,” Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., said during a hearing Tuesday featuring DHS Secretary Kristi Noem.

Democrats are seeking several changes at the department include prohibiting ICE enforcement operations at sensitive locations like schools and churches, allowing independent investigations into alleged wrongdoing, requiring warrants to be signed by judges before federal agents can forcibly enter private homes or other nonpublic spaces without consent, and requiring agents to wear identification and remove their masks.

Republicans note that the bill does include a bipartisan provision directing more resources for deescalation training and $20 million to outfit immigration enforcement agents with body-worn cameras.

Little to show from negotiations
The White House and congressional Democrats don’t appear to have made significant progress in recent weeks resolving their differences after trading several offers.

“Look, we’re still far apart but we’re negotiating and exchanging paper back and forth,” Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said.

Alabama Sen. Katie Britt, the Republican chairwoman of a panel that oversees homeland security funding, said she’s been talking to Democrats about a possible pathway forward, but prospects are unclear.

She and other Republicans are citing last weekend’s mass shooting in Austin as an example of the dangerous threat environment that’s facing Americans following the attack on Iran.

“I think that it is incredibly irresponsible to not fund the agency that is supposed to keep us safe here at home,” Britt said.

Democrats said they are ready to fully fund all the agencies within the department except for ICE and CBP.

Rep. Rosa DeLauro, the ranking Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee, authored a proposal to do that, but it was blocked from consideration. She said Republican leadership was using Trump’s “aimless, costly and illegal war with Iran to force through more funding for ICE and Customs and Border Protection without any of the substantial changes that the vast majority of Americans believe those agencies need.”

“It is a cynical effort and it is one that will fail,” DeLauro said.

JERUSALEM (VINnews) — The political adviser to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Ofir Falk, claimed on Thursday in a CNN interview that the strike on the girls’ school in the city of Minab, where 175 students were killed, was caused by a failed Iranian launch that struck the schoolgirls.

Reports first began last Saturday when Iran’s Health Ministry claimed that about 60 people were killed following an attack on a girls’ school in Minab in southern Iran. It was also reported that many women were trapped under the rubble, though their exact number was unknown.

Ofir Falk, Netanyahu’s political advisor on CNN:

The attack on the girls’ school in the city of Minab, where 175 students were killed, was carried out by a failed Iranian launch that was fired and hit the schoolgirls. pic.twitter.com/HSWf9qfvl0

— Eli Afriat 🇮🇱 (@EliAfriatISR) March 5, 2026

Footage that spread across social media shows terrified civilians while thick black smoke rises from one of the school buildings. In addition, large crowds can be seen standing on the rubble near efforts to rescue people trapped beneath the debris.

Falk’s claim is currently disputed by other sources. A CBC News visual investigation of new satellite imagery and social media footage suggests that the bombing of the school on Saturday was the result of a precision airstrike on a military complex immediately adjacent to the building.

The strike, which killed at least 165 people, mostly children, according to Iranian state TV, occurred on Saturday, during the first wave of U.S. and Israeli operations against Iran. Shortly after, several videos appeared showing a girls’ school in Minab largely destroyed.

While the facility was functioning as a school, CBC News has confirmed a previous New York Times report stating the building was once part of an Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) base.

Jeffrey Lewis, a professor at Middlebury College who specializes in satellite imagery, said the imagery was consistent with a precision airstrike.

The images show “very precise targeting” Lewis told NPR. “Almost all the buildings [in the compound] are hit.”

Israel has denied involvement. “We are not aware at the moment of any IDF operation in that area,” Israel Defense Forces spokesperson Nadav Shoshani told NPR on Monday. “I don’t know who’s responsible for the bombing.”

At a press conference Wednesday morning, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said that the U.S. was looking into what happened at the school. “”All I know, all I can say, is that we’re investigating that,” Hegseth said. “We, of course, never target civilian targets.”

Given Minab’s location in the southwestern part of the country, Lewis believes it’s more likely the U.S. would have conducted the strike than Israel. “As one gets further south and west in Iran, a strike is much more likely to be a U.S. strike than an Israeli strike because of the type of munitions and the geographic location,” he said.

Esmail Baghaei, the spokesman for Iran’s Foreign Ministry, called the strike “deliberate,” and said that the U.S. and Israel bombed the school in part to tie up Iranian forces in the region with rescue efforts. “To call the attack on the girl’s school merely a ‘war crime’ does not capture the sheer evil and depravity of such a crime,” he said.

