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A senior defense official confirmed to Fox News that Army Colonel Nathan McCormack, who advises the Joint Chiefs of Staff on Middle East and Israel affairs, has been re-assigned back to the Army following a review of his social media activity. The official stated that McCormack’s social media posts, which included calling Israel the “worst ally” and criticizing “Netanyahu and his Judeo‑supremacist cronies,” led to his removal from the joint staff. Many of these posts appeared on an anonymous X account, and several have since been deleted. “While the matter is under review, McCormack will no longer serve on the joint staff,” the Pentagon official said, adding that an investigation is ongoing to assess the content and its potential implications. The official emphasized that the views expressed on the social media account do not represent the positions of the Joint Staff or the Department of Defense. Critics, including a Pentagon contractor quoted by Jewish News Syndicate (JNS), called McCormack’s posts “mind-boggling” and “dangerous,” noting that such rhetoric from a senior military planner could be exploited by bad actors. The contractor also questioned what McCormack may be saying behind closed doors. JNS was the first to report on the story, prompting official Pentagon statements and McCormack’s removal from his role. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

As Israel increases its strikes against Iranian military and nuclear targets, a new Fox News poll shows that most Americans see Iran as a significant threat to U.S. security, though opinions remain split on Israel’s military response. The poll, conducted from June 13 to 16, 2025, reveals that 73% of registered voters believe Iran poses a genuine national security risk. Support for this view crosses party lines, with 82% of Republicans, 69% of Democrats, and 62% of independents recognizing Iran’s threat—each group registering more concern than in previous years. While there’s broad agreement on Iran’s threat, public opinion is divided over Israel’s recent preemptive strikes. Overall, 47% of voters approve of Israel’s actions against Iran’s nuclear sites, while 45% disapprove—falling within the poll’s 3-point margin of error. Republicans show strong support, with 70% approving of Israel’s military efforts. Democrats largely oppose, with 60% disapproving, and independents are nearly evenly split—44% approve, 46% disapprove. This Fox News poll was conducted by Beacon Research (D) and Shaw & Company Research (R), surveying 1,001 registered voters nationwide to gauge American sentiment amid this escalating conflict. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Donald Trump informed top advisers late Tuesday that he had given the green light for potential military action against Iran but was holding off on executing the plan to see whether Tehran would reconsider its nuclear ambitions, according to a Wall Street Journal report citing three individuals familiar with the talks.

At the same time, the already tense standoff escalated further when Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei made it clear that his country would not yield to external demands.

He also declared that any intervention by American forces would result in “irreparable consequences.”

Over the past several days, the U.S. has steadily expanded its military presence in the region.

A third U.S. Navy destroyer has now entered the eastern Mediterranean, while a second aircraft carrier strike group is en route to the Arabian Sea, the Journal noted.

Although the Pentagon has publicly described the increased deployment as a defensive measure, the report pointed out that it also gives the United States more operational flexibility should Trump ultimately choose to align with Israel in striking Iranian targets.

The troop movements could also be a calculated show of force, with the goal of coercing Iran into softening its position or agreeing to negotiations.

Iran continues to face global scrutiny for its advancement of nuclear technology, raising alarm that the regime could weaponize its nuclear capabilities.

Trump and other international leaders have urged Iran to agree to dismantle its uranium enrichment efforts, though no such agreement has been reached. Many of the Israeli strikes have reportedly been aimed at facilities tied to those nuclear activities.

An Iranian nuclear breakthrough is seen as a major threat to regional stability, a danger to Israel, and a serious concern for the international community as a whole.

{Matzav.com}

When Ayatollah Ali Khamenei delivered his defiant and inflammatory speech on Wednesday, many around the world were left bewildered by his tone — one that suggested Iran stood on equal footing with Israel, and perhaps even with the United States. His posture made it seem as if nothing had changed, despite the devastating blows his military apparatus had suffered at Israel’s hands since Friday.

Perhaps, prior to Israel dismantling major elements of Iran’s nuclear, missile, and drone capabilities; before the deaths of nine out of thirteen of his senior commanders; before dozens of mid-tier officials were eliminated; and before an air defense network of over 70 batteries was obliterated — perhaps then, such a speech might have struck fear into global capitals like Jerusalem and Washington.

But after the decimation his military has faced, the tone of Khamenei’s address seemed almost surreal.

