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President Donald Trump said Wednesday that the war with Iran may conclude in the near future, saying a sustained wave of U.S. and Israeli strikes has left the Iranian military with few remaining targets.

In a short phone interview with Axios, Trump said the campaign is approaching its final stages and suggested that the decision on when to bring the war to a close largely rests with him.

“Little this and that. … Any time I want it to end, it will end,” Trump said.

Trump also said the joint U.S.–Israeli offensive has moved more quickly than military planners initially anticipated.

“The war is going great. We are way ahead of the timetable. We have done more damage than we thought possible, even in the original six-week period,” Trump said.

The conflict has now entered its eleventh day and has included retaliatory attacks by Iran, while the Trump administration has offered varying projections about how long the campaign could continue and what its ultimate goals are.

At the outset, Trump indicated the war might last four to five weeks. On Monday, he said the operation was “pretty much” finished and could end “soon.” However, the following day he warned of a possible escalation after reports emerged that Iran had begun deploying naval mines in the Strait of Hormuz.

U.S. officials said intelligence obtained Tuesday indicated that Iran had started placing mines in the key waterway, which serves as one of the most critical routes for global oil shipments. Officials added that the number of mines detected so far appears to be limited.

Trump told Axios that U.S. forces struck 16 Iranian vessels used for laying mines on Tuesday, disrupting Tehran’s efforts to threaten shipping through the strait.

Despite Trump’s suggestion that the fighting may soon wind down, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz signaled that Israel is prepared to continue the operation for as long as necessary.

“The war will continue without any time limit, for as long as necessary, until we achieve all the objectives and decisively win the campaign,” Katz said.

War Secretary Pete Hegseth also indicated that the campaign will persist until its strategic goals are fully accomplished.

“The U.S. military will not relent until the enemy is totally and decisively defeated,” Hegseth said Tuesday, adding that operations would proceed “on our timeline and at our choosing.”

According to U.S. officials, the primary objectives of the campaign include dismantling Iran’s naval and missile capabilities and destroying its drone and missile production infrastructure. Officials have largely dismissed the idea that the operation is aimed at toppling Iran’s government or eliminating the country’s nuclear material stockpiles.

In a video statement released Wednesday, U.S. Central Command commander Adm. Brad Cooper said American forces have hit more than 5,500 targets across Iran since the war began, including over 60 ships.

“U.S. combat power is building. Iranian combat power is declining,” Cooper said. “And we remain centered on very clear military objectives in eliminating Iran’s ability to project power against Americans and against its neighbors.”

Cooper said the pace of operations has been intense, describing multiple waves of strikes carried out on Tuesday.

“There were strike waves nearly every hour from different locations and directions going into Iran,” Cooper said, adding that four ships were “taken out.”

He also said Iran’s ability to launch missiles and drones has significantly declined since the start of the campaign.

“Since the first 24 hours of this campaign, Iranian ballistic missile and drone attacks have dropped drastically,” Cooper said, adding that Iran has been launching attacks on civilians in Gulf countries from “highly populated” Iranian cities.

“U.S. forces continue delivering devastating combat power against the Iranian regime,” Cooper said. “Just last night, our bomber force hit a large ballistic missile manufacturing facility.”

{Matzav.com}

Nearly two weeks after the launch of Operation Roaring Lion, Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu says Israel is still far from concluding the military campaign and continues to strike targets according to its operational plans.

As the operation approaches the end of its second week, uncertainty remains about when the fighting will end. Netanyahu has declined to provide a specific date for the conclusion of the war, indicating that Israel’s objectives have not yet been fully achieved.

Over the past day, the prime minister held conversations with several ministers and political figures about the possible timeline for ending the war. During those discussions, Netanyahu indicated that the conflict could continue for several more weeks.

Addressing the progress of the operation, Netanyahu stressed that Israel still has many targets left to attack and that the military campaign is proceeding according to plan.

“We are not close to the end,” he was quoted as saying by Channel 12 News. “We still have many targets, but the pace is excellent and we are ahead of schedule. I can’t give you a time estimate. Maybe a week, maybe a week and a half, maybe a few weeks. It depends on many variables. We are continuing according to the plan.”