But Lewis said it’s more likely that the strike was the result of an error. Satellite images show that the school was separated from the base by a wall between 2013 and 2016. The clinic was walled off between 2022 and 2023.

Lewis believes it’s possible American military planners had not updated their target sets.

“There are thousands of targets across Iran, and so there will be teams in the United States and Israel that are responsible for tracking those targets and updating them,” he said. “It’s possible that the target didn’t get updated.”

GALLE, Sri Lanka (AP) — An Iranian warship that was sunk by a U.S. submarine near Sri Lanka had participated in naval exercises hosted by India before heading out into international waters in the Indian Ocean on its way home, New Delhi said.

The sinking underscored the scope of the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran and its spread in the Middle East and beyond. It also ignited a debate in India about maritime security in the Indian Ocean — a region where New Delhi maintains a significant naval presence.

On Wednesday, Sri Lanka’s navy recovered 87 bodies and rescued 32 Iranian sailors from the IRIS Dena, which sank in international waters off the coast of the island nation — a rare instance of a submarine torpedoing a ship since World War II.

Sri Lanka’s navy said it had responded to a distress signal from the IRIS Dena, but by the time it reached the location, there was no sign of the ship, just patches of oil and sailors floating in the water. The rescued mariners were taken to a hospital in the town of Galle, on Sri Lanka’s southern coast.

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the sinking illustrates the U.S.-Israeli military operation against Iran is stretching beyond its borders and described the IRIS Dena as a “prize ship.” U.S. President Donald Trump has said one of the key objectives of the war is to wipe out Iran’s navy.

A video released by the U.S. Department of Defense on X showed the moment of the torpedo attack. The Iranian ship appears to be hit by an underwater explosion that causes it to break apart, as a large plume of water rises up in the air.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi accused the U.S. Navy of committing an “an atrocity at sea” in sinking the frigate and said on social media on Thursday that the United States “will come to bitterly regret” the attack.

Araghchi said the IRIS Dena had been carrying “almost 130” crew.

India’s navy and defense ministry said the Iranian warship had participated in the International Fleet Review and the multilateral naval exercise MILAN 2026, organized by the Indian navy in the port of Visakhapatnam from Feb. 15 to Feb. 25. The ministry said 74 countries had joined the events.

The Iranian warship was seen sailing at sea during the exercises in a Feb. 17 post on X by the Indian navy. Another image showed several of its crew members posing on deck with the Iranian flag in the background.

Araghchi stressed that the frigate had been “a guest” of India’s navy. The Indian government has not yet publicly commented on the incident.

Another Iranian ship enters Sri Lanka’s territorial waters
In Sri Lanka, the country’s media minister and government spokesman, Nalinda Jayatissa, told parliament on Thursday that another Iranian ship has arrived in its waters.

Jayatissa did not provide further details about the ship or the number of people on board. He said the government was trying to “minimize the loss of lives and safeguard regional peace” but did not elaborate.

Questions in India over the sinking
India has long viewed the Indian Ocean as central to its security, with its navy regularly conducting patrols and multinational exercises to safeguard key sea lanes used for global trade and energy shipments. It has also traditionally sought to maintain a careful diplomatic balance in tensions between the U.S. and Iran while emphasizing on diplomacy and talks.

Indian opposition leaders, however, on Thursday questioned the government’s lack of response to the incident, saying the sinking of the warship so close to India’s maritime neighborhood warranted an official statement.

The opposition Indian National Congress party slammed what it called “silence” from Prime Minister Narendra Modi ‘s government.

“The conflict has reached our backyard, with an Iranian warship sunk in the Indian Ocean. Yet the Prime Minister has said nothing,” opposition leader Rahul Gandhi wrote in a post on X.

Kanwal Sibal, a former diplomat who served as India’s foreign secretary from 2002 to 2003, wrote on X that India was “far from politically or militarily responsible for the U.S. attack,” but its “responsibility is at a moral and human plane.”

“The U.S. has ignored India’s sensitivities,” Sibal said. “The ship was in these waters because of India’s invitation.”

The IDF hit 40 targets on Thursday, dropping around 200 munitions from 90 Israeli Air Force aircraft in its 12th wave of strikes against Iran. Among the military targets hit were bases for the Basij paramilitary group, an all-volunteer group that acts as an arm of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, and the IRGC itself. The IDF also took out a command center for Iran’s special internal security forces.

