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A Western intelligence official says Russia is helping Iran refine drone warfare methods based on tactics used during the war in Ukraine, raising concerns that those techniques could be deployed against the United States and its allies in the Middle East.

The official, speaking to CNN on the condition of anonymity, said Moscow’s involvement appears to be expanding. What previously consisted of broader intelligence cooperation is now believed to include more direct operational guidance on how to conduct drone attacks.

“What was more general support is now getting more concerning, including UAS targeting strategies that Russia employed in Ukraine,” the official told the outlet on condition of anonymity, referring to unmanned aircraft system.

The concerns center largely on Shahed drones, an Iranian design that Russia has manufactured in large numbers for use in its campaign against Ukraine. According to the report, these drones have performed better than anticipated when confronting air-defense systems used in Gulf countries.

While the intelligence official did not describe the specific methods Russia may be sharing, Moscow has relied on coordinated waves of Shahed drones in Ukraine, launching large numbers simultaneously and often altering their flight paths to complicate interception.

At times, Ukrainian forces have faced massive drone assaults involving more than 1,000 aircraft in a single night.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy wrote on X Wednesday that “Russia has started supporting the Iranian regime with drones.”

“It will definitely help with missiles, and it is also helping them with air defense,” Zelenskyy said.

CNN has previously reported that Russia provided Iran with satellite imagery gathered from Moscow’s own space-based surveillance network.

It remains unclear what Russia may be receiving from Iran in exchange for the assistance. Russian officials have rejected claims that intelligence cooperation is taking place.

U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff said Tuesday that Russia denied the allegations and that the United States was taking Russia “at their word.”

Ukraine has also taken steps to counter the spread of the drone threat beyond its own battlefield. Officials in Kyiv have dispatched specialists in drone interception to Gulf states in order to help develop defenses against Shahed drones, which are estimated to cost about $30,000 each.

Ukrainian engineers have also created smaller interceptor drones that cost roughly $5,000 and can be manufactured quickly in large quantities.

The growing military cooperation comes as the expanding conflict in the Persian Gulf creates new strategic opportunities for Russian President Vladimir Putin. While Iran has long been an ally of Moscow, the regional instability also allows Russia to shift international attention away from the war in Ukraine while advancing broader geopolitical objectives.

Putin and President Donald Trump spoke by phone on Monday for the first time since December, discussing both the Gulf conflict and the war in Ukraine.

Trump has already suggested he may soften oil sanctions on Russia to help ease global energy prices.

The Western intelligence official also said they were “really concerned” by Iran’s use of mines in the Strait of Hormuz, along with sea-drone attacks and other low-tech assaults using traditional dhow fishing boats against U.S. naval forces.

Iran claimed it had struck the USS Abraham Lincoln early in the conflict, but the United States denied it.

“The Lincoln was not hit,” CENTCOM said on X at the time. “The missiles launched didn’t even come close.”

The intelligence official added that Chinese support for Iran was troubling as well, though they declined to provide further details.

{Matzav.com}

The State Department will permanently close the U.S. consulate in Peshawar, Pakistan, which has been America’s closest diplomatic mission to the Afghan border and was a primary operations and logistics point before, during and after the 2001 invasion of Afghanistan. The department notified Congress this week of its intent to close the consulate and said […]

Footage from central Israel shows one Iranian ballistic missile being intercepted a few minutes ago.

President Donald Trump said Thursday that preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons remains a far greater priority than concerns about rising oil prices, stressing that security and stability in the Middle East outweigh short-term fluctuations in energy markets.

Trump acknowledged that the ongoing war with Iran has caused turbulence in global oil prices, but argued that preventing Tehran from developing nuclear weapons must take precedence.

“The United States is the largest Oil Producer in the World, by far, so when oil prices go up, we make a lot of money,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

“BUT, of far greater interest and importance to me, as President, is stopping an evil Empire, Iran, from having Nuclear Weapons, and destroying the Middle East and, indeed, the World.”

“I won’t ever let that happen!” Trump added.

Energy markets have been volatile since Feb. 28, when the United States and Israel began Operation Epic Fury, a campaign targeting Iran’s nuclear facilities and missile infrastructure.

