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The United States dramatically intensified its military campaign against Iran overnight, launching a new wave of strikes targeting military infrastructure after Iranian forces continued threatening freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. U.S. Central Command said the operation was intended to further weaken Iran’s ability to attack civilian mariners and commercial shipping in one of the world’s most critical waterways.

According to U.S. Central Command, American forces began carrying out coordinated strikes late Sunday night against military targets across Iran in response to Tehran’s ongoing efforts to disrupt maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz.

For the first time in the current conflict, U.S. forces targeted Iranian air defense systems, coastal radar installations, missile and drone capabilities, and fleets of small attack boats. The operation involved American fighter jets, U.S. Navy warships, one-way attack drones, and unmanned naval vessels.

Iranian media reported a series of explosions overnight, including in the strategic port city of Bandar Abbas, which overlooks the Strait of Hormuz. U.S. Central Command said President Donald Trump personally authorized the operation to punish Iranian forces for interfering with international shipping through the vital waterway.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed it retaliated by launching missiles and drones at Prince Hassan Air Base in Jordan, asserting that fuel depots and ammunition storage facilities were set ablaze. Iranian officials described the attack as the opening phase of their response to American strikes on military facilities along Iran’s southern coastline.

Air raid sirens also sounded in Bahrain early Monday after another suspected Iranian attack was detected.

The latest exchange of attacks has disrupted commercial aviation across the Gulf region. Dubai International Airport reported widespread delays on major international routes, with hundreds of flights delayed and dozens canceled.

A CENTCOM spokesman told CNN that, before the American strikes commenced, Iran’s Revolutionary Guard once again fired on a merchant vessel transiting the Strait of Hormuz. The spokesman said U.S. military aircraft successfully intercepted and destroyed an Iranian cruise missile as well as an attack drone.

In a statement, U.S. Central Command said the latest operation was designed to “continue degrading Iran’s ability to attack civilian mariners and commercial vessels freely transiting the Strait of Hormuz.”

Iranian media reported one fatality and four injuries following an American strike on a water pumping station in the country’s southwest. Additional explosions were reported in Ahvaz, Mahshahr, and near Bushehr.

Before the latest American offensive, Israeli officials had assessed that Iran was unlikely to attack Israel directly out of concern that doing so would trigger a far broader regional war. An Israeli official warned, however, that any Iranian attack on Israeli civilians or targets could rapidly alter the situation.

Following the U.S. strikes, Iran warned Gulf nations that any country serving as a launching point for attacks against Iran would become “a legitimate target.” Iran’s Foreign Ministry declared, “Iran will defend its sovereignty against American military aggression and against any other aggressor. The source of attacks against Iran will become a legitimate target within the framework of the defensive operations of our armed forces.”

Tehran also strongly condemned the latest U.S. military action, accusing Washington of sabotaging months of diplomatic efforts aimed at reducing regional tensions, according to a statement issued by Iran’s Foreign Ministry.

An American official also disclosed overnight that approximately 20 commercial vessels safely transited the Strait of Hormuz during the past 24 hours under coordination with the U.S. military. The official added that several other ships crossed the strategic waterway without coordinating with Washington, according to Axios.

{Matzav.com}

As the Knesset moves toward dissolution and Israel heads for new elections, MK Yitzchok Pindrus expressed optimism that the proposed Arrest Freeze Law could provide immediate relief for bnei yeshivah, while explaining that the proposed Basic Law: Torah Study is intended to serve as the legal foundation for future legislation.

Speaking about the two measures currently being advanced by the chareidi parties, Pindrus said the Arrest Freeze Law would have an immediate practical impact. “The Arrest Freeze Law is supposed to have an immediate effect,” he said. “I hope it truly will have an immediate effect, and that the Elul zeman can begin in peace and security.”

Pindrus explained that while the Basic Law: Torah Study is not expected to resolve the issue overnight, it is designed to establish a constitutional framework upon which future legislation regulating the status of bnei yeshivah can be built.

At the same time, he cautioned that even if both bills become law, the legal battle will be far from over. He argued that Israel is currently in the midst of an open confrontation between the elected branches of government and the country’s legal establishment.

“The judicial system is lined up on one side, the bureaucracy is lined up on that same side… and they are fighting head-on,” he said.

Addressing the future of the Torah world, Pindrus stressed that much work will remain even after the elections to achieve a lasting solution.

