Matzav

On Thursday, Bat Yam Mayor Tzvika Brot shared a deeply emotional update: the tefillin belonging to Michael (Miki) Nachum had been discovered by Home Front Command teams amid the ruins of the residential building struck by an Iranian missile earlier this week.

Brot personally contacted Nachum’s daughters to let them know the tefillin had been recovered. “The bag is partially torn,” he wrote, “but the tefillin itself is intact, and it will serve to strengthen the daughters during this incredibly difficult time.”

He offered heartfelt thanks to the Home Front Command personnel working tirelessly at the site. “Thank you to the men and women of the Home Front Command’s National Rescue Unit, who are doing everything possible to recover what they can from the rubble and to honor the memory of those killed.”

Miki, 61 years old, was a father of four and a beloved longtime resident of Bat Yam. He was among the nine city residents who tragically lost their lives in the deadly missile strike.

{Matzav.com Israel}

Hezbollah’s deputy leader, Naim Qassem, made clear on Thursday that the group will not be dictated to, vowing that Hezbollah will “act as we see fit,” in a strong show of alignment with Iran, the AFP reports.

His comments were a direct retort to remarks made by Tom Barrack, the U.S. Special Envoy for Syria, who had issued a warning urging Hezbollah not to get involved in the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran.

In a defiant message, Qassem declared, “Tyrannical America and criminal Israel will not be able to subjugate the Iranian people and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.” He went on to reaffirm Hezbollah’s loyalty to Tehran, saying the group remains bound by “the responsibility to stand by Iran and provide it with all forms of support that contribute to putting an end to this tyranny and oppression.”

Barrack, who also serves as U.S. ambassador to Turkey, visited Beirut for the first time in his current role on Thursday. During the trip, he met with leading Lebanese officials, including Nabih Berri, the Parliament Speaker and a political ally of Hezbollah.

After his discussion with Berri, Barrack relayed a pointed warning from the Trump administration. Responding to questions about Hezbollah possibly entering the fray, he remarked, “I can say on behalf of President (Donald) Trump… that would be a very, very, very bad decision.”

Last year, Hezbollah suffered notable casualties during its confrontation with Israel, which ended in a ceasefire in November. After Israel carried out an airstrike in Iran last week, Lebanon’s foreign ministry said it was “continuing its contacts” to ensure Lebanon does not become entangled in the broader regional war.

Earlier in the week, leaders from Hezbollah and the Shiite movement Amal met to assess the unfolding regional crisis, focusing on the ongoing Iran-Israel conflict and its potential impact on Lebanon.

According to Al Akhbar, both groups issued a joint denunciation of Israeli actions in Lebanon, characterizing them as “desperate attempts to attack the Axis of Resistance and harm the will of free states.”

In a statement released after their meeting, the two organizations asserted that Iran remains the central pillar in confronting what they described as a strategy of domination and colonialism.

On the domestic front, the groups highlighted the urgency of reconstructing Lebanese regions damaged by “Israeli aggression,” and labeled this effort as a matter of national significance.

{Matzav.com Israel}

In a dramatic halachic decision prompted by the ongoing war, former Rishon Letzion and nosi of the Moetzet Chachmei HaTorah of Shas, Rav Yitzchak Yosef, has ruled that weddings may be held during the Bein HaMetzarim period this year due to the extenuating circumstances facing many couples across the country.

The ruling comes in light of widespread cancellations of weddings following Home Front Command guidelines. In response to questions from rabbanim across both Sephardic and Ashkenazic communities, Rav Yosef issued a detailed halachic letter permitting — and in some cases encouraging — couples not to postpone their wedding plans during the traditionally mournful period between the 17th of Tammuz and Rosh Chodesh Av.

The letter, titled “Holding Weddings During Bein HaMetzarim, 5785,” offers critical guidance to numerous young couples whose weddings were either canceled or delayed and who now face severe difficulty finding alternative dates or venues.

Rav Yosef makes clear that for Sephardic Jews who follow the rulings of the Mechaberin Shulchan Aruch, it is fully permitted — and even a mitzvah — to marry during this time. He emphasizes that this has been the long-standing custom in Yerushalayim for generations and applies regardless of whether the chosson has already fulfilled the mitzvah of pru u’rvu.

Although the ruling is rooted in Sephardic custom, Rav Yosef addresses Ashkenazic practice as well, noting that those who typically follow the more stringent opinion of the Rama, which prohibits weddings from the 17th of Tammuz onward, should still consider being lenient this year. He writes that the logistical challenges and emotional toll of postponements could lead to serious michsholim (spiritual pitfalls) and hardship. “HaMachmir bazeh, yotzei sechoro behefsedo,” he writes — “one who is stringent in this matter will ultimately lose more than he gains.”

He supports his lenient ruling by citing several Acharonim, including the Aruch HaShulchan, who permitted weddings during this period when necessary (excluding the week of Tishah B’Av), and Rav Aryeh Leib Grossnas in Shu”t Lev Aryeh, who ruled that “in a time of need, one should permit it.” Rav Yosef adds, “There is no greater time of need than the current moment.”

The letter concludes with a heartfelt call for Klal Yisrael to strengthen their commitment to Torah and tefillah. “Eis tzarah hi l’Yaakov, u’mimenah yevashea.”

