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SOUTHERN ISRAEL - Tali Hadad is a 49-year-old mother of six and a kindergarten teacher whose days would normally be spent teaching basic reading, math and social skills to 5-year-olds. She never imagined that one day she would be forced to make life-or-death decisions while under fire in the middle of a war zone. 

But on Oct. 7, 2023, she was thrust into unimaginable circumstances.

As Hamas launched its assault at 6:45 a.m., she awoke to the sound of sirens and gunfire in her hometown of Ofakim, a small, working-class city in southern Israel 15 miles from the border with Gaza. The piercing alarms that filled the air signaled this was not an ordinary rocket attack, to which much of the region had, over the course of many years, become accustomed.

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Hadad instantly knew her family was in grave danger.

Her son, Itamar, a soldier in officer training, was home on leave for the weekend. As the sounds of gunfire grew closer, he grabbed his rifle, fully aware that there was fighting just outside their door. Without hesitation, he ran toward the terrorists. Hadad, still in her pajamas, quickly slipped on running shoes and chased after him, her instincts as a mother taking over.

"I ran toward the playground," Hadad told Fox News Digital. "I hid behind a wall and saw a line of terrorists walking with rifles, heading in the direction where my son had gone." Moments later, she heard gunshots. "I knew Itamar was in the middle of it. I waited, hoping he would come out, but he didn’t. So, I ran toward him."

Dodging through alleys while gunfire rang out around her, Hadad saw the devastation unfold. "People were yelling from windows, begging for help," she said. "But there were no ambulances coming, no one to save them."

Then, she saw Itamar. He had been shot multiple times – in the stomach, leg and thigh. Two of his comrades lay dead on the ground beside him.

"He looked at me and said, ‘Mom, what are you doing here?’ I told him, ‘You’re hurt, I’m going to take you to the hospital,’" she recalled.

With gunfire still echoing around her, Hadad sprinted back to her house, jumped into the family car and drove straight back to her son. "They put Itamar in the car, along with more of the wounded, and I drove as fast as I could, 120 kilometers per hour, to the Magen David Adom station (Israel's national emergency medical service) at the entrance to the city," she said. "I knew if I drove slowly, the terrorists would shoot me."

After handing Itamar over to the paramedics, she made a fateful decision. "I told him, ‘Mom isn’t coming with you. You’ll go in the ambulance, I’ll join you later. I have to go back and help the others.’"

6 MONTHS ON, FAMILIES OF US HOSTAGES IN GAZA STUCK IN 'AMBIGUOUS TRAUMA'

Hadad returned to the scene of the fighting and made three more trips to rescue 13 people in total, all while under constant fire. "People tried to stop me," she said. "They told me it was too dangerous, but I took Itamar’s rifle, and I knew this was something I had to do. I had no choice but to act."

After hours of intense fighting involving police officers, forces from the Yamam special-operations unit, armed civilians and off-duty soldiers, Israeli forces regained control of the town. A helicopter arrived to evacuate the wounded. Only then was Hadad able to step away from her role as a rescuer and check on her son at the hospital. Itamar had survived, but his road to recovery would be long.

"Half of the rehabilitation is physical, and half is mental," Itamar Hadad told Fox News Digital, reflecting on the traumatic events of that day, the friends he lost in the battle, and those he has lost since in Gaza, where his unit, Sayeret Nahal, has suffered many casualties. Despite the pain, his dream remains to return to his unit and continue fighting in the ongoing multi-front war.

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On Oct. 7, 47 of Ofakim’s 50,000 residents were murdered, and the street where Hadad lives became known as Rechov Ha’Mavet – "Death Street."

A year after the attack, Ofakim is rebuilding. Death Street, once a symbol of horror, has been renovated. The city has built a memorial, painted murals and planted olive trees – a sign of life replacing the destruction.

"We’ve gathered the pieces, all the memories of the victims, and we’re trying to bring life back to the place that was destroyed," Hadad said.

Ofakim was not among the many towns and settlements in the south that were resettled in other parts of Israel. But the psychological scars remain. The waiting list for trauma counseling has grown, overwhelming the available therapists. In response, the Israel Psychoanalytic Society and the NGO IsraAid established a multidisciplinary trauma center, offering free mental health support to survivors of the massacre.

Hadad, like many others in Ofakim, and in the entire country, continues to struggle with the emotional aftermath. "We’re still bleeding," she said. For her, the experience was life-changing. She hasn’t returned to work since the attack, choosing, instead, to stay home and care for Itamar. Five of her six children are serving in the IDF, either on active duty or in the reserves. At the moment, two of them are fighting in Gaza. Her youngest daughter will enter the army in a month. 

The community of Ofakim continues to heal, but the memories of Oct. 7 will never fade. "We remember how our children ran through the streets barefoot, fighting like lions. No politicians come here anymore. No tour buses arrive. But we remember. We will always remember," Hadad said. 

"When was the last time you talked to your kid? Do you know where he slept last night? Do you know what he ate? Do you know if he had a blanket on him?" Ruby Chen, father of Itay Chen who was taken by Hamas on Oct. 7, 2023, asked in a sit-down interview with Fox News Digital.

"All those types of questions are questions that we ask ourselves constantly," he said. "The feeling is that we've been failed."

Itay,19 years old when he was taken, has remained a hostage held in Gaza for 365 days after his unit in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) was attacked in southern Israel when Hamas terrorists flooded the border in a series of mass assaults. 

Chen, a New York City native, said he and his wife have been given "unprecedented" access to the White House, the CIA and other top agencies throughout the last year to discuss ongoing strategies to try and get the hostages out of Gaza.

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The Chens have not only met with national security adviser Jake Sullivan a dozen times, as well as CIA Director William Burns and Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, they also hold a weekly call with the White House. 

But ultimately, these supportive efforts have fallen flat when it comes to the real needs of American families whose loved ones are still held hostage by Hamas. 

"We have been failed by the Israeli government, we, as U.S. citizens, feel we've been failed by the Biden administration despite all of the access that they've provided us," he explained. "They share as much as they can. But at the end of the day, it's… very black and white.

"Where is he?"

Chen explained that following the Oct. 7 attacks on Israel, the Israeli government pushed a strategy to secure the release of the then 251 hostages by bombarding suspected Hamas positions in Gaza.

In the initial weeks following the deadly Hamas attacks, Israel began pounding northern Gaza – a move Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu believed would bring Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar "to his knees" and make him be "willing to release hostages."

A week-long cease-fire in November saw the release of 105 hostages. Twelve other hostages have been freed following negotiations during the immediate aftermath of the attack, or because of IDF rescue operations between February and August. 

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None of the eight American hostages that were kidnapped have been released, and only seven continue to be held by Hamas after the body of Hersh Goldberg-Polin was discovered by IDF forces in late August, after he along with five others were killed by the terrorist group.

More than 100 hostages remain in captivity in the Gaza Strip – 97 of whom were abducted on Oct. 7, 2023.

The Chens, other American families and the international community have repeatedly urged Israel and Hamas to reach a cease-fire agreement and return all hostages to their families. 

But disagreements over security corridors in Gaza have created a seemingly insurmountable hurdle as U.S., Egyptian and Qatari officials work to get Israel and Hamas to reach an agreement.

The father of the IDF soldier pointed out that so long as no one is discussing a "day after" plan for the Gaza Strip and the Palestinians there, Hamas will continue to hold tightly to its most powerful bargaining chip, the hostages.

"Where is Hamas in the day-after? And if no one is willing to talk about it, then Hamas believes that they are better off holding on to the hostages until something changes," he explained. "It's a jihad organization. They wish to have chaos. They are looking for a regional conflict.

