Matzav

As the busy time leading into Pesach intensifies, new restrictions at Israel’s land crossings into Jordan have effectively shut down a commonly used travel route, leaving many in the frum community scrambling for clarity and alternative arrangements.

A message from the U.S. Embassy has added to the confusion, noting that officials have not clearly defined what qualifies as a “private vehicle.” With many travelers relying on hired drivers and transportation services to reach the crossings, the lack of a clear definition has created uncertainty about what is actually permitted. Travelers are being strongly advised to verify in advance that any service they book is authorized under the current rules.

At the same time, the Airports Authority has issued an official announcement detailing sweeping operational changes ahead of the Pesach travel surge. The measures, implemented in coordination with Home Front Command guidelines, are aimed at reducing crowding and maintaining safety at border crossings expected to see a sharp increase in traffic.

According to the directive, from March 30 through April 10, travel by private vehicle to Jordan via the Jordan River and Rabin crossings will not be permitted. This restriction effectively blocks a major route frequently used by yeshiva bochurim, seminary students, and families seeking to exit or enter Eretz Yisroel during peak travel periods.

In addition, authorities warn that due to strict limits on how many passengers can be inside the terminals at one time, travelers should expect long waits outside before being allowed entry. Proper preparation, including arriving early and planning for delays, is being strongly recommended.

Entry into the terminal itself will only be granted to those who have prepaid the crossing fee through the Milgam company website, meaning that anyone who arrives without prior payment will not be allowed to proceed.

For many, these changes have created significant concern. The ambiguity surrounding private transportation has left people unsure whether commonly used private drivers—often arranged informally or through community networks—are considered legal under the new guidelines.

Askonim emphasize that assumptions can lead to costly mistakes. Travelers who show up at the crossing with a driver that does not meet the undefined criteria risk being turned away entirely.

With Pesach approaching and thousands trying to travel, the situation remains fluid.

{Matzav.com}

Bingo Wholesale Supermarket, the well-known New York-based chain, is preparing to enter the South Florida market following its acquisition of a large industrial property in Dania Beach, according to a report by food industry analyst Elan Kornblum.

The newly acquired site sits at 5650 Anglers Ave., close to Stirling Road and Interstate 95, within the Hollywood–Dania Beach corridor.

The facility had previously been used by a private Budweiser distributor and is slated for extensive upgrades as part of the company’s plans, the report noted.

The approximately eight-acre parcel in South Broward County was purchased in February for $16 million through Sunwise Holdings LLC, a Florida-based entity connected to David Weiss, a partner in Bingo Wholesale. The property features roughly 76,210 square feet of industrial space on a 344,526-square-foot lot.

Industry watchers believe the move may point to a larger expansion effort by Bingo in Florida, with the possibility that the site will serve as a central distribution hub to support future growth in Jewish population centers throughout the state, including Tampa, West Palm Beach, Boca Raton, and the developing community in Okeechobee.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump said during a public appearance in Miami that he prefers being around “losers” rather than highly successful individuals, while also making sweeping claims about Iran’s leadership and the state of its military during the ongoing conflict.

Speaking at the Future Investment Initiative conference, Trump told the audience: “I always like to hang around with losers, actually, because it makes me feel better.”

He continued, “I hate guys that are very, very successful, and you have to listen to their success stories. I like people who like to listen to my success.”

Trump: I hang out with losers because it makes be feel better. I hate guys that are very, very successful and you have to listen to their success stories. I like people that like to listen to my success. pic.twitter.com/OYNXspphxo

— Acyn (@Acyn) March 27, 2026

The remarks came during a question-and-answer session following his speech, where Trump invited attendees to ask about any topic.

When asked about what leadership quality is most lacking worldwide, Trump said the key factor is the ability to win. He used sports as an example, contrasting clear victories and losses with the more ambiguous nature of other fields.

“You got a lot of losers, mostly losers, fortunately,” he said, referencing his earlier comments about the type of people he prefers to be around.

He later attempted to soften the remark, saying, “I’m only kidding,” before adding, “Eh, sort of.”

Trump emphasized that success makes leadership easier, stating, “People who win, it’s much easier to lead when you’re successful, and you win.”

During his remarks, Trump also referred to Qasem Soleimani, the Iranian commander killed in a U.S. drone strike in 2020, describing him as a “great leader” and a “mad genius.”

He further claimed that Iran’s current supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, is no longer alive.

Trump said, “Their leaders are all dead… Their supreme leader is no longer supreme. He’s dead,”

He went on to describe what he said was the collapse of Iran’s military capabilities following recent operations.

“Iran’s navy is gone… their air force is totally, completely dead,” he said, adding that missile systems, drone factories, and other defense infrastructure had been “totally dismantled.”

Trump also asserted that Iran is now seeking to negotiate an end to the conflict.

“They are begging to make a deal,” he said.

However, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said that while Iran is reviewing a U.S. proposal, it has “no intention” of entering direct negotiations with Washington, adding that indirect communications “do not mean negotiations with the US.”

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump said that Iran’s leadership is in a state of collapse, asserting that Mojtaba Khamenei is either dead or severely wounded, while portraying the Iranian regime as unstable and weakened amid the ongoing war.