Other targets included weapons depots, weapons production sites and other command centers.

BAKU, Azerbaijan (VINnews) — Azerbaijan warned it could respond after drones believed to have come from Iran struck its exclave of Nakhchivan on Thursday, injuring two people and damaging buildings, officials said.

Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry said it summoned Iran’s ambassador in Baku to deliver a formal protest, calling the incident a violation of international law and warning that the country reserves the right to take “appropriate measures.”

Officials said one drone hit the terminal area of Nakhchivan International Airport, located close to the Iranian border. Another drone came down near a school in a nearby village, causing additional damage.

Baku called on Tehran to provide an explanation quickly and to ensure similar incidents do not occur again. Iranian authorities did not immediately issue a public response.

If you, like many others, have received this letter, do not attempt to scan the QR code.

An Israeli Air Force F-35I fighter aircraft brought down an Iranian Yak-130 jet over Tehran on Wednesday, the IDF announced, marking the first time an F-35 has shot down a piloted aircraft, Times of Israel reports.

The encounter also represented the first instance in roughly four decades that the Israeli Air Force has fought an air-to-air battle against a manned enemy plane.

The previous time Israeli fighter jets destroyed a piloted hostile aircraft occurred on November 24, 1985, during a clash over Lebanon, when an Israeli F-15 shot down two Syrian MiG-23 fighter jets.

In an audio transmission released by the military, Israeli Air Force commander Maj. Gen. Tomer Bar praised the pilot responsible for the interception, calling the moment a landmark achievement.

“The historic interception over the skies of Tehran is an expression of the air force’s power and your personal determination. The next mission is already waiting for you,” Bar said.

Speaking with reporters, the commander of Nevatim Airbase — where Israel’s fleet of F-35 aircraft is stationed — described how the engagement unfolded once the Iranian jet was detected.

“We identified the plane, locked on it and launched [a missile].”

“The Iranian plane endangered [our] aircraft. It could have hit our plane, so we shot it down,” Brig. Gen. “Daled,” — identified only by his rank and first initial in Hebrew — said.

The base commander explained that the Israeli fighter launched its missile while already conducting operations targeting Iranian regime facilities in Tehran, noting that the aircraft is capable of executing such actions rapidly and precisely.

He added that the pilot responsible for downing the Iranian jet is relatively junior within the force, though the officer has previously flown operational missions over Iran.

“The Iranian Air Force understands that it is inferior and under significant threat. Despite this, it is trying with its remaining capabilities to carry out missions that will disrupt us. That was the situation that led to the shootdown,” the airbase commander said.

“We encounter the enemy during our sorties in Iran, but it is a weak enemy,” he added.

Video circulated on social media that appeared to show the aircraft crashing in the Lavasan Mountains north of Tehran, though the authenticity of the footage could not immediately be confirmed.

The Israeli Air Force is expected to commemorate the event by adding a “victory mark” decal to the side of the F-35I involved in the interception, recognizing the pilot and the aircraft for the achievement.

If added, it would likely be the first time in nearly twenty years that such a marking has been placed on an Israeli aircraft.

{Matzav.com}

JERUSALEM (VINnews) — A dramatic report from open-source intelligence sources published on Thursday in a Twitter account that specializes in sensational reports from open sources claims that an American F-15 fighter jet crashed in western Iran. The aircraft’s crew managed to eject successfully before the impact and remained on the ground.

The account, named OSINTdefender, states:
“After speaking with several direct sources, I now feel confident reporting that a U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle crashed early Wednesday morning during a strike mission over southwestern Iran. The cause of the crash is still unknown, although at least one source attributed it to Iranian air defenses. Both the pilot and the navigator managed to eject successfully over Iran.”

Following the crash, Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR) elements with the U.S and Israeli Air Force – on standby in a neighboring country – were activated, entering Iran roughly an hour after the crash of the F-15.

In the resulting operation, both crewmembers were found and safely evacuated without further incident, being transported to Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia. The Pilot and WSO are claimed to suffered minor injuries but were in otherwise “good condition,” with both being airlifted for further treatment to Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan.

Further confirmation and details of the incident are expected to come at a later time from U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM).”

On Wednesday, the commander of the Israeli Air Force, Major General Tomer Bar, published a letter to Air Force personnel addressing the ongoing campaign against Iran and the activities of the forces in recent days.

