Un informe de inteligencia israelí reveló que Ayman Muhammad Ghazali, autor del ataque a la sinagoga Temple Israel de West Bloomfield, en las afueras de Detroit (Míchigan), la semana pasada, era hermano de Ibrahim Muhammad Ghazali, comandante del grupo terrorista Hezbollah recientemente abatido por un ataque de la Fuerza Aérea Israelí. El comunicado de las Fuerzas de Defensa de Israel (FDI) difundido en X confirmó que Ibrahim Ghazali gestionaba operaciones de armamento en la Unidad Badr, responsable del lanzamiento de cientos de cohetes contra civiles israelíes durante la actual guerra.

El pasado jueves, un hombre armado embistió con un vehículo la entrada de la sinagoga Temple Israel y abrió fuego. Los guardias de seguridad respondieron y el agresor fue abatido. La única víctima registrada fue uno de los guardias, quien resultó atropellado pero cuya recuperación es considerada probable, según las autoridades consultadas.

Las autoridades estadounidenses investigan el hecho como “un acto de violencia contra la comunidad judía”, según explicó la agente especial del FBI Jennifer Runyan en rueda de prensa. Runyan no ofreció detalles sobre la identidad del agresor en esa comparecencia, aunque el comunicado de las FDI luego vinculó directamente al atacante con un comandante de Hezbollah.

El presidente de Estados Unidos, Donald Trump, calificó lo ocurrido como “terrible” y aseguró que las autoridades llegarán “al fondo del asunto”, durante un acto oficial celebrado en la Casa Blanca. La Temple Israel de West Bloomfield es reconocida como la congregación reformista más grande del país y se considera un centro religioso y comunitario de referencia para la población judía de Detroit.

En los últimos años, el FBI y la Liga Antidifamación han documentado un incremento de los actos de violencia antisemita en Estados Unidos. Míchigan es uno de los estados con mayores comunidades judía y árabe, concentradas principalmente en el área metropolitana de Detroit. La gobernadora de Míchigan, Gretchen Whitmer, expresó: “Esto es desgarrador. La comunidad judía de Míchigan debería poder vivir y practicar su fe en paz. El antisemitismo y la violencia no tienen lugar en Míchigan. Espero que todos estén a salvo”.

El ataque a la sinagoga Temple Israel de West Bloomfield, donde el agresor fue identificado como hermano de un comandante de Hezbollah, está siendo investigado por las autoridades estadounidenses como un acto de violencia dirigido contra la comunidad judía. La única víctima directa fue un guardia de seguridad que resultó herido tras ser atropellado, pero se espera su recuperación según reportaron las autoridades.

Ese mismo jueves, se reportó un tiroteo en la universidad de Old Dominion, en Norfolk (Virginia). El atacante, identificado como Mohamed Jalloh, ciudadano estadounidense de 36 años y originario de Sierra Leona, mató a una persona e hirió a otras dos antes de ser reducido y morir en manos de estudiantes del campus, de acuerdo con el FBI. Durante el ataque, Jalloh gritó varias veces «allahu akbar“, confirmaron testigos y autoridades. Según la agente especial del FBI Dominique Evans, el autor había estado en prisión entre 2017 y 2024 por vínculos con el grupo terrorista Estado Islámico, organización para la que intentó conseguir armas y fondos. Jalloh fue finalmente sometido por estudiantes pertenecientes al Cuerpo de Entrenamiento de Oficiales de Reserva (ROTC), quienes intervinieron directamente. El director del FBI, Kash Patel, difundió en redes sociales que “el tirador falleció gracias a un grupo de valientes estudiantes que intervinieron y lo redujeron”. Fox News confirmó que Jalloh sirvió en la Guardia Nacional de Virginia entre 2009 y 2015.

Republicans sharply criticized former President Joe Biden over rising prices at the gas pump, but a spike in energy prices amid the U.S.-Israeli conflict in Iran threatens to scramble the party’s affordability messaging.

The Iran conflict has led to a surge in gas prices for Americans, leading to an average 50 cents a gallon increase since Operation Epic Fury began on Feb. 28.

The average price of gas reached $3.63 per gallon on Friday, according to AAA. Diesel prices have also risen to $4.89 per gallon. The increases have been mostly fueled by volatility in oil prices, which closed above $100 per barrel Thursday for the first time since 2022 as the Strait of Hormuz remained effectively shuttered from the conflict.