For many observers, the natural conclusion was that he must be playing a calculated public relations game — aware of Iran’s grim situation but projecting strength to boost morale, deter further U.S. involvement, and negotiate better terms in a post-conflict settlement.

However, The Jerusalem Post is now reporting that a more shocking and sinister possibility exists: some of Khamenei’s inner circle — those few who have survived — may be feeding him false information. He may genuinely believe that Iran is faring far better in the conflict than it actually is.

If true, this wouldn’t mark the first time that Khamenei had been misled by advisers on pivotal matters of war and diplomacy.

On April 1, the Israeli Air Force killed Mohammed Reza Zahedi, the Quds Force’s most senior commander for Lebanon and Syria, in a strike that also took the lives of over a dozen IRGC and Iranian officials.

At that point, Zahedi was the highest-ranking Iranian figure to be eliminated since the outbreak of hostilities, even surpassing the seniority of Sayyed Reza Mousavi, who had been killed in December 2023.

Zahedi was not only responsible for overseeing terrorism against Israel from its northern borders, but he also served as Iran’s top liaison with Hezbollah.

Although Israel initially refrained from publicly claiming the strike, Iran and Hezbollah wasted no time blaming Jerusalem, seeing Zahedi’s death as a critical hit to Hezbollah’s strategic capabilities.

According to Iranian media, Zahedi was in a meeting with leaders from Palestinian Islamic Jihad when he was killed.

He also led Unit 18,000 of the Quds Force, which managed arms smuggling and the transfer of precision-guided munitions into Lebanon. His previous roles included commanding the IRGC’s Air Force and the Imam Hussein Division.

Later, Israeli sources clarified that the airstrike had targeted a building next to the Iranian embassy in Syria — not the embassy itself.

But that’s not how the event was portrayed to the outside world.

Outraged, the Iranian Embassy in Lebanon declared: “This barbaric Israeli aggression is a flagrant violation of international laws, diplomatic norms, and the requirements of the Vienna Convention.”

Reports at the time claimed that the building struck was used as the ambassador’s residence and was situated near the Canadian Embassy in Damascus.

The Jerusalem Post has since uncovered that, due to staffing overflow, Iranian embassy personnel occasionally used that adjacent structure for work-related purposes, though it was not officially an embassy.

Sources told The Post that the IRGC frequently used the same building for covert intelligence and terror planning.

Most significantly, the newspaper learned that Khamenei himself was told the strike had hit an official Iranian embassy.

Khamenei rarely leaves his secured locations and relies heavily on a tight circle of advisers to brief him on global developments.

According to The Post, some of these advisers may have intentionally misled him, causing him to believe the Israeli strike constituted a direct assault on sovereign Iranian soil.

Consequently, Khamenei’s decision-making may have been based not just on Zahedi’s death but on what he believed was an unprecedented diplomatic violation.

Iran embraced this narrative with such force that, even now, many senior American officials privately acknowledge to The Post that they still believe Israel bombed an official embassy compound — despite Israeli insistence to the contrary.

Israeli leaders stress that the building lacked any diplomatic markings and that even Lebanon’s records didn’t classify it as a diplomatic site.

This manipulation of information is critical, because it likely spurred Khamenei to authorize Iran’s first-ever direct strike on Israeli territory during April 13–14 — launching over 100 ballistic missiles, around 170 drones, and several cruise missiles.

That moment marked a historic rupture. After decades of indirect warfare through proxies and covert operations, Israel and Iran were now openly engaged in head-on conflict.

In Israeli security circles, this direct attack was considered the intelligence community’s second greatest blunder of the war, second only to the October 7, 2023, Hamas onslaught.

While Israeli analysts did anticipate an Iranian response, they believed it would still come via intermediaries like Hezbollah, and not involve the massive use of long-range weaponry.

Then-IDF Intelligence Chief Aharon Haliva was ultimately forced to resign in April 2024 — not because of the October 7 failure, but due to his underestimation of Khamenei’s escalation following Zahedi’s killing.

Though he stayed on for a short period due to the wartime crisis, the intelligence failure to predict Iran’s direct assault was seen as a major lapse.

In hindsight, a contributing factor to the miscalculation appears to be that IDF analysts didn’t grasp the full extent to which Khamenei had been misled by his own advisers, some of whom seemingly encouraged an extreme response.

