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The Pentagon is sending the USS Tripoli along with thousands of American service members to the Middle East as the United States intensifies its military posture against Iran following President Donald Trump’s pledge to unleash “unparalleled firepower” against the country’s leadership.

The amphibious assault ship is being moved as U.S. military officials acknowledge that Iran continues to exert influence over the strategically important Strait of Hormuz, a development that has contributed to rising global oil prices.

The Tripoli’s journey from East Asia to the region is expected to take roughly two weeks, a timeline that corresponds with Energy Secretary Chris Wright’s forecast that the crucial shipping lane could be reopened “by the end of the month”.

The decision to reposition the vessel, which resembles a small aircraft carrier and is designed to operate closer to coastal areas, was first reported by the Wall Street Journal.

Officials have not provided a clear picture of the full size of the deployment.

According to the Journal, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth approved the deployment of an “element of an amphibious ready group and attached Marine expeditionary unit, typically consisting of several warships and 5,000 Marines and sailors.”

Fox News chief national security correspondent Jennifer Griffin also confirmed the movement of forces but reported that roughly 2,500 Marines are included in the redeployment.

The USS Tripoli, which is based in Japan, was observed sailing south of Taiwan on Thursday without accompanying vessels, according to the U.S. Naval Institute. It remains uncertain whether it will later link up with the USS San Diego and USS New Orleans, amphibious transport dock ships that typically operate as part of the Tripoli Amphibious Ready Group.

Comparable naval movements took place ahead of the opening phase of the war with Iran on February 28.

In late January, the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group entered the Arabian Sea south of Iran, while the USS Gerald R. Ford departed from Crete for the eastern Mediterranean on February 26, just two days before the first wave of strikes.

Earlier operations conducted by the Trump administration relied heavily on surprise, including misleading signals about the timing of the attacks that preceded the president’s decision this past June to authorize strikes on three Iranian nuclear facilities.

Trump previously indicated that military buildups can signal coming action. After ordering the January 3 special forces operation in Caracas to capture socialist leader Nicolas Maduro, he later said the naval forces positioned offshore had been a sign of what was about to happen.

In addition to efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz — through which roughly 20 percent of the world’s oil supply travels — U.S. officials have also examined the possibility of seizing Iran’s Kharg Island, which serves as the loading point for approximately 90 percent of the country’s oil exports.

Trump said during an interview on Fox News Radio broadcast Friday that Kharg Island is not currently the main focus of American military plans, though he emphasized that his priorities could shift quickly.

“It’s not high on the list, but it’s one of so many different things, and I can change my mind in seconds,” Trump told host Brian Kileamde. “I can’t answer a question like that … You shouldn’t be even asking it.”

Despite the fighting, the Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday that the conflict has not significantly disrupted operations at Kharg Island, with Iran reportedly exporting even more fuel than before the war began.

The Pentagon declined to confirm the movement of the USS Tripoli, with one official telling The Post: “Due to operational security, we do not discuss future or hypothetical movements.”

At the same time, Army Secretary Dan Driscoll confirmed Friday that the U.S. Army has transferred 10,000 interceptor drones previously used against Russian forces in Ukraine to the Middle East to help counter Iranian drone attacks targeting American bases and civilian areas in Israel and Arab countries.

Speaking to Bloomberg News, Driscoll said the AI-powered Merops drones — produced by Project Eagle, a defense initiative supported by former Google CEO Eric Schmidt — were delivered to the region within five days after Operation Epic Fury began.

According to Bloomberg, each Merops drone costs between $14,000 and $15,000, making them less expensive than Iran’s Shahed drones, which cost at least $20,000 per unit.

“We’re actually on the better end of the cost curve there,” Driscoll told the outlet. “So each time Iran launches one that we are able to take down, they are losing a meaningful amount of money.”

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has offered to help the United States and its regional partners intercept Iranian drones, but Trump dismissed the proposal during his Fox News Radio interview.