"When they see that there's now a conflict with Lebanon, that does not motivate them to get into a cease-fire agreement. On the contrary, they wish to belong, and have other players join in this jihad against Israel," Chen continued. "So I question, what is the plan?"

"I am very critical of the time," Itay’s father said. "The last 10 months, I've been asking Mr. Sullivan, What's plan B?

"I haven’t heard of a Plan B. And that’s unacceptable," he added.

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Securing peace in the region became even more precarious last week after Israel, against the objections of the U.S. and its international allies, launched an incursion into southern Lebanon with the expressed intent of dismantling the threat posed by Hezbollah.

Chen pointed out that this second front not only added another dimension to securing the release of the hostages, but it also seemingly pushed talks with Hamas on the backburner as concerns remain high over a broader regional conflict.

"If you could follow the news, you could see that the hostage issue has been less prioritized," he said. "And that's a very difficult feeling for us and the families."

Netanyahu has said his top priority is securing the release of the hostages, but his refusal to withdraw from the Philidelphi Corridor due to security reasons has created a negotiation impasse and questions have begun to mount over whether the prime minister is truly prioritizing the hostages over his push to "eliminate Hamas." 

But the parents of Itay – who has been described as a "fun-loving kid," the "sandwich" of the family with an older sibling and younger sibling, everybody's "best friend," and a former Boy Scout turned a young man with a loving girlfriend – cannot allow for him, or the others still in Gaza, to be at the mercy of any political agenda. 

"I’m a guy that comes from New York City – and we talk less, we look at actions. The actions of the last year show the opposite." Chen said. "He can say whatever he wants. I don’t believe a thing that comes out of his mouth, I believe in what he does."

The father of three also urged the Biden administration to question whether it is still in the U.S.’s strategic interest to unequivocally back Netanyahu.

"There is no accountability from either side for failed negotiation. You do not see any equation that says, ‘OK, if you do not do A, then there's a consequence’ on either side," Chen said in reference to both Israel and Hamas. "There’s no consequence associated with a negative action to a strategic interest of the United States."

Chen also argued that "effective pressure" needs to be put on Hamas by reevaluating what other "pressure points" can be utilized.

The father pointed to the clear need for tougher economic and diplomatic involvement when it comes to international aid sent to Gaza – including tougher sanctions not only on adversarial nations but on partner countries that allow aid to flow into Gaza.

This includes stricter oversight of United Nations-provided humanitarian aid, which though intended for the Palestinian people, is falling into the hands of Hamas, a group that is not designated as a terrorist organization by the UN.

Hamas has long been accused of seizing basic goods in Gaza and then reselling them in a black-market scheme at exuberant prices. 

Reports have further indicated that Hamas for years has had substantial access to monetary aid siphoned from funds provided by top organizations like the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), which has been directly used for combatant operations against Israel, including tunnel building and access to arms.  

But aside from the substantial need to address aid-based concerns, Chen also argued that diplomatic solutions are not being fully recognized by the U.S.

Nations like Russia and Thailand secured the release of their citizens taken by Hamas, and Chen argued Washington – which was able to negotiate with its biggest adversary just months ago to free U.S. citizens from Russian prisons – should be working to do the same to secure the release of those held in Gaza.

"So, it's possible," Chen said. "Complicated, yep. Doable, yep."

"The assumption that was put in front of us at the beginning was that U.S. hostages will come out via a larger deal that Israel will be a part of. And if that assumption is not working out after a year, then yes, we need to challenge the administration and look at that assumption.

"Is that still valid after one year?"

Advocacy groups behind a "suicide capsule" announced Sunday they have suspended applications to use the device until authorities in Switzerland complete a criminal investigation into a woman's voluntary death from its first use.

The president of Switzerland-based The Last Resort, Florian Willet, is being held in pretrial detention, according to the group and Exit International, an affiliate founded in Australia. Both organizations advocate for the right to assisted suicide.

Swiss police arrested Willet and several other people following the death of a 64-year-old American woman who last month became the first person to use the device to voluntarily end her life, according to The Associated Press. The device, known as the "Sarco," was used in a forest in the northern Schaffhausen region of Switzerland near the German border on Sept. 23.

Other people who were initially detained in connection with the woman's death were released from custody, according to authorities.

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The woman was reportedly suffering from severe immune compromise.

Assisted suicide is legal in Switzerland, with laws allowing so-called death with dignity as long as the person ends their life with no "external assistance" and people who assist the person do not do so for any "self-serving motive."

The advocacy groups said in a statement Sunday that 371 people were in the process of applying to use the Sarco in Switzerland as of Sept. 23, but that applications were suspended after its first use.

Exit International, whose founder Philip Nitschke is based in the Netherlands, is behind the device, which was 3D-printed and cost more than $1 million to develop.

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The capsule was designed to allow a person to sit in a reclining seat inside the device and push a button that injects nitrogen gas from a tank underneath into the sealed chamber. The person would then fall asleep and die by suffocation in a few minutes.

Exit International has said Willet was the only person present for the woman's death, which the group described as "peaceful, fast and dignified."

On the day of the woman's death, Swiss Health Minister Elisabeth Baume-Schneider told parliament that use of the device would not be legal.

But Exit International pushed back on Baume-Schneider's statement, arguing that the group's lawyers in Switzerland believe use of the device is legal.

"Only after the Sarco was used was it learned that Ms. Baume-Schneider had addressed the issue," the advocacy groups said in the statement Sunday. "The timing was a pure coincidence and not our intention."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

The commander of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) overseas military-intelligence service, who traveled to Lebanon last month after Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah was killed in an Israeli airstrike, has not been heard from since last week’s strikes on Beirut, Iranian officials say.

Reuters reported that two senior Iranian security officials confirmed that Iran’s Quds Force commander, Esmail Qaani, had not been heard from since late last week.

One official told the wire Qaani was in the southern suburbs of Beirut during a missile strike that reportedly targeted senior Hezbollah official Hashem Safieddine, though he was not meeting with the Hezbollah leader.

An official from Hezbollah said Israel was not permitting them to search for Safieddine after the bombing in Beirut’s southern suburbs on Thursday. The group also said it would not announce Safieddine’s fate until the search for him was over.

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Safieddine was reportedly a likely successor to Nasrallah, who died when Israel launched a strike on Dahiyeh on Sept. 27.

The Iranian official told the Associated Press that Iran and Hezbollah were unable to contact Qaani after the U.S. assassinated his predecessor, Qassem Soleimani, in a drone strike in 2020.

The second Iranian official told the AP that Qaani traveled to Lebanon after Nasrallah was killed, adding that authorities had not been able to contact him since the strike on Safieddine.

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An Iranian official told Fox News Digital that the higher up an official is, the harder it is to conceal.

"Whatever the verdict is on Qaani’s whereabouts, the fact that the regime has not been able to produce him to quell rumors means he is either injured or in hiding," the official said. "Israel is pressing its advantage in Lebanon against commanders of Iran’s threat network, leading to command-and-control issues and chaos that generates rumors like these."

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Israeli military spokesperson Lt. Col. Nadav Shoshani was asked about reports that Qaani may have been killed in the Israeli airstrike, and he said the results of the strikes were still being assessed.

Shoshani said the attack late last week was against Hezbollah’s intelligence headquarters in Beirut.

Qaani’s Quds Force is responsible for overseeing the dealings with Tehran and allied militias like Hezbollah across the Middle East.

IRGC commander Brig. Gen. Abbas Nilforoushan, was killed with Nasrallah on Sept. 27 when Israel’s bombs struck his bunker.

Reuters contributed to this report.

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant issued an ominous warning to Iranian officials during an interview with Fox News on Sunday, amid the rapid escalation of the Israel-Hamas war in the Middle East.

