August 25, 2026Share to FacebookShare to XArticle printing is available to subscribers onlyPrint in a simple, ad-free formatSubscribeComments: Zen reading is available to subscribers onlyAd-free and in a comfortable reading formatSubscribeAugust 25, 2026UpdatesTrump says U.S. Navy destroyed Iranian mines in Hormuz, will bomb ships laying moreU.S. President Donald Trump said the U.S. Navy has destroyed mines placed in the Strait of Hormuz, adding that the U.S. military will attack any vessel placing more mines."Through Space Force, we are watching every square inch of the Strait, as we are, also, with Pickaxe Mountain and the already destroyed three other Nuclear sites," Trump wrote on his Truth Social network."There is a Zero Tolerance policy on mine placement in full force and effect."Netanyahu says he ordered to evacuate UNRWA compound, blames agency for Oct. 7Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his Shin Bet detail exit the Irgun militia museum in Tel Aviv, Monday. Credit: Moti MilrodPrime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his Shin Bet detail exit the Irgun militia museum in Tel Aviv, Monday. Credit: Moti MilrodPrime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he ordered the evacuation of the UNRWA compound in East Jerusalem's Kafr Aqab, accusing the UN agency of involvement in the Hamas-led attack on October 7, 2023."In accordance with my instructions and in furtherance of the law we passed, the evacuation of the UNRWA compound in Kafr Aqab, Jerusalem, began today," Netanyahu said in a statement."The State of Israel will not allow an organization whose employees were involved in terrorism and the October 7 massacre to operate on its territory and will use all means necessary to act against it," he added.Read the full articleReport: Pakistan's army chief submits U.S. proposal during Tehran visit Pakistan's army chief Asim Munir submitted a U.S. proposal during his Tehran visit Monday, offering to lift the naval blockade and sanctions in exhange for Iran's opening of the Strait of Hormuz and ordering its proxies to cease their attacks, Al Arabiya English reported, citing a senior source. Munir met with Iran's top security official, Mohsen Rezaei, Al Arabiya reported, saying the meeting was "clear and decisive." According to the report, Munir urged Iran to return to talks on the memorandum of understanding signed in June. Five Palestinians wounded in Israeli settler attack near Bethlehem, medics sayFive Palestinians were wounded by Israeli settlers in the village of Jannatah near Bethlehem and are being treated by medics, the Palestinian Red Crescent said.The settlers attacked peace activists and journalists, beating them with clubs, throwing stones, and spraying them with pepper spray.Jannatah has been subject to daily attacks by settlers from the nearby Kochav Yehuda farming outpost, which has been evacuated dozens of times, most recently two days ago, before settlers rebuilt it within hours.Several activists were injured, including one who was struck in the face with a club and required medical treatment. Settlers also vandalized vehicles belonging to activists and media crews, smashing windows and puncturing tires.Israeli forces at the scene did not arrest any attackers. Instead, soldiers tried to remove the activists and confiscate their cameras, saying they were in a "closed military zone" without presenting a military order.Trump says Iran is unable to pay military salaries, killing protestors U.S. President Donald Trump said Tuesday the Iranian government was unable to pay military salaries, "while at the same time killing protesters, even when they are not protesting."In a post to his Truth Social platform, Trump described the situation as a "humanitarian crisis of epic proportions," adding that it "must be stopped."RECAP: Far-right lawmaker smashes Palestinian memorial; Three Palestinians wounded in settler attackHere are Tuesday's latest updates:■ Far-right lawmaker Tzvi Succot took a hammer to a Palestinian memorial in the West Bank village of Madama, south of Nablus, while under the protection of Israeli soldiers and Border Police officers.■ In response to the assault by the far-right lawmaker, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said public officials should not "take the law into their own hands" as it "prevents the IDF from focusing on its missions against terrorism and incitement."■ Three Palestinians men were wounded in a settler attack in the Palestinian village of Za'atara, east of Bethlehem, the Palestinian news agency Wafa reported, saying several residents were severely beaten.■ Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa thanked the United States for formally removing Syria from the list of state sponsors of terrorism after the order went into effect on Monday■ Pakistan and ⁠Iran made "significant ‌progress" in talks that focused on ‌the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran and a path to ⁠peace, Pakistan's interior minister said at ⁠the end of a visit to Tehran.■ The U.S. ⁠State Department is ‌preparing to return diplomats to embassies in the Middle East ‌that were evacuated before and during the war with Iran, the ⁠New York Times reported, citing an internal State Department document.