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Iran’s powerful Revolutionary Guard issued a stark warning to the United States on Friday, declaring it is fully prepared for confrontation as American naval forces move toward the Middle East.

The statement follows weeks of escalating pressure from President Donald Trump amid widespread anti-regime demonstrations inside Iran and a harsh government crackdown in which the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has played a central role.

“The Islamic Revolutionary Guard and dear Iran stand more ready than ever, finger on the trigger, to execute the orders and directives of the Commander-in-Chief,” IRGC Gen. Mohammad Pakpour said, according to The Associated Press, which cited Nournews, an outlet closely aligned with Iran’s Supreme National Security Council.

Pakpour also cautioned Washington and Jerusalem “to avoid any miscalculation,” the AP reported, echoing a warning issued last week by an Iranian ambassador who accused the U.S. and Israel of fueling “political destabilization, internal unrest and chaos.”

President Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have both voiced support for Iranian protesters. Netanyahu said Israel was “closely monitoring” developments and pledged that once Iran is “liberated from the yoke of tyranny,” Israel would be ready to help usher in peace.

Earlier this week, Iranian officials directly threatened Trump, warning him not to take action against Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

“Trump knows that if any hand of aggression is extended toward our leader, we not only cut that hand, but also we will set fire to their world,” said Gen. Abolfazl Shekarchi, a spokesman for Iran’s armed forces, according to the AP.

On Thursday, Trump confirmed that U.S. naval forces were being repositioned toward Iran, telling reporters aboard Air Force One that the move was precautionary.

“We have a massive fleet heading in that direction, and maybe we won’t have to use it,” Trump said, according to the AP.

A U.S. Navy official later told the AP that the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, along with accompanying warships, was operating in the Indian Ocean.

The unrest in Iran began on Dec. 28, when large crowds took to the streets to protest worsening economic conditions and the country’s growing international isolation. Since then, despite a government-imposed internet blackout, reports of widespread violence against demonstrators have continued to surface.

At the outset of the protests, Trump warned Tehran that the United States was “locked and loaded” and prepared to respond if the regime used force against civilians.

In a Truth Social post on Jan. 16, Trump claimed the Iranian government had canceled more than 800 scheduled executions.

Iran’s chief prosecutor, Mohammad Movahedi, rejected that claim on Friday, saying, “This claim is completely false; no such number exists, nor has the judiciary made any such decision,” according to the AP.

The U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency reported Friday that confirmed deaths have climbed to 5,137, with 7,402 people seriously wounded. The group said arrests have surged to nearly 28,000.

Iranian authorities offered their first official casualty figures on Wednesday, stating that 3,117 people were killed. Of those, officials said 2,427 were civilians and security personnel, while the remainder were described as “terrorists,” the AP reported.

Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara said during a press conference that the man fatally shot by a federal agent was legally permitted to carry a firearm, offering a sharply different characterization from that later provided by federal authorities.

Video of O’Hara’s remarks, aired by C-SPAN and later shared online by Midas Touch’s digital editor, shows the police chief explaining that the man who was killed had minimal prior contact with law enforcement.

In the footage, O’Hara states that the deceased individual’s “only interaction with law enforcement was for traffic tickets.”

He went on to add, “We believe he is a lawful gun owner with a permit to carry.”

In contrast, Breitbart News reported that the Department of Homeland Security issued a statement asserting that the armed man who was shot and killed in Minneapolis posed a grave threat to officers.

According to DHS, the individual “wanted to…massacre law enforcement.”

The department said the man “approached U.S. Border Patrol Officers with a 9 mm semi-automatic handgun.”

DHS further detailed the encounter in its statement, saying: “The officers attempted to disarm the suspect but the armed suspect violently resisted. More details on the armed struggle are forthcoming. Fearing for his life and the lives and safety of fellow officers, an agent fired defensive shots. Medics on scene immediately delivered medical aid to the subject but [he] was pronounced dead at the scene.”

O’Hara: What I can tell you, is we have identified this person. 37-year-old white male, resident of the city. The only interaction that we are aware of with law enforcement has been for traffic tickets. We believe he is a lawful gun owner with a permit to carry. pic.twitter.com/FSdNZXUjPs

— Acyn (@Acyn) January 24, 2026

Trump threatens to impose 100% tariff if Canada makes deal with China * President Donald Trump warned Canada that the U.S. would impose 100% tariff if Prime Minister Mark Carney made a trade deal with China. * Trump suggested that China would try to use Canada to try to avoid paying U.S. tariffs. * “If Governor […]

At least 67 people have died in Pakistan’s Gul Plaza fire, with witness accounts and documents suggesting ignored safety warnings and a delayed fire brigade response

German authorities arrested a 36-year-old Lebanese citizen at Berlin airport on suspicion of acting on behalf of Hamas and being involved in acquiring ammunition intended for attacks targeting Israeli/Jewish targets across Europe.

