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Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has been hiding in a bunker since the launch of Israel’s war on Iran and has secretly named three clerics as possible successors in the event he is killed, the New York Times reported on Shabbos. The report added that Khamenei, 86, has also appointed replacements for top military commanders, fearing that additional senior army figures will be targeted by Israel. According to three Iranian sources quoted in the report, Khamenei has ceased using all digital means of communication due to fear of detection and is carrying out all his communications via an aide. Khamenei’s son, Mojtaba, who has been considered a possible successor, was not one of the three names identified by Khamenei. (YWN’s Jerusalem desk is keeping you updated on Motzei Shabbos in Israel.)

The U.S. evacuated 79 staff and families from the U.S. Embassy in Israel on Friday as the conflict between Israel and Iran intensifies and growing numbers of private American citizens seek information on how to leave Israel and Iran. An internal State Department memo says the military flight, the second known to have occurred this week, left Tel Aviv for Sofia, Bulgaria, where some or all of the passengers were to get a connecting charter flight to Washington. The document, which was obtained by The Associated Press, also said that more than 6,400 U.S. citizens in Israel had filled out an online form on Friday alone asking for information about when and if the U.S. government would organize evacuation flights. An additional 3,265 people, some of whom may also have completed the form, called an emergency number seeking assistance. The document estimated that between 300 and 500 people per day could need evacuation assistance should the U.S. decide to offer flights or ships to get Americans out, as the U.S. ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, has said is being considered. There are some 700,000 Americans in Israel, many of them dual nationals, according to estimates, although the exact number at any given time is unclear because U.S. citizens are not required to notify the embassy if they are there or when they might leave. Earlier Friday, before the memo was distributed, State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce told reporters that more than 25,000 Americans had reached out for information on leaving Israel, the West Bank and Iran. She told reporters that those people had sought “information and support” and were “seeking guidance” on departing. She would not give a breakdown of where the queries had come from and would not comment on embassy evacuations. In Iran, the document said that at least 84 U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents, or Green Card holders, had crossed into neighboring Azerbaijan by land since the conflict began and that an additional 774 had been granted permission to enter as of Friday. Nearly 200 American citizens and Green Card holders are awaiting permission to travel overland from Iran to neighboring Turkmenistan, it said. (AP) (YWN’s Jerusalem desk is keeping you updated on Motzei Shabbos in Israel.)

Iran launched a barrage of about 10 ballistic missiles at Israel on Friday night at about 3 a.m. B’chasdei Hashem, the rockets were intercepted, and no one was injured in the barrage. Iran also launched about 40 drones at Israel on Friday night and Shabbos. Most were intercepted, but one hit a house in the northern city of Beit She’an, the first time a drone fired by Iran at Israel damaged property since the war began. A fire broke out at the site, but Baruch Hashem no one was injured. Two other drones fell in open areas. The video below shows the scene of a drone hit in the Arava: IDF spokesperson Effie Defrin said on Motzei Shabbos that Iran has launched over 1,000 drones at Israel since the beginning of the war, and most of them have been intercepted by the IDF. On Motzei Shabbos, the IDF published a video of Iranian drones being intercepted:   (YWN’s Jerusalem desk is keeping you updated on Motzei Shabbos in Israel.)

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With concerns mounting globally over the prospect of a nuclear-armed Iran, Yoav Gallant, Israel’s former defense minister, has urged the United States to carry out a targeted military strike to eliminate the final and most protected element of Iran’s nuclear program: the Fordow enrichment plant.

In a co-authored opinion piece with historian Niall Ferguson published in The Times of London, Gallant asserted that while Israel has done the bulk of the work to thwart Iran’s nuclear ambitions, only the United States possesses the tools necessary to eliminate the Fordow facility.

They argue that what lies before President Trump is not a drawn-out war, but a focused, tactical operation. “The US today is not being asked to send soldiers to invade or occupy Iran,” they write, emphasizing that “much of the work of defeating Iran has already been done by Israel.”

