Feed aggregator

President Donald Trump shared a Truth Social post that called for the arrest of Barack Obama, accusing the former president of treason. The post was part of a flurry of late-night activity on Trump’s social media page in which the president shared several posts that railed against his political opponents.

The lengthy post, originally published by another Truth Social user, touched on a claim Trump has promoted for years: that the Obama administration spied on Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign.

“Arrest them all. Prosecute them all. Incarcerate them all at once for treachery, treason, and seditious conspiracy to overthrow the United States government. But first, Barack Obama,” the end of the post read.

Representatives for the White House and for Obama declined to comment on the post Tuesday morning.

The post was one of more than four dozen items Trump shared or reposted on Truth Social between 10 p.m. Monday and about 8 a.m. Tuesday, hours before he is slated to leave for China for a high-stakes summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

The frenzy of activity included more than a dozen posts that relitigated the 2020 presidential election, which Trump has continued to falsely claim was stolen. About a dozen posts attacked Obama by name, including one that called Trump’s predecessor in his first term the “most DEMONIC FORCE in American politics in decades.”

In another post published at 6:46 a.m., Trump attacked the New York Times for a story that detailed how it would cost $13.1 million to repair and paint the floor of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, despite Trump’s previous claims that it would cost only $1.8 million.

“This is not just a paint job, like lowlife ‘reporter,’ David Fahrenthold, of the NYT so inaccurately and maliciously stated, it is a deeply complicated work of smart and beautiful construction,” Trump wrote, naming one of the reporters who worked on the story. Trump did not dispute the reporting that reflecting pool repairs would cost $13.1 million.

The New York Times did not immediately respond to a request for comment Tuesday.

Trump’s attention then appeared to shift in the morning at least in part to Iran. He posted a chart that implied the U.S. war in Iran was over and had only lasted six weeks. He also shared several seemingly AI-generated images of the U.S. military shooting down Iranian planes and boats.

“Lasers: Bing, Bing, GONE!!!” one post read.

(c) 2026, The Washington Post · Amy B. Wang 

Waymo is recalling thousands of robotaxis to fix a software issue that could cause the autonomous vehicles to drive on flooded roads.

The recall affects 3,791 vehicles equipped with the company’s fifth- and sixth-generation automated-driving system, according to documents posted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s website. The Alphabet Inc.-owned robotaxi business is working on a final remedy to address the problem, the agency said.

Waymo said in a statement that it has placed constraints on the system to limit access to higher-speed roadways where flash flooding might occur.

“We are working to implement additional software safeguards and have put mitigations in place, including refining our extreme weather operations during periods of intense rain,” the company said.

The decision stems from an April 20 incident in San Antonio, where an unoccupied Waymo robotaxi encountered “an untraversable flooded section of a roadway,” according to the documents. Rather than avoid the potentially dangerous street, the vehicle proceeded into floodwater at a reduced speed.

Waymo temporarily suspended robotaxi operations in the city after the incident. The company said it has resumed autonomous operations there but has not yet restarted rides for customers.

Although no one was injured and the recall is relatively small, the incident highlights the challenges for driverless vehicles to adapt to unpredictable weather and other unexpected roadway conditions without a human driver’s judgment. Waymo has been rolling out its robotaxi service in cities across the US in a growing competition with the likes of Tesla Inc.

NHTSA has two separate investigations into Waymo’s self-driving vehicles. One is probing an incident in which a robotaxi struck a child near a school in Santa Monica, California, in January, while the other was opened after the company’s cars repeatedly failed to fully slow or stop for school buses last year.

{Matzav.com}

[Video below.] Former FBI Director James Comey said he has no intention of backing down from his criticism of President Donald Trump, arguing that speaking out is necessary for those concerned about the country, even as he faces criminal charges.

During an appearance on MS NOW’s “Deadline,” Comey accused Trump of being driven by a desire for retaliation against his critics and said that dynamic will not deter him from continuing to speak publicly.

“Donald Trump has a bottomless desire to gain revenge against those who criticized him. And I’m not going to stop criticizing him because I think that’s a that’s required if you care about America. And so it will just keep going. If he gets rid of Blanche, he’ll try to find someone else. Look at the bottom of every barrel there are still apples. And so he will find someone to do what he wants to do.”

Host Nicolle Wallace pressed Comey on the charges outlined in the indictment.

“What is it that you are accused of doing?”

Comey responded by describing the nature of the allegations.

“In the current indictment? Communicating, making and communicating a threat to assassinate the president of the United States.”

Wallace then asked him to explain his position in response to the accusations.

“And what did you actually do? What is your defense?”

Comey declined to address the substance of his defense publicly, citing legal restrictions and his respect for the judicial process.

“I’m not going to talk about that because I as I’ve said many times, I believe in the independent federal judiciary and the court rules require that if you’re participating in a criminal case, you don’t talk about it outside of court. And so we’ll have a lot to say in the courtroom. But I want to respect the rules and the court.”

WATCH:

Saudi Arabia launched covert airstrikes on Iranian territory during the peak of the recent Middle East conflict, marking a significant escalation in regional tensions and signaling a shift in Riyadh’s military posture, according to officials cited in a new report.

Western and Iranian sources quoted by Reuters said the Saudi Air Force carried out the attacks in late March, representing the first known instance of the Kingdom directly striking targets inside Iran.

The reported strikes were described as “tit-for-tat” responses to repeated Iranian-backed drone and missile attacks aimed at Saudi civilian infrastructure, including airports and oil installations.

For years, Saudi Arabia has leaned heavily on American defense support, but the scale and intensity of the recent ten-week conflict—during which Iran reportedly targeted all six members of the Gulf Cooperation Council—pushed Riyadh to take more assertive and independent military action.

The operations were said to have occurred during a particularly volatile stretch in late March. According to those familiar with the situation, Saudi officials quickly informed Tehran after the strikes and paired the military response with a firm warning that any additional aggression would be met with a stronger reaction.

This combination of force and diplomacy appears to have contributed to a cooling of tensions. In the aftermath of the strikes, accelerated talks led to an informal de-escalation understanding that took hold shortly before the broader April 7 ceasefire between Washington and Tehran.

The disclosure of Saudi involvement follows a separate report indicating that the United Arab Emirates also carried out its own strikes against Iran during the same conflict.

Although both Gulf states reportedly took the rare step of targeting Iran directly, their approaches differed. The UAE maintained a consistently aggressive posture, while Saudi Arabia continued to engage Tehran through back-channel communications even as it carried out military operations.