In recent days, Israeli assessments reported in the media have suggested that the war is expected to continue at least until after Pesach.

{Matzav.com}

A widely discussed educational question during the ongoing war with Iran—how to help children cope with the fear of air-raid sirens—prompted a sharp and surprising response from the noted posek and member of the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah, Rav Yitzchok Zilberstein. In remarks resurfaced from a shiur delivered during the 2014 Gaza conflict, the rov strongly criticized the idea of giving children candy during sirens to make the experience less frightening, calling the approach “עצת גויים,” foreign counsel inconsistent with a Torah perspective.

The video, recently released by the editors of the sefer Divrei Chemed, shows Rav Zilberstein—rov of the Ramat Elchanan neighborhood of Bnei Brak—discussing a letter he had received from concerned parents. The parents had written that an emotional therapy expert suggested turning the frightening moments of sirens into a “positive experience” for children.

According to the therapist’s advice, parents were encouraged to prepare candies or small prizes and distribute them whenever a siren sounded while families were sheltering in protected rooms. The intention, the parents wrote, was to transform the stressful moments into something pleasant and even enjoyable.

The parents reported that the idea appeared to work. Their children were no longer frightened by the alarms, and soon other children in the building began joining them in the shelter to receive treats as well. Eventually, they wrote, the situation evolved to the point that children were eagerly awaiting the next siren in order to receive another sweet.

The parents then posed a halachic question: since the candies helped calm the children during a time of danger, could the cost of the treats be paid using maaser funds, perhaps considering the expense a form of mitzvah spending?

Rav Zilberstein’s response was emphatic and unexpected.

“This expense is not considered a mitzvah expense, nor even a discretionary expense,” he said. “Rather, it is an ‘expense of a sin,’ because the entire advice of that ‘expert’ is nothing more than עצת גויים—to turn a moment of distress and outcry into a ‘pleasant experience.’”

Instead, the rov said that the proper Jewish response is to guide children toward tefillah and emunah during moments of danger.

“A Jewish approach,” he explained, “is to calm the children by reciting chapters of Tehillim together in unison. As is known, when a person faces danger he is obligated by the Torah to pray to Hashem that He save him from the distress.”

To create an atmosphere of reassurance and faith, he suggested singing songs that strengthen belief and trust in Hashem, including Ani Maamin b’emunah sheleimah b’vias haMashiach, Vehi She’amdah la’avoseinu velanu, and B’tzeis Yisroel miMitzrayim.

Rav Zilberstein continued that children should be gently taught the spiritual purpose behind such frightening moments.

“Instead of the foreign educational approach of distributing sweets,” he said, “one should instill in children—calmly and pleasantly—that the sirens are meant to straighten the crookedness in our hearts, for ‘HaElokim asah sheyiru milfanav.’”

He cited the Rambam’s ruling at the beginning of Hilchos Taaniyos that when calamity strikes the community, there is a Torah obligation to cry out to Hashem. Such prayer, the Rambam explains, is part of the process of teshuvah, helping people recognize that hardships come as a result of their actions and prompting them to improve.

Only after the danger has passed, Rav Zilberstein said—when the missile has been intercepted or has fallen harmlessly in an open area—should sweets be distributed.

At that point, he suggested, those present should first recite Mizmor L’Sodah (Tehillim 100) to thank Hashem for the miracle. Then giving treats to the children could become part of a celebratory moment, even considered a seudah shel mitzvah, since there is a mitzvah to thank and praise Hashem after experiencing a miracle.

During the shiur, Rav Zilberstein also shared a powerful personal story from his childhood in Yerushalayim during the War of Independence in 1948. He recalled how people crowded into bomb shelters during air raids, where tensions sometimes ran high. In one shelter, he recounted, a woman would regularly embarrass others publicly, yet many of those present remained silent and overlooked the insults. Rav Zilberstein described how the merit of being maavir al midosav—overlooking personal offense—can itself serve as a powerful protection in times of danger.

The remarks, though delivered more than a decade ago, have resurfaced amid the current security situation and renewed debate over how best to help children cope with the anxiety of wartime sirens while remaining rooted in Torah values and perspective.