Several of those figures are believed to have died in recent Israeli operations. Yet others remain — including individuals who may favor a prolonged war, disregard the suffering of Iranian civilians, or simply fear telling Khamenei the brutal truth.

This mirrors past episodes in Middle Eastern history, such as when Egyptian generals fed President Nasser false reports of victory during the Six Day War, even as Israel’s forces decimated them.

It’s possible that Khamenei’s Wednesday speech reflected not propaganda — but sincere belief in a warped version of reality.

If that’s the case, Israel’s leadership must recognize that ending this war could be far more complex. Dealing with an adversary who is genuinely misinformed about his own situation is far more dangerous than facing a rational actor with an accurate understanding of his losses.

{Matzav.com Israel}

[COMMUNICATED]

Sirens are sounding, schools and jobs are shut, and families’ expenses are soaring while income has vanished. Our Rabbinic board has ordered a large crisis fund to keep food on tables and hope in hearts.

After a trip to strengthen Jewish communities abroad, Rav Azriel Auerbach returned to Erets Yisroel today via an unusual route, crossing the Jordanian border under tight security after landing in Aqaba on a private aircraft.

The journey concluded a trip that began two weeks ago, when Rav Auerbach responded to the request of American gedolim to travel to the United States and serve as the keynote speaker at the Adirei HaTorah gathering. Throughout his visit, he participated in numerous kabalos panim held in yeshivos and Torah centers across the country, delivering powerful divrei chizuk and shiurim to thousands of bnei Torah.

The rav boarded a flight back to Israel last Thursday. However, about 30 minutes before the scheduled landing, Israeli airspace was closed due to the onset of the military operation in Iran. The pilot was instructed to divert, and the aircraft was rerouted to Cyprus.

The plane landed in Larnaca on Friday, and Rav Auerbach, together with his entourage, spent Shabbos at a boutique hotel on the island. A prominent philanthropist and confidant of the rav, who had been on the same flight, quickly arranged all the necessary logistics — including meals, accommodations, and a minyan of travelers. Special arrangements were made to designate part of the hotel for Shabbos tefillos, and during the course of Shabbos, the rav addressed the stranded travelers, offering words of encouragement and invoking the verse from Parshas Beha’aloscha, “Al pi Hashem yachanu v’al pi Hashem yisa’u” — emphasizing that everything happens according to Hashem’s will, and there is no room for complaints or second-guessing.

Following Shabbos, Rav Auerbach accepted an invitation from community leaders in London to spend a few days in the city while waiting for conditions in Israel to stabilize. He continued his mission of chizuk among European Jewry, attending kabalos panim in local yeshivos and Torah institutions.

Today, the rav boarded a private jet that flew to the Jordanian city of Aqaba, adjacent to the Israeli border. Accompanied by his entourage and under police protection, he crossed into Israel and traveled to his home in the Beit Vagan neighborhood of Yerushalayim, where crowds of talmidim and admirers were waiting to greet him.

{Matzav.com Israel}

In response to widespread confusion and numerous questions regarding payments for educational institutions and preschools during the ongoing war, the Beis Din of Beitar Illit, led by Rav Tzvi Braverman, issued a formal set of halachic guidelines this week.

The ruling marks the first major halachic response to the array of financial dilemmas caused by the war’s impact on school operations across the country.

In their letter, the dayanim differentiate between various types of institutions. For official, state-supervised kindergartens and daycare centers, they ruled that payment arrangements must follow the official directives issued by authorized government bodies.

When it comes to private kindergartens, the beis din made a distinction based on whether the facility has access to a mamad (reinforced protected room). If the kindergarten is equipped with a secure space, it is permitted to operate under the condition that no more than seven children are present at any given time. If more families wish to send their children, the school must institute a rotation system.

If a private kindergarten does not have access to a protected room and therefore cannot operate safely, the beis din ruled that parents are not obligated to pay tuition for those days the school remains closed.

The ruling also addressed concerns from parents reluctant to send their children, as well as from school operators hesitant to reopen despite official clearance. These situations, the letter stated, must be considered individually with sensitivity to safety and halachic nuance.

The beis din concluded by noting that additional guidance will be issued in the near future concerning other wartime-related financial obligations, such as payments for simchah halls and transportation to schools.

The complete ruling from the Beis Din of Beitar is included below.