“We will have to do our hishtadlus to ensure that the Torah world continues to flourish,” he said.

He added that the proper response to the current challenges is to continue following the guidance of gedolei Yisroel.

“If we continue to walk alongside the elders, then, with Hashem’s help, we will get through this crisis as well.”

Later in the interview, Pindrus reflected on the yahrtzeit of Maran Rav Yosef Shalom Elyashiv, zt”l, sharing personal memories of the revered posek hador, whom he described as someone whose entire life revolved around Torah.

According to Pindrus, every decision Rav Elyashiv made was guided by a single question: “What does the Torah want from me now? Not what I want to do, not what I think would be good to do… but what does the Torah want me to do in this situation.”

Pindrus said that mindset defined Rav Elyashiv throughout his life.

He also recalled Rav Elyashiv’s legendary daily schedule and extraordinary diligence in Torah study until his final days.

“You could set your watch according to Rav Elyashiv’s daily schedule,” Pindrus said.

He recounted the testimony of a physician who examined Rav Elyashiv in his later years and remarked that the X-rays of his back could not possibly belong to someone who spent countless hours bent over a Gemara.

“It simply couldn’t be,” the doctor reportedly said, underscoring the remarkable endurance and unwavering dedication Rav Elyashiv displayed throughout decades of Torah learning.

Concluding the interview, Pindrus returned to the ongoing struggle between the political and judicial systems, noting that opposition to the Supreme Court was once largely confined to the chareidi parties but has since broadened considerably.

“In the past, the battle against the Supreme Court belonged only to the chareidi parties. Today, it belongs to more than half of the Knesset,” he said.

He ended by expressing hope that the merit of Rav Elyashiv would continue to protect the Torah world and Klal Yisroel.

“We have truly reached a point where all we can do is lift our eyes toward Heaven. We do our hishtadlus—there is not much more that can be done.”

Newly reviewed emergency dispatch recordings provide a clearer picture of the frantic efforts made to save Sen. Lindsey Graham after first responders were called to his Washington, D.C., residence on Motzoei Shabbos, where they ultimately performed CPR before he was pronounced dead.

According to The Wall Street Journal, D.C. Fire and EMS personnel were dispatched just before 8:30 p.m. to a home on South Capitol Street—listed in public records as Graham’s residence—after emergency officials received a report of an individual suffering from chest pain.

Graham’s office announced Sunday that the South Carolina Republican died following a “brief and sudden illness.” Preliminary medical findings determined that he suffered an aortic dissection caused by arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease.

Dispatch recordings reviewed by the newspaper indicate that a woman who called 911 told operators she was driving from Baltimore and advised them that the front door of the residence was unlocked. When emergency crews arrived, however, they discovered the deadbolt was engaged and received no response despite repeatedly knocking on the door.

Approximately five minutes after reaching the home, firefighters requested assistance from the Metropolitan Police Department and informed dispatchers that they intended to force their way into the residence.

Roughly 15 minutes later, emergency personnel radioed that CPR had begun, prompting dispatchers to send an EMS supervisor to assist with what had become a cardiac arrest response.

The dispatch audio never identified the patient by name and referred to the individual as being 73 years old. Graham was 71, suggesting the age relayed over the emergency radio was likely inaccurate.

In a joint statement, Metropolitan Police Department Chief Jeffery W. Carroll and D.C. Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Francisco J. Diaz said Graham was pronounced dead at George Washington University Hospital at 10:23 p.m. last night. An autopsy was conducted the following day.

Law enforcement officials told The Wall Street Journal that additional medical testing—including toxicology analysis—could require several weeks before the investigation into Graham’s death is fully completed.

Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., said he hopes investigators conduct “a full toxicology and autopsy” on Graham, noting that the senator’s father died of a heart attack.

President Donald Trump told CNN that Graham telephoned him at approximately 6:30 p.m. after returning from a trip to Ukraine.

“He said, ‘I’m tired because it’s a long trip,’ but other than that he was fine,” Trump said.

FBI Director Kash Patel also confirmed Sunday that the bureau is assisting local authorities in the investigation and has made “every necessary resource available” to support the inquiry. According to The Wall Street Journal, FBI agents were present at Graham’s residence Sunday afternoon as part of that ongoing effort.

{Matzav.com}

Sen. Mitch McConnell disclosed Sunday that the medical emergency that landed him in the hospital last month began with a fall that briefly left him unconscious, ending weeks of speculation surrounding the Kentucky Republican’s health and explaining why he has remained away from the Senate.

