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The United States launched another wave of airstrikes against Iran overnight, with Iranian officials claiming one of the targets was a nuclear power plant under construction, as the rapidly escalating conflict entered its eighth straight day.

According to Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization, the strikes hit the partially completed Darkhovin nuclear facility in southwestern Iran. The attack came one day after two U.S. service members were reported killed and a third remained missing following an Iranian assault.

Reacting angrily, Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization declared, “An attack on a peaceful nuclear facility under international safeguards is a clear violation of international law.”

Iranian officials did not disclose the extent of any damage at the facility, and the United States has not publicly confirmed that the nuclear site was among the targets.

The latest exchange followed Iran’s attack on American forces in Jordan, in which two U.S. military personnel were killed and another remained unaccounted for.

According to U.S. Central Command, the newest round of American strikes began at approximately 6 p.m. Eastern Time on Shabbos after receiving authorization from President Trump.

In a statement, Central Command said, “The strikes are designed to further degrade Iran’s ability to threaten commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and swiftly punish Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps forces who launched attacks against American service members in Jordan last night.”

U.S. officials said the operation successfully struck Iranian military coastal surveillance installations and air-defense positions.

Iranian state media acknowledged that American forces carried out attacks near the southern city of Sirik as well as another location near Shadegan.

The latest military action comes amid renewed instability across the region after a Pakistan-brokered peace agreement signed in June collapsed.

Iran quickly responded by launching a drone attack targeting U.S. military equipment and assets in Kuwait, according to reports carried by Iranian state television.

Iranian state TV also claimed that Tehran destroyed at least two American fighter aircraft during Shabbos’s combined missile and drone assault on a U.S. military installation in Jordan.

Kuwait’s military announced Sunday that its air defenses once again intercepted incoming Iranian missiles and drones after facing repeated attacks that began the previous day.

Authorities in Bahrain likewise reported that their air-defense systems intercepted another Iranian aerial attack on Sunday.

Despite the interceptions, there were no reports of casualties or property damage from the latest incidents, and Iran did not officially claim responsibility for those attacks.

The U.S. Embassy in Amman announced Sunday that Jordan’s international airport and the nearby seaport in Aqaba had been evacuated because of what it described as a “specific and credible threat.”

Jordanian officials, however, later said they had detected no immediate danger in recent hours and stated that they had not issued any evacuation order.

Meanwhile, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps announced that it continues to enforce its blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, through which roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil supply passes.

The IRGC claimed four vessels attempted to transit the strategic waterway using what it called an “unsafe route” with U.S. support after disregarding Iranian warnings.

According to the Guard Corps, two of the ships turned back, while the remaining two became involved in an “accident,” though no further details were provided.

With the deaths of the two Americans in Jordan, the number of U.S. service members killed since the joint U.S.-Israeli military campaign began in February has risen to 16, while more than 420 have been wounded, according to Central Command.

Responding to the losses, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth wrote on X, “Their sacrifice only stiffens our resolve.”

Iran’s Health Ministry said that American airstrikes have killed 50 people and wounded more than 500 others during the past three weeks alone.

The current conflict began on February 28, when the United States and Israel launched military operations aimed at dismantling Iran’s nuclear program.

{Matzav.com}

The approximately 10,000 Jews still living in Iran have been forced to demonstrate unwavering loyalty to the Iranian regime, sever contact with relatives in Israel, and avoid any online activity that could arouse suspicion, according to an Israeli expert on Iran. During the recent war, he said, Jewish communities were even compelled to hold ceremonies praising the regime and offer prayers for the success of Iranian missile attacks.

The assessment was shared by Beni Sabti, an Iran researcher at Israel’s Institute for National Security Studies (INSS), during an interview with Yaron Schneider on the institute’s “Extra Security Broadcast” podcast. Sabti described how the direct military confrontation between Israel and Iran placed the country’s remaining Jewish community under unprecedented pressure.

According to Sabti, while previous conflicts involving Hamas or Hezbollah occasionally led to harassment of Jewish business owners and professionals, the direct war with Israel dramatically intensified the danger. He said Iran’s Jews now feel compelled to constantly prove their loyalty to the regime.

“They had to hold many ceremonies praising the Iranian regime and even, unbelievably, prayers for the Iranian missiles,” Sabti said. “There were also many curses and insults directed at the State of Israel and the Americans, all in order to survive.”

Sabti said shuls have become not only places of worship and refuge, but also venues where members of the Jewish community publicly demonstrate allegiance to the Islamic Republic. He explained that Iranian Jews have spent generations learning how to conceal their true feelings in order to protect themselves.

“They are very accustomed to living a life of deception in order to save themselves,” he said.

That caution extends to communication with family members in Israel. Sabti said many Iranian Jews stop following relatives on social media, sharply reduce WhatsApp conversations, and even ask family members in Israel not to contact them at all.