Speaking at an economic conference in Florida, Trump addressed the situation in Iran and mocked the state of its leadership, suggesting that no one is willing to take control.

He said, “This is the only country where nobody wants to lead.”

Trump went on to claim that Iran’s top leadership has effectively been eliminated, referencing both the former supreme leader and his successor.

He said, “Their leaders are dead. Their supreme leader is no longer supreme. He is dead. His son is either dead or in very bad shape, because nobody has heard from him.”

His remarks come amid conflicting reports about Mojtaba Khamenei, who was named as Iran’s new supreme leader following the killing of his father, Ali Khamenei, earlier in the war.

Earlier this week, a Western security source said Mojtaba Khamenei is still alive but suffered injuries to his legs and face in an Israeli strike. According to that report, his absence from public view may reflect a deliberate leadership style rather than solely the result of his injuries. Trump’s comments, however, raise new questions about the intelligence being relied upon by the U.S. administration.

Continuing his remarks, Trump reiterated his view that Iran’s leadership crisis reflects deeper instability within the regime.

He said, “This is the only country where nobody wants to lead. There is nobody who wants to lead Iran.”

Trump also emphasized what he described as major progress in the broader campaign against Iran, framing it as part of a larger effort to reshape the region.

He said, “We are closer than ever to a Middle East that is finally free”—free from Iranian terrorism, aggression, and coercion.

He added, “It was nuclear blackmail for years, many years. Not just nuclear—blackmail, period.”

Trump concluded by asserting that U.S. actions under his leadership are eliminating the threat posed by Iran.

He said, “And under my leadership, America is ending this threat. We are destroying Iran’s capabilities.”

He further argued that without his intervention, Iran would have already obtained nuclear weapons and used them against the region.

He said, “They would have had nuclear weapons a long time ago, and they would have used them against the Middle East, Israel, and the Middle East.”

Sgt. Moshe Yitzchak Katz, a 22-year-old Chabad soldier from New Haven, Connecticut, was killed on Shabbos while fighting in Lebanon during his service in the IDF.

Moshe Yitzchak fell during combat operations, leaving behind a grieving family and community.

He was the son of Mendy and Devorah Katz, members of the Chabad community in New Haven, where he was known and loved.

His father, Mendy Katz, paid tribute to him, saying he was “my oldest son with a zest for life and jokes,” adding, “My heart is shattered and the wound is real. May he be a malitz yosher for only good things.”

Moshe Yitzchak is survived by his parents and siblings. His levaya will be held in Eretz Yisroel.

Yehi zichro boruch.

{Matzav.com}

Rav Dovid Yosef, the Rishon LeTzion, welcomed the approval of the new arbitration law, declaring that it restores the authority of batei din and corrects what he described as decades of injustice, while urging the public to turn to beis din rather than secular courts.

In his weekly shiur, Rav Yosef spoke with strong satisfaction about the law’s passage, explaining that it grants batei din official legal standing to adjudicate financial disputes as agreed-upon arbitrators. He sharply criticized past rulings of Israel’s High Court that removed this authority, describing them as unjustified.

He said, “For 60 years, the batei din had authority to adjudicate with the consent of the parties. Suddenly, 20 years ago, three Supreme Court justices came and decided there is no authority. Why? Just because. The law did not change, nothing was written—suddenly they ruled there is no authority. This is simply a terrible injustice.”

Rav Yosef added that restrictions were later imposed preventing official dayanim from even volunteering to hear financial cases outside official hours.

He said, “A directive was issued that even on a voluntary basis, any official dayan is forbidden from serving as a dayan in monetary cases. Why? Just because. This was a terrible chillul Hashem that in our own country they forced us to go to secular courts.”

He went on to emphasize the depth of training and expertise required of dayanim, noting that those serving in the rabbinical court system are highly qualified.

He said, “Every dayan in the rabbinical courts must study for 10 years, day and night, Choshen Mishpat, in order to know the material. The most outstanding dayanim are in our batei din. Today, when people go to private batei din, if one side doesn’t like the ruling, he runs to secular court and cancels it by claiming the ruling is correct according to Torah but not according to state law. Now, with the approval of the law, the authority of batei din has full legal force.”

Addressing the halachic severity of turning to secular courts, Rav Yosef warned that doing so constitutes a rejection of Torah law.

He said, “This is about restoring the religion to its proper place. We believe in the Torah and not in their laws. Chazal say that the First Beis Hamikdash was destroyed because judges did not rule according to Torah. We want to save Am Yisrael so that the settlement here should not be destroyed, chas veshalom.”

He further ruled that even participating in certain legal processes carries serious halachic concerns.

He said, “Even in the enforcement office, it is strictly forbidden to purchase from there, because they issue rulings not according to halacha, and this is outright theft.”

Concluding his remarks, Rav Yosef thanked the lawmakers who advanced the legislation and called on the public to bring their disputes before batei din.

He said, “I call on every Torah-observant Jew: do not go to secular courts, do not go to arkaos. ‘They have forsaken Me, the source of living waters, to dig for themselves broken cisterns.’ The gates of the batei din will be open, and we will do everything according to halacha. I will sit with the heads of the batei din and formulate a detailed plan to implement the law.”