In the letter, the Air Force commander also hinted at additional operations taking place simultaneously.“Fighters from the Air Force’s special units are currently carrying out extraordinary missions that can ignite the imagination,” he wrote, without elaborating on the nature of the activity.

He also noted that operational pressure is affecting the enemy. According to him, Israel is identifying a decline in the volume of fire alongside cumulative damage to the enemy’s capabilities and a gradual erosion of its strength, while Israel’s air superiority continues to become more firmly established.

By Rabbi Pinchos Lipschutz

On Purim, we celebrate the deliverance of the Jewish people from Haman’s sinister plot to annihilate them. We read and study the Megillah, reliving the stunning reversal that transformed a decree of destruction into a day of light and joy, and tracing the downfall of the wicked Haman.

The Megillah is unique in the fact that the name of Hashem is not mentioned openly anywhere in the entire narrative. Unlike other moments in our history, the Hand guiding events remains concealed between the lines. Purim was the first major miracle of national deliverance in which Hashem’s presence was hidden, His orchestration discernible only in hindsight. As the story unfolded, it appeared to move forward through political maneuvering, palace intrigue, and human courage. Only once the salvation was complete did it become evident that every detail — including the seudah of Achashveirosh, Vashti’s downfall, Esther’s rise, the king’s sleepless night, and everything else described in the Megillah — had been precisely arranged as part of a Divine plan.

Until Purim, Hashem’s role in our redemption had been revealed openly and unmistakably, often through events that transcended the laws of nature. The makkos, YetziasMitzrayim, Krias Yam Suf, and the miraculous sustenance in the midbar proclaimed Hashem’s mastery for all to see. The supernatural was evident, the message undeniable.

But the salvation in the days of Mordechai and Esther ushered in a new era. It was accomplished b’hester, within the natural order, through seeming coincidence and ordinary events. And so it has been ever since. We celebrate Purim not only to commemorate what happened then, but to internalize what it teaches now: That nothing is random, nothing is happenstance. Even when Hashem’s name is seemingly not written into the story, His presence is there. What appears fragmented and confusing is, in truth, carefully choreographed by Hashem Yisborach, guiding His people toward their ultimate redemption.

Once again, Klal Yisroel finds itself confronting grave danger. Nearly 2,400 years after the wicked designs of Haman to annihilate the Jewish people, we faced an existential threat from the regime in Iran.

For 47 years, since the Iranian Revolution, Iran’s leaders have openly proclaimed their hostility toward Israel and the United States, funding terror proxies across the region while pursuing nuclear capabilities and long-range missile technology. Israeli officials have warned for decades that a nuclear-armed Iran would pose an intolerable threat, not only to Israel but to global stability. American administrations, along with other Western governments, have insisted that Iran must never obtain a nuclear weapon, though diplomatic efforts and negotiated agreements often fell short of eliminating the danger.

This past Shabbos, after years of escalating tension and repeated warnings, the United States and Israel launched coordinated strikes targeting senior Iranian military leadership, nuclear facilities, ballistic missile installations, drone infrastructure, and command centers.

The objective was to halt a program that had crossed declared red lines and was rapidly advancing toward operational capability. Last year’s attacks apparently slowed, but did not stop, Iran’s efforts to build and expand its nuclear and missile programs.

The regime that repeatedly pledged to wipe Israel off the map appeared to be inching closer to that goal. Negotiations were attempted, but as the threat intensified and intelligence assessments grew more alarming, leaders concluded that the window to act was narrowing. When the opportunity presented itself to rid the world of the country’s leadership, the war was launched.

And thus, in the very region where the Purim story unfolded, and in the week of Purim, we find ourselves holding our collective breath. As in the days of Mordechai and Esther, events are moving swiftly, alliances are shifting, and the stakes are nothing less than the safety of millions. We recognize that beyond the military maneuvers and political calculations, Hakadosh Boruch Hu guides everything.

We are living through dangerous and historic days. Across Eretz Yisroel, families once again began the week hearing the wail of sirens and rushing to shelters as barrages of ballistic missiles streaked across the sky. Regrettably, some of those missiles landed in populated areas and claimed lives.

We daven that this conflict ends swiftly, that innocent lives be spared, and that the threat hanging over Klal Yisroel be decisively removed.

Just as the hidden Hand became clear at the end of the Megillah, we pray that soon we will merit to see, openly and unmistakably, the yeshuah that is now unfolding.

