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[Video below.] A behind-the-scenes Kremlin video showing Russian President Vladimir Putin briefly stopping during a prerecorded International Women’s Day message and mentioning that his throat was irritated has reignited online speculation about his health, though there is no verified evidence that he is seriously ill.

The footage, which The Moscow Times reported was mistakenly released before being replaced with an edited version, shows Putin interrupting his remarks, switching off the camera, and commenting: “You know, let me say that again, because… my throat’s a bit scratchy. Yes, a bit scratchy. I almost started coughing. I’ve been talking a lot today.”

Russia’s state news agency TASS also reported that Putin delivered a video greeting for the March 8 holiday.

The brief moment was enough to trigger a new wave of speculation on social media suggesting that the Russian leader may be concealing a more significant medical problem.

However, similar rumors about Putin’s health have surfaced repeatedly in the past without being backed by credible evidence.

In 2023, The Associated Press reported on viral claims circulating online that Putin had suffered a heart attack. Investigators found the allegation originated from an anonymous Telegram account that researchers who track misinformation said lacked credibility.

According to the report, the Kremlin dismissed the claim as a “hoax,” while Reuters said that same month that Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov rejected another round of health rumors, stating: “Everything is fine with him, this is absolutely another fake.”

By itself, the recently circulated clip does not indicate that Putin is dealing with any serious health condition.

A momentary cough or throat irritation can be caused by many routine factors. In 2021, Putin also coughed during a televised government session and responded to concerns by saying he was healthy and regularly tested for COVID-19 and other illnesses.

What remains clear is that even minor incidents involving Putin attract intense attention because of their potential political significance, especially as Russia continues its war in Ukraine and maintains tight control over the president’s public appearances.

The video attracted interest largely because it captured an unusual unscripted moment, rather than providing proof of the longstanding claims about Putin’s health that have circulated for years.

WATCH: {Matzav.com}

Federal and local investigators are probing possible international terror connections after two teenagers accused of throwing an improvised explosive device near New York City’s mayoral residence allegedly admitted to consuming ISIS propaganda and traveling to overseas hot spots linked to extremist networks. Authorities say the suspects, 19-year-old Ibraham Kayumi and 18-year-old Emir Balat, were arrested […]

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Prime Minister Netanyahu released a message to the people of Iran, saying, “The moment of truth is approaching.”

Israel’s ambassador to the US, Yechiel Leiter, on Iran’s enriched uranium: Israel’s plan is to secure it. It is a goal that must be achieved.

The United Arab Emirates said Sunday that Iran launched a new wave of attacks, firing ballistic missiles and drones toward the country as regional tensions continue to escalate.

According to the UAE’s Defense Ministry, Iran launched 16 ballistic missiles along with more than 117 drones during the latest assault.

The ministry said air defense systems successfully intercepted all 16 missiles, while an additional missile fell into the sea. Officials also reported that most of the drones were shot down, though four drones ultimately landed inside UAE territory.

The ministry added that the country remains prepared to “firmly confront” any further threats.

Earlier Sunday, Iran’s president warned that Tehran could expand attacks against American targets across the Middle East in response to continuing Israeli and U.S. military operations.

The UAE did not provide details about the specific locations targeted in Sunday’s attacks.

{Matzav.com}

A subsidiary of a Hong Kong-based company that has lost control of two critical ports on the Panama Canal said it is seeking $2 billion of compensation in damages from Panama over its “illegal” takeover of the ports. Panama Ports Company, a unit of Hong Kong’s CK Hutchison Holdings, said in a Friday statement that […]

CENTCOM: Last night, a U.S. service member passed away from injuries received during the Iranian regime’s initial attacks across the Middle East. The service member was seriously wounded at the scene of an attack on U.S. troops in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on March 1. This is the seventh service member killed in action […]

IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir: There is no safe place for Iran’s proxies anywhere in the Middle East, not in Beirut and not in any other place. The campaign will continue for a long time. This is the war of our generation, and it is critical and decisive. It will determine our future and […]

A member of Iran’s Assembly of Experts, Ali Hosseini Ashkouri, said in a video circulating on social media that the new leader of Iran has already been chosen by a large majority of the body and will continue the path of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, adding that the announcement will be made soon. According to reports, […]

In a phone interview with CBS News late Saturday evening, Trump dismissed threats from Ali Larijani, saying he “couldn’t care less” about Iran’s top national security official and that he continues to push Iranian leaders to surrender amid ongoing U.S.–Israeli strikes.