{Matzav.com}

A tragedy has struck the Torah community in Bnei Brak with the passing of three-and-a-half-year-old Aryeh Lefkowitz a”h, a great-grandson of the rosh yeshiva Rav Michel Yehuda Lefkowitz zt”l. The young child died after battling a serious illness.

Aryeh passed away at Sheba Medical Center at Tel Hashomer after suffering from the illness that had afflicted him in recent months.

During that time, many in the community davened fervently for the recovery of the child, Aryeh ben Ayla.

The levayah was held tonight at Yarkon Cemetery, at the Petach Tikvah gate, where he was buried.

Aryeh was a son of Rav Yaakov Yisroel Lefkowitz, a respected yungerman at the Ponovezh Kollel. Rav yaakov Yisroel is a son of Rav Avrohom Yitzchok Lefkowitz, one of the roshei yeshiva of Yeshivas Beis Medrash Elyon, and a grandson of Rav Michel Yehuda.

His mother, Mrs. Ayala Lefkowitz, is a daughter of Rav Avrohom Yeshaya Mann, son of Rav Mordechai Mann zt”l, rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Beis Hillel and son-in-law of the mashgiach, Rav Chaim Friedlander zt”l.

Baruch Dayan HaEmes.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump sharply criticized Israeli President Isaac Herzog on Wednesday, accusing him of mishandling Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu’s request for a presidential pardon related to the ongoing corruption trial against him.

During a phone conversation with Channel 12 reporter Barak Ravid, Trump raised the issue of the pardon on his own initiative and attacked Herzog for insisting that he must first receive a recommendation from Israel’s Justice Ministry before deciding on the matter.

“He doesn’t need any legal opinions,” Trump said. “He is full of [garbage]. He is a weak and pathetic guy. I want Bibi [Netanyahu] to be focused on the war — not on [garbage].”

Trump has repeatedly expressed anger at Herzog over the president’s refusal so far to issue a pardon to Netanyahu while the legal proceedings against him continue. Just last week, Trump described Herzog as a “disgrace” for not granting the pardon.

The American president has also raised the issue several times in recent months. In comments made last month, Trump said Herzog “should be ashamed of himself” for declining to pardon Netanyahu, and during an address to the Knesset in October he publicly pressed Herzog on the same matter.

Trump has repeatedly asserted that Herzog previously assured him that he would grant Netanyahu a pardon. Officials in the Israeli president’s office have rejected that claim.

Responding to Trump’s criticism last week, Herzog’s office said the president “greatly respects and appreciates” Trump, but emphasized that the decision regarding the pardon request would be made “without any influence from external or internal pressures of any kind.”

Herzog has not yet ruled on the pardon application submitted by Netanyahu’s legal team in November.

Hebrew-language media outlets reported Wednesday that the Justice Ministry’s pardons department has concluded that the request does not satisfy the necessary legal criteria. Under those circumstances, Herzog is widely viewed as unlikely to approve a pardon.

Earlier Wednesday, the Justice Ministry confirmed that the pardons department had finalized its legal opinion on Netanyahu’s request and transferred the document to Heritage Minister Amichay Eliyahu. Justice Minister Yariv Levin recused himself from involvement due to a potential conflict of interest.

According to a report by the Ynet news site, the pardons department concluded that granting a pardon would be difficult because Netanyahu’s trial is still underway, he has not been convicted, and his request did not include an admission of guilt or an expression of remorse.

{Matzav.com}

Iran carried out additional strikes Tuesday against several Gulf Arab states while its Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps warned that no oil would be allowed to leave the Persian Gulf during the ongoing U.S.–Israeli bombing campaign targeting the Islamic Republic.

Bahraini officials said the island nation, which hosts the U.S. Navy’s Fifth Fleet, was struck by three missiles and a drone. One of the strikes hit a residential building in the capital, Manama, killing a 29-year-old woman and injuring eight others.

Saudi Arabia reported that its air defenses intercepted and destroyed two drones over the kingdom’s oil-producing eastern region. Kuwait’s National Guard also said it shot down six drones that entered its airspace.

