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Iran launched missiles toward the United Arab Emirates on Monday evening, shortly after residents across the country received emergency alerts warning of a potential incoming strike and urging them to take shelter. An all-clear notification was issued not long afterward.

UAE officials also reported that Iranian attack drones were deployed in the incident, with at least one drone reportedly hitting a petrochemical facility.

Earlier in the day, the United States military said that US Navy guided-missile destroyers had entered the area after passing through the Strait of Hormuz as part of an operation known as “Project Freedom,” which is intended to keep key shipping lanes open.

American forces are currently working to reestablish safe maritime passage for commercial vessels. As part of the initial phase, two US-flagged merchant ships successfully navigated the strait and continued on their routes without incident.

According to a weekend report by the Financial Times, Israel has transferred its advanced “Iron Beam” air defense system to Abu Dhabi. The system uses laser-based technology to intercept incoming rockets and drones.

The deployment is aimed at countering escalating threats from Iran, which has increasingly relied on coordinated drone and missile attacks against countries in the Gulf.

Sources familiar with the matter said the defensive setup includes multiple layers of protection, integrating the “Iron Beam” system—already used this year along Israel’s northern border—with Elbit Systems’ “Spectro” system, which is capable of detecting drones at distances of up to 20 kilometers.

Reports also indicate that Iron Dome batteries have been positioned in the UAE, alongside the arrival of dozens of Israeli military personnel and advisors to help operate and maintain the sophisticated defense systems.

{Matzav.com}

U.S. military forces destroyed six Iranian vessels that had been deployed to harass shipping in the Strait of Hormuz on Monday, as President Trump issued a sharp warning that Iran would be “blown off the face of the earth” if it disrupts efforts to reopen the vital waterway.

Adm. Brad Cooper, commander of U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), told reporters during a press briefing Monday that Iran has typically sent “between 20 and 40 small boats” to threaten commercial traffic in the strait, but noted that “today, we saw just six, and eliminated them quickly.”

“We have an enormous amount of capability and firepower concentrated in and around the Strait, including 864 Apache and MH 60 Seahawk helicopters,” Cooper said, adding that Iran’s military strength has been “dramatically degraded.”

The military action came a day after President Trump unveiled “Project Freedom,” an American effort aimed at clearing the Strait of Hormuz, where maritime movement has been heavily restricted for months following the launch of Operation Epic Fury on Feb. 28.

After Iranian officials warned they would oppose any attempt to reopen the passage and insisted that vessels must coordinate with Tehran before entering, Trump told Fox News that the regime would be “blown off the face of the Earth” if it targets U.S.-flagged ships.

“We have more weapons and ammunition at a much higher grade than we had before,” Trump told correspondent Trey Yingst. “We have the best equipment. We have stuff all over the world. We have these bases all over the world. They’re all stocked up with equipment. We can use all of that stuff, and we will, if we need it.”

The president also said that Iran has grown “much more malleable” in negotiations that have been stalled since mid-April.

{Matzav.com}

President Barack Hussein Obama expressed doubts about Israeli Prime Minister Binyomin Netanyahu’s approach to Iran, saying the Israeli leader has consistently pushed for a more aggressive military posture on the issue.

In a wide-ranging interview with The New Yorker, Obama said Netanyahu made similar arguments to him during his time in office as those later presented to President Donald Trump. “I think my prognosis was accurate,” Obama stated. He added that Netanyahu may have “gotten what he wanted,” but questioned whether the outcome serves Israel or the United States. “Whether that’s what is ultimately best for the Israeli people, I would question that. Whether I think it’s what is good for the United States and America, I would question that,” he said, noting “an ample record” of disagreements with Netanyahu.

Shifting to broader international issues, Obama spoke about the ongoing conflict involving Iran and the evolving global order, warning that repairing relationships with allies could prove more difficult than resolving internal challenges. He pointed to the system established after World War II as a major achievement, highlighting institutions like NATO and the World Bank as part of a structure that, despite its flaws, helped foster global stability and economic growth.

Obama said the United States played a leading role in building that framework by choosing cooperation rather than force. At the same time, he cautioned that recent developments have weakened those alliances. He stated that US partners “can no longer count on us being the hub of that international order,” citing policy decisions and rhetoric that have unsettled traditional allies.

He warned that a reduced American presence on the world stage could have far-reaching consequences. “If we don’t talk about human rights, human rights don’t get talked about that much,” he said, adding that US leadership remains critical, though it may increasingly depend on example rather than directive influence.

Responding to comments made by President Trump regarding Iran, Obama stressed the need for moral clarity in leadership. He said that American leadership must reflect “a basic regard for human dignity and decency,” warning that without such principles, “the world can break in very bad ways.”

Obama also pushed back on the idea that Trump’s presidency signals a rejection of his own policies, saying most Americans still support his positions.

{Matzav.com}

Rudy Giuliani was still in the hospital Monday after being diagnosed with pneumonia, as a close associate said the day could be significant for his recovery.

Giuliani, 81, was admitted over the weekend after falling ill with pneumonia, according to his business associate Tom von Essen, who served as New York City’s fire commissioner during the Sept. 11 attacks.

“Rudy had a tough weekend. He had pneumonia,” von Essen said.

“Today is an important day,” he said.

A representative for Giuliani said Sunday that the longtime ally of President Trump was in critical but stable condition due to an unspecified illness, sparking concern and an outpouring of support.

Von Essen said again Monday morning that Giuliani’s condition had not worsened.

“He seems to be doing OK,” added Giuliani spokesman Ted Goodman.

WATCH:

House Democrats’ campaign arm has broadened its list of competitive congressional districts ahead of the midterm elections, adding eight new seats in its first expansion of the current election cycle.