A senior official in Saudi Arabia’s foreign ministry stopped short of confirming the strikes but reiterated the Kingdom’s broader stance on regional stability.

“We reaffirm Saudi Arabia’s consistent position advocating de-escalation, self-restraint and the reduction of tensions in pursuit of the stability, security and prosperity of the region and its people,” the official said.

The reported decision to carry out the strikes followed a period of rising tensions. On March 19, Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud warned that the Kingdom “reserved the right to take military actions if deemed necessary.” That warning was followed by the expulsion of Iranian diplomats and, ultimately, the reported military response targeting sites inside Iran.

Despite the relative calm that has followed the ceasefire, the situation remains unstable. Recent projectiles fired toward Saudi territory have been linked to Iran-aligned militias operating in Iraq, prompting Riyadh to summon Iraq’s ambassador in protest.

While the ceasefire continues to hold for now, the events surrounding the March strikes have underscored a major shift in Saudi policy, signaling to Tehran that the Kingdom is prepared to respond directly to threats rather than rely solely on allies for its defense.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump said Tuesday that Iran must agree to U.S. conditions to end the war and address its nuclear ambitions, warning that failure to do so could lead to severe consequences, as signs grow that diplomacy may be faltering.

Speaking to reporters before departing for a trip to China, Trump delivered a stark message to Tehran. “They’ll either do the right thing, or we’ll finish the job,” Trump said, dismissing claims that economic pressures at home were influencing his approach to the conflict.

Trump:

Iran’s leaders will either do the right thing, or we will finish the job. pic.twitter.com/jiFeTCPqUP

— Clash Report (@clashreport) May 12, 2026

The president emphasized that his focus remains fixed on preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, regardless of domestic concerns. “I don’t think about Americans’ financial situations. I don’t think about anybody. I think about one thing: we cannot let Iran have a nuclear weapon. That’s all,” the President clarified.

Trump argued that Americans broadly understand the priority of stopping Iran’s nuclear program, even if markets fluctuate. “The most important thing by far is Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon. Every American understands it. If the stock market goes up or down a little bit, the American people understand it.”

He insisted the United States would prevail regardless of how the conflict is resolved. Trump stressed that the US will “win it one way or the other. We’ll win it peacefully or otherwise. No matter how you cut it, we win.”

Addressing Tehran’s reaction to a U.S. proposal that he rejected over the weekend, Trump accused Iran of inconsistency. Commenting on the Iranian response to the US proposal, which he rejected as unacceptable on Sunday, Trump said that Iran agreed that they will never have nuclear weapons “and then that’s not what they sent to me. We don’t play games.”

He reiterated that the United States holds the upper hand and warned of devastating consequences if a deal is not reached. “We have Iran very much under control. We are either gonna make a deal or they will be decimated,” he stressed.

Behind the scenes, frustration appears to be mounting within the administration. Sources indicated that Trump has grown increasingly dissatisfied with the lack of progress in negotiations, raising the possibility that Washington could shift back toward military action.

Officials familiar with internal discussions said the president’s patience is wearing thin as Iran has yet to offer concessions that the U.S. views as meaningful.

At the same time, Iran signaled it is holding firm to its own terms. Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said in a public message that Tehran sees only one viable path forward.

“There is no alternative but to accept the rights of the Iranian people as laid out in the 14-point proposal. Any other approach will be completely inconclusive; nothing but one failure after another,” he wrote.

He also warned that prolonging the standoff would come at a cost to Americans. “The longer they drag their feet, the more American taxpayers will pay for it,” stated Ghalibaf.

President Donald Trump on Tuesday said he does not consider the economic impacts the war in Iran is having on Americans, remarks that quickly drew criticism from Democrats and appeared to undermine his campaign pledge of addressing voters’ cost of living concerns.

“Not even a little bit‚” Trump said when asked to what extent “Americans’ financial situations” are motivating him to reach a deal to end the war. Trump spoke to reporters on the White House South Lawn before departing for his trip to China.

“The only thing that matters when I’m talking about Iran – they can’t have a nuclear weapon. I don’t think about Americans’ financial situation. I don’t think about anybody,” Trump said. “I think about one thing: we cannot let Iran have a nuclear weapon.”

The president doubled down on the sentiment when asked to clarify whether the economic impact on Americans was a factor in his decision-making. The U.S. inflation rate has risen to its highest rate in nearly three years since the start of the Iran war in late February, with increased prices largely driven by higher energy costs. Gas prices rose 5.4 percent last month and were up about 30 percent over the past year. Still, the U.S. stock market has continued to hit a series of records.

“Every American understands,” Trump said of economic issues related to the war, referencing an unnamed poll he said showed an overwhelming majority of people “understand that Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon.”

“Now if the stock market goes up or down a little bit, the American people understand,” Trump continued. “When this war is over, oil is going to drop, the stock market is going to go through the roof, and truly, I think we’re in the golden age right now. You’re going to see a golden age like we’ve ever seen before.”

Trump’s approval on economic issues, which were critical to his political comeback in 2024, has fallen since he launched the Iran war.

A recent Washington Post-ABC News-Ipsos poll found that his approval rating on the economy has declined by seven points, to 34 percent, as gas prices have risen. Trump’s approval on inflation has fallen five points in that time to 27 percent, and his lowest rating comes on perceptions of his handling of the general cost of living, with 23 percent of Americans approving vs. 76 percent disapproving.

The poll also found that Americans disapprove of his handling of the situation with Iran by 66 percent to 33 percent.

Democratic officials and campaign strategists were quick to jump on Trump’s comments, with some openly musing about using them in campaign ads against Republicans during the midterms.

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro (D) shared the clip, writing on social media that “Gas is over $4.60/gallon in Pennsylvania today” and Trump “literally doesn’t give a damn.”

At another point while talking to reporters, Trump defended his economic policies, saying “If you go back to just before the war,” inflation had fallen under his watch.

Trump, who has expressed an interest in pausing the federal gas tax – which would require congressional approval – said Tuesday that he would support governors doing so in their states. “I think that’s a great idea,” Trump said.

(c) 2026, The Washington Post · Natalie Allison

Hezbollah’s leader issued a series of warnings that his group will intensify its confrontation with Israel, declaring that the conflict will continue and could escalate further as long as what he described as Israeli aggression persists.