In the United Arab Emirates, the defense ministry said nine Iranian drones reached their targets on Tuesday while air defense systems intercepted another 26 drones and eight missiles. Authorities said there were no immediate reports of casualties.

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center also reported a suspected incident involving a commercial vessel in the Persian Gulf near Abu Dhabi. According to the report, the captain of a ship observed “a splash and heard a loud bang in proximity of a bulk carrier.”

If confirmed, the incident would indicate that Iranian attacks during the war have expanded further into shipping lanes in the Gulf.

Since the U.S.–Israeli bombing campaign began on February 28, Iranian strikes on the UAE have killed six people and wounded 122 others, according to figures released by the country’s defense ministry.

Officials in the Emirates said firefighters were battling a blaze Tuesday in the industrial city of Ruwais after an Iranian drone struck the area. Ruwais hosts major petrochemical facilities. Authorities said no injuries were reported.

A source familiar with the situation told Reuters that the fire erupted within the Ruwais complex operated by Abu Dhabi’s state oil company ADNOC. As a precaution, the refinery at the site was shut down, representing the latest disruption to energy infrastructure during the conflict.

The source added that other operations within the industrial complex continued functioning normally.

Ruwais is home to major Abu Dhabi National Oil Company facilities capable of processing up to 922,000 barrels of oil per day and serves as the center of the emirate’s downstream oil industry, including large chemical, fertilizer, and industrial gas operations.

Energy industry monitoring firm IIR Energy reported that ADNOC shut down the only crude distillation unit at its Ruwais Refinery 2 (West), which processes 417,000 barrels per day, and plans to carry out a safety shutdown across the plant.

The firm also noted that ADNOC had already scaled back operations by roughly 10 to 20 percent at several units in Ruwais Refinery 1 (East), which processes about 400,000 barrels per day, beginning March 6 because of the escalating regional conflict.

Officials from ADNOC, the Abu Dhabi Media Office, and the UAE foreign ministry did not immediately respond to requests for comment regarding the incidents.

Gulf officials have warned that continued attacks on energy infrastructure and shipping could have severe global consequences.

Iran’s strikes have forced some countries to reduce production, while maritime traffic through the critical Strait of Hormuz — the narrow passage connecting the Persian Gulf to the open ocean and used to transport roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil supply — has slowed dramatically. President Donald Trump has warned that Iran could be hit “much harder” if it continues interfering with oil shipments.

A spokesman for Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps issued a direct threat Tuesday regarding oil exports from the region.

Iran “will not allow the export of even a single liter of oil from the region to the hostile side and its partners until further notice.”

“Their attempts to reduce and control oil and gas prices will be temporary and ineffective,” said Ali Mohamad Naeini. “Trade in wartime conditions is subject to security considerations.”

Qatar, which has also faced Iranian strikes during the conflict, warned that attacks on civilian sites and energy facilities could trigger a humanitarian disaster.

“This region cannot take these kinds of attacks on its facilities,” said Foreign Ministry spokesman Majed Al-Ansari. “We will see a humanitarian catastrophe.”

“We have seen these kinds of attacks on both sides of the Gulf,” he said, pointing fingers at both Iran and the US and Israel.

“The attacks on energy facilities, which have also happened on both sides, is a dangerous precedent,” he said. “What is happening right now is going to have grave consequences for the international economy.”

Amin Nasser, chief executive of Saudi Arabia’s state-owned oil company Aramco, also warned that prolonged disruption in the Strait of Hormuz could have devastating effects.

“While we have faced disruptions in the past, this one by far is the biggest crisis the region’s oil and gas industry has faced,” Nasser said in a media call following the release of the company’s 2025 financial results.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump said Wednesday that the United States must complete its military campaign against Iran, declaring that American forces have already inflicted massive damage but that the mission is not yet finished.

Speaking during a rally in Kentucky, Trump praised the operation against Iran and described it as a decisive success so far.

“Operation Epic Fury – is that a great name? Well, it’s only good if you win. You know, you can only do it if you win – and we’ve won. Let me say: we’ve won. You never like to say it too early, but we won the bet in the first hour. It was over.”