The interview came days after Israel invaded Lebanon as part of a mission to eliminate Hezbollah, on the heels of several successful strikes against the terrorist group. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed that it had killed Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah last weekend – prompting Iran to launch 181 retaliatory missiles in response.

During an exchange with Fox News chief foreign correspondent Trey Yingst on Sunday, Gallant promised that Israeli forces are considering all options in terms of its response to Iran's attacks against Israel – even potentially striking Iranian nuclear sites.

"At the moment, everything is on the table," the Israeli official said. "Israel will respond to the unprecedented Iranian attack in the manner of our choosing, and at the time and place of our choosing."

ISRAEL LAUNCHES LIMITED GROUND OPERATIONS IN LEBANON AS WAR AGAINST HEZBOLLAH, TERRORIST GROUPS CONTINUE

President Biden told reporters last week that he would not support a strike against Iran's nuclear facilities, but said Israel had the right to act "proportionately" to Iran. On Saturday, Vice President Kamala Harris vowed to send $157 million of "additional assistance" to Lebanon, which, she claimed, is "facing an increasingly dire humanitarian situation."

"I am concerned about the security and well-being of civilians suffering in Lebanon and will continue working to help meet the needs of all civilians there," Harris said.

Amid the White House's response to the IDF's recent strikes, Gallant emphasized that he hopes the United States continues to cooperate with the Israeli military.

"It is important for us to hold discussions on strategic cooperation between our countries and defense cooperation in light of the threats posed by Iran and its proxies," Gallant said. "We are powerful when we are aligned and I want to make sure of it."

BIDEN SAYS HE WILL TALK TO NETANYAHU AS ISRAEL PUMMELS SUNNI TERROR TARGETS IN BEIRUT

Gallant also said the IDF's recent strikes in northern Gaza were in response to terrorists planning "Oct. 7-style attacks" against Israelis.

"We have conducted counterterrorism activities in northern Gaza and in Judea and Samaria, following intel indicating that terrorists were planning Oct. 7-style attacks on Israeli citizens," he explained. "We will operate precisely and preemptively when necessary in order to defend our citizens."

The military official acknowledged the IDF's "extraordinary" wins against Hezbollah in recent weeks and vowed to continue its mission. On Friday, the IDF announced that it had killed 250 Hezbollah terrorists since the ground strikes began, including several commanders. 

"Israel has made extraordinary achievements against Hezbollah – we will do what it takes to defend our citizens and our sovereignty," Gallant said. "This includes eliminating their attack capabilities, taking out leadership, and placing a weapons embargo on Hezbollah."

Later on Sunday, Pentagon press secretary Maj. Gen. Patrick Ryder announced that Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III will host Gallant on Wednesday.

"@SecDef will host Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant at the Pentagon Oct. 9 for an official visit to discuss ongoing Middle East security developments & looks forward to welcoming the Minister back to Washington DC," Ryder wrote.

Fox News Digital's Greg Norman, Stephen Sorace and Michael Lee contributed to this report.

All flights from Iran’s airports were canceled on Sunday through 6 a.m. local time on Monday due to "operational restrictions," though the restrictions were lifted hours ahead of time, according to reports.

Iran’s state media cited a spokesperson for Iran’s Civil Aviation Organization, which announced the initial flight cancellations.

State media said the flights were canceled due to operational restrictions, though no further details were provided.

At around midnight, state media reported that the flight restrictions had been lifted in Iran after ensuring safe conditions. The announcement came hours before the grounding was supposed to come to an end.

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Iran imposed flight restrictions last Tuesday when it launched a barrage of ballistic missiles at Israel, in an attack Israel vowed to respond to.

Iran bombarded Israel with 181 missiles last week in what the regime said was retaliation for the killing of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in Beirut, Lebanon, in an Israeli airstrike in September and the killing of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran in July. 

Meanwhile, Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon have traded attacks with Israel since the Israel-Hamas war began on Oct. 7.

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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Saturday called out Western leaders who he said had called for an arms embargo on Israel over its airstrikes against Hamas in Gaza.

"As Israel fights the forces of barbarism led by Iran, all civilized countries should be standing firmly by Israel’s side, yet President Macron and other western leaders are now calling for arms embargoes against Israel. Shame on them," Netanyahu said in a statement.

Fox News Digital’s Stephen Sorace and Reuters contributed to this report.

All flights from Iran’s airports were canceled on Sunday through 6 a.m. local time on Monday due to "operational restrictions," according to reports.

Iran’s state media cited a spokesperson for Iran’s Civil Aviation Organization, which announced the flight cancellations.

State media said the flights were canceled due to operational restrictions, though no further details were provided.

Iran imposed flight restrictions last Tuesday when it launched a barrage of ballistic missiles at Israel, in an attack Israel vowed to respond to.

UNDER FIRE: ISRAEL'S IRON DOME WINNING BUT PRESSURE'S ON AS CONFLICT WITH IRAN ESCALATES

Iran bombarded Israel with 181 missiles last week in what the regime said was retaliation for the killing of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in Beirut, Lebanon, in an Israeli airstrike in September and the killing of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran in July. 

Meanwhile, Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon have traded attacks with Israel since the Israel-Hamas war began on Oct. 7.

HEZBOLLAH'S NEIGHBORS: ISRAELI BORDER COMMUNITY UNDER CONSTANT ATTACK FROM TERROR GROUP

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Saturday called out Western leaders who he said had called for an arms embargo on Israel over its airstrikes against Hamas in Gaza.

"As Israel fights the forces of barbarism led by Iran, all civilized countries should be standing firmly by Israel’s side, yet President Macron and other western leaders are now calling for arms embargoes against Israel. Shame on them," Netanyahu said in a statement.

Fox News Digital’s Stephen Sorace and Reuters contributed to this report.

As rockets continue to rain down on Israel, Tuesday marked an unprecedented attack from Iran, which fired 181 ballistic missiles toward the country. For an hour, the entire nation took shelter; fortunately, there were no casualties or injuries, thanks to Israel’s air defense system. 

This system has been crucial in protecting Israeli civilians, intercepting thousands of missiles aimed at population centers. However, some missiles did land at several air force bases and near the Mossad headquarters, although they did not cause "significant damage," according to the IDF chief of staff.

Israel’s air defense strategy extends beyond Iron Dome. Systems like David’s Sling and Arrow 2 and Arrow 3 provide defense against medium- and long-range missiles, and these systems have also been crucial in the current conflict. Israel Air Force Reserve Brig. Gen. Doron Gavish explains that the multi-layered defense structure was designed to handle a wide range of threats. "We’ve used David’s Sling to intercept rockets from Lebanon, and Arrow 3 to counter ballistic missiles from Iran. It’s not just Iron Dome – it’s a network of systems working together." 

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While the Iron Dome wasn't extensively utilized against Iran, its operators have kept busy keeping Israel safe since the start of the war on Oct. 7 last year. 

"The Iron Dome has done incredible work, but, like any defensive system, the extended, high-intensity fighting has taken its toll on it – it wasn’t built for a conflict of this length and intensity," Hilla Haddad Chmelnik, an aerospace engineer who played a key role in developing Iron Dome, and who acknowledges that the system is being tested in ways it was not originally designed for. 

Haddad Chmelnik, who also served as director-general of Israel’s Ministry of Innovation, Science, and Technology, emphasizes the need for ongoing innovation to keep up with evolving threats. 

And with Lebanon and Israel’s escalating fight with Hezbollah, the need for the system is greater than ever, she says. Just this last week alone, hundreds of rockets, missiles and UAVs were launched against Israel from Hezbollah in Lebanon.

