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Tehran experiencing loud celebrations — oh wait, that’s just the IAF throwing a going-away party for Iran’s missile program.

This morning, the IAF completed a series of strikes on military targets belonging to the Iranian regime in the area of Tabriz and Kermanshah in Iran. During the strikes, over 25 fighter jets struck over 35 missile storage and launch infrastructure components in the areas of Tabriz and Kermanshah in Iran.

In light of the continued closure of Israeli airspace, El Al has announced an alternative route home for stranded passengers — by sea. In coordination with Mano Maritime, a cruise ship will sail from Limassol, Cyprus, to the port of Ashdod on Wednesday, June 26. The voyage will be free of charge for El Al and Sun D’Or customers whose flights were cancelled due to the ongoing situation. Other travelers can book a one-way ticket for €550 through the El Al website. The ship, which can accommodate approximately 1,500 passengers, will first depart from Ashdod to Limassol on Monday, June 24, carrying ticketed passengers from Israel to Cyprus.

UPDATE: Rambam Hospital reports they have 12 injured patients. 2 serious, 2 moderate, and 8 lightly injured.

Terroriat Ali Saadi Wasfi al-Agha, was killed Monday in an Israeli airstrike targeting a hideout in central Gaza, the IDF announced. According to the IDF, al-Agha played a key role in the October 7 attacks and was personally involved in the abduction, murder, and burial of Israeli hostages, including Gadi Haggai and Judith Weinstein. The military said the bodies of Haggai and Weinstein were discovered earlier this month in al-Agha’s home in Khan Younis.

In a video message released this week, Rav Yaakov Shapiro, Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshivas Merkaz HaRav, offered reflections on Operation “Am K’Lavi,” framing it as a moment of profound elevation for the Jewish people.

“This is an extraordinary time,” Rav Shapiro declared. “Hakadosh Baruch Hu is raising the stature of Am Yisrael—the pride of the nation and the honor of Hakadosh Baruch Hu Himself.”

Citing the verse, “V’ra’u kol amei ha’aretz ki sheim Hashem nikra alecha v’yar’u mimeka,’” Rav Shapiro emphasized that the shame endured by the Jewish people on Simchas Torah is being reversed. “Hakadosh Baruch Hu is turning the wheel and raising the glory of the Torah and of Eretz Yisrael,” he said.

The Rosh Yeshiva pointed to a powerful awakening among Jews around the world toward Eretz Yisroel. “Hundreds of thousands of Israelis are seeking any way to return to Eretz Yisrael. Jews outside the land are yearning for it as well. And in Parshas Shelach, where the meraglim diminished the spirit of emunah, we are now in a time of uplift—hein am k’lavi—we resemble a lion,” he stated.

Quoting the Shulchan Aruch, Rav Shapiro invoked the directive to “rise like a lion to do the will of your Father in Heaven,” and explained, citing Rav Kook zt”l, that “a lion’s strength is innate—when the moment arrives, it knows how to harness that strength.”

Rav Shapiro concluded with a call to the entire nation to rise to this spiritual occasion: “All of us—students, the wives of students, soldiers and their families, and every Jew who bears the name Yisroel—are partners in this historic moment. And with Hashem’s help, we will merit to fulfill Moshe Rabbeinu’s final words: ‘Ve’atah al bamoseimo tidroch’—‘And you shall tread upon their high places.’”

{Matzav.com Israel}

El Al has announced that it will carry out special medical repatriation flights this Shabbos after receiving halachic authorization from Israel’s chief rabbis.

“In light of numerous cases of pikuach nefesh, or life and death medical life-saving cases that require immediate arrival of passengers to Israel, El Al has decided to operate special flights during this upcoming Shabbos,” the airline said in a statement. “These flights will be defined as pikuach nefesh or medical emergency flights.”

With rabbinic consent secured, El Al has scheduled three emergency flights for Shabbos, with departures from Larnaca, Cyprus, and Athens, Greece, all bound for Israel.

