Feed aggregator

The Israeli military has struck the gates of Iran’s notorious Evin prison and damaged parts of the facility as Tel Aviv continues to target Tehran with missile strikes. Iranian state media claims the situation on the ground is “under control” following the attack, which Israel’s defense minister claimed sought to hit “regime targets and agencies of government repression.”

Evin prison has been used for decades to house political prisoners and opponents of the Iranian regime as well as acting as the headquarters of the country’s powerful Basij militia and its Revolutionary Guard Corps. Family members of those imprisoned at Evin say the strike puts their loved ones in “mortal danger.”

WATCH:

“This strike is completely irresponsible. … This is really the worst thing that could have happened,” French national Noemie Kohler, whose sister is jailed there, told Agence France-Presse. “We have no news, we don’t know if they are still alive, we’re panicking.” Power infrastructure in northern Tehran was also damaged by the strikes. Read more at BBC.

Israel’s Defense Minister, Yisroel Katz, responded Monday to a series of missile attacks launched toward Israel by announcing that the Israeli Air Force had initiated major strikes on high-level targets within Tehran.

“The IDF is now striking with unprecedented force at regime and suppression entities deep in Tehran,” Katz stated. “At the command center, I watched the impressive performance of the Air Force closely, along with the Chief of Staff. Soon, images will be released illustrating the depth of the damage.”

He went on to stress that any attack on Israeli civilians would come at a steep cost for Iran’s leadership. “For every missile fired at the Israeli home front, the Iranian dictator will be severely punished, and the strikes will continue with full force. We will keep working to protect the home front and defeat the enemy until we achieve all our war objectives,” he said.

One of the locations reportedly hit during the strikes was the front entrance of Evin Prison, a notorious penitentiary in Tehran known for imprisoning political dissidents, academics, dual nationals, and members of the press. The facility has long been a symbol of the regime’s repressive tactics and has drawn international condemnation for its treatment of detainees.

According to reports from Iran International, a dissident media outlet, the objective of the strike might have been to damage the prison’s perimeter and potentially enable prisoners to escape. Both the United States and the European Union have sanctioned the facility for its involvement in widespread human rights abuses.

In a broader campaign to establish air dominance over Iran, the IDF also launched overnight strikes on six separate airports located in the western, eastern, and central regions of the country.

These coordinated attacks led to the destruction of key infrastructure, including airport runways, underground hangars, a refueling aircraft, and multiple warplanes—specifically F-14s, F-5s, and AH-1s—that were operated by the Iranian regime.

According to intelligence briefings, these aircraft had been designated for countering Israeli incursions. The Air Force’s offensive reportedly crippled Iran’s ability to launch aircraft from those bases, significantly impairing the country’s military response capabilities.

{Matzav.com Israel}

The city of Bat Yam raised a massive banner on the building hit by an Iranian missile, declaring: “Bat Yam is strong – Israel is winning!”

In a sign that an Iranian attack may be imminent, Qatar has completely closed its airspace. The US has a large military base in the country.

Iran is likely to target U.S. military facilities in the coming hours, according to Iranian media reports.

Pakistan condemned U.S. President Donald Trump for bombing Iran, less than 24 hours after saying he deserved a Nobel Peace Prize for defusing a recent crisis with India. Relations between the two South Asian countries plummeted after a massacre of tourists in Indian-controlled Kashmir in April. The nuclear-armed rivals stepped closer to war in the weeks that followed, attacking each other until intense diplomatic efforts, led by the U.S., resulted in a truce for which Trump took credit. It was this “decisive diplomatic intervention and pivotal leadership” that Pakistan praised in an effusive message Saturday night on the X platform when it announced its formal recommendation for him to receive the Nobel Peace Prize. Less than 24 hours later, however, it condemned the U.S. for attacking Iran, saying the strikes “constituted a serious violation of international law” and the statute of the International Atomic Energy Agency. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, in a phone call Sunday with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, expressed his concern that the bombings had targeted facilities that were under the safeguards of the IAEA. Pakistan has close ties with Iran and supports its attacks on Israel, saying it has the right to self-defense. There was no immediate comment on Monday from Islamabad about the Trump Nobel recommendation, which also followed a high-profile White House lunch meeting between the president and Pakistan’s powerful army chief, Asim Munir. Thursday’s meeting, which lasted more than two hours, was also attended by the Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Steve Witkoff, the U.S. Special Representative for Middle Eastern Affairs. According to a Pakistani military statement, a detailed exchange of views took place on the “prevailing tensions between Iran and Israel, with both leaders emphasizing the importance of the resolution of the conflict.” While Pakistan was quick to thank Trump for his intervention in its crisis with India, New Delhi played it down and said there was no need for external mediation on the Kashmir issue. The Himalayan region of Kashmir is divided between Pakistan and India but claimed by both in its entirety. India accuses Pakistan of backing militant groups in the region, which Pakistan denies. (AP)

New York is moving ahead with plans to construct a new nuclear power plant — the first large-scale project of its kind in the U.S. in over a decade and a half — with the capacity to supply electricity to a million households, Governor Kathy Hochul announced.

