A coalition of New York City landlords has initiated a legal challenge against what they describe as Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s “rigged” rent freeze. They allege the decision relied on “manipulated data,” calling it a “sham” in a vigorous new lawsuit.

Filed in Staten Island Supreme Court, the lawsuit targets the city’s Rent Guidelines Board, challenging the legality of the board’s June 25 ruling that imposed a two-year rent freeze on one million stabilized housing units.

The landlords argue the board, consisting of nine members, skewed its data and neglected multiple economic factors. According to them, this led to a “predetermined” and “irrational result,” conveniently aligning with Mamdani’s campaign promise to “freeze the rent,” thereby securing a political triumph for him.

The lawsuit claims that the Rent Guidelines Board’s decision on June 25 was not only compromised but also reflects a process marred by “corruption” and “interference.” The filing emphasizes that statutory mandates were dismissed, the board’s independence was undermined, and the outcome was predecided from the very start.

According to the complaint, Mamdani achieved this by appointing tenant activists loyal to his cause onto the supposedly independent board. Furthermore, the lawsuit criticizes Mamdani for allegedly utilizing over $5 million in taxpayer money through his Office of Mass Engagement, aimed more at promoting the rent freeze than fostering unbiased civic involvement.

Mamdani — who appointed six of the current RGB members — has argued the board was independent.

The landlords, who together own over 100 rent-stabilized units, ask a state judge to block the freeze before it can take effect in October.

“If allowed to stand, Order #58 will impose severe, irreparable harm” on the plaintiffs “and similarly-situated landlords (who stand to lose their properties), while setting a dangerous precedent that the RGB’s independence can be cast aside by Mayoral fiat,” the suit states.

One landlord who is part of the suit, Violet Zharku, said the amount of money she makes from renting her 50 units will longer keep up with the costs of running and repairing the apartments, forcing her family to look for other income streams to keep the three fully stabilized buildings in minimum shape.

“Freezing the rent does not freeze my mortgage, property taxes, insurance, water and sewer bills, utility costs or the cost of repairs,” she said.

“We are losing $172,000 annually,” she previously told The Post, citing skyrocketing expenses.

“We can no longer invest in capital improvements or apartment renovations beyond critical repairs and we have no choice but to sell the buildings that we have spent generations maintaining,” Zharku said.

The landlords also seek an expedited discovery request for all communications regarding the RGB vote between the mayor and several of his offices — including the OME and one headed by tenant activist Cea Weaver.

“There is no actual basis for an across- the-board rent freeze here, and the Board’s decision must be overturned,” said attorney Randy Mastro, who represents the landlords and previously worked for then-Mayor Eric Adam’s administration.

“That is not the way government decisions by independent boards are supposed to be made,” he said, calling the suit “a check on the mayor’s abuse of power.” 

City Hall had no immediate comment.

A budget-friendly cruise missile, astonishingly equipped with engines sourced from landfills, is altering the landscape in Ukraine’s ongoing conflict against Kremlin forces. This innovative weapon is raising eyebrows for its ingenuity and effectiveness.

The FP-5 Flamingo missile empowers Ukrainian forces to reach deep into Russian territory—an unprecedented capability. Renowned foreign correspondent Chris Pleasance delves into this significant shift in the latest episode of the Daily Mail’s engaging War On Tape series.

The missile’s intriguing moniker comes from its early prototypes’ vivid pink paint, designed to facilitate easier retrieval. The initials “FP” also pay homage to its creator, Fire Point, marking a novel approach in missile technology.

Initially met with skepticism due to its extraordinary power and impressive range, the missile has since forced analysts to reassess its authenticity—and its potential to redefine conflict dynamics.

Measuring 45 feet in length and boasting a wingspan of 20 feet, the Flamingo stands as one of the most formidable cruise missiles ever engineered, both in size and impact. Its remarkable presence signals a new era in modern warfare.

The projectile weighs six metric tonnes, with a one-tonne warhead, and can fly at speeds of up to 600mph. It is likely its heaviness that gives the missile its signature ‘S’-shaped flight path.