While Hamas’s rocket supply in Gaza has been largely depleted, the situation in Lebanon is very different. "In Gaza, we have significantly reduced the number of rockets left in Hamas’ arsenal. But in Lebanon, the numbers have not dropped enough," she says. Hezbollah is believed to have perhaps 140,000 rockets, and they are much more sophisticated than those used by Hamas and can penetrate much deeper into Israel. 

And then there is the question of Iran, and the possibility of the war widening to include direct conflict with that country. "Compared to Lebanon, the threat from Iran is more manageable," she says. Staging a large-scale missile attack from Iran is a complex undertaking, which can be detected and preemptively targeted," Haddad Chmelnik says. "Launching a ballistic missile 1,500 kilometers requires preparation, and that’s visible. It’s very hard to hide from satellites, and that gives us the opportunity to strike preemptively, in addition to preparing to defend ourselves."

Haddad Chmelnik emphasizes that Israel’s missile-defense systems, which were built in coordination with the U.S., are capable of withstanding Iranian attacks. "The Iranian missile threat can be countered, and our second-strike capability is very significant. Israel has the upper hand in that respect," she says. "That’s why Iran is cautious – it has more to lose than to gain."

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Iron Dome was first deployed in 2011, following years of development in response to the growing threat of rocket fire from Gaza. What sets the system apart, Haddad Chmelnik says, is its innovation and simplicity. "It’s a brilliant technology that no other country has. Iron Dome was developed with the support of the U.S., and now we’re seeing other nations buying it for their own defense."

Indeed, the success of Iron Dome has attracted international attention. Countries such as the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and Finland have purchased Iron Dome components or batteries. "Israel is the most protected country in the world when it comes to air defense," Haddad Chmelnik explains. "Now, we are seeing countries across the globe investing in it."

Israel Air Force Reserve Brig. Gen. Doron Gavish, former commander of Israel’s Air Defense Corps, recalls the initial skepticism surrounding the project. "Before Iron Dome, we had no real answer to these types of rockets," he says. "People doubted we could create an effective, cost-efficient interceptor. But the system has proven itself over the years. Iron Dome has intercepted thousands of rockets."

Each Iron Dome interceptor missile costs around $50,000, while some of the rockets it is designed to destroy, such as those made by Hamas, can cost just a few hundred dollars. The cost of maintaining one Iron Dome battery, which requires dozens of soldiers to operate, is about $100 million. Currently, there are approximately 12 Iron Dome batteries spread out across the country, each capable of defending up to 60 square miles, providing vital coverage in strategic areas.

WHAT IS ISRAEL'S FIRST LINE OF DEFENSE, THE IRON DOME?

Half of Iron Dome operators are women, who agree to extend their service to three years – the same as is mandatory for men – to accommodate the long period of training. "The experience these soldiers have gained under fire is invaluable. But the pressure is enormous," Brig. Gen. Gavish says. "It’s not like a video game. You’re making real-time decisions on which rockets to intercept. These soldiers know they’re protecting their families, their cities – sometimes even their own homes."

But the current conflict, which has seen more than 20,000 rockets fired from Gaza and Lebanon since October 2023, has pushed the system, and its operators, to their limits. "When we designed Iron Dome, we never imagined it would have to function under such continuous strain," Haddad Chmelnik says. "The system was built for short, intense bursts of fighting – not for a war that lasts nearly a year."

In recent months, some enemy rockets have slipped past the defenses, causing destruction in northern Israel. "No system is hermetic," Gavish says. "There is no perfect defense. The reality is, the longer the war continues, the more pressure the system is put under."

Meanwhile, the enemy is learning. "Every time Iron Dome successfully intercepts a rocket, our enemies are watching, learning and adapting," Haddad Chmelnik says. "That’s why we see more complex threats emerging, like UAVs, and drones, which are harder to intercept."

While Iron Dome remains effective, the future is uncertain. "The system is saving lives every day," Brig. Gen. Gavish says. "But as the war goes on, it becomes harder and harder to maintain the same level of defense."

Despite these successes, Haddad Chmelnik points out that no defense system is foolproof. "The way Iron Dome is built, it's about more than just about identifying individual threats; it’s about adapting quickly as those threats evolve." She emphasizes that while Iron Dome continues to play a crucial role, Israel’s long-term security will depend on continued technological advancements.

Despite the challenges they face in the current situation, those operating Iron Dome continue their mission. "The soldiers – men and women – are making complex decisions in real-time, protecting cities and families," Brig. Gen. Gavish says, "They are the key to Iron Dome’s success."

A new report from the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) found that antisemitic incidents in the U.S. rose over 200% following the Oct. 7 Hamas massacre in Israel as compared to the same period the year before. 

The report from the ADL Center on Extremism recorded over 10,000 antisemitic incidents following the Hamas terrorist attack in Israel – the most recorded in any single year since the group started tracking them in 1979. In the year prior to Oct. 7, the center recorded 3,325 incidents. 

"Today, we mourn the victims of the Oct. 7 Hamas attack in Israel, marking one year since the worst massacre of Jews since the Holocaust," Jonathan Greenblatt, ADL CEO, said in a press release alongside the report’s publication. 

SEN COONS DISCUSSES BIDEN-HARRIS ADMIN'S SUPPORT FOR ISRAEL, FEARS OF WIDER REGIONAL WAR

"From that day on, Jewish Americans haven’t had a single moment of respite," Greenblatt said. "Instead, we’ve faced a shocking number of antisemitic threats and experienced calls for more violence against Israelis and Jews everywhere."

Of the roughly 10,000 incidents recorded, the ADL broke them down into three different types: Over 8,000 verbal or written harassment, over 1,840 incidents of vandalism and over 150 physical assaults. 

Around 12% of these incidents occurred on college campuses compared to around 200 incidents in the same period in the previous year. 

Around 20% of those incidents occurred at "Jewish institutions," which includes synagogues and Jewish centers, but around 30% of the incidents occurred during anti-Israel rallies. The ADL did not clarify how much overlap it found among these different groupings. 

UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN RABBI, JEWISH STUDENTS HELD AT GUNPOINT DURING ROSH HASHANAH DINNER

However, the group did clarify that it recorded 8,873 antisemitic incidents in 2023 alone, marking a 140% increase from the previous year, and that it will have finalized figures in 2025 as it continues to survey partners, law enforcement and victims – from which it expects the figure to continue rising. 

Experts and watchdog groups have raised the alarm over the increasing number of antisemitic incidents, not just in the U.S. but in Europe as well: The Community Security Trust in the United Kingdom reported in March 2024 that it recorded at least 2,093 antisemitic incidents across the country between Oct. 7 and Dec. 13, 2023. 

The group called it the "highest-ever total reported" across a roughly two-month period since it started recording such incidents in 1984. 

"I think people are feeling tense and nervous, particularly with marches taking place every Saturday," Jake Wallis Simons, editor-in-chief of the London-based Jewish Chronicle, told Fox News Digital from England at the time. 

On Saturday, thousands marched against Israel in London with observers complaining of the large amount of antisemitic imagery and slogans on display at the protests.

FIGHTING THE DISTURBING SPIRAL OF JEW-HATRED IN CANADA

Canada has also seen a massive spike in incidents, focused around Jewish institutions, including schools, community centers and synagogues, as well as several of the country's universities. 

In a statement on X, Israel's Consul General to Montréal Paul Hirschorn warned, "Montréal is now ranked one of the most dangerous places in the world to be visibly Jewish. 9 times Jewish community buildings have been shot at or petrol bombed - synagogues, schools, community centers. Just this week people were identified with petrol-bombs near synagogues (and fortunately prevented from perpetrating what they had planned). The authorities released them to go home. I guess they said they would behave themselves."

