A commander of the Iran-backed militia group Kataib Hezbollah has been brought to the United States to face terrorism charges over a plot targeting Americans and Jewish sites, according to the Department of Justice.  
Mohammad Baqer Saad Dawood Al-Saadi, 32, appeared in federal court in Manhattan after being captured overseas and transferred into U.S. custody, the DOJ said. Authorities describe Al-Saadi as a senior operative tied to the Iraq-based Shia terror group.
Federal prosecutors <a href="https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/iraqi-national-arrested-and-charged-providing-material-support-iranian-backed-terrorist">charged</a> Al-Saadi with six terrorism-related offenses for his activities, including conspiring to provide material support to Kataib Hezbollah and Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, plotting attacks targeting Americans, conspiring to bomb places of public use, and attempted destruction of property using fire or explosives. Some of the charges carry potential prison sentences ranging from 15 years to life.
Federal authorities said Al-Saadi and his associates were involved in coordinating terrorist attacks across Europe and Canada and were planning future attacks in the United States.
FBI Director Kash Patel said Al-Saadi and his associates were targeting Jewish institutions in multiple states. 
“Al-Saadi and his associates allegedly planned, coordinated, and claimed responsibility for at least 20 terrorist attacks across Europe and in Canada — and were believed to be targeting the United States for upcoming attacks including Jewish institutions in New York, California, and Arizona,” Patel wrote in a <a href="https://x.com/FBIDirectorKash/status/2055343717351928061">statement</a> posted to X.
The DOJ listed examples of alleged attacks tied to Al-Saadi and his associates, including a March 2026 explosives attack targeting the Bank of New York Mellon in Amsterdam. Prosecutors say Al-Saadi later posted a propaganda video referencing the attack.
In another alleged incident, an arson attack targeted a synagogue in Skopje, North Macedonia, on April 12. Days later, prosecutors say Al-Saadi posted a video showing the synagogue engulfed in flames alongside a red target symbol.
Patel described Al-Saadi as a “high-value target responsible for mass global terrorism” and praised FBI agents, tactical units, and international partners involved in the operation.
“This was a righteous mission executed brilliantly by our agents, investigators, CIRG tactical units and interagency partners who delivered yet again,” Patel wrote.
Federal prosecutors also allege that Al-Saadi used social media to encourage attacks against Americans and Jews in support of Kataib Hezbollah and Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. 
According to the DOJ, Al-Saadi posted a message in February 2026 urging followers to “kill everyone who supports America and Israel” and calling for attacks on both civilian and military targets. Prosecutors say the post was part of a broader effort to direct and inspire attacks against U.S. and Israeli interests.
Kataib Hezbollah was formed following the 2003 U.S. invasion of Iraq and has long been considered one of Iran’s most dangerous and loyal proxy organizations.
The Shiite militia is backed by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Qods Force, or IRGC-QF, which the United States has designated as a terrorist organization. U.S. officials have repeatedly accused the group of carrying out attacks on American military personnel and facilities in Iraq and Syria using rockets, drones, and improvised explosive devices.
According to the <a href="https://www.dni.gov/nctc/terrorist_groups/kh.html">National Counterterrorism Center</a>, Kataib Hezbollah works extensively with the IRGC-QF, closely follows the direction of Iran’s Supreme Leader, and seeks to establish an Iran-aligned government in Iraq.
The National Counterterrorism Center says the organization possesses armored vehicles, artillery systems, missiles, man-portable air defense systems, and explosively formed projectiles. The militia has also reportedly received extensive funding, intelligence support, training, and weapons from Iran.
The group additionally maintains close ties with Hezbollah in Lebanon, another Iranian-backed organization designated by the United States as a terrorist group.
Earlier this year, Secretary of State Marco Rubio accused the group of kidnapping American journalist Shelly Kittleson in Baghdad before later releasing her.
Al-Saadi also reportedly knew Iranian Maj. Gen. Qassim Suleimani, the longtime commander of the IRGC-QF who was killed in a U.S. airstrike ordered by President Donald Trump in January 2020 near Baghdad International Airport.
Jewish institutions across the United States and Europe have faced heightened threats and security concerns since the October 7 Hamas terrorist attacks on Israel.