He ended with a brocha, expressing hope for a full return to Torah-based justice.

He said, “May it be fulfilled in us, ‘Restore our judges as at first.’ A dayan who judges a true and just ruling becomes a partner with Hakadosh Boruch Hu in the act of creation. In the name of Hashem, we will act and succeed.”

In a dramatic and forceful drashah delivered for Shabbos Hagadol, Rav Moshe Sternbuch warned that the greatest danger facing Klal Yisroel is not external enemies, but internal spiritual decline and government policies.

Thousands streamed Thursday night to the main beis medrash of the Dushinsky chassidus in Yerushalayim to hear divrei Torah from the senior posek. As is customary each year before Pesach, Rav Sternbuch addressed a packed crowd that included senior rabbonim, members of the Badatz Eidah Hachareidis, admorim, and prominent Torah figures, all seated without ceremony as they listened intently.

Opening with profound Torah insights, Rav Sternbuch soon turned to urgent issues confronting the community. Speaking with deep emotion, he addressed the security situation and the broader challenges facing the Torah world.

He said, “The Chazon Ish already said: I am not afraid of the bombs; I am afraid of the desecration of Shabbos, because that is what causes the bombs. And today as well, we say: we are not afraid of the missiles from Iran—we are afraid only of the leaders here who are defiling the people of Hashem and trying to take yeshiva bochurim into an army that is entirely heresy and apostasy.”

Rav Sternbuch also spoke strongly against efforts impacting the yeshivos, including closures and funding cuts, emphasizing the foundational role of Torah learning.

He said, “These criminals here do not understand that the entire world stands on the Torah of tinokos shel beis rabban. This is literally the destruction of the world.”

He then shared a personal and emotional recollection from his family’s past during the war in Russia, when they maintained a hidden yeshiva in Minsk under a regime of terror, sacrificing everything for Torah until they were exiled to Siberia. From this, he issued a call for unwavering resolve.

He said, “One must stand strong with mesirus nefesh, without any compromise.”

In another part of the address, Rav Sternbuch sharply criticized those who ascend the Har Habayis against halachic guidance, warning that such actions provoke danger.

He said, “There are those who provoke the nations and ignite a fire of hatred. About this it is said: ‘Who asked this of you, to trample My courtyards?’ This is unnecessary and dangerous provocation, and it must be protested with full force.”

Following the drashah, a rare and notable moment took place in the beis medrash, as Rav Sternbuch personally distributed financial assistance to rabbonim of the Eidah Hachareidis through his private fund, Kupas Tamchin D’Oraisa.

Amid financial strain and delayed salaries within the Eidah, Rav Sternbuch organized a group of donors—including supporters connected to Satmar and benefactors of his yeshiva in Beit Shemesh and the well-known kollelim of Teshuvos V’Hanhagos—to provide relief ahead of Yom Tov.

He reviewed the checks and personally handed envelopes containing $1,000 grants to each rov and moreh horaah. In total, more than $100,000 was distributed to dayanim and members of the Badatz, in coordination with the leadership of the kollelim and the Vaad Hapoel of the Eidah Hachareidis.

Vice President JD Vance alleged Friday that Rep. Ilhan Omar committed immigration fraud, claiming she married her brother in order to help him remain legally in the United States, reigniting accusations that have followed the Minnesota lawmaker for years.

Speaking on a podcast hosted by Benny Johnson, Vance said he believes Omar engaged in wrongdoing tied to her immigration history.

“We actually think that Ilhan Omar definitely committed immigration fraud against the United States of America,” Vance said.

Omar’s office quickly rejected the accusation, with her chief of staff issuing a sharp response.

“This is rich coming from someone who literally said they were willing to ‘create stories’ to redirect the media,” said Omar’s chief of staff Connor McNutt. “This is a ridiculous lie and desperate attempt to distract from the pedophile protection party’s unpopular war of choice, increasing gas prices, and rapidly dropping polling numbers.”

The claims referenced by Vance date back to before Omar’s successful run for Congress in 2018 and have been widely circulated but remain unproven.

Omar has been married twice. She first entered into a religious marriage with Ahmed Abdisalan Hirsi in 2002, though the two did not formalize their union under state law until January 2018, according to prior reports.

Before that legal marriage, Omar had wed Ahmed Nur Said Elmi, a British citizen, in February 2009 during a ceremony officiated by a Christian minister in Minnesota. She later dissolved that marriage in December 2017, shortly before legally marrying Hirsi.

Omar has described her relationship with Elmi as brief, noting that they were largely separated during the marriage, aside from a period between 2009 and 2011. There are no records indicating the two had children together.

She and Hirsi, however, have three children, born in 2003, 2005, and 2012. Around the time of the birth of their third child, social media activity reportedly drew attention after a photo appeared to show Elmi holding a newborn, accompanied by a caption referencing “nieces.” The image was later removed.

Allegations that Omar and Elmi were related first surfaced on online forums and blogs, though those posts were also subsequently deleted.

In 2016, while serving as a Minnesota state legislator, Omar addressed the matter, saying her marriage to Elmi was “a difficult part of my personal history that I did not consider relevant in the context of a political campaign.”