Trump on Iran:

We don’t want to leave early, do we? We’ve got to finish the job, right?

Over the past 11 days, our military has virtually destroyed Iran. pic.twitter.com/25PvSIFrFe

— Clash Report (@clashreport) March 11, 2026

Trump said the speed and intensity of the American strikes caught Iranian leaders completely off guard.

“They don’t know what …. hit them. They don’t know. They got hit by the American military – they don’t know. They say, ‘What …. is happening?’ They didn’t expect anything like this.”

The president emphasized that the United States should not halt the campaign prematurely and must see the operation through to completion.

“we don’t want to leave early” and “we’ve got to finish the job”, adding that “over the past 11 days, our military has virtually destroyed Iran.”

He warned that abandoning the effort too soon could allow the threat to reemerge in the future.

“We don’t want to go back every two years. Because someday there will be a time when you don’t have me as president,” he added.

Earlier Wednesday, Trump addressed reporters outside the White House, saying the scale of the military campaign has exceeded expectations.

“we’re doing something that nobody ever thought was possible to do. Our military is the best; it’s the most powerful in the world, and they’re hitting them very hard. This is 47 years of abuse – and killing lots of people.”

Trump also told reporters that the joint U.S.–Israel campaign has already dismantled much of Iran’s military capability, including major branches of its armed forces and key leadership figures.

While noting that additional targets remain, he said the United States has deliberately refrained from striking certain assets.

“We could do a lot worse.”

According to the president, those remaining targets could be eliminated quickly if the United States chose to do so.

“We’re leaving certain things, which if we do, and we could take them out by this afternoon, in fact, within an hour, they will never be able to build that country back.”

Trump said the scope of the damage inflicted so far is unprecedented and suggested further strikes could still follow.

“We have hit them harder than virtually any country in history has been hit, and we’re not finished yet.”

In separate remarks earlier in the day, Trump told Axios that the war effort may reach its conclusion soon, pointing to the extensive damage already inflicted on Iranian military infrastructure.

According to Trump, the number of viable targets has dwindled sharply.

“The war is going great. We are way ahead of the timetable,” he told Axios. “We have done more damage than we thought possible, even in the original six-week period.”

He added that the campaign has been so extensive that there is now “practically nothing left to target.”

{Matzav.com}

Israeli leaders held an emergency security discussion Wednesday evening following a major Hezbollah rocket barrage toward northern Israel, as senior officials warned that the terror group’s actions could lead to a dramatic expansion of Israel’s military campaign in Lebanon.

The meeting took place at the office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after Hezbollah fired approximately 100 rockets at northern Israel as part of an ongoing series of attacks the organization has been carrying out in recent days.

A senior Israeli security official told the Saudi news channel Al-Hadath that the United States could potentially join the large-scale Israeli strikes currently targeting Hezbollah positions in Lebanon’s Beqaa Valley, including the city of Baalbek.

According to the official, Hezbollah’s current course of action is self-destructive. “Hezbollah is destroying itself and Lebanon along with it, and is acting as if it has nothing to lose.”

The official added that Israel’s military operations in Lebanon would not be limited to any single region.

“We will operate throughout Lebanon, from south to north, and all targets are legitimate. The military operation in Lebanon will not stop at the Litani River.”

Another senior Israeli official told Channel 12 News that the direction within the Israel Defense Forces is to significantly expand the military campaign against Hezbollah.

The official said the army is preparing for a wide range of scenarios. “They are not specifying how and whether it will also include ground forces, but preparations are being made for every possibility.”

According to the official, Lebanon’s government has demonstrated that it is unable to restrain Hezbollah’s activities. “The Lebanese state has proven that it is not a factor in restraining Hezbollah. They don’t take them into account.”

The official added that developments over the next day could have a major impact on how the campaign unfolds.

“The coming 24 hours will significantly shape the continuation of the campaign in Lebanon,” he said. “Hezbollah is bringing about its own end with its own hands.”

Meanwhile, IDF Arabic-language spokesman Lt. Col. Avichay Adraee issued an urgent warning Wednesday evening to residents of the Dahiyeh district in Beirut ahead of an expected wave of Israeli strikes.