Oil prices climbed sharply earlier in the week, briefly approaching $120 per barrel amid fears that fighting could threaten oil shipments from the Persian Gulf, a region responsible for a significant share of the world’s energy supply.

Despite the market swings, Trump said the United States is in a strong position to handle potential disruptions because of its role as the world’s leading oil producer.

As part of efforts to limit price increases, Trump said he is prepared to release oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve if needed to help bring down fuel costs for Americans.

“Well, we’ll do that and then we’ll fill it up,” Trump told WKRC-TV during a visit to Thermo Fisher Scientific in Cincinnati.

“I filled it up once, and I’ll fill it up again, but right now we’ll reduce it a little bit, and that brings the prices down.”

In addition to U.S. actions, the International Energy Agency announced plans to release 400 million barrels of oil from emergency stockpiles. The move represents the largest such release in the agency’s history and is intended to prevent major disruptions to the global energy supply during the conflict.

Oil markets have shown signs of calming. Brent crude was trading near $93 per barrel in after-hours trading Wednesday, significantly below the peak reached earlier in the week.

Trump has repeatedly pointed to American energy production as a strategic advantage, arguing that domestic oil output provides the United States with flexibility during international crises.

During his first term, Trump sought to replenish the Strategic Petroleum Reserve after oil prices collapsed during the COVID-19 pandemic, though congressional Democrats blocked funding for the purchase.

The reserve currently contains about 416 million barrels of oil. That figure is well below the 638 million barrels stored when Trump left office in 2021, after the Biden administration drew down supplies in an effort to reduce rising fuel prices.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump sharply criticized California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Wednesday, saying comments the Democrat made during a recent book tour stop have effectively eliminated any chance he has of becoming a future presidential nominee.

Posting on Truth Social late Wednesday night, Trump took aim at Newsom’s recent media appearances tied to the promotion of his memoir, arguing that the governor’s own words had badly damaged his political standing.

“Gavin Newscum’s interview weeks ago was, perhaps, the most self-destructive interview I’ve ever seen,” Trump wrote. “In one fell swoop, he took himself out of even being considered as the Presidential Nominee of the Crazy Democrats.”

Trump went on to say that Newsom hurt himself politically by openly discussing his academic struggles and personal challenges, including dyslexia.

“He said, in a speech, he was dumb, had low Boards, can’t read, has dyslexia, and has a mental disorder — A Cognitive Mess!” Trump wrote. “This was a politically suicidal act.”

Trump concluded his post with a blunt assessment of Newsom’s political future.

“He is no longer a viable Presidential Candidate!”

The criticism followed controversy surrounding remarks Newsom made during a weekend appearance in Atlanta while promoting his upcoming memoir, Young Man in a Hurry.

During the event, the California governor tried to connect with Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens and others in attendance by speaking candidly about the academic struggles he faced earlier in life.

“I’m not trying to impress you, I’m just trying to impress upon you, I’m like you. I’m not better than you. I’m a 960 SAT guy,” Newsom said.

He also told attendees, “You’ve never seen me read a speech because I cannot read a speech,” referencing his struggles with dyslexia.

The remarks quickly drew backlash online, with critics accusing Newsom of making comments that were racially insensitive.

Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, wrote on X that the comments reflected the “soft bigotry of low expectations,” while Rep. Randy Fine, R-Fla., called the remarks “disgusting.”

Rapper Nicki Minaj also weighed in, writing on X that Newsom’s “way of bonding with black ppl is to tell them how stupid he is & that he can’t read.”

Data from the College Board’s 2024 report, cited by the New York Post, shows that the average SAT score for Black students is 907 out of 1,600, compared with 1,083 for white students.

A short video clip of Newsom’s remarks spread widely across social media platforms, prompting further criticism from conservative commentators and political figures.

Newsom later responded by sharing a longer version of the exchange on X and defending the comments by highlighting his lifelong difficulty with dyslexia.

“My mom didn’t want my dyslexia to hold me back,” Newsom wrote.

