WAR BUILDUP: The U.S. is rapidly moving additional troops, fighter jets, bombers, medical personnel and weapons toward the Middle East, giving President Trump more options to expand military operations against Iran, according to a Wall Street Journal report.

Special operations forces have deployed to the region, fighter squadrons are being positioned across the Middle East, and long-range bombers have been placed on heightened alert. More than 150 military medical personnel have also arrived at a U.S. hospital in Germany as the Pentagon prepares for the possibility of a broader campaign.

The Trump administration is weighing military strikes in Mali against JNIM, an al-Qaeda-linked terrorist group, The Washington Post reports.

Senior officials are divided over whether the U.S. should act directly. Counterterrorism official Sebastian Gorka is pushing for military action, while others argue regional forces should take the lead. Options under discussion reportedly include U.S. airstrikes targeting JNIM leaders, but no final decision has been made.

WATCH: Congressman Mike Lawler announced that the Stop Insider Trading Act has passed the U.S. House of Representatives with bipartisan support, banning members of Congress from trading individual stocks. Lawler, who co-led the legislation with Congressman Brian Steil, said the bill is aimed at ending the practice of lawmakers profiting from insider information, calling it “wrong” and saying it “has to stop.”

BREAKING: U.S. forces launched a new wave of strikes against Iranian military targets at 5:30 p.m. ET, marking the 12th consecutive night of U.S. attacks on Iran, CENTCOM announced.

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The House narrowly approved a Republican-backed $95 billion package to fund the war with Iran and other Trump administration priorities.

The measure passed 216–214, with all Democrats opposed, and now faces an uncertain path in the Senate.

TOMS RIVER/LAKEWOOD: A suspect who allegedly fired multiple shots led Toms River Police and Lakewood Police on a pursuit through Route 70 and multiple other local streets before bailing out on Chestnut Street and fleeing into the forest. Lakewood Police apprehended the suspect in the forest.

A large police presence in the area. Please avoid the area.

Israel’s incoming Mossad chief, Roman Gofman, visited Washington two weeks ago for talks with CIA Director John Ratcliffe and other senior U.S. officials on the war with Iran and Tehran’s nuclear program, Axios reports.

The meetings took place shortly before tensions around the Strait of Hormuz escalated and fighting resumed. An Israeli source said the visit was partly aimed at coordinating with the Trump administration over negotiations on a possible nuclear agreement with Iran.

Former PM Naftali Bennett at the Kosel on Tisha B’Av night.

Gadi Eisenkot, the former IDF Chief of Staff, at the Kosel on Tisha B’Av night.

Singing moving songs on Tisha B’Av nibht at the שער הכותנה which is the entrance to the Har Habayis from the Muslim Quarter of Jerusalem’s Old City.

Video via Arzei Harry.

Hagaon HaRav Dovid Yosef, the Rishon L’Tzion and Chief Rabbi of Israel, breaks down in tears as he recites Kinos, mourning the Churban Bais Hamikdash.

U.S. intelligence officials are investigating whether Russia helped Iran target CIA facilities in the Gulf by providing intelligence, targeting data or improved drone technology, Reuters reports.

At least two CIA sites were struck in March, including the CIA station inside the U.S. Embassy in Riyadh and another facility in eastern Iraq. A Western intelligence assessment concluded Russia likely played a role, though U.S. officials have not reached a firm conclusion.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warned that any attack on Iran or its infrastructure would trigger a “powerful and decisive” response, adding that countries providing support for such an attack would also be considered legitimate targets.

Separately, IRGC Aerospace Commander Amir Ali Hajizadeh’s successor, Mahmoud Mousavi, threatened to target electricity infrastructure in regional countries hosting U.S. forces if Iranian bridges or power plants are struck. Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters also warned it could halt regional oil exports and target oil, gas, electricity and other economic infrastructure, saying an attack on Iran’s infrastructure would expand the conflict across the region and beyond.

Meanwhile, the United Kingdom has temporarily withdrawn its embassy staff from Iran due to the security situation.

Additional footage from the Kosel on Tisha B’Av night shows thousands singing in achdus.

ַל אֵלֶּה אֲנִי בוֹכִיָּה

Thousands are currently gathered at the Kosel on Tisha B’Av night to recite Eicha and mourn the Churban Beis Hamikdash.

Thousands are currently reading Megillas Eichah at the Kosel.

📹 YWN Israel Reporter Reuven Biala

Samsung has unveiled a revamped foldable phone lineup ahead of Apple’s expected entry into the category, including the $1,200 Galaxy Z Flip 8, $1,900 Galaxy Z Fold 8 and $2,100 Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra.

The standard Fold 8 features a shorter, wider design aimed at video, reading and gaming, while Samsung also introduced hardware changes intended to make the screen crease less noticeable. Preorders begin today, with shipments starting Aug. 7.

Austria has opened a police station in the house where Adolf Hitler ym”s was born, following years of debate over how to prevent the site from becoming a gathering place for neo-Nazis.

The building underwent a 20 million renovation, while a memorial stone outside remains in place.