American consumers are feeling quite a bit more confident this month as Election Day approaches, a business research group says. The Conference Board said Tuesday that its consumer confidence index jumped to 108.7 in October from 99.2 in September. It was the biggest monthly gain since March of 2021. Analysts forecast a more modest reading of 99.3. The consumer confidence index measures both Americans’ assessment of current economic conditions and their outlook for the next six months. The measure of Americans’ short-term expectations for income, business and the job market jumped to 89.1. The Conference Board says a reading under 80 can signal a potential recession in the near future. The board reported Tuesday that consumers’ view of current conditions climbed 14.2 points to 138. “Consumers’ assessments of current business conditions turned positive,” said Dana Peterson, the Conference Board’s chief economist. “Views on the current availability of jobs rebounded after several months of weakness, potentially reflecting better labor market data.” While there has been some recent data showing a weakening labor market, it broadly remains healthy by historical standards. The government reported earlier this month that the U.S. economy added 254,000 jobs in September, much more than was forecast. The unemployment rate dipped to 4.1%. The October jobs report comes out Friday. Also Tuesday, the Labor Department reported that U.S. job openings tumbled last month to their lowest level since January 2021, possibly signaling that the labor market is losing some momentum. Still, openings remain well above pre-pandemic levels. Tepid jobs numbers from July and August had been dragging on Americans’ confidence and along with receding inflation, played a significant role in the Federal Reserve’s decision to cut its benchmark borrowing rate by 50 basis points, double the usual amount. The rate cut, the Fed’s first in more than four years, reflected its new focus on bolstering a softening job market. Fed policymakers also signaled that they expect to cut their key rate by an additional half-point in their final two meetings this year, and they envision four more rate cuts in 2025 and two in 2026. Consumer spending accounts for nearly 70% of U.S. economic activity and is closely watched by economists for signs how the American consumer is feeling. (AP)
In a striking new advertisement for the Trump campaign, 94-year-old Auschwitz survivor Jerry Wartski confronts Vice President Kamala Harris’s recent comments comparing former President Donald Trump to Adolf Hitler. Wartski, who lifts the sleeve of his purple button-down shirt to reveal the number tattooed on his arm by the Nazis, declares, “I know more about Hitler than Kamala will ever know in 1,000 lifetimes.” He expresses outrage at Harris’s accusations, saying, “For her to accuse President Trump of being like Hitler is the worst thing I’ve ever heard in my 75 years of living in the United States.” Trump has faced accusations of fascism, including claims from Harris’s campaign. Trump has also pushed back against media reports claiming he wished for generals as devoted as those of Hitler – a claim the Harris campaign has openly used against the former president. Wartski asserts, “I know President Trump, and he would never say this, and Kamala Harris knows it.” He further urges Harris to apologize, saying, “She owes my parents and everybody else who was murdered by Hitler an apology for repeating this lie.” The nonagenarian describes Trump as a “mensch,” noting that “he has always stood with the Jewish people and the State of Israel.” (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
As President Joe Biden ’s 50 years in elected office near an end, he doesn’t appear content to quietly exit the political stage. With a week to go before Election Day, Biden is intent on promoting his administration’s record and making the case for Americans to support Vice President Kamala Harris and other Democrats on the ballot — whether they want him or not. He’s determined to keep up a busy schedule during the final sprint to Nov. 5 even as many in his party appear to be keeping their distance from him. Biden, in an exchange with reporters Monday, played down the fact that he hasn’t campaigned side-by-side with Harris since their joint Labor Day campaign appearance in Pittsburgh and that he’s held few public campaign appearances with Democrats in competitive races. “I’ve done a lot of surrogate stuff, and the fact of the matter is that I’ve also had to continue to be president at the same time,” Biden told reporters after casting his early vote on Monday in his home state of Delaware. Biden said that he and Harris still “talk all the time.” He added that he has also made several visits to battleground states in his official capacity in recent months, and he plans to do more campaigning in the days ahead in Pennsylvania, including his childhood hometown of Scranton. Officials say Biden also plans to attend a campaign-related event in Maryland on Tuesday with U.S. Senate candidate Angela Alsobrooks, conduct a series of campaign calls on Thursday, and return to battleground Pennsylvania on Friday to spotlight Democratic support for unions. Biden said the Harris campaign is