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The Israeli Air Force carried out a large-scale series of strikes on Tuesday targeting Iran’s military production infrastructure, including what the IDF described as its most important explosives manufacturing facility.

According to the IDF, the operation, directed by military intelligence, focused on production sites belonging to the Iranian regime in the Isfahan region.

Among the targets was a central explosives production plant, identified as a major facility where the regime develops and produces explosive materials used in a wide range of weapons. The site had previously been struck during Operation “With a Lion,” and in recent months, renewed activity had been identified indicating attempts by the regime to rehabilitate it.

In addition, Israeli aircraft, operating under intelligence guidance, struck dozens of other regime targets throughout the day using more than 120 munitions. These targets included ballistic missile launch sites, weapons manufacturing facilities, and defensive systems belonging to the Iranian regime.

The IDF said in a statement: “The IDF continues to deepen the strike against the regime’s military industries in order to deny the production capabilities it has built over many years.”

{Matzav.com}

170 families, mostly children, are now homeless. Dozens are injured, many children are hospitalized.
They have no homes to make Pesach in.  No food, no clothing, nothing!
They need our help! 

Join Klal Yisrael’s effort to help them make Pesach.
Click here to sponsor a child or an entire family’s Pesach needs.

Three-year-old Yedidya Rotelvi, who was blown from a fourth-floor apartment in Arad during a missile blast and trapped beneath rubble, was released from Soroka Medical Center on Tuesday in what his family described as a clear miracle.

The child, a member of the Gur chassidic community in Arad, had recently celebrated his third birthday milestone. At the time of the strike, the force of the explosion hurled him from the window, leaving him buried under debris. When his family later located him in the hospital, he told them, “I didn’t get hurt at all, and suddenly people came and took me in an ambulance.”

In a dramatic interview on a hotline broadcast hosted by Itche Dzhilavsky, the full extent of the extraordinary rescue emerged. His father, Rabbi Tzvi Meir Rotelvi, whose fourth-floor apartment sustained a direct hit, and Kobi Shachar, an IDF-disabled veteran who pulled the boy from the wreckage, recounted the terrifying moments and what they described as unmistakable hashgacha pratis.

When the massive explosion was heard, the walls of the apartment simply collapsed. Rabbi Tzvi Meir rushed to the children’s room and found that two of his children had miraculously survived. Moments later, he realized that Yedidya’s bed was empty—the child had been carried down with the collapsing wall. Trapped inside the shattered apartment, the father described a powerful sense of faith that overtook him.

“What went through my mind was that the city of Arad was established by the Rebbe, the ‘Lev Simcha’ of Gur,” the father said. “I told myself: my child is now in his hands. Where exactly? I don’t know. But he is in his hands.”

At the same time, below the building amid the destruction, Kobi Shachar rushed into the scene. In the interview, he described hearing faint cries and discovering the child beneath a massive slab of concrete weighing over 100 kilograms that had stopped just inches from his head. Seconds later, another stone came crashing down from above, and Shachar instinctively pushed it away with his bare hand before pulling the boy out.

“He simply put his head on my shoulder and rested, completely exhausted,” Shachar recalled during the broadcast.

Later in the interview, the father expressed his gratitude to the rescuer, saying: “You were a messenger of the Creator of the world… a merit and a miracle beyond words.” Shachar responded emotionally: “The merit is mine. Behold, the Guardian of Israel neither slumbers nor sleeps.”

By the end of the interview, the father shared the most encouraging news: Despite the horrific fall and being buried under rubble, young Yedidya recovered at Soroka Medical Center and even began getting out of bed and walking on his own. In what the family described as a clear miracle during the month of miracles, he was discharged and returned home.

{Matzav.com}

Missile fire from Iran struck central Israel on Tuesday night, causing widespread damage in Bnei Brak and surrounding cities and leaving at least 19 people injured, including multiple children and a baby, according to emergency services.

Several missiles were launched toward the Tel Aviv metropolitan area, with impacts reported in Bnei Brak, Petach Tikvah, and Givat Shmuel. The strikes caused significant destruction to residential buildings and vehicles across multiple locations.

The most severe damage occurred in Bnei Brak, where a cluster munition directly hit a four-story residential building. The explosion caused extensive structural damage, including the collapse of a balcony. Fire and rescue teams were dispatched to the scene and conducted searches to rule out the possibility of people trapped under the rubble.

Emergency responders from Magen David Adom reported that medics treated and evacuated 19 injured individuals to Sheba Medical Center, Schneider Children’s Medical Center, Beilinson Hospital, and Mayanei Hayeshua Medical Center. Among the wounded were a 23-year-old man in moderate condition with shrapnel injuries to his abdomen and head, 11 individuals in mild condition suffering from blast and shrapnel injuries, and seven people treated for acute anxiety.

Of the total casualties, 12 were injured in Bnei Brak alone, including one person in moderate condition and eight with light injuries, among them six children. Three additional individuals were treated for shock.

MDA emergency medic Menachem Chai Zinger described the scene: “A woman about 80 years old was inside the home at the time of the impact. She was conscious and suffered light injuries. Despite the heavy destruction in the building, she was not in a protected space and miraculously was only lightly injured. We brought her down from the apartment fully conscious and she was evacuated to the hospital in stable condition.” He added that another woman who had been with her in the apartment was unharmed.

Fire and Rescue Services reported that crews were operating at three separate scenes in Bnei Brak. In addition to the main strike, another four-story building in the city sustained damage, and a fragment struck a balcony in a residential building in nearby Givat Shmuel.