But such power and speed also comes on a budget. Each Flamingo costs around $500,000.

The missile is powered by an Ivcheno AI-25TL engine, originally designed by the Soviets for their training aircraft. Many were scrapped at the end of their service life, so Ukraine bought them from landfill at a cut price. 

In comparison, America’s Tomahawk cruise missile is less than half that size, packs less than half the explosive payload, and costs almost four times as much.

The Flamingos are made of carbon fibre strands woven together by machines and so can be assembled quickly. 

Kyiv claims to be currently manufacturing three Flamingos a day, with the aim of increasing that to seven.

Pleasance said: ‘You can begin to see why this missile caused such a stir when it was first unveiled, and why some people refused to believe it was real. 

‘Because the Flamingo fills a large and sophisticated gap in Ukraine’s arsenal: long-range precision strike weapons.’

He added: ‘On a near daily basis, Russia pummels Ukraine with all manner of long-range precision weapons: cruise missiles, ballistic missiles, hypersonic missiles, even experimental missiles like the Oresnik. These are fast-moving, difficult to shoot down.

‘So there’s a whole domain of warfare in which Russia can cause immense damage to Ukraine, but in which Ukraine cannot damage Russia. At least that is until now. 

‘The Flamingo fills this gap in three ways. First, it has a very long range. Second, it has a very large warhead. And third, it is Ukrainian-made.’

The Flamingo has a range of 1,900 miles – significantly beyond America’s ATACMS, Britain’s Storm Shadow or France’s Scalp missiles. 

Pleasance said: ‘To say the Flamingo has a long range is perhaps understating things. It isn’t just comparable to the long-range Western weapons that Ukraine has been given in the past, it is significantly better.’ 

He added: ‘It is in an entirely different league, and puts virtually the entire western portion of Russia within striking distance. 

‘That means Ukraine can now hit strategically important factories, oil refineries, and military bases, large numbers of which are based in this region, and of course, both of Russia’s most important cities. Moscow and St. Petersburg.’ 

The Flamingo does not contain GPS or GNSS, or a terrain-scanning system like the Tomahawk, but has achieved remarkable military success during its short lifespan.

Ukraine’s first Flamingo strikes took place in late August 2025 and targeted an outpost in Crimea, around 65 miles behind the front line.

Three missiles were launched, two arrived on target, and one scored a hit, satellite images later revealed.

While the target held little value in and of itself, it proved the Flamingo’s capabilities beyond doubt. 

The next strike came a little over three weeks later, in September 2025, when a Flamingo missile hit a factory in Belgorod, Russia, around 40 miles from the front line, which makes components for Russian fighter jets.

Four missiles were launched. All four arrived on target, and photos from the scene showed fires inside the factory, suggesting significant damage was caused.

Russia then claimed two further attacks took place in October. It seems one failed when the missiles were shot down, while it is unclear where the other missile landed.

In November, the missiles were used again, this time against the Oryol power plant, more than 100 miles behind the front. 

Four were launched, all four arrived on target, but all of them were shot down during the final phase of the attack, raining fiery debris on the city. 

Further strikes in December and January saw Flamingos fired almost 400 miles behind the front line, one of which struck the firing range that Russia uses for its Oresnik missiles. 

The pattern appears to be that each strike pushes slightly further into Russian territory, testing the Flamingo’s range. 

Two more strikes took place in February, and both scored hits, destroying two significant facilities in the process. 

First, the Kotlaban ammunition storage, a little over 300 miles from the front was blown up, and then the Votkinsk missile factory was also badly damaged. 

The second strike was particularly significant because it occurred more than 800 miles from the front line, much further than Ukraine has been able to strike ever before, even with Western weapons. 

A further strike in March targeted the Chebyevsk ammunition factory, more than 600 miles away. And while two missiles arrived on target, neither of them hit it. 

The last reported strike occurred in May, targeting the Cheboksari factory that makes navigation components for Russian military vehicles. 

