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German Chancellor Friedrich Merz spoke out in support of Israel’s war against the Islamic Republic. Speaking to the press at the G7 conference in Canada on Tuesday, Merz said, “This is the dirty work Israel is doing for all of us. We are also victims of this regime. This mullah regime has brought death and destruction to the world.” “I can only say I have the greatest respect for the fact that the Israeli army and the Israeli government had the courage to do this,” Merz asserted. Merz also told Welt TV that he thinks the war could bring about a regime change in Iran. “I assume that the attacks of the last few days have already weakened the mullah regime considerably and that it is unlikely to return to its former strength, making the future of the country uncertain,” Merz said. “To be honest, I can hardly imagine the mullah regime returning to its old functions. Large parts of the military leadership and the so-called Revolutionary Guards are no longer alive, so things will not be the same as they were.” (YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem was taken by ambulance to a Washington, D.C. hospital on Tuesday following what officials described as a medical issue, according to CNN.

“Secretary Noem had an allergic reaction today,” Department of Homeland Security spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin told CNN. “She was transported to the hospital out of an abundance of caution. She is alert and recovering.”

CNN noted that multiple Secret Service agents were stationed at various entrances around the hospital’s emergency room where Noem was receiving treatment.

Noem, 53, previously served as both governor of South Dakota and a member of Congress representing the state. President Donald Trump appointed her to head the Department of Homeland Security shortly after his re-election in November, making her a key part of his second-term Cabinet, especially as he prioritizes stricter immigration policy. Her nomination was approved by the Senate in late January.

On Monday, Noem posted on X in support of the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” a comprehensive immigration and border security package currently under review by the Senate.

“The Trump administration will stop at nothing to secure America’s borders and Make America Safe Again,” Noem wrote. “The One Big Beautiful Bill gives us the means to do that.”

{Matzav.com}

During a moving address at a welcome reception held in his honor in the United States, Slabodka Rosh Yeshiva Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch, who is currently visiting America to lead a fundraising campaign for the Keren Olam HaTorah fund, delivered heartfelt words about the ongoing crisis in Eretz Yisroel.

Rav Hirsch implored American Jews to deeply feel the pain and anxiety of their brethren in Israel. “Moshe Rabbeinu went down to Mitzrayim, saw the suffering of his brothers, and cried with them,” he said. “He wished he could help. Chazal say that Moshe acted with true brotherhood—achvah—and that’s why he merited the sneh (burning bush).”

Drawing from that message, the Rosh Yeshiva said, “We’re speaking about our own flesh and blood. Anyone with relatives there knows the fear they are living with. And every Yid should feel that fear with them.

“Those who are there can’t sleep at night because of the fear and anxiety—each missile launch brings terror that it may land near them. Some people don’t even have what to eat. They live in constant uncertainty, and we need to daven, to think about their reality, and to be emotionally present with them,” he said.

Rav Hirsch went on to emphasize a second key point: “Everything happening now is from Hakadosh Baruch Hu. It’s not the Iranians. They are merely the tool through which Hashem’s will is carried out. We don’t know why, but we know clearly that it is all from Hashem. That is why we must turn to Him, to beg Him to remove His anger and bring an end to this war.”

The Rosh Yeshiva added a third fundamental: “We must truly believe that our tefillos have power. If we really believed they worked, we would daven more. There’s an obligation to feel that our prayers can make a difference—they can change everything.”

He concluded by stressing these three foundations: “We must feel the pain of our fellow Jews. We must know that everything is from Hashem. And we must believe that our tefillos help. If we internalize these truths, Hashem will hear our prayers, bring yeshuah, and all will be good, be’ezras Hashem.”

{Matzav.com}

Iran has prepared missiles for potential strikes against U.S. forces in the Middle East, according to reports. The New York Times reported that the Iranian military is planning possible attacks against American forces if the U.S. joins Israel as it continues to launch strikes against the Islamic Republic, citing American officials. As an example, if the U.S. strikes Fordow, a key Iranian nuclear facility, Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen could attack ships in the Red Sea, as they have done since Oct, 7, 2023, the Times of Israel reported. The US has thousands of troops deployed in the region. Meanwhile, Iran has missile bases within range of some of the American forces.