Additional impacts were reported across the Central District, including three separate locations in Petach Tikvah and another in Rosh HaAyin. In Rosh HaAyin, a fragment landed in an open area. In Petach Tikvah, a direct hit on a building caused damage but no injuries were reported, and interceptor debris fell between residential structures.

United Hatzalah medics Yitzchak Reichman and Shmuel Rotenberg, who responded to one of the Bnei Brak scenes, said: “We arrived at an impact site where, during searches, we located an approximately 80-year-old woman with injuries to her body after being struck by shrapnel and the blast. Together with medics and paramedics from Hatzalah and MDA, we provided her with initial medical treatment at the scene, and she was evacuated for further treatment at the hospital.”

Another United Hatzalah responder, Yehuda Mor, who treated victims at a separate scene in Bnei Brak, reported: “We arrived with large forces at an impact site where, during searches, we located seven injured people, including six children, with injuries to their bodies after being struck by shrapnel and the blast. Together with medics and paramedics from Hatzalah and MDA, we provided them with initial medical treatment at the scene, and they were evacuated for further treatment at the hospital.”

Senior MDA medic Lipa Hirsch described the rescue efforts: “We received a report of a strike and arrived at the scene with large forces including ambulances, intensive care units, and rapid response motorcycles. We saw destruction on the upper floor and began searches on the upper levels. A 7-year-old boy was fully conscious. I immediately understood that he needed to be removed quickly from the building, so I picked him up and carried him out rapidly. We are continuing to search to ensure there are no additional casualties or people in need of assistance.”

United Hatzalah medic Yisrael Biton, who was among the first to arrive, and Bnei Brak branch head Efi Feldman added: “This is a scene of extensive destruction on the upper floor of the building as a result of a direct hit. We provided initial medical assistance at the scene to a 94-year-old woman who was evacuated to Sheba Tel Hashomer Hospital by a United Hatzalah ambulance. At this stage, her condition is defined as moderate.”

{Matzav.com}

Residents of Be’er Sheva were gripped by fear Tuesday when a woman walked through city streets holding knives, creating a tense situation that unfolded as air raid sirens sounded due to a missile launch from Iran.

According to reports, the woman moved through the area waving the knives at people nearby. During the incident, she could be heard singing “Am Yisrael Chai,” further heightening the confusion and alarm among residents.

דרמה בבאר שבע: אישה השתוללה ברחוב כשהיא מנופפת בסכיני מטבח גדולים – עד שנוטרלה. pic.twitter.com/cXXuezfOQI

— זירת החדשות (@ZiratNews) March 24, 2026

A soldier together with a civilian quickly assessed the threat and intervened. Acting decisively, they managed to subdue the woman and take control of the situation using a belt.

Police officers from the Be’er Sheva station arrived shortly afterward, secured the scene, and arrested the suspect. She was then taken in for questioning.

Authorities said officers responded promptly upon reaching the scene. An investigation into the circumstances is ongoing, with early indications suggesting the woman may have been in the midst of a mental health episode.

Officials stressed that there is no indication the incident was linked to terrorism or any broader security threat. Nevertheless, the episode caused significant distress among residents, particularly as it coincided with the activation of sirens. The woman has since been handed over to the appropriate authorities for further evaluation and care.

The United Kingdom is preparing to head a multinational initiative aimed at removing naval mines from the Strait of Hormuz and restoring the flow of oil tankers, according to new reports, as global concern mounts over disruptions to one of the world’s most critical shipping lanes.

British officials are reportedly working to convene a gathering of roughly 30 countries that have already agreed to contribute “appropriate efforts” toward reopening the strait, Politico reported. The move reflects growing coordination among U.S. allies to stabilize the region’s maritime routes.

As part of that effort, the UK is considering dispatching a Royal Navy minesweeper or contracting a civilian vessel capable of deploying mine-clearing drones into the affected waters, according to The Times.

Intelligence assessments indicate that Iran has placed at least a dozen naval mines in the narrow passage, posing a serious threat to commercial vessels. U.S. officials told CBS News that the devices identified include Iranian-produced Maham 3 and Maham 7 limpet mines.

These explosives present a major hazard to any ship attempting to pass through the strait, effectively choking off a corridor responsible for transporting roughly 20% of the world’s oil supply.

Despite the danger, British authorities believe a navigable route remains open, as several tankers have recently succeeded in passing through the chokepoint without incident, according to reports.

The Maham 3 mines, weighing over 660 pounds, are equipped with magnetic and acoustic sensors and can latch onto vessels that come within close proximity—about 10 feet—based on information from the Collective Awareness to Unexploded Ordnance database.

The Maham 7, referred to as a “sticking mine,” is a smaller limpet device that lies on the seabed and uses similar sensor technology to target mid-sized ships and amphibious craft.

Weighing approximately 485 pounds and first unveiled publicly in a 2015 weapons exhibition, the Maham 7 is considered difficult to detect, with the ability to interfere with sonar systems and complicate minesweeping operations.

According to the U.S. military, at least 44 Iranian vessels involved in deploying mines have been destroyed since the conflict began.

Although there is no precise tally, estimates suggest Iran maintains a stockpile of between 2,000 and 6,000 naval mines.

Even amid the heightened threat, ships from India, Pakistan, and China have reportedly continued transiting the strait without encountering mines or drone attacks.

