Feed aggregator

Senior members of the Trump administration said Friday that President Donald Trump has not yet made a final decision on whether to carry out a military strike against Iran, even as the White House reviews a range of possible responses tied to Tehran’s nuclear and missile capabilities.

According to three U.S. officials who spoke to The New York Times, the President is evaluating several options, including direct military action aimed at crippling Iran’s nuclear infrastructure and limiting its capacity to fire ballistic missiles.

The officials said one of the possibilities under discussion involves deploying American special operations forces to target specific Iranian military assets.

They emphasized, however, that the Defense Department would need additional preparation before any of these plans could be executed.

The deliberations come days after Trump met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House on Wednesday, where Iran was a primary topic of discussion.

After the meeting, Trump wrote: “There was nothing definitive reached other than I insisted that negotiations with Iran continue to see whether or not a Deal can be consummated. If it can, I let the Prime Minister know that will be a preference. If it cannot, we will just have to see what the outcome will be.”

On Friday, Trump directed that the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford, along with its accompanying strike group currently stationed in the Caribbean, be repositioned to the Middle East.

When questioned about the deployment, Trump told reporters the carrier was sent “in case we don’t make a deal, we’ll need it. If we don’t have a deal, we’ll need it. We have one out there that just arrived. If we need it, we have it ready. A big, a very big force,” said Trump.

Asked how confident he is that talks with Tehran will succeed, the President responded, “I think they’ll be successful, and if they’re not, it’s going to be a bad day for Iran, very bad.”

A New York City-based drone company that provides aerial surveillance technology to Israel along the Gaza border has been forced out of the city-owned Brooklyn Navy Yard, following a decision by the yard’s governing body not to renew its lease. The move comes just six weeks after Mayor Zohran Mamdani assumed office.

The Brooklyn Navy Yard Development Corp., which oversees the sprawling 300-acre industrial complex and whose board members serve at the mayor’s discretion, chose not to extend its lease agreement with Easy Aerial. Councilman Lincoln Restler (D-Brooklyn) celebrated the development publicly on X on Thursday.

“This public asset should not be leasing space to companies producing drones that are being transformed into weapons of war,” he said.

Easy Aerial has faced sustained demonstrations outside the historic Navy Yard property, particularly from activists affiliated with a coalition known as “Demilitarize Brooklyn Navy Yard.” The group has repeatedly urged the board to remove companies that provide support to Israel.

State Assemblyman Kalman Yeger (D-Brooklyn), a vocal supporter of Israel, sharply criticized the decision to push the company out of the facility.

“Chasing good jobs out of New York because Mr. Mamdani and his friends hate Jews is probably not a very good economic development program,” he said.

The company’s departure from its location on the Fort Greene side of the Navy Yard reflects what some observers describe as a broader shift in direction at City Hall since Mamdani took the oath of office on Jan. 1.

Under the prior administration, the city took a markedly different approach. Former Mayor Eric Adams, a retired police officer and outspoken advocate for Israel, was reportedly impressed by a 2022 presentation delivered by Easy Aerial alongside Tel Aviv-based Blue White Robotics at an event hosted by the NYC-Israel Chamber of Commerce. According to previous reporting by The Post, Adams at one point considered deploying a fleet of their drones to help combat crime in New York City.

In addition to its work assisting the Israel Defense Forces with border surveillance, Easy Aerial maintains established partnerships with the US Air Force and other federal entities. Its unmanned aerial systems have also been used to track suspicious activity along the US-Mexico border.

The company’s technology has been deployed in high-visibility assignments as well, including providing security support at the Super Bowl.

Ivan Stamatovski, the head of Easy Aerial, did not respond to requests for comment. Ido Gur, a co-founder who is no longer involved in the company’s operations, said he found the Navy Yard’s decision “upsetting” but declined further comment.

Asked whether geopolitical considerations surrounding Israel and the Palestinians factored into the decision, Brooklyn Navy Yard Development Corp. spokesperson Claire Holmes said the lease was not renewed “for business reasons related to operational and campus compliance matters. Like any landlord, we evaluate renewals based on adherence to lease terms and campus policies.”

