CIA Director John Ratcliffe confirmed Wednesday that recent U.S. and Israeli strikes caused severe damage to Iran’s nuclear program. In a statement posted to X, Ratcliffe said the CIA has credible intelligence—including from a trusted source—that key Iranian nuclear facilities were destroyed and will take years to rebuild. “CIA can confirm that a body of credible intelligence indicates Iran’s Nuclear Program has been severely damaged by the recent, targeted strikes,” he wrote. Ratcliffe added that the agency is still gathering intelligence and will keep officials and, when possible, the public informed. The statement directly contradicts leaked reports that suggested the strikes had limited impact.

In a press conference at the NATO summit in The Netherlands, President Donald Trump, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth discussed the United States’ military strike on Iran’s nuclear enrichment facilities, declaring the operation a resounding success and a key turning point in brokering a ceasefire between Israel and Iran. Trump: “Last weekend, the United States successfully carried out a massive precision strike on Iran’s nuclear enrichment facilities… this incredible exercise of American strength has paved the way for peace, with a historic ceasefire agreement.” While U.S. officials have yet to release full satellite imagery or damage assessments, Trump left little ambiguity about the strike’s effectiveness.

Defense Minister Yisrael Katz delivered an extended security briefing on Tuesday to the members of the Knesset’s Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee at the Kiryah in Tel Aviv, which mainly focused on the IDF’s activities during the war against Iran. At the meeting, Katz revealed that one of the reasons for the launch of the war was that Iran had planned a surprise attack on Israel. “The Iranians planned to act first and launch between 400 and 500 missiles in the opening strike,” he said.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, today (Tuesday, 24 June 2025) [translated from Hebrew]: “Dear citizens of Israel, In the 12 days of Operation Rising Lion, we achieved a historic victory, which will stand for generations. We removed two existential threats: The threat of annihilation by nuclear weapons and the threat of annihilation by 20,000 ballistic missiles. Had we not acted now, the State of Israel would have soon faced the danger of annihilation. But this did not happen because at the decisive moment, we rose up and stood like lions, and our roar shook Tehran and echoed around the world.

New York City Democrats will decide Tuesday whether to reboot Andrew Cuomo’s political career, elevate liberal upstart Zohran Mamdani, or turn to a crowded field of lesser-known but maybe less-polarizing candidates in the party’s mayoral primary. Their choice could say something about what kind of leader Democrats are looking for during President Donald Trump’s second term. The vote takes place on a sweltering day about four years after Cuomo resigned as governor following a harassment scandal. Yet the 67-year-old has been the favorite throughout the race, with his deep experience, nearly universal name recognition, strong political connections and juggernaut fundraising apparatus.

In a scorching social media outburst Tuesday morning, President Donald Trump launched an attack on Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), branding her “stupid” and “one of the dumbest people in Congress,” after she renewed calls for his impeachment over his decision to strike Iran’s nuclear sites with B-2 stealth bombers, severely damaging them. Trump’s Truth Social post accused Ocasio-Cortez of inciting impeachment proceedings out of spite for the Trump administration’s “Victories,” claiming Democrats “aren’t used to WINNING.” The president mocked Ocasio-Cortez’s intelligence and demanded she take a cognitive test, touting his own recent exam at Walter Reed Medical Center. “President Trump ACED it,” he boasted, claiming he answered every question correctly.

Several hours after Israel confirmed a ceasefire with Iran, sirens blared in northern Israel, indicating an incoming missile attack. Iran launched at least one ballistic missile, which, b’chasdei Hashem, was successfully intercepted. There were no reports of injuries or impacts. Following the launch, Defense Minister Yisrael Katz stated that he ordered the IDF “to respond forcefully to Iran’s violation of the ceasefire by launching intense attacks against regime targets in the heart of Tehran.” (YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)

Some of the very nations that spent years defending, financing, or excusing Iran’s behavior are now lining up to issue outraged condemnations—after Tehran fired missiles at a U.S. base in Qatar. Yes, Qatar—one of Iran’s closest regional allies and one of the primary lifelines for Hamas, the Iran-backed terror group responsible for countless attacks on Israeli civilians. For years, Qatar has funneled money—over $1.8 billion by some estimates—into Hamas-controlled Gaza under the banner of “humanitarian aid,” while knowingly propping up a regime committed to Israel’s destruction. Now, that same regime has turned its firepower in Qatar’s direction. Scenes of panic unfolded in Doha as Iranian missiles triggered chaos at a shopping mall, sending terrified shoppers fleeing for cover.

According to multiple U.S. officials, President Donald Trump has been closely tracking the situation over the past 24 hours as news and reactions to the US strikes in Iran Saturday night continue to unfold. He has been holding regular meetings with his senior staff, receiving updates on the events. Trump still intends to attend the NATO summit in The Hague later this week, but two officials noted that his travel plans could change if something significant occurs. Today, Trump issued a stern warning to “everyone” to keep oil prices low. “EVERYONE, KEEP OIL PRICES DOWN. I’M WATCHING! YOU’RE PLAYING RIGHT INTO THE HANDS OF THE ENEMY. DON’T DO IT!” he posted on Truth Social Monday morning. In a second post, he reiterated, “To The Department of Energy: DRILL, BABY, DRILL!!!

In a shocking poll just one day before New York City’s Democratic mayoral primary, a new poll shows Queens Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani pulling ahead of former Governor Andrew Cuomo in the final round of ranked-choice voting. The Emerson College poll, conducted in partnership with PIX11 and The Hill, shows a tight race in the opening round, with Cuomo leading at 35% and Mamdani trailing closely at 32%. However, in the ranked-choice simulation run by Emerson, Mamdani ultimately defeats Cuomo 52% to 48% in the eighth and final round of vote tallying. It’s the first time Mamdani has led in the final results of any Emerson polling to date — signaling a potential upset in the making.