Huax, a maritime intelligence company based in Germany and Italy, has indicated that vessels successfully navigating the route may be transmitting a specific signal to indicate safe passage, The Times reported.

“Whether they are signals to Tehran or internal fleet identifiers, we cannot confirm, but the signals are coordinated across multiple vessels,” Arsenio Longo, a maritime intelligence expert at Huax, told the outlet.

“Indian and China-linked vessels appear to be transiting or staging for transit while virtually all other commercial traffic remains blocked,” he added.

Iran has stated that all countries—aside from the United States, Israel, and their allies—are permitted to pass through the strait, a position that has led to increased tensions with President Trump over the weekend.

President Trump has called on Iran to reopen the strategic waterway following sharp increases in global oil prices, as reports suggest indirect discussions may be underway between Tehran and Washington aimed at ending the conflict.

In addition to mine-clearing operations, the UK is expected to deploy Type 45 destroyers to escort and protect oil tankers navigating the strait, according to The Times.

The British-led initiative signals that key U.S. allies are beginning to align more closely with President Trump’s push to resume energy shipments through Hormuz, even as some had previously voiced opposition to the war.

A total of 30 countries have signed a joint declaration committing to efforts to secure the waterway.

Participating nations include France, the United Arab Emirates, Germany, Italy, and the Netherlands.

Iran, for its part, has warned that it will keep the Strait of Hormuz closed until both the United States and Israel agree to end the war and compensate Tehran.

{Matzav.com}

The Israel Defense Forces should establish the Litani River as the Jewish state’s “new border with the Lebanese state,” Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich declared.

The ongoing campaign against Hezbollah “must end with a radical change” beyond the vanquishing of the Iranian-backed terror group, the senior Cabinet minister told reporters during a faction meeting of his Religious Zionism Party at the Knesset in Yerushalayim.

“The Litani [River] must be our new border with the Lebanese state, just like the Yellow Line in Gaza and like the buffer zone and peak of the Hermon in Syria,” said Smotrich.

The Litani River lies some 20 miles north of the Blue Line, which currently demarcates the unofficial border between Israel and Lebanon.

“We must not return to the Oct. 6 situation where the enemy is on our fences,” Smotrich continued, in reference to the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas-led massacre. “We’ll push him away on all fronts and create a sterile security cordon that will separate the enemy from our citizens,” he said.

“Today, we are evacuating the residents of Southern Lebanon. We are destroying the terrorist villages and rebuilding the northern communities,” he declared.

Hezbollah again began firing rockets and suicide drones at Israel on March 2, in retaliation for the Jewish state’s targeted killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Khamenei was killed in the opening strikes of “Operation Roaring Lion/Epic Fury” against the regime on Feb. 28.

In response to the terrorist organization’s violation of the U.S.-brokered Nov. 27, 2024, truce agreement, Jerusalem launched an aerial campaign against Hezbollah and ordered IDF troops to advance and take control of additional areas in Southern Lebanon to halt cross-border attacks.

Responding to Smotrich’s remarks on Monday, fellow Religious Zionism Party lawmaker Simcha Rothman told JNS that the principle of not allowing terrorists in close proximity to Israeli civilians should apply equally to Lebanon and Gaza.

“When you share a border with a sovereign country that protects that border and does not seek to harm you, that is one thing,” said Rothman. “But when the border is with a terrorist organization, that is not something any country—certainly not the State of Israel—should accept.”

“Israel must ensure that its border is not situated near northern towns and civilian populations, and that the IDF is able to carry out its duty to protect citizens,” he added.

“Before Oct. 7 and the IDF’s operations in Lebanon, Hezbollah terrorists were positioned just meters from civilians. No one can accept that level of danger,” he said.

Addressing why such a policy was not implemented earlier, Rothman invoked the Hebrew term “conceptzia”—referring to a flawed strategic mindset that guided Israeli policy for years, but has since shifted.

“My party and I did not need the events of Oct. 7 to understand this,” he said. “Unfortunately, some only adopted this view afterward. They were operating under illusions of peace and prosperity with terrorist organizations—ideas that have proven irrelevant.”

“We have all seen what these groups are capable of,” he added. “Hezbollah forces are no less capable than Hamas’s Nukhba Force terrorists of carrying out attacks like those of Oct. 7.”

Addressing Lebanon’s sovereignty, Rothman argued that the country cannot be considered fully sovereign while allowing a terrorist organization to operate freely along its own southern border.

“The right of any country to self-defense must prevail,” he said. “If Lebanon is sovereign, then it is effectively attacking our civilians daily. If it is responsible for what happens on its territory, it has forfeited its ability to control that land while Hezbollah continues to fire on our civilians from there.”

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said on March 12 that if Lebanon’s official government fails to prevent Hezbollah rocket and drone attacks on the Jewish state, Jerusalem would “take control of the territory and do it ourselves.”

“The prime minister and I have instructed the Israel Defense Forces to prepare to expand its operations in Lebanon and to restore quiet and security to the northern communities,” the defense minister stated.

During a situational assessment on Tuesday, Katz again emphasized that “hundreds of thousands of residents of Southern Lebanon who evacuated northward will not return south of the Litani River until security for the residents of the north is ensured.”

“The IDF is maneuvering into Lebanese territory to establish a forward defensive line, eliminating Hezbollah terrorists and destroying the terror infrastructure built there … in order to create a defensive buffer and push the threat away from Israeli communities,” he added.

