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Israel Removes Netherlands From US-Backed Gaza Aid Center By The Media Line Staff Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar ordered two Dutch representatives on Tuesday to leave a US-backed Gaza coordination center in Kiryat Gat within one week, retaliating against the Netherlands’ planned ban on products from Israeli settlements and other Dutch measures targeting Israel. Sa’ar said he made the decision with the approval of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Israel notified the Dutch Embassy and US officials before announcing the order. “Representatives of the Netherlands will be expelled immediately from the International Gaza Aid Center in Kiryat Gat,” Sa’ar wrote on X. The center, originally established as the Civil-Military Coordination Center under President Donald Trump’s Gaza ceasefire plan, brings together Israeli, US and international personnel. Its responsibilities include monitoring the Israel-Hamas ceasefire, coordinating humanitarian assistance and developing plans for Gaza’s reconstruction and postwar administration. The Netherlands plans to prohibit the import and sale of goods produced in Israeli settlements in the West Bank and Golan Heights beginning Sept. 22. Dutch officials say the restrictions are intended to prevent commercial activity from supporting settlements that the Netherlands considers illegal under international law. Israel disputes that legal interpretation. Sa’ar cited the import restrictions as the latest in a series of Dutch actions against Israel. The Netherlands has also barred Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir from entering the country, limited certain arms exports and supported stronger European pressure over Israeli policies in Gaza and the West Bank. “The Dutch government’s anti-Israel policy has been accompanied by an unprecedented wave of antisemitism and boycotts in the Netherlands,” Sa’ar said. He added: “Those who act against Israel will have no foothold in the region.” Dutch Foreign Minister Tom Berendsen described Israel’s action as unnecessary and regrettable. The removal makes the Netherlands the second country expelled from the coordination mechanism after Israel excluded Spain in April over what it called the Spanish government’s hostile policies. The order requires the Dutch representatives to leave Israel, rather than merely ending their participation at the center. Brought to you by www.srnnews.com

Report: Iran Targeted Yair Netanyahu in South Florida Assassination Plot By The Media Line Staff An alleged Iranian operation targeted Yair Netanyahu for assassination while he lived in South Florida, according to a US media report published Wednesday that said Israeli intelligence discovered the plan in December 2025 and warned American authorities after suspected operatives began monitoring his movements. Newsmax reported the allegations exclusively, citing an unidentified US law-enforcement source familiar with the matter. The account has not been publicly confirmed by US authorities, Israel’s security services or the Israeli government. The report identified Yair Netanyahu, the 35-year-old eldest son of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, as the target. He had been living in Hallandale Beach, north of Miami. According to the source cited by Newsmax, Iranian personnel were already in the area and conducting surveillance of Netanyahu’s residence and daily routine. Israeli officials reportedly instructed him to leave Florida immediately. He returned to Israel without packing his belongings and has remained there, the report said. Prime Minister Netanyahu disclosed Monday that Iran had targeted one of his sons but did not say whether he meant Yair or his younger son, Avner. “This is an unbelievable case. Iran targeted one of my sons. Iran tried to murder him, tried to murder one of my sons,” Netanyahu told Israel’s Channel 14. The prime minister raised the allegation while defending security protection for political figures and their families. He also urged the Shin Bet security agency to provide appropriate protection for anyone considered a candidate for prime minister ahead of Israel’s Oct. 27 election. A ministerial committee approved extended protection for Netanyahu’s wife, Sara, and their sons in July. The arrangement has drawn scrutiny in Israel because of its cost and the unusual protection granted to adult relatives. The allegation surfaced during the continuing US-Israel conflict with Iran, which began Feb. 28. Iranian state media have also broadcast threats against President Donald Trump’s family, including his son Barron Trump, prompting scrutiny by the US Secret Service. No arrests, criminal charges or official investigative findings connected to the alleged Florida operation have been announced. Brought to you by www.srnnews.com

14 Newborns Killed in PIMS Fire; Health Secretary Suspended, High-Level Inquiry Ordered By Arshad Mehmood/The Media Line [ISLAMABAD] At least 14 newborns were killed Wednesday morning when a fire swept through the nursery at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) in Islamabad, marking one of Pakistan’s deadliest hospital fires in recent years. PIMS, Islamabad’s largest public hospital and a major referral center, serves patients from the capital and surrounding regions. The Islamabad administration said the fire broke out on the third floor of the hospital’s Mother and Child Hospital, prompting an immediate emergency response. Six fire engines and four ambulances were dispatched as rescue teams worked to contain the blaze and evacuate patients. PIMS spokesperson Dr. Aneesa Jalil told The Media Line that 15 babies had been admitted to the ward and that a female doctor rescued one of them. Jalil said the fire began in an air-conditioning unit and spread rapidly because of oxygen connections in the nursery. Rescue officials had earlier speculated that an air-conditioner compressor exploded inside the nursery. Initial information from PIMS suggested that a short circuit may have caused the fire. Firefighters brought the blaze under control and conducted cooling operations to ensure that it had been completely extinguished. Local media, citing eyewitnesses and parents, reported that no hospital employees were present in the nursery when the fire began and that its entrance was locked. They also alleged that the ward’s emergency exit doors were closed. PIMS Executive Director Rana Imran Sikandar denied claims that the ward’s door was locked and that no hospital employees were present. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif suspended Federal Health Secretary Aslam Ghori and ordered the formation of a high-level committee to investigate the fire. According to a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office, Sharif said, “Such a situation involving children is irreparable. The circumstances surrounding the incident must be examined in detail, and those responsible must be identified and subjected to the strictest possible action.” Pakistan’s Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry said the bodies of all 14 infants killed in the fire had been returned to their families. Chaudhry said an inquiry team had been formed to conduct a full investigation, including determining why the emergency exit doors were allegedly closed. Speaking with journalists at PIMS, he rejected suggestions that firefighters and rescue teams had arrived late, saying they reached the hospital within six minutes of the control room receiving the call. He said rescue personnel responded effectively and saved 19 people from the building, including seven children. The fire has triggered shock and grief in the Pakistani capital. It is expected to raise questions about fire safety, emergency preparedness, and the condition of electrical, air-conditioning and oxygen systems in public hospitals. The disaster comes as hospitals face mounting pressure to maintain critical infrastructure while caring for vulnerable patients, including premature and critically ill newborns who require specialized care and assistance during emergencies. Brought to you by www.srnnews.com

Iran’s Assassination Playbook Blurs Threat, Theater, and Action Criminal proxies, public targeting videos, and loosely organized intermediaries give Tehran deniability while creating unpredictable security risks By Giorgia Valente / The Media Line Iranian threats against American and Israeli leaders have expanded beyond presidents, military commanders, and senior policymakers to include members of their families. The immediate question is how much of the rhetoric represents psychological warfare and how much reflects preparations for actual operations. Iranian state television broadcast a three-minute video this week targeting Barron Trump, the 20-year-old son of US President Donald Trump. Titled “Where To Kill Barron Trump?” the video purported to show information about locations associated with him, his security arrangements, and his movements. Produced by media affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and aired on Iran’s Channel 3, the footage claimed that a $10 million bounty had been offered for his killing. The purported bounty and alleged surveillance have not been independently verified, and no public evidence has emerged linking the broadcast to an operational Iranian assassination team. The US Secret Service said Tuesday that it was aware of the footage and investigates anything that could be perceived as a threat to its protectees, while declining to discuss protective intelligence. The Barron Trump video followed an earlier production released by the IRGC-affiliated Tasnim news agency focusing on First Lady Melania Trump. That broadcast, reportedly titled “Where to Kill Melania Trump?” presented alleged details about her movements and potential weaknesses in her security. Reports about the Melania video did not indicate that a comparable multimillion-dollar bounty had been offered. On Monday, Aug. 24, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu added another allegation. “Iran targeted one of my sons. Iran tried to kill, to murder one of my sons,” Netanyahu told Israel’s Channel 14. Netanyahu did not initially identify whether he was referring to Yair or Avner Netanyahu or say when or where the alleged attempt occurred. Newsmax reported Wednesday that Yair Netanyahu, the prime minister’s 35-year-old elder son, was the alleged target. Citing an unnamed US law enforcement source familiar with the matter, the outlet said Israeli intelligence learned in December 2025 that suspected Iranian operatives were in the Miami area conducting surveillance of his home and movements. Israeli officials alerted US authorities and instructed Yair Netanyahu to leave Florida immediately, according to Newsmax. He reportedly returned to Israel without collecting his belongings and has remained there. US and Israeli authorities have not publicly confirmed his identification as the alleged target or the operational details in the report. Israeli media had previously reported that the security establishment had known about the alleged threat for months and that details were subject to military censorship. Iran’s mission to the United Nations did not respond to a Reuters request for comment. Netanyahu made the disclosure while responding to reports that the Shin Bet security agency had declined to provide protection for political rival Gadi Eisenkot ahead of Israel’s Oct. 27 election. Netanyahu said the alleged threat against his son demonstrated that security protection was “not a luxury” and that appropriate protection should be provided to every candidate for prime minister. Iran has a documented history of pursuing targets overseas. In 2022, the US Justice Department charged IRGC member Shahram Poursafi with attempting to arrange the murder of former US National Security Adviser John Bolton. Prosecutors said the operation was likely intended as retaliation for the January 2020 killing of IRGC Quds Force commander Qasem Soleimani. European governments have also accused Iran of