Six missiles were launched, and one landed a hit on the factory, but the extent of damage remains unknown.

Pleasance said: ‘Overall, the hype is very real. Flamingos exist and are broadly capable of everything Ukraine said they would be capable of doing. 

‘They have been used in at least eight strikes over the last nine months, of which five caused significant damage. For the first time since the war began, Ukraine now has a long-range precision strike weapon in its arsenal over which it has full control. 

‘Russia can no longer launch missiles into Ukraine with impunity. Kyiv can and will hit back. The tide of this war is slowly but surely beginning to tilt back in Ukraine’s favour.’ 

Authorities are delving into a shocking incident described as a “random” attack, where a woman was tragically stabbed to death in the parking lot of a shopping center in a quaint California beach community.

The victim, identified as 73-year-old Rachell Summers, hailed from Capitola. She was found suffering from numerous stab wounds near the food court entrance at the Capitola Mall, with the brutal attack occurring just before 1 p.m. on Monday.

This tragic event unfolded in a location not far from Capitola Beach, a cherished retreat site situated a little over a mile away in the Santa Cruz region.

The Capitola Police Department announced suspect Tyler Leibelt, 19, was arrested on charges related to the knife attack.

Police said, “Based on the investigation, detectives continue to believe this was a random act of violence, and there is no indication that the suspect knew the victim prior to the attack.”

According to court records, Leibelt is charged with murder, among other felonies.

One of the charges listed, “PC667.5(C)-ENH-VIOLENT FELONY ALLEGATION” or California Penal Code 667.5, which reveals the suspect may have been charged in a previous felony case.

That means Leibelt, if convicted in this case, may be subject to substantially longer incarceration times and stricter rules.

As for the victim, Summers was a local artist who managed the Art of Santa Cruz art gallery, which is now closed for the remainder of the week, the New York Post reports.

“Our hearts remain with Rachell’s family, friends, and all those affected by this tragic and senseless act of violence,” the police department said in a social post.

The investigation is ongoing.

Lloyd’s of London recently revealed that its former CEO, John Neal, neglected to disclose a significant personal relationship with Rebekah Clement, a colleague he had promoted. The insurance powerhouse stated that this conduct tarnished its interests and fell substantially short of the high standards expected from its senior leaders.

The historic marketplace, which has been shaping the insurance landscape for centuries, conducted an investigation that revealed Neal’s association with Clement, who was the former Chief Corporate Affairs Officer. The inquiry determined that their connection during their tenure at Lloyd’s could be perceived as a potential conflict of interest, challenging the integrity of the organization.

Nevertheless, despite these findings, the investigation, as reported by the Financial Times, concluded that there was “no conclusive evidence” of a romantic involvement between Neal and Clement. It also indicated that her appointment process to her role was carried out appropriately.

These revelations bring an end to several months of intense scrutiny, which had ultimately derailed Neal’s anticipated transition to a pivotal role at insurance behemoth AIG.

Earlier, The Wall Street Journal had detailed Lloyd’s probe into allegations surrounding an affair between Neal and Clement. Additionally, it was reported that there were employee grievances concerning alleged favoritism towards Clement, who had been promoted to a newly-created position — a role reported directly to Neal and surrounded by controversy.

Neal, who ran Lloyd’s for more than six years, was just two weeks away from starting as president of Manhattan-based AIG when the insurer abruptly announced in November that he would no longer join the company.

Lloyd’s said neither Neal nor Clement disclosed the close relationship, depriving the company of the chance to address the perceived conflict.

Following the probe, Lloyd’s said Neal’s conduct had been “detrimental” to its interests and “fell significantly below the standards of judgment, transparency and accountability expected of a Lloyd’s chief executive.”

The investigation reportedly involved nearly 40 interviews and found Neal failed to respond adequately when colleagues raised concerns about the relationship, according to Reuters and other reports published Wednesday.

Investigators also examined Lloyd’s handling of whistleblower reports submitted in November 2023 and found failings in the way those concerns were addressed.