{Matzav.com Israel}

Israeli military officials said that their current campaign against Iran’s nuclear program could meet its key goals within one to two weeks. This assessment was shared as the Israel Defense Forces pressed on with a series of operations targeting both Iranian troops and nuclear infrastructure. According to military sources, a fresh bombardment was launched against ballistic missile platforms located in the western part of Iran.

The IDF reported that numerous missile systems and associated installations were struck during this offensive.

Brigadier General Effie Defrin, spokesperson for the IDF, announced that earlier in the day, sixty fighter jets participated in “an extensive wave of strikes in the heart of Iran,” focusing on missile launchers directed toward Israel.

He noted a shift in Iranian military posture due to repeated Israeli attacks. “Now, they are putting efforts into launching [missiles] from Isfahan.”

“They withdrew from western Iran, but we are coming after them,” he added.

The IDF further confirmed it had targeted Iranian radar infrastructure and air defense capabilities in western regions since Tuesday morning and released footage from the operation.

As of Tuesday, Israeli aircraft have destroyed around 70 Iranian anti-aircraft batteries, part of an ongoing campaign since the start of this operation.

In just the first day of combat, more than 40 of those systems were taken out, establishing air superiority over Tehran and surrounding areas, according to IDF sources.

Despite these efforts, military officials cautioned that flying above Iranian territory still carries considerable risk.

Additional waves of attacks have since disabled approximately 30 more defense systems, which has allowed Israeli jets and UAVs to penetrate deeper into Iranian territory.

Maj. Gen. Tomer Bar, Chief of Staff of the Israeli Air Force, said on Tuesday that the mission to eliminate Iranian air defenses represents “a historic mission that could change the entire course of the campaign.”

Drones from the Israeli Air Force are still being deployed to locate and neutralize radar arrays and SAM platforms throughout Iran.

The IDF distributed video footage showing the identification of Iranian ballistic missile preparations, followed by a successful strike on those assets. Another clip revealed a direct hit on a separate air defense system.

According to IDF figures, about 40% of Iran’s ballistic missile arsenal—roughly 200 launchers—has already been dismantled or rendered unusable.

The military believes this has significantly curtailed Iran’s capacity to launch large missile barrages against Israeli cities in recent days.

Their analysis suggests Iran isn’t deliberately holding back for a longer conflict, but rather facing logistical obstacles in coordinating larger-scale attacks.

That same evening, powerful explosions echoed throughout Tehran, as heard by AFP journalists stationed there. The blasts were reported in several parts of the city, but it wasn’t immediately clear whether they were caused by Israeli missiles or Iranian defensive fire.

Israel began this military campaign on Friday, intending to dismantle what it described as a critical existential danger posed by Iran’s nuclear ambitions and missile capabilities.

So far, airstrikes have inflicted severe damage on key nuclear sites including Natanz and Isfahan. The IDF also eliminated at least nine prominent scientists reportedly involved in weaponization work, along with striking auxiliary facilities such as command centers and offices.

Military spokespeople indicated that the campaign had already significantly hindered Tehran’s ability to pursue a nuclear weapon, though they emphasized that further action remains necessary. They plan to release a comprehensive assessment of the damage upon conclusion of the operation.

While Israel has not yet attacked the Fordo nuclear plant buried deep underground, military leaders confirmed it remains a potential target. “An issue that will certainly be addressed,” said Defense Minister Israel Katz.

Smoke clouds were seen rising from parts of Tehran on June 17, following a nighttime Israeli airstrike.

The IDF disclosed that it had eliminated a large number of senior Iranian officers, including a majority of top-level officials from both the IRGC and the broader Iranian military. Commanders said their forces have taken out three times the number of Iranian leaders than initially projected.

Maj. Gen. Oded Basiuk, who heads the Operations Directorate, declared on Tuesday that the mission would not cease until Iran’s nuclear and missile threats had been fully eradicated, though he did not commit to a firm timeline.

“We continue to strike nuclear targets to deepen the achievement, according to a plan and at a timing that suits us,” he told the press.

“We are striking the terror regime, not the people, who deserve a better future. Those who endanger us are the leadership in Tehran, not the people walking the streets of Shiraz,” Basiuk stated. “We will remain prepared on defense. I assess that the Iranians will continue to try to harm Israel.”

He concluded: “We will not allow a nuclear Iran to turn the Middle East into a graveyard.”