"Statistically, hate crimes in Canada have increased north of 132%, with the vast majority of those crimes targeting the Jewish community," Casey Babb, who teaches courses on terrorism and international security at the Norman Paterson School of International Affairs in Ottawa, told Fox News Digital earlier this year. 

"Indeed, this may be the most antisemitic time in our country's history," Babb said. "I'd go as far as suggesting Canada, for a variety of reasons, has become one of the most hostile nations in the West for Jews."

Fox News Digital’s Benjamin Weinthal contributed to this report. 

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu slammed French President Emmanuel Macron and other Western leaders on Saturday who he said had called for an arms embargo on Israel over its airstrikes against Hamas in Gaza. 

"As Israel fights the forces of barbarism led by Iran, all civilized countries should be standing firmly by Israel’s side, yet President Macron and other western leaders are now calling for arms embargoes against Israel. Shame on them, "Netanyahu said in a statement. 

He continued, "Is Iran imposing an arms embargo on Hezbollah, on the Houthis, on Hamas and on its other proxies? Of course not. This axis of terror stands together, but countries who supposedly oppose this terror axis call for an arms embargo on Israel."

Netanyahu called their stance a "disgrace," adding that Israel would win "with or without their support, but their shame will continue long after the war is won."

TRUMP SAYS ISRAEL SHOULD HIT IRAN'S NUCLEAR FACILITIES, SLAMMING BIDEN'S RESPONSE

He said, "in defending ourselves against this barbarism, Israel is defending civilization against those who seek to impose a dark age of fanaticism on all of us. Rest assured, Israel will fight until the battle is won - for our sake and for the sake of peace and security in the world."

Netanyahu noted that Israel is defending itself on seven different fronts, including Hamas in Gaza, Hezbollah in Lebanon, the Houthis in Lebanon, Shiite militias in Iraq and Syria, terrorists in Judea and Samaria and Iran. 

On Saturday, Macron said France would no longer supply arms to Israel, although the country will continue to send missile defense equipment.

"I think that today, the priority is that we return to a political solution, that we stop delivering weapons to fight in Gaza," Macron said in an interview, according to Euro News. 

Also on Saturday, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said it had raided and dismantled a Hezbollah underground command complex in Lebanon. 

"The troops entered a terror tunnel about 250 meters long, located about 300 meters from the border and not crossing into Israeli territory," IDF spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said in a press conference.

FEDERAL AUTHORITIES ISSUE WARNING AHEAD OF OCT 7 ATTACKS ANNIVERSARY

He said a kitchenette and rooms that allowed for extended stays underground along with weapons and command rooms were found inside the complex. 

"These compounds were intended to be used by Hezbollah terrorists in an attack on the communities of the Galilee," he said. "This tunnel did not cross into our territory, and yesterday we destroyed it."

The U.S. continues to supply Israel with arms, although President Biden has spoken out against the country’s approach to its war with Gaza where tens of thousands of civilians have died. 

 "I think what he’s doing is a mistake," Biden said in August, while continuing to call for a cease-fire. "I don’t agree with his approach." 

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This week in a surprise appearance at a White House press briefing, Biden, in answering a reporter, said he wasn’t sure if Netanyahu was holding off on a cease-fire to influence the November election. 

"Whether he’s trying to influence the election, I don’t know - but I’m not counting on that," Biden said. "No administration has helped Israel more than I have. None, none, none, and I think he should remember that."

Before October 7, the communities of the mostly agricultural cooperative settlements, commonly known as kibbutzim, near the Gaza Strip, were considered some of the most picturesque places in Israel, characterized by green fields and carpets of vibrant red anemones. Yet, they were also among the most bombarded areas in the country. "Ninety-nine percent of the time, it’s paradise; one percent of the time, it’s hell," was a common saying among residents.

"It’s fair to say this year, we live in that one percent" Ofer Liberman admits, reflecting on the harsh reality faced by his community. For 22 years, he has served as the spokesperson for Kibbutz Nir Am, nestled in the Gaza envelope.

On October 7, it was Liberman’s daughter, Inbal, the community’s security coordinator, who displayed remarkable courage. She opened the weapons storage lockers and distributed arms to the community’s rapid response team, sending them to various locations along the kibbutz fence. She and the team engaged in face-to-face battles with Hamas terrorists. Her quick actions prevented them from entering the kibbutz and prevented a massacre similar to what occurred in neighboring communities.

ISRAEL'S MILITARY SAYS FORCE IS ‘AT WAR’ WITH HAMAS AS IDF HITS BACK AT TERROR TARGETS

On Wednesday, during Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, Liberman celebrated with his family back in Kibbutz Nir Am. "My wife and I were the only ones to come back in mid-November, while the kibbutz was under full military control. I manage the agriculture in Nir Am, and I had to be here. By the end of March, a small number of families returned, and on August 15, when government funding ended, everyone returned except for 12 families," he recounted.

"This was a sad holiday; some of our friends still have family members and friends held in Gaza. In the morning, we were informed by the IDF there would be loud noises coming from their fighting in Gaza," Liberman described the ongoing tension in the region. "People got anxious because it reminded them of October 7 — the booming and gunfire. But we’re managing a routine. People go to work, and children go to school, living my life completely, with sounds of war."

After October 7, 15,000 people were evacuated from the 21 kibbutzim in southern Israel, first to hotels and then into temporary housing across the country. Remarkably, about 70% have returned home, a significant achievement considering the ongoing war in Gaza and the devastating impact of the attack, which claimed the lives of some 1,200 people, 319 of whom were kibbutz members, and destroyed hundreds of homes.

FEDERAL AUTHORITIES ISSUE WARNING AHEAD OF OCT. 7 ATTACKS ANNIVERSARY

However, six of the communities where the impact was most severe have yet to return. In Kibbutz Be’eri, 98 men, women, and children were murdered, and 30 were kidnapped. In Kfar Aza, home to 700, 64 people, including women and children, were massacred, and 19 were taken hostage. In Nahal Oz, a small community of 450, 15 were killed and 8 were kidnapped.

"Only twenty members of Kibbutz Nahal Oz have returned to the kibbutz, while 330 residents — eighty percent of our community — are in Mishmar Ha’emek, a kibbutz in north-central Israel. They’ve been hosting us since October 8," Amir Tibon, a resident of Nahal Oz, told Fox News Digital. "Being together as one community in this temporary housing has been significant, as we are surrounded by the people we love. Our children still go to school and kindergarten together, which makes a big difference."

On October 7, Tibon and his wife Miri were rescued along with their two younger daughters, thanks to his mother Gali, and father, retired IDF Major General Noam Tibon, who drove from Tel Aviv to the kibbutz to rescue them. On their way, they rescued survivors of the music festival massacre and helped wounded Israeli soldiers. Hours after leaving his home in Tel Aviv, Amir's father battled a Hamas terrorist in Nahal Oz and saved his family. Tibon later chronicled his experiences in his new book, "The Gates of Gaza: A Story of Betrayal, Survival, and Hope in Israel’s Borderline," where he intertwines his personal story with the history of the kibbutz.

FOREIGN SURVIVORS OF BRUTAL HAMAS ATTACK ON ISRAEL RECALL TERROR MASSACRE: 'EVERYTHING WAS BURNING'

"The kibbutzim's key role in the history of Israel, in creating and protecting the borders of Israel, remains crucial. This way of life, with a strong emphasis on community and togetherness, is more important now than ever," Tibon believes.

"A kibbutz can be understood as a microcosm of collective living, where community, equality and shared labor play vital roles in the daily lives of its members," Ayelet Harris, head of the community division in the Kibbutz Movement, said of the leadership dynamics in these communities.

