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President Trump announced Sunday that American forces have sunk nine Iranian naval vessels and inflicted heavy damage on Tehran’s naval command infrastructure.

“I have just been informed that we have destroyed and sunk 9 Iranian Naval Ships, some of them relatively large and important,” Trump posted on Truth Social. “We are going after the rest — They will soon be floating at the bottom of the sea, also!”

The president added that a separate strike targeted Iranian naval leadership facilities.

“In a different attack, we largely destroyed their Naval Headquarters,” the president added. “Other than that, their Navy is doing very well!”

{Matzav.com}

Three American troops have died and five others were “seriously wounded” during Operation Epic Fury, the ongoing U.S. military campaign targeting Iran, according to a statement from the U.S. military.

Additional personnel who sustained minor shrapnel wounds and concussions have received medical treatment and are expected to resume their duties shortly.

“Major combat operations continue and our response effort is ongoing,” CENTCOM said in an update Sunday morning.

U.S. Central Command also stated that it is not yet releasing the names of the deceased, explaining that it is withholding the identifies the “fallen warriors” until 24 hours after their families have been notified.

Officials have not specified the location where the American service members were killed.

The casualties come as Iran has launched retaliatory attacks against U.S. military installations throughout the Middle East following strikes that eliminated much of Iran’s top leadership — including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

In the wake of those strikes, the Islamic State fired missiles and deployed attack drones targeting U.S. allies across the region, including the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, Jordan, and Kuwait, all of which host American military bases.

Defense authorities in those countries confirmed that incoming missiles aimed at their territories were intercepted. However, debris from the interceptions caused extensive damage in several areas.

At least one person was killed and 11 others were injured in strikes that hit airports in Abu Dhabi and Dubai in the United Arab Emirates.

Beyond Khamenei, Iran’s former president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad — who had previously called for Israel’s destruction — was also killed in the joint U.S.-Israeli military operation.

{Matzav.com}

HaGaon Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch and HaGaon Rav Dov Landau released a special letter of chizuk in response to the current matzav in Eretz Yisroel during Operation “Roaring Lion.”

The letter opens with an address to “our brethren, Bnei Yisroel dwelling in the Holy Land and in every place,” and speaks of the gravity of the hour.

“At a time such as this,” they write, “when the nation dwelling in Tzion is in a matzav of war and great danger, רח”ל, and additionally when the burden of governmental decrees weighs heavily upon the בני הישיבות and kollelim, it is our obligation to increase Torah and tefillah before the Creator of the world, that He pour upon us mercy from Heaven, save us from all who rise against us, and show us wonders as in the days of Mordechai and Esther.”

They add the plea: “Avinu Malkeinu, annul the counsel of our enemies and remove from upon us all harsh decrees.”

In the continuation of the letter, the gedolim call upon the ציבור to gather in the batei midrash and botei knesses on Ta’anis Esther prior to Mincha to recite specific perakim of Tehillim — chapters 22, 83, and 85 — verse by verse, followed by the recitation of Keil Melech and the Yud-Gimmel Middos HaRachamim.

They further note in the name of the Chazon Ish that the kappitel of “Yosheiv B’Seiser” is a segulah against shells and bombs.

The letter concludes with a heartfelt tefillah: “May it be the will of our Father in Heaven that He hasten the geulah, speed the yeshuah, and take us from distress to relief; may joy and gladness overtake us, and may sorrow and sighing flee away.”

{Matzav.com}

U.S./Israeli airstrikes targeted the Shahid Beheshti Pier at Chabahar Port, a facility reportedly operated by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

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Israel’s Chief Rabbis released a public letter on Motzaei Shabbos in response to the war with Iran, urging the tzibbur to strengthen themselves through added fasting, prayer, and heartfelt supplication during what they described as a “difficult campaign” against a cruel enemy.

The letter, signed by the Rishon LeZion and Chief Rabbi of Israel, Rav Dovid Yosef, and the Chief Rabbi of Israel, Rav Kalman Meir Ber, was issued under the heading “Lech Kenos Es Kol HaYehudim.”

In their message, the rabbanim write: “We stand in the midst of a difficult campaign against a hostile and cruel enemy. We witness the steadfastness of the Air Force pilots, of the soldiers of the IDF, and of all members of the security forces.

“And just as we merited in the days of Purim to be saved after fasting and crying out — ‘when Mordechai the Jew and Esther established and accepted upon themselves and their descendants the matters of the fasts and their cry’ — so too now it is incumbent upon the public to increase matters of fasting and outcry.”

The rabbanim continue by calling upon the tzibbur to intensify tefillah and supplication, writing: “Therefore, we must increase prayer and supplications so that in these days of Purim as well, we should merit, with Hashem’s help, to be saved.”

They instruct that during Shacharis and Mincha, after Shemoneh Esrei, Avinu Malkeinu should be recited, along with chapters of Tehillim — 20, 121, 123, and 130. The letter concludes with the prayer that “our prayers should be accepted favorably and that we should merit salvation speedily.”