Claims about her relationship with Elmi were further amplified in 2020 when Somali community member Abdihakim Osman told a media outlet that Omar had introduced Elmi as her brother during the late 2000s.

Omar, who immigrated from Somalia, became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 2000 at age 17.

Marriage fraud is a federal offense that can carry penalties of up to five years in prison and fines of up to $250,000.

Vance said he has been discussing potential legal avenues with White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller, raising questions about how such a case could be investigated and pursued.

“How do you go after her? How do you investigate her? How do you actually build the case to actually get some justice for the American people?” Vance said.

He also claimed that Omar has been connected to broader issues within the Somali-American community, suggesting further scrutiny may be warranted.

“I’m worried about the immigration,” Vance said. “I’m also worried about: What did Ilhan Omar know about what was happening in the Somali-American community? And why was nobody looking into it until, frankly, Donald Trump came along?”

President Trump has previously made similar accusations, calling for legal action against Omar over alleged ties to fraud cases involving Somali community networks in Minnesota.

Federal and congressional investigations have since examined alleged misuse of funds in social service, childcare, and Medicaid programs in the state, with potential losses reaching into the billions.

Separate scrutiny has also focused on Omar’s financial disclosures, including her reported net worth alongside her husband, Tim Mynett. Public filings indicated a significant increase in their assets in recent years.

Omar and Mynett married in March 2020 after his prior marriage ended, following a relationship that began while he was working on her political campaign.

{Matzav.com}

Former national security adviser John Bolton said today that he supports President Donald Trump’s goal of bringing about regime change in Iran, while cautioning that success will require sustained effort beyond the battlefield.

Speaking on Newsmax’s “Saturday Agenda,” Bolton said he has long advocated for replacing Iran’s leadership and believes the current U.S. military campaign is a step toward achieving that objective.

“I think it’s a worthwhile objective,” Bolton said. “I think the military side of it seems to be going very well. Other parts of it are not.

“I think he needs to have patience and persistence if he wants regime change, because this is a moment to get it. The regime has never been more unpopular inside Iran than since it took power in 1979.”

Bolton pointed to a January message from Trump encouraging anti-government demonstrators in Iran, arguing that it signaled regime change had been an underlying aim of the operation from the outset.

Looking ahead, Bolton said the immediate focus should be securing the Strait of Hormuz to allow safe passage for international shipping while cutting off Iran’s ability to export oil.

“My impression now is our military is increasingly confident that they can make it safe for tankers to go through,” he said. “And in the meantime, I would make sure Iranian tankers or tankers carrying Iranian oil are not exiting the Strait of Hormuz.

“It’s not a gift to the United States for our enemy to be selling oil and having the purchase price of that oil going into the coffers of the ayatollahs in Tehran to use against us.”

He said he was surprised that U.S. forces had not prioritized the waterway earlier, though he now believes the military is moving toward establishing control over it.

Bolton added that targeting Iran’s Kharg Island oil terminal is not essential at this stage, though he acknowledged there could be other strategic reasons for doing so.

“I don’t think we need to hit Kharg Island. There may be other reasons for that. I think we blockade the strait, make sure no Iranian oil goes in or out,” he said.

Over the longer term, Bolton emphasized the importance of supporting internal opposition within Iran, describing it as widespread but lacking organization. He said external assistance could play a critical role.

“If we’re not going to put boots on the ground in any substantial number, it’s going to be up to the people of Iran working with defectors from the regime, hopefully from the regular army, to pull the regime apart,” Bolton said.

President Donald Trump on Friday sharply rebuked NATO member nations, accusing them of failing to back the United States during its recent military campaign against Iran and raising the possibility that Washington could rethink its role in the alliance.

Speaking at an investment conference in Miami Beach sponsored by Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund, Trump said European allies did not stand with the U.S. when assistance was sought, calling their response a major failure.

“NATO just wasn’t there,” Trump said, describing the lack of support as “a tremendous mistake” by European nations.

“We spend hundreds of billions of dollars a year on NATO, protecting them, and we would have always been there for them,” Trump said. “But now, based on their actions, I guess we don’t have to be.”

He emphasized the significance of his remarks, calling them “breaking news,” and added, “Why would we be there for them? If they’re not there for us.”

Trump’s comments followed a post he made a day earlier on Truth Social, where he wrote that NATO countries had “done absolutely nothing” to assist in confronting Iran, which he described as a “lunatic nation” that has now been “militarily decimated.”

He further stated that while the United States “needs nothing from NATO,” allied nations should “never forget” the situation.

The remarks prompted renewed questions about whether U.S. policy toward NATO could shift, though White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said there has been no formal change, describing Trump as simply being “very vocal and honest about his displeasure with NATO.”

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte responded by defending European allies, noting they were not given advance notice of the U.S. strike on Iran, which limited their ability to respond immediately.

Speaking in Brussels, Rutte said the lack of prior coordination—intended to avoid leaks—delayed any European reaction, though he stressed that efforts to respond were already underway.

At the same time, Rutte voiced support for the U.S. campaign, describing Iran as “an exporter of chaos” and saying American military actions were weakening that threat.

Trump’s latest remarks underscore ongoing friction between Washington and its NATO partners, particularly regarding burden-sharing and coordination in major military operations.