using criminal networks as intermediaries. Sweden’s security service has accused Tehran of using criminal groups to target Israeli and Jewish interests, while the British government sanctioned the Swedish-based Foxtrot network in 2025 over attacks allegedly carried out on Iran’s behalf. In June 2026, the UK joined 22 other countries in condemning Iranian state-linked attacks, intimidation, kidnappings, and assassination plots overseas. A British parliamentary briefing published that month said UK security agencies had tracked more than 20 potentially lethal Iran-backed plots during the preceding year and identified dissidents, journalists, Israelis, and Jews among Iran’s targets. The current US-Israeli war with Iran may have increased Tehran’s incentive for retaliation. The conflict began with large-scale strikes on Feb. 28 that killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and senior Iranian military officials, expanding the list of figures Iran may seek to avenge. Daniel Byman, a professor in Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service with a concurrent appointment in its Department of Government, told The Media Line that the escalation had increased Iranian incentives for retaliation. He cautioned against treating every public threat as evidence of an imminent attack. “The current war has greatly increased Iran’s motivation for different forms of terrorism, including assassinations,” Byman said. “Iran attempted several plots in the past in response to the killing of figures like Qasem Soleimani, and the scale of the US and Israeli killings in Iran is far, far greater than what we saw in the past.” He pointed to a possible countervailing factor: “US and Israeli operations also demonstrate a thorough penetration of Iranian intelligence networks. It is possible that the networks used for foreign assassination attempts are also penetrated …” Byman said he could not know that for certain. “Highly publicized plotting, such as videos regarding the president’s family, are more likely intimidation and trolling attempts, as this will lead to increased security, making an actual plot harder,” he said. Public threats, though, are only one part of Iran’s evolving overseas model. Danny Citrinowicz, a senior researcher in the Iran and the Shi’ite Axis Program at Israel’s Institute for National Security Studies (INSS), said the scale of Iran’s losses means the drive for retaliation is unlikely to disappear even if diplomacy eventually reduces the military confrontation. “The Iranians are now in the revenge business,” Citrinowicz told The Media Line. “This is not something that is going away. The Iranians, regardless of what will happen in terms of an agreement, yes or no, will seek revenge for Khamenei, I think, for the foreseeable future.” Citrinowicz said Iran’s increasing reliance on criminals and other intermediaries offers Tehran deniability but also creates vulnerabilities. “Their modus operandi is very unique. They are using third-party elements because they want to create a distance between them and the operation itself,” he said. “The good thing for them is that they’re distancing themselves from any activity that happens. The bad thing is that you’re hiring people that are not experienced in this kind of work, and the signature they create helps local authorities discover that,” Citrinowicz said. “I’m not underestimating their ability to do things, but I think the modus operandi is helping security services to track what the Iranians are trying to do,” he added. Byman reached a similar conclusion from a different angle. “Iran’s shift to using criminal networks makes detection harder in some ways, but these networks are also more likely to betray Iran and are more amateurish,” he said. “Most of these plots fail, but at a relatively low cost to Iran.” Outsourcing allows an operation to be disrupted without exposing large numbers of Iranian intelligence personnel or directly linking Tehran to an attack. Irina Tsukerman, president of Scarab Rising, said the distinction between propaganda and operations is not absolute. She spoke to The Media Line before Wednesday’s report identified Yair Netanyahu as the alleged target. “Given Iran’s established record of surveillance, kidnapping plots, assassination attempts, and planned attacks against Israelis abroad, Netanyahu’s claim is plausible enough to warrant serious attention, although there is not enough public information to determine how advanced the alleged operation became,” Tsukerman told The Media Line. She cautioned that sophisticated-looking targeting videos are not proof of physical surveillance or an active assassination cell. “Some information presented in state media may originate from social media, commercially available databases, hacking, open-source research, exaggeration, or fabrication, so the existence of an elaborate video does not demonstrate that an assassination team has been deployed,” she said. The danger, Tsukerman argued, can develop after the material is released. “Criminals can respond to the prospect of money, ideological sympathizers can volunteer assistance, and Iranian intelligence can later identify useful individuals who began acting without receiving instructions from Tehran,” she explained. “Under those circumstances, propaganda can become part of an operational environment even when the original broadcast was produced primarily for intimidation.” That distinction also complicates the frequently used concept of Iranian “sleeper cells.” Tsukerman said the term can suggest organized teams living covertly in Western countries while awaiting direct instructions from Tehran. Recent investigations instead point to looser systems in which intelligence officers, criminals, locally recruited individuals, foreign nationals, and other intermediaries perform separate tasks. Such networks can still leave detectable traces. Surveillance of a target, unusual financial transfers, recruitment attempts, weapons acquisition, and communications with known Iranian intermediaries can form an identifiable pattern when intelligence and law enforcement agencies combine information across jurisdictions. Brought to you by www.srnnews.com