The op-ed praises recent Israeli military campaigns as a critical turning point, claiming they’ve severely disrupted Iran’s nuclear infrastructure. “After decades of preparation, Israel has acted: striking critical nuclear sites, dismantling missile production lines, and eliminating senior figures in Iran’s military and Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.” According to the authors, these operations have “set Iran’s program back by years.”

Still, one major threat persists: the Fordow facility. Buried deep beneath the earth, it contains “eight cascades with over 3,000 centrifuges,” and, per the International Atomic Energy Agency, could enrich uranium to weapons-grade levels “just three weeks” after activation.

Gallant and Ferguson caution that allowing Fordow to remain operational gives the Iranian regime a pathway to eventually restart its nuclear pursuit. “Risks allowing the Islamic Republic to rebuild and resume its quest for the ultimate weapon of mass destruction,” they warn.

They note that Fordow’s formidable fortifications—buried under “at least 90 metres of limestone, and protected by additional layers of reinforced concrete shielding and other structural defence measures”—make it unreachable by Israeli munitions. “There is no credible way that Israel alone can destroy it,” the op-ed states.

According to the authors, only the United States has the capability to eliminate the Fordow threat. They cite the GBU 57A/B Massive Ordnance Penetrator, a powerful 30,000-pound bomb designed for hardened underground targets. “Three to eight MOPs would suffice to render Fordow defunct,” they explain, and such a strike would be carried out using American B-2 Spirit stealth bombers.

To drive home the urgency of their appeal, Gallant and Ferguson invoke a well-known ethical teaching: “If not now, when?” Directing the question to President Trump, they write, “If B-2s and MOPs were not designed for precisely this purpose, then what use are they?”

They stress that a nuclear Iran would endanger far more than just Israel. With ballistic missiles capable of reaching “Gulf capitals and Europe,” the threat could easily spiral into “a nuclear arms race in the Gulf.”

The authors conclude that taking out Fordow would “create a new equilibrium in the Middle East and re-establish American leadership.” But they insist it must come with a firm warning: “If Iran attempts to target the US or its Gulf allies, it will risk the elimination of its regime.”

Gallant and Ferguson close with a call for action, warning that the present moment offers a rare window where strategy and opportunity align. “It must not be missed.”

{Matzav.com}

The United States is accelerating support for Israel’s air defense infrastructure by sending more naval assets outfitted with missile intercept technology to the region. The move is in response to continuous missile attacks from Iran, which have reportedly placed significant pressure on Israel’s interceptor inventory, The Wall Street Journal reported Friday.

A new U.S. Navy destroyer has reached the eastern Mediterranean, supplementing three American destroyers already stationed there, along with two others in the Red Sea. These vessels are strategically positioned to help counter missile strikes from Iran, a defense source told The Wall Street Journal.

The ships—Arleigh Burke-class destroyers—are typically equipped with SM-2, SM-3, and SM-6 missiles, capable of intercepting ballistic and aerial threats. The SM-3 system, which was used operationally for the first time during an Iranian assault last year, is specifically built to intercept missiles at higher altitudes.

In addition to strengthening sea-based defenses, the U.S. has restocked interceptors for the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system. THAAD, which the U.S. Army operates from a base in Israel since last year, is designed to neutralize missiles during their terminal trajectory before impact.

This buildup of missile defense systems by both land and sea illustrates the growing concern in Washington about Israel’s shrinking cache of advanced interceptors. A U.S. official speaking to The Wall Street Journal warned that Israel could run low on its sophisticated Arrow 3 interceptors in the near future if Iranian missile launches continue at the current pace.

Neither Israel Aerospace Industries, which produces the Arrow interceptor series, nor the Israel Defense Forces provided any statements regarding the size of Israel’s remaining stockpile. The military, however, reiterated that it remains fully prepared for any developments.

When asked about the availability of Arrow 3 missiles during an interview with Kan, Israel’s public broadcaster, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded, “I would always like more and more.” He also stated that around half of Iran’s missile launch sites had been destroyed by Israeli strikes since the conflict erupted, which he said has reduced the scale of the threat posed by Iranian rockets.