The company has informed Britain’s Financial Conduct Authority of the findings and tightened its internal governance rules, including adding a duty of candor for its chief executive, Reuters reported.

Clement’s lawyer ripped the investigation and said she was considering legal action against Lloyd’s.

“Rebekah is hugely disappointed with Lloyd’s conduct over the course of this investigation, the nature and length of which have caused her unnecessary stress and significant reputational damage relative to its ‘findings,’” the lawyer said.

Her attorney said Lloyd’s found no evidence of an inappropriate relationship with Neal or any failure in her promotion, but still ruled against her based on “perception” fueled by “rumor, gossip and innuendo.”

Neal also rejected the adverse findings while welcoming the investigation’s conclusion that it had not established an inappropriate relationship.

“I am pleased, but not at all surprised, that the investigation found there was no inappropriate relationship,” Neal said in a statement.

“I would have hoped less time and resource had been spent in reaching a conclusion on the central question that was, in truth, never in doubt. I am disappointed with the other findings and do not accept them but I’m glad that all parties are now able to move on.”

Asked by the Financial Times whether he had had a romantic relationship with Clement, Neal declined to answer.

“I think Lloyd’s are using language that justifies a long and expensive investigation,” he told the newspaper.

Clement was elevated in 2023 to a newly created role overseeing corporate affairs, government policy and media relations, and she reported directly to Neal.

She also sat on Lloyd’s executive committee and previously worked for the prime minister of New Zealand.

Employees complained to Lloyd’s governing council about what they viewed as favorable treatment of Clement, according to the Journal, which reported that concerns were also raised about Neal’s daughter working in the company’s communications operation.

Lloyd’s was been abuzz about the closeness between Neal and Clement, who frequently traveled together, people familiar with the company told the Journal.

Clement left Lloyd’s in May 2025, and her position was not filled by Neal’s successor.

The Post has sought comment from AIG.

LeBron James won’t be making a grand return to Miami’s South Beach—or at least, not just yet.

Speculation erupted online Tuesday after the Miami Heat’s official YouTube channel uploaded a video titled “LeBron James Introductory Press Conference,” tagged with the future date of July 27, 2026.

However, the Miami Heat have since clarified this mix-up. In a conversation with the Miami Herald, they reported that the erroneous post stemmed from a mistake by their social media team. The staff were making preparations for a potential signing of James—who will be a 41-year-old free agent—when a premature thumbnail slipped onto their YouTube channel.

The Heat’s readiness for a hypothetical LeBron return isn’t without precedent. Back in 2010, when James initially joined Miami, the basketball star provided the team scant notification before announcing his decision on national TV, as reported by the Herald.

Despite the team’s attempt to set the record straight, betting enthusiasts couldn’t resist speculating on the future of James. The miscommunication fueled a flurry of wagers in prediction markets, showcasing the persistent magnetism of LeBron’s next potential move.

On Polymarket, where Miami had a 17-percent chance of landing the ex-Lakers star on July 17, the Heat were suddenly a heavy favorite at 50.1 percent on Wednesday morning.

‘Holy s*** it’s actually real guys,’ one eager Heat fan wrote on X. 

‘It’s real lol this is crazy,’ another added. 

Polymarket, which profits on customers’ transaction fees, did its part to fuel that perception online. 

‘The Miami Heat YouTube channel might have accidentally leaked LeBron signing there,’ read a post on the prediction market platform’s X page. ‘The video was immediately unlisted and privated.’

An earlier Polymarket X post read: ‘The Miami Heat LeBron introductory video is, in fact, real. Woah.’

Those posts ignited a wave of conspiracy theories, many of which were tied to existing suspicions about prediction markets.

‘Wild that a leaked, unlisted video can move a market before anything’s official,’ one basketball fan wrote on X. ‘Book says one thing, front office says another.’

‘It’s amazing how far we will go to manipulate prediction markets,’ another added.

Some bought Miami’s excuse, as unforgivable as it may have seemed.  

