Feed aggregator

Long Island commuters faced severe travel headaches today as the first full day of the Long Island Rail Road strike shut down service across the region, leaving hundreds of thousands scrambling for transportation and bracing for major disruptions in the days ahead.

More than 3,500 engineers, conductors, signal workers and other railroad employees from five unions officially walked off the job after contract negotiations with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority broke down completely, triggering the largest commuter transit shutdown the region has seen in decades.

MTA Chairman Janno Lieber blamed union leadership for the collapse in talks, insisting the agency had already agreed to the compensation package workers requested.

“For me, it’s become apparent that these unions always intended to strike,” he said. Their strategy is to inconvenience Long Islanders and try to force the MTA and the State to do a bad deal.”

Union representatives argued that they exhausted every effort to avoid a strike and maintained that employees are seeking wage increases necessary to keep pace with rising living costs.

Workers on the picket lines also expressed sympathy for stranded riders while criticizing the MTA’s negotiating tactics.

“For the commuters out there, this is not a fight against them,” Karl Bischoff, a locomotive engineer who has worked 29 years for the LIRR, told The NY Post while picketing outside Penn Station.

“Commuters are our families, our friends, our neighbors,” said the 55-year-old.

“We apologize, but unfortunately, this is what it has come to because the MTA does not want to bargain in good faith,” he claimed.

The shutdown of the nation’s busiest commuter rail system officially began at 12:01 a.m. Friday after talks over salaries and healthcare expenses stalled. At this stage, there is no indication when bargaining sessions will resume.

Transit officials estimate that nearly 300,000 daily riders who depend on the LIRR for transportation between Long Island and New York City will be affected by the strike.

The MTA announced plans to launch complimentary shuttle bus service linking six Long Island locations with two subway stations in Queens. However, the buses are not expected to handle the full commuter load and will not begin operating until Monday, leaving many residents searching for alternatives this weekend, including fans traveling to the Mets-Yankees Subway Series at Citi Field.

The five unions participating in the strike — representing roughly half of the railroad’s workforce — are reportedly seeking a retroactive 9.5% salary increase covering the past three years.

According to the MTA, the agency already offered the same wage package accepted by other labor groups. Union leaders, however, are additionally demanding a 5% raise for the current year. The MTA rejected that proposal and instead countered with a 3% increase along with a lump-sum payment the agency says effectively raises the total compensation increase to 4.5%.

Transit officials also noted that workers represented by the striking unions earned median salaries exceeding $136,000 last year, making them the highest-paid commuter rail employees in the country.

The MTA further stated that when healthcare coverage and additional benefits are included, total average compensation for those employees surpasses $200,000 annually.

Lieber, whose compensation totaled $420,599 last year, joined Gov. Kathy Hochul in urging commuters to work remotely where possible, use shuttle alternatives and prepare for severe traffic delays and parking shortages if driving into New York City.

Sean M. O’Brien, president of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, placed full responsibility for the disruption on railroad management.

“Union workers have sacrificed so much for the railroad for years while consistently bargaining in good faith for a fair contract,” said O’Brien, whose powerful bargaining group includes the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen that is striking.

“The LIRR is stranding passengers while denying wages, benefits, and respect to the BLET Teamsters and other hardworking union members.”

State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli warned that the strike’s economic consequences could be enormous, estimating losses of as much as $61 million per day in economic activity based on previous data, inflation levels and commuter trends.

{Matzav.com}

The Supreme Court on Friday declined to revive a Democratic-backed congressional map in Virginia that supporters had hoped to implement for this year’s midterm elections, effectively ending the effort after weeks of legal and political battles.

In a short order issued without any noted dissents, the high court allowed a previous ruling by the Virginia Supreme Court to stand. That state ruling determined that the referendum process used to advance the proposed map suffered from legal deficiencies.

The challenge had already been losing momentum earlier in the week after Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger acknowledged on Wednesday that the timeline for adopting a new congressional map before the upcoming elections had already passed.

Democrats had promoted the proposed map as part of a broader national redistricting fight that intensified after President Donald Trump urged Texas Republicans to pursue congressional boundaries more favorable to the GOP.

While court observers did not expect the Supreme Court to intervene, Friday’s action marked another defeat for Democrats seeking to reshape congressional districts ahead of the midterms, both in Virginia and across the country.

Had the revised map taken effect, Democrats potentially stood to pick up as many as four additional congressional seats in Virginia’s 11-district delegation.

Virginia’s current congressional breakdown consists of six Democratic-held seats and five represented by Republicans.

At the center of the case was a procedural dispute involving Virginia state law. Because the Supreme Court generally cannot review purely state-law matters, the case faced significant hurdles from the outset. However, Virginia Attorney General Jay Jones argued in court filings that the state court’s ruling also raised issues connected to federal law, which he said gave the justices grounds to hear the dispute.

President Donald Trump intensified pressure on Iran today by sharing a dramatic video on Truth Social depicting him authorizing an attack on an Iranian aircraft, fueling fresh speculation about a possible renewal of hostilities between Washington and Tehran.

“Okay, we have it in our sight. Fire – boom!” Trump says, as a US-flagged destroyer blows one with the Iranian flag out of the sky.

The video came as Trump sharpened his rhetoric against Iran, rejecting the regime’s latest peace proposal and openly discussing the extensive damage already inflicted by the United States during the conflict, while warning that additional infrastructure could still be targeted.

“We hit them unbelievably hard. Look — we left their bridges. We left their electricity capacity. We can knock that all out in two days. Two days — everything,” Trump told Bret Baier, host of Fox News Special Report in an interview that aired Friday night.

Analysts who follow Iran closely told The New York Post that another round of fighting appears increasingly plausible as tensions continue to rise.

“I’m sure preparations are underway for more escalation,” said Jon Hoffman, a research fellow in defense and foreign policy at the Cato Institute.

“Trump has refused to back down from his maximalist demands in negotiations,” he said, while predicting that “Iran won’t negotiate away its leverage.”

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told members of Congress this week that the Pentagon already has contingency plans prepared should the situation deteriorate further.

“We have a plan to retrograde if necessary. We have a plan to shift assets,”

A Friday report in The New York Times stated that military officials are engaged in “intense preparations” for the possibility that strikes against Iran could resume soon. According to Middle Eastern officials cited in the report, the plans could involve “aggressive bombing runs” beginning as early as next week.

“We have nothing to provide, we don’t speculate on hypothetical situations,” a Department of War official told The Post. The White House did not respond to a request for comment.

