Today, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) seized two commercial ships in the Arabian Gulf and took their crews hostage.
This brazen Iranian assault on international commerce follows yesterday's Iranian drone attack on a U.S. Navy vessel and a failed attempt to capture an American oil tanker.
Following the seizures today, the former head of Iran's state broadcasting organization said that the Strait of Hormuz will be a place for "massacre and hell for the U.S."
An IRGC general added that the regime seeks to "drive America out of the region" and that "if the U.S. attacks Iran, we will strike Israel first and target all American bases."
Meanwhile, Israel expects the Iran-backed Houthi terrorists in Yemen to resume their attacks on U.S. ships and Israel if the United States were to strike Iran.
Ahead of tomorrow's negotiations between the U.S. and Iran, a high-ranking Iranian politician said that the regime will not negotiate over its ballistic missile capabilities nor its uranium enrichment program, a clear contradiction of President Trump's demands.
As Secretary of State Marco Rubio said yesterday, the talks must include the "range of their ballistic missiles ... their sponsorship of terrorist organizations across the region ... the nuclear program ... the treatment of their own people."
Negotiations with Iran must permanently and verifiably dismantle Iran’s nuclear weapons and ballistic programs, and its support for terrorist proxies across the region.
First Lady Melania Trump yesterday hosted American-Israeli couple Keith and Aviva Siegel, who were abducted by Hamas on October 7 and subsequently freed in separate deals.
IDF eliminates terrorist who murdered Israeli hostage
The IDF yesterday eliminated Muhammad Issam Hassan-Habil, a Hamas terror cell commander who brutally murdered IDF observer Cpl. Noa Marciano while she was held hostage in Gaza.
Noa was abducted from the Nahal Oz IDF outpost during Hamas’ October 7 massacre.
Following the strike, Noa's mother, Adi, said, "We were promised that everyone involved in Noa’s murder in Gaza would be eliminated, and this promise was kept today."
Meanwhile, the IDF last night launched strikes in Gaza following a terrorist attack in the Strip that injured an IDF reservist.
For a better future for Israelis and Palestinians alike, the United States must increase the pressure on Hamas and its sponsors in Qatar and Turkey to ensure the terror group fully disarms.
U.S. charges man who murdered Israeli embassy staffers in D.C. with terrorism
The U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia (D.C.) filed charges of terrorism against the man who brutally murdered two Israeli embassy staff members outside the Capital Jewish Museum last year.
"My office will not rest in our efforts to hold Elias Rodriguez accountable for this horrific, and targeted act of terror against Yaron Lischinsky, Sarah Milgrim and our Jewish community," U.S. Attorney for D.C. Jeanine Pirro said.
"These additional terrorism-related charges carry a mandatory life sentence under D.C. Code, while also reflecting the reality that this act was in fact an act of terror," she added.
The mission of AIPAC is to encourage and persuade the U.S. government to enact specific policies that create a strong, enduring and mutually beneficial relationship with our ally Israel.