Mohammad Baqer Saad Dawood Al-Saadi

Iran-Backed Terror Operative Brought To U.S. Over Plot Targeting American Jews

Hezbollah

Iran

Iraq

A fragile ceasefire between the United States and Iran is holding for now, but pressure is mounting across multiple fronts.
Here is a breakdown of where the conflict stands:
<h3>Iran Floats Proposal, Sidesteps Nuclear Demands</h3>
The Iranian regime has reportedly floated a new proposal to the United States: end the war and lift the blockade in exchange for reopening the Strait of Hormuz, according to the <a href="https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/iran-offers-to-reopen-strait-of-hormuz-if-u-s-lifts-its-blockade-and-the-war-ends-officials-say">Associated Press</a>. The proposal does not immediately address U.S. demands regarding Iran’s nuclear program and instead calls for ending the conflict before any negotiations on the issue take place.
President Donald Trump is expected to meet with his top national security officials to discuss the situation in Iran, <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2026/04/27/world/live-news/iran-war-trump-israel#cmoh5xuho00003b6q0dewnpeg">CNN reported</a>. The current ceasefire was extended for an unspecified period last week as Trump weighs his next moves. Options under consideration likely include resuming the U.S. bombing campaign, maintaining economic pressure and the naval blockade to force Iran back to the negotiating table, or pursuing a broader end to the war.
Friedrich Merz, Germany’s chancellor, on Monday accused Tehran of stalling negotiations and humiliating the American government, saying Iran’s leadership is “very skillful at not negotiating” after U.S. envoys traveled for talks that yielded no results, according to Reuters.
“The Iranians are obviously very skilled ⁠at negotiating, or rather, very skillful at not negotiating, letting the Americans travel to Islamabad ​and then leave again without any result,” <a href="https://thehill.com/policy/international/5850794-germany-chancellor-merz-iran-us/">Merz said</a>. “An entire nation is being humiliated by the Iranian leadership, especially by these so-called Revolutionary Guards. And so I hope that this ends as quickly as possible.”
U.S. Blockade Chokes Strait of Hormuz Traffic
Traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has dropped sharply as the U.S. Navy implemented a blockade on ships going to or from Iranian ports.
According to Reuters, only seven vessels have passed through the strait in the past day, down from the 125-140 that typically transited before Operation Epic Fury began in February.
At least six vessels carrying 10.5 million barrels of Iranian oil were forced back to port, according to the satellite tracker, <a href="https://x.com/TankerTrackers/status/2048431267742401020?s=20">TankerTrackers.com.</a> Two additional tankers carrying around four million barrels of Iranian oil reportedly managed to sail past the blockade on April 24.
Since the blockade was announced on April 13, about 37 vessels have been turned back, <a href="https://x.com/CENTCOM/status/2048142422702510115">according to the U.S. Central Command</a>.
The U.S. has also upped its presence in the region with the arrival of the USS George H.W. Bush aircraft strike group to the Middle East. It joins the USS Abraham Lincoln and USS Gerald R. Ford strike groups. Together, they bring more than 200 aircraft and approximately 15,000 Sailors and Marines to the region.
The Iranian regime is still attempting to assert its authority in the strait, despite its depleted navy. Ebrahim Azizi, head of the national security commission in Iran’s parliament, said the country’s armed forces would take full authority over the strait under a proposed law aimed at regulating transit and potentially barring “hostile vessels,” reported the <a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/iran-says-its-armed-forces-should-be-authority-for-strait-of-hormuz/">Times of Israel</a>. So far, Iran has used small vessels to intimidate and shoot at commercial vessels attempting to transit.
<h3>Iranian Diplomat On Tour</h3>
Iran’s foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, is on a multi-stop “timely tour” to coordinate with key allies as tensions escalate with the United States.
Ahead of the trip, Araghchi announced he would visit Pakistan, Oman, and Russia to consult on regional developments, emphasizing that “our neighbors are our priority.”
In Pakistan, he described his visit as “very fruitful,” praising Islamabad’s role in attempting to restore peace in the region through mediating. He added that he has yet to see if the “U.S. is truly serious about diplomacy.”
In Oman, Araghchi <a href="https://x.com/araghchi/status/2048519460793761995">highlighted</a> discussions focused on the Strait of Hormuz, stressing ensuring “safe transit that is to benefit of all dear neighbors and the world,” adding again that “our neighbors are our priority.”
During the current conflict, Iran has fired missiles or drones affecting at least a dozen countries across the region, including Bahrain, Cyprus, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates.
Araghchi later traveled to Russia, where he met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in St. Petersburg. According to The Times of Israel, Putin said Moscow would “do everything” possible to help secure peace in the Middle East and expressed hope that stability would return to the region. During the visit, Araghchi blamed the United States for the failure of recent negotiations, arguing that “excessive demands” from Washington derailed talks that had otherwise made progress.
“For our part, we will do everything that serves your interests, the interests of all the people of the region, so that peace can be achieved as soon as possible,” Russian state media quoted Putin as telling Araghchi.
Fighting Reignites Along Israel-Lebanon Border
Fighting between Israel and the Iran-backed terror group Hezbollah is resuming despite an extended ceasefire.
Hezbollah launched a series of drone attacks in recent days, including a strike on Monday morning that triggered air-raid sirens across in northern Israel and sent thousands of civilians rushing to shelters.
The Israel Defense Forces said it fired an interceptor missile at the incoming UAV, but ultimately lost contact with the target. No injuries were reported, though additional alerts were activated over concerns of falling debris, and images circulated of children taking cover in shelters.
&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
&#8220;הפסקת אש&#8221; בצפון: 
האזעקות בצהריים בשל חדירת שלושה כטבמים 
לגליל המערבי, תפסו תלמידים בבתי ספר בעיצומם של הלימודים. נותר להם לשכב ולשים ידיים על הראש. 
זו השיגרה כאן מאז שהוכרזה הפסקת האש בלבנון: ירי רקטות וכטבמים, פיצוצים, מטוסי קרב וכל מה שלא נופל תחת ההגדרה של הפסקת אש. <a href="https://t.co/OGXYlfOh0n">pic.twitter.com/OGXYlfOh0n</a>
— Rubi Hammerschlag | רובי המרשלג (@rubih67) <a href="https://twitter.com/rubih67/status/2048381773822726342?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 26, 2026</a></blockquote>
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The attack caused officials in northern border towns to suspend school and increase security restrictions to be stronger than those implemented by Israel’s official Home Front Command.
Israel has stepped up its military operations in Lebanon, carrying out a wave of airstrikes targeting Hezbollah infrastructure in Lebanon’s Beqaa Valley and southern regions. Targets included rocket-launching cells, a loaded launcher ready for immediate use, and weapons storage facilities. The military also said it has dismantled more than 50 terrorist sites in recent days, including a weapons cache discovered inside a children’s room.
The escalation comes despite a recent agreement to extend the ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon by three weeks following meetings at the White House involving their ambassadors, President Donald Trump, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. 
Following a meeting with the U.N.’s special coordinator for Lebanon, Gideon Sa&#8217;ar <a href="https://x.com/gidonsaar/status/2048745481543528640">said Monday</a> Hezbollah continues to violate the ceasefire “against Lebanon’s interests.”

Mojtaba and Trump

Where Things Stand In The Iran War Right Now

Global Politics

Israel

Lebanon

World

Diplomats from Israel and Lebanon are set to meet today for a second round of face-to-face negotiations, as both sides weigh whether a fragile ceasefire can be extended and potentially transformed into a longer-term framework for peace.
The meeting comes as tensions remain high, with Israeli officials accusing Hezbollah of repeatedly violating the ceasefire. A recent Israeli strike targeting what it said was a threat to troops reportedly resulted in journalist casualties.
The talks, hosted by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, will bring together senior U.S. and regional officials, including U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee, U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Michel Issa, Counselor Michael Needham, Israeli Ambassador Yechiel Leiter, and Lebanese Ambassador Nada Hamadeh Moawad.
Lebanon is reportedly seeking a one-month extension of the current ceasefire.
The current agreement was announced by President Donald Trump as a 10-day pause that took effect at 5 p.m. ET on April 16, following calls with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. It allows Israel to take self-defense measures while requiring Lebanon to prevent Hezbollah from “carrying out attacks, operations, or hostile activities against Israeli targets.”
While Lebanese authorities have long sought to disarm Hezbollah, the Iran-backed group remains one of the most powerful political and military forces in the country. At the same time, it has been significantly weakened since launching attacks on Israel in the aftermath of the October 7, 2023, assault. Israel’s response—an extensive air campaign and ground invasion—killed longtime leader Hassan Nasrallah and degraded much of the group’s operational capacity.
Trump has emphasized that the arrangement is separate from broader U.S. efforts involving Iran.
“This deal is in no way subject to Lebanon, either, but the USA will, separately, work with Lebanon, and deal with the Hezbollah situation in an appropriate manner,” Trump said last week. “Israel will not be bombing Lebanon any longer. They are PROHIBITED from doing so by the U.S.A. Enough is enough!!!”
Despite the diplomatic push, tensions on the ground remain high. Israel has accused Hezbollah of violating the ceasefire multiple times and recently conducted a strike against terrorists in vehicles it says approached Israeli troops “in a manner that posed an immediate threat to their safety.” In response, the Israeli air force struck one of the vehicles, and a structure the individuals fled into.
The strike reportedly also resulted in the death of journalist Amal Khalil, who worked for the pro-Hezbollah outlet Al Akhbar, according to Lebanon’s National News Agency. Another photojournalist was reportedly injured.
Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam condemned the incident, writing on X that “targeting journalists and obstructing the access of rescue teams to them, and then the renewed targeting of those teams after they’d arrived, constitute described war crimes.” 