The footage Trump shared online reportedly originated from a Women’s History Month event held in 2020 and was later repurposed for the Iran-related post.

The United States currently maintains roughly 50,000 troops in the region, alongside major naval and air assets positioned nearby in the event Trump authorizes additional military action. The USS Abraham Lincoln and USS George W. Bush carrier strike groups remain deployed in the area following the return of the USS Gerald R. Ford on Saturday.

Trump has continued to speak publicly about eliminating what he has referred to as Iran’s remaining “nuclear dust,” describing enriched uranium buried deep beneath Iranian nuclear facilities that have already been struck multiple times by American forces.

He also revisited the joint American-Israeli offensive that severely damaged Iran’s Kharg Island, a critical hub for the country’s oil exports that was also the site of a recent oil spill.

“We hit Kharg Island, everything but the oil. They wiped out the whole island. Except they left the nozzle, you know that’s where the oil comes out – just in case,” he said.

The War Department deployed 5,000 Marines to the region in March, a move that increased speculation about the possibility of a future ground mission aimed at securing strategic locations.

Trump has shown growing impatience with the ongoing diplomatic negotiations, which have reportedly been conducted in Islamabad and centered around a proposed 14-point framework.

“I am not going to be much more patient. They should make a deal,” he told Fox News host Sean Hannity in an interview Thursday from Beijing. “Now they can make a deal, or they get annihilated,” he said.

Speaking to reporters, Trump also dismissed Tehran’s latest proposal outright, criticizing what he described as unacceptable language regarding nuclear restrictions.

He outright dissed Iran’s latest offer in comments to reporters, ripping its “unacceptable sentence, because they have fully agreed no nuclear, and if they have any nuclear of any form, I don’t read the rest.”

Trump said he did not ask Chinese President Xi Jinping during their meetings this week to pressure Beijing into reopening the Strait of Hormuz, despite China’s heavy reliance on oil shipments passing through the waterway.

“When you ask for favors, you have to do favors in return,” Trump said.

Meanwhile, Iranian officials appeared to threaten tighter control over the Strait of Hormuz. Iran’s parliamentary security chief, Ebrahim Azizi, wrote on X that Tehran had finalized plans to regulate passage through the strait by allowing access to allied nations while permanently barring vessels connected to the United States.

Operation Epic Fury continued for 40 days before a temporary ceasefire was announced on April 8. Trump has said the pause in fighting came after requests from Pakistan, which has served as an intermediary during negotiations.

Trump has repeatedly claimed that American forces destroyed Iran’s naval power and crippled much of its missile-launching capability. During his flight home from China, he lashed out at a reporter over reports suggesting Iran still retains a significant portion of its arsenal.

“You should be ashamed of yourself. I actually think it’s treason,” he said.

US Central Command also pushed back Thursday against reports claiming Iran still possesses 70% of its missiles and 75% of its rocket launchers. Adm. Brad Cooper, head of Central Command, dismissed those reports outright, calling them “not accurate.”

{Matzav.com}

The United States and Israel are reportedly accelerating military preparations amid growing concerns that fighting with Iran could resume within days, according to a report published today by The New York Times.

The report stated that both countries are engaged in what is being described as the most significant military mobilization since the ceasefire between the sides took effect.

President Donald Trump returned to Washington following his trip to China as his administration weighs major decisions connected to the Iranian front and the possibility of renewed conflict.

At the same time, the report said Pentagon officials are actively reviewing plans for restarting military operations against Iran after the campaign was paused once the ceasefire went into effect.

The IDF announced on Motzoei Shabbos that Capt. Maoz Yisroel Recanati, a Golani Brigade officer from Itamar, was killed during combat operations in southern Lebanon after an explosive drone struck his position.

Recanati, 24, served as a platoon commander in Golani’s 12th Battalion. His death marked the 20th Israeli military fatality in Lebanon since the launch of Operation Roaring Lion in February, and the seventh soldier killed since the ceasefire in Lebanon declared by the United States went into effect.

The Shomron Regional Council released a statement expressing grief over the loss of Recanati, who was killed shortly before the onset of Shabbos on Friday.

“Maoz served as an officer in the Golani Brigade’s 12th Battalion, and previously served as a fighter in the Egoz commando unit,” the Council wrote in its announcement. “He is survived by his parents and six siblings. He was a member of a deeply rooted family in Itamar, one of the families that founded the community.”

The statement also noted that Recanati had recently become engaged and was preparing to begin a new chapter in life.

“Maoz was engaged to Rani, who studied at the seminary in the community, and was set to marry her in about a month and establish a home in Israel.”

Shomron Regional Council chairman Yossi Dagan paid tribute to the fallen officer, describing him as an exceptional young man devoted to defending Am Yisroel and the country.

“Maoz was one of the best of our sons, a brave officer and dedicated fighter who devoted his life to the security of the people of Israel. He was the son of a pioneering and deeply rooted family in Itamar, and grew up on values of love for the Land and devotion to the state.”

“Our hearts are broken over a young life cut short just before he was to establish a home in Israel. All of Samaria bows its head and shares the pain of the dear family, embracing them at this difficult hour. His character and heroism will accompany us and give us strength to increase and build life here.”

President Donald Trump’s ally and Israeli Prime Minister Binyomin Netanyahu also issued a message of condolence following the announcement of Recanati’s death.

“The entire people of Israel bows its head in mourning over Captain Maoz Israel Recanati, of blessed memory, a platoon commander in the Golani Brigade’s 12th Battalion, who fell in battle in southern Lebanon.”

“My wife and I send our heartfelt condolences to the family of Maoz, of blessed memory, a heroic fighter who courageously led his soldiers against our enemies.

“Maoz was due to marry his fiancée, Rani, in about a month, and we all embrace her and his loved ones during this difficult hour. May his memory be blessed and cherished in our hearts forever.”

{Matzav.com}

A new poll published Friday found that a majority of Israelis believe Israeli Prime Minister Binyomin Netanyahu should step away from political life and not run in the next election, as opposition parties continue to gain strength in the latest surveys.

The poll, published by Maariv and conducted by Lazar Research, comes amid continued uncertainty surrounding the conflict with Iran, growing concerns over Israel becoming increasingly entangled again in Lebanon, and rising public attention to escalating violence inside Israeli society.

According to the survey, both the Likud party and Otzma Yehudit each dropped by one seat this week.

The poll found that 55% of Israelis believe Netanyahu should not seek reelection and should retire from politics altogether. By contrast, 38% said they want him to continue leading Likud into the next election, while 7% said they were undecided.