In a statement, the 84-year-old senator said he lost consciousness for a short time around the incident that led to his hospitalization and has since undergone extensive medical testing to determine what caused the fall. He also revealed that doctors treated him for a mild case of pneumonia and that he has since been transferred to a rehabilitation facility.

“My doctors have confirmed that I didn’t break any bones or suffer a concussion. I didn’t have a heart attack or a stroke. I don’t have any tumors or hemorrhages,” McConnell said, adding that he is now “regaining my strength.”

McConnell’s update came just hours after the sudden death of fellow Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina. While expressing optimism about his recovery, McConnell acknowledged that he is not yet ready to resume his Senate duties.

“I cannot return to the Senate quite yet,” he said.

With McConnell temporarily sidelined and Graham’s seat now vacant, Republicans’ majority in the Senate has been reduced to 51-47 at a critical time, as the party works to advance President Donald Trump’s legislative agenda, increase military spending, and confirm the president’s nominees.

Addressing why he had remained silent about his condition for nearly four weeks, McConnell said his generation often finds it difficult to discuss the realities of aging.

“Folks of my generation often hesitate to share the vulnerability that comes with growing older.”

“Even in the public eye, I feel that same instinct — I can’t help it,” he said.

McConnell added that he continues to stay involved in Senate matters by working closely with his staff while recovering. His statement also included a smiling photograph of himself with his wife, Elaine Chao, appearing to push back against online rumors suggesting he had died or was no longer capable of serving.

The senator’s announcement follows growing public pressure for greater transparency. Since his hospitalization on June 14, his office had released few details beyond saying that he was “receiving excellent care” and recovering. As questions about his condition mounted, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear publicly urged McConnell last week to provide the public with an update in a “transparent manner.”

McConnell is scheduled to retire at the end of January, bringing to a close one of the most influential careers in modern American politics. Republicans have nominated U.S. Rep. Andy Barr to succeed him, while Democrats selected former Kentucky state lawmaker Charles Booker as their nominee. Despite his health challenges, McConnell emphasized that he intends to complete the remainder of his term.

“I still have unfinished business to complete on your behalf,” McConnell wrote in the statement addressed to Kentuckians, “and I have every intention of finishing the job you elected me to do.”

McConnell has dealt with significant health issues for much of his life. After contracting polio as a young child, he has long acknowledged that the illness left him with lingering difficulty walking and climbing stairs.

The Office of the Attending Physician to Congress said Sunday that McConnell has “experienced several falls through the year” because of his “post-polio condition.” According to the statement, his rehabilitation program is focused on reducing the likelihood of additional falls.

“A comprehensive evaluation by a multidisciplinary team determined that he had no fractures, cardiac abnormalities, stroke, tumor, or hemorrhage,” the physician’s office said.

First elected to the Senate in 1984, McConnell served as the Republican leader from 2007 until last year, holding the roles of both majority leader and minority leader during that span. Although no longer in leadership, he has remained an active member of the Senate, frequently relying on a wheelchair while traveling through the Capitol.

In recent years, however, his physical condition has become increasingly noticeable. In March 2023, he suffered a concussion after falling at a Washington hotel, forcing him to miss several weeks of Senate business. After returning, he experienced two widely publicized episodes during press conferences in which he suddenly froze and stared silently ahead until aides intervened. The following year, he suffered another fall while leaving a Republican luncheon, spraining his wrist.

{Matzav.com}

New details have emerged regarding an alleged Iranian plot to assassinate President Donald Trump during his visit to Turkey, following earlier reports that Israel had warned the United States about the threat. According to the latest report, it was actually foreign intelligence—not Israeli intelligence—that first detected Iran’s preparations for the alleged assassination attempt, prompting U.S. officials to switch the presidential aircraft before the trip.

According to a report by Yaron Avraham on Israel’s Channel 12 News, foreign intelligence services uncovered indications that Iran was preparing to target Trump while he was in Turkey. The report states that senior Iranian officials viewed the president’s planned visit as a “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” but the intelligence was passed to American officials in time for security measures to be implemented, including replacing the aircraft designated for the president’s travel.

Last week, The Wall Street Journal, citing Western intelligence officials, reported that Israel had provided the United States with new intelligence pointing to a renewed Iranian plot to assassinate President Trump. According to the report, the intelligence indicated a significant escalation in Tehran’s efforts to target the American leader.

