Former President Donald Trump issued a stark warning to Iran during a rally in Mint Hill, North Carolina, following reports that U.S. intelligence officials had briefed him on a suspected Iranian plot to assassinate him. The briefing, according to Trump’s campaign, came from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) and revealed “real and specific threats from Iran” aimed at destabilizing the United States as Trump runs for president in 2024. Trump addressed the situation directly at the rally, saying if he were still president, he would take decisive action. “If you do anything to harm this person, we are going to blow your largest cities and the country itself to smithereens,” Trump declared, referring to Iran.

Today, the Chief of the General Staff, LTG Herzi Halevi, visited the 7th Brigade’s military exercise at Israel’s northern border. He was accompanied by senior military officials, including the Commanding Officer of the Northern Command, the Commanding Officer of the 98th Division, the Commanding Officer of the Ground Forces Training Center, and other brigade commanders. During the visit, LTG Halevi addressed the troops, emphasizing the ongoing Israeli Air Force strikes and preparations for a potential ground operation. In his remarks, he stated: “You hear the jets overhead; we have been striking all day. This is both to prepare the ground for your possible entry and to continue degrading Hezbollah.

Rocket sirens blared across Tel Aviv and central Israel early Wednesday morning, prompting residents to rush to bomb shelters as instructed by the IDF Home Front Command. The sirens were heard in several cities, including Tel Aviv and Netanya, following reports of incoming threats from the north. According to an official statement from the Israel Defense Forces, one surface-to-surface missile was detected crossing from Lebanon into Israeli airspace. The missile was successfully intercepted by the IDF’s Aerial Defense Array, preventing any damage or casualties. A video below shows what appears to be the moment of interception over Tel Aviv, with a defensive missile striking the incoming threat in mid-air. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton recently discussed the pro-Palestinian demonstrations she witnessed at Columbia University last spring, sharing her concerns in an interview with CNN’s Fareed Zakaria. As students return to campuses, Clinton expects tensions to rise again, with protests likely to reignite. During the interview, Clinton suggested that these protests were influenced by external forces rather than being organically led by students. “There were already existing groups within our country, and particularly on certain campuses like Columbia, who had talking points. They had a plan for protest and disruption.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog on Tuesday asserted that Hezbollah will not cease its assaults on Israel because Hamas is obstructing a potential hostage deal. Speaking to CNBC, Herzog explained that ongoing negotiations to free hostages held by Hamas have been repeatedly rejected by Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, resulting in Hezbollah continuing its attacks. “[Hezbollah leader Hassan] Nasrallah decided that he wants to keep on going in the war because we are trying to negotiate a hostage deal, and [Hamas leader Yahya] Sinwar, in the dungeons of Gaza, says no and again, no and again, no,” Herzog told CNBC. Herzog stressed that resolving the conflict requires not only securing the return of hostages but also neutralizing the threat posed by Hezbollah from Israel’s northern border.

Speaking at an IDF intelligence base on Tuesday, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu vowed to continue striking Hezbollah, warning that any home in Lebanon harboring weapons will be destroyed. “We will continue striking Hezbollah. Whoever has a missile in the living room and a rocket in the garage will no longer have a home,” Netanyahu said during a visit to the base, where he received an intelligence briefing from Maj.-Gen. Shlomi Binder, head of IDF Intelligence, and Brig.-Gen. Yossi Sariel, commander of Unit 8200. Netanyahu stressed that Israel’s conflict is not with the Lebanese people but with Hezbollah, urging citizens to distance themselves from the terror group. “Our war is not with you. Our war is with Hezbollah,” Netanyahu said.

Television anchor Chris Cuomo ripped into Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez for her remarks condemning Israel’s use of explosive devices hidden in pagers to target Hezbollah terrorists in Lebanon and “clearly and unequivocally violat[ing] international humanitarian law.” On his primetime show on the NewsNation cable channel, Cuomo fired back at the progressive Democrat, questioning why she focused on Israel’s actions without acknowledging Hezbollah’s role as a terrorist organization. “Why don’t you mention the pagers were on members of a terrorist organization that is committed to destroying Israel?” Cuomo asked.

Sen. John Fetterman voiced strong support for Israel’s handling of terror groups in a Sunday interview with NBC News, distancing himself from criticism leveled by Sen. Bernie Sanders regarding Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s actions in the region. During the interview on Meet the Press, host Kristen Welker played a clip of Sanders accusing Netanyahu of escalating tensions with neighboring hostile groups to maintain his hold on power. Sanders had said, “Every time a deal appears close, Netanyahu moves the goalposts, introducing new demands and torpedoing the deal. It is clear to me that Netanyahu is prolonging the war in order to cling to power.” When asked if he agreed with Sanders’s assessment, Fetterman firmly disagreed.

Israel Police Commissioner Daniel Levy has ordered an immediate investigation after video footage surfaced showing police officers using batons to brutally beat Chareidi protesters in Beit Shemesh. The demonstrators were protesting against an event being held at a local community center. In a statement, Levy said, “If it turns out during the inspection that the police officers acted illegally, they will be dealt with severely.” The incident, which took place earlier this evening, has sparked outrage after the footage showed officers forcefully dispersing the protesters. The investigation will determine whether the officers involved acted within the bounds of the law or used excessive force during the protest.

In a tense exchange on CNN’s State of the Union Sunday, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer sidestepped questions from host Jake Tapper about whether Rep. Rashida Tlaib’s comments accusing Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel of bias were anti-Semitic. The controversy arose after Nessel charged nearly a dozen individuals involved in pro-Palestinian protests at the University of Michigan. The charges included attempted ethnic intimidation and assaulting or obstructing a police officer. Rep.