International
Israel’s preemptive strike on Iran signals a turning point in the Middle East
Israel’s preemptive strike against Iran not only marked a significant milestone for the 77-year-old nation but also represented a turning point for the Middle East. According to a former IDF spokesperson, while Jerusalem grapples with the ongoing war in Gaza, it is clear that Israel’s main objective is to ensure Tehran never acquires a nuclear weapon.
Retired Lieutenant Colonel Jonathan Conricus, former IDF spokesperson, senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD), and co-founder of BottomLine Media, told Fox News Digital that Israel is working to eradicate what it sees as an existential threat.
In the early hours of Friday local time, Israel launched a series of airstrikes and covert operations to dismantle Iranian infrastructure and high-ranking commanders. On Saturday, the IDF claimed to have killed over 20 Iranian commanders, including the head of the country’s Intelligence Directorate and the commander of Iran’s land-to-land missile forces.
“To be frank, a nuclear program like that means it’s personal before infrastructure. And if we take it seriously, having a significant and lasting impact on Iran’s nuclear weapons program means Israel has to work hard and long, which means erasing a lot of knowledge,” Conricus said.
While Iran’s infrastructure and leadership have taken major hits during Israel’s Operation Dawn Lion, Tehran’s influence in the Middle East, including its proxies, has also been damaged. Conricus told Fox News Digital that the unraveling of what he calls “Iran’s ring of fire around Israel” began with Hamas’s massacres on October 7.
“It’s not completely done yet, but Hamas and Hezbollah are much weaker compared to where they were on October 7, and Iran itself is, I think, the weakest I have ever seen it, militarily and politically,” he said.
“So, I think in hindsight, Iranian strategic planners who envisioned this multi-front assault against Israel—from Gaza, Lebanon, Syria, maybe from other places—and had these fantasies that it would somehow eradicate the State of Israel—well, in hindsight, maybe it wasn’t such a brilliant idea.”
International
Trump floats Vance-Rubio potential Republican ticket for 2028 election
U.S. President Donald Trump suggested on Monday that Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubiocould potentially form a Republican presidential ticket for the 2028 elections.
Speaking during a dinner with law enforcement officials as part of National Police Week, Trump publicly praised both officials and said they could make “an ideal team” for the next presidential race.
“Who likes JD Vance? Who likes Marco Rubio?” Trump asked attendees before adding that the pair “sound like a good combination.”
The president highlighted his vice president’s performance in office, stating that their current partnership has been highly effective. “JD is perfect, that has been a perfect formula,” Trump told reporters later.
He further suggested that a Vance-Rubio pairing could represent a strong presidential and vice-presidential ticket, although he stopped short of offering any formal endorsement.
“I think it sounds like a presidential candidate and a vice-presidential candidate,” he said, while clarifying that his remarks should not be interpreted as an official backing of any future campaign.
So far, neither Vance nor Rubio has publicly confirmed any intention to run in the 2028 presidential election.
Rubio previously sought the Republican nomination in 2016 but withdrew after losing the primary race to Trump. Later, in a December 2025 interview with Vanity Fair, he said he would be among the first to support Vance if he decided to run for the White House.
Vance, meanwhile, has recently dismissed speculation of any political rivalry with Rubio amid growing discussion about potential future GOP leadership.
International
Russia Accuses Ukraine of Violating Victory Day Truce
Russia accused Ukraine on Saturday of violating a Victory Day truce that was reportedly agreed with mediation from the United States, claiming that Ukrainian forces carried out attacks on Russian territory as well as on the annexed Crimean peninsula.
Despite the declared ceasefire, the Russian Ministry of Defense said in a statement that Ukrainian forces attacked Russian military positions using attack drones and artillery.
According to the ministry, Ukrainian forces made twelve attempts to advance toward Russian-held positions across several sectors of the front line.
It also alleged that Ukrainian strikes targeted civilian infrastructure in Crimea, several border regions, the Caucasus, and other areas including Moscow and Perm in the Ural region.
The Defense Ministry estimated around 8,900 violations of the ceasefire in total, including more than 7,000 drone attacks and over 1,000 strikes involving tanks, artillery, multiple rocket launch systems, and mortars since the truce came into effect at midnight.
Russia said its forces responded “symmetrically” to what it described as violations by Ukrainian troops.
Earlier, the Kremlin denied claims that Ukraine attempted to sabotage a military parade in Red Square marking the 81st anniversary of the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany in World War II.
“No attempts were made. Everything went well,” Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told local media.
International
Trump Says U.S.-Iran Talks Progressing, Signals Possible Deal on Strait of Hormuz
U.S. President Donald Trump said Wednesday that Washington is holding “very good” talks with Iran and stated that there is a strong possibility of reaching an agreement to end the conflict and reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
“We’ve had very good conversations over the last 44 hours, and it’s very possible that we’ll reach an agreement,” Trump said during an event held in the Oval Office at the White House.
The president’s remarks came just hours after he announced a temporary suspension of the military operation aimed at escorting vessels stranded in the Persian Gulf due to Iran’s blockade of the strategic Strait of Hormuz.
Trump explained that the pause in operations is intended to facilitate diplomatic negotiations between both sides and prevent further military escalation in the region.
“We’re in good shape, and right now things are going well. Now we have to achieve what we need to achieve. If we don’t, we’ll have to go much further,” the Republican president warned.
In a post published on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump reiterated that if Iran accepts Washington’s proposed conditions, military operations and the naval blockade affecting the Islamic republic would come to an end.
However, he also issued a new warning to the Iranian government, stating that the United States would respond with attacks “of greater intensity” if Tehran rejects the agreement promoted by the White House.
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Trump floats Vance-Rubio potential Republican ticket for 2028 election
Russia Accuses Ukraine of Violating Victory Day Truce
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