The survey also showed the coalition bloc slipping to 49 seats, while the Zionist opposition bloc climbed to 61 seats — enough for a governing majority in the 120-seat Knesset.

Despite losses by Likud and Otzma Yehudit, the coalition’s decline was partially offset by Shas gaining one mandate.

Under the poll’s current breakdown, Naftali Bennett’s “Beyachad” party would emerge as the largest faction with 26 seats, followed closely by Likud with 25 seats.

The “Yashar” party led by Gadi Eisenkot received 16 seats, while the Democrats were projected to win 10 mandates. Otzma Yehudit and Yisroel Beiteinu each received 9 seats, as did Shas. Yahadut HaTorah was projected at 7 seats, while Hadash-Ta’al and Ra’am each stood at 5.

Within the opposition bloc, Eisenkot’s Yashar party strengthened by an additional seat compared to the previous poll, helping push the opposition camp to the 61-seat threshold. Other opposition parties remained largely unchanged from last week’s numbers, while the Arab parties collectively held steady at 10 seats.

The poll also examined a possible joint political list between Yoaz Hendel and Chili Tropper. According to the survey, such a slate would narrowly pass the electoral threshold with 3.3% of the vote, translating into four Knesset seats.

However, that scenario would lower the opposition bloc from 61 seats to 58, while the coalition would also weaken slightly, dropping to 48 seats.

The Maariv poll additionally revisited the possibility of a united alliance between Bennett’s Beyachad party, Eisenkot’s Yashar faction, and Yisroel Beiteinu.

In that scenario, the combined list would receive 49 mandates — two more than in last week’s poll.

The Democrats, who previously surged to 14 seats due to voters opposed to such a merger, would decline to 11 seats in the updated scenario, though that would still leave them one seat stronger than in the standard polling model without a united opposition slate.

Even with the three-way alliance, however, the opposition bloc would stand at 60 seats — one short of the 61-seat majority that a similar arrangement achieved in the previous poll. Netanyahu’s coalition, meanwhile, would rise slightly to 50 seats, gaining one mandate compared to last week.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump said Friday that he would be open to an agreement freezing Iran’s nuclear program for 20 years, but insisted that any deal would require ironclad assurances from Tehran before the United States would agree to end the war.

Speaking with reporters aboard Air Force One while returning from his trip to China, Trump discussed the latest Iranian proposal and indicated he had serious objections to parts of it.

“Well, I looked at it, and if I don’t like the first sentence, I just throw it away,” the President replied, explaining that the first sentence of the Iranian proposal was “an unacceptable sentence because they fully agree, no nuclear, and if they have any nuclear of any form, I don’t read the rest of their letter.”

Asked whether a 20-year moratorium on Iran’s nuclear activity would satisfy him, Trump responded that the issue was not the length of time but whether Iran could be trusted to comply.

“No, 20 years is enough, but the level of guarantee from them is not enough. In other words, it’s got to be a real 20 years, not a fake 20.”

Trump also revealed that Iran was a major topic during his meetings with Chinese President Xi Jinping. According to Trump, Xi strongly opposed Iran obtaining nuclear weapons and discussed the strategic importance of keeping the Strait of Hormuz open.

Trump said Xi “feels strongly they can’t have a nuclear weapon. He said that very strongly. They can’t have a nuclear weapon. And he wants them to open up the strait. But as he said, ‘they closed it, and then you closed them’. And it’s true. We control the strait. And they’ve done no business, literally they’ve done no business in the last two and a half weeks, which is approximately $500 million a day. So we’re doing very well on all fronts.”

The president said he remains hopeful that Iran will eventually agree to a deal. Trump added that Iranian officials told him that only the United States and China possess the capability to remove the country’s enriched uranium stockpiles, which he referred to as “nuclear dust.”

During an interview Thursday night with Sean Hannity on Fox News, Trump warned that his patience with Tehran is quickly running out.

“I’m not going to be much more patient. No, I’m not. They should make a deal. Any sane person would make a deal, but they might be crazy,” Trump clarified.

The interview aired shortly after Trump suggested on Truth Social that military operations against Iran may continue.

The remarks came in a broader post reflecting on his recent visit to China and comments made by Xi Jinping about the United States.

“When President Xi very elegantly referred to the United States as perhaps being a declining nation, he was referring to the tremendous damage we suffered during the four years of Sleepy Joe Biden and the Biden Administration, and on that score, he was 100% correct. Our Country suffered immeasurably with open borders, high taxes, transgender for everybody, men in women’s sports, DEI, horrible trade deals, rampant crime, and so much more!” wrote Trump.

“President Xi was not referring to the incredible rise that the United States has displayed to the world during the 16 spectacular months of the Trump Administration, which includes all-time high stock markets and 401K’s, military victory and thriving relationship in Venezuela, the military decimation of Iran (to be continued!),” he added.

Trump has repeatedly stated that the United States will not allow Iran to develop nuclear weapons, and he reiterated that position again Tuesday before departing for China.

Speaking to reporters at the time, Trump warned Tehran that it must accept American conditions for ending the conflict and resolving concerns surrounding its nuclear activities.

“They’ll either do the right thing, or we’ll finish the job,” Trump said, rejecting the idea that rising prices in the US pushed him to seek an end to the war.

{Matzav.com}

Federal authorities in the United States have arrested and charged an Iraqi citizen accused of organizing an international terrorism campaign that allegedly targeted Jewish and American institutions across Europe and North America, according to a report Friday by CNN.

Prosecutors say the suspect, identified as Mohammad Baqer Saad Dawood al-Saadi, was connected to Iran-backed terrorist organizations and helped coordinate numerous planned attacks intended to pressure the West over the ongoing war involving Iran.

According to the federal criminal complaint, investigators believe al-Saadi was involved in planning at least 18 separate terror operations throughout Europe, in addition to alleged plots aimed at targets in the United States and Canada.

Court filings state that al-Saadi acted on behalf of organizations aligned with Iran and pursued antisemitic and anti-American attacks designed to destabilize international security.

The complaint alleges that al-Saadi “directed and urged others to attack US and Israeli interests,” in retaliation for the war and to “further the terrorist goals of Kataib Hezbollah and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and his associated,” according to the complaint.

US officials have not publicly disclosed the precise details surrounding the suspect’s capture. However, flight records reportedly show that a Department of Justice aircraft commonly used for sensitive extradition missions traveled to Turkey earlier this week before returning through Morocco and landing in the New York area late Thursday night.