“Due to the crimes of the Hezbollah terrorist organization, the IDF will soon operate with great intensity against its assets, operatives and weapons,” Adraee wrote.

“For your safety, the IDF urges you to evacuate immediately,” the spokesman added, stressing that residents should not return to the area “until further notice.”

{Matzav.com}

Reports of an Israeli strike targeting a vehicle in Beirut a short time ago.

Hezbollah launched a large-scale assault on northern Israel Wednesday evening, firing rockets and deploying drones for several hours and forcing hundreds of thousands of Israelis into bomb shelters. The attack marked the most intense barrage by the Lebanese terror group since fighting escalated earlier this month amid the ongoing war between Israel, the United States, and Iran.

According to Israeli military assessments, the opening wave began shortly after 8 p.m., when Hezbollah fired roughly 100 rockets toward northern Israel. At the same time, Iran launched a ballistic missile toward central Israel, which the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps later described as part of a coordinated offensive. Additional Iranian missiles were subsequently fired toward both northern and southern parts of the country.

Footage shows Hezbollah's large rocket barrage on northern Israel this evening. Around 100 rockets were fired, according to IDF assessments. pic.twitter.com/8wuG6J8kgg

— Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian (@manniefabian) March 11, 2026

Israel’s air defense systems intercepted the Iranian missiles and also engaged many of the rockets fired from Lebanon. Still, several impacts were reported in northern communities, sparking fires and causing minor injuries.

Magen David Adom said two people were hurt during the attack. A 35-year-old woman and a man in his 50s were struck by “flying objects” after a rocket impact and were transported to a hospital for treatment.

Rescue officials said one of the victims was wounded when a rocket struck a home in the northern town of Bi’ina. Emergency crews also treated four additional individuals at the scene who were suffering from severe anxiety following the strike.

الضاحية#ملحق pic.twitter.com/1LA6sfqneK

— Mulhak – ملحق (@Mulhak) March 11, 2026

As sirens sounded across northern Israel, including throughout the Galilee and in the Haifa region, the Israel Defense Forces instructed residents to remain near protected areas. Hezbollah continued launching rockets and drones toward Israeli territory, with alerts triggered in communities as far as 50 kilometers from the Lebanese border.

The military estimated that at least 150 rockets were fired at northern Israel over several hours during the barrage.

Some long-range rockets landed in open areas. Because those projectiles were not headed toward populated locations, warning sirens were not activated in those cases. Nevertheless, residents in central Israel reported hearing explosions during the attacks.

لحظة الغارات على الضاحيه الجنوبية لبيروت pic.twitter.com/WZCiZHot23

— Annahar النهار (@Annahar) March 11, 2026

The fighting continued into the early hours of Thursday. Alerts warning of possible drone infiltration were activated in Nahariya and other communities in the Western Galilee. Hezbollah also launched additional long-range rockets that triggered sirens in Tel Aviv and nearby towns.

During the same period, the IDF reported detecting an Iranian ballistic missile that activated warning systems in central Israel, the Jerusalem area, and parts of the south.

In response to the attacks, Israeli forces carried out major airstrikes against Hezbollah targets in Lebanon, including positions in the group’s stronghold in southern Beirut. An Israeli official said the military may begin striking Lebanese civilian infrastructure if the government in Beirut fails to restrain the Iran-backed terror group.

The IDF had previously warned that Hezbollah could escalate its rocket and drone attacks as the broader conflict intensified.

Media reports indicated that Israel had been preparing for a possible expansion of attacks from both Iran and Hezbollah. According to Channel 12, Israeli cabinet ministers were informed earlier Wednesday that officials expected heavy missile and rocket fire later in the day.

Hezbollah said its initial rocket barrage was launched from multiple locations across Lebanon. In a statement, the group declared that “in response to the criminal aggression against dozens of Lebanese cities and towns and Beirut’s southern suburbs,” its fighters targeted sites in northern Israel “with dozens of rockets” as part of a new military operation announced shortly beforehand.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps also described the assault as a joint effort with Hezbollah. In a statement carried by the Tasnim news agency, the IRGC said the attack on Israel was a “joint and integrated operation.”

