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Newly filed court records reveal that the man accused of ambushing two National Guard soldiers in downtown Washington, D.C., cried out “Allahu Akbar” as he unleashed gunfire, and appeared to be midway through reloading when officers and troops brought him down and placed him under arrest.

Authorities say the shooter, identified as 29-year-old Rahmanullah Lakanwal, arrived in the United States in 2021 after the American withdrawal from Afghanistan. He had previously been connected to one of the CIA’s “Zero Units.” Investigators allege that he opened fire on Specialist Sarah Beckstrom and Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe of the West Virginia National Guard in a brazen midday assault.

Beckstrom, just 20 years old, succumbed to her wounds on Thanksgiving Day. Wolfe was rushed to the hospital, where he continues to fight for his life in critical condition.

Surveillance footage included in the affidavit paints a disturbing prelude: Lakanwal lingering outside the Farragut West Metro Station, only a short walk from the White House, staring toward the west as if waiting for a cue. Prosecutors say he remained there for “about a minute” before sprinting toward the corner of 17th Street and I Street Northwest.

Another camera captured the moment he rounded the corner with his arms raised “in a firing stance,” according to the court filing. The video shows him directing bullets at Beckstrom and Wolfe, both of whom drop to the pavement after being struck in the head, the documents state.

A nearby National Guard member, identified in the affidavit as Complainant Reynolds, recognized the sounds of gunfire and immediately responded. He drew his service weapon and exchanged shots with Lakanwal, ultimately hitting the suspect and knocking him to the ground.

Reynolds later told investigators he believed the attacker’s weapon had run dry and that the suspect appeared to be reloading when help arrived. At that moment, another Guard officer, referred to in the filings only as “W-1,” lunged onto the gunman and restrained him until authorities could secure the scene.

{Matzav.com}

A striking before-and-after satellite image shows severe flooding in Sri Lanka, where heavy rains from a cluster of tropical cyclones have left homes and neighborhoods submerged.

Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the capture of Pokrovsk in eastern Ukraine, hailing it as a major win for Moscow’s forces while Ukrainian officials rejected the claim and insisted fighting was ongoing

President Donald Trump’s administration said Tuesday that it will move to withhold SNAP food aid from recipients in most Democratic-controlled states starting next week unless they provide information about those receiving the assistance. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said at a Cabinet meeting Tuesday that the action is in the works because those states are refusing […]

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth used Tuesday’s Cabinet meeting to deliver an unapologetic defense of commanders overseeing U.S. strikes on suspected drug-smuggling vessels, insisting that his department “will always have the back” of those “making decisions in difficult situations.”

His remarks came as the White House and Pentagon continued dealing with fallout from reports that a second strike in the Caribbean may have hit individuals who survived the initial attack on a narco-trafficking boat. Hegseth rejected the idea that the operation represented anything other than direct, justified action. “We’re taking the fight to these designated terror organizations. And that’s exactly what we’re doing,” he said during the meeting, which aired live on Newsmax.

Hegseth said the administration’s approach marks a dramatic break from what he described as years of failed policy, accusing past leaders of relying on a “rinse-and-repeat approach.” He argued that traffickers have embedded themselves in American communities and caused devastating harm, adding that the campaign is aimed at stopping that damage before it reaches U.S. shores. According to him, the drug networks have left “hundreds of thousands of Americans poisoned.”

He made clear that President Donald Trump shifted course entirely. “President Trump said, ‘No, we’re taking the gloves off,’” Hegseth told reporters. “‘We’re taking the fight to these designated terror organizations.’” He also praised Trump’s comments on the significant drop in maritime drug flow into the country. As Trump put it, drugs arriving “by sea are down 91% … I don’t know who the 9% is.”

With fewer targets remaining, Hegseth said the slowdown in maritime strikes is a sign that deterrence is working. “We’ve had a bit of a pause because it’s hard to find boats to strike right now, which is the entire point, right?” he said, emphasizing that the goal is to stop the trafficking, not repeatedly capture and release smugglers. “Deterrence has to matter, not arrest and hand over and then do it again.”

Hegseth linked the entire strategy to Trump’s agenda, stressing that the War Department will support the officers carrying out these operations. “I will just end by saying, as President Trump always has our back, we always have the back of our commanders who are making decisions in difficult situations,” he said. “And we do in this case, and all these strikes, they’re making judgment calls and ensuring that they defend the American people. They’ve done the right things. We’ll keep doing that. And we have their backs.”

That same morning, the War Department publicly accused The Washington Post of fabricating comments attributed to Hegseth in its reporting on the Caribbean operation. Press secretary Kingsley Wilson said the newspaper’s account distorted the facts and was contradicted even by other media outlets. She said, “a completely fake story in The Washington Post, now discredited by the New York Times, tried to mischaracterize these successful strikes in bad faith. It was an attempt to damage the secretary and the president, and the people saw through it.”

