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Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps warned Wednesday that global oil prices could surge to $200 per barrel as the Strait of Hormuz—the key route for a large portion of the world’s exported oil—remains shut during the ongoing U.S.-Israeli military campaign against Iran.

The warning came from Ebrahim Zolfaqari, a spokesperson for the IRGC’s Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, who blamed the conflict for threatening stability in global energy markets.

“Get ready for oil to be $200 a barrel, because the oil price depends on regional security, which you have destabilized,” Ebrahim Zolfaqari, a spokesperson for the IRGC’s Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, told Reuters.

Tensions in the region escalated further after the U.S. military announced Tuesday that American forces had destroyed 16 vessels used to lay naval mines near the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian officials have since warned that vessels connected to the United States or Israel could be targeted, with the IRGC stating that such ships “will be considered a legitimate target,” according to Al Jazeera.

Energy markets have already shown sharp volatility. West Texas Intermediate crude, the main benchmark for North American oil prices, is currently trading near $87 per barrel. Earlier this week, however, the price spiked to nearly $120. Meanwhile, the national average cost of gasoline in the United States has climbed to $3.57 per gallon, according to data from AAA.

In response to rising energy prices triggered by the conflict, the International Energy Agency announced that its 32 member nations will release 400 million barrels of oil from strategic reserves in an effort to stabilize global markets.

“This is a major action aiming to alleviate the immediate impacts of the disruption in markets,” Fatih Birol, executive director of the IEA, said in an address from Paris. “But to be clear, the most important thing for a return to stable flows of oil and gas is the resumption of transit through the Strait of Hormuz.”

Birol said the emergency reserves would be distributed gradually in a way that fits the needs and timelines of participating countries. Among the nations that have already indicated they will take part are Japan, Germany, and the United Kingdom.

The United States has not yet announced whether it will contribute oil from its own strategic petroleum reserve.

President Trump previously criticized a decision by President Joe Biden to release 180 million barrels from U.S. strategic reserves following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Trump argued that those reserves should be preserved for military needs rather than used to bring down fuel prices.

Trump has also downplayed the significance of rising fuel costs during the current conflict, saying that higher gasoline prices are a “very small price to pay” as the administration continues its military campaign against Iran.

The president has offered varying estimates about how long the fighting might continue. At one point he suggested the war could last as long as five weeks, though on Monday he said the conflict would end “very soon.” On Tuesday, Trump said the U.S. “excursion” in Iran was “nearly complete.”

{Matzav.com}

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has ordered that a shipment of Ukrainian cash and gold seized last week by Hungarian authorities be held in custody for up to 60 days while his country’s tax authority investigates the case. The gold and the money was being transported through Hungary by road when Hungary seized it last Thursday. Authorities said they […]

Tens of thousands of Israelis who were stranded abroad when the war began have already returned home, according to new figures released Wednesday by the Israel Airports Authority.

The data was published as part of Operation “Wings of the Lion,” the effort launched to bring back large numbers of Israelis who were overseas when Operation “Shaagas HaAri” began.

According to the Airports Authority, between March 5 and March 10 a total of 215 flights landed at Ben Gurion Airport, carrying approximately 38,867 passengers returning to Israel.

Officials said that additional arrivals are expected throughout the day. Around 40 more flights are scheduled to land Wednesday, bringing roughly 6,250 more passengers back to the country. During the same period, about 13,000 travelers departed from Ben Gurion Airport on flights operated by Israeli airlines.

Passenger traffic has also increased significantly at Israel’s land border crossings since the war began. Between February 28 and March 10, crossings through Begin (Taba), Rabin (Arava), the Jordan River crossing, and Allenby Bridge saw heavy movement.

During that time, approximately 26,500 travelers entered Israel through those crossings, while about 33,000 people exited the country.

Officials said that operations at Ben Gurion Airport as well as the land crossings are continuing around the clock in order to facilitate the safe return of Israeli citizens while also assisting passengers who need to leave the country.

The Israel Airports Authority said in a statement that it will continue to update the public with any relevant information as needed.

