In a bold move, Israel’s leaders have been vocally asserting their readiness to conduct another strike on Iran, marking potentially a third such action. Meanwhile, a U.S. official reassures that Washington remains in tight coordination with Jerusalem, highlighting the serious nature of the situation.

“The IDF is on high alert and prepared to resume the campaign, regain air superiority, and carry out an independent Israeli strike against Iran to eliminate threats — even for a third time,” stated Israel’s Minister of Defense, Israel Katz. His remarks came Thursday during a ceremony celebrating the newest batch of Israeli Air Force pilots.

Emphasizing the gravity of their stance, Katz added, “If we have to return, we will return with even greater force,” underscoring Israel’s unwavering resolve in addressing perceived threats from Iran.

Furthermore, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a stern reminder on Thursday that Israel’s operations against Iran are far from over, advocating for a strong stance to prevent Tehran from acquiring nuclear weaponry. Netanyahu emphasized that this commitment stands firm, irrespective of any agreements reached with Washington.

“The war has not yet ended,” Netanyahu said at the air force ceremony. “Alongside the old challenges, new challenges are emerging. Axes are falling, and axes are rising. We are paying attention to this. We are prepared for every scenario.”

Two Israeli sources told CNN Friday that the Trump administration does not currently want Israel to participate in the latest U.S. strikes against Iran. 

“Netanyahu would really want to join the U.S. strikes, but the U.S. doesn’t want Israel involved at the moment,” one of the sources told CNN.

A U.S. official denied the report, telling News Media, “This is fake news. The United States has a strong relationship with Israel, which contributed to the resounding success of Operation Midnight Hammer and Operation Epic Fury. We remain in close coordination with our Israeli partners.”

Israel first launched a major campaign against Iran in June 2025, with the United States later joining the fighting by striking the Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan nuclear facilities. On Feb. 28, the two allies launched a new, coordinated military campaign against Iran.

While Israeli leaders are openly presenting the military as ready for another campaign, some Israeli officials and analysts say there is little appetite for renewed fighting unless it produces a clear strategic result.

The public warnings may overstate Israel’s desire to reenter the fighting, said Israeli analyst and journalist for Israeli newspaper Yedioth Aharonoth, Nadav Eyal. 

“On the record, Israel is signaling that it is prepared and even eager to strike Iran. But off the record, sources are saying that it is anything but that,” Eyal told News Media. “The reason is clear: Any Israeli strike in Iran will lead to Iranian ballistic missile attacks against Israel.”

Eyal said the domestic political consequences could make Netanyahu reluctant to begin another round of fighting, particularly as Israel approaches another election.

“If these strikes are meant to provide meaningful, strategic change, it is something the prime minister can sell to the public,” Eyal said. “But if the intention is only to use Israel as leverage, why should Israelis again experience a couple of weeks or more of sitting in safe rooms and losing their summer vacations, children’s day camps and summer camps? That could play out badly for the prime minister politically.”

“The truth is that Israel was not really enthusiastic about another strike,” he added. “That doesn’t mean it is not going to happen. If President Trump demands that Netanyahu join, it is very hard to see the Israelis saying no. But right now, I don’t see any passion for it.”

The diplomatic outreach continued even as Trump declared that the ceasefire with Iran was over.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran has asked us to continue ‘talks.’ We have agreed to do so, but the United States has stated to them, in no uncertain terms, that the Cease Fire is OVER!” Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social.

A source with knowledge of the situation told Fox News that Qatari negotiators have traveled to Iran, in coordination with the United States, to meet with Iranian officials in an effort to de-escalate the situation and create the conditions for negotiations to resume.

On Thursday, Netanyahu and Trump spoke by phone, according to the Israeli prime minister’s office, which said the two agreed to continue coordinating across several regional fronts. Trump briefed Netanyahu on American operations in the Gulf, the statement said.

The military warnings came as the Wall Street Journal reported Friday that Israel had provided the United States with intelligence about what is described as a fresh Iranian plot to assassinate Trump.

The developments follow renewed attacks on commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, where U.S. naval officials said the maritime threat remained “severe.” U.S. Naval Forces Central Command reminded commercial vessels Friday that an expanded southern route through the strait remained open and that no controlling authority could require ships to pay a fee for passage.