Overnight Monday, the IDF struck Hezbollah infrastructure in Beirut and across Lebanon, the military said in a separate statement.

The strikes in Lebanon’s capital targeted several Hezbollah headquarters, including bases of its Radwan Force, “from which terrorists operated to advance and execute terror attacks against IDF soldiers and Israeli civilians,” it said. The IDF also struck a headquarters of Hezbollah’s intelligence branch, it said.

“The Hezbollah terrorist organization operates systematically from civilian infrastructure in Lebanon, from which it advances terrorist activity that harms the civilians of the State of Israel and endangers Lebanese citizens,” the army noted.

The IDF also struck a “key crossing used by Hezbollah terrorists to move from north to south across the Litani River,” it said, accusing the terror group of having used the bridge to transfer weapons with which to carry out attacks on IDF soldiers.

“The strike adds to other crossings that were struck over the past week,” it stated.

Meanwhile, ground troops of the IDF’s 810th Brigade located a Hezbollah tunnel shaft and weapons compound during operations in the Mount Dov area close to the Blue Line, according to another statement on Tuesday.

“The IDF is operating decisively against the Hezbollah terrorist organization in response to its deliberate decision to attack Israel on behalf of the Iranian terror regime, it said. “The IDF acts to remove threats to civilians of the State of Israel.”

Likud Party lawmaker Moshe Passal told JNS on Tuesday that if Lebanon’s Shi’ite population continues to fight Israel, fire rockets and build capabilities to carry out attacks, more far-reaching measures may be required.

“Following Oct. 7, we neutralized along the border Hezbollah’s preparations to invade the Galilee. If the Lebanese government can act on its own and dismantle Hezbollah, that would be ideal—but if not, there will be a line at the Litani River,” he said.

“Others could live there—Druze or anyone not affiliated with Hezbollah—people who seek good neighborly relations and peace, and we would welcome that,” he added.

Passal argued that Hezbollah and the Shi’ite population in Lebanon are closely intertwined.

“In civilian homes, we found bunkers, weapons and preparations for attacks,” he said. “The Shi’ite population must decide whether it wants to disarm and live in peace, or otherwise relocate.”

“Israel cannot continue this cycle for another two, three or five years—fighting wars only to return to the same situation,” he added. “We need a long-term solution that will last for generations, not a temporary fix.” JNS

Four new ambulances have been brought in to replace emergency vehicles destroyed in a suspected antisemitic arson attack targeting a Jewish volunteer medical organization in north London, as authorities continue to investigate possible international links behind the incident.

The vehicles, operated by Hatzola, were deliberately set on fire in Golders Green during the early hours of Monday morning, destroying four ambulances and prompting an inquiry led by the Metropolitan Police’s counter-terrorism command.

No suspects have been taken into custody so far. However, police indicated they are examining the potential involvement of an Islamist organization believed to have ties to Iran, which has claimed responsibility for similar attacks elsewhere in Europe.

Health Secretary Wes Streeting announced that the government will fund the replacement ambulances, which are currently being provided on a temporary basis until permanent units are secured.

“The Jewish community should not bear the cost of this hatred,” Streeting said.
“This moment demands more than practical support. The Jewish community will not stand alone – the government and this entire country stand with them.
“The answer cannot simply be higher walls, thicker doors, more CCTV. We also have to deal with this hatred at its source. We have to confront and beat the evil ideas that are permeating in our society.”

Investigators believe three individuals were involved in carrying out the attack, which authorities have classified as a hate crime motivated by antisemitism. Although it has not officially been labeled a terrorist act, the Met confirmed that counter-terror officers are leading the case due to the nature of the incident and the expertise required.

Police have launched an online portal asking the public to submit any relevant video footage or information that could assist in identifying those responsible.

Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley announced enhanced security measures across London, including the deployment of 264 additional officers to safeguard Jewish communities, along with “additional highly visible firearms patrols”.

By Tuesday morning, police had removed the security cordon at the site, leaving behind the charred remains of the destroyed ambulances.

Nearby, at the Machzike Hadath Synagogue, damage from the blaze was evident. Medical equipment inside the burned vehicles was left ruined, shattered glass covered the ground, and the synagogue’s stained glass windows were cracked. Windows in a neighboring residential building, reaching as high as the fourth floor, had also been blown out and boarded up, apparently due to exploding oxygen tanks.

Damon Hoff, president of the synagogue, commended emergency responders for their swift action and noted that most of the damage was limited to the building’s exterior.

“Clearly this was planned,” Hoff told the BBC.
“This wasn’t just something that happened.
“All indications are, from what we’ve been told, is there was definitely surveillance and all indications are that we need to be aware that there is surveillance on our communities and infrastructure.”

Hoff also said the synagogue sustained roof damage in addition to the shattered stained glass.

Earlier in the day, Met Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor told BBC Radio 4’s Today program that incidents of this nature have a significant emotional and psychological effect on Jewish communities.

He noted that plots linked to Iran and disrupted in the UK since October 2024 have included “everything from assassination, to kidnap, to espionage”.

Taylor added that investigators are exploring whether the latest attack was supported by Iran, though determining the motive remains a key focus of the inquiry.

An Iran-aligned organization, Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamiya — also known as The Islamic Movement of the People of the Right Hand — claimed responsibility for the attack on its Telegram channel, though officials have not verified the claim.

The same group has also taken credit for other recent incidents across Europe, including an attack on a synagogue in Liege, Belgium, as well as explosions targeting a synagogue in Rotterdam and a Jewish school in Amsterdam.