Social media expert Jack Appleby described this as an ‘all-time mistake… literally affecting billions of dollars of industries between the NBA, gambling, & basketball merchandise.’

He added: ‘It actually gets 100x worse if LeBron DOESNT sign with the Heat.’

Others, including many Miami fans, insisted the YouTube post was a genuine clue that James is returning to South Florida to join Giannis Antetokounmpo and the new-look Heat. 

‘Heat just accidentally leaked the script LeBron to Miami 2.0 incoming,’ read one post on X. ‘South Beach about to eat again.’

But to scores of fans who have grown frustrated with the prediction markets, the entire saga was a warning about information in the new age of gambling.  

‘This has to be illegal,’ one person wrote on X. ‘Polymarket themselves just posted a supposed “leak” that revealed LeBron James going to the Heat

‘They are a platform where you can bet money on where he goes,’ they continued.

‘Why in the world would they post this unless they are trying to get people to lose more money so that they profit from it[?]

‘Pure evil.’

The Daily Mail has sought comment from Polymarket spokespeople.  

One of the company’s X accounts has since posted an update referencing the Heat’s explanation. 

‘The odds of LeBron signing to Miami drop below 50%, after the Miami Heat’s correction stating their announcement was a “mistake,”‘ read the post.  

Regardless, the conspiracy theories have continued unabated.  

Several fans believe the Heat’s errant YouTube post was a red herring aimed at deceiving gullible gamblers.

‘Gonna be hilarious when people use this information to bet money on him going back to Miami… …just for him to sign elsewhere,’ one fan wrote on X. 

Users also noticed that the Heat were hiring a Director of YouTube Strategy, which many took as a sign that the team had fired social media staff over the miscue. However, that job position was originally listed by the team on July 1 – well before this week’s erroneous YouTube post. 

Of course, Polymarket wasn’t the only platform pushing conspiracy theories about the video. Scores of websites and influencers have also seized on the story, which they’ve used to promote betting lines or their own related content.

For his part, James’ agent Rich Paul has not given any indication about where his client will sign, although he has named the Heat, Philadelphia 76ers, Golden State Warriors and Cleveland Cavaliers as contenders. 

And while NBA commissioner Adam Silver is admittedly impatient for James to sign so the league can finalize its 2026-27 schedule, James is working on his own timeline.

‘I don’t know when his choice is going to be made,’ Paul told Max Kellerman on their podcast this week. ‘It could be 48 seconds, it could be 48 minutes, I don’t know. Again, you can’t make somebody know something they don’t know.’

Renowned attorney Ben Crump has disclosed the findings of an independent autopsy concerning Nolan Wells’ death, stating they remain “inconclusive.” A former medical examiner indicated that these findings do not suggest any “cover up” or misconduct.

Announcing the autopsy results at the NAACP National Convention in Chicago on Wednesday, Crump highlighted an area of “red discoloration” on Wells’ head. Dr. Roger Mitchell, who conducted the autopsy, determined that a definitive conclusion is unattainable “pending further investigation.” Meanwhile, the official autopsy report is still underway.

“Why does this dark red mark appear on the back of his head?” Crump questioned. “This pathologist cannot rule out the possibility that any external, non-accidental factors may have contributed to or caused Nolan Wells’ death.”

Forensic pathologist Dr. Michael Baden, when approached by News Media, said that the head injury does not suggest any foul play.

“This injury could stem from accidentally bumping into something in the water, which might contain a lot of debris,” explained Baden. “Although the depth of the impact is unclear, it appears to be superficial and could have occurred either before or after death,” he added.

“What he’s describing is a minor injury that could be… totally innocent,” Baden said.

Baden said Mitchell was “reaching for straws” in the independent autopsy report, adding that the findings are consistent with accounts from local law enforcement that his death was accidental and no foul play was involved.

Wells, 18, initially disappeared July 4 after he went with friends on a boat trip to Horn Island, which is a barrier island off Mississippi’s Gulf Coast. Officials and search crews searched for two days before a National Park Service ranger located his body on July 6 while on the island’s northwestern tip.