A U.S. official told Fox News on background that Iran’s attacks against commercial vessels were “acts of terrorism” and constituted failed performance under the memorandum of understanding between Washington and Tehran.

“The United States is still committed to finding a resolution, and technical talks continue,” the official said. “Iran can never possess a nuclear weapon.”

Brig. Gen. Yossi Kuperwasser, a former senior Israeli military intelligence officer who now heads the Jerusalem Institute for Strategy and Security, said Israel had never regarded the memorandum as an adequate guarantee.

“From Israel’s perspective, the MOU was never a good deal,” Kuperwasser told News Media, speaking of the memorandum of understanding between the U.S. and Iran. 

“Israel should be on high alert, ready to face an Iranian attack and prepared to strike back if necessary,” he added.

For now, Israel’s leaders appear to be leaving Iran — and Washington — with little doubt that they are prepared to act. Whether the United States allows Israel to join the renewed campaign, however, could determine whether the latest confrontation remains limited or develops into another full-scale regional war.

News Media reached out to the White House for comment. 

In the wake of President Joe Biden’s policy to keep borders open, significant repercussions have emerged, most notably evident in the drastic surge in housing prices across metropolitan areas from 2021 to 2024, linked directly to the influx of millions of undocumented migrants.

The findings come from a working paper authored by economists at the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas. They underscore a straightforward economic principle: a massive increase in population, especially with at least seven million individuals entering under Biden’s administration, naturally escalates housing demand, thus driving prices upwards unless supply expands accordingly.

According to the Dallas Fed economists, a 1% increase in the number of undocumented workers compared to the local, legal labor force correlates with a 1.4% rise in rental costs and a 2.2% increase in home values.

Despite these findings being rooted in basic economics, mainstream outlets such as Reuters and The New York Times dismissed them, ridiculing figures like President Trump and Vice President JD Vance for raising this issue during Trump’s third presidential run and his administration’s early days.

Yet, as the data reveals, the impacts are undeniable.

On top of feeding crime and straining social services around the country, all those illegal migrants were doing direct damage to affordability for average Americans. 

Remember that the next time open-border Democrats — from Gavin Newsom on down to Zohran Mamdani — say they’re fighting for affordability. 

That’s not possible without a real border, as the data now prove. 

Don’t hold your breath waiting for progressives to admit the harm they’ve done and pivot to battling for the interests of the little guys they claim to love so much: Their answer to a failed policy is always to double down.

This was a story of three goalkeepers and two impactful substitutes. Leading up to this quarterfinal clash against Belgium, Spain’s Unai Simon had impressively guarded his net for 649 consecutive World Cup minutes, a streak that began during the group matches in Qatar.

In stark contrast, Thibaut Courtois faced an abrupt end to his World Cup journey when his body failed him. At 34, Courtois left the field midway through the second half, grasping his thigh in pain and displaying evident frustration. As emotions ran high, questions arose about whether this might be the final curtain call for him and the remaining veterans of Belgium’s celebrated golden era in international football.

The game’s fortunes were uncertain when Courtois departed, making way for Senne Lammens. His entrance marked his first World Cup appearance, but it swiftly turned challenging for the Manchester United keeper. With extra time looming, he failed to hold onto a shot launched by teenager Pau Cubarsi.

Seizing the opportunity, Mikel Merino, fresh off the bench after scoring a crucial stoppage-time goal against Portugal in the previous round, promptly capitalized on the fumble. In just minutes on the pitch, he solidified his status as the match-winning hero once more.

As a result, Spain is set to face France in an eagerly anticipated semifinal next week. Conversely, Belgium returns home with the disappointment of two goalkeepers nursing their injuries and dashed World Cup dreams.

After the game, Courtois insisted ‘had no problem with staying in goal… only for long kicks’ but ‘the manager decided to take me off.’

Rudi Garcia defended his decision. ‘From the beginning of the World Cup I didn’t want players who weren’t 100 per cent,’ he said. ‘We didn’t want his injury to worsen either so I decided to sub him.’

Never before had a country reached the sixth game of a men’s World Cup without being breached. But from back to front, with and without the ball, this Spain team suffocates opponents.