{Matzav.com}

A political dispute erupted Wednesday after senior coalition officials, including Finance Minister Betzalel Smotrich, made statements opposing the advancement of legislation regulating the draft status of yeshiva students, prompting Degel HaTorah representatives to respond with a retaliatory move in the Knesset Finance Committee.

Members of Degel HaTorah on the committee voted Wednesday morning against a coalition request to separate the property tax issue from the Arrangements Law and instead supported removing the matter from the committee’s agenda.

In a statement explaining the unusual vote, Degel HaTorah said the decision came in response to comments made the previous night by senior coalition figures criticizing coalition agreements reached between the chareidi parties and the government.

As previously reported, chareidi representatives had agreed to support passage of the state budget even though, before the war began, they had insisted they would not back the budget until a draft law regulating the status of yeshiva students was approved.

Chareidi lawmakers explained that during wartime it would be inappropriate to destabilize the government. As a result, they agreed to support the budget while pointing to several achievements included in the spending plan that benefit the chareidi community.

Tensions escalated, however, after Smotrich declared publicly in the presence of the prime minister that the draft law would not be advanced at this time, a statement that reportedly surprised chareidi representatives and was viewed by them as contradicting earlier understandings.

Smotrich said that in order to focus on the war effort, disputed issues are being set aside for now, including the draft law and several reforms that have not yet gained broad agreement, emphasizing that wartime requires unity and national responsibility.

In addition to the finance minister’s remarks, chareidi representatives were angered by statements from other coalition partners who criticized both the proposed draft law and budget allocations directed to the chareidi sector.

The vote in the Finance Committee is being interpreted as an early signal of growing tensions within the coalition if the dispute over the draft law and related issues continues.

{Matzav.com}

The Israel Defense Forces on Wednesday published recordings capturing radio communications between Israeli and American pilots who took part in a joint flight operation over Iran.

According to the IDF, the recordings highlight the close coordination between the Israeli Air Force and the United States Armed Forces during ongoing military activity connected to Operation Roaring Lion.

In a statement accompanying the audio, the military emphasized that the two countries are working together closely as part of a broader effort to weaken the Iranian regime.

“The Israeli Air Force and the US Air Force continue to operate with full aerial freedom over Iranian skies,” the IDF stated.

WATCH:

https://matzav.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/573b9e2dc0904fc7adb8cbc713563da9.mp4

Chile’s ultraconservative José Antonio Kast takes office as president Wednesday in what will mark the Latin American nation’s most pronounced shift to the right since the return of democracy in 1990. The Trump-inspired political veteran won a landslide victory in December against government-backed communist candidate Jeannette Jara with the promise of fighting crime and curbing illegal immigration, a project […]

Approximately 100 rockets were fired at Israel Wednesday evening by the Hezbollah terrorist organization, prompting interception efforts and retaliatory strikes by the Israeli Air Force against launch sites and other Hezbollah targets in Lebanon.

The Israel Defense Forces confirmed the attack shortly after 8:20 p.m., reporting that multiple communities came under rocket fire within a short period of time.

Shortly after 8:20 pm, the IDF Spokesperson’s Unit stated: “In the past few minutes, the Hezbollah terrorist organization launched rockets toward several areas in Israel. Along with the intercepting effort, the Israeli Air Force is currently striking ready-to-launch projectile launchers and additional infrastructure sites belonging to the Hezbollah terrorist organization across Lebanon.”

“The public is requested to follow the Home Front Command’s defensive guidelines. The IDF will not tolerate any harm to Israeli civilians and will forcibly respond against any threat posed to the State of Israel.”

Reports from the field indicated that several rockets struck in different areas, with initial information suggesting that people were injured in the attacks.

Earlier in the evening, Mate Asher Regional Council chairman Moshe Davidovich issued an urgent message to residents urging heightened caution. Davidovich, who also heads the Confrontation Line Forum, advised residents of the Mateh Asher region to remain near protected spaces and limit unnecessary activity outside their homes.

The warning came after what he described as a series of alerts from security officials, leading him to instruct residents to be prepared to reach shelters or safe rooms quickly if necessary.

Across a number of northern communities, local authorities announced that extracurricular programs, public gatherings, and social events scheduled for the evening would be canceled as a precaution.