The Israeli military acknowledged that two journalists were injured in the strike, but denied deliberately targeting media personnel.
The first round of talks, held on April 14, was described by the State Department as “productive,” raising cautious optimism for continued diplomacy. U.S. officials have said a sustained agreement could unlock significant reconstruction assistance for Lebanon, help stabilize its economy, and expand regional investment opportunities.
Lebanese officials have stressed the importance of fully implementing the cessation of hostilities agreement, alongside addressing the country’s worsening humanitarian crisis. Israel has expressed a willingness “to engage in direct negotiations to resolve all outstanding issues and achieve a durable peace that will strengthen security, stability, and prosperity in the region.”
The negotiations mark the most significant high-level engagement between Israel and Lebanon since 1993 and are seen as a potential stepping stone toward formal diplomatic talks between the two countries.
On the ground, Israeli forces remain in southern Lebanon as part of efforts to push Hezbollah away from the border. Hezbollah, meanwhile, has refused to disarm unless Israel fully withdraws, though it has largely adhered to the ceasefire while publicly opposing the negotiations.
<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/israel-restores-damaged-christian-statue-in-lebanon-punishes-soldiers-responsible?author=Hank+Berrien&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=5&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=After+Jesus+Statue+Is+Vandalized%2C+Israel+Takes+Swift+Action">Controversy erupted</a> in recent days after an Israeli soldier damaged a statue of Jesus in the southern Lebanese village of Debel, prompting swift condemnation and a formal response from the Israel Defense Forces.
In a statement on X, the IDF expressed “deep regret,” calling the act a “moral failure” that contradicts its core values. The soldier responsible, along with the individual who filmed the incident, has been removed from combat duty and sentenced to 30 days of military detention. Additional troops present have been called in for review, with the Chief of the General Staff stating the conduct “far exceeds any acceptable standard.”
The IDF replaced the statue in “full coordination” with the local Christian community.

Golan Heights .Israel .Border

What To Know As Israel And Lebanon Enter Another Round Of High-Stakes Negotiations

Marco Rubio

As reports of a rapprochement between the governments of Israel and Lebanon have surfaced, it would be instructive to review how the terrorist organizations of the PLO and later, Hezbollah, have wrecked what was once a beautiful, thriving region of the Middle East.
The history of Lebanon’s destabilization is defined by the erosion of state sovereignty, first by the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and later by Hezbollah. Both organizations established &#8220;states within a state,&#8221; effectively dismantling the central government’s monopoly on violence and turning Lebanon into a launchpad for perpetual conflict with Israel.
The destabilization began in earnest following the 1969 Cairo Accord, which permitted PLO terrorists to operate from southern Lebanon. After being expelled from Jordan during Black September (1970), the PLO relocated its headquarters to Lebanon, transforming the south into &#8220;Fatahland.&#8221;
From this base, the PLO launched a relentless campaign of attacks against Israeli civilians, which provoked devastating retaliations on Lebanese soil:
<ul>
<li>International Terror: Following the 1972 Munich Olympics massacre of Israelis by PLO terrorists, Israel occupied parts of southern Lebanon for 36 hours to strike PLO bases.</li>
<li>Targeting Schools and Hotels: In 1974, PLO-affiliated terrorists seized a school in Maalot, resulting in the deaths of 25 hostages, including 22 children. In 1975, PLO commandos launched the Savoy Hotel attack in Tel Aviv.</li>
<li>The Coastal Road Massacre: In 1978, a PLO hijacking of a bus on Israel&#8217;s coastal road left 38 civilians dead, prompting the first major Israeli invasion of Lebanon.</li>
</ul>
These operations effectively broke the Lebanese state&#8217;s control over its borders. The PLO’s military strength deepened sectarian divides, aligning with Lebanese Muslims against Christian militias, sparking the Lebanese Civil War (1975–1990). The conflict killed approximately 150,000 people. Eventually, the 1982 Israeli war, launched after the PLO fired waves of Katyusha rockets into northern Galilee, forced Yasser Arafat to evacuate to Tunisia, leaving Lebanon in ruins.
In the power vacuum of the 1980s, Hezbollah emerged with Iranian backing. Like the PLO, Hezbollah seized territory in the Bekaa Valley and southern Lebanon. By 2023, Hezbollah’s military capabilities had eclipsed the Lebanese Army, maintaining an arsenal of over 150,000 rockets.
Hezbollah’s impact has been both military and systemic:
<ul>
<li>Political Stranglehold: Hezbollah effectively vetoes state decisions that conflict with Iranian interests through armed resistance, despite losing its majority in the Lebanese government in 2022.</li>
<li>Financial Corruption: The group’s &#8220;System&#8221; of global money laundering and illicit trade has compromised the Lebanese banking sector. Investigations such as Bartlett v. Société Générale de Banque au Liban allege that major banks bankrolled Hezbollah operations, leading to international isolation.</li>
<li>Economic Collapse: Lebanon’s economy devolved into a $100 billion Ponzi scheme. When Hezbollah’s dominance triggered tensions with Gulf Arab states, tourism and remittances evaporated, causing the system to implode.</li>
</ul>
The legacy of the PLO and Hezbollah is a nation in &#8220;acute financial distress.&#8221; Lebanon&#8217;s financial collapse is considered one of the most severe economic depressions globally since the mid-nineteenth century. It wasn&#8217;t a single event but a systemic implosion of a &#8220;Ponzi-like&#8221; financial model that had sustained the country for decades. The collapse &#8220;officially&#8221; detonated in October 2019, but the fuse had been burning for years.
Warning signs started in 2016; foreign capital inflows began to dry up. To keep the Lebanese Pound pegged to the dollar, the Central Bank (BDL) launched &#8220;financial engineering&#8221;—essentially offering massive interest rates (up to 15–20%) to local banks to attract dollars, which were then used to pay off old debts.
The Breaking Point came in October 2019, when a proposed tax on WhatsApp calls sparked mass protests (the &#8220;October Revolution&#8221;). This caused a crisis of confidence; banks closed for two weeks and, upon reopening, unofficially locked depositors out of their dollar accounts. In March 2020, for the first time in its history, Lebanon defaulted on a $1.2 billion Eurobond repayment, signaling it could no longer service its approximately $90 billion national debt.
The Lebanese Pound (LBP), which was pegged at 1,507 to $1 for over 20 years, lost over 98% of its value. By early 2026, the economy will have become almost entirely &#8220;dollarized,&#8221; meaning prices will be set in USD because the local currency is too volatile to use for basic trade.