The IDF foiled two separate drone-based weapons smuggling attempts along the Egypt border. In one incident, troops monitoring border surveillance systems identified a drone crossing into Israeli airspace and downed it. The drone was found to be carrying three assault rifles. In a separate operation, soldiers from the Paran Regional Brigade located a previously downed […]

Border Patrol agents in El Paso say two illegal immigrants attempted to evade detection by disguising themselves as construction workers near a major port of entry.

A powerful dust storm that traveled from Egypt into Israel blanketed much of the country on Shabbos morning before gradually weakening later in the day, as forecasters warned of additional weather swings in the days ahead.

Israeli Health Ministry advised the public to limit extended time outdoors, particularly elderly individuals, infants, and those suffering from respiratory conditions, due to the high levels of air pollution accompanying the storm.

The spike in pollution came one day after an intense heatwave gripped the country on Friday. By Saturday, the extreme heat had subsided and temperatures returned to typical seasonal levels. Forecasters say similar conditions are expected to continue over the next few days.

Beginning Sunday, however, a marked shift in weather patterns is forecast, with temperatures climbing well above what is normally expected for this time of year.

The warming trend is expected to intensify on Monday, bringing conditions that are warmer than average and possibly hot and dry. Dust could once again be in the air, and strong easterly winds are predicted in northern Israel.

By Tuesday, temperatures are expected to drop sharply, with the possibility of light rain. Skies are forecast to be partly cloudy to overcast.

{Matzav.com}

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanked his international allies for their support but suggested there was still questions remaining over the future security guarantees for his country. Speaking at the Munich Security Conference in Germany, Zelenskyy repeatedly thanked American and European allies for helping Ukraine by providing air defense systems that protect infrastructure like power plants […]

U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) carried out 10 strikes against more than 30 ISIS targets in Syria between Feb. 3 and 12 as part of Operation Hawkeye Strike. •⁠ ⁠The strikes targeted ISIS infrastructure and weapons storage sites using precision munitions from fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, and drones. •⁠ ⁠The operation was launched after a Dec. 13 […]

The IDF said it launched a wave of airstrikes this evening against Hezbollah infrastructure in southern Lebanon, targeting weapon depots and rocket launchers.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio: Iran will never be allowed to have a nuclear weapon. That’s pretty clear. We obviously want to have forces in the region because they’ve shown in the past that they are willing to attack us. Beyond that, the president has said his preference is to reach a deal.

U.S.–Iran negotiations are set to take place Tuesday morning in Geneva. •⁠ ⁠A U.S. delegation including Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner will meet with Iranian representatives. •⁠ ⁠Omani officials will be present and are expected to mediate the contacts. •⁠ ⁠Witkoff and Kushner will later participate in trilateral talks involving Russia and Ukraine.

The Kretchnif Siget Kfar Ata Rebbe on his first trip to the United States as Rebbe, grabs a phone from someone and make believe he is taking selfies. “אל תפרוש מן הציבור”

TSA agents are working without pay at U.S. airports due to another partial government shutdown A shutdown of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security that took effect early Saturday impacts the agency responsible for screening passengers and bags at airports across the country. Travelers with airline reservations may be nervously recalling a 43-day government shutdown […]

U.S. military preparing for potentially weeks-long Iran operations: Reuters •⁠ ⁠U.S. President Trump says it has been difficult to make a deal with Iran. •⁠ ⁠U.S. fully expects Iran to retaliate, official tells Reuters. •⁠ ⁠A sustained campaign carries more risk to US forces, broader Middle East.

Iran and the United States will hold a second round of talks over Tehran’s nuclear program next week, the Swiss Foreign Ministry said Saturday. Oman, which welcomed the first round of indirect talks on Feb. 6, will host the talks in Geneva, the Swiss ministry said, without specifying which days. After the first discussions, U.S. […]

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. openly discussed his history of substance abuse this week, acknowledging that at one point he would “snort cocaine off of toilet seats” and crediting daily recovery meetings with helping him remain sober for more than four decades.

Kennedy, 72, made the remarks during Thursday’s episode of “This Past Weekend with Theo Von.” He shared that he and the comedian first met at recovery meetings in Los Angeles prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Recalling those days, Kennedy said he was “not scared of a germ — I used to snort cocaine off of toilet seats.”