According to the statement, Iran launched several ballistic missiles while Hezbollah simultaneously fired rockets and drones at more than 50 targets inside Israel.

Earlier in the conflict, the IDF had said it did not have intelligence suggesting that simultaneous attacks by Iran and Hezbollah were coordinated.

Following the barrage, the Israeli Air Force carried out what the military described as an “extensive” wave of strikes targeting Hezbollah rocket launchers and infrastructure in Lebanon.

Israeli officials said the strikes were intended to prevent additional rocket fire toward Israeli territory.

Before launching strikes on Beirut, the IDF issued evacuation warnings to residents of the southern suburbs of the Lebanese capital for the third time that day.

“Do not return to the southern suburb until further notice,” said army spokesman Col. Avichay Adaree.

Journalists in Beirut reported hearing explosions across the city, and footage showed large blasts sending smoke billowing over the southern districts. Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency reported at least “six heavy strikes” in the area.

Earlier in the war with Iran, the IDF said it had already targeted more than 70 Hezbollah sites in southern Beirut, including the demolition of 50 multi-story buildings used by the terror group.

Israeli officials warned that the situation could soon expand into a broader conflict in Lebanon.

A senior security official told Hebrew media outlets that the fighting may be approaching a critical stage. “We are on the eve of a fateful campaign in Lebanon which will determine the future of both countries.”

“There is a security discussion right now,” the official said. “The campaign in Lebanon is going to expand significantly.”

According to the official, the escalation could involve mobilizing additional reservists.

“Hezbollah, in its calculations, wants to turn our attention away from Iran, and thinks that if it draws us in, we will take our foot off the gas in the campaign against Iran,” the official said. Hezbollah, the official continued, “wants to create a new balance in which Israel’s enforcement policy in Lebanon ends, and we don’t attack at all. That won’t happen. Therefore, this is heading toward a serious escalation.”

“We have more capabilities and tools, and we can conduct campaigns in parallel against Iran and against Lebanon,” the official added.

The official also told Ynet that Lebanon’s government has not taken steps to curb Hezbollah’s activity.

According to Channel 12, Israel conveyed a warning to Beirut through the United States and other Western governments that if Lebanon does not restrain Hezbollah, Israel could begin striking national infrastructure across the country.

{Matzav.com}

The US announces it will release 172 million barrels of oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve.

Sen. Josh Hawley said Tuesday night that the U.S. military campaign against Iran has already accomplished President Donald Trump’s objectives, arguing that it may soon be time for Washington to declare victory and bring the operation to a close. The Missouri Republican made the remarks during an appearance on Jesse Watters Primetime on Fox News, […]

A massive fire has broken out near Machhli Mandi in Uttam Nagar, New Delhi, India, with thick smoke and flames visible across the area.

Trump: Massie is the worst. He’s Rand Paul Jr. He votes against everything. I like Rand a little bit. I got him elected twice. Rand votes against us all the time. At least he’s ok.

Spain has announced that it is permanently recalling its ambassador from Israel and eliminating the ambassadorial post altogether, signaling a deepening rift between the two countries over Israel’s military actions against Iran and the Hamas terrorist organization.

Spain’s Foreign Ministry said the country’s diplomatic mission in Tel Aviv will continue to operate, but it will now be led by a charge d’affaires rather than a full ambassador.

The decision marks an escalation in a dispute that began months ago. In September, Spain had already pulled its ambassador from Israel amid mounting tensions after Madrid barred ships transporting arms and ammunition destined for Israel from docking at Spanish ports.

U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham sharply criticized Spain’s latest move, warning that it sends the wrong message as Israel and the United States confront Iran’s regime.

“I was just informed that the Spanish government has permanently recalled their ambassador to Israel. This is hard for me to absorb. Spain is a member of NATO, and the United States and Israel are in joint operations against the Iranian regime who openly calls for the destruction of the Jewish State, attacks against the West, and seeks to purify Islam in its own image. The religious Nazi regime in Iran is the problem, not the Jewish State. I hope Spain’s actions will not encourage the tyrannical, fanatical regime in Iran – that abuses its own people – to hang on. Time will tell.”