Officials haven’t released a cause of death as officials continue to investigate.

In a heartfelt tribute to his late mother, a man from Los Angeles has embarked on an ambitious restoration project. He is dedicating his time and effort to revive a fairytale-like castle in the Hollywood Hills that his mother left him before succumbing to cancer.

Teva Barnea, known online as @hollywoodhillscastle, has captured the attention of millions on TikTok as he shares the gradual renovation of this unique turreted stone estate. Nestled on Wonderland Avenue in Laurel Canyon, the home stands on a historic street once graced by music legends of the 1960s and ’70s. Today, it’s celebrated as one of the area’s most quirky private properties.

“This home was my mom’s lasting legacy after her cancer battle. Her presence is still felt here, and I am incredibly grateful,” Barnea, 30, expressed in a touching video caption.

Constructed in 1931, the castle-like home features enchanting turrets and stonework, reminiscent of a European storybook cottage. Spanning across four lots, the property has been affectionately compared to Frankenstein’s Castle due to its eccentric architectural design.

The charming three-bedroom residence boasts a Moroccan swag chandelier, vibrant red sconces, illuminated brickwork, and turret lighting. Luxurious amenities include a marble steam shower, three fireplaces, heated bidet toilets, and multiple courtyards graced by ancient oaks and colorful bougainvillea.

It has previously been listed for short term rental at $16,750 a month, marketed as a retreat suited to “artists, musicians, and creatives seeking inspiration and escape.”

For Barnea, the home has become something closer to a shrine.

“I wanted to show you what the house looks like as the sun is down and it is real calm and all the lights in the house are off too. This is the yard, the flowers,” he said in one video, guiding followers through the darkened property.

His TikTok biography reads simply, “This is my journey to honor my mom through the home she left for me.”

In another clip, he described the strange, almost meditative grief rituals the house has given him.

“I can’t quite explain it, but grief turns you into a bit of a bird watcher. Birds often fly right into the house. I feel it is my obligation to help them get out safety,” Barnea said. 

“In this particular occasion this humming bird actually hung out from me for a while. It was a bit like it was thanking me. If you pay attention your loved ones will send you signs. I believe birds are one of the ways they communicate with us.” 

He has also opened the door to using the castle professionally.

“My mom passed about a year ago and left me this classic Hollywood Hills home. For a while, I didn’t really know how to handle it. Or what to do. Since, I’ve been updating it. I’m open to shoots, productions and so forth. It’s my dream to carry out my mom’s legacy with the home,” he wrote.

Followers have responded with a mix of sympathy and wonder in the comments, several framing the house and its history in near mystical terms. 

“She must’ve been magic,” wrote one commenter. 

Another wrote, “I can feel her energy through the screen, this is so beautiful.” 

One follower cautioned him never to part with the property because “she left you whimsy,” while another insisted “fairies definitely live there.” 

Several others offered condolences alongside the awe, with one writing, “truly magical. I got chills watching this. I am so sorry for your loss.”

The home’s past, however, is not entirely whimsical. In 2010, the property, then rented by tattoo artist and television personality Kat Von D, was heavily damaged by a fire that killed her pet cat, Valentine. 

Barnea has said in TikTok videos that Von D kept candles throughout the home and that arson investigators ultimately attributed the blaze to a candle fire, adding that only the home’s stone construction kept it standing. 

He has said his late mother Deborah Dresbach, later reached a settlement with Von D that included a non-disclosure agreement, one he said he was not bound by given his age at the time.

Von D has publicly disputed that account, saying the fire began in the basement due to faulty wiring she had already raised concerns about, that she was traveling on a book tour when the fire broke out, and that no NDA was forced on the homeowner. 

“I can’t imagine what it would be like to lose a mother that you’re so close with, but at the same time, I didn’t set the house on fire,” she said in her own TikTok response, adding that the fire “was a tragedy and it was out of both of our controls.”

