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Trump administration moves to count crypto as a federal mortgage asset The Federal Housing Finance Agency is working to let borrowers use crypto as part of their federal mortgage applications without converting it to cash. Only digital assets held on U.S.-regulated, centralized exchanges will qualify under the new guidance. Fannie and Freddie must design safeguards to account for crypto’s volatility and submit their plans to the FHFA.

Border Czar Tom Homan issues a warning to Zohran Mamdani for vowing to block ICE from deporting criminal aliens if he becomes mayor of NYC: “Good luck. Federal law trumps him every day, hour, and minute. We’re going to be tripling down in NYC.”

Leftists STORM THE CAPITOL to protest Trump’s ‘Big, Beautiful Bill’ Several people were detained.

Following footage from today showing Hamas militants seizing food trucks that entered the Gaza Strip, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and Defense Minister Katz instructed the IDF to present plans to prevent Hamas from taking control of the aid, PMO says.

NEW: Sen Chuck Schumer was taken to the hospital Wednesday, his office says. “Leader Schumer was at the Senate gym this morning and got lightheaded. Out of an abundance of caution, he went to the hospital to be treated for dehydration & is now back at work in the Capitol.” His name for Tehillim was not available.

The United States and Qatar announced Wednesday that the fragile ceasefire between Iran and Israel has opened a potential window to reignite stalled negotiations between Israel and Hamas over a possible truce and hostage exchange deal in Gaza.

Majed Al Ansari, spokesman for Qatar’s Foreign Ministry, told CNN that Doha has maintained active communication with “all sides” involved in the hostage discussions. He said they hoped to use the momentum generated by the Iran-Israel ceasefire to advance the talks—remarks that closely mirrored those made by President Trump.

“This is the time now for President Trump to push for it and we believe he is sincere about it,” said Ansari. “We are willing to help on that.”

Ansari acknowledged that the truce had given the talks a boost, but warned against premature optimism.

“There was momentum created by the ceasefire in Iran and Israel,” he continued, “but we’re not out of the woods yet. There are a lot of details that I can’t discuss right now about the deal in place, but I can tell you it’s the same parameters that keep going in and out of the talks.”

He also addressed the tensions following Iran’s retaliatory strike on a U.S. base in Qatar, calling it a serious blow to Doha’s ties with Tehran.

Ansari’s remarks came on the heels of Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani’s statement a day earlier that “discussions are ongoing” with both Israel and Hamas, referring to a proposal reportedly put forward by the United States.

Speaking from the NATO summit in The Hague, President Trump said that Sunday’s U.S. military strike on Iranian nuclear facilities had produced “great progress” in the efforts to reach a Gaza ceasefire.

“I think that because of this attack that we made… we’re going to have some very good news,” he said. “Gaza is very close.”

Meanwhile, Hamas spokesman Taher al-Nunu confirmed to AFP on Wednesday that efforts to reach a deal had intensified.

“Our communications with the brother mediators in Egypt and Qatar have not stopped and have intensified in recent hours,” said al-Nunu.

Still, he warned that Hamas had “not yet received any new proposals” aimed at ending the conflict.

The Israeli government did not comment on the state of negotiations, offering only a general statement that it was continuing to pursue the release of hostages “on the battlefield and via negotiations.”

Since late May, the talks have been largely frozen. That was when Hamas reportedly rejected a U.S.-backed plan submitted by White House envoy Steve Witkoff, a response that Washington deemed “unacceptable.”

That plan had included a 60-day pause in fighting, a partial pullback of Israeli troops, and expanded humanitarian access, all in return for the release of 10 live hostages and 18 bodies of deceased hostages.

Hamas’s reply reportedly sought to restrict Israel’s ability to resume military action if no permanent truce was finalized by the end of the 60-day period.

In addition, Hamas opposed the U.S. proposal to release the 10 living captives in two waves—one on the first day of the truce and the second on the seventh—preferring instead to stagger the releases throughout the ceasefire window.

An earlier deal to exchange hostages for a ceasefire collapsed on March 2 after its initial 42-day phase concluded. Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu had refused to negotiate the second stage, which would have entailed a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza—something his far-right coalition partners adamantly oppose.

Israel resumed military operations in Gaza on March 18, and Netanyahu has since pledged to continue the campaign until Hamas is destroyed.

