An Israeli airstrike in central Beirut targeted a building in the Ras al-Naba’a neighborhood, killing Hezbollah’s media relations chief, Mohammed Afif. The information was confirmed by two Lebanese security sources to Reuters. The strike, which occurred outside Hezbollah’s traditional stronghold in the southern suburbs of the Lebanese capital, marks a significant shift in Israel’s targeting strategy. The densely populated Ras al-Naba’a neighborhood is not typically associated with Hezbollah activity, making the attack particularly striking. According to the sources, the IDF carried out the operation without issuing any prior evacuation warnings, a move that deviates from its usual protocol in such strikes.

The IDF sent 1,000 of 7,000 draft orders to Bnei Yeshivos on Sunday following Attorney-General Gali Baharav Miara’s order last week. The Chareidi Yated Ne-eman newspaper published a front-page article reiterating the instructions of the Gedolim to bnei yeshivos to ignore the draft orders. The article stated that bnei yeshivos “should act according to the instructions in HaGaon HaRav Landau’s letter and as was clarified in a chizzuk talk at Yeshivas Mir: ‘The matter is clear.

It is with deep regret that YWN informs you of the petirah of Harav Refoel Yehoshua Halevi Kalish zt”l, a mammoth talmid chochom, beloved rav of the Harborview Bais Medrash in Lawrence, NY, and longtime R”M at Yeshiva Derech Ayson in Far Rockaway. He was around 80 years old. A musmach of Bais Medrash Govoha, Rav Yehoshua zt”l, inspired countless others simply by his example. An extraordinary masmid – known for finishing Shas yearly and a gemara being with him at every waking moment – he exuded the air of a true ben torah, thereby influencing those around him to increase their limud hatorah and maximize every moment they had. He also delivered many shiurim every week, including daf yomi at Shaarei Tefillah of Lawrence. Levaya details will be published when they become available.

Israeli authorities have launched a criminal investigation after two flares were fired at Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s private residence in Caesarea on Saturday. The flares landed in the yard, causing no damage or injuries. Police confirmed that Netanyahu and his family were not at home during the incident. The act has drawn widespread condemnation from across the political spectrum. Opposition leader Yair Lapid and National Unity chairman Benny Gantz called for swift action, urging law enforcement to hold the perpetrators accountable. President Isaac Herzog labeled the attack “a highly dangerous incident, which I strongly condemn,” adding that he had spoken with the Shin Bet chief to stress the urgency of the investigation.

President-elect Donald Trump plans to implement “maximum pressure” sanctions on the Islamic Republic to financially bankrupt it and paralyze its funding of its terror proxies, the Financial Times reported. According to the report, Trump’s transition team is already preparing a plan to target Iran, and the sanctions may be issued on his first day in office. Trump particularly wants to target Iran’s oil exports, aiming to decrease their current oil exports of 1.5 million barrels a day to 400,000 a day. “He’s determined to reinstitute a maximum pressure strategy to bankrupt Iran as soon as possible,” a national security expert familiar with the Trump transition team said.

The IDF on Motzei Shabbos announced that an IDF soldier fell in battle in southern Lebanon on Friday. He was named as Sgt. Ori Nisanovich, H’yd, 21, from Jerusalem. He fought in the Golani Brigade’s 13th Battalion. Nisanovich attended the Avinoam-Evyatar Yeshiva. His death increases the death toll of IDF soldiers since the start of the war to 795. (YWN’s Jerusalem desk is keeping you updated after tzeis ha’Shabbos in Israel)

Israel’s airstrikes inside Iran in late October dealt a significant blow to Iran’s nuclear ambitions by targeting a covert research site within the Parchin military complex, officials revealed to Axios. The facility, known as Taleghan 2, located about 20 miles southeast of Tehran, had been central to Iran’s resumed nuclear weapons research, despite longstanding denials from Tehran. Taleghan 2 was previously associated with Iran’s Amad nuclear weapons program, which was officially halted in 2003. However, recent intelligence suggested the facility had been reactivated for advanced nuclear research. The destroyed site reportedly housed sophisticated equipment used to develop plastic explosives critical to detonating a nuclear device.

Tragedy struck the Monsey community and Skvere Kehila on Thursday night with the sudden and tragic petirah of R’ Chaim Hersh Cziment z”l, a well-known and beloved Skverer chossid who was niftar after being struck and critically injured by a vehicle at the intersection of W. Maple Avenue and Kingspoint Lane. YWN reported earlier that Rockland Hatzoloh paramedics rushed to the scene for reports of a pedestrian struck, finding two patients – one with critical injuries, and a second with serious but non-life-threatening injuries. R’ Chaim Hersh, who was critically injured, was transported to Good Samaritan Hospital, where he was sadly niftar a short time later.

The Rosh Yeshivah of Slabodka, HaGaon HaRav Moshe Hillel Hirsch, spoke harshly against Attorney-General Gali Baharav-Miara, who this week ordered the IDF to begin sending 7,000 draft orders to bnei yeshivos, including those learning full-time, and encouraged criminal sanctions against those who ignored the summons.

A serious accident occured this afternoon at the intersection of KingsPoint Lane and West Maple Avenue in Monsey, two individuals were struck by a vehicle Monsey Scoop reported. Rockland Hatzoloh Paramedics quickly arrived at the scene, transporting one person in critical condition to Good Samaritan Hospital. The second individual was also taken to Westchester Medical Center by Rockland Hatzoloh Paramedics with serious but non life threatening injuries. YWN will update with names for Tehilim once they become available to us.