The Wall Street Journal also noted that with American offensive plans against Iran reportedly in a holding pattern, Israel is bearing the brunt of the conflict alone—just as its ability to maintain its missile defense shield is being tested under mounting pressure.

{Matzav.com}

President Trump delivered harsh criticism of the U.S. intelligence apparatus on Friday, accusing it of underestimating Iran’s nuclear capabilities. He told reporters that, in his view, Iran now possesses a “tremendous amount” of enriched uranium and could potentially produce a nuclear weapon in a matter of weeks.

His remarks appeared to contradict earlier testimony from Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, who in March told Congress that Iran was not currently developing a nuclear weapon.

When asked by a reporter in Bedminster, New Jersey, “What intelligence do you have that Iran is building a weapon? Your intelligence community said they have no evidence that they are at this point,” Trump responded firmly.

“Then my intelligence community is wrong,” the president said, seeking clarification on the source of the claim.

“She’s wrong,” he said of Gabbard.

WATCH:

Despite Gabbard’s conclusion, she had acknowledged in her testimony that Iran’s uranium reserves had reached historically high levels for a country without nuclear arms.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt had also issued a stark warning on Thursday, stating, “Iran has all that it needs to keep a nuclear weapon” and “all they need is a decision from the Supreme leader to do that.”

Trump offered a slightly broader timeframe on Friday, suggesting that Tehran could have everything it needs to complete a weapon “in a matter of weeks” or possibly “a matter of months.”

He went on to declare that he would finalize a decision within the coming days about whether the U.S. military would launch a strike against Iran if the regime refuses to dismantle its nuclear program.

“We’re going to see what that period of time is, but I’m giving them a period of time, and I would say two weeks would be the maximum,” Trump added Friday.

Pressed on whether a ground invasion of Iran was on the table, Trump dismissed the idea.

“Well, I’m not going to talk about ground forces. The last thing you want to do is ground force,” the commander-in-chief said.

Earlier that same day, Iran’s foreign minister dismissed the idea of pausing hostilities through a cease-fire.

Commenting on whether he might ask Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu to stop Israeli strikes on Iran, Trump replied, “I think it’s very hard to make that request right now.”

“If somebody is winning, it’s a little bit harder to do than if somebody is losing, but we’re ready, willing and able, and we’ve been speaking to Iran, and we’ll see what happens. We’ll see what happens.”

While diplomats from Europe met Iranian officials in Geneva on Friday, Trump cast doubt on any progress emerging from those discussions.

“Iran doesn’t want to speak to Europe,” he told reporters. “We’ve been speaking to Iran, and we’ll see what happens.”

{Matzav.com}

Donald Trump has demanded that a special counsel be appointed to probe the 2020 election, arguing that what he views as a fraudulent result must never be repeated.

Trump and those close to him have continued to insist that widespread fraud in crucial swing states was responsible for Joe Biden’s White House victory, prior to Trump taking office again on January 20 following his second election win.

Claims have also surfaced suggesting the Chinese government interfered in the race to boost Biden’s chances of winning.

Biden’s presidency was marked by a porous southern border, what critics have called politically motivated legal actions, and sweeping progressive policy initiatives.

“Zero Border crossings for the month for TRUMP, verses 60,000 for Sleepy, Crooked Joe Biden, a man who lost the 2020 Presidential Election by a ‘LANDSLIDE!’ Biden was grossly incompetent, and the 2020 election was a total FRAUD! The evidence is MASSIVE and OVERWHELMING,” Trump wrote Friday morning on Truth Social.

“A Special Prosecutor must be appointed. This cannot be allowed to happen again in the United States of America! Let the work begin! What this Crooked man, and his CORRUPT CRONIES, have done to our Country in 4 years, is grossly indescribable! MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!”

Trump secured victory in the most recent election held in November, defeating Kamala Harris by carrying all seven pivotal battleground states.