{Matzav.com}

An Iranian missile and drone attack struck a U.S. military installation in Saudi Arabia on Friday, injuring American service members and damaging multiple aircraft, as the war in the region continued to intensify on several fronts.

A U.S. official familiar with the situation said the strike targeted Prince Sultan Air Base and involved both missiles and unmanned aerial systems. Several refueling aircraft sustained damage, though the number and severity of injuries among troops were not immediately clear.

The report followed the emergence of satellite images appearing to show damage at the base. The attack comes after Army Sgt. Benjamin N. Pennington, 26, died from wounds suffered in a March 1 strike on the same installation.

U.S. Central Command said earlier that more than 300 American personnel have been wounded since the conflict began.

At the same time, President Donald Trump said Friday that the end of the Iran war could pave the way for diplomatic normalization between Saudi Arabia and Israel.

“It’s now time,” Trump said at a Miami event sponsored by the Saudi sovereign wealth fund. “We’ve now taken them out, and they are out bigly. We got to get into the Abraham Accords.”

Trump has long pushed for ties between Israel and Saudi Arabia as part of the Abraham Accords framework, though major obstacles remain, including Saudi demands for a clear path toward a Palestinian state.

Meanwhile, Iran signaled a limited opening on humanitarian issues, with its ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva announcing cooperation on aid shipments through the Strait of Hormuz despite ongoing hostilities.

Ali Bahreini said Tehran had agreed to “facilitate and expedite” humanitarian aid through the strategic waterway following a request from the United Nations, allowing shipments of aid and agricultural goods to pass.

The move could mark the first easing of restrictions at the chokepoint since the war began, even as disruptions to oil and fertilizer supplies have raised global concerns about energy markets and food security.

“This measure reflects Iran’s continued commitment to supporting humanitarian efforts and ensuring that essential aid reaches those in need without delay,” Bahreini said in a post on X.

The announcement came shortly after Iranian state media reported that two nuclear-related facilities had been struck. Israel confirmed responsibility after warning it would escalate its campaign, while Iran vowed retaliation.

”Iran will exact HEAVY price for Israeli crimes,” Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi wrote on X,

Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization said the Shahid Khondab Heavy Water Complex in Arak and the Ardakan yellowcake production facility in Yazd Province were targeted. Officials said there were no casualties and no risk of contamination, noting that the Arak facility has been inactive since a previous strike last year.

Yellowcake is a processed form of uranium used in enrichment, while heavy water plays a role in nuclear reactor operations.

The Israeli military said the strike on the Yazd facility targeted a critical stage in uranium processing, describing it as a significant blow to Iran’s nuclear program.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps warned that retaliation would follow, with senior commander Seyed Majid Moosavi issuing a warning directed at those connected to U.S. and Israeli interests.

“This time, the equation will no longer be ‘an eye for an eye,’ just wait,” he said.

Later Friday, Israel reported incoming missile fire from Iran, with sirens sounding in and around Be’er Sheva and near sensitive strategic locations. Those areas had already been targeted in previous strikes that injured dozens.

The escalation followed Trump’s comments earlier in the day that negotiations to end the conflict were progressing and that he had granted Iran additional time to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, though Iranian officials have denied entering talks.

As global markets react to the instability, pressure has mounted on the administration to restore free passage through the waterway, which remains critical to global energy supplies.

A Gulf Arab coalition said Iran has been imposing tolls on vessels seeking safe transit through the strait, further tightening its grip on the route.

Trump envoy Steve Witkoff said the U.S. has presented a 15-point proposal aimed at ending the war, using Pakistan as an intermediary. The plan calls for curbs on Iran’s nuclear program and reopening the strait.

Iran rejected the proposal and offered its own five-point plan, which includes demands for reparations and recognition of its sovereignty over the waterway.

Trump has warned that if Iran does not fully reopen the strait by April 6, the U.S. will move to destroy Iran’s energy infrastructure.

Markets continued to decline Friday amid the uncertainty. The S&P 500 dropped 1.7%, marking its worst week since the war began, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 1.7% and the Nasdaq declined 2.1%. Oil prices continued to rise.

With gasoline prices nearing $4 per gallon, lawmakers in Washington have urged a temporary suspension of the federal gas tax. Trump said he has “thought about” the idea but suggested states should consider suspending their own fuel taxes.

On the ground, witnesses in eastern Tehran reported power outages following airstrikes, while in Israel, explosions were heard across Tel Aviv as emergency teams responded to multiple impact sites.

An Associated Press journalist reported hearing blasts in the city, and Israeli fire and rescue services said crews were dispatched to 11 locations. A man in his 60s later died after sustaining severe injuries in the attacks.

Defense Minister Israel Katz had earlier warned that Iran “will pay heavy, increasing prices for this war crime.”

The Israeli military said its strikes on Friday focused on weapons production sites in central Tehran, as well as missile launchers and storage facilities in western Iran.

Elsewhere in the region, Saudi Arabia reported intercepting missiles and drones aimed at Riyadh, while Lebanon’s Health Ministry said two people were killed in related strikes.

Kuwait said two of its key ports sustained material damage, including a facility linked to China’s Belt and Road initiative, marking a rare instance of a Chinese-connected project being hit in the conflict.