Boruch Hashem, most of us reading these words have never had to scramble to a shelter with minutes to spare. But for our brothers and sisters in Eretz Yisroel, this has become an all-too-frequent reality. And yet, no matter how many times they have done it, they never grow accustomed to it.

War is not merely headlines and briefings. It is not maps and military jargon. It is fear. It is disorientation. It is being jolted awake in the middle of the night, or abandoning what you are doing in the middle of the day, clutching your children as you race to safety, reciting kappitlach of Tehillim as you run. It is the collapse of normalcy, with schools closed, businesses shuttered, flights canceled, and deliveries halted. It is the steady, unrelenting anxiety that settles into the body and clings to the soul.

Having your day interrupted by sirens and a frantic dash to a shelter before a missile strikes is more than inconvenient. It is nerve-racking, frightening, and life-altering. It reminds a person, again and again, how fragile life is.

And yet, amidst the chaos of sirens and explosions, a Jewish heart responds instinctively: “Hashem yishmor. Hashem will guard us.” Every rocket intercepted is a manifestation of His mercy. Every near miss is an indication of His will and rachamim. Ultimately, no defense system and no army operate independently of the Ribbono Shel Olam. He alone determines who will be protected, who will be spared, and who will emerge to say, “Hashem was watching over me.”

We are a nation that has endured more than any other in history, not because of our superior strength or political advantage, but because of our unbreakable bond with the Ribbono Shel Olam. That connection has carried us through empires that rose and fell, and through Hamans of every generation, and it sustains us still, in these days of sirens, smoke, rockets, planes, and peril.

With rachameiShomayim, most of the intended targets inside Iran are being struck, and with each successful operation, the threat is further diminished. Missiles are intercepted. Catastrophes are averted. Entire barrages that could have wrought unimaginable destruction are stopped midair.

And yet, as we saw in Tel Aviv, Beit Shemesh, Yerushalayim, and other cities, there are rockets that penetrate the shield. They land. They destroy. They maim. They are painful reminders that alongside rachamim, there is also din. They remind us how fragile life is, how dependent we are on siyatadiShmaya, and how urgently we must draw closer to Hakadosh Boruch Hu to merit protection.

As maaminimbneimaaminim, we understand that while armies battle on the physical front lines, we wage war on a spiritual one through tefillah, teshuvah, and tzedakah. Every added kappitel of Tehillim, every act of chesed, every extra moment of Torah learning fortifies the battlefield forces in ways we cannot measure. The unseen weapons of Klal Yisroel have always been its most powerful.

And when the war feels prolonged and the darkness thick, we cling to the promise of the novi: “Ki lo yitosh Hashem amo,” Hashem will not forsake His people.

Even now. Especially now.

In times of conflict, many are tempted to become amateur geopolitical analysts. Conversations quickly turn to speculation — why the enemy acted, what strategic calculus was at play, how deftly this leader or that one responded. Pundits dissect the decisions of presidents and prime ministers, attributing outcomes to political brilliance or failure.

But we know better.

This war, like every war, unfolds because Hashem willed it so, not because a particular leader desired it, and not because of one treaty or another speech. Events do not generate Divine plans. They implement them.

It is not that circumstances aligned and therefore history moved. History moves because the Ribbono Shel Olam directs it, and circumstances align accordingly.

Just as Paroh ascended to power to set the stage for YetziasMitzrayim, so are contemporary leaders positioned precisely where they need to be to fulfill a larger design. The revolutionary regime that took control of Iran in 1979 did not emerge by accident. The global powers that enabled it, restrained it, negotiated with it, or confronted it did not act outside the framework of Hashgocha. Each played, and continues to play, a role in a script authored long before any of them took office.

It’s not that Trump won and therefore the war happened. It’s the other way around. Trump won because Hashem wanted the world to move toward this moment.

Presidents and prime ministers occupy their posts because, at this juncture in history, the Ribbono Shel Olam requires them there. The world is being guided, step by step, toward its destined culmination. The threats we face, the alliances that form, and the confrontations that erupt are all part of a process moving creation toward geulah.

Because Hashem wants to set up the world for Moshiach to reveal himself and redeem us, He brought the world to this juncture.

We may not yet see the full picture. But just as in the days of Purim, when the Hand was hidden until the final moment, so too, we now live within a story still unfolding, guided with precision, purpose, and promise.