Although Netanyahu claimed just days before the June 13 Israeli strike on Iran that hostage talks were making “significant progress,” an Arab source familiar with the negotiations told The Times of Israel that no such progress had actually been made.

As it stands, Gaza-based terror groups are holding 50 hostages, 49 of whom were seized on October 7, 2023, when Hamas-led terrorists slaughtered around 1,200 Israelis and kidnapped 251 more, igniting the current war. Hamas also possesses the body of an Israeli soldier killed in the 2014 Gaza conflict.

According to the IDF, 28 of the hostages still in captivity have been confirmed dead. Twenty are believed to be alive, while Israeli officials have expressed deep concern for the condition of two others.

{Matzav.com Israel}

CIA Director John Ratcliffe: “CIA can confirm that a body of credible intelligence indicates Iran’s Nuclear Program has been severely damaged by the recent, targeted strikes.”    

CIA Director John Ratcliffe confirmed Wednesday that recent U.S. and Israeli strikes caused severe damage to Iran’s nuclear program. In a statement posted to X, Ratcliffe said the CIA has credible intelligence—including from a trusted source—that key Iranian nuclear facilities were destroyed and will take years to rebuild. “CIA can confirm that a body of credible intelligence indicates Iran’s Nuclear Program has been severely damaged by the recent, targeted strikes,” he wrote. Ratcliffe added that the agency is still gathering intelligence and will keep officials and, when possible, the public informed. The statement directly contradicts leaked reports that suggested the strikes had limited impact. Ratcliffe said those reports were based on illegally sourced information and do not reflect the CIA’s current assessment. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

JACKSON, NJ – A frum entrepreneur from Jackson has launched a groundbreaking new invention that’s already transforming lives: a system that allows people with low vision—including elderly Gedolim—to read and learn again with clarity and ease. The device, called OrahVision, lets users simply place down any sefer, paper, or document. The system instantly adjusts lighting, corrects curvature, sharpens the text, and displays a large, clear, high-contrast image on screen. Users can turn pages, zoom in and out, and even ask questions about the text—all with a single tap. “It’s so intuitive that people in their 90s who’ve never used technology are now using it daily to learn,” says Yisroel Wahl, the creator of OrahVision. Wahl explains that the project began as a personal mission. “A close family member’s vision was deteriorating. He spends his life learning, and the existing magnifiers made it nearly impossible to get through more than a few words. I put my life on hold to build a real solution,” he says. “With tremendous Siyata Dishmaya, here we are.” Once Wahl posted a video of the system in action, the response was immediate. “Calls came in from all over the world. People are desperate for something like this—and until now, it didn’t exist.” The stories have been deeply moving. “There are people who had basically given up,” he says. “One man immediately got emotional. He said he’d be able to learn the Parsha for the first time in four years. An elderly woman who had all but given up on life found her spirit again. The stories don’t stop.” OrahVision is now available to the public in early adopter release. To order or learn more, email yisroel@orahvision.com, call or WhatsApp 732‑637‑9674, or visit OrahVision.com.

President Trump unleashed a fiery response on Wednesday following Zohran Mamdani’s unexpected win in New York’s Democratic mayoral primary, slamming both his ideology and personal presentation.

“Democrats have crossed the line” by elevating “100% Communist Lunatic,” Trump railed in a Truth Social post.

He remarked that while radical figures have emerged in the party before, this instance went beyond what he viewed as acceptable boundaries. “We’ve had Radical Lefties before, but this is getting a little ridiculous,” he added.

Trump then turned his criticism toward Mamdani’s physical appearance and demeanor, pulling no punches.

“He looks TERRIBLE, his voice is grating, he’s not very smart, he’s got AOC+3, Dummies ALL, backing him, and even our Great Palestinian Senator, Cryin’ Chuck Schumer, is groveling over him.”