Diplomatic efforts have continued alongside the fighting, with countries including Pakistan and Turkey attempting to broker direct talks between Washington and Tehran. G7 foreign ministers meeting in France called for an immediate halt to attacks on civilians and infrastructure.

Meanwhile, additional U.S. forces are moving into the region, including naval assets carrying approximately 2,500 Marines and more than 1,000 paratroopers from the 82nd Airborne Division.

Despite the buildup, Secretary of State Marco Rubio maintained that U.S. objectives can still be achieved without a large-scale ground deployment.

The Israeli military also announced it had deployed the 162nd Division into southern Lebanon to reinforce defenses against Hezbollah and disrupt the group’s operations.

Humanitarian concerns are growing as the war continues. The U.N.’s International Organization for Migration reported that 82,000 civilian structures in Iran have been damaged, affecting approximately 180,000 people.

“If this war continues, we risk a far wider humanitarian disaster,” Jan Egeland, secretary general of the Norwegian Refugee Council, said in a statement. “Millions could be forced to flee across borders, placing immense pressure on an already overstretched region.”

{Matzav.com}

American Marines and Army paratroopers stationed in the Middle East are undergoing preparations for potential chemical or nuclear scenarios as tensions with Iran continue to rise, according to a report published Friday.

As part of those preparations, Marine units are conducting drills focused on chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear threats, practicing rapid-response procedures in the event of an attack.

“The CBRN unit can also be scaled up in size, but the conventional Marine forces will have their CBRN gear and be drilling on it, with 15 seconds to get mask and MOPP [ on when someone shouts ‘Gas, gas, gas,’ ” Hackett said, referencing the chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear gear and mission-oriented protective posture gear.

Officials and analysts warn that the likelihood of a chemical or nuclear incident could grow if the conflict escalates further or if Iran finds itself under increasing pressure.

Experts say Iran has the technical capability to produce chemical weapons if it chooses to do so.

“Iran has a very well-established chemical and pharmaceutical industry, so if they decide to change to something else it is fairly straightforward to do,” Phillips said. “So, when it comes to the chemical weapons side, I think this is the area of concern.”

There are also concerns that chemical weapons previously located in Syria may have been relocated before the collapse of Bashar al-Assad’s regime.

“They may well still be on bases somewhere, but it’s stronger than hearsay that some of these chemical weapons actually moved eastwards and are now either in Iraq or Iran,” Phillips told The National.

The report adds that U.S. officials must clearly signal that any use of such weapons would trigger a severe response in order to deter Iran from pursuing that path.

“There needs to be a Trump red line, which means something, which would be the most effective way of stopping these weapons being used,” chemical warfare specialist Hamish de Bretton-Gordon told The National.

Bretton-Gordon also warned that Iran’s past experience in warfare could influence its decisions if the conflict reaches a critical point.

“My concern is that if the Iranians run out of road, what do they do then, because this is in their psyche from the Iran-Iraq War,” Bretton-Gordon said.

Vice President JD Vance emerged as the top choice among conservatives for the next Republican presidential nominee, according to the results of a straw poll conducted at this year’s Conservative Political Action Conference.

Roughly 53% of the more than 1,600 participants selected Vance in the informal survey, giving him a commanding lead among likely contenders for the party’s 2028 nomination.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio finished in second place with 35% support at CPAC, a major annual gathering that draws Republican lawmakers, activists, and potential presidential candidates.

The conference, held this year in Grapevine, Texas, is known for reflecting the views of the party’s conservative wing.

While the event’s straw poll is not considered a reliable predictor of the eventual nominee, it offers insight into where enthusiasm is concentrated within the Republican base.

The results provide a snapshot of support among core backers of President Donald Trump’s Make America Great Again movement, as attention increasingly turns toward the post-Trump era.

Because Trump is serving his second term, he will not be eligible to run again in 2028.

At last year’s CPAC gathering in Oxon Hill, Maryland, Vance also led the straw poll, capturing 61% of the vote, followed by Steve Bannon with 12% and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis with 7%.

Rubio, who received just 3% support in last year’s poll, has since gained prominence during Trump’s second term, particularly due to his role in major international developments, including military operations in Venezuela and Iran.

This year’s results suggest that support among conservatives is increasingly consolidating around Vance and Rubio as the leading figures in the field.

No other candidate in the poll managed to receive more than 2% of the vote.

{Matzav.com}

A 12-year-old Israeli girl, Tamar Haberfeld, was killed in a tragic accident at a ski resort in the French Alps when a bus carrying Israeli tourists lost control and overturned.

The vehicle, which was transporting a group of 15 Israelis, had departed their hotel en route to the airport when the incident took place in the Savoie region. The accident occurred shortly after 12:30 a.m. as the bus was leaving the Val Thorens ski area.

According to reports, the driver exited the bus to address a mechanical problem. Moments later, the vehicle began rolling backward, plunged approximately ten meters down a slope, and flipped over.

In addition to the fatality, eight passengers sustained light injuries and were taken to a hospital in Albertville for treatment, local authorities said. The rest of the group was treated at the scene.

The Israeli Foreign Ministry confirmed that it is actively assisting those affected and maintaining contact with the family of the victim.