{Matzav.com Israel}

In a moving recollection, Ponovezh Rosh Yeshiva Rav Beel Povarsky shared memories of the tumultuous days of Israel’s War of Independence in 1948, describing how the safest place he could think of during air raid sirens was the home of the Chazon Ish zt”l.

Rav Povarsky recounted: “The war had just begun, in 1948, when Ben Gurion declared the establishment of the state. Immediately the Arabs, including Egypt, planned to attack. Egypt sent a plane. There were sirens, and a bomb landed here on the K’vish HaShachor.”

He described how people reacted to the sirens at the time: “When the alarm sounded, there was a shelter at the yeshiva. Everyone went there. Some stood close to the pillars of the building.”

But Rav Povarsky’s instinct was different.

“The first thing I did when the siren went off,” he said, “was run to the Chazon Ish. That was the best shelter there was. I came in, and he was sitting and learning. He was so happy I had come. The windows were open—nothing was closed. We spoke in learning. That’s how it was.”

{Matzav.com Israel}

The Department of Homeland Security has refuted the Los Angeles Dodgers’ assertion that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) attempted to carry out a raid at Dodger Stadium on Thursday.

The Dodgers, the current World Series titleholders, posted on their official X (formerly Twitter) account that ICE agents had tried to gain entry to the stadium’s parking area early Thursday. The team claimed it blocked the agents from entering — framing the incident as part of Los Angeles’ broader defiance of Trump administration immigration crackdowns.

But according to DHS representatives, the incident was being exaggerated and mischaracterized. Officials stated that there was never an active enforcement plan targeting the stadium.

“This had nothing to do with the Dodgers,” the agency wrote on X. “CBP vehicles were in the stadium parking lot very briefly, unrelated to any operation or enforcement.”

An ICE spokesperson confirmed to The Post that there was no immigration action planned at the venue. According to the agency, the parking lot was simply used temporarily for logistical purposes.

Though several DHS vehicles were seen near Dodger Stadium in the Elysian Park neighborhood, including agents wearing masks, no arrests were reported in the area throughout the day.

Sources within the Los Angeles Police Department noted that the team did not request LAPD assistance to remove the federal agents. However, according to the LA Times, the Dodgers did contact authorities when a group of demonstrators opposing ICE showed up at the site.

The organization has faced increasing calls from activists and community members urging it to speak out more forcefully against immigration enforcement actions in the city.

Tensions could rise even further following remarks by President Trump’s immigration policy leader, Tom Homan, who announced on Thursday that ICE would resume worksite enforcement targeting locations like farms, hotels, and other businesses employing undocumented workers.

“We will concentrate on worksites on a prioritized basis just like we do at large operations,” he told reporters at the White House Thursday.

This announcement comes shortly after the Trump administration had indicated that it would hold off on conducting raids at places such as restaurants, farms, and hospitality venues.

{Matzav.com}

President Trump is reportedly holding off on greenlighting a military strike on Iran due to fears that such an action could spiral into a destabilizing repeat of the Libyan crisis, sources close to his administration told The NY Post. Trump is said to be pausing his decision for as long as two weeks.

According to three individuals familiar with internal White House discussions, Trump has specifically cited the 2011 downfall of Muammar Gaddafi — and the chaos that followed — as a cautionary tale. Gaddafi’s removal after a NATO-led campaign resulted in prolonged civil unrest and power vacuums across Libya.

One source involved in the administration’s talks said, “Trump doesn’t want it to turn into Libya,” in reference to the deliberations over whether the U.S. should join Israel’s current bombing campaign targeting Iran’s nuclear program.

During a Thursday press briefing, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt stated that Trump was taking time to weigh his options carefully, explaining that his hesitation was due in part to “the fact that there’s a substantial chance of negotiations that may or may not take place with Iran in the near future.”

Iran’s top diplomat Abbas Araghchi is expected to meet with his European counterparts — representing the UK, France, Germany, and the EU — in Geneva on Friday to discuss the ongoing crisis. Leavitt clarified that U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff would not be attending the summit but emphasized that he remains in active contact with the Iranians.

One individual with direct access to Trump said they personally heard the president mention concerns about Iran descending into a Libya-style collapse even before Israel launched its opening salvo against Iranian nuclear facilities.

Other administration-linked sources said they were briefed by people who had heard Trump draw parallels not only to Libya but also to Afghanistan and Iraq — two other U.S.-involved conflicts that resulted in prolonged instability.

A fifth person, who did not hear Trump’s comments firsthand, but was debriefed on his internal considerations, said the president was leaning toward authorizing precise bombing raids focused on Iran’s nuclear infrastructure — particularly at the deeply buried sites of Fordow and Natanz — using 30,000-pound “bunker buster” ordnance that Israeli aircraft are not equipped to carry.

“Libya was a much more extended kind of bombing commitment, and it ended up being regime change,” that source said.

“If the regime falls [in Iran], then it’s not on Trump, because that’s not the goal of his very limited strike.”

That person added that one of the main worries is whether a post-Khamenei Iran could end up in even worse hands, stating, “we get somebody worse than Khamenei.”

“As far as President Trump goes, he’s not going to get in the business of who runs Iran, that’s very salable to his base,” the source said.

