Iran regime ‘will never recover’ after devastating losses expose succession chaos
The past 48 hours in Tel Aviv have been unlike anything seen before, a leading security analyst has said, as sirens blared amid missile threats following Operation Epic Fury and U.S.-Israeli strikes in Iran.
“We are facing a biblical event — nothing less,” Kobi Michael, a senior researcher at the Institute for National Security Studies and the Misgav Institute, told Fox News Digital, speaking from his shelter in the city.
Like many Israelis, Michael said he had spent hours in reinforced rooms during the ongoing barrage, adding that he was “very experienced in this.”
“But this all requires time and determination, and I do hope that Trump will also have them both,” he said, speaking shortly after the president released a video message stating that the military operation would continue “until all of our objectives are achieved.”
“Trump is the only one who can make the change — and that change will impact the entire region and the international order for years to come,” Michael added.
As of Sunday, Tel Aviv remained under a state of emergency following Iranian missile attacks that caused casualties and widespread damage.
According to The Associated Press, Iranian missile and drone strikes have killed approximately 11 Israeli civilians and wounded dozens more in retaliation for the U.S.-Israel strikes on Iran.
Shrapnel from missile impacts damaged at least 40 buildings in Tel Aviv, and authorities reported at least one death in the area from falling debris.
The Philippine Embassy in Israel confirmed the death of a Filipino national after a missile strike hit Tel Aviv on Saturday.
TOMAHAWKS, B-2 STEALTH BOMBERS AND ATTACK DRONES POUND OVER 1,000 IRANIAN TARGETS IN 24-HOUR BLITZ
“We enter our shelter once the siren is heard and stay there until the Home Front Command announces that we can leave,” Michael said.
“Usually, it is about 20 to 30 minutes — unless there are further sirens during our stay. Since yesterday morning, it has happened around 30 times.”
Israel’s President Isaac Herzog also visited an impact site in Tel Aviv Sunday, delivering a message of resilience.
“The people of Israel and the people of Iran can live in peace. The region can live in peace. But what undermines peace time and again is terror instigated by this Iranian regime,” Herzog said.
EXILED IRANIAN CROWN PRINCE SAYS US STRIKES MARK ‘BEGINNING OF THE VERY END’ FOR REGIME
Following the reported killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and roughly 40 senior Iranian officials, Iran formed a provisional leadership council.
Iran named Ayatollah Alireza Arafi, President Masoud Pezeshkian and Judiciary Chief Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Eje’i to lead roles.
“The Supreme Leader did not complete the necessary groundwork regarding his own succession,” Michael added.
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“Pezeshkian will face very troubling challenges due to their heavy losses, severe disruptions to control and command systems, and the massive bombing and attacks across Iran, including Tehran,” he said.
“Even if this regime doesn’t collapse, it will never be able to reconstitute itself, recover or return to its previous position,” Michael added.
Trump vows to avenge fallen US service members with ‘most punishing blow to terrorists’
President Donald Trump vowed Sunday to “avenge” the deaths of three U.S. service members killed in action as the conflict involving Iran deepens across the Middle East.
“As one nation, we grieve for the true American patriots who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our nation,” Trump said in a video statement posted on Truth Social.
“Even as we continue the righteous mission for which they gave their lives, we pray for the full recovery of the wounded and send our immense love and eternal gratitude to the families of the fallen.”
The president struck a somber note, warning that “sadly, there will likely be more before it ends.”
“America will avenge their deaths and deliver the most punishing blow to the terrorists who have waged war,” Trump said. “Our resolve and likewise that of Israel has never been stronger.”
Trump’s remarks, his first public statement since the U.S.-Israel strikes that led to the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and several senior Iranian officials, signaled a potentially prolonged confrontation.
“This wretched and vile man had the blood of hundreds and even thousands of Americans on his hands and was responsible for the slaughter of countless thousands of innocent people all across many countries,” Trump said.