{Matzav.com}

Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said Wednesday that President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariffs will likely push up inflation in the coming months, even as some Republican senators suggested the chair was biased against the duties. On the second day of his twice-yearly testimony before the House and Senate, Powell said that consumers will likely have to shoulder some of the cost of the import taxes. Most Fed officials support cutting rates this year, Powell added, but the central bank wants to take time to see how inflation changes in the months ahead. “There will be some inflation from tariffs coming,” Powell said under questioning from members of the Senate Banking Committee. “Not yet, but over the course of the coming months.” Powell noted that the duties would likely cost hundreds of billions of dollars annually, and “some of that is going to fall on the consumer. We’re just kind of waiting to see more data on that.” Some GOP senators criticized Powell, however, for characterizing tariffs as a potential driver of inflation. Sen. Pete Ricketts, a Republican from Nebraska, argued that the duties could simply act as a one-time increase in prices that wouldn’t fuel inflation. And Sen. Bernie Moreno, a Republican from Ohio, echoed some of Trump’s complaints about Powell’s reluctance to cut rates and accused Powell of political bias. “You should consider whether you are looking at this through a fiscal lens or a political lens because you just don’t like tariffs,” Moreno said. Powell didn’t respond. But the Fed chair reiterated that most central bank officials do support cutting the Fed’s key rate this year. And Powell added that it is possible that tariffs won’t increase inflation by very much. Trump has sharply criticized Powell for not reducing borrowing costs, calling him a “numbskull” and a “fool.” Trump has pushed for rate cuts in order to reduce the interest costs the federal government pays on its debt. Yet some Fed officials have pushed back against that view, saying that it’s not their job to lower the government’s borrowing costs. Also Wednesday, at a post-NATO summit press conference, Trump said he had candidates in mind to replace Powell, presumably for when Powell’s term as chair ends in May 2026. Trump has previously threatened to fire Powell, but the Supreme Court has signaled that a president probably doesn’t have the legal authority to remove the Fed chair. “I know, within three or four people, who I’m going to pick,” Trump said, calling Powell a “very stupid person.” So far, inflation has steadily cooled this year despite widespread concerns among economists about the impact of tariffs. The consumer price index ticked up just 0.1% from April to May, the government said last week, a sign that price pressures are muted. Compared with a year ago, consumer prices rose 2.4% in May, up from a yearly increase of 2.3% in April. Yet most economists on Wall Street expect that Trump’s tariffs will lift inflation this year, to about 3% to 3.5% by the end of this year. Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, the senior Democrat on the banking committee, told reporters before the hearing that the Fed would likely be cutting rates if it wasn’t for the threat of higher prices posed by tariffs. When the Fed reduces its key rate, it […]

Mossad Director David Barnea released a highly unusual public video on Wednesday, offering a glimpse into his address to agents who took part in the dramatic series of operations against Iran beginning on June 13—operations that, by all accounts, deeply destabilized the Iranian regime.

Addressing his operatives with a pointed message to Iran, Barnea declared, “We will [continue to] be there, like we have been there.”

Barnea described the scope of Mossad’s accomplishments as “unimaginable,” alluding to their reported involvement in eliminating senior Iranian military officials and nuclear scientists, and in demolishing facilities related to Iran’s nuclear program, drone manufacturing, and ballistic missile capabilities.

In a revelation that underscored the breadth of the operation, Barnea confirmed that at its peak, Mossad had embedded hundreds of agents inside Iran. Their success, he explained, was the result of extensive planning: “We worked for months and years to do all of the right actions to get to the right moment…We understood the fatefulness of the hour.”

Barnea expressed gratitude to other security and intelligence partners, thanking IDF Intelligence, IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, and the CIA for their close collaboration during the mission.

Turning to the conflict with Hamas, Barnea reaffirmed Mossad’s commitment to rescuing every one of the remaining hostages held in Gaza. He noted that 50 people are still captive, with 20 known to be alive. Until recently, the status of two of the hostages had been unclear.

On Friday, Mossad released rare footage showing its joint role with the Israeli Air Force in carrying out a preemptive attack on Iran’s ballistic missile stockpiles and air defense systems. The three clips include strikes on missile infrastructure, anti-air installations, and preparations leading up to the mission—though all agents’ faces remain concealed.

The videos suggest that Mossad may have used drones launched from within Iran itself to hit selected targets.

Tehran has previously blamed Mossad for drone strikes, including a notable 2021 attack on the Karaj nuclear facility and other sensitive operations.

While the IDF’s actions in the war have received broader public coverage, these new videos offer an unprecedented window into the secretive world of Israeli intelligence—a domain where Mossad’s operations are usually hidden from view and rarely acknowledged at all.