Naim Qassem said his organization has no intention of stepping back from the fighting and warned of severe consequences for Israel. “We will not leave the battlefield, and we will turn it into hell for Israel. We will respond to the aggression and violations, and we will not return [the reality] before March 2nd,” Qassem declared, referring to the date when Hezbollah joined Iran’s war against Israel.

He further claimed that Hezbollah is confronting what he characterized as a coordinated effort by Israel and the United States aimed at weakening Lebanon and bringing it under broader Israeli control. He insisted that his group would continue resisting under all circumstances. Qassem warned that Hezbollah is facing what he described as “an Israeli-American aggression that seeks to subjugate our country, Lebanon, so that it becomes part of Greater Israel.” He added, “We will not submit, and we will not surrender, and we will continue to defend Lebanon and its people no matter how long it takes and no matter how great the sacrifices.”

Addressing the possibility of diplomatic developments, Qassem suggested that a deal between Iran and the United States that includes halting what he described as attacks on Lebanon could shift the situation. He said such an agreement “could be the strongest card to stop the aggression.”

He also made clear that any negotiations tied to Lebanon’s future should be handled by the Lebanese government, while signaling Hezbollah’s willingness to coordinate with state authorities. According to the Hezbollah leader, responsibility for negotiations aimed at achieving Lebanon’s sovereign goals “remains the responsibility of the authority in Lebanon.” He added that Hezbollah is prepared to cooperate with the Lebanese authorities to achieve what he described as five goals: “Lebanon’s sovereignty by stopping the Israeli aggression by sea, land and air, liberating its land through the withdrawal of the Israeli enemy from our occupied territories and the deployment of the Lebanese army south of the Litani River, freeing the prisoners, returning people to all their villages and towns, and reconstruction.”

Qassem argued that indirect negotiations would be more effective than direct talks, asserting that Lebanon holds leverage in such discussions. He called for the option of indirect negotiations, saying that “the cards of strength are in the hands of the Lebanese negotiator,” and urged withdrawal from direct negotiations, which he claimed, “constitute pure profits for Israel and free concessions from the Lebanese authority.”

He emphasized that decisions regarding Hezbollah’s military capabilities and Lebanon’s internal governance should not be subject to outside influence. He also stressed that “no one outside Lebanon has any relation to the weapons, the resistance, and the organization of Lebanon’s internal state affairs,” adding that this “is an internal Lebanese matter and not part of negotiations with the enemy.”

Looking ahead, Qassem said that once the objectives he outlined are achieved, Lebanon would be positioned to organize its domestic affairs through a broader security framework. He stated that after achieving the five points outlined in his remarks, “Lebanon will arrange its internal situation through a national security strategy, benefiting from its elements of strength, including the resistance,” while citing remarks from Joseph Aoun regarding discussions on a comprehensive defense policy as part of a national security strategy.

{Matzav.com}

The Justice Department has paid millions of dollars to settle claims from FBI agents suspended over misconduct allegations, a prominent House Democrat said in a letter Tuesday, raising concern over what he described as the Trump administration’s pattern of rewarding allies with large cash payouts.

Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Maryland) highlighted several of those deals in a missive to acting attorney general Todd Blanche demanding further details on the payments, including settlements with an agent who was disciplined after refusing to investigate a white nationalist group and another who was accused of being present in a restricted area during the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol.

Tristan Leavitt, an attorney for those agents, disputed Raskin’s characterization of those cases and dismissed the congressman’s concern as “more a toddler’s temper tantrum than serious congressional oversight.”

Several of the payments cited in Raskin’s letter involve agents who have publicly claimed their suspensions were the result of political bias in the Justice Department during the Biden administration. In several cases, their claims had not yet been raised in court or made their way through the FBI’s internal process for appealing disciplinary actions before the Justice Department offered to settle, Raskin said.

“These checks are just political handouts and payoffs,” wrote Raskin, the top Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee. He added later, “The DOJ and FBI have already paid out several million dollars of taxpayer money to disgraced agents and employees who violated their professional and legal duties to the government.”

Raskin’s letter detailed settlements with five agents, whom he wrote had received settlements totaling more than $230,000. Some of them also received backpay which, in some cases, was hundreds of thousands of dollars. The letter said there were additional settlements that Raskin did not specifically reference in his message to Blanche.

Each of the five settlements Raskin cited Tuesday had been previously announced in August by Leavitt and his organization Empower Oversight, which represented many of the suspended agents in their negotiations with the Justice Department and FBI.

Leavitt, a former staffer to Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), the top Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee, maintained in a statement that the payments were appropriate for agents he described as whistleblowers. He accused Raskin of spreading “shameless lies about our clients.”

“It is common practice for federal agencies to settle legal or administrative complaints against them, which … virtually all of the whistleblowers had against the FBI at the time of the settlements,” he said in a statement. “Empower Oversight has been transparent at every step about its case for making these whistleblowers whole, with hundreds of pages on our website documenting the flaws in FBI actions against these employees.”

The debate over the payments made to agents who’ve aided Republican-backed efforts to accuse the bureau of playing politics comes as the FBI’s top leadership has fired dozens of other agents for their past involvement in investigations targeting President Donald Trump. Several of those agents have since sued, alleging that their dismissals did not go through the traditional disciplinary process afforded to FBI employees.

Meanwhile, the Justice Department has offered cash settlements to a number of high-profile Trump allies who sued the government after they were charged with various crimes during the Biden administration.

Last month, department lawyers authorized a $1.25 million settlement to Trump’s 2016 campaign adviser Carter Page to settle claims that he was illegally surveilled by federal authorities as part of an investigation into Russian interference in that race. Page was never charged with a crime but multiple federal courts had dismissed lawsuits he’d filed over the investigation, saying the statute of limitations on his claims had lapsed.

The department has also paid more than $1 million to Trump’s former national security adviser Michael Flynn, who has claimed he was the victim of a politicized prosecution for lying to federal agents as part of the same investigation.

“All of these handouts constitute an astounding and lawless abuse of government office and taxpayer dollars,” Raskin wrote.

Spokespeople for the Justice Department and the FBI did not immediately respond to requests for comment Tuesday.

Among the settlements with disciplined agents that Raskin highlighted Tuesday was a $63,500 payment he said was made to an agent who had his security clearance revoked after FBI personnel determined he’d lied to investigators about his presence during the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol. Though Raskin did not name the agent in his letter, he said that in addition to the lump-sum payout, the agent also received hundreds of thousands in backpay.