Recalling the moments after the fire broke out, Hoff said he and fellow congregants rushed to the synagogue out of concern for the safety of the Torah scrolls, the most sacred items housed in the building.

He described it as “a miracle” that the interior of the synagogue was largely spared, and confirmed that prayers resumed there on Tuesday.

As the replacement ambulances arrived in Golders Green, the London Ambulance Service expressed its solidarity with Hatzola, stating that it stood “shoulder to shoulder” with the organization.

Hatzola, a volunteer-run emergency service, has been operating in Golders Green since 1979, serving a large Jewish population in the area. The neighborhood is home to dozens of synagogues, and nearly half of its residents identify as Jewish, according to official data.

The organization, whose name means “rescue” in Hebrew, provides free emergency medical care and transportation to hospitals through a network of trained volunteer medics.

In addition to north London, Hatzola operates in Manchester, Gateshead, Canvey Island, and Hertfordshire, working alongside public emergency services to assist people of all backgrounds.

In the wake of the attack, fundraising efforts have generated more than £1.3 million across several GoFundMe campaigns to support the organization.

Hatzola chairman Shloimie Richman said the funds raised will be used to establish a new, more secure headquarters.

Following the arrival of the replacement ambulances, Richman issued a statement describing Monday as the most difficult day in the organization’s history.

He said: “The irony is here that you have vehicles that are used for life-saving work and transfer to hospital, and those are being targeted in an arson attack.
“It just kind of makes you feel you know, what kind of world are we living in currently?”

President Donald Trump said Tuesday that Iran had delivered what he described as a “very big present” to the United States, pointing to the move as a sign of progress in negotiations taking place during the ongoing conflict.

Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump dismissed the notion that trust plays any role in his dealings with Tehran. When asked why he would rely on Iranian commitments, he replied, “I don’t trust anybody. I don’t trust you. I mean, that’s only because I know you. But if I didn’t know you, I’d probably have more trust. But I don’t trust anyone.”

He challenged the premise of the question itself, making clear that trust is not a factor in his approach. “Why do you say that? Why do you say what makes you trust? Do you think I trust them? I don’t trust them.”

.@POTUS provides an update on discussions amid Operation Epic Fury pic.twitter.com/3P6gH4ku8t

— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) March 24, 2026

Despite that stance, Trump said negotiations were continuing because he believes an agreement is within reach. “Because they’re going to make a deal. They’re going to make a deal.”

The president pointed to a recent development he described as significant evidence that talks are moving forward. “They did something yesterday that was amazing, actually. They gave us a present, and the present arrived today. It was a very big present, worth a tremendous amount of money. And I’m not going to tell you what that present is, but it was a very significant prize, and they gave it to us.”

He clarified that the action was not connected to nuclear matters, but rather involved energy resources. “No, it wasn’t nuclear-related. It was oil and gas-related, and it was a very nice thing they did.”

Trump said the gesture reinforced his view that U.S. negotiators are dealing with the right figures in Iran’s leadership, which he claimed has been largely dismantled. “What it showed me is that we’re dealing with the right people,” he said, noting that much of Iran’s leadership had been eliminated. “The leadership was killed, all gone. Khamenei, all gone, as the expression goes. The past Supreme Leader. And then the new Supreme Leader was racked up – at a minimum, racked up pretty good. And everyone else was gone.”

He added that lower-level officials have also been removed, but emphasized that those currently in place have followed through on their commitments. “The present, the gift they made to us, was very significant. And they said they were going to do it, and it happened. And they’re the only ones that could have done it.”

When pressed on whether the development was tied to the Strait of Hormuz, Trump confirmed the connection. “Yeah, it was related to the flow and to the Strait,” he said.

He rejected the idea that talks were centered on negotiating control of the strategic passage. “No, we’re going to – we’ll have control of anything we want,” Trump stated.

Trump said he would prefer to bring the conflict to a close without further destruction or loss of life. “If we can end this without more lives being lost, without knocking out $10 billion electric plants that are brand new and the apple of their eye, I’d like to be able to do that,” he said.

At the same time, he reiterated that key demands remain non-negotiable. “They can’t have certain things. I mean, you know the things. I don’t have to go over the list, but again, it starts with no nuclear weapons, and they’ve agreed to that. There won’t be any nuclear weapons. They’re not going to have – and they’re not going to have enrichment, any of those things.”

Trump said the United States is currently negotiating from a position of strength. “I hate to say that we’re in a very good bargaining position, but – and I hate to say that they’re defenseless, because, you know, until that last missile is fired, they have a little power. But we are in about the best bargaining position. We’re way ahead of schedule.”

He also described what he said was extensive damage to Iran’s military capabilities. “They have no Navy, and they have no Air Force, and they have no missile protection, and most of their missiles are gone. Most of their launchers we’ve killed – you know, we’ve killed about 82 percent of their launchers. So, even if they had a missile, they can’t launch it.”

Trump closed by underscoring U.S. military superiority. “We have the greatest military in the world. Nobody even comes close. We have the best military equipment in the world.”

Delta Air Lines has pulled back certain privileges previously extended to members of Congress, citing the ongoing failure to fund the Department of Homeland Security.

The airline has temporarily shut down its dedicated congressional desk services for lawmakers and Capitol Hill staff, a move that will remain in effect until DHS funding is restored after a partial shutdown that began on Feb. 28.