The Chief Rabbis also stress the obligation to follow the directives of the Home Front Command, noting that regulations concerning public gatherings may change from time to time. They close with a blessing drawn from Megillas Esther: “LaYehudim haysa ora v’simcha v’sasson v’ikar — so may it be for us.”

{Matzav.com}

UPDATE FROM THE SCENE IN BEIT SHEMESH: Police released a statement saying that 11 individuals remain unaccounted for, and efforts to locate them are ongoing alongside searches to rule out the possibility of additional people trapped under the rubble.

Video shows an American destroyer launching Tomahawk missiles at targets inside Iran as part of U.S. strikes on Iranian military infrastructure.

Just one day before the outbreak of Operation “Roaring Lion,” Rav Yitzchak Zilberstein, the revered posek, delivered powerful words of chizuk and reassurance during his renowned shiur for doctors and rabbanim at Maayanei HaYeshua Medical Center. In the midst of mounting tension, his message was one of calm, bitachon, and deep emunah.

Concluding his Thursday night shiur on Parshas Tetzaveh, Rav Zilberstein addressed the matzav with clarity and serenity, speaking directly to the concerns that were already in the air — concerns that, within 24 hours, would erupt into open war.

He said: “What can I say? First of all, residents of Bnei Brak — there is nothing to fear! My sister-in-law, Rebbetzin Batsheva Kanievsky, of blessed memory, once woke up in the middle of the night and told my brother-in-law, Rav Chaim Kanievsky, that a bomb had fallen in Bnei Brak. But he told her, ‘That is a mistake, it is not Bnei Brak,’ and indeed it turned out that it fell a few meters beyond Bnei Brak.”

With palpable warmth, Rav Zilberstein continued: “Look, my dear ones, today in the yeshivos they are learning very well, very, very well. It seems to me that here in Bnei Brak nothing will happen, and I very much want to ask that all of us together fulfill the mitzvah of loving our fellow Jews, and that we also pray for all our brothers. Residents of Bnei Brak — there is nothing to speak about. I only want to ask that everyone think about our brothers who are not residents of Bnei Brak.”

He then added words that resonated deeply with those present: “It seems to me that they have no chance — that is how it appears to me! Look, people are sitting here and speaking words of Torah, they are not handing out chocolate…, not blankets…, they are simply sitting and learning, truly Torah for its own sake!

“I think that regarding Bnei Brak there is nothing at all to fear, and I also think that in the other cities there is nothing to fear. Why? Because the yeshiva students today also have good character traits. The mussar studied in the yeshivos — if that is so, I believe they protect the entire nation. That is how it seems to me.”

In a striking moment of confidence, Rav Zilberstein declared: “It seems to me that only salvations await us. That is what I think.”

One of the Rav’s close associates later related that he personally heard Rav Chaim Kanievsky say regarding the city of Modiin Illit that Kiryat Sefer has the same din as Bnei Brak, since it is a makom entirely filled with lomdei Torah.

Rav Zilberstein concluded with heartfelt divrei chizuk: “Therefore, I think that right now we simply need to increase love among fellow Jews, and it does not appear to me that anything will happen here. It seems to me that nothing at all will happen here.”

Following his remarks, Rav Zilberstein recited a kapitel Tehillim together with the participants, with deep kavana, and concluded with the tefillah of “Acheinu Kol Beis Yisrael.”

{Matzav.com}

According to CNN, Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has authorized the Royal Saudi Armed Forces to respond militarily to Iran if necessary, describing attempted Iranian attacks against Riyadh and the Kingdom’s eastern region as “cowardly.”

Footage shows thick smoke billowing into the sky following an apparent impact in Bahrain.

The IDF says it has called up 100,000 reservists as fighting with Iran continues. Forces have been bolstered along Israel’s borders with Syria, Lebanon, Gaza, and in the West Bank. The Home Front Command has mobilized 20,000 reservists, largely for search and rescue operations. The Air Force, Navy, and Intelligence Directorate have also been reinforced. […]

For many businesses in the Jewish community, the weeks leading up to Yom Tov aren’t just another stretch on the calendar; they’re when customers are planning, shopping, booking, and making decisions. Simply put: the businesses that show up now are the ones people remember later. But being visible isn’t enough anymore. Customers are FLOODED with […]

Sen. Rick Scott: I want to thank President Trump for having the guts to do this… What we’re doing is the right thing to do… I’m glad that Khamenei’s gone, the Ayatollah’s gone. The world’s a safer place.

The United Nations Security Council held an emergency session overnight following the joint Israeli-American strike on Iran, where Israel’s Ambassador to the UN, Danny Danon, said Israel is acting to eliminate an existential threat before it becomes reality and will firmly exercise its right to self-defense.

Addressing the council, Danon said that during a week when Jews around the world mark the holiday of Purim, many Israelis are sitting in bomb shelters. He drew a historical parallel to ancient Persia and warned against ignoring open threats of destruction.

He stated: “In the week when we mark the holiday of Purim, many Israelis are sitting in shelters. More than 2,500 years ago in Persia, they tried to destroy the Jewish people. It began with words, continued with a decree, and nearly ended in massacre. Queen Esther understood what the world did not understand — when someone rises to destroy your people, you act. You do not wait.”