Empower Oversight disputed Raskin’s characterization of the case. In its August news release on the settlement, the organization said the agent had self-reported his presence during the riot to his supervisors after he unwittingly strayed into restricted grounds after rioters had removed barriers in their rush toward the Capitol. The agent did not enter the Capitol building or ascend the building’s steps, the organization said.

Others cited included settlements with FBI agents Steven Friend and Garret O’Boyle, both of whom testified at Republican-led congressional hearings during the Biden administration accusing the FBI of political bias.

Friend, previously assigned to the FBI’s field office in Daytona Beach, Florida, was suspended for allegedly refusing to participate in the arrest of a Jan. 6 suspect, illegally recording conversations with his management team, downloading sensitive FBI documents onto a thumb drive and participating in unsanctioned media interviews with Russian state media, Raskin said. Friend resigned from the FBI following his suspension in 2023. Raskin said Tuesday that under a recently struck deal, the Justice Department agreed to pay Friend $61,430 plus hundreds of thousands of dollars in backpay.

Boyle, an FBI special agent in Wichita, was accused of disclosing sensitive information regarding an ongoing criminal investigation involving the right-wing organization Project Veritas, which is known for using undercover tactics to expose what it says is liberal bias in the mainstream news media, when he was suspended in 2022. Though the FBI and courts previously rejected his claims that he was wrongfully suspended, the Justice Department reinstated O’Boyle and agreed to pay him more than $600,000, Raskin said.

Empower Oversight maintains that Boyle’s disclosures were made as part of lawfully protected whistleblowing to congressional committees. The organization also disputed Raskin’s description of an agent disciplined for his alleged refusal to participate in an investigation of the white nationalist group Patriot Front in 2022. Empower Oversight said the agent had raised concerns that the bureau’s investigation was politically motivated.

Neither Friend nor Boyle immediately responded to requests for comment Tuesday.

Raskin said in his letter that members of Grassley’s staff had also participated in the settlement negotiations. A spokesperson for Grassley said the senator has been open about his office’s role in the negotiations for months. Raskin’s “seven-page screed is a disgusting and defamatory attempt to smear legitimate whistleblowers while protecting their Biden administration retaliators,” Grassley’s office said in a statement. “Senator Grassley stands by his efforts to defend and protect all whistleblowers, no matter which administration they blow the whistle on, just as he has done for decades.”

(c) 2026, The Washington Post · Jeremy Roebuck, Perry Stein

A 45-year-old man has appeared in court after being charged in connection with a suspected arson attack at a former synagogue site in east London, as authorities continue investigating a string of incidents targeting Jewish-linked locations.

Moses Edwards, of Wanstead, was brought before Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Monday, where he faced a charge of arson with intent to endanger life tied to a fire at the former East London Central Synagogue in Whitechapel on May 5.

Emergency services responded shortly after 5:15 a.m. local time when flames were reported at the front entrance of the building. Officials said the damage was limited to a gate and lock, and no injuries were reported.

Edwards was ordered held in custody and is scheduled to return to court next month. He did not enter a plea during his initial appearance.

Authorities say early findings suggest the fire was set deliberately, citing CCTV footage as part of the evidence. Given the building’s past use as a synagogue and its ties to the Jewish community, the case has been taken over by Counter Terrorism Policing London.

Investigators also noted that the property is currently being sold to the Ashaadibi Education and Cultural Centre, a Somali Muslim community organization. The group has publicly denounced the incident.

In a related development, a 52-year-old woman was arrested Sunday on suspicion of conspiracy to commit arson. She has since been released on bail and is expected to return for further questioning in August.

The case comes against the backdrop of a series of recent attacks and attempted attacks aimed at Jewish, Israeli, and Iranian-associated locations across the United Kingdom.

Commander Helen Flanagan, who leads Counter Terrorism Policing London, described the arrests as a “significant step” in the investigation.

“Our aim continues to arrest and charge all those responsible for the arson attacks and other incidents targeted at Jewish, Israeli and Iranian sites in recent weeks,” she stated. “We will not tolerate these hateful attacks on communities.”

{Matzav.com}

[Video below.] President Donald Trump on Tuesday stood by the scale and expense of the planned White House ballroom, insisting the project is progressing efficiently while sharply rebuking a reporter who questioned its scope.

Speaking to reporters before departing for China, Trump said the ballroom is both larger than initially planned and financially on track. “We have a ballroom that’s under budget. I’ve doubled the size of it because we obviously need that,” Trump told reporters before departing to China. “And we’re right now on budget, under budget and ahead of schedule.”

When asked again about the decision to expand the project, Trump responded with a personal jab at the questioner. “I doubled the size of it, you dumb person. You are not a smart person.”

Plans for the ballroom have shifted since Trump first unveiled the proposal last summer, with both its size and estimated cost changing over time. The structure is set to replace the East Wing, which has already been demolished as part of the project.

Despite criticism over the growing price tag, Trump has dismissed concerns by emphasizing that the ballroom will not rely on taxpayer funds, saying wealthy donors will cover the full cost. He initially projected the project at $200 million, though estimates have since climbed to roughly $400 million.

The issue has also surfaced in Congress, where Senate Republicans included $1 billion for ballroom-related security measures in a budget reconciliation package. However, Senate Homeland Security Committee Chairman Rand Paul said Monday that the provision may ultimately be removed before the bill reaches a vote on the Senate floor.

White House officials met with Senate Republicans during a Tuesday lunch to walk through the proposed funding in detail, outlining how the $1 billion would be allocated.

According to materials presented at the meeting, the funding would cover a range of security upgrades, including “hardening” the White House complex, a visitors screening facility, training, enhancements for protectee security, evolving threats and technology and events of national significance.

Trump and several Republican allies have increasingly pointed to security concerns to justify the project, particularly in the aftermath of the shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner late last month.

WATCH:

{Matzav.com}

The financial toll of the U.S. military campaign against Iran has climbed to $29 billion, a senior Pentagon official told lawmakers Tuesday, marking a $4 billion jump from figures released only weeks earlier as operations continue to expand across the Middle East.

The rising cost comes at a politically sensitive moment, with President Donald Trump and congressional Republicans approaching key midterm elections, while Democrats seek to link the conflict to concerns about inflation, economic strain, and higher energy prices affecting American households.

As recently as April 29, the Pentagon had placed the cost of the conflict at about $25 billion. However, Jules Hurst, currently serving as acting comptroller at the Defense Department, testified that updated calculations now bring the total to $29 billion.

