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Newsom: Trump Presidency Will Be Over When Jeffries Gets the Gavel in 2026
Newsom Criticizes Netanyahu Over West Bank Annexation Stance
Speaker Johnson: Operation Against Iran Is Limited, Not a War
CENTCOM: U.S. Strikes Iranian Drone Carrier as Campaign Targets Navy
“Greatly Exaggerated”: Former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant Responds to False Reports Claiming He Was Killed in Iranian Strike
Former Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant responded Thursday to false reports circulating on social media claiming that he had been killed in an Iranian attack.
The report, which appeared on the Twitter account “China live,” spread widely online and prompted Gallant to address the claim directly on his X account. Rejecting the report, Gallant wrote: “The rumors about my death were greatly exaggerated. Am Yisroel chai.”
The incident comes just weeks after authorities revealed details of a spy case involving an Israeli resident accused of gathering intelligence near Gallant’s home on behalf of an Iranian handler.
Last month it was cleared for publication that in a joint operation by the Central Unit of the Menashe region in the Coastal District police and the Shin Bet security service, a suspect named Fares Abu al-Hija was arrested for questioning. Abu al-Hija, a resident of the northern local council of Kawkab Abu al-Hija, was apprehended while carrying out an intelligence-gathering mission targeting the former defense minister.
During questioning by police and the Shin Bet, investigators determined that the suspect had been in contact with a foreign operative whom he believed to be connected to Iranian intelligence. According to the investigation, he received payment in exchange for carrying out various assignments, including gathering information intended to harm Israel’s national security. Authorities later confirmed that the foreign contact had indeed been identified by the Shin Bet as an Iranian intelligence operative.
Investigators also determined that earlier this year, in January, Abu al-Hija had been instructed to travel to the community of Amikam and photograph streets located near Gallant’s residence. Shortly after completing the assignment and sending the images to his handler, he was arrested at the scene.
Following the conclusion of the investigation, the Haifa District Prosecutor’s Office filed an indictment against him in the Haifa District Court.
{Matzav.com}PHOTOS: The Kapishnitzer Rebbe On Purim 2026 (Photos For YWN Via Shuki Lerer)
Iran Fired Only About 200 Missiles Since War Began — Roughly 80% Below Intelligence Estimates
Since the start of the war on Shabbos, Iran has launched approximately 200 missiles toward Israel, far fewer than Israeli intelligence had anticipated before the conflict began.
Prior to the outbreak of hostilities, Israeli security officials estimated that the Islamic Republic could fire roughly 150 missiles each day. Based on those assessments, Israel prepared for a much larger barrage. In reality, the number of missiles launched so far is about 80 percent lower than those projections, according to a report published Thursday evening by Ynet.
Officials attribute the dramatic decline in missile launches to the heavy blows inflicted by the joint military campaign carried out by the IDF together with the United States against Iran’s ballistic missile infrastructure.
Since the beginning of the war, Israeli and American forces have dropped more than 8,500 munitions across Iran. Of those strikes, approximately 2,700 targets were attacked by the United States alone. In addition to the missiles fired toward Israel, Iran has launched another 300 missiles toward other targets throughout the Middle East.
IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir addressed the situation earlier Thursday in remarks to the media regarding the war with Iran.
“For six days we have been striking the Iranian terror regime without pause. Israeli Air Force pilots have so far carried out about 2,500 strikes and dropped more than 6,000 munitions. We destroyed about 80 percent of the air defense systems and achieved near-complete air superiority over Iranian skies.”
Zamir added that Israeli forces have significantly weakened Iran’s ability to launch ballistic missiles.
“We have neutralized and destroyed more than 60 percent of the ballistic missile launchers — a very significant achievement that reduces the damage to the home front and saves many lives. The threat has not yet been removed — every missile is lethal and poses a danger.”
Discussing the next phase of the campaign, Zamir indicated that additional actions are planned.
“Now we are moving to the next stage, in which we will intensify the strike against the foundations of the regime and its military capabilities. We have additional surprise moves, which I do not intend to reveal. We will pursue our enemies, all of them, and reach them.”
{Matzav.com}
PHOTO ESSAY: The Streets of Yerushalayim On Purim 2026 [Via Shuki Lerer For YWN]
Opposition MKs Slam AG For Divisive Behavior During Wartime
Tragedy at Har HaMenuchos: Bochur Dies After Falling Into Pit While Visiting Grandfather’s Kever on First Yahrtzeit
A terrible tragedy struck at Har HaMenuchos in Yerushalayim on Thursday when Shimon Mendlowitz z”l, a member of the Zvhiller chassidus and one of the distinguished bochurim connected to the Vizhnitzer court in Beit Shemesh, was killed after falling into a pit while visiting his grandfather’s kever on his first yahrtzeit.
According to sources, the bochur had come together with family members to Har HaMenuchos to mark the yahrtzeit at his grandfather’s kever. At some point during the visit, he went aside to a secluded area and slipped, falling into a deep pit. Tragically, he was niftar at the scene.