asking him to go “where they think I should be to help them the most.” He had pledged to campaign hard for Democrats after dropping out. Yet few Democrats have invited him to campaign by their side since he ended his reelection bid. The dynamic has meant the outgoing president has had to pick his spots carefully as he tries to remain a relevant voice in a chaotic political season. Trump on Monday took to his social media platform to mock Harris and Democrats for keeping Biden at arm’s length. “The Democrats have not only greatly demeaned and embarrassed Crooked Joe Biden, but now they’re demanding that he be nowhere near Lyin’ Kamala’s Campaign,” Trump said on Truth Social. “It’s not good enough that they took the Presidency away from him, just like you take candy away from a baby, but now they have to further embarrass him by telling him to, “GET LOST.” To be certain, not all Democrats are avoiding Biden. Two Democratic Senate candidates, Pennsylvania incumbent Sen. Bob Casey and Delaware Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester, campaigned with Biden this month. Both have deep ties to the president. Biden on Monday stopped at a breakfast spot near his home outside Wilmington with Rochester, a longtime ally who is vying to become the first Black woman to represent Delaware in the U.S. Senate. The night before their breakfast, he formally endorsed Blunt Rochester in a short video that her campaign released on social media. Biden, in his endorsement, praised Blunt Rochester for being “Delaware through and through.” The four-term House lawmaker has known Biden for about 30 years and is heavily favored to win the seat in […]
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Donald Trump defended himself against accusations of authoritarianism at a rally in Georgia on Monday, telling supporters, “I’m not a Nazi. I’m the opposite of a Nazi.” His remarks came amid heightened tensions in one of the tightest U.S. presidential races in recent history, as both Trump and Democratic rival Kamala Harris campaigned hard in crucial swing states. Trump claimed that Harris’s campaign was unfairly branding his supporters as “Nazis” and called Harris a “fascist” in response. The exchange followed statements by Trump’s former White House chief of staff, retired General John Kelly, who labeled Trump a “fascist” in a recent New York Times interview. Kelly also revealed that Trump once remarked that “Hitler did some good things too” and allegedly expressed admiration for the loyalty Hitler commanded from his generals. Harris acknowledged Kelly’s comments during a CNN event last week, expressing agreement with his concerns over Trump’s leadership style. Meanwhile, Doug Emhoff, the Jewish second gentleman and Harris’s husband, delivered a speech in Pennsylvania—a key swing state with a significant Jewish voting bloc—criticizing Trump’s record on antisemitism. Speaking near the site of the Tree of Life synagogue attack, Emhoff warned, “Donald Trump demands loyalty — but he is loyal to nothing but himself. If it suited his personal interests, Trump would turn his back on Israel and the Jewish people on a dime.” Emhoff urged voters to support leaders committed to fighting antisemitism, emphasizing Harris’s “unwavering” commitment to Israel. “Kamala feels it in her kishkes,” he added, referencing Harris’s strong support for the Jewish community. Emhoff went on to say that, if Harris were elected, he would consider placing a mezuzah at the White House, similar to one installed at the vice president’s residence after her inauguration. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
Democrats are spending about $500,000 for a last-minute push to persuade voters in battleground states to reject third-party candidates Jill Stein and Cornel West, warning a vote for them will help Republican Donald Trump. The Democratic National Committee said Monday that the digital ads will run on Instagram and YouTube, targeting younger voters and college campuses. They use video of Trump from a June rally in Philadelphia, when he said: “Cornel West. He’s one of my favorite candidates, Cornel West. And I like her also, Jill Stein, I like her very much. You know why? She takes 100% from them. He takes 100%.” Stung by narrow losses in 2000 and 2016 that they blame in part on support for Green Party nominees, Democrats have put a major emphasis this year on discouraging left-leaning voters from backing third-party candidates. They pushed back aggressively against No Labels, a nascent third-party movement, and the independent candidacy of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. before turning attention to Stein and West. Stein was the Green Party nominee in 2016 and won 132,000 votes across Wisconsin, Michigan and Pennsylvania. Democrat Hillary Clinton lost by a combined 77,000 votes in those states. This year, Stein has broadened the Green Party’s traditional pro-environment base by fiercely denouncing Israel and its military strikes in Gaza, Lebanon and elsewhere. Critiques of Israel and support for Palestinians made up the bulk of her 45-minute appearance at a coffee shop in suburban Phoenix on Monday. Stein urged dozens of supporters not to be intimidated by pressure to vote for the “lesser evil” between Trump and Democrat Kamala Harris, alleging both are “ genocidal candidates” because of their support for Israel. “If we are to be a democracy we have to stand up for what we want,” Stein said. “We have to vote for what we want.” “There is absolutely nothing to gain by voting for either one of them and there’s everything to lose,” she added. She called the Democratic campaign against her a threat to free speech. Her campaign manager, Jason Call, was more blunt. “We want them to lose,” Call said of the Democratic ticket. “Genocide deserves losing.” He added that “nobody wants Trump to win,” but argued the consequences of sending another Democrat to the White House “will be worse than Trump.” (AP)