Earlier this week, FBI Director Kash Patel posted on X that the agency had uncovered documents outlining serious concerns tied to the 2020 election, including potential interference by the Chinese Communist Party.

Patel stated that he “immediately declassified the material and turned the documents over” to Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa, who chairs the Senate Judiciary Committee.

He included a link to a Just the News report which detailed intelligence suggesting that China may have manufactured large quantities of fake U.S. driver’s licenses to support an alleged effort to submit fraudulent mail-in ballots for Biden, then the Democratic nominee.

{Matzav.com}

As the security situation in Israel continues to evolve, the United States Embassy is exploring possible options to assist American citizens who wish to leave the country.

Chaim V’Chessed has learned that the Embassy is considering organizing flights or sea transport to evacuate U.S. nationals. While no official announcement has yet been made, the Embassy is currently collecting information from Americans in Israel who are seeking to depart.

To be considered for possible evacuation arrangements, interested individuals must register via the U.S. State Department’s Crisis Intake Form at this link This step is crucial in enabling the Embassy to assess demand and plan potential departures.

Applicants should carefully follow these instructions when signing up:

• Indicate that you need assistance leaving Israel:

• You MUST mark that you may need a loan from the U.S. government:

It is important to note that checking the loan option does not obligate you to accept a loan. However, only those who check this box will be considered for possible travel if flights or boats are arranged.

Additionally, if evacuation transport is provided, passengers will be required to pay for their travel.

Chaim V’Chessed will continue to monitor developments closely and share verified updates as they become available.

{Matzav.com}

Summer has arrived, and with it come dangerous levels of heat and humidity. This weekend, a “heat dome” will bring extreme temperatures to the Midwest and the East Coast, abating sometime next week.

Not to be confused with a heat wave—in which temperatures are elevated for an extended period of time—a heat dome is caused by a buildup of pressure in the atmosphere, which traps heat and causes extended periods of brutal temperatures, sometimes for weeks, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Winds from the Gulf of Mexico will bring additional humidity, which, when compounded by the over 90-degree heat, has the potential to make the heat under the “dome” feel 20 degrees hotter than it is. The Mid-Atlantic is projected to experience temperatures of up to 110 degrees, and the Northeast will hit more than 100 degrees. The extreme heat risk could be particularly devastating to young people, the elderly, unhoused people, and those who work outdoors.

The National Weather Service (NWS) also warns that the scorching temperatures may deteriorate pavement and railway tracks, impact aircraft operations, strain water resources and the electrical grid, and have lasting impacts on crops. The NWS advises that populations in the affected areas stay in cool indoor spaces, reduce outdoor physical activity, dress for the weather, and stay hydrated. Read more at The Hill.

{Matzav.com}

Whoopi Goldberg ignited a wave of criticism after drawing a controversial comparison between the experience of Black Americans in the United States and life under the Iranian regime during a recent episode of The View.

The comments quickly attracted strong condemnation from Iranian dissidents, who labeled Goldberg’s statements as “offensive” and “misguided.”

Outrage also spilled over onto social media, where many accused Goldberg of minimizing the severity of Iran’s human rights violations.

Iranian activists condemned Goldberg’s remarks for what they described as a troubling attempt to equate systemic racism in America with life in a repressive theocracy.

Dr. Sheila Nazarian, a well-known Iranian-American plastic surgeon and human rights advocate, was among the first to speak out publicly.

Speaking to Fox News Digital, Nazarian said, “Whoopi Goldberg’s comparison between being Black in America and living under Iran’s authoritarian regime is deeply misguided and dismisses the brutal realities faced by millions of Iranians.”

Nazarian, whose family fled Iran in 1985 after her father was targeted for execution, said Goldberg’s take was not only factually wrong but also deeply disrespectful.

“While racism is a serious and ongoing challenge in the US, comparing this to life under a totalitarian theocracy like Iran is not only inaccurate — it’s offensive to those who suffer daily under that regime,” she stated.