A separate insider close to the White House noted that even if a successful U.S. strike were to take out Iran’s nuclear facilities, it would still raise the challenge of dealing with Tehran’s retaliation — which could include terrorism or environmental fallout.

“He’d rather have a deal,” the source told The NY Post.

“There are two reasons Trump talks about Libya: the first is the chaos after what we did to Gaddafi. The second is the Libya intervention made it more difficult to negotiate deals with countries like North Korea and Iran,” said the source who heard the president directly mention the comparison.

In sharp contrast to Trump’s hesitations, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz was explicit in his call for Khamenei’s removal, branding the Iranian leader “the modern Hitler” on Thursday.

“The IDF has been instructed and knows that to achieve all the objectives, without question this man should no longer continue to exist,” Defense Minister Israel Katz said.

That same day, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made clear that Trump’s involvement in the conflict was entirely optional, while also asserting that Israel’s military was capable of finishing the job without relying on American “bunker buster” munitions.

“We will achieve all our objectives and hit all of their nuclear facilities. We have the capability to do that,” Netanyahu said when asked by a reporter about the Fordow Fuel Enrichment Plant hidden half a mile under a mountain.

After Israel’s preemptive assault on Iran’s nuclear infrastructure last week, several military analysts expressed skepticism that Israel could successfully destroy the Fordow site, given its fortified underground location.

Even with American-supplied 2,000-pound bombs, Israeli airpower had been considered insufficient to breach that level of protection.

The Middle East has seen numerous civil wars in recent decades — in places like Iraq, Syria, Yemen, and Afghanistan — many of which involved U.S. military intervention. But Trump has consistently pointed to Libya when discussing the dangers of regime change.

Muammar Gaddafi ruled Libya for over four decades before he was deposed by insurgents supported by the Obama administration. He had previously agreed to abandon a nuclear weapons program in 2003.

Khamenei, similarly, has been at the helm of Iran for decades — serving 35 years as supreme leader, following nearly a decade as president during the reign of his predecessor, Ayatollah Khomeini.

Libya’s collapse shattered hopes of democracy and instead ushered in a brutal era of chaos. Warlords battled for power, extremist groups like ISIS spread terror, and public executions were filmed on beaches. The absence of central authority decimated oil production and turned Libya into a gateway for desperate migrants risking their lives to reach Europe.

At Thursday’s White House briefing, Leavitt emphasized that the president was hearing from a broad array of voices — both at home and abroad — before making any military decisions.

“Based on the fact that there’s a substantial chance of negotiations that may or may not take place with Iran in the near future, I will make my decision whether or not to go within the next two weeks,” she said, relaying Trump’s official message.

When asked about regime change, Leavitt responded, “the president’s top priority right now is to ensure that Iran can not attain a nuclear weapon and providing peace and stability to the Middle East.”

{Matzav.com}

Iran’s long-standing alliance with its so-called “Axis of Resistance” appears to be unraveling, as the Islamic Republic faces growing isolation in the region. Analysts say Iran is increasingly being left to fend for itself as its regional partners retreat in the face of mounting military and political pressure, the NY Post.

For years, Tehran has poured resources into arming and organizing militias across Gaza, Lebanon, Yemen, Iraq, and Syria. But now, most of these groups are in disarray — battered by losses, weakened operationally, and unwilling to escalate further on Iran’s behalf.

Rather than aiding Iran, the proxies once considered devoted allies — including Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthis, and various Shiite factions — are now preoccupied with their own survival and regional positioning.

In some cases, those factions have grown disillusioned with Iran’s ability to shield them from the fallout of the broader conflict.

“For all of these networks right now, it’s about survival. They all understand the wrath of these types of military campaigns,” Renad Mansour, a senior fellow and director of the Iraq Initiative at Chatham House, told the Wall Street Journal.

“Many of them question if this is the time for resistance or whether it’s the time to keep your head down and try to stay out of this conflict,” he added.

Israel’s ongoing military operation in Gaza has, by its own count, eliminated roughly 20,000 Hamas fighters and dismantled most of the terror group’s military capabilities. Since then, Hamas has fired only sporadic rockets in retaliation, even after Israel clashed directly with Iran.

Hezbollah, once viewed as Iran’s crown jewel of proxy power, has also been seriously weakened. A campaign by the Israeli military in Lebanon last year reportedly took out much of the group’s leadership, including its founder Hassan Nasrallah.

The surprise Israeli “pager” operation in September resulted in dozens of Hezbollah fighters killed and thousands more injured. That strike, Arab officials say, left the group in disarray, prompting a shift from confrontation to rebuilding.

Some Hezbollah insiders are said to harbor resentment over Iran’s failure to shield them from that deadly strike. According to Arab diplomats, internal voices have even partially blamed the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps for intelligence shortcomings that led to the losses.

In the immediate aftermath of the Gaza war, Hezbollah had been launching near-daily rocket fire at Israeli targets. But since Iran was attacked last week, not a single projectile has been fired — a stark change from past behavior.

Lebanon’s leadership has also played a role in holding the group back. Both President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam publicly declared on Monday that Lebanon would not be drawn into a new war, and other officials have worked to enforce the cease-fire with Israel.

Another major setback for Tehran came when longtime ally Bashar al-Assad was deposed in Syria during a rapid popular uprising late last year.