IDF reserve soldier Yedidya Bloch, H’yd, 32, who was seriously injured in battle in southern Lebanon on Simchas Torah morning, died of his wounds on Tuesday. Yedidya, z’l, left behind his wife, who is in her eighth month of pregnancy, his parents, and seven siblings. He was a resident of the Mevo Choron yishuv in Binyamin, The head of the Binyamin Regional Council, Yisrael Gantz, stated: “We’ve been davening for our dear Yedidya, z’l. He went into battle with selflessness and lived an honorable life, and that’s how he fought and died for Am Yisrael and for their complete victory. At this moment, we embrace his wife, Sapir, and his parents and siblings and we ask to support the community of Mevo Choron.” (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)
The Hezbollah terror group fired a heavy barrage of rockets at northern Israel on Tuesday morning. Several rockets fell in the northern Israeli town of Ma’alot-Tarshisha in the western Galil, killing a young man and wreaking extensive physical damage. The man was later identified as Mohammed Yasser Naim, 24. He had rushed with his younger siblings to a protective space but a rocket hit his home before he managed to enter it and he was killed on the spot. His younger siblings were lightly injured. They were treated at the scene and evacuated to the hospital for further treatment. The house sustained serious damage. Additional rockets fell in the town, causing extensive damage. The IDF spokesperson stated later that at least 50 rockets were fired in the barrage. (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)
Tensions ran high in Wednesday’s debate between incumbent Republican Rep. Mike Lawler and his Democratic challenger, former Congressman Mondaire Jones, as the two squared off on numerous issues, with particular sparring over the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Lawler’s resolute support for Israel clashed starkly with Jones’ position, highlighting the candidates’ contrasting approaches to a pivotal issue in New York’s 17th District. During the CBS-hosted event, Jones called for a “two-state solution” and advocated a land swap, suggesting that Israel should consider relinquishing territories acquired in the 1967 war. Lawler, visibly astounded, retorted, “Are you out of your mind? You’re talking about land swaps?” Firmly opposed to pressuring Israel on territorial concessions, Lawler stressed that any discussion on a two-state solution should only proceed once neighboring Arab nations, including Saudi Arabia, officially recognize Israel’s right to exist. In a district with a considerable Jewish and pro-Israel population, Lawler’s strong, unambiguous stance resonated as he pointed out the impracticality of Jones’ approach. Lawler argued that such positions overlook the fundamental security concerns Israel faces daily and seem divorced from reality. The debate also saw heated exchanges on domestic issues, with Lawler branding Jones a “socialist” for his progressive policies. “If it talks like a socialist, votes like a socialist… it’s a socialist,” he quipped, aiming to paint Jones as a left-wing ideologue. Jones, countering, accused Lawler of aligning with former President Donald Trump, calling him a “mini-fascist” in response to recent remarks by Trump’s former chief of staff John Kelly, who claims Trump sought loyalty akin to “Hitler’s generals.” Lawler shot back, saying he “condemns any remarks promoting fascism or Hitler” and highlighted his independent stance. In turn, Jones claimed Lawler’s continued association with the former president was “a disgrace,” attempting to cast doubt on his integrity. Lawler, who won the 17th District seat in 2022 by defeating then-incumbent Sean Patrick Maloney, faces a challenger in Jones who originally represented the district before redistricting pushed him to run unsuccessfully in New York’s 10th District. Now vying for his former seat, Jones faces an uphill battle against a seasoned representative standing firmly on principles that resonate deeply with the district’s values and priorities. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