At the same time, numerous messages circulated widely on social media and WhatsApp groups claiming that a “significant missile barrage” could be imminent.

Despite those reports, the IDF Home Front Command stated that it had not issued any warning of unusual incoming fire expected overnight, and that no changes had been made to official civilian defense guidelines.

Responding to the growing speculation, IDF spokesman Brigadier General Efi Defrin addressed the public.

“I am aware of the public discourse in recent hours regarding the possibility of increased shooting. I want to emphasize that there is no change in the Home Front Command’s defense policy as of this moment. The IDF is prepared for strong defense and will do whatever is necessary to protect the citizens of Israel.”

He added that the situation continues to be closely monitored and emphasized the importance of following official safety instructions.

“We continue to conduct ongoing situation assessments and will update you on any changes, if any. I emphasize – continue to obey the Home Front Command’s instructions. They save lives.”

{Matzav.com}

Sen. Schumer on DHS funding: “If Republicans are going to play political games and block funding for the agencies they claim to care about, they should spare everyone the crocodile tears.”

Crazy footage from northern Israel showing multiple Hezbollah rockets being intercepted.

Rescue crews are on scene at impact sites across northern Israel after more than 100 rockets were fired by Hezbollah tonight.

Two Israeli sources told CNN that Israel is preparing for the possibility of a “significant expansion” of attacks by Iran and Hezbollah as early as tonight, as well as the possibility of the Houthis in Yemen firing at Israel for the first time since the war began. An Israeli official said that Prime Minister Binyamin […]

Israeli defense officials are examining a significant change to the way missile alerts are issued to civilians, potentially distinguishing between areas at risk of a direct ballistic missile strike and areas where the main danger comes from falling interceptor debris.

The proposal is currently being reviewed by the IDF Home Front Command as authorities search for ways to reduce the ongoing disruption to civilian life caused by frequent alerts during the conflict with Iran.

According to a report Wednesday by Channel 12 News, the Home Front Command is considering revising how warning zones are defined when ballistic missiles are launched from Iran.

Under the proposal being studied, authorities could issue different types of warnings depending on the level of threat in a particular area. Regions facing the danger of a direct hit from a ballistic missile carrying a 400–500 kilogram warhead could receive stronger alerts than areas where the primary risk is falling fragments from intercepted missiles.

While interceptor debris remains a serious hazard, military officials note that during nighttime hours most residents are already inside their homes. In some cases, they believe remaining indoors may provide sufficient protection.

Home Front Command officials are aware that millions of Israelis are being awakened repeatedly throughout the night by incoming alerts. As a result, the military is exploring ways to ease the strain on daily life if the current situation continues for several more weeks.

According to defense assessments, the goal is to allow some level of normal routine and economic activity to continue while minimizing the impact that constant nighttime alarms are having on sleep and everyday life.

{Matzav.com}

A remarkable simcha took place today in Modi’in Illit, where a well-known and respected family welcomed their 21st child, bli ayin hara. What makes the story even more extraordinary is that all 21 children were born as single births, without a single set of twins. According to a report by the Israeli outlet Hapargod, the […]

President Donald Trump said Wednesday that the joint American-Israeli campaign against Iran has inflicted devastating damage on the regime’s military capabilities and warned that the offensive is not yet finished.

Speaking to reporters before departing the White House for Cincinnati, Trump discussed the progress of the military operation and praised the performance of U.S. forces.

Trump declared that “we’re doing something that nobody ever thought was possible to do. Our military is the best; it’s the most powerful in the world, and they’re hitting them very hard. This is 47 years of abuse – and killing lots of people.”

The president said the combined U.S. and Israeli strikes have already dismantled key elements of Iran’s armed forces, including its naval power, air force, air defense systems, and senior leadership.

Still, Trump indicated that the campaign could escalate further if necessary.

The President told the press that while the US and Israel have eliminated Iran’s navy, air force, anti-aircraft apparatus, and leaders, “We could do a lot worse.”

He also suggested that certain Iranian assets have intentionally been left untouched for now, though they could be destroyed quickly if the decision were made to do so.

According to the President, “We’re leaving certain things, which if we do, and we could take them out by this afternoon, in fact, within an hour, they will never be able to build that country back.”