Al-Saadi has now been charged with multiple serious federal offenses, including conspiracy to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization, conspiracy to support acts of terrorism, and conspiracy to bomb a public location.

Investigators said one of the alleged plots involved plans to bomb a major Jewish synagogue in New York City. According to prosecutors, al-Saadi attempted to hire an individual he believed to be affiliated with a Mexican drug cartel to carry out the attack. Authorities say the supposed cartel operative was actually an undercover federal agent.

The complaint alleges that al-Saadi agreed to transfer $10,000 to finance the synagogue bombing and insisted that the attack be filmed for propaganda purposes. Prosecutors say he instructed that the bombing take place on April 6 and later sent a message demanding answers after the explosion did not occur.

In addition to the alleged network of planned attacks in Europe, prosecutors claim al-Saadi was involved in organizing two separate terror operations inside Canada and was also working to establish additional terrorist cells capable of launching future attacks within the United States.

{Matzav.com}

The United States announced Friday that the ceasefire arrangement between Israel and Lebanon will remain in effect for another 45 days as negotiations between the two countries continue under American mediation.

The extension came after a third round of discussions hosted by the Trump administration in Washington, DC.

“On May 14 and 15, the United States hosted two days of highly-productive talks between Israel and Lebanon. The April 16 cessation of hostilities will be extended by 45 days to enable further progress,” said State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott.

Pigott said additional negotiations are already scheduled for the coming weeks, with separate diplomatic and military channels set to move forward.

“The State Department will reconvene the political track of negotiations on June 2 and June 3. In addition, a security track will be launched at the Pentagon on May 29 with military delegations from both countries,” he added.

American officials expressed hope that the talks could eventually lead to a broader and more stable agreement between the neighboring countries.

“We hope these discussions will advance lasting peace between the two countries, full recognition of each other’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and establishing genuine security along their shared border,” said Pigott.

Israel’s ambassador to the United States, Yechiel Leiter, also commented on the negotiations following the latest meetings in Washington.

“Concluding 2 days of negotiations with Lebanese and American officials, I’m looking forward to the next steps. The peace talks were frank and constructive, and are set to move forward on two tracks: security and political,” he wrote on social media.

Leiter cautioned that the process could face challenges, while emphasizing that Israeli security would remain the top priority.

“There will be ups and downs, but the potential for success is great. What will be paramount throughout negotiations is the security of our citizens and our soldiers,” added Leiter.

US officials said Thursday that the first day of discussions had been “productive and positive,” with talks focused on creating a permanent peace arrangement and securing the full disarmament of the Iranian-backed Hezbollah terror organization.

According to Reuters, Thursday’s negotiations lasted approximately eight hours and centered largely on developing a framework for a long-term security agreement. Talks resumed Friday morning.

Even as negotiations continued, Hezbollah reportedly violated the ceasefire Friday by firing mortar shells and launching explosive drones toward Israeli territory.

{Matzav.com}

The United States Department of Justice plans to pursue the death penalty against the man charged in the fatal shooting of two Israeli Embassy employees outside a Jewish museum in Washington, according to a federal court filing made public Friday.

Elias Rodriguez is facing federal murder and hate crime charges tied to the killings of Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim, who were gunned down outside the Capital Jewish Museum last May.

Authorities allege that Rodriguez shouted anti-Israel slogans during the shooting and later admitted responsibility to investigators while expressing support for Palestinian terror groups.

“I did it for Palestine, I did it for Gaza,” Rodriguez stated to law enforcement following the shooting.

Lischinsky, an Israeli citizen working in Washington, and Milgrim, an American citizen, were reportedly planning to become engaged before they were killed in the attack.

Federal prosecutors said the hate crime charges are intended to establish that Rodriguez specifically targeted the victims because of antisemitic motives as they exited an event held at the museum on May 21.

Jeanine Pirro, the United States Attorney for the District of Columbia, announced the Justice Department’s decision to seek capital punishment and warned against politically motivated violence in the nation’s capital.

“My message to anyone who seeks to commit political violence in this district – DC is not the place. You will be held accountable and you will face the full wrath of the law,” Pirro stated during a news conference on Friday, as quoted by AP.

Prosecutors described the shooting as a carefully organized attack carried out with advance planning. According to investigators, Rodriguez traveled from Chicago to Washington specifically to attend the museum event and transported a handgun in his checked baggage on a commercial flight.

Court documents state that witnesses saw Rodriguez walking around outside the building before he approached a group of four people and began firing.

Investigators said surveillance video showed Rodriguez continuing toward Lischinsky and Milgrim after they collapsed to the ground, firing additional shots at close range before reloading his weapon and fleeing the area.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation is offering a $200,000 reward for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of Monica Witt, a former American counterintelligence official accused of defecting to Iran and passing classified information to the Iranian regime.

The FBI’s Washington Field Office announced that Witt was charged in 2019 with multiple espionage-related offenses tied to allegations that she provided sensitive U.S. national defense material to Iran.

Witt previously served with the U.S. Air Force Office of Special Investigations as both an intelligence specialist and special agent from 1997 through 2008. After leaving active duty, she continued working as a government contractor until 2010.

Federal authorities say those roles gave her access to highly classified intelligence at the SECRET and TOP SECRET levels, including information involving covert American intelligence operatives.

According to investigators, Witt defected to Iran in 2013 and later assisted Iranian intelligence efforts by supplying information that jeopardized U.S. personnel and intelligence activities overseas. Authorities further allege that she helped the Iranian regime identify and investigate former American colleagues.

The FBI said Witt’s alleged activities aided Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, or IRGC, which the United States classifies as a terrorist organization. Officials described the case as an ongoing threat to national security interests.

“Monica Witt allegedly betrayed her oath to the Constitution,” said Daniel Wierzbicki, special agent in charge of the FBI Washington Field Office’s Counterintelligence and Cyber Division.

The bureau believes Witt may still be residing in Iran. Investigators said she speaks fluent Farsi and may also use the aliases “Fatemah Zahra” and “Narges Witt.”

{Matzav.com}

The IDF carried out an airstrike Friday evening targeting a residential structure in Gaza City’s Rimal neighborhood, with Israeli leaders later confirming that the intended target was Izz al-Din al-Haddad, a top Hamas commander accused of helping orchestrate the October 7 massacre.

Prime Minister Binyomin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yisroel Katz announced after the strike that Haddad, who headed Hamas’s military wing, had been the focus of the operation.