The IDF says it targeted the IRGC Air Force headquarters in Iran during wide-scale strikes on dozens of regime military sites. According to the IDF, the facility served as the main command-and-control center directing Iran’s ballistic missile operations, UAV array, and other air force units. The headquarters was also responsible for building the operational picture […]

Ukrainian Ambassador to the United States, Olga Stefanishyna, says Russia is “absolutely a factor” in the war with Iran, arguing that Iranian drone technology became “a strategic enabler of war” used by Moscow against Ukraine. Speaking to Margaret Brennan, she added that Russia has been investing in regimes such as Iran, Venezuela, and Syria rather […]

Tehran has been deliberately targeting the radar systems that serve as the “eyes” of air defense networks across the Middle East, the Wall Street Journal and other US media outlets reported on Sunday. Several of these critical systems have been hit in recent days, weakening the ability of the United States and its allies to […]

President Donald Trump said Saturday he is not ruling out the possibility of deploying American troops into Iran, indicating that a ground operation could be considered to secure Iranian nuclear material as the conflict continues to escalate.

Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One while traveling from Dover Air Force Base back to Florida, Trump said any decision to send American forces into Iran would only be made if there were a compelling justification. He stressed that U.S. troops would be deployed only for a “very good reason.”

When questioned about whether American soldiers might eventually operate on Iranian soil, Trump suggested that Iran’s military would be too weakened to effectively resist such a mission if it were to occur.

He also identified one potential objective for such an operation: taking control of Iran’s nuclear materials.

Trump said the possibility has not been examined in detail but indicated it could become an option down the line, calling it “something we could do later” and “a great thing” if circumstances required it. His remarks went beyond the current campaign of airstrikes and long-range attacks, suggesting he is leaving open the door to a deeper U.S. military role if the war expands.

Asked how long the military effort might continue, Trump declined to offer any timeline.

“Whatever it takes.”

Trump also signaled that additional strikes against Iran remain under consideration.

He said American forces could target more Iranian military installations and personnel in the future, though he noted that no final decisions had been made. Trump described Iran’s armed forces as severely degraded, saying its missile manufacturing capability and launcher infrastructure had already been heavily damaged.

Despite the possibility of further escalation, Trump said he does not support every proposed military option.

He said he does not favor supplying weapons to Kurdish groups that might serve as potential ground partners, explaining that he does not want to complicate the conflict further.

At the same time, Trump repeated his demand that Iran accept “unconditional surrender.”

He also pointed to an apology issued by Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian to neighboring Arab countries that had been struck during the fighting, describing the gesture as evidence of weakness. Nonetheless, tensions in the region remain high, with the United Arab Emirates reportedly coming under repeated attacks on Saturday.

When asked about reports suggesting Russia may be helping Iran locate potential U.S. targets, Trump said he had “no indication whatsoever.”

Steve Witkoff, the president’s Middle East envoy, also expressed hope that Moscow is not assisting Tehran. Trump added that even if such cooperation were taking place, he believes it would make little difference because Iranian forces are already struggling.

After attending ceremonies at Dover marking the first American casualties of the conflict, Trump ended his remarks on a solemn note, acknowledging the human cost of the war and describing the loss of life as “a sad part of war” and “the bad part of war.”

{Matzav.com}

The IDF says it carried out a precise overnight strike in Beirut, eliminating five senior commanders from the IRGC Quds Force’s Lebanon and Palestine Corps who were meeting at a hotel in the city. Among those killed were Majid Hassini, Ali Reza Bi-Azar, and Ahmad Rasouli, along with Hossein Ahmadlou and Abu Mohammad Ali, who […]

Terrifying footage released today shows the moment an Iranian ballistic missile scored a direct strike on Beit Shemesh. The girl in the video was miraculously unharmed.