On June 17, Defense Minister Israel Katz held discussions with key IDF leaders, including Intelligence Directorate chief Maj. Gen. Shlomi Binder, Maj. Gen. Oded Basiuk, and Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir.

Israel has defended its sweeping campaign as essential to preventing the Islamic Republic from nearing nuclear weapons capability. When it launched the strikes, Israeli officials said the urgency of the situation posed a direct threat to the state’s survival.

Though Tehran maintains that its nuclear activities are strictly peaceful, it has ramped up uranium enrichment to levels that raise international concern, blocked inspections by global monitors, and expanded its long-range missile capabilities.

During a visit to Bat Yam, where an Iranian missile had landed, IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir emphasized the importance of national morale. “Civilian resilience is critical for us. It’s a central component of our ability to continue functioning.”

Nine people were killed in the missile strike that hit the city on Sunday.

“This is a war we didn’t choose, but we must see it through,” Zamir said in a video address to Home Front Command officers. “We are determined to complete our missions, and everything we were tasked with, we will achieve.”

He elaborated: “We are in an extraordinary moment. Right now, we are hunting ballistic missiles, there are UAVs out there, our fighter jets are involved, it’s something crazy: 1,500 kilometers from Israel, we’re tracking and destroying those ballistic missiles.”

Zamir praised the work of Home Front personnel, saying: “Now your layer comes in, and it’s a very significant layer in the sense that when something hits, forces are on the ground, and people draw strength from seeing you. You arrive quickly, rescue people safely, treat the wounded, and sadly, there are also fatalities in these events.”

He reiterated his earlier point: “Civilian resilience is critical for us. It’s a central component of our ability to continue functioning. You said it yourselves: We’re not stopping now. Why aren’t we stopping? Because the home front’s resilience is strong. When the resilience of the home front is strong, we have the confidence to keep operating.”

{Matzav.com}

[Full video below.] Ted Cruz pushed back angrily after a clip from an interview with Tucker Carlson sparked widespread mockery online. In the teaser, Carlson pressed Cruz with the question, “How many people live in Iran, by the way?” When Cruz admitted he didn’t know, Carlson responded with open disbelief, exclaiming, “You don’t know the population of the country you seek to topple?”

The moment escalated into Carlson openly laughing in Cruz’s face, which quickly went viral across social media platforms. One user wrote, “Is it possible to absolutely loathe Tucker Carlson and enjoy ….watching him destroy Ted Cruz at the same time?”

Brian Krassenstein, a political analyst, weighed in on the fallout, interpreting the exchange as further evidence of internal fractures on the political right. He declared the video was a clear indication that “the Republican Party is self-destructing.”

Cruz, attempting to control the narrative, posted on X in response to the uproar. “He released a snippet playing a ‘gotcha’ on the population of Iran,” Cruz wrote in reference to Carlson’s post. “I declined to play that silly game. WATCH the full 2-hr interview, where Tucker ATTACKS Trump, attacks the ‘AIPAC lobby,’ and falsely claims Iran is NOT trying to assassinate Trump.”

WATCH THE FULL INTERVIEW HERE:

{Matzav.com}

New information emerged Wednesday night regarding the targeted killing of Maj.-Gen. Ali Shademani, who served as Iran’s wartime chief of staff. He was eliminated by an Israeli Air Force strike on Monday, just days after his predecessor was also taken out in a similar operation last Friday.

Shademani was killed along with numerous other high-ranking officers of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps at a covert base hidden in the mountains near Tehran. These commanders had evacuated their primary command post in the capital, assuming that the secluded site would provide protection.

Contrary to their expectations, the Israel Defense Forces monitored their movement, allowed them to regroup at the secret facility, and then carried out a strike that killed them all in one decisive blow.

Fox News was the first to disclose these details on Wednesday, and The Jerusalem Post later confirmed the report independently through high-level defense officials.

The elimination of Shademani came on the heels of a similar strike that killed Gholam Ali Rashid, the former head of Khatam al-Anbiya, just days earlier.

According to the IDF, Shademani served as Iran’s “War-Time Chief of Staff, the most senior military commander, and the closest figure to Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.”

They also noted that Khatam al-Anbiya is “responsible for managing combat operations and approving Iran’s firepower plans. In his various roles, he directly influenced Iran’s operational plans targeting the State of Israel.”

{Matzav.com}

A senior official in Iran’s Foreign Ministry tells The New York Times that Tehran is willing to hold negotiations with the US.