Speaking about the discipline required to maintain sobriety, he emphasized the importance of consistent effort. “Like, if I don’t, if I don’t treat it — which means for me going to meetings every day — it’s just bad for my life,” Kennedy said of his addiction and recovery journey.

Both Von and Kennedy were living in the Los Angeles area at the time they were introduced at a 7 a.m. recovery meeting, which later shut down during the pandemic.

Describing his mindset when he first sought help, Kennedy said, “I mean for me, I said this when I came in, ‘I don’t care what happens, I’m going to a meeting everyday,’” adding that he’s been in recovery for 43 years. “I know this disease will kill me.”

The Cabinet secretary has repeatedly spoken about his long battle with narcotics, including a 14-year heroin addiction.

In a June 2024 interview with podcast host Shawn Ryan, Kennedy made the striking claim that drugs once appeared to boost his academic performance.

“I did very, very poorly in school, until I started doing narcotics,” he said at the time. “I was at the bottom of my class. I started doing heroin, and I went to the top of my class. Suddenly, I could sit still, and I could read.”

“It worked for me,” he added. “And if it still worked, I’d still be doing it.”

Kennedy has also described how his struggle with addiction began in the aftermath of the 1968 assassination of his father, Robert F. Kennedy.

In 1983, he was arrested in South Dakota and charged with heroin possession. The following year, he pleaded guilty to a felony drug possession charge and was sentenced to two years of probation along with community service.

Looking back, Kennedy has described the arrest as “the best thing that could have happened to me,” saying it ultimately pushed him toward sobriety.

Attention Menahels, Rebbeim, Moros, Kriah Specialists and anyone who knows someone suffering with Kriah issues: Do you have a student or child who is struggling with Kriah? Are you frustrated with the lack of progress (and time and money)? Then this is for you! With more than four decades of experience and thousands of documented successes, […]

President Donald Trump declared Friday that voter identification rules will be enforced in the upcoming November midterm elections, regardless of whether Congress approves pending legislation on the issue.

In a message posted to Truth Social, Trump indicated he is ready to act on his own if the SAVE America Act fails to clear the Senate, suggesting he would rely on executive authority to advance the policy.

“The Democrats refuse to vote for Voter I.D., or Citizenship. The reason is very simple — They want to continue to cheat in Elections. This was not what our Founders desired. I have searched the depths of Legal Arguments not yet articulated or vetted on this subject, and will be presenting an irrefutable one in the very near future,” Trump wrote.

He added, “There will be Voter I.D. for the Midterm Elections, whether approved by Congress or not! Also, the People of our Country are insisting on Citizenship, and No Mail-In Ballots, with exceptions for Military, Disability, Illness, or Travel.”

Earlier in the week, the House approved legislation requiring voter identification. However, the proposal now faces significant hurdles in the Senate, where it would need 60 votes to overcome a filibuster — a threshold it is widely viewed as unlikely to reach.

In another post, Trump reiterated that he would pursue executive action should lawmakers fail to deliver the bill to him for signature.

“If we can’t get it through Congress, there are Legal reasons why this SCAM is not permitted. I will be presenting them shortly, in the form of an Executive Order,” he wrote.

Trump sharply rebuked critics of voter ID laws, accusing Democrats of acting in bad faith and working to undermine election integrity. He referred to them as “horrible, disingenuous CHEATERS,” and added, “We cannot let the Democrats get away with NO VOTER I.D. any longer.”

He also asserted that Democratic leaders publicly object to voter ID measures while privately treating the issue dismissively.

“They have all sorts of reasons why it shouldn’t be passed, and then boldly laugh in the backrooms after their ridiculous presentations. If it weren’t such a serious matter, it would be considered a TOTAL JOKE!” he wrote.

Continuing his criticism, Trump compared the absence of voter ID requirements to other policies he opposes.

“No Voter I.D. is even crazier, and more ridiculous, than Men playing in Women’s Sports, Open Borders, or Transgender for Everyone. Republicans must put this at the top of every speech — It is a CAN’T MISS FOR RE-ELECTION IN THE MIDTERMS, AND BEYOND! Even Democrat Voters agree, 85%, that there should be Voter I.D.”

Trump also directed criticism at Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York.