Trump emphasized that the strikes so far have already been extraordinarily severe and warned that further action could still follow.

He added: “We have hit them harder than virtually any country in history has been hit, and we’re not finished yet.”

Despite threats from Iran targeting shipping traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, Trump urged energy companies not to avoid the crucial waterway, saying Iranian naval capabilities have largely been wiped out.

“We took out just about all of their mine ships in one night. We’re up to boat number 60. I didn’t realize they had such a big navy. I would say it was big and ineffective. Just about all of their navy is gone, on the bottom of the sea,” he claimed.

Turning to developments in Lebanon, Trump said the country and its people deserve relief from Hezbollah’s influence, which he described as destructive.

Asked about the situation in Lebanon, the President declared, “We love Lebanon. We love the people of Lebanon. We’ve gotta get rid of Hezbollah, it has been a disaster for many years.”

Trump also took aim at Spain’s government, accusing it of failing to support the effort against Iran and criticizing its record within NATO.

Trump also criticized the Spanish government for its lack of cooperation with the operation against Iran. “They’re not cooperating at all. I think they’ve been very bad. We may cut off trade with Spain. They’ve been very bad to NATO. They don’t want to pay their fair share, and they’ve been that way for many years.”

{Matzav.com}

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and his teenage daughter observed tests of strategic cruise missiles fired from a warship, state media reported Wednesday, as North Korea threatened responses to U.S.-South Korean military drills. Images sent by the Korean Central News Agency showed the two in a conference room looking at a screen showing weapons […]

An unforgettable evening of Torah and Halacha unfolded this past Sunday evening as members of the Chavra D’Hilchisa Halacha Program gathered in the Beis Medrash of HaGaon Harav Gavriel Zinner Shlit״a, the renowned author of the widely studied Sifrei Nitei Gavriel, for a special in-person Oral Bechinah followed by a beautifully prepared celebratory Seudah. Chavra […]

Footage shows the interception of an Iranian missile over central Israel a few minutes ago.

Footage shows the moment of impact as a petroleum facility near the Port of Salalah in Oman is struck, triggering a large explosion.

With tensions mounting around the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, analysts say President Donald Trump is confronting three realistic paths in dealing with Iran — two that involve significant dangers and a third that would carry heavy political and military costs.

Iran’s move to effectively shut down the strait has sent shockwaves through international markets. On Wednesday, Iranian forces struck at least three vessels in waters near the narrow passage.

According to an assessment published by Eurointelligence, the administration’s initial goal — forcing a change of government in Tehran without committing American ground troops — is no longer considered achievable.

Instead, officials in Washington now face a decision among three alternatives: withdrawing from the conflict sooner rather than later, continuing a limited military effort aimed at reopening the Strait of Hormuz, or launching a full-scale invasion involving ground forces.

The first option would involve adhering to a previously discussed operational timeline of roughly four to five weeks, declaring success, and pulling U.S. forces out of the region.

Analysts warn that such a move could leave the vital waterway exposed and fail to resolve the deeper conflict between Washington and Tehran.

The Strait of Hormuz — a narrow maritime corridor linking the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman — is among the world’s most critical oil transportation routes.

About one-fifth of the planet’s oil supply passes through the channel each day. If the United States withdraws before the route is fully secured, experts caution that Iran could quickly regain the upper hand.

Even a brief interruption in shipping through the strait could create serious economic consequences worldwide.

Global energy markets remain extremely sensitive to developments in the area, and a prolonged disruption could push oil prices sharply higher.

Such increases would ripple across the global economy, driving up fuel costs, feeding inflation, and slowing economic activity across many countries.

The second approach — which analysts currently view as the most likely — would involve continuing the present military operations until the Strait of Hormuz is reopened and secure enough to allow commercial shipping to pass safely.

Under this plan, the United States would put aside the immediate objective of toppling the Iranian government and instead concentrate on restoring maritime stability and safeguarding international trade routes.

Financial markets appear to believe this is the course the administration is presently following. Still, analysts say the strategy comes with major complications.