{Matzav.com}

U.S. Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff revealed on Wednesday that additional countries are expected to join the Abraham Accords in the near future. Speaking in an interview with CNBC, Witkoff said, “We think we have big announcements on countries coming into the Abraham Accords,” though he did not name which nations may be involved. Witkoff also addressed ongoing talks with Iranian officials regarding their nuclear program. “There’s a strong sense that Iran is ready,” he said, expressing optimism about reaching a broader peace agreement. According to Witkoff, the current negotiations are centered on establishing a civilian nuclear program in Iran—but with one major condition: “It cannot have enrichment.” He made clear that any return to uranium enrichment by Tehran would be a dealbreaker. “It is a red line if Iran tries nuclear enrichment again,” he stated. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Three Palestinians were killed and seven others wounded in what Palestinian officials are calling a violent settler assault in the West Bank village of Kafr Malik, near Ramallah, according to a statement from the Palestinian Authority’s health ministry.

The rights organization Yesh Din reported that over 100 Israeli settlers were involved in the attack, which they said occurred in the presence of Israeli soldiers.

Video footage taken from the village showed several homes and cars engulfed in flames. Eyewitnesses speaking to Palestinian news outlets said settlers also threw rocks at villagers and their property during the assault.

In a separate video, Israeli soldiers can be seen firing at Palestinians near the entrance to Kafr Malik.

“Under the auspices of government and military backing, settler violence in the West Bank continues and becomes more deadly by the day. This is what ethnic cleansing looks like,” the Yesh Din rights group says in a statement.

The IDF has not yet issued a public statement in response to inquiries about the events in Kafr Malik.

Although the IDF has remained silent so far, Israeli news outlets quoted a security official who confirmed that many settlers participated in the attack. The official said they set fire to homes and vehicles, fought with local residents, and defaced property with graffiti bearing hateful slogans.

The same security source stated that Israeli forces arrived at the scene and opened fire, though the exact circumstances of the shooting are still being examined.

The Palestinian Authority’s health ministry confirmed that three people were fatally shot during the attack.

According to the Israeli security official, the situation remains fluid and the military has not yet brought the area fully under control.

{Matzav.com}

 

The second to last stop of Keren Olam Hatorah’s monumental campaign took place in Toronto on Monday. Departing from Lakewood to Toronto at daybreak following Shacharis, the delegation included Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch, Rav Dovid Cohen, Rav Malkiel Kotler, and Rav Yosef Chevroni. They were joined by senior organizers of the campaign, including R’ Reuven Wolf, R’ Shimon Glick, R’ Baruch Jeremias, and R’ Yitzchok Rokowsky—each of whom have crisscrossed North America on behalf of the Keren. Their first stop in Toronto was at the home of R’ Ariel Mashiyev, who warmly welcomed the delegation. Mr. Tzvi Belsky, the CEO of Keren Olam Hatorah, shared a remarkable detail: R’ Mashiyev had never been solicited for support. Instead, he approached the Keren on his own the previous year, giving a substantial donation unprompted. “This year, he increased his support even further,” Mr. Belsky noted, “and such generosity, the Midrash says, brings Hashem’s rachmanus upon all of Klal Yisroel.” The delegation continued to the home of R’ Shimshi Gross, where Rav Dovid Cohen spoke. Quoting Chazal, he said, “In the generation when Mashiach will come, there will be increasing opposition to talmidei chachamim and decrees upon decrees. This is chevlei Mashiach. In galus, we have no refuge but the Torah.” The gathering was further uplifted by the presence of Harav Don Segal shlit”a, who addressed the group via video. “Supporting Keren Olam HaTorah is the call of the hour,” Rav Don declared. “Those who take part in this effort will be zocheh to immense siyata d’Shmaya, in both gashmiyus and ruchniyus.” Further visits followed at the homes of R’ Ben Zion Heitner, R’ Dennis Cohen, and R’ Yaakov Kaplan. At each stop, the Gedolim engaged in conversations with their hosts, offering brachos and expressing appreciation for their communal involvement. At the Kaplan residence, Rav Moshe Hillel note that “Limud haTorah strengthens emunah, and that elevates kevod Shamayim in the world.” Rav Dovid Cohen added, “This entire journey is for kevod haTorah. And when hosts open their homes in honor of Torah, they become its partners.” At the home of R’ Barry Reichmann, Rav Moshe Hillel invoked the Midrash that “no one was zocheh Torah unless they were moser nefesh for it.” He explained, “Yissachar sacrifices to learn. Zevulun sacrifices to give beyond what seems possible. That, too, is mesirus nefesh l’kavod Shamayim.” The final private meeting was held at the home of R’ Bentzi Friedman. The campaign concluded with a community-wide asifah attended by thousands. After an electrifying address by Rav Ephraim Wachsman, speaking at the maamad, Rav Moshe Hillel delivered a stirring message: “Our goal in life is to ascend—to rise in madreigah, not remain static. A decline in Torah in Eretz Yisroel would be a tragedy not only for us, but for the Ribbono Shel Olam. Our mission now is to rise higher.” Rav Dovid Cohen added: “Chazal tell us that to be spared from chevlei Mashiach, one must engage in Torah and chessed. Torah is the light that upholds Klal Yisroel. Those who support Torah in Eretz Yisroel will merit to greet Mashiach bimheirah b’yameinu, Amen.”

