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 plans permanent federal cuts amid partial government shutdown
U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Thursday that he is planning permanent cuts to the federal government as a result of the partial shutdown caused by disagreements between Democrats and Republicans.
The Republican administration also stated that it intends to slash billions of dollars in federal funding to several Democratic-led states. Trump shared on his social media platform Truth Social that he held a meeting with Russell Vought, Director of the Office of Management and Budget, to discuss the planned cuts.
Approximately 750,000 federal employees have been affected since October 1 due to the government shutdown. “I will meet today with Russ Vought to determine which of the many Democratic agencies—most of which are political scams—should be cut, and whether these cuts will be temporary or permanent,” Trump wrote.
“I cannot believe the far-left Democrats have given me this unprecedented opportunity,” he added, referring to the Congressional deadlock.
During the political crisis, Trump has adopted a mocking tone, targeting opponents such as House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer. “They are not stupid people, so maybe this is their quiet and swift way of wanting America to be great again,” he added.
The partial government shutdown began Wednesday, following the end of the U.S. fiscal year without a budget extension. Republicans are pushing to continue public spending until November 21.
International
Trump administration warnings prompt Bad Bunny to skip U.S. stops on World Tour
Puerto Rican rapper and reggaeton superstar Bad Bunny, one of the most-streamed artists in the world, recently announced that his world tour will not include the United States due to concerns over potential immigration raids during his concerts.
The warning comes after a U.S. government official indicated on Wednesday that immigration authorities could conduct raids during the next year’s Super Bowl, following the announcement that Bad Bunny will headline the halftime show.
Since returning to office in January, former President Donald Trump has launched a strict immigration agenda, promising to deport millions of undocumented individuals residing in the United States.
“There is no safe place for those who are in this country illegally. Not at the Super Bowl, not anywhere else,” said Corey Lewandowski, advisor to Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem. “We will find them. We will arrest them. We will detain them and deport them,” he added during a podcast on Wednesday with conservative influencer Benny Johnson.
Due to these risks, Bad Bunny confirmed that his U.S. dates are canceled, prioritizing the safety of fans and concertgoers who could be affected by immigration enforcement.
International
Trump pledges to restore ‘Warrior Spirit’ of U.S. military in rare meeting with Top Officers
President Donald Trump vowed on Tuesday to “revive the warrior spirit” of the U.S. armed forces that “won and built this nation,” during a speech before top military leaders outside Washington, D.C.
“Together, in the coming years, we will transform our armed forces into something stronger, tougher, and faster,” Trump told U.S. generals and admirals gathered at an unusual meeting in Quantico, Virginia.
Earlier, Pentagon Chief Pete Hegseth said at the same meeting that the U.S. military must be reformed to end “decades of decline,” which he attributed to diversity policies.
In this rare gathering of senior commanders summoned from bases around the world, Hegseth declared the end of “ideological trash,” citing concerns about climate change, harassment, “toxic” leaders, and promotions based on race or gender as examples.
“We will end the war on warriors,” emphasized Hegseth, using the new terminology adopted by the Trump administration.
According to Hegseth, this new “warrior mindset” means the military will return to recruitment and training standards based on physical endurance.
“I want to be very clear: this is not about preventing women from serving,” he insisted. “Our female officers are the best in the world, but when it comes to jobs requiring physical power for combat, standards must be neutral and high,” he explained.
“If women can achieve it, excellent. If not, that’s just how it is,” he added.
Trump plans permanent federal cuts amid partial government shutdown
Trump administration warnings prompt Bad Bunny to skip U.S. stops on World Tour
Trump pledges to restore ‘Warrior Spirit’ of U.S. military in rare meeting with Top Officers
Tec de Monterrey honors one of its students for his contribution to nanotechnology in medicine
Defense Minister commends salvadoran soldier for Central American Cross Country victory
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