This presidential election, the first since the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection at the Capitol, will be a stress test of the new systems and guardrails that Congress put in place to ensure America’s long tradition of the peaceful transfer of presidential power. As Republican Donald Trump and Democrat Kamala Harris race toward the finish, pro-democracy advocates and elected officials are preparing for a volatile period in the aftermath of Election Day, as legal challenges are filed, bad actors spread misinformation and voters wait for Congress to affirm the results. “One of the unusual characteristics of this election is that so much of the potential danger and so many of the attacks on the election system are focused on the post-election period,” said Wendy Weiser, vice president for democracy at the nonpartisan Brennan Center for Justice. After the Jan. 6 attack, Congress set out to shore up the process and prevent a repeat of that unprecedented period when Trump, joined by some GOP allies in Congress, refused to concede defeat to President Joe Biden. Trump spent months pushing dozens of failed legal cases before sending his supporters to the U.S. Capitol, where they disrupted the electoral count with a bloody riot. He faces a federal indictment for the scheme, which included slates of fake electors from states falsely claiming he won. While the new Electoral Count Reform Act approved by Congress has clarified the post-election processes — to more speedily resolve legal challenges and reinforce that the vice president has no ability to change the election outcome on Jan. 6 — the new law is by no means ironclad. Much depends on the people involved, from the presidential winners and losers to the elected leaders in Congress and the voters across America putting their trust in the democratic system that has stood for more than 200 years. Voters are worried about post-election strife A poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research found that American voters are approaching the election with deep unease about what could follow. Dick Gephardt, the former House leader, now serves on the executive board of the nonpartisan Keep our Republic, which has been working to provide civic education about the process in the presidential battleground states of Michigan, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania. “We are concerned about one thing and one thing only: Can Americans still have valid trust in elections and can we have consistently a peaceful transfer of power in all offices, including the presidency?” Gephardt said in a briefing earlier this month. “January 6th in 2021 was really a wake-up call, I think, for all of us,” he said. It’s not just the onslaught of legal challenges that worries democracy groups, as dozens of cases already have been filed by both Republicans and Democrats even before Election Day. They say the sheer volume of cases has the potential to sow doubt in the election tally and give rise to disinformation, both domestic and foreign, as happened in 2020 when Trump’s legal team unfurled far-flung theories that proved to be wildly inaccurate. As Trump runs to retake the White House, he is already setting the stage for challenges to the election he wants to be “too big to rig.” The Republican National Committee has made legal strategy a cornerstone of its Election Integrity program. Trump is backed by Republicans on Capitol Hill, including House Speaker Mike Johnson, who has adopted similar language, saying he would accept […]
In an obvious sign of waning confidence, several of America’s largest and traditionally liberal-leaning newspapers have declined to endorse Vice President Kamala Harris in her presidential run, suggesting that even mainstream media is bracing for a strong showing by Republican frontrunner Donald Trump. The Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times, and now USA Today—the nation’s fourth-largest newspaper—have all withheld their endorsements, an unusual and telling move for outlets that have historically backed Democratic candidates. The Washington Post’s decision not to endorse Harris has led to a sharp backlash from its liberal readership, with the paper seeing a tidal wave of subscription cancellations. By midday Monday, over 200,000 digital subscribers had canceled their accounts, according to reports citing sources within the paper. This figure reportedly represents nearly 8% of the publication’s total 2.5 million paid circulation, which includes both digital and print subscriptions. Adding to the internal turmoil, several of the paper’s high-profile columnists and members of its editorial team have resigned, further highlighting the divide within the organization and the fallout from owner Jeff Bezos’s decision to block the endorsement. The Los Angeles Times has also opted out of endorsing Harris, with some pointing to a growing rift between the newspaper’s liberal ownership and its readers. The daughter of the Times’ owner, a self-described “activist,” reportedly blamed the decision on Harris’s “pro-Israel” stance, accusing her of complicity in what she described as “genocide.” Now, USA Today joins the lineup of major publications declining to support the vice president, underscoring the seriousness of the situation for the Harris campaign. The decision by such influential newspapers to withhold endorsements is perhaps an unprecedented indicator of the challenges Harris faces in her bid for the White House. Political analysts suggest this shift may indicate that even traditionally liberal institutions are preparing for a potential landslide victory for Trump, who remains the Republican frontrunner. With these publications