Iran has already demonstrated that it can interfere with maritime traffic through asymmetric warfare tactics. Iranian forces have launched drone and missile strikes against ships and oil facilities in Gulf countries.

Reports from U.S. intelligence and various media outlets also indicate that Iranian units have begun deploying naval mines in the waters of the strait.

These developments illustrate the strategic imbalance involved in protecting the shipping lane. Maritime historian Salvatore Mercogliano has noted that defending the passage is considerably harder than disrupting it.

If the United States manages to reopen the channel, it would then carry the burden of protecting every tanker traveling through the narrow waterway. Iran, meanwhile, would only need one successful attack to cause widespread disruption.

Even a single incident could have dramatic consequences. If a large oil tanker were sunk in the confined channel, the problem would extend beyond the loss of the vessel itself, as a massive oil spill could physically block the passage.

Removing such an obstruction could require weeks or even months, halting shipping traffic and potentially triggering a major global energy crisis.

The financial costs of compensation and environmental cleanup would likely be enormous, adding further complications to efforts to restore normal maritime activity.

The third option facing Washington would involve deploying ground troops into Iran to overthrow the current regime and eliminate the threat to the strait entirely.

Analysts say that step would be politically difficult and militarily costly.

A land war inside Iran would almost certainly involve significant casualties and could lead to a long and uncertain occupation. Public support in the United States for such an operation is also unclear, particularly after years of war in the Middle East.

For that reason, many observers view the second scenario — a sustained effort to secure the shipping lanes without attempting to remove Iran’s leadership — as the most practical option currently available.

Even so, analysts caution that the standoff surrounding the Strait of Hormuz, and its potential impact on global oil markets, could remain a persistent source of economic instability in the months ahead.

{Matzav.com}

Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky said Tuesday that he has not seen any proof that would justify the United States becoming involved in the ongoing war with Iran, arguing that those calling for American intervention should take responsibility for bringing about change themselves rather than expecting the U.S. military to do it.

During an appearance on Newsmax’s “Ed Henry The Big Take,” Paul said Congress must first determine whether the United States is actually facing a direct and immediate threat before supporting any military action.

“Is it in our national interest to go to war?” he asked host Ed Henry. “Is there a benefit that the country needs? Are we imminently going to be attacked?”

Paul said he has not come across intelligence suggesting that Iran posed an urgent danger that would require the United States to enter the conflict.

“And I don’t see any imminent nature of being attacked or an imminent sense that it is in our best interest to be at war in the Middle East,” he said.

He also expressed skepticism about longstanding warnings that Iran is on the brink of producing a nuclear weapon, noting that similar claims have circulated for many years without being backed by conclusive evidence.

“I’ve seen no intelligence information to say, ‘Oh, yes, they were putting the final screws on the nuclear weapon that they were about to launch,'” Paul said.

“Our intelligence agencies have not produced anything that things have changed.”

Paul further pointed to previous attacks on Iran’s nuclear infrastructure, saying there is little sign that Tehran is currently close to completing a nuclear device.

“Well, the Trump administration told us last summer they obliterated their nuclear weapons; they destroyed them,” Paul said.

He suggested that Iran may instead still be attempting to restore elements of its enrichment capabilities following those strikes.

“If anything, they would be struggling to restart their enrichment program,” Paul said.

The senator also criticized some of the strongest advocates for U.S. military involvement, arguing that many of them would not be the ones sent into combat.

“I see these expatriates over here, some of them that want to go back and rule Iran,” he said.

“They’re saying we have to have American GIs on the ground. We’ve got to have the Americans do it.”

Paul said that if Iran’s leadership is to be replaced, the effort must come from within the country rather than through outside military intervention.

“If you want to be the leader of Iran, you go back, raise an army, and fight the ayatollahs,” he said.

While expressing hope that the Iranian people will ultimately gain freedom from their rulers, Paul said it is not the role of the United States to impose that outcome through war.

“I wish for the best for the Iranian people. I just don’t think we can be at war everywhere to free oppressed people and that, ultimately, if you want your liberty, you have to fight for it,” he said.

“There would have to be fighting in the streets, and the Iranians will have to fight for their liberty; we can’t give it to them,” Paul added.

{Matzav.com}