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President Donald Trump said Wednesday that the United States now holds a commanding advantage in its war with Iran following a series of coordinated American and Israeli strikes aimed at dismantling Tehran’s military capabilities.

Speaking at the White House in remarks reported by Fox News, Trump described the ongoing campaign as highly effective and said the results have exceeded expectations.

“We’re doing very well on the war front, to put it mildly,” Trump said. “Somebody said on a scale of 10, where would you rate it? I said about a 15.”

https://twitter.com/i/status/2029292690689393130

Trump said the attacks have severely damaged Iran’s missile infrastructure, describing rapid progress in eliminating both weapons and launch systems.

“Their missiles are being wiped out rapidly. Their launchers are being wiped out,” he said.

The President also pointed to what he described as Iran’s long history of threatening the United States and Israel, saying the current military action is addressing dangers that have persisted for decades.

“That was a tremendous threat to us for many years,” he said. “For 47 years they have been killing our people and killing people from all over the world.”

Trump said the recent strikes have shifted the strategic balance in favor of the United States and its allies.

“We’re in a very strong position now,” Trump added. “It’s a great display of military strength.”

Earlier Wednesday, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt also praised the military campaign, saying “Operation Epic Fury has been a resounding success.”

Leavitt said U.S. forces have targeted “more than 2,000 targets,” eliminating “hundreds and hundreds of ballistic missiles, launchers, and drones.” She added, citing the Department of War, that the United States expects “to have complete and total dominance over Iranian airspace in the coming hours.”

{Matzav.com}

Republican senators on Wednesday voted down a resolution that would have required President Donald Trump to secure approval from Congress before undertaking any additional U.S. military operations against Iran.

The measure was defeated by a vote of 47 to 53. Republican Senator Rand Paul broke with most members of his party and joined nearly all Democrats in supporting the resolution, while Democratic Senator John Fetterman sided with Republicans in opposing it.

Even if the proposal had passed this procedural stage, it still faced a difficult path forward. The resolution would have needed to move through the Senate’s full amendment process before it could advance to the House of Representatives. In addition, the legislation would almost certainly have faced a presidential veto, meaning supporters would have needed a two-thirds majority in both chambers of Congress to override it.

The vote came shortly after Trump publicly criticized five Republican senators who had supported an earlier war powers resolution related to potential military action in Venezuela. Of those lawmakers, only Paul once again voted in favor of restricting the president’s authority.

The issue is now expected to come before the House of Representatives, where lawmakers are scheduled to vote on a related measure on Thursday.

{Matzav.com}

Air raid sirens will be sounding momentarily in Central Israel including Yerushalyim. A barrage of missiles was launched toward Israel. The public is requested to continue to follow the instructions of the Home Front Command, the public is requested to stay in protected spaces until official notice. The IDF is currently identifying and intercepting threats.

Israel’s Air Force commander suggested Wednesday that elite Israeli special forces may be operating deep inside Iran, describing ongoing missions in the country as the kind that “could ignite the imagination.” In a letter to Air Force personnel about Operation Roaring Lion, Maj. Gen. Tomer Bar revealed that fighters from the military’s most secretive units […]

Agudath Israel of America has appointed New Jersey Assemblyman Avi Schnall as the organization’s new Chief Operating Officer.

The appointment was first shared at a meeting of the Moetzes Gedolei Hatorah held last Thursday in Boro Park, Brooklyn. The news was later conveyed to Agudah staff members during a gathering on Taanis Esther. The official announcement was made today by Shlomo Werdiger, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Agudath Israel of America.

“Avi is a longtime employee of Agudas Yisroel, an effective advocate for both his home state of New Jersey as [previously] the state director, and more recently for yeshiva children across the country as our Director of Federal Education Affairs in Washington, D.C. Avi also has the Agudah in his DNA as the grandson of the beloved, longtime Agudah activist Mr. Zloitchy Gluck z”l. Avi’s infectious enthusiasm, his dedication to Klal Yisroel, and his ability to form personal connections and relationships, will certainly serve him in good stead as he moves forward on this more important national role in Agudas Yisroel,” Mr. Werdiger added.

In his new capacity as Chief Operating Officer, Assemblyman Schnall will oversee the day-to-day operations of Agudath Israel of America, one of the nation’s leading Orthodox Jewish advocacy organizations.

A Brooklyn native who now resides in Lakewood, New Jersey, Schnall currently serves in the New Jersey State Assembly representing the 30th legislative district. The district includes Lakewood and Point Pleasant, as well as several Monmouth County municipalities including Avon-by-the-Sea, Belmar, Bradley Beach, Brielle, Farmingdale, Howell Township, Lake Como, Manasquan, Sea Girt, Spring Lake, Spring Lake Heights, and Wall Township.

Schnall first assumed a leadership role with Agudah of New Jersey in 2014. In that position, he advocated for the Orthodox Jewish community on both the state and local levels and developed working relationships with officials across the political spectrum. During that time, he earned the confidence of both the Christie and Murphy administrations.

He has also served on the New Jersey Department of Education’s Nonpublic School Committee, where he was appointed chairman in 2018. In 2020, Governor Phil Murphy selected Schnall to serve on the Social Services and Faith Committee of the Restart and Recovery Advice Council.

Schnall grew up in Flatbush and pursued his Torah studies in Yeshiva of Philadelphia before continuing his learning under Rav Dovid Soloveitchik in Eretz Yisroel. He later learned at Bais Medrash Govoah in Lakewood.

Before entering the field of public advocacy, Schnall spent more than seven years working for Oorah, where he served as National Director of Learn n’ Chill Zone and as head counselor of the organization’s boys division summer camp.