“Due to the impact on resources from the longstanding government shutdown, Delta will temporarily suspend specialty services to members of Congress flying Delta,” the company said in a statement first reported by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

“Next to safety, Delta’s No. 1 priority is taking care of our people and customers, which has become increasingly difficult in the current environment.”

Perks that had been available to lawmakers—such as airport escorts and access to red coat assistance—have been put on hold. While Delta’s Capitol Desk reservation line is still operating, lawmakers will now be “treated as any passenger based on their respective SkyMiles status” for the time being.

The decision follows sharp criticism from Delta CEO Ed Bastian, who last week condemned Congress for allowing DHS funding to lapse, leaving Transportation Security Administration employees without full pay for more than a month.

Bastian described the situation as “inexcusable” and accused lawmakers of treating TSA personnel as “political chips.”

“It’s inexcusable that our security agents, our frontline agents, that are essential to what we do, are not being paid, and it’s ridiculous to see them being used as political chips,” Bastian told CNBC last Tuesday. “We’re outraged.”

Delta is based in Atlanta, Georgia.

The funding lapse has had visible effects at major travel hubs. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, in particular, has seen TSA wait times exceed four hours, with lines extending beyond terminal buildings.

Nationwide, staffing shortages have driven sharp increases in TSA absenteeism. Call-out rates, previously around 2%, have surged past 10% since the shutdown began, according to acting Deputy TSA Administrator Adam Stahl.

Nearly 400 TSA employees have resigned since the partial shutdown took effect.

Stahl has also cautioned that if the funding gap continues, some smaller airports could be forced to suspend operations.

TSA employees last received a full paycheck on Feb. 14. They were issued a partial paycheck on Feb. 28 and missed their next scheduled pay period on March 13, according to an agency spokesperson. Their next payday is set for Friday.

The impasse in Congress continues, with Democrats using the Senate filibuster to block a DHS funding bill in an effort to secure broader changes to the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement policies.

Republicans have pushed back against proposals to restrict Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents from wearing masks and to impose stricter judicial warrant requirements.

On Monday, President Trump ordered ICE personnel to be deployed to airports nationwide to help relieve pressure on TSA staffing caused by the shutdown.

This marks the third funding lapse affecting TSA workers within the past six months.

President Trump recently dismissed a proposal that would fund most DHS operations separately while addressing ICE funding through the reconciliation process.

“I don’t think we should make any deal with the Crazy, Country Destroying, Radical Left Democrats unless, and until, they Vote with Republicans to pass ‘THE SAVE AMERICA ACT,’” Trump declared on Truth Social over the weekend.

Separately, a measure introduced by Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) cleared the Senate unanimously last week. The bill would eliminate certain travel privileges for lawmakers, including the ability to bypass standard TSA security screening, though it has yet to pass the House.

Some lawmakers have floated additional measures, including proposals to withhold congressional pay. However, such changes cannot take effect until the next Congress under the 27th Amendment.

A 27-year-old woman was killed Tuesday evening when a heavy rocket barrage fired by Hezbollah from Lebanon struck northern Israel, as additional missile fire elsewhere left several others injured.

Nuriel Dubin, a resident of Moshav Margaliot, was fatally wounded when rockets and shrapnel struck the Machanayim Junction area. Two other individuals sustained minor injuries in the same incident.

Emergency responders from Magen David Adom arrived rapidly and attempted to save Dubin’s life, administering urgent medical care at the scene, but ultimately had to declare her dead.

Security personnel and rescue teams continued searching nearby locations to ensure there were no further casualties or damage resulting from the widespread rocket attack.

In a separate incident earlier in the day, a Bedouin doctor was seriously wounded when a missile launched from Iran struck, while his wife and two young children suffered light injuries.

The injured man, who works as a physician at Soroka Hospital, had just returned home following an extended shift and had gone to rest when the missile hit.

Magen David Adom crews treated the family members at the scene before transporting them to Soroka Hospital in Be’er Sheva. Air raid sirens were triggered across the Negev and the Gaza border region during the attack.

The Department of War is preparing to send thousands of troops from the Army’s 82nd Airborne Division to the Middle East, according to a source familiar with the planning.

The Pentagon is expected to formally unveil the deployment of a 3,000-soldier brigade combat team from the elite North Carolina-based division in support of the ongoing US and Israeli military campaign against Iran, The Wall Street Journal first reported.

The 82nd Airborne Division is one of the military’s top rapid-response units, built to mobilize quickly in crisis situations. It is capable of sending a battalion into action within 18 hours and deploying an entire brigade within 72 hours.

According to the Journal, defense officials are likely to publicly confirm the deployment of the brigade combat team in the coming days.

Because of its speed and readiness, the 82nd Airborne is often placed on heightened alert and is frequently among the first forces considered for emerging global conflicts.

It remains unclear when the troops would arrive in the region or what their precise mission would be if the deployment goes forward.

The Pentagon has not issued any official confirmation regarding the reported plans.

Israel’s Chief Rabbi, Rav Kalman Meir Ber, welcomed the Knesset’s approval of the arbitration law on Monday night, calling it a long-overdue correction of an ongoing historical injustice affecting both the public and rabbinical judges.

He explained: “One must understand the absurdity: for years, anyone who wished to conduct arbitration in monetary matters could do so in any forum—except before rabbinical judges in rabbinical courts.”