The president characterized the gas price hike amid the Iran conflict as «a very small price to pay» in a Truth Social post Sunday.

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That statement represented a sharp break with Trump’s typical messaging touting low gas prices prior to Operation Epic Fury.

«Gasoline, which reached a peak of over $6 a gallon in some states under my predecessor — it was quite honestly a disaster — is now below $2.30 a gallon in most states. And in some places, $1.99 a gallon,» President Donald Trump said during his Feb. 27 State of the Union address. «And when I visited the great state of Iowa just a few weeks ago, I even saw $1.85 a gallon for gasoline.»

The surge in gas and diesel prices threatens to undermine the economic message of President Trump and congressional Republicans, who have touted low gas prices as a major win in the lead-up to November’s midterm elections. Cost of living issues are expected to be a key concern among voters as both parties claim to be laser-focused on making everyday life more affordable.

Trump directed the Strategic Petroleum Reserve to release 172 million gallons of crude oil Wednesday in an effort to lower oil prices.

«I filled it up once, and I’ll fill it up again, but right now, we’ll reduce it a little bit, and that brings the prices down,» Trump told Cincinnati news station WKRC.

During the 2024 presidential contest, Trump frequently campaigned on ending Biden’s «war on American energy» and pledged to reverse a surge in gas prices that occurred under his predecessor’s tenure.

Gas prices averaged $3.45 per gallon across all fuel grades during Biden’s four-year term, surging to a record high of more than $5 per gallon in June 2022 after the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine war, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

«Starting on Day 1, we will drive down prices and make America affordable again,» Trump said during a speech at the Republican National Committee convention in July 2024. «People can’t live like this.»

Democrats have seized on rising prices at the pump amid the conflict in Iran.

«I wish the administration thought about this before they started this unnecessary war,» Sen. Angus King, I-Maine, who caucuses with Democrats, said Monday when asked about the gas price hike.

«Donald Trump’s war has sent gas prices skyrocketing through the roof,» Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., wrote on social media Monday. «What contempt. What cluelessness.»

President Donald Trump has argued that the rise in gas prices will be «a very small price to pay» amid Operation Epic Fury. (Eva Marie Uzcategui/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

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Republicans have voiced confidence that the rise in gas prices would be temporary. GOP lawmakers have frequently cited their efforts to roll back Biden-era energy regulations and boost domestic production as evidence that their policies are working to lower energy prices.

«It’s going to be probably volatile for a period of time. I think what’s going to be key is ensuring we can get safe access to the Strait of Hormuz,» Sen. Steve Daines, R-Mont., said Monday, adding that he was confident the disruption would be short-lived.

Daines, who abruptly suspended his re-election campaign last week, highlighted that average gas prices were under $3 per gallon prior to Trump’s State of the Union speech. 

«That’s an important win for the American people,» the retiring Montana lawmaker said. «Something you’re reminded of usually weekly when you’re gassing up your vehicle.»

Some Republicans and Trump administration officials are also arguing that a defeated Iran will ultimately spur lower gas prices, even if there is pain in the short run.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt characterized the recent increase in oil and gas prices as «temporary» during a briefing Tuesday.

«Once the national security objectives of Operation Epic Fury are fully achieved, Americans will see oil and gas prices drop rapidly, potentially even lower than they were prior to the start of the operation,» Leavitt said.

«At the end of the day, we’re going to destroy this regime, and their ability to disrupt oil is going to be less, and we’re going to have more production, not less,» Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., told reporters Monday. «Once you take the largest state sponsor of terrorism off the planet, who depends on oil for their revenue, that’s a more stable world.»

A Navy vessel is seen sailing in the Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway through which much of the world’s oil and gas passes, on March 1, 2026. (ISahar Al Attar/AFP via Getty Images)

However, some Republicans are warning that high oil and gas prices could be catastrophic for the party’s midterm prospects.

«I think if you add in high gas prices, high oil prices, and if we are still bombing Iran with kinetic action … I think you’re going to see a disastrous election,» Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., told Fox Business’ Maria Bartiromo on Tuesday.

Nearly seven in 10 Americans — including 44% of Republicans — expect gas prices to keep increasing in the coming months, according to a Reuters-Ipsos poll released Monday.