The spirit of communal leadership and askonus was instilled in Schnall from a young age. His grandfather, Reb Louis (Loychie) Glueck z”l, was a devoted Agudah activist and a close confidant of Rabbi Moshe Sherer zt”l. Known as a proud bearer of the Agudah banner, he worked tirelessly on behalf of the organization and ensured that those values were passed on to the next generation.

{Matzav.com}

A Russian-flagged tanker carrying liquefied natural gas exploded and erupted in flames before sinking in the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Libya, authorities in the North African country said Wednesday, and Russia blamed the sinking on an attack by Ukrainian sea drones. According to the Libyan Maritime Authority, there were “sudden explosions, followed by […]

Senate Republicans voted down an effort Wednesday to halt President Donald Trump’s war against Iran, demonstrating early support for a conflict that has rapidly spread across the Middle East with no clear U.S. exit strategy. The legislation, known as a war powers resolution, failed on a 47-53 vote tally. The vote fell mostly along party lines, though […]

An Israeli flight bound for Dubai was forced to land in Saudi Arabia after Iranian strikes targeted the Gulf region, leaving about 180 Israeli passengers unexpectedly stranded before they began traveling by bus toward the United Arab Emirates.

The incident occurred after the launch of Operation “Shaagat HaAri” and the start of large-scale strikes against Iran, which led to the rapid closure of Israeli airspace early that morning. Thousands of Israelis abroad were left unable to return home, and estimates suggest that roughly 100,000 Israelis are currently stranded outside Israel.

Among those affected were dozens of Israelis aboard a FlyDubai flight that had departed for Dubai. The aircraft ultimately landed in Saudi Arabia, where passengers remained on board before beginning a long overland journey to the UAE by bus.

“Our flight to Dubai took off about an hour after the airspace was closed, according to the announcement by the Ministry of Transportation,” said Reuven, one of the passengers, speaking to Ynet. He added that travelers had not yet received clear information about what would happen next.

Another passenger, Eran Feitelovich, who had boarded a flight from Tel Aviv to Dubai, told N12 that the alert announcing the beginning of the military operation sounded while passengers were still standing in the boarding bridge.

“We asked to get off the plane, but they told us it was impossible,” said Reuven Kim, another passenger on the flight. According to him, the aircraft remained on the runway for roughly 50 minutes while sirens were sounding before it finally took off.

Passengers quoted in reports said that during the flight a man moved through the cabin checking passengers’ nationalities and noting who was Israeli and who was not, though no one was removed from the aircraft. “Everyone is still here,” one passenger said.

While the plane remained grounded in Saudi Arabia, rumors circulated among passengers that they might eventually be transported by bus to Dubai — a journey estimated to take about 12 hours.

The developments came as Iran expanded its attacks across the Gulf region. Neighboring countries were also targeted, including Bahrain, where footage circulated showing an Iranian drone striking a building that, according to the Iranian news agency Sada, houses senior American officials.

{Matzav.com}

In a message released on Wednesday evening, Agudah Chairman Mr. Sol Werdiger announced that Assemblyman Avi Schnall has been appointed the new Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Agudath Israel of America. “Avi is a longtime employee of Agudas Yisroel, an effective advocate for both his home state of New Jersey as [previously] the state director, […]

Israel’s Home Front Command announced Wednesday that it will tighten nationwide civilian safety restrictions, shifting the country to a more restrictive activity level as the security situation continues to evolve.

Following a new situational assessment by military officials, authorities said updated defensive guidelines will take effect beginning Thursday, March 5, 2026, at 12:00.

Under the revised policy, all regions of the country will move from what had been classified as an “essential activity” level to a stricter “limited activity” level.

One of the most significant changes affects schools and other educational frameworks. Educational activities are prohibited (except for activities specified under the outlined exceptions).

New limits have also been placed on public gatherings. Gatherings: Gatherings of up to 50 people are permitted, provided that a standard protected space can be reached within the required protection time.

Workplaces will also face new operating restrictions under the updated policy. Workplaces: Workplaces may operate only in locations from which a standard protected space can be reached within the required protection time.

Officials said the updated guidelines are scheduled to remain in force beginning Thursday, March 5, 2026, at 12:00 and will stay in effect until Saturday, March 7, 2026, at 20:00.

{Matzav.com}

The IDF Home Front Command announced that wartime restrictions in Israel will be eased starting Thursday at noon, shifting from “essential activity” to “limited activity” as the rate of Iranian ballistic missile fire slows. Gatherings of up to 50 people and limited workplace activity will be allowed if shelters are accessible, while educational activities remain […]

The Senate rejected a Democrat-backed War Powers resolution aimed at limiting President Trump’s authority to conduct further military action against Iran without congressional approval in a 48–52 vote. Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) joined Republicans in opposing the measure, while Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) voted with Democrats.

Footage shows U.S.–Israeli airstrikes hitting an IRGC missile site in Yazd, central Iran, earlier tonight.

i24NEWS reports that thousands of Kurdish fighters affiliated with the Kurdistan Free Life Party have launched a ground offensive inside Iran, with fighters reportedly taking combat positions around the Marivan area in western Iran. An Iranian Kurdish official said thousands of PJAK fighters are already deployed in Iran’s mountainous regions.

The leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel was buried Monday in a shiny golden casket with enormous flower wreaths and a large military presence in the state that gave name to one of Mexico’s most powerful cartels. A federal official confirmed that Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, alias “El Mencho,” was buried in a cemetery in […]

NISSIM: Debris from a ballistic missile shot down over Israel comes crashing down – narrowly missing people in vehicles nearby.