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
Argentina uncovers alleged russian influence network operating on its soil

The Argentine government announced on Wednesday that it has identified a group of Russian nationals allegedly engaging in suspicious activities within the country, potentially linked to strategic interests of the Kremlin. The statement was made by Presidential Spokesperson Manuel Adorni during a press briefing.
According to Adorni, an investigation by the State Intelligence Secretariat (SIDE) uncovered the presence of a foreign organization known as “La Compañía” (“The Company”), reportedly operating in Argentina to form a network of individuals loyal to Russian interests, with the goal of conducting disinformation and influence campaigns against the Argentine state.
The group’s activities are believed to include spreading content on social media, infiltrating local NGOs, and collecting political intelligence. The SIDE investigation also revealed links between this organization and “Project Lakhta”, a well-documented Russian foreign interference initiative previously connected to Yevgeniy Prigozhin, the late oligarch and founder of the Wagner Group.
Prigozhin died in a plane crash in 2023, just two months after leading an armed rebellion against Russia’s military leadership during the ongoing war in Ukraine.
The suspected leader of “La Compañía” has been identified as Lev Konstantinovich Andriashvili, a Russian national residing in Argentina, allegedly funded from abroad and connected to local operatives. His wife, Irina Iakovenko, who also lives in the South American country, was likewise named by officials.
International
Vatican launches fundraising campaign to support Pope’s charity works

The Vatican launched a new communication campaign on Wednesday to encourage donations to ‘Peter’s Pence’, the fund that supports the Pope’s charitable initiatives, amid declining revenue in recent years.
“On June 29 – which this year falls on the last Sunday of the month – the traditional Peter’s Pence collection will take place, coinciding with the liturgical feast of Saints Peter and Paul,” the Vatican announced in a statement.
It described Peter’s Pence as “a concrete way of supporting the Holy Father in his mission of service to the universal Church.”
The statement adds: “Peter’s Pence represents a gesture of communion and participation in the Pope’s mission to proclaim the Gospel, promote peace, and spread Christian charity.”
To support the initiative, the Vatican’s Secretariat for the Economy and the Dicastery for Communication have prepared a range of informative and multimedia materials explaining the collection’s purpose. During Wednesday’s general audience in St. Peter’s Square, a video featuring images of Pope Leo XIV was shown to raise awareness and encourage donations.
International
Salvadoran journalist detained by ICE after covering anti-Trump protest in Atlanta

Salvadoran journalist Mario Guevara was transferred to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody on Wednesday, days after being arrested while covering a protest in Atlanta against President Donald Trump.
Guevara, a native of San Salvador and founder of the independent outlet MG News, was moved into immigration custody shortly before 4:00 a.m. local time, according to records from the DeKalb County jail in Georgia. His detention has raised alarm among family members and lawyers, who expected his release after posting bail and completing a 48-hour hold due to his lack of permanent residency.
“What they did to Mario is an injustice,” said his wife, Miriam Guevara. She confirmed she spoke to him on Tuesday and that he remained hopeful about regaining his freedom.
On Saturday, Guevara was live-streaming a demonstration by the ‘No Kings’ movement when he was arrested by Doraville police, despite identifying himself as a journalist. He placed his phone on the ground to continue recording as officers approached but was detained and charged with pedestrian obstruction, unlawful assembly, and blocking a roadway.
“He was arrested unfairly, and the videos clearly show it. Mario has done this kind of reporting for 20 years without ever having any issues,” said his attorney, Giovanni Díaz, emphasizing that Guevara complied with police instructions.
Guevara, who has more than 782,000 followers on Facebook, previously worked as a photojournalist for La Prensa Gráfica in El Salvador and as a reporter for Mundo Hispánico in Atlanta before founding his independent news channel, where he often documents ICE operations in the region.
Another attorney, Zacharias Gaeta, noted that Guevara holds a valid work permit, that his deportation case was administratively closed, and that he has a pending immigration petition based on his U.S.-born son who recently underwent brain surgery.
“We’re still hopeful that everything will turn out fine,” said Katherine Guevara, the journalist’s daughter, who voiced her family’s concern over the situation.
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) condemned the arrest as a “crude form of censorship”, warning that press freedom is facing growing challenges in the United States.
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