In a Monday interview with the Wall Street Journal, Hochul disclosed that she had instructed the New York Power Authority to expand the state’s nuclear generation by at least 1 gigawatt.

According to Hochul, the Power Authority will take the lead in identifying a suitable location in upstate New York and will oversee the development of a new nuclear reactor design.

She also noted that the agency could choose to move forward independently or bring in private-sector partners for the project.

“I’m going to lean into making sure that every company that wants to come to New York and everyone who wants to live here will never have to worry about reliability and affordability when it comes to their utility costs,” Hochul told the outlet.

{Matzav.com}

According to multiple U.S. officials, President Donald Trump has been closely tracking the situation over the past 24 hours as news and reactions to the US strikes in Iran Saturday night continue to unfold. He has been holding regular meetings with his senior staff, receiving updates on the events. Trump still intends to attend the NATO summit in The Hague later this week, but two officials noted that his travel plans could change if something significant occurs. Today, Trump issued a stern warning to “everyone” to keep oil prices low. “EVERYONE, KEEP OIL PRICES DOWN. I’M WATCHING! YOU’RE PLAYING RIGHT INTO THE HANDS OF THE ENEMY. DON’T DO IT!” he posted on Truth Social Monday morning. In a second post, he reiterated, “To The Department of Energy: DRILL, BABY, DRILL!!! And I mean NOW!!!” Earlier Monday, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt cautioned Iran against closing the Strait of Hormuz, warning that such a move could have disastrous consequences for global oil markets. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Iran’s leadership is accelerating its secretive plans to name a successor to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, following escalating military threats from Israel and the United States. Five sources close to the process told Reuters that a previously quiet succession committee, appointed by Khamenei himself in 2023, has shifted into high gear amid rising fears for the 86-year-old leader’s safety. Khamenei and his family have reportedly gone into hiding under heavy protection by the elite Vali-ye Amr unit of the Revolutionary Guards, after Israel threatened to assassinate him and the U.S. struck Iran’s nuclear infrastructure over the weekend. The urgency reflects not only Khamenei’s advanced age but also the dramatic shift in Iran’s geopolitical position. With its nuclear facilities under attack and top Revolutionary Guard commanders killed in recent weeks, the Islamic Republic is facing one its most grave internal and external challenges in decades. According to insiders, two main candidates have emerged in the leadership transition: Mojtaba Khamenei, 56, son of the Supreme Leader and a mid-ranking cleric, is seen as a “continuity candidate.” Though never officially appointed to any government post, he has long exerted influence behind the scenes as a gatekeeper to his father. Hassan Khomeini, 53, the grandson of the Islamic Republic’s founder, is viewed as a potential “moderate” figure. Aligned with Iran’s reformist factions, he could serve as a more palatable face both at home and abroad, though hardliners remain wary of his political leanings. Sources say the regime is divided between preserving ideological purity and selecting a leader who might defuse growing domestic unrest and international pressure. Khomeini’s more conciliatory tone has gained traction in recent weeks, especially after he publicly pledged loyalty to Khamenei just hours before U.S. strikes on Iran’s nuclear program. While the constitution states that the Supreme Leader is chosen by the Assembly of Experts, a body of 88 clerics elected through a highly controlled process, in practice, the decision is heavily shaped by the Revolutionary Guards and a small circle of trusted advisers. Officially, Khamenei has never endorsed any successor, and in previous private discussions he reportedly opposed his son’s candidacy, fearing comparisons to monarchical hereditary rule—precisely what Iran’s 1979 revolution overthrew. Complicating matters, many of the formerly presumed contenders have died in recent years, including former judiciary chief Mahmoud Hashemi Shahroudi and former President Ebrahim Raisi. Others, like cleric Sadegh Amoli Larijani, have lost favor or influence. U.S. President Donald Trump has openly threatened Khamenei, writing on social media, “We know exactly where the so-called ‘Supreme Leader’ is hiding. He is an easy target.” Analysts say the military pressure has reshaped Iran’s internal power dynamics. With key members of the Revolutionary Guards dead and the regime under threat, the decision about who will lead next could define the Islamic Republic’s future. “This is a moment of reckoning,” said Hossein Rassam, a London-based political analyst. “Whether the Islamic Republic survives or not, it will be a very different one. The context in which it has existed for decades is vanishing.” Whoever is chosen may not wield the same uncontested authority that Khamenei has enjoyed for more than 30 years. Some insiders speculate that a weaker, less visible cleric might be installed as a puppet figure under Revolutionary Guards control—especially if public trust in the regime continues to erode. “The […]

At the direction of President Trump, Israel carried out a series of airstrikes targeting Iranian air defense systems in the two days leading up to the United States’ assault on Iran’s underground Fordow nuclear facility, according to three officials from both the U.S. and Israel who spoke to Axios.

Trump’s groundbreaking decision to engage militarily alongside Israel against Iran was the product of long-standing collaboration between the two nations. Though the relationship had its challenges, the coordination around Iran’s nuclear threat intensified in the lead-up to the strike.