“Not being in contact is actually a sign of safety,” Sabti explained. “Leave me alone, I’ll manage. It’s better that we not appear connected so no one sees our relationship.”

Although the Iranian government publicly insists it distinguishes between Judaism and Zionism—and even reserves a seat in parliament for a representative of the Jewish community—Sabti argued that the regime effectively treats Iran’s Jews as political hostages. Any contact with relatives in Israel, he warned, can quickly become grounds for accusations of espionage and interrogation by Iran’s intelligence services.

He pointed to one of the darkest chapters in the community’s modern history: the 1999 arrest of 13 Iranian Jews who were accused of spying for Israel. Several faced severe punishments before eventually being released following prolonged international pressure. The episode, Sabti said, served as a lasting reminder that no Jew in Iran is immune from sudden persecution.

Ironically, Sabti said the Jewish community often fares better when the Iranian regime feels confident and secure. When the government believes its grip on power is weakening or that it faces external threats, suspicion toward the Jewish population increases, forcing community members to make even more visible displays of loyalty to avoid being viewed as a “fifth column.”

Most of Iran’s remaining Jews live in Tehran, Isfahan, and Shiraz. Many work as merchants, physicians, engineers, and other professionals. According to Sabti, they generally maintain peaceful relationships with their Muslim neighbors and avoid drawing attention to themselves, provided they adhere to the unwritten rules and display no public connection to Israel.

Despite the mounting risks, many members of the community remain reluctant to leave. Some are elderly, while others own businesses, stores, clinics, or valuable property that cannot easily be transferred abroad. For many families, emigrating would mean abandoning everything they have built over a lifetime and starting over in Israel or the United States without their assets or social standing.

Sabti also noted the community’s profound historical and cultural attachment to Iran. Jews have lived there continuously for approximately 2,500 years, and many regard themselves as native Iranians deeply connected to the Persian language, local traditions, cuisine, and the cities where their families have lived for generations. They do not see themselves as outsiders but as members of one of the world’s oldest Jewish communities living under an increasingly hostile regime.

According to Sabti, Iran’s Jewish population numbered roughly 120,000 before the 1979 Islamic Revolution. Tens of thousands fled following Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini’s rise to power, while many others left during the 1980s as the Revolutionary Guard strengthened its grip and government repression intensified.

Sabti also argued that years of isolation from Jewish communities in Israel and the United States have allowed groups associated with Neturei Karta to expand their influence in some Iranian shuls and educational institutions. He said the regime has welcomed those voices as useful propaganda, presenting anti-Zionist Jews as evidence of Jewish opposition to the State of Israel.

Today, one of the world’s oldest Jewish communities remains caught between its ancient roots and a regime that views it as a political tool. While Iranian Jews continue to maintain shuls and preserve communal life, Sabti warned that during times of war, even a simple phone call to Israel or the slightest expression of identification with the Jewish state can place their freedom—and even their lives—in jeopardy.

Israel’s High Court of Justice heard arguments Sunday in a petition demanding that Gaza residents be permitted to enter Israel for medical care, but the hearing quickly shifted focus when the justices sharply criticized materials submitted by the petitioners and ordered inflammatory allegations against the IDF removed from the case file. National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir attended the proceedings.

The petition, filed by Physicians for Human Rights-Israel, seeks to compel the government to allow patients from the Gaza Strip to receive treatment inside Israel.

During the hearing, Justice Alex Stein objected to one of the petitioners’ supporting documents, warning that it contained serious allegations directed at the IDF and the State of Israel.

“Withdraw the appendix, because it contains accusations and statements against the IDF and the State of Israel. If you do not remove it from the case file, there will be costs.”

Justice Yael Vilner likewise condemned the document, stating, “There is an accusation here against IDF soldiers that is without precedent,” before adding, “There is absolutely no justification for submitting a document that accuses IDF forces.” Following the court’s criticism, the petitioners agreed to withdraw the appendix.

Representing the state, government attorneys argued that Israel’s policy regarding Gaza patients fundamentally changed after the October 7 massacre. They explained that the Defense Minister now permits patients from Gaza to leave only for medical treatment in third countries rather than inside Israel.

The state told the court that 800 patients and accompanying family members exited Gaza through the Rafah Crossing in February, followed by 1,462 the next month and 1,820 in May, emphasizing that the current policy reflects ongoing security concerns.

Government lawyers also requested that the justices examine classified evidence in a closed, ex parte session. During the discussion, Justice Yechiel Kasher observed that the number of Gazans leaving for medical treatment today represents only about 10 percent of the volume seen before October 7.

Before entering the courtroom, Ben Gvir blasted both the legal challenge and the High Court itself.

Speaking to Arutz Sheva, he said, “It is simply outrageous that these people repeatedly exploit what is essentially their home field in the High Court. They know it’s home-field advantage-it’s like playing in the World Cup with the referee on only one side.”