The incident at the center of the dispute occurred on Sept. 2, when U.S. forces executed a secondary strike after the first attack crippled the suspected narco-smuggling vessel. Lawmakers and legal analysts have questioned whether the survivors still posed an imminent threat at the moment of the follow-up strike.

Wilson insisted the mission was fully lawful. “Our operations in the SOUTHCOM region are lawful under both U.S. and international law, with all actions in compliance with the law of armed conflict,” she said, adding that “These actions have also been approved by the best military and civilian lawyers up and down the chain of command.” She emphasized that Hegseth supports the officer who made the decision, Vice Adm. Frank “Mitch” Bradley, noting he stands behind him “100%.”

The White House confirmed that Bradley acted under standing authority, backing the decision despite the scrutiny surrounding the operation.

{Matzav.com}

A Jerusalem court on Tuesday sentenced two East-Jerusalem residents to prison after convicting them of plotting a truck-bomb attack near the Israeli Knesset. Mustafa Abd Al-Nabi was given a 12-year prison sentence, while Ahmad Natasha received five years plus a suspended sentence. Prosecutors said the pair had planned to detonate a bomb-laden vehicle close to […]

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey says as many as 100 federal agents are headed to the Twin Cities following reports of massive taxpayer fraud committed by Somali immigrants.

The Trump administration has moved to tighten security around National Guard personnel, with War Department press secretary Kingsley Wilson announcing that Guard members stationed in Washington, D.C., have now been fully armed. Wilson explained that the step aligns with the administration’s broader insistence on ensuring troops can protect themselves while assisting civil authorities. “I can confirm that everybody in D.C. is now armed,” she told reporters, making clear that Guard units in the capital are now working closely with local police in combined patrols.

She stressed that safeguarding the soldiers remains a priority for officials overseeing the deployments. “Their safety, of course, is top of mind, and we will continue to make sure they’re able to do their jobs in keeping all of our great Americans safe across our country,” Wilson said. She also noted that ongoing Guard missions in Chicago and Los Angeles will not be halted, even in the wake of recent violence.

The heightened security posture comes on the heels of a tragic assault in Washington, D.C., where U.S. Army Spc. Sarah Beckstrom was killed and U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe was gravely injured. Both were serving with the West Virginia National Guard when they were attacked. A 29-year-old Afghan national has been charged in the case, prompting fresh debate about how best to protect Guard personnel deployed in support roles in major cities.

President Donald Trump has personally expressed support for the families affected by the attack, sharing that he welcomed Beckstrom’s relatives to the White House and intends to honor both service members. “When you’re ready, because that’s a tough thing, come to the White House,” Trump said. “We’re going to honor Sarah — and likewise with Andrew, recover or not.”

Back in West Virginia, communities have been gathering for vigils, mourning Beckstrom and davening for Wolfe’s recovery. Gov. Patrick Morrisey delivered an encouraging update during a Newsmax-broadcast press conference, explaining that Wolfe has shown hopeful signs despite being in serious condition. “We did have some positive news,” Morrisey said, recounting reports that Wolfe responded to a nurse with a thumbs-up and “wiggled his toes.” The governor said Wolfe’s mother has asked people to continue davening, noting, “Those prayers are working.”

Morrisey added that about 170 West Virginia Guard members currently serving in Washington volunteered for the assignment because of their commitment to both state and country. “They’re volunteering because they believe in the mission. They want to support the state of West Virginia. They want to support the country,” he said.

For officials in Washington, Wilson’s remarks underscore a broader administration approach: reinforcing the security of deployed troops while maintaining a visible law-and-order presence in cities facing instability. Supporters of the move argue that if service members are placed in unpredictable situations on American streets, arming them is simply a responsible and necessary precaution.

{Matzav.com}

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President Trump to media member holding microphone boom: “How strong are you? You’ve been holding that thing for 2 hours….I’m very proud of you. I have no idea who you are, but you’re strong.”

PUTIN: “If Europe suddenly wants to wage war with us, and starts it, we are ready right away.”

Mamdani says deporting criminal aliens “does nothing to serve the interest of public safety.”

SCHUMER: “Let me be clear. If Trump were to order an attack on land that would be an act of war and Congress would invoke the War Powers Act.”

Mayor of Bat Yam issues stark warning to residents about Iranian recruitment attempts. Bat Yam Mayor Tzvika Brot released a rare video message at the request of the Shin Bet alerting residents that Iranian intelligence has been contacting Israelis directly through messages sent to their personal phones. The mayor urged anyone who responded to these […]

Switzerland: Sergey Shipitsin 35, an extreme sports athlete from Ashdod known as “The Jumping Buddha,” was killed while gliding with a parachute in the Lauterbrunnen Valley in Switzerland. He was known for high-risk stunts, including parkour-style jumps between buildings and crane climbs, which he documented on social media. Concern grew after he failed to return […]

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte brushed off fresh concern Tuesday about the United States’ commitment to the military organization on the eve of a meeting of allied foreign ministers focused on Russia’s war against Ukraine. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio was expected to miss Wednesday’s meeting, which will unfold during high-stakes negotiations in Moscow and […]

In the aftermath of the deadly Washington, D.C., attack that left one National Guard member dead and another gravely injured, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem is pressing for a dramatic overhaul of the United States’ travel-ban list. According to a CNN report, she has recommended expanding the current roster from 19 restricted nations to as many as 32, a significant escalation of existing policy.