TOMAHAWKS SPEARHEADED US STRIKE ON IRAN — WHY PRESIDENTS REACH FOR THIS MISSILE FIRST
He said U.S. forces had struck “hundreds of targets” inside Iran, including key Revolutionary Guard facilities, air defense systems and naval assets. Trump said the U.S. “knocked out nine Iranian ships “in a matter of literally minutes.” Military operations, he added, would continue “until all of our objectives are achieved.”
He went on to issue a direct warning to Iran’s Revolutionary Guard and military leadership, urging them to surrender in exchange for immunity or face “certain death.”
Ahead of the strikes, the U.S. military amassed what Trump previously called an “armada” in Iran’s backyard. Mapped out across the Persian Gulf and beyond, the deployment tells its own story, one of calculated pressure backed by credible capability.
At the center of the U.S. presence are two aircraft carrier strike groups — the USS Abraham Lincoln and USS Gerald R. Ford — each supported by guided-missile destroyers and cruisers and capable of sustained air and missile operations.
More than a dozen additional U.S. warships are also operating in the region in support roles, according to defense officials.
THE ONLY MAP YOU NEED TO SEE TO UNDERSTAND HOW SERIOUS TRUMP IS ABOUT IRAN
Meanwhile, Tehran has vowed retaliation for the strikes.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian declared that avenging Khamenei’s killing is both a “legitimate duty and right,” and added that Tehran “will forcefully crush the enemy’s bases.”
The confrontation has already included missile and drone strikes launched by Iran against U.S. bases in Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates and Iraq, though U.S. Central Command has denied Tehran’s claims of successfully targeting American carriers.
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The unfolding conflict has ignited reactions far beyond the Middle East, including anti-war protests in U.S. cities and heightened diplomatic tensions near American embassies, underscoring how quickly the crisis has expanded beyond the region.
In Austin, authorities are investigating a recent shooting as potentially an act of terrorism, further heightening concerns about spillover effects at home.
Meanwhile, federal and local law enforcement have boosted security as a precaution, though officials say no specific, credible threats have been identified.
At least 54 arrested after allegedly blocking roads, hurling rocks in anti-ICE unrest
At least 54 people were arrested Sunday during protests against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) outside the Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building in Minneapolis, law enforcement officials said.
The Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office said 38 individuals were cited and released, and one person was booked into jail. The Minnesota State Patrol confirmed an additional 15 arrests.
In a statement posted to Facebook, the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office said deputies issued dispersal orders after protesters allegedly blocked streets and access to local businesses, scattered glass in the roadway, and threw rocks, chunks of ice, and water bottles at law enforcement.
“This morning, our deputies issued dispersal orders at an unlawful assembly outside the Whipple Building after individuals blocked roadways, blocked access to local businesses, dumped glass into the street, and threw rocks, ice chunks and water bottles at law enforcement creating a serious public safety hazard,” the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office wrote. “Arrests are being made.”
Officials emphasized that peaceful protest is constitutionally protected, but criminal behavior will not be tolerated.
“Freedom of speech and peaceful assembly is a right,” the sheriff’s office said. “Endangering the public is not. Unlawful activity including blocking roads, intentionally creating hazards and assaultive behavior will not be tolerated.”
FEDS MAKE 25 MORE ARRESTS IN ANTI-ICE MINNESOTA CHURCH INVASION
The demonstration marked the culmination of a weeklong campaign dubbed “Bring the Heat, Melt the ICE,” organized by activists opposing ICE operations.
Organizers held a series of events focused on resisting immigration enforcement actions and calling for the abolition of ICE and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), according to its website.
The protest comes amid a broader wave of anti-ICE demonstrations in Minnesota and across the country, following multiple fatal shootings involving federal immigration agents in Minneapolis earlier this year, including the deaths of Renée Good and Alex Pretti.
ICE SAYS VIOLENT MOB HELPED CRIMINAL ESCAPE AND LEFT ICE AGENT PERMANENTLY MAIMED
The unrest also unfolds against the backdrop of a political standoff in Washington, where congressional Democrats have blocked DHS funding for more than two weeks in an effort to push ICE reforms.
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The Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office and DHS could not be immediately reached for comment.