Tucker Carlson claims he’s not an antisemite and is not obsessed with “the Jews”.

The State Department has begun evacuating nonessential diplomats and their families from the U.S. embassy in Israel as hostilities between Israel and Iran intensify and President Donald Trump warns of the possibility of getting directly involved in the conflict. A government plane evacuated a number of diplomats and family members who had asked to leave the country Wednesday, two U.S. officials said. That came shortly before U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee announced on X that the embassy was making plans for evacuation flights and ships for private American citizens. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity to describe sensitive diplomatic movements. “Given the ongoing situation and as part of the embassy’s authorized departure status, mission personnel have begun departing Israel through a variety of means,” the State Department said. “Authorized departure” means that nonessential staff and the families of all personnel are eligible to leave at government expense. There was no indication of how many diplomats and family members departed on the flight or how many may have left by land routes to Jordan or Egypt. The evacuations, comments from the White House and shifting of American military aircraft and warships into and around the Middle East have heightened the possibility of deepening U.S. involvement in a conflict that threatens to spill into a wider regional war. Trump has issued increasingly pointed warnings about the U.S. joining Israel in striking at Iran’s nuclear program, saying Wednesday that he doesn’t want to carry out a U.S. strike on the Islamic Republic but suggesting he is ready to act if it’s necessary. The State Department also has steadily ramped up its warnings to American citizens in Israel and throughout the region, including in Iraq. Last week, ahead of Israel’s first strikes on Iran, the department and the Pentagon put out notices announcing that the U.S. embassy in Baghdad had ordered all nonessential personnel to leave and that the Defense Department had “authorized the voluntary departure of military dependents from locations across the Middle East. Those warnings have increased as the conflict has intensified, with the embassy in Jerusalem authorizing the departure of nonessential staff and families over the weekend and ordering remaining personnel to shelter in place until further notice. The embassy has been closed since Monday and will remain shut through Friday. (AP)

Steve Bannon said that if President Donald Trump opts to support Israeli military action targeting Iran’s nuclear program, the core of the MAGA movement will largely rally behind him, according to The Hill. Speaking at an event hosted by the Christian Science Monitor, Bannon emphasized Trump’s long-standing opposition to a nuclear-armed Iran. “If President Trump decides there’s not a diplomatic alternative … because he’s been consistent, no nuclear weapon,” he said.

Bannon expressed confidence that Trump’s communication skills would help bring supporters on board, even if they had initial misgivings. “If President Trump decides to do that, I know, and particularly his skills as a communicator, that he will come and walk people through it and the MAGA movement — look, they’ll be some — but the vast majority of the MAGA movement will say, ‘look, we trust your judgment, you walked us through this … maybe we hate it but you know, we’ll get on board.’”

He further explained that even the more non-interventionist voices within the GOP would ultimately back Trump if he laid out a compelling rationale. “If the president as commander-in-chief makes a decision to do this and comes forward and walks people through it, the MAGA movement — they’ll lose some — but the MAGA movement, the Marjorie Taylor Greenes, the Matt Gaetzes, we will fight it up to the end and make sure you get full information but if he has more intelligence and makes that case to the American people, the MAGA movement will support President Trump.”

Bannon also voiced strong approval for Israel’s military campaign against Iran and urged the Israeli Air Force to complete the mission they had undertaken, highlighting their dominance in the skies.

A day earlier, Trump posted on Truth Social demanding Iran’s “unconditional surrender.” When questioned by a reporter at the White House about whether he would greenlight an American strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities, he responded, “I may do it. I may not do it. Nobody knows what I’m going to do.”

The idea of potential U.S. involvement alongside Israel in operations targeting Iran’s nuclear capabilities has sparked backlash among the Republican Party’s non-interventionist faction, particularly from media figure Tucker Carlson.

In response, Vice President JD Vance came to Trump’s defense in a lengthy thread on X, addressing some of the criticism from isolationist voices. “Look, I’m seeing this from the inside, and am admittedly biased towards our president (and my friend), but there’s a lot of crazy stuff on social media, so I wanted to address some things directly on the Iran issue: First, POTUS has been amazingly consistent, over 10 years, that Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon. Over the last few months, he encouraged his foreign policy team to reach a deal with the Iranians to accomplish this goal. The president has made clear that Iran cannot have uranium enrichment. And he said repeatedly that this would happen one of two ways–the easy way or the ‘other’ way,” Vance wrote.

