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Iran declared today that a newly deployed air defense system—credited by Tehran with downing two American aircraft—will enable it to “definitely achieve full control” of its airspace, as U.S. and Israeli strikes against the country continue.

The claim was issued by Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya joint military headquarters in remarks carried by state media, according to Reuters.

According to a report in The New York Times, Iran may have relied on its Third Khordad system, a mobile medium-range surface-to-air missile platform, to bring down an F-15E Strike Eagle fighter jet.

Other analysts suggested a different approach may have been used, pointing to passive infrared tracking systems that allow Iranian forces to follow and target aircraft without emitting radar signals—making detection by U.S. jets far more difficult, ABC News reported.

The F-15E, valued at approximately $31 million, is believed to have crashed in Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad province in southwestern Iran near the Iraqi border. Both crew members ejected; one was recovered following the Friday incident, while the second remains unaccounted for.

During a follow-up rescue mission, an A-10 Thunderbolt II “Warthog” was also struck. The aircraft ultimately went down after reaching Kuwaiti airspace, though the pilot managed to eject safely.

These incidents mark the first confirmed U.S. aircraft losses inside Iran since hostilities began on Feb. 28. To date, the U.S. military has conducted strikes on more than 12,300 targets throughout the conflict.

American officials have maintained that the ongoing bombardment has significantly weakened Iran’s offensive capabilities, claiming its missile and drone programs have been reduced by more than 90%.

Meanwhile, with the F-15E’s weapons systems officer still missing, reports indicate that armed local tribesmen have joined the search effort, as authorities have reportedly offered a $60,000 reward and urged civilians to assist in locating the missing crew member.

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani is facing intense backlash from elected officials and critics after focusing on gun violence rather than the perpetrators in response to the fatal shooting of a 7-month-old baby in Brooklyn.

The mayor issued a statement following the killing of Kaori Patterson-Moore, who was struck by a stray bullet while sitting in her stroller Wednesday, when a gunman riding a moped opened fire in what authorities believe was a gang-related shooting.

“This is not our first family to know this pain,” said the mayor, responding to the murder of infant Kaori Patterson-Moore, who was struck and killed by a stray bullet in her stroller Wednesday as a gunman on a moped opened fire in a suspected gang-related incident.

“Too many children have never grown up into becoming adults. To parents who’ve had to bury those they love most.

“We cannot accept it as normal in our city. We cannot grow numb to this pain, and today is a devastating reminder of just how much more work there is to be done… to combat gun violence across the city.”

Councilwoman Vickie Paladino (R-Queens) sharply criticized Mamdani, accusing him of ignoring the real issue by refusing to hold criminals accountable.

“Literally anything but blaming the criminals who our system releases onto our streets repeatedly, over and over again, with no consequences,” Paladino posted on X Thursday. “Absolute disgrace.”

Commentator Brittany Hughes also weighed in, pointing to another recent killing in the city and arguing that Mamdani selectively avoids addressing certain types of crime.

“an 83-year old veteran was killed in New York City last month after being randomly pushed onto the subway tracks by an illegal alien. Mamdani didn’t say a word because trains aren’t a good political prop, and he won’t condemn criminal aliens.”

She was referring to 83-year-old Vietnam War veteran Richard Williams, who was killed March 8 after being shoved onto subway tracks in Manhattan, allegedly by a migrant suspect.

Rafael A. Mangual, a fellow at the Manhattan Institute, said Mamdani’s response reflects an unwillingness to directly confront violent offenders.

“Hizzoner’s remarks about the heinous crime ‘suggests that he is uncomfortable with acknowledging that the murder of Kaori Patterson-Moore was committed by two evil thugs whose callous disregard for the value of human life should disqualify them from ever experiencing freedom,’” Mangual told Fox News Digital.

“Framing this as a gun problem rather than an evil gangbanger problem is more familiar territory for a self-styled progressive whose political base is constituted by people simultaneously — if dissonantly — committed to the cause of gun control as well as efforts to reorient the criminal justice system to be more lenient toward the offenders who pull triggers.”

Police said 21-year-old Amuri Greene has been arrested and charged with murder in connection with the infant’s death.

Authorities also took a second suspect into custody Friday, identifying him as 18-year-old Matthew Rodriguez, who was arrested in Pennsylvania.

Investigators allege that Rodriguez was operating the moped used in the attack, transporting the suspected shooter who opened fire near the intersection of Humboldt and Moore streets in the Bushwick neighborhood.

The president of the Yerushalayim Magistrate’s Court, Judge Shmuel Herbst, turned down a police request to prohibit journalist Arnon Segal and his son from entering the Old City for 45 days following an incident tied to a Korban Pesach demonstration.