■ The ⁠U.S. ‌Navy aircraft carrier the USS ‌Abraham Lincoln will dock in ⁠Thailand next week, following a prolonged ⁠deployment in the Middle East during the Iran war, a Thai official said.Two Border Police officers, civilian charged with smuggling Palestinians through checkpointTwo Border Police officers and an Israeli civilian have been charged with allowing Palestinians without valid entry permits to pass through a checkpoint near the settlement of Givat Ze'ev, north of Jerusalem, in exchange for cash, food and drinks, the Justice Ministry's department for investigating police officers said Tuesday. A construction site in the Israeli settlement of Givat Ze'ev in 2017. Credit: Emil SalmanA construction site in the Israeli settlement of Givat Ze'ev in 2017. Credit: Emil SalmanAccording to the indictment, the officers allowed Palestinian vehicles and passengers to enter Israel without security checks while they were stationed at the checkpoint. They also allegedly provided operational and intelligence information about the crossing and its work schedules.One officer is accused of deleting messages from his phone to obstruct judicial proceedings, while another allegedly tried to recruit additional officers to help bring Palestinians without permits into Israel.The officers face charges including bribery, fraud and breach of trust, obstruction of justice and failure to perform an official duty. The civilian faces multiple bribery and illegal transportation charges, as well as charges of driving without a license and without valid vehicle registration.USS Abraham Lincoln to dock in Thailand next week, Thai official saysThe U.S. Navy Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, which is supporting U.S. military operations in the war with Iran, conducts a replenishment-at-sea with fleet replenishment oiler USNS Henry J. Kaiser in August. Credit: U.S. Navy/ReutersThe U.S. Navy Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, which is supporting U.S. military operations in the war with Iran, conducts a replenishment-at-sea with fleet replenishment oiler USNS Henry J. Kaiser in August. Credit: U.S. Navy/ReutersThe ⁠U.S. ‌Navy aircraft carrier the USS ‌Abraham Lincoln will dock in ⁠Thailand next week, following a prolonged ⁠deployment in the Middle East during the Iran war, a Thai official said on Tuesday.The Lincoln, ‌which left the Middle East ‌on Saturday, has not made a port call in more than 200 days, setting a modern-day record for consecutive days at sea, according to Democratic lawmakers, amid reports of concerns about ⁠mental health and deteriorating conditions aboard.The ship, which has roughly ‌5,000 sailors ⁠and Marines aboard, will be ‌in Thailand for "rest and recreation after their long sea journey," the ⁠official said, asking not to be named.A Thai Navy spokesperson did not immediately ‌respond to a request for comment.Report: U.S. prepares to send diplomats back to Middle East embassies after Iran war evacuationsThe U.S. ⁠State Department is ‌preparing to return diplomats to embassies in the Middle East ‌that were evacuated before and during the war with Iran, the ⁠New York Times reported on Tuesday, citing an internal State Department document.The return ⁠of Foreign Service officers and the scaling back of emergency measures at U.S. missions in the region could begin as early as this week, the report said.Reuters was not immediately able to verify the ‌report. The U.S. Department of State could not immediately be reached for comment ‌outside regular business hours.Embassies slated to restore higher staffing levels include those in Israel, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Jordan, Oman, Iraq and Kuwait, according to the report.In a statement quoted by the New York Times, the State Department said it "continuously reviews the security posture at our diplomatic missions around the world.""Based on our latest assessment, we are adjusting our staffing posture at certain posts in the Middle East to ensure we can ⁠continue advancing U.S. foreign policy objectives while protecting the safety and security of our personnel," it added.According to the document, the ‌first diplomats to return would be ⁠assigned to the U.S. Embassy in Lebanon, although staffing ‌there would remain below full levels. Ultimately, staff would return completely to the U.S. embassies in Israel, Jordan and Oman, the report said.Posts in ⁠the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Lebanon would initially be capped at 85 percent staffing, while missions in Iraq, Kuwait and Bahrain would be limited to 75 percent, according to the document.The staff reductions ‌began in February, when Washington authorized voluntary departures of non-emergency personnel and family members from Israel amid tensions with Iran.Read the full articleNetanyahu denounces far-right lawmaker for 'taking the law into his own hands'Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said public officials should not "take the law into their own hands" as it "prevents the IDF from focusing on its missions against terrorism and incitement," in response to the assault by a far-right lawmaker on a Palestinian monument in the West Bank, south of Nablus.Netanyahu added that "The IDF is the sovereign" in the region and is responsible "for implementing the decisions of the political echelon."In the NewsJewish Michiganders Face a Very Tough Choice. 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