Road rage suspect accused of fatally stabbing woman and dog before trooper shoots him
At least two people died Sunday in Virginia when a highway “road rage incident” reportedly spiraled into a violent mass stabbing, authorities said.
The attack occurred on I-495 southbound near Little River Turnpike in Annandale, Fairfax County, roughly 30 minutes from Washington, D.C.
One of four stabbing victims, as well as a dog, died from the incident, authorities said. The suspect was also killed when responding officers returned fire.
Officials said the attack does not appear to be terrorism-related.
“A Virginia State Police trooper was called to the scene at approximately 1:17 p.m. for a reported road rage incident,” Virginia state police said.
“The stabbings occurred before or as the trooper was responding,” authorities added in a statement to Fox News Digital.
Responding police reportedly found a male suspect armed with a knife. During the confrontation, the trooper reportedly shot the suspect in self-defense. Authorities added that the responding trooper was left unharmed.
State police identified the deceased victim as a 39-year-old woman who succumbed to her injuries. The dog involved was also fatally stabbed.
VIRGINIA MURDER SUSPECT IN BUS STOP STABBING HAD LENGTHY CRIMINAL HISTORY, MULTIPLE DROPPED CHARGES
The incident prompted a shutdown of the highway amid reports of a heavy police presence.
“I-495 and 495 Express Lanes southbound past Gallows Road is closed due to a major incident,” the Virginia Department of Transportation’s Northern Virginia office said, adding that the lanes were “blocked due to police activity.”
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The crash is under investigation.
The Fairfax County Police Department told Fox News Digital that it is assisting state police troopers.
‘It’s called a Whoop’: CEO rejects security risk claim about Susie Wiles after photos surface
After online speculation suggested a top Trump administration official breached U.S. security protocols, the founder and CEO of Whoop stepped in to identify the wearable device at the center of the controversy.
A widely circulated meeting photo of White House chief of staff Susie Wiles prompted social media users to speculate that a smartwatch, typically restricted in sensitive environments due to recording and connectivity capabilities, was visible on her wrist. Critics quickly raised concerns about potential cybersecurity implications.
TOMAHAWKS SPEARHEADED US STRIKE ON IRAN — WHY PRESIDENTS REACH FOR THIS MISSILE FIRST
“It’s called a whoop,” wrote Will Ahmed on X. “There’s no story here other than a dead ayatollah and a green recovery,” he added, referencing the device’s recovery score — a feature that tracks stress, sleep and overall readiness.
Whoop, a wearable fitness company valued at about $3.6 billion, produces subscription-based trackers that monitor sleep, strain and recovery.
In a separate post, Ahmed added that Wiles, following Operation Epic Fury, likely had a low resting heart rate and high heart rate variability — both indicators of strong physical recovery and readiness.
ENEMY WITHIN: COUNTERTERRORISM EXPERTS FEAR SLEEPER CELLS COULD BE POISED INSIDE US
The comment followed the high-stakes Saturday morning operation that killed Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and several senior Iranian officials in a coordinated U.S.–Israeli military campaign.
Ahmed said the health device is approved by the National Security Agency and does not include a microphone and GPS and has no cellular capability.
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Security procedures in sensitive government environments typically limit or prohibit personal electronic devices capable of transmitting data. Smartwatches, in particular, are often subject to scrutiny because of their connectivity features.
The White House did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
Kelly Osbourne’s BRIT Awards look goes viral, sparks reaction from fans
Kelly Osbourne’s viral look at the 2026 BRIT Awards ignited a response to body-shamers who were said to have “dehumanized” the daughter of the late Ozzy Osbourne.
On Sunday, the 41-year-old — who accepted a lifetime achievement award with mom, Sharon Osbourne, on Ozzy Osbourne’s behalf on Saturday — took to social media to address those who criticized her appearance.
“This is a special kind of cruelty in harming someone who is clearly going through something, kicking me while I’m down, doubting my pain, spreading my struggles as gossip, and turning your back when I need support and love most,” she wrote on her Instagram Stories.