"The Kibbutzim institutional structure has been crucial in the process of recovery. I saw women and men leading their kibbutzim and prioritizing the mission of returning, even in uncertain times. They decided to focus on the mission of going, working through their emotional states while being part of the teams planning the return. This sense of ownership fosters a deeper sense of belonging than in other places where people feel less influence over future plans."

Tibon reflected on the complexities surrounding the decision to return home. "This is a conversation we have every day. The issue is about the sense of security that the government and IDF must provide, and overcoming the psychological barriers of returning to a place where such horrors occurred."

The ongoing trauma is compounded by the uncertainty of their friends and family who remain in Hamas captivity. "We received five of our hostages back alive in November, thanks to a deal orchestrated by President Biden. But we still have two friends, Omri and Zachi, in the hands of the enemy," Tibon explained. "For me, going back to the kibbutz means living in a house where a neighbor was killed in the house in front of me, and another neighbor was murdered in the house behind. This is where I will raise my daughters. I believe I can do that, but I don’t know if I can pass by the homes of these two friends and know they were left to die in the tunnels of Gaza."

VIDEOS OF HAMAS BRUTALITY TOWARD ISRAELIS EERILY REMINISCENT OF ISIS TACTICS

Last week, while walking around Kibbutz Gvulot, the contrast between the children's laughter and the reality of their lives was striking. Children played soccer on the grass, joyfully unaware of the shadows cast by the shelters positioned every few meters, decorated with pictures of beloved cartoon characters. The regional school at the center of the kibbutz has been improvised from structures that existed prior to October 7.

"After the attack, we found ourselves in a hotel in Eilat with a large part of the traumatized community of the south," Lior Dafner, the chairman of Kibbutz Gvulot, recalls. "Every day we received news about more people we knew being kidnapped or murdered- a truly incomprehensible situation." Kibbutz Gvulot was one of the very few places that were not raided during the October 7 massacre.

"You see a slow deterioration of people into helplessness; there are no frameworks for children. We realized we needed to establish ourselves and figure out where to go next. We wanted to ensure that the children and staff started the year on September 1, like all children in the country, and finish on June 30, in the same classroom with the same teacher and group of kids—all in a safe and stable environment. After everything they’ve been through, losing friends and teachers, seeing them now in school gives us hope. This is the future. It gives us hope for what lies ahead," Dafner said.

Throughout the communities that are back in their homes, there is a call for resilience despite the challenges. Liberman said, "I think we had to return here and hold this place. We need to preserve our country. I was just in New York, sitting with Jews who lamented that they are not in Israel. You see the synagogue surrounded by police protecting them because they are afraid. We, the Jewish people, are unwelcome anywhere in the world. So, we have no choice but to remain in our state. I hope that after the fighting in the south and north ends, and once we bring our hostages home, we can return to living that ninety-nine percent of paradise."

The United Nations (U.N.) advisory body on artificial intelligence (AI) last week issued seven recommendations to address AI-related risks, but an expert told Fox News Digital the points do not cover critical areas of concern. 

"They didn't really say much about the unique role of AI in different parts of the world, and I think they needed to be a little more aware that different economic structures and different regulatory structures that already exist are going to cause different outcomes," Phil Siegel, co-founder of the Center for Advanced Preparedness and Threat Response Simulation (CAPTRS), said. 

"I think that they could have done a better job of — instead of just trying to go to the lowest common denominator — being a little more specific around what does a state like the United States, what is unique there?" Siegel said. "How does what we do in the United States impact others, and what should we be looking at specifically for us?

"Same thing with Europe. They have much more strict privacy needs or rules in Europe," he noted. "What does that mean? I think it would have gained them a little bit of credibility to be a little more specific around the differences that our environments around the world cause for AI." 

GOV NEWSOM VETOES BILL TO ESTABLISH FIRST-IN-NATION AI SAFETY REGULATIONS IN CALIFORNIA

The U.N. Secretary-General’s High-level Advisory Body on AI published its suggested guidelines Sept. 19, which aimed to cover "global AI governance gaps" among its 193 member states. 

The body suggested establishing an International Scientific Panel on AI, creating a policy dialogue on AI governance, creating a global AI capacity development network, establishing a global AI fund, fostering of an AI data framework and forming an AI office in the U.N. Secretariat. 

These measures, Siegel said, seem to be an effort by the U.N. to establish "a little bit more than a seat at the table, maybe a better seat at the table in some other areas." 

LIONSGATE'S BOLD MOVE INTO AI IS ABOUT TO CHANGE FILMMAKING FOREVER

"If you want to take it at face value, I think what they’re doing is saying some of these recommendations that different member states have come up with have been good, especially in the European Union, since they match a lot of those," Siegel noted. 

"I think … it sets the bar in the right direction or the pointer in the right direction that people need to start paying attention to these things and letting it get off the rails, but I think some of it is just it's not really doable." 

Multiple entities have pursued global-level coordination on AI policy as nations seek to maintain an advantage while preventing rivals from developing into pacing challenges. While trying to develop AI for every possible use, they also hold safety summits to try and "align" policy, such as the upcoming U.S.-led summit in California in November. 

Siegel acknowledged the U.N. is likely to be one of the better options to help coordinate such efforts as an already-existing global forum — even as countries try to set up their own safety institutes to coordinate safety guidelines between nations. But he remained concerned about U.N. overreach. 

DEMOCRAT SENATOR TARGETED BY DEEPFAKE IMPERSONATOR OF UKRAINIAN OFFICIAL ON ZOOM CALL: REPORTS

"They probably should be coordinated through the U.N., but not with rules and kind of hard and fast things that the member states have to do, but a way of implementing best practices," Siegel suggested. 

"I think there's a little bit of a trust issue with the United Nations given they have tried to, as I said, gain a little bit more than a seat at the table in some other areas and gotten slapped back. On the other hand, you know, it already exists.

"It is something that the vast majority of countries around the world are members, so it would seem to me to be the logical coordinating agency, but not necessarily for convening or measurements and benchmarks." 

Siegel said the U.S. and Europe have already made "some pretty good strides" on creating long-term safety regulations, and Asian nations have "done a good job on their own and need to be brought into these discussions." 

"I just don’t know if the U.N. is the right place to convene to make that happen, or is it better for them to wait for these things to happen and say, 'We’re going to help track and be there to help’ rather than trying to make them happen," Siegel said.  

Reuters contributed to this report. 

The Israel Defense Forces announced Friday that 250 Hezbollah terrorists, including nearly two dozen commanders, have been killed since the beginning of its limited ground operation in southern Lebanon. 

"Approximately 250 terrorists have been eliminated by land and air, and more than 2,000 military targets have been attacked, including terrorist elements and facilities, military buildings, weapons depots, missile platforms, and the like," IDF Arabic spokesperson Avichay Adraee wrote on X. 

"As part of this operation, the forces were able to eliminate terrorists who were entrenched in buildings and positions adjacent to the separation fence and prevent Hezbollah terrorists from approaching the fence, with the aim of removing the threat to the residents of the north of [Israel]," Adraee continued. 

"During the operation, the forces also found warehouses of combat equipment, missile launchers that were ready to be launched, and Hezbollah explosive devices that the terrorists had left behind," he added. 

8 ISRAELI SOLDIERS KILLED IN LEBANON AS NETANYAHU SAYS IDF ENGAGED IN ‘TOUGH WAR’ WITH HEZBOLLAH 

Among the Hezbollah terrorists that have been killed are five battalion commanders, 10 company commanders and six platoon commanders, according to the IDF. 

The announcement comes as the IDF said Friday that two of its soldiers have died "during combat in northern Israel." 