Hurst said the new estimate reflects increasing operational costs, as well as expenses tied to repairing and replacing equipment that has been used or damaged during the campaign.

“The joint staff team and the comptroller team are constantly looking at that estimate,” Hurst told lawmakers during testimony alongside War Secretary Pete Hegseth and Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Dan Caine.

Defense officials have not publicly provided a detailed breakdown of how the revised figure was calculated.

Still, a previously cited Reuters source indicated that the administration estimated the first six days of the conflict alone cost at least $11.3 billion, underscoring the rapid pace of spending tied to sustained airstrikes, naval deployments, missile defense systems, intelligence efforts, and precision-guided weapons.

The Strait of Hormuz remains a central point of concern in the conflict. About 20% of the world’s oil supply passes through the narrow waterway, and ongoing instability there has heightened fears of rising fuel prices, renewed inflationary pressure, and broader disruptions to global markets.

Some Republicans in Congress, along with fiscal conservatives, are increasingly raising alarms about the long-term financial burden, particularly as the national debt exceeds $36 trillion and debates over federal spending intensify.

During Tuesday’s hearing, lawmakers pressed Pentagon officials on whether the administration has outlined a clear long-term strategy, as well as how much more the conflict could cost if military operations extend into the coming year.

Critics have also pointed to parallels with earlier U.S. interventions in the Middle East that began with limited objectives but evolved into lengthy and costly engagements. Brown University’s Costs of War project estimates that post-9/11 conflicts ultimately cost trillions of dollars over two decades.

Supporters of the administration counter that a strong response to Iran is necessary to deter further instability in the region and to safeguard key U.S. allies, including Israel and Gulf Arab states.

The Pentagon has not yet issued any updated projections for the total cost of the conflict if operations continue through the rest of 2026.

{Matzav.com}

A major disruption has struck Israel’s rabbinical court system after Microsoft deleted all official email accounts due to an unpaid debt of approximately 700,000 shekels, leaving thousands of divorce proceedings in disarray and critical data temporarily inaccessible.

According to sources, the move triggered widespread system failure across the rabbinical court system, as essential documents, correspondence, and case-related information were erased without immediate recovery options. The breakdown has directly affected thousands of couples in the midst of divorce proceedings.

The report states that the outstanding debt had accumulated over several months, ultimately prompting Microsoft to suspend cloud services and remove all associated email accounts. As a result, active cases were left without access to necessary files, court summons were not sent, and hearings were repeatedly postponed. Staff members described the situation as “a complete shutdown,” with all processes forced into manual handling.

Officials at the rabbinical courts in Tel Aviv, where caseloads are particularly heavy, characterized the situation as “an unprecedented crisis.” Couples who had been waiting months for scheduled hearings were notified of delays, while attorneys reported that crucial correspondence related to divorce agreements had been permanently deleted.

The incident has drawn sharp public criticism over the management of the system, especially given its central role in handling sensitive matters affecting thousands of families. Technology experts noted that while deleting email accounts over unpaid debts is an extreme measure, it remains a possibility when financial obligations to service providers are not resolved.

Authorities at the Ministry of Religious Services and within the rabbinical court system are now working to restore operations and recover lost data. At the same time, alternative technological solutions are being explored to prevent a similar failure from occurring in the future.

{Matzav.com}

A federal appeals court has put on hold a lower court decision that had ruled President Donald Trump’s latest tariffs unlawful, allowing the duties to stay in place while the case continues to be litigated.

The move follows a request by the Trump administration to pause last week’s ruling by the U.S. Court of International Trade, which had found that the government did not have the legal authority to impose a 10% global tariff under Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974.

With the appeals court granting a temporary stay, the tariffs will continue to be collected as judges consider whether to extend the pause for the duration of the appeals process. The administration is seeking a swift decision as it works to preserve the policy.

The lower court ruling had been seen as a significant challenge to Trump’s broader tariff strategy. Earlier this year, the Supreme Court struck down several tariffs enacted under emergency economic powers, prompting the administration to rely on Section 122 to implement temporary tariffs across a wide range of imports.

Judges on the trade court concluded that the administration’s interpretation of Section 122 went beyond what Congress intended, stating that the provision was meant to address severe balance-of-payments crises rather than general trade deficits.

The case was brought by a group of importers, along with the State of Washington, who argued that the tariffs were unlawful. The court’s decision applied specifically to those plaintiffs, rather than issuing a nationwide block.

The Trump administration has defended the tariffs as a necessary tool to counter trade imbalances and support domestic industries, while critics argue the policy represents an overreach of executive authority into an area typically governed by Congress.

The outcome of the case is being closely watched by businesses and importers, given the significant financial impact of the tariffs. Previous court rulings against similar measures have already led to large refund obligations tied to collected duties.

Legal analysts expect the dispute to continue through the federal court system, with the possibility that it could ultimately return to the Supreme Court as challenges to the administration’s trade policies persist.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump said Tuesday that the United States is under no pressure to move quickly in its standoff with Iran, while reiterating that Tehran must never be allowed to obtain nuclear weapons.

Speaking during an interview on WABC’s “Sid & Friends in the Morning,” Trump argued that Iran’s military capabilities have been severely degraded and maintained that his administration remains firmly focused on preventing the regime from developing nuclear arms.

“We cannot let them have a nuclear weapon because they’d use it,” Trump told host Sid Rosenberg. “And if that goes off, you want to see a travesty. That would be unbelievable.”

Trump said recent actions by the United States and its allies have significantly weakened Iran’s armed forces.

“We’ve wiped out their navy, wiped out their air force,” Trump said. “It’s just a question of time.”

He added that economic pressure is continuing to strain the Iranian government, describing U.S. measures as effectively cutting off its financial resources.

“We have a blockade which gives them no money,” Trump said. “We don’t have to rush anything.”

The president also expressed confidence that Iran will ultimately abandon its nuclear ambitions, suggesting that Iranian officials have privately acknowledged the impact of recent strikes on their nuclear infrastructure.

“Oh, 100%,” Trump said when asked whether Iran could be stopped from enriching uranium and building a bomb.

Trump defended his earlier decision to withdraw from the nuclear agreement negotiated during the Obama administration, describing it as deeply flawed and dangerous.