Segal and his son had been taken in for questioning after he filmed his son leading a young goat intended for use as a Korban Pesach near the Old City.

In his ruling, Herbst wrote that there was no basis for suspecting a criminal act and dismissed the allegation of animal abuse. “I did not find that a reasonable suspicion exists,” he wrote, adding, “We all love animals, but most of us also eat them. It cannot be said that every animal destined for slaughter makes the person slaughtering it an abuser.”

The judge characterized the act as a form of protest against the current status quo on Har Habayis, explaining that “its time has passed and its sacrifice is null,” since the designated time for the offering had already passed. He also opened his decision with a historical and halachic discussion, stressing that the Korban Pesach is a central mitzvah connected to Yetzias Mitzrayim and the geulah of Klal Yisroel.

Responding to police claims that the incident created a security threat, Herbst ruled that no concrete evidence had been presented to support that concern. “Claims of danger and volatility require proof, and such proof was not brought before me,” he stated, cautioning against relying on broad assumptions and noting that long-standing “security axioms” must be reevaluated carefully.

Herbst also pointed out that Segal and his son live in Ir Dovid, near the Old City, and that banning them entirely from the area would be an excessive restriction on their freedom of movement. Instead, he ruled they would be barred only from Har Habayis, which is already closed to visitors during the Yom Tov period.

Attorney Nati Rom of Honenu praised the decision, stating, “There are real judges in Yerushalayim. A ruling that respects the deep yearning of the people of Israel is one that honors the judicial system. I hope the police will draw conclusions.”

Segal also responded to the ruling, noting that the court had rejected the request for a prolonged ban and had highlighted the importance of the Korban Pesach in its reasoning. “There are real judges in Yerushalayim,” he echoed.

Several Iranian strikes were reported in Bnei Brak from Friday night through Motzaei Shabbos, including a direct hit on a residential building on Rechov Kehillos Yaakov and another impact in the city center on Shabbos afternoon, leaving widespread destruction in their wake.

In one of the incidents, a residential apartment was hit, causing significant damage to the unit and leaving the entire building badly affected.

A 24-year-old man was transported to Mayanei Hayeshua Medical Center after suffering from smoke inhalation, with his condition listed as light. Magen David Adom (MDA) personnel also provided treatment at the scenes for several residents experiencing shock.

Footage captured by security cameras on Rechov Kehillos Yaakov documented the moment of impact Friday night, showing a massive blast that resulted in extensive destruction. One of the affected homes belonged to MK Moshe Gafni of United Torah Judaism, where windows were blown out and frames were ripped from their fittings.

In a separate incident on Shabbos afternoon, another strike in the city center led to the collapse of walls in an apartment, effectively destroying the unit and causing major structural damage to the surrounding building. MDA teams continued scanning the area to ensure no additional victims were trapped or injured.

City officials, together with Home Front Command personnel, arrived at the various locations to evaluate the extent of the damage and coordinate response efforts. Residents were reminded to adhere to safety instructions and enter protected spaces immediately upon hearing sirens.

Israeli Sephardic Chief Rabbi Rav Dovid Yosef sharply condemned a High Court decision issued on Shabbos night permitting a hearing regarding demonstrations at Habima Square in Tel Aviv, in light of Home Front Command guidelines on large gatherings.

In its ruling, the court approved a framework allowing up to 600 demonstrators at Habima Square, while limiting attendance at other locations across the country to a maximum of 150 participants.

“This is an unlawful act in a Jewish state,” Rav Yosef stated. “These judges sit on Shabbos, trample the law, and compel state representatives to respond on the holy day in complete contradiction to the law. They are acting recklessly and crudely trampling the traditions of Israel and our holy Torah.”

He noted that the religious tzibbur had the option to insist on holding the traditional Birkas Kohanim at the Kosel, but refrained due to the ongoing war. At the same time, he said, left-wing demonstrators turned to the court specifically in order to protest and be mechalel Shabbos.

Rav Yosef went on to say that confidence among the religious public in the judicial system has eroded, describing what he sees as a consistently one-sided and anti-religious posture.

“There is not a single religious Jew today who places trust in this brazen group of the Supreme Court. Through their actions, they have become enemies of Judaism,” he said.

“We will fight with all our strength for the identity of the State, and in the end, Judaism will be what prevails.”

New intelligence cited by The Telegraph indicates that, since the war began, four Chinese vessels have docked in Iran carrying materials used in the production of solid fuel for missile engines, raising concerns about Tehran’s potential to expand its ballistic arsenal.

The report states that the ships sailed from Gaolan port in Zhuhai, a major center known for housing some of China’s largest liquid chemical storage facilities.