ראשוני: ניסיון חיסול של מנהיג חמאס עז א-דין אל-חדאד pic.twitter.com/NEtHcdKZ7d

— מעריב | Maariv (@MaarivOnline) May 15, 2026

“Haddad was responsible for the murder, abduction, and harming of thousands of Israeli citizens and IDF soldiers. He brutally held our hostages in captivity, directed terrorist operations against our forces, and refused to implement the agreement led by US President Trump for the disarmament of Hamas and the demilitarization of the Gaza Strip,” they said.

Netanyahu and Katz praised the Israeli military and intelligence agencies for carrying out the operation.

“The IDF and the Shin Bet are effectively implementing the government’s policy of zero tolerance for threats and the preemptive neutralization of our enemies,” said Netanyahu and Katz.

The two leaders emphasized that Israel intends to continue pursuing everyone connected to the October 7 attacks.

“We will continue to act with power and determination against anyone who took part in the October 7th massacre. This is a clear message to all the murderers who seek our lives: sooner or later, Israel will reach you.”

An Israeli defense official later said that preliminary assessments indicated the assassination attempt had likely succeeded.

Defense Minister Katz personally informed the family of former hostage Liri Albag about the operation. According to Israeli officials, Albag had been held captive by Haddad during her time in Gaza.

Albag later reacted publicly on Instagram, writing, “Every dog has its day – and you are one hell of a dog.”

Former hostage Emily Damari, who Israeli officials said had also been held by Haddad, posted a message celebrating the reported elimination.

“It’s official, Izz al-Din al-Haddad has been eliminated !!!!!! Thank you to all the security forces and everyone involved in the operation. Shabbat Shalom to the entire Nation of Israel,” she wrote.

Damari also described the emotional significance the strike carried for victims and survivors of the October 7 attack.

“This is a very, very, very important closure for so many people. He conceived and planned the Seventh [of October], he murdered my friends and so many other precious people, he planned my kidnapping, and he also held me captive in the Hamas tunnels. With God’s help, we will reach every single one of these garbage terrorists,” added Damari.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog has called off a planned trip to New York next week where he had been scheduled to participate in a major rabbinical ordination ceremony, with his office saying the decision was tied to an intense international travel schedule and ongoing tensions in the region.

The event was scheduled for Tuesday at the Jewish Theological Seminary, the central rabbinical training institution of the Conservative movement.

Ynet reports that a source involved in preparations for the trip claimed the cancellation stemmed from concerns surrounding possible interactions with President Donald Trump connected to Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu’s reported pursuit of a pardon. Herzog’s office forcefully rejected the allegation.

According to the source, people close to Herzog worried Trump might attempt to pressure the Israeli president regarding a pardon for Netanyahu by arranging an unexpected meeting, delaying him, or otherwise placing him in an uncomfortable position during the visit.

The source said Herzog’s appearance at the New York ceremony had been planned roughly a year in advance. Officials in Herzog’s circle reportedly believed that a possible Independence Day visit by Trump to Israel could help improve relations between the two leaders. That trip, however, never materialized, leaving Herzog’s advisers weighing whether the New York visit should proceed.

The source further claimed that the final decision to cancel the trip was reached approximately one month ago and that Herzog recorded a video message for the ordination ceremony about three weeks ago.

Herzog’s office sharply denied the report and dismissed the claims outright.

“It never happened and was never created,” the President’s Residence said in a statement. “Anyone publishing this is spreading a lie and risks defamation.”

The statement added that journalists had already been informed weeks ago — around the time the invitation became public — that Herzog would not be attending the ceremony.

“The report is so wrong that it completely ignores the fact that the president is expected to travel to visit communities in the United States in the coming months,” the statement said. “Due to the heavy travel schedule and in light of the sensitive situation in the region, it was decided to decline the invitation.”

Officials also pointed to Herzog’s recent diplomatic trips to Kazakhstan, Panama, and Costa Rica as factors that contributed to the decision to remain in Israel rather than make the additional journey to New York.

{Matzav.com}

Amid the observances marking Yom Yerushalayim, Rav Shmuel Eliyahu called Friday on Prime Minister Binyomin Netanyahu and members of the Israeli government to advance the establishment of a shul on Har Habayis, declaring that the time has come for a permanent Jewish presence at the site.

Rav Eliyahu, the rov of Tzfas and a member of Israel’s Chief Rabbinate Council, delivered the remarks while standing opposite Har Habayis.

“You see the mosque behind me, Al-Aqsa,” Rav Eliyahu said. “This is from the exile. For two thousand years we were in exile, so they (the Muslims) built this structure here. But in truth, this was the site of the First Beis Hamikdash, which brought Kiddush Hashem to the world, the Second Beis Hamikdash, and here will be the Third Beis Hamikdash — that is a fact. This is how Hashem planned it, and this is how it will be.”

Rav Eliyahu said that until the rebuilding of the Beis Hamikdash, the State of Israel should establish a permanent Jewish foothold on Har Habayis through the construction of a shul in an area permissible according to halacha.

“In the meantime, until the Beis Hamikdash is built, there needs to be a shul here,” he said. “Now the Muslims already understand that this is not theirs. We need to establish our hold.”

During his remarks, Rav Eliyahu also referenced his father, Rav Mordechai Eliyahu zt”l, saying that he had previously ruled that it is permissible to establish a shul on Har Habayis in areas where entry is allowed according to halacha.

Concluding his statement, Rav Eliyahu issued a direct appeal to Israel’s leadership.

“This is our role, this is the role of Am Yisroel, this is the role of the leaders, the government ministers, the prime minister,” he said. “A shul on Har Habayis — the time has come!”

{Matzav.com}

[Videos and photos below.] A distinguished gathering of askanim, supporters, rabbonim, and others assembled yesterday at the Manhattan offices of Outerstuff for an inaugural pre-Siyum HaShas kickoff event hosted by Shloime Werdiger, Chairman of the Board of Agudath Israel of America.

The evening marked the formal launch of early efforts leading toward next June’s Siyum HaShas and brought together individuals committed to strengthening Daf Yomi, expanding opportunities for limud haTorah, and helping shape what organizers hope will become the largest and most impactful event of harbotzas haTorah in history.

Hosted in the elegant Outerstuff offices in Manhattan, the gathering was designed not merely as a planning session, but as an opportunity to present a vision, one centered on reaching broader audiences, inspiring deeper connection to Torah, and investing in initiatives that will elevate Daf Yomi following the Siyum, which will be held on Sunday, June 6, 2027, at MetLife Stadium.