She went on to explain, “In Iran, the government controls nearly every aspect of life. People can be imprisoned, tortured, raped or even executed for peaceful protests, for criticizing the regime, or simply expressing their opinions online.”

Sharing similar concerns, Iranian-American journalist and foreign policy analyst Lisa Daftari also denounced Goldberg’s remarks, particularly given Goldberg’s status as a “woman of color.”

Daftari emphasized that Goldberg’s role on a daytime talk show is, in itself, a testament to the freedoms enjoyed in the United States.

“It’s astonishing that Whoopi Goldberg would even suggest that life for Black Americans is somehow equivalent to living under the rule of the ayatollah in Iran,” Daftari said.

She added, “The very fact that she, as a woman — and a woman of color — has a platform where she can speak freely, express dissenting views, and appear uncovered on national television is proof of the immense freedoms she enjoys.”

The controversy erupted during a heated exchange between Goldberg and co-host Alyssa Farah Griffin on The View, where the discussion turned to Iran’s widespread human rights abuses.

Griffin pointed out Iran’s execution of LGBTQ+ individuals and its draconian enforcement of hijab laws, including the arrest of women for modesty violations.

Goldberg interrupted, cautioning against singling out Iran without acknowledging injustices in America’s own past.

“Let’s not do that,” Goldberg interjected. “Because if we start with that, we have been known in this country to tie gay folks to the car. Listen, I’m—”

Griffin pushed back, contrasting current U.S. freedoms with conditions in Iran. “In the year 2025 in the United States, it’s nothing like if I step foot wearing this outfit into Iran right now.”

Goldberg, however, disagreed. “It is the same,” she insisted.

When Griffin tried to elaborate on the differences between life under American democracy and Iran’s oppressive regime, Goldberg doubled down: “Not if you’re Black.”

The exchange grew more tense until co-host Joy Behar stepped in, urging Griffin to consider the perspective of Black Americans.

“Just try to understand from their point of view, this country does not do them well,” Behar said.

Griffin responded respectfully, saying she “completely” acknowledged that experience but maintained her stance that the situation in Iran is “significantly worse” than in the U.S.

Since the episode aired, social media users have blasted Goldberg’s comments on X (formerly Twitter), with many calling for her removal from The View.

One user wrote, “Whoopi Goldberg has lost her mind. Women are raped, beaten and killed in Iran for showing their hair and not wearing hijab. Whoopi claims that is how Blacks are treated in the U.S. The View should be taken off the air, ABC should lose their license.”

Another posted, “What the f-ck did I just hear? Whoopi Goldberg on The View (of all shows) just said that it’s no different living in Iran than the U.S. The Islamic Republic has arrested over 30,642 women since 2022 for not wearing hijabs. They’ve killed, raped, and tortured many of them. Her co-host, who is of Iranian heritage, tried to explain the hardship the Iranian people go through living under the Iranian regime. Whoopi then shouts her down like she knows best. Disgusting.”

A third commenter stated flatly, “Whoopi Goldberg needs to be FIRED! @ABCNetwork She is a racist and [disseminates] lies.”

One more voice on X added, “Did Whoopi Goldberg say on The View that being Black in America today is worse than living in Iran? Whoopi, a wealthy woman living the American dream, is debating which mansion staircase to descend. She and her co-hosts are disconnected from everyday struggles. They should admit they’re too rich and removed to grasp regular people’s lives.”

{Matzav.com}

Israeli military and intelligence forces carried out a targeted operation in central Gaza that resulted in the death of senior Hamas figure Ibrahim Abu Shumala, according to an announcement released Friday by the IDF Spokesperson’s Unit.

The statement noted that the strike occurred on June 17, 2025.

Abu Shumala held the position of chief financial officer for Hamas’s military division and had also served as the right-hand man to Marwan Issa, the deputy commander of the group’s armed forces, until Issa was killed in March 2024.