typically leaning toward Democratic candidates, the lack of support for Harris points to broader skepticism about her viability on the national stage. The reluctance of traditionally liberal media outlets to endorse Kamala Harris may also reflect concerns about future access to a potential Trump administration. With Donald Trump leading the Republican ticket and frequently voicing his disapproval of media coverage he deems biased, these publications may be wary of endorsing Harris for fear of being shut out should Trump return to office. Known for his critical stance on press outlets that challenge him, Trump has previously denied access to journalists and media organizations he perceives as adversarial, a practice that could easily extend to a second term if he perceives a renewed endorsement of Harris as an affront. For outlets like The Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, and USA Today, maintaining open lines of communication with any administration is crucial to their reporting. However, these organizations may be weighing the risk of alienating Trump, a candidate who is known for his swift and often severe responses to perceived slights. By withholding endorsements, they may be positioning themselves to retain essential access if Trump returns to the White House. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
The Saudi Elaph site quoted a senior Middle Eastern security official as saying that Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad is currently weighing two options – to continue his alliance with the Iranian axis of evil or to improve his relations with moderate Arab countries. The official stated: “Israel has recently threatened Bashar al-Assad and demanded that he take practical steps against the Iranian axis, particularly regarding Hezbollah.” Additionally, according to the report, “there is a dispute between Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and his office and the Fourth Division of the Syrian army, commanded by his brother – Maher al-Assad,” with the latter insisting on continuing to support the Iranian axis. According to the report, President Assad asked his brother to join him for a meeting on the subject – and he refused. The Saudis also reported that Israel attacked a ranch in the Damascus area belonging to President Assad’s brother – which forced him to “lower his profile.” (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)
China said all systems are ready to launch the next crew to its orbiting space station early Wednesday, the latest mission to make the country a major space power. The two men and one woman will replace the astronauts who’ve lived on the Tiangong space station for the last six months. The new mission commander, Cai Xuzhe, went to space in the Shenzhou-14 mission in 2022, while the other two, Song Lingdong and Wang Haoze, are first-time space travelers both born in the 1990s. Song was an air force pilot and Wang an engineer with the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation who will be the crew’s payload specialist. Wang will be the third Chinese woman aboard a crewed mission. The three appeared at a brief news conference Tuesday behind protective glass, declaring their intention to carry out their scientific projects on the space station and “bring pride to the fatherland.” The Shenzhou-19 spaceship carrying the trio is due to launch from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China atop a Long March-2F rocket, the backbone of China’s crewed space missions. Launch time is set for 4:27 a.m., according to the space agency’s spokesperson Lin Xiqiang. China built its own space station after being excluded from the International Space Station, largely due to the United States’ concerns over the program’s complete control by the People’s Liberation Army, the Chinese Communist Party’s military arm. Besides putting a space station into orbit, the space agency has landed an explorer on Mars. It aims to put a person on the moon before 2030, which would make China the second nation after the United States to do so. It also plans to build a research station on the moon. The moon program is part of a growing rivalry with the U.S. — still the leader in space exploration — and others, including Japan and India. America is planning to land astronauts on the moon for the first time in more than 50 years, though NASA pushed the target date back to 2026 earlier this year. During the upcoming mission, the space station will receive resupplies from an uncrewed craft, aiding them in performing space walks and replacing and installing equipment to protect the Tiangong station from space debris, some of which was created by China. According to NASA, large pieces of debris have been created by “satellite explosions and collisions.” China’s firing of a rocket to destroy a redundant weather satellite in 2007 and the “accidental collision of American and Russian communications satellites in 2009 greatly increased the amount of large debris in orbit,” it said. The Shenzhou-19 astronauts will complete in-orbit rotation with the Shenzhou-18 trio and stay at the space station for approximately six months, witnessing the arrival of the Tianzhou-8 cargo craft and Shenzhou-20 crewed spaceship during the mission. Many tasks await the new crew: conducting space science and application tests, performing extravehicular activities, installing protective devices against space debris, and installing and recycling extravehicular payloads and equipment. They will also engage in science education, public welfare activities and other payload tests. The Shenzhou-19 astronauts are scheduled to return to the Dongfeng landing site in north China’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region in late April or early May next year, according to the agency. Lin, the spokesman, said China has measures […]