In the critical moments before the operation, Israel played a hands-on role in preparing the battlefield for the American military.
“I want to thank and congratulate Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu,” Trump declared in a televised address on Saturday following the strike announcement.
“We worked as a team like perhaps no team has ever worked before, and we’ve gone a long way to erasing this horrible threat to Israel.”

Trump’s directive to Netanyahu came in the past week, following his final determination to proceed with military action unless an unexpected diplomatic breakthrough presented itself.

“How can we help?” Netanyahu asked during their exchange, according to Israeli sources.

Trump’s response was a clear call to action: he requested that Israel’s air force disable as many air defense systems in southern Iran as possible to ensure safe passage for American B-2 bombers.

Following that request, the U.S. handed over a list of the specific targets it wanted Israel to neutralize before the strike, an Israeli official revealed to Axios.

Two days before the operation, Netanyahu and Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz held a joint call with Vice President Vance and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to finalize their operational coordination.

“They made it clear to us in that call that they were moving forward with the operation,” said an Israeli official involved in the discussion.

“In the 48 hours before the U.S. operation, the IDF conducted several strikes in the area to degrade Iranian defenses,” the official added.

Those Israeli airstrikes were concentrated in Iran’s south and specifically aimed at weakening Tehran’s air defense network, reducing the danger faced by incoming U.S. bombers carrying massive 30,000-pound bunker-buster munitions for use against the heavily fortified Fordow site.

“We didn’t push the U.S. into this conflict. We were cautious not to give the impression that we were steering them into war,” one Israeli official emphasized in comments to Axios.

“But luckily for us, God hardened Pharaoh’s heart — [Iran’s Supreme Leader] Khamenei acted like an idiot and refused any proposal from the U.S.,” the official continued.

After the American bombers completed their mission and began flying back to the U.S., Trump personally phoned Netanyahu to provide a briefing on the strike’s outcome, officials from both nations confirmed.

During the call, Trump made clear that with Iran’s nuclear infrastructure now eliminated, his administration’s objective is to negotiate a deal with Tehran and bring about a stable peace.

“The president doesn’t want to continue strikes on Iran,” a U.S. official said. “He’s ready to do it if the Iranians retaliate against U.S. forces, but he told Netanyahu that he wants peace.”

That sentiment was echoed by an Israeli official, who acknowledged receiving the message from Trump, but noted the uncertainty of what lies ahead. “We still don’t know how the Iranians are going to respond — and that could change everything.”

“But the Americans made it clear to us they want to close this round. They don’t mind if we continue our strikes, but when it comes to them, they’re done.”

{Matzav.com}

Lebanese media reports Israeli airstrikes in southern Lebanon. The IDF has yet to comment on the airstrikes.

The IDF targeted six Iranian regime airports, demolishing runways, hangars, fuel aircraft, and fighter jets, including F-14s, F-5s, and AH-1s. As a result, the attacks severely impaired Iran’s capacity to conduct or sustain air operations.

An Iranian police camp in Tehran was reportedly targeted and bombed by the israeli Air Force.

Kamala Harris is seriously weighing a bid for governor of California, according to individuals familiar with her current thinking, who spoke to The Hill.

Although no final decision has been made, sources say Harris is actively exploring the option and appears motivated by a desire to continue serving in public office. Her interest in the race, they say, is genuine and growing.

Those close to Harris describe her response to the idea as enthusiastic. “A glimmer in her eyes” is how one insider put it, describing how the prospect has seemingly reinvigorated her politically.

“She has a lot of people in her ear telling her that it makes the most sense and she can do the most good,” said a source who has spoken directly with her about the possibility.

Still, not everyone in her orbit believes she’s leaning toward running. One individual close to Harris downplayed that characterization, explaining that much of the discussion surrounding the race stems from the rapidly approaching 2026 election cycle.

Regardless of her final decision, those familiar with the matter say Harris has given herself a firm deadline: she plans to decide by the end of the summer whether she’ll enter what is already shaping up to be a competitive race. The list of contenders currently includes former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and former California Attorney General Xavier Becerra, who also served as secretary of Health and Human Services in the Biden administration.

Harris is expected to take some time off in July, which, according to sources, will provide her space to seriously consider her next political move.

{Matzav.com}

The House of Representatives has banned the use of WhatsApp on official devices “due to the lack of transparency in how it protects user data, absence of stored data encryption, and potential security risks involved with its use.”

The IDF has issued an urgent warning to Tehran residents to stay away from regime-linked military and security sites, as Israeli strikes are expected to continue.

Like clockwork, the UN is rushing to Iran’s defense, with a group accusing Israel of violating international law with its bombing campaign (lobbing ballistic missiles at daycares is apparently not a problem).

The New York Post’s cover store this morning underscores President Trump’s warning to Iran’s plans for retaliation: Don’t even think about it!”

Massive new explosions seen in Tehran, as the IDF continues its relentless attacks against the regime’s military assets and infrastructure

General Ebrahim Jabbari, senior advisor to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) chief: “We must cut off Trump’s hand, slit Netanyahu’s throat, and wipe Israel off the map.”