A large explosion causes a commercial warehouse to collapse in Upper Deerfield, New Jersey due to a possible ammonia leak. No word on casualties yet.

U.S. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard announced on Wednesday that the damage inflicted by American B2 bombers on Iran’s nuclear infrastructure was so extensive that any attempt to rebuild the sites would take years.

“New intelligence confirms what POTUS has stated numerous times: Iran’s nuclear facilities have been destroyed. If the Iranians chose to rebuild, they would have to rebuild all three facilities (Natanz, Fordow, Esfahan) entirely, which would likely take years to do,” Gabbard posted on X.

She also denounced media coverage from outlets like CNN and The New York Times, accusing them of misrepresenting classified intelligence through unauthorized leaks in order to minimize the accomplishments of the U.S.-Israeli operation.

“The propaganda media has deployed their usual tactic: selectively release portions of illegally leaked classified intelligence assessments (intentionally leaving out the fact that the assessment was written with ‘low confidence’) to try to undermine President Trump’s decisive leadership and the brave servicemen and women who flawlessly executed a truly historic mission to keep the American people safe and secure,” she wrote.

On Tuesday night, President Trump dismissed the reports from CNN and The New York Times, which cited anonymous sources suggesting the recent airstrikes had limited effect.

“Fake news CNN, together with the failing New York Times, have teamed up in an attempt to demean one of the most successful military strikes in history. The nuclear sites in Iran are completely destroyed! Both the Times and CNN are getting slammed by the public!” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

Trump also highlighted remarks from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who disputed the negative reporting and stood by the outcome of the strike campaign.

“Based on everything we have seen — and I’ve seen it all — our bombing campaign obliterated Iran’s ability to create nuclear weapons,” said Hegseth.

He continued, “Our massive bombs hit exactly the right spot at each target—and worked perfectly. The impact of those bombs is buried under a mountain of rubble in Iran; so anyone who says the bombs were not devastating is just trying to undermine the President and the successful mission.”

Earlier in the day, the White House released a series of confirmations from various sources, attesting to the destruction of the three targeted nuclear sites. Among them was the Israel Atomic Energy Commission, which issued a firm statement: “The devastating US strike on Fordo destroyed the site’s critical infrastructure and rendered the enrichment facility inoperable. We assess that the American strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities, combined with Israeli strikes on other elements of Iran’s military nuclear program, has set back Iran’s ability to develop nuclear weapons by many years. The achievement can continue indefinitely if Iran does not get access to nuclear material.”