A central theme repeated throughout the evening was the ambitious goal of enabling the Siyum HaShas to ultimately reach one million people worldwide and inspire them in limud haTorah. Speakers emphasized that the objective is not only to fill a stadium, but to ignite a greater passion for daily Torah learning among Yidden across every background and community.

The event also served as the first official opportunity for attendees to reserve premium suites for the Siyum itself, giving supporters an early chance to participate in what organizers described as a historic undertaking already generating significant excitement and momentum.

Rabbi Naftali Miller opened the evening by welcoming guests and introducing Mr. Werdiger. Mr. Werdiger spoke passionately about the responsibility and privilege of preparing for a Siyum HaShas. He described it as an opportunity to inspire countless Yidden to begin learning, reconnect to Torah, and become part of something larger than themselves.

Mr. Werdiger then introduced R’ Shmuel Yosef Rieder, who delivered a detailed presentation titled “Inspiring the Masses – Programs and Initiatives.” R’ Shmuel Yosef outlined a broad range of developing initiatives designed to bring the excitement and accessibility of limud haTorah to larger audiences than ever before. Attendees listened attentively as he laid out an ambitious roadmap for expanding the Siyum’s reach and impact, with a particular focus on bringing one million people into the orbit of the Siyum HaShas and inspiring greater commitment to limud haTorah.

Mr. Werdiger then introduced renowned Daf Yomi maggid shiur Rabbi Sruly Borenstein, whose heartfelt remarks focused on the transformative power of the Siyum HaShas experience and the profound effect Daf Yomi has had on individuals and families around the world.

Rabbi Borenstein spoke emotionally about people from every background finding connection, consistency, and personal growth through daily Gemara learning. He described how the Siyum HaShas serves as a transformative moment for Klal Yisroel. He reflected on stories of individuals whose lives were changed through Daf Yomi, emphasizing what Daf Yomi can accomplish in a person’s life.

Rabbi Avi Schnall, COO of Agudath Israel of America, then thanked those in attendance and spoke about the enormous opportunity facing the Torah community as preparations continue for the Siyum HaShas.

Rav Binyomin Eisenberger, rov of Heichal Hatefillah in Boro Park, then addressed the gathering with stirring and inspirational remarks about the tremendous significance of supporting and growing the Siyum HaShas. He encouraged attendees to view their participation not merely as support for an event, but as an investment in the future spiritual strength of Klal Yisroel.

Throughout the evening, attendees expressed excitement and optimism about the ambitious vision being presented. Conversations continued long after the formal program ended, with participants discussing ideas, opportunities, and ways to help bring the plans to fruition.

VIDEOS AND PHOTOS:

During the Yom Yerushalayim celebration at Yeshivas Mercaz HaRav, the Rishon Letzion and Chief Rabbi of Israel, Rav Dovid Yosef, delivered a fiery speech attacking Israel’s Supreme Court over its involvement in matters relating to the Kosel and the authority of the Chief Rabbinate.

Speaking before hundreds of talmidim, rabbonim, and public officials, Rav Yosef accused the court of showing contempt for halacha and attempting to assert control over matters of holiness traditionally guided by Torah leadership.

At the center of his remarks, Rav Yosef revealed that the Chief Rabbinate had submitted a detailed psak halacha to the Supreme Court regarding the sanctity of the Kosel, but said the submission was effectively ignored.

“We submitted a halachic ruling, but there was no response. They simply show contempt for halacha and for the rabbinate,” the Rav declared emotionally.

According to Rav Yosef, the justices operate with the belief that they alone possess authority over the holy sites of the Jewish people, while marginalizing the role of Gedolei Yisroel and the Chief Rabbinate.

Rav Yosef then directly addressed ongoing efforts to alter the prayer arrangements at the Kosel, particularly amid disputes involving the Reform movement and the southern prayer plaza.

“The Kosel does not belong to the Reform movement and not to the judges of the Supreme Court,” he said to loud applause from the crowd, before adding emphatically: “It shall never be.”

The remarks came amid growing tension surrounding the so-called Kosel compromise and efforts to formalize expanded prayer areas near the southern section of the Kosel plaza.

In recent months, the Supreme Court issued an interim ruling stating that a previous government decision regarding the southern prayer area remains in effect, while instructing state authorities to move forward with permits and construction plans connected to the site.

The ruling triggered political backlash, including support from Justice Minister Yariv Levin for advancing legislation related to the Kosel in the Knesset.

Although the gathering at Mercaz HaRav celebrated Israel’s military strength following operations against Iran, including Operation Rising Lion and Operation Roar of the Lion, Rav Yosef stressed that national strength must remain rooted in Torah and halacha.

According to the Chief Rabbi, disrespect toward the rabbinate and Jewish tradition weakens the true spiritual foundation of Yerushalayim and the Jewish people.

The speech joins a series of sharp public comments Rav Yosef has delivered in recent months on political and religious issues.

Over the past year, he repeatedly warned the chareidi public not to place excessive trust in political promises regarding the draft law, at one point asking pointedly: “Why do you believe Bibi?”

At the same time, Rav Yosef has also issued broader calls aimed at strengthening Jewish observance among the general public. In recent weeks, he urged both the Prime Minister and Israel’s President to join President Trump’s initiative promoting Shabbos observance as a historic opportunity to strengthen Shemiras Shabbos in Israel and throughout the Jewish world.

{Matzav.com}

Israeli Finance Minister and Minister in the Defense Ministry Bezalel Smotrich delivered a wide-ranging and forceful speech overnight at the central Yom Yerushalayim celebration held at Yeshivas Mercaz HaRav, where he urged Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu to adopt his plan to erase the territorial divisions between Areas A, B, and C in Yehudah and Shomron.

Addressing the large gathering, Smotrich outlined what he described as the government’s achievements in settlement development, security, and the economy, while calling for the practical application of Israeli sovereignty throughout Yehudah and Shomron.

At the opening of his remarks, Smotrich spoke about the holiness of Yerushalayim through the teachings of Rav Tzvi Yehuda Kook zt”l, explaining that the sanctity of the city stems from the broader holiness of Eretz Yisroel.

He then turned to what he described as an unprecedented wave of settlement expansion since the current government entered office.

“We are leading a revolution for the honor of the Land of Israel. We legalized all of the young settlements and approved more than one hundred new communities in Yehudah and Shomron.”

Smotrich also pointed proudly to what he called the correction of the historic injustice of the Disengagement Law, which allowed Jews to return to the northern Shomron communities of Chomesh, Sa-Nur, Ganim, and Kadim. He noted that over the past three years, the government approved no fewer than 60,000 housing units throughout Yehudah and Shomron.

