U.S. President Joe Biden stated on Saturday that Israel appears to have targeted only military sites in its retaliatory attack against Iran the previous night. “It looks like they didn’t hit anything other than military targets,” he told reporters. This statement marked another attempt by Washington to subtly express its approval of Israel’s strikes. A senior Biden administration official had informed reporters hours earlier that the attacks were “targeted and proportional with low risk of civilian harm.” Biden added, “My hope is this is the end,” as the U.S. aims to balance its support for Israel’s right to defend itself following Iran’s October 1 ballistic missile strike, while also calling for de-escalation in the region. Pres.

Israel pounded Iran with a series of airstrikes early Saturday, saying it was targeting military sites in retaliation for the barrage of ballistic missiles the Islamic Republic fired upon Israel earlier in the month. Explosions could be heard in the Iranian capital, Tehran, though the Islamic Republic insisted they caused only “limited damage.” Saturday marked the first time Israel’s military has openly attacked Iran, which hasn’t faced a sustained barrage of fire from a foreign enemy since its 1980s war with Iraq.

The Israel Defense Forces carried out more than 230 airstrikes on Hezbollah and Hamas targets in the past 24 hours across southern Lebanon and the Gaza Strip. Among the targets hit were three command centers linked to Hezbollah’s Unit 127, which has been involved in launching drones toward Israel. The 91st Division has continued its offensive operations in southern Lebanon, focusing on Hezbollah while defending communities in northern Israel. In recent operations, the 36th and 146th Divisions targeted dozens of Hezbollah militants through ground and air strikes, neutralized threats, and dismantled significant weapon caches. One notable strike eliminated approximately 15 Hezbollah operatives at an operations room identified as a direct threat.

The IDF on Monday revealed the secrets behind Hezbollah’s finance network, including slain Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah’s former emergency bunker located under Al-Sahel Hospital in Dahieh in southern Beirut which holds hundreds of millions of dollars in cash and gold. The IDF on Sunday and Monday struck about 20 out of 34 branches of Hezbollah’s financial arm, the Al-Qard Al-Hassan Association (AQAH), in southern Beirut, southern Lebanon, and the eastern Bekaa Valley. AQAH, officially a “charity” organization, is often referred to as Hezbollah’s bank. A senior Israeli intelligence official described AQAH as “one of the largest centers of economic power for the Iranian proxy” in remarks to The Press Service of Israel.

Former SodaStream CEO Daniel Birnbaum has announced a unique initiative, offering $100,000 to Gazans who return living Israeli hostages. In a video message shared online, Birnbaum explained the reward, payable in cash or Bitcoin, and emphasized the urgency of action, setting a deadline of midnight Wednesday for the offer. He framed the offer as an opportunity for individuals in Gaza to take control of their futures, encouraging them to help end the suffering and turmoil caused by the ongoing conflict. Birnbaum’s message coincides with flyers reportedly dropped over Gaza by the IDF, offering immunity to those who lay down their arms, as part of broader efforts to resolve the hostage crisis.

A multi-car collision occurred Monday morning on Ocean Parkway near Avenue V in Brooklyn, involving five vehicles and resulting in 13 people being transported to the hospital by Flatbush Hatzolah. Fortunately, none of the injuries were life-threatening. Security camera footage captured the dramatic moment (see below) when a speeding vehicle collided with several others, leading to the pileup. The NYPD is currently investigating the incident to determine the cause of the crash and any potential charges. Emergency responders quickly arrived at the scene to provide medical assistance, and traffic on Ocean Parkway was temporarily affected.

At a rally in Pennsylvania on Saturday, former President Donald Trump confirmed that he spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, discussing the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. During the rally, Trump ripped President Joe Biden for reportedly advising Netanyahu on military decisions. Trump said that Biden told Netanyahu, “don’t do this, don’t do that,” in reference to the war against Hamas and Hezbollah, but that Netanyahu ignored the advice. “Bibi didn’t listen to him and I’ll tell you what, they’re in a much stronger position now than they were three months ago,” Trump said. Trump highlighted recent Israeli military operations, including the assassinations of key terror figures, as evidence of Israel’s stronger stance.

Security was noticeably extra tight as over 50,000 people flocked to the Kosel on Sunday morning, the third day of Chol Hamoed in Eretz Yisrael, for Birchas Kohanim. Thousands of Israel Police and Border Police officers were deployed to the area to ensure visitors’ safety. Although tens of thousands of Jews participated in the tefillah, photos of the Kosel from afar show a noticeably smaller crowd than past years.

A  Palestinian attempted to commit a terror attack next to the yishuv of Ofra in Binyanim on Shabbos but b’chasdei Hashem killed only himself. According to security camera footage of the attack, the terrorist sped toward a parked police vehicle as a police officer and IDF soldier patrolled nearby. The terrorist was identified as a 27-year-old resident of Shechem. Watch the video of the attack below: (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)

In a stunning exchange on Thursday, Vice President Kamala Harris appeared to lend credence to a protester accusing Israel of genocide during a campaign stop at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. The moment unfolded when Harris was interrupted by a demonstrator wearing a keffiyeh, who loudly accused Israel of committing genocide against Palestinians. “I know what you’re speaking of. I want a ceasefire. I want the hostage deal done. I want the war to end,” Harris began, seemingly attempting to diffuse the situation. But the protester quickly escalated, shouting, “But what about the genocide? What about the genocide though?” Instead of firmly dismissing the accusation, Harris responded, “I respect your right to speak, but I’m speaking right now,” triggering cheers from the crowd.