When we forget who we are and Who sustains us, when we allow ourselves to be distracted by headlines and worldly analysis, we risk becoming like the Jews of Shushan, threatened by Haman after having sinned by indulging in the feast of Achashveirosh and drinking from the keilim of the destroyed Bais Hamikdosh.

The Rambam opens HilchosTaanis with a powerful statement: “Mitzvas asei min haTorah, it is a mitzvah in the Torah, to cry out to Hashem and to do teshuvah whenever any tragedy strikes.” This is derived from a posuk in ParshasBeha’aloscha (Bamidbar 10:9). When tragedy strikes, it is ultimately a reflection of our own shortcomings, and the path to overcoming it is through teshuvah.

Those who reduce wars or calamities to purely political or natural explanations, or who deny or ignore Hashem’s role in the unfolding of events, are engaging in a form of cruelty. They obscure the truth, prevent people from recognizing the Divine Hand, and hinder the opportunity for teshuvah. None of us wish to be counted among the cruel, especially when the Rambam is not offering opinion but articulating halacha and revealing the true nature of the world according to the Torah.

The Chovos Halevavos teaches in Shaar CheshbonHanefesh that someone who places his faith in Hashem is never abandoned. Hashem opens the gates of understanding, reveals the hidden depths of His wisdom, watches over him, and does not leave him to the limitations of his own strength.

The Gemara (Avodah Zarah 2b) tells us that when Moshiach comes, the nations of the world will protest the punishment they are about to receive for their treatment of the Jews. They will claim that all their actions were intended to benefit the Jewish people and facilitate their service of Hashem and the Torah. Persia, modern-day Iran, will argue, “We built bridges, conquered lands, and waged wars all to enable the Jews to learn Torah.”

While it is conceivable that infrastructure projects could indirectly support Torah study, what of war? Perhaps the Gemara is hinting that even wars and threats can serve as wake-up calls — to frighten, to warn, to inspire teshuvah, and to redirect hearts toward the Torah.

When the Supreme Ruler of Iran publicly declared his intent to destroy Israel and raced to arm the nation with nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles, the world largely stood by, making only nominal attempts to curb his ambitions.

During last year’s twelve-day conflict, Israel cleared the skies, striking hundreds of targets and neutralizing military leaders, nuclear scientists, and key infrastructure. In just a few days, a nation seventy-five times smaller dismantled decades of buildup, despite Iran’s strength and pride. Though rockets were fired in retaliation, Hashem’s protection was unmistakable. Most were intercepted, and the death toll remained minimal. Every life lost is a tragedy, yet the contrast between what could have happened and what actually occurred can only be explained by HashgochaProtis.

This is not strategy. This is not luck. This is not political brilliance.

This is Hashem’s Hand. This is the unfolding of a Divine plan. This is the sound of the approaching geulah.

Let us not waste this moment. As the war continues, as sirens wail and bombs threaten every part of Eretz Yisroel, let us raise our voices in passionate tefillah that Hashem spare us from the evil intentions of the anshei Poras and_Yishmoel_.

Let us strengthen our commitment to Torah, chesed, tzedakah, and the refinement of our middos. Let us build zechuyos with every word of Torah learned, every tefillah sincerely recited, and every act of kindness performed.

Just as in the days of Mordechai and Esther, when danger loomed and Hashem’s Hand was hidden, we live today with the awareness that nothing is by chance. Every challenge, every threat, every moment of uncertainty is part of a Divine plan. Purim reminds us that even when Hashem is hidden, His providence is real, guiding every event and protecting His people.

We are reminded that our role is not passive. While Hashem orchestrates the world, we are called to act as only we can through Torah, tefillah, tzedakah, and chesed, refining ourselves and building zechuyos for ourselves and our people. Just as Esther and Mordechai played a crucial role in the miracle of Purim by leading Am Yisroel to teshuvah, so will our spiritual efforts today help bring about the hidden yeshuah for which we all yearn.

Let us live with clarity and courage, seeing both the dangers and the opportunities that lie before us. Let us be a people who respond to fear, threats, and uncertainty with emunah, bitachon, and unwavering trust in Hakadosh Boruch Hu.

May this be the last war, and just as the Megillah ends with orah, simcha, sasson and yekor, may we soon see peace break out in the Middle East and throughout the world and be zoche to the coming of Moshiach Tzidkeinu.