“The Jewish people are returning home, and this time permanently,” the minister declared, before issuing a public appeal to Netanyahu. “The time has come to permanently erase the lines separating Areas B, A and C. This week I placed a detailed plan on the cabinet table, and I call from here on the Prime Minister to adopt it. The entire Land of Israel belongs to us.”

Smotrich also addressed the military conflict that has continued for roughly two and a half years, describing it as a painful and difficult war that has nonetheless produced major victories on multiple fronts.

“We are in the midst of a difficult and lengthy war that has exacted heavy prices from us, but has also produced major achievements on every front of the fighting,” Smotrich said.

He proceeded to list what he described as dramatic eliminations of senior terror leaders across the region, including Yahya Sinwar, Ismail Haniyeh, Ali Khamenei, Mohammed Deif, and Hassan Nasrallah.

The minister additionally highlighted legislation passed this week in the Knesset dealing with prosecution of Nukhba terrorists involved in the October 7 massacre. The law was advanced by Constitution Committee chairman MK Simcha Rothman.

“The law will ensure that they too will soon reach hell,” the minister said.

Despite emphasizing Israel’s accomplishments, Smotrich stressed that significant work still remains.

“There is still work left for us on every front,” Smotrich said, while adding with satisfaction that “today, the State of Israel is stronger than ever before, and its enemies are weaker than ever before.”

Despite the ongoing multi-front war taking place across seven separate arenas, the finance minister expressed strong optimism regarding Israel’s economy, attributing its success to the fulfillment of biblical prophecy.

“We are privileged to witness the fulfillment of the prophecies. From a country of refugees with rationing and shortages, we have become an economic powerhouse,” the minister said.

He cited several positive economic indicators, including the strengthening of the shekel, record-breaking stock market performance, and continued foreign investment pouring into Israel. Smotrich concluded by quoting the words of the prophet Yechezkel:

“And you, mountains of Israel, shall give forth your branches and bear your fruit for My people Israel, for they are soon to come.”

President Trump expressed amazement Friday at the sprawling gardens and towering roses inside Beijing’s tightly guarded Zhongnanhai leadership compound during a personal tour hosted by Chinese President Xi Jinping.

“These are the most beautiful roses anyone’s ever seen! I asked the president, ‘Could you get me some for the Rose Garden?’ and he said yes. I’ve never seen roses so big!” Trump said while wrapping up his visit to China.

As Xi guided Trump through the historic complex, a translator explained that the Chinese leader had agreed to send rose seeds to the White House following Trump’s admiration for the flowers.

“We will provide the president with some of our Chinese rose (Rosa chinensis) seeds, as he wants to plant some in the rose garden,” a translator said, according to the press pool report.

“I love that. That’s great,” Trump responded.

During the walk through the compound, Xi described Zhongnanhai as the nerve center of China’s Communist leadership and the longtime residence of the nation’s rulers.

“the place where leaders of the party central government of China work and live, including myself.

“After the founding of the People’s Republic of China in 1949, we have been here, including Chinese leaders: Mao Zedong, Zhou Enlai, Deng Xiaoping, Jiang Zemin, Hu Jintao and so on.”

Photos from the visit showed Trump examining the former imperial grounds with visible fascination as Xi encouraged him to inspect centuries-old trees scattered throughout the property.

“On our way in, we stayed to look at some of the old trees. One of them is 490 years old. In other places within this compound, there have been trees that have lived to be over 1,000 years old,” Xi said while discussing the tour.

“The President was interested in learning all about that, including the Chinese roses, which we looked at. And I’ve agreed to send the seeds for these roses to the President as a gift.”

Trump later praised the estate, calling it a “nice place.”

Xi reportedly extended the rare invitation as a gesture of appreciation for Trump’s hospitality during Xi’s 2017 visit to Mar-a-Lago shortly after Trump entered office.

The 1,500-acre Zhongnanhai compound has served as the seat of Chinese Communist authority since Mao Zedong’s victory in the civil war in 1949. Mao chose the former imperial grounds as the headquarters of Communist leadership, believing it reflected the party’s message of governing in the name of the people.

The heavily restricted complex — often compared to America’s White House — has only rarely been opened to foreign leaders since President Richard Nixon’s groundbreaking trip to China in 1972.

Barack Obama met Xi there in 2014, while President George W. Bush toured the site during a 2002 visit and met then-Chinese leader Jiang Zemin.

Obama’s visit included a stop at Yingtai Island, where the Guangxu Emperor was imprisoned under house arrest for a decade before his death following the 1898 political upheaval.

At one point during Friday’s tour, Xi appeared to subtly needle Trump while mentioning that Russian President Vladimir Putin had previously been hosted at the compound.

“Can I ask the president.. does he bring them here?” Trump asked.

“Very few,” Xi replied. “We usually don’t hold diplomatic events here.

“Even after we started having some, it’s still extremely rare. For example: Putin.”

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, a close ally of Putin, also visited Xi at the compound on June 4 of last year during what marked his 15th trip to China.

{Matzav.com}

President Trump pointed to China’s lavish state facilities as fresh justification for his planned White House ballroom, saying the United States should have a grand venue of its own after visiting Beijing this week.

Just hours after departing China aboard Air Force One on Friday, Trump praised the ongoing construction of the massive ballroom project in a Truth Social post, comparing it to the enormous ceremonial hall used by Chinese leaders in Beijing.

“China has a Ballroom, and so should the U.S.A.!” Trump wrote alongside a photograph showing him standing with Chinese President Xi Jinping outside the Great Hall of the People, the sprawling government complex near Tiananmen Square where the Chinese government hosted a formal state banquet in his honor.

Trump said the planned White House ballroom is progressing quickly and predicted it would become unmatched in the country.

“under construction, ahead of schedule, and will be the finest facility of its kind anywhere in the U.S.A.” He added: “Thank you for all the support I have been given in getting this project going. Scheduled opening will be around September of 2028.”

The president’s remarks came after a fast-paced three-day visit to China, his first trip there since 2017. During the visit, Trump received an elaborate welcome ceremony, attended an upscale state dinner, toured a centuries-old temple, and held multiple meetings with Xi.

The formal banquet Thursday evening featured members of Trump’s inner circle and administration, including Elon Musk, Eric Trump, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Rubio was seen admiring the towering chandeliers inside the Great Hall of the People as Chinese officials rolled out an extravagant evening for the American delegation.

Guests were served lobster, pork dishes, and tiramisu, while a Chinese military orchestra performed “Y.M.C.A.,” one of Trump’s favorite songs.