Bentzion Oering, commander of ZAKA’s Yerushalayim district, together with volunteers Dudi Pines and Yehuda Hanfling, described what they encountered upon arriving at the scene.
“When we arrived at the scene, we were directed to the multi-level burial area at Har HaMenuchos. The deceased had come to his grandfather’s grave with family members to mark the first anniversary of his passing. According to relatives, while he was in a dark area of the cemetery he slipped and fell from a significant height. Sadly, MDA teams were forced to confirm his death. ZAKA volunteers from the Yerushalayim district are handling the deceased with dignity and collecting the findings at the scene.”
The levayah was held tonight, departing from Beis HaLevayos Shamgar in Yerushalayim and proceeding to Har HaMenuchos, where he was brought to kevurah.
Shimon, 26, was born on the 18th of Adar 5760 to his father, Reb Binyamin Yitzchak Mendlowitz, a respected member of the Zvhiller chassidus and a melamed at a Talmud Torah in Beit Shemesh, and to his mother, Mrs. Malka Rachel of the Binder family.
His grandfather, Rabbi Mordechai Shmerel Mendlowitz, was among the leading transmitters of the mesorah of safrus for decades. He was widely known for his efforts in strengthening the field of safrus and was the first to initiate the project known as Shulchan HaSoferim, which serves thousands of sofrim. He passed away one year ago on the 16th of Adar 5785, and now his grandson was niftar on the very day of his grandfather’s first yahrtzeit.
In his youth, Shimon learned in the yeshivah of Zvhil and later continued his limud haTorah at Yeshivas Mir. He was closely connected to the Vizhnitzer chatzer in Beit Shemesh.
Friends related that just the night before the tragedy he had participated in the Purim tish at Zvhill in Yerushalayim.
“He went to the Rebbe for a bracha, and we are in shock from his sudden petirah,” friends said.
Yehi zichro boruch.
{Matzav.com}PHOTOS: The Skulener Yerushalayim Rebbe On Purim 2026 (Photos For YWN Via Shuki Lerer)
Trump Says He Must Be Involved In Choosing Iran’s Next Leader, Rejects Khamenei’s “Lightweight” Son
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WATCH: Mystery “Cane” Draws Attention At Toldos Aharon Rebbe’s Purim Tisch [VIDEO & PHOTOS]
United Airlines Says Put On Your Headphones Or Get Off The Plane
United Airlines has a new rule on the books that has some travelers cheering: Listening to audio without headphones can now get passengers removed from a plane.
The airline already had a pro-headphone policy in place, but last week it updated its contract of carriage – the rules a passenger agrees to in order to fly – to specify that “passengers who fail to use headphones while listening to audio or video content” could be removed from a plane or not allowed to board.
“We’ve always encouraged customers to use headphones when listening to audio content – and our Wi-Fi rules already remind customers to use headphones,” United spokesman Josh Freed said in an email, adding that the carrier is expanding its high-speed Starlink connectivity. “It seemed like a good time to make that even clearer by adding it to the contract of carriage.”
Other airlines have their own policies encouraging or requiring headphones, though most do not come with the threat of enforcement.
Frontier Airlines includes the requirement in the carry-on baggage section of its contract, though it’s not clear what the penalty would be for ignoring the rule. Frontier did not respond to questions about enforcement. The airline says that portable electronic devices that make sounds “may be used only with headphones and provided the sound, even via the headphones, cannot be heard by others.”
On the entertainment section of its website, Delta Air Lines implores: “For the comfort of everyone around you, please use earbuds or headphones with any personal electronic device during your flight.”
Flight attendants also pass out free headphones to customers on most flights, the airline said.
“Customers are welcome to listen to audio or watch video on board, and we expect them to follow standard courtesy and flight crew instructions,” Delta spokeswoman Samantha Moore Facteau said in an email.
Southwest Airlines doesn’t mention headphones specifically in its contract, but notes on its website that they are required when passengers listen to audio.
“Our contract does include passengers not adhering to crew member instructions, including those about use of personal electronic devices,” spokesman Chris Perry said in an email. “Thus, a passenger would be expected to adhere to instructions about headphones.”
In 2023, an American Airlines pilot delivered a lecture from the front of the plane that went viral on social media, urging passengers to show respect for each other.
“The social experiment on listening to videos on speaker mode and talking on a cellphone on speaker mode, that is over – over and done in this country,” he said. “Nobody wants to hear your video. … Use your AirPods, use your headphones, whatever it is. That’s your business.”
Travel blogger Ben Schlappig, founder of One Mile at a Time, welcomed the news that United was treating the noise issue more seriously. The Miami resident said fellow travelers in his area are terrible sound scofflaws.
“It drives me absolutely bonkers,” he said. “Of all the things in the airline industry, this is probably what I’m most passionate about, which is quite sad. I just find myself in disbelief at the lack of respect they have for others that they’re just willing to blast whatever they’re listening to.”
Schlappig wondered how United would enforce the rule, but said just having it in place is a good move.
“The spirit of this is fantastic,” he said.
(c) 2026, The Washington Post · Hannah Sampson