In his capacity, Abu Shumala managed the entirety of Hamas’s military budget within Gaza. He was directly involved in organizing and executing the group’s financial strategies during wartime, including coordinating the transfer and smuggling of millions of dollars in funding earmarked for terrorist activities.

These financial operations enabled Hamas to replenish its weapons stockpiles and allowed the terror group to continue issuing payments to its fighters, playing a key role in sustaining their operations during the ongoing conflict.

“The IDF will continue to operate against all terrorist organizations in the Gaza Strip,” the IDF stated.

{Matzav.com}

Despite Iran’s rapidly growing stockpile of enriched uranium, which intelligence experts say cannot plausibly be used for civilian purposes, American intelligence agencies continue to diverge from Israel’s more urgent assessment that Tehran is actively working toward building a nuclear weapon, according to a report published Thursday.

As detailed by The New York Times, the Mossad estimates that Iran could put together a nuclear weapon in just 15 days. U.S. intelligence, however, maintains a more cautious timeline, suggesting that Iran would require several months to a year to build a bomb—and that, as of now, it has not taken definitive steps to begin that process.

Quoting U.S. intelligence sources and government officials, the report explained that the American position has not shifted since the matter was last formally reviewed in March. This comes despite the fact that Israel has initiated a widespread bombing campaign aimed at crippling Iran’s nuclear infrastructure, missile capabilities, research facilities, and military networks.

The report notes that top American intelligence officials warn Iran could make the strategic decision to pursue nuclear weaponization if its Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, were assassinated by Israel.

Israeli Defense Minister Yisroel Katz has not dismissed that possibility. Speaking at the site of an Iranian missile impact, Katz said Thursday that Khamenei “cannot continue to exist,” signaling that a targeted assassination remains on the table.

Another scenario that could prompt Iran to rush toward nuclear armament, according to the report, would be a direct U.S. military strike on the uranium enrichment plant at Fordo.

Fordo is located north of Qom and is heavily fortified beneath a mountain, making it virtually impervious to most conventional weapons. Military analysts believe that only U.S.-owned bunker-buster bombs could penetrate the site. Yet Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed in an interview Thursday that Israel has the capability to take out Fordo without American help.

Meanwhile, the White House announced Thursday that President Donald Trump would determine within two weeks whether the U.S. will actively participate in Israel’s military campaign against Iran.

This development followed a high-level intelligence briefing during which CIA Director John Ratcliffe informed the administration that Iran was dangerously close to building a nuclear bomb. His statements were reported to align closely with the Mossad’s current assessment.

While Vice President JD Vance and other senior officials indicated that new intelligence has emerged since March, sources clarified that Vance was actually referencing updated interpretations of already existing data—not newly discovered evidence.

On June 13, Israel launched a large-scale aerial offensive on Iranian territory, aiming to dismantle its nuclear and missile infrastructure. Israeli officials have described the threat from Iran as both immediate and existential. In retaliation, Iran has launched deadly salvos of ballistic missiles at Israeli military installations and civilian areas.

Although Iran continues to assert that it has no intention of producing nuclear arms, its enrichment levels now far exceed what is necessary for any civilian nuclear program. Additionally, the International Atomic Energy Agency has stated that Iran has blocked access to inspectors trying to monitor its nuclear activities.

{Matzav.com}

Israel kicked off Operation “Rising Lion” last Friday, launching a sweeping military assault that dealt a major blow to Iran’s leadership and nuclear infrastructure. The first wave of attacks successfully targeted high-ranking members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and key players in Tehran’s atomic program.

In a surprising detail, the Jerusalem Post reports, the component of the mission aimed at Iran’s nuclear scientists was codenamed “Narnia” by Israeli forces—a reference to the fantasy realm, underscoring how bold and unlikely such a strike might have seemed before it was executed.

As part of the mission’s intelligence strategy, Israeli officials created a priority system to classify Iranian nuclear scientists, ranking them by the level of threat they posed and how difficult they would be to replace. The highest-priority targets were those with the most critical military knowledge. This detailed categorization led to the formation of a kill list, prepared in advance for immediate action.