Spain has also publicly criticized the recent U.S. and Israeli strikes targeting Iran’s leadership and military infrastructure.

The diplomatic friction between Jerusalem and Madrid intensified further in September after remarks by Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez during the war that followed the October 7 massacre.

During those comments, Sanchez appeared to lament that Spain lacked the capability to deter Israel militarily, stating that “Spain does not have nuclear weapons” that could stop Israel’s campaign against Hamas.

Israel’s government strongly condemned the remarks, accusing Sanchez of invoking dangerous rhetoric.

“Spanish PM Sanchez said yesterday that Spain can’t stop Israel’s battle against Hamas terrorists because ‘Spain does not have nuclear weapons.’ That’s a blatant genocidal threat on the world’s only Jewish State,” the Prime Minister’s Office said.

“Apparently, the Spanish Inquisition, the expulsion of the Jews of Spain and the systematic mass murder of Jews in the Holocaust, is not enough for Sanchez. Incredible,” it added.

{Matzav.com}

Travel out of Israel remains significantly disrupted, and observers are anticipating an even greater surge of passengers seeking to depart as yeshiva and seminary semesters draw to a close.

The limited number of flights operating out of Ben-Gurion Airport – constrained both by reduced airline schedules and government-imposed passenger caps – have not been sufficient to meet current demand. With large numbers of students expected to seek departure in the coming days, those limitations are projected to become even more acute.

Egypt Remains Key – But With Challenges

As previously reported by Chaim V’Chessed, travel through Egypt has until now been the most viable route for those seeking to exit Israel. However, the vast majority of flights have departed from Sharm el-Sheikh – a journey of several hours from the Israeli border through the Sinai Peninsula, terrain that some travelers have been hesitant to traverse.

Dramatic New Development: Flights for Students and Others

In a significant new development, the Igud of Yeshivas and Seminaries, together with Eretz HaKodesh, have announced plans to operate flights from Taba Airport.

Taba Airport is located just minutes from the Eilat border crossing, making it a far more accessible and attractive option. Even individuals who have been reluctant to travel deep into the Sinai Peninsula have indicated a willingness to consider departures from Taba due to its proximity to the border.

The first of these flights is scheduled to depart on Sunday, March 15. Organizers state that if the initial flights are successful, they are prepared to add numerous additional flights in the days that follow.

The current route being offered is from Taba to Milan, with an option to continue onward to New York. Transportation is being arranged from Jerusalem to the Taba border crossing, providing a streamlined solution from Jerusalem to the airport itself.

For the many students currently seeking viable exit options, this new route appears to offer a potentially significant solution. Chaim V’Chessed has arranged that a limited number of seats will also be made available to members of the general public.

Click here for more information about these flights.

State Department Flights Continue – Officials Stress Immediate Departure Only

State Department evacuation flights continue, though they remain limited and face logistical challenges. Following consultation with State Department officials, Chaim V’Chessed is able to share the following important information:

The officials expressed strong commitment to assisting American citizens seeking to exit Israel, while acknowledging operational challenges. They shared that efforts are underway to improve efficiency and service. At the moment, charter flights will travel only to Athens, Greece, and passengers will need to make their own way home from there.

Officials emphasized that these flights are intended only for individuals who are ready, willing, and able to depart Israel immediately. Many people have submitted the Crisis Intake Form despite only  wishing to travel in the coming days or weeks. When such applicants are contacted and indicate they are not prepared to leave immediately, they may be removed from the lists. These additional names can slow processing and delay urgent assistance. The State Department therefore requests that only passengers ready to depart immediately complete the Crisis Intake Form.

Additionally, it is crucial to include information for all immediate family members on the same form. Officials also request that travelers who filled out the form but have already found alternate plans should notify the State Department, by phone or email, so that others in need of assistance will be helped.

Chaim V’Chessed expresses gratitude to State Department officials for their assistance. We remain in ongoing contact and will share updates as further information becomes available.

{Matzav.com}

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