“None of it proves strength; it only reveals a profound absence of compassion and character,” she continued. “I’m currently going through the hardest time of my life. I should not even have to defend myself. But I won’t sit here and allow myself to be dehumanized in such a way!”
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Last week, Kelly had a similar response to harsh comments surrounding her body.
“Literally can’t believe how disgusting some human beings truly are,” she shared over a screenshot of an Instagram comment where one user wrote, “Looks like a dead body… she’s tooooo thin and fragile.… Looks like she’s going to see her dad soon.”
Another user commented, “Ditch the ozempic, eat a burger.”
OZZY OSBOURNE’S DAUGHTER KELLY ADMITS SHE WON’T BE ‘OK FOR A WHILE’ AFTER ICON’S DEATH
A few users jumped to defend Kelly, with one asking, “Disgraceful comment, have you no empathy?”
“What is wrong with people? Her Dad has died its called grief,” another user suggested. “How would you feel if you were grieving and all you can say to her is about her weight. Disgusting!!!”
During an appearance on “Piers Morgan Uncensored” shortly after Ozzy Osbourne’s death in July, Sharon came to her daughter’s defense after online trolls attacked Kelly’s appearance. The legendary Black Sabbath frontman died at home in England on July 22. He was 76.
While speaking about naysayers who have been taking to the internet to poke fun at Kelly’s weight loss, Morgan shared a video that Kelly recently posted on social media in response.
“To the people who keep thinking that they’re being funny and mean by writing comments like, ‘Are you ill?’ or ‘Get off Ozempic’ or ‘You don’t look right.’ My dad just died and I’m doing the best that I can, and the only thing that I have to live for is my family,” she said in the video. “I choose to share my content with you and share the happy side of my life not the miserable side of my life. So to all those people, f— off.”
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After the clip was aired, Sharon revealed that Kelly has been having a tough time since Ozzy’s death in July.
“She’s not happy, she lost her daddy,” she said. “She can’t eat right now.”
“[The internet] is a shield for people that are unhappy. Jealousy and people’s perception of somebody else — how many times have we been wrong about somebody because of our perception?… A lot of effort goes into [hurtful comments]. I feel sorry for people. There’s something wrong with their lives. They’re not happy.”
Scientists make startling discovery when examining prostate cancer tissue
Small fragments of plastic were found in the tumors of most prostate cancer patients, according to a new study from NYU Langone Health.
In past studies, microplastics have been found in almost every human organ and in bodily fluids, but their impact on human health still isn’t fully understood.
The researchers analyzed tissue samples from 10 patients with prostate cancer who underwent surgery to remove the entire organ.
Using visuals of both benign samples and tumor samples, as well as specialized equipment, the scientists identified plastic particles in 90% of the tumor samples and 70% of benign tissue samples, according to the study press release.
The cancerous tissue contained on average more than double the amount of plastic as healthy prostate tissue samples, the study found. This equates to about 40 micrograms of plastic per gram of tissue compared to 16 micrograms.
Researchers avoided contaminating the samples with other plastics by substituting standard tools with those made of aluminum, cotton and other non-plastic material, the release noted.
NIGHTLY BATHROOM HABIT WAS MISSED SIGN OF COMMON MEN’S CANCER: ‘I DIDN’T KNOW’
The scientists say this is the first direct evidence linking microplastics to prostate cancer.
“By uncovering yet another potential health concern posed by plastic, our findings highlight the need for stricter regulatory measures to limit the public’s exposure to these substances, which are everywhere in the environment,” said senior study author Vittorio Albergamo, assistant professor in the department of pediatrics at NYU Grossman School of Medicine, in the release.
The study findings were presented during the American Society of Clinical Oncology’s Genitourinary Cancers Symposium in San Francisco on Feb. 26.
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“What is most striking is not that microplastics were detected, but that they were found embedded within tumor tissue itself,” Dr. David Sidransky, oncologist and medical advisor at SpotitEarly, a startup that offers an at-home breath-based test to detect early-stage cancer, told Fox News Digital.