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) announced Monday that it updated its “Red to Blue” program, bringing in additional candidates from across the country, including a mix of backgrounds such as Grammy-winning performers, law enforcement officials, and first responders.

“As the American people reject House Republicans’ disastrous, cost-spiking agenda, House Democrats have the momentum to take back the majority,” DCCC Chair Suzan DelBene said in a statement.

“These latest additions to our Red to Blue program represent the strength of our people-first message and the broad appeal of our top-tier candidates,” DelBene added. “These candidates will win because they are authentic, independent-minded leaders who are rooted in their communities.”

The latest group of candidates added to the program, which was first introduced in February, includes Marlene Galan-Woods (Ariz.-1), Jasmeet Bains (Calif.-22), Jessica Killin (Col-5), Joe Baldacci (Maine-2), Bob Harvie (Pa.-1), Bob Brooks (Pa.-07), Bobby Pulido (Texas-15), and Johnny Garcia (Texas-35).

The update comes shortly after the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) unveiled revisions to its own candidate support initiative, known as the “MAGA Majority” program.

Both parties’ programs focus on a mix of districts considered vulnerable due to retirements as well as seats seen as realistic pickup opportunities.

Among the newly added Democrats is Baldacci, who is running to replace retiring Rep. Jared Golden (D-Maine) in Maine’s 2nd Congressional District.

Despite being held by a Democrat, that district favored President Trump over former Vice President Kamala Harris by a margin of 53.8% to 44.2%, underscoring its Republican-leaning tendencies.

Many of the candidates added to the list are challenging Republican incumbents.

One example is Bob Harvie, who is competing against Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.) in Pennsylvania’s 1st Congressional District.

Fitzpatrick, who serves as the GOP co-chair of the bipartisan Problem Solvers’ Caucus, is widely viewed as one of the more moderate voices within the House Republican Conference.

With the new additions, the “Red to Blue” program now includes 20 candidates, up from the previous 12.

Candidates selected for the program receive key support from the DCCC, including strategic guidance, fundraising help, and campaign training resources.

Being chosen for the list signals confidence from party leadership in those running in closely contested races.

To qualify, candidates must meet specific benchmarks related to grassroots organizing and fundraising.

Looking ahead to November, historical trends suggest challenges for the party in control of the White House, which has typically lost House seats in nearly every election cycle since 1938, with only two exceptions.

Still, recent polling compiled by RealClearPolitics shows Democrats holding a 5.7-point advantage over Republicans on the generic congressional ballot.

{Matzav.com}

Iran claims on Monday that it opened fire on a US naval vessel as Washington began efforts to ensure the free passage of global shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, marking a sharp escalation in the standoff between the two countries.

Iran’s semiofficial Fars News Agency, which is closely aligned with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), initially reported that an unidentified American ship had been struck by two missiles near the port of Jask, located southeast of the strategic waterway, after the vessel allegedly failed to heed orders to stop.

US Central Command (CENTCOM) rejected the report, stating on social media platform X: “No US Navy ships have been struck. US forces are supporting Project Freedom and enforcing the naval blockade on Iranian ports.”

A senior Iranian official later told Reuters that the incident involved a warning shot rather than a confirmed strike, adding that it remained uncertain whether any damage had been inflicted on the vessel.

Tehran has repeatedly claimed to have targeted US naval assets since hostilities began on Feb. 28, including an assertion in March that the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier had been hit. CENTCOM dismissed that claim at the time, saying “the missiles launched didn’t even come close.”

President Trump said Sunday on Truth Social that the United States would “guide” vessels through the strait as part of an operation dubbed Project Freedom, cautioning that Iranian attempts to obstruct maritime traffic “will, unfortunately, have to be dealt with forcefully.”

Iran responded with a warning that all vessels seeking to traverse the strait must first coordinate with its authorities, and vowed to confront any attempt to bypass its control of the waterway.

“We warn that any foreign military force — especially the aggressive US military — that intends to approach or enter the Strait of Hormuz will be targeted,” Maj. Gen. Pilot Ali Abdollahi told state broadcaster IRIB.

At the same time, the US has cautioned shipping firms that payments to Iran in exchange for passage through the strait could trigger sanctions, while continuing a naval blockade of Iranian ports that has been in place since April 13.

According to CENTCOM, 49 commercial vessels had already been turned back by the restrictions as of Sunday.

US officials have indicated that the blockade is intended to pressure Iran into renewed negotiations. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Sunday that Tehran was “going to have to start shutting in wells, which we think could be in the next week,” citing concerns that the country’s oil storage capacity is nearing its limit.

With tensions mounting, many ships caught in the region have chosen to remain stationary rather than risk passage through the contested waters.

The International Maritime Organization reported that roughly 2,000 vessels — including oil tankers, cargo ships, and cruise liners — have been immobilized in the strait since the launch of Operation Epic Fury, leaving as many as 20,000 crew members stranded.

“There is no precedent for the stranding of so many seafarers in the modern age,” Damien Chevallier, director of the IMO’s maritime safety division, told reporters March 31.

On Monday, the US-led Joint Maritime Information Center advised ships to travel through Oman’s territorial waters, noting the establishment of an “enhanced security area” to reduce risks.

The center also cautioned that navigating traditional shipping lanes “should be considered extremely hazardous due to the presence of mines that have not been fully surveyed and mitigated.”

US military officials have said the operation could involve guided-missile destroyers, more than 100 aircraft, and approximately 15,000 personnel, though details regarding the exact nature of escorts or support for commercial vessels have not been fully disclosed.

{Matzav.com}