Addressing attendees during the banquet, Trump praised the reception he received in China.

“great honor” to visit China, adding that he received a “magnificent welcome like no other.”

Trump also extended an invitation to Xi — whom he called “my friend” — to travel to Washington in September.

The president highlighted cultural ties between the two nations and noted the popularity of each country’s exports and traditions abroad.

“Just as many Chinese now love basketball and blue jeans, Chinese restaurants in America today outnumber the five largest fast foods chains in the United States all combined — that’s a pretty big statement,” he said.

Xi, speaking after Trump, described the visit as “historic” and urged the world’s two largest powers to cooperate rather than clash.

He called on both nations to be “partners rather than rivals,” adding, “We must make it work.”

Behind closed doors, the leaders discussed several major international issues, including the ongoing conflict involving Iran. Trump later told Fox News that Xi expressed willingness to help broker a resolution and that both leaders agreed on the importance of keeping the Strait of Hormuz open.

Taiwan also emerged as a topic during the talks, with Xi warning Trump that mishandling the issue could create “an extremely dangerous situation.”

According to the White House, the discussions additionally focused on trade matters and joint efforts to stop fentanyl from entering the United States.

{Matzav.com}

CENTCOM commander Adm. Brad Cooper told lawmakers Thursday that Iran’s military infrastructure and regional terror network have been devastated by the recent American military campaign, saying the U.S. achieved every objective laid out under Operation Epic Fury and effectively severed Tehran’s support pipeline to Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis.

Testifying before the Senate Armed Services Committee, Cooper described the Islamic Republic as severely weakened after nearly six weeks of sustained combat operations targeting Iran’s military leadership, weapons industry, naval forces, and proxy infrastructure.

“We met every military objective for Epic Fury,” Cooper said, describing Iran’s command-and-control structure as “shattered” while arguing the regime currently lacks the capacity to meaningfully rebuild critical weapons stockpiles.

According to Cooper, approximately 90 percent of Iran’s defense-industrial capabilities were destroyed during the operation, including large portions of its missile production, drone manufacturing, naval infrastructure, and weapons facilities.

“In less than 40 days, CENTCOM forces achieved our military objectives,” Cooper said, arguing the operation crippled Tehran’s ability to “project power outside its borders and threaten the region and our interests.”

Referring to Iran’s large-scale missile and drone assaults against Israel in April and October of 2024, Cooper said Tehran no longer possesses the operational strength necessary to carry out attacks of similar scale.

The CENTCOM commander also dismissed recent public reports claiming Iran preserved much of its missile arsenal and launcher systems during the conflict, stating that widely circulated open-source estimates were inaccurate, though he declined to discuss classified intelligence assessments in detail.

Cooper further testified that American operations had successfully cut off Iran’s ability to supply weapons and logistical support to allied terror groups across the Middle East.

“Today, Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis are all completely cut off from Iranian weapons supplies and support from Tehran,” Cooper said.

“This result was not foreordained,” he continued. “It is the culmination of months of precise planning and decades of experience.”

Cooper framed the campaign as a response to decades of Iranian-backed aggression against the United States, noting that Iranian proxy groups conducted more than 350 attacks against American troops and diplomats during the 30 months leading up to Operation Epic Fury.

“For 47 years, the Iranian regime has terrorized the region and made hostility to the United States a core tenant of its rule,” Cooper said.

He also described Iran’s navy as having suffered catastrophic losses, estimating that Tehran could require between five and ten years just to begin rebuilding portions of its maritime capabilities, and potentially an entire generation to restore the force to prewar levels.

As part of the naval campaign, Cooper said U.S. forces conducted more than 700 airstrikes targeting Iran’s naval mine infrastructure, destroying over 90 percent of Tehran’s estimated stockpile of roughly 8,000 sea mines intended for deployment in the Strait of Hormuz.

Despite the extensive damage, Cooper warned lawmakers that Iran still maintains some limited asymmetric warfare capabilities.

“Iran retains nuisance capability — harassment, low-end drone and rocket attacks, and residual proxy support,” Cooper stated in written testimony submitted to lawmakers.

“But it no longer possesses the means to threaten major regional operations or deter U.S. freedom of action in the air or maritime domains.”

Cooper acknowledged that while Iran’s actual ability to block commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has been significantly reduced, Tehran’s threats alone continue to unsettle global shipping lanes, insurers, and oil markets.

“The Iranian ability to stop commerce has been dramatically degraded through the straits,” Cooper said.

“But their voice is very loud, and those threats are clearly heard by the merchant industry and the insurance industry.”

He added that the United States and allied regional militaries remain fully capable of reopening the Strait of Hormuz by force if necessary, though he stressed that policymakers are still prioritizing diplomatic negotiations amid what President Trump recently called a ceasefire on “massive life support.”

Although Iran’s military hierarchy suffered major losses during the conflict, Cooper testified that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps still maintains substantial control within the regime.

When asked whether the IRGC remained dominant following the deaths of several senior commanders, Cooper responded that the organization was still “exercising significant authority.”

Later in the hearing, Cooper agreed with Sen. Tom Cotton’s description of Iran as a “revolutionary terrorist regime.”

“They are,” Cooper responded.

The CENTCOM commander also discussed how the Pentagon altered its drone warfare strategy after months of attacks carried out by Iranian and Houthi drones throughout the region.

“The days of using high-value defenses to shoot down cheap targets are behind us,” Cooper said, arguing the United States had successfully “flipped the cost curve” against Iran’s drone warfare apparatus by forcing Tehran to rely on increasingly sophisticated — and expensive — systems.

According to Cooper, Iran’s drone capabilities have now been reduced to roughly 10 percent of what they were before the conflict began.

Cooper additionally revealed that U.S. forces incorporated numerous anti-drone battlefield tactics developed by Ukrainian forces during their war with Russia.

“We adopted a large number of tactics, techniques and procedures that the Ukrainians have passed us that have helped us defend Americans,” Cooper said.

Although the administration officially declared hostilities with Iran over following the April 7 ceasefire, intermittent clashes and maritime incidents have continued throughout the region while broader diplomatic talks remain stalled.

Earlier this week, President Trump described the fragile ceasefire as being on “massive life support” after dismissing Iran’s latest proposal as “garbage” and “totally unacceptable.”

Trump also warned that if Tehran refuses to comply with American demands regarding its nuclear program and regional activities, the United States would ultimately “finish the job” “peacefully or otherwise.”

{Matzav.com}