President Donald Trump said Sunday that Iran’s next supreme leader will not remain in power for long unless the United States approves the selection, issuing the warning as Iran moves closer to choosing a successor to its current leadership.

Speaking in an interview with ABC News, Trump said the individual chosen to lead Iran would not be able to maintain authority without Washington’s acceptance.

“He’s going to have to get approval from us,” the president told ABC News. “If he doesn’t get approval from us he’s not going to last long. We want to make sure that we don’t have to go back every 10 years, when you don’t have a president like me that’s not going to do it.”

Trump said his concern is preventing a situation in which the international community repeatedly faces the threat of Iran acquiring nuclear weapons.

“I don’t want people to have to go back in five years and have to do the same thing again or worse let them have a nuclear weapon.”

When asked whether he would consider approving a leader who previously had ties to Iran’s existing regime, Trump indicated he would be open to the idea if the candidate proved capable of governing responsibly.

“I would, in order to choose a good leader I would, yeah, I would. There are numerous people that could qualify.”

Trump also argued that Iran had been preparing to dominate the broader region before recent military developments changed the situation.

“They are a paper tiger. They weren’t a paper tiger a week ago, I’ll tell you. And they were going to attack,” he said. “Their plan was to attack the entire Middle East, to take over the entire Middle East.”

Trump said he has not ruled out the possibility of deploying American special forces to secure Iran’s stockpiles of enriched uranium.

“Everything is on the table. Everything.”

A senior administration official said last week that Iran has already enriched enough uranium to reach weapons-grade levels within about ten days.

According to the official, large quantities of that material are believed to be stored at nuclear facilities that were targeted during Operation Midnight Hammer, including Natanz, Isfahan, and Fordow.

“In theory, if we had physical control of that territory, if we had physical control of those places where it’s located, we could send our people in and dilute it on premise,” the official said.

Over the weekend, Trump also met with the families of six U.S. service members who were killed. When asked whether attending the dignified transfers caused him to reconsider the conflict, Trump said it did not.

“No, not at all,” he said. “The parents would be upset if I did that. The parents said to me, every one of them, please sir, win this for my boy, and in one case a young woman, as you know. Please, win this for my child.”

Reflecting on the meeting with the families, Trump described the experience as emotional but meaningful.

“It was a beautiful event. It was a beautiful, beautiful event, where I met the parents. They were devastated but proud.”

Asked about how long the conflict might continue, Trump declined to offer a specific timetable.

“I don’t know. I never predict. All I can say is we are ahead of schedule both in terms of lethality and in terms of time,” he said.

Just days earlier, Trump had suggested the conflict could conclude within four to five weeks.

During the interview, the president also brushed aside concerns about rising gasoline prices, describing the increase as temporary.

“I think it’s fine. It’s a little glitch. We had to take this detour,” he said. “I knew exactly what was going to happen with the detour. But the nice part is we sank 44 of their ships which is their entire navy. We’ve knocked out their entire AirForce. We’ve knocked out all of their communications, telecommunications. Their anti-aircraft systems are gone. They have absolutely no defense. All they have is talk.”

Although some longtime supporters have questioned aspects of the operation, Trump said he has not faced meaningful opposition from his political base.

“It’s more popular than ever. It’s a very MAGA thing what we’re doing. A very very MAGA thing,” he said. “Because otherwise we won’t have a country either, we’ll be hit. And MAGA is all about saving America … I’m at the highest point I’ve ever been with MAGA.”

{Matzav.com}

A neis occurred Motzei Shabbos in the city of Lod after an Iranian missile was fired toward central Israel, and a large part of the interceptor missile penetrated the home of a Chabad family in the city, causing massive damage but no injuries. The family members acted in accordance with Home Front Command instructions and […]