The alleged assassination plot is rooted in Iran’s longstanding vow to avenge the killing of Gen. Qassem Soleimani, the commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ Quds Force. Soleimani was killed in a U.S. airstrike ordered by President Trump during his first term in office, and Iranian leaders have repeatedly pledged retaliation.

Speaking at a press conference in Ankara, Turkey, last week, Trump acknowledged the reported threats against him.

“They want to assassinate the leader of the United States—me,” Trump said. “I saw this morning—I’m on every one of their lists. Every single list. So far, I guess I’ve been a little lucky, but maybe that won’t last much longer.”

The Israeli Embassy in Washington declined to comment on the report. Iran’s mission to the United Nations did not respond to requests for comment, while the White House referred reporters to the president’s remarks made during the NATO summit.

{Matzav.com}

A growing dispute between Shas and the Religious Zionism Party has brought the planned appointment of approximately 60 community rabbis across Israel to a halt, exposing a widening coalition rift just hours after Religious Zionism delayed final approval of Shas’ kashrus legislation.

The appointments were part of an agreement reached before the last election between Shas chairman Aryeh Deri and Finance Minister and Religious Zionism chairman Betzalel Smotrich. According to sources, the two leaders agreed to move forward with appointing about 60 community rabbis throughout the country. The entire initiative has now stalled after Smotrich reportedly refused to grant the approvals needed to complete the process.

The central point of contention involves rabbinic appointments in Judea and Samaria. Religious Zionism is insisting that additional rabbis in those communities be included as part of the broader package, while Shas argues that those appointments cannot currently be carried out due to technical considerations.

Officials in Religious Zionism say the party has drawn a firm line and will not agree to implement only part of the deal.

“Either there are appointments in Judea and Samaria as well—or there are no appointments at all,” party sources said.

The latest clash comes amid mounting tensions between the coalition partners. Just hours earlier, Religious Zionism prevented Shas from securing final approval of its kashrus bill in the Knesset Committee for Public Initiatives, chaired by MK Ohad Tal, further highlighting the deteriorating relationship between the two parties.

The Knesset has taken a historic step toward formally recognizing Israel’s combat veterans suffering from psychological trauma, as a new bill establishing their legal status advanced Sunday and is expected to receive final approval later this week.

The Knesset Committee, chaired by MK Ofir Katz, together with the Labor and Welfare Committee headed by MK Michal Waldiger, approved legislation that, for the first time, formally defines combat veterans suffering from combat-related trauma under Israeli law.

The bill, which is expected to pass its second and third Knesset readings this week, would establish an official legal definition of a combat veteran suffering from combat trauma within the Disabled Veterans Law. It would also guarantee specialized treatment and rehabilitation through the Defense Ministry’s Rehabilitation Department while expanding benefits, financial assistance, and support services for their families.

Kikar HaShabbos has learned that the legislation was originally developed during discussions surrounding the Basic Law: Torah Study. Lawmakers later decided to incorporate the measure into an amendment to the Disabled Veterans Law, a move that ultimately received bipartisan support from both coalition and opposition members.

During the committee deliberations, lawmakers and government representatives said the legislation is intended to bring Israel’s laws in line with the country’s complex security reality and ensure that thousands of combat veterans suffering psychological trauma receive care specifically tailored to their needs.

Labor and Welfare Committee Chairwoman MK Michal Waldiger welcomed the bill’s advancement, saying, “I am happy to lead a meaningful and moving amendment that is tailored to the complex reality of the State of Israel. Combat veterans deserve personalized care and the best possible rehabilitation, both for themselves and for their family members, whose lives were turned upside down in an instant. They gave for us, and today, through great effort and true justice, we are giving back to them a little so that they can return to life.”

Following the committee’s approval, Netanel Shaked, one of the leaders of the Combat Veterans Forum, thanked MK Moshe Abutbul and the Shas party for supporting the legislation. He described the measure as a historic law that, for the first time, will provide official legal recognition to combat veterans suffering from combat trauma while significantly expanding the system of benefits, compensation, and assistance available to them and their families.

If the bill receives final approval in the Knesset plenum, Israel will, for the first time, formally enshrine the legal status of combat veterans suffering from combat trauma in statute, replacing a system that for years relied primarily on administrative procedures and government policies.