On Sunday, the social media platform X suspended the newly created official account of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, @Khamenei_Heb, just one day after its launch. The suspension followed a tweet from the account, which stated, “The Zionist regime made a mistake. It erred in its calculations on Iran. We will cause it to understand what kind of strength, ability, initiative, and will the Iranian nation has.” This message appeared to reference Israel’s military response on October 26 to Iran’s ballistic missile attack on October 1. X, owned by Elon Musk, who has publicly supported Israel, did not provide specific reasons for the suspension. The platform directed users to a statement on its website, which noted that suspended accounts are typically found to violate rules against “violent and hateful entities.” Musk, known for advocating free speech on X, has visited Israel multiple times, including a trip in November and attendance at Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s speech in Congress in July. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
The U.S. Treasury Department, seeking to keep the Chinese military from gaining an edge in advanced technologies, issued a rule Monday to restrict and monitor American investments in China in artificial intelligence, computer chips and quantum computing. The finalized rule arises from an executive order issued in August 2023 by President Joe Biden. The order sought to limit the access that “countries of concern” — specifically China including Hong Kong and Macao — have to American dollars to fund technologies that could be used, for example, to break codes or develop next-generation fighter jets. It will take effect Jan. 2. “U.S. investments … must not be used to help countries of concern develop their military, intelligence and cyber capabilities”’ said Paul Rosen, assistant Treasury secretary for investment security. He noted the investments can mean more than just money: they can deliver ”intangible benefits,” including managerial help and assistance finding top talent and tapping other sources of financing. Blocking China’s high-tech ambitions is one of the few issues that enjoys broad support in Washington from both Republicans and Democrats. Biden in May slapped a stiff tariff on electric vehicles from China. He also has imposed export controls to keep the Chinese from acquiring advanced computer chips and the equipment to produce them. Former President Donald Trump has vowed to dramatically increase taxes on all imports from China if voters send him back to the White House. A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said Tuesday that the government had lodged a protest with the U.S. over the latest action. “China strongly deplores and firmly opposes the U.S. rolling out restrictions on investment in China,” Lin Jian said at a daily briefing in Beijing. In Hong Kong, the city’s leader said the move undermined normal investment and trade and would cause damage to the global supply chain. “In pursuing their political agenda, American politicians are harming not only others but also the interests of their own country, their people and their businesses. They will have to face the consequences of their actions,” John Lee said, noting that the U.S. has enjoyed a trade surplus of $472 billion with Hong Kong in the past 10 years. The Biden administration sought comment from businesses and from U.S. allies before putting out the final version. In addition to blocking investments, the rule requires Americans and companies in the United States to notify the U.S. government of transactions that involve “technologies and products that may contribute to a threat to the national security of the United States.” Violators can be hit with fines of up to $368,136 or twice the value of the prohibited transaction, whichever is greater. Treasury is setting up an Office of Global Transactions to oversee the new rule. (AP)
In a targeted ground raid, the IDF reports that its 2nd Brigade, led by the 146th Division and assisted by Yahalom Unit forces, destroyed a Hezbollah underground command center in southern Lebanon. The facility, reaching approximately 8 meters below ground, contained extensive terrorist infrastructure and was used to direct Hezbollah activities. The operation also neutralized an additional underground site housing half a ton of explosives. The explosives site, built by Hezbollah years ago, was located within a civilian village, heightening the risk to local residents. The IDF notes that both structures were fully neutralized, marking a significant blow to Hezbollah’s operational capabilities in the region.