“If I didn’t terminate the Iran nuclear deal signed by Barack Hussein Obama … it’s was one of the worst deals ever made, it’s a path for a nuclear weapon and there was nothing you could have done to stop it,” Trump said.

“They would have had a nuclear weapon four years ago and they would have used it on Israel, and they would have used it on the Middle East and maybe beyond that.”

Addressing reports of friction between himself and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Trump dismissed the notion, saying the two remain closely aligned on key regional issues.

“I get along great with Bibi,” Trump said. “We’ve been partners in the true sense.”

Trump also indicated that China could factor into broader strategic discussions, noting its economic ties to both Iran and the United States.

“We do have a good relationship,” Trump said of China. “But we’re stronger than China.”

Throughout the interview, Trump emphasized what he described as renewed American military strength, asserting that the United States remains the dominant global power.

“We have the strongest military anywhere in the world,” Trump said.

He also took aim at major media outlets, particularly The New York Times, accusing them of misrepresenting the situation in Iran.

“If you read the New York Times, you think that Iran is doing well,” Trump said. “They have no air force. They have no navy. They have no leaders.”

{Matzav.com}

Russian President Vladimir Putin faced widespread online attention following a rare public appearance in Moscow, where observers focused on his noticeably altered and swollen facial features during a scaled-down Victory Day celebration.

The 73-year-old leader appeared briefly at a subdued parade marking the 81st anniversary of the Soviet Union’s defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II. The event, held in Red Square, was notably shorter and more restrained than in previous years.

Putin’s appearance quickly drew reactions on social media, with critics and commentators speculating about his health and the impact of international sanctions. Some users suggested that the abbreviated nature of the event and his limited time in public added to the intrigue.

“Putin, what’s with the face?” a pro-Ukraine account quipped on X, noting, “The parade ended at lightning speed — just 45 minutes The Kremlin boss [was] immediately rushed off Red Square surrounded by heavy security.”

Images circulating online showed Putin with what some described as a strained expression, prompting further commentary from observers.

“Putin’s last parade,” one user wrote.

Another commenter added, “Putin genuinely looks sick, this isn’t the face of a well man even for his age.”

Additional posts speculated about his extended time away from public view, with one user writing, “Putin must be residing in the bunker for an extended period, possibly even longer than this year. He seems to be in dire need of some Botox touch-ups.”

Observers also noted the reduced scale of the parade, which lacked the usual display of heavy military equipment such as armored vehicles and ballistic missiles, as well as the heightened security surrounding the event.

Moscow was placed under tight security measures, including temporary shutdowns of internet services, amid ongoing Ukrainian drone and missile attacks targeting Russian territory.

“Putin used to always walk to lay flowers at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Today, for the first time in history, he rode an armored bus,” the Ukrainian X user wrote.

Even commentators supportive of the Kremlin acknowledged that the event did not match the scale of previous years.

“It was a modest parade,” pro-Kremlin analyst Sergei Markov wrote on Telegram, adding, “There are still enormous challenges ahead.”

During his appearance, Putin referenced the Soviet Union’s sacrifices in World War II as he sought to rally support for Russia’s ongoing military campaign, without directly naming the conflict in Ukraine.

“The great feat of the generation of victors inspires the warriors carrying out the tasks of the special military operation,” Putin said.

“They stand against an aggressive force armed and supported by the entire NATO bloc. And despite this, our heroes move forward. Victory has always been and will always be ours,” he said.

Ahead of the parade, President Donald Trump announced that Russia and Ukraine had agreed to a temporary three-day ceasefire along with a prisoner exchange involving roughly 1,000 individuals.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky remarked on Friday that he would “permit” Russia to proceed with the parade by refraining from launching an attack.

The temporary ceasefire was scheduled to conclude on Monday.

{Matzav.com}

Federal prosecutors on Tuesday charged the Singapore-based company that managed the cargo ship responsible for the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, along with a senior employee, in connection with the disaster that claimed six lives.

The indictment names Synergy Marine Pte Ltd. of Singapore and Synergy Maritime Pte Ltd. of Chennai, India. It also charges Radhakrishnan Karthik Nair, a 47-year-old Indian national who served as the technical superintendent for the Dali container ship.

The Dali struck the Francis Scott Key Bridge on March 26, 2024, leading to its catastrophic collapse and killing six construction workers who were repairing potholes on the structure at the time.

Prosecutors have filed charges including conspiracy, failure to promptly notify the U.S. Coast Guard of a known hazardous condition, obstruction of a federal proceeding, and making false statements.

The FBI’s investigation centered on how the vessel was operated and whether those in charge were aware of serious mechanical issues before the ship departed.

According to findings by the National Transportation Safety Board, the ship suffered two electrical failures before the crash—one linked to a loose wire and another tied to a malfunctioning fuel pump—which left the vessel without steering control.

The Dali had departed from Baltimore en route to Sri Lanka when it lost power, rendering its steering system inoperable. At approximately 1:30 a.m., the ship collided with a key support column of the bridge.

Officials in Maryland estimate that rebuilding the bridge will cost between $4.3 billion and $5.2 billion, with completion projected for late 2030.

State officials say the broader consequences of the disaster extended far beyond the physical destruction. The collapse shut down shipping operations at the Port of Baltimore, disrupted thousands of jobs, forced traffic into already burdened communities, and caused widespread economic damage across the state.

The criminal charges follow a previously announced agreement in principle between the State of Maryland, Synergy Marine, and Grace Ocean Private Limited, the Singapore-based owner of the vessel, according to Attorney General Anthony Brown.

The civil lawsuit tied to that agreement alleges that the incident resulted from negligence, poor oversight, and the operation of a vessel that was unfit for service and should not have departed.

Those seeking damages include the families of the six victims, businesses whose cargo was aboard the ship, and government entities pursuing compensation for economic losses. While a settlement framework has been reached, details have not been made public and some claims remain unresolved.

Maryland has sought compensation for damage to public infrastructure, environmental harm to the Patapsco River, lost revenue, and the broader financial impact on the state and its residents.

The attorney general’s office has said that the agreement does not address potential claims against the shipbuilder, Hyundai.

The Francis Scott Key Bridge, a major Baltimore landmark, served as a critical transportation route that allowed motorists to bypass the city’s downtown. The 1.6-mile steel structure took five years to complete and first opened in 1977.

{Matzav.com}

No visits. No intermingling. Staff with protective gear.

This is the reality at the Nebraska-based National Quarantine Unit for more than a dozen Americans who were on the cruise ship at the center of a hantavirus outbreak and arrived back in the United States early Monday.