He continued: “This is an absurd and outrageous situation, both for the public that wishes to adjudicate according to Torah law and for the judges who studied for years and developed expertise in these areas. The authorities seemingly recognize the judgment of everyone—except the judgment of Torah scholars who have spent many years mastering monetary law. This is an unacceptable situation, especially in a Jewish state.”

The Chief Rabbi noted that the need to correct this issue has long been clear to anyone familiar with it and has drawn agreement across different sectors. He said: “At the ceremony for appointing judges at the President’s Residence, I spoke about this issue, and there was broad consensus across the board.”

He also expressed gratitude to those who advanced the legislation, particularly MK Moshe Gafni, stating: “who for many years worked behind the scenes with determination to formulate the legal and political framework that would allow for its approval—as indeed occurred last night in the Knesset plenum.”

Iran has informed member states of the International Maritime Organization that it will allow “non-hostile vessels” to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, according to a report by the Financial Times, in what could mark a notable shift in regional maritime conditions.

The development carries significant global implications, as roughly 20 million barrels of oil move through the strategic waterway each day, making it one of the most critical chokepoints for international energy supplies.

Iran told countries that belong to the International Maritime Organization that “non-hostile vessels” can transmit the Strait of Hormuz.

It remains uncertain whether this step is connected to comments made by President Donald Trump, who said Iran had delivered a gesture that was “worth a tremendous amount of money.” Trump did not specify what the gesture was, only noting that it arrived Tuesday and related to the strait.

Officials at the White House did not immediately provide clarification when asked about the matter.

{Matzav.com}

Uriyah Sarousi z”l, a 48-year-old resident of Har Bracha and father of eight, drowned in the Jordan River on Tuesday after jumping into the water to rescue his son, who had been swept away. Members of his community mourned his passing, describing him as a man of gentility and chesed.

Sarousi had been on a trip in the north when his son entered the water and got into distress. He immediately jumped in after him and successfully brought his son to safety, but did not have the strength to make it out himself. Rescue teams at the scene later pronounced him dead.

He had volunteered for reserve duty, where he worked on technological solutions aimed at saving the lives of soldiers.

Following the tragedy, professional teams from the Shomron Regional Council and the community of Har Bracha have been assisting the family and supporting residents of the community.

Yossi Dagan, head of the Shomron Regional Council, paid tribute, saying: “We embrace the Sarousi family and the Har Bracha community during this difficult time. Uriyah was a fighter in his soul, both in reserve duty and in his civilian life, a man of kindness, and his final act of heroism—when he jumped without hesitation into the river to save his son—is a pure reflection of who he was: a man of self-sacrifice, love, and responsibility.”

He added: “The Shomron lost a precious individual today, a pillar of strength for his family and a fighter who always stepped forward when called. We embrace the family. The council team is supporting the community and will continue to assist the family in whatever is needed. May his memory be blessed.”

The Har Bracha emergency response team also issued a statement: “With deep sorrow and shock, we announce the passing of a resident of the community, Uriyah Sarousi z”l. During a trip in the north, his son entered the water and encountered distress. Uriyah entered the water to assist and succeeded in rescuing his son safely, but his strength gave out, and rescue forces at the scene determined his death.”

The community added: “The community’s emergency teams are in contact with the family and are supporting them at this time. Details regarding the funeral will be announced later. We embrace Tehila, the children, and his sister Orit Kayam. ‘Death will be swallowed forever, and Hashem will wipe away tears from every face.'”

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump said that Iran has accepted his central demand for ending the war, stating that Tehran has agreed it will not pursue nuclear weapons.

“They’ve agreed,” he said. “They will never have a nuclear weapon. They’ve agreed to that.”

Iran has not publicly confirmed such an agreement and has denied engaging in any talks with the United States.

Trump has repeatedly made clear that a commitment by Iran to forgo nuclear weapons is a key condition for halting the ongoing US military campaign.

{Matzav.com}

Seven people were injured Tuesday afternoon when missiles fired from Iran struck multiple locations in central Israel, causing damage in Bnei Brak, Petach Tikvah, Rosh HaAyin, and Givat Shmuel.

Air raid sirens sounded across central Israel and Yerushalayim as the barrage was launched. At least one of the missiles, reportedly equipped with a cluster warhead, was not intercepted. Several impact sites sustained damage, including a vehicle that overturned in Rosh HaAyin and a balcony that collapsed in Bnei Brak.

In Bnei Brak, seven people were wounded in one of the strike sites. A 23-year-old man sustained moderate injuries from shrapnel, while six others were lightly hurt, including an infant. An 80-year-old woman and a boy around 10 years old were also among those receiving initial medical treatment.

According to Magen David Adom, medics and paramedics treated the injured at the scene and evacuated them to hospitals. “In the Bnei Brak area, MDA teams are providing medical treatment and evacuating seven injured individuals, including a 23-year-old man in moderate condition with shrapnel wounds and six others in light condition, including a baby. Further updates will be provided as necessary.”

A separate impact involving a cluster-type munition was reported in Petach Tikvah as part of the same barrage targeting central Israel and Yerushalayim. Security and rescue forces are operating at the scene and conducting searches, though no injuries had been reported there at the time.

Fire and rescue officials reported multiple incident sites. In Bnei Brak, firefighting teams responded to three separate locations. The primary site involved extensive destruction after a munition struck a four-story residential building, causing significant surrounding damage. One person in moderate condition was evacuated, and crews continued searching the structure to ensure no one remained trapped.