JERUSALEM (VINnews) — Lebanese President Joseph Aoun made a strong statement against Hezbollah for initiating military strikes on Israel. Aoun stressed that Beirut’s decision to ban Hezbollah’s military activity is “a sovereign and final decision,” a day after Prime Minister Nawaf Salam declared the group’s military operations “illegal acts” following its attacks on Israel, which prompted Israeli strikes on Lebanon.

“The decision taken by the Council of Ministers yesterday, preserving the Lebanese state’s sole right to control decisions of war and peace and banning military and security activities outside the law, is a sovereign and final decision from which there is no turning back,” Aoun tells the Quintet Committee, made of representatives from the United States, France, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Egypt, according to the MTV Lebanese news site.

“The Council of Ministers has entrusted the army and security forces with implementing the decision across all Lebanese regions,” Aoun added

“I am Lebanon!”
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun replaces his civilian attire with military uniform (his former position was the military chief of staff) and declares Hezbollah outside the law and announces clear and explicit military confrontation against it.
Good luck, Lebanon 🇱🇧 pic.twitter.com/jlYTjutyBh

— Itamar Avni / Chief Hasbara Officer (@AvniItamar) March 5, 2026

Aoun also spoke to the media in military fatigues, stating that “I am Lebanon” and declaring that Hezbollah’s armed activity is illegal and that he is willing to confront it militarily in order to make the terrorist group disarm.

The Islamic Republic will target Israel’s nuclear site in Dimona if Israel and the US engage in efforts to topple its regime, the semi-official ISNA news agency reported on Wednesday.

The report quoted a senior Iranian military official who said that Tehran would respond forcefully to any external efforts to overthrow its regime, adding that if efforts to do so are carried out, Israel’s Dimona nuclear reactor would be one of Iran’s primary targets.

The official claimed that Iran is capable of striking Dimona and other strategic sites and said that there is nothing Tehran will hesitate to do to protect its sovereignty.

Israel’s Shimon Peres Negev Nuclear Research Center is located in Dimona, a city in the Negev, and is one of the most protected locations in the country.

(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)

FINAL CALL!
Double your tickets TODAY!

Drawing THIS Monday, 3/9

Here’s how: 

– 50% Off: Add a minimum of $150 or more in tickets to your cart and instantly pay half price! For example, $150 worth of tickets costs you just $75. – No code necessary!

– Unlock Even More – Double Your Tickets! If you spend $180 (meaning you added $360 worth of tickets), apply coupon code “STARS” and all your ticket selections will be DOUBLED!

Split the Pot, Decorate your home, get some free groceries, perhaps some stunning diamonds, a trip to Eretz Yisrael?? Some sheitels, silver, and seforim too.

Plus lots of other exciting items to win!

Take advantage of this deal. It’s going, going, going… gone!

Purchase your tickets here!

WATCH:

LISTEN:

https://matzav.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Bitachon4Life-Shiur-1721-Semichah-Part-21-Shivisi.mp3

​​For more info, email [email protected].

Agudath Israel of America has appointed Avi Schnall as its new Chief Operating Officer, placing the New Jersey lawmaker and longtime Agudah activist in a key national leadership role within the prominent Orthodox Jewish advocacy organization.

The announcement was made by board chairman Sol Werdiger, who praised Schnall’s long record of work on behalf of the organization and the broader Frum community. Schnall previously served as director of Agudath Israel’s New Jersey office for nearly a decade and later worked in Washington, D.C., advocating on behalf of yeshivos and religious rights at the federal level.

In his new role as COO, Schnall will oversee the organization’s day-to-day operations, strategic coordination, and collaboration between its regional offices and different programs across North America. The position places him at the center of The Aguda’s expanding advocacy and communal activities.

Schnall currently serves as a member of the New Jersey General Assembly representing the state’s 30th Legislative District. Leaders within the Aguda highlighted Schnall’s longstanding connection to the organization and his deep involvement in public affairs affecting Jewish communities and shared their excitement about the appointment and the great experince the are glad Avi brings to the table.

Senior Israeli political and defense officials held urgent closed-door discussions in recent days regarding the possibility of an infiltration attempt by Hezbollah’s elite Radwan Force commando unit, Channel 12 reported on Wednesday evening.

According to the report, military leaders are preparing for a scenario in which Iran’s Revolutionary Guards might attempt to launch an infiltration operation through Hezbollah—potentially even while IDF forces are already operating at several points inside southern Lebanon.