The U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem will be closed from Wednesday through Friday. “As a result of the current security situation and ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran, the U.S. Embassy has directed that all U.S. government employees and their family members continue to shelter in place in and near their residences until further notice,” a security alert states. The closure includes the consular sections in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. There will be no passport or consular report of birth abroad services, either. “We have no announcement about assisting private U.S. citizens to depart at this time,” the alert said. “The Department of State is always planning for contingencies to assist with private U.S. citizens’ departure from crisis areas. We will alert the U.S. citizen community if there is additional information to share regarding departure options. U.S. citizens should enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program to receive the latest updates.” U.S. officials are aware that Ben Gurion Airport remains closed, and that there are no commercial or charter flights operating from there. Seaports in Israel are also closed, the alert said.

Sephardic Chief Rabbi Rav Dovid Yosef has made clear to Transportation Minister Miri Regev and executives at El Al that Jewish law prohibits operating repatriation flights on Shabbos for Israelis stranded overseas, according to a statement from his office reported by The Times of Israel.

Rav Yosef’s position comes as the country works to return an estimated 150,000 Israelis who were left abroad after Israel closed its airspace early Friday in response to the escalating conflict with Iran.

In light of the emergency, the Transportation Ministry, along with Israeli airlines El Al, Arkia, and Israir, have been coordinating efforts to launch special return flights, which are expected to begin tomorrow depending on security developments.

Although El Al normally halts operations over Shabbos, the airline and Minister Regev approached Rav Yosef to ask whether halachic exceptions could be made under the principle of pikuach nefesh which can override Shabbos prohibitions.

However, Rav Yosef ruled that the situation does not meet the criteria of immediate danger to life, and therefore, flights should not be operated by El Al on Shabbos.

A spokesperson for Minister Regev clarified that the Chief Rabbi’s directive applies only to El Al. “The rabbi’s prohibition is specifically for El Al,” the spokesperson stated. “We will continue with whoever can fly or sail.”

Other carriers such as Arkia, which does operate on Shabbos, will be handling rescue flights. Additionally, the Transportation Ministry has arranged for Mano Maritime to run two cruise ship journeys from Cyprus to help ferry stranded Israeli citizens home by sea.

{Matzav.com Israel}

A dramatic scene unfolded directly in front of the Beth Rivka girls school in Montreal this afternoon – just as girls were leaving and beginning to walk home. There was no indication that the incident was security related.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has released footage of what they claim are Emad ballistic missiles being launched earlier tonight toward Israel.

A missile launched by Iran almost destroyed a parked car in a Chareidi neighborhood in Haifa but the tefillin inside it were unharmed. B’Chasdei Hashem, no one was injured in the incident. Deputy Transportation Minister Uri Maklev traveled on Tuesday to the impact site and spoke with the residents of the neighborhood, who have been under continuous threat. Iran has been targeting Haifa in their barrages, as there are many strategic assets in the city: the Haifa Port, the city’s industrial zone and oil refineries (the largest of which was hit and is currently closed down), and a naval base. The owner of the car told Maklev that part of the neis was that the missile first hit the nearby water pipe, which quelled the fire before it hit the car. Even the police were amazed when they discovered tefillin intact within the twisted metal of the car—without a scratch. “The officers at the site were astonished, and the incident left a strong impression on the residents of the area,” the police said. (YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)

Sirens are sounding, schools and jobs are shut, and families’ expenses are soaring while income has vanished. Our Rabbinic board has ordered a large crisis fund to keep food on tables and hope in hearts.

According to The New York Times, Iran has put its missile systems and other military assets on alert in preparation for potential strikes targeting American military positions across the Middle East.

U.S. officials cited in the report say Tehran is preparing these moves as a contingency plan in case American troops become involved in Israeli military operations against Iran.

The officials note that any U.S. strike on Iran’s Fordo nuclear site could prompt the Iran-aligned Houthi rebels in Yemen to launch attacks on vessels in the Red Sea, a tactic they have previously used.

Militias affiliated with Iran in Iraq and Syria are also expected to target U.S. military installations in those countries if the situation escalates, the report adds.

Additionally, Iranian forces might deploy sea mines in the Strait of Hormuz—an essential waterway at the mouth of the Persian Gulf—in an effort to restrict the movement of U.S. naval vessels.

The report emphasizes that Iran’s missile arsenals are positioned within striking distance of several U.S. military outposts in the region, where tens of thousands of American troops are currently stationed.

{Matzav.com}

The IRGC claims a recent missile barrage involved Fattah-1 hypersonic missiles, calling it “the beginning of the end” for Israel’s air defenses. According to the IRGC, the missiles penetrated Israeli systems, struck their targets, and demonstrated Iran’s control over the skies of the “occupied territories.”