The operation’s success relied heavily on the Intelligence Directorate’s ability to gather exacting data. Those killed in the strike were veterans of Iran’s nuclear program and considered irreplaceable assets. Many were viewed as intellectual heirs to Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, widely seen as the architect of Iran’s nuclear ambitions.

Prominent nuclear scientists eliminated during the campaign included:

• Fereydoun Abbasi, specialist in nuclear engineering

• Mohammad Mahdi Tehranchi, physics authority

• Akbar Matlali Zadeh, expert in chemical engineering

• Saeed Beraji, a materials engineering professional

• Amir Hassan Faqahi, expert in physics

• Abd al-Hamid Minushahr, authority on reactor physics

• Mansour Asgari, a physicist

• Ahmad Reza Davalparki Daryani, a nuclear engineer

• Ali Bakhayi Kathehremi, mechanical expert

An Israeli military official revealed how the complex operation came together. “120 individuals from Military Intelligence and the Air Force were brought into a facility in Unit 8200 to plan the operation. By January, the pressure was mounting as no solutions had been found. The consensus was clear – we needed to develop solutions targeting air defense systems.”

The official continued, “In the past year, we began constructing a target bank, and the breakthrough came when we discovered an intelligence base and an air force base. However, the target bank did not yet contain enough targets. Each team had its own mission: killing nuclear scientists, eliminating command centers, and radar systems. That’s when Operation ‘Rising Lion’ began.”

In a surprising departure from its usual military doctrine, Israel has turned to psychological tactics, a move more commonly seen in the playbooks of its adversaries. On Wednesday, the IDF posted a message in Persian on its official X/Twitter account, encouraging Iranian citizens to reach out directly to the Mossad. The post hinted that internal elements within the Iranian government were already seeking to prevent the country from facing the kind of devastation seen in Gaza or Lebanon. The statement read: “We understand that you are in a difficult situation under the conditions imposed by the regime. In recent days, we have received messages from our loved ones who fear the uncertain future.”

It went on: “Even members of the regime’s security institutions are expressing fear, despair, and anger at what is happening in Iran and are asking us to contact the Israeli authorities – to avoid the same fate as Gaza and Lebanon. However, we must clarify that we are not the address for such requests, and we direct you to contact the Mossad. Perhaps you will find a way to improve your situation.” The message included a secure Mossad contact link and advised users to employ encrypted connections (VPN) for safety.

In response, the Mossad followed up with a post of its own: “Iran claims to have attacked a Mossad building with missile strikes. Fortunately, no one was there… everyone is in Iran.”

{Matzav.com}

Michelle Obama recently shared a candid moment during an episode of her podcast “IMO,” revealing that she was relieved not to have had a son—because, in her words, he would have been just like her husband, Barack Obama.

The 61-year-old former first lady made the comment on Wednesday’s show, which she co-hosts with her brother Craig Robinson. During a lighthearted conversation with radio host Angie Martinez of Hot 97, Martinez jokingly suggested that Michelle “should have thrown a boy in the mix.”

“I’m so glad I didn’t have a boy,” Michelle responded plainly.

“Because he would have been a Barack Obama. Ooh,” she added, glancing downward and shaking her head for added effect.

Martinez reacted enthusiastically, saying, “Baby Barack! It would have been amazing.”

“No, I woulda felt for him,” Michelle replied.

The discussion revolved heavily around raising sons, given that Martinez has a son and Robinson is the father of three boys.

Michelle’s remarks also appeared to reflect elements of her long marriage to Barack Obama, now in its 32nd year—a relationship that has recently been the subject of speculation in the media.

“Teach [your son] about how to deal with the traffic stop, but also teach him how to communicate in a marriage and to be a listening father,” she said, before again expressing hesitation about raising a “baby Barack.”

Still, Michelle had words of admiration for her husband’s parenting during a recent sit-down with musician and Democrat icon Bruce Springsteen.