LEBANON-PALESTINIAN-CONFLICT-ISRAEL-REFUGEES

Architecture Of The Collapse: How The PLO, Hezbollah Dismantled The Lebanese State

With the 2026 midterm elections fast approaching, Democrats have been scrambling to find new ways to connect with voters — particularly young men, a demographic with which the party struggled mightily in 2024 — and thus far, they appear to have settled on a popular streamer who claimed that the United States &#8220;deserved&#8221; 9/11.
<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/sad-michigan-muslims-drove-dem-senate-hopeful-to-silence-on-khamenei">Hasan Piker</a>, who boasts over four million followers between YouTube and Twitch, has hosted Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), Ro Khanna (D-CA), Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT), and Mayor Zohran Mamdani (D-NYC), and endorsed Senator Jon Ossoff (D-GA) — and is set to campaign with Democratic Michigan Senatorial hopeful Abdul El-Sayed.
Not all Democrats are willing to stretch the party&#8217;s tent quite that far, however, and have warned others not to welcome Piker too warmly.
Rep. Haley Stevens (D-MI), who is also vying for the Democratic Senate nomination, has accused El-Sayed of intentionally bringing in someone with a reputation for spreading &#8220;antisemitic rhetoric.&#8221;
El-Sayed defended his choice, saying, &#8220;If we want to have a conversation where we’re actually bringing people together about the things that we need and deserve, we’re gonna have to go to unlikely and uncommon places.&#8221;
He also defended his association with Piker — who said the sexual violence and rapes that occurred during the October 7 terrorist attack did not change his opinion that Hamas was &#8220;1,000 times better than Israel&#8221; — during a recent appearance on Fox News.
&#8220;America&#8217;s Newsroom&#8221; anchor Bill Hemmer asked El-Sayed, &#8220;With regard to October 7th, he said that what Hamas did is the lesser of two evils. Why saddle up with that?&#8221;
El-Sayed claimed that his interested in appearing with Piker was no different than his interest in appearing on Fox News, and was nothing more than an attempt to reach more potential voters.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Michigan Democrat Abdul El-Sayed defending his event with Hasan Piker: &#8220;Doesn&#8217;t matter if r*pes happened on October 7th.&#8221;
This is what passes for leadership in today&#8217;s Democratic Party. <a href="https://t.co/Im4h7WGJQp">pic.twitter.com/Im4h7WGJQp</a>
— Gunther Eagleman™ (@GuntherEagleman) <a href="https://twitter.com/GuntherEagleman/status/2039345494724387039?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 1, 2026</a></blockquote>
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Senator John Fetterman voiced his shock that some in his party weren&#8217;t just agreeing with Piker, but were seeking him out: &#8220;I mean, my God, you have many in my party, they&#8217;re proud to do events with Hasan Piker. This is the individual that said that America deserved 9/11.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
BREAKING: Senator Fetterman slams members of the Democrat party for associating with Hasan Piker.
“I mean, my God, you have many in my party, they&#8217;re proud to do events with Hasan Piker. This is the individual that said that America deserved 9/11.” <a href="https://t.co/DBpXQyAt6S">pic.twitter.com/DBpXQyAt6S</a>
— Eyal Yakoby (@EYakoby) <a href="https://twitter.com/EYakoby/status/2040935080575598663?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 5, 2026</a></blockquote>
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The Bulwark&#8217;s Tim Miller and Sarah Longwell <a href="https://www.thebulwark.com/p/is-hasan-piker-toxic-or-gettable">debated</a> whether or not the Democratic Party would be wise to embrace Piker or reject him. Miller argued that although he didn&#8217;t agree with Piker&#8217;s politics, he thought that Democrats would be wise to appear on his show — and then said that if the party establishment were to shun him entirely, they would only make him more powerful.
Longwell laid out a number of the problematic things Piker had said, arguing that he was &#8220;all the toxic things&#8221; and his &#8220;worldview&#8221; was entirely incompatible with anything any Democrat in America claims to stand for.
Some of the comments that Longwell laid out as problematic were as follows:
<h4>&#8220;If you cared about Medicare fraud &#8230; you would kill Rick Scott.&#8221;</h4>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Democrat spokesperson Hasan Piker urged his audience to kill Republican lawmakers.
PIKER: “If you cared about Medicare fraud&#8230;you would kill Rick Scott.”
This is the SICK LUNATIC who Democrats are campaigning with. <a href="https://t.co/vgccGZSbem">pic.twitter.com/vgccGZSbem</a>
— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) <a href="https://twitter.com/RNCResearch/status/2041540038714929217?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 7, 2026</a></blockquote>
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<h4>On landlords who choose not to rent properties, &#8220;KiII the motherf*ckers. Let the streets soak in their red, capitalist bIood!&#8221;</h4>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Hasan Piker: &#8220;KiII the motherf*ckers. Let the streets soak in their red, capitalist bIood!&#8221;
Democrats are campaigning with him <a href="https://t.co/YxiL47tOOw">pic.twitter.com/YxiL47tOOw</a>
— End Wokeness (@EndWokeness) <a href="https://twitter.com/EndWokeness/status/2041269836399940076?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 6, 2026</a></blockquote>
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<h4>&#8220;Hezbollah &#8230; I think as a resistance group, they&#8217;re pretty successful &#8230; I don&#8217;t have an issue with them.&#8221;</h4>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Hasan Piker, who endorses Georgia Democrat Jon Ossoff, also endorses terrorists:
PIKER: &#8220;Hezbollah&#8230;I think as a resistance group, they&#8217;re pretty successful&#8230;I don&#8217;t have an issue with them&#8230;they are a terrorist organization&#8230;&#8221;<a href="https://twitter.com/ossoff?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ossoff</a>, why haven&#8217;t you condemned this? <a href="https://t.co/6hEhC20FPf">pic.twitter.com/6hEhC20FPf</a>
— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) <a href="https://twitter.com/RNCResearch/status/2040157561333125437?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 3, 2026</a></blockquote>
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<h4>&#8220;America deserved 9/11. I do not support the United States of America.&#8221;</h4>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Hasan Piker: “America deserved 9/11. I do not support the United States of America.”
This is Gavin Newsom’s new friend btw.
<a href="https://t.co/LDjizrQgVN">pic.twitter.com/LDjizrQgVN</a>
— Eyal Yakoby (@EYakoby) <a href="https://twitter.com/EYakoby/status/2037028037556941014?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 26, 2026</a></blockquote>
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<h4>&#8220;Overall, my favorite flag is Hezbollah.&#8221;</h4>
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Hasan Piker, sitting at a table with an LGBTQ+ flag, says: “Overall, my favorite flag is Hezbollah.”
This is progressivism today—a guy in a tank top, in the West, praising a terror group that executes gay people, right in front of a pride flag. <a href="https://t.co/9QrtKqMKnl">pic.twitter.com/9QrtKqMKnl</a>
— Eyal Yakoby (@EYakoby) <a href="https://twitter.com/EYakoby/status/2040544322278338951?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 4, 2026</a></blockquote>
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<h4>&#8220;Hasan Piker closed his Stanford speech by framing the U.S. as the &#8216;belly of the beast,&#8217; urging students to use their position inside it to &#8216;fight&#8217; the system, warning of &#8216;techno-fascist danger,&#8217; and ending with &#8216;Free Palestine.'&#8221;</h4>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
For those curious, Hasan Piker closed his Stanford speech by framing the U.S. as the “belly of the beast,” urging students to use their position inside it to “fight” the system, warning of “techno-fascist danger,” and ending with “Free Palestine.” <a href="https://t.co/8OdSZgE3M8">pic.twitter.com/8OdSZgE3M8</a>
— Stu Smith (@thestustustudio) <a href="https://twitter.com/thestustustudio/status/2039706184261795984?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 2, 2026</a></blockquote>
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If the 2024 election taught Democrats that they need to do more outreach to young men, the 2026 midterms might teach the party that the voice they choose to do that outreach matters.

