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In Washington, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said officials are considering a temporary Jones Act waiver to ensure “vital energy products” continue flowing to U.S. ports. She framed the potential move as a way to blunt Iran’s economic pressure.
“In the interest of national defense, the White House is considering waiving the Jones Act for a limited period of time to ensure vital energy products and agricultural necessities are flowing freely to U.S. ports. This action has not been finalized,” Leavitt explained.
Former President Donald Trump weighed in, warning that terrorist “sleeper cells” in the United States remain a concern. He praised the swift execution of the military campaign against Iran and underscored the importance of vigilance.
“A lot of people came in through Biden with his stupid open border, but we know where most of them are: We’ve got our eye on all of them, I think,” Trump stated. He added, “They came in through the open-border policies of Sleepy Joe Biden, one of the worst — the worst president in the history of our country — and we’ve got our eyes on all of them.”
Trump also highlighted the efficiency of the ongoing war effort. “But the war itself is being prosecuted at a level that nobody has seen before,” he said. “It’s pretty — it’s pretty amazing to watch.”
Responding to reports of a potential Iranian revenge plot in California, where drones could be launched from an offshore vessel, Trump said, “It’s being investigated, but you have a lot of things happening, and all we can do is take them as they come.”
Meanwhile, Iran’s proxy group Hezbollah launched roughly 200 missiles and drones at Israel, prompting Israeli media to call it a coordinated Iranian-Hezbollah assault. In response, the Israel Defense Forces struck Hezbollah strongholds in Beirut with force.
“The IDF is operating with determination against the Hezbollah terrorist organization following its deliberate decision to attack Israel on behalf of the Iranian regime. The IDF will not tolerate any harm to Israeli civilians and will forcibly respond against any threat posed to the State of Israel,” the military said.
Hezbollah labeled its operation “Eaten Straw,” claiming it targeted Israeli military positions near Tel Aviv and other locations. Matthew Levitt of the Washington Institute explained to Fox News, “The term comes from a Koran verse about destroying one’s enemies to the point that they are destroyed like grains of straw husks. In fact, it is going to lead to a massive Israel response.”
Tensions in Lebanon are rising as well. Just days before the attacks, President Joseph Aoun accused Hezbollah of dragging the country toward becoming “a second Gaza.”
Sarit Zehavi, a security expert from the Israel Alma Research and Education Center, told Fox News, “I think that Hezbollah is trying to scare Israel from launching further operations, and I truly hope that we will not be afraid, and our government will do what it has to do.”