{Matzav.com}

The IDF revealed Wednesday that elite Israeli commandos operated inside Iran during the recent military campaign — executing classified missions that helped cripple Tehran’s missile capabilities and secure Israeli dominance over Iranian skies. Speaking in a video address, IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir detailed the unprecedented scope of Israel’s shadow war with Iran — and, for the first time, publicly acknowledged that the IDF deployed ground and air commando units deep within enemy territory. “These forces operated covertly in the heart of Iran,” Zamir said. “Their actions were instrumental in creating operational freedom of action for the IDF — both in the skies and on the ground — at any time and place of our choosing.” The revelation reveals a major expansion of what was previously understood to be primarily a bombing campaign. While Israel’s initial strikes focused on Iran’s nuclear and missile infrastructure, Zamir’s statement suggests the operation also included boots-on-the-ground sabotage, deception, and direct intelligence gathering — the hallmarks of elite reconnaissance missions carried out under total secrecy. It remains unclear whether Zamir was referencing operations carried out by Mossad, which reportedly helped disable Iranian air defenses using drone strikes launched from within Iran early in the campaign, or whether the statement points to previously undisclosed IDF special forces actions. What is clear is that the mission, codenamed “Im K’Lavi” (“Like a Lion”), involved extensive planning, intelligence deception, and real-time coordination between air and ground forces. Zamir emphasized that it was “thanks to full coordination and deception by air and ground commando forces” that Israel was able to achieve air superiority and destroy hundreds of Iranian missile launchers. “This wasn’t a precision strike — it was a full-spectrum disruption,” he said. “We didn’t just hit a facility. We shattered their system.” Evidence of the mission’s intensity has begun to surface in small, censored fragments. One Israeli woman revealed on X that her family had been asked to pray for a relative — a member of the Israeli Air Force’s commando unit — who was reportedly on the ground in Iran when the operation launched. The post, drafted on June 13, was held back by military censors and only released today following Zamir’s remarks. “With the heart of a lion,” she wrote, attaching an Israeli flag emoji. “We were told to pray for him. He was there.” Zamir described the operation as a turning point not just in this war — but in the balance of regional power. “We caused significant damage to Iran’s missile forces,” he said. “Hundreds of launchers were eliminated. Their force build-up has been delayed by years.” He further claimed that Israeli intelligence now possesses technological and aerial superiority over Iran — an extraordinary statement given the country’s vast terrain and hardened military installations. The IDF’s assessment, he said, is that Israel’s campaign dealt a systemic blow to Iran’s nuclear and missile infrastructure — not just a tactical one. “This was not a pinpoint strike,” he said. “This was strategic. And it succeeded.” (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir disclosed Wednesday night that the IDF’s involvement in Iran extended beyond air operations and intelligence. Special ground units, not only the Mossad, were active on Iranian soil during the war.

“We achieved full control over the skies of Iran and in every place we chose to operate. This was made possible, in part, due to the integration and tactics performed by air forces and ground commandos,” Zamir said during a special statement.

He explained that the impact on Iran’s nuclear capabilities was far from limited. “According to the assessments of senior officials in the IDF Intelligence Directorate, the damage to the nuclear program was not a pinpoint attack but a systemic blow—the accumulated success allows us to state that the Iranian nuclear project has suffered a severe, broad, and deep setback, and has been pushed back years. We will not allow Iran to produce weapons of mass destruction,” Zamir added.

Reflecting on the overall purpose of the mission, he stated, “We launched Operation Rising Lion with a clear mission in mind—to remove the existential threat to the State of Israel. After 12 days of unprecedented fighting, I can say that the IDF performed at its best and fully achieved the objectives of the operation.”

Zamir elaborated on the nature of the Iranian threat, calling it a comprehensive plan for Israel’s destruction. “First, the nuclear program, which had reached critical stages, with a rapid ability to break through to nuclear weapons. Second, the long-range missile program, involving the production of thousands of missiles aimed at paralyzing Israel and spreading destruction and death among the population. The third, ‘the plan to destroy Israel.’ In the months leading up to the war, Iran advanced a plan based on massive fire from the enemy alongside a multi-theater ground invasion. All these plans had one common goal: the destruction of the State of Israel. They were not merely theoretical ideas, but an existential threat to our lives in the country. The threat became real. We are fighting for our existence with strength, and we are transferring the fire to enemy territory. We act and initiate according to the moral directive ‘If someone comes to kill you, rise up and kill him first.’”

He described the precision and planning that led to the campaign’s success. “After years of preparation and months of meticulous and accelerated readiness in the IDF, our opening strike was surprising and decisive. The opening strike threw the enemy off balance and was a central component of the overall success of the campaign. We hit all the targets we planned, and even more. We deepened the achievement beyond the plans we set out with.”

Zamir reiterated the scale of the blow dealt to Iran’s nuclear program. “According to assessments from senior IDF Intelligence and our nuclear experts, the strike on the nuclear program was not just a pinpoint attack, but a systemic blow. We hit the main facilities, factories, industries, and knowledge centers. The accumulated success allows us to say that the Iranian nuclear project suffered a severe, broad, and deep blow and was set back years. We proved our determination—we will not allow Iran to produce weapons of mass destruction.”