Assad’s fall was a major loss for Iran’s strategic foothold in the region. Making matters worse for Tehran, reports surfaced that it did not mobilize its affiliated militias to defend Assad — instead directing them to withdraw.

In Iraq, Iran-aligned Shiite groups that once regularly targeted American forces have gone quiet. They have avoided confrontation even as regional tensions escalate.

According to Arab sources familiar with internal discussions, these militias are wary of engaging in conflict, as many of their senior members now hold government positions and are enjoying economic gains from Iraq’s petroleum-based prosperity.

“They’ve been sort of benefiting from Iraq’s stability, in a way, and the high oil prices to develop economic empires,” said Mansour of the dozens of Iran-backed groups.

To date, only Kataeb Hezbollah has publicly commented on the conflict — and even then, the group made clear that it would only respond if American forces entered the battle directly.

In Yemen, the Iran-backed Houthis have taken a more vocal stance, issuing threats to target Israeli and U.S. vessels in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden in response to strikes on Tehran.

The Houthis have launched missiles at Israel since the outbreak of hostilities, claiming that their attacks are being coordinated closely with Iran as part of a joint effort.

But according to analysts, these declarations may be more about optics than actual alignment.

“It’s a Houthi-first policy,” Elisabeth Kendall, a Middle East expert and head of the University of Cambridge’s Girton College, told the WSJ.

“They’re not going to put their own necks on the line for the supreme leader. They’re going to figure out what’s actually best for them,” she added.

Over the past year, the Houthis have suffered heavy damage from repeated U.S. and British air raids targeting their military infrastructure.

American airstrikes in March and April — which were later linked to the so-called SignalGate scandal — reportedly crippled the Houthis’ ability to launch missiles and drones, according to U.S. officials.

{Matzav.com}

How a Yerushalayim Seminary Transformed Heartache into Joy with a Surprise Celebration

By Matzav.com

It was supposed to be the happiest night of her family’s life, but she was 6,000 miles away.

Somewhere across the ocean, in Lakewood, her brother stood under the chuppah, flanked by generations of love and hope. And she, his sister, was in a seminary dormitory in Yerushalayim, knowing she would miss it all.

But her friends had a different plan.

Last night, in a quiet Yerushalayim neighborhood, one seminary girl experienced a night she’ll never forget — not because of what she missed, but because of what her friends made sure she wouldn’t.

The Setup

She thought it would be just another long, bittersweet night. The ache of being far from family, missing the dancing, the brachos, the smiles, the sheva berachos, all of it. She knew she’d be able to watch the livestream later, but nothing could truly replace being there.

But her friends had been secretly preparing something extraordinary. For hours they had planned. Quietly, carefully, with love in every detail.

And then it happened.

As she walked into the seminary hall, her breath caught. She was greeted by what could only be described as… a wedding.

The Surprise

Every girl was dressed to the nines — gowns, updos, heels, full makeup. Her roommates wore elegant evening dresses. Someone had pulled out a real loudspeaker, another had set up a keyboard (with a girl miming along), and a microphone. Music blasted. Lights dimmed. The room shimmered with joy.

They had built a wedding from scratch.

Together, the entire seminary danced — circles and circles of friends, sisters in every way but name — with the girl of the night in the center, radiant, stunned, overwhelmed. The energy was electric, the emotion palpable.

Then the seminary principals arrived — both of them — one of them holding her young daughter in her arms. They joined the dancing too, with the same joy and passion, each one taking her turn in the center of the circle with the kallah’s sister.

And it didn’t stop there.

The Atmosphere

A wall had been draped in white tablecloths, adorned with real fresh flowers. A stunning buffet table stood nearby — not just symbolic, but delicious. Girls had spent four hours in the kitchen making fresh potato kugel, while others assembled vibrant fruit platters and arranged snacks with the flair of a professional simchah planner.

And then came second dance.

The eim bayits joined in, dressed in Shabbos clothes, as the simchah took on a whole new level. There was shtick — real shtick: a parachute, juggling acts, even a fire-swallower (yes, really — one of the girls had learned the trick). Girls did choreographed dances and comedic bits. It was fun. It was pure. It was holy.

And yes — they even had a mitzvah tantz.

Brownies and peanut butter ice cream followed, along with a grammen, a soulful kumzitz, and finally — a dramatic escort as they danced the girl back to the dorm, as if she were returning from an actual wedding hall.

The Real Moment

And at 2 a.m., they gathered again. This time in the dorm, quiet and still. They turned on the livestream, watching the real wedding unfold across the ocean. There were tears. Smiles. Connection.

She was there, after all — not just virtually, but spiritually, and emotionally, and with a heart so full of love and sisterhood it could have lit up the night sky of two continents.

A Night of True Friendship

There are moments in life when you realize the greatness of the people around you. This was one of those moments.

It wasn’t just a sweet gesture. It wasn’t a distraction. It was a full simchah, built with nothing but heart, creativity, and deep ahavas Yisroel. These girls didn’t just say, “We feel for you.” They said, “You’re not missing anything — because we’re going to make it happen for you.”

And they did.

One Yerushalayim seminary reminded us what true friendship looks like — and what it means to dance with someone else’s simchah as if it were your own.