Even so, some critics argue that the controversy could complicate Newsom’s efforts to build national recognition as he positions himself for a possible presidential campaign in 2028.

The governor’s book tour has taken him to several states, including South Carolina, an early presidential primary state. Political observers widely see the tour as part of an effort to lay the groundwork for a future White House run.

{Matzav.com}

The financial toll of the United States’ military campaign against Iran is mounting quickly, with the overall cost already reaching into the tens of billions of dollars, according to information shared with Congress and economic projections. The growing price tag is adding pressure to Washington’s budget outlook at a time when federal deficits and national debt are already climbing.

During a classified briefing on Capitol Hill, Pentagon officials informed lawmakers that the conflict had already cost more than $11.3 billion within the first six days of fighting. The figure was disclosed in several reports citing individuals familiar with the closed-door discussion.

That estimate, initially revealed by The New York Times and later verified by NBC News, accounts primarily for direct operational costs and does not factor in additional expenses such as the military buildup that took place before the attacks or longer-term costs tied to sustaining the campaign.

Some lawmakers believe the true cost is already higher than the early projections.

Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del., said the current estimate likely understates the true cost of the conflict.

“I expect that the current total operating number is significantly above that,” Coons told reporters, noting that the initial figures largely focus on replacing munitions used during the first wave of attacks.

The opening phase of the operation relied heavily on sophisticated weapon systems, including AGM-154 glide bombs, which defense experts say cost between $578,000 and $836,000 per unit.

Outside analysts say the daily expense of the war is substantial and continuing to rise. Some estimates place the ongoing cost between $800 million and $1 billion per day, depending on the intensity of military operations.

Financial experts warn that the total bill could climb sharply if the war continues for several more weeks.

Researchers working with the Penn Wharton Budget Model estimate that a conflict lasting two months could add approximately $65 billion in new expenses for American taxpayers, according to a report by Fortune. Those costs would come at a time when federal finances are already under significant strain.

Earlier this year, projections from the Congressional Budget Office indicated that the federal deficit could reach 6.5 percent of the nation’s gross domestic product by 2035, while national debt could grow to roughly 120 percent of GDP—levels that many economists say would be difficult to sustain.

Debt service is already a major burden on the federal budget. Interest payments alone now account for nearly 20 percent of government spending, making additional borrowing increasingly expensive.

If the military campaign continues, lawmakers may need to approve a supplemental spending package to pay for the ongoing operations.

Members of Congress from both parties have already begun asking how long the conflict is expected to last and what the administration’s long-term strategy will be.

Some Republicans are calling for expanded production of military munitions to ensure the United States maintains sufficient stockpiles, while others are hesitant to authorize funding that could support a prolonged and open-ended war.

The growing costs are arriving at a time when federal finances are already under pressure from rising entitlement obligations and higher interest payments on the national debt.

On the battlefield, the situation remains unsettled.

The war has now entered its second week, with military activity continuing across the region and tensions rising near the Strait of Hormuz, a key passageway for global oil shipments.

President Donald Trump has suggested the war could end soon, though he has also acknowledged that the conflict could continue depending on developments on the ground.

{Matzav.com}

Authorities say the individual who deliberately drove a vehicle into the entrance of a school building at a Jewish synagogue in Michigan has died following a large law enforcement response that included reports of gunfire.

Police rushed to Temple Israel in West Bloomfield on Thursday after receiving reports of an “active shooter.” Law enforcement sources told The Post that investigators believe the driver intentionally crashed a car into the building.

The collision occurred shortly before 1 p.m. and triggered a fire as emergency responders flooded the scene at the synagogue, according to law enforcement officials.

https://twitter.com/i/status/2032143617121255807

Witnesses at the location said they heard gunshots immediately after the vehicle struck the structure, WDIV reported.

It remained unclear in the immediate aftermath whether the gunfire came from the suspect or from responding officers. Authorities also had not confirmed whether anyone else was injured during the incident.

Helicopter footage broadcast by local media showed smoke rising from the building following the crash.

Parents of children enrolled at the synagogue’s preschool received a message informing them that all students and staff were safe after the incident.