LOS ANGELES (AP) — In her 1994 memoir, Dolly Parton recounts in vivid detail the place where she found God. It was an abandoned church, in rural Tennessee where she grew up, that had become known as a haven for sex, drugs and violence. Rather than see the used condoms on the floor, the out-of-tune piano left behind or the explicit drawings on the walls as a hindrance to her religious encounter, Parton spoke fondly of the setting where she went to pray as a young girl. “I would sing hymns to God for a while and look at dirty pictures for a while and pray for a while, and one day as I prayed in earnest, I broke through some sort of spirit wall and found God,” she wrote. “Here in one place was God, music and sex.” The country music icon was known for blurring the line between Sunday morning and Saturday night, a window into her theology that captivated people across political and denominational lines. As news broke this week that the 80-year-old country music icon died of cancer, social media was flooded with quotes and interview clips of Parton proclaiming her Christian faith, something she wore on her sleeve even when her relationship to church was complicated. But for many Christian members of the LGBTQ+ community who struggled to reconcile their sexuality and gender identity with the intolerant beliefs they were taught, Parton’s public support helped them keep their faith in some cases, and transformed their understanding of how God sees them in others. “Her approach to solidarity was inspiring for me as a young, queer Christian girl realizing I was gay,” said Ciarra Jones, a 32-year-old workplace consultant from Oakland, California. “For queer Christians, experiencing another queer Christian — or another queer-affirming person that is Christian — is important to your journey. Dolly, for me, was one of those lights.” Long before same-sex marriage was legalized nationwide, Parton made acceptance a recurring theme of both her music and public persona, which has contributed to long-running support from the LGBTQ+ community. “I got a huge gay following and some really macho-looking women,” Parton told Andy Warhol for a 1984 cover story for Interview Magazine. When Warhol told her she would make a great preacher, Parton responded: “What do you mean? I am a great preacher.” American Christianity spans the theological spectrum on sexuality and gender identity, with some remaining firmly committed to a conservative view. As society has shifted, so have some Christians’ beliefs on things like same-sex marriage, though there is a widening partisan divide on certain issues, particularly regarding transgender people. Parton, whose grandfather was a Pentecostal preacher, said her support for LGBTQ+ people was rooted in her Christian faith. “We are all God’s children,” she told Larry King in 2016. But she also did not try to convince others of her beliefs, sometimes to the frustration of fans who thought she ought to be more vocal. “Some are preachers, some are gay / Some are addicts, drunks and strays / But not a one is turned away / When it’s family,” Parton sings on the song, “Family,” from her 1991 album “Eagle When She Flies.” “I don’t condemn nor condone anything,” Parton once told The Associated Press regarding the song. “I just love and accept people where they are for who they are.” Some queer people who were raised in religiously conservative homes push back against the notion that Parton was not political enough. “It’s very, very hard to grow up and know who you are and have that be described as deviant and to be afraid that what you are is totally wrong,” said Duncan Teater, a film student at the University of Southern California, as his voice broke. Teater, who is gay and grew up in Kentucky, was raised as a conservative Christian and has a complicated relationship to the faith as an adult. But, he said, Parton’s support was meaningful and he appreciated how she thinks about religiosity. “For someone with the credibility and respect that Dolly Parton had, to be confident about the worth of every human being and to say that out loud and without hesitation and in such simple and loving words was a pretty radical act and a pretty political act,” he said. Parton’s faith, and her relationship with the gay community, spread beyond her music and interviews. On the website for Dollywood, the East Tennessee theme park Parton opened decades ago after seeing families like hers unable to afford to go to Disneyland, there is a mission and values statement, which includes a commitment to live them out “in a manner consistent with Christian values and ethics.” The park has a chaplain and a chapel — the Robert F. Thomas Chapel, named after the doctor who delivered Parton — that hosts weekly Sunday services. Patrick Burrows, a 38-year-old scholar of theology and ethics, grew up going to Dollywood and has been more than 100 times. “Any time there was a church outing in the Southern Baptist church that I grew up in or a day off from school or needing a mental health break in high school,” said Burrows, who grew up outside of Asheville, North Carolina. The theme park was so formative for him that he wrote a chapter about it in his dissertation while studying theology at Harvard Divinity School. “You should not see gay and lesbian couples standing next to people with ‘Jesus saved me from my sin’ shirts. And yet you see it” in what Burrows refers to as the “Dollyverse.” “Dolly created this space for people who are very different from one another to be different from another,” he said. Burrows recalled writing dozens of pages before one line sparked an epiphany, prompting him to rewrite his entire thesis chapter: “Though I only know it in retrospect, Dolly Parton, through Dollywood, taught me how to be gay and how to be a Christian.” ___ Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP’s collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content. Brought to you by www.srnnews.com