Hasan Piker online streamer, influencer, and left-wing

Dems Are Scrambling To Campaign With Terrorist Groupie Who Says America ‘Deserved’ 9/11

Dems Are Scrambling To Campaign With Terrorist Groupie Who Says America 'Deserved' 9/11

9/11

Democrats

John Fetterman

Jon Ossoff

Ro Khanna

terrorist

Newly released photos show the extent of destruction inside Temple Israel in West Bloomfield, Michigan, following last week&#8217;s Hezbollah-linked terrorist attack.
Images obtained by The Daily Wire and released by the synagogue capture a burned-out truck lodged at the end of a hallway, debris scattered across the floor, and sprinkler water pooling around a child’s red tricycle.
The attack occurred last Thursday when 41-year-old Ayman Mohamad Ghazali rammed his vehicle into Temple Israel and opened fire before committing suicide when confronted by security. Authorities say the vehicle ignited after the crash, causing extensive damage and <a href="https://www.local3news.com/regional-national/a-truck-rammed-a-michigan-synagogue-with-more-than-a-hundred-children-inside-here-s/article_c50e2347-3b5f-552e-bcb6-c2f58785a54f.html">resulting in</a> 63 first responders needing treatment for smoke inhalation. 
The attack took place while the synagogue’s preschool was in <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/mentally-unstable-ex-wife-warned-police-within-minutes-of-temple-israel-terrorist-attack?author=Hank+Berrien&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=2&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=%E2%80%98Mentally+Unstable%E2%80%99%3A+Ex-Wife+Warned+Police+Within+Minutes+Of+Temple+Israel+Terrorist+Attack">session</a>, but all 140 children and staff were safely evacuated without injury.
<div id="attachment_1063135" style="width: 1034px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1063135" class="size-large wp-image-1063135" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/Bebas-Neue-3-1024x576.png" alt="" width="1024" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/Bebas-Neue-3-1024x576.png 1024w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/Bebas-Neue-3-300x169.png 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/Bebas-Neue-3-768x432.png 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/Bebas-Neue-3.png 1200w" sizes=" (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" />(Temple Israel, West Bloomfield, Michigan)</div>
Large quantities of fireworks and gasoline containers that were ignited were recovered from his truck.
Additional images show charred hallways, broken glass, burnt photos, and destroyed ceilings. One preschool classroom appears frozen in time, with snacks still laid out on tables, underscoring how suddenly the attack unfolded while young children were inside.
In a statement, the synagogue said it chose to release the photos to “take back control of our narrative.”
<div id="attachment_1063139" style="width: 886px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1063139" class="size-large wp-image-1063139" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/653713026_921736420465178_5230362133539875900_n-876x576.jpg" alt="" width="876" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/653713026_921736420465178_5230362133539875900_n-876x576.jpg 876w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/653713026_921736420465178_5230362133539875900_n-300x197.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/653713026_921736420465178_5230362133539875900_n-768x505.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/653713026_921736420465178_5230362133539875900_n-1536x1010.jpg 1536w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/653713026_921736420465178_5230362133539875900_n.jpg 1770w" sizes=" (max-width: 876px) 100vw, 876px" />(Temple Israel, West Bloomfield, Michigan)</div>
“We have chosen thus far not to make public photos of the devastation of our building,” the synagogue said. “This week, several videos and photos have made their way into the media, which have caused considerable harm to the survivors of last week&#8217;s attack.”
It added that its “community deserves to see our building through eyes of love, not through the lens of spectacle.”
“This is our sacred space, and we will be the ones to tell its story,” Temple Israel said.
According to the Israel Defense Forces and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, Ghazali had family members in Lebanon connected to the U.S.-designated terror group Hezbollah. 
Ghazali, a naturalized American citizen originally from Lebanon, was reportedly described as “mentally unstable” by his ex-wife. She said he had been distressed following the deaths of family members in an Israeli airstrike.

Temple Israel

New Photos Reveal Devastation Inside Michigan Synagogue After Hezbollah-Linked Terror Attack