“While complete avoidance is unrealistic, people can take practical steps to reduce exposure.”
“We already know microplastics are present in water, air, blood and even placental tissue. Their detection in prostate tumors suggests systemic distribution and long-term bioaccumulation,” added Maryland-based Sidransky, who was not involved in the study.
Study limitations
Albergamo cautioned that a larger sample is needed to confirm the findings. Additionally, Sidransky noted that the presence of microplastics alone does not prove they cause cancer.
“Tumors can act as ‘biologic sinks,’ meaning they may accumulate circulating particles simply because of altered vasculature and permeability,” he said.
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A key unanswered question, according to the doctor, is whether microplastics are biologically active in ways that “promote DNA damage, immune modulation or chronic inflammation within the prostate.”
About one in eight men in the U.S. will be diagnosed with prostate cancer at some point in their lifetime, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
For those concerned about microplastics, Sidransky offered some insights.
“I believe the appropriate response is curiosity, not panic, and a commitment to understand more,” he said.
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“While complete avoidance is unrealistic, people can take practical steps to reduce exposure, such as minimizing heating food in plastic containers, reducing bottled water consumption when possible, and favoring glass or stainless steel alternatives.”
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The most actionable step men can take, however, is getting appropriate screenings to help ensure early detection, according to the doctor. Screening discussions should be individualized based on age, family history and other risk factors.
NYT defends deeming Ayatollah Khamenei ‘hard-line cleric’ after social media erupts
The New York Times was called out on social media over its headline about the death of Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, on Saturday.
The New York Times’ headline about the Khamenei’s death read, “Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Hard-Line Cleric Who Made Iran a Regional Power, Is Dead at 86.” The Times also described the supreme leader as “avuncular and magnanimous” in its obituary.
“With his spectacles, Palestinian kaffiyeh, long robes and silver beard, Ayatollah Khamenei cast himself as a religious scholar as well as a writer and translator of works on Islam. He affected an avuncular and magnanimous aloofness, running the country from a perch above the jousting of daily politics,” the NYT’s obituary read.
The piece was met with pushback on social media from politicians and pundits.
Sen. Tim Sheehy, R-Montana, reacted and offered up his own version of the headline.
Others reacted to the New York Times’ headline by pointing out Khamenei was responsible for the murder of thousands. The Times’ obituary includes reporting on his regime ordering the death of protesters speaking out against the government in January, as well as in 2022.
DOZENS OF TOP IRANIAN REGIME OFFICIALS, SUPREME LEADER KILLED IN ISRAELI STRIKES
Fox News contributor Joe Concha wrote, “I give up…”
Marc Thiessen, a Washington Post columnist, wrote in reaction to the Times headline, “You can’t be serious.”
Judicial Watch’s Tom Fitton reacted to the headline with “mostly peaceful,” a likely reference to CNN’s coverage of the Kenosha protests in 2020, during which the network displayed a chyron that read, “FIERY BUT MOSTLY PEACEFUL PROTESTS AFTER POLICE SHOOTING.”
“You don’t have the media enough,” News Nation’s Batya Ungar-Sargon wrote.
“The NYT is garbage,” the Heritage Foundation‘s Jason Bedrick said in response to the headline.
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The Times responded to some of the criticism in a post to X.
“The Times’s obituaries report and reflect lives in full, illuminating why, in our judgment, they were significant. We fairly and accurately include the newsworthy details of each life and death, and don’t treat them dishonestly to score points like you’re trying to do here,” the communications team wrote on X in response to the Libs of TikTok account’s criticism of the headline.
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The Washington Post also faced backlash over describing Khamenei as “avuncular” and having an “easy smile.”
“With his bushy white beard and easy smile, Ayatollah Khamenei cut a more avuncular figure in public than his perpetually scowling but much more revered mentor, and he was known to be fond of Persian poetry and classic Western novels, especially Victor Hugo’s ‘Les Misérables.’ But like the uncompromising Khomeini, he opposed moderates’ efforts to promote political and social reforms domestically and to secure rapprochement with the United States,” the Post’s obituary of the supreme leader said.