Patients can call and videoconference with family and friends, access exercise equipment and watch large TVs, officials said. The rooms’ ventilation system is designed so that the virus cannot leave the room, and it is separated from the rest of the building with HEPA air filters.

U.S. officials on Monday laid out more details on how 18 passengers from the Hondius are quarantining after returning to the U.S. In Nebraska, there are 16 people: 15 are in the quarantine unit and another, the first American who tested positive for hantavirus while abroad, is in the biocontainment unit. An additional two passengers were sent to an Atlanta biocontainment facility because one of them was showing symptoms, officials said.

“Quarantine is sort of like a very well-managed, air-handled hotel room, and the biocontainment unit is like a very well-managed, air-handled intensive care unit,” said Jeffrey P. Gold, president of the University of Nebraska, where the patients are being housed. The National Quarantine Unit is a federally funded facility that has previously received patients with Ebola and covid-19.

The American passengers, who were originally on a polar-rated expedition ship that set off from Argentina on April 1, range from their late 20s to late 70s and early 80s. Officials say the quarantined passengers are doing well, though tired after they were evacuated from the ship off the coast of Tenerife, Spain, as part of a coordinated global repatriation and monitoring mission.

Since there are no therapeutic options to treat hantavirus, early intervention and care is vital, officials said. Three passengers from the cruise ship previously have died.

Passengers who have returned are being monitored for symptoms including fever, headache, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, muscle aches, respiratory issues and dizziness.

Although the quarantine is 42 days, officials said, some patients may be escorted to complete monitoring at home, depending on their conditions.

“No one who poses a risk to public health is walking out the front door,” said Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen (R).

Two passengers were sent to a biocontainment unit at Emory University in Atlanta to be evaluated. Authorities identified the passengers as a couple and said one was symptomatic.

Officials said some passengers were sent to Atlanta because they want to maintain space in Nebraska’s Biocontainment Unit in case quarantined passengers test positive for hantavirus. The specialized part of the Nebraska facility can house two to three seriously ill patients, an official said.

Life inside the biocontainment unit
Journalist Ashoka Mukpo, 45, was a freelance cameraman working for NBC News in Liberia when he became ill with the Ebola virus in 2014 and was evacuated to the University of Nebraska Medical Center’s Biocontainment Unit for treatment.

At first, he said, he was confused why they would take him to the Midwest and not somewhere like Harvard or Johns Hopkins, but he quickly learned that “it’s the best place in the country you can be,” because of the clinical expertise of the staff.

Mukpo was in “sick, but stable” condition when he arrived, and had to be fed intravenously through a tube as he was treated with blood transfusions and experimental antiviral drugs.

“There’s no question I was very sick and very infectious at that point,” he said. “It must have been a very frightening experience for the medical staff, but it never showed.”

In fact, they were so friendly, he joked, “that it almost annoyed me at times, as this East Coaster sitting there wondering if I was going to die.”

He stayed over two weeks at the facility, in a secure room that felt like a “normal hospital room,” spending time video-chatting with his family and then-fiancee, who is now his wife.

When he was finally ready for solid food, he said, he wanted a Big Mac, but the staff brought him a Runza instead – the savory dough pocket filled with ground beef that’s a Nebraska staple.

“They were very nice, totally sweet,” he said. The current passengers “couldn’t be in better hands.”

‘This is not another covid’
As of Monday there are nine total cases of hantavirus, seven of which are confirmed, as well as one inconclusive case, World Health Organization officials said in a briefing. They noted that more cases could appear over the next few weeks, and that quarantine was essential as people could be contagious before full-blown symptoms appear.

Every passenger on the Hondius was evacuated from the ship, WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus announced Monday afternoon from Tenerife, an island of Spain where the ship was docked. A total of 125 passengers and crew members from 23 countries were evacuated between Sunday and Monday, officials said. A smaller number of crew members and some health workers will take the ship to Rotterdam.

Tedros said the time on the ship was very difficult for many of the passengers, some of whom had mental breakdowns after weeks in a contained environment. He noted that some passengers are elderly with chronic conditions.

Health authorities have continued to stress that hantavirus is not the next pandemic, with Tedros saying that “the risk is low; this is not another covid.”

On Monday, French Health Minister Stéphanie Rist told the France Inter radio broadcaster that a French passenger who had started to exhibit symptoms on the flight back to France had deteriorated overnight and tested positive for hantavirus. Tedros described her status as “very critical” Monday afternoon and said he was very glad she had been quickly removed from the ship.

A team of six paratroopers and two military clinicians parachuted into the British overseas island territory of Tristan da Cunha in the South Atlantic to deliver medical support for a British national who was unwell with suspected hantavirus, the British government said.

“The risk of hantavirus to the general public remains very very low,” said Adm. Brian Christine, U.S. assistant secretary for health. In six states, authorities are monitoring at least seven previously returned passengers and others that may have been exposed to the virus. California’s state public health official Erica Pan said Monday they are monitoring a person who was not a passenger on the ship but was exposed to a person on a commercial flight who tested positive for hantavirus. These people had flown before the severity of the threat was known and before the government organized flights for cruisegoers to return to their home countries.

Pan said the CDC guidelines her department is following is to notify people if they are within two seats or the row ahead or behind a person who was ill on a flight for at least 15 minutes. Maryland announced Monday they are monitoring two residents who were on a flight with a passenger infected with hantavirus.

Questions still are swirling on how much contact is required to spread the virus. Officials said in the news conference Monday that it typically it requires prolonged contact. However, they said the situation is evolving. Exposure occurred on a cruise ship, which by nature leaves people in closer quarters.

Response amid U.S. health turmoil
The federal response is happening while the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention does not have a confirmed permanent director. President Donald Trump picked Erica Schwartz to lead the agency in April after a period of turmoil at the CDC, but she is not confirmed. Federal, state and local officials have stressed they have engaged in a coordinated response.

The U.S. also officially withdrew from the WHO this year, a decision Trump said he stood behind Monday because “on covid, they were totally wrong.”

As for hantavirus, Trump said that “I hope it’s fine,” going on to note that “it seems like it is not easy to spread.”

“We think we’re in very good shape. We’re very careful,” he said.

Health officials disputed that the government’s sweeping cuts to the Department of Health and Human Services may have affected the response.

“We have this under control, and we’re not worried about it,” Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said.