“The Israeli consul in France and the Foreign Ministry are in contact with the girl’s family, as well as with the other victims, and are assisting in every way possible.”

{Matzav.com}

A six-year-old boy suffered serious burns during a communal Shabbos meal at a shul in Beitar Illit after accidentally falling into a pot of boiling soup.

Emergency responders from United Hatzalah treated the child at the scene before he was transported to a hospital, where he was listed in moderate condition.

According to Yoni Meller, a United Hatzalah volunteer on duty over Shabbos, the incident took place on Rechov Hamagid MiMezritch in the city. He described the situation upon arrival: “We were told that the child fell into a pot of boiling soup during the shul meal, and as a result suffered burns on most of his body,” Meller said.

“With the assistance of additional medics, we provided him with medical treatment at the scene, after which he was evacuated to the hospital in moderate condition,” he added.

In the aftermath of the incident, United Hatzalah urged the public to take extra precautions, stressing the importance of keeping young children away from kitchens and hot cooking areas to prevent serious injuries and avoid similar tragedies.

{Matzav.com}

A man in his 60s was killed Friday night in Tel Aviv after being struck by shrapnel from an Iranian cluster missile that targeted central Israel.

Emergency responders from Magen David Adom arrived at the scene and were forced to declare the victim dead shortly after assessing his condition.

MDA Senior EMT Shai Bachar said, “When we arrived at the scene, we saw a man in his 60s lying on the ground, unconscious and suffering from very severe injuries. We provided him with medical treatment, but his injuries were critical and we had no choice but to pronounce him dead at the scene. At the same time, additional MDA teams are searching the scene to ensure there are no other casualties.”

אחת הפגיעות במרכז | תיעוד@hadasgrinberg pic.twitter.com/BJL43SDAFo

— כאן חדשות (@kann_news) March 27, 2026

Police officials later confirmed that the man had not been inside a protected shelter when the missile struck.

Elsewhere in central Israel, two additional individuals sustained light injuries and were treated by paramedics before being transported to hospitals. They were taken to Ichilov Hospital in Tel Aviv and Wolfson Hospital in Holon for further care.

MDA Medicycle Unit EMT Anwar Sharkawi said, “When we arrived at the scene, we rescued two men in their 50s from a residential building in mild to moderate condition, suffering from blast injuries and facial trauma. They told us the impact was on the roof of the building, which caused damage to the apartment, and they were injured while on their way to a shelter. We provided them with medical treatment, and evacuated them to the hospital in stable condition.”

תיעוד רגע אחת הפגיעות בתל אביב@hadasgrinberg pic.twitter.com/tov62d9hao

— כאן חדשות (@kann_news) March 27, 2026

Authorities reported at least 11 separate impact locations across central Israel from the cluster missile, including one in Petach Tikva where a building sustained damage.

The attack, which occurred at approximately 11:45 p.m., set off warning sirens across central Israel, as well as in Yerushalayim and the Ashdod region.

נזק בפגיעה בפתח תקווה | תיעוד@hadasgrinberg pic.twitter.com/TihgVMmMeN

— כאן חדשות (@kann_news) March 27, 2026

Earlier in the evening, a separate Iranian launch triggered alarms in southern Israel. That missile was successfully intercepted, though falling debris from the interception caused additional incidents on the ground.

In those earlier strikes, MDA teams treated two people for minor shrapnel-related injuries, including a 37-year-old man and a woman in her 20s. Both were transported to Soroka Hospital in Be’er Sheva for treatment.

President Donald Trump said Friday that recent U.S. actions against Iran have dramatically altered the balance of power in the Middle East, declaring that Tehran no longer holds its longstanding position of dominance in the region.

Speaking at the FII Priority Summit in Miami, Trump said the region is now on the verge of a major transformation.

“Tonight, we’re closer than ever to the rise of the Middle East that is finally free at last from Iranian terror,” Trump said. “For 47 years, Iran has been known as the bully of the Middle East – but they are not the bully any longer.”

.@POTUS at the FII Priority Summit in Miami: "Tonight, we're closer than ever to the rise of the Middle East that is finally free at last from Iranian terror… For 47 years, Iran has been known as the bully of the Middle East — but they are not the bully any longer." pic.twitter.com/rFLJ9Gicyg

— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) March 27, 2026

Trump also pointed to his earlier decision to eliminate Iranian General Qassem Soleimani, who led the Quds Force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, suggesting that even Iran’s leadership may have quietly welcomed the move.

“He was so powerful that I really think that the leadership of Iran was extremely happy when I took him out, but they don’t say that – but nobody’s going to be asking them anymore because they’re not here either,” Trump said.

Addressing ongoing diplomacy, Trump said negotiations with Iran are currently underway, while making a tongue-in-cheek remark about the Strait of Hormuz.

“We’re negotiating now, and it would be great if we could do something, but they have to open it up. They have to open up the Strait of Trump, I mean Hormuz… the fake news will say that I said it accidentally. There are no accidents with me,” Trump said.

Trump also made pointed comments about Iran’s leadership, asserting that former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei is no longer in power and casting doubt on the status of his successor.

On the military front, Trump indicated that U.S. operations in Iran are ongoing and far from complete.