“It’s only the Political ‘Leaders,’ Crooked Losers like Schumer and Jeffries, that have no shame, and explain why it’s ‘racist,’ and every other thing that they can think of. This is an issue that must be fought, and must be fought, NOW!”

Two Islamist extremists who plotted a mass-casualty attack on England’s Jewish community—aiming to kill hundreds with automatic weapons—have been sentenced to lengthy prison terms. Prosecutors warned the plan could have eclipsed even last December’s deadly shooting at Bondi Beach in Sydney. Walid Saadaoui, 38, and Amar Hussein, 52, were convicted following a trial at Preston […]

President Donald Trump said Friday that replacing Iran’s ruling government “would be the best thing that could happen,” as he renewed warnings that the United States could carry out military strikes if Tehran refuses to agree to a nuclear deal.

Trump has insisted that Iran must fully dismantle its uranium enrichment program, a demand Iranian leaders have rejected, maintaining that their nuclear activities are intended for civilian energy production rather than weapons development.

When asked directly whether he supports the fall of Iran’s theocratic regime, Trump replied: “Well, it seems like that would be the best thing that could happen.”

Speaking to reporters after visiting Fort Bragg in North Carolina, Trump expressed frustration with Iran’s leadership. “For 47 years, they’ve been talking and talking and talking,” he said.

“And in the meantime, we’ve lost a lot of lives while they talk. Legs blown off, arms blown off, faces blown off — this has been going on for a long time,” he added, referring to Iran’s support for anti-American insurgents during the Iraq War.

“So let’s see what happens. In the meantime … tremendous power has arrived and additional power — as you know, another carrier is going out.”

Trump did not outline how a regime change might unfold. Last month, he publicly encouraged demonstrators in Iran before authorities moved to suppress the protests.

The president has also declined to answer whether he would consider targeting senior Iranian officials. At the same time, he has brushed aside suggestions that exiled crown prince Reza Pahlavi could lead the country, indicating that any political transition would have to be determined by Iranians themselves.

In recent weeks, Trump ordered the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier and its strike group to the Arabian Sea, positioning forces for potential action. He has also directed the USS George H.W. Bush to prepare for deployment.

Diplomatic efforts are continuing in parallel. A U.S. delegation led by special envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner met on February 6 with Iran’s foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi. Araghchi said the indirect talks focused exclusively on Iran’s nuclear program, which was struck by Israel and the United States last June.

Washington is also seeking commitments from Iran related to human rights and an end to its support for regional proxy groups such as Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Houthis in Yemen. Tehran, however, has so far declined to engage on those issues.

On Thursday, Trump warned that Iran could face a “traumatic” outcome if it refuses to reach an agreement. His remarks followed a meeting Wednesday with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to review possible military scenarios.

Netanyahu has reportedly pressed Trump to target Iran’s long-range ballistic missile capabilities if the U.S. launches an attack, after previously urging caution amid concerns about Israel’s preparedness.

Several U.S. allies in the Middle East, including Saudi Arabia and Qatar, have cautioned against efforts to remove Iran’s leadership, warning that such a move could destabilize the region.

Trump’s comments in favor of regime change mark a departure from positions he has taken in the past. Over the years, he criticized leaders from both parties for toppling dictators in the Middle East, including Iraq’s Saddam Hussein.

During his 2016 campaign, Trump said: “The war in Iraq started the whole destabilization of the Middle East. It started ISIS. It started Libya. It started Syria. That was one of the worst decisions ever made by any government at any time.”

More recently, on January 2, Trump wrote on social media that the United States was “locked and loaded and ready to go” if Tehran “violently kills peaceful protesters.” Reports later indicated that Iranian authorities carried out a sweeping crackdown, with death toll estimates reaching into the thousands.

On January 13, Trump urged demonstrators to “TAKE OVER YOUR INSTITUTIONS!!!” and declared that “HELP IS ON ITS WAY” before stepping back from immediate military action after Iran delayed the executions of hundreds of protesters.

{Matzav.com}

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas has ordered the publication of a long-awaited draft constitution for a future Palestinian state, a sweeping document that outlines the contours of sovereignty, religion, security forces — and a deeply contested vision of Jerusalem. The draft, released through the official PA news agency WAFA, is being presented as a foundational […]