(c) 2026, The Washington Post · Lauren Weber, Annie Gowen 

Israel’s Health Ministry on Tuesday issued a public warning ahead of an intense heat wave expected to impact most parts of the country, urging residents — especially the elderly, young children, pregnant women, and those suffering from chronic illnesses — to avoid unnecessary exposure to extreme heat.

According to the Meteorological Service forecast, temperatures are expected to rise to unusually high levels for this time of year across much of the country.

The ministry called on the public to remain hydrated, stay in air-conditioned areas whenever possible, and avoid strenuous physical activity during the hottest parts of the day.

Drivers were advised to stop periodically to rest and cool off during long trips. People spending time outdoors were encouraged to wear wide-brimmed hats, light and comfortable clothing, sunscreen, and to drink plenty of water.

The Health Ministry also reiterated a critical warning never to leave infants, children, elderly individuals, or helpless persons unattended inside vehicles that are not air-conditioned.

In addition, officials stressed that animals should never be left inside vehicles or enclosed spaces without proper ventilation, water, and reasonable temperatures.

Health authorities warned that severe heat can lead to dangerous heat stroke, a condition that occurs when the body is no longer capable of cooling itself in extreme temperatures.

The risk is particularly high among elderly individuals, infants and children under four years old, people suffering from heart disease or cardiovascular conditions, individuals struggling with obesity, patients with chronic illnesses, those taking certain medications, and anyone dealing with dehydration, acute illness, or intense physical exertion.

The ministry also recommended avoiding hikes and outdoor excursions during the heat wave. Those who nevertheless choose to travel outdoors were urged to carefully plan routes in advance, ensure the terrain matches the capabilities of participants, monitor weather conditions, and bring sufficient drinking water.

Officials cautioned the public to immediately seek emergency medical assistance if symptoms such as high body temperature, hot and reddened skin, severe headache, dizziness, nausea, confusion, or loss of consciousness appear.

Until emergency personnel arrive, the affected individual should be moved to a cool, shaded area and efforts should be made to lower body temperature.

The ministry emphasized one especially important warning: In cases of heat stroke, victims should not be given water to drink. Fluids must instead be administered intravenously by medical professionals.

{Matzav.com}

A former mayor of Arcadia is expected to admit guilt in federal court after being charged with acting as an unregistered agent for the People’s Republic of China, the U.S. Department of Justice announced.

Eileen Wang, who was elected to the Arcadia City Council in November 2022, has reached an agreement with federal prosecutors following allegations that she carried out assignments on behalf of the Chinese government through a website presented as a news outlet.

According to authorities, Wang, 58, and her associate Yaoning “Mike” Sun of Chino Hills operated a platform called “U.S. News Center” between late 2020 and 2022. The site was described as serving the local Chinese American community but allegedly functioned under the direction of officials from the People’s Republic of China.

Federal prosecutors said both Wang and Sun received instructions from Chinese authorities to publish content that portrayed the Chinese government in a favorable light and to circulate messaging aligned with Beijing’s positions.

“It is deeply concerning that someone who previously received and executed directives from PRC government officials is now in a position of public trust at all, but particularly so because that relationship with that foreign government had never been disclosed,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg.

One example cited by investigators involved a draft essay sent through the WeChat messaging platform in June 2021. The directive instructed them to counter a Los Angeles Times report on Xinjiang, a region associated with the Uyghur population. Within minutes of receiving the material, Wang and Sun posted an article on their site denying the existence of forced labor, including in the cotton industry, in the region.

In response to the rapid publication, the Chinese official reportedly replied, “So fast, thank you everyone.”

Prosecutors also said Wang later published another article in November 2021 at the request of China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Wang stepped down from her City Council role and relinquished her position as mayor on Monday, according to information posted by the city.

As part of her plea deal, Wang acknowledged that she acted on behalf of the Chinese government within the United States without informing federal authorities, as required by law.

Her attorney issued a statement addressing the situation, saying:

“Events in Ms. Wang’s personal life – including her trust and love for apparently the wrong person who ultimately led her astray – require her to step away from public service… She apologizes and is sorry for the mistakes she has made in her personal life. Her love and devotion for the Arcadia community have not changed and did not waver.”

Sun, identified by prosecutors as a co-conspirator, is currently serving a four-year federal prison sentence after pleading guilty in October 2025 to acting as an unregistered foreign agent.

Wang made her initial court appearance Monday in downtown Los Angeles and is expected to formally enter her guilty plea in the coming weeks. She faces a potential maximum sentence of 10 years in federal prison.

Arcadia has a significant Chinese American population, with residents of Asian descent making up approximately 60% of the city’s total population.

{Matzav.com}

Israel transferred Iron Dome missile defense systems along with personnel to the United Arab Emirates during the recent conflict with Iran, according to U.S. Ambassador Mike Huckabee, highlighting the deepening security cooperation between the two countries.

The disclosure points to expanding military coordination between Israel and the UAE, both of which view Iran as a major threat, as a fragile ceasefire in the conflict continues to hold.

Despite the pause in fighting, tensions remain high. The Strait of Hormuz continues to be under significant Iranian influence, and talks between the United States and Iran have stalled, raising concerns that hostilities could resume.

Huckabee made the remarks during a public appearance at a conference in Tel Aviv, noting the growing benefits of regional partnerships.

“I’d like to say a word of appreciation for United Arab Emirates, the first Abraham accord member,” Huckabee said at the Tel Aviv Conference. “Just look at the benefits. Israel just sent them Iron Dome batteries and personnel to help operate them.”

The United Arab Emirates, a federation of seven emirates in the Arabian Peninsula, formally established diplomatic relations with Israel in 2020 under the Abraham Accords.

UAE officials did not immediately respond to requests for comment regarding Huckabee’s remarks.

Huckabee also expressed confidence that more countries in the region may soon join the Abraham Accords, the normalization framework that also included Bahrain when it was signed in 2020.

Still, opposition to Israel remains strong across parts of the Arab world, particularly following its extensive military operations after the Hamas-led attack in 2023. Those operations have resulted in widespread destruction in Gaza and strikes against Iranian-aligned groups across the Middle East, while Israel has also taken control of areas in Lebanon and Syria.

“The Gulf states now understood they will have to make a choice — is it more likely they will be attacked by Iran or Israel?” Huckabee asked. “They see that Israel helped us and Iran attacked us. Israel is not trying to take over your land, and is not sending missiles to you.”

{Matzav.com}