{Matzav.com}

Crowds packed the streets of Tenafly, New Jersey, erupting in cheers and waving flags as Edan Alexander finally came home, nearly 600 days after he was abducted and held captive by Hamas. The hometown celebration marked the end of a harrowing ordeal and the joyous return of a local hero.

With a broad smile and dark sunglasses shielding his eyes, Alexander shared a few words with The New York Post while being driven through Tenafly’s main street. “Great,” he said simply when asked how he felt, adding that it was good to be home.

WATCH:

Supporters lined the sidewalks, many draped in Israeli flags or holding up hand-painted signs that read, “Welcome home Edan.” The crowd sang and danced to the familiar refrain of “Am Yisrael Chai,” expressing collective pride and relief.

Now 21, Alexander served as a staff sergeant in the Israel Defense Forces. He was one of 251 people taken hostage during Hamas’s brutal October 7, 2023 assault and was the final American hostage to make it out alive.

“We didn’t know if he was alive for a long time and that was very hard to think about,” said Gaia Hamani, 25, of Alpine. Her brother had attended both preschool and high school with Alexander, creating a deep personal connection to his story.

“He left everything. He left the comfort of his home in New Jersey. He didn’t have to go to the army. He volunteered to do that. It takes a lot of courage and strength to do that,” she added, reflecting on the sacrifice Alexander had made.

Hamani recalled how she and her mother kept Alexander’s photo in their wallets throughout his captivity as a constant reminder to daven for him.

“We prayed for him all the time. I always think of him in relation to my brother — to think what he went through, I can’t imagine,” she said, visibly emotional.

Details of Alexander’s treatment while in captivity were harrowing. According to the Kan public broadcaster, he was routinely kept in a cage, bound at his wrists and ankles, and subjected to torture deep in Hamas’s underground tunnels.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu credited Alexander’s release to the IDF’s unrelenting military operations in Gaza, coupled with diplomatic efforts led by President Trump.

The emotional weight of the moment was evident everywhere. Hamani said that as she drove to the welcome-home event and saw children waving Israeli flags, she was overcome and began to cry.

Michal Fox, 51, a psychologist and mother of four from Englewood, said the celebration wasn’t just for Alexander—it was a much-needed moment of unity and healing for the Jewish community as a whole.

“It’s a great way for the community to come together. There are so many bad things that happened but we are going to celebrate him together,” she told The Post.

“It means to everyone that there is hope. There is resilience. He’s the signature child, person for resilience and how we can get through things,” she said, reflecting the crowd’s mood.

Though she had never met the Alexanders, Fox said their pain and triumph felt personal. “I don’t know them,” she said. “I don’t know anyone, but that’s what the Jewish community does. We come together. Their child is our child.”

{Matzav.com}

Fox News senior strategic analyst Gen. Jack Keane (ret.) breaks down alternative options to using a bunker-busting bomb and B-2s to strike Fordow, Iran’s retaliation capabilities and whether action is imminent.

WATCH:

A U.S. military aircraft known as a “doomsday plane” made its way to Joint Base Andrews near Washington, DC this week, as President Trump considers whether to authorize a strike on Iran’s nuclear infrastructure.

The E-4B Nightwatch, a specially outfitted command and control aircraft meant to ensure the continuity of government in a nuclear conflict, was tracked en route to the capital, following a meandering flight path.

According to data from FlightRadar, the aircraft departed from Bossier City, Louisiana, around 6 p.m. Tuesday and touched down in Maryland at 10 p.m., after flying along the East Coast and looping around parts of Virginia and North Carolina.

Flight trackers noted something unusual: the aircraft used the callsign ORDER01, a departure from its usual identifier ORDER6, prompting speculation about its mission.

The U.S. operates four E-4Bs as part of a fleet that flies regularly throughout the year to maintain readiness for national security crises.

These jets function as mobile headquarters for top defense leaders, including the president, the secretary of defense, and the Joint Chiefs, enabling them to manage military operations even during extreme emergencies.

Each Nightwatch plane is equipped to carry as many as 112 personnel and can travel more than 7,000 miles without needing to land.

Their strategic value lies in their unique features, which include resilience against nuclear explosions, cyber threats, and electromagnetic interference. They are also capable of launching retaliatory strikes if necessary.

The E-4B is shielded against thermal and nuclear threats and houses 67 antennas and satellite dishes in its ray dome, providing global communication capabilities.

Thanks to in-flight refueling, the aircraft can stay aloft for days at a time. In fact, one such mission recorded a continuous flight time of 35.4 hours.

Inside, the aircraft offers extensive accommodations spread over three decks, including 18 sleeping bunks, a command center, conference areas, and space for strategic planning—essentially functioning as a mobile Pentagon.

Donald Rumsfeld, who served as defense secretary under President George W. Bush, frequently used the E-4B for travel.

Some analysts believe the recent flight may be tied to heightened security measures for the president amid escalating conflict in the Middle East.

The U.S. Air Force has begun the process of retiring the current Nightwatch fleet. In April, it awarded a $13 billion contract to Sierra Nevada Corporation to build their replacements, according to a report by the Aviationist.

The backdrop to the deployment is rising friction between Iran and Israel, with Trump recently calling for Iran’s “unconditional surrender.”