“We have another 3,554 targets left, and they will be done pretty quickly.”

Earlier at the same event, Trump’s Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, said the administration is awaiting a response from Iran to a comprehensive proposal aimed at ending the conflict, and expressed optimism that talks could begin soon.

“My definition of real negotiating would be right here, and we don’t live until we’re done. And we’ve offered that, we think there will be meetings this week. We’re certainly hopeful for it. The President wants a peace deal,” Witkoff said at the FII Priority summit in Miami.

“We have a 15-point deal on the table that the Iranians have had for a bit of time. We expect an answer from them and it would solve it all,” he stated.

{Matzav.com}

The United States has expended a large number of Tomahawk cruise missiles during the opening weeks of its war with Iran, prompting concern among military officials about dwindling supplies and the pace at which they can be replaced.

Reports indicate that more than 850 Tomahawk missiles have been fired within the first month of the conflict, reflecting an intense reliance on precision-guided weapons in ongoing operations.

The rapid rate of use has sparked unease inside the Pentagon, where officials are closely tracking how quickly inventory is being depleted and what that could mean for future missions.

Tomahawk missiles, launched from both naval vessels and submarines, have been a cornerstone of U.S. strike capabilities for decades. However, annual production is limited to only a few hundred units, making it difficult to quickly rebuild reserves once they are used at such a high rate.

Officials say that continued usage at current levels may require diverting missile stockpiles from other global regions, alongside longer-term efforts to ramp up manufacturing. At the same time, defense leaders are evaluating how consumption trends could affect operational readiness going forward.

One official described stock levels in the Middle East as “alarmingly low,” while another warned that without immediate steps, the military is approaching a “Winchester” state – a military term for running out of ammunition. However, a Pentagon spokesperson told the Washington Post that the military “has everything it needs to execute any mission at the time and place of the President’s choosing and on any timeline.”

Administration officials have pushed back on concerns about shortages, insisting that U.S. forces retain sufficient weaponry to sustain combat operations. The report also noted that more than 1,000 interceptor missiles have been deployed to defend against Iranian counterstrikes, placing additional strain on available supplies.

Much of the missile usage occurred during the initial phase of the campaign, according to estimates. With each Tomahawk costing roughly $3.6 million and taking up to two years to produce, replenishing the stockpile presents a significant logistical and financial challenge.

[COMMUNICATED]

The U.S. Department of Justice has filed an antitrust lawsuit against the NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital system, accusing it of leveraging its dominant position in New York City to push insurers into accepting significantly higher prices and limiting access to more affordable health coverage.

According to the complaint, filed in Manhattan federal court, the hospital system allegedly entered into “unlawful contracts” with insurance companies that restrict patients from being offered lower-cost insurance plans.

“Americans deserve the benefits of vigorous competition,” the lawsuit states, arguing that the hospital system’s “anticompetitive conduct” has left families with fewer choices and higher costs.

Federal prosecutors are seeking to halt these practices and reestablish “access to budget-conscious health insurance plans.”

The filing notes that NewYork-Presbyterian controls roughly 30% of the hospital market in Manhattan and operates more than 4,000 inpatient beds across eight campuses throughout the city.

Because of its size and reach, the lawsuit argues that insurers “cannot viably do business in New York City” without including at least some of the system’s facilities in their networks.

However, instead of allowing insurers to selectively include certain hospitals, NewYork-Presbyterian is accused of insisting on “all-or-nothing” agreements. Under these arrangements, insurers must include every facility in the system — including the most expensive ones — if they want any access at all, the lawsuit claims.

This approach comes despite allegations that the system’s prices are higher than those charged by competitors such as NYU, Mount Sinai, and Northwell.

The DOJ argues that these restrictions shield the hospital system from “price competition,” leading to “reduced choice of insurance plans, higher healthcare costs and less competition for high-quality healthcare for employers and patients who purchase healthcare in New York City,” the suit claims.

“Rather than offer consumers choice, New York-Presbyterian uses its market power to protect its margins, impede competition from rival hospitals, and prevent employers and unions from creating these plans,” said Omeed A. Assefi, acting assistant attorney general from the DOJ’s anti-trust office.

The lawsuit also includes a specific example in which NewYork-Presbyterian allegedly intervened to block an insurer from shifting outpatient colonoscopy procedures to a less expensive provider.

“NYP observed that even stopping a single payor from moving outpatient colonoscopies out of NYP’s hospitals was ‘worth ~250k [dollars] to [a physician group in NYP’s system] and multiples more to [NYP],’” the suit claims.

In addition, the filing references a “recent strategic planning document” in which the hospital system allegedly expressed concern that offering patients lower-cost alternatives could create “pricing pressure” and negatively “impact [NYP’s] margins.”

In response, NewYork-Presbyterian said it was “disappointed” by the lawsuit and rejected the allegations, stating that the claims are “without merit” and noting that discussions with the DOJ had already been underway.

“We do not seek to exclude any other hospital from any insurer’s network,” said hospital spokesperson Angela Karafazli. “Nor do we require more favorable treatment than any other hospital.”

“The obligation of insurance companies is to their shareholders, while ours is to our patients,” she said. “We believe all New Yorkers should be able to choose their health care provider.”