“No, we don’t need their help on drone defense,” he said. “We know more about drones than anybody. We have the best drones in the world, actually.”

{Matzav.com}

NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced that more than 80 repair crews will be dispatched across all five boroughs early Saturday for a citywide “pothole repair blitz.” The move comes after the city logged over 11,000 hazardous pothole complaints through 311 so far this year an increase of more than 30% compared to the same period […]

France has drafted a proposal to end the war in Lebanon that would include Lebanon recognizing Israel as part of a broader peace framework, according to Axios. Israel and the United States are reviewing the plan, aiming to reach a political declaration within about a month. The proposal calls for Lebanon to recognize Israel and […]

On Friday, IDF Chief of Staff LTG Eyal Zamir visited a logistics center operated by the Technology and Logistics Directorate in central Israel, where he held a situational assessment on logistical support for Operation Roaring Lion. During the visit, Zamir highlighted cooperation with the U.S. Armed Forces, offered condolences for the lives lost, and said […]

An explosion outside a Jewish school in Amsterdam early Shabbos morning is under investigation after the blast damaged part of the building but caused no injuries, Dutch authorities said. Police said the explosion occurred before dawn in the Buitenveldert district in southern Amsterdam, a residential area with a large Jewish population. The school was empty […]

The office of Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu issued a statement today rejecting online speculation that the Israeli leader had been assassinated. The 76-year-old prime minister addressed the rumors after several commentators on social media, including Candace Owens, questioned his whereabouts following the circulation of a video clip from one of his speeches.

Earlier in the week, users on social media circulated screenshots taken from a video shared by the prime minister. Some claimed the footage showed Netanyahu with six fingers on one hand and suggested the clip may have been artificially generated or altered using artificial intelligence.

The discussion gained additional attention after conservative commentator Candace Owens posted messages online accusing officials in Washington of misleading the public about developments in Iran.

“Washington D.C is lying to the American people about what is going on in Iran,” she wrote on X, platform formerly known as Twitter. “It is not going well.”

Owens also questioned Netanyahu’s absence from public view. “Also where is Bibi Netanyahu?” Owens wrote, using the Israeli leader’s nickname. “Why is his office releasing and deleting fake AI videos from him and why is there mass panic at the White House?”

The Prime Minister’s Office rejected the claims outright, according to a report by the state-run Anadolu News Agency.

An Anadolu correspondent asked Israeli officials about the rumors circulating online suggesting that Netanyahu had been killed.

“These are fake news; the Prime Minister is fine,” the office replied.

Owens responded to the statement with another post on social media.

“I don’t know that Bibi is dead but it is very evident there is real panic at the White House and this war is not going as planned. And with the way Trump casually lied about bombing the school girls, it’s hard to trust anything coming from this admin.”

Meanwhile, The Times of Israel reported, citing an Israeli official, that Netanyahu recently contacted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in order to arrange a phone conversation. The purpose of the call has not been publicly disclosed.

According to a separate report by Ynet, the Israeli leader is interested in discussing possible cooperation with Ukraine in confronting Iranian drone threats, which Ukraine has faced for several years.

At the same time, Israel’s Defense Minister Yisroel Katz said today that the war with Iran had reached what he described as a critical stage, while praising recent American strikes on targets on Iran’s Kharg Island oil export facility.

“The global and regional struggle against Iran, led by US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, is escalating and entering the decisive phase that will continue as long as necessary,” Katz told military top brass in a televised statement.

{Matzav.com}

The American flag was raised Saturday over the U.S. Embassy in Venezuela for the first time since 2019, a move that highlighted the recent shift in relations between the two countries since then President Nicolás Maduro was captured by American troops in January. Though the flag is now waving, the building is undergoing renovations and […]

President Donald Trump on Saturday called on countries around the world to deploy warships to protect shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, warning that Iran’s escalating attacks on vessels could choke off one of the most critical energy corridors on the planet. In a series of blunt posts on Truth Social, Trump urged nations that […]

Thousands of people protested Saturday against wars in the Middle East and judicial reforms proposed by Italy’s conservative government — linking international tensions with a growing domestic political battle before a national referendum. The March 22–23 referendum on changes to the judicial system has become a major political test for Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s government, […]

Israeli police have arrested a 60-year-old Yerushalayim resident suspected of committing a series of serious offenses against minors in the chareidi neighborhood of Har Nof and nearby areas over the past year.

