Iranian reports of Israeli strikes currently hitting Tehran, including the IRGC-linked Imam Hussein University, with ongoing air defense activity over the capital.
More than 95% of Iranian drones that “posed a threat and approached Israel” were intercepted by the Israeli Air Force and Navy since the beginning of the conflict in Iran, the military says.
International Spokesperson for Israel Police provides a close-up look at Soroka Hospital after police bomb disposal experts cleared missile debris from the scene.
The IRGC head appoints General Majid Khademi as the new head of IRGC Intelligence, replacing Mohammad Kazemi who was eliminated by Israel earlier this week.
Iranian air defenses are currently firing aimlessly into the sky, as they have been for nearly a week without any luck. There are large IAF airstrikes currently ongoing in many areas in Iran.
Powerful Hurricane Erick made landfall in Mexico’s southern state of Oaxaca early Thursday, the National Hurricane Center in Miami said. The hurricane’s center was located about 20 miles (30 kilometers) east of Punta Maldonado. Its maximum sustained winds were clocked at 125 mph (205 kph). It was moving northwest at 9 mph (15 kph), the hurricane center said. The storm was downgraded slightly before making landfall, from a powerful Category 4 to a Category 3. While slightly reduced in power, Erick is still considered a major hurricane as a Category 3, which can carry winds of up to 129 mph (210 kph). The storm threaded the needle between the resorts of Acapulco and Puerto Escondido, tearing into a sparsely populated stretch of coastline near the border of Oaxaca and Guerrero states. Agricultural fields blanket the low-lying coastal area between small fishing villages. Erick is expected to rapidly weaken as it crashes into the coastal mountains of southern Mexico, and the system is likely to dissipate late Thursday or early Friday, the hurricane center said. The storm threatened to unleash destructive winds near where the eye crashes ashore, flash floods and a dangerous storm surge, forecasters said. Storm moves south on approach At first light Thursday, Acapulco awoke under ominous dark clouds, but without a drop of rain and small waves lapping at its central beach. However, the storm was forecast to move northwest just inland up the coast through midday, bringing heavy rain to the resort and the mountains that tower dramatically above it. Still, it appeared Acapulco had dodged the worst at least in terms of Erick’s strong winds. Late Wednesday, Erick’s projected path had crept south, closer to the resort city of Puerto Escondido in Oaxaca state with Acapulco up the coast to the northwest. President Claudia Sheinbaum said in a video message Wednesday night that all activities in the region were suspended and she urged people to stay in their homes or to move to shelters if they lived in low-lying areas. Waves were crashing onto the esplanade in Puerto Escondido by nightfall, swamping wooden fishing boats that had been pulled up there for safety. The beach disappeared under pounding waves and the rising tide had already reached the interiors of some waterfront restaurants. Last-minute purchases ended at nightfall as stores closed and the streets emptied. Earlier in the day, fishermen in Puerto Escondido pulled their boats out of the water ahead of the storm’s arrival. Some surfers continued to ride waves at the Zicatela beach, even with red flags up to warn people to stay out of the water. Acapulco still scarred by Otis Acapulco residents had braced for Erick’s arrival with more preparation and trepidation because of the memory of the devastation wrought by Hurricane Otis two years earlier. The city of nearly 1 million was devastated in October 2023 by Hurricane Otis, a Category 5 hurricane that rapidly intensified and caught many unprepared. At least 52 people died in Otis and the storm severely damaged almost all of the resort’s hotels. Guerrero state Gov. Evelyn Salgado said via X that all movement in Acapulco and other beach communities was to be suspended at 8 p.m. Wednesday. Schools across the state were to remain closed for a second day Thursday. Carlos Ozuna Romero, 51, lost his […]
Brannan Embraces Radicals While Begging for Jewish Votes As the race for NYC Comptroller enters its final stretch, voters across the city especially in Jewish communities are beginning to see through Justin Brannan’s cynical game. While Brannan makes photo-op rounds in Orthodox neighborhoods, desperate for support he knows he can’t win without, his actual political allies paint a far more troubling picture. He’s embraced by some of the most extreme figures and groups on the far left many of whom have shown open hostility to Israel and the Jewish community. One of Brannan’s top endorsers is NYPAN (New York Progressive Action Network) a radical group known for its anti-Israel positions. NYPAN has repeatedly aligned itself with anti-Zionist