Despite suffering heavy aerial bombardment in Tehran that has led thousands to flee, Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, rejected Trump’s demand on Wednesday.

Since Israel initiated its military operation against Iran last week, over 224 people have reportedly been killed.

FlightRadar showed that two Iranian government jets left Iranian airspace on Wednesday, heading to Oman.

This triggered speculation that high-ranking Iranian officials might be escaping the conflict—or possibly preparing for urgent negotiations in Muscat.

{Matzav.com}

Application Only Available to Israeli Citizens – No Clear Timeline for Flights Yet

In a long-awaited development, Israel’s Ministry of Transportation has released initial guidance for Israeli citizens who are currently stranded abroad and wish to return home. The announcement, issued late Wednesday, outlines steps for those with return tickets, as well as a special process for those without.

Israeli citizens who already hold return tickets to Israel are advised to contact the airline on which they are booked. At present, only Israeli carriers are operating flights into the country.

For those without return tickets, or those whose flights have been canceled, the Ministry has established a special Exceptions Committee. Israeli citizens may apply for approval to return if they meet specific criteria, including:

• Parents of children under age 12 who are currently in Israel
• Women in an advanced stage of pregnancy (Week 34 or later)
• Individuals with disabilities
• Parents of children with disabilities
• Other exceptional personal circumstances

Applications are submitted via this website and are currently open exclusively to Israeli citizens. Once an application is submitted, approved individuals will be added to a waiting list and may eventually be assigned a seat on an upcoming flight to Israel. However, no timeline has been provided for when these flights will take place.

It is important to note that this process is not available to Israeli residents who do not hold Israeli citizenship. At this time, there is no exceptional return option for non-citizen residents currently abroad.

Chaim V’Chessed is actively advocating on behalf of non-citןzens and is in contact with relevant government officials to raise awareness of their plight. Further updates will be provided as more information becomes available.

{Matzav.com}

SpaceX’s Starship vehicle was destroyed in a fiery blast late Wednesday evening during a testing procedure at the company’s launch facility in Boca Chica, Texas.

At approximately 11 p.m. local time, SpaceX confirmed that “the Starship preparing for the tenth flight test experienced a major anomaly while on a test stand at Starbase,” according to a statement posted on X.

The company emphasized that safety protocols were in place during the event. “A safety clear area around the site was maintained throughout the operation and all personnel are safe and accounted for,” the statement continued. “Our Starbase team is actively working to safe the test site and the immediate surrounding area in conjunction with local officials. There are no hazards to residents in surrounding communities, and we ask that individuals do not attempt to approach the area while safing operations continue.”

Multiple livestreams covering activity at Starbase captured the moment the vehicle exploded, with footage circulating online shortly after the blast.

“Whoa! Whoa! No,” a startled voice is heard reacting in real time. “Oh, my God.” Text at the bottom of the broadcast indicated: “SpaceX is expected to perform a static fire test of ship 36. The second in this series of testing for flight 10.”

Elon Musk, the company’s CEO, responded with apparent nonchalance early Thursday morning. “Just a scratch,” he wrote on X.

{Matzav.com}

In an interview with Kan News on Thursday, Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu disclosed that Israel’s military offensive against Iran nearly didn’t go forward, with the mission being on the verge of cancellation at the last minute.

When asked whether Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, is a potential target, Netanyahu made it clear that no one in Iran is exempt. “I instructed that no one in Iran has immunity. It is inappropriate and unnecessary to add more than that. We need to let the actions speak more than the words.”

Commenting on whether Israel is actively seeking to topple the Iranian regime, Netanyahu emphasized that neutralizing the nuclear threat remains the highest priority. “Our top goal is the removal of the nuclear threat. Second, is the removal of the threat of ballistic missiles. As that happens, it’s clear that the regime will be undermined.” While he noted that regime change is not the objective, he acknowledged it could be a consequence. “That’s the matter of the Iranian people,” he added.

Netanyahu also offered insight into the timing of the military campaign, saying Iran’s network of regional power had already crumbled. “We broke the Iranian axis. Hezbollah collapsed, Assad collapsed. All that Tehran had left was the nuclear and ballistic missile threat. We didn’t leave it for the next generations, because maybe there won’t be any.”

Reflecting on past challenges in securing backing for major operations, Netanyahu noted a shift. “In the past, I couldn’t enlist the security forces and the Mossad, to put it lightly. This time, everyone came.” He also stated that Israel did not wait for a go-ahead from Washington before acting, though he acknowledged the support of the Trump administration: “They help us wonderfully with defense. American pilots are intercepting UAVs.”

Netanyahu sharply criticized the Biden administration’s stance, contrasting it with Trump’s backing. He accused the current U.S. government of attempting to stop Israel from responding to Iran’s allied groups. According to Netanyahu, the Biden team tried to block Israeli actions against “Iranian proxies.”

Pressed about Israel’s broader war strategy and specific targets, Netanyahu declined to reveal operational details. “We’re at war, we won’t give schedules. We will achieve all the goals, we will hit all the nuclear facilities, we have the ability to do so,” he stated.

He also highlighted that Israel had taken early steps to prepare for domestic defense and commended Israeli citizens for their resilience. Netanyahu praised the public, saying they were “standing strong.”