Several nearby schools also initiated lockdown procedures as a precaution following the reports of the attack.

FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed that federal agents joined local authorities at the scene after what he described as “the apparent vehicle ramming and active shooter situation.”

Police have so far characterized the situation as an “active situation” and urged residents to avoid the area while the investigation continues.

“We are aware of an active security incident at Temple Israel,” the Jewish Federation of Detroit said in a statement.

“Law enforcement are responding. Our Jewish agencies are currently in precautionary lockdown. We ask community members to stay away from the area at this time.”

Temple Israel is located in Oakland County, Michigan, a region outside Detroit that is home to one of the largest Jewish populations in the United States outside the New York metropolitan area.

The synagogue sits roughly 20 miles north of Dearborn, a city known for having the largest Muslim and Arab population in the country.

{Matzav.com}

The NYPD released a statement following the shooting at Temple Israel in West Bloomfield Township.

Israeli Minister for the Development of the Negev and the Galilee and National Resilience, Yitzchok Shimon Wasserlauf of the Otzma Yehudit party, narrowly escaped injury on Thursday when a missile launched by the Hezbollah terror organization struck just a few feet from where he was standing.

The incident took place while Wasserlauf was on an official visit to communities along Israel’s northern border. As the minister and his team traveled between towns, a warning siren sounded. They managed to reach only limited cover before a missile slammed into a nearby field. Despite the powerful blast and flying shrapnel, no one in the group was injured.

Shortly afterward, Wasserlauf described the frightening moment in a post on X. “A work day in the north visiting as many local authorities to meet their needs. And then another siren. A few seconds passed and the impact came, ten meters from us. Everything shook. Thank G-d we weren’t harmed. We’re getting our heart rate back down.”

Following the incident, the minister said the attack illustrated why Israel must press forward with its military campaign until Hezbollah is decisively defeated. “This is the reality of the residents of the north over the past two weeks. This is the reality that will continue if we don’t defeat Hezbollah and its main boss, Iran, once and for all. If we won’t do this now, we will go back to this reality in another year or two.”

Despite the close call, Wasserlauf said he intends to continue visiting northern communities as part of his duties. “I’m proud of the residents of the Galilee and particularly the residents of the confrontation line who show extraordinary determination. You are the strength for victory,” he concluded.

{Matzav.com}

A gunman is dead and two people are hurt after a shooting at Old Dominion University on Thursday morning, the Virginia school said. ODU said a gunman opened fire in its business school building, injuring two people who were sent to the hospital. It wasn’t immediately clear how the shooter died. The two people injured […]

Iran’s state-run television network on Thursday aired the first message attributed to the country’s new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, since he assumed the position.

The statement was not delivered directly by Khamenei. Instead, a narrator read the message while an archival photograph of the new leader appeared on screen, as Khamenei himself has yet to appear publicly.

In the broadcast message, Iran declared that it would continue seeking revenge for those it described as “shahids” (martyrs), with particular mention of the “shahids of the school in Minab.” The statement also said, in Khamenei’s name, that the Strait of Hormuz must remain closed.

Khamenei has not been seen in public since the conflict with Israel and the United States began. He was reportedly wounded during the strike that killed his father and predecessor, Ali Khamenei.

Foreign reports say his injuries included a fractured foot, bruising near his left eye, and cuts to his face, conditions that have reportedly restricted his mobility.

{Matzav.com}

Cambodia hopes to shut down all of the country’s notorious online scam centers by the end of next month, the head of the Southeast Asian nation’s effort to combat the cybercrime said Wednesday. Senior Minister Chhay Sinarith, in charge of the Commission for Combating Online Scams, told The Associated Press in an interview that the […]

Amid the war, HaGaon HaRav Dov Landau has been delivering shiurim and divrei chizzuk to yeshivos in Bnei Brak that are operating in accordance with the directives of the Home Front Command and have protective shelters. On Wednesday, he visited the temporary location of Yeshivas Ner Zerach–Otzem in Bnei Brak, where he delivered a shiur […]

Adv. Gedalyahu Ben Shimon, chairman of the Religious Council in Ramat Gan and a senior figure in the Shas Party who also serves on the Bnei Brak City Council, was seriously injured Thursday in a stabbing attack on Bialik Street in Ramat Gan.