ISRAELI MILITARY SAYS REGULAR INFANTRY, ARMORED UNITS JOINING LIMITED GROUND OPERATION IN SOUTHERN LEBANON 

On Wednesday, the IDF said eight troops were killed during fighting in southern Lebanon. 

"I would like to send my deepest condolences to the families of our heroes who fell today in Lebanon," Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a video message. "May God avenge their death. May their memory be of blessing."  

"We are in the middle of a tough war against Iran's axis of evil, which seeks to destroy us. This will not happen -- because we will stand together, and with God's help -- we will win together," Netanyahu added. "We will return our hostages in the south, we will return our residents in the north, we will guarantee the eternity of Israel." 

Fox News' Yael Rotem-Kuriel contributed to this report.  

Sanxingdui Ruins is an archaeological site located in Southwest China's Sichuan Province. The site has undergone heavy exploration through the years, with thousands of notable artifacts coming out of excavations. 

The Sanxingdui Ruins lie in Guanghan City. The site was first discovered in 1929 by a farmer who came across jade and stone artifacts while repairing a sewage ditch, according to Live Science. It was not until 1934 that an official scientific excavation commenced, according to China Daily. 

Since that first excavation, research and discovery has continued at the site. During the 1980s, the excavation of two pits was conducted, where over 1,000 artifacts were unearthed, according to China Daily. Those finds included figurines, human face masks and more. 

IRISH FARMER FINDS NEAR 60-POUND SLAB OF ANCIENT BOG BUTTER ON HIS LAND BY ‘PURE LUCK’

Between 2019 and 2020, six more pits were excavated, according to the source, with more than 500 artifacts uncovered, including seashells, silk, ritual bronze vessels and gold masks. 

There has been an abundance of notable finds from the troves of artifacts discovered at the Sanxingdui Ruins. Among more recent discoveries, gold masks have been among the significant finds at the site. 

For example, in September 2022, it was announced by China's National Cultural Heritage Administration that a 3,000-year-old gold mask was discovered at the site among royal tombs. 

MOM, SON DIG UP ANCIENT OBJECT OFTEN FOUND NEAR BURIAL GROUNDS WHILE GARDENING

The ancient mask dated back to the Shang Dynasty, ARTNews reported at the time, and predated another gold mask that was found the fall before at the Sanxingdui Ruins.

In 2021, a complete gold mask weighing about 100 grams was unearthed at the site, according to China's Xinhua News Agency. The gold mask was larger, but weighed less than another fragment of a gold mask that was found at the site earlier on in 2021, according to the Sichuan Provincial Cultural Relics and Archaeology Research Institute. 

Since 2022, there have been more than 4,000 artifacts unearthed from the Sanxingdui Ruins, which include pottery, jadeware and stoneware, according to China's Xinhua News Agency.

To date, there have been over 60,000 relics found at the site, according to the source. 

The Sanxingdui Ruins is widely acknowledged as one of the "world's greatest archaeological finds of the 20th century," according to China's Xinhua News Agency. Experts believe that the Sanxingdui Ruins are the remains of the ancient Shu Kingdom.

The Sanxingdui Museum first opened its doors in 1997, though it has been expanded since, and has provided an opportunity for visitors to see first hand many of the artifacts that have been found at the archaeological site through the years. 

Elon Musk says he will "be there to support" Donald Trump on Saturday when the former president returns to Butler, Pennsylvania to hold a rally at the site where the first assassination attempt against him unfolded earlier this year. 

The Republican presidential nominee is slated to speak on Oct. 5 at the Butler Farm Show fairgrounds in the suburb north of Pittsburgh.  

"I will be there to support!" Musk wrote on X late Thursday in response to an image Trump shared promoting the upcoming event. 

"Butler on Saturday – historic!" Trump wrote on X alongside an image of him raising his fist that was taken on July 13, moments after he had been shot. 

OBAMA TO CAMPAIGN FOR HARRIS IN PENNSYLVANIA, OTHER KEY STATES 

Musk had said following that rally that "I fully endorse President Trump and hope for his rapid recovery." 

Trump’s campaign said last week that "President Donald J. Trump will return to Butler, Pennsylvania, to hold a rally on the very same ground where he came within a quarter of an inch of losing his life less than three months ago." 

During a rally last Wednesday in North Carolina, Trump said that he wanted to return to the venue in Butler to "finish our speech." 

"As you know, there have been two assassination attempts on my life that we know of… and the first case in Butler, Pennsylvania, great place, and we're going back to Butler," he said. "We're going to go back and finish our speech." 

HARRIS LEADS TRUMP BY 2 IN NATIONAL POLL, BUT SHOWS VULNERABILITIES WITH NON-WHITE VOTERS 

Trump's campaign said that the former president would honor those lost in the assassination attempt during the rally. 

Corey Comperatore, 50, was a firefighter and a father of two daughters. He "historically sacrificed his life to shield his wife and daughters" during the assassination attempt against Trump, the campaign said. 

Trump will also recognize the two other Americans who were wounded by the shooter, David Dutch and James Copenhaver.  

"He will express his deep gratitude to law enforcement and first responders and thank the entire community for their outpouring of love and support in the wake of the attack," the campaign said. 

"And when a shooter attacked our democracy and tried to end this movement, President Trump will return to the site, joined by tens of thousands of proud citizens, and together, they will celebrate a unifying vision for America’s future in an event like the world has never seen before," his campaign added. 

Fox News’ Sarah Rumpf-Whitten and Paul Steinhauser contributed to this report. 

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei declared in a rare sermon Friday that his country’s ballistic missile attack on Israel earlier this week was "legal and legitimate" and that the "resistance in the region will not back down even with the killing of its leaders." 

The public address from Khamenei was his first during Friday prayers in Tehran in nearly five years, according to the AFP.  

Khamenei said Iran will not "procrastinate nor act hastily to carry out its duty" in going after Israel, Reuters reports. 

The news agency cited him as saying that Tuesday’s barrage of nearly 200 missiles fired by Iran at Israel was "legal and legitimate" and the minimum punishment for Israel’s "crimes." 

IRAN WARNS OF ‘DECISIVE RESPONSE’ IF ISRAEL CROSSES ‘RED LINES’ 

"The resistance in the region will not back down even with the killing of its leaders," Khamenei reportedly added, mentioning recently slain Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah during the speech. 

The remarks came as the Israel Defense Forces announced Friday that Mohammad Rashid Sakafi, the commander of Hezbollah’s Communications Unit, was killed in an airstrike in Beirut, Lebanon. 

"Sakafi was a senior Hezbollah terrorist, who was responsible for the communications unit since 2000," the IDF wrote on X. "Sakafi invested significant efforts to develop communication capabilities between all of Hezbollah's units." 

ISRAEL BANS UN SECRETARY-GENERAL OVER ANTI-ISRAEL ACTIONS 

National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said earlier this week that the Iranian missile attack on Israel was "defeated and ineffective" and that the U.S. military coordinated with the IDF to repel the strikes.  

"U.S. naval destroyers joined Israeli Air Defense units in firing interceptors to shoot down inbound missiles. President Biden and Vice President Harris monitored the attack and the response from the White House Situation Room, joined in person and remotely by their national security team," Sullivan said during a briefing.  

"This is a significant escalation by Iran, a significant event, and it is equally significant that we were able to step up with Israel and create a situation in which no one was killed in this attack in Israel… We are now going to look at what the appropriate next steps are to secure, first and foremost, American interests and then to promote stability to the maximum extent possible as we go forward," he added. 

Fox News Digital's Michael Dorgan contributed to this report. 

A Belfast woman was in court for allegedly attacking good Samaritans who attempted to free a baby seagull she captured Aug. 14. 

Angela Wildman, 58, allegedly used a milk carton and a long-handled mop to attack passersby who tried freeing the waterfowl from her sports bag.