Anti-Semitism

Michigan

A violent synagogue terror attack in Michigan is taking on an even darker dimension after new intelligence revealed a chilling connection: the attacker’s brother was a Hezbollah terrorist commander responsible for rocket attacks on Israeli civilians.
According to the official Israel Defense Forces social media account, Hezbollah commander Ibrahim Muhammad Ghazali oversaw weapons operations inside the group’s Badr Unit, a branch responsible for launching hundreds of rockets toward Israeli civilian areas during the war.
His brother, Ayman Muhammad Ghazali, carried out the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/police-respond-to-reports-of-active-shooter-as-michigan-synagogue-goes-up-in-smoke">terror attack </a>in Michigan on Thursday, where <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/fbi-trained-michigan-temple-how-to-stop-a-shooter-just-weeks-before-attack">armed synagogue security guards </a>exchanged gunfire with him during the confrontation. His body was later found burned inside the vehicle he rammed into the building.
Israeli forces reportedly eliminated Ibrahim Ghazali in an Israeli Air Force strike on a Hezbollah military structure, just days before the synagogue attack unfolded in the United States.
The newly revealed family connection is now prompting investigators to take a closer look at whether the Michigan attacker had deeper ties to the Iran-backed terror group.
Hezbollah is designated by the United States as a foreign terrorist organization. The group has spent decades building global networks while carrying out attacks against Israeli and Western targets.
Authorities have not yet said whether the terrorist had direct operational ties to Hezbollah or whether the attack was carried out independently. But the discovery that his brother served as a weapons commander inside the group is likely to intensify scrutiny around the case.
The disturbing link comes as Operation Epic Fury — the ongoing U.S. military campaign targeting Iran’s military infrastructure and proxy networks — has intensified in recent days, with American and Israeli forces coordinating strikes aimed at weakening the regime’s military capabilities. The joint effort has targeted missile systems, military facilities, and infrastructure tied to Iran’s nuclear and weapons programs.
In a post on Truth Social, President Donald Trump said U.S. Central Command carried out one of the most powerful bombing raids in Middle East history, “totally obliterating” military targets on Kharg Island, which he described as Iran’s “crown jewel.” The island serves as a critical hub for the regime’s operations in the Persian Gulf. Trump said the strike deliberately spared the island’s oil infrastructure but warned that could change if Iran attempts to interfere with shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.

IDF_Michigan_montage

New Intel Reveals Killer Blood Tie To Hezbollah Behind Synagogue Terror Attack

Operation Epic Fury

Terrorism

As Israel faces mounting threats from rockets, drones, and mortar fire across multiple fronts following the weekend strikes on Iran, attention is turning to a new system poised to reshape modern air defense: Iron Beam.
Israel’s highly anticipated laser-based defense platform is expected to be delivered to the military by the end of the month, according to Israeli officials. The system is designed to intercept short-range rockets, mortar rounds, and unmanned aerial vehicles using a high-powered directed-energy beam rather than traditional interceptor missiles.
One of the most striking features of Iron Beam is its cost efficiency. Each laser interception is estimated to cost as little as $2 in electricity, a dramatic reduction compared to the interceptor missiles used by Israel&#8217;s existing layered defense systems — roughly $100,000 per missile fired by Iron Dome, which counters short-range rockets, and up to $1 million per interceptor launched by David&#8217;s Sling, designed to defeat longer-range missiles and aircraft.
Iron Beam, first <a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/rafael-unveils-laser-shield-at-premier-defense-show/">revealed</a> to the public in 2014, has been heralded as the future of air defense and is capable of intercepting the ever-growing threat of suicide drones, unguided rockets, and even traditional kinetic ordnance such as mortars and artillery. Iron Beam was developed by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, the same firm behind Iron Dome, in partnership with U.S.-based defense giant Lockheed Martin. The system consists of an air defense radar, a command and control unit, and two High Energy Laser (HEL) systems, enabling it to track and destroy incoming threats at the speed of light.
According to publicly available material from <a href="https://www.rafael.co.il/system/iron-beam/">Rafael</a>, Iron Beam is designed to integrate into Israel’s existing multi-layered air defense architecture, complementing systems such as Iron Dome, David’s Sling, and Arrow. While missile interceptors remain essential for higher-altitude and long-range threats, a directed-energy platform offers a potentially transformative solution against short-range projectiles and drone swarms, particularly in scenarios involving sustained, high-volume attacks.
According to <a href="https://www.missiledefenseadvocacy.org/defense-systems/iron-beam/">missile defense analysts</a>, Iron Beam is intended to relieve pressure on Iron Dome by handling lower-end threats, reserving expensive interceptors for more complex or long-range attacks. The system has reportedly demonstrated successful interceptions, particularly short trajectory targets during extensive testing, though operational details remain classified.
These missile defense analysts have also long argued that directed-energy weapons represent the next phase of air defense evolution. Unlike traditional systems that require physical interceptors and complex resupply chains, laser platforms can, in principle, operate indefinitely as long as power is available, eliminating reloads and significantly reducing per-shot costs.
The technology is also reportedly being shared with the U.S. Army’s directed energy program, according to <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/world/israel-unveils-iron-beam-laser-weapon-while-achieving-record-15b-arms-sales">Fox News</a>, underscoring growing American interest in laser-based air defense capabilities.
While questions remain about operational constraints, including weather limitations and line-of-sight challenges, Iron Beam’s imminent fielding marks a major milestone in the development of practical battlefield laser systems. If it performs as advertised, it could fundamentally alter the cost calculus of missile defense and provide Israel with a powerful new tool to counter the increasingly sophisticated arsenal of Iranian-backed proxy groups.

Iran fires missiles at Israel

What Is Iron Beam? The Israeli Laser Defense System Explained

Iron Dome

Politics

Israel isn’t just striking Iran — it’s staring down thousands of Hezbollah rockets and daring the terror group to try.
As Operation Epic Fury targets Iran’s missile and military infrastructure, Israeli intelligence officials say Hezbollah still retains significant firepower. According to two officials who spoke to Fox News, the terror group has between 11,000 and 12,000 rockets and missiles remaining in its arsenal.
Roughly 5,500 to 6,000 of those are believed to be within range of Israel.
That’s about one-fifth of Hezbollah’s pre-war firepower — a dramatic reduction — but still enough to threaten civilian population centers, including parts of central Israel. Hundreds of the remaining weapons are medium-range missiles capable of reaching deep into the country.
And Israeli officials say Hezbollah isn’t backing down.
“They are actually trying to increase their capabilities,” one intelligence official said. “Both in the fire capabilities with rockets and rocket launchers, and ground units that they still have.”
In short, even after taking heavy losses, the Iran-backed group is trying to rebuild.
The warning comes as Israel expands its campaign following Operation Epic Fury, the joint U.S.–Israel strike aimed at dismantling Iran’s missile and nuclear infrastructure. Israeli leaders have described the mission as controlled and decisive — not a regime-change war and not an endless conflict — while making clear they prepared for retaliation from Tehran’s proxy network.
That includes Hezbollah.
Lebanon’s government says it is committed to the ceasefire framework brokered in part through U.S. diplomacy during President Donald Trump’s tenure.
Hezbollah terrorists appear to be operating outside that framework.
Despite Lebanon’s stated commitment, the group has continued rocket activity and military positioning that Israeli officials say undermines the ceasefire and increases the risk of escalation.
For Israeli leaders, that is precisely why preparations were made ahead of Operation Epic Fury.
The posture from Jerusalem is straightforward: Israel knows exactly what Hezbollah has left — and it is prepared for it.