At the mass Atzeres Tefillah in BMG’s Bais Yitzchok, as thousands daven for the safety of Acheinu Bais Yisroel under the shadow of war in Israel. Participating in the atzeres are Gedolei Eretz Yisroel, including Harav Moshe Hillel Hirsch shlit”a and Harav Dovid Cohen shlit”a. The call-in number for the atzeres is 857-347-0100 (125005).

In a Hebrew-language interview broadcast tonight on israel’s Channel 14, Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu reiterated recent remarks supporting the idea of toppling Iran’s ruling regime and indicated that the current military conflict could help advance normalization with Arab countries under the Abraham Accords framework.

Responding to a question about whether regime change in Iran was a specific aim of the war, Netanyahu explained his perspective in historical terms. “Cyrus freed the Jews, and today the Jewish state might free the Persians. Not in the sense that we’re doing it for them…In the end, they have to rise up themselves, but we are creating the conditions. And that’s why it could be consequential.”

During the interview, Netanyahu made the assertion—twice—that “80 percent” of the Iranian population “hate” their ruling regime, although he did not cite any source for the statistic. He referred to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei as a “modern Hitler” and said that Israel intended to strike “additional regime facilities” as part of its military campaign.

Netanyahu expressed confidence that the current war signaled a major regional shift. “We’re going to see a different Middle East, a reality we haven’t seen until now,” he said, forecasting that the Arab nations would become more aligned with Israel and that the war might actually lead to further developments in the Abraham Accords.

“The Arab world has opened up to us,” Netanyahu said. “And the threat we face now is Iran. It’s either us or them.”

{Matzav.com Israel}

Iran has released a new AI-generated video implicitly threatening a nuclear attack on Israel. There is no evidence to suggest the genocidal regime has any such capabilities.

New explosions seen in Tehran amid a new wave of Israeli bombing runs, as confirmed by the IDF.

Amid waves of ballistic missile attacks and a US attack on its nuclear facilities likely pending, Iran’s supreme leader ym”s vows to “show the Zionists no mercy.”

President Donald Trump is reportedly weighing the possibility of coordinating with Israel on military strikes targeting Iran’s nuclear infrastructure, including the highly secure facility located in Fordow. The information was reported by CBS News, which cited five individuals with knowledge of the matter.

The report indicates that among Trump’s top advisors, there is no unanimous stance on whether the United States should actively join the Israeli military campaign.

This issue was expected to be addressed during a high-level discussion convened by Trump in the White House Situation Room on Tuesday afternoon, where his national security team gathered to evaluate the growing conflict between Israel and Iran.

Earlier that day, Trump posted on Truth Social, asserting that the United States, alongside Israel, now dominates the Iranian airspace. “We now have complete and total control of the skies over Iran. Iran had good sky trackers and other defensive equipment, and plenty of it, but it doesn’t compare to American made, conceived, and manufactured ‘stuff.’ Nobody does it better than the good ol’ USA,” Trump wrote.

In a follow-up message, Trump mentioned the location of Iran’s top leader and issued a veiled warning, saying, “We know exactly where the so-called ‘Supreme Leader’ is hiding. He is an easy target, but is safe there – We are not going to take him out (kill!), at least not for now. But we don’t want missiles shot at civilians, or American soldiers. Our patience is wearing thin. Thank you for your attention to this matter!”

In another post, Trump issued a stark demand to Tehran, simply stating, “UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER!”

A day earlier, Trump used his Truth Social account to urge those in Iran’s capital to flee, warning of potential consequences if the regime did not cooperate on nuclear negotiations. “Iran should have signed the ‘deal’ I told them to sign. What a shame, and waste of human life. Simply stated, IRAN CAN NOT HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON. I said it over and over again! Everyone should immediately evacuate Tehran!” he wrote.

He reiterated this stance in yet another post, emphasizing his America First policy. “AMERICA FIRST means many GREAT things, including the fact that, IRAN CAN NOT HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!!!”

In response to the escalating developments in the Middle East, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt announced that President Trump would be cutting his trip to the G7 summit short. “President Trump had a great day at the G7, even signing a major trade deal with the United Kingdom and Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Much was accomplished, but because of what’s going on in the Middle East, President Trump will be leaving tonight after dinner with Heads of State,” she said in a post on X.

When Trump later faced questions from the press regarding his early departure, he offered a brief explanation. “You probably see what I see… I have to be back early — for obvious reasons.”

{Matzav.com}