At a second site in Bnei Brak, another munition struck a four-story building, prompting additional searches by emergency crews. A third site involved shrapnel hitting a balcony in a building in Givat Shmuel.

In the central district, responders handled three sites in Petach Tikvah and another in Rosh HaAyin. In Rosh HaAyin, shrapnel fell in an open area. In Petach Tikvah, one site involved debris from an interception landing between residential buildings, while another sustained a direct hit on a structure without reported injuries.

Earlier in the evening, a separate attack from Lebanon resulted in the death of a woman in her 30s. Emergency responders treated two additional individuals who were lightly injured.

According to a preliminary investigation, the woman had pulled over to the side of the road during the siren. She and another man lay down in a roadside ditch when the rocket struck just a few meters away. She was killed at the scene, while the man sustained minor injuries.

Meanwhile, Hezbollah launched approximately 30 rockets toward northern communities, along with drone incursions. Sirens were activated across multiple towns in the Upper and Western Galilee.

Magen David Adom reported that crews found the woman with no signs of life and severe multi-system injuries, and her death was pronounced at the scene. Additional teams treated two others for light shrapnel injuries.

Mr. Tibor Kupferstein, a Holocaust survivor who rebuilt his life with extraordinary strength, dignity, and simchas hachayim, has passed away, leaving behind a legacy of resilience, creativity, and deep devotion to preserving Jewish history.

His levayah is taking place at Beis Tefilah of Inwood, located at 259 Doughty Boulevard in Inwood, NY.

Born in Budapest, Hungary, Mr. Kupferstein endured the horrors of the Holocaust, surviving the brutality of Mauthausen, including death marches and imprisonment under unimaginable conditions. Yet those who knew him often marveled that despite all he endured, he carried himself with a spirit of life, warmth, and joy that could not be extinguished.

In 1948, he arrived in the United States determined to rebuild. He pursued higher education and began a professional journey marked by both talent and versatility. He first established himself as a fashion designer, then moved into the retail business of fur coats. Later, demonstrating his remarkable adaptability and drive, he transitioned once more, ultimately building a successful career in metalwork contracting.

These varied and successful ventures were not only a testament to his abilities but also enabled him to pursue what became a defining passion of his life: the collection and preservation of Judaica.

For more than three decades, Mr. Kupferstein devoted himself to assembling an extraordinary collection of Jewish art and artifacts. His vision was bold and deeply personal—to establish the first Jewish Art Museum in Brooklyn, a place where Jewish history, creativity, and identity could be preserved and shared with the public.

To house this growing collection, he purchased a two-story home on a quiet street in Flatbush, dedicating it entirely to his life’s work. Every inch of the home became filled with items of Jewish significance. Each room carried its own theme, though the sheer volume of pieces often overflowed from space to space. Visitors entering the home were greeted by a painting salon, its walls covered edge to edge with approximately 150 paintings, with additional works carefully stacked in rows across the floor—an immersive testament to his passion and vision.

In his later years, Mr. Kupferstein devoted himself to sharing not only his collection but also his life story. He spoke to students and communities, offering a powerful message of perseverance, gratitude, and appreciation for life.

Yehi zichro boruch.

Two brothers from Bnei Brak set out on a trip earlier today and have since gone missing after contact with them was lost in the early afternoon hours.

The two left their home this morning at 11:30 a.m. to travel to the area of Churvat Shiloh in the Shomron. Since the afternoon, there has been no communication with them.

Israel Police are asking for the public’s assistance in locating the missing boys, Yehuda Schreiber, 20, and Yisroel Schreiber, 19.

Anyone with information regarding their whereabouts is urged to contact the Israel Police hotline at 100.

{Matzav.com}

Questions have emerged over a reported vandalism incident at a boys’ high school in Huwara after unusual Hebrew phrasing and spelling errors in graffiti cast doubt on who may have been responsible.

Earlier this week, the Palestinian Authority’s official news agency, WAFA, reported that “settlers broke into a boys’ high school in the town of Huwara and sprayed hateful inscriptions on the walls.”

The account, later cited by Israel’s Haaretz newspaper, said that a Palestinian flag at the school had been taken down and replaced with an Israeli flag. The incident was described as part of a pattern of vandalism allegedly carried out by Jewish residents in the area.

However, scrutiny of the graffiti itself has led to growing skepticism. Photographs from the scene show Hebrew phrases reading: “Aravi tov mavet” (a good Arab is death) and “Lamikdash banenu” (our sons are to the temple).

Observers have noted that these phrases do not match the standard slogans typically used by extremist elements. The commonly known expression is “Aravi tov hu Aravi met” (a good Arab is a dead Arab). In addition, the second phrase appears to be a mistaken version of “Lamikdash panenu” (we turn toward the Temple). Analysts suggest that the error may stem from the absence of a “P” sound in Arabic, which could explain the substitution.

Ayelet Mitsch, who previously worked as a copy editor at Haaretz, questioned the report directly in a message to the paper’s editor, writing: “What’s ‘Aravi tov mavet’? What’s ‘Lamikdash banenu’? Does it sound to you like a fact that settlers sprayed this, or does it look like a fabrication and obvious incrimination that was written by an Arabic speaker and not a native Hebrew speaker?”

Additional doubts were voiced online, where users pointed to the way certain letters were formed in the graffiti. One commenter highlighted that the Hebrew letter nun in the word “banenu” was written in a style resembling the Arabic letter lam, suggesting an error that would be unlikely for a native Hebrew writer to make.

{Matzav.com}