Ben Gvir reiterated his call for sweeping judicial reform, declaring, “We’ve accomplished a great deal, but in the next elections I will demand full judicial reform.”

Attorney Yehuda Puah, chairman of the B’Tsalmo organization, also criticized the petition, arguing that organizations he believes support terrorism are attempting to force Israel to provide medical treatment to Gaza residents inside the country.

Puah said the state’s position remains that Gaza patients may travel through Israeli territory if another nation agrees to treat them, but that the petitioners are insisting specifically on treatment within Israel.

According to Puah, the justices indicated that exceptional humanitarian circumstances should have some form of review process. He quoted the court as saying, “There cannot be no mechanism; there cannot be no opening,” arguing that such a requirement would effectively create a pathway for Gaza residents to enter Israel.

Puah said he appeared at the hearing on behalf of 39 bereaved parents but was informed by Justice Vilner that he would not be allowed to address the court orally because the judges had already reviewed his written submission. He criticized the decision, saying the petitioners were permitted to argue their case in person while the bereaved families were denied the same opportunity.

According to Puah, the materials he submitted included publications that he says demonstrate the petitioners’ support for a terrorist organization, along with arguments that insufficient efforts had been made to locate third countries willing to accept Gaza patients. He also maintained that in previous cases, individuals who entered Israel for medical treatment later assisted Hamas by transferring information and materials, and argued that Israel should therefore avoid establishing any permanent framework allowing patients and their escorts to enter the country.

Puah concluded by emphasizing that Israel continues to permit patients to transit through its territory when another country is prepared to receive them, but opposes allowing Gaza residents to enter Israel itself for medical treatment.

{Matzav.com}

The following shiur, titled “Year Round Daylight Saving Time – The Ramifications for Orthodox Jews,” was delivered by Rav Dovid Heber, a native of St. Louis who learned in Telshe Yeshiva Chicago and Yeshivas Ner Yisroel, where he received semicha. Rav Heber is the rov of KAYTT in Baltimore and a Kashrus Administrator at Star-K. He is a Torah columnist for the Yated and the author of The Intriguing World of Jewish Time: Fascinating Zmanim and Calendar Calculations.

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{Matzav.com}

New York City parents will soon have an opportunity to enjoy a few child-free hours at no cost under a new pilot initiative unveiled by Mayor Zohran Mamdani. The city will provide free babysitting services for hundreds of families during a special four-hour event next month.

The new program, called “Parents’ Night Out,” is scheduled for Aug. 16 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. and will offer complimentary child care for as many as 500 children at recreation centers throughout the five boroughs.

Enrollment begins at 8 a.m. Monday and will be handled on a first-come, first-served basis until all available spots are filled.

Announcing the initiative, Mamdani said, “Every parent knows that a few hours to yourself can feel like a luxury. It shouldn’t be. That’s why we’re launching New York City’s first-ever Parents’ Night Out, so that parents can get a little time on their own to catch a movie, run errands or go on a date without worrying about who will take care of the kids – or how much it will cost.”

The program is available to families with children between the ages of 6 and 13. Participants will be supervised by staff at designated city recreation centers while parents take advantage of several hours on their own.

City officials said the initiative is intended to provide parents and caregivers with a much-needed break while offering children a safe environment with organized activities.

The Aug. 16 event will serve as a test run for the new program, with capacity capped at 500 children spread among participating recreation centers across New York City.

Officials are encouraging families to sign up promptly once registration opens, noting that the limited number of openings is expected to be claimed quickly.

The participating recreation centers are:

Brooklyn:
Shirley Chisholm Recreation Center
3105 Farragut Place, Brooklyn, NY 11210

Manhattan:
Highbridge Recreation Center
2301 Amsterdam Avenue, New York, NY 10033

Queens:
Al Oerter Recreation Center
131-40 Fowler Avenue, Flushing, NY 11355

Bronx:
Kwame Ture Recreation Center
1527 Jesup Avenue, Bronx, NY 10452

Staten Island:
Greenbelt Recreation Center
501 Brielle Avenue (across from Sea View Hospital)

Iran’s new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, is reportedly no longer inside Iran, according to an Israeli security source quoted by the Saudi news outlet al-Hadath, adding another layer of uncertainty surrounding the Islamic Republic’s leadership.

Khamenei assumed the role of supreme leader after his father was killed in the joint U.S.-Israeli strikes on February 28. Since taking power, he has not appeared in public and has communicated only through written statements.

According to the Israeli security source, those statements are not being written by Khamenei himself but instead are being prepared by Ahmad Vahidi, the newly appointed commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, along with other senior IRGC officials.

The source also described growing turmoil within Iran’s leadership, warning that “Iran’s internal divisions are deep and threaten the existence of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.”

The same Israeli source further claimed that Washington has made clear it does not want Israel to participate in military strikes against Iran, even if Tehran launches attacks against Israel.