causes and activists, and makes no secret of who it wants in power. In this election, the two candidates NYPAN is aggressively pushing are Zohran Mamdani and Justin Brannan. Mamdani is a known anti-Israel voice in Albany who has refused to condemn Hamas and openly attacked the Jewish State. And now, they want Brannan to hold citywide power. These are the groups Brannan relies on to build his base. Take, for example, Linda Sarsour, a longtime anti-Israel activist who recently urged her followers to vote for Brannan, praising his work for “Palestinian American/Muslim/Arab” communities. In her endorsement, she attacks Brannan’s opponent, Mark Levine, solely for standing with Israel. She criticizes Levine for refusing to call for a ceasefire immediately after the October 7th Hamas massacre and for committing to buy Israeli bonds as Comptroller. “His opponent Mark Levine never once uttered ceasefire. Ever,” she wrote. “Mark has committed to buying Israeli bonds when he becomes comptroller something NYC does not do right now.” Let that sink in: Justin Brannan is the candidate of choice for Linda Sarsour, Zohran Mamdani, and NYPAN he same far-left coalition that cheers on anti-Israel resolutions and demonizes Jewish identity. Brannan, on the other hand, is trying to have it both ways appeasing anti-Israel radicals while begging Jewish neighborhoods to forget who he really stands with. But we won’t forget. New York doesn’t need a Comptroller who empowers those who cheer against Israel and vilify our communities. We need someone who’s honest, principled, and loyal when it counts. On Election Day, the choice is clear: Reject Justin Brannan. The views expressed in this letter are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of YWN. Have an opinion you would like to share? Send it to us for review. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
PRESS SEC: “President Trump is a peacemaker-in-chief. He is the peace-through-strength president, & so if there’s a chance for diplomacy, the President’s always going to grab it, but he’s not afraid to use strength as well.”
PRESS SEC: “Iran has all that it needs to achieve a nuclear weapon. All they need is a decision from the Supreme Leader.” “Which would, of course, pose an existential threat not just to Israel, but to the United States and to the entire world.”
Several cargo planes carrying armaments and military equipment for the IDF landed in Israel today, the Defense Ministry says. The ministry says the delivery is “part of efforts to strengthen operational continuity and support all the IDF’s needs, both for achieving the goals of the war and for improving readiness and stockpiles.” Since the start of Israel’s operation against Iran, 14 cargo planes with equipment for the IDF have landed in Israel, the ministry says, joining 800 others that have arrived since the beginning of the war. The vast majority of the planes have come from the US.
In response to numerous life-threatening situations and at the request of medical professionals, El Al airline has been authorized to operate special emergency medical flights during the upcoming Shabbos. These flights will be classified as “life-saving medical emergency flights.” After receiving approval from Israel’s Chief Rabbis, it was decided that the flights will depart to Israel from Larnaca and Athens. The list of passengers includes El Al travelers and others in urgent need of reaching Israel, all of whom have been approved by a senior specialist who oversees leading medical centers in Israel. The cases were deemed to involve life-saving situations or a threat to life. This measure has been officially approved by Israel’s Chief Rabbis. Due to the exceptional circumstances, each case is carefully reviewed and authorized as a matter of life preservation by the company’s rabbi. The flights will be free of charge for all approved passengers. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
In his most forceful statement to date, Defense Minister Yisrael Katz on Thursday openly called for the assassination of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, declaring that the man behind Tehran’s military machine “cannot continue to exist” in the wake of Iran’s brazen missile strike on Israel on Thursday morning that left the Soroka Medical Center in Beersheva and homes near Tel Aviv in ruins. Standing amid the wreckage of residential buildings in Holon, Katz unleashed a fiery warning: “Khamenei is the one personally giving the orders to fire on hospitals and civilians. This is not collateral damage — this is doctrine. A man like that — under any standard of morality or security — cannot continue to exist.” While the defense minister stopped short of explicitly calling for regime change in Tehran, his rhetoric marked a dramatic escalation in Israel’s war posture. Katz went even further, comparing Khamenei to Adolf Hitler. “If we had the ability during the Holocaust to send the IDF to eliminate Hitler, we would have done so. Khamenei is today’s Hitler. He must be stopped.” The statement came amid swirling reports that Israel had considered assassinating Khamenei during its initial wave of airstrikes last week, only to be blocked by U.S. President Donald Trump — a claim Israeli officials have denied. Still, the speculation has added a combustible layer to the already volatile situation. Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, in contrast, chose more measured language during a visit to Soroka Medical Center in Beersheva. Asked directly about Khamenei’s fate, Netanyahu refused to echo Katz but made clear that “no one is immune.” He added, “All options are open,” though cautioned that “during a war, words must be chosen with care, and actions with precision.” The prime minister also appeared to rebuke Katz’s public threats, saying, “It’s best not to speak about these matters in the press. I expect that from my ministers as well.” Netanyahu was similarly careful when asked about American involvement in the conflict. “That’s a decision for President Trump,” he said. “He will do what’s best for America, and I will do what’s best for Israel.” While Trump recently threatened Khamenei himself, he clarified there were “no plans to kill him — at least not for now.” As the war intensifies, Israeli leaders continue to walk a tightrope between operational secrecy and political messaging. Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar, speaking from Beersheva, said that regime change in Tehran is not currently a stated objective. But he made clear the campaign would press forward “until the mission is complete.” “This,” he said, gesturing toward the shattered remains of civilian buildings behind him, “is a war crime. Iran is deliberately targeting our population — children, families, the elderly. We will not tolerate it.” The Iranian regime has denied intentionally targeting civilians, though international observers remain unconvinced. Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin weighed in from an economic forum in St. Petersburg on Wednesday, warning Israel against any move to eliminate Khamenei. “I don’t even want to discuss it,” Putin said grimly, adding that Russia’s partnership with Tehran does not currently include military support. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
Japan’s Emperor Naruhito paid respects to atomic bombing victims in Hiroshima as the city marks the 80th anniversary of the tragedy later this year. Naruhito, accompanied by his wife, Empress Masako, bowed deeply at the cenotaph for the atomic bombing victims and offered bouquets of white flowers. The atomic bomb dropped by the United States on Hiroshima on Aug. 6, 1945, destroyed the city, killing 140,000 people. A second bomb dropped three days later on Nagasaki killed 70,000 more. Japan surrendered on Aug. 15, ending World War II and its nearly half-century aggression in Asia. Naruhito has repeatedly stressed the importance to remember and keep telling the tragedy of the war to younger generations. Naruhito and Masako were also to visit the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum to observe exhibits, including those featuring Nihon Hidankyo, a grassroots organization awarded last year’s Nobel Peace Prize. The couple were to meet atomic bombing survivors, or hibakusha, and those born after the war and trained to tell the stories on behalf of those who can no longer do so. Naruhito is making his third trip to mourn the war dead this year. In April, the couple visited Iwo Jima to pay tribute to about 20,000 Japanese and nearly 7,000 U.S. Marines killed in the Battle of Iwo Jima, fought from Feb. 19 to March 26, 1945. Earlier this month, Naruhito also visited Okinawa to mourn about 188,000 Japanese, half of them Okinawan civilians, and about 12,000 Americans, killed in the Battle of Okinawa. Naruhito accompanied his daughter, Princess Aiko, underscoring his wish that she would learn the hardships of the Okinawan people and share their stories with younger generations. (AP)
UPDATE: Following the sirens that were heard moments ago in northern Israel, MDA has not received any reports of rocket impacts or injuries — except for one woman who was injured while making her way to a protected area. Around 10 missiles were fired at Israel.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met this morning with National Unity Party Chairman MK Benny Gantz and Yisrael Beitenu Chairman MK Avigdor Liberman, for a security update.
The IDF Home Front Command confirmed that Iran launched a ballistic missile with a cluster bomb warhead targeting central Israel, which split at approximately 7 kilometers altitude, dispersing around 20 smaller munitions across an 8km radius. An Israeli military official noted that while the threat may be broader than Iran’s other ballistic missile warheads, the cluster bombs’ explosions are significantly smaller.