He then sought to clarify a commonly misunderstood distinction in the nuclear debate. “Second, I’ve seen a lot of confusion over the issue of ‘civilian nuclear power’ and ‘uranium enrichment.’ These are distinct issues. Iran could have civilian nuclear power without enrichment, but Iran rejected that. Meanwhile, they’ve enriched uranium far above the level necessary for any civilian purpose. They’ve been found in violation of their non-proliferation obligations by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which is hardly a rightwing organization.”

Vance continued, underscoring the gravity of Iran’s enrichment efforts. “It’s one thing to want civilian nuclear energy. It’s another thing to demand sophisticated enrichment capacity. And it’s still another to cling to enrichment while simultaneously violating basic non-proliferation obligations and enriching right to the point of weapons-grade uranium.”

He challenged critics of Trump’s position by pointing to the lack of solid arguments in Iran’s defense. “I have yet to see a single good argument for why Iran needed to enrich uranium well above the threshold for civilian use. I’ve yet to see a single good argument for why Iran was justified in violating its non-proliferation obligations. I’ve yet to see a single good pushback against the IAEA’s findings.”

Vance wrapped up by praising Trump’s handling of military matters and asserting that any decision he makes would be grounded in national interest. “Meanwhile, the president has shown remarkable restraint in keeping our military’s focus on protecting our troops and protecting our citizens. He may decide he needs to take further action to end Iranian enrichment. That decision ultimately belongs to the president. And of course, people are right to be worried about foreign entanglement after the last 25 years of idiotic foreign policy.”

“But I believe the president has earned some trust on this issue. And having seen this up close and personal, I can assure you that he is only interested in using the American military to accomplish the American people’s goals. Whatever he does, that is his focus,” Vance stated.

{Matzav.com}

Prime Minister Netanyahu took to X on Wednesday, to reaffirm Israel’s unwavering resolve to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, as the IDF continue their bombardment of Iranian military and nuclear facilities near Tehran. “We will not let the world’s most dangerous regime get the world’s most dangerous weapon,” Netanyahu declared in a post, underscoring the stakes of Israel’s ongoing military operation aimed at crippling Iran’s nuclear program and ballistic missile capabilities. Netanyahu’s statement sparked a wave of reactions on X, with some users, including individuals identifying as Iranian, expressing support for Israel’s actions. One user wrote, “As an Iranian I want to thank you for the incredible hard and important task you’ve took on. From Cyrus the Great to Benjamin Netanyahu. What times to be alive.” (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Son of Elie Wiesel, Elisha Wiesel, joins ‘America’s Newsroom’ to discuss tensions in the Middle East as Israel and Iran trade missile strikes.

WATCH:

The aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford will sail from the East Coast for Europe on a regularly scheduled deployment — but its presence also gives President Trump a third aircraft carrier option as he weighs what sort of military response the US should provide amid escalating strikes between Israel and Iran. The Ford was previously deployed to the Eastern Mediterranean as a show of strength and to provide options to Israel following the Oct. 7, 2023, attacks by Hamas. The US Navy already has the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier in the Arabian Sea, and is sending the USS Nimitz to sail toward U.S. Central Command from the Indo-Pacific.

President Trump informed top advisers late Tuesday that he authorized plans for an attack on Iran, but was hesitant to proceed, preferring to wait and see if Tehran would give up its nuclear ambitions. One potential target for the U.S. is Iran’s heavily fortified Fordow enrichment site, which remains unscathed so far. Located deep beneath a mountain, the facility is widely regarded by military experts as virtually impossible to destroy with anything but the most advanced and powerful weaponry.

Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu delivered remarks to the nation on the sixth day of Operation Rising Lion, outlining the mission’s objectives and the current progress. He stated that Israel is targeting two critical dangers to its security: Iran’s nuclear capabilities and its arsenal of ballistic missiles.

“We launched this operation to remove two existing threats to the State of Israel: the nuclear threat and the ballistic missile threat. We are progressing step by step to remove these threats. We control the skies over Tehran. We are striking with tremendous force at the Ayatollah regime. We are hitting the nuclear infrastructure, missiles, command centers, and symbols of government power. I speak with world leaders, and there is immense admiration for our determination, for the achievements of our forces, and there is also immense admiration for the citizens of Israel—your unwavering spirit, your strength in standing firm,” Netanyahu said.