The suspect, identified as Yitzchok Avrohom Rus Ariel Asulin, was taken into custody following an investigation into allegations that he targeted children and teenagers between the ages of 10 and 16.

According to findings from the investigation, police believe the suspect followed a repeated pattern of behavior. Investigators say Asulin allegedly approached minors in his places of employment as well as in public spaces within the neighborhood. After initiating contact and gaining their trust, he is suspected of carrying out serious acts against them.

Asulin was arrested on March 4, and since then the court has approved police requests to extend his detention while investigators continue carrying out numerous investigative actions related to the case.

Police said they decided to publicize the suspect’s photograph and personal details because of concerns that additional victims may exist.

“Due to the real concern that there are additional victims who were harmed by the suspect’s pattern of behavior, it was decided to publish his photograph and personal details to the public,” police said.

Authorities urged anyone who may have been harmed by Asulin, or anyone who has information that could assist the investigation, to come forward.

Police said that anyone who may have been a victim or who possesses relevant information should report to the nearest police station or contact the emergency hotline by dialing 100.

{Matzav.com}

Antisemitic political commentator Tucker Carlson claims the CIA is spying on him and is preparing a criminal referral to the Department of Justice over alleged violations of the Foreign Agent Registration Act (FARA). In a video statement released Saturday, Carlson alleged that U.S. intelligence officials accessed his text messages and are considering accusing him of […]

The U.S. State Department has announced that it is offering a reward of up to $10 million for information that leads to the identification or capture of senior figures in Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

The offer was publicized by the Rewards for Justice program, which posted the announcement on social media. The program said the IRGC is responsible for planning, coordinating, and carrying out acts of terrorism in various parts of the world.

“Got information on these Iranian terrorist leaders?” Rewards for Justice said. “Send us a tip.”

Officials asked anyone with knowledge about specific IRGC figures or related branches of the organization to submit tips through a Tor-based reporting system or via Signal.

Among the individuals listed are Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei; Ali Asghar Hejazi, deputy chief of staff in the supreme leader’s office; Maj. Gen. Yahya Rahim Safavi, military adviser in the same office; Ali Larijani, adviser to the supreme leader’s office and secretary of the Supreme National Security Council; Brig. Gen. Eskandar Momeni, Iran’s interior minister; and Esmail Khatib, minister of intelligence and security.

The State Department also said it is seeking information about additional figures, including the secretary of the defense council, a senior adviser to the supreme leader, the head of the military office, and the commander of the Revolutionary Guard.

“Your information could make you eligible for relocation and a reward,” Rewards for Justice Link.

The announcement added that tips can also be submitted through Signal at the number 202-702-7843.

{Matzav.com}

Israel’s Knesset is preparing for a full week of parliamentary activity, with an intensive schedule that includes approximately 15 meetings across four different committees to advance a series of bills dealing with the judicial system and the communications sector.

The legislative agenda includes several key proposals, among them a bill to split the position of the attorney general and create a separate role of general prosecutor, legislation to change the authority overseeing the Police Internal Investigations Department, and a number of initiatives aimed at reforming the broadcasting market and regulating media outlets.

Despite the ongoing war and the tense security environment, the Knesset continues to carry out routine legislative work. Alongside discussions addressing the security situation and government assistance for citizens and businesses affected by the conflict, committees and the Knesset plenum are also expected to move forward with structural legislation related to the legal system and the communications industry.

At the instruction of Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana, additional rooms within the Knesset building have recently been prepared as protected spaces. The move is intended to allow committee meetings to continue even under security threats and to ensure that the Knesset’s work can proceed despite the current emergency conditions.