“I think Barack is just like you as a tremendous father, doing it in a lot of grandeur, right,” she said to Springsteen on the June 11 edition of the podcast.

Despite ongoing chatter about potential marital trouble, the Obamas were spotted enjoying a high-profile night out at the Lowell Hotel’s upscale restaurant in Midtown Manhattan last month. They were also seen sharing another intimate dinner in Washington, D.C. this past April.

Michelle has previously shared that she’s attending therapy and working through a personal transformation, saying she’s “transitioning” into a new chapter of her life.

{Matzav.com}

U.S. Army Special Forces veteran Jim Hanson discusses how President Donald Trump is expected to make a decision on Iran over the next two weeks on ‘The Ingraham Angle.’

WATCH:

A missile launched by Iran struck the downtown area of Haifa on Friday, sending shockwaves that damaged the historic Al Jarina Grand Mosque and nearby infrastructure. The blast shattered the mosque’s stained glass windows and caused structural damage to the 18th-century building. The Al Jarina Mosque, originally built in 1775 and expanded in 1901, typically draws around 200 worshippers on Fridays. However, only 15 people attended prayers due to a Home Front Command directive prohibiting large gatherings amid ongoing hostilities, according to Wakf representative Khaled Dagash. Dagash reported that the missile hit after services had concluded and the building was empty. One person, whose identity is unknown, was lightly injured outside the mosque. He also expressed concern that government compensation might not suffice to restore the damage, especially as the mosque was already undergoing renovation at the time of the strike. Shockwaves from the blast also blew out windows at the Masjid Al-Saghir, another historic mosque dating back to 1761. No additional damage was reported at that site. President Yitzchak Herzog strongly condemned the attack, stating that “Iran is trying to kill Israelis of all faiths — Muslims included.” He emphasized Israel’s commitment to protecting all its citizens, saying, “We will defend all Israelis. All faiths included.” (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir warned on Friday that Israel must brace for a “prolonged campaign” against Iran, declaring that the military will not allow an existential threat to mature unchecked. In a rare and forceful video statement, Zamir said that Iran has been methodically working toward Israel’s destruction for years, with recent developments pushing its capabilities to a dangerous new level. “The plan reached the point of no return,” he said. “The capabilities reached operational readiness.” According to Zamir, at the time Israel launched its preemptive campaign, Iran had amassed around 2,500 ground-to-ground missiles, with production on track to exceed 8,000 within two years. Iran’s growing missile arsenal, coupled with its nuclear ambitions and network of regional proxies, “compelled us to strike,” he said. “We have prepared for this operation for years,” Zamir added. “It was launched at the moment when operational and strategic conditions converged. Had we waited, we would have faced a campaign from a position of disadvantage—and history would not have forgiven that failure.” Zamir described the opening wave of Israeli strikes as a “surprise” offensive that delivered “extraordinary results.” These included the elimination of senior Iranian command figures, severe damage to Iran’s nuclear infrastructure, the opening of an aerial corridor toward Tehran, and the destruction of roughly half of Iran’s missile launchers—some just minutes before launch. While the strikes have set Iran back, Zamir emphasized that the campaign is far from over. “We have embarked on the most complex campaign in our nation’s history,” he said. “It demands our full readiness and unity. Challenging days lie ahead.” Addressing Israeli citizens directly, Zamir acknowledged the toll the war has taken on the home front, as Iran and its proxies continue to target civilian areas. “This is a different kind of challenge,” he said. “But our enemies fail to understand that the Israeli home front is not a weakness—it is the source of the IDF’s strength.” Zamir concluded with a message of determination: “The IDF is prepared. Our freedom of action is growing, and the enemy’s is shrinking. The campaign is not over, but I am confident that we will finish it with Israel’s hand on top.” (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett discusses freed hostage Edan Alexander’s return home to New Jersey and Israeli’s conflict with Iran on ‘The Story.’

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Fox News host Sean Hannity breaks down the latest on the Israel-Iran conflict and what to take away from the ‘Trump doctrine’ on ‘Hannity.’

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