Addressing Iran’s missile arsenal, he said: “We dealt a severe blow to the missile capability, eliminating hundreds of launchers and missiles, significantly delaying their force-building program. In addition, we managed to create intelligence, technological, and air superiority. We achieved full control over the skies of Iran and wherever we chose to operate. These successes were made possible, in part, through the integration and tactics employed by air and ground commando forces. The forces operated covertly deep in enemy territory, providing us with operational freedom.”

Zamir credited part of the mission’s success to Israel’s strategic partnership with the United States. “Our achievements were enhanced thanks to the actions of the U.S. military. The actions of the U.S. forces were precise, powerful, and impressive. Throughout all stages of the operation, I maintained close contact with my counterparts in the U.S. military. The coordination between the armies is a strategic asset for the State of Israel.”

He also directed a heartfelt message to Israeli citizens. “The resilience and responsibility you have shown are worthy of admiration. They will continue to serve as a strong foundation for our ability to face any challenge together. Our hearts are with the families of the fallen, and I wish a speedy recovery to all the wounded.”

Turning to the ongoing conflict in the south, Zamir emphasized that operations in Gaza were still underway. “In Gaza, the fighting continues. Our fighters—infantry, armor, combat engineers, artillery, and commando forces—continue to operate with courage in close combat in a complex environment to protect our communities. We must continue to act to achieve the goals of the war—the return of the 50 hostages and the dismantling of Hamas’ rule.”

{Matzav.com}

U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday wrapped up participation in the annual NATO summit facing an alliance that had largely bent to his will. Far from the tense meetings of Trump’s first term, much of the annual summit in The Hague seemed catered to the impulses and worldviews of the Republican president whose “America First” foreign policy ethos downplays the importance and influence of multilateral coalitions. After less than 24 hours on the ground in the Netherlands, Trump headed back to Washington having secured a major policy change he’s pushed for since 2017: a significant boost in defense spending by other NATO countries whom the president has for years accused of freeloading off the United States. The focus on Ukraine was scaled back dramatically, with its invasion by Russia earning only a passing mention in the summit’s official statement, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s profile at the gathering diminished. Trump also sent NATO scattering for reassurances that the United States would remain committed to the alliance’s mutual defense pledge, affirming on Wednesday that he would abide by Article 5 of the NATO treaty just a day after he rattled the 32-nation alliance by being equivocal about the pact. “I stand with it. That’s why I’m here,” Trump said when asked to clarify his stance on Article 5. “If I didn’t stand with it, I wouldn’t be here.” Trump shifts his tone on NATO At a news conference later Wednesday, Trump sounded reflective as he described feeling inspired by other NATO countries that were motivated to provide for their own defense by bolstering their own spending. “They want to protect their country, and they need the United States, and without the United States, it’s not going to be the same,” Trump said, later adding: “I left here differently. I — I left here saying, ‘These people really love their countries. It’s not a rip-off.’ And we are here to help them protect their country.” He had mused just a day earlier that whether he abides by the treaty “depends on your definition” of Article 5. The mutual praise in The Hague on Wednesday stands in stark contrast to Trump’s previous harsh words for the alliance, whose value he had long questioned. It also reflects the efforts made by other world leaders during the early months of Trump’s second term to approach the mercurial president using his own language of superlatives and flattery. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer showed up to the Oval Office in February to hand-deliver an invitation from King Charles III for a second state visit, which Starmer called “unprecedented.” Italy’s Giorgia Meloni has promised to “make the West great again,” echoing Trump’s campaign slogan. NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte wrote in a message to “Mr. President, dear Donald” that his push for increased alliance defense spending would help “achieve something NO American president in decades could get done.” Trump gets a win on spending increase The 32 leaders endorsed a final summit statement saying: “Allies commit to invest 5% of GDP annually on core defense requirements as well as defense- and security-related spending by 2035 to ensure our individual and collective obligations.” “I’ve been asking them to go up to 5% for a number of years,” Trump said earlier in the day as he met with Rutte, whose private message of praise the U.S. president posted on his Truth Social account. Spain had already officially announced […]