Opposition leader Yair Lapid criticized the decision to continue legislative activity on these issues during wartime.

“Amir Ohana and all the extremists don’t care that Israel is at war. He doesn’t care about the unity of Israel. The Knesset under his leadership will continue to discuss the most divisive and extreme laws, even under fire. While the entire country is standing together, the coalition is advancing its extremist agenda and stealing money for political purposes. They have learned nothing from the past years, and they continue to weaken Israeli society every single day. This is the most shameless and dangerous government in the history of the State of Israel.”

{Matzav.com}

Israel’s military announced that it has eliminated two senior Iranian intelligence officials in a targeted strike in Tehran — just days after they were appointed to replace their predecessor who was killed earlier in the war. According to the Israel Defense Forces, the Israeli Air Force carried out the strike using precise intelligence provided by […]

A young girl born without a complete inner-ear system cannot hear at all. HaGaon HaRav Yitzchak Ezrachi, Rosh Yeshiva of the Mir, knows the family personally. She has a chance to restore her hearing through a specialized surgery in the United States, costing approximately $80,000. Her father learns and teaches in the Mir Yeshiva, and […]

Over the past week, forces from the 7th Brigade Combat Team under the 36th Division conducted targeted raids in southern Lebanon to dismantle Hezbollah terrorist infrastructure, killing dozens of terrorists and destroying sites, including a weapons depot, a command center, and observation posts belonging to Hezbollah.

Hamas called on Iran Saturday to avoid launching attacks against neighboring countries after the Islamic Republic fired missiles across the region in response to the joint US-Israeli bombing campaign. Some of the strikes targeted countries such as Qatar and Turkey, both of which are also major state backers of the Palestinian terror group.

The statement from Hamas urged an end to what it described as “American-Zionist aggression” against Iran. The announcement came as Palestinian media outlets reported that at least three people in Gaza were killed by Israeli gunfire on Saturday. The Israel Defense Forces said it had killed three Palestinian gunmen since Friday but did not immediately address the specific reports, and the military frequently says such incidents occur after Hamas violates ceasefire arrangements.

In its first public appeal of this kind directed at Tehran, Hamas said that, “while affirming the right of the Islamic Republic of Iran to respond to this aggression by all available means in accordance with international norms and laws, the movement calls on the brothers in Iran to avoid targeting neighboring countries.”

A Hamas representative told AFP that the organization has been in communication with Iranian officials regarding the matter.

“The Israeli occupation seeks to sow discord between Iran and its Arab and Islamic neighbors,” the source said, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to brief the media.

“Hamas’s leadership has also reached out to officials in several countries, including Qatar, Turkey, and Iraq, urging them to work toward halting the American and Zionist aggression against the Islamic Republic of Iran,” he added.

Iran has launched hundreds of missiles and drones toward more than a dozen countries across the Middle East, including Israel, since Israel and the United States began a bombing campaign against the Islamic Republic on February 28. The strikes were intended to weaken the regime and dismantle its nuclear and ballistic missile capabilities.

Qatar said on Saturday that it intercepted two incoming missiles after explosions were heard in the capital, Doha, prompting authorities to evacuate certain areas. Meanwhile, Turkey reported on Friday that a ballistic missile fired from Iran was intercepted in Turkish airspace by NATO forces.

{Matzav.com}

Spring breakers and anyone flying may see longer-than-usual wait times and staffing shortages as TSA workers are going without pay amid the partial government shutdown.

HISTORIC RETURN: The American flag was raised at the U.S. Embassy in Caracas on Saturday for the first time since 2019, “exactly seven years after it was lowered,” the U.S. Embassy team announced. “A new era for U.S.-Venezuela relations has begun.”

A mail truck pushes through flooded roads in Oahu as a powerful kona storm drenches Hawaii, bringing torrential rain, flash flooding and wind gusts over 100 mph across the islands.