Danon also referenced a recent visit to Auschwitz, where he stood alongside dozens of ambassadors, and warned against appeasing extremism.

He said: “At Auschwitz we saw where hesitation in the face of extremism leads. There were leaders who believed aggression could be calmed through concessions. They were wrong. Concessions did not stop evil — they strengthened it. We will take no risks and we will defend ourselves.”

Emphasizing coordination between Israel and the United States, Danon said both countries are acting because they refuse to ignore explicit threats of annihilation.

He concluded: “Israel and the United States are acting together because we do not ignore declarations of destruction. We will stop the radical regime before it becomes nuclear. Our responsibility is to act, now.”

{Matzav.com}

Araghchi: We do not attack our brother countries in the Persian Gulf, rather our operation is against American targets. It is completely clear that American military bases, which attack us, are our targets.

Araghchi: This assassination will make the confrontation more complicated and even more dangerous. This action is completely unprecedented and is considered a major violation of international law; that the leader of a country is assassinated by foreign forces.

The IDF says it is currently carrying out another round of airstrikes in Tehran.

Israel’s public transportation system has shifted to a limited emergency schedule due to Operation “Roaring Lion,” with major service reductions and temporary shutdowns across the country, the Transportation Ministry announced Sunday morning.

The Ministry of Transportation and the National Public Transportation Authority said that, in accordance with directives from the Home Front Command and security officials, many bus and rail lines have either been reduced or suspended entirely.

Under the new framework, Israel Railways will operate only from centralized emergency hubs. The light rail systems in Yerushalayim and the Gush Dan region, as well as the Haifa cable car, have been suspended until further notice. In addition, “Al HaKav” service centers will remain closed nationwide.

Officials emphasized that travel information displayed on transportation apps and public transit websites does not accurately reflect the current operating lines. Passengers are therefore advised to verify service directly through the telephone hotlines of the respective public transportation operators.

Israel Railways will run Sunday through Thursday from approximately 5:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m., and on Fridays until approximately 1:00 p.m.

To maintain essential continuity for passengers, trains will operate only on key and vital routes, with one local train per hour on each of the following lines:

Nahariya–Haifa–Tel Aviv–Beersheva, with stops at all intermediate stations listed below.

Herzliya–Tel Aviv–Ben Gurion Airport–Yerushalayim.

Herzliya–Tel Aviv–Ashkelon–Ofakim (the Sharon and Western Negev loop line).

Binyamina–Rehovot/Ashkelon.

Karmiel–Haifa.

Due to the emergency situation on the home front and the mobilization of railway employees and security personnel for the war effort, train service will operate only at the following stations:

Karmiel, Nahariya, Acre, Kiryat Motzkin, Haifa Center HaShmona, Haifa Bat Galim, Haifa Hof HaCarmel (eastern entrance only), Binyamina (western entrance only), Caesarea–Pardes Hanna (western entrance only), Chadera West, Netanya, Beit Yehoshua (western entrance only), Herzliya, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv Savidor Center, Tel Aviv HaShalom (southern entrance only), Lod, Kiryat Gat, Beersheva Center, Ra’anana West, Kfar Saba Nordau, Rosh HaAyin North, Petah Tikva Kiryat Aryeh, Ben Gurion Airport, Yerushalayim Yitzchak Navon, Bat Yam Yoseftal, Rishon Lezion Moshe Dayan (northern entrance only), Cholon Wolfson, Yavne West, Rehovot, Ashdod Ad Halom, Ashkelon, Sderot, Ofakim, and Netivot.

{Matzav.com}

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Iran’s former president and one of Israel’s most outspoken adversaries, was reportedly eliminated Saturday morning during Israel’s opening strike on Iran at the outset of the war dubbed “Roar of the Lion.” Iranian media outlets reported the development Sunday.

According to the reports, Ahmadinejad was killed together with his bodyguards.

Ahmadinejad served as Iran’s sixth president for approximately eight years and was widely regarded as one of the regime’s most vocal and extreme figures in his rhetoric against Israel. In later years, tensions reportedly developed between him and Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, and his attempts to run again for the presidency were blocked.

Journalist Amit Segal reported Sunday that Ahmadinejad had been under house arrest in recent weeks after allegedly attempting to carry out a coup aimed at steering Iran in an even more extreme direction than the current regime under Khamenei.

Veteran Arab affairs analyst Zvi Yehezkeli said following the reports of the assassination that Ahmadinejad would be remembered as the Iranian president who advanced a hardline conservative agenda focused on pursuing nuclear capabilities and strengthening Hezbollah.

According to Yehezkeli, Ahmadinejad also revived Holocaust denial and intensified antisemitic rhetoric, fostering a generation within the Revolutionary Guards that pursued nuclear ambitions and expanded military capabilities in pursuit of what he described as the Shiite regime’s broader ideological goals.

Yehezkeli recounted on his social media platforms: “I personally saw him through our television cameras about 15 years ago when we stood on Mount Adir to watch his victory visit to Maroun al-Ras in southern Lebanon. He arrived there with Nasrallah, threw a stone within the compound toward the Israeli border, and promised to destroy Israel.”

{Matzav.com}