Emergency personnel from Magen David Adom were called to the scene and treated the victim before transporting the 47-year-old to Ichilov Hospital in Tel Aviv for further care.

Police apprehended a 20-year-old Arab resident of Jatt at the location of the attack and launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident. The Shin Bet has also joined the inquiry.

Witnesses at the scene reported that the suspect shouted “Allahu Akbar” during the assault.

Shlomo Bergstein, a senior paramedic with Magen David Adom’s motorcycle unit, described the condition in which responders found the victim, saying he was conscious but suffering from severe stab wounds.

“We received a report about a man with serious penetrating injuries to his body. When we arrived at the scene, we saw the injured man conscious, with many bystanders around him. We had to act quickly,” he said.

Bergstein said that paramedics administered emergency treatment at the scene before rushing the victim in a Magen David Adom intensive care ambulance to the hospital’s trauma unit.

Yehuda Avidan, Director-General of the Ministry of Religious Services, reacted to the attack with a statement calling it an act of terror and urging the public to pray for the victim’s recovery.

“We are shocked and horrified by this despicable terrorist attack. Terror will not deter us from continuing on our path, but right now the entire people of Israel are united in prayer for the recovery of the head of the Religious Council in Ramat Gan. I call on the entire public to pray for the recovery of Gedalyahu ben Yehoshua, who needs a full recovery.”

{Matzav.com}

The assassination of Iran’s Supreme Leader and nearly the entire top leadership of the country’s military establishment in the opening minutes of the war marked a dramatic turning point in the conflict, according to a senior IDF officer who described the operation as one of the most complex and coordinated strikes ever carried out by […]

CNN host Abby Phillip issued an on-air correction Wednesday night after initially claiming that an ISIS-inspired bombing attempt in New York City last weekend had targeted the city’s Muslim mayor. “This morning I issued a correction first thing in the morning on X for a mistake that I made in last night’s show, but I […]

U.S. Central Command says that since the start of Operation Epic Fury, U.S. forces have hit around 6,000 Iranian regime targets, including more than 90 Iranian naval vessels, among them 30 mine-laying ships.

Shas Chairman Rabbi Aryeh Deri arrived a short while ago at Ichilov Hospital, where he received an update from hospital Director-General Prof. Eli Sprecher regarding the condition of Ramat Gan Council Chairman, attorney Gedalyahu Ben Shimon, who was seriously wounded in the terrorist stabbing attack. Deri spoke with the medical staff and was told that, […]

Applications for US unemployment benefits edged down last week as initial claims decreased by 1,000 to 213,000 and the US trade deficit narrowed in January as exports increased.

Sen. John Fetterman said Wednesday that the military campaign known as Operation Epic Fury has produced strong results and pushed back against media portrayals suggesting the operation has gone poorly.

Speaking during an appearance on CNN’s The Source, the Pennsylvania Democrat argued that some coverage, particularly from The New York Times, paints an inaccurate picture of the situation.

During the discussion, Fetterman said he believes certain outlets are attempting to frame the operation as unsuccessful. “I don’t know what your network has talked about, but what I’m saying [is] that, whether, like, it’s The New York Times, they’re making it more and more trying to convince America that this has been a disaster or things are out of control, and that’s just categorically not true on that.”

Fetterman pointed to what he described as measurable outcomes from the campaign, saying the operation has significantly reduced Iranian attacks and weakened the country’s ability to retaliate.

Earlier in the conversation, he praised the military results so far. “the outcome thusfar has been outstanding. If you just look at the metrics, that the missile and the drone attacks are down in the 90s percent. And Iran really has been [unable] to strike back and hit our assets or Israel much right now. So, after eliminating all of the leadership after seven or eight days and achieving air supremacy after a couple of days, I think overall, I think it’s been outstanding, where we’re at.”

At the same time, Fetterman said that it is reasonable for the media to report on controversial aspects of the conflict, including a strike that hit a school in Iran.

{Matzav.com}