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yisrael Katz instructed the IDF to take no chances and to operate under the assumption that such a threat could materialize at any moment. The approach reflects lessons drawn from the events of October 7, with the security establishment unwilling to assume that the presence of IDF troops inside Lebanon alone is enough to prevent infiltration attempts.

According to the report, even if the likelihood of a large-scale incursion is considered low, the military is preparing to thwart any attempt — even a small, localized infiltration by a limited cell.

Following the assessment, a decision was made to significantly reinforce troop deployments. The IDF is increasing the number of soldiers stationed both deeper inside Lebanon and along the defensive perimeter surrounding northern Israeli yishuvim to ensure maximum readiness for direct engagement with enemy forces and to prevent Radwan terrorists from reaching Israeli towns and neighborhoods, chalilah.

(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)

LISTEN:

https://matzav.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Stories4Life-Shiur-546-Tefila-R-Dovid-Soloveichik.mp3

The Israeli government is weighing a series of spending cuts and canceling some tax benefits as officials try to cover the rapidly growing cost of the ongoing Operation Roaring Lion. Senior officials in the Finance Ministry are currently drafting a bill of economic measures to stabilize the budget as military expenditures continue to rise.

The proposals being discussed include reductions, cancellations, or postponements of several tax benefits that had previously been promised to the public. The goal is to offset the massive financial burden created by the war and prevent the state deficit from expanding too sharply. Among the cuts being considered are the cancellation of certain tax benefits for specific regions, including communities in Judea and Samaria and cities such as Ashkelon, as well as scrapping planned expansions of VAT exemptions on imported packages. Another proposal would halt the planned widening of income tax brackets that was scheduled to ease the burden on taxpayers.

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has already warned that the war’s costs will likely require increasing Israel’s planned budget deficit.

Operation Epic Fury

U.S. Preparing to Deploy B-2 Stealth Bombers to UK Bases as Long-Range Strike Capability Against Iran Expands

The United States is reportedly preparing to position B-2 stealth bombers at UK-linked bases, including RAF Fairford and Diego Garcia, significantly expanding long-range strike options against Iran as the conflict escalates.

“Iran Is Toast”: Hegseth Vows “Death and Destruction” as U.S. War Ramps Up

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth delivered an aggressive warning toward Tehran, saying Iran is “toast” and promising overwhelming military force while insisting the United States has ample munitions to sustain the conflict.

Operation Roaring Lion

Jet Dogfight Over Tehran: Israeli F-35I Shoots Down Iranian Yak-130 in Historic First

An Israeli F-35I fighter shot down an Iranian Yak-130 jet over Tehran, marking the first time an F-35 has destroyed a manned aircraft and Israel’s first air-to-air combat engagement in decades.

Missile Barrage: Iran and Hezbollah Launch Coordinated Strike as Sirens Sound Across Israel

Iran and Hezbollah reportedly launched a coordinated missile attack targeting Israeli territory, triggering sirens across multiple cities and highlighting the growing multi-front nature of the war.

“Not Our War”: Iran Blames U.S. and Israel as Gulf Neighbors Push Back

Iranian officials accused the United States and Israel of provoking the conflict while facing criticism from Gulf neighbors angered by Tehran’s regional actions and attacks.

NATO Shoots Down Missile Headed for Turkey in Dramatic Mid-Air Intercept

NATO defenses intercepted a missile reportedly headed toward Turkey, preventing what could have been a major escalation involving a NATO member state.

Politics

NYC Mayor Mamdani Dodges Question on Khamenei While Defending Criticism of Iran Strikes

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani avoided directly condemning Iran’s Supreme Leader while defending his criticism of the U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran, sparking political backlash.

Israel’s Health Ministry reported that 199 people were brought to hospitals over the past 24 hours as a result of the ongoing conflict with Iran.

Among those treated, 14 were listed in moderate condition while 170 were in good condition. Thirteen individuals were treated for anxiety, and two others are undergoing medical evaluation.

Since the fighting began on Saturday, a total of 1,473 people have been evacuated to hospitals.

Of that number, 145 remain hospitalized or in emergency rooms, while the rest have already been treated and released.

Health officials said four of those still hospitalized are in serious condition, though two were not directly wounded by missile strikes. Another 28 patients are listed in moderate condition and 67 are in good condition, while two additional individuals remain hospitalized for medical evaluation.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)