Wildman denied charges in court of common assault, possessing an offensive weapon in public, disorderly behavior and resisting a police officer, according to the BBC. 

Wildman's defense attorney, Damien Trainor, said in court the 58-year-old denies being diagnosed with any mental health conditions. 

NEW JERSEY MAN WHO RIPPED HEAD OFF OF SEAGULL AT PIER SPARKS OUTRAGE ONLINE: 'HORRIBLE MAN'

"[Wildman] explained to me that she feeds birds, takes birds home and looks after wildlife," said Trainor. "She keeps herself to herself, feeds her birds and cleans her house, does her shopping and comes and goes."

According to officers' testimony in court Tuesday, people who attempted to liberate the seagull from Wildman "were assaulted by the defendant with a long-handled mop and a large carton of milk".

IRISH FARMER FINDS NEAR 60-POUND SLAB OF ANCIENT BOG BUTTER ON HIS LAND BY ‘PURE LUCK’

One unlucky passerby was allegedly struck with both the mop and the milk carton during the Aug. 14 incident.

When officers responded in south Belfast, Wildman was allegedly aggressive and uncooperative when they tried to handcuff her. 

The arresting officer argued against Wildman's application for bail in court, saying, "I don’t know that this obsession is with wanting to capture wildlife.

"The public were drawn to her attention because she had managed to capture a baby seagull and was looking after it."

Wildman was granted bail due to the six weeks she spent in custody ahead of her court date Tuesday.

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Wildman's defense lawyer, Damien Trainor, did not immediately return Fox News Digital's request for comment.

A bus carrying several wedding guests while speeding down a roadway plunged into a ravine in southeastern Pakistan on Thursday, killing at least seven people, according to rescuers and officials.

The crash occurred near Quetta, the capital of the Balochistan Province. Authorities did not immediately know what caused the crash, though an investigation was underway.

The Associated Press reported that Wasim Baig, a spokesperson for the health department, said the bodies of the victims and of 17 others who were injured in the crash were taken to an area hospital.

28 CONFIRMED DEAD IN PAKISTAN AFTER BUS PLUNGES INTO ROCKY RAVINE

Some of the injured victims were reportedly in critical condition.

In a country where highways are poorly maintained, and traffic laws are ignored for the most part, crashes on the roadways are common in Pakistan.

FAMILY OF 4, INCLUDING CHILDREN, KILLED BY MISSILE STRIKE IN PAKISTAN

Three bus crashes in August claimed the lives of 60 Pakistanis, combined.

Two of the bus crashes happened in Pakistan, with one occurring in Balochistan and the other in eastern Punjab province. Between the two crashes, 32 people were killed, the AP reported.

Both crashes, according to authorities, were caused by negligence of the drivers.

The third crash occurred in Iran, when 28 Pakistani pilgrims were killed while heading to Iraq.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Two Swedish teenagers were jailed Thursday in pre-trial detention in connection with two predawn explosions in the vicinity of the Israeli Embassy in Copenhagen a day earlier. Prosecutors said investigators were establishing "whether the motive could be a terror attack."

No one was injured in the blasts on early Wednesday in a neighborhood with several foreign diplomatic missions, though the nearby Jewish school was closed following the explosions.

The pair, who cannot be identified under a court order, were ordered held for 27 days. They faced preliminary charges of possessing illegal weapons and carrying five hand grenades. Two of the grenades blew up when the suspects threw them at a house near the embassy, prosecutor Søren Harbo said.

"This was pretty close to the Israeli Embassy," Harbo said before Thursday's court hearing. The explosions caused damage to a roof terrace of a nearby house. The diplomatic mission was not harmed.

EUROPEAN LEADERS WEIGH IN ON 'LEGITIMATE' ISSUE OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION: 'MUST BE STOPPED'

Thursday's hearing was held behind closed doors after the preliminary charges were read. Reporting from inside the court room, Danish broadcaster DR said the teenagers, aged 16 and 19, are suspected of acting "in association and together with prior agreement with one or more perpetrators."

Both denied the charges, local media reported.

The two suspects were arrested Wednesday shortly before noon on a train at Copenhagen’s central station. Danish media ran photos of a man in a white hazmat suit being taken away by police on a train platform at the station. A third suspect, aged 19, who had been arrested near the embassy, has been released, police said Thursday.

In Denmark, the charges are one step short of formal charges and allow authorities to keep criminal suspects in custody during an investigation.

Separately, shots were fired late Tuesday at the Israeli Embassy in Stockholm. No one was injured. No arrests have been made.

The Danish domestic security service, known by its acronym PET, said that "Swedish authorities have assessed that at least one specific act directed at the Israeli embassy in Stockholm, which was carried out by young criminals in Sweden, has links to Iran."

In May the Swedish domestic security agency SAPO accused Iran of using established criminal networks in Sweden as a proxy to target Israeli or Jewish people. The announcement came after the Israeli Embassy in Stockholm was sealed off in late January after what was then described as "a dangerous object" was found on the grounds of the diplomatic mission. Swedish media said the object was a hand grenade.

In a statement, PET said, "if we have a state actor who gets young criminals to carry out actions aimed at Jewish targets in our neighboring country, then we can be concerned that this will also happen in Denmark."

In Stockholm, the operative of Sweden’s domestic security agency SAPO, Fredrik Hallström, said "the latest incident at the Israeli embassy is not classified as a terrorist crime at the moment." His counterpart at the Swedish police’s National Operations Department, Johan Olsson, told the same press conference that the charges were of "aggravated weapons offenses, causing danger or other serious illegal threats and damage."

Russian troops on Wednesday took the eastern Ukrainian town of Vuhledar in the Donetsk region after it withstood more than two years of attacks following the Kremlin’s invasion.

The eventual seizure of the town signifies Russia’s leg up when it comes to the sheer manpower advantage it has over Ukraine, as Kyiv continues to plead with the West for more and faster supplies of weaponry. 

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A press officer from the 72nd Mechanized Brigade of Ukraine’s Armed Forces – a unit known for its hardy resistance – said according to a translation provided by Pravda Ukraine on Thursday that the wounded soldiers were successfully evacuated, but under "very difficult" conditions.

"The enemy pressed from the flanks, complicating logistics significantly," Arsenii Prylipka told the news outlet before adding, "This is war. It is impossible to have no losses." 

Prylipka highlighted the strain of the situation and said the commanding officer was forced to make a decision amid heavy fighting.

"They are continually striking, controlling, and complicating logistics, so a decision is made right on the battlefield," he added, rebuffing any question that criticized the decision to withdraw from the coal mining town.

Ukraine's eastern military command said it had ordered a pullback from the town to prevent Russian troops from encircling its forces positioned in Vuhledar and to "preserve personnel and military equipment," reported Reuters. 

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Though the town reportedly had a population of some 14,000 before Russia’s invasion in February 2022, it has been a frontline town since the start of the war, with the majority of the town’s residents having long since evacuated. 

Images show the beating the town has received after undergoing more than two years of Russian bombardment, many of the buildings not only abandoned, but smoke-covered and crumbling.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has said his war aim is to take the whole of the Donbas region from Ukraine, and his troops currently occupy an estimated 80% of it. 

The last of the Ukrainian troops to withdraw from Vuhledar left Tuesday night, reported Reuters. 

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Thursday backed the decision by the commanding officer to withdraw his brigade from the town.

"It is necessary to protect their lives, because they are more important than any buildings. These are our people, these are citizens of Ukraine," he said in response to a question by a reporter about the withdrawal following a meeting with the new NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte. 

"Therefore, it is very correct that they leave and can save themselves. For the sake of the state, for the sake of its heroic service," he added.