A solemn moment unfolded at Dover Air Force Base as President Trump, accompanied by Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, paid tribute to four U.S. servicemen who recently perished in Iranian attacks. Their presence marked a growing toll of casualties, and the gravity of the occasion was palpable.

The President stood in solidarity with the grieving ‘Gold Star’ families during the dignified transfer of their loved ones’ remains, committing to etch the memory of these fallen ‘heroes’ deeply in the nation’s consciousness.

Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump expressed his determination to honor the fallen soldiers and highlighted their compelling insistence that Iran should never be allowed to obtain a nuclear weapon.

“Honoring them is crucial,” Trump commented, reflecting on the emotional toll. “For me, it’s one of the hardest responsibilities as President, yet it is necessary. What I always tell the families is that we love you, and we love your child.”

Moreover, the President noted an unnamed poll which suggested while Americans might resist higher gasoline prices, there is a noticeable lack of opposition to the ongoing conflict.

A White House official said the President privately met with the families of the fallen soldiers before the dignified transfer. 

The heartbreak ritual marks one of the most agonizing and somber duties required of any commander-in-chief – and marks the third such ceremony Trump has attended since launching the war in Iran in February.

The dignified transfer included two US Army soldiers who lost their lives during devastating Iranian missile and drone strikes in Jordan.

A third service member, believed to be the soldier missing in the wake of the deadly Jordan assault, will also be brought home during the emotional ceremony.

A fourth soldier killed in Iraq by a detonating Iranian drone will also be returned to their family.

Among those being brought home is Michael Emmanuel Swinton, 30, of Spring Lake, North Carolina, who lost his life in the attack in Iraq.

The Pentagon also confirmed the solemn return of Angel Rampersad, 28, of Ozone Park, New York – the soldier who went missing following the strikes in Jordan and is now believed to be deceased.

Meanwhile, the Defense Department identified two other young service members killed in the Jordan assault as Isabella Gonzales, just 19, of Carrollton, Texas, and Tyler James Feehan, 25, of Ewa Beach, Hawaii.

Trump told reporters Sunday that the US was striking Iran ‘in honor’ of the fallen troops.

Eighteen American service members have now made the ultimate sacrifice since the war erupted on Feb. 28.

But as the American body count climbs, a fragile interim truce aimed at ending the hostilities has collapsed – prompting a wave of fierce US retaliatory strikes across the region.

Taking an unflinching stance on Monday, Trump delivered a stern warning to Tehran: ‘They will pay for that killing many times over!’

The commander-in-chief vowed that every single American life taken by Iran would be met with heavy retribution, making his solemn Dover visit a stark reminder of the war’s rising human cost.

Carried solemnly from the transport aircraft, flag-draped transfer cases bearing the fallen soldiers are moved into waiting vehicles before being brought to the base mortuary facility, where the fallen heroes are prepared for their final journey home.

The heartbreak of the ceremony is something the President knows all too well.

Having previously called the solemn duty ‘the toughest thing I have to do’ during his first term in office, Trump has already attended two dignified transfers since this war erupted – most recently making the trip in March.

With the US midterm elections approaching in the fall, polls have pointed to the unpopularity of the war among Americans, who have felt the pain of pricier gas and seen new casualties in a conflict that weeks ago seemed to be winding down.

As Secretary of War Pete Hegseth then petitioned Congress to approve the increased funding on Tuesday, he was berated by protesters.

‘Your hands are bloody,’ one woman said as US Capitol police dragged her from the room.

Hegseth resumed talking, only to be interrupted again a few seconds later. 

‘Stop bombing our children in Iran and Palestine – this is illegal,’ a second woman stood and shouted.

Both held signs saying in all caps, ‘No war in Iran.’

Meanwhile overseas, Iranian Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni visited Pakistan, a key mediator in the conflict seeking to revamp diplomacy where he met Pakistan’s army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

In a statement, Sharif expressed deep concern over the recent US-Iran escalation, and urged all sides to exercise restraint and avoid actions that could further destabilize the region.