He went on to acknowledge the difficult sacrifices being made, noting the toll the fighting has taken. Despite the losses, he emphasized the resilience of the Israeli population and vowed to ensure that all affected individuals receive the support they need.

“We are suffering many losses, painful losses. But we see that the home front is resilient, the people are resilient, and the State of Israel is stronger than ever. I have instructed government ministries to provide assistance to all those who have been affected,” he added.

Netanyahu also turned attention to developments in Gaza, reaffirming Israel’s dual mission: to dismantle Hamas and to secure the return of every hostage. He stressed that this commitment applies equally to those still alive and those who have died in captivity.

“At the same time, the intensified fighting in the Gaza Strip continues. We are committed to continuing and achieving our two goals: defeating Hamas and bringing back all of our hostages—both the living and the fallen. We will not relent.”

He acknowledged the tragic loss of Israeli soldiers in the past few days and expressed heartfelt sympathy to the grieving families on behalf of the nation. He reaffirmed that their sacrifice would not be in vain.

“Unfortunately, in recent days, we have also lost brave soldiers. I extend my condolences to the families. We send condolences on behalf of the entire government and the entire people. We embrace them. We will continue until we bring everyone back and until Hamas is defeated once and for all.”

Netanyahu ended his statement by recognizing the support of President Trump. He praised Trump’s steadfast backing and the United States’ efforts in bolstering Israel’s defense capabilities, particularly in securing its airspace.

“I want to thank President Trump, a great friend of the State of Israel. I thank him for standing by us, and I thank him for the support the United States is providing in helping us protect the skies of Israel. We speak continuously, including last night. We had a very warm conversation. I want to thank President Trump for his backing,” Netanyahu concluded.

{Matzav.com}

The U.S. State Department said Wednesday it is restarting the suspended process for foreigners applying for student visas but all applicants will now be required to unlock their social media accounts for government review. The department said consular officers will be on the lookout for posts and messages that could be deemed hostile to the United States, its government, culture, institutions or founding principles. In a notice made public Wednesday, the department said it had rescinded its May suspension of student visa processing but said new applicants who refuse to set their social media accounts to “public” and allow them to be reviewed may be rejected. It said a refusal to do so could be a sign they are trying to evade the requirement or hide their online activity. The Trump administration last month temporarily halted the scheduling of new visa interviews for foreign students hoping to study in the U.S. while preparing to expand the screening of their activity on social media, officials said. Students around the world have been waiting anxiously for U.S. consulates to reopen appointments for visa interviews, as the window left to book their travel and make housing arrangements narrows ahead of the start of the school year. On Wednesday afternoon, a 27-year-old Ph.D. student in Toronto was able to secure an appointment for a visa interview next week. The student, a Chinese national, hopes to travel to the U.S. for a research intern position that would start in late July. “I’m really relieved,” said the student, who spoke on condition of being identified only by his surname, Chen, because he was concerned about being targeted. “I’ve been refreshing the website couple of times every day.” Students from China, India, Mexico and the Philippines have posted on social media sites that they have been monitoring visa booking websites and closely watching press briefings of the State Department to get any indication of when appointment bookings might resume. “Under new guidance, consular officers will conduct a comprehensive and thorough vetting of all student and exchange visitor applicants,” the department said in a statement. “To facilitate this vetting” applicants “will be asked to adjust the privacy settings on all their social media profiles to ‘public,’” it said. “The enhanced social media vetting will ensure we are properly screening every single person attempting to visit our country.” In internal guidance sent to consular officers, the department said they should be looking for “any indications of hostility toward the citizens, culture, government, institutions, or founding principles of the United States.” Jameel Jaffer, executive director at the Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University, said the new policy evokes the ideological vetting of the Cold War when prominent artists and intellectuals were excluded from the U.S. “This policy makes a censor of every consular officer, and it will inevitably chill legitimate political speech both inside and outside the United States,” Jaffer said. International students in the U.S. have been facing increased scrutiny on several fronts. In the spring, the Trump administration revoked permission to study in the U.S. for thousands of students, including some involved only in traffic offenses, before abruptly reversing course. The government also expanded the grounds on which foreign students can have their legal status terminated. As part of a pressure campaign targeting Harvard University, the Trump […]