According to expert assessments, the cargo may have included sufficient quantities of sodium perchlorate to support the manufacture of hundreds of ballistic missiles. At the same time, uncertainty remains over whether Iran is currently capable of producing such weapons after recent strikes by the United States and Israel damaged key facilities.

Against this backdrop, President Donald Trump warned Iran that it has 48 hours to reopen the Strait of Hormuz or face serious repercussions.

Previously, Trump had threatened to strike Iran’s critical infrastructure, including its power grid, oil installations, and desalination plants, cautioning that such an attack could effectively “return the country to the Stone Age.”

President Donald Trump tonight shared newly released video showing American airstrikes carried out in Tehran, highlighting the impact of the operation on Iran’s military leadership.

Posting the footage on Truth Social, Trump wrote, “Many of Iran’s Military Leaders, who have led them poorly and unwisely, are terminated, along with much else, with this massive strike in Tehran!”

Earlier in the day, Trump issued a stark warning to Iran, saying the country faces severe consequences within 48 hours if it fails to change course.

In a message posted on Truth Social, he wrote, “Remember when I gave Iran ten days to MAKE A DEAL or OPEN UP THE HORMUZ STRAIT. Time is running out – 48 hours before all Hell will reign down on them. Glory be to GOD!”

Since the conflict began, Iran has effectively blocked or heavily restricted access through the Strait of Hormuz. The regime has declared the passage “closed,” threatened commercial shipping, deployed fast attack boats, drones, and missiles, and reportedly placed naval mines in the area.

A far-left anti-war protest took place this evening in Habima Square in Israel, with police moving in to disperse participants after the crowd exceeded the permitted limits. Ten demonstrators were taken into custody.

At the scene, a police officer urged the crowd to leave, warning that the gathering posed a danger to public safety. He later announced that authorities would begin clearing the area, stating, “If necessary, we will use force.”

The protest came after a High Court ruling issued during Shabbos permitting a demonstration of up to 600 participants in the square. The court criticized what it described as inconsistent enforcement, noting that Home Front Command restrictions were being applied to protests while similar guidelines were not uniformly enforced at other events and locations. “This situation is difficult to reconcile,” the ruling stated, adding that officials were aware of other gatherings where regulations had not been enforced.

The decision drew sharp backlash across the political spectrum, particularly because it was issued on Shabbos, raising strong concerns of Chillul Shabbos. The Shas party denounced the move as “a trampling of the sanctity of Shabbat” and announced plans to file a formal complaint against the judges after Yom Tov.

National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir also sharply criticized the ruling, warning that it places the public at risk. “Supreme Court judges making such decisions – whose side are you on?” he said, adding that demanding a response within an hour on Shabbos is unreasonable and undermines security.

Deputy Communications Minister Yisrael Eichler condemned the ruling in strong terms, calling it “a declaration of war against the sanctity of Shabbat,” and accusing the justices of being out of touch and intent on eroding Jewish tradition.

UTJ chairman MK Moshe Gafni likewise spoke out against the decision, describing it as reckless and insensitive. He said issuing such a ruling on Shabbos was done “to prove their superiority over the public in Israel.”

An IDF soldier was killed during combat operations in southern Lebanon, the military announced Saturday night, identifying the incident as a friendly fire tragedy that occurred amid an active mission.

Sergeant First Class Guy Ludar, 21, from Yuvalim, served in the elite Maglan Unit of the Commando Brigade and was killed on Friday while engaged in operational activity in southern Lebanon.

During the same incident in which Sergeant First Class Guy Ludar lost his life, another soldier sustained severe injuries.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a statement following the news, saying: “Our hearts are with the family of Maglan unit fighter, Sgt. First Class Guy Ludar, of blessed memory, who fell in the unfortunate incident in southern Lebanon.”

“My wife and I send our deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of Guy, of blessed memory, who fought with courage and bravery to protect our communities and our citizens. May his memory be blessed.”

According to reports, Ludar was killed as a result of friendly fire during an operation in the village of Shebaa in southern Lebanon, where forces were carrying out an arrest mission. Another soldier was seriously wounded in the same event.

Preliminary findings indicate that a Maglan special forces team operating late Friday in Shebaa had surrounded a building as part of an effort to detain an individual suspected of collaborating with Hezbollah when the incident occurred.

At one point during the operation, a soldier spotted figures he believed to be “suspects” attempting to flee the area and opened fire.

It was later discovered that those individuals were fellow members of the same unit. The IDF has classified the incident as friendly fire caused by a breakdown in coordination regarding the positioning of troops, resulting in one fatality and one serious injury.

The suspect believed to have aided Hezbollah was ultimately captured and brought into Israel for interrogation.