Responding to concerns about the missile threat and reported shortages of interceptors, Netanyahu downplayed the issue. “It doesn’t matter how many missiles Iran has. We are striking launchers, I think we destroyed half of them.”

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The White House has issued a stark warning about Iran’s nuclear capabilities, stating that the country could be mere weeks away from developing a nuclear bomb. This revelation comes as President Donald Trump continues to weigh the possibility of launching a military response against the Iranian regime.

“Iran has all that it needs to achieve a nuclear weapon. All they need is a decision from the supreme leader to do that, and it would take a couple of weeks to complete the production of that weapon,” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told the press, underscoring the immediacy of the threat.

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President Trump announced on Thursday that he would decide within two weeks whether to authorize military action against Iran, as he remains optimistic about a potential diplomatic breakthrough.

“Based on the fact that there’s a substantial chance of negotiations that may or may not take place with Iran in the near future, I will make my decision whether or not to go within the next two weeks,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters, quoting Trump during her press briefing.

Speaking the day before, Trump mentioned that Iranian officials were expressing interest in meeting with him directly at the White House.

“If there’s a chance for diplomacy, he’s not afraid to grab it,” Leavitt said.

The proposed agreement under discussion would require Iran to completely halt its uranium enrichment activities.

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During a tour of the IDF Intelligence Directorate’s Targeting Center on Wednesday, Major General Shlomie Binder, who heads the Intelligence Directorate, stated that Israel’s current military actions are effectively shifting Iran’s status from a remote strategic issue to a direct and immediate concern.

“We struck the Quds Force very hard on the first night. This includes roughly 30 commanders; the names that were published are those of the more senior ones. But we’re talking about Chiefs of Staff and Air Force Commanders,” said Binder.

He went on to describe a recent Israeli operation that zeroed in on a hidden Iranian command post nestled in a mountainous region. “Some of the commanders managed to flee to a secondary location. Twelve hours later, we succeeded in striking the Chief of Staff of Khatam al-Anbiya, who had fled to the same secondary location in another mountain ridge in Tehran,” he noted.

Binder stressed the critical nature of sustained pursuit and pressure. “We need to hunt them down wherever they flee. And you are succeeding in turning Iran, as I said earlier, from some distant place, 1,500 kilometers from here, into an army that we know how to deal with, with the sense of it being a first-circle threat.”

He closed his remarks by reinforcing the strategic imperative behind the operation. “Your ability to deliver high-value results in the coming days is integral. We need to deliver, increase the pace, and that’s exactly what we’re doing. Because this is the kind of threat that, I emphasize, the State of Israel cannot tolerate. Period. That’s the reason we launched this campaign, and that’s the reason you are working hard.”

{Matzav.com Israel}

U.S. Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi have held several phone conversations in recent days, according to a Reuters report released Thursday. These communications came in the wake of Israel’s June 13 air offensive against Iran and represent the most extensive contact between the two officials since April, three diplomats familiar with the situation told Reuters.

Speaking anonymously, the diplomats said that Araghchi made it clear that Iran would refuse to come back to the negotiating table unless Israel put a stop to its military actions. The discussions also reportedly included a brief mention of a U.S. initiative first floated in late May that proposed establishing a uranium enrichment program managed by a regional consortium outside Iran’s borders—an idea that Tehran has so far turned down.

The article states that the U.S. placed the initial call, using the opportunity to offer a revised proposal intended to break the diplomatic impasse. A regional source with ties to Iran suggested that Araghchi might be open to compromise on the nuclear issue if Washington could influence Israel to suspend its attacks.

Reuters also cited a European diplomat who said Araghchi signaled a readiness to reengage in nuclear talks, but only if the Israeli strikes came to a halt. Until this latest communication, Araghchi and Witkoff had only spoken briefly on the sidelines of five indirect negotiation sessions held since April.

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Israel’s dramatic initial strike against Iran was a significant achievement in terms of military coordination and intelligence execution, but it will not be enough to entirely eliminate Iran’s nuclear capabilities without American involvement, said Sima Shine, a former senior Mossad official.

Shine expressed genuine admiration for the precision and synchronization displayed by both the Mossad and the IDF in launching Operation Rising Lion. She described the attack as a masterclass in planning and execution. Nevertheless, she emphasized that dismantling the entirety of Iran’s nuclear infrastructure would require active U.S. participation.

Now heading the Iran and Shiite Axis research program at the Institute for National Security Studies (INSS), Shine had previously led the Mossad’s Research Division. She offered her insights during a briefing following the surprise Israeli campaign on June 13, which struck more than 100 military and nuclear targets across Iran.

Although Tehran has already begun its retaliation, Shine warned that much more is likely to come. “Everything in their capacity will be used,” she cautioned, urging the Israeli public to closely follow directives issued by the Home Front Command.

She said that Iran’s response might not be conventional, and could include asymmetric attacks by dormant terror networks stationed internationally—especially in Europe—something the regime has attempted before. Iran might also take steps on the diplomatic front, such as quitting the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and expelling international inspectors.

Since Israel’s opening strike, Iran has been launching daily barrages of missiles and drones, some of which have inflicted serious damage on major Israeli cities including Tel Aviv and Haifa. A state of emergency has been declared, and the country’s defense systems—both civilian and military—remain in a heightened state of readiness.