Hezbollah rocket Lebanon

Hezbollah Terrorists Down To A Fraction Of Their Arsenal — Here’s What Remains

Israel Defense Forces (IDF)

President Trump

Israel is not waiting to be attacked — it is dismantling threats in real time.
As Israeli aircraft strike underground bunkers in Tehran, the Israel Defense Forces confirmed it is also targeting Hezbollah command centers and launch sites in Lebanon, warning the terror group it is entering a fight it cannot win.
An IDF official said the strikes against Hezbollah were part of preparations tied to the broader operation against Iran’s regime leadership and military infrastructure.
“We were ready for this,” the official said. “As part of the preparations for our operation in Iran, the IDF prepared for an attack from Hezbollah, allowing us to carry out a swift response.”
According to the IDF, retaliatory strikes hit Hezbollah command and control centers, launch sites, and what the official described as senior terrorists embedded within the organization’s operational network.
Israeli strikes inside Iran were still underway.
“As I am speaking right now, our aircraft are striking targets in Iran, including Tehran,” the official said, noting that underground bunkers tied to the regime are among the targets.
The objective, the IDF stressed, is to eliminate threats before they reach Israeli civilians.
“We are operating to eliminate any threats to our civilians, and will continue doing so,” the official added.
The warning to Hezbollah was blunt.
“Hezbollah is entering a fight it cannot win.”
The escalation comes after the unprecedented joint U.S.–Israel operation targeting Iranian regime assets, a move that military analysts have long warned could trigger retaliation from Tehran’s proxy network — particularly Hezbollah, which maintains a vast arsenal of rockets and missiles aimed at Israel.
As the military campaign unfolds, a political voice long in exile is positioning himself for what could follow.
Appearing on Fox &amp; Friends, Reza Pahlavi — the exiled crown prince of Iran — thanked President Donald Trump for giving Iran a chance to take his country back, while signaling he is ready to return to Iran and help lead a democratic transition should the regime collapse.
“If you were to give me the opportunity to say to the Iranian people and the world, when is it that I go back there?” Pahlavi, the son of the last Shah of Iran, said. “It will be the first minute I get the opportunity to do that. And that has to be, of course, orchestrated properly.”
He added that he is prepared to return.
“I’m ready to go there as soon as possible. I would like to be there, whether it is before the regime collapses or right after the regime collapses. It is important for me to be among my compatriots to fight the final battle and bring it to fruition.”
Pahlavi has pledged that any transition would involve free and fair elections and a democratic system of government.
For now, however, the battlefield remains active. Israeli aircraft continue striking Iranian regime targets while signaling to Hezbollah that escalation will be met immediately.
The message from Israeli officials is clear: retaliation was anticipated, preparations were made, and the response is already underway.

israel_hezbollah

Blunt Warning To Hezbollah Terrorists As Israel Widens War Footing

The Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control took decisive action on Thursday against individuals channeling tens of millions of dollars from Iran to Hezbollah, the Iranian-backed terrorist group that dominates Lebanon and threatens Israel.
The sanctions, issued under Executive Order 13224, targeted Hezbollah operatives such as Ossama Jaber, Ja’far Muhammad Qasir, and Samer Kasbar — key players in the terrorist organization’s sprawling financial network. Using Lebanon’s cash-based economy and unscreened exchange houses, they laundered more than a billion dollars since January 2025, funding terror operations, weapons smuggling, and Hezbollah’s entrenched control over Lebanese politics.
The Trump administration framed these sanctions as part of a clear policy: choking off Hezbollah’s financial oxygen to isolate Iran and protect American allies. Treasury Under Secretary John Hurley declared that Lebanon could only achieve freedom and stability by severing its ties to Tehran’s terror machine, <a href="https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/sb0308">saying,</a> “Lebanon has an opportunity to be free, prosperous, and secure—but that can only happen if Hezbollah is fully disarmed and cut off from Iran’s funding and control. We will work with our Lebanese partners to create a resilient economy that puts the interests of all Lebanese citizens front and center.” This action followed a consistent Trump doctrine — one that identifies Hezbollah as an Iranian tentacle and treats its dismantlement as central to peace in the region.
This focus on direct enforcement and partnership contrasts starkly with the Biden-Harris administration’s record of strategic leaks and policy hesitation that undermined Israel’s sovereignty and security. During Biden’s tenure, Washington repeatedly betrayed Jerusalem’s trust by divulging sensitive Israeli operations to the press. In September 2024, as Israel prepared a limited ground invasion of Lebanon to neutralize Hezbollah along its northern border, Biden officials <a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/israel-said-to-inform-us-of-plans-for-imminent-limited-ground-op-in-lebanon/">leaked the plans</a> to The Washington Post, handing Hezbollah critical information and prompting public backlash. That act mirrored earlier episodes — such as exposing Israeli strikes on Iranian interests in 2021 and revealing covert cooperation with allies during the Obama-Biden years — each leak serving to cripple Israeli initiatives while shielding Iran from reprisals.
For years, Democratic administrations under Biden and Obama displayed the same pattern: rhetorical support for Israel paired with behind-the-scenes meddling. The Biden team joined United Nations efforts to shield UNRWA employees who aided Hamas, delayed the congressional notification of weapons transfers to Israel, and warned the Israel Defense Forces not to take Rafah, Hamas’s last bastion.
These actions echoed Barack Obama’s tenure, when U.S. <a href="https://www.frontpagemag.com/obamas-leaks-sabotaging-israels-defense-joseph-klein/">leaks</a> sabotaged Israel’s counter-Iran strategy.
By sanctioning Hezbollah’s financiers and tightening the noose on Iran’s proxies, the Trump administration demonstrates that America’s words are backed by action, not whispers to the press. While the Biden-Harris team played politics with leaks that endangered an ally, Trump draws a bright line: the enemies of Israel and the enemies of freedom are one and the same — and both will be confronted without apology.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent

Trump Admin Cracks Down On Hezbollah’s Money Men

Department of the Treasury

It is, in fact, possible to win wars.
I have spent my entire life watching the United States and the West lose wars, or at least not win wars. Initial victory, followed by gradual defeat or bizarre interventionism without the full force, weight, and commitment necessary to carry it through.
What President Trump is demonstrating, however, along with Prime Minister Netanyahu in Israel, is that it is, in fact, possible to win wars.
Let’s recall the timeline here.
On October 7, 2023, the genocidal terror group Hamas invaded Israel&#8217;s borders and killed 1,200 Israelis, mostly Jewish, and abducted 250 Israelis and took them back to their terror tunnel hellholes. In those tunnels, Hamas amassed a vast arsenal of rockets, grenades, and small arms over the course of 20 years with the support and funding from nations in the region, including Iran, Qatar, and Turkey.
There was also a serious possibility that Hezbollah was going to enter the war on the same day. In fact, Hezbollah started attacking with small rockets in the beginning and then gradually escalated. And, according to the military experts, Hezbollah was similarly genocidal and was a far better armed Iranian terror proxy based in Lebanon.
Israel also faced down a continuing terror threat from Hamas and Islamic Jihad in Judea and Samaria, the so-called West Bank. Syria was being used as a thoroughfare for Iranian arms for Hezbollah. The Houthis in Yemen were another Iranian-backed terror threat. And, of course, the Iranian government wasn&#8217;t merely spreading terrorism, they were also fast-tracking a nuclear weapons program.
That&#8217;s where things stood two years ago.
Now, two years later, the Middle East has turned completely upside down.
Israel has completely decimated Hamas, killing its entire top leadership from Gaza all the way to Iran. Israel has destroyed Hezbollah&#8217;s efficacy and killed its terror master, Hassan Nasrallah. Its attacks on Hezbollah were so effective that the Assad regime in Syria completely collapsed.
Judea and Samaria have been quieted by the work of the IDF during this time. Iranian proxies in Iraq went silent as well thanks to the Israeli Air Force. The Houthis in Yemen are sort of the one remaining outstanding enemy, and they&#8217;ve been thoroughly bombed. They are a nuisance, but they&#8217;re not an existential threat to Israel. And Iran&#8217;s nuclear program, the greatest existential threat to Israel, has been set back years, if not decades, thanks to the courage of the Israeli Air Force, and, of course, a timely, brave intervention from President Trump that led to an amazing mission flown by the United States Air Force.
<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/episode/ep-2295-the-trump-effect-how-to-win-a-war?elementPosition=4&amp;row=2&amp;rowHeadline=Latest+Episodes&amp;rowType=Horizontal+Show+Episodes+Carousel"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-large wp-image-974957" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/511983dad25841c8b1ec058d75769bbe-1024x171.webp" alt="DailyWire+" width="1024" height="171" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/511983dad25841c8b1ec058d75769bbe-1024x171.webp 1024w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/511983dad25841c8b1ec058d75769bbe-300x50.webp 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/511983dad25841c8b1ec058d75769bbe-768x128.webp 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/511983dad25841c8b1ec058d75769bbe-1536x256.webp 1536w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/511983dad25841c8b1ec058d75769bbe-2048x341.webp 2048w" sizes=" (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a>
And now President Trump has brokered an amazing deal, one that seemed unthinkable not long ago. The release of the final 20 live Israeli hostages all at once, along with all the remaining bodies released. Israel maintains a secure posture in the Gaza Strip itself as a transitional plan toward a future without Hamas, supported by regional allies, including countries that one moment ago were sending cash and weapons into for Hamas to use, like Qatar and Turkey.
The possibility of future Abraham Accords with countries like Saudi Arabia and Indonesia are now on the table.
So, here is the question for the West: How is it that this war was won?
Because it&#8217;s hard to win wars.
Well, the answer is the conventional wisdom was stupid — and it has been stupid for decades.
And the decision makers here are ”out-of-the-box” thinkers. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is someone who truly understands the nature of the Middle East and Middle Eastern history. But President Trump is the real difference maker here, because President Trump decided that America would no longer just go along with the 80-year-old slogans promoted by the Arabists at the State Department. 
The conventional wisdom was that military action does not guarantee security in the Middle East. That is a lie. It was always a lie. It was always catastrophically wrong.
In fact, every time Israel has provided for its own security, it was not through a peace deal. It was a peace deal after a victory. 
Military action is the only guarantor of support and security in the Middle East. It was military action that removed every supporting pillar beneath Hamas&#8217;s feet.
The conventional wisdom said the United States ought to play a weird, neutral role between Israel and its genocidal enemies. You saw this from Joe Biden. Kamala Harris talks like this all the time. Bill Clinton tried it until he realized that Yasser Arafat was totally uninterested in peace. 
But this was the conventional wisdom. Was that, sure, Israel was a strong ally of the United States, but America had to play honest broker between Israel and the Palestinians. And it turns out that that was not just wrong, it was idiotically wrong.
The Trump administration openly supported the IDF.
They openly provided the weapons. 
They openly provided the rhetorical support for Israel to win. And it was that that led to Hamas giving up the ghost and to Hamas, his allies, realizing that actually Israel was not going to be forced to simply accept the risk of its own survival. 
The conventional wisdom said that if you threaten to kill terror leaders abroad, that&#8217;d be conflagrationist and terrible. That, too, was wrong. 
Israel killed terror masters in Iran itself. Israel killed Ismail Haniya, the political leader of Hamas. And of course, it was the strike in Qatar that actually led to Qatar and Turkey deciding to press for Hamas’s ouster. 
Israel then hit inside Qatar in an attempted strike on Hamas&#8217;s leadership. They missed, but the message was made clear: Israel would be willing to do it again. 
And then the president essentially said, “Okay, you know what? We&#8217;ll come in. We&#8217;ll give a security guarantee to Qatar so this doesn&#8217;t happen again. But we need you to end this war. We need you to work with Turkey to stop all of this.”
It was a carrots-and-sticks approach led by President Trump.
President Trump understands the Middle East better than all the so-called experts.
And, by the way, he understands the Middle East far better than the supposed neocons, the total interventionists pushing for ”Democracy in the Middle East.” Trump is not one of those.
He also understands it better than the isolationists in his own party who wanted to reject Trump&#8217;s tempered and rational ”Peace through Strength” in favor of what might be called “Cowardice through Catastrophism,” the idea that World War III is lurking behind every corner — despite the fact that President Trump is the most rational purveyor of American force in modern American history. There was no shot that World War III would break out over one B-2 sortie over Iran. That was not going to happen because Trump was backing the IDF&#8217;s capacity to destroy Hamas in the Gaza Strip. That was not going to happen. The catastrophism was nonsense and it was nonsense from the beginning.
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Prime Minister Netanyahu, who soldiered through withering criticism both at home and abroad, of course, for the great crime of seeking victory over those who would destroy his country, deserves credit here.
Huge credit, obviously, as Jared Kushner says, to the Israeli people who mobilized in an unprecedented way to defend their nation and their civilization, we&#8217;re talking about 45-year-old guys leaving four kids at home and their business to go fight in Gaza in the “Sherut Miluim,” the Israeli Army Reserve Service.
And of course, huge props to the American people who provided Israel the support it needed to win, both in terms of material and mostly by making the right decision and electing Donald J. Trump as President of the United States. So, thank you to all the voters of Wisconsin, Michigan, and Pennsylvania.
It turns out that victory over genocidal enemies is indeed possible. What it requires is a smart strategy that bucks the conventional wisdom, a desire and willingness to win, and the perspicacity to dismiss people who promote either a starry-eyed millenarianism, in which every nation is going to break out into democracy someday, or a benighted conventional wisdom that fails every single time it&#8217;s tried.

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