CHIEF O’HARA: “We have identified this person, a 37-year-old, white male, resident of the city. The only interaction that we are aware of with law enforcement has been for traffic tickets & we believe he is a lawfully gun owner with a permit to carry”

MAYOR FREY: “I just saw a video of more than six masked agents pummeling one of our constituents & shooting him to death. How many more residents, how many more Americans need to die or get badly hurt for this operation to end?”

Hennepin County, MN Sheriff requests assistance from the Minnesota National Guard

Gov. Walz calls on Trump to halt ICE operations in Minnesota after another fatal shooting * “Minnesota has had it. This is sickening. The President must end this operation. Pull the thousands of violent, untrained officers out of Minnesota. Now,” Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz wrote in a post on X. * Minneapolis Police Chief Brian […]

Video appears to show a shooting involving federal officers in Minneapolis. This video may include graphic content. At this point, it is not yet clear exactly what occurred in the video or what happened before the footage begins. Ali Velshi reports.

WATCH:

NEW: NYC Mayor Mamdani issues statement following the fatal shooting in Minneapolis “Abolish ICE.”

Israeli intelligence helped the U.S. obtain unequivocal evidence that Iran carried out mass executions of protesters, contradicting assurances given to President Trump. * Trump had delayed a strike on Iran after receiving commitments that more than 800 protest-related detainees would not be executed, the report said. * Additional intelligence showed protesters were killed by live […]

The U.S. Department of War has released its 2026 National Defense Strategy, which says Iran, despite major setbacks in recent months, including Operation Midnight Hammer, remains determined to rebuild its conventional forces and may continue pursuing nuclear weapons while refusing serious negotiations with the United States. The strategy reiterates President Trump’s position that Iran will […]

TRUMP: If Governor Carney thinks he is going to make Canada a “Drop Off Port” for China to send goods and products into the United States, he is sorely mistaken. China will eat Canada alive, completely devour it, including the destruction of their businesses, social fabric, and general way of life. If Canada makes a […]

U.S. President Donald Trump heaped praise Saturday on British soldiers who fought in Afghanistan, in a post on social media that represented a partial reversal of comments he made this week that drew a cascade of criticism in the U.K., particularly from families of those killed and seriously injured in the conflict. In the wake […]

It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of the Kossoner Rebbe of Boro Park, who was niftar on Friday and buried later that day at the Har Shalom cemetery in Monsey.

Rav Rothenberg led his kehillah from his beis medrash on Ninth Avenue in Boro Park, where he guided his chassidim in the path of his forebears with devotion and humility.

The Rebbe was born an only son to his father, Rav Asher Yeshaya Rothenberg of Kosson, who lived on Rechov Chofetz Chaim in Bnei Brak and was niftar approximately fifteen years ago. His father was the son of Rav Moshe Shmuel of Kosson, grandson of the Shmuah Tovah of Kosson and great-grandson of Rav Yosef of Kosson, the author of Bnei Shloshim.

He was a descendant of a distinguished lineage of tzaddikim from the Ziditchov, Komarna, and Tosh dynasties. Through marriage, he was a son-in-law of Rav Menachem Mendel Rubin, the Admor of Kerestir, and a grandson of Rav Yeshayale of Kerestir.

Known for his rare humility, warmth, and refinement, the Rebbe served the Ribono Shel Olam with deep sincerity and toiled in Torah day and night. He taught Torah to many talmidim and for years served as a melamed at the Belzer Talmud Torah in Boro Park. With a warm smile and genuine affection, he uplifted his talmidim and instilled within them a sense of kedushah.

He was deeply connected with the Satmar Rebbe, the Vayoel Moshe, and remained closely attached to his derech throughout his life.

At the corner of 50th Street and Ninth Avenue in Boro Park, Rav Rothenberg led his beis medrash, becoming known in particular for his avodah of tefillah, which left a lasting impression on his chassidim and admirers.

In recent years, the Rebbe endured significant yissurim. On Erev Shabbos, he was niftar.

Yehi zichro boruch.

{Matzav.com}

California Gov. Gavin Newsom today blamed President Trump for the deadly shooting of an armed anti-ICE protester in Minneapolis, accusing the president of deliberately creating conditions to justify invoking the Insurrection Act.

Newsom asserted that Trump was seeking to manufacture chaos as a pretext for deploying extraordinary federal powers.

“Yesterday, hundreds of thousands filled the streets of Minnesota – marching in subzero temperatures in a PEACEFUL protest. Not the excuse to invoke the Insurrection Act the President wanted,” he wrote on X on today.

“So today, Trump made a shooting happen,” Newsom wrote.

“The President must end his violent occupation of Minnesota. NOW.”

The shooting occurred during what federal officials described as a “targeted operation” shortly after 9 a.m. local time, as Customs and Border Patrol agents attempted to arrest an accused criminal migrant. Authorities said Alex Jeffrey Pretti approached the agents while armed and attempted to interfere with the arrest.

Pretti, 37, who local officials said was a lawful gun owner, was shot following a physical confrontation with the agents and was pronounced dead at the scene.