According to the airline, passengers include not only El Al ticket holders but also individuals from other airlines, all of whom were cleared for travel by a senior medical expert, an Israeli doctor who previously headed major medical institutions and categorized their situations as critical pikuach nefesh emergencies.

{Matzav.com Israel}

In a moving encounter, Rav Gavriel Zinner, author of Nitei Gavriel, and Rav Yitzchok Yosef, author of Yalkut Yosef, met face-to-face for the first time after years of written correspondence.

The meeting took place this week in Flatbush, where Rav Yosef is currently staying due to the ongoing war that has shuttered Israeli airspace.

Though they come from different worlds—one raised in the Sefardic home of Rav Ovadia Yosef, and the other born and raised in the chassidic enclaves of Hungarian Jewry in America—the two rabbonim share a deep and lifelong commitment to halacha. Their respective works are staples of Torah scholarship: Yalkut Yosef now spans over 40 volumes, while Nitei Gavriel is widely used throughout chassidic circles across the world.

They frequently cite one another in their seforim, sometimes agreeing, sometimes respectfully disagreeing, always with reverence and depth.

On Wednesday evening, this long-standing relationship culminated in an emotional encounter. Rav Zinner visited Rav Yosef at his host in Flatbush, and those present described an instant connection.

“It felt as though they had known each other for decades,” shared one observer. “Within moments, they were immersed in halachic discussion—citing the Rashba, the Chazon Ish. Though Rav Zinner speaks primarily Yiddish, the language of halacha, Lashon Hakodesh, bridged all gaps.”

During the meeting, Rav Zinner expressed interest in acquiring the most recent volumes of Yalkut Yosef. Smiling, he remarked, “I already have the Rav’s address”—explaining that it appears in the earlier volumes of Yalkut Yosef, which he has long possessed and studied.

The two discussed various differences between Sefardic and Ashkenazic minhagim, examining the rulings of the Beis Yosef and the Rama, delving into how halachah has developed in their respective communities.

As the meeting came to a close after more than an hour of heartfelt discussion, Rav Zinner’s grandchildren stepped forward to receive a berachah from the Rishon LeTzion. Rav Yosef personally escorted his guest to the door, parting with warmth and admiration.

{Matzav.com}

Israeli Defense Minister Yisrael Katz has ordered the IDF to escalate its military campaign against Iranian regime targets in Tehran, aiming to destabilize the government and deter further missile attacks on Israeli cities. Following a high-level assessment Friday morning with IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir and other senior military officials, Katz directed the IDF to focus on symbolic regime assets, including the Basij paramilitary force and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), as well as Iran’s internal repression apparatus. The goal, he said, is to “bring about the destabilization of the regime and increase deterrence against missile attacks on Israel’s home front,” while continuing to degrade Iran’s nuclear program. Unconfirmed reports from Iran International, citing Israeli security sources, indicate that a joint U.S.-Israeli strike on the Fordow nuclear facility—Iran’s most fortified and sensitive enrichment sites—could be imminent, possibly as early as Friday night. The Fordow site, buried 300 feet underground near Qom, is a linchpin of Iran’s nuclear program. Initial Israeli airstrikes reportedly caused little damage to the facility, and military analysts believe a bunker-busting weapon would be required to neutralize it. Signs of U.S. military readiness have added to speculation of impending action, despite reports that President Trump is wavering in his decision. In recent days, three KC-46A Pegasus aerial refueling tankers departed from Travis Air Force Base in California, and four more launched from Altus Air Force Base in Oklahoma—aircraft essential for extending the range of U.S. B-2 Spirit stealth bombers – the only aircraft capable of deploying the 30,000-pound GBU-57A/B Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP), specifically designed for deeply buried targets like Fordow. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

The Zutchka Rebbe convened his chassidim and talmidim this week for a special event titled “Vatelamedeim” in the Zutchka Bais Medrash, where he announced the founding of a new chaburah called “Kvi’in,” dedicated to committed and structured Torah learning.