En route to this quarterfinal, they had allowed just five shots on target. It took Belgium 41 minutes to add to that number. But they made it count.

Charles De Ketelaere broke American hearts in the last 16 and here he hurt Spain, too, heading home shortly before halftime to bring Belgium level.

Fabian Ruiz had been preferred in midfield to Pedri as Luis de la Fuente shuffled his pack and that tweak looked to have paid off when Ruiz put Spain in front. But in the end, they needed a helping hand to reach a first semifinal since 2010. No one needs reminding what Spain did that summer.

It was still morning in Los Angeles when the wrinkling face of Michael Buffer appeared on the 360-degree screen of SoFi Stadium. The 81-year-old voice of boxing was beamed in to introduce the two teams and light the fuse ahead of this heavyweight rumble.

By then, though, we were already a man down: Belgium captain Youri Tielemans had hurt himself in the warm-up.

Neither Kevin De Bruyne nor Jeremy Doku started against America and their return here spoke surely to an acceptance that Belgium would see little of the ball. So whenever Spain did cough it up, Garcia needed as much individual brilliance on the pitch as possible.

It took all of a few minutes for the die to be cast: Spain set up camp inside the Belgium half, while their opponents searched for a way to stem the tide. 

Early on, Doku’s quivering feet appeared to be about Belgium’s only avenue out.

In fairness, they did stifle Spain for much of the first half. For all their possession and control, De la Fuente’s side created very little. 

A Mexican Wave went round SoFi Stadium before we had reached the first hydration break.

Unfortunately for Belgium, the dam burst shortly after they took on water. Ruiz made no mistake after Dani Olmo’s shot was palmed into his path by Courtois.

Belgium had been carved open by Lamine Yamal and Pedro Porro and, after taking the lead, Spain threatened to move through the gears. Then, out of nowhere, De Ketelaere equalised.

It was Belgium’s first effort on target from virtually their first sustained spell in Spain territory. De Ketelaere beat Cubarsi to Timothy Castagne’s cross.

That put Spain in uncharted waters at this tournament: how would De la Fuente’s side react to conceding? 

Well, they simply picked up where they left off – poking and probing around the Belgium area.

But as time ticked by, as both coaches turned to their bench, this game began to open up and Belgium had chances too.

Maxim De Cuyper fired into the side netting shortly before the ball struck Rodri’s arm inside the penalty area. Belgium’s penalty appeals were waved away by Michael Oliver.

Then, with no warning, Courtois went down and Lammens, 24, became the first goalkeeper other than the Real Madrid star to play for Belgium at the World Cup since 2002. Before long, though, this became a debut to forget.

‘It is crazy to be able to help the team once again, this time in a different way, but at the same time believing, trusting that a mistake by the rival goalkeeper can happen and being attentive,’ Merino said.

The Dodgers might find themselves coasting through the latter half of the season with their playoff berth almost guaranteed, owing to a significant lead in their division. Nonetheless, some players still have much to prove before October rolls around.

This is the primary focus for California Post baseball columnists Dylan Hernandez and Jack Harris on the latest installment of the Dodgers Post podcast. They kick things off by exploring the tumultuous first half of the season experienced by young pitcher Roki Sasaki.

The duo scrutinizes Sasaki’s recent performance against the Colorado Rockies, noting signs of progress following his recent slump. They also speculate on what Sasaki must do to secure a spot in the Dodgers’ postseason pitching ensemble and assess his current standing within the team’s rotation.

In the latter part of the podcast, Hernandez and Harris delve into Justin Wrobleski’s omission from the All-Star lineup, examining whether there’s still hope for his participation in the Midsummer Classic. They also discuss Shohei Ohtani’s achievement of hitting his 300th career home run and project the potential milestones he might reach in the remainder of his MLB journey.

Dylan then goes down memory lane to recall the dysfunction surrounding the 2007 Dodgers team, and how he got in the middle of a dispute between Jeff Kent and that team’s younger players.

Finally, as always, they wrap up with some trivia and predictions for the upcoming week. All that and more on the latest episode of the Dodgers Post podcast. Subscribe on YouTube or follow along on Apple and Spotify.