The incident marked the second fatal shooting of a protester in Minnesota this month tied to encounters with immigration authorities, following the Jan. 7 death of Renee Nichole Good.

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez also condemned federal authorities after the shooting and urged lawmakers to cut off funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

“We have a responsibility to protect Americans from tyranny,” Ocasio-Cortez wrote on X.

“DHS just shot a man in broad daylight two weeks after they shot a mother in the face without consequence.”

“They need our votes to continue. We cannot give it to them. Every Senator should vote NO,” AOC blasted.

{Matzav.com}

President Trump accused Minnesota’s top political leaders of fueling unrest after a 37-year-old man was shot and killed today when he allegedly brandished a firearm near federal agents attempting to arrest a migrant.

In a Truth Social post, the president shared an image of the weapon authorities said belonged to the man, who was pronounced dead at the scene.

“This is the gunman’s gun, loaded (with two additional full magazines!), and ready to go – What is that all about?” Trump wrote.

“Where are the local Police? Why weren’t they allowed to protect ICE Officers?”

Trump directed sharp criticism at Gov. Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, both of whom have publicly opposed the presence of federal immigration agents in the city.

“The Mayor and the Governor are inciting Insurrection, with their pompous, dangerous, and arrogant rhetoric!” the president wrote.

“Instead, these sanctimonious political fools should be looking for the Billions of Dollars that has been stolen from the people of Minnesota, and the United States of America. LET OUR ICE PATRIOTS DO THEIR JOB!”

The president argued that conditions would be significantly worse if Immigration and Customs Enforcement had not carried out extensive enforcement actions.

“12,000 Illegal Alien Criminals, many of them violent, have been arrested and taken out of Minnesota. If they were still there, you would see something far worse than you are witnessing today!” he wrote.

Trump said the federal presence in Minnesota is tied to an ongoing welfare fraud investigation in the state.

“Why does Ilhan Omar have $34 Million Dollars in her account?” he wrote, referring to the Minnesota congresswoman.

“And where are the Tens of Billions of Dollars that have been stolen from the once Great State of Minnesota? We are there because of massive Monetary Fraud, with Billions of Dollars missing, and Illegal Criminals that were allowed to infiltrate the State through the Democrats’ Open Border Policy.”

“We want the money back, and we want it back, NOW,” Trump continued. “Those Fraudsters who stole the money are going to jail, where they belong! This is no different than a really big Bank Robbery. Much of what you’re witnessing is a COVER UP for this Theft and Fraud.”

In the aftermath of the shooting, Walz authorized the deployment of the Minnesota National Guard following the death of Alex Jeffrey Pretti, who authorities said was killed after attempting to interfere with the arrest of a criminal migrant.

{Matzav.com}

Several major international airlines abruptly suspended weekend flights to Israel and other Middle Eastern destinations, citing rising regional tensions, according to reports Friday night.

Channel 12 News reported that Dutch carrier KLM and Air France halted flights to Israel, the United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia, with both airlines attributing the move to escalating instability in the region.

Additional carriers soon followed. i24NEWS reported that Lufthansa and Swiss canceled their Saturday flights to the Middle East, while United Airways and Air Canada also scrapped scheduled flights to Israel.

The sudden wave of cancellations comes amid growing speculation that President Trump may authorize military action against Iran following a deadly crackdown by the regime on anti-government protesters.

KLM had only resumed service to Israel at the end of September, part of a broader return by foreign airlines after earlier hostilities between Iran and Israel subsided.

On Thursday, Trump delivered another forceful message to Tehran while speaking with reporters aboard Air Force One during his return flight from Davos to Washington, pointing to a major U.S. military buildup in the region.

“We have a lot of ships going in that direction, just in case. We have a big flotilla going in that direction. And we’ll see what happens,” Trump said. “We have a big force going toward Iran. I’d rather not see anything happen, but we’re watching them very closely.”

Trump also reiterated his claim that he intervened last week to stop mass executions planned by Iranian authorities.

“I stopped 837 hangings [last] Thursday. They would have been dead. Every one of them would have been hung. This is like from a thousand years ago,” he said.

“I said ‘if you hang those people, you’re going to be hit harder than you’ve ever been hit. It’ll make what we did to your Iran nuclear look like peanuts.’ And an hour before this horrible thing was going to take place, they canceled it. And they actually said they canceled it. They didn’t postpone it. They canceled it. So that was a good sign.”

Despite pointing to that outcome, Trump stressed that the United States continues to prepare militarily.

“But we have an armada, we have a massive fleet heading in that direction. And maybe we won’t have to use it. We’ll see.”

Speaking earlier this week in an interview with CNBC, Trump addressed the deteriorating situation in Iran and said Washington remains on alert.

“We hope there’s not going to be further action. They were shooting people indiscriminately on the streets and they were going to hang 837, mostly young people,” he said, referring to his warning that the U.S. would respond forcefully if protesters were harmed.

{Matzav.com}