Opening the event was Rav Chaim Yaakov Safrin of Yerushalayim, who warmly welcomed the participants and shared his personal experiences learning within this unique and focused framework.

The Rebbe then entered and opened the gathering with divrei chizuk. Despite the tension of the times, he noted that while logic might suggest every person should stay home and calm their families, the current moment calls for something greater. “Even the tyrant from Iran,” the Rebbe declared, “has come to recognize that his real adversaries are the Torah learners in Bnei Brak.” Therefore, the Rebbe asserted, this is precisely the time to strengthen ourselves and form a powerful chaburah for Torah study.

The Rebbe elaborated on the immense value of not just learning Torah but acquiring and retaining it—to the point where one’s entire being is immersed in Torah. He lamented how painful it is when Torah is learned and then forgotten, likening such forgotten knowledge to the shattered luchos.

Following the Rebbe’s remarks, Rav Menachem Greenbaum delivered an impassioned presentation, laying out the practical aspects of the program in a clear and inspiring manner. He emphasized the importance of learning in a way that ensures long-term retention and internalization of Torah knowledge.

{Matzav.com Israel}

In a Thursday interview with Israel’s Kan public broadcaster, Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu said that any potential regime change in Iran must come from within, though he implied that Israel is working to weaken the regime’s grip.

The Times of Israel reports that Netanyahu declined to confirm whether eliminating Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was under consideration. He reiterated that “regime change lies with the Iranian people alone,” but acknowledged, “We’re also striking government targets, symbols of the regime. You’ve seen it — the broadcast station and others. And there’s more to come.”

Netanyahu emphasized that Israel’s military efforts are ongoing and expanding. “We are doing everything necessary — and there will still be much more,” he said, noting that Israel has been hitting the Basij, the internal security arm of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps known for quelling protests.

“We’re also striking the Basij… this kind of internal police force of a million people. We’ve inflicted heavy damage, and we will continue to strike their targets,” Netanyahu stated.

In the United States, some critics of the conflict have voiced concern over the possibility of American involvement turning into a prolonged military entanglement, similar to what happened in Iraq or Afghanistan. They warn against launching a so-called “regime change” war.

Although Netanyahu has urged Iranians to rise in defense of their liberty, he has not advocated for, nor requested, that the Trump administration take direct action to topple the Islamic Republic’s leadership.

{Matzav.com Israel}

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Early Friday morning, around 5:50 a.m., the IDF identified several missiles that had been launched from Iran in the direction of Israel.

In response, warning sirens echoed across parts of southern Israel, including Be’er Sheva and areas in Judea. Reports later indicated that a total of three missiles had been launched during this attack.

One of the projectiles struck Be’er Sheva, resulting in multiple vehicles being set ablaze. A nearby residential apartment also sustained extensive structural damage due to the explosion.

According to Magen David Adom, the incident left one individual with light injuries, while about 30 others were treated for anxiety stemming from the attack.

By 6:05 a.m., the Home Front Command announced that the immediate threat had passed and instructed residents that it was safe to leave their secure rooms.

Earlier in the night, air raid sirens went off several times near the Dead Sea region amid concerns of an unmanned aerial vehicle breaching Israeli airspace. The IDF later confirmed that the Israeli Air Force had successfully intercepted three UAVs launched from Iran.

This latest attack followed a heavy missile barrage on Thursday morning, when Iran fired roughly 30 rockets toward Israeli territory. The assault triggered air raid sirens across central Israel, the coastal region, and the south.

The widespread missile attack inflicted damage on Soroka Medical Center in Be’er Sheva, as well as on structures located in Tel Aviv, Holon, and Ramat Gan. Over 200 people were injured in that assault, including four listed in serious condition and 16 with moderate injuries.

{Matzav.com Israel}

Damage inside an apartment in Beersheva following an impact by an Iranian ballistic missile.

Footage from the missile impact in Beersheva. MDA is on the scene and says as of now there are no reported injures.