Trump has threatened Iran with unprecedented force if the flow of oil through the Strait of Hormuz is further restricted.

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«Death, Fire, and Fury will reign upon them — But I hope, and pray, that it does not happen!» Trump wrote Monday on Truth Social.

Iran’s decades-long use of the Strait of Hormuz chokepoint for global oil shipping from the Middle East will come to an end, according to President Donald Trump, and he is rallying the world to free it.

«Many Countries, especially those who are affected by Iran’s attempted closure of the Hormuz Strait, will be sending War Ships, in conjunction with the United States of America, to keep the Strait open and safe,» Trump wrote Saturday morning on Truth Social.

Iran closing the strait has roiled global oil supply, causing gas price increases even in the states, despite the fact the U.S. is a net-exporter of oil and gets only a fraction of its oil from the Middle East. Trump is calling on those countries relying on the oil tankers from the strait to share in the responsibility to free it up.

«We have already destroyed 100% of Iran’s Military capability, but it’s easy for them to send a drone or two, drop a mine, or deliver a close range missile somewhere along, or in, this Waterway, no matter how badly defeated they are,» Trump’s post continued. «Hopefully China, France, Japan, South Korea, the UK, and others, that are affected by this artificial constraint, will send Ships to the area so that the Hormuz Strait will no longer be a threat by a Nation that has been totally decapitated.»

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Trump vowed a massive campaign to knock out Iran’s ability to terrorize the oil tankers transversing the region.

«In the meantime, the United States will be bombing the hell out of the shoreline, and continually shooting Iranian Boats and Ships out of the water,» he concluded. «One way or the other, we will soon get the Hormuz Strait OPEN, SAFE, and FREE!»

Trump added in another Truth Social post five hours later that the countries relying on that Middle East oil must take responsibility for it now, too.

WATCH SHIPPING THROUGH THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ GRIND TO A HALT AMID IRAN CONFLICT

A timelapse video shows marine traffic moving through the Strait of Hormuz. (Kpler/Marine Traffic)

«The United States of America has beaten and completely decimated Iran, both Militarily, Economically, and in every other way, but the Countries of the World that receive Oil through the Hormuz Strait must take care of that passage, and we will help — A LOT!» Trump wrote. «The U.S. will also coordinate with those Countries so that everything goes quickly, smoothly, and well. This should have always been a team effort, and now it will be — It will bring the World together toward Harmony, Security, and Everlasting Peace!»

None of those countries gave any immediate indication ​they would do so. In fact, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi claimed both China and Russia are «strategic partners» supporting defense against U.S. and Israel-led aggression.

«That includes military cooperation,» he told MS Now in an interview Saturday. «I’m not going into the into any details of that, a good cooperation with these countries, politically, economically, even militarily.»

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Araghchi is perpetuating a «confused policy,» according to the United Arab Emirates, as the Islamic Revolution Guard contends the strait will remain closed, while the foreign minister suggests all countries other than the U.S. or Israel will be permitted to pass.

«As a matter of fact, the Strait of Hormuz is open,» Araghchi said. «It is only closed to the tankers and ships belong[ing] to our enemies, to those who are attacking us and their allies. Others are free to pass.»

Takayuki ⁠Kobayashi, Japan’s ruling party policy chief, told public broadcaster NHK that «the (legal) threshold is very high.»

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Japan interprets its pacifist postwar constitution to mean it can deploy its military if the nation’s survival is threatened, but the government would have to invoke a 2015 security law that has not been used.

South Korea’s presidential office said it would decide on Trump’s request after a «careful ⁠review.»

France is seeking ​to assemble a coalition to secure the strait once the security situation stabilizes, while Britain is discussing a ​range of options with allies to ensure the security of shipping, officials have said.

A satellite image shows the Strait of Hormuz, a key maritime passage connecting the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman, vital for global energy supply. (Amanda Macias/Fox News Digital)

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Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, who replaced his slain father and who the U.S. and Israel understand to be injured, has said the Strait of Hormuz should remain closed.

War Secretary Pete Hegseth says the new supreme leader was «disfigured» in the initial strikes that killed his father late last month.

«There is no problem with the new supreme leader,» Araghchi told MS Now. «The system is working.»

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«Everything is under control.»

Reuters contributed to this report.