Shine warned that Tehran’s vengeance may be intense enough to spark a broader regional war. She noted that attacks from the Houthis in Yemen are expected to persist despite recent mixed signals from Iran’s network of allied groups. Hezbollah, for instance, issued a rare public statement: “Hezbollah will not initiate its own attack on Israel in retaliation for Israel’s strikes.”

She pointed out that Iran’s affiliates in Iraq are in a precarious position, especially after Iraq’s Prime Minister made it clear that his government has no interest in joining the current conflict. This is a stark departure from the atmosphere last year when Iran’s so-called “ring of fire” was fully ablaze.

“Israel cannot probably take out completely the nuclear project on its own without the American participation,” she said. “If the US will not be a part of the war, I assume that Iran will have some parts of the nuclear project remain from my point of view, this is a huge point of question mark to what will happen after.”

She elaborated that several key nuclear sites in Iran are located deep underground, making them extremely difficult to destroy completely. “This does not mean that Israel will not attack it and will not damage them,” she said. “In order to make sure this program cannot be rebuilt, in the same places where it is now, there is a need for American involvement.”

On the diplomatic front, Shine noted an unusually strong consensus between Israel, the U.S., and Europe. “No question of daylight between us and the Europeans and the Americans about the evilness of the regime and the destabilizing role of Iran in the Middle East,” she remarked.

For the moment, Israel is pressing forward with momentum. But the question remains: Will Washington join the campaign directly? Shine suggests this decision will determine whether Iran’s nuclear program is merely disrupted—or fully dismantled. The real danger, she warned, lies in the possibility that the most threatening elements of the program will remain untouched.

Shine characterized Operation Rising Lion not as a singular operation, but as the opening chapter of a larger confrontation. She pointed out that the situation unfolding now deserves to be described as a full-scale war. The term “operation,” she explained, implies limited scope and duration, while this campaign was clearly designed to hit a broad set of targets over an extended period.

She expects tit-for-tat escalation going forward, noting: “Once Iran retaliates, Israel will again retaliate.”

Israel’s June 13 strikes hit Iran’s nuclear facilities, its missile and air defense systems, and command centers belonging to the IRGC and military. In the following days, the scope of the operation widened. On June 14 and 15, Israeli forces bombed Iranian oil and gas infrastructure. By the third day, strikes were hitting Tehran and surrounding regions, while diplomatic negotiations in Oman fell apart as a result of the ongoing escalation.

The attacks intensified further on June 16 and 17, with Israeli jets targeting Iran’s Foreign Ministry and the headquarters of the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB). The IRIB compound was struck during a live broadcast, causing massive explosions.

Shine stated that Iran’s response calculus will depend largely on two factors: how its population reacts and whether the regime’s grip on power begins to show signs of stress.

International reactions to Israel’s operation have been varied. Shine views Iran as part of a strategic axis involving Russia and China, all of whom are seeking to challenge American influence globally.

“It is no question that Iran is part of the war in Ukraine,” she said, pointing to the well-documented supply chain of drones and other weapons from Tehran to Moscow that has kept the fighting alive. She also noted that China has recently supplied missile fuel to Iran. These partnerships, she added, are rooted in shared interests—but those interests are not necessarily identical. “These states have mutual interest but not all their interests are mutual.”

Initially, the U.S. distanced itself from the June 13 strikes. Secretary of State Marco Rubio made clear: “Israel acted independently… we’re not involved.”

According to Shine, that statement was a deliberate move to shield American assets in the region from potential retaliation. “It was important for the US to make a statement distancing themselves to try to ensure that Iranians do not touch US interests in the region.”

Still, on June 17, Trump made headlines when he called for Iran’s “unconditional surrender.”

In Shine’s view, even though Israel showcased exceptional operational prowess on the first day of strikes, eliminating Iran’s nuclear project in its entirety is beyond its solo capabilities. For that, U.S. cooperation is not just helpful. It’s essential.

{Matzav.com Israel}

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi defended his country’s recent actions, describing them as acts of self-defense while reiterating Tehran’s dedication to diplomacy in a statement posted to X/Twitter.

“Even in the face of the most outrageous aggression against our people, Iran has so far only retaliated against the Israeli regime and not those who are aiding and abetting it,” Araghchi wrote on Thursday.

He directed sharp criticism at Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu, accusing him of deliberately igniting conflict in order to derail any chance for diplomacy. Araghchi warned that the international community should take seriously “increasing attempts by the failing Israeli regime to get others to bail it out and to expand the flames to the region and beyond.”

Araghchi also insisted that Iran has no interest in developing nuclear weapons, but emphasized that the nation would not hesitate to defend itself. “Iran will continue to exercise its right to self-defense, with pride and bravery, and we will make the aggressor regret and pay for its grave error,” he wrote.

He closed his message with a reaffirmation of Iran’s diplomatic stance: “As before, we are serious and forward-looking in our outlook.”

According to a report published Wednesday by the New York Times, a high-ranking Iranian Foreign Ministry official revealed that Iran is preparing for a potential meeting with US President Donald Trump. The official stated that Abbas Araghchi would likely agree to sit down to discuss a possible ceasefire with Israel, though Trump reportedly wants any discussions to center around Iran’s nuclear ambitions.

{Matzav.com}