The push follows revelations about the suspect in the D.C. shooting — an Afghan national who had assisted U.S. operations overseas, later arrived in Washington state during the Biden administration’s resettlement effort, and ultimately received asylum under the Trump administration.

After discussions with President Donald Trump, Noem signaled she favors a broad, aggressive strategy rather than incremental additions. As she wrote on X, “I am recommending a full travel ban on every …. country that’s been flooding our nation with killers, leeches, and entitlement junkies,” insisting that Americans should not be forced to witness “foreign invaders” harming citizens or draining public resources.

CNN noted that the administration has not yet finalized which countries would be added or when any announcement would be made. The reporting indicated that the proposal remains under active review and could be revised before the administration makes its decision public.

At present, the 19 countries with full or partial restrictions include Afghanistan, Burma (Myanmar), Chad, the Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Yemen, Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela.

Speaking to Newsmax, Noem emphasized what she described as deep flaws in the vetting systems used during the Biden administration — especially during Operation Allies Welcome, the mass evacuation and resettlement program following the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan. On The Record With Greta Van Susteren, she warned, “We think up to 100,000 people came in under Operation Allies that may be here that we don’t know necessarily who they are or why they came to this country,” arguing that all screening should occur before individuals ever reach U.S. soil.

Noem also highlighted the mounting backlog in asylum cases and said the administration is reallocating resources to strengthen pre-entry checks and tighten immigration enforcement. These efforts, she noted, are part of President Trump’s wider security-driven agenda focused on safeguarding the border and prioritizing national security in migration policy.

A DHS spokesperson told Newsmax that the updated list would be released in the near future, as the administration evaluates how to correct past failures and rebuild trust in a system long criticized for putting procedural red tape ahead of protecting Americans.

{Matzav.com}

Russian President Vladimir Putin warned Tuesday that Russia is “ready” for war with Europe if European nations “want to and start one.” The comment came just hours before senior U.S. envoys landed in Moscow to advance a contentious peace proposal for Ukraine. Speaking to reporters in Moscow, Putin insisted that Russia does not seek a […]

Harvard University is again urging a federal court to throw out a lawsuit brought by former graduate student Yoav Segev, who says the institution unlawfully refused to discipline students and faculty who harassed him because he is Jewish. The university’s legal filing marks its second and final attempt to dismiss the case. If denied, the […]

President Donald Trump used a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday to blast the press for what he said is obsessive scrutiny of his health while giving Joe Biden a free pass during Biden’s time in office. He argued that the media is recycling baseless storylines because it cannot pin genuine scandals on him.

Speaking to reporters in the room, Trump complained that journalists repeatedly float questions about his condition. “But you always find something new. Like, is he in good health?” he said, noting that the same reporters showed little urgency when concerns were raised about Biden. “The guy didn’t do a news conference for eight months. If I go one day … ‘There’s something wrong with the president.’ You people are crazy,” he added.

Trump said he fields questions constantly and that critics are simply manufacturing narratives. “I sit here, I do news — four news conferences a day. I answer questions from very intelligent lunatics. You people,” he joked, before adding, “They always … I give the right answers. There’s never a scandal. There’s never a problem.”

He pointed to his recent physical, saying he voluntarily took a cognitive test even though he was told no other president had previously taken one. The exam, he said, was no pushover. “They said to me, ‘Would you like to take a cognitive test?’” Trump explained, noting that he chose to proceed. “As the doctor will tell you, I aced it … I got every single question right.”

Trump contrasted his own openness with what he described as years of gentle treatment of Biden. “Stories about Biden was in wonderful health,” he said, arguing that the different tone in coverage shows a clear imbalance.

His comments followed the White House release on Monday of additional medical details from his annual physical. According to a memorandum by White House physician Sean P. Barbabella, an MRI conducted last month showed no abnormalities. The imaging evaluation of Trump’s heart and abdominal organs was described as “perfectly normal,” with no indication of inflammation, impaired blood flow, narrowing, clotting, or any other concern.

The president, who is 79, underwent the scans on Nov. 14 and described them at the time as routine. “It’s part of my physical,” he said when asked. “Getting an MRI is very standard.”

Trump again emphasized that he “aced” his cognitive test and dismissed insinuations about his fitness for office. He closed his remarks by returning to familiar territory, once more labeling the 2020 election “